Great Love for All Heavens Begins with Huang Yaoshi

Chapter 135 If the dream is not shattered, wisdom cannot be revealed; if the heart is not dead, the Way cannot be born; if desire is not extinguished, the Way cannot be achieved.
"There are roughly two years left until the auspicious day. When that day comes, I will send Fengyun to Shenlong Island. Now, you only need to find a few other candidates."

As the white-haired man in black robes spoke, he raised his hand and gently stroked the ground. With a flick and a press, his fingertips emitted a bright white light, as if drawing upon the power of heaven, earth, mountains, marshes, and water. The area within a ten-mile radius, like swampy mud, was filled in after a series of rolling motions.

Then, a verdant green emerged, and within a few breaths, robust new bamboo shoots rose from the ground, stretching high upwards to form a lush bamboo forest.

Around the two, peach trees sprang up from the ground, and in the blink of an eye, the trees with their straight trunks and lush branches blossomed with beautiful peach flowers.

As the breeze gently blows, the peach trees sway gracefully, their petals fluttering like snowflakes, creating a dreamlike dance.

"Alright, Your Excellency has already reached the level of martial arts where form follows the mind. I have now dismantled the Qimen Formation." Zhuang Buran said with his hands behind his back, smiling.

"Please!"

Upon hearing this, Indra gave the white-haired, black-robed man a deep look, his heart stirred slightly, and he immediately vanished from the spot.

"Only a mere ten-odd feet? This is the consequence of practicing techniques without cultivating the Dao." Zhuang Buran shook his head leisurely:
"All kinds of martial arts seem to be miraculous, but that's all there is to it."

With a thought, as he landed on the ground, a clump of mud rose up from the ground, and a blood-red mud ball the size of a fingertip emerged.

"There is a trace of phoenix blood remaining." The white-haired, black-robed man's eyes widened slightly. As the blood-red mud ball hovered before him, he seemed to understand something and said softly:

"It seems like we've found the way forward for 'Triple Rebirth'."

Tea time.

Nie Feng and his companions, who had been blown dozens of miles away by the wind, rushed back and were immediately stunned to see the bamboo forest and peach grove exactly the same as before.

After a moment of stunned silence, the group hurriedly entered the peach grove. There they found a white-haired man in a black robe lounging on a bamboo chair, with an exquisite and elegant bamboo house behind him.

Seeing this, You Ruo breathed a sigh of relief, as did the others. When they saw that the small courtyard with its green bricks and blue tiles, carved beams and painted rafters had been transformed into an elegant bamboo building, they realized that the earth-shattering battle they had witnessed was not just a dream.

"Father, are you alright?" You Ruo quickly stepped forward.

"Seventeen long years have passed, and I have finally achieved success in my cultivation. What could possibly happen?" Zhuang Buran glanced at Nie Feng and the other two not far away.
"When faced with a formidable enemy, you cleverly led them to your master. You are truly my good disciples."

As soon as he finished speaking, the spot where Nie Feng and Bu Jingyun were standing seemed to turn into a mud pit. The two of them were caught off guard and fell into it, as if they were planted in the soil, with only their heads sticking out.

Moreover, no matter how much effort one puts in, it feels like sinking into the sea with no effect whatsoever.

"Master, Junior Brother Yun and Junior Brother Feng."

Before Qin Shuang could finish pleading, she was casually interrupted by the white-haired man in black robes:
"After all, they are my good disciples. I don't need to take their lives. But I hope they will feel ashamed and then be brave. In the future, they should practice martial arts diligently and not let the pleasures of the world distract them."

"Father, how long will Senior Brother Yun and Senior Brother Feng stay in the fields?" You Ruo asked doubtfully.

"It depends on my mood. Seven days isn't a long time, and a month isn't a short time either," Zhuang Buran said casually.
"By the way, the bamboo house is lacking in everything. You and Shuang'er go and buy some household items."

You Ruo knew that no amount of persuasion could change her father's decision, so she nodded in agreement and left with Qin Shuang.

Half a month later, Nie Feng and Bu Jingyun finally emerged from the mud. After taking a bath, they followed You Ruo and Qin Shuang to the white-haired man in black robes.

“You Ruo should have explained the origins of Emperor Shitian to you two.”

Zhuang Buran, with his eyes closed, asked, "Do you have any objections to the dragon-slaying matter?"

"This disciple has no objection to slaying the dragon, but do you really want Di Shitian to obtain the Dragon Essence and gain an immortal body?" Nie Feng asked solemnly.

"Wind, you remain as compassionate as ever, possessing the heart of a bodhisattva who cherishes the world." The white-haired, black-robed man then changed the subject:
"Why are you so stubborn? Why don't you take the opportunity to seize the Dragon Essence and swallow it? That way you can greatly increase your power, gain immortality, prevent Emperor Shitian from continuing to harm the people, and protect the world from peace forever."

"This disciple has never desired immortality. To be able to spend my life with the one I love in this world is enough," Nie Feng said solemnly.

"Jingyun, do you not also wish for immortality?" Zhuang Buran asked with a smile.

"In the end, immortality will only lead to a loss of all hope in the world, and it is not worth pursuing at all," Bu Jingyun said in a low voice.

"Tsk tsk, now his affection for his wife and children surpasses everything else in the world." Zhuang Buran raised an eyelid:
"It seems you still don't understand the principle that if the dream is not shattered, wisdom cannot be revealed; if the heart is not dead, the Way cannot be born; if desires are not extinguished, the Way cannot be accomplished."

"They have no idea that only after dying once do people know what it means to live, and only after the heart has been boiled in boiling water, fried in oil, and rolled on a knife's edge do people know what it means to have great passions and desires."

He said casually:

"Those who achieve great things must have hatred in their hearts. Hatred is the source of ruthlessness."

"To comprehend the Tao, one must endure great suffering and transcend worldly desires and emotions. This means that ruthlessness is for the sake of compassion, human feelings must be subordinate to the principles of Heaven, and letting go of petty thoughts is for the sake of the ultimate righteousness."

"Therefore, from the very beginning, one must repay hatred with hatred and ruthlessness with ruthlessness, experiencing all kinds of worldly strife."

"Only then can one attain a clear and enlightened mind, transform worldly distractions into a grand ambition for the common people, and achieve extraordinary feats."

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent, finally understanding why the white-haired, black-robed man had mastered such extraordinary martial arts skills.

"I have spoken too much. In this world, everyone is incapable of being cultivated," Zhuang Buran sighed softly.

"Father, if I really had to go through what you've described, even if I didn't die, I'd go mad," You Ruo said with a smile.

"But speaking of which, I am quite interested in the Dragon Essence. Can it really grant immortality?"

"Haha, just like your father, you're also someone who likes to take shortcuts."

Zhuang Buran shook his head and smiled:
"It is conceivable that the dragon's body is enormous, and its dragon essence is also enormous. As far as the human body is concerned, it could probably grant seven or eight people an immortal body."

"You four, brothers and sisters, two in the open and two in the shadows, should have no problem obtaining half of the Dragon Essence."

"My three senior brothers, why don't we make some good plans?" You Ruo said with a smile, her words carrying a certain charm.

Her clear eyes sparkled as she said:
"After all, you probably don't want Di Shitian to obtain the Dragon Essence and continue to tyrannize the martial arts world of Shenzhou."

"As long as we obtain the Dragon Essence, whether we consume it or not, at least we won't allow a few more wicked and unruly demons to emerge in the world."

When Nie Feng and the other two saw You Ruo's radiant smile, their lips twitched involuntarily. They exchanged glances, their silence speaking volumes. The smile on her face felt all too familiar, and they felt inexplicably uneasy.

I feel like my quirky yet gentle junior sister from before has disappeared without me even noticing.

(End of this chapter)