Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 1073 I Cultivate the Lotus Form
Xu Xuan was a well-known tough guy. Whether on the banks of the Qiantang River or in the Yellow Springs, he never cried out in pain, no matter how serious his injuries were.

Therefore, when Bai Suzhen rushed to that secluded courtyard, this was the scene she saw:
A stubborn man, his face as pale as paper, his breath as faint as a whisper, yet he still forced his back to stand straight, a faint, nonchalant smile even playing on his lips.

“I’m fine.” “It’s nothing.” “It doesn’t hurt at all.”… Such words kept coming out of his mouth, trying to gloss over the matter lightly.

Coupled with that naturally endowed, handsome face that couldn't hide his charm even when seriously injured, it was truly... uniquely "interesting".

What's even more interesting is that when Xu, with an "embarrassed" expression and a touch of just the right amount of guilt and helplessness, slowly took out the divine sword whose blade was covered in cracks, whose dragon relief was almost worn down, and whose shape could be described as "abstract," the subtle emotions in his eyes were simply too complex to describe.

Seeing this, Bai Suzhen sighed softly. A faint light flashed at her fingertips, and a gentle yet irresistible force lifted Xu Xuan up and placed him safely back on the bed.

"This matter... is not entirely your fault."

Her voice was clear and melodious, carrying a hint of soothing.

"This sword was too sharp in its early years and once stirred up waves in the East Sea. It is probably time for it to suffer this calamity and temper its fierceness. It may not be a bad thing."

These words, once spoken, seemed to convey the meaning to the rather intelligent Chilong sword, which immediately became "enraged"!
The water vapor in the courtyard instantly gathered uncontrollably, faintly emitting a buzzing sound like a dragon's roar, as if it wanted to manifest a dragon shape to protest.

However, Bai Suzhen simply raised her jade hand and flicked it in the air, and the water vapor that had just condensed quietly dissipated like a dream bubble.

He then rolled up his sleeve and put the still trembling Chilong sword into his sleeve, completely severing its connection with the outside world.

The whole process was smooth and effortless, as if he had simply brushed away a wisp of unruly smoke.

It was a pity for this divine sword, which was confined to this small courtyard and put on a vivid performance of "impotent rage".

After Bai Suzhen dealt with the "minor matter" of the Chilong Sword, she turned around, her eyes clear and bright, and looked at Xu Xuan. Her tone was calm but carried a hint of concern and joy that was not easily detected.

"His body is like an autumn tumbleweed, but his heart shines brightly in the sky."

He slowly uttered ten words, which precisely summarized Xu Xuan's current state.

"We can finally mention the word 'Tao'."

"Your current spiritual realm is excellent. The light of your soul is pure, intense, and clearly visible. It has reached perfection and you are about to enter the crucial realm of refining emptiness and uniting with the Dao."

"But the more this is the case, the more careful you must be. When the sacred embryo of Buddhism is about to be fully formed, the mind is as clear as crystal, and it is also the most vulnerable to invasion and spying by internal and external evils. Your actions this time are quite significant, and you may attract some unexpected external demons."

"Furthermore, do not be impatient. If you do not cultivate your physical body to a state of perfection and enter the fourth realm hastily, there will be no chance to make amends. In the future, your pursuit of the supreme path will be much more difficult and will leave endless troubles."

Lady White Snake was indeed a good-tempered woman.

She actually stayed in this simple courtyard and personally took care of the "weak" pretty boy who had caused such a huge disaster.

With a gentle wave of her hand, she gathered the essence of the sun, moon, and stars, condensing it into glistening dewdrops, which she then used as her daily drinking water for Xu Xuan to ingest, continuing to cleanse the dust and hidden wounds deep within his body.

She even expended her own magical power to help this man refine those hard-won elixirs.

He used his supreme profound skills to refine the primordial energy within, transforming it into the most fundamental life force, which was then slowly channeled into his limbs and bones, ensuring that his origin would not be contaminated by any external primordial energy during his advancement.

Furthermore, layers upon layers of mysterious and extraordinary concealment and protection arrays were set up around the courtyard, their aura concealed and not revealed, ready to deal with any external demonic invasion that might be attracted by the breakthrough in cultivation.

In theory, slaying an ancient ferocious god like Yayu carries a karmic burden that would be considered an extraordinary level of tribulation difficulty.

But when it comes to Xu Xuan... Bai Suzhen felt it was best to make several preparations, after all, this person... was hard to predict.

In the following days, he cared for her as if she were a newborn human infant, personally taking care of everything and watching over her with utmost care.

This meticulous tenderness and consideration made Xu Xuan, who had a guilty conscience, feel somewhat uneasy.

You woman, you didn't get angry or upset, didn't hit or scold, and even took such good care of her... Your level is too high.

I actually felt a little ashamed?

It truly is a case of one thing subduing another, a mutual generation and restraint.

Perhaps this is the external demon? Or the inner demon?

In reality, Bai Suzhen was in a very good mood at the moment, and was not just pretending to be magnanimous.

This is because she saw further: once one has cultivated to the fourth realm, "Refining Emptiness and Uniting with the Dao," one must truly begin to sense the rules of heaven and earth and embark on the final step of the ladder to the path of the celestial being.

Only then can one begin to grasp the basics of the Way of Heaven, comprehend the infinite mysteries of the universe, and even begin to transcend the linear perspective of time to view cause and effect.

Only in this way can Xu Xuan be considered to have truly embarked on the right path of a seeker of the Dao.

Only when they reach that level can the entangled love between them be truly and completely severed, thus freeing each other and transcending their respective limitations.

This expectation of "severing emotions to attain enlightenment" is one of the reasons for her current patience and tolerance.

However, this expectation of tranquility and detachment is likely to be dashed.

At this moment, Xu Xuan was not thinking in that direction at all, and was still enthusiastically sharing with the girl the whole story of his trip to hell.

He recounted how he infiltrated the underworld to chase ghosts, and how he fought Yayu for three hundred rounds, his words flowing with great enthusiasm and gesticulation.

Having single-handedly defeated such a formidable enemy as an ancient ferocious god, such a glorious achievement, yet unable to openly proclaim it to the outside world, was truly unbearable. The only way he could feel any sense of presence was in front of this person.

"Mmm, Chinese is really amazing."

Bai Suzhen listened to his slightly exaggerated narration, the corners of her lips curving slightly. Her praise was gentle and sincere, without the slightest hint of perfunctoriness.

With such a beautiful face and such sincere praise, most people would probably be swayed and unable to control themselves.

Xu Xuan... it's hard to say.

I just felt increasingly cheerful, and my smile grew brighter and brighter, almost reaching my ears. I'm just naturally inclined to smile.

Seeing that Xu Xuan was relaxed and open-minded, Bai Suzhen saw it as the perfect opportunity to offer him guidance.

He then casually added, "Well then, Hanwen, since it's not advisable to use your magic too much while recuperating, but your mind can remain clear, why don't we have a discussion about the Dao?"

Xu Xuan's mind had not fully recovered at this moment, and his resistance to the person in front of him with his peerless beauty and gentle tone had decreased considerably. His "iron will" that usually had a negative effect had also temporarily subsided.

Instead of resisting, she became quite interested and leaned back casually, looking like she was ready to listen.

Teacher Bai's impromptu "tutoring" was not without purpose.

She knew that Xu Xuan was incredibly audacious and often acted in unexpected and even reckless ways.

If we don't explain the advantages and disadvantages of the barriers and choices before the four realms to him in advance, who knows what kind of earth-shattering trouble he will cause when he breaks through? At that time, it may be really difficult to deal with.

"Although the Buddhist and Taoist practices lead to the same goal of transcendence, their processes and details are not entirely the same."

Bai Suzhen's voice was gentle and soothing, like a babbling brook. "Take Buddhism as an example. Usually, when practitioners reach this juncture, they need to choose a Dharma form as the core support and manifestation for their subsequent cultivation."

In fact, Xu Xuan was not completely ignorant about "Dharma Forms"; in fact, he had come into contact with them more than once, but he had never systematically pondered them.

When he ruthlessly wiped out the City of the Wrongfully Dead in the underworld, he used his immense vow power to forcibly condense the Dharma image of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, unleashing boundless power.

In the secret realm of the Purple Bamboo Forest, Bai Suzhen summoned the pure and mysterious image of the Incomparable Guanyin to protect the foundation of the formation.

The term "Dharma-characteristics" refers to the characteristics of all dharmas, encompassing both physical characteristics and semantic characteristics.

It is both a conceptual condensation of the specific manifestations and differences of all things and phenomena in the universe, and one of the ultimate manifestations of the practitioner's own path.

In layman's terms, all the various sects' cultivation techniques that you have practiced before, whether they originated from Buddhism or other sects, have reached the end of a certain stage when you reach the fourth realm.

There is no fixed path ahead; one must combine one's own foundation, the principles one has comprehended, and even one's innate spiritual light to create a unique 'Dharma form' of one's own.

This is to encompass everything learned in the past and to support the path to be taken in the future.

Cultivators need to constantly refine their own Dharma form, using it as the core tool to steadfastly move forward step by step in the Great Dao.

The ultimate goal is to break down the barrier between the mortal and the extraordinary.

Bai Suzhen spoke eloquently, her voice like a clear spring, slowly unfolding the picture of the path of cultivation before Xu Xuan.

"When one's cultivation reaches a certain limit and one's understanding and control of one's own Dharma form reaches perfection, the great supernatural power of 'Dharma Form Heaven and Earth' will naturally arise."

At that time, the Dharma form will no longer be merely an internal condensation and manifestation, but will truly resonate with the external world, and may even briefly manifest a domain of its own rules.

She used Buddhism as an example to explain the differences in detail:
"For example, the disciples of the Pure Land School mostly study the three sutras and one treatise, namely the Infinite Life Sutra, the Contemplation Sutra, the Amitabha Sutra, and the Treatise on Rebirth. Their foundation is mostly based on the Pure Land, so the Dharma images they practice are mostly the 'pure lotus image' of the Eastern Dharma Protector Bodhisattva, symbolizing emerging from the mud unsullied and being reborn in the Pure Land."

"The Zen school emphasizes understanding one's true nature and pointing directly to one's original mind. Its disciples often cultivate the appearance of an Arhat, which embodies a path of self-awareness and self-salvation."

"In addition, some monks with extraordinary encounters and profound roots may be able to cultivate the Buddha image such as 'Vairocana Buddha', bearing even greater vows and wisdom. There are also some monks with special Buddhist hearts who are unconventional... well, crazy monks. They do not follow any fixed classical images, but cultivate their own 'Buddha in their hearts.' Although this method is dangerous, it is also the most unpredictable."

Xu Xuan listened intently. He had seen many Buddhist methods, but he knew very little about the Taoist measures at this pass, which aroused his curiosity.

Bai Suzhen also spoke frankly about this:

"The Taoist school naturally has similar measures and methods. Its concept can be regarded as a simplification and transformation of the ancient great supernatural power 'following the laws of heaven and earth'. However, its purpose is not for fighting and killing, but specifically for conforming to the Great Dao and assisting in cultivation."

The Taiping Jing states: "Humans are like heaven and earth, with the four seasons, five elements, and the six directions and eight directions following them." This means that the human body is a microcosm, corresponding to the external macrocosm.

The *Dongyuan Ziran Jingjue* also states: "A True Person is one whose body is pervaded by emptiness and nothingness, who is in harmony with the Dao, and who is one with nature. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omniscient."

"Therefore, the Daoist Dharma Form tests a cultivator's talent and comprehension even more. The starting point requires directly comprehending the true meaning from the myriad phenomena of heaven and earth, and the 'True Person Body' that is condensed must be in harmony with heaven and earth. The process is more like using oneself to reflect and merge with the 'Dao' in the darkness."

"Because this method of Taoism points directly to the source and is in line with the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, the titles of cultivation realms in the cultivation world are mostly based on the standards of Taoism, which has its profound reasons."

Finally, she concluded in a calm and detached tone:
"Of course, whether in Buddhism or Taoism, the ability to use supernatural powers and magic is regarded as a means of protecting the Tao. Its importance is always ranked below comprehending the Great Tao and cultivating Buddhahood. Seeking transcendence and realizing one's true nature is the right path of cultivation."

“Your senior brother is cultivating his own ‘true nature’.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Xuan seemed to understand something. No wonder when he saw his senior brother hammering someone, the Dharma image that appeared was not any known Buddha or Bodhisattva, but a small golden figure that looked somewhat lonely but was indestructible.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. With his extraordinary talent and unruly nature, how could he possibly be willing to accept the form of others to contain his own methods?
They will definitely make the choice of "I am who I am".

"Within Buddhism, there are also several eminent monks who, either through the inherited treasures of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas or through special opportunities, have successfully cultivated the Dharma form corresponding to a particular Buddha or Bodhisattva,"

"Through this clarity of the path, the journey of spiritual practice is not slow."

Bai Suzhen said these things at this moment to give Xu Xuan some pointers.

This man's knowledge was too diverse, including several fundamental Buddhist teachings alone, whose philosophies were not necessarily completely compatible, and many other lineages of unknown origin were mixed in with it.

If one tries to do too much at the stage of condensing the Dharma form without understanding the direction, it is easy to end up with a hybrid that is neither fish nor fowl, which will only hinder the path forward.

However, Bai Suzhen's worries were unnecessary for someone else.

Xu Xuan had no need to worry about this, nor did he need to make a difficult choice.

When he first entered the Dao, he had already cultivated his own unique "White Lotus Dharma Form" deep in his sea of ​​consciousness through his special circumstances.

This Dharma image appears simple, but it contains profound secrets and possesses extremely strong inclusiveness and evolutionary power. All the Dharma methods learned and the various principles comprehended in the future can be encompassed and fused into one furnace within it.

(End of this chapter)