"The Qian and Kun rotation knows no beginning or end. All things experience rise and fall. I am eternity!"
In truth, the Qian and Kun Agility Technique was the most crucial part of the Qian and Kun Method, and this particular saying was the method's most supreme secret, its most unique aspect.
From the very beginning, Niu You Dao hadn't fully grasped the meaning of this saying. It was only through continuous cultivation that he gradually began to comprehend it.
He understood the general idea: "No matter where you unleash the Qian and Kun technique, one who can remain at its core perceives no barriers of beginning or end. No matter how many weak or strong opponents surround you, I am here, and that is all!"
Once Niu You Dao realized this, he found it quite fascinating. After all, the fundamental principle of the Qian and Kun Method was balance. The most important aspect was not offense, but defense!
Ultimately, Niu You Dao understood that he was still far from truly embodying the consciousness of: "The Qian and Kun rotation knows no beginning or end. All things experience rise and fall. I am eternity!"
Seeing Black Peony's surprised expression, Niu You Dao smiled and waved his hand, saying:
"Alright, go about your business. I'll stay here alone for a while."
"Understood!" Black Peony departed. However, with every step, she turned her head to glance back at Niu You Dao.
Niu You Dao sat down, crossing his legs beneath him, and quietly pondered the recent events.
He had just begun to gather his thoughts when Yuan Fang flashed into view and called out:
"Lord Dao!"
Niu You Dao snapped out of his reverie and looked at him.
Yuan Fang immediately replied, "News from Beizhou." With a tense face, he delivered the message.
Niu You Dao took the letter and furrowed his brows.
"Lu Sheng Zhong was captured?"
Yuan Fang indignantly said:
"He even betrayed us! I always thought that fellow was unreliable."
Niu You Dao shook his head:
"You, a bear demon, need to be more magnanimous. His betrayal is quite normal. I haven't given him anything yet for him to die for me. And to save his own life, he would, of course, resort to betrayal. I just don't understand why he ended up in such a situation. He had already captured Tang Xiang Yang and Shao Liu Er. How did two ordinary people manage to escape him, and how did he fall into their hands? There's definitely something more to this."
Yuan Fang: "It's a good thing Wei Duo received the news in time. Otherwise, Wei Duo would have been in trouble."
Niu You Dao muttered to himself:
"This matter began because of Tang Yi. I wonder if Dachang Mountain will expel the Supreme Purity Sect from Beizhou..."
Yuan Fang looked at him and said:
"I heard that he's chasing after one... Lord Dao, perhaps you intentionally made it so that Dachang Mountain would expel the Supreme Purity Sect from Beizhou?"
Niu You Dao turned his head and gave him a sidelong glance:
"Slap yourself!"
"Thwack!"
Yuan Fang immediately slapped himself and laughed, saying: "I'm talking nonsense. I'm spouting gibberish!"
"All day long you're harboring incomprehensible thoughts. You'd be better off cultivating. You have so many cultivation resources now that many can only dream of, and what do you do all day?"
"I know, I know. I'm already cultivating tirelessly. Lately, my progress has greatly advanced. I should break through the Zhuji Realm soon."
However, Niu You Dao was also surprised by this bear demon's cultivation speed. This bear had listened to Buddhist prayers for so long and then cultivated in the mountain village for so many years, but he hadn't used any cultivation resources before. Now, after receiving resources, his cultivation simply soared.
Niu You Dao had asked about this bear, but he answered vaguely. Most likely, it was the influence of Buddha.
After all, this bear constantly praises Buddha and recites prayers. Are Buddhist chants also a form of cultivation? Perhaps that's why the bear has made such progress?
However, Niu You Dao feared that the bear would become arrogant due to such progress, so he constantly criticized him.
"How many times do you cultivate? Do you think I don't know? You spend more time reciting prayers with the monks than cultivating."
Yuan Fang cowered, lowered his head, and said:
"Prayers also help with cultivation!"
Regarding the bear's faith, Niu You Dao didn't know what to do yet. So, he could only change the subject:
"Tell the three sects to recall the people they sent to the Song Kingdom."
Before Lu Sheng Zhong fell into the trap, they had sent people to the Song Kingdom to receive Lu Sheng Zhong.
But now there was no one to receive there, so they needed to call them back midway.
"Mhm!" Yuan Fang quickly turned and left.
Niu You Dao also stood up and left the mountain valley. When he reached halfway up the mountain, he saw over 200 young men dressed in coarse cloth at the foot of the mountain. They stood in neat rows.
Yuan Gang stood before them with his hands clasped behind his back. And Yuan Feng, Niu Ling, Yuan Huo, and Niu Shan, the four men, walked among the rows, arranging them.
Yuan Feng accidentally saw Niu You Dao descending the mountain. He approached Yuan Gang and whispered something to him. Yuan Gang immediately turned his head, and upon seeing Niu You Dao, headed towards him.
"Lord Dao!" Yuan Gang approached and called out.
Niu You Dao: "I heard you returned recently."
Yuan Gang: "When I learned you were cultivating, I didn't want to disturb you."
Niu You Dao pointed to the foot of the mountain:
"Are these the people you recruited?"
Yuan Gang nodded: "Initially, I planned to recruit 100 people each for Niu Shan and the others. But after searching through the villages, I couldn't find enough suitable people. There's a scarcity of food in these villages, so there are few healthy young men. We managed to find about 80 people for each."
Niu You Dao burst out laughing:
"Yuan Fang is displeased. He's told me several times that you'd be better off teaching them how to do useful things. To cook, to sow."
Yuan Gang: "They're undergoing training, and they need good nutrition. He has many monks; they're either brewing liquor or just reciting prayers. And they all act under Lord Dao's influence. If they won't provide us with food, then they should protect themselves. Later, I'll find a suitable place and teach them how to raise pigs. They brew wine, and that way they won't waste materials, but will raise pigs instead. I believe that this way we can be self-sufficient."
Niu You Dao twisted his mouth and chuckled:
"Indeed, no matter where you go, you plant something. I also heard you're teaching these young people?"
Yuan Gang understood what Niu You Dao was concerned about:
"Don't worry. Now is not the time to teach them what they shouldn't know. It could bring trouble upon them. They are all just illiterate children from poor families. Many don't even have basic knowledge. Many are unlettered. What good would they be then?"
Niu You Dao: "It's good that you know. Just don't devote all your time to these youngsters. You still have many things to look after. I've handed the affairs of Wuliangshan Sect over to you."
Yuan Gang nodded: "Rest assured. I'm keeping an eye on it."
"Ah, since we mentioned them, let's go together and take a look." Niu You Dao patted Yuan Gang's shoulder.
Yuan Gang had no choice but to obey.
Yuan Gang gestured to the others to continue their training themselves, then followed Niu You Dao.
Caves had been carved into one of the mountains. This was precisely where the Wuliangshan Sect was located. One could see Bird Kings flying in and out now and then.
The head of Wuliangshan Sect, Gong Sun Bu, came out to greet Niu You Dao. He personally began to show him everything.
Niu You Dao was more interested in the channels for receiving messages than how the cultivators were settled here.
Bird Kings were housed in several rooms within the caves. Niu You Dao noticed that they seemed to have spent a considerable amount of money acquiring such a large number of Bird Kings. At times, the Wuliangshan Sect received news.
In one room, Bird Kings were received. Secret messages were transferred to another room and a copy of the letter was made. Then, the letter was taken to a third room, where it was ranked and categorized.
Yuan Gang was specifically working here. He primarily established the information reception system. After all, he understood what Niu You Dao needed.
Gong Sun Bu exited the caves with Niu You Dao, and Niu You Dao suddenly said:
"Lu Sheng Zhong in Beizhou was captured by Shao Ping Bo. He betrayed us..."
Niu You Dao briefly explained the situation. Some things Gong Sun Bu didn't need to know.
Upon hearing this, Gong Sun Bu's face immediately darkened. He was furious at this disciple who constantly betrayed them.
"I will send people to enforce the sect's laws!" Gong Sun Bu said hatefully.
Niu You Dao waved his hand:
"There's no need. Let's observe the situation. Moreover, Dachang Mountain is in Beizhou. You won't be able to capture him; you'll only find trouble for yourselves. I just told you so you'd be aware of the situation. There's no need to do anything for now. We'll wait and see."
"Lord Dao, a family has its rules, and a sect has its laws!" Gong Sun Bu reminded him.
He too had started calling Niu You Dao "Lord Dao." Since everyone here addressed him that way, he also began to use the title. The only thing was, Gong Sun Bu belonged to an older generation, so it felt a bit awkward for him to address Niu You Dao in that manner.
"Laws are laws, but they only need to be enforced if it's beneficial for the Wuliangshan Sect. If not, then why act that way?" Niu You Dao asked.
Gong Sun Bu fell silent.
At this moment, Black Peony arrived and quickly reported:
"Lord Dao, the Prince has arrived with the others. He wishes to see you."
Niu You Dao immediately bid farewell to Gong Sun Bu and headed towards the Prince. He didn't want him to wait long.
Shang Chao Zong and the others stood before Yuan Gang's brave recruits. They watched the young men train.
The crowd of young men flowed like an avalanche down the mountain and also climbed back up. They leaped into the abyss and then scrambled back out.
Meng Shan Ming also arrived in his carriage. He seriously observed the training of these young men.
Shang Chao Zong watched the training very intently.
The two warriors had grown up learning this, and thus found the matter interesting.
Lan Ruo Ting and Shu Qing were also here. In fact, Meng Shan Ming had come because Shu Qing had mentioned Yuan Gang's methods. Yuan Gang was training his fighters in a peculiar way. He wasn't training them with formations or tactics.
It was because of this strangeness that Meng Shan Ming had come.