Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2061 Chapter 983: The Deity Imparts the Dao (Part 2)

To truly discover a path between the mortal realm and the domain of deities, a person must venture out and explore on their own.

"By the way," Mo Hua suddenly recalled a detail and inquired, "Mountain Lord, what can you tell me about 'dragons'? Do progression paths exist for a Dragon Soul?"

"Dragons?" Lord Yellow Mountain appeared momentarily dazed. "How does that relate to anything?"

Mo Hua found himself at a loss for words.

He certainly couldn't reveal to Lord Yellow Mountain that he had actually 'eaten' a dragon...

Instead, Mo Hua explained, "A while ago, I happened to cross paths with descendants of the Great Wilderness and saw a Dragon Soul. I was just curious, so I thought I'd ask."

Lord Yellow Mountain was visibly startled by this revelation and asked, "Then where has this Dragon Soul gone now?"

It's currently in my stomach... Mo Hua kept quiet for a brief second before replying, "I'm not entirely sure myself..."

Feeling a sense of regret, Lord Yellow Mountain pondered for a moment before speaking. "Dragons are divine beasts, and their souls are the essence of such creatures. In a way, they possess a presence that rivals a 'deity'."

"However, dragons are incredibly scarce, and finding a Dragon Soul is even rarer."

"Even during my long life as the God of Solitary Mountain, I rarely had the chance to see a Dragon Soul with my own eyes."

"The mysteries of the Dragon Soul are likely known only to the 'Dragon' race itself, or perhaps to humans carrying the bloodlines of True Dragons or Karma Dragons."

"Humans possessing the blood of True Dragons or Karma Dragons?" Mo Hua repeated.

Lord Yellow Mountain clarified, "The lineage of the Dao Court Emperor is the one that inherits the True Dragon blood. Meanwhile, the royal house of the Great Wilderness carries the blood of Karma Dragons."

"Furthermore, the blood of the Karma Dragon occasionally appears within the Northern Border, the Western Extreme, the Barbaric Wilderness, various hidden clans, and even some of the prominent Great Families of the current era."

Mo Hua felt a flash of realization.

He recalled Master Xia explaining the difference between True Dragons and Karma Dragons before.

However, learning about these specific factions possessing the Karma Dragon bloodline was entirely new information.

"Even the major clans and Great Families have Karma Dragon blood?"

Mo Hua couldn't help but think of his brave and talented junior brother, whose spear techniques were as fierce as a dragon's strike.

"Junior Brother belongs to the Bai Family and follows the Path of the Dragon; does that mean he also has the Karma Dragon's blood flowing through him?"

Mo Hua considered it a strong possibility.

He decided he would definitely have to ask the next time they met.

With his knowledge of the Divine Way nearly complete, Mo Hua mentally cataloged the vital details. He then looked back at Lord Yellow Mountain and noticed a faint golden light shimmering around him. Curious, he asked:

"Mountain Lord, you've..."

Mo Hua hesitated, choosing not to utter the words "Lifebound Divine Statue."

Walls have ears, and the world is full of listening spirits.

He carried many heavy karmic ties already. If those specific words were overheard and analyzed by someone with malicious intent, it could bring a sudden catastrophe upon Lord Yellow Mountain.

Instead, Mo Hua asked, "With that object, are you able to regain the peak strength you once held? You were incredibly powerful back then."

He had reached the summit of the Third Grade, only a hair's breadth away from becoming a Fourth Realm Mountain God.

His level of Cultivation was something even Evil Gods envied.

The sheer force of his divine skills had been breath-taking.

He had once commanded a massive Divine Temple and countless statues in his likeness.

His devotees must have been numerous, and the incense offerings must have been endless.

Comparing that glorious past to his current state, the difference was like heaven and earth.

Lord Yellow Mountain replied with a hint of joy, "Now that I have the origin, anything is possible, though the process will be slow. The path of a deity still demands a steady, gradual Cultivation."

Mo Hua was genuinely happy for him and asked further, "To reach the Third Grade again, is it necessary for you to establish many Taoist Fields and collect the incense of living souls?"

Lord Yellow Mountain shook his head in denial.

"You don't need to?" Mo Hua was surprised.

With a look of deep wisdom, Lord Yellow Mountain sighed softly. "The devotion of the living is nothing but an illusion."

"In this world, most beings—whether they are human, demon, or deity—are merely puppets controlled by fame, power, status, and authority."

"Humans are exactly the same..."

"A man with power is an emperor; without it, he is just a commoner."

"One with supreme Cultivation is honored as a master; if he loses it, he is nothing more than an ant in the vast universe."

"As a Mountain God, I am no different."

"When my Divine Thought was at its peak and I held immense power, I was naturally grand. Thousands bowed to me, and incense burned brightly..."

"But the one who was truly majestic wasn't me; it was the Might of Heaven and Earth that used me as its 'puppet'..."

"Those people weren't really worshiping me; they were bowing to the power of my divine form."

"Such devotion is fundamentally hollow."

"The moment the Might of Heaven and Earth vanishes, the crowds scatter and the incense stops. At my core, I would just be a minor Mountain God in a ruined temple, forgotten by everyone."

"Because of this, I have realized: deities are meant to uphold the Dao. They should avoid worldly cravings, cultivate in peace, and do good without demanding the worship of others, building vast networks of incense, or obsessively chasing cause and effect."

"If everything is an illusion, there is no reason to be happy when it arrives or sad when it fades. It is enough to focus on one's own Cultivation to realize the true origin..."

Lord Yellow Mountain's words were heavy with meaning.

Mo Hua fell into silent reflection.

He had heard this wisdom from Lord Yellow Mountain before, but it hadn't truly clicked until his experiences at Solitary Mountain. Now, the lesson felt entirely different.

Deities should seek the Dao, not the smoke of incense.

Incense is tied to the fickle hearts of people—it is fleeting and thin. However, the Great Dao resides within the fabric of Heaven and Earth, eternal and unchanging.

In the same vein, a cultivator should strive for the Dao, rather than just pursuing Cultivation levels, fame, wealth, or status.

Mo Hua nodded and gave Lord Yellow Mountain a respectful salute. "I am grateful for your guidance, Mountain Lord."

Lord Yellow Mountain waved his hand dismissively. "The hardships of life lead to small realizations; if my words help a friend, that is enough. I cannot accept such a formal gesture."

Mo Hua nodded. "You have truly been a great help."

The two of them continued their conversation over drinks for a while longer. As the night deepened, Mo Hua realized it was time to depart. He couldn't leave Elder Xun waiting outside forever.

Just as he was preparing to leave, Mo Hua paused and asked, "Cultivating here in this broken temple... will you be hounded by spirits?"