Chapter 101: Seeking the Inner Path

In this moment, an ancient incantation flows forth from the mouth of Gu Wu Di, each word whispered into the void forms ancient characters of the great Dao, cold and lustrous, as if cast from metal.

One after another, these characters manifest, encircling Gu Wu Di, creating a unique formation.

Soon, an immense suction emanates from within this formation, and the chaotic energy concentrated along the altar's central axis suddenly finds an outlet, rushing eagerly into the heart of the ancient character array.

Guided by this formation, the chaotic energy enters Gu Wu Di's body, permeating his blood vessels, saturating the particles of his flesh and spirit, spreading into every corner.

Initially, the heavy and obscure chaotic energy causes significant damage to his flesh and spirit particles, with many unable to withstand the immense pressure and shattering instantly.

Outwardly, his entire body flushes crimson, a sign of internal bleeding, but this is quickly obscured by the chaotic energy, making everything indistinct.

In this process, Gu Wu Di endures tremendous pain; however, such agony is trivial to him, long accustomed as he is.

At this moment, every particle within his body becomes an independent entity, like grains of sand in a river of chaos, grinding against one another.

Some are crushed and annihilated, while others teeter on the brink of destruction, yet through relentless honing, these particles grow more resilient and robust, gradually adapting to the chaotic environment.

The voids left by shattered particles continuously fill with new particles.

Over time, Gu Wu Di's body begins to stabilize, acclimating to its current environment.

Nevertheless, the formation surrounding him soon changes, drawing in chaotic energy that is a full tier stronger than the previous.

It is as if the mesh enlarges, allowing more potent chaos to enter.

This new surge of chaos delivers a tremendous impact on the particles within Gu Wu Di's body, scattering many particles that endured the first honing, causing them to crack and fall. Yet, a significant portion survives, becoming ever more solidified.

A more brutal round of honing commences, and Gu Wu Di endures it in silence, bearing indescribable suffering.

Uncertain of how much time passes, his body eventually calms once again, adjusted to the second wave of chaotic refinement.

Particles rolled within the long river of chaotic energy. Each one was crystalline and solid, impervious to the crushing force of chaos.

In this moment, Gu Wu Di's body possessed extraordinary power, unimaginably strong even without cultivation.

Moreover, when his body transformed into individual particles, he gained deeper control over himself, far surpassing what was previously possible. It was a new and fascinating experience.

As Gu Wu Di looked inward and attempted to manipulate these particles, the third round of chaotic grinding silently began.

A tremendous pain descended, causing him to involuntarily let out a muffled groan. He quickly withdrew his focus, immersing himself in his cultivation.

Not long after, the third round of grinding ended, and the fourth began... The suffering seemed endless, with no reprieve in sight.

Eventually, Gu Wu Di's consciousness grew blurred, his senses numb, as if traversing an infinite hell.

Despite this, a deep-seated conviction persisted within him, to use himself as a seed, paving a new path and becoming invincible in the world.

Finally, the sound of friction from the collision between particles and chaotic energy ceased abruptly.

Gu Wu Di's body stopped quaking, becoming completely firm and stable.

He slowly opened his eyes, fatigue and indifference filling his gaze.

Anyone who endured such relentless pain would become numb and indifferent.

The altar remained unchanged, but it no longer emitted the qi of the sun and moon, nor was there any trace of the chaotic energy that aided his physical refinement, as if it had all been an illusion.

Yet, the transformation in Gu Wu Di told the entire story.

At this moment, although devoid of cultivation, he was technically a mortal. However, his body was divine, awe-inspiring, constantly radiating brilliant light, even his hair shimmering with unimaginable energy.

With each breath, all the particles in his body resonated, able to unleash vast power with a mere gesture. He was far more powerful than in the peak of his previous cultivation realm, making it difficult to imagine his strength when truly using himself as a seed.

Upon introspection, Gu Wu Di, despite his unparalleled composure and wisdom, could not help but be astonished, shaking his head in admiration.

His body was like a masterful creation of the Dao, each particle of blood and spirit clear and distinct, resembling brilliant stars. Each possessed tremendous potential, waiting for him to explore and develop.

The chaos energy's tempering played an unparalleled role in achieving such a state, as Gu Wu Di underwent not just one cycle, but perhaps nine or even ten cycles, refining the particles within his body to the utmost limit.

Eventually, he reached his apex, and the altar acknowledged his suitability for using his body as a seed, ceasing its activity.

This highlighted how arduous the path of using one's body as a seed truly was, necessitating a supremely strong physical vessel to withstand the impact of supreme laws.

As Gu Wu Di familiarized himself with this immensely powerful body, a thought crossed his mind, and the particles comprising his heart faintly trembled. Following with a loud "boom," the entire void shuddered. Should any being be near him, they would surely suffer immense shock, with the mildest outcome being intense heartache, and the worst, bleeding from seven orifices.

When the particles of his limbs vibrated at an unusual frequency, he possessed an earth-shattering might, capable of overturning the world with a mere gesture.

Gu Wu Di felt as if this was a body made for battle, perfect in every aspect. All the particles adhered to his commands seamlessly, each ready to unleash vast potential, yielding various effects through different vibrational frequencies — innumerable changes and impeccable defenses.

After a long time, fully adapting to his body, he resolved to embark on a crucial step: using his body as a seed.

"Using one's body as a seed..."

Shi Hao had entered an immortal egg nurturing a holy spirit, to bear karma and calamities in its stead, leading to an affinity with heaven and earth's great Dao, thus avoiding numerous tribulations. Ultimately, using a trick, he succeeded in using his body as a seed.

Currently, without the assistance of such an immortal egg, all he possessed was an altar left behind by the King of Ten Thousand Tribulations.

Gu Wu Di pondered whether he should stop now to seek out his father Wang Gen, asking for his aid in using his body as a seed. Yet, upon careful consideration, it seemed his father was likely in extreme danger, probably unable to assist. Additionally, the King of Ten Thousand Tribulations was a master in using the body as a seed.

Though he had not succeeded, his accomplishments in this field were incredible.

This altar was the most precious treasure he left for future generations, and Gu Wu Di saw no reason to abandon its use.

He took a deep breath, adjusting all the blood and spirit particles within his body, readying himself for this epoch-making endeavor.

Shi Hao's endeavor of using his body as a seed took place amidst the fragmented skies and earth. The oppressive force of the world's great path did not loom so terrifying. In contrast, Gu Wu Di faced the complete and mighty Primordial Ancient Realm, where the forces of the heavens were far more dreadful, and the tribulations awaiting him were truly horrifying.

Yet, should he succeed, the fruit of the path he would obtain would be astonishing, enough to captivate this entire era.

Due to Gu Wu Di's profound understanding of the great path, coupled with not only the myriad concepts left by the King of Ten Thousand Tribulations regarding using the body as a seed, but also Shi Hao's successful experiences, he could avoid numerous detours.

But first, it was imperative to clarify the nature of the great path.

What constitutes the path?

The ancients stated: "The path that can be spoken of is not the eternal path. The name that can be named is not the eternal name." Everything is elusive, all belongs to the natural order of heaven and earth; forceful seizure is futile, non-action is liberation.

However, cultivators are to defy the heavens, pursuing the path. Ultimately, the practices of cultivation, understanding the path, mastering path laws, harmonizing with the path, and other endeavors are merely specific small rules, far from the ultimate essence of the great path.

What cultivators seize are but mere fragments of the true great path—it could be a piece obtained or an insight into a segment. True comprehension of all would mean transcendence eons ago.

Powerful cultivators understand that the great path is formless, has no fixed pattern, and is elusive, yet remains supreme.

Yet, throughout the endless years, when cultivators perceive parts of the path during their enlightenment, they often mistakenly deem to have understood a certain great path or grasped a certain principle.

It's due to this misunderstanding that the so-called three thousand paths or myriad paths are spoken of.

In reality, this is merely a portion of the tangible paths. All tangible paths indicate the myriad ways spread across the heavens, innumerable even without the numeric limit suggested by 'ten thousand,' just as 'ten thousand' in 'give rise to myriad things.'

Beyond tangible paths exists an even grander, vaster intangible path. Compared to the tangible path, it remains elusive to cultivators' access or comprehension.

Together, the tangible and intangible paths compose the whole "path," pervasive, omnipresent, and yet profoundly elusive.

In their pursuit of the ultimate path, worldly cultivators attempt to piece together known great paths, aiming to articulate the grand forces and wield the might of the Dao. However, they ultimately discover that their actions are futile, pale, and only a partial expression of the Dao.

Using one's body as the seed, however, is different. The quest for the inner path seeks the complete Dao, encompassing both the formless and the formed. Thus, it is a true supreme path, leading to the ultimate.

"The Dao is formless, has no set posture, and all things under heaven are subsumed beneath its canopy. Meanwhile, all creation springs forth, and each grain and world is perceived by the ancient monk lineage as 'one sand, one world; one leaf, one Bodhi.' This speaks to how every form in this world can be seen as its own microcosm."

The inner path cultivated by Shi Hao views the human body as a great universe, with the spirit, blood, and inner being as the inner path. My practice, however, perceives each particle of flesh and spirit as a microcosm, defining the world within each particle as the unique and singular Dao—a world within a grain, a universe within a speck," Gu Wu Di murmured, fully comprehending.

He then began his cultivation, using his body as the seed.

For a cultivator, seeking the inner path and inviting myriad cosmic paths into the body is an essential step, for only through mutual validation can one discover the formless inner path. Otherwise, the cultivator cannot study or pursue it.

Thus, the altar gleamed, emanating chains of divine order, weaving a formed path in the void, while emitting an unformed grand force, constructing the formless path. Merging the two created a field of the great path, which, although not the entirety of the singular Dao, represented a complete understanding of a Celestial King.

Sitting cross-legged in the great path field, Gu Wu Di without hesitation drew the chains of divine order and the principles of the great path into his body, transforming them into rolling rivers coursing through his being.

Every particle of flesh and spirit served as the riverbed's dust and stones, absorbing the great Dao of heaven and earth, observing how the myriad path principles extend and intertwine infinitely.

This process proved extremely dangerous, immediately invoking a Dao calamity. The whole altar trembled, enduring tremendous impact.

Internal observations were equally perilous. Despite the tempering of flesh and spirit particles, they were still ground to pieces by the principalities of the great path. Thankfully, Gu Wu Di had pre-emptively consumed elixirs, hidden within, to handle dire moments like this.

Shattered particles were restored to their original fullness, now more mysterious, ancient, and profound. Through fragmentation, the resonance between internal and external Dao principles caused the particles to stir, progressively revealing the inner path.

Upon initially grasping the gateway, Gu Wu Di could scarcely celebrate before countless golden hammers in the void precisely struck his body, making him cough blood, dimming his soul, nearly killing him.

He realized this was a warning from the great heaven. Even the altar built by a Celestial King could not block it, breaking through layers of barriers to deliver its deadly blow.

If he dared another step forward, the summoned calamity would be more terrifying, potentially costing him his life.

However, Gu Wu Di could not retreat. For him, using his body as a seed meant success or death, with no third option. He had long disregarded the matter of life and death.

Therefore, he ignored the warnings from the vast cosmos and drew the principles of the heavens to his side. He observed the tiniest factors that make up the divine chains of order, exploring how the Dao was constructed, and sought to comprehend the grand Dao, transitioning from the micro to the macro, achieving a full understanding and profound analysis.

With each of his actions, all the laws of the world descended, transforming into chains that wrapped around him, weaving an immense human-shaped net, layer upon layer, until it formed a cocoon of the Dao.