I Accumulate Spirit Roots for My Next Life

Li Jizhou’s changing expression was observed by Gongsun Dang.

His journey around the world was originally to prove his Dao Foundation, and if a Dao Fruit assisted him, a guaranteed Earth-Level Dao Foundation.

“Your Highness, what kind of Dao Fruit cannot be discerned, but I will surely do my best!” Gongsun Dang looked at Li Jizhou with steady eyes.

Li Jizhou was overjoyed.

With Gongsun Dang’s words, once he secured this Dao Fruit, it was definitely meant for him.

“Thank you, Grand General, this will be remembered by my heart!”

The appearance of Gongsun Dang hastened Li Jizhou’s journey to the Celestial Venerable Tomb. As soon as he took a step into the Gate of Void, he was brought by Gongsun Dang to a valley in Liangzhou.

“Salute the Grand General!” The valley’s surroundings were already surrounded by the Grand General’s guards.

Just as Gongsun Dang stepped out of the Gate of Void, the guards shouted, their voices shaking the heavens.

Because when Li Jizhou was on his tour, he did not reveal his identity.

Then, one of Gongsun Dang’s trusted generals stepped forward to invite the group to a military tent shrouded in an array on the side.

“General…” The deputy glanced at Li Jizhou and the others, hesitating to speak.

Gongsun Dang waved his hand: “Speak without fear!”

“Yes, General, recently unrelated personnel have been cleared from the core area. Besides some slight resistance from a few noble families of the Imperial City, there hasn’t been much trouble. However… the group the other day, it’s mostly certain they are the Hidden Guards of the Cangming Dynasty, led by a Middle Stage of Divinity Transformation.”

“Hmph! Cangming Hidden Guards? Do they think our Jiuli has no one?” Gongsun Dang’s face turned gloomy.

All these years, he has been stationed at the border of the Great Xia, constantly concerned about the wars with the Cangming Dynasty.

It’s unfortunate that the Dragon Aspect bewitched the Saint Emperor, preventing the Grand General from leaving the Western Domain, recommending his own trusted follower to defend the Eastern Domain and contend with Cangming.

Years of contention, where victory and defeat were evenly matched, yet neither side could decisively win, senselessly draining the nation’s strength.

This made Gongsun Dang anxiously uneasy.

A year ago, a cease-fire agreement was finally reached, allowing the Jiuli soldiers some time to recuperate.

And now, Cangming’s Hidden Guards had already penetrated the Eastern Mirror Jiuli defense to enter this place.

There are not only soldiers guarding the border of the Dynasty but also many arrays in place. While one or two High-Tier cultivators infiltrating could be understood,

a group of dozens infiltrating clearly indicates internal and external collusion at that border.

Gongsun Dang suspected the Dragon Aspect and the Cangming Dynasty had already allied, but he had never been able to provide evidence.

“Continue to trace the whereabouts of that batch of Hidden Guards, if we allow them to escape Jiuli, I will have no face to meet my ancestors!” Gongsun Dang said with a firm tone.

“Yes, sir!”

“What is the current situation below? Has the array been breached?”

“Reporting to the General, the array masters proficient in restriction arrays in the army are all in place. If nothing unexpected happens, the array will be breached in five days!”

“Then I’ll grant you another five days!” Gongsun Dang nodded.

“Deploy another ten thousand elite soldiers here, the relics this time, Dao Fruit takes precedence, nothing can go wrong!” Before the deputy left, Gongsun Dang spoke again.

Li Jizhou, upon hearing this, returned a grateful look.

Having witnessed the actions of the cultivation dynasty, and then looking at the Eastern Desolation, it seemed like child’s play.

Even in the cultivation world, acting with the power of the world is immensely terrifying.

After understanding the situation, Gongsun Dang began arranging plans to eliminate the Cangming Dynasty Hidden Guards, while Li Jizhou consciously departed.

Gongsun Zhi followed as well.

“Your Highness…”

“Brother Duoqing, let it be as it was when we first met, after all, I am still on my tour around the world.” Li Jizhou said with a smile.

Hearing this, Gongsun Zhi looked at Li Jizhou with a more approving gaze: “Dear brother, back when I was establishing my Dao Foundation, I truly grasped my own Dao.

Everything in this world has its own Dao; determining the most fitting for oneself requires a self-observation of the heart.

But before this, you must go through life experiences. Only through experience can one grasp the deepest understanding…”

Walking in the tightly guarded core area of the Celestial Venerable Tomb, Gongsun Zhi, whether ordered by his father or out of heartfelt gratitude, shared all his insights when he built his Dao Foundation back then.

Li Jizhou nodded.

How to build a Dao Foundation, how to find the most suitable Dao Foundation for oneself, he naturally learned a lot of theoretical knowledge.

However, true personal insights and experiences are not many.

After all, those capable of building a Top-Grade Dao Foundation have hopes of achieving Divinity Transformation, and such paragons are not plentiful in the entire Jiuli Dynasty.

And most of the experts above Divinity Transformation are in the Ancestral Spiritual Sea, leaving few outside.

He was very grateful for Gongsun Zhi’s sharing.

He did not ask about the grade of Gongsun Zhi’s Dao Foundation, uncertain if his Dao name Duoqing aligned with his Dao Foundation.

Yet, it was likely to be close.

“What would be the most fitting Dao for me?”

As he walked, numerous thoughts flashed through Li Jizhou’s mind.

In the past month, he never ceased contemplating.

Based on his own heart, in his three lifetimes of cultivation, in his first life, he was proud and kind of naïve with a heroic spirit.

In the second life, he became indifferent to worldly ties, did not fight or contend, went with the flow, maintained a peaceful mindset, and advanced steadily.

In this life, being remarkably gifted yet not to the extent of having everything handed on a silver platter, he must contend where necessary, otherwise, what should be his might be lost.

The consistent factor in these three lives is the heart of proving the Dao.

“Proving the Dao… what Dao is there to prove? And for what reason is the Dao proven? What can be done after proving the Dao? What is desired?” Suddenly, Li Jizhou’s heart became clear, as if grasping some invisible insight.

“I think I understand!”

In this moment, Li Jizhou raised his eyes, looking towards the sky.

“What I strive for is to not fear threats to my life from anyone, to not worry about being eroded by time, to be strong when needed, to not fear cause and effect, to be free from others’ rules, to be unrestricted and free… My Great Dao lies in being free and unrestrained!”

“Buzz!” As Li Jizhou realized his true heart, suddenly above the high heavens, winds stirred the clouds, and above his head, the clouds cleared, leaving only clarity.

A mysterious aura descended from high above.

“Hmm? Dear brother is truly a heavenly prodigy, realizing it so quickly?” For just a moment, Gongsun Zhi sensed it, very familiar, as similar disturbances occurred when he realized his own Dao Foundation thirty years ago.

Li Jizhou stood still for a moment, yet that mystical sense eluded him again.

“Dear brother, the first time understanding one’s truth, there will be a resonance with heaven and earth, but this sense is only a prelude. To truly establish this kind of Dao Foundation, some time is needed for stabilization.

However, dear brother, for the initial understanding of your heart to cause celestial phenomena, the Dao Foundation you build in the future will have at least a Profound-Level Upper Grade basis.

If a supplement to the Dao Foundation is found during this period, an Earth-Level is easy to achieve.” Gongsun Zhi explained promptly as Li Jizhou seemed to comprehend suddenly.

“I see, thank you, Brother Duoqing.” Li Jizhou expressed his sudden enlightenment with gratitude, yet in his heart, was another scenario.

Although the recent resonance with heaven and earth did not ultimately establish a Dao Foundation, he clearly sensed that this resonance was nearly complete, just one step away.

This was, of course, due to the insights gained from his three lifetimes as a human.

According to the royal palace records on building Dao Foundations, a person might quickly realize their own Dao, but after comprehension, it takes a long time to solidify it, anywhere from a year or two to more than a decade.

The time required depends on personal experience.

With Li Jizhou’s initial compatibility, he might establish the Dao Foundation in less than a month.

“Profound-Level Upper Grade Dao Foundation… not enough!” Li Jizhou’s gaze once again looked towards the depths of the Celestial Venerable Tomb.

Although a Profound-Level Upper Grade is assured now, if fortified by the Dao Fruit, it might raise another level.