[Sea of Bitterness].
Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon's Sword Dao had now transformed into a heavenly pillar. One end rested on the sea surface, while the other pointed straight toward the dome of the sky above the [Sea of Bitterness].
Looking out, it extended roughly over three thousand meters.
However, the [Sea of Bitterness] was a vast expanse. Three thousand meters was no different from an ant to it, and this length couldn't compare to the Dharma Body Dao either.
But it was more than enough to satisfy Mu Changsheng.
"This is Void Attainment!"
Mu Changsheng circled around the Sword Dao, muttering to himself excitedly: "So that's how it is. Infinitely absorbing the water of the Sea of Bitterness to improve..."
Mu Changsheng was not a fool.
The reason he was targeted by the Saint Sect Ancestor was that he touched a taboo. But since he was valued by Heaven, it showed he still had talent.
After all, from the perspective of [Supreme Dao Transformation], he could at least maintain a human form. Under the judgment standards of someone at [Sky-Shrouding]'s level, this was actually already quite remarkable talent. So at this moment, after observing the Sword Dao, inspiration constantly burst forth in his heart.
"I understand."
Suddenly, Mu Changsheng clapped his hands, his face showing excitement: "Dao Fruit and Great Dao are indeed two completely different things, belonging to different fields!"
Lu Yang was also clear on this point.
After all, the Grotto-Heaven Method targeted Dao Fruits, while the Void Attainment corresponding to the Great Dao didn't need a Grotto-Heaven at all. Just looking at this difference revealed the clue.
However, this view was still slightly superficial.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang actively looked at Mu Changsheng and smiled: "Then, in Fellow Daoist's view, what is the essential difference between Dao Fruit and Great Dao?"
He decided to copy Mu Changsheng.
Improving Dao comprehension, besides relying on one's own aptitude, discussing the Dao with knowledgeable people was also a good method. Working behind closed doors was ultimately inferior to brainstorming.
On the contrary, Mu Changsheng was stunned.
My Lord is actually asking me about such a thing? Isn't this something he has long known... Oh, I understand, this is testing me!
Testing my aptitude!
This is a good opportunity for me to improve!
With previous experiences, Mu Changsheng had almost made up his mind to cling tightly to Lu Yang's thigh. Now given the opportunity to perform, he naturally held nothing back:
"The difference lies in seeking the Dao!"
Mu Changsheng weighed his words, then said in a deep voice: "The Great Dao from Void Attainment, as the name implies, is actually a road leading to the Paramita."
"This road might only have a foundation at the beginning, requiring step-by-step construction and constant climbing. Only in this way is it possible to reach the Paramita one day. And in this process, the cultivator's cultivation base will also slowly climb. The stature and realm depend entirely on how far the Great Dao can go."
"However, Dao Fruit is different."
"Compared to the Great Dao, a Dao Fruit is more like a single step. Although it stands high from the start, it cannot extend infinitely like the Great Dao."
"So Dao Fruits need stacking and matching."
"Combining different Dao Fruits is equivalent to stacking steps one by one, finally turning into a staircase to ascend to the Paramita!"
Mu Changsheng proposed a brand-new perspective.
Dao Fruit is a staircase, Great Dao is a road. Both are methods for cultivators to reach the Paramita. This conceptual description felt refreshing to Lu Yang.
This description... is quite vivid!
And this could also explain a very important issue.
Why was the Great Dao from Void Attainment easier to look forward to becoming a Nascent Soul Dao Lord? Because the road was complete, every step was steady, and it was impossible to step into empty air.
However, the staircase was different.
Dao Fruit matching could at most have five elements. In other words, there were only five steps. Using only five steps to walk to the Paramita—the difficulty could be imagined.
If one wasn't careful and stepped into empty air...
The result would be a splat, directly falling and dying suddenly... So compared to others, cultivating Dao Fruits to seek Nascent Soul was far less reliable than Void Attainment Great Dao.
But this doesn't mean Dao Fruit is worse than Great Dao. Strictly speaking, it's even the opposite. Purely from the perspective of cultivation, Dao Fruit is undoubtedly the better choice. After all, compared to the Great Dao that requires Void Attainment, Dao Fruits are simply too compatible, and the cultivation difficulty is too much lower than Void Attainment.
For Void Attainment Great Dao, aptitude, talent, and opportunity—none could be missing.
But cultivating Dao Fruits was different. Ready-made things were placed there; one just needed to resonate with them. The difficulty was not on the same level.
Snapping back to reality, Lu Yang realized Mu Changsheng was still looking at him expectantly.
"Hmm... well said." He nodded.
"My Lord praises me too much!"
Mu Changsheng hurriedly cupped his hands, excited in his heart, then said: "Thank you, My Lord, for your help this time. This subordinate cultivator knows how to use [Heaven of Nothingness] to forge the path now."
"Oh? How?" Lu Yang asked again.
Mu Changsheng didn't answer immediately but started to act directly. He formed a hand seal and pointed, and [Heaven of Nothingness] responded, falling into the [Sea of Bitterness].
Immediately after, he said leisurely:
"Unlike ordinary Dao Fruits, the World Realm Seed distributed by the [Nourishing Life Master] has a special nature. It belongs to [Pseudo-Void Attainment], so it cannot truly form a road."
"But it can also absorb the concept water of the [Sea of Bitterness] to grow infinitely like ordinary Void Attainment Dao Fruits. In that case, just changing the line of thought will do... Since a road cannot be formed, then settle for the next best thing and build the stairs corresponding to the Dao Fruit."
In the Immortal Nexus, the Grotto-Heaven Method was at most stacking five Dao Fruits.
In this situation, wanting to go to the Paramita, there would inevitably be huge gaps between Dao Fruits. As a staircase, the probability of stepping into empty air was simply too high.
But [Heaven of Nothingness] was different.
"As a Dao Fruit built from a World Realm Seed, it is essentially an Unorthodox path too. The starting point is low, but it also doesn't have the flaw of only being able to use five Dao Fruits to combine."
"Plus, it can infinitely devour the water of the [Sea of Bitterness]. Then why not use ten, a thousand, ten thousand to build a staircase that won't have empty steps?"
This was [Pseudo-Void Attainment]!
"Clearly not a Great Dao, yet resembling a Great Dao. The almighty who built the [Nourishing Life Master] and developed the World Realm Seed was simply a peerless genius!"
Mu Changsheng sighed with heartfelt emotion.
Crude words but reasonable logic. The so-called road and staircase were essentially descriptions of cultivation. Although simple, they were progress in cultivation philosophy.
Boom!
In an instant, a roaring sound rang out within the [Sea of Bitterness]. Following Mu Changsheng's sudden enlightenment, the originally silent [Heaven of Nothingness] instantly bloomed with light.
This was cultivation.
If Dao comprehension was insufficient, it was like a leaf obstructing the view or watching the sky from a well. Even if one already had the aptitude to go further, it was difficult to walk out of the cage.
And if Dao comprehension was sufficient, the rest would basically come naturally.
Looking at Mu Changsheng in the [Sea of Bitterness], who was pushing [Heaven of Nothingness] to evolve with all his might, building steps and expanding the Great Dao, Lu Yang was quite satisfied in his heart.
Helping him wasn't in vain.
After all, Fellow Daoist Suo Huan is now also based on a Dao Fruit transformed from a World Realm Seed. With this insight from Mu Changsheng, he might also have a chance in the future.
However, just at this moment.
Lu Yang felt the Righteous Dao Banner shake violently with a boom. The flag surface fluttered, and the surrounding purple qi became increasingly dense. Under the layers of stacking, it gradually revealed its black essence.
"Patriarch?"
Lu Yang looked at Patriarch Nether Whisper who caused the Righteous Dao Banner to riot, somewhat dazed, because previously Patriarch Nether Whisper almost never made such a move.
Usually, Patriarch Nether Whisper would just stay in the internal space of the Righteous Dao Banner, either discussing the Dao with Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon and Suo Huan, or studying some things by himself. Although he always kept a shared interface with Lu Yang, he basically wouldn't interfere with his actions. This was the first time he actively showed himself.
Soon, Patriarch Nether Whisper's voice came out:
"Sure enough, listening more to others' understanding of the Dao has benefits... Lu Yang, I feel I can also forge a path. Right now, forging my [Heaven of Carefree]!"
Lu Yang was stunned upon hearing this. The Patriarch wanted to forge a path?
It wasn't impossible. After all, although [Heaven of Carefree] had been washed by the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes], its root was no different from Mu Changsheng's [Heaven of Nothingness].
"Does the Patriarch also want to make a staircase?" Lu Yang asked curiously.
However, what he didn't expect was that Patriarch Nether Whisper actually shook his head:
"I don't intend to be like Mu Changsheng... His staircase theory has some reason, but it is not the absolute truth. The Great Dao lies in the person; don't stick too much to conventions."
"As long as one can reach the Paramita, whether it's a Great Dao or a staircase, what is the difference?"
Speaking up to here, Patriarch Nether Whisper's usually calm eyes actually revealed a bit of passion:
"I intend to use the wonder of [Heaven of Carefree], the ability of [Ruyi Heart] to make fantasies come true... to create Five Elements Dao Fruits out of thin air... using this to elevate myself!"
Lu Yang was stunned for a moment upon hearing this.
Patriarch Nether Whisper spoke very obscurely, so much so that even he, who was most familiar with the other party, didn't understand it immediately. But he quickly reacted.
If Void Attainment walked out a road, and Mu Changsheng used the World Realm Seed to walk out a staircase, then Patriarch Nether Whisper's method was quite bizarre.
Lu Yang summarized it with his own understanding:
Simply put, Patriarch Nether Whisper intended to use [Ruyi Heart] to conjure Dao Fruits and create a propulsion rocket to send himself to the Paramita!