After being reborn, all I want to do is run away.

Chapter 233 The Meaning of the Dao

“These three bookshelves are all filled with books about various aspects of the Dao,” Guan Bi said softly as he led him to a bookshelf.

Looking at the many neatly arranged books in front of him, Shen Xu couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. The knowledge he had longed for in his previous life was hidden in the bookshelves in front of him.

He came here mainly to check what level his Wood Intent had reached, and secondly, to understand more about what the Dao Intent really was.

"Guanbi, if I want to increase my understanding of the Dao, do you have any recommended books?" Shen Xu asked in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, Guan Bi walked closer to the bookshelf, took out a black book, and handed it to him. "The knowledge of the Dao is vast and boundless, and everyone can develop different applications based on their different understandings of the Dao."

However, if you want a simple understanding of the essence of the Dao, this book, *An Outline of the Dao's Meaning*, is most suitable. It is said to have been written by a sage possessing countless Dao meanings for his disciples. For some reason, it circulated throughout the cultivation world and became the introductory book on the Dao's meaning for the entire True Origin Continent.

Shen Xu couldn't help but praise, "Guanbi, you are really understanding, but it's a pity that you're with Bailu."

"Do you mean you want me to come with you?" Guan Bi asked with a smile.

“I don’t have that kind of luck, and you won’t leave your young lady either,” Shen Xu said calmly, then turned to the first page of the book, and Guan Bi didn’t say anything more.

After a while, Shen Xu slowly closed the book and breathed a deep sigh of relief. He didn't need to finish reading the book here; he could borrow it back home.

But in this short period of time, his understanding of the Dao has surpassed the sum of his previous and present lives.

According to the book, the meaning of the Dao is an external manifestation of a cultivator's contact with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. The Dao is the essence, and the meaning is the outward manifestation of the Dao in Heaven and Earth. Ordinary cultivators can only come into contact with the meaning of the Dao, but cannot touch the essence of the Dao.

Of the billions of living beings in the world, only a very few can explore the meaning of the Dao to its depths and touch upon a trace of its essence, and the book does not mention anything about what happens afterward.

The meaning of the Dao in the world can mostly be divided into three categories: material, conceptual, and mixed.

In theory, there is no distinction between the strength and weakness of these three types of Dao meaning. However, in general, conceptual Dao meaning is more difficult to comprehend than material Dao meaning, and the difficulty of comprehension is largely related to the strength of a Dao meaning.

The meaning of the material Tao can manipulate the matter related to it, the most representative of which is the meaning of the Tao related to the Five Elements.

The concept of Dao can be used to add various special effects related to the concept to the user, such as the indomitable spirit that Chen Kaijia displayed during the outer sect competition of the Green Bamboo Sword Sect.

The hybrid type possesses the effects of both material and conceptual types, but it is not as pure as the other two types of Dao intent. His blood intent is a good example of the hybrid type of Dao intent. He can manipulate blood through blood intent, and he can also use blood intent to imbue himself or his enemies with various concepts contained in blood, such as terror, slaughter, death...

However, through the Blood Will, he can only manipulate blood, a special liquid, and the added conceptual effects are very weak. It is very useful against opponents weaker than him, but once he faces an opponent stronger than him or of equal strength, the conceptual enhancements in the Blood Will are not enough.

The book proposes that most conceptual Dao concepts are derived from material Dao concepts, while hybrid Dao concepts are more like a state of being half derived from material Dao concepts.

Shen Xu largely agrees with this view. It is indeed possible for him to derive a purely conceptual Dao-like intent such as the intent of slaughter from the intent of blood, and water is indeed an indispensable condition for the formation of blood.

Furthermore, the book also provides an explanation of how to judge the intensity of the Dao's intent, which he was concerned about. In fact, there is no unified standard for distinguishing the intensity of any kind of Dao's intent.

The meaning of the Tao in terms of matter can almost always be judged by the strength and precision of manipulating the relevant matter, while the meaning of the Tao in terms of concept can be judged by the strength of the blessing effect, and the meaning of the Tao in terms of mixture requires a combination of these two criteria.

However, when one deeply comprehends any aspect of the Dao, one will gain a special ability. This ability varies from person to person, but it is the only standard for judging whether one's understanding of the Dao has been fully achieved. That state is also known as the "True Realm of the Dao".

"How are you feeling?" Guanbi asked.

"I've learned a lot, and I'd like to see more content related to the meaning of wood."

"The meaning of wood is probably in this direction." Guan Bi's serious gaze swept over the rows of books. This scene made Shen Xu feel a little dazed. He seemed to have experienced a similar scene on Blue Star, but he couldn't remember anything.

"Guanbi, what Dao insights have you comprehended?" Shen Xu asked curiously.

"Hold out your hand," Guan Bi said to Shen Xu, stopping in his tracks.

Although he didn't know what Guan Bi was going to do, he still extended his right hand. Guan Bi gently grasped his hand. Unlike Li Xiaoyi's cold, icy palm, Guan Bi's palm was soft, small, and warm.

"Hiss~" Shen Xu instantly pulled his hand back from Guan Bi's hand, but his hand was already numb from the electric shock and he could no longer feel any touch.

Seeing Shen Xu's flustered expression, Guan Bi couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.

"Fine! I trusted you so much, and you actually attacked me. Today I'll show you what I'm capable of." Shen Xu moved closer to Guan Bi, forcing her body against the bookshelf.

Seeing Guan Bi biting her red lips, looking completely submissive, Shen Xu smiled and slowly moved his face closer to her. Guan Bi blushed, clutching her long blue dress tightly with both hands and nervously closing her eyes.

A moment later, Guan Bi was puzzled as if nothing had happened, but she dared not open her eyes, for fear that Shen Xu would take advantage of her open eyes to launch another sneak attack.

After waiting for a while, she suddenly opened her eyes, but Shen Xu was nowhere to be seen. There was only a girl standing not far away, glancing at her from time to time.

"Shen Xu!!" Guan Bi clenched his fist.

When she found Shen Xu again, she saw him engrossed in a book with a blue cover, quietly leaning against the bookshelf, occasionally turning a few pages, seemingly forgetting the passage of time. The sunlight shone on him, making it impossible for her to see anything but the distinct outline of his features.

For some reason, all the anger she had been holding in vanished at this moment. She only hoped that she could stay with the man in front of her a little longer, because she knew that after they went back, she would never have the chance to be alone with him again, nor would she be able to approach him as boldly as before.

"Guanbi, you're here," Shen Xu said with a smile.

Guan Bi smiled too; she knew that smile belonged to her.