Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 601: Chapter 508 The Method of Entering Tao

After such turmoil, the atmosphere has indeed become much better.

Everyone no longer wore a cold face; chatting leisurely, some exchanging what they had, and some sharing cultivation insights.

In fact, it is quite rare for so many Innate Martial Artists to gather together.

Yang Zhenshan felt that it would be a good idea to hold an Innate Martial Artists exchange conference every few years from now on.

With this in mind, Yang Zhenshan thought about writing a memorial to Emperor Yanping as soon as he returned.

The exchange conference would be beneficial to him as well.

The so-called Four Necessities for cultivating Martial Arts: Wealth, Location, Techniques, and Companionship. Wealth refers to resources such as Silver Coin, herbs, Treasure Medicine, and Spirit Fruits.

Location is the place of cultivation, where one can practice undisturbed. Many Innate Martial Artists prefer solitude, simply because they dislike being disturbed.

Techniques refer to Cultivation Techniques, which in Da Rong are relatively simple to obtain, whether they are basic, Postnatal, or Innate Cultivation Techniques.

Companionship includes friends, mentors, and fellows who can guide and help you in your cultivation, be they seniors or peers.

For Innate Martial Artists, being able to sit and discuss the Dao is a rare opportunity.

Firstly, because everyone cultivates different techniques and seeks their own path in the Dao.

Secondly, because Innate Martial Artists are so few, it’s rare to even gather a few good friends.

Thirdly, in Da Rong’s Martial Arts, there’s no higher realm. There may be higher realms in the world’s Martial Arts, but the highest in Da Rong’s Martial Arts is the Innate Realm.

A higher realm martial artist guiding a lower realm martial artist is naturally confident, but for a lower realm martial artist to seek a higher realm is like a blind person touching an elephant – unable to grasp the whole picture.

Without guidance from a higher realm martial artist, one can only rely on exchanges with those in the same realm, affirming each other, to advance.

Yang Zhenshan needs the pointers from many seniors, and other Innate Martial Artists may also benefit from exchanging cultivation insights.

The cultivation of Innate Martial Artists is different from that of the Postnatal Realm. Yang Zhenshan didn’t need guidance before; following the Cultivation Method step-by-step was enough. But after reaching the Innate Realm, he continued to benefit from the directions of seniors.

Just like An Yuxing’s pointers allowed him to make great progress and understand more about the levels of controlling qi and Entering Tao.

Therefore, Yang Zhenshan quite liked such exchange conferences.

The harmonious atmosphere and the lively spirit, a group of Innate Martial Artists chattering and laughing – isn’t this much better than fighting and killing!

Everyone is a pursuer, seeking higher levels and not wasting energy and time on fighting and killing.

Seizing the rare opportunity, Yang Zhenshan joined Zhang Ye, Granny Meng, Xuanzhen, and Li Shouning to listen to their discussion on the methods of Entering Tao.

Zhang Ye said, ”The true scriptures of Martial Arts state that there are three methods to Entering Tao: first, heaven and earth; second, cultivation of the mind; third, focus on the self.”

”However, in our Yanping’s Hidden Skill Pavilion, there’s only one method for Entering Tao mentioned – the self-centered method.”

”Yet this method focused on the self, I still have not fully comprehended!”

”What is the method focused on the self?”

As he spoke, Zhang Ye’s face showed a look of dejection.

Not just him, but Granny Meng as well.

Xuanzhen frowned, ”In my Taoist sect, there are records about the method concerning heaven and earth, but alas, they are very few, just a few vague sentences!”

”What are they?” Li Shouning asked.

”The Tao is sublime in its profoundness. Profound like the night, boundless and limitless. All creatures originate from the Tao. The existence of the Tao, like the darkness of night, is omnipresent, all-encompassing. Its depth unfathomable, its subtlety indescribable,” Xuanzhen recited with a wry smile.

This cryptic sentence left everyone stunned.

Even Yang Zhenshan was utterly confused.

Li Shouning thought for a moment and turned to look at the Buddhist monk, Master De Zhao behind him, ”Master De Zhao, what about in Buddhism?”

Master De Zhao shook his head, ”Amitabha, the Dharma is beyond sentient beings, because it is apart from the defilements of beings; the Dharma has no self, because it is apart from the defilements of self...”

The master directly quoted a scripture, leaving everyone else bewildered.

As expected, monks and Taoists love to be obscure and enigmatic.

Although their words were shrouded in fog, Yang Zhenshan found there was still something to gain.

There are three methods to Entering Tao: first, heaven and earth; second, cultivation of the mind; third, focus on the self.

Although this is a very general statement, Yang Zhenshan felt the mystical mechanism within it was not difficult to understand.

Regarding heaven and earth, humans follow earth, earth follows heaven, heaven follows the Dao, and the Dao follows nature. Everything in heaven and earth can embody the Dao.

Cultivation of the mind, Yang Zhenshan thought, should be related to solipsism, ”The Avatamsaka Sutra says, ’If one wishes to comprehend all Buddhas of the three times, observe the nature of the Dharma realm; everything is created by the mind alone.’”

As for focus on the self, Yang Zhenshan found it the most difficult to comprehend. He couldn’t understand the meaning of self, not even grasping the most basic concept.

What is focus on the self?

Could it be that the world exists because of me, and the world disappears with my extinction?

Or does it mean that everything is complete in me?

Or perhaps, there is nothing outside the mind?

Yang Zhenshan thought a lot but only became more perplexed.

As the discussion among the group continued, time slowly passed by, everyone listened and thought deeply, except for one person who felt uneasy, like sitting on pins and needles, unable to stay any longer.

That person was Jing Mingzhou.

Seeing the harmonious surroundings, Jing Mingzhou felt chillingly cold.

As time slowly drifted, dusk approached, and people left one after another.

Although the event seemed to end amicably, everyone understood that from today onwards, the skies of Da Rong’s worldly society were about to change.