Chapter 858: Three Thousand Great Dao

"How is the Ancestor?"

"Yes, yes, how did the investigation go? Did you find a way out?"

"Looking at the Ancestor's beaming face, he must have found a way out, right?"

Everyone looked eagerly at Zheng Wu, who had just returned, their faces filled with hope.

They couldn't wait to escape this place.

"Uh, well, you see..."

Seeing how desperate everyone was to leave, Ancestor Zheng Wu couldn't help but awkwardly scratch his nose and said sheepishly, "Actually, I think... uh, staying here is quite nice. Look at the beautiful scenery, the birds singing, the flowers blooming, the picturesque views..."

"How about we just stay?"

"What? Ancestor, you..."

Hearing Zheng Wu's words, everyone's expressions changed instantly.

"Ancestor, how could you think like this?"

"Yes, Ancestor, didn't you promise us before that you would take us out?"

The more they spoke, the angrier they became, even forgetting their place. One of them directly said, "Ancestor, forgive my impertinence, but I must ask—did you receive some benefit or stand to gain something by staying here that made you suddenly change your mind?"

"Nonsense!"

Zheng Wu immediately scolded.

"Do you think your Ancestor is the kind of person who would abandon righteousness for profit?"

"I, Zheng Wu, have lived my life with integrity. How could I be swayed by a few measures of rice?"

Zheng Wu spoke with righteous indignation.

At the same time, he waved his hand and took out his most valuable treasure.

"Not to mention some small benefit, even a treasure as precious as this in my hand couldn't make me bend even a little!"

"If you don't believe me, I can swear to the heavens!"

Zheng Wu resolutely raised the treasure in his hand, ready to make an oath.

"Stop, Ancestor."

Seeing this, everyone immediately showed remorse and knelt down.

"Ancestor, we were wrong to doubt you with our petty suspicions!"

"We didn't realize that Ancestor is so righteous and incorruptible. Since even a treasure as precious as the one in your hand couldn't sway you, it's clear that you couldn't have been motivated by profit."

"And yet we were blind and disrespectful. Please punish us according to the sect rules!"

Everyone knelt in unison, deeply ashamed of their earlier disrespect.

"How could I blame you? After all, you were acting for the sake of the Three Lives Sect."

Zheng Wu tugged at the corners of his mouth, which had been raised high, and assumed a dignified and upright posture, clasping his hands behind his back. "The reason I don't want to leave isn't because I want to dig holes and carry manure. It's because I, your Ancestor, am tired of the days of deceit and scheming."

"What does it mean to be an Ancestor? What does it mean to be part of the Daoist sect? I'm exhausted!"

"I've borne too much on my shoulders!"

"Now, I just want to live a peaceful and stable life."

As he spoke, Zheng Wu raised his eyes to the sky, staring intently. When he lowered his head again, his eyes were red, and his face was filled with weariness and regret.

This scene.

It made everyone's hearts ache.

"Ancestor, you've worked so hard."

"Since the Ancestor isn't leaving, we won't leave either. Whatever the Ancestor does, we will do too."

Everyone spoke in unison.

"Ah, you all..."

"Why bother..."

"Fine, then follow me!"

"But I'm afraid I've let you down!"

"Still, having followers like you is truly an honor for me, Zheng Wu!"

Zheng Wu bent down and helped each of them up one by one.

Not only did the Ancestor not blame them, but he also personally helped them up and even said that having their loyalty was his honor. This was an immense encouragement to everyone.

In an instant, their gazes toward Zheng Wu became even more fervent.

"In that case, let's dig some holes."

Zheng Wu rolled up his sleeves, his lips curling into a high smile.

The art of winning hearts...

A few days passed in the blink of an eye.

Zheng Wu continued to lead his Three Lives Sect disciples in diligently working.

On this day.

While digging a hole, Zheng Wu suddenly shot up into the sky, his entire body radiating a thick, foul-smelling aura.

Yet, Zheng Wu's face was filled with joy.

"This... this, this, is this what they call the Dao of Manure?"

"Hahaha, I've attained enlightenment!"

Over the past few days, Zheng Wu had been gathering information.

So, of course, he knew that manure carriers were highly valued on this island.

Not for any other reason.

Because the manure carriers, under the leadership of Lu Dasheng, had formed their own Dao.

Only then did he realize what a great opportunity the Skeleton Deity had given him with that praise back then!

And there are three thousand Great Dao.

Some are strong, some are weak.

The Dao Mirror, in essence, is about comprehending the Dao. The early stages of Touching the Dao and Merging with the Dao are merely laying the foundation.

Touching the Dao means gaining the qualification to truly come into contact with the Dao.

Merging with the Dao means finding one's own Dao and integrating it with the body, hence the term Merging with the Dao.

Only after finding and merging with one's own Dao can one qualify to enter the Harmony with Dao stage.

After Harmony with Dao, one can truly enter the stage of Proving the Dao!

Zheng Wu had been stuck at the Merging with Dao stage for who knows how many years because he couldn't find his own Dao. He couldn't even merge with the weakest of the three thousand Dao.

So, he had long given up hope of advancing further.

But never in his wildest dreams did he expect that, within just a few days of arriving at Shadow Island, he would find his own Dao—and it was the Dao of Manure.

Because the Dao of Manure wasn't even one of the three thousand Great Dao.

Of course, this wasn't an isolated case.

Throughout history, some exceptionally talented individuals had also merged with Dao outside of the three thousand Great Dao, and without exception, they were all highly sought after.

Because the orthodox three thousand Great Dao had been around for so long, there were many ways to counter them.

But these "unorthodox Dao" were true dark horses in battle.

So, how could Zheng Wu not be excited?

Not only had he merged with a Dao.

But it was a Dao outside the three thousand Great Dao!