The Three Teachings Converge into One: The Path of the Mortal and the Saintly is the Same

Poetry:

The three-colored Bodhi tree shades the stone platform, its virtue inherited from Confucianism and its noble spirit lofty.

The Buddha's fire nourishes the Great Luo Realm, and the sun and moon in the palm refine the elite.

In Guiyi Courtyard, the three-colored Bodhi tree stands quietly, its branches and leaves shimmering with a hazy glow under the moonlight.

This tree was planted by Su Qingxuan himself a hundred years ago.

Absorb the spiritual energy of the Three Talents Peak and nourish it with the true meaning of the Three Teachings.

Having grown for a century, it has grown to a height of ten zhang (approximately 33 meters), with a canopy as wide as a canopy.

Its leaves are of three colors: blue, gold, and white, corresponding to the three religions.

Yet they all grow on the same branch, symbolizing the unity of the three religions.

Several people sat around a stone table under the tree.

Yun Miaozi held a purple crystal teapot, a unique item from the celestial realm, and poured tea for everyone.

The tea is "Sancai Wudao Tea," made from leaves picked from ancient tea trees that have been nurtured by the spiritual mist of Sancai Peak for thousands of years.

It is made by Confucianism's "gentle fire" cooking, Taoism's "spiritual spring" brewing, and Buddhism's "pure mind" blessing.

The tea soup is clear and bright, with three colors swirling around it. Drinking it can calm the mind and spirit, and help one to understand the Tao.

Long Yuan and Ling Xu, the two newly promoted Grand Luo Golden Immortals, sat at the lower end with respectful postures.

Longyuan cultivated the earth and followed the great path; his face was kind and his aura was as steady as the earth.

Lingxu cultivates the Dao of Wind and Thunder, possessing an ethereal temperament and lively eyes.

Both of them had been stuck at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm for over 30,000 years, and thought that there was no hope for them to achieve the Great Dao.

However, he underwent a complete transformation after practicing the Three Ones True Technique.

Twenty years ago, they successively broke through the Great Luo realm, completing a leap in their life level.

The two will forever remember this kindness.

"How many years has it been?" Long Yuan sighed softly, put down his teacup, and a look of reminiscence appeared in his eyes.

"I've been stuck at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm for a full 37,000 years."

In those years, I visited all the enlightened masters in the Thirty-Three Heavens.

From listening to lectures under the Venerable Wenru, to hearing the Dharma before the Buddha's lotus...

Having read countless scriptures from the three religions, tried numerous unorthodox remedies and secret techniques, and even…

He shook his head with a wry smile.

"I even thought about passing away and being reincarnated to start over."

But a voice inside me kept saying: This road is blocked.

The Lingxu interface has a gentle, warm sound, like a spring breeze.

"I am the same. When I first heard of the unification of the three religions, I did not know it was the Palace Master."

It was merely the ravings of a madman, or a trick by a heretic to confuse people.

When Brother Yunmiaozi revealed that the Palace Master was the Alliance Leader we had been waiting for for ten thousand years, it was discovered that the Palace Master was actually the one we had been waiting for.

He then followed his fellow Daoist to the Sanyi Palace to recognize his master.

After listening to the Palace Master's first grand lecture, the bottleneck began to loosen.

Later, once, twice... as I listened...

A glint flashed in his eyes.

"It was like a sudden awakening!"

It turns out that the righteous spirit of Confucianism can borrow the pure and spiritual energy of Taoism as its foundation, and the wisdom and compassion of Buddhism as its guiding principle…

The three elements complement each other, not only without conflict, but also by compensating for each other's shortcomings, forming a perfect cycle!

Long Yuan nodded: "Exactly! I cultivate the earth and practice the Dao."

In the past, I only knew its weight and its burdens...

However, they did not know that the "virtue" in "great virtue carries all things" needs to be nourished by the righteous spirit of Confucianism.

Those who are unaware of the earth's compassion in "nurturing all things" need to cultivate a harmonious Buddhist mindset.

He received the Threefold True Secret from the Palace Master, spent thirty years understanding the principles, thirty years practicing them, ten years integrating them, and ten years proving the Dao.

To reach the Great Luo realm in less than a century, such grace…

Long Yuan rose and bowed respectfully to Su Qingxuan:

"The mountains are high and the sea is deep!"

Su Qingxuan smiled and waved his hand, then gently helped Long Yuan to his feet, saying:

"It is because the two elders have a deep foundation and have cultivated diligently for thousands of years that their success has come naturally."

The Trinity Formula is simply a key; it determines which door it can open.

Ultimately, it depends on who holds the key.

"You are too modest, Palace Master," Yun Miaozi stroked his beard.

Immediately, his gaze fell on Su Qingxuan, filled with inquiry:

"Judging from the Palace Master's aura, he has already reached the peak of the Golden Immortal realm."

His profound understanding of the three teachings and his solid foundation in Taoism surpassed all others.

Logically, they should have already broken through the threshold of the Great Luo Sect, so why haven't they?

Upon hearing this, both Longyuan and Lingxu focused their attention.

They achieved the Great Luo, their perception far surpassing that of the past.

Upon careful sensing, it was indeed discovered that Su Qingxuan's body contained a vast, star-like accumulation—

It has long surpassed the realm of ordinary Golden Immortals at their peak.

Even some newcomers to the Great Luo realm may not possess such profound foundations.

The aura was deep and still, like the primordial chaos yet faintly exuding boundless vitality, as if it were nurturing something.

Su Qingxuan remained silent for a moment, then looked out at the vast starry sky outside the courtyard.

Tonight, the starry sky is dazzling, the Milky Way stretches across the sky, and billions of stars twinkle and glow, like a chessboard of celestial order.

He said slowly, "Back in the human realm, I hesitated to ascend to immortality."

Only when the foundation of one's Dao is flawlessly polished, and the meridians, internal organs, spirit, thoughts, and even every wisp of spiritual power are perfect and without leakage, can one trigger a heavenly tribulation.

Once you enter the Heavenly Realm, you are in the Celestial Immortal Realm. Do you know why?

Before anyone could answer, Su Qingxuan asked and answered himself, his voice calm and gentle:

"Because I know very well that spiritual practice is like building a nine-story tower."

"For mortals, laying the foundation is laying the first layer of foundation stone."

Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Deity Transformation are like building bricks and stones to ascend (Su Qingxuan's current level already understands the cultivation system of mortals).

Ascending to immortality requires building this nine-tiered platform to a height that touches the heavens.

A slight flaw in the foundation can make a high platform precarious.

When the storm comes, there is a risk of capsizing.

He raised his right hand, palm up.

Three clusters of light emerged from nothingness:

The golden aura is as righteous and majestic as the sun, its light gentle yet containing boundless power.

The azure Daoist charm is as clear and ethereal as the wind, subtly harmonizing with the rhythms of heaven and earth as it flows.

The white light of Buddha is as compassionate as the moon, clear and transparent, able to illuminate all things.

The three lights slowly rotated, attracting each other and gradually forming a stable ball of light.

Where the light merges, wisps of chaotic color emerge, seemingly there yet not there.

"The breakthrough from Golden Immortal to Great Luo is not a minor realm breakthrough."

Su Qingxuan's gaze was profound, as if piercing through the void and looking towards the endless Great Dao.

That was a fundamental transformation at the level of life—

From this point on, one transcends reincarnation, is no longer bound by the Five Elements, and lives as long as heaven and earth, shining as brightly as the sun and moon.

Such a leap is a qualitative change, and it allows no room for superficiality.

Every inch of the foundation must be compacted to be as thick and heavy as the earth itself.

"Refine every wisp of your soul to be as vast as the starry sky."

The ball of light in his palm flickered, illuminating his solemn face.

"If I were to break through at this moment, with a century of accumulated experience and the blessing of the Three Treasures..."

Furthermore, the perfect foundation of the unity of the three religions allows one to directly enter the early perfect stage of the Great Luo realm, and even the middle stage.

I believe that my achievements over a century are equivalent to others' arduous cultivation over ten thousand years.

"But..." he paused, then said, word by word.

"What I want is not an ordinary Great Luo, but a Great Luo who can suppress the Three Realms, bear the weight of eternity, live up to the ancestors, and save all living beings."

"Our ancestors, after a hundred thousand years of planning, entrusted me with the weighty task of sealing the Demon Lord and unifying the three religions..."

What is a Demon Lord?

The ball of light in his palm suddenly contracted, transforming into a point of utter darkness, as if capable of devouring all light:

"It is the accumulation of evil thoughts of all living beings."

Greed, anger, ignorance, pride, and doubt are endless.

They cannot be eradicated or eliminated because they originate from the human heart.

As long as the sectarianism among the three religions persists, cultivators will be prone to greed and anger.

As long as the desire for immortality is not taken seriously, sentient beings will be filled with ignorance and arrogance.

As long as the struggle for resources continues, moral doubts will arise.

The Demon Lord is the culprit behind the imbalance in the Three Realms!

"Back then, our ancestors could have completely purified the Demon Lord."

However, they chose to seal it away for 100,000 years at the cost of disbanding the Dao.

Why is that?

Su Qingxuan gazed in the direction of Guixu, his eyes distant.

"Because he saw through the essence—"

It is easy to sever the demonic body, but difficult to sever the demonic heart.

Only by unifying the three teachings, harmonizing people's hearts, guiding them toward the Way, and rectifying their minds and thoughts, can we eradicate the evil scourge.

What level of cultivation, what kind of temperament, what kind of wisdom is required to shoulder such a heavy responsibility?

"The Wenru Tianzun, Taiqing Tianzun, and Buddha are all Great Enlightened Golden Immortals, reaching the realm of ultimate sainthood."

I wish to fulfill my ancestors' last wish and end this eternal calamity.

We must at least be on par with them, or even…

Su Qingxuan clenched his fist, and the three-colored spiritual light entered his palm—

"Beyond!"

"According to my deduction, if we refine it for another hundred years, and wait until the true meaning of the three religions is completely integrated into one, the foundation of the Tao will be perfect and flawless."

At that time, a breakthrough will allow one to directly enter the late stage of the Great Luo Dynasty, or even its peak.

Only in this way can one have the confidence to reach the highest sainthood, the courage to confront the Demon Lord of the Void, and the right to speak of "protecting the Three Realms and ushering in eternal peace."

Su Qingxuan's words commanded the respect of the three elders.

Yun Miaozi was the first to stand up and bow deeply to Su Qingxuan.

His voice was filled with indescribable emotion:

"I admire the Palace Master's ambition!"

Over the past century, I have been with Longyuan and Lingxu.

We will do our utmost to assist and safeguard the temple.

"We will absolutely not tolerate any external demons or internal traitors disturbing the Palace Master's cultivation."

Long Yuan and Ling Xu also rose and bowed, saying, "We do the same!"

……

Just then, light footsteps came from outside the courtyard, accompanied by a woman's soft laughter.

Under the moonlight, four figures came together and stepped into the courtyard. The moonlight fell on their shoulders, as if they were draped in a gentle glow.

Lin Wanqing held a newly completed book in her hand; the pages gleamed with a faint golden light.

Xiao Lingxi held a warm, smooth jade box. The lid was not yet open, but a clear medicinal fragrance was already wafting out.

Xiao Lingyue held a Bodhi prayer bead in her hand, her steps were calm and composed, and her body was surrounded by a faint Buddhist light.

He held the silver spear upside down with the red tassel on it, the tip still brimming with fighting spirit, and a carefree smile on his face.

"Is the young master discussing philosophy with the elders again?"

Lin Wanqing smiled gently and placed the book in her hand on the stone table.

The scroll had a jade axis and silk pages, with an inscription on the cover in ancient seal script.

The Complete Collection of the Three Teachings in Harmony, Volume Twelve.

This volume is dedicated to the integration of Buddhist compassion, Confucian benevolence, and Taoist naturalness, comprising nine chapters and eighty-one sections.

"Wanqing and seventeen learned scholars from the Wenhua Pavilion spent three years completing this project. Please take a look, young master."

Su Qingxuan took it and casually turned to a page.

The handwriting on it was neat and the discussion was meticulous.

The saying "Compassion and kindness both stem from respect for life" is true.

To "the selfless generative process inherent in the Way of Nature",

Then it goes on to "the specific application of the unity of the three teachings in cultivation, worldly affairs, and dealing with enemies".

It progresses step by step, penetrating to the core.

Su Qingxuan nodded in approval:

"Wanqing, you've worked hard. This scroll should be included in the 'Jingyi Lou' of the Scripture Pavilion."

For disciples of the rank of Celestial Immortal or above to study and comprehend.

Xiao Lingxi stepped forward and opened the jade box.

The box was lined with blue velvet, and on top were three pills the size of longan.

The pills were round and smooth, with golden, blue, and white halos flowing across their surface, intertwined like living things. The medicinal fragrance was clear and refreshing, making one feel refreshed and invigorated.

"This is a newly refined 'Three Lights Enlightenment Pill'."

Xiao Lingxi's voice was clear and crisp, with a hint of smugness:

"It draws upon the righteous nature of the Confucian herb that nourishes the heart for a hundred years, the spiritual vitality of the Taoist flower, and the clarity of the Buddhist lotus that calms the mind."

It is supplemented with seventy-two auxiliary herbs, using the Three-One True Fire.

The natural evolution of the two fires, civil and military, alternates and tempers for eighty-one days.

When the elixir was completed, three-colored rays of light descended from the sky, and the elixir sang like a phoenix.

When consumed by Golden Immortal cultivators, it can help them comprehend the true meaning of the three religions and break through bottlenecks.

Even for seniors in the early stages of the Great Luo realm, it has the effect of consolidating their cultivation.

She picked up a pill, its three-colored light illuminating her beautiful face:

"This batch yielded nine pieces."

Apart from these three, the remaining six have been placed in the elixir room's treasure vault.

Redeem based on merit points.

Su Qingxuan accepted the pill, probed it slightly with his divine sense, and nodded:

"The pill is three colors, the Dao patterns are perfect, and the medicinal power is restrained. It is already a top-grade pill."

Lingxi's alchemy skills have become increasingly refined.

Xiao Lingxi smiled, her eyes filled with joy.

Xiao Lingyue clasped her hands together and whispered, her voice as clear as a spring flowing over stones:

"Today, the Compassionate Zen Monastery has once again converted three thousand vengeful spirits who escaped from the 'Sea of ​​Vengeful Spirits'."

These vengeful spirits were mostly those who died violently in war, and their obsessions ran deep.

Lingyue used the "Great Illumination Mantra" in conjunction with "Compassionate Visualization" to cleanse him of his resentment and illuminate his path forward.

One hundred of them felt their resentment dissipate, their minds cleared, and they remembered their good deeds in life, vowing to make a grand oath:

If I am reborn as a human in my next life, I will diligently cultivate myself to repay the kindness of those who have saved me.

Su Qingxuan said gently, "Excellent!"

Helping others is helping oneself; Lingyue's merits are immeasurable.

The red-tasseled silver spear slammed to the ground with a thud, and he laughed:

"The three thousand sword cultivators brought back by the Chu brothers have a very solid foundation!"

Especially those three elders, wow, their sword intent is so pure, they've all developed a 'Sword Domain'.

I have already passed down the basic version of the "Three Talents Sword Formation"—

With Confucian integrity as its core, it forms a defensive sword enclosure;

Using the agility of Taoist magic as wings, it transforms into an attacking sword net;

With the stability of Buddhism as its foundation, it forges a lasting swordsmanship.

Within three months, I guarantee that I will train an elite sword squad capable of fighting the Heavenly Demon Army!

The initial results are already visible today, and those sword cultivators were initially unconvinced.

I pulled in three deputy commanders, and we fought against their ninety men with a four-person sword formation.

Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, all their weapons were knocked away. Now they're all very well-behaved and practicing with great enthusiasm!

Everyone laughed upon hearing this.

Su Qingxuan's eyes were filled with satisfaction.

Over the course of a century, the four fairies each displayed their unique talents, managing the palace affairs with remarkable efficiency, and the temple's atmosphere changed dramatically with each passing day...

Su Qingxuan was about to offer his praise when he suddenly realized—

My heart skipped a beat!

The pain came without warning, like a fine needle tempered in ice that had been frozen for ten thousand years...

It suddenly pierced the softest and deepest part of the Dao heart.

It was not a tearing apart of the physical body, nor a gnawing attack from inner demons, but rather a kind of...

A powerful throbbing sensation originating from one's very bloodline, transcending the boundaries of life and death.

It exudes a sense of utter despair, as if the problem has been completely eradicated.

It was as if a close relative was adrift in an endless sea of ​​suffering.

Cold, desperate, and painful cries, one after another...

It penetrated the boundary between Yin and Yang, ignored the barriers of time and space, and, like a lament, reached the very core of his soul.

"Ugh...!" Su Qingxuan groaned, his body swaying.

The "Three Lights Enlightenment Pill" in his hand almost slipped out of his grasp.

He subconsciously clenched his fist, and the pill was stimulated by his invisible energy.

With a soft "crack," fine cracks appeared, and the warm, lustrous light suddenly dimmed.

At the same time, the teacup in his other hand cracked silently.

Warm tea was spilled onto the plain blue Taoist robe, leaving a dark, damp stain.

"Young Master!"

"Palace Master!"

Everyone was shocked!

The four women rushed forward to help him up, and Yun Miaozi and the other two stood up abruptly.

The divine sense of a Great Luo Golden Immortal swept out like a tidal wave bursting its banks.

In an instant, it enveloped the entire area of ​​Sancai Peak for tens of thousands of miles!

The grass and trees sway, insects and ants lie dormant, spiritual energy flows, the disciples' aura...

Everything, down to the smallest detail, is revealed through perception.

However, nothing was found.

There were no signs of foreign invasion, nor any indication of internal treachery.

The palace's grand formation remained intact, and even the slightest unusual spatial fluctuations went unnoticed.

Su Qingxuan waved his hand, his face instantly turning pale, and fine beads of cold sweat seeped from his forehead.

He closed his eyes and concentrated, using great willpower to suppress the surging blood and the heart-wrenching palpitations.

Fully activate the "Three Ones True Technique," the most profound method of "Bloodline Dao Heart Sensation."

This method was created by him during his seclusion thirty years ago.

It incorporates the Confucian ethics of "feeling connected to heaven and earth and being bound by blood ties."

The Taoist secret technique of "spiritual travel through the void and soul pursuit across ten thousand miles".

And the supernatural powers of perception in Buddhism, namely "telepathy, clairvoyance, and clairaudience".

When one cultivates to the highest level, one can transcend spatial boundaries and vaguely sense the life, death, safety, joy, sorrow, and happiness of one's closest blood relatives.

It is extremely profound, but also extremely mentally taxing, and he rarely uses it.

At this moment, a subtle yet incredibly strong and mysterious force is drawing you in.

It emanated from the deepest part of his heart, drifting and swaying...

Down, down...

It's as if, in the darkness, a transparent thread connects someone, a soul, on a distant shore.

Passing through the nine layers of protective array of the Sanyi Palace, a barrier that is both gentle and resilient...

Gliding past the boundless sea of ​​clouds and floating immortal mountains of Wenrutian...

Beyond the majestic Southern Heavenly Gate, the golden light that suppresses heaven and earth...

They sank into the vast, vibrant, and yet joyful and sorrowful human world below.

Over thousands of years, the world has changed dramatically.

The former residence of the Su family in Qingxi Town has long since vanished without a trace amidst the changing dynasties and the flames of war.

Only broken walls and ruins remain, hidden among wild grass and thorns.

Occasionally, a shepherd boy would drive his cattle by, his flute playing a mournful tune.

The pull did not stop, as if it were merely passing through a familiar place.

After a brief pause, it continued downwards...

Penetrating the incredibly thick membrane of the earth—

It disappeared into a place shrouded in perpetual black mist, where yin and yang intertwined.

A strange place governed by the laws of life and death—

The Underworld!

It is:

Blood seeps into the heart, chilling to the bone; nine layers of barriers shatter, making it difficult to find one's loved ones.

Do not say that the netherworld separates life and death, for a single thread connects to Nirvana.