Time flowed like water, and in a blink, a month had passed.
The door of a bamboo building opened, and Fang Qing, who had Cultivated all night, pushed it open, gently exhaling a breath. The white vapor condensed and lingered, flying for a long time before disappearing.
After Cultivating Changchun Gong for over a month, it indeed had some effect. His spirit was increasingly invigorated, and the divine aspects of the Five Elements Immortal Dao were slowly beginning to manifest.
Changchun Gong: Qi Refining Second Layer (19/200)
"This Changchun Gong is easy to get started with," Fang Qing commented, looking at the progress feedback. "But the progress will become slower and slower later on. It seems to be a path that is easy to learn but difficult to master."
"That's still manageable, but the progress of this Heavenly Heart Dao is surprisingly slow."
'Daotujing: Heavenly Heart Dao - Wen Dao Realm (34/10000)'
At this rate, it would truly take 30 years to enter the Dao. Fang Qing shook his head, casting these worries aside. With Changchun Gong by his side, and many powerful figures supporting his efforts, he wasn't in a hurry to enter the Dao.
In the open space at the edge of the Little Medicine Garden, Huang Ze was practicing a set of sword techniques that looked quite exquisite.
Born into a Jianghu Gang, it wasn't surprising for him to have a set of sword techniques for self-defense. This person's ambition was higher than the heavens, and despite setbacks in Cultivation, he wasn't disheartened. It seemed he intended to rely on swordsmanship to turn his fortunes around.
Unlike the high threshold of Heavenly Heart Dao, the Dao of the sword was relatively simpler, at least for beginners. Most of the Jianghu heroes followed this path.
On a branch of a large tree nearby, Wu Zhaosheng had his eyes half-closed, his muscles rhythmically contracting.
It must be some profound secret art. He came from the Qian Imperial Dynasty, where the Imperial Dynasty had Daoist Sects it honored, and all civil and military officials Cultivated.
Throughout the Imperial Dynasty, the hierarchy was strict, and people were divided into different classes. The imperial family at the top were the meat-eaters, absorbing the world's resources to sustain themselves.
Their rule had lasted for a thousand years. Without supreme martial power to suppress, how could it be so?
As a member of the imperial family, the resources Wu Zhaosheng commanded were beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
It was likely for this reason that Huang Ze was so diligent.
A few days ago, Wu Zhaosheng, regardless of whether he wanted to or not, built a bamboo building next to Fang Qing's, becoming his neighbor.
Huang Ze followed closely, and thus the three became strange neighbors.
Fang Qing's identity in this life was merely that of a commoner, only one step above a slave. His original parents were commoners, living in poverty.
That day, when the old Daoist took him away, he truly thought he was a human trafficker. Fang Qing was quite calm, mainly because he was afraid of exposing his Transmigration secret by living with his family day and night. He asked the old Daoist for some silver, left it at home, considering it an improvement to his parents' lives.
Who would have thought he actually entered this Daoist Sect, and even more fortunately, a righteous and reputable one. Fang Qing was especially pleased with this point.
A righteous and reputable sect is good. A righteous and reputable sect has a bottom line. There's no need to be like in the Demonic Sect, where everyone curses you, and you're constantly in a life-or-death struggle for survival. It's a good place to lay low!
Shaking his head, his jumbled thoughts reined in.
On the tree branch, Martial Brother Wu slowly opened his eyes and revealed a gentle smile: "Junior Brother Fang, did you read Daoist scriptures all night again?"
Fang Qing responded with a gentle smile: "Yes, after all, my Aptitude is the worst, so diligence can make up for clumsiness."
Martial Brother Wu shook his head, changed his posture, and half-lay on the branch, swaying with the rise and fall of the boughs.
"This way is useless for you. I already know how to Cultivate," he said. Yesterday, he spent a fortune to buy information from a Senior in the sect, but he deliberately avoided mentioning this point. As he said before, he never cared about money and didn't mind sharing.
As soon as he said this, Huang Ze, who was practicing his sword, couldn't help but stop. He pretended to practice his sword carelessly, but his mind was already drawn over.
"This Heavenly Heart Dao, one enters through karmic affinity, just like the three of us. Only with the guidance of immortal fate can one obtain the Daoist scriptures.
"After obtaining the Heavenly Heart Daoist scriptures, one can enter this Dao. To delve deeper, there are three methods: First, observing precepts. For example, acting fairly is one precept. There is no requirement for how many precepts to observe. Observing precepts is a Daoist vow. Making a Daoist vow can accelerate Cultivation.
"However, the Senior said that the more precepts one observes, and the greater the Daoist vow, the faster one's Cultivation will be. But once violated, the consequences are unimaginable. The individual needs to weigh the pros and cons.
"Some in the sect made a grand vow to eliminate all injustice in the world, and thus their Cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds. But human power is ultimately limited, and they eventually perished on the Daotujing.
"Legend has it that some people Cultivated by observing twenty-one precepts, but most of them were small vows, such as not eating after noon or remaining unmarried for life.
"Second is practicing the Dao: executing the insights one has gained from the heavenly book, integrating them into oneself, into life, making one's every word and action conform to the Dao and reason, making life a long-term Cultivation.
"By practicing the Dao, one will slowly gain the power of the Dao. As one's understanding deepens, the first Dao fruit will be formed. This critical juncture is entering the Dao. Entering the Dao represents shedding the mortal coil. Mastering a Dao fruit means mastering a Divine Ability.
"Below entering the Dao are all mortals. Only after entering the Dao can one formally become a disciple of the Heavenly Heart Dao."
Fang Qing listened in awe. Such Cultivation sounded simple, but upon careful consideration, it was truly profound.
Huang Ze no longer pretended and listened intently.
"Third is Dao contention. This method is the most dangerous. In the Cultivation World, Heavenly Heart Dao is not the only dominant force. Disagreements in Dao and reason, if they cannot be resolved through words, can only be settled with weapons, often leading to life-and-death Dao annihilation. This is a Dao tribulation. Passing through it leads to smooth sailing.
"Legend has it that a Senior, while Cultivating in the mortal world, journeyed with a sword. During a time when he was arbitrating justice for villagers, he encountered those killers from the Seven Kill Dao.
"Those scoundrels' twisted logic and evil doctrines involved slaughtering everyone within a ten-mile radius to perform some ritual.
The Senior's Dao clashed with these people, becoming a Dao tribulation. This was a conflict of Dao, not personal enmity. Whoever retreated would have their Dao obstructed. Although the Senior was outnumbered, he was truly extraordinary. He turned the Seven Kill Daoist Son into nourishment for his Daotujing, and finally soared to great heights.
"This is Dao contention and Dao tribulation!"
After Martial Brother Wu finished speaking, he was still engrossed, seemingly seeing endless disputes and towering Dao fruits, as if a great era awaited his arrival.
Huang Ze also couldn't help but wipe his sword's edge, seemingly eager to participate and immediately descend the mountain to practice the Dao.
Only Fang Qing saw immense trouble. Conflict was the most troublesome thing!
What Dao contention and Dao tribulation? Don't just see the Senior soaring to great heights; also look at the Seven Kill Daoist Son who perished!
The two of them had already discussed the arrangements for descending the mountain, agreeing to practice the Dao together.
Martial Brother Wu waved and called out to Fang Qing: "Junior Brother Fang, why don't you come down the mountain with me? Our Senior and Junior Brothers together will surely achieve success in Cultivation."
"Cough!" Fang Qing choked, waving his hands repeatedly to refuse: "Senior Brother Wu, Junior Brother's abilities are meager. Going down the mountain would only be a burden, so I won't go."
Huang Ze on the side opened his mouth to say something but was restrained by Martial Brother Wu, who continued to persuade: "Come along. You also know I have imperial family status. After descending the mountain, I can mobilize an army to protect the Dao. Junior Brother Huang also has the sword Dao ability to protect the Dao. If not now, when will you practice the Dao?"
Fang Qing quickly laughed it off and refused: "No, no. It's truly kind of you two Senior Brothers to want to help me, but I cannot truly be a burden. Junior Brother has some small matters and needs to go to the outer forest."
With that, he walked away without heeding any attempts to keep him.
After he left, Huang Ze whispered softly: "Why is this kid always so mysterious? It seems he has a secret."
Martial Brother Wu shrugged indifferently and said: "Who here doesn't have a secret? I don't believe in this talk of immortal fate."
"This kid, a mere commoner, can be so highly regarded by the Shizi. His secret must be significant. Why don't I use a small trick to make him reveal his secret?"
Martial Brother Wu looked at him in surprise and shook his head: "No."
"My friendship with him isn't based on any secret."
"This kid has a very special temperament."
"Temperament?"
"That's right, a temperament of equality among all beings. Although this kid is polite on the surface, I can tell he has never cared about my status."
Huang Ze was even more surprised. In this world of strict hierarchy, if this wasn't Heavenly Heart Dao, commoners would have to kneel when seeing royalty.
Everyone from childhood was subtly influenced and branded with the class imprint of this world. Unless one entered the Dao and became a powerful Divine Ability user, no one could resist these shackles.
This kid is definitely not a commoner. What exactly is his identity?
Martial Brother Wu glanced at Huang Ze, whose expression was constantly changing. This person had the demeanor of a loyal subordinate, which he had been accustomed to since childhood. He didn't mind saying a bit more to those close to him.
"Other Daoist Sects are one thing, but this is Heavenly Heart Dao, once one of the Nine Paths of the world. Its Daoist principle is fairness and justice. How many people can truly achieve that? Cultivation primarily focuses on cultivating the heart. In my opinion, Junior Brother Fang might go very far on this path."
"Him? He's just a mere commoner!" Huang Ze was unconvinced.
Martial Brother Wu smiled gently:
"What if?"