The more you believe me, the more real it becomes.

Chapter 187 The Great Way is Simple?!
After getting up in the cave, Zhang Zuojing was almost in tears.

Only after he carefully copied the ancient inscription on the stone wall did he return his mind to the water village.

After his vision returned, he saw that the bald, burly man and his newly taken-in disciple were both looking at him with worried expressions.

It makes sense, really. A perfectly healthy person just a moment ago suddenly stopped moving.

It is indeed quite scary.

After shaking his head and smiling, he shook his head again at his new apprentice and said:

"My disciple, don't worry, I'm fine. I was just too excited."

He lived for many years, but in the end, he often lived just to survive, and he never truly understood life.

It wasn't until the great era was approaching that he began to think about passing on his sect's traditions, and things gradually started to look promising.

But now, he feels he has found a reason to live.

Humans are strange; they fear death, yet they also fear not dying.

Strange, contradictory, but that's just human nature.

For a moment, he even felt that everything in front of him had become bright.

After beckoning to Zhang Kui, whose voice had been silenced by Du Yuan, the man approached respectfully.

Looking at the young man he had been observing for a long time, Zhang Zuojing nodded and said:
“You have already agreed to become my disciple, so now we are naturally master and disciple. My lineage has no formalities. Kneel down to me once,” Zhang Zuojing calculated the direction and pointed steadily to the northeast, “and then kowtow three more times in this direction, and you will be a disciple of my Lingxu Mountain sect.”

The man, Zhang Kui, did not kneel down immediately. Instead, he hesitated, his eyes filled with disbelief and bewilderment. His throat was gagged, preventing him from speaking, but his slightly parted lips and furrowed brows clearly revealed the doubts in his heart.

Why are you being so casual?
In his mind, let alone the immortal sect, even when he studied under various great Confucian scholars in the past, which one did not require him to burn incense, wash his hands, offer sacrifices to heaven and earth and ancestors, kneel three times and kowtow nine times, and offer tuition fees?

These days, even if this immortal sect, which far surpasses others, doesn't have to go through many trials, one must at least go through numerous complicated rituals before being accepted into its gates.

But this senior expert in front of him only needs to kowtow to him once, and then kowtow three times in the northeast direction, and that will be considered a success?
Having lived for many years and seen much, Zhang Zuojing knew what was on his mind at a glance. He stroked his long beard and smiled, saying:

"What? You think it's too simple? Hehe, the greatest truths are the simplest. Those elaborate formalities are just shackles for outsiders. Sincerity is the key to respect. My Lingxu Mountain lineage does not value empty formalities, but only sincerity and tradition."

As he spoke, Zhang Zuojing laughed, because he, like the boy in front of him, couldn't believe it was so simple back then.

They even thought they had encountered a scammer.

After shaking his head and smiling, he continued:

“I have already said that since you have agreed to become my disciple, you are naturally my disciple. This bow is to acknowledge our master-disciple relationship, and also to your own heart! The remaining three bows are to pay homage to the founding ancestor of Lingxu Mountain, to express our gratitude for his teachings, after all, that is the source of our lineage.”

The confusion and hesitation in Zhang Kui's eyes quickly faded.

Yes, how can we judge the actions of such wise and accomplished people with ordinary eyes?
Without further hesitation, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he instinctively wanted to say something. Only then did he realize that the immortal had sealed his tongue.

After scratching his head sheepishly, he took half a step back and respectfully kowtowed to the long-bearded old man in front of him. After kowtowing, he straightened up, turned his gaze to the northeast direction his master had pointed out, and without any hesitation, kowtowed three more times.

This made the old man stroke his beard and laugh:
"Well, you're not like me. Back then, I was so clever that I kowtowed three times to my master and nine times to the ancestral temple. I even came up with a way to please my master."

"What are you plotting? Three heads to pay respect to the teacher, nine heads to pay respect to the ancestor, this is called returning to oneness, the Great Dao is within reach, and you think this is so thorough and so devout!"

"But what was the result?" Zhang Zuojing's smile deepened. "In return, I received a severe scolding from my master!"

The thunderous rebuke from years ago still echoes in my ears:

"You scoundrel! Quickly put away your little tricks! When you kowtow, are you truly respecting your heart, or just putting on a show? If your heart isn't sincere, what's the use of three or nine kowtows, no matter how loudly you kowtow? It's nothing but posturing, only making people annoyed!"

I remember my master was so angry that his beard was trembling, and he pointed at his nose and cursed:

"The way of Lingxu Mountain is that sincerity leads to success! It is about returning to simplicity and authenticity! Your deliberate pursuit of more and your affected manner are putting the cart before the horse and going against the natural order!"

"Remember: the truth lies in simplicity, not in complexity! The more you deliberately show off, the lower your level becomes! If you continue like this, forget about inheriting my mantle; you'll be lucky to even live to see me die!"

Just as Zhang Zuojing was about to say something to Zhang Kui, he suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, and then a sudden realization dawned on him!
Great simplicity!

Yes, the greatest truths are the simplest!

All methods in the world, whether mortal or immortal, strive to be close to the Great Dao. To this end, countless brilliant minds have devoted themselves to exhausting their wisdom and constructing supernatural powers and methods that are increasingly complex and intricate, layer upon layer, which they call "striving for perfection" and "investigating the principles of Heaven."

At first glance, it is indeed magnificent and powerful, dazzling and mesmerizing.

But upon closer examination...
Heaven and earth are boundless; when have they ever been complicated?
Then look at the legendary ancient gods, and even the founders of the three religions who enlightened all beings. Their supreme supernatural powers could move stars and change constellations, and manipulate creation.

However, in those ancient descriptions, did they ever, like later cultivators, use hand seals and incantations to summon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth like surging tides? And why did they need talismans, array plates, or magical artifacts and spiritual light as their reliance?
With just a slight thought, wherever they point, heaven and earth change, and the universe is overturned!
This has long transcended the mere words "techniques" and is "the power of thought to create the law," and "the body is the Great Dao!"
As natural as breathing, as constant as the sun and moon, why would one need to rely on the flow of magical power to manifest supernatural abilities?
Thinking of this, Zhang Zuojing stared blankly at Zhang Kui, who was still confused, and the bald, burly man who was even more clueless about the situation and just looked dumbfounded.

The moment the word "forbidden" is uttered, supernatural power is achieved without the need for magic.

So, could this senior be of a higher status than the 'True Lord' I've been thinking of?
The problem that I couldn't understand before finally became clear at this moment.

But after realizing this, he found that his clothes were already soaked with cold sweat.

To be able to meet a true immortal is naturally an extreme blessing.

However, this place belongs to Confucianism, and the arrival of a Taoist master here is nothing short of a veiled attack on the esteemed officials of the Confucian Temple.

现在
If it weren't for receiving such a great favor, I wouldn't have made such a boastful promise.

Zhang Zuojing really wanted to make a run for it.

He finally understood why some cultivators do nothing all their lives but think about how to avoid karma.

This cause and effect is really hard to get involved in!
(End of this chapter)