Chapter 1005: Spiritual Path

Li Qi directly asked Shamansan what he wanted.

Even if it was for free labor, there should be a goal.

And judging by Shamansan's appearance, it was highly likely that this item was also a creation of another First Grade.

A First Grade of the Spirit Dao… he hadn't seen one before.

Shamansan, of course, wouldn't hide it, but the item was clearly indescribable in words, so he began his Dao demonstration.

During his demonstration, Li Qi saw something profound and mysterious.

If it were likened to a sound, then this sound was so clear, vibrant, and pristine that it made the listener stand still.

It seemed as if the concept of the Universe was emitting a deep hum, a beautiful chant interwoven with crisp exclamations. It must have been the cry of the Gods of All Things on their first day of birth, unconsciously uttered by the First Gods upon their emergence.

When this sound was emitted, the entire Universe must have resonated with a symphony of creation, ultimately leaving behind the afterglow of creation, like baryonic acoustic oscillations.

This purely beautiful declaration was so soul-stirring.

Similarly, if it were likened to a picture, its visual perfection was even more astonishing; it was a perfect pattern that could never exist in reality.

How to put it… 'Red' in reality isn't truly pure; every shade of red is mixed with other colors. This is because matter itself isn't pure, and the wavelength of light can change due to various reasons. Therefore, the red in a painting cannot have only one wavelength; it can only be said to barely achieve a 'similar' degree.

It's just that Mortals' observation precision isn't enough, so they can't quite make it out, but for Great Powers like Li Qi, their requirements for picture precision are very high.

However, in this scroll, the red was so standard, without a single impurity, so pure that all wavelengths of light were completely consistent.

The geometric figures within were likewise standard and perfect, patterns that could absolutely never appear in the real world.

Penrose triangles, Euclidean three-dimensional manifolds, Necker cubes, true 'circles' that achieved infinite pi.

What kind of state was that?

Both the sound and the pattern were things that existed only in 'concepts'.

Concepts are perfect, while reality is imperfect.

Reality is merely a clumsy imitation of concepts.

The fundamental nature of the world is 'concepts,' an objectively existing law, an absolute standard.

Spiritual existence is more advanced than material existence, because matter is perishable, while spiritual concepts, like mathematics, are eternal and immortal.

Tangible things in reality are a participation in and imitation of concepts, and are inferior to concepts.

And what was presented before Li Qi at this moment was pure, absolute.

Things in reality are inferior and difficult to leave a true imprint.

Although in this world, matter and spirit alternate in some things, in the Spirit Dao vision Li Qi saw, this argument was entirely shortsighted and superficial.

Matter is merely temporary, transitional, and destined to cease.

Perhaps it seems that the sun is the Sovereign, just as matter is the Sovereign; one can see that splendid and glorious sunlight, the light of the sun is absolute, shadows and darkness do not exist, they are merely Impurities between the sun and something else.

But beneath this appearance, matter itself will inevitably 'decay'; the changes in matter will slowly accumulate death over time. Therefore, the end of all matter is gloom, eternal coldness and darkness. For beings living in matter, change is real, while eternity is an illusion and a lie.

Although these lives always instinctively imagine that matter and various possibilities will burn like the sun in eternal darkness.

However, for the dark Universe, the sun is merely a candle flame; one day this candle will burn out, the sun will be exhausted, and then the eternal darkness will return.

This is the destined future of ordinary material beings. The sun is a phenomenal entity; it exists, so its existence will certainly end. Therefore, the sun itself is tragic.

If every phenomenal entity disappeared from the Universe, there would be nothing left in the world.

Thus, for these beings living in the material world, they are fundamentally tragic, because it is temporary and will inevitably cease its existence; its existence itself means ceasing to exist, which is the root of all tragedy.

But spirit and concepts are not like this.

The existence of spirit and concepts proves the non-existence of tragedy.

Because, without change, without death, strictly speaking, there is no tragedy.

There is no tragedy in the Universe. The reason why all things in the world are tragic is because they fear death.

But for spirit and concepts, the sun will forever shine brightly, no matter how many clouds obscure it, it will always be brilliant. Therefore, neither decay nor death is frightening. Under the sunlight of concepts, even death is full of sunshine, and sunshine never ends.

Under the sunlight of concepts, heaven and earth are endlessly vibrant. Such surging will not cease, its tides are unstoppable, scattering the seeds of life year after year, taking root and leaving behind young possibilities.

Matter is thus governed by concepts.

Compared to concepts, the 'matter' forged through hardship in reality is merely the back of that beautiful brocade; compared to concepts, it pales in comparison, at most conveying its meaning, but unable to reproduce its perfect form and state.

Li Qi witnessed everything that Shamansan's Dao demonstration aimed to convey.

Then he sighed: “It really is… quite nihilistic.”

“But they do exist, don't they? They are similar to the Demonic Dao, both believing that the world is a spiritual existence, the only difference being that they don't believe they are the sole spirit.” Shamansan replied.

For the Spirit Dao, they acknowledge the primacy of spirit, but unlike the Demonic Dao.

The Demonic Dao believes that it is the absolute will, and the world is an extension of its will. Self-consciousness itself is the interpretation of this world. When the eyes open, flowers bloom; when they close, flowers wither. I am the reason for the world's existence; the world cannot exist independently of me.

This concept created the lawless appearance of the Demonic Dao. Although there are various types of people in the Demonic Dao, and not a few good ones, even as Human Race, it is difficult to get along with other things under this 'solipsistic' concept.

The Spirit Dao, similar to the Demonic Dao, also believes the world is spiritual, but they acknowledge objectively existing 'spirits' and 'concepts'.

natural, life, society, civilization, and all other things are the externalization and manifestation of these objectively existing spirits and concepts in their movement and change.

This concept is the essence and core of the real world; it develops spontaneously and encompasses all things. Spirit is not only the product of human consciousness, but also the driving force of social history and the development of the natural world.

The 'Dao' is such a concept. By utilizing this concept, reality can be altered.

In the view of the Demonic Dao, the highest point of spirit is will, and one's own will will be the only place where spirit exists.

But in everything displayed by the Spirit Dao, the highest point of spirit is not self-consciousness, but a widely existing 'concept' between heaven and earth. This 'concept' is both a rule and reality itself.

It's like the saying: “The statue was already in the stone; I just removed the unnecessary parts.”

Or: “An article is naturally formed; a skilled hand occasionally obtains it.”

These things, as concepts themselves, are formless and immortal. What matter does is merely a clumsy imitation. No matter how clever the craftsman, he cannot carve something as beautiful as a concept from stone.

But they can refine their craftsmanship to make their carvings as 'concept-compliant' as possible, thus making the sculptures appear more and more beautiful. This is called 'skill approaching the Dao'.

Concept is Dao.

The same applies to Human Race.

Even if someone appears fat, they might be thin on the inside. Have you ever considered that every fat person has a thin person inside? Just as some say, every stone contains a statue.

If we abstract this from fatness and thinness, can it be understood that everyone has a 'true self' within them, and that self is hidden within the 'stone' of the material body?

Therefore, as a Dao seeker, what needs to be done is to 'remove the unnecessary parts'.

To excavate the conceptual self from the material shell.

To find the 'naturally formed concept' and transform oneself from jumbled words into 'art'.

Shamansan said to Li Qi: “What I want is the absolute spirit forged by the First Grade of the Spirit Dao. This is something of the same Rank as the Desire Realm and the Heavens of the Formless Realm, and only such a thing can be valuable enough to exchange for the Desire Realm.”

Li Qi nodded: “I understand now. Then, please wait, Senior Wu. I just have a question: Since the Desire Realm was taken by Senior Wu from me, wouldn't it be appropriate to give me some preferential treatment?”

“Alright, I can promise you that under the same conditions, I will definitely give it to you.” Shamansan agreed.

Li Qi could only sigh, and then he left Shaman God Mountain.

Almost in the next instant, Li Qi arrived at the Arctic.

The extreme north of the world, where the Spirit Dao resides.

This was once the homeland of the Arctic Demon Clan, but the Arctic Demon Clan ultimately did not follow the Demon Dao, but rather went towards the Spirit Dao. Eventually, the Arctic Demon Clan disappeared, and then the 'Spirits' emerged.

Why are there terms like 'soul' and 'True Spirit'?

Because the current True Spirits and souls were actually researched by the Spirit Dao. In the ancient times, many, many years ago, sentient beings did not have True Spirits.

Their thoughts were entirely rooted in their thinking organs, such as the Human Race's nervous System. Destroying this would destroy the mind itself.

Later, the Spirit Dao developed the concept of 'Spirit', extracting thought and spirit from the decaying 'material body' stone, achieving 'removing the unnecessary parts'.

This was very impressive.

In ancient times, the Spirit Dao could be said to have single-handedly promoted the birth of 'longevity'. Many current longevity methods, such as the Daoist Yang Spirit method, and many Soul Emergence techniques, are research achievements of the Spirit Dao.

Arriving at the Arctic, Li Qi looked around.

Around…

Hmm? All of them are, natives?

How to describe the surrounding scenery? It's almost like an outer realm here.

That's right, calling it an outer realm is perfectly fine.

Li Qi stood on the great ocean of the Arctic, looking at the distant coastline.

Beneath a thin layer of snow, those dead-gray coastlines gradually emerged into view.

On the distant horizon, a touch of sunset reflected in the cold sky, the stars faint, and the lighthouse shone even brighter, like a signal. This was the light of the lighthouse at the westernmost tip of the Arctic.

“Not the Spirit Dao, these are stowaways from the outer realm.” Li Qi only took one glance and already knew the specific situation of the people living here.

If Li Qi wanted to, he could see through these places with just two more glances. This was the power of True Knowledge Dao Resonance, but Li Qi was currently unwilling to abuse True Knowledge.

True Knowledge is one of the eyes of the Heavenly Demon, so he'd rather not. Moreover, compared to those, Li Qi preferred to experience the specific situation of the Arctic Spirit Dao in a more ordinary way.

So, he reined in his power, stepped on the water, and walked to the shore.

There were Formation Restrictions on the shore, likely set up to prevent intruders, so Li Qi did not force his way in. Instead, he shouted from outside: “Open the door! Someone's here!”

At this moment, a dozen people emerged from within the Formation. They looked at Li Qi and asked: “Who are you? Why have you come?”

“I am from Shaman God Mountain, and I am here to gather information, to see the specifics, for a fee.” Li Qi didn't hide anything or play the role of a pig pretending to be a tiger. He directly stated his purpose and even produced a Seventh Grade Spiritual Artifact.

He forged it on the spot.

While he didn't go around proclaiming himself a Great Power everywhere, Li Qi also disliked the act of pretending to be a Mortal only to be disrespected by others.

Directly revealing his Shaman God Mountain identity would scare off a lot of people.

As expected, this group of obvious stowaways immediately cowered upon hearing Li Qi's identity and seeing the Spiritual Artifact he offered.

Not only did they cower, but they also showed signs of flattery.

Because the Qi on Li Qi's body could not be faked; it was indeed the Qi from a great Dao Orthodoxy of the world.

Or rather, if Li Qi was faking it, then… it meant Li Qi at least possessed the ability to make them unable to see through him, and at this point, it was best not to provoke him.

So, they put away their weapons and said: “Senior, we apologize, it was all for safety's sake, we hope you understand. What kind of investigation do you wish to conduct?”

“I'm here to see what the living conditions are like in the Arctic and to explore how to interact with the Spirit Dao. However, you probably won't understand, so you just need to host me. I bear you no ill will.” Li Qi said.

With that, he directly threw the Seventh Grade Spiritual Artifact over, passing through the Formation and Restriction.

Evidently, if the item could pass through, Li Qi could too.

So, these stowaways immediately opened the Formation.

They didn't want to refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit.

So Li Qi walked in.

It could be seen that this place was indeed filled with stowaways.

On the Arctic continent of the world, there was definitely more than just this one settlement.

The Spirit Dao seemed to have no control over this place. (End of Chapter)