Ancient Dragon Elephant Technique

At the beginning, everyone is ”Qi.”

Qi.

It represents fate.

When Ancient Great Emperors set out, it was with a majestic Purple Qi.

This is the Supreme Qi.

Through cultivation, one can nourish Qi and also make it grow stronger.

However,

Qi varies among individuals.

Scholar Ning explained, ”Ordinary mortals have white Qi, cultivators mostly have green Qi, those favored by Heaven have golden Qi, and a rare few, like phoenix feathers or unicorn horns, possess purple Qi, naturally different from others.”

”Among purple Qi, there are several types, with the deep purple Qi of ’Purple Qi Eastward’ being the most revered.”

...

”What can we discern from Qi?” Lin Feng asked.

”Stable Qi leads to stable cultivation!”

Scholar Ning slightly smiled.

Studying nourishes Qi.

That’s the reason behind it.

In ancient times, there were Great Scholars, who without any cultivation practice, studied and nourished Qi for eighty years before directly facing the Heavenly Tribulation and becoming Divine Spirits.

Vast Righteous Qi is a type of Purple Qi.

It is also one of the most revered deep purple Qis.

The more esteemed the Qi,

The rarer it is,

The higher the life fate,

The greater the achievements one will obtain.

Just like the Ancient Great Emperors were all heralded by ’Purple Qi Eastward.’

Yet, you never hear about an Ancient Great Emperor as ’Green Qi Rising to Heaven.’

This is what is meant by ”life fate.”

The ”Qi” one possesses can often offer glimpses into one’s future.

Although there are those who can defy the heavens and change their fate, even altering their own ”Qi,” reaching beyond the limits set by Heavenly Dao on their ”life fate.”

But clearly, this is as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

...

Lin Feng studied alongside Scholar Ning.

They first read the ”Analects.”

Foremost among the Four Books and Five Classics.

Confucius said, ”The mandate of politics is virtue, comparable to the North Star, which keeps its place while the other stars revolve around it.”

Confucius said, ”The three hundred pieces of poetry sum up to just one phrase, ’Think purely.’”

Confucius said, ”Govern through governance and align with punishment, and the people will evade disgrace. Govern through virtue and align with rites, and the people will have both shame and moral rectitude.”

Confucius said, ”At fifteen, I was determined to study, by thirty I was established, at forty I was no longer confused, at fifty I knew the decrees of heaven, at sixty my ear was attuned, and at seventy I could follow my heart’s desires without crossing the line.”

Meng Yizi asked about filial piety, to which Confucius responded, ”Never defy.” When handling the chariot, Confucius told Fan Chi, ”Meng’s grandson asked about filial piety to me, and I responded, ’Never defy.’” Fan Chi asked, ”What does that mean?” Confucius said, ”In life, serve with rites; in death, bury with rites, sacrifice with rites.”

...

In front of the Mountain God Temple, Lin Feng studied with Scholar Ning.

Although Lin Feng had just started studying.

And couldn’t cultivate ”Vast Righteous Qi” like Scholar Ning.

Yet, after quietly studying for three days, Lin Feng felt his restless heart calming down.

Moreover, Lin Feng sensed his cultivation was on the verge of a breakthrough.

This greatly surprised him.

”The Purple Qi is stable, young friend, your heart is truly in your reading, not merely reading for the sake of reading, which greatly comforts this old man,”

Scholar Ning revealed a smile.

”It is all thanks to your excellent teaching,”

Lin Feng bowed to Scholar Ning as a scholar would.

Inside the Mountain God Temple, he had refined over one hundred and sixty top-grade spirit stones.

At last.

Lin Feng achieved his breakthrough.

His cultivation ascended from the Ninth Level of the Martial King Realm to the Tenth Level of the Martial King Realm.

Only one step away from the Yin Yang Realm.

Lin Feng could not ”View Qi” like Scholar Ning.

If he could ”View Qi,”

He would see,

As his cultivation level improved,

The ”Purple Qi” above him had greatly strengthened.

Purple Qi signified Lin Feng’s great luck and also represented his future.

Those who possess Purple Qi are exceedingly rare.

Yet those who have Purple Qi

Often possess great luck.

Some people find money when they step outside.

Some get hit by a car when they step outside.

Why do completely different things happen to people merely stepping outside?

It’s because of ”great luck.”

...

At night.

Darkness enveloped the land.

Lin Feng studied ”Zhongyong” alongside Scholar Ning.

...

”What is called the heavenly mandate is human nature; following human nature is the Dao, and cultivating the Dao is teaching. The Dao is something that cannot be abandoned even for a moment; if it can be abandoned, it is not the Dao.”

Therefore, the gentleman is discreet about what he does not see, fearful of what he does not hear. Nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nothing is secret that will not become known; therefore, a gentleman is cautious when alone.

Before joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure are expressed, they are called equilibrium; once expressed and all are moderate, it is called harmony. Equilibrium is the great foundation of the world; harmony is the universal path of the world. When equilibrium and harmony are achieved, heaven and earth are in their proper places, and all things are nurtured.

...

”The Analects” and ”Zhongyong” found in the Four Books distinctly differ.

”The Analects” teaches benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and morality.

These principles form the foundation for being a sovereign, a minister, a father, a son, and a person.

”Zhongyong” however emphasizes the ”Unity of Heaven and Man.”

This constitutes the foundation of cultivation.

Indeed, the Confucianism of the Four Books and Five Classics is quite profound.

No wonder in ancient times, great scholars who had never practiced cultivation could directly cross the tribulation and become divine spirits.

For within the Four Books and Five Classics lie abundant elements of the Heavenly Earth Great Dao.

Loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, righteousness, propriety, integrity, shame.

Unity of Heaven and Man, natural laws of Dao, etc.

...

While Lin Feng was studying alongside Scholar Ning, darkness enveloped them.

Gusts of chilling wind arose.

The mountains echoed with wailing sounds,

resembling the cries and howls of ghosts.

”Ghost creatures.”

Lin Feng frowned.

And they were exceptionally powerful ones.

Otherwise, they would not dare to venture to this place.

It is quite normal for deep mountains and old forests to harbor ghost creatures.

”Do not be distracted”

...

Scholar Ning said.

Lin Feng nodded and continued studying with Scholar Ning.

At that moment, he read a passage concerning ghost deities.

Confucius said, ”The virtue of the ghost deities is immense! You look but do not see them, listen but do not hear them, yet they manifest in everything, making them inseparable for humans. All people throughout the world fast and purify themselves, dressing in solemn and orderly garments to worship them. They are omnipresent, as if right above your head, or right beside you.”

This passage actually reflects the saying, ”Within three feet—are divine spirits.”

While Lin Feng continued reading.

The world grew darker and darker.

Within this darkness,

a terrifying figure approached step by step.

A millennium-old fierce ghost,

revived from its deep slumber.

”Human flesh and blood.”

An eerie voice spread.

The millennium-old fierce ghost was gradually drawing closer to the Mountain God Temple where Lin Feng and Scholar Ning were studying.

At that moment,

divine light surged within the Mountain God Temple.

The Mountain God actually manifested.

Scholar Ning continued his studies and nourished his qi,

which dissipated into the heavens and the earth,

and was absorbed by the nearly expired Mountain God.

Consequently, the Mountain God revived.

Now, the Mountain God evolved and intercepted the millennium-old fierce ghost.

This is how studying can connect with the divine.

Even ”divine beings” come to assist.

...

”Mountain God, dare to obstruct me, today I will devour you as well.”

The millennium-old fierce ghost sneered loudly.

Endless darkness enveloped the Mountain God.

In an instant, the Mountain God was engulfed.

The millennium-old fierce ghost let out a sinister laugh.

”You’re still going to be devoured by me, right?”.

At that moment.

A surge of vast righteous qi suddenly flowed out from within the Mountain God.

The Mountain God declared, ”Day by day, I follow the great scholar studying and nourishing my spirit, my body now integrated with the vast righteous Qi. How could you, a nefarious ghost creature, contend against me?”.

As the voice settled, the Mountain God extended his right hand and grabbed the millennium-old fierce ghost.

”Run quickly.”

Seeing that it was no match for the Mountain God, the fierce ghost took flight.

But the Mountain God swiftly grabbed the neck of the millennium-old fierce ghost and swallowed it whole.

The Mountain God had also followed Scholar Ning in studying and nurturing the spirit.

His cultivation greatly increased.

This allowed him to easily devour the millennium-old fierce ghost.

The Mountain God’s form swiftly vanished.

Inside the Mountain God Temple, around the statue of the Mountain God, swirls of white vapor lingered.

Listening carefully,

apart from the sounds of Scholar Ning and Lin Feng studying, there seemed to be another, ethereal, reading voice.

It was likely the Mountain God secretly following Scholar Ning in reading the book ”Zhongyong.”