Chapter 306: Interrogating the Heart

What is truth, and what is the Dao heart?

For modern people living in a peaceful environment, this is a very metaphysical question.

Xu Zhi observed for a while and concluded that it means understanding one's true self and clearly determining one's future path.

Unlike body cultivators, cultivation systems like Dao magic, witchcraft, and incense offerings are related to the soul and emotional energy.

The spells cast are influenced by emotions and one's inner self.

The form of the Dao magic reflects what one's heart desires.

This is the essence of understanding one's true self.

"Hu Rennong, Dao Changsheng, Liu Wenjian... each person is unique. They all experienced setbacks, understood their true selves, and thus laid the foundation for their future paths."

Xu Zhi thought to himself, "What is my true self? If I had to make a comparison, perhaps I am like Phoenix, very nonchalant, a nature lover, someone who doesn't pursue much... This similarity is evident from our inner small worlds; we are both 'lifestyle' players."

Xu Zhi continually sorted through his thoughts, questioning his true self.

As an apprentice Creator and the Insect Overlord, whose Dao heart involves propagating races and dominating countless worlds, what kind of inner self would be suitable?

Is it eternal immortality?

Is it the pursuit of ultimate power?

A combination of a God of Destruction and a God of Creation, controlling reincarnation? Creation and destruction? Detachment from everything? The sole supreme being across multi-dimensional space-time?

No, no, no, that's too metaphysical, too grand and abstract.

What do others think? He didn't know, but Xu Zhi personally felt it should be more down-to-earth. If he were to answer this question, the Creator's true self would simply be to be laid-back!

As a Creator, would it be like Medusa, a super pervert, an S&M enthusiast, a battle maniac who constantly fights?

The world would suffer.

Or like Dao Changsheng, kind-hearted and unable to bear the death of ordinary people?

Then there would be no great extinctions, no cycles of rise and fall for living beings; it would be a stagnant pool, not the mark of a good Creator.

Or like Emperor Qi, an ambitious mastermind who constantly interferes, manipulates eras, and stops at nothing?

That's too focused on immediate gain. Emperor Qi is somewhat like the previous generation's Insect Matriarch, a disaster-like civilization that, perhaps to grow stronger, would embark on a locust-like path of continuous plunder and invasion.

None of those are very suitable.

Xu Zhi believed one should have a relaxed, laid-back attitude.

To put it in more sophisticated terms, it's about watching the world transform, like clouds rolling and unrolling.

It's like a child squatting down, calmly watching a group of small ants on the ground: their civilizations' wars, rise, and destruction. If their path goes too astray, subtly nudge them back.

Said this way, it instantly sounds much grander.

And as a Creator, upon seeing those goofy players provocatively causing trouble everywhere, and some natives constantly trying to defy heaven, one should also remain very laid-back. Just casually make a note, punish them a bit, maybe surround those little ants with a water circle, and it's done.

"It seems I have completely understood my Dao heart: free and unconstrained, like a bird... not grand at all, just a simple, ordinary person." Xu Zhi was a very realistic person; his true self was not unique.

After understanding his inner thoughts, he couldn't help but fantasize:

"The problem is, my personality is relatively compatible with Phoenix's. Phoenix loves solitude, but even Phoenix had to endure the harsh realities of life to fully realize their desire for reclusion, for an inner self that transcends everything..."

"So, do I also need to experience the harsh realities of life?"

He kept thinking, everyone is different. Although most people endure some kind of "beating," the methods vary. For example, Hu Rennong fell into destitution, got married, and had children; Liu Wenjian's family was ruined. But Mengmei, on the other hand, didn't experience a "beating" to achieve enlightenment. Her moment of enlightenment came one rainy day when she met two disciples and Dao Changsheng's father, suddenly feeling a surge of emotion...

It depends on fate. Since his Dao heart was about being laid-back, perhaps he would suddenly achieve a breakthrough just by eating an apple?

"Who knows?" The young man with black hair and black eyes looked up at the sky. "Thinking about it is useless. I might as well take a leisurely stroll. It's been a long time since I came to the Wizard World to try various foods; many species have changed significantly."

At the edge of the Black Mist Forest, a caravan was slowly moving forward.

Sheila, fourteen years old, was sitting on top of a carriage, bored and yawning, holding a biography of past monarchs and emperors. She was dark-skinned, with a short nose, thick lips, brownish-black skin, and a face full of adolescent freckles and pimples, inheriting her father Mohanke's appearance. Her parents had ordinary looks, typical of the southern Ellenite Kingdom, far from the fair-skinned beauty she wished to be.

She constantly traveled with her father's merchant caravan, reselling specialty goods from various towns.

The Black Mist Forest was previously a place ordinary people like them dared not enter, as many magical beasts would emerge from the forest and raid caravans. However, now they were mostly gone, supposedly having been summoned by the great Origin Demon God Medusa to the Primordial World.

This led to the present-day Land of Potions having fewer dangers, becoming almost entirely a world for ordinary people.

"Not just the magical creatures, but also many past monarchs and emperors, figures from historical myths, have appeared alive, and many powerful individuals have gone to that Primordial World," Sheila said, her face full of longing, holding her book and looking at the sky.

After traveling for some distance, the carriage stopped for a break. A fire was lit for cooking, and several team members picked up ingredients to prepare a meal.

"Excuse me, can I process ingredients here? I'd like to borrow some seasonings," a young man with black hair and black eyes walked out, carrying a huge black plant vine that was still wriggling.