Born as an ant, I was summoned to ascend to immortality.

Chapter 83 The Lotus Seed of Dao

Zhou Li breathed a sigh of relief. This thunder platform, manifested through his ant-body thunder eyes and enhanced by the Five Elements Danqing Technique, could indeed keep his mind clear and prevent evil spirits from invading.

After several attempts, he discovered that the Thunder Platform could only exert its protective power within his sea of ​​consciousness and could not be controlled at will.

Perhaps it's due to limitations in cultivation, or perhaps it's because they haven't mastered the proper method; we'll have to wait and see.

As Zhou Li thought, the thunderous liquid poured down, sometimes transforming into swords, axes, and halberds, sometimes into shackles and pagodas, taking on a myriad of forms to suppress and kill all the demons.

Where the thunder and fire passed, all demons fled in terror, and all the chaos in the sea of ​​consciousness melted away at this moment, making the Thunder Platform, hanging high, appear even more solemn.

With the chaos quelled, a glimmer of clear light suddenly gathered in the depths of Zhou Li's hazy and ethereal mind.

This radiant light gradually spread and then slowly receded, gradually giving rise to a Daoist aura, condensing into a lotus seed that was half real and half illusory.

Those present saw Zhou Li sitting on the ground, his tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxing, and the palpitating aura around him receding like the tide, revealing instead a calm and dignified presence.

"This..." Situ Qian stood up and stepped forward, looking at Zhou Li's face, which had regained its rosy hue, and said in surprise, "How is this possible..."

Situ Wentian closed his eyes and sensed Zhou Li's aura gradually becoming stable, as if some wish had finally been fulfilled. He murmured, "With the seed of the Dao born, Yin and Yang are naturally formed... The Situ clan has finally waited for this day."

After a while, the lotus seed in Zhou Li's sea of ​​consciousness finally materialized, and in an instant, music filled the entire sea of ​​consciousness.

Not only in the sea of ​​consciousness, but also in the entire sky above Taihe Courtyard, melodious music resounded, as if immortals were playing the zither, urging thousands of trees to bloom with jade flowers.

A ray of light suddenly pierced through the hazy, gloomy mist of Youming Pass, illuminating the central courtyard of Taihe Courtyard.

Immediately afterwards, a sky full of flowing clouds appeared above the entire central courtyard. They first rolled up and then slowly spread out, accompanied by the imperial edict, and a long scroll slowly unfolded in the sky.

On the scroll, one first sees several waterfalls of ink cascading down from the dome, a wisp of pure air rising and condensing into the sun, moon, and stars, and a wisp of turbid air sinking down and transforming into mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas.

Between the differentiation of Yin and Yang, five colors of light—red, gold, yellow, green, and blue—interweave and evolve, giving rise to birds, beasts, fish, insects, and bustling city life. The grandeur of this scene is breathtaking and beyond words.

Liu Zhaohan stared blankly at Zhou Li. Although she had already established her foundation, she couldn't see through the young man in front of her at all.

She was a cultivation prodigy in the Mingxia Realm, a talent unseen for centuries. She had already established her foundation at the young age of twenty. She had initially felt a little resentful about leaving the Mingxia Realm to serve Zhou Li, but that resentment had long since vanished, leaving only deep awe.

Even though she had never met other talented individuals outside the field, she still firmly believed that given time, this person would far surpass his peers and be far beyond her reach.

If one cannot maintain a proper mindset and be consistent in word and deed, but instead becomes self-righteous and hypocritical, one may not only miss opportunities, but also make one's faith unstable.

The entire Taihe Courtyard fell into complete silence, everyone staring dumbfounded at this magnificent spectacle, feeling the artistic conception of the evolution of all things within it.

Situ Wentian's closed eyelids trembled slightly as he asked, "Qian'er, has this child exhibited any unusual signs? What are they?"

Situ Qian hesitated and said, "It seems... to be a traditional Chinese painting."

"Neither sword nor cauldron, neither dragon nor phoenix... it's actually the art of painting?" Situ Wentian then asked, "What is depicted on the scroll?"

A moment later, Situ Qian's voice was filled with barely suppressed shock: "Yin and Yang intertwine, purity and turbidity separate, the Five Elements revolve, and all things are renewed. This kid... this kid, upholding the all-encompassing Dao, is actually going to forge an unprecedented path!"

"Good, good, good!" Situ Wentian stood up and exclaimed "good" three times in a row.

"The Dao gives birth to the lotus seed, which shapes all things; in the beginning of heaven and earth, it encompassed the universe. How wondrous!"

The scroll of painting flowed through the sky for a full ten breaths, when several rows of chimes resounded in succession from beyond the clouds. Finally, the myriad phenomena converged into a three-inch beam of light, which steadily landed on Zhou Li's brow.

Zhou Li slowly opened his eyes, the sharp light in them gradually receding, his aura becoming perfectly harmonious and flawless. He had finally managed to pass through the ancient ritual of the three tea ceremonies.

Although his cultivation level did not increase substantially, he was able to condense a Dao seed in his sea of ​​consciousness, which would greatly benefit his comprehension and future enlightenment.

Exhaling a breath of stale air, Zhou Li turned to face Situ Wentian and Situ Qian, and bowed deeply once more:

"Thank you for your kindness, Patriarch Situ. I am unworthy of this opportunity."

Situ Wentian strode up to Zhou Li and personally helped him up.

The head of the Situ family, his face beaming with undisguised joy, patted Zhou Li's shoulder forcefully and said:

"Young friend, to be able to drink three cups in a row is already a feat among men. Your extraordinary phenomenon is even more wondrous, something I've never heard of in ancient texts. It's said that the He family's 'Five Elements Painting Technique' is extremely difficult to master; have you already completed it?"

Zhou Li frankly admitted, "I have only just begun to understand this method. It is very profound and requires continuous study."

"Impressive..." Situ Qian praised from the side, "I originally looked down on the three tests for entering the Changtian Sect, but now it seems that they do have their unique features."

Situ Wentian slowly straightened up, his voice drowning out the clamor in the arena: "In the name of the patriarch, I hereby declare that from this day forward, young friend Zhou is the Grand Minister of my Situ clan. All members of my Situ clan must treat him with respect and must not be negligent."

As the announcement was made, all the members of the Situ family present, regardless of their inner thoughts, bowed and said in unison, "We respectfully obey the patriarch's command and congratulate Minister Zhou!"

The sound waves surged like a tide, echoing throughout the Taihe Courtyard.

Liu Zhaohan also bowed deeply and respectfully said, "Congratulations, young master."

Seeing the undisguised admiration on her grandfather's and father's faces, Yangyang was delighted and stepped forward, saying, "Grandpa, Senior Brother Zhou came here this time to seek a method for guiding Xuan Yin Qi..."

"So eager? When has Grandpa ever gone back on his word?" Situ Wentian showed no embarrassment, but instead revealed a meaningful smile.

"I have heard of the Five Elements Painting Technique before. I only know that it requires harmonizing the five elements, but I did not know that it also requires comprehending the changes of yin and yang. The technique is profound and mysterious. I am naturally willing to help others achieve their goals."

He paused briefly, his tone becoming solemn: "I, in my old age, will show you the ancient stone tablet of my Situ family, the 'Yin-Yang Calligraphy'!"

Upon hearing this, not only Situ Qian, who was standing to the side, but also some elders of the clan who knew the inside story in the courtyard all showed expressions of shock.

It should be understood that even among the Situ clan, not everyone can receive this honor. Compared to imparting the Xuan Yin method, allowing Zhou Li to directly comprehend the Yin Yang Manual is already a significant violation of the Situ clan's ancestral rules.

Since the Zhou rites were introduced into the valley, first there was the sound of the Kui drum three times, then the three courses of tea, and then the study of the Yin-Yang Manual. Situ Wentian made exceptions for the Zhou rites many times, which can be described as giving them the utmost preferential treatment.

Upon hearing this, Yangyang was overjoyed and explained, "Senior Brother Zhou, the Yin-Yang Scroll contains profound principles of Yin and Yang. In previous years, only members of our clan who had made great contributions or on the day of a sacrificial ceremony had the opportunity to approach and comprehend it. There has never been such a precedent for outsiders!"

Zhou Li was shocked, but also puzzled. Why was the head of the Situ family so generous to him? Was it genuine appreciation, or did he have ulterior motives?

Although he thought this to himself, he still expressed his gratitude aloud, saying, "I am deeply grateful for the patriarch's kindness!"

Situ Wentian stroked his beard and smiled, "No need for formalities. Since young friend Zhou has already drunk three cups of tea, his connection with my Situ family is already deep. Ordinary methods are beyond my capabilities. You may stay in the valley for a few days, and I will personally lead you there in five days."

Situ Qian watched Zhou Li's departing figure, his smile fading. Compared to the true dragon before him, the eldest son of the Fang family paled in comparison.