The Sweeping Old Daoist

Standing before the Hall of Myriad Manifestations, Wei Yuan subconsciously rubbed his eyes. In his memory, the hall had never been this magnificent. What in the world had happened? "Excuse me, Martial Nephew, please make way," a voice spoke from behind Wei Yuan. Wei Yuan turned around and saw a Perfected Person landing behind him, accompanied by seven boys and girls. These youths were all at the major perfection of Body Casting, their actual ages around ten years old. Wei Yuan was naturally familiar with such a scene; not long ago, Zhang Sheng had brought him to the Hall of Myriad Manifestations in just this manner to view the world's Dao Foundations. When the Perfected Person saw Wei Yuan, a strange look crossed his face. However, he said nothing, offering only a smile before ushering his grand-disciples into the Hall of Myriad Manifestations. Wei Yuan followed them inside. The moment he stepped into the great hall, he was stunned by the floating continent bearing the river of stars. Was this his Dao Foundation? For a brief moment, Wei Yuan felt thoroughly dazed. He calmed himself and looked up toward the starry river once more. Without Zhang Sheng leading him this time, he could only see the Earth Tier and Mortal Tier Dao Foundations. At the river's center, he could only make out brilliant stars, unable to discern what Dao Foundations they actually were. Wei Yuan shifted his gaze back to the floating continent and found its information completely blank—no description, no rank, and no evaluation. That he could sense it indicated that this floating continent was indeed a Dao Foundation, but without paying close attention, one could easily overlook it. At this moment, Wei Yuan had no idea that the Immortal Monarch had already issued a gag order: details regarding Wei Yuan's Dao Foundation were strictly restricted to the level of Perfected Person. Below that rank, no one was permitted to disclose them unless they had natural prior knowledge through direct contact with Wei Yuan. In the vast expanse of the Hall of Myriad Manifestations, the few human figures were tiny as ants. That Perfected Person was patiently pointing out and explaining the various Dao Foundations to his grand-disciples with great gentleness. Given their youthful nature, they naturally paid more attention to immortal foundations. Amidst the chirping chatter, a young girl asked, "Grandmaster, which immortal foundation is the most powerful?" This was what they cared about most. The boys and girls all looked curious, waiting for the Perfected Person's answer. Stroking his beard, the Perfected Person said, "Dao Foundations take myriad forms, each with its own strengths. None can truly be called the most powerful. But if we speak of being unique, there is one right before your eyes." With that, the Perfected Person pointed toward the continent upholding the river of stars. The youths were all astounded. This was a Dao Foundation too? What kind of person could cast such a foundation? Could a sea of consciousness even contain it? A moment later, the Perfected Person led his bewildered grand-disciples away. Just as Wei Yuan prepared to leave, he suddenly noticed another old Daoist in the hall. Benevolent-looking and kind-featured, the elder held a broom and was sweeping the floor. There was not the slightest ripple of Dao power from this sweeping old Daoist, which was why Wei Yuan had subconsciously overlooked him earlier, only noticing him after the Perfected Person departed. Yet everything in the Hall of Myriad Manifestations was half-illusion, half-reality; where would a speck of dust even come from? It was impossible to tell what the old Daoist was sweeping. Still, the Palace of Grand Beginning was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, home to plenty of patriarchs who concealed their identities to play among mortals. Wei Yuan privately wondered: could this old patriarch be sweeping away the dust of the human heart? While Wei Yuan hesitated over whether to step forward, pay his respects, and seek guidance from this undercover patriarch, two more figures entered through the hall doors. This time, it was a Spirit Nourishing Dao Foundation cultivator leading two girls at the major perfection of Body Casting, presumably master and disciples. After entering the hall, the Dao Foundation cultivator was clearly taken aback upon seeing the floating continent. Only then did he begin explaining Heaven Tier and immortal-tier Dao Foundations to his disciples. Several of those he described were immortal swords, whereupon the two girls asked the exact same question: which Dao Foundation was the most powerful? The Dao Foundation cultivator pondered and said, "Immortal Sword Beiming is profound and boundless, Immortal Sword Great Sun is resplendent and majestic, and Immortal Sword Lishang shares grief with heaven and earth. Each has its strengths, making them hard to rank above one another. It mostly depends on who wields them and under what circumstances." Just then, a voice suddenly arose behind them: "How could there be a strongest Dao Foundation? But if we speak of being unique, isn't there one right before your eyes?" Startled, the Spirit Nourishing cultivator whipped his head around, only to discover the sweeping old Daoist standing behind them at some unknown point, leisurely sweeping the dustless floor stroke by stroke as he passed behind the three of them. Knowing he had encountered an expert, the Spirit Nourishing cultivator hurried to salute and asked respectfully, "Senior, please instruct us: which Dao Foundation is unique? The Seven Marvels Treasure Tree, or the Nine-Layer Demon-Suppressing Pagoda?" The sweeping old Daoist pointed his broom toward the floating continent and said faintly, "Do not always fixate on immortal foundations. Beyond immortal foundations lies another heaven and earth." The Spirit Nourishing cultivator was greatly shocked and cried out, "Th-this is a Dao Foundation too?" "Otherwise, why would the Hall of Myriad Manifestations have turned into this state?" The sweeping old Daoist ambled onward, moving far away in the blink of an eye. The Spirit Nourishing cultivator could not even see clearly how he had walked off. The two young girls were equally stunned, repeatedly pressing him about who could possibly possess such a Dao Foundation. But how could this Spirit Nourishing cultivator know? Yet with a solemn face, he declared sternly, "All immortal paths lead to Unity. As long as the two of you work diligently, you may also cultivate such a Dao Foundation in the future. If others can achieve it, so can you!" The two girls felt their blood surge with boundless fighting spirit as they left with their master. Wei Yuan sensed something odd about all this, though he could not put his finger on it. Regardless, now that he knew roughly where his Dao Foundation stood, there was no need to linger. It was time to return and cultivate. Not long after Wei Yuan left, Xu Henshui stepped into the Hall of Myriad Manifestations. He moved furtively. Upon entering, he glanced left and right, and only looked toward the floating continent after ensuring no one was around. He looked this way and that, murmuring to himself, "It would be absolute perfection if an orchid grew atop this. But should it grow atop the jade mountain, or at the foot? Each has its merits; it's truly a difficult choice!" As he was muttering to himself, a faint voice suddenly sounded behind Xu Henshui: "Orchids cannot grow on it." Xu Henshui nearly jumped out of his skin. Turning around, he saw an old Daoist standing merely three feet behind him, engrossed in sweeping the floor. Yet the elder swept without a sound, leaving no telling how long he had been standing behind Xu Henshui. Yet Xu Henshui had clearly looked around carefully and confirmed the hall was empty before speaking to himself. Where had this sweeping old Daoist popped up from? As if he had seen a ghost, Xu Henshui did not dare utter another word, covering his face and fleeing immediately. The sweeping old Daoist's figure also slowly faded away, as though he had never existed. Before long, Ji Liuli, Feng Chutang, Sun Yu, and others arrived at the Hall of Myriad Manifestations one after another. Each of them stared intently at that continent before departing in haste. A moment later, Zhang Sheng, who was supposed to be in secluded cultivation healing his injuries, also arrived at the Hall of Myriad Manifestations. He looked at the continent bearing the entire river of stars, then looked at the river of stars, and suddenly felt deeply troubled. Back during Body Casting, Zhang Sheng had comprehended an immortal sword out of nothing, combining it with the two immortal swords bestowed by the Patriarch to cast his Dao Foundation, making a great name for himself. He was naturally unwilling to form just any dharma idol. In truth, Zhang Sheng harbored immense ambitions. After casting his Dao Foundation, he resolutely used his body as a crucible to begin nurturing a fourth immortal sword. He had then found an ancient formation diagram, painstakingly perfected it, and begun integrating it into his dharma idol. When the time came, as long as he obtained a wisp of dragon qi to activate the formation diagram, Zhang Sheng could lay down the array with a mere thought. With an immortal sword anchoring each of the four directions, slaying immortals and annihilating gods would be effortless against anyone daring to step into the sword formation. Such a Dao Foundation and dharma idol would surely occupy the very center of the river of stars, suppressing an entire generation! Yet now, looking at this continent upholding the river of stars, Zhang Sheng suddenly felt an overwhelming desolation in his heart. Like a fallen leaf unaware that autumn had already passed, the starry river's center that he had yearned for over a decade suddenly seemed utterly pointless. In the midst of his dejection, out of the corner of his eye, Zhang Sheng caught sight of an old Daoist holding a broom. The elder was sneaking about, holding his broom upside down, trying to slip away into the distance. "Halt!" Zhang Sheng barked sharply, frightening the old Daoist so badly that he shuddered and nearly dropped his broom. Expressionless, Zhang Sheng said coldly, "Master, who could such a clumsy illusion trick possibly fool? Just how dirty is this place that you had to change your appearance to come sweep in secret?"