Journey to the West: Starting with the True Lord of the Pure Land

Chapter 404 The Differences in the Evolution of Daoist Methods: Who is the One Whose Seat is Missing?

Green leaves rustle, and the sound of the Dao echoes.

The immortals below the platform, upon hearing this profound truth, either pondered deeply or nodded in agreement, all gaining some insight.

Chen Jiao listened quietly, his heart also stirred.

He practices thunder magic, wields heavenly punishment, and places great importance on the interaction of vital energies and the distinction between good and evil.

The words of the Azure Emperor were like a bright lamp illuminating the darkness, allowing him to gain a deeper understanding of the essence and function of the pivot.

On the stage, the Azure Emperor spoke in a gentle voice: "However, it is easy to sense the pivotal mechanism, but difficult to understand it; it is easy to respond to it, but difficult to master it."

The wise understand its origins and changes; the powerful manipulate its life, death, and decisions.

The key to this lies in one's own mind; going too far will lead to transgression and harm to heaven and earth; falling short will result in disorganization and loss of discipline.

Qinglin, do you understand?

Then he saw Immortal Lord Qinglin Miaohua frowning in deep thought, seemingly having gained some insight, yet still appearing puzzled. He bowed again and asked, "This disciple will remember Your Majesty's teachings. However, to manipulate life and death and hold the reins of power, is this not already close to the authority of Heaven?"

Could any living being in the world, even if they exhausted all their efforts in cultivation, possibly reach such a state?

Upon hearing this question, all the immortals nodded slightly, clearly expressing their shared confusion, which was a profound and mysterious truth.

Chen Jiao's mind stirred slightly.

When he performs thunder magic, the majestic power of heaven descends upon him, and one can indeed vaguely sense the interaction between good and evil energies in the darkness, as if touching the heart of heaven, yet it is as if separated by a light veil, making it difficult to truly grasp its core essence.

The area around the Xuantai was completely quiet.

Only the rustling of the spirit tree's branches and leaves flowed along with the omnipresent, mysterious Daoist rhythm.

Upon hearing this question, the Azure Emperor did not answer immediately. Instead, he smiled and raised his eyes, his gaze gentle, and looked toward the direction where Chen Jiao was.

The immortals, not understanding his meaning, also turned their gazes, only to see that His Majesty's gaze was fixed on the single, empty central prayer mat in the first row.

His Majesty's lecture was attended by all 108 immortal friends, but this seat has been empty since the beginning of the lecture. The immortals were surprised and wondered what the profound meaning was in His Majesty's decision to reserve this seat.

Chen Jiao also looked up and met the Azure Emperor's face, which was shrouded in the clear light.

When their eyes met, he felt as if that gaze could pierce through eternity and fall upon him.

Then the Azure Emperor smiled and said, "The Dao follows nature. Spring brings forth life, summer fosters growth, autumn brings harvest, and winter brings storage. Heaven and earth carry out their killing and annihilation not by intention, but by timing, by force, and by the arrival of the pivotal moment."

The cultivator who embodies the Dao seeks not to act on behalf of Heaven, but to understand the times, follow the trend, and respond to the opportune moment.

Protect it when it lives, and let it die when it dies. If you have a clear understanding of the Dao in your heart, and your actions are in accordance with the Dao, then you have grasped the key to your own destiny.

Only when one's own inner workings are clear and lucid can one perceive external things, and even—the very workings of the universe.

At this point, the Azure Emperor seemed to have a hint of barely perceptible sigh in his tone: "However, the great transformation of heaven and earth is vast and mysterious, and even we are still trying to understand it."

"It is already quite difficult for you to understand yourselves and respond to external things. Forcing anything else will be futile; it will only damage your own foundation and cloud your understanding of the Way."

Upon hearing this, Immortal Lord Qinglin bowed respectfully, completely convinced, and returned to his seat.

Afterwards, the immortals in the hall asked questions one after another about the difficulties in cultivation and the profound mysteries of the Dao.

The Green Emperor answered each question in a clear and simple way, revealing profound truths.

Chen Jiao sat quietly there, comprehending profound truths as if drinking fine wine.

The deeper my understanding of the subtlety and grandeur of ancient Taoist practices becomes, the clearer I also become regarding the differences between ancient and modern Taoist practices.

Ancient cultivators, when discussing the Dao, emphasized the importance of understanding one's own heart, communicating with heaven and earth and all things, and following the natural order.

It can be said that the law arises from the Way, and techniques are secondary.

Unlike today, although people still respect the Dao, due to changes in the world or the loss of traditions, they are more eager for supernatural powers and magic, and for fighting and killing. They are more aggressive and enterprising, but they have lost some of the harmony with the world.

The gains and losses involved are too numerous to recount.

Immortals discuss the Dao, oblivious to the changing seasons.

As the Xuantai Dharma was expounded, one could see the spiritual tree sprouting new green leaves several times, and the sun and moon revolving in the heavens.

Three years have passed in the blink of an eye.

The sounds of discussion in the hall gradually subsided, and the immortals all wore expressions of pride.

The Azure Emperor surveyed the room and asked in a gentle voice, "Have you all gained anything from this lecture?"

The immortals responded in unison, "We have benefited greatly from Your Majesty's guidance!"

The Azure Emperor nodded slightly and asked again, "Are there any more questions?"

The immortals looked at each other, all showing satisfaction, and shook their heads.

Only one red-bearded immortal hesitated for a moment, then rose to pay his respects and asked, "Your Majesty, I have a question."

During this lecture at Xuantai, all 108 immortal friends were present. Why did His Majesty place an extra futon in the very center of the first row and leave it idle for three years?

I do not know the profound principles behind this; I humbly request Your Majesty to enlighten me.

Upon hearing this, all the immortals involuntarily turned their gazes toward the empty prayer mat, their faces filled with curiosity as they awaited the saint's explanation.

This question had actually been lingering in the minds of all the immortals for a long time, but they had been so engrossed in the profound principles of Taoism that no one had raised it.

Chen Jiao's heart also stirred, and he focused his gaze on the figure in green on the stage.

The Azure Emperor slowly said, "Heaven and earth have their numbers, and the Great Dao is fifty. Heaven expands upon it to forty-nine, which serves as the constant law and principle, and its operation never ceases."

The movement of the sun and moon, the solidity of mountains and rivers, the order of the four seasons, and the nature of all living things are all contained within it; this is the unchanging foundation of all things.

However, there will eventually be one that disappears without a trace, lurking between existence and non-existence, hidden beyond the fixed numbers, circulating through the six voids, constantly changing, this is called the variable.

Therefore, the course of Heaven is constant, but human affairs are unpredictable; destiny has its rules, but the laws of fate are boundless.

The immortals listened and seemed to be deep in thought.

The Azure Emperor continued, "These 108 seats correspond to the number of the heavens and the path of each disciple, each having its own place."

Of all living beings in the world, many hear of the Way, but few truly understand it; many understand the Way, but only a handful truly comprehend it.

This extra seat is not merely for show; it is reserved for those who have not yet arrived, for future connections, or for that fleeting, uncertain possibility.

Upon hearing this, all the immortals fell into deep thought.

The red-bearded immortal asked again, "Does Your Majesty mean that the destined method has not yet arrived, or that a change is about to occur?"

The Azure Emperor's gaze was distant, as if he could see through eternity, and he said, "This karmic law is profound and mysterious; it may not be here now, but in the future; it may not be here, but in the other place."

Perhaps one day, a person with the right destiny will travel here in spirit, sit in this seat, hear the teachings of today, and resolve the doubts of tomorrow.

How can we refuse to listen to those who come later just because the seats are full when we are preaching the Dharma here?

Leaving this place alive means leaving behind a thread of fate, a glimmer of hope.

You should know that the journey is long and arduous, and what you see may not be true, and what you lack may not be empty.

Only by keeping this thought in mind can one live up to the sincerity of seeking the Way and remain unperturbed by the inevitability of fate.

At this point, the Azure Emperor said no more, only smiling and closing his eyes. A clear light flowed above the Xuantai, and the Daoist aura was long and profound.

Upon hearing this, all the immortals seemed to have gained some insight and bowed in unison, saying, "We will remember Your Majesty's teachings."

The profound truth that had vanished remained, like a wisp of smoke or a thin mist, lingering in the mind, difficult to fully comprehend in a short time.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao was startled.

He cultivates thunder magic and wields heavenly punishment. He appears to be acting on behalf of heaven to carry out punishments, but he follows the common principle of cause and effect in good and evil, and belongs to the category of the forty-nine.

However, whenever the ritual is performed, the feeling that the key is completely untouchable is precisely a manifestation of this "one of the escapes".

At that time, he thought it was because his own cultivation was not yet perfect, or because the secrets of heaven were inherently mysterious and unpredictable.

Now, upon hearing the Azure Emperor's words, I realize that this might be one of the fifty hidden aspects of the Great Dao!

It is the most subtle and unpredictable secret in the world, yet it truly exists.

The Great Way has fifty principles, but it is used for forty-nine. The remaining one is not used, in order to respond to infinite changes.

It turns out that, without realizing it, I had already begun to understand and even try to use the mystery of this escape.

They only know what it is, but not why it is.

Hearing the words of the Azure Emperor today is like seeing the sun after the clouds have parted, and I have gained a profound understanding of the mysteries.

"After three years of preaching, the time for this Dharma practice has come to an end." The Azure Emperor's voice pulled Chen Jiao back to reality. "You may all return to your caves and quietly contemplate this teaching."

All the immortals rose and respectfully bowed to Xuantai. Then, in twos and threes, they transformed into streaks of clear light and colorful clouds, scattering throughout the Jianmu Palace to find quiet places for cultivation.