Ao Sheng and Xiao Die listened with full attention. Their faces showed tension, but also a deep sense of curiosity. They knew that every word from their Senior was a priceless spiritual treasure.

  "Senior, how do we conquer these two opposing Laws?" Ao Sheng asked. His Black Water Dragon King Spear felt much heavier in the Crimson Land Valley, as if rejecting the density of the Primal Earth.

  Zhi Xuan smiled thinly, a smile that showed cold wisdom. "Conquer? No one conquers the Laws of Nature, Ao Sheng. We only seek balance and understanding."

  Zhi Xuan shifted his gaze, sharpening his divine sense and trying to find lingering footprints or spiritual traces. After the threat from the Eternal Slaughter Temple, he and the two children were certainly not alone here; surely something or someone had arrived before him.

  Zhi Xuan exhaled. The hot air of the Crimson Land Valley was immediately filtered by the pores of his skin, where the Slaughter Seals refined it into acceptable essence. He felt his divine sense penetrate the dense layers of Primal Earth, searching for spiritual presence besides the traces of the battle he had just created.

  "The Eternal Killing Temple was just bait. The actual employer must know that this Crimson Land Valley holds secrets," Zhi Xuan muttered. He looked toward the north, to a darker part of the valley, where thick maroon mist loomed high, as if the core of the Earth and Fire Laws resided there.

  He saw it. Deep within the dark valley, there were very faint footprints—steps that left no physical mark on the dense red earth, but left a thread of spiritual sense upon the Earth Law itself. The spiritual trace was faint, yet Zhi Xuan could recognize the fluctuations of a Soul Transformation expert there.

  "The real target," Zhi Xuan hissed, his voice containing a heavy tone. He immediately knew why the Eternal Slaughter Temple had only sent bait. They were not fighting Zhi Xuan; rather, they were stalling for time and testing his new strength. Zhi Xuan moved his hand, and the Heavenly Cauldron immediately hovered in front of Xiao Die and Ao Sheng.

  "Someone of the Soul Transformation realm has preceded us," Zhi Xuan explained coldly. He withdrew his divine sense and continued, "And they are hiding in the core of the valley. Get inside; I will not be able to save you if that Soul Transformation expert acts while you are out here."

  Ao Sheng and Xiao Die did not hesitate. They knew their limits well. Fighting cultivators in the Five Element realm was already a challenge, let alone facing a Soul Transformation expert. They leaped into the Heavenly Trifold Reincarnation Cauldron. Once they were inside, Zhi Xuan sent the Heavenly Cauldron back into his Sea of Consciousness.

  Zhi Xuan was now alone, standing in the middle of the Crimson Land Valley filled with a heavy, hot aura. With the Heavenly Cauldron carrying the two children inside his Sea of Consciousness, he had no burdens or worries. His silvery hair fluttered subtly, contrasting with the red dust around him.

  He stepped forward, his feet treading on the cracked red earth. Each of his steps no longer left a deep imprint, even though the soil was so dense. His essence aura, which now carried the depth of the Extreme Ice Law, subtly rejected the pressure of the Primal Earth, creating a nearly invisible balance.

  The heat of the Crimson Land Valley no longer felt as though it were burning his skin; his Heavenly-Blood Body Law neutralized it, turning it into a tolerable warmth. Zhi Xuan lifted the Heavenly Sword. Its black blade, enveloped in red Lightning runes, emitted a cold light, opposing the colors of the valley.

  He no longer hid his power. In this valley, where a Soul Transformation cultivator was hiding, disguise was a foolish act. He had to show his presence, sending a signal of danger to anyone who dared disturb his Dao.

  He followed the faint spiritual trail, moving toward the thick maroon mist at the core of the valley. The deeper he stepped, the denser the Earth and Fire Laws became. The ground beneath him vibrated slightly, and the cracks emitted a deep magma glow. The air became thick, filled with hot and heavy volcanic dust.

  In his Sea of Consciousness, the Heavenly Samsara Wheel rotated. The three pillars of Wind, Lightning, and Extreme Ice pulsed, responding to the pressure of the surrounding Laws. The seeds of the Earth and Fire Laws in his empty pillars trembled, as if waking from a long sleep, thirsty for the understanding that would complete them.

  Zhi Xuan continued to move, his eyes narrowing as he pierced through the maroon mist. The spiritual trail was cut off, but another trail appeared, emitting a stable, ancient aura—clearly not the aura of a cultivator with malicious intent. It was more like the aura of a hermit who had meditated for a long time, merging with the natural energy around him.

  He arrived at a steep cliff covered in giant cacti and blackened basalt rocks. At the base of the cliff, hidden behind thick hanging vines, was a narrow crevice—a cave. From inside the cave, a peaceful Soul Transformation aura radiated steadily, mixed with the calming scent of incense and ancient ink.

  Zhi Xuan stepped inside without hesitation. The cave was narrow at first but soon widened into a spacious, high chamber. The walls were decorated with intricate paintings depicting mountains, rivers, and mythological creatures, all painted in an ancient style that radiated spiritual Dao.

  In the center of the cave, sitting cross-legged on a bamboo tatami, was an old man in a worn, cream-colored Taoist robe. His hair and beard were long and white as snow, tied with a simple jade hairpin. In his hand, he held a fine brush, and before him lay an unfinished ancient silk scroll. His eyes were closed, his spiritual aura calm, as if he had completely merged with the nature of the Crimson Land Valley.

  He was a Taoist Priest. As soon as Zhi Xuan entered, the Taoist Priest opened his eyes slowly. His pupils were clear and peaceful, radiating deep wisdom like two ancient springs reflecting the sky. He showed no surprise or fear, only a thin smile that greeted Zhi Xuan.

  "Welcome, young Daoist," the Taoist Priest greeted, his voice soft and resonant, like a calming wind melody. "Your face looks tired; your arrival was intended for the understanding of the Heavenly Way."

  Zhi Xuan simply stood at the entrance, letting his cold Extreme Ice aura meet the peaceful warmth of the Taoist Priest. He stored the Heavenly Sword. His movements were graceful, but the vigilance in his eyes did not diminish. He observed every detail in the cave, from the ancient ink that emitted a balanced Wood essence to the basalt rocks supporting the cave.

  "This Senior is not the person I am looking for," Zhi Xuan replied calmly. He clasped his hands and bowed slightly, instinctively respecting the difference in cultivation. "This Zhi apologizes if I have disturbed the threads of Senior's Dao."

  "You seek someone else, yet you meet me," the Taoist Priest replied, his smile deepening, his eyes implying an understanding of the Dao of Heaven and Earth. He gestured with his hand toward a nearby basalt rock. "Sit, young Daoist. The Heavenly Way rarely brings you what you seek, but rather what you need."

  Zhi Xuan raised a thin eyebrow. Although this Taoist Priest was clearly in the Soul Transformation realm, his aura had no killing intent or aggressive fluctuations, completely different from the spiritual trace of the assassin he had felt earlier. However, Zhi Xuan remained vigilant. He did not underestimate a cultivator capable of hiding so deeply in the Crimson Land Valley, especially one with such a high aura of peace.

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  Zhi Xuan sat cross-legged on the basalt rock, letting the heat from the stone seep into his black robe. He felt the dense and stable Earth Law flow from the rock, slowly but surely pressing against his essence aura. He did not reject it; he allowed the Earth Law to test the foundation of his Extreme Ice Law.

  Zhi Xuan looked around for a moment; he could see paintings of a sword stuck above a river, a lotus blooming above the clouds, and a dragon twisting across the horizon. Zhi Xuan could feel a strong but non-threatening spiritual presence from the paintings, as if he were seeing the scenery of the paintings laid out before him, no longer just painted within a scroll.

  The Taoist Priest smiled seeing Zhi Xuan's attention turned to the paintings on the wall. He put down his brush, picked up a jade cup beside him, and poured a clear liquid into it. A calming herbal scent immediately filled the room.

  "Those paintings are reflections of the Dao I seek," the Taoist Priest said softly. "Sometimes, young Daoist, to understand the majesty of a Law, we must see how the opposing Law can reside within it. A sword in the river. Fire above the clouds. Earth within the Wind."

  Zhi Xuan gave a small nod, his eyes returning to the Taoist Priest. "Has Senior Daoist been meditating here for many years?"

  "A year is but a grain of dust on the Heavenly Way," the Taoist Priest exclaimed, his laughter light like the tinkling of stone bells. He floated the jade cup toward Zhi Xuan. "A heart that is doubtful and restless is like a lotus blooming above the clouds, yet hesitant to fall down upon the earth. A heart that is diligent and wise is like a sword stuck above the river, splitting the flow of the stream as if unshaken by the storm."

  Zhi Xuan caught the jade cup floating toward him. The clear liquid inside emitted a thin steam, but when the cup was in his hand, he felt calm Wood and Water energy, balancing the heat of the Crimson Land Valley. He inhaled the scent; it was a rare mixture of Cold Jade Orchid and Thousand-Year Earth Root, a concoction that soothed the soul and strengthened the foundation.

  "Thank you, Senior," Zhi Xuan replied. He sipped the liquid slowly. A soft sweetness immediately spread, followed by pure and balanced energy that swam into his meridians. He felt the Wood and Water Divine Organs in his body pulse, receiving nutrition he had not expected.

  The Taoist Priest smiled with satisfaction. He took another cup for himself, the contents being the same. "A river's water, though it flows, still requires the boundaries of the Earth to determine its path," he said, sipping his drink. "Water without boundaries becomes a chaotic ocean; Earth that is too dense becomes a deadly prison. Balance is a difficult Dao to grasp."

  Zhi Xuan set down his cup. The words were simple, but contained deep Dao truths, especially for a cultivator seeking the Dao of the Five Elements. He thought about how his dynamic Wind and Lightning Laws must now be juxtaposed with the static Extreme Ice Law, and soon must be connected to the dense Earth and burning Fire.

  "River water flowing needs Earth to determine its path," Zhi Xuan repeated with a slight frown. He only thought that Extreme Ice was not capable of being flowed; rather, it would dominate its surroundings and cause the environment to freeze. "This Junior has tempered the Extreme Ice that freezes the plains, the Lightning that destroys the Heavens, and the Wind that carries Eternal movement."

  The Taoist Priest smiled peacefully, his clear and calm gaze now shifting to the painting of the sword stuck above the river.

  "Extreme Ice, Destructive Lightning, Eternal Wind," the Taoist Priest murmured, his voice containing a deep resonance. "Three Laws that are absolute tyrannies. However, do not those three tyrannies, in the end, still require a vessel? Your Lightning's destruction must strike something, your Wind's movement must move in a space, and your Extreme Ice's frozen state must dominate a place."

  The Taoist Priest tapped the basalt rock they sat on gently with his index finger. A subtle ripple of Earth Law spread. The rock felt increasingly dense, as if the weight of the entire Crimson Land Valley centered there.

  "That vessel is the Earth, young Daoist. Earth is absolute silence, supporting all cries. It absorbs all the destruction of Lightning, it becomes the footing for the movement of Wind, and it is the foundation upon which your Extreme Ice can stand unshakable. Without Earth, your Lightning would vanish in the void, your Wind would be directionless, and your Extreme Ice would be but a floating illusion."

  Zhi Xuan fell silent. The philosophy struck him with a simple yet inevitable truth. He had always viewed the Earth Law as a passive, slow, and less aggressive Law compared to his Lightning and Wind Laws. However, he now saw it as an absolute anchor. Earth was an absoluteness different from Extreme Ice. Extreme Ice rejected movement; Earth supported movement.

  "Earth supports," Zhi Xuan repeated. He closed his eyes and let the dense Earth essence from the basalt rock seep deeper. Within his Sea of Consciousness, the seed of the Earth Law in the Heavenly Samsara Wheel vibrated. He began to realize that he no longer needed to fight against the density of the Crimson Land's earth. "Supporting the entire Earth upon one's shoulders, yet still stepping upon the blazing fires of Hell. Senior, what is the meaning of those words?"

  The Taoist Priest smiled peacefully, his gaze now shifting to a painting depicting a hermit sitting cross-legged on a sea of fire, with mountains looming upon his shoulders.

  "The Heavenly Way, the Devil Way—all possess a burden. When heaven and earth had not yet been created, good and evil had not yet been determined," the Taoist Priest explained, his voice calm yet possessing a suffocating weight. "Nature continues to change; destruction continues to come in various cycles. That destruction produces the burden of karma. Earth is about the burden itself. It accepts all burdens, supports all existences, without ever complaining or collapsing."

  Zhi Xuan felt his body, even his spiritual body in the Sea of Consciousness, feel increasingly heavy. He suddenly remembered all the souls he had absorbed into the Soul Lantern and all the blood that had become fertilizer for his Slaughter Seals. It was a burden he had to carry, a burden of karma and inevitable power. The Earth Law was the acceptance of one's own destined burden.

  "Earth is the acceptance of one's own destined burden," Zhi Xuan murmured, his spiritual voice almost inaudible. He opened his eyes. The flash of ice sapphire blue within them now felt dimmer, replaced by a newly found depth. He no longer saw the Taoist Priest as a stranger to be guarded against, but as a manifestation of the Dao that had been waiting for him.

  The Taoist Priest laughed lightly, one hand raised and stroking his snow-white beard. He moved his hand and brought out a silk scroll depicting a person standing above a graveyard, with a sword stuck beside him.

  "The Great Way, anyone can walk through it," the Taoist Priest said, his voice light like a bell rung by a silk thread. He moved his brush, and immediately there was poured onto the graveyard painting a sea of Fire where humans wailed. "Birth and Destruction are two things that are in harmony. How can one understand the meaning of birth without destruction? Destruction always brings Birth; Birth will always end with destruction."

  Zhi Xuan flinched slightly; in his eyes, the painting was no longer black ink, but a depiction of someone continuing to walk amidst destruction and birth everywhere—birth bringing calamities that resulted in destruction, yet destruction again bringing birth.

  "Embers are the Destruction that brings Birth, but what is the true meaning of Embers," the Taoist Priest continued softly, his wisdom as if piercing through Zhi Xuan's body and making him sink and merge with nature. "A diligent heart is the Embers. Embers that burn brightly in the midst of the silence of the universe are those who are capable of stepping through the Great Way."

  Zhi Xuan stared at the silk scroll just touched by the Taoist Priest's brush. There, between the graveyard headstones and the sea of fire, stood a lone figure with a sword stuck beside him. The image spoke of an eternal cycle—life emerging from ashes, and destruction being the fertilizer for renewal. The Embers, remaining after the storm, were the symbol of perseverance and the courage to accept that cycle.

  Zhi Xuan closed his eyes. Inside his Sea of Consciousness, the seed of the Fire Law that was previously sluggish now ignited with a sharp spark. He no longer saw Fire as energy that merely burned; he saw it as the Embers of Life—the determination remaining after everything was destroyed, promising rebirth. Fire was inevitable destruction, but also the courage to start again.

  The Earth Law seed, which had just received the philosophy of burden and support, resonated calmly, balanced with the newly found spark of Embers. Earth accepted destruction, and Fire was the result of that destruction, which then became energy for new birth upon the Earth. He opened his eyes, a flash of cold and weighted enlightenment radiating within them.

  "Thank you, Senior," Zhi Xuan said sincerely. He lowered his head, bowing deeply. This deep bow showed profound respect, not only to a Soul Transformation cultivator but to a spiritual master who had given him the keys to two fundamental Daos. "This Zhi has understood. Earth is to bear the burden. Fire is the diligence that burns."

  The Taoist Priest smiled with satisfaction, the smile spreading to every wrinkle on his face. He waved his hand, and the silk scroll containing the painting of the cycle of life and death rolled back up by itself.

  "The Heavenly Dao will be filled with suffering and loneliness," the Taoist Priest said again, his voice becoming soft and calming once more. He pointed to a crevice in the rocks located in the corner of the cave. "That place, please feel free for this young Daoist to use. May the Heavenly Dao lead the young Daoist to acknowledge this Universe full of mysteries."