Stop it, Taoist, Your Fight almost Ruins the DAO!

Qian Country, Capital, Qingmu City.

Yi Chengzi, Yi Chengzi, the Shocking Pure Yang Yi Chengzi steps foot into Qingmu City of Qian Country, beginning his journey of scholarly exploration under the guidance of Bai Chenzi, the mountain-guarding Taoist of the Heavenly Star Sect.

With Bai Chenzi's reputation paving the way and his artful diplomacy, Yi Chengzi quickly blends in with the various major powers of Qian Country.

Facing this prodigy from the Heavenly Star Sect, the noble families naturally welcomed the opportunity to forge good relations, while for their wayward scions, they found themselves utterly awestruck. After all, they had never encountered a cultivator with such profound cultivation, charming eloquence, and not even the slightest trace of condescension towards them.

In no time, Yi Chen leveraged his illustrious Heavenly Star Sect background, coupled with his approachable, magnanimous demeanor, to win wide acclaim among the noble young masters of Qian Country's capital.

Because this prodigious Yi Chengzi Taoist enjoyed appraising treasures, waves of noble scions brought their precious items to him daily for assessment, and invitations to dine at their estates were too numerous to count.

In a matter of a day, the entire Qingmu City basked in a scene of flourishing vitality and harmonious competition.

It could only be described as a veritable assembly of luminaries, a convention of libertines.

"Brother Kong Fang, truly impressive! Your treasure here is just incredible—this jade coin has a distinctly ancient aura, and it's actually larger than normal by a whole size. A Strange Coin, indeed a fine treasure!"

"Wow, Brother Chen, your treasure is just as remarkable! This Jade Ruyi is so lustrous. What? Young Master Chen, you're inviting this humble Taoist to your Chen Family vaults for appraisal? Well, that can certainly be arranged!"

"Ah, Brother Zhang, you wish to gift this treasure to me? That's unnecessary. My Heavenly Star Sect has strict rules, and a gentleman never takes what another cherishes. If you are truly sincere, Brother Zhang, why not simply invite me over to your Zhang Family residence for a casual visit and allow me to admire your collection?"

"....."

The Qingmu City, within Qiluo Palace, Yi Chen's sleeves fluttered gracefully as he embraced a Fairy at his side, raising his cup in a celebratory feast with the libertine scions, a hidden depth occasionally appearing in his gaze.

Just then, an unwelcome note of discord sounded out.

"Taoist Priest, with your profound cultivation, brothers, let's seize this occasion today and have Yi Taoist share with us what Daoist skill truly means, what constitutes the Dao governing all things. How about it?"

"After all, our spiritual natures fall short. To achieve feats of earth-shaking might like Taoist Yi, that is beyond us. But we genuinely wish to understand—what is Daoism in its natural state? Compared to a prodigy like Taoist Yi, where exactly do we fall short?"

Amid the clinking of cups and glasses, a young nobleman, emboldened by drink, raised his cup and sincerely directed the question toward Yi Chen.

In an instant, dozens of pairs of eyes within the grand hall converged upon Yi Chen. This pointed question caused the smile on Yi Chen, who had been mentally mapping out the locations of various family treasure vaults, to momentarily freeze.

"This… Brother Zhang, do you truly wish to know?"

"Indeed, Yi Taoist, we would be honored if you could enlighten us."

"Very well… very well. Since my brothers here are so curious, let this humble Taoist explain in a way everyone can understand: what is Daoism, and what defines the Dao of nature!"

"However, as the Dao is not lightly disseminated, why don't we first ask the Qiluo Palace Fairies here to step out for a moment. What do you say?"

Yi Chen's gaze swept across the room, and after a moment of contemplation, he suddenly spoke aloud.

Once the hostess fairies departed, leaving the young noblemen in suspense, Yi Chen's deep, measured voice slowly resonated through the grand hall.

"The so-called Dao of nature—if explained in depth, it might elude understanding. However, this humble Taoist will use a story that everyone can grasp to elucidate it."

"Of course, this story was told to me by an eccentric when I was but a child. Today, I shall borrow it to share with all of you."

"In the grand scheme of the myriad things in this world, profound truths are embedded in all. Acts of moving mountains and parting seas alone do not define the Daoist arts. Even our outing to indulge in wine and flowers tonight is not beyond the bounds of the Dao."

"Gentlemen, the Dao of legs is still a Dao; the methods of hands are still methods!"

With Yi Chen's grave recital, the young noblemen soon stared wide-eyed in astonishment.

In truth, the Zhang scion who posed the question merely intended to grant Yi Chen an opportunity to expound abstract philosophies so they could heap him with exaggerated praise. Little did they anticipate—for as a candidate deemed a prodigy of the Heavenly Star Sect, a true paragon of cultivation—such a bizarre interpretation would emerge from his lips.

At this moment, the crowd's curiosity soared to its peak.

Without leaving them waiting long, Yi Chen's voice once again reverberated across the hall.

"You all must be perplexed—why did this humble Taoist claim the Dao of legs is still a Dao, and the methods of hands are still methods?"

"As frequent patrons of Qiluo Palace, have you ever wondered why some of you, despite lesser cultivation than the fairies here, can still receive their leg massages, shoulder presses, and even their company at night?"

"To explain the Dao governing all things naturally, this matter must be clarified with another story."

"Have you gentlemen observed your servants raising chickens and ducks?"

"In my youth, voraciously eager to learn, I would often observe the servants feeding the chickens and ducks. I noticed an intriguing phenomenon: although the poultry were not always fed by the same servant, they would invariably swarm toward whoever held the grains."

"As long as you didn't throw the grains away, they would always cluster around you—even if the current servant feeding them wasn't the one who regularly did so."

"Why? Because what they care about isn't the servant but the grains in the servant's hand."

"If you had no grains in hand and entered the coop, they might even peck at a grainless servant—even if this servant had fed them in the past."

"Thus, gentlemen, this is the Daoist principle in raising chickens."

"The grains are shown to the chickens, not directly given. As long as you always have grains, you'll inevitably draw them near."

"Of course, Qiluo Palace is definitely different. If you wish to attract a certain type of chicken, you must consider what sort of grain you're willing to provide."

Wiping nonexistent sweat off his forehead, Yi Chen nervously glanced at the numerous noble scions within the hall, especially that insistent Zhang scion—truly a troublesome fellow with his thoughtless questions.

However, as Yi Chen's words landed, the great hall quickly erupted into an uproar.

"The Taoist Priest is nothing short of celestial! I… I'm enlightened now. Indeed, Daoist teachings permeate every aspect of life. Equivalent exchange and accordance with natural principles—this is the Dao governing all things! The Taoist Priest is a true disciple of the Heavenly Star Sect."

"This analogy of legs and chicken farming has struck me like divine revelation. I have a wicked dog that bites everyone, yet it never bites me. Why? This is exactly what the Taoist Priest described—the Daoist principle of raising poultry, because I'm its provider!"

A young nobleman exclaimed joyously, pounding the table in amazement.

"Indeed! Compared to Yi Taoist, those so-called ascetic masters are nothing but pretentious frauds. All they do is spew obscure philosophies that nobody can comprehend. Yi Taoist simplifies the profound—this is the mark of a true enlightened one."

"Taoist Priest, you must come to the Chen Family. Our family vault contains numerous curious treasures that are sure to delight your eyes and lift your spirits!"

Yi Chen: "....."

"Very well, this humble Taoist shall certainly pay a visit."

Another noble spoke up.

"Taoist Priest, may I ask the name of the eccentric who first enlightened you during your youth? If fate allows, I must invite this extraordinary figure to my estate." Amid the discussions, another question surfaced.

Yi Chen: "....."

"He said his name was Achimedes. By now, that eccentric should have already passed on."

"Ah? That is truly unfortunate." The crowd collectively lamented.

....

....

Within the Qian Country Palace, Bai Chenzi's face was dark as ink. Opposite him, an elder in imperial yellow robes looked on with astonished eyes, saying:

"Old friend, it's rare for you to personally come down the mountain. You speak so highly of a single cultivator—is this the prodigious genius you've been boasting about?"

Within the room, a bronze mirror vividly projected Yi Chen's scene of revelry with wine and flowers on display.

Facing the astonished gaze of his old friend, Bai Chenzi could only grit his teeth and reply:

"Indeed, it is this very person!"

....

....

East Continent · Cloud Mountain.

Amidst the swirling mists, a voice filled with excitement rang out!

"Through countless tribulations in this life, my soul now feels weightless, set free."

"Forsaking home and country beyond Cloud Mountain, forging spirit and soul through sun and moon essence."

"Master Li, Senior He Xian, I have attained enlightenment!"

"I have ascended into the Dao Mastery Realm!"