"I have seen the Taoist Reverend!"

The outstanding talents among the independent cultivators came forward to pay their respects upon seeing the arrival.

Li Chen's guess was correct, the white-haired, youthful-faced elder was indeed Zhang Daoling.

Zhang Daoling has lived for two thousand years, with cultivation reaching the Nascent Soul Peak, enough to contend with the Sect Leaders of the various major Heavenly Extreme Sects.

However, Zhang Daoling favors the Dao of Laozi and Zhuangzi, advocating tranquility and non-action, and has always remained detached from worldly affairs.

Besides, he also founded the Heavenly Dao Sect to promote his own Dao.

It's just that his Heavenly Dao Sect is quite loosely organized. Rather than calling it a sect, it would be more appropriate to call it a school.

All independent cultivator disciples can study and cultivate in his Heavenly Master Sect. But except for a lucky few, the vast majority can only stay for seven years.

After completing seven years of study, they go down the mountain on their own. Furthermore, when roaming the worldly society, they can no longer operate under the name of the Heavenly Dao Sect.

It is precisely because of this that Zhang Daoling holds high prestige among independent cultivators and is respectfully referred to as the Taoist Reverend.

Zhang Daoling nodded slightly as a return of the courtesy.

He then smoothed his silver-white beard and walked toward Li Chen.

"Presumably, this young friend is Immortal Master Li?"

A complex light flickered in Li Chen's eyes, his gaze wandering back and forth between Zhang Daoling and Yuann Tiangang.

At this moment, he was somewhat puzzled, wondering what these two intended?

There's no need to mention Yuann Tiangang. Leaving aside the feud between Yuann Tiangang and Li Chen's ancestor, Li Chunfeng, Li Chen had also fought with him over the Immortal Token on Shu Mountain.

New grudges combined with old, he and Yuann Tiangang were long-standing enemies down to the bitter end.

He and Zhang Daoling had no direct conflict, but in any case, the Heavenly Master Sect on Heming Mountain on Earth was destroyed by his own hands.

He slaughtered his disciples, cutting off their lineage. No matter how good-tempered, he would never easily let it go.

But now, the other party greeted him with a smiling face, which indeed left Li Chen puzzled, unable to understand what medicine was being sold in the gourd of the other party?

However, as the saying goes, one does not strike a smiling face.

Since the other party came with courtesy, he too should not be impolite.

With this in mind, Li Chen nodded slightly to Zhang Daoling in return for the courtesy.

He smiled gently and replied, "The title of Immortal Master Li is just a moniker given by the world. Taoist Reverend, you are the elder, please call me Li Chen!"

Zhang Daoling nodded and said, "Well said."

"Young friend Li Chen, my worthy nephew may have some unresolved grievances with you. Today, I wish to act as a mediator. May I ask you to give me some face, and let the two of you shake hands and make peace?"

"Huh?"

Hearing these words from Zhang Daoling unexpectedly, Li Chen's expression turned very surprised.

Li Chen looked up at Yuann Tiangang and saw him expressionless and full of depression. It was clear that this proposal for reconciliation was not his own intention.

However, since he could come here, it must mean he agreed to Zhang Daoling's proposal.

Since the other party came with sincerity, it would be hard for Li Chen to refuse.

After all, besides the conflict over the Jade Token on Shu Mountain, the main unresolved grudges between him and Yuann Tiangang were still primarily between his ancestor Li Chunfeng and him.

Moreover, it seems that his ancestor Li Chunfeng didn't suffer any loss; on the contrary, it was Yuann Tiangang who was imprisoned for a thousand years, suffering greatly.

Therefore, regarding those unresolved enmities from a thousand years ago, as long as the other party doesn't bring up old accounts, he is too lazy to bother with it.

What he couldn't understand now was Zhang Daoling's intention in doing all this.

Moreover, having wiped out the Heavenly Master Sect of Heming Mountain and severed its Earth inheritance, this grudge is stained with blood and not easily resolved.

With this in mind, Li Chen gazed at Zhang Daoling's expression and tentatively asked, "Taoist Reverend, shall we also turn the page on the grievances between us?"

Upon hearing Li Chen's words, Ye Lan, Li Xuewei, Chu Qing, and others looked utterly surprised.

No matter how demonic Li Chen's talent is, he is merely at the Foundation Establishment stage and has not yet formed a Golden Core. How could he have grievances with an old Nascent Soul Taoist?

They exchanged glances, each with a puzzled look on their faces.

Zhang Daoling, having already heard the full truth of the matter from Yuann Tiangang, had a touch of sorrow appear in his somewhat murky eyes.

After some contemplation, he recited a few supreme words of truth from the Taoists:

"The Ancient Lord said: The Great Dao is formless, born from heaven and earth. The Great Dao is emotionless, moving the sun and moon. The Great Dao is nameless, nurturing all things. I do not know its name, so I forcefully name it Dao. Human life and death are all predestined, irreversible!" (Note 1)

Yet before he finished speaking, Li Chen shook his head and said, "Not so. The Great Dao is fifty, and the Heavenly Calculation of 49. What is missing is the variance. Now, the Heavenly Dao is set, but union with the Dao is hopeless. Only through impermanence can one defy heaven to become a sage!" (Note 2)

These words spoken by Li Chen were sonorous and powerful, leaving everyone stunned and speechless.

Chu Qing, Ye Lan, and others looked at Li Chen as if he were an anomaly, staring at him in amazement.

They never expected that Li Chen's thinking would be so extreme and radical, even aiming to defy heaven to become a sage. To them, it was something unimaginable.

Hearing Li Chen's words, Zhang Daoling was also momentarily stunned.

However, he quickly smoothed his silver-white beard and laughed heartily, "I hope you are the anomaly to break the shackles of these heavens and earth!"

Upon hearing this, Li Chen's heart was slightly startled.

Since Emperor Yu's ascension, the connection between the Cultivation Realm and the Immortal Realm has been completely severed.

Clearly, it has been sealed off by an Immortal Realm Great Power, isolating this world, letting it fend for itself.

Never did he think that Zhang Daoling's Dao had reached this level of understanding.

If it weren't for this prohibition, with his comprehension of the Heavenly Dao, Zhang Daoling would likely have already ascended, entering the Immortal Realm.

Li Chen and Zhang Daoling laughed heartily at each other, and the enmity between them dissipated into thin air with this laughter.

Yuann Tiangang, seemingly infected by their emotions, also burst into laughter.

After all the tribulations, brothers remain. When they meet, a smile erases all grievances.

Regarding the conversation between Li Chen and Zhang Daoling, and their trio's sudden laughter, Du Mao, Zhenmeng, and others were utterly confused, completely unable to grasp the meaning.

Those who knew the inside story, like Lian Hongshang, could guess a bit of it.

However, she too was merely skimming the surface, utterly confused about the esoteric Heavenly Dao mentioned in their conversation.

...

Note 1: From Laozi's "Pure Scripture"

Note 2: From "Zhou Yi"

As for Little Le's understanding of these so-called "Heavenly Dao," it was merely superficial, only understanding the literal meaning without comprehending the essence within. Laozi once said in "Tao Te Ching" that the true Dao cannot be expressed in words. For any inaccuracies, please forgive me, esteemed readers, thank you!

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