Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 1634: Chapter 1004: Unifying Inner and Outer by Forgetting Self and Things, Revealing the Daoist Body by Breaking the Ego

“The Way of Heaven, powerful and ceaseless, aids all beings. Thus, the reality shatters the void, excess transforms the deficient. The position of Heaven and Earth is set, the axis of Yin and Yang established, the mechanism of life and death concealed, the image of prosperity and decline revealed. Without speaking, the sun and moon shine together; without summoning, heaven and earth respond naturally. As simple as it is profound, its effect is divine, truly the ancestor of all things and the root of life.”

“The origin of Qianyuan begins with pure Yang as the root. The Taiji divides into two forms; Yin and Yang are differentiated, and heaven and earth are born. Yang reaches its peak at nine, encounters eight, returns to the prime essence. The prime essence is represented in the east by the virtue of wood, the purity of Yang, from which the source of light arises.”

“The Dao has no beginning or end, but things have life and death. Birth is not the beginning, death is not the end, like a circle without end, like the rotation of the four seasons. Knowing the beginning and end, one does not delight in life nor detest death, conforming to natural transformation and wandering with the Dao. Even heaven and earth cannot last long, let alone humans? Only by being with the Dao can one attain the eternal.”

Yang Zhenshan carefully perused the content of the Sun True Scripture. The earlier parts were ordinary, just methods of practicing the Sun True Scripture, but the subsequent parts were rather peculiar.

“Only by being with the Dao can one attain the eternal.”

“Eternity” transcends tangible existence. The scripture’s words, “things have life and death,” grass and trees wither and flourish, people have longevity and brevity—all are the fixed occurrences of “things”; and the Dao is the source of the endless circle, accompanying the Dao allows one to transcend the obsession with “delighting in life and detesting death,” conforming naturally like heaven and earth, the spirit existing with the Dao, thus there is no “extinction,” hence eternity.

“Being with the Dao” is not sought externally, but in “returning to simplicity and authenticity,” like an untainted infant, like the pure innocence of a child, letting the essence merge with the inherent nature of the Dao. At this point, life and death become the flow of the Dao, like the cycle of seasons is not “end,” merely a manifestation of the Dao, therefore capable of transcending the transient to reach the eternal state of “no birth nor death.”

Breaking the obsession with “clinging to life and fearing death,” it is said that true eternity is not in rigidly preserving the corporeal form, but in uniting with the Dao of no beginning and no end, allowing natural flow without losing the essence, thereby transcending life and death to achieve “perpetual existence.”

“Is this the method of uniting with the Dao?”

Yang Zhenshan’s heart surged with excitement.

Beyond the Golden Core Realm is integration with the Dao.

So-called Taoist Master, is the master of one Dao.

After understanding the Withered and Flourishing Dao Intent, Yang Zhenshan could already clearly perceive the future path of Dao, which is integration with the Dao.

“The Dao originally resides in oneself, like a pearl beneath dust, returning to its true essence is unification.”

“The one who embraces the Unity, forgets the division between oneself and things, equilibrates the internal and external.”

Yang Zhenshan pondered deeply over the meanings within the scripture.

This is not a cultivation technique, but rather an experiential insight.

Understanding it is not difficult, but achieving profound insight is not easy.

Forget the “division between oneself and things,” do not see “self” as a being independent of heaven and earth, but know that “I am within the Dao, the Dao is within me,” like fish in water, not perceiving water as an external object, only then merging with the water.

Equilibrate the “states of honor and disgrace,” not arrogant in times of honor, knowing honor is the flow of the Dao; not resentful in times of disgrace, knowing disgrace is the manifestation of the Dao, like heaven and earth treating all things as straw dogs, not changing the norm due to their beauty or ugliness.

After breaking attachment, “I” is no longer the barrier to the Dao, but one of the manifestations of the Dao, like a drop of water entering the river, indistinctly merged.

Yang Zhenshan frowned deeply, understanding more, yet feeling increasingly unable to awaken.

“Difficult, difficult, difficult~~”

“Forget the division between oneself and things, equilibrate the internal and external, shatter the self and reveal the Daoist Body.”

Yang Zhenshan felt his head about to burst, he hurriedly collected his heart and spirit, ceasing further contemplation.

But just at that moment, a slight insight emerged within him.

“The Dao unclear, how then to talk of integrating with the Dao?”

He immediately laughed at himself, realizing he was being overly ambitious; he has not yet fully comprehended his own Dao intent, how can he equilibrate the internal and external to reveal the Daoist Body?

“Therefore, the Golden Core Realm can also be subdivided into smaller realms!”

“Dao Intent Initiation, Dao Intent Deepening, Dao Intent Great Success, Dao Intent Perfection, culminating in profound enlightenment, forget the division between oneself and things, equilibrate the internal and external, shatter the self and reveal the Daoist Body, return to its true essence, unite with the Dao.”

“I am merely at the initiation of Dao intent now!”

Yang Zhenshan withdrew his spiritual sense from the Mystic Iron Stele, shaking his head lightly.

“Teacher, how about it?” Ning Yun asked.

Yang Zhenshan looked at her with gentle eyes, saying, “That is a cultivation insight, you’ll understand it after you form your core!”

“Is that so? Is it useful to Master?”

“Useful, very useful!” Yang Zhenshan smiled.

“That’s good, as long as it’s useful to Master!” Ning Yun smiled happily.

Yang Zhenshan patted her shoulder and said, “Can the Transmission Hall be reconstructed?”

“Yes, I can rebuild a Transmission Hall at the Spirit Source Land!” Ning Yun smiled even more happily.

“Then let’s rebuild one!” Yang Zhenshan said.

The most important aspect of Transmission Hall is not the cultivation techniques, but its ability to select suitable techniques based on individual qualifications and attributes.

With the Transmission Hall, everyone in the Spirit Source Land can receive cultivation techniques suited to them, thus allowing their cultivation to be more effective.

“Should the Sun True Scripture be kept inside?” Ning Yun asked again.

“Keep it inside.” Yang Zhenshan said indifferently.

The insights on cultivation within the Sun True Scripture are very useful for Golden Core cultivators, but merely having it doesn’t guarantee understanding.

Cultivation techniques are merely techniques; success in cultivation depends on the cultivator’s aptitude, perseverance, opportunity, insight, and many other factors.

There are countless complete cultivation techniques in the world, but how many Golden Core cultivators truly succeed?

Similarly, this cultivation insight was likely left by the Taoist Master of the Sun True Sect, but even the Sun True Sect has disappeared in the long river of history now.

Even the many Golden Core great powers of the Sun True Sect could not fully comprehend it, let alone others.

…

For Golden Core cultivators, the passing of time is incredibly fast; Yang Zhenshan just secluded himself to contemplate the Withered and Flourishing Dao Intent, and three years passed by.

The feeling is like closing your eyes, then opening them again, as if it was just a nap.

Yang Zhenshan felt this way, and so did Jian Changhe.

In front of the majestic Sword Pavilion, Jian Changhe stared blankly at the scorching sun in the sky.

After forming his core, Jian Changhe only dealt with some trivial matters before starting his seclusion, and this seclusion lasted over three years until now when he finally walked out of the Sword Pavilion again.

How to say?

A bit of adjustment was needed.

Previously, he often engaged in seclusion, and each seclusion lasted for several years, but before each seclusion, he always prepared himself mentally for roughly how long he would be in seclusion; he was always aware.

But this time, he merely intended to stabilize his cultivation, unexpectedly spending more than three years.

“True Monarch!”

Jian Changhe had just emerged from seclusion when Jian Guyun hurriedly sought him out.

“Hmm!” Jian Changhe replied absentmindedly.

Jian Guyun said, “True Monarch, the White Cloud True Monarch has sent an invitation!”

“An invitation!” Jian Changhe retracted his wandering divine thought, took the invitation that Jian Guyun handed over, and glanced at its contents.

The content was nothing special, just an invitation for him to visit White Cloud Immortal City, without mentioning anything else.

He thought for a moment, then asked, “Has there been any movement in True Yang Immortal City recently?”

Although the invitation did not explicitly state the purpose of his visit, Jian Changhe felt that the White Cloud True Monarch was likely seeking him for matters related to True Yang Immortal City.

Jian Guyun replied, “No major movements, but I heard that many forces are looking to join True Yang Immortal City!”

“Huangquan Hall and Minghai Palace are both interested in this!”

Jian Changhe frowned slightly, “Even Minghai Palace wants to get involved?”

“That’s right, the resources hidden within the Sun Giant Mountain are abundant, and no force can resist the opportunity to acquire them!” Jian Guyun replied.

The resources in the Sun Cave Heaven aren’t just the materials left behind in the palaces. The vast Cave Heaven world itself is a broad Blessed Land.

The Sun Giant Mountain that fell contains incalculable resources, including Spirit Veins, mineral veins, buried natural treasures, and other yet-to-be-discovered materials.

Initially, many Foundation Establishment cultivators and demon beasts swept through the Sun Cave Heaven, seemingly looting the entire place, but in reality, they were only competing for the obvious treasures.

The Sun Cave Heaven has been desolate for millennia, naturally nurturing treasures over that time, and the materials left by the Sun True Sect back then are beyond measure.

Even though Wanhua Demon Court has established True Yang Immortal City on Sun Giant Mountain, they still haven’t explored all the resources within.

Simply put, the current Sun Giant Mountain is a treasure trove, with its interior filled with treasure-laden land.

Such a treasure trove would take at least a few hundred years to fully exploit.

Therefore, many forces are still eager to enter True Yang Immortal City.

Jian Changhe also had this thought. Now that he had become a Golden Core True Monarch, his next step should be to revitalize Hidden Sword Mountain.

And the most critical need for revitalizing Hidden Sword Mountain is the various resources.

The Sun Giant Mountain is undoubtedly the source of resources that Hidden Sword Mountain urgently needs.

However, with his current strength, even if he went to True Yang Immortal City, he probably wouldn’t have much say.

Jian Changhe pondered for a while and said, “I understand this matter. Later, I will visit the White Cloud True Monarch!”

“By the way, has there been any movement from Yunxiao recently?”

“No, True Monarch Yunxiao seems to be in seclusion and hasn’t shown up for two or three years!”

Jian Changhe nodded slightly and didn’t ask further.

He assumed Yunxiao, like himself, was in seclusion to stabilize his cultivation.

In truth, it was similar; Yunxiao had been cultivating in the Immortal Palace for the past two years, but it wasn’t to stabilize his cultivation—it was to gain insight into Dao Intent.

After dismissing Jian Guyun, Jian Changhe thought for a moment, and with a thought, his figure entered the Void.

He did not immediately head to White Cloud Immortal City but first went to Wuzhen Taoist Palace.

The Wuzhen Taoist Palace in the Sea of Spirit Insight was still the same, looking no different from an ordinary sect.

The Taoist Palace was managed by Li Shangyuan, with An Yuxing, Liang Shengze, Qu Changkong, and other Golden Body Realm Martial Artists stationed there.

Jian Changhe, within the Void, swept the entire Wuzhen Taoist Palace with his spiritual sense.

“Hmm, what’s this?”

He initially intended to see what Yunxiao was doing, but he didn’t find Yunxiao’s presence, instead discovering something strange.

Exiting the Void, Jian Changhe arrived at a seemingly ordinary palace.

This was a standalone palace, with a spacious hall and gate, and apart from a few quiet chambers, there were no other rooms inside.

However, the palace was heavily guarded, both inside and out, with numerous martial artists on watch, and the palace was protected by an array.

Judging by the security and manpower, this palace was the most securely guarded place in the Wuzhen Taoist Palace.

“Who goes there?”

As soon as Jian Changhe appeared, the guarding martial artists discovered him.

He ignored the martial artists gathering around him and instead gazed solemnly at the strange-looking array deep within the hall.

In terms of array knowledge, Hidden Sword Mountain was by no means lacking.

Let’s not forget, Hidden Sword Mountain originally rose by researching Ancient Relic Arrays.

Later, Hidden Sword Mountain also acquired many array legacies from Ancient Relic Arrays, and the Heavenly Sword True Monarch was a skilled Array Master.

However, the Heavenly Sword True Monarch’s array skills stopped at the peak of the Second-Order, failing to become a Third-Order Array Master.

Jian Changhe also had a deep understanding of the Array Dao, at least better than Yang Zhenshan’s understanding.

“Halt!”

Just as the guarding martial artists were about to make a move on Jian Changhe, Qu Changkong emerged from a quiet chamber, shouting.

Qu Changkong looked at Jian Changhe with uncertainty.

“Humble servant Qu Changkong greets True Monarch Changhe!” He prostrated himself immediately.

There was no choice; compared to a Golden Core True Monarch, he, as a Golden Body Realm Martial Artist, was insignificant.

The gap in strength and status between the two was vast, requiring him to kowtow upon meeting.

The other guarding martial artists followed suit, saying, “Greetings to True Monarch Changhe!”

A True Monarch’s authority was not something they could challenge.

“What is this?” Jian Changhe asked, pointing at the Cave Heaven Transmission Array before him.

“This, I ask for the True Monarch’s pardon!” Qu Changkong lowered his head, simultaneously crushing the Jade Token at his waist.

The Cave Heaven Transmission Array was the greatest secret of the Spirit Source Land in the Sea of Spirit Insight. Although Yang Zhenshan now didn’t mind this secret being exposed, there were still strict confidentiality rules in place.

Even in front of True Monarch Changhe, Qu Changkong was unwilling to reveal the true function of the Cave Heaven Transmission Array.