Daoist Quexin cast a slightly resentful glance at Xiang Yuan, bringing the embarrassment upon himself and leaving his thoughts thoroughly unsettled.
He skipped over the matter and said in a calm tone, “Benxin Dao, Daoist Quexin. Our sect has few rules—only one.”
Xiang Yuan sat upright with a solemn expression.
He truly did not know who Daoist Quexin was. He knew a little about Benxin Dao, one of the five Daoist Sects, a First-class power in Northern Qi. It had exchanged Abbot disciples with Great Awakening Temple in Western Chu; that was what this referred to.
“Our sect carries the Inheritance of Lingbao Tianzun. If you encounter a Taoist Temple dedicated to the Heavenly Venerate in the Future, you must worship there and must not show Neglect.”
“Disciple Understands.”
“Aside from that, our sect has no other Rules. Use the heart to explain the Dao; the True heart is the Dao. Take the heart as your steed, and you may travel to distant places. In the Future, you need only Defend your True heart during Cultivation.”
Daoist Quexin repeatedly Admonished him, “Observe the Dao with your heart, and the Dao is the heart. Observe the Dao with your heart, and the heart is the Dao. Use a clear, pure, and empty True heart to define the ultimate Dao. When the heart and Dao intersect and unite, that is the foundation of our sect’s Cultivation practice.”
Xiang Yuan nodded as though he understood, yet did not quite understand. After hesitating, he said, “Master, since you already know my Origin, I will not hide it from you. My mind is restless and rarely Quiet and undisturbed. Is this also the True heart? Can I still Cultivate?”
“Anyone with Nine Apertures can Cultivate to become an immortal!”
Daoist Quexin nodded firmly. “What do you mean by Quiet and undisturbed? Can sitting alone in a deep mountain beside an ancient forest make you Quiet and undisturbed? Can entering the mortal world to wield spears and practice with staves prevent you from being Quiet and undisturbed? If you like the deep mountains, you will find the tranquility of an empty valley. If you like the mortal world, you will find the tranquility of the mundane world. Follow what your heart seeks; do not go against it.”
“What disciple means is that my thoughts are too wild and unconstrained. I don’t seem like someone pursuing Cultivation.”
“Who isn’t?”
Daoist Quexin answered casually. Seeing Xiang Yuan’s eyes widen, he hurriedly adjusted his Expression and once again assumed the Image of a renowned Master from beyond the mortal world. “Foolish child, you still have not understood the foundation of our sect’s Cultivation practice. There are no average people beneath Heaven and Earth. All Living Beings seek the Dao of All Living Beings; that is why anyone with Nine Apertures can Cultivate. You need not suppress your True heart and forcibly seek Quiet and undisturbedness. Otherwise, you will become trapped and unable to free yourself, going against the Dao at every step.”
Xiang Yuan did not Understand. He only knew that his Master was not a Quiet and undisturbed person, yet his Master could Cultivate, so he could Cultivate as well.
With that, the great weight pressing on his chest fell away, and his entire body became light and Happy.
Since his Transmigration, he had lived every day as if treading on thin ice, afraid that he would never reach the other shore. At last, he was free.
Having broken free of his Shackles, Xiang Yuan no longer concealed his lively thoughts and poured out all the questions in his Heart. “Master, you are always talking about Cultivation, and even becoming an immortal. But where is the Great Dao? Can practicing martial arts really make one immortal?”
“Your Teacher still says the same thing: anyone with Nine Apertures can become an immortal.”
Daoist Quexin first pointed out the key matter, then Sighed and lamented, “In ancient times, the Human Race could ascend to Heaven and become immortal without the Dao of Martial Arts. Now, the Nine Apertures are blocked and the meridians obstructed. Only by entering the Dao through martial arts can one become immortal.”
“Why is that?”
“First, the Heaven and Earth Origin Energy has declined. Primordial Qi gives birth to all things, and when Primordial Qi is insufficient, all things are insufficient. Though food can replenish it and refining Pills can remedy the problem, those are ultimately Acquired methods. During our Cultivation, our Lifespans are short; this accords with that Reason... Alas, we are far inferior to the ancients. Cultivation grows more difficult with each passing day!”
Xiang Yuan suddenly Understands. The martial arts school supplied spiritual rice and spiritual meat every day, and Occasionally issued a few Pills to soothe their throats. The Constables at the County Yamen also received corresponding Benefits. This was probably the Reason.
Of course, although spiritual rice was not expensive and ordinary people could afford it, after the Lords allocated funds through layer upon layer of offices, the quality of the spiritual rice became rather average.
They called it Nine-Turn Dragon-Tooth Rice, but it tasted absolutely awful!
“Second, it is related to the Demon Race. In ancient times, the Demon Race fought the Human Race. After suffering defeat, they Cursed the Human Race, making Cultivation extraordinarily difficult despite humans possessing Nine Apertures. Otherwise, our Human Race would be Innate from birth. Why would we need to enter the Dao through martial arts, Returning to the Innate from the Acquired? Straining ourselves like this is truly unpleasant!” Daoist Quexin said dourly.
Upon hearing such ancient secrets, Xiang Yuan became even more Curious and Pressed for an answer to several questions related to the Demon Race.
Why do you have so many questions? What are you asking This Daoist for? This Daoist hasn’t figured these things out either. You might as well go ask God directly!
All of Xiang Yuan’s questions concerned ancient times. How could Daoist Quexin know the answers? To maintain the Image of a renowned Master, he stroked his Long Beard and gave a Faint smile. “They are all in the books. Read more in your spare time. A bell does not ring if it is not struck, and a person does not become enlightened without learning. Remember, learning is not the goal; applying what you learn is.”
The Reason was too profound to Refute, and he successfully fooled Xiang Yuan.
Xiang Yuan engraved the earnest admonition to read more in his mind. Having suffered from a lack of education and common knowledge, he deeply agreed.
“There is also a third point: that damned Yan Xuanhe! One Sword severed the heavens, displaying infinite might. Cultivation has become more difficult with each passing day for us Latecomers!”
Daoist Quexin cursed furiously. The gist was probably that if Yan Xuanhe had not pierced through the heavens, he would have become an immortal and founder long ago, living a carefree and Happy life.
“Master, can you tell me about Yan Xuanhe? Disciple has many more questions.” Xiang Yuan’s eyes lit up. This was the number one under Heaven, with no one before or after him.
“What is there to discuss about a dead man?”
Daoist Quexin did not wish to say more and again told Xiang Yuan to read more books. Then he deliberately addressed him as an average person. “Your desire for knowledge is a good thing, and Your Teacher is very pleased. But Your Teacher cannot speak directly; that would harm you. You must seek the answer through practice. Your Daoist Name shall be ‘Wen Tian.’”
Xiang Yuan, Daoist Name Wen Tian!
“Thank you, Master, for bestowing this name.” Xiang Yuan bowed.
He had been Confused and uneasy for several days, seriously lacking a sense of security. Having finally caught a Master, he naturally intended to pull wool from him as thoroughly as possible. He said, “Master, I learned the Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber. Can this Martial arts technique lead to the Dao?”
“Use it for Your Teacher to see.”
“I ask Master to correct my mistakes.”
Xiang Yuan drew his Saber and began moving in coordination with his Footwork and Saber technique. Saber Light rolled like waves, flashing with frost; at times it was like Thunder shaking the heavens, and at times like vast clouds and mist. Whenever mountain ranges rose steeply into the sky to block his way, he would raise his Saber and cleave open a path, seeking unobstructed passage in all directions.
A moment later, Xiang Yuan finished Practicing all sixty-four Moves of the Saber technique. He gently exhaled and asked Daoist Quexin for guidance.
“Not bad. It covers all the basic Moves.”
Daoist Quexin nodded. “Your foundation is solid, and your Saber technique is also quite good.”
“Master, the Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber is common martial arts. Jianghu idlers can buy it for a few Silver taels. Can it enter the Dao?” Xiang Yuan asked again.
“Being common is good. After thousands of years of refinement, there is no better introductory Saber technique.”
Daoist Quexin smiled. “Your Teacher Understands what you mean. You simply Don’t understand yet and insist on forcing the matter. Remember this: the Dao of Martial Arts emphasizes entering complexity from simplicity, then transforming complexity back into simplicity. The two alternate in a cycle, and the Great Dao will surely be attained.”
After saying this, he waved his hand. “There is no need to ask further. Your Dao of Martial Arts has only just begun. Your Teacher truly cannot say more.”
Xiang Yuan nodded and looked at Daoist Quexin with a face full of innocence. He had no other intention; he had merely heard that when people accepted a Master, they received all kinds of rewards. Daoist Quexin was an Expert, born of Benxin Dao, one of the five Daoist Sects, so he surely would not be stingy with rewards.
Daoist Quexin said nothing and looked at Xiang Yuan with a face full of innocence. He had no other intention; he had merely heard that people offered all kinds of gifts when accepting a Master. At the very least, there ought to be a cup of tea to acknowledge the Master.
The two sat Staring at each other. Xiang Yuan’s skill in Qi Nourishment was Obvious inferior, and he was the first to lose. Helpless, he said, “Master, if nothing else, give disciple a divination.”
“What difficulty is there in that? Your Teacher is not a stingy person.”
Daoist Quexin hid his hand in his sleeve and performed a divination. He frowned and said, “There will be rain tomorrow. When you go out tonight, you may choose either to bring an umbrella or not to bring one.”
“What do you mean?”
“Bringing one will lead to one sort of circumstance; not bringing one will lead to another. Which path you take is up to you. This is your road, and Your Teacher cannot choose for you.”