Shengui Changsheng: Start from Zhenwuwei and add some points to cultivate immortality

Fu Shaoping (Shen Mo)'s reputation for "Daoist-style painting" grew ever stronger, no longer confined to the corner of Jiangnan, but even reaching the capital, attracting the attention of the court and the highest echelons of power. However, he remained secluded, declining numerous invitations to perform in the capital or serve as a court painter, and continued to devote himself to his own exploration in the confines of his Shen family study.

As Fu Shaoping delved deeper into the art of "Daoist painting," he gradually noticed some extraordinary phenomena. He discovered that when he was fully immersed in his creation, his mind would enter an extremely mysterious state, as if he were experiencing a subtle resonance with the surrounding world. His completed paintings, especially those that embodied his profound understanding of nature, life, and reincarnation, seemed to truly possess an indescribable "spiritual charm."

For example, the painting "Withering and Flourishing" was once requested by a scholar who had been suffering from a long illness and hung it in his study. Not long after, this person wrote to say that looking at the painting every day had gradually broadened his mind and that his illness had inexplicably improved. Although he was not cured, his spirits had improved a lot, and his words were full of gratitude and amazement.

For example, the painting "Starry Night" was collected by a retired official who loved astronomy and often observed the stars at night. He sent someone to tell him that whenever he was restless, gazing at the deep starry sky in the painting would give him a strange sense of tranquility, as if his mind was being cleansed by the cold starlight, and his thoughts would become exceptionally clear.

These feedbacks were initially just isolated cases, and Fu Shaoping didn't pay much attention to them. But similar rumors increased, and some people even began to associate him with legendary "spiritual painters" and stories of "master painters who could communicate with the gods."

"Could it be that the art of painting in this world can truly touch upon some kind of extraordinary power?" Fu Shaoping suddenly realized. This was not the result of his active cultivation, but rather the natural influence generated by his powerful Dao heart and understanding of the ultimate principles of heaven and earth through the medium of brush and ink. The laws of this world seem to be particularly sensitive to "intention" and "spirit".

On this day, the Jiangnan region was suddenly hit by torrential rains, the worst in decades. River levels swelled, turning low-lying areas into vast swamps. The disaster was severe, and the people were filled with fear. Even the town where the Shen family lived was affected, with continuous rain and a somber atmosphere.

Standing by the window of his study, Fu Shaoping looked at the torrential rain and the gloomy sky outside, a sense of unease and worry rising in his heart. He thought of the helplessness he felt during the epidemic in Wangshan Village, and of the insignificance of mortals in the face of the power of nature.

He turned back to his desk and spread out a specially made sheet of Xuan paper, twelve feet long. This time, he didn't want to paint his personal reflections, but rather a prayer to dispel the gloom of the past few days and bring back a bright and clear world!
He concentrated his mind and spirit, immersing himself entirely in the longing for light, warmth, and clarity. In his sea of ​​consciousness, the Dao heart that had endured countless reincarnations shone with a faint light, resonating subtly with a certain law representing "harmony" and "vitality" in the darkness.

He dipped his brush in warm-toned mineral pigments such as realgar and cinnabar, mixed them with a specially made alum water, and splashed them onto the paper with great force!

He painted a picture of the blazing sun breaking through the clouds!
There are no meticulous outlines, only unrestrained splashes of color and vigorous brushstrokes. In the center of the painting, a huge red sun, radiating endless light and heat, breaks through the thick, gloomy clouds with overwhelming force! Golden rays and thousands of streaks of rosy clouds seem to dispel all coldness and darkness! The painting contains a powerful, vigorous, and upward-striving spirit that is so strong that it almost leaps off the paper!

Throughout the creative process, Fu Shaoping was highly focused, as if engaging in a silent dialogue with the will of heaven and earth. When he made the final stroke, highlighting the most dazzling core of the red sun, he felt a slight dizziness, his mental energy greatly depleted.

The moment the painting was completed, the study seemed to brighten a bit. And when the painting "Blazing Sun Breaking Through the Clouds" was hung up, it exuded an invisible, warm, and uplifting aura, making the viewer feel their heart surge and sweeping away any gloom.

Miraculously, the day after the painting was completed, the torrential rain that had lasted for nearly half a month gradually stopped! The heavy dark clouds slowly dispersed, and the long-awaited sunlight shone through the gaps in the clouds, illuminating the rain-soaked earth!

Although this was mostly a natural change in the weather, the timing was so coincidental, and the fact that Fu Shaoping's painting, which was full of the idea of ​​"exorcising evil and dispelling bad luck," had just been completed, inevitably made people think a lot.

"Mr. Shen's paintings can actually influence celestial phenomena?" (Although they didn't actually influence them, everyone thought so.)
"Incredible skill! Truly incredible skill!"

In no time, rumors spread that "Shen Mo's paintings are profound, and a single stroke can determine the weather," almost elevating him to a divine status. Those seeking his paintings practically wore out the doorstep of the Shen family, their requests no longer merely for elegance, but more for peace, protection, and even changing their fortunes!
Faced with this sudden "deification," Fu Shaoping felt somewhat helpless and wary. He knew that he couldn't truly command the wind and rain; it was more a matter of coincidence and the psychological effect of the crowd. But this incident also confirmed that his "Daoist Charm Painting" could indeed influence the minds of others, and even, to some extent, subtly interfere with the aura of reality.

"Good fortune may be a harbinger of misfortune." His grandfather, Shen Zhou, warned him again, "Mo'er, you have already ventured into a realm that is difficult for ordinary people to understand, so you must tread carefully. In the future, when you paint, you should pay more attention to cultivating your character and not be burdened by empty fame. Also, do not easily agree to those requests involving ghosts and gods, so as not to get involved in unnecessary karma."

Fu Shaoping wholeheartedly agreed. He began to pay more attention to cultivating his own state of mind, and his painting became more spontaneous, only painting what he wanted to paint and was willing to paint, no longer easily swayed by external things. He devoted more time to reading, meditation, and travel, further solidifying his "foundation of Tao".

Through this experience of "the profound meaning of ink," Fu Shaoping's third incarnation of spiritual cultivation entered a completely new level. He was no longer merely a highly skilled painter, but more like a seeker of the Tao who used ink and brush as a medium to explore the mysteries of the mind and the universe.

His paintings are not merely art, but a form of spiritual practice, a path to harmony with the Tao. The road ahead is long and mysterious, and he is using his brush to depict his own path to enlightenment, step by step.

The rumors surrounding "the profound mystery of ink and brush" thrust Fu Shaoping (Shen Mo) into the spotlight, but he maintained a detached attitude, living a secluded life and declining most unnecessary social interactions and requests for paintings. He devoted all his energy to the ultimate exploration of the art of painting and the final refinement of his own state of mind.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, Fu Shaoping has spent nearly twenty years in the Shen family. The boy of yesteryear has grown into a refined and elegant young man. His fame has spread far and wide, and he is revered as the "Sage of Painting" and the "Immortal of Ink." His "Taoist Charm in Painting" has pioneered a new style, influencing countless successors. However, he himself has become increasingly low-key, almost never appearing in public, and his works have become increasingly rare, each piece considered priceless.

Over the years, his painting style has undergone several transformations, becoming increasingly simple and genuine. The early grandeur and passion, and the ethereal mystery of the middle period, have gradually transformed into an ultimate simplicity and profundity. He no longer pursues complexity and vibrant colors in his paintings; often, with just a few strokes and a touch of ink, he can depict boundless artistic conception, directly pointing to the essence of the human heart. He once painted a painting called "Return to the Ruins," the entire painting being almost entirely deep black ink, except for the very center, where an almost invisible light ink outlines a vortex about to dissipate, as if it were the final destination of all things, filled with the Taoist charm of annihilation and emptiness, yet within the ultimate "nothingness," there is a hidden opportunity for "somethingness."

He also painted a picture called "Original Intention". The picture only shows a tender green grass growing from the crack of a stubborn rock. The brushstrokes are simple and unsophisticated, but it is full of indomitable vitality and original innocence. Viewing it can remind people of the most genuine emotions in life.

His paintings are no longer just "paintings," but rather a manifestation of his Taoist heart, a crystallization of his understanding of reincarnation, life, and the universe.

The rumors surrounding the "mysterious charm of ink" intensified, propelling Fu Shaoping (Shen Mo) to the pinnacle of fame unattainable by ordinary people. However, even at the center of this vortex, his heart grew increasingly clear and peaceful. Those mysterious responses—such as viewers experiencing mild physical ailments and mental tranquility, even subtle coincidences with changes in the weather—all continuously confirmed a hypothesis in his mind—

This world possesses a set of underlying laws that differ from, yet are subtly connected to, those of the first cultivation world. "Intent" and "Divine Spirit" are undoubtedly the key to unlocking these laws.

Although the art of painting had allowed him to touch the edge of its mysteries, it was ultimately a form of cultivation through illusion, using ink and brush as a medium. What he yearned for was to more directly perceive, absorb, and even master the power of heaven and earth, to rebuild his own immortal foundation. This yearning, originating from the depths of his soul, was like a star in the dark night, faint yet steadfast, dispelling the potential decadence that might come with a life of comfort in this world.

Fu Shaoping began to act consciously. He did not make a big fuss, but made full use of the Shen family's advantage as a scholarly family.

• Organizing the family collection: Under the pretext of "studying painting principles and tracing ancient ideas," he asked his grandfather, Shen Zhou, to systematically examine the books accumulated by the Shen family over generations, especially those notes, unofficial histories, and local chronicles that were kept on the shelf and regarded as "miscellaneous books" or "strange tales." He examined them very carefully, not letting go of any words or phrases that might be related to "longevity," "breathing exercises," "extraordinary people," or "magic arts."

• Cultivating Refined Scholars: The Shen family often had learned but unsuccessful scholars visiting them. While discussing poetry and painting with them, Fu Shaoping would intentionally or unintentionally steer the conversation towards metaphysics, Taoist health practices, and even some strange and unusual folk tales. His humble demeanor and unique insights often engaged these well-informed individuals, prompting them to open up and share their thoughts.

• Self-analysis: He focused more intently on introspecting his state of mind when creating "Daoist-style paintings." He repeatedly savored and analyzed the feeling of his mind merging with heaven and earth, and the subtle energy that his thoughts stirred. He tried to actively enter a similar state even when not painting, through methods such as visualization and mental concentration. Although the effect was slight, it allowed him to refine his control over "spirit" more and more.

This process lasted for several years, like searching for a needle in a haystack, yielding mostly vague legends and dubious records, with no trace of the true methods of cultivation. But Fu Shaoping was not discouraged; he knew that opportunities often lie hidden beneath the ordinary.

The turning point came when he helped his grandfather organize his early travel notes and manuscripts.

In his youth, Shen Zhou loved landscapes and traveled extensively throughout China. In a travelogue of Sichuan with yellowed pages and slightly messy handwriting, Fu Shaoping's gaze was immediately drawn to a particular passage:
"...I wandered alone deep within the clouds and mist of the back mountains of Mount Emei, when suddenly I came upon a ravine, its depths mysterious and otherworldly, seemingly beyond human reach. Following the ravine into the depths, I found an ancient cave, densely covered with vines and creepers. Inside, the stone walls were carved with ancient, unrefined marks, neither seal script nor clerical script, yet seemingly containing profound mysteries. Beside it lay the remains of a corpse, its Taoist robe still intact, crumbling at the touch. I wondered in what era an immortal had passed away here. I was horrified, and traced several marks on the stone before hastily departing. Later, despite extensive research, I could not decipher their meaning, suspecting they were ancient cloud patterns and bird tracks, and thus I set them aside..."

Ancient cave! Carvings! Remains!

These keywords exploded in Fu Shaoping's mind like thunder. Suppressing his excitement, he carefully perused the rest of the notes, finding the faded rubbings tucked at the end. The inscriptions on them were twisted and coiled, indeed unlike any script he knew, yet in his perception, these inscriptions faintly exuded a unique "rhythm," somewhat similar to the feeling he had when drawing and drawing upon the energy of heaven and earth!

“My grandfather didn’t understand back then, perhaps because the conditions weren’t right, or perhaps because his mind hadn’t reached that state.” Fu Shaoping realized in his heart, “This thing, for me, may be the key to unlocking the door!”

He did not set off immediately. Instead, he spent several months carefully studying the rubbings, trying to understand their true meaning by combining them with his own insights into "Daoist painting." At the same time, he asked his grandfather and parents for permission to travel, citing that "his mind and spirit have been depleted in recent years, and he wishes to find a quiet place to cultivate in seclusion in order to achieve a breakthrough in his painting skills."

Looking into his grandson's calm and resolute eyes, and recalling the increasingly unfathomable realm of his paintings in recent years, as well as the rumors of "the profound mystery of ink charm," Shen Zhou vaguely sensed that his grandson's path had long surpassed worldly understanding. He pondered for a long time, and finally patted Fu Shaoping on the shoulder, only instructing him: "Be careful in everything, and act within your capabilities."

Although Yang was reluctant to part with him, she knew that her son's heart was not in this matter, and she prepared his luggage with tears in her eyes.

After bidding farewell to his family, Fu Shaoping set off for Sichuan with only a loyal and taciturn old servant and a simple bag. He did not use the Shen family's influence, but traveled like an ordinary scholar, traversing mountains and rivers.

Following the vague clues in his grandfather's notes, he arrived at Mount Emei. However, instead of heading to the bustling temples on the front mountain, he went around to the remote back mountain. Here, the peaks rose one after another, ancient trees reached the sky, clouds and mist lingered all year round, and poisonous insects and ferocious beasts occasionally appeared.

Relying on his powerful spiritual sense and sensitivity to qi, Fu Shaoping traversed the vast mountains and forests with great difficulty. He abandoned what he could see with his naked eye, relying more on his mind to sense the mysterious aura that might share the same origin as the rubbings and engravings. This process was extremely tedious and dangerous; he encountered peril several times, but each time he escaped unscathed thanks to his extraordinary mental fortitude and his gradually recovering, albeit faint, spiritual sense (thanks to his daily practice of visualization and concentration). (End of Chapter)