Chapter 1682 Comprehending the Principles of the Weaving of All Things

He revealed his purpose in detail while carefully observing the reactions of the ten Dao Lords.

The expected wariness and rejection did not appear immediately. Instead, several Dao Lords showed a mixture of surprise and contemplation, as well as an undisguised joy!

Daoist Baicao clapped his hands and laughed, "Great news! This is truly a great thing! When I cultivate spiritual plants and refine elixirs, I often struggle to obtain some rare and precious auxiliary medicines unique to the outside world. If we can connect the myriad worlds and complement each other's resources, it will be of immeasurable benefit to my alchemy and spiritual plant cultivation!"

The Heavenly Craftsman Daoist's eyes gleamed: "The Myriad Manifestations Merchant Alliance... it is said to gather rare and exotic irons from all the heavens, as well as countless unique weapon-refining concepts and blueprints! If we can observe and learn from them, it will surely allow our realm's weapon-crafting to advance further!"

Xuanhuang Daojun took in everyone's reactions, a smile appearing on his face as he looked at Zhang Xuan: "Fellow Daoist Zhang, it seems your actions are quite in line with the sentiments of us fellow Daoists. Although our Xuanhuang Realm seeks tranquility, it is not one to remain stagnant. Exchange with the outside world, learning from its strengths and compensating for our weaknesses, is also necessary on the path of cultivation. However..."

He changed the subject, his expression becoming slightly grave: "As you know, our realm has a unique atmosphere and dislikes fighting. If the spatial passage is opened wide, it will attract disturbances from the outside world, and even those with ulterior motives, which may disrupt the peace of our realm. We need a foolproof plan for this matter."

Zhang Xuan pondered for a moment and said, "Fellow Daoist Xuanhuang's concerns are very valid. I also do not wish to see the peace of your realm disturbed. Therefore, when constructing the spatial passage, I have a suggestion: I can use a secret technique to set this spatial thread connecting the Ascension Platform of the Myriad Manifestations Merchant Alliance as a one-way controllable channel, or rather... an access control channel."

"Authorized access channel?" The Dao Lords showed interest.

“Exactly,” Zhang Xuan explained. “This passage is usually in a dormant and hidden state. Only those who possess a specific Daoist key or obtain permission from the passage’s creator can activate and use it for two-way teleportation. Otherwise, even if Mahayana cultivators from the outside world find the approximate coordinates, they cannot force their way in. In this way, the right to open the passage and the movement of people are entirely in our hands.”

He paused, then continued, "I, Zhang, can swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao that this passage will only be used for trade and friendly exchanges, and will never allow anyone who is hostile to the Xuanhuang Realm or may disrupt its peace to enter. Your realm can also send cultivators through this passage to travel and trade at the Myriad Realms Crossroads. Everything will be within a controllable range."

This suggestion was exactly what the ten Dao Lords wanted!

It not only met their need to communicate with the outside world, but also ensured the safety of the Xuanhuang Realm to the greatest extent.

However, Xuanhuang Daojun still had some doubts about Zhang Xuan.

After all, the safety of an entire realm rests on the shoulders of one person, which is somewhat risky.

“Well… let’s talk about establishing trade routes later. Since Fellow Daoist Zhang has come to my Xuanhuang Great Realm, why don’t you take a tour here first?” said Xuanhuang Daojun.

Zhang Xuan knew that the other party still didn't trust him.

After all, his origins are mysterious, and he only talks empty words about establishing peaceful trade routes.

Who knows if Zhang Xuan will bring Mahayana cultivators from the outside world to dominate the Xuanhuang Great Realm after the passage is established?

However, this problem is difficult to solve in the short term.

At that moment, Zhang Xuan nodded and said, "Alright, I also really like this world and want to explore it thoroughly."

After everyone dispersed, Zhang Xuan temporarily stayed at the Xuanhuang Mountain villa.

He sat cross-legged on a futon in the quiet room, his eyes slightly closed, but his mind had already sunk into a vast and mysterious realm.

Within the sea of ​​consciousness, the ancient texts of "The Principles of the Weaving of All Things" shone like stars, each word a gem.

This supreme secret technique, obtained from the fortuitous rain of the Xuanhuang Daojun, is neither a killing or magical power nor a cultivation method; it is a tool that can unravel the causal threads of all arts and crafts.

He recalled his journey through various arts and crafts.

During the Golden Core stage, refining the Heavenly Ape Golden Core triggered the illusory image of the Heavenly Dragon Pill Emperor, displaying unparalleled domineering power.

During the Foundation Establishment stage, he cooked a large pot of dishes with a million catties of locusts and spiritual vegetable roots, which attracted the phantom of a fifth-order demon pig, turning decay into magic and giving him a preliminary glimpse into the way of spiritual cooking.

When forging the Blood Demon Sword, the connection between Heaven and Man was established, linking with the Dao of the Profound Heaven Blood Sword, and comprehending the innate weapon patterns.

When constructing the Bone Scale Array, one uses array control techniques to command a thousand array masters, grasp the flow of array patterns, and wield the power of the array patterns...

These experiences, illuminated by "The Principles of Everything," are like scattered pearls strung together by an invisible thread.

He realized that the highest level of all skills, such as alchemy, cooking, weapon forging, and formation, is not simply the accumulation of materials and the manipulation of energy, but rather a deep understanding of their underlying principles and the grasp of their inherent causes and conditions.

He first began to comprehend the spiritual culinary path that he had long since abandoned.

"Everything has its own inherent structure, and so do ingredients. The way of the spiritual chef, at the lower level, is to harmonize the five elements and stimulate spiritual energy; at the middle level, it is to integrate the Daoist principles and endow them with supernatural powers; while the high-level, and even the top-level, spiritual chef techniques directly reconstruct the inherent structure of the ingredients themselves, transforming decay into divine treasures, using the cauldron and stove as the universe, and performing the work of creation!"

The Great Dao Tree within his body, formed from the essence of all things, grew its tens of thousands of leaves ever greener and more vibrant, exuding a rich Daoist charm, as he comprehended the "Principles of the Weaving of All Things".

On this day, Steward Qinghe came to visit. Seeing that Zhang Xuan's aura was profound, he smiled knowingly and said, "Xuanhuang Daojun's 'The Principles of Weaving All Things' is infinitely mysterious. I never expected that it would be passed on to Fellow Daoist Zhang. Fellow Daoist Zhang must have benefited greatly from it. However, it is not common for him to create it in seclusion. If Fellow Daoist is interested, you may come with me to visit some old friends. Perhaps you can gain insights from it."

Zhang Xuanzheng had this intention, and immediately agreed: "That is exactly what I wish to do. I would be grateful if Fellow Daoist Qinghe could lead the way."

The first person that Deacon Qinghe took Zhang Xuan to visit was Tao Lao, whom he had met once during the All Souls Festival.

When Tao Lao saw Zhang Xuan arrive, especially sensing the increasingly profound Daoist aura emanating from him, a smile appeared on his chubby face: "Haha, Daoist Zhang, you've come at just the right time. I've recently acquired a jar of thousand-year-old Earth Milk Spring Wine, and I was just worried that there would be no one to share its wonders with."

The three sat around a table, savoring the exquisite brew.

Zhang Xuan did not hold back, sharing some of his insights from "The Principles of Weaving All Things." Although he did not delve into the core secrets, Tao Lao listened with shining eyes and exclaimed in admiration.

"Wonderful! I've mastered the art of cooking for a thousand years, relying on feel and experience—it's something that can only be understood intuitively, not explained in words. After listening to your words, my culinary skills have truly reached a new level!"

The glutton was in high spirits and personally demonstrated.

He manipulated the spirit fire under the stove. The flames were not uniformly intense, but divided into nine strands, which alternately wrapped around a piece of fifth-tier thick earth spirit rhinoceros meat.

The flames sometimes lightly pecked at the nodes of the fleshy fibers, and sometimes flowed along the veins containing the Daoist essence of earth, the whole process filled with a strange sense of rhythm.

Within Zhang Xuan's Wheel of Cause and Effect, it was no longer a simple burning flame, but nine different energy streams that precisely traveled along the natural Daoist patterns woven within the Thick Earth Spiritual Flesh.

"I have learned a lot!" Zhang Xuan exclaimed sincerely. "The fire of the gluttonous elder has already attained the samadhi of burning naturally, not through forced refining, but by guiding its own Dao essence to sublimate."

Tao Lao laughed heartily, thoroughly enjoying himself: "Discussing the Dao with you, fellow Daoist, is far better than a hundred years of seclusion! The phrase 'burning in accordance with reason' truly resonates with me!"