Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 376: Preaching, cause and effect, and compassion; decades of practice, the eighth level of Xuantian Thirteen Transformations

The sea of ​​clouds rolled and the red sun rose out.

Deep in the Canglong Mountain, which is shrouded in white mist and looks like a fairyland, there is a magnificent Jinting Xianque and a cluster of Taoist palace buildings.

The flying eaves and brackets of the Taoist palace here sparkle with mysterious brilliance under the sunlight, exuding an ancient and solemn atmosphere.

Inside the Taoist palace, there was a solemn and dignified scene at this time.

In the spacious hall, a group of disciples sat neatly on both sides.

Lu Cheng sat high on the Yin-Yang platform. Today he was wearing a plain Taoist robe, and his sleeves fluttered gently in the wind, as if he was about to blend into the quiet atmosphere of this Taoist palace.

Before today's class, Lu Cheng bowed his head and asked a man named Tieguan Kun who was sitting next to him:
"Chu Yun, since you came to this Fiery Realm, you have gained some insights, so you have been practicing in seclusion until now. Have you gained anything?"

This Taoist lady was graceful and elegant. When her teacher asked her about this, she stood up and answered in a neither humble nor arrogant manner:
"I have some understanding, but I don't know whether it is right or wrong. I am worried that if I tell you, it will disturb Master's hearing."

"A teacher is someone who imparts knowledge and resolves doubts. But there is no harm in talking."

"The principles that I have understood during this period of time are: refining essence into qi, refining qi into spirit, and refining spirit into emptiness. These are the three kinds of transformations."

“Refining essence into qi means that the cultivator mixes the spiritual energy between heaven and earth with his own yin and yang essence, forges it into magic power, refines it into the lower dantian, replenishes the essence and replenishes the five internal organs.

Refining Qi to Return the Spirit is to refine the power for nine times. After nine times, it is refined into the upper Dantian, and the ancestral orifice between the eyebrows is opened. This is to refine Qi to return the spirit. This step is extremely dangerous and cannot be forced. Moreover, the upper Dantian is the location of the six Yang in the human body. Once the magic power is not refined enough and is not pure enough, it will be refined into the brain. At the least, it will cause the person to go crazy and mad, and at the worst, he may die on the spot.

Refining the spirit and returning to the void refers to the nine transformations of the magic power. After it is combined with the divine will, it will generate vitality and spirituality. If there is an opportunity, it will be refined into the blood and qi of the human body, because the human body is empty and like returning to the abyss... The Taoist scriptures state that there are 129,600 acupoints in the human body... If they can be filled, the Tao will be accomplished. "

Listening to the slow narration of his beloved disciple, Taoist Lu Cheng in a white robe on the high platform nodded slightly.

Although what she said became more and more wrong as time went on, it was still rare to reach this level of comprehension of Taoism.

To nourish the fetus and then transform it into a Nascent Soul, this disciple has already taken half a step successfully.

After listening to Miao Chuyun's understanding of the Dao theory over the years, Lu Cheng did not comment on it, nor did he say anything more. Instead, he spoke slowly, his voice like a huge bell, echoing in every corner of the Dao Palace:
"The Taoist sages said that there are three treasures in the human body. If you hold on to them and cultivate them, you can attain the Tao. The first is the essence, the second is the energy, and the third is the spirit. If you don't cultivate the spirit and understand the Tao, no matter how high your magic power is or how strong your supernatural powers are, one day you will turn into ashes. My disciples should know the number of days, accumulate merits, and reduce the devil's calamity."

Lu Cheng sat high on the platform, looking at the faces of his disciples below, and secretly sighed in his heart. In the past, he had a sword in his hand, practiced Taoism with great concentration, and used magic power to defy fate.

Walking alone with a sword, he overcomes difficulties when encountering them and kills them when encountering disasters. This is true.

However, after so many years of practice, he has restrained his temper, and when teaching his disciples, he does not want them to learn from him, but hopes that they can take a better path.

Lu Cheng paused for a moment in his sermon, and glanced at every disciple sitting on the cushions below the stage. Seeing the doubts and thoughts in their eyes, he continued:
"The primordial spirit is the root of oneself and the bridge connecting to the Way of Heaven. Only by cultivating the primordial spirit can one comprehend the subtle laws between heaven and earth and then follow the Way of Heaven. Knowing the destiny of heaven is a compulsory course for those of us who practice. The destiny of heaven is like an invisible net that covers all things in the world, and the fate of every living being is closely related to it. When we follow the destiny of heaven, we are not passively obeying the arrangements of fate, but actively accumulating merits under the guidance of the destiny of heaven."

"Merit is an invisible force. Don't think that merit is just a good deed. The way of heaven is to reduce the excess and make up for the deficiency. It is like a trickle of water, which can become a vast river when gathered together. Every corresponding thought and every timely action is a process of accumulating merit. When we have accumulated enough merit, we can reduce the demonic calamity.

The devil's calamity is like a reef hidden in the dark, which may cause our boat of cultivation to hit the reef and sink at any time. Those who only know how to pursue magic power without knowing the destiny are like a ship that has lost its way in a storm. It may seem to be prosperous for a while, but in fact it is full of dangers.

"Master, what exactly is destiny and what is merit? I am a little confused. Please enlighten me, Master."

Below Miao Chuyun, the third disciple Youming had transformed into a Taoist priest in purple robes, and was kneeling and asking questions at this moment.

In addition to Miao Chuyun, Youming, Shisheng, Yun Huang'er and other disciples from Lucheng, the Xiao sisters, Xue Yuzhen and Yun Ling'er were also present, as were Yuwen Zheng and Wu Lingjun, Lu Chengfeng and Zui Daoren, and even the disciples who had made some contributions in the Jinting Immortal Palace of Canglong Mountain over the years, who were also listening to the class at the end of the Taoist Palace, but they were not allowed to ask questions.

"In the mortal world, there was a peddler, his body was as small as a three-inch stick, his appearance was like the bark of a bark tree, he was ugly, his family was poor and he had no wife. After experiencing many setbacks, he finally couldn't stand the poverty and hardship in the world, so he found a cliff and jumped off. What do you think of this man's merits?"

Taoist Lu Cheng did not answer his disciple Youming's question immediately, but told a story and asked the question to his many disciples in return.

"The immortal way values ​​life and saves people without limit. To abandon one's life recklessly is a great sin."

"You value life and hate death. This will greatly reduce your merits and virtues."

This question is very simple for these disciples of Lucheng. In any orthodox Taoist school, suicide is an extremely serious crime.

Lu Cheng smiled slightly and continued:
“But under the cliff, there was actually a deep ancient cave. A gloomy wind blew up in the cave, sucking the peddler in. It turned out that there was a demon who had been practicing for many years.

It was an old fox, who said with a smile: "You are going to die anyway, why don't you carry me out? From now on, you feed me with blood and I will give you wealth and glory. How about that?"

So the peddler carried the old fox away from the mountain, and used the gold and silver given by the old fox to buy land, marry a wife and concubines. However, every year, he had to offer the old fox a heart of blood and sweat.

So, what is the merit of this person?"

"The fire in my heart burns the three realms, and the azure sky hangs on the jade scale. As a human, I have fallen into the path of demons like this, so I might as well die now."

Shi Sheng frowned when he heard this. His philosophy was a combination of the Buddhist concept of cause and effect, and at the same time, he used the Taoist concept of the Big Dipper and Jade Star to monitor the world.

"But if it weren't for this demon, he would have died. So it seems that encountering this demon wasn't such a bad thing for him."

Shi Sheng's Taoist partner Yun Huang'er said this, having a different opinion.

"Originally, I could just die and it would have nothing to do with others, but now I am entangled with demons and have created boundless karma."

Shi Sheng and Yun Huang'er are a pair of happy enemies. They have lived like this for the past hundred years. Lu Cheng has no interest in listening to their quarrel, but continues to preach.

"More than ten years later, the old fox's magical power gradually deepened. It was no longer satisfied with the daily three animals offered as sacrifices and the human heart and blood once a year. It began to cast spells to harm the peddler's family. In just a few years, the old mother, wives and concubines in the family died one after another. In the end, it even possessed the peddler's most beloved daughter.

At this moment, the peddler finally understood that the monster wanted to kill his whole family, so he sneaked into the secret room, intending to take advantage of the old fox's spirit to travel and chop off its body. Unexpectedly, the old fox returned in time and killed the peddler. How is this man's merit today? "

Under the altar, Lu Cheng's disciples, wives, concubines, and followers looked at each other, because they didn't know how to solve the problem because of the complicated causes and consequences.

Lu Cheng waited for a moment, and seeing no one answered, he shook his head and sighed:
"This peddler had the blessings of his ancestors. If he had committed suicide at the beginning, his sin would have been the heaviest. Although his entanglement with the demon reduced his merits, it was not as bad as killing himself. As for the end, he was killed by the demon to protect his only daughter, so his sin was reduced by three points."

"But, Master, what about the people who were harmed by the peddler during those ten years?"

Shi Sheng was still a little confused about the reason, and stood up with an unusual look on his face, asking questions.

"Fourth Brother, it's good that you have a compassionate heart. Unfortunately, the world is the furnace, nature is the worker, yin and yang are the charcoal, and all things are copper. All living beings are trapped here, suffering from dire straits and endless suffering... We are also trapped here, and this is the meaning of our practice. In this world, no one can help you except yourself."

People who practice Taoism should sometimes be more selfish and not easily interfere in the cause and effect of others, which will waste their own spiritual practice.

Just like in his previous life, Li Tieguai only ferried Lu Dongbin across hundreds of years, many times it's not that they don't want to ferry you across, but that they might just grab you and pull you down sometimes.

"Master, I don't understand..."

"Tao follows nature. What is nature? It is objective, real, and proven. Taoism also emphasizes guiding people to be good, but it will never ask you to sacrifice yourself to save others. Saving people is a good deed, but sometimes saving a person who has done evil is an evil deed. The laws of nature are unpredictable, so Taoists should be careful in their actions."

Facing his disciple, Lu Cheng could only say this much.

Canglong Mountain, Jinguang Cave. On the cave wall, golden Taoist scriptures flicker faintly, and stalactites of various shapes hang from the top of the cave, some like sharp swords, and some like lotus flowers.

In the corners of the cave, there are several clear pools of water, which emit wisps of white smoke and spiritual energy, just like spiritual springs.

Taoist Lu Cheng sat cross-legged on the stone platform, circulating his own magical power.

Along with the changes in the hand gestures, his body seemed to rotate slowly but actually quickly, and gradually, with his body as the center, green light appeared on the left and red light appeared on the right.

After a moment, the body was still, and Lu Cheng raised his left and right hands upwards, and two bright lights, one red and one blue, flew out.

This is Lu Cheng fusing the true blood of all insects, the gold-gnawing fire ants and the eastern locusts. These two kinds of spiritual insects, one is of the fire element and the other is of the wood element. They are originally the five elements that are mutually reinforcing and restraining. However, Lu Cheng has the foundation of the Great Five Elements True Spirit Transformation Method, so now he can fuse them together and practice them at the same time.

If one is successful in cultivation, one can simultaneously cultivate the seventh and eighth levels of the Thirteen Changes of Xuantian, greatly accelerating Lu Cheng's speed of accumulating mana.

This method is much more effective than taking elixirs and reciting Taoist scriptures in the hope of achieving enlightenment, but the qualifications of most cultivators in the world are not enough to practice this method.

Lu Cheng's aptitude for Taoism was originally insufficient, but as he gradually mastered the Taoist transformation and ascension techniques, it had the effect of improving his aptitude for Taoism.

The gold-gnawing fire ants are a very rare spiritual insect. Their bodies are made of pure gold, and each one exudes a blazing flame.

That flame was not an ordinary fire, but contained powerful spiritual power.

Their nests are made of a special metal ore. Under the long-term nourishment of the fire ants' spiritual power, the ore becomes extremely hard and spiritual. It is a top-quality material for refining treasures. Unfortunately, it cannot be taken away easily, because if it is taken away, it will become extremely difficult for the gold-gnawing fire ants to evolve or even maintain their original realm.

The Eastern Locust is another powerful spiritual insect. They are huge, and when their wings are spread out, they are like dark clouds covering the sun.

The power of the Eastern Locust is extremely amazing. Every time its transparent wings flap, they can stir up a gust of wind, and that wind is mixed with powerful fluctuations of spiritual energy.

They come from the distant East Pole, where the environment is extremely harsh, but it has also bred these spiritual insects with strong vitality and unique spiritual powers.

Lu Cheng sat cross-legged in the center of the altar in the Golden Light Cave. The left and right sides of his body were gradually covered with gold-gnawing fire ants and Eastern Pole locusts, which were clearly separated on the left and right sides.

The fire ants gradually released a strong breath of fire, and the surrounding air seemed to be ignited in an instant, and the temperature rose sharply.

Lu Cheng mobilized the magic power in his body and began to guide the fire power released by the gold-gnawing fire ants. His hands formed complex Taoist spells, flashing with light, echoing with the flames of the fire ants.

Slowly, the fire power from the gold-gnawing fire ants began to flow into Lu Cheng's meridians like silk threads.

Right at the beginning, Lu Cheng felt a sharp pain. The power of fire was like a sharp blade, cutting through his meridians wantonly.

Beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on the skin outside Lu Cheng's Taoist robe. With the continuous infusion of fire power, his meridians began to undergo miraculous changes. The gold power of the Golden Silkworm Gu was naturally stimulated, and it fought against the fire power.

Real gold is not afraid of fire. Appropriate flames can further temper the edge of gold.

Under Lu Cheng's control, the metal force within the meridians turned into thousands of small swords, constantly piercing and tearing the flames.

As time went by, Lu Cheng's original meridians gradually became tougher under the continuous tempering of the spirit insect flame, and faintly revealed a dark golden color, like divine iron that had been tempered thousands of times.

Moreover, the power of fire began to gradually blend into the meridians, and a hot and powerful magical power slowly flowed through the meridians.

Lu Cheng followed the cultivation method of the seventh level of Xuantian Thirteen Changes, carefully guiding the power of fire to run along a specific route in the meridians. This is a very delicate process, and the slightest mistake may cause damage to the meridians, or even waste all previous efforts.

Lu Cheng was fully focused, immersing his mind completely in the practice of Taoism.

As the flame power circulated more and more times in his meridians, a faint red halo began to appear around his body. It was a manifestation of the flame power of the gold-gnawing fire ants gradually merging into his body.

After completing the initial fusion of the fire power with the gold-gnawing fire ants, Lu Cheng began to introduce more fire ants into the practice.

When Lu Cheng completed the gold-gnawing fire ants' help in the seventh level of Xuantian Gongfa's transformation, his body had undergone tremendous changes. The Taoist clearly felt that his body was much stronger than before, and there was a fiery power in his every move.

Relying on his exquisite control over the power of gold, Lu Cheng weakened the flame power of the gold-gnawing fire ants to the extreme. When the fire power was extremely weak, he introduced the wood spiritual power of the Eastern Locust.

He began to guide the Eastern Locusts to release their power, slowly drawing out the swarm's powerful force.

This force surged towards Lu Cheng like a surging tide. Lu Cheng opened his mind and calmly welcomed this force.

When the power surged into his body, he felt as if he was hit by a mountain, and every meridian in his body was in excruciating pain.

"This is the most unbearable thing about the body-refining technique. Phew, what's more, this is a body-refining technique based on the outline of the magic technique."

The Taoist transformation and ascension technique is the most orthodox method of practicing and ascending.

However, as for the specific outline of practicing martial arts, Lu Cheng had learned a lot of key points from various sects such as Ruyi Tianmo Lu. However, he had a very high level of comprehension, and he used his own Taoism as a foundation to absorb nutrients, but did not get caught up in the magic techniques.

Lu Cheng quickly adjusted his magic power and guided the wood element spiritual power transmitted by the Dongji locust swarm into his dantian.

In the Dantian, the gold spiritual power of the Hundred Poisons Golden Silkworm Gu, the wood spiritual power of the Eastern Locust, and the fire spiritual power of the previous Gnawing Gold Fire Ant began to fight and blend with each other. The collision of three completely different forces produced a strong reaction.

However, Lu Cheng wanted to use Dantian as a furnace to refine these three kinds of spiritual power to perfection. Of course, if there was no Five Elements Qi as the foundation of the Great Five Elements True Spirit Transformation Method, this kind of practice would result in the death of normal cultivators, and there would be almost no possibility of success.

The three powerful magical powers in Lu Cheng's dantian collided and counterattacked, but under his suppression and control, they finally slowly merged.

This is a very dangerous process. If it cannot be controlled well, it may cause the Dantian to rupture, with disastrous consequences.

Lu Cheng concentrated all his mind and carefully guided this force to flow within his body along the route required by the eighth level of the Xuantian Gong Fa.

As the power of the Eastern Locust continued to merge, the bones around Lu Cheng began to make crisp sounds. His bones became harder under the nourishment of this powerful magic power, as if they were injected with the toughness of steel.

His muscles, bones and skin became tight and strong under the influence of this magic power, and each muscle contained a strong explosive force. A layer of powerful magic power began to appear around his body, and this wave spread outward, causing the runes in the golden cave to flash more violently.

At the critical moment of cultivation, Lu Cheng felt as if his consciousness had entered an ethereal state.

He could clearly feel the fusion of the three spiritual insect powers in his body, and he could also understand more deeply the essence of the eighth level of the Xuantian technique. He constantly adjusted the operation and fusion of his magic power according to the requirements of the technique.

There are no Jiazi in the mountains, and it is so cold that I don’t know the year.

The practice went on like this day after day. Through Gu Yunge, Lu Cheng found a sixth-rank top-grade alchemist, handed over the precious medicine that Master Wu Chen had accumulated for a hundred years, and successfully refined a furnace of Tianchen Pills. Eight pills were made, which was already a very high success rate, at least far beyond Master Wu Chen's means.

Relying on the eighth level of the Thirteen Changes of Xuantian, and the nourishment of Tianchen Pills and Yin-Yang Transformation Wine, Lu Cheng's magic power improved by leaps and bounds. What's more, he also read a lot of Taoist books. If he accumulates power over the years and one day he accumulates enough to enter a state of enlightenment, the speed at which his magic power increases will certainly be far beyond the imagination of an ordinary Yuanying Zhenjun.

Yuwen Zheng, Wu Lingjun, Miao Chuyun, Youming, Shisheng and Yun Huang'er all worked hard to complete the tasks on the Monster Hunting List and accumulate monster hunting merits. Occasionally, the Xiao sisters, Xue Yuzhen and Yun Ling'er would take action when they encountered suitable tasks.

Haiyuan City has abundant cultivation resources. As long as a cultivator is here, he can find what he wants to assist in his practice.

(End of this chapter)