How can one cultivate immortality without learning modern knowledge?

Chapter 143 The human body has its own universe; how can it tolerate external interference?

"They also said that if I die at ninety-seven, I'll wait three years on the Bridge of Helplessness!" Ye Xiaoxiao said softly, "Holy Maiden, will you accept this hundred-year promise?"

The saintess exhaled softly: "You should understand one thing."

"What?"

"He was human, and dying at ninety-seven was considered a long life. I, on the other hand, am a spirit, and barring unforeseen circumstances, my lifespan should be ten thousand years! A hundred years is nothing more than a hundred times the flowers bloom and fade in the mountains for me. To use my ten thousand-year lifespan to keep a hundred-year promise—isn't that a joke?"

The dazed look on Ye Xiaoxiao's face vanished in an instant in the wind.

The saint spoke of a basic common sense.

This common sense is correct everywhere.

A hundred years is considered a long lifespan for humans.

The Spirit Race's ten thousand years is nothing special.

However, can you really take lyrics that seriously?

The saintess was so earnest because she was telling her: in the world of the Spirit Race, there are things more important than "love"! Compared to the grand strategy, the hundred-year promise is nothing more than the falling petals of flowers on Mount Ling—

Lixian Villa.

Zhou Wenju returned to his room.

Under the cover of night, it was incomparably quiet.

The lights came on, illuminating Cui Wusheng's face.

He was clearly sleepless tonight.

In fact, he had been unable to sleep since he woke up.

But he had no one to confide in, because the person he wanted to confide in was Zhou Wenju, and Zhou Wenju, just like the day he checked into the Lixian Villa, had disappeared again.

Tonight, I'm finally back.

Upon his return, he made up for the lesson he most wanted to take: The Way of the Seven Tones (At the Qingshan Literary Gathering, others heard that wonderful seven-tone melody, but he didn't hear it while he was unconscious. How could a musical prodigy who takes the Way of Music as the foundation of his literary path tolerate that?)

The song we just heard was the ultimate demonstration of the Seven Musical Paths.

Hearing it with his own ears was like someone who had been groping in the dark for a long time suddenly seeing a whole new world—it was so gratifying, so exciting!

"I had no intention of disturbing you today, Brother Zhou. It's all because of your wonderful song that I was so moved that I broke my invisibility and revealed myself. I apologize for disturbing your romantic time with you." Cui Wusheng reached out and poured Zhou Wenju a cup of tea, smiling as he spoke.

Zhou Wenju's voice drifted into his ear: "Brother Cui, have you ever heard the saying, 'The more beautiful something is, the closer it is to error'?"

This voice was transmitted through the Wen Dao.

Cui Wusheng's smile froze instantly.

His gaze fell on Zhou Wenju's face, and Zhou Wenju's eyes, at this moment, were unfathomable.

Cui Wusheng cultivated the Way of Music, and those who cultivate the Way of Music are the most sensitive. He instantly sensed that something was wrong. He took a light breath and said, "Brother Zhou, in fact, I have seen every step of the Holy Maiden's invitation. In my opinion, it is full of goodwill."

"Goodwill? Full of it?" Zhou Wenju uttered five words softly.

"The Seven Refinements of the Fountain of Youth of the Spirit Clan is truly a rare treasure of the Spirit Clan, and it would not be an exaggeration to call it divine water."

"I believe that!" Zhou Wenju said.

"Since you also believe in it, then why do you question the saintess's good intentions? Who in this world would offer such a divine medicine to someone as a literary prodigy for the sake of hypocrisy?"

"How can you be so sure—this is fulfillment?" Zhou Wenju's gaze shifted to him.

Cui Wusheng gently raised his hand and scratched his head: "Human cultivators are generally considered to be physically weak despite their high level of cultivation. However, the Spirit Clan's Seven Refinements of the Fountain of Youth, once consumed, will give birth to a spiritual root, filling the only missing link in the chain. The path of cultivation will then be without regret. Brother Zhou actually thinks that—immortality is not a fulfillment for you?"

This is a matter of common sense.

If it were anyone else, Cui Wusheng wouldn't bother explaining.

But this is facing him!

He was faced with this friend who even he found amazing.

Zhou Wenju asked, "In Brother Cui's view, is the human body really that bad?"

"Brother Zhou, your words are frank, and I will also speak frankly. If we only consider the physical condition, the human race is indeed far inferior to the ancient alien races. Not to mention the demon race and the monster race, even the spirit race, which is not known for its strong physique, is far inferior to us humans."

Zhou Wenju chuckled softly: "Then, let me ask you, Brother Cui, throughout the ancient times and countless eras, why is it that those who ultimately stand at the pinnacle of cultivation are always human?"

Cui Wusheng was stunned.

In terms of physical fitness, humans are inferior to any of the ancient races.

This is an undeniable fact.

They are even inferior to ordinary animals.

After all, oxen and horses are stronger than humans, snakes and insects are more resistant to cold than humans, and birds are faster than humans.

Not to mention the various ancient races that possessed innate bloodline abilities.

However, one fact remains undeniable.

Take a longer-term view and examine all the eras in the path of cultivation.

In the end, it is always the human race that stands out and reaches the pinnacle of cultivation.

As the timeline lengthens, it can no longer be explained by "sacred principles and literature," because in ancient times there were no sages, so what sacred principles could be discussed?

The only thing that can be effective is the law of cultivation; the physical shortcomings of the human race are simply unavoidable.

"Brother Zhou—why do you think so?"

"Because the human body is truly wondrous. Although each organ may seem weak, the five internal organs and the circulation of blood align perfectly with the Five Elements of Heaven! This structure has a profound saying: 'Born close to the Dao,' making it most prone to resonating with the Dao. This is why some demons, upon reaching a high level of cultivation, go to great lengths to transform into human form." Zhou Wenju said, "Brother Cui, don't look down on our physical bodies. To many, these bodies seem weak, but in reality, they are the best model for reaching a high level of Dao. If this model is destroyed, attempting to climb even higher will be as difficult as ascending to heaven!"

Cui Wusheng looked bewildered: "Brother Zhou's words are truly profound; I have never heard of them before. I wonder which profound doctrine they originate from?"

"Medicine!"

The records in the *Huangdi Neijing* flowed through Zhou Wenju's mind—

The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic does not belong to this world.

The biggest argument in it is that the human body is like the universe.

He did not communicate with anyone, including the physician from that day.

But that doesn't stop him from having some insights about it.

"Brother Zhou, you even have expertise in medicine! Your knowledge is vast; I truly cannot compare!" Cui Wusheng said. "In this world, countless people yearn to merge with the bloodlines of other races. In Brother Zhou's view, are they all mistaken?"

"It's not exactly wrong, it's just a matter of perspective," Zhou Wenju said. "The mysteries of the human body and the universe can only be revealed when one reaches a high level of the Dao. Most ordinary people will never be able to touch this level in their entire lives. Taking immediate gains is still gains, but you and I are different. We cannot ruin our path because of momentary greed."

"To ruin one's path—" Cui Wusheng's face was grave: "What would happen if Brother Zhou drank a drop of this fountain of youth?"

"Perhaps—I'm not suited to the flower of literature!"

Cui Wusheng was terrified!

Tonight's topic.

It began with an incredibly romantic and beautiful moonlit rendezvous.

The Holy Maiden of the Spirit Clan gave him a bottle of "Fountain of Youth".

The Fountain of Youth is something that all scholars desire.

Because this thing can give people spiritual roots, thus granting them an extraordinary lifespan.

No one could see any hidden danger.

Cui Wusheng, a master of literature and philosophy, could not see it.

Even the saintess's personal maid probably wouldn't have noticed.

However, Zhou Wenju saw a hidden danger: if he really drank this drop of the Fountain of Immortality, perhaps the next step on his literary path, the Literary Flower, would not sprout.

Why is Wenhua so greatly affected?

Because Wenhua is completely different from the previous four realms.

The first four realms—Literary Root, Literary World, Literary Mountain, and Literary Heart—are all bestowed.

Wenhua, in fact, is not a gift.

There's a specific term for this: assisted opening!

In other words, the Wenhua flower actually blooms on its own; at most, others can only "help it bloom."

The core foundation is still the human body.

If the human body is destroyed and the flower cannot bloom, who can you complain to?

This thing is too mysterious; you can't reason with it, and no one will listen to you.

Cui Wusheng took a deep breath: "Brother Zhou, I truly don't know the answer to your theory!"

"I believe that the vast majority of people do not know this."

Cui Wusheng said, "Is it possible that the Holy Maiden herself didn't know? After all, she's not a scholar, and she could never have the same level of knowledge about literature as Brother Zhou?"

Zhou Wenju smiled.

She chuckled softly: "So, I conducted a test!"

"A test?" Cui Wusheng was surprised. He had been observing from the shadows throughout the meeting and had not realized that there was any "test".

"Did you notice that strange 'yellow flower' mark on this saint's forehead?"

"It's so obvious, so peculiar, how could we not have noticed?" Cui Wusheng said, "What's wrong with these yellow flowers?"

"This is not the yellow flower!" Zhou Wenju said, "If I am not mistaken, this is a projection of a cultivation technique she practices, which is closely related to her mindset. When her mindset is peaceful, the flower marks are elegant; when her mind is filled with murderous intent, the flower marks are like knives; when her mind is confused, the flower marks are chaotic."

"When she—when she gave you the Fountain of Immortality, the flower scars—were like knives?" Cui Wusheng's voice trembled as he transmitted his thoughts.

"Exactly! At the time, I wasn't quite sure what it meant," Zhou Wenju said. "So, I sang that song for her! It caused a slight change in her mindset."

That's why Zhou Wenju sang for her.

This song is not meant to show off.

It is, in fact, part of the game.

His poems, his songs, his writings are incredibly precious in this world. To flaunt them without reason is meaningless. Every time they appear, they are accompanied by some additional considerations.

This is what we call: There is a way to sing!

Cui Wusheng let out a soft sigh: "How did that song change the flower's appearance after reaching her ears?"

"I was conflicted, struggling, and somewhat confused—only then did I truly realize that the yellow mark on her forehead" was not a yellow mark, but a window into her Dao heart! Zhou Wenju said, "Also, let me tell you something. Remember, when you hear this, don't let your gaze wander."

"you say!"

"These beautiful vines on our windowsill are related to her!" Zhou Wenju said. "The energy flowing over the flowers is exactly the same as the energy flowing over her petals. In other words, she has been monitoring us since we moved into Lixian Villa. I was poisoned as soon as I left Lixian Villa, and you were poisoned here. Even if she didn't do it herself, it's undoubtedly related to her!"

Cui Wusheng's whole body stiffened.

He was completely stunned.

What was such a heartwarming and touching moonlit gathering was, in his eyes, a meticulously planned "roadblock strategy"!

if----

Just saying "if"

If this saintess is Qingshan Wenhui, the one standing behind the Yan Kingdom.

She did not give up after her defeat at the Yan State literary gathering.

She wanted to cut off Zhou Wenju's "path to becoming a literary talent"!

Why?

It could be retaliation.

She retaliated against Zhou Wenju, thus ruining her grand "southern expedition".

It could be to eliminate future problems.

She saw Zhou Wenju's potential.

She worried that Zhou Wenju would become another stumbling block on her journey to the south.

Therefore, he used a bottle of the fountain of youth to extinguish the most important flower in his literary career: the literary flower!

Without Wen Hua, Zhou Wenju would have been just an ordinary scholar, whose career wouldn't have taken him very far.

With the help of Wen Hua, Zhou Wenju will truly become the ultimate "Flower of Literature" in the literary world of the Great Yu Kingdom —

This woman's scheme is like a gazelle hanging its horns on a tree; it starts from the impossible and coats itself with a layer of "sugar coating" that all writers yearn for.

However, it could not escape Zhou Wenju's discerning eye.

Because of his keen insight, he could perceive changes in airflow.

Also because his insights have already transcended the fixed mindset of this world.

"Brother Zhou!" Cui Wusheng let out a soft breath: "I originally thought that when I saw you again, I would take a lesson on the Way of Joy from you. However, tonight, I took a different lesson, a lesson that made my heart pound with fear."

Boom!

There was a gentle knock on the door.

Their eyes met simultaneously.

Zhou Wenju stood up and opened the door.

Zhuang Wenhua was standing at the door.

Cui Wusheng quickly stood up, and the two of them greeted him simultaneously: "Lord Xuezheng!"

Zhuang Wenhua smiled gently: "Master Cui, go back to your room and rest first. I have something to discuss with Master Zhou."

"Yes!" Cui Wusheng left.

Zhuang Wenhua sat down, flicked his finger lightly, and a drop of water was sealed off. He then casually took the cup of tea that Zhou Wenju handed him.

"Have you seen the person you wanted to see?"

"yes!"

"We're heading back tomorrow. His Majesty instructed me to inquire with the various grandmasters about the rewards they wish to bestow!"

Zhou Wenju smiled.

Please give me a reward!

This is a promise made by the Aoyama Literary Association.

His Majesty promised that if the Qingshan Literary Gathering is won, the participants can propose their own rewards.

Now His Majesty has fulfilled his promise.

He raised his gaze: "Have the other grandmasters all made their recommendations?"

"Except for one person!"

"Who is it?"

"It's Cui Wusheng!" Zhuang Wenhua said, "Master Cui said that he was unconscious throughout that battle, and it was you, Master Zhou, who made the move. He is ashamed to mention the reward, but you should propose two rewards."

"He just reached a consensus with me on being carefree, but now he's not so carefree anymore!" Zhou Wenju said. "Alright, my request for an award is—I request Your Majesty to bestow upon Cui Wusheng's mother the title of Lady of the Imperial Decree!"

Zhuang Wenhua's eyes widened—

After a long silence, he let out a soft breath: "Is Grandmaster Zhou serious?"

"How can one joke in front of adults?"

Why?

The two words, why? They carry a profound meaning.

How extraordinary is His Majesty's bestowal of such honors?

Even if you really care about this title of Lady of Imperial Decree, you can easily ask His Majesty to bestow the title of Lady of Imperial Decree upon your own mother. Who doesn't know your family's situation? Your father is a minor county magistrate in Lingnan. It's safe to say that he can't move an inch in the officialdom. If you had a Lady of Imperial Decree, wouldn't that be an extra talisman for your Zhou family?

But your first request was to Cui Wusheng's mother.

"Cui Wusheng traveled thousands of miles back with the ultimate goal of obtaining an imperial title for his mother. The Academician should know how important this title is to him."

"I admire Master Zhou's sincerity in treating friends! If anyone says that Master Zhou doesn't understand Confucian benevolence and righteousness," I will be the first to disagree! Zhuang Wenhua sighed softly, "Alright, tell me your second request!"

"It's gone!"

"That's it?" Zhuang Wenhua was surprised.

His Majesty has stated beforehand that you may apply for the bestowal of honor yourself; what an honor that would be!

What a rare opportunity this is!

You didn't—

"It's really gone!"

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