I will teach you how to cultivate immortality

Chapter 543 Proving the Dao in a Dream, Refining the False into the True

"These sound like two solutions to the same problem?"

As Li Boyang's disciple, Lu Huaijin naturally had a deep understanding of the concept of "the path of the Way".

Therefore, in her view, the diametrically opposed behaviors of Zhuangzi and Bo Xun are more like different interpretations of the same path.

Yes, the 'path of great freedom' that I pursue is built on illusion, originating from a dream of mine.

In that dream, I seemed to transform into a butterfly...

[After waking from the dream, I couldn't tell whether I had transformed into a butterfly, or the butterfly had transformed into me.]

From that moment on, I understood the state of 'forgetting oneself and the external world'.

First there is no merit, then no fame, then no self, until finally, one has nothing to rely on and roams freely in the boundless天地 (heaven and earth).

After a slight pause, Zhuang Zhou, completely absorbed in his own thoughts, continued.

However, I also understand that simply letting loose and indulging in endless daydreams is nothing but an empty dream.

Just as after waking from a dream, I am still myself, not the butterfly in the dream.

My body is real, and my family and friends are real too...

They will promptly wake me up when I'm lost in thought or detached from reality.

Listening silently to Zhuang Zhou's story, Lu Huaijin did not interrupt him this time.

Conversely, through Zhuangzi's description of the state of "forgetting oneself and things," Lu Huaijin seems to have thought of the personalities that he had split off from himself.

If one lacks anchors in the real world, one might doubt whether they are the split personality.

One day, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

[If the butterflies in my dream were real, and had their own family and friends...]

So, when they awaken the butterflies, will I be able to transform into a butterfly again?

It must be admitted that Zhuangzi's idea was indeed far-fetched.

It was precisely through this special method that Zhuang Zhou was able to travel to other timelines and worldlines time and time again to prove his Dao.

The only question is how Zhuangzi turned his dream into reality, making the butterfly in his dream a real, existing version of himself.

[To attain enlightenment in a dream, to refine the false into the true—that's the secret I've come up with.]

Compared to the "Reversing Heaven and Reverting the Sun" divine power personally passed down by the Dao Ancestor, this "Method of Attaining Dao in a Dream" has many limitations, and it cannot even directly interfere with the river of time.

But its advantage is equally significant: everything I experienced before completing the 'transformation from fake to real' was just a dream.

I can try again and again until I am born into this era in the best possible condition.

Before being born as a giant Kun, Zhuang Zhou had already dreamed countless dreams.

In those dreams, he was sometimes a human, sometimes a spirit, and sometimes a god.

However, due to various reasons, Zhuang Zhou was ultimately unable to turn those dreams into reality, and was only born in the form of a giant Kun.

What happened next was pretty much what Xiluo already knew.

Zhuang Zhou wanted to lead the giant Kun clan to rise to power and ascend to become a god in this era.

However, he was killed by Mara at the last moment and forced to give up ownership of the Great Freedom Heaven. His body was also buried in this eternally frozen land at the edge of the heavens.

Fortunately, Zhuang Zhou had countless experiences of failing to attain enlightenment.

They made emergency preparations immediately, using the method of proving the Tao in dreams to transform the false into the real, bringing the things from countless previous dreams into reality.

"Bringing dreams into reality?"

Staring wide-eyed in surprise, Lu Huaijin suddenly realized and asked, "So, the person you are now isn't the real you, but just a dream being pulled into reality by the real you?"

This explains why Zhuangzi's consciousness appeared out of nowhere in the depths of his mind.

Because he was not real, but a dream forcibly dragged into reality.

The only question is, what exactly happened in Zhuang Zhou's dream? Did the other person dream of becoming him?
Thinking of this, Lu Huaijin's eyes turned strange.

Although she had long known that for these enlightened beings who had come from across time and space, age, gender, and even species no longer held much significance.

But the thought of someone else becoming him in a dream and experiencing his life again made Lu Huaijin feel inexplicably awkward.

What other dreams did you have?

Thinking of this, Lu Huaijin suddenly realized something and asked again.

Since Zhuang Zhou brought all his previous dreams into reality, then theoretically there must be more than one Zhuang Zhou.

Don't worry, I'm the only one who can remember everything right now.

Immediately sensing Lu Huaijin's concerns, Zhuang Zhou quickly responded.

Having practiced the "Six Desires and the Subjugation of Demons" chapter, I am naturally aware of the dangers of personality splitting...

Therefore, even if dreams are brought into reality, those "Zhuang Zhous" in the dreams will only maintain their original life trajectories until they are awakened and remember their true identities.

At this point, Zhuang Zhou paused slightly before speaking in a somewhat hesitant tone.

I am not actually the first 'Zhuang Zhou' to be awakened; there was another 'Zhuang Zhou' who was awakened before me.

That was Zhuangzi's 'first dream,' in which he dreamt he had become a butterfly.

Thus, a special race called the 'Butterfly People' was born.

They originated from Zhuangzi, yet developed their own unique characteristics...

Staring in astonishment, Lu Huaijin never imagined that Zhuang Zhou's dream would involve the Butterfly People.

"To attain enlightenment in a dream is actually possible to this extent?"

Lu Huaijin knew perfectly well that the Butterfly People's history was far longer than the time Zhuang Zhou had been born.

This means that Zhuangzi's first dream, in a sense, changed history, embedding the suddenly born butterfly people into the long river of history.

[Not only that, in that dream, 'Zhuang Zhou' further perfected the supernatural power of attaining enlightenment within the dream.]

Having keenly grasped the underlying meaning in Zhuangzi's words, Lu Huaijin couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

"What did he do?"

With a slightly detached yet helpless smile, Zhuang Zhou spoke softly.

Since it's in my own dream, I can naturally do whatever I want.

He forcibly entered Wushan and seized a portion of the power of the 'Wushan Cauldron' to perfect the Great Freedom Heaven.

If this part of the dream also becomes reality, then the Great Free Heaven must contain some of the power of the 'Wushan Cauldron'.

That was the power of the second Witch King, a power truly capable of turning illusion into reality.

I think that the Great Pure Land of Shiva must have become a completely different world from what I imagined.

[Perhaps the freedom to transform oneself... has truly arrived!]

Monthly ticket/recommendation ticket

(End of this chapter)