Under One Person: The Seeker of the Dao in the Lü Family

Chapter 98 The Patriarch is a False One, the [God] is Real! Mind and Spirit Intertwined

"Does that mean I need to build a suitable 'Road to Heaven' for the present?"

Hearing this, Lü Qian frowned. "But that's not right. No matter when, there is only one path to heaven, and that is the cultivation of both body and spirit."

"The Golden Elixir, the Body-Burning Refining Technique... these methods passed down through various schools may be called paths to heaven, but the core of these methods is still the cultivation of both body and spirit."

"Moreover, these [methods] can be likened to the tools that practitioners use on their journey to heaven, just like the shoes on their feet and the walking stick in their hands."

"Having enough is fine; don't be greedy. After all, you only have two feet and one pair of hands. It's only reasonable and the best way to reach the destination is to walk steadily with one pair of shoes and one cane."

"I am confident that I can learn from the strengths of all schools of thought and refine my understanding of all scriptures to create my own [method]."

"But if ordinary people crave the methods of cultivation, it's like trying to wear many shoes on one's feet and holding many crutches in one's hands. If one walks like this, not only will one not be able to reach the destination safely, but one is most likely to fall halfway and get lost on the way."

"People with talent like myself are rare, perhaps only one in a hundred or a thousand years. In the end, the majority of people in this world are mediocre or below average."

"Having another passable path to heaven doesn't seem like a good thing for them?"

Lu Qian pointed to himself, then spread his hands and looked at the yellow-robed Taoist on the stone platform with a puzzled expression.

The adage "try to bite off more than you can chew" applies everywhere.

The yellow-robed Taoist on the stone platform smiled and shook his head. "No, no, it's not about asking you to open a new 'Path to Heaven'."

"Instead, I want you to knock on the gates of heaven!"

"Young man, do you know the relationship between humanity and the universe?"

As he spoke, he answered his own question, pointing at Lü Qian with his whisk and then at the surrounding environment.

"Humanity and nature complement each other!"

"According to the understanding of the method of stealing celestial beings, heaven, earth, and man steal from each other and live in harmony."

"The influence of heaven and earth on humans is great, while the influence of humans on heaven and earth is relatively small, but not non-existent."

The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic states: "In ancient times, people all lived to be over a hundred years old, and their movements did not decline."

"I also remember that in my time, living to seventy was already considered a rare feat, and living to ninety with a clear mind was even more considered a celestial being descended to earth, an auspicious omen in the world."

"Although there are many long-lived people in your generation, there are not many who live in harmony with nature and enjoy good health and longevity."

"In the end, although the laws governing cultivation have always existed in this world, they have gradually faded into obscurity."

"This can be called the end of the Dharma!"

As he spoke, the yellow-robed Taoist on the stone platform stroked his chin, and not minding that he hadn't touched his beard, he smiled and continued, "Heaven and earth are incomplete, so if a 'human immortal' achieves perfect enlightenment, they cannot stay in the mortal realm for long and can only ascend to immortality."

"Thus, one ascends to the Ninth Heaven, opening the so-called Path to Immortality."

"But remember, humanity and the universe complement each other, and every action of humanity resonates with the way of the universe."

"If there truly is someone who attains enlightenment and ascends to heaven, they can also awaken the principles of cultivation in the world, leaving a crack or two at the gate of heaven for future generations."

"Although it is only a short hundred years, this period of time is enough for many people with good talent to ascend to immortality. In fact, if there are still people with exceptional talent in this world, they can also achieve enlightenment and ascend to heaven."

"Sometimes when one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven," referring not only to those around them but also to those who follow.

"But is it really worth it to exchange each family's own 'Path to Heaven' for just a hundred years of time?"

Lu Qian was somewhat puzzled. If the sect had been unlucky for the past hundred years and there were no disciples with sufficient talent, wouldn't it have been a waste of time and resources?

"Hahaha......"

The yellow-robed Taoist on the stone platform laughed loudly for a moment, then looked down at Lü Qian.

He looked intently into Lü Qian's eyes and said, "There will be successors!"

A gentle breeze blew past the two people under the pine tree. After a moment of eye contact, the doubt in Lü Qian's eyes dissipated, and he turned to smile at the yellow-robed Taoist on the stone platform.

"I'm being too attached to appearances."

"For us practitioners, the path lies in the present moment; why should we be preoccupied with so many things?"

"good!"

The Taoist in the yellow robe nodded. "I wouldn't sell my Tao for a thousand taels of gold, but I'd give it to an old friend at the crossroads."

"Law, wealth, companion, land. [Law] refers to the Dao, which is also the path to heaven."

"For us seekers of the Way, the Dharma is nothing more than the Dharma we have practiced, and the Path to Heaven is nothing more than the path we have walked."

"The Dharma is not passed on to outsiders, that is only for ordinary people. If a person truly has the potential to ascend, all the Dharma schools will offer it to him to help him achieve his Dao and his Dharma."

"Don't take the Dharma too lightly, but don't take it too seriously either. In the end, all things in this world are just that simple."

"This disciple has learned much!"

"Alright, now that you understand the path to immortality, it's time to impart my [method] to you."

The Taoist in the yellow robe stepped down from the stone platform. He took Lü Qian's hand and they walked slowly through the mountains and forests, their steps unhurried, as if they were taking a leisurely stroll.

The Taoist priest in the yellow robe held a whisk in his right hand and grasped Lü Qian's right hand with his left. He chatted and laughed as he led Lü Qian on a leisurely stroll along the road, where they saw all sorts of beautiful scenery.

As Lü Qian walked hand in hand with the Taoist priest, chatting and laughing amidst the various scenic views, his mind gradually became more tranquil and peaceful, and he suddenly felt drowsy.

Just then, a sound like thunder seemed to ring out, and he heard the voice of the yellow-robed Taoist in his ear.

"Wanderer, listen to my recitation of the path of cultivation!"

The sound resonated throughout his mind, and he felt his thoughts become clearer as they turned.

"A joyful and benevolent heart purifies itself; a pure heart reveals the Way..."

As the yellow-robed Taoist's voice rang out, Lü Qian naturally closed his eyes, seemingly entering a state between sleep and wakefulness.

In this state, the Qi within his body circulated according to a specific cycle as the sound continued to resound.

The primordial energy surged out from the Yongquan acupoint on the soles of the feet, rising with powerful momentum all the way up past the knees.

After passing the knees, the momentum slows down, as if it has changed from a raging torrent to a gentle stream, slowly rising to the coccyx and Du meridian.

Next, this primordial energy, following the method of the Three Chariots Force, gradually accelerated from the coccyx gate, rushed through the spine gate, and finally surged through the final jade pillow gate, rapidly swirling in the Niwan Palace.

Outside, the yellow-robed Taoist, holding Lü Qian's hand, gradually went from walking slowly to striding quickly.

A near-vertical cliff blocked their path, but the yellow-robed Taoist leading the way did not slow down and led Lü Qian straight through it.

Instead of crashing into the stone wall, the two of them went upstream along the wall, walking naturally as if they were on flat ground.

The yellow-robed Taoist chanted incantations continuously, his steps gradually slowing down as he ascended the cliff.

Just as the two were about to stop, the yellow-robed Taoist suddenly turned around with Lü Qian and stepped onto the cliff.

The two left the cliff face without falling; instead, they leisurely walked through the air and slowly descended from the height.

Meanwhile, within Lü Qian's body, the primordial energy that had been steadily increasing in his Niwan Palace seemed to have opened up another path with the Taoist's turning kick.

The primordial energy flows down from the Ren meridian in the front of the body, passing through the Magpie Bridge on the face, and descends to the Chonglou point in the trachea along with the movement of the cheeks and the breath.

After passing through the Chonglou point, the primordial energy flows through the heart and circulates among the five internal organs, forming a complete cycle with the primordial energy rising in the Du meridian.

The moment the cycle of Qi circulation was completed, Lü Qian seemed to fall into a deeper sleep, but his spirit and consciousness became clearer than before, and he seemed to understand all kinds of wonderful methods and principles without a teacher.

Outside, the yellow-robed Taoist led Lü Qian down from the void, and as if by coincidence, Lü Qian's body naturally landed on the stone platform from before.

As soon as he landed on the stone platform, his body flowed like water, naturally settling onto the platform, and his breathing became even more steady.

The Taoist in the yellow robe stood by the stone platform, looking at Lü Qian who seemed to be asleep, and nodded in satisfaction.

"good!"

"Those who come after me, I'll be waiting for you on the road ahead."

With a flick of his whisk, his figure by the stone platform under the pine tree slowly faded and finally disappeared into nothingness, leaving only Lü Qian lying on the stone platform with his eyes closed.

After an unknown amount of time, a gentle breeze blew by, waking Lü Qian from the stone platform.

"Hmm!"

Lu Qian sat cross-legged on the stone platform, stretched, and a contented expression appeared on his handsome face.

He looked around at the beautiful scenery of mountains and clear waters, sat on the stone platform, and smiled casually as if he had gained a profound understanding.

"Thank you, Master!"

"No, the patriarch is a fake; everyone I've encountered along the way is my [god]!"

"The mind is like a square inch of the heart, with the crescent moon and three stars in the sky."

"Whether it's Bodhi Patriarch, Lü Dongbin, or Chongyang Patriarch, they are all [gods]!"

"Do not seek externally; when your mind and spirit are in communion, you can hear the Great Way."