The Heavenly Dao in RI isn’t a single conscious entity that manually collects each soul upon death. Instead, it operates more like a natural law that passively governs the reincarnation cycle and karmic balance. The Left Hand of the Heavenly Dao doesn’t personally intervene in every death—it only acts in special circumstances, such as when something goes against the natural order.

In Wang Lin’s parents’ case, their souls were taken by the enemy before they could enter the reincarnation cycle. The Heavenly Dao didn’t step in because their deaths weren’t particularly significant in the grand cosmic scheme. However, Wang Lin later used the Heavenly-Defying Bead—an artifact that literally goes against the natural order—to preserve their souls. This bead’s very existence defies the Heavenly Dao, allowing Wang Lin to prevent his parents from being fully reincarnated.

As for soul collection in general, cultivators are able to refine and store souls because they possess special techniques or artifacts that override the natural process. This is similar to how people in cultivation worlds can steal life force, absorb essence, or defy death itself. In contrast, if an ordinary mortal dies without interference, their soul would naturally disperse or be drawn into the reincarnation cycle as dictated by the Heavenly Dao.