Chapter Nine, with unwavering loyalty and focused spirit, the undercurrents begin to surge.
The Taoist boy was unaware of his identity; he only knew that the master had suddenly ordered him to descend the mountain to welcome a distinguished guest. He dared not say anything further, so he turned to the side and gestured to lead the way, obediently guiding in front.
Zhou Zishang stood with his hands behind his back, looking down as he spoke: "I am Zhou Zishang from Dingyang. Zhang Yan, a registered disciple in the sect, is my brother-in-law. Due to some family disputes, he has come up the mountain in a fit of anger. Today, I have come to bring him back down."
The old Daoist could not help but let out a slight sigh, wondering what grievances existed between Zhou Zishang and Zhang Yan that would lead to the severing of one's path to cultivation
The ascent was somewhat slow, and after approximately one hour, the enormous mysterious stone with inscriptions finally came into view.
He possesses a harmonious state of mind, able to take up and let go, and in an instant, he casts this matter aside.
This time, the few servants he brought up the mountain were all knowledgeable. Although they all echoed his words, they were puzzled in their hearts, not understanding where their young master's confidence came from
The old Daoist cast a glance, and upon seeing the six characters "Xuan Yuan Nei Can Miao Lu," his eyelids twitched slightly. After pondering for a moment, he finally extended his hand to take the Daoist manual, saying lightly, "In that case, I shall transfer it on behalf of the poor Daoist."
Unfortunately, he had few elixirs in hand, and in the future, he could only consume them at critical moments, not allowing for any waste. He secretly resolved to pay more attention to the collection of elixirs, and he must not miss any opportunities that arose.
He reflected that he could not handle this matter recklessly and must employ different means. However, no matter what, Zhang Yan was merely a disciple from the lower court; he had plenty of ways to make him obedient and compliant.
The old man appeared indifferent, and Zhou Zishang was unconcerned, clasping his hands and saying: "Thank you, fellow Daoist."
The old Daoist slightly opened his eyes, waved his dust whisk, and said: "So it is a fellow practitioner from the Yuxiao Sect; this humble Daoist pays his respects."
However, he does not solely rely on the remnants of jade. Each time he encounters a perplexing problem, he always begins by applying the knowledge he has acquired to make some deductions, and then he verifies them against the jade. Through this process, he gradually discovers some insights, and his understanding of these techniques and terminologies deepens over time. There are even occasions when he feels a certain level of confidence without needing the remnants of jade.
He couldn't help but be taken aback; ever since he began cultivating his energy and practicing the Dao, he had not felt this way for a long time. He quickly turned his attention inward to examine his body and discovered that he seemed to have overexerted himself. Not only was his spirit weary, but his internal energy was also severely depleted. Just by thinking about it, he deduced that this was caused by his attempt to transform the jade into a Dao scripture.
The words "fellow Daoist" entered his ears, and upon seeing Zhou Zishang's disrespectful attitude, the old Daoist's eyebrows subtly raised. He slowly said, "I would appreciate it if you could speak plainly."
Do not be misled by his direct approach, which may seem impolite; in reality, his earlier actions reflect a deep understanding that those within the door often speak in vague terms, taking a long time to get to the point. Therefore, he deliberately adopts the demeanor of a young person who has just achieved success, exuding an air of arrogance, making it difficult for himself to engage in a slow and evasive conversation with him.
After sitting idly for half an hour, a young acolyte descended from the mountain path. He hurriedly approached Zhou Zishang, dared not look too long, and respectfully bowed, saying: "I do not know which esteemed guest has graced our humble temple. The temple master invites you to enter and converse."
The Shanyuan Temple is arranged along a vertical axis in accordance with the mountain's terrain. After passing through the mountain gate, on one side stands the Xuanwu Stele, erected during the early years of the Wei Dynasty's Kaiping era. On both sides, dense shade is provided by ancient trees. Following the stone path, one proceeds forward, passing through the three grand halls: the Hall of Virtue, the Hall of Tranquility, and the Hall of Clarity, before entering the rear observation area
Zhou Zishang raised an eyebrow and waved his hand, saying, "That is inappropriate. I, Zhou Zishang, am also a practitioner of the Dao; how could I resort to such lowly means?" He then smiled confidently and continued, "However, since I, Zhou Zishang, have come to the foot of Cangwu Mountain, how could I return empty-handed? Just wait and see; within three months, I will surely make Zhang Yan obediently descend the mountain!"
With the assistance of the broken jade, the difficult problems in this "Inquiry into the Law" are easily resolved
In that case, please pass this book on to my brother-in-law. I believe the Daoist priest would not refuse, would he?" Zhou Zishang held out a thin silk booklet with both hands and presented it to the old Daoist.
Zhang Yan suddenly opened his eyes, and for a moment, he felt an excruciating headache, with sweat pouring down his back.
The old priest's lips moved as he spoke expressionlessly: "Disciples of the Dao cultivate according to their true intentions and innate spiritual affinities; the old priest never imposes any demands."
However, Zhang Yan was unaware that this bottle of "Zhengyuan Dan" was considered a high-quality item even among the families of the Xuanmen. It was given to him voluntarily by Ai Zhongwen, who feared that he would not return the scriptures and wanted to deliberately cultivate a good relationship with him. If Ai Zhongwen were to know that Zhang Yan regarded the elixir he had kindly gifted as if it were merely a common cabbage, he would likely feel deeply frustrated.
The style of this garment is one that he often wears. Since there is clothing, does that not imply that other items can also exist
Thinking of this, he extended his hand in a gesture as if holding a book, silently contemplating the text "Lin Yao Asks About the Law." However, before he could grasp the essence of it, he suddenly felt a sense of frustration in his chest, his consciousness became momentarily hazy, and he unexpectedly withdrew directly from his avatar, falling back into his original body.
Zhou Zishang smiled faintly; this outcome had long been anticipated by him
If given time, this person's future is limitless
Zhou Zishang laughed heartily and walked out gracefully
Before him lay a pebble-paved path, flanked by numerous potted green vines, creating a scene full of charm and resembling a celestial realm. However, Zhou Zishang showed no interest in the view and followed the Taoist boy to the Du Zhen Hall, situated at the highest point of Hao Jue Peak.
Without the need for notification, www.hetushu.com, the Taoist priest led Zhou Zishang directly into the mountain gate
Zhou Zishang smiled faintly, without offering any explanation
Half an hour later, he completed his cultivation. At this moment, the feeling of fatigue completely vanished, and his internal energy surged throughout his body. His foundational energy was abundant, and his spirit was so invigorated that it was comparable to a full night of meditation in his usual practice
Zhou Zishang did not return the greeting, and spoke directly: "There is a matter I would like to trouble you with today."
Once the inner meridians of the practitioner are opened, the spiritual roots will naturally grow, leading to clarity of mind and insight into one's true nature. Only then can one practice the superior methods of immortality, ultimately achieving the fruition of the elixir. However, this method is not only complex and intricate, but also fraught with significant risks. Without the constant guidance and adjustment from elders or mentors, it is very easy to injure the inner meridians, thereby damaging one's foundational path, resulting in a lifetime of hopelessness in cultivation.
In less than five days, he not only comprehended the entire set of laws and principles to a considerable extent, but also gained a general understanding of the terminology used by various esoteric sects and families, which can be said to be a significant achievement
At this moment, he had a sudden inspiration. The jade was originally empty, devoid of anything except for his own avatar. However, since the "avatar" could change in life and death according to his thoughts, could the objects around him also exist and change within this fragmented jade?
Afterward, when Zhang Yan encountered terms such as "Hengming, Kang", "Zhuansu, Zheng", and "Buxu, Shun" from the esoteric teachings, he no longer needed to exert effort in pondering over them, but instead directly engaged in "testing the law with his body" within the jade.
In this way, this card becomes even more difficult to move.
It is said that recently Zhang Yan has gained fame for interpreting the inscriptions on Cangwu Mountain, and is now well-known for his three views
The old man lightly stroked his white beard beneath his chin. Although his expression showed no change, he was extremely surprised inside. This Zhou Zishang, despite his young age, had already opened his meridians and condensed his energy, manifesting extraordinary phenomena around him. His cultivation was not inferior to his own, truly worthy of being a disciple of a great sect. Moreover, his methods and actions revealed a clever and thoughtful mind.
Success, while certainly commendable, does not necessitate undue concern with books; an excessive pursuit may instead lead to mental obstacles
Once he fails to achieve his cultivation, Zhang Yan can only obediently return home to serve his wife's family
The old priest closed his eyes and remained silent, gently tapping the jade chime in front of him, producing a pleasant, soft sound; this was his way of bidding farewell to the guests
While Zhang Yan was diligently cultivating in his cave dwelling, in a pavilion on the main peak of Cangwu Mountain, Haojue Peak, Zhou Zishang was listening to his subordinates inquire about news concerning him
Lowering my head to glance at the manual beside me, this book "Xuan Yuan Nei Can Miao Lu" is also an ancient classic. It is said to have originally belonged to the Crane Daoist of the Nan Hua sect, but I do not know how it came into the hands of Zhou Zishang. Nevertheless, it is indeed a superior method for opening the celestial veins.
He nodded slightly; it seemed that this attempt, whether feasible or not, was beyond his current capabilities, yet he was not disheartened
He picked up the bottle of "Zhengyuan Dan" that Ai Zhongwen had sent him from the table, opened the bottle, and poured a pellet into his palm. He immediately sensed a refreshing fragrance wafting into his nostrils, and his chest and lungs felt instantly unburdened, making him realize that the elixir was extraordinary. Without hesitation, he opened his mouth and swallowed it, then sat in silence for a moment. Once the potency of the elixir began to take effect, a warm and soothing flow radiated from within, leaving him feeling utterly at ease.
Generally, after taking such a pill, one must also practice internal energy circulation to guide the pill's potency throughout the body; otherwise, if the potency accumulates, it may harm oneself. He did not dare to be negligent and immediately entered a meditative state.
Zhang Yan was secretly astonished. He had originally known that elixirs were quite beneficial for cultivators, but he did not expect their effects to be so extraordinary. In the past, he had underestimated the role of elixirs. No wonder the disciples of those prominent sects were all successful in establishing their foundations; it was likely that, in addition to having excellent cultivation texts, they also benefited from the assistance of elixirs.
This also made him feel that this piece of broken jade was undoubtedly comparable to a divine object, having fallen to the ground with the meteor on that day, its origins must certainly be extraordinary
This statement may seem irrelevant to the question, but the key lies in "the original intention of the Dao heart." The meaning of *the diagram* is quite clear; as long as Zhang Yan is unwilling, he will not be forced to descend the mountain.
This idea is not fanciful, nor is it baseless; the evidence lies in the fact that his jade clone is not naked, but rather clothed.
Zhou Zishang stood up, adjusted his clothing and cap, his expression slightly haughty, and nodded, saying: "Please lead the way ahead"
A shrewd-looking servant replied with a lowered gaze, "Indeed, young master, that is the case."
The three servants he brought up the mountain have been respectfully waiting on either side. Among them, a stout and burly man, resembling a steward, approached and whispered, "Young Master, do you need me to..." His face quivered with flesh as he made a grabbing gesture with his hand
Zhou Zishang furrowed his brows in silence. At this moment, his thoughts were strikingly similar to those of Ai Zhongwen. He did not believe that Zhang Yan could interpret the inscriptions on his own; he was certain that someone was guiding him from behind. This person was either the attendant Daoist from the Shanyuan Temple or the master who had encouraged him to ascend the mountain. A deep sense of caution arose within him. However, since that master had not taken Zhang Yan under his wing to secretly impart the Daoist teachings, it was more likely that the latter was the case.
The master of Shanyuan Temple may be difficult for others to encounter, but with Zhou Zishang's cultivation, as long as he sits here and releases his aura, there is no need for further words; the other party will inevitably feel the resonance. As a fellow practitioner of the Mystical Sect, they will certainly invite him in for a meeting.
Upon entering the grand hall, one sees an old Taoist priest with white hair and beard sitting cross-legged on the mat in the main hall
As Zhou Zishang stepped out of the observation gate, he felt a sense of satisfaction. His calculations were quite thorough; Zhang Yan's arrival at Cangwu Mountain to seek the Dao must involve some underlying factors he was unaware of. It was always prudent to act with caution and care. He discarded all trivial details and aimed directly at the crux of the matter, believing that using the hand of Shan Yuan to destroy Zhang Yan's foundation of the Dao was the most reliable approach. Even if something went awry later, he could always claim it was out of good intentions, and the blame would rest solely on Zhang Yan for lacking fortune.