The Great Way to Truth, Starting from Jiazi Laodao

Chapter 96: Lord of the Underworld, the Secret of Spiritual Training

"When the cold wind blows, babies cry, old women in deserted houses, and the bones of all living things are withered. They are lost in the underworld. I surrender to my lord in the three-foot coffin..."

In the silent night, the dim candlelight flickered slightly. Hai Fengming spoke in an ups and downs as he mentioned the Lord of the Underworld. His voice was a little heavy, revealing a sense of anger and solemnity.

"The Lord of the Underworld first appeared four hundred years ago. At that time, she was a widow living in the countryside and refused to remarry. She worked on the farm and wove cloth from dawn to dusk every day, raising her only son with great difficulty.

Later, when their son got married, the couple treated her very well and thought that their hard work would pay off, but unexpectedly, she lived longer and longer, and by the time she was eighty years old, five generations of her family were already living under the same roof.

At that time, her son was old and frail, and the Lord of the Underworld was ill. The family had prepared a coffin for her, but she just held on and refused to die.

Glancing at the bright moon outside the window, Hai Fengming continued, "Even wealthy families may have no filial sons by the bedside of a long-term patient, let alone the poor people. After spending all his money, his son became more and more impatient with the Lord of the Underworld. When she grew new teeth as if she had rejuvenated, his son was even more terrified.

The great-grandson fell ill and could not be cured after a long period of treatment. The son believed the sorcerer's words and thought that his mother was absorbing the blessings of his descendants. He wanted to abandon his mother in the wilderness. The Lord of the Underworld loved his descendants and accepted his arrangement. He lived alone in a clay jar grave that had been dug long ago, eating one meal a day and eating one brick for each meal.

The Lord of the Underworld had already accepted his fate, but he didn't expect that his son's fortunes would turn around. By helping a noble man, he unexpectedly made a fortune. The whole family moved to the town and started a business.

The Lord of the Underworld was so hungry that she asked passers-by to tell her son that she wanted to have a reunion dinner and see her children for the last time before she died.

As a result, the son was afraid that his family's hard-earned blessing would be taken away by his mother after they met, so he came alone. Although he regretted not seeing his children and grandchildren, the Lord of the Underworld was still happy to see his son, especially when he brought sumptuous food that he had never thought of before.

However, not long after her son left, she began to foam at the mouth and had unbearable abdominal pain. She thought it was because she had not eaten meat for a long time and that this was the cause of her condition. She was old and weak and probably could not endure the torture and had already accepted death.

Unexpectedly, when she was dying, her son came back and cried in front of her grave, saying that he had no choice but to give her the drug, and he personally put the last few bricks in to seal the grave completely.

Hai Fengming sighed, "The Lord of the Underworld, who was ready to die, never expected that the child she had carried for ten months and raised with her own hands would be so impatient to kill her. She had been submissive, but now she felt resentful and eventually died of blood all over her orifices."

---

"When a person dies, he or she will turn into a ghost! The soul of the Lord of the Underworld lingers around. Although she hates her son, she never thought of harming him at first. She just wanted to see her descendants again. Unexpectedly, before the seventh day, her son led people to dig up her grave at night, remove the rotten meat, grind the bones into powder, and sell it to a master in the city who wanted to prolong his life by swallowing the bone powder of the long-lived.

The Lord of the Underworld who witnessed this scene went completely crazy. One hundred days after her death, she turned into a fierce ghost out of resentment and swallowed her descendants alive in front of her son. She remained indifferent to his pleas. Later, she killed the entire family of the rich master who bought the bone powder, leaving only her son who regretted his decision and burned himself in front of the grave. There was no news of her anymore.

Taking a sip of tea to moisten his throat, Hai Fengming saw that Xuanming was listening attentively and was a qualified listener. While he was satisfied, he thought of the follow-up and gritted his teeth and said:

"The Lord of the Underworld reappeared two hundred years ago. At that time, she was already a great ghost in the Qi Training Saint Embryo Realm. She was extremely powerful and committed major crimes in various places, demanding young boys and girls. The Guangfa Division chased her several times, but she always escaped. Even a True Lord of the Training God was dispatched, but she still escaped with injuries.

One hundred and fifty years ago, she reappeared in the world and joined forces with the Yinshan Sect. She sacrificed 70,000 boys and girls and the people of a city as sacrifices, advanced into the spiritual training, transformed the underworld into the Tao, and officially became the Lord of the Underworld.

As soon as this happened, His Majesty was furious and ordered the Guangfasi to conduct a thorough investigation, with the Tiandiyuan and Qiankunlou assisting in the investigation. They must eradicate the Yinshan Sect and the Underworld completely.

Afterwards, although the Yinshan Sect was destroyed, the Lord of the Underworld was cunning and escaped into the netherworld, so the matter had to be put on hold temporarily.

After more than one hundred and fifty years, the underworld has made a comeback. The matter has been reported to the court, and His Majesty has once again ordered a thorough investigation.

This case involves a wide range of people. In addition to Fengyang County, several surrounding counties are also affected. A senior who practices the gods speculated that the Lord of the Underworld had reached a critical moment in his cultivation and needed children to be sacrificed. "

Xuanming asked in confusion: "How come the gods from all over the world know nothing about this?"

With a dissatisfied snort, Hai Fengming said: "The Lord of the Netherworld has great magical powers. It seems that he has a secret treasure that can conceal the truth from the world. After a long time, even his memory will be erased.

In addition, they were very careful and specifically targeted the lower counties. The land god was kept in the dark, and some Yin spirits could not resist the temptation and became involved with him, eager to enter the underworld to practice and clean up for him. In addition, the human race used beggars as a cover, and the Yin spirits did not get involved in human affairs in the world of the living. With all these factors combined, they deceived their superiors and subordinates, and kept it secret for ten years. "

---

While solving his doubts, Xuanming's heart was filled with waves.

He did not judge the past of the Lord of the Underworld, but only sighed: "The human heart is hard to predict, and the world is unpredictable."

How pitiful you are when you are alive, how hateful you are after you die.

Right and wrong can no longer be easily generalized, but if he is able to meet the man again in the future, he will still kill him without hesitation, both because of the grudge they have made and because of his unresolved conscience.

Neither Hai Fengming nor Xuanming discussed this topic any further. How this matter would turn out would have to wait and see. Hai Fengming brought this up to remind Xuanming to be careful.

After finishing a cup of tea, Xuanming carefully thought about the conversation and filtered out other content, and grasped another key point.

"May I ask, fellow Taoist, what is the Dao-transforming underworld? Can you practice the mystical arts and ascend to the Dao through the Dharma?"

When practicing with the spirit, Xuanming would sometimes ponder.

Since training the essence emphasizes technique, and training the qi emphasizes method, then does training the spirit emphasize the way? From the outside to the inside, multiple analysis and sublimation? Just like training the essence at the bottom, training the qi in the middle, and training the spirit at the top, progressing step by step?

In the past, he could only think about it by himself. After meeting Hai Fengming last time, Xuanming knew that he had touched the threshold of practicing the spirit, so he thought about him and wanted to find an opportunity to ask him clearly. This was also one of the reasons why he came to the appointment.

Now the opportunity is just right, and he just brought it up. It would be best if he could get an answer, but if there is no answer, he will not force it. There will always be a way out. Perhaps when his cultivation reaches the holy fetus realm or he comprehends the other two parts of the "Huangting Sutra", he will know the answer naturally.

Hai Fengming looked at Xuanming meaningfully, and then lowered his head to think. Xuanming did not interrupt him. After a while, the great cultivator of the Legalist School said, "Your guess is correct."

Standing up and looking up at the moon, Hai Fengming stood with his hands behind his back. His back looked tall and straight against the moonlight. He explained:

"Although the methods of cultivation of the hundreds of schools of thought such as Legalism, Taoism, Confucianism, Mohism, Military Science, and Buddhism are different, they all have the same essence, which is to cultivate the essence, energy, and spirit. Only those with the best foundation of Taoism can hope to cultivate the spirit. This is because cultivating the spirit requires the foundation of Taoism to carry one's own Taoism and evolve the realm of Taoism. Only the best can carry the Taoism, and only in this way can it be considered a true achievement of Taoism.

Outside the Dao realm, all Daos shine together; within the Dao realm, only one Dao reigns supreme, which can barely be called a piece of heaven and earth. As for its size, it is closely related to the Dao foundation, heritage, understanding, and Dao heart. The Underworld is the Dao realm of the Lord of the Underworld.

Different schools of thought have different names for the Dao domain: Dharma calls it the Dharma Land, Taoism calls it the Fairyland, Buddhism calls it the Pure Land, Confucianism calls it the Mountain of Books, medicine calls it the Apricot Grove, Mohism calls it the Peach Garden, and agriculture calls it the Path.”

As if remembering something, Hai Fengming's tone became strange, with a feeling of love and hate: "Martial artists and military strategists are somewhat mixed. Pure military strategists call the Dao domain to stop war, and some soldiers are pure martial artists, most of whom take the path of breaking all laws with force. Even if they achieve the state of training the spirit, they do not have the Dao domain, or in other words, fists and weapons are their domain.

Warriors are often unruly and unruly. Since ancient times, there have been countless brave men who have shown off their bravery. There are countless people who have shed blood in anger. Like the Mohist knights, they are all daring and violate the law with force, and are not favored by the court. "

After a pause, Hai Fengming added: "But I have to admit that they do have their merits."

Hai Fengming exchanged a glance with Xuanming, and felt the Taoist's approval. He was satisfied and continued to work hard:
"The 100 schools of thought have different characteristics. The law is strict, Taoism is the most mysterious, Buddhism is compassionate, Confucianism is broad, Mohism is ingenious, medicine is the most resourceful, soldiers are the most effective in killing, farmers are content with what they have, and martial arts are the best in attack. There is no superiority or inferiority in the schools of thought. If there is a clash, it only depends on how long or short the avenue is."

Guan Yue pondered, and Hai Fengming said: "There are also four stages in practicing the spirit, but I have only heard my master talk about the first stage, which is the realm of condensing the Dao, going to the mysterious gate, and transforming the soul into a god. This stage is the Yin God Realm. After it is cultivated, it also travels at night, goes up to the sky and into the earth, and travels three thousand miles in one night.

When we were discussing the Dao in sleep that day, I used my concentrated divine thoughts to guide your spiritual awareness into the void."

After a few breaths of silence, he continued, "Warriors and knights use three-foot swords to express their emotions, Shintoism says that there is a god three feet above your head, and I, the Legalists, also use three feet of law to protect the people of the world.

The laws of the world are three feet high. My Dao domain is three feet high. The universe is three feet high. It is the king, ministers and people, as well as the temple, the rivers and lakes and the market. "

Hai Fengming's tone suddenly became serious: "Anyone who has no respect for others can be captured, trapped, or killed."

As soon as these words were spoken, a murderous intent flashed across his face, and Xuanming felt a sense of pressure and was instantly terrified. Although it was fleeting, he felt Hai Fengming's determination.

Seeing that Hai Fengming had lost interest in continuing his story, Xuanming stood up and bowed to him: "Thank you for clearing up my doubts, I will remember this kindness in my heart."

Turning around, Hai Fengming helped Xuanming up: "Daoyou, there is no need to be like this. Even if I don't say it, Daoyou will know it in the future. Hai is pleased with you, so I am talking to you in such a deep way."

Xuanming smiled but didn't say anything else. Listening to the sound of children playing outside the wall, Hai Fengming suggested that they go out for a walk. Xuanming readily agreed. He took the spirit deer that had turned into a donkey again, and together with Hai Fengming and Hai Yannian, they met a white-toothed man at the alley as soon as they left the hospital.

To be precise, it was Bao Renyi, whose skin color blended into the night. This guy had been guarding the door, staring at Hai's house, and when he saw them leaving the house, he immediately jumped out.

Putting the kid on the donkey, they walked through the alleys and into the long streets: juggling, fire breathing, face changing, variety shows, shadow puppets, storytelling, bangzi, snacks...

Watch the lively night market in the county town and experience the fireworks of the world at night. During the Qingming Festival, the night breeze blows, bringing the fragrance of osmanthus, which is more refreshing. Silence and noise coexist, and the lights and stars shine, like a sky full of stars falling on the earth. The big and small lights are the stars with different brightness. It is just that the nine days are quiet and the world is prosperous.

From the celestial stars and the human stars, Xuanming thought of the acupoints in the human body. He couldn't help but feel a stir in his heart and had a different realization. The acupoints that had been opened were functioning more subtly, and some of the acupoints that had not yet been opened were glowing faintly, but now was not the time for a breakthrough, so he suppressed them.

Even so, Xuanming was still overjoyed. Looking at the people coming and going in the night market, he felt that the world was worth living. This was probably the meaning of refining the mind in the mortal world. First, stay away from the world to calm the mind, and then reenter the world to refine the mind, so as to develop a pure and spotless Tao heart.

On the donkey, Bao Renyi blinked and asked, "The Taoist priest looks very happy."

Xuanming nodded, and Bao Renyi continued: "I am happy too."

Looking at the back in front of him, he grinned: "Because the master is happy."

Hai Fengming smiled when he heard this, and his temperament softened a bit. Hai Yannian whispered, "Flatterer."

After receiving a slap on the head, Hai Fengming glared at Hai Yannian, who then realized what was happening and immediately shut up.

On the donkey, the boy Bao Heitan smiled triumphantly, but the next moment he screamed and was almost thrown off. He couldn't help but lean over and hugged both sides of the donkey. Hai Yannian laughed and gave the donkey a thumbs up. They were indeed brothers who had shared saliva together!

The black bird flapped its wings and chirped nearby, fearing that the world would not be in chaos.

Xuanming and Hai Fengming ignored the fights of the four little ones behind them. As long as they knew their limits, their feelings would only deepen slowly in the fights. The two of them walked and talked until late at night before returning home.

　Thanks to Yanwanwukekuidu for the reward of 200 starting coins.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)