Chapter 189: Mutation

Chapter 189: An Anomaly

It should have been a journey through utter darkness, but under the blessing of his Dao Resonance, the original darkness was torn apart, revealing the magnificent scenery of this boundless space.

This is the Void Realm.

This is the true appearance of this Universe.

Li Qi was content, but at the same time, he became even less satisfied.

A large part of his cultivation goal was to see a grander Dao path.

He had already seen such a magnificent sight, but what lay beyond that? What kind of scenery awaited him even further above?!

Countless worlds floated in this Void Realm sea, operating in an orderly fashion according to some special rules.

Originally, Li Qi shouldn't have seen all of this, because darkness enveloped him.

But the progress bar on Li Qi’s body, which Young Master Zhu referred to as the external Dao Dao Resonance, helped him Break through the darkness, allowing him to see the magnificent scenery around him.

However, the anomaly of the progress bar did not stop.

At this moment, the progress bar… seemed to be letting itself go?

Li Qi didn't know how to describe it, but he could sense that after leaving that world, a certain 'restraint' or 'suppression' force had disappeared.

Young Master Zhu had once said that his progress bar was the manifestation of an external Dao Dao Resonance. (See Chapter 116)

Essentially, it was the existence of a Dao Resonance, which then provided him with information about his surroundings in a way he could understand.

The same Dao Resonance, if placed on someone else, might not be a progress bar, but rather a page in the Void Realm, or something like a bamboo slip.

Whether it was a progress bar or something else, it was merely a form of manifestation.

But now, the 'manifestation' outer layer was being burst open by a force erupting from within.

It was like a spring that was originally very long, but had been compressed into a disc shape and packaged, looking like a discus from the outside.

But now, the thing pressing on the spring had disappeared.

The spring was restoring itself, bursting through the packaging from the inside out, returning to its original form, stretching its body to its fullest.

The progress bar flickered, then shattered.

At first, it merely tore apart the surrounding darkness, allowing Li Qi to see countless wonders.

But now, after the progress bar shattered, it disappeared.

“This Dao Resonance… is, integrating into my body?” Li Qi felt that his human body’s microcosm was accommodating that Dao Resonance.

In other words, the human body’s microcosm was gaining some rules that originally didn't belong to it.

Li Qi didn't know if it was good or bad.

But he couldn't stop it.

That Dao Resonance seemed to have already become one with him; at this moment, it was merely revealing its true form.

Li Qi felt… he was gaining, an extra sense.

It turned out that this progress bar previously only presented what this sense perceived through the form of a progress bar.

The essence of this Dao Resonance was… another perspective.

This feeling was very strange.

It was like a blind fish growing eyes.

Blind fish have no eyes; they are born blind and perceive the world through touch and hearing.

Naturally, blind fish are accustomed to a world composed of sounds and solid objects, without the concept of 'seeing'.

Similarly, humans are the same.

Humans are accustomed to a world composed of sound, light, touch, and taste, and for most people, this is the true appearance of the world.

However, when a blind fish grows eyes and truly sees 'light', it will realize that this world is not only composed of touch and hearing.

Li Qi was this blind fish.

The Dao Resonance that had completely merged with him was this opened eye.

This world, in Li Qi's perception, changed.

Those magnificent scenes from before now had additional existences in his eyes.

First, gravity.

Li Qi was surprised to find that he could actually perceive the existence of gravity.

He closed his eyes, sensing this strange new sense.

It wasn't seeing, but… another mysterious feeling, a wonderful sense he had never had as a human, not one of the five senses.

He could feel that gravity, like chains, bound these worlds together.

Gravity permeated all levels, all dimensions.

Li Qi felt that the geometry created by the existence of mass in spacetime formed gravity.

Therefore, as long as there is spacetime, there must be gravity, and dimensions and levels must contain spacetime and ways to describe spacetime, so gravity can cross all dimensions.

But there was another force that was pushing these worlds apart. Li Qi didn't know what it was, but he could feel it.

The two were in a stalemate, maintaining countless worlds so that they were neither pushed away nor squeezed together.

Li Qi was astonished to find that he could feel the ripples in space, the curvature of space caused by mass, which in turn created gravity, and the state he was currently in.

His new sense seemed to be able to feel space itself, and besides that, it seemed to be able to… predict?

Wait, spacetime seems to be one entity.

Time and space are inseparable.

So, the essence of the progress bar is to observe space, comprehend time, and then… make predictions?

Then, where did the ability to directly memorize books and learn certain skills after the progress bar was full come from?

Li Qi was full of questions, speculating about the ability he had always taken for granted.

He had grown accustomed to the existence of the progress bar, but now, the changes that occurred after truly leaving the world made him so confused that he almost forgot he was in danger.

Since he was out of control anyway, he might as well ponder what this was.

So, Li Qi, like a baby opening his eyes for the first time, began to experiment with his new sense.

First, what were those dark areas where he was located?

So, he examined the darkness that enveloped him.

This darkness had not disappeared; his eyes still couldn't see, but through his external Dao Dao Resonance, he ignored these things, and the Dao Resonance provided him with a feeling in another way, allowing him to witness the previous grandeur.

This darkness seemed to be… a pipe?

He was currently in a… slender tube.

A slender, space-piercing vascular bundle enveloped him, then rapidly transported him elsewhere.

He was traveling within this vascular bundle, and through it, he saw many strange sights in the Void Realm.

Wait, if that's the case! His ability has nothing to do with space!

Li Qi immediately realized this.

The reason all his attention was drawn to space was because there was only space here!

The progress bar… that is, the essence of his external Dao Dao Resonance, was the analysis of all existing things around him!

Once the analysis was complete, he could obtain the corresponding information!

Realizing this, Li Qi immediately began to experiment with other things on his body.

First, the two Jin Qi (Metal Energy) accompanying him.

Then, the mustard seed bag.

Then his clothes, and finally himself.

After about two or three minutes, Li Qi confirmed that this was the essence of his progress bar.

No, it can't be called a progress bar anymore.

This is his own Dao Resonance.

Just like Jin Buhuan's 'listening to the heart' in Qingwu City, or the 'demonic thoughts' in the hands of Bo Yue, the Disciple of the Grand Diviner in the Earth Oil Realm.

It could detect things around him, judge their state, and analyze them. If the analysis was completed, he could directly categorize the information in his mind.

The progress bar was merely a manifestation of this Dao Resonance.

Only now did this wisp of Dao Resonance truly reveal its true form before Li Qi.

Detect, analyze, then categorize into memory.

It seemed that all things were within the scope of this Dao Resonance's analysis, from simple actions to complex compositions.

“Since that’s the case, I’ll name you ‘True Knowledge’. In the future, when introducing you, I can say a name, just like Bo Yue.”

“It’s truly marvelous. What is the principle of this thing, anyway? How does it do it?” Li Qi sighed with emotion.

At the same time, he also realized something.

Then, he unhesitatingly calmed his mind.

He felt that condensing his Nascent Soul no longer required that so-called treasure from the Swallowing Heaven Demon Nest.

Before the fifth-grade, no treasure could compare to this wisp of Dao Resonance!

This was a Dao Resonance that Grand Invoker had praised. Although his Master was very unreliable, Li Qi absolutely trusted his judgment!

He was going to use this to condense his Nascent Soul!

As for safety, he hadn't worried about it.

Chan Zhi the Monk definitely wouldn't kill him; he still needed him, so Li Qi wasn't concerned about his safety.

Unexpectedly, coming to the Void Realm this time brought such an unexpected surprise.

The external Dao Dao Resonance, freed from the suppression of the world, returned to its original form, becoming his best choice instead.

He cleared his mind and suppressed distracting thoughts.

With focused attention, his human body’s microcosm began to actively accept the complete True Knowledge Dao Resonance.

The condensation of the Nascent Soul also had its own process.

As the saying goes, all those with blood and Qi contain the Primordial One as their essence, inherit Yin and Yang to establish their nature, and embody the Five Elements to take form. If there is form and substance, it can still be sought out.

The Primordial One as the essence is the key to condensing the Nascent Soul.

Within the body, the Five Mountains and Four Rivers are distinct, each with its own characteristics, forming the inner body spirits of the Five Peaks Mountain Gods, the Four Rivers Water Gods, and the Sun and Moon Heavenly Gods.

As the saying goes, the Five Mountains cover the Five Elements, the Four Rivers connect the four directions, and the two luminaries clarify Yin and Yang.

The Nascent Soul, however, stands apart; its greatest characteristic is having no characteristics.

A Nascent Soul with no characteristics values neutrality and harmony.

The quality of neutrality and harmony must be bland and tasteless, thus capable of adjusting the Five Elements, transforming the four seasons, and responding to Yin and Yang in due course. Therefore, it can hold the foremost position and be worthy of being called 'Primordial'.

The Nascent Soul, its essence nameless, is therefore salty but not alkaline, bland but not common, simple but not ornate, refined but not ostentatious, thus capable of inspiring awe and compassion, discerning and humble, adapting to external changes, and achieving impartiality.

As the central coordinating inner body spirits, the part where the Nascent Soul is condensed is the brain, which perfectly aligns with the characteristics of the True Knowledge Dao Resonance.

A well-functioning Nascent Soul is like a complete central mechanism, capable of making one's Yin and Yang clear and harmonious, the Five Elements constant, internally wise and externally bright, moving like the sun and fire shining outwards, and still like metal and water reflecting inwards.

The True Knowledge Dao Resonance, from an “external Dao Dao Resonance,” completely became a part of Li Qi's body, transforming into a rule of his human body’s microcosm.

The familiar progress bar was gone forever.

Because the essence of this Dao Resonance truly belonged to Li Qi; it was no longer an external object but a part of himself.

The Nascent Soul was also formed as a result.

When Li Qi opened his eyes again, his Nascent Soul was already fully condensed.

Li Qi's foundation was profound, and condensing his inner body spirits was a natural progression; he had merely been delaying it before.

Now that he actively pushed it, everything flowed even more naturally.

The Nascent Soul was formless yet had substance, without a specific shape, but rather filled the entire body, beginning to coordinate the operation of the human body’s microcosm.

But after successfully condensing it, Li Qi immediately felt his body become even more perfectly harmonious.

The principles of life and destiny are wonderfully clear and truly constant, naturally generating and transforming, perfectly harmonious throughout the body, from inside to out, without any distinction, even more so, entirely integrated.

The Qi circulation within his body was neither dangerous nor rushed, like a snake gliding on water, alive but not dead, still but not motionless, coiling without rigidity, a swirling circle, with relaxed form and harmonious Qi, yet not completely detached.

Li Qi clenched his fist, then released it.

His control over power had simply increased by… an unknown amount.

Li Qi felt that he could now punch from a hundred meters away, and the wind from his punch would just peel the shell off a hard-boiled egg without damaging the egg itself.

And he bet that this feeling was not wrong.

Because, with the help of the ‘True Knowledge’ Dao Resonance, he had almost absolute control over his own body!

The Nascent Soul had a complete understanding of the body!

Every muscle fiber in his body, every inch of space in his human body’s microcosm, he understood perfectly. All secrets had been revealed, and there was no part of his entire body that he couldn't control.

His intestines, heart, and blood vessels were all brought under conscious control.

If he didn't want to, he could even stop his metabolism.

He had achieved meticulous control.

Those two streams of Jin Qi (Metal Energy) were also completely mastered.

As a body god condensed, the strength of his human body’s microcosm also increased, and his cultivation became even more refined.

“The True Knowledge Dao Resonance is still there, and its effect remains. It’s just that there’s no progress bar anymore, but this is even better; my perception is much sharper,” Li Qi murmured to himself, then opened his eyes.

Just as he opened his eyes, the transit had already ended.

And in front of him sat Chan Zhi the Monk.

He had arrived on Chan Zhi the Monk’s Five-Tiered Pagoda at some unknown point.

Chan Zhi the Monk seemed to have been waiting for Li Qi for some time.

Seeing Li Qi awaken, he proactively said, “Young Master has excellent composure. Being summoned by this humble monk, he showed no panic at all, and was even able to cultivate along the way. His mental fortitude far surpasses that of ordinary people.”

“Moreover, his talent is also extremely astonishing. At only the ninth-grade, he has already integrated the Dao Resonance into himself. When my Master bestowed Dao Resonance upon me, I could barely use it during the ninth-grade. It wasn't until after the seventh-grade that I fully integrated and manifested it, forming this Pagoda. Young Master being able to fully integrate it at the ninth-grade, his talent is truly top-tier.”

“Excellent mental fortitude, outstanding composure, top-tier talent. You must come from a prestigious family. Would you be willing to reveal a bit to this humble monk?”

Listening to Chan Zhi’s gentle words, Li Qi, however, became fully vigilant.

But Li Qi also showed a simple and honest smile, and honestly replied, “To tell you the truth, Great Master, this junior comes from Shaman God Mountain and is a true Shaman Dao orthodox. I can certainly help Great Master dispel his demonic thoughts and regain his Buddhist heart.”

Li Qi didn't mention the previous unpleasantness at all, as if it had never happened.