"The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth.
The named is the mother of ten thousand things.
Ever desireless, one can see the mystery.
Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations.
These two spring from the same source but differ in name;
this appears as mystery.
Mystery within mystery.
The gate to all wonders."
In a split second, Gu Chuan recalled the text at the beginning of the Tao Te Ching, the opening content described by Daode, which is worthy of the treasure of the Saint's writings.
At first, Gu Chuan did not understand this content when he encountered it, as his intellect during his mortal life was insufficient. However, after being reborn through chaos and opening the first serpent—the primordial ancient serpent—his intelligence had increased many times.
No matter what, he was a chaos demon god born of chaos, protected by chaos. With such a bloodline and aptitude, even those with renowned talents in later generations could not compare to him.
So, after reading the content of the opening Chapter, he understood it instantly.
What is Tao?
The meaning of Tao is vast and all-encompassing. It refers to human relationships, the way of common sense, and also the path of Heaven and Earth, in its broadest sense.
Thus, starting with Tao, Tao produces one, one produces two, two produces three, and three produces all things.
But Tao is mysterious and profound: "Seeing it and not seeing it, hearing it and not hearing it, touching it and not grasping it."
Because of this, to understand Tao, one must regulate with virtue, describe with virtue, observe, and comprehend.
That is why Daode named this book Tao Te Ching—Tao and virtue are inseparable.
"The highest virtue is not virtuous, yet virtue arises from it;
The lower virtue acts in accordance with virtue, but there is no virtue in it.
The highest virtue does nothing, yet nothing is left undone;
The lower virtue does, but thinks it must be done."
Gu Chuan was completely captivated by the content of the Tao Te Ching and seemed to have comprehended the cultivation methods of chaos demon gods.
In fact, cultivation is about understanding the great way of Heaven and Earth and using the power of the great way to forge the bodies of chaos demon gods.
Suddenly, a vortex seemed to form around his body, expanding across a million kilometers, with chaotic airflows rushing toward him.
Inside his Dantian Qi Sea, another vortex appeared, drawing chaotic energy from all directions.
This vortex expanded rapidly, turning into a boundless sea, continuously spinning, growing a thousand times its size in a short period of time, and still expanding infinitely.
These chaotic energies were far superior to the Primordial Spiritual Qi, Immortal World Spiritual Qi, and other energies in later generations. If a mortal could swallow even a small amount, they would gain longevity.
However, mortals do not have the constitution to withstand such energies, and would likely explode if they tried.
Only creatures born with the bodies of chaos demon gods could consume chaotic energy so effortlessly.
In an instant, Gu Chuan's primordial ancient serpent body was nourished by the chaotic energies, constantly growing stronger, expanding visibly.
10,000 kilometers, 30,000 kilometers, 50,000 kilometers, 100,000 kilometers... Eventually, it reached 200,000 kilometers.
This body was astonishing. In his previous life, Earth's circumference was only 40,000 kilometers, but now, Gu Chuan's body could encircle the Earth four times.
But this was still a small part of the chaos, just the beginning.
Not only was his body strengthened and evolved, but his soul was also greatly improved.
"Man follows the Earth, the Earth follows the Sky, the Sky follows the Tao, and the Tao follows Nature."
In an instant, Gu Chuan's soul merged completely with the chaos, spreading outward, seemingly becoming one with the chaos.
At this moment, he could perceive the infinite laws scattered throughout the chaos, as well as many paths.
The sky had not yet opened, and the world was still in chaos. All the laws of the universe and many paths could be understood by gods and demons at will.
It was as if the answers to an exam were laid out before him. Cultivation in this era was far easier than in later generations. This was the golden age of cultivation.
These chaotic energies nourished not only the body but also the soul, a nearly omnipotent force, like the very source of life from which all things are born.
Only in this era could chaos demon gods devour chaotic energy so recklessly. After Pangu opened the sky, such benefits would likely no longer exist, and cultivation would become much harder.
Gu Chuan realized that after these chaotic energies merged with his soul, they made his soul radiate a dark golden light, with its power growing exponentially.
He felt as though he was immersed in the process of comprehending the laws of the Dao, reaching the realm of forgetting both things and himself, forgetting time, space, and everything else.