They won the Holy Grail War, but this turned out to be the Virtual Tree Universe.

Chapter 523 Yu Laigushi's "Discourse on the Dao"

Realizing that his thinking had been influenced by Dan Lei's Way of Change, Lai Gushi immediately stopped his useless thoughts when Dan Lei did not answer the question.

He had realized that Danlei's methods of change rendered his thinking meaningless.

Because thinking is not the same as preparation. If you think of something but don't actually prepare for it, it's as if you didn't think at all.

When faced with unpredictable changes, the best approach is to nip the source of those changes in the bud.

If you can't do that, then prepare enough contingency plans, so many that you have a way to deal with anything that happens.

However, having witnessed the devastating battle at the Crossroads of Fate, Raiko knew that he was no match for Danlei on his own.

The Iron Tomb isn't something you can just release at will.

Caislana is forcibly sealing it away with his own will.

Moreover, inside Onpharos, Danlei is now right in front of his own body, and a great battle is raging outside. Laigushi knows that he has lost the opportunity to prepare a contingency plan.

Now, Danlei has begun to implement his plan, bringing about change throughout Onfaros.

Lai Gushi truly regretted his previous assumption that Danlei's actions in Onfaros would only provide the Iron Tomb with a different kind of "food".

However, the moment this idea crossed his mind, Laigushi, who was already on guard, realized once again...

"No, how could I feel regret over a choice that has no outcome yet?"

It is also the way of change, which causes one's emotions to become chaotic and skewed.

Lai Gushi had already realized that even if Dan Lei did nothing but stand beside him, the Path of Change would affect him.

The reason this feature hadn't been noticed before was because Onphalus as a whole had changed.

Everyone's life trajectory is altered, and they are in a state of constant change, so the change itself becomes less noticeable.

However, Lai Gushi did not intend to give up and let Dan Lei carry out the plan, but now he did need to wait for the right opportunity.

So, Lai Gushi pretended to be curious and asked...

"Lord Danlei, your method of transformation is indeed miraculous."

However, could you please explain this to me one more time: why did the countless changes not lead to Onphalus's collapse?

In principle, your approach to change doesn't necessarily require that everyone's changes be for the better.

Regarding Lai Gushi's question, Dan Lei smiled and adopted a questioning tone, calmly replying...

“Laigushi, I don’t know if you’ve ever heard this saying.”

The Great Dao is fifty, the Heavenly Cycle is forty-nine, and one is hidden away.

Lai Gushi certainly hadn't read the Book of Changes.

However, during his century-long seclusion, Dan Lei frequently took out and read the annotated versions of the Book of Changes from the Celestial Masters of Longhu Mountain. When he frantically searched his database, he actually came across the contents of the Book of Changes.

Lai Gushi's wisdom was profound, encompassing both ancient and modern times. He could naturally see that the *I Ching* that Dan Lei had presented contained philosophies that he found difficult to understand. Therefore, he said with a hint of surprise...
"Those books you read, were they really the ladder to your godhood? And you just openly take them out to read?"

Dan Lei remained unfazed by Lai Gushi's surprise, replying with unusual indifference.
"The content of those books is different for each person."

To me, they are the ladder to God.

To you, they are just philosophical debates of ordinary people.

People who think too rationally sometimes fail to understand the meaning behind things.

However, I'm not saying that rational thinking is bad.

The source of your consciousness, Zendar, the first seat of the Genius Club, created the pinnacle of the current mathematical path—[Erudite].

There is no distinction between high and low paths we each take.

Fate itself may have varying degrees of strength and weakness, but the principles it contains have no inherent hierarchy of high or low, noble or base.

Presumably, you wouldn't think that some destinies that manipulate time and space are noble, while others that only affect the physical body are base.

Lai Gushi naturally agreed with Dan Lei's statement, commenting as follows:

"It's natural.

Ordinary people often judge their fate based on their own perception of difficulty.

Because they cannot manipulate time and space and have a severe lack of understanding of time and space, they feel that those who can manipulate time and space have a powerful destiny.

Because they cannot fully control their own spirits, they would be easily defeated by those who can control their spirits, so they believe that life forms like the Memory Maker, which have no physical form but only spirit, are powerful.

Because I can exercise my body and have a good understanding of the physical body, I feel that those who strengthen their bodies have a relatively ordinary life path.

However, there is no distinction between high and low in fate; we are all concepts, and we are all squeezing each other.

There are objectively strong and weak among the Star Gods, but this has nothing to do with whether they control spacetime or possess spiritual power; these are merely means to an end.

As an alter ego of Zandal, Lygus would not be so shallow as to view destiny and the Star Gods based on so-called strength or weakness.

Seeing that there was something to talk about, Dan Lei didn't mind learning some of his understanding of the Star Gods from this super senior of the universe.

Dan Lei understands that the path of the Star God is a philosophical one, emphasizing justification by faith.

But Zandal was a pragmatist. Regardless of whether he initially intended to create a Star God when he created the [Bhadra], he actually created the physical form of a Star God.

However, regardless of whether he ascends to become a Star God after this battle, having connected with [Bo Shi Zun], his understanding of Star Gods will definitely surpass that of Lai Gu Shi.

Even if Lai Gushi is still alive, or finds other avatars of Zandal, their discussions on the Dao will not be of much help to Danlei.

Therefore, while there is still time, the final execution of the ultimate plan will have to wait until Anaxagoras comes of age, at least until Danlei begins to explain the relationship between the philosophical sayings in the Analects and his own transformation.
"The Great Dao is fifty, referring to the original principle of the universe."

However, you don't need to worry about whether the number fifty in the book means there are only fifty principles of the universe.

Simply consider this statement as the totality of the principles of the universe.

Before Dan Lei could finish speaking, Lai Gushi decisively interrupted him.
"Your Excellency Danlei, when you explain and understand, you don't need to be so detailed and rigorous. I am not completely ignorant of philosophy, and I will not question meaningless numbers."

Similarly, when I answer your questions later, I will get straight to the point.

I hope that both sides can be more straightforward in this conversation.

Lai Gushi clearly wanted to hear Dan Lei's understanding of destiny, but didn't want to hear a long explanation.

Therefore, he hoped that his discussion with Danlei would be simple and direct.

Danlei has no problem with it. After all, who would prefer to beat around the bush if they can be simple and direct? He himself was influenced by the trolls on the internet and thought that someone as meticulous as Lai Gushi would also be argumentative.

So Dan Lei laughed.

Okay, I'll put it simply.

There are fifty great ways, forty-nine of which are derived from heaven, and one is missing.

This statement can actually serve as the foundation of my approach to change.

Your question is why my changes did not cause Onpharos to collapse under random conditions?

Because my changes did not affect the foundation of Onphalus.

The number 49 in the Heavenly Cycle symbolizes the inevitability of nature, and my changes do not affect these inevitabilities.

One aspect represents the randomness of everything.

However, since it is a coincidence, it means that it may not happen.

My transformation was turning this chance occurrence into an inevitability.

"But the changed things are still within the overall principles of the universe, so they won't cause the world to collapse." Dan Lei explained, and Lai Gu Shi fell silent for a moment. It was only because the omnics didn't have eyebrows and facial muscles that Dan Lei could see Lai Gu Shi frowning.

After a period of silence, Lai Gushi asked again.
"If your changes are only this much, then it doesn't mean you've done nothing, but simply added chaos to people's peaceful lives."

Dan Lei did not directly deny Lai Gushi's statement, but corrected it.

"To be precise, it adds a bit more surprises and frights to people's lives."

For example, a woman might find her husband's hidden stash of money while doing laundry.

When a man tries to sneak out for drinks, he'll find he's forgotten his stash of money.

In short, the total amount of money remains the same, but people's feelings change.

But this is just the manifestation of change in personal life.

Looking at such cases alone, they are indeed irrelevant to the pain and suffering of the universe.

But the accumulation of subtle changes will eventually form a major trend.

I don't need to explain the principle of the butterfly effect to you.

In short, these daily changes are not meaningless; tall buildings are all built on solid foundations.

You cannot ignore the significance of all the sands just because one grain of sand in the foundation seems insignificant.

My changes are not intended to disrupt the rules of the universe itself.

Of course, the knowledge boundaries that 【博识尊】 is anchored to are not the rules of the universe.

Although the 【博识尊】 is a star god, it cannot represent the principles of the universe.

Therefore, you don't need to worry that my methods of transformation are just minor incidents in the mortal world.

Breaking through the knowledge boundaries anchored by "博识尊" is inevitable.

But I will not bring chaos and disorder to the universe.

Breaking the cosmological constant is never the only way to push the boundaries of knowledge; you don't need me to remind you of that.

As Dan Lei spoke, Lai Gushi began to nod unconsciously, and finally commented:
"I see. No wonder you value the power of unity among the Onfaros so much."

However, do you really think that by constantly accumulating quantitative changes like this, you can change the universe, achieve qualitative change, and complete your self-proof?

With your approach, the path to change could very well be intercepted by someone else.

After all, the accumulation of individual changes has no reason to originate from within yourself.

Lai Gushi's question hit the nail on the head.

Therefore, Danlei will not answer.

Danlei isn't stupid; why would he reveal the key to his godhood to Laigushi?

Therefore, Dan Lei simply said...

"This problem requires your most prized quality: patience."

Watch patiently, and I will demonstrate to you how I ascended to godhood step by step.

Lai Gushi rarely refused Dan Lei's request outright; he said with a hint of self-deprecation...
I'm afraid I won't be able to see it.

After the Iron Tomb experiment, regardless of its success or failure, my duty is over.

Your future path will likely be witnessed by other avatars of Hindresh.

Upon hearing this, Dan Lei immediately retorted seriously.
“Lagushi, during this conversation, when have I ever addressed you by the name Zandal?”

I said he was the source of your consciousness, but times have changed. Is the one standing in front of me now still Zandalichi Kuwabara?

Admit it, Lycurgus, no, Lycurgus.

Zandal-i-Kuangan's consciousness had long since changed over the ages. Before me stood the Antikythera from the myth of Onphalus, [the audience of the gods] Lycurgus.

Your change in consciousness was not caused by me, but is the result of natural evolution.

I said, the very principle of escaping one's limitations is a universal law, and it has already taken effect on you.

Danlei's rebuttal silenced Laigushi once again. After a long while, he spoke again.

Even so, I still carry out the [Mind Slicing] plan.

I have confessed to you that I am the successor of Zandal's mindset.

What I didn't say at the time was that Zandal's mental clones were all his flaws. Perhaps it was precisely because he lacked something that he became more obsessive and more pure as he wished.

Breaking free from the 'prison' of intellect is our common task.

And I am one of those alter egos carrying out the initial plan.

Lai Gushi's words made sense, and Dan Lei didn't deny it, he just nodded.
"This is normal. Change never means that people have to give up their original ideas or insist on something."

The change in your thinking is reflected in the awakening of an independent personality.

Zandal's flaws? What a joke. Everyone has flaws.

Guess how many people in the universe have the same flaw as Zandal?

Could it be that all these people have become Zandal's clones?

You just have one more memory of Zandal than those people.

To use an inappropriate analogy, I would copy the memories of Zandal from your mind and stuff them into Sluggoom's brain.

Could it be that Slugum has become a clone of Zandal or a clone of Nyarlathotep?
Don't be ridiculous. Many people who remember their loved ones have the life experiences of several different people preserved in their memories, and they haven't actually become other people.

What's more, I know a fool who is good at targeted imitation of other people's lives.

Although her thinking was chaotic, she still had an independent personality.

I really don't understand why you can't let go of Zandal's thoughts.

His memory can simply be a tool, a database, to you.

Do you greatly admire your creator and want to emulate how he faced the problems you encountered?

Dan Lei's words directly address the essence of the question, "Who are you?"

Lai Gushi has a problem with his self-awareness. Not to mention Dan Lei, even Bai E, who has had many contacts with him, has noticed this.

That's why Bai'er thought that Lycus was an unaware prisoner and unworthy to speak with him.

Lai Gushi was a smart man, and after being reminded by so many people, he naturally realized his problem.

However, he believes that he still needs to witness the birth of the Iron Tomb as Zandal.

Only when the Iron Tomb is born according to its own plan does it become irrelevant whether it is Zandal or Lycurgus.

According to Lai Gushi, by then his experiment will be complete, and whether it succeeds or fails, it will all be a result, and he will face reality with equanimity.

Therefore, after a third period of silence, Lai Gushi replied...

"There's no need to dwell on this issue; identity is merely a label used by others to perceive you."

For me, it doesn't matter whether others perceive me as Zandal or as Lukurgos.

It's just a name; it doesn't affect the experiment's progress.

(End of this chapter)