NCCnovel Chapter 211 Old Hu Transmits the Dharma, One Cry of Fellow Daoist
Chapter 211 Old Hu Transmits the Dharma, One Cry of Fellow Daoist
Chapter 211 Old Hu Transmits the Dharma, A Fellow Daoist
"This method."
Upon hearing this, Lao Hu frowned slightly, his tone hesitant.
This is not a method that can be learned through cultivation techniques. It is more like a special skill that one naturally comprehends after living between heaven and earth and interacting with and sensing the energy of heaven and earth for a long time.
Old Hu has lived two lives, and this method was only a superficial understanding he had barely grasped in his previous life after breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm and gaining a preliminary glimpse into the essence of the laws of heaven and earth.
In this life, he has only recently begun to recover his memories of his past life, and has only now begun to roughly recall how to apply this method.
Upon hearing that Chen Yi wanted to learn, he had two concerns:
Firstly, there was a concern that Chen Yi wouldn't be able to learn it. This method requires a certain understanding of the laws of heaven and earth, and it cannot be mastered simply by being taught. If I painstakingly explain it but Chen Yi still can't comprehend it, it would be a waste of both of our time.
Secondly, they were worried about their secrets being exposed.
He was no ordinary cultivator. After awakening his memories and beginning to perceive the world, he discovered that the Great Green Cultivation World harbored more than one "old monster."
If one leaves traces in the world due to careless words or actions when imparting the Dharma, and is noticed by those with ulterior motives, it may bring trouble upon oneself.
But then he thought again, the concept of fate is something he can't completely avoid, even with memories of two lifetimes.
In this life, I've known Chen Yi for many years, and we've already forged a deep connection.
Since his cultivation level is unlikely to recover to the Nascent Soul stage for the time being, and he is powerless to change many aspects of his destiny, leaving Mingyue in the Star Moon Sect and entrusting her to Chen Yi is the best choice at present.
A jumble of thoughts swirled in his mind, and finally, Old Hu let out a long sigh, his tone tinged with a sense of relief:
"Very well. I will explain the key points of this method to Senior Chen."
"No, Lao Hu, please don't call me 'senior' anymore."
Chen Yi quickly waved his hand, his tone sincere.
"On the path of cultivation, some people take the lead, some people catch up, and some great beings even realize that the path ahead is wrong and turn back to walk the path of cultivation again."
Now, I've only reached the Core Formation stage a few days earlier than you, so I can't be called a senior.
Regarding the understanding of Taoism, Lao Hu, you are superior to me; I still have much to learn from you.
From now on, let's address each other as fellow Daoists.
Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Old Hu's eyes, which quickly turned into a sigh of admiration.
He didn't know if Chen Yi had noticed anything, but in any case, Chen Yi's words revealed a level of insight far beyond that of his peers.
In his eyes, Chen Yi, though young, was reliable and calm, and even if he knew something, he would not act rashly.
"Alas—, on the path of cultivation, who stands at the peak? A single word, 'fellow Daoist,' and the road is reduced to nothing."
Old Hu sighed softly, then smiled helplessly.
"Fine, you're so young, yet you're even more cunning than this old man."
Then I will take the liberty of addressing you as Fellow Daoist Chen.
"Fellow Daoist Hu," Chen Yi replied with a cupped hand, his tone solemn.
At this moment, the Crimson Soul Sparrow was soaring over the snow-capped mountain peak. The golden halo of the sun pierced through the swirling snowflakes and sprinkled onto the Crimson Soul Sparrow's bright feathers, reflecting a warm glow.
On the back of the bird, an old man and a young man stood facing each other, bowing solemnly and addressing each other as "fellow Daoists," in a solemn and peaceful atmosphere.
Behind the birds, Hu Mingyue sat on a cushion, looking up at her father and Chen Yi's figures, a strange light flashing in her eyes.
This scene, set against a backdrop of swirling snow and a golden halo, accompanied by the silhouette of the Crimson Soul Sparrow piercing the sky, became a rare and heartwarming sight on the journey north through the Monster Mountain Range.
The two rode the Crimson Soul Sparrow northwards, with 300,000 li still ahead.
Because they had to take care of Hu Mingyue and Lao Hu's wife, both Qi Refining stage cultivators, they couldn't travel at full speed. It would take Chen Yi and his group at least ten days to reach their destination.
Birds flew steadily through the wind and snow. Old Hu gazed at the continuous snow-capped mountains below and slowly began to speak, steer the conversation back to comprehending the laws of heaven and earth:
"To understand the universe, to experience cause and effect, and to judge fortune and misfortune, is not a single method, but a gradual process of enlightenment."
Acquiring this ability requires either a long period of accumulation or a sudden enlightenment through a great opportunity; I cannot explain it to you in detail in one fell swoop.
He paused, his tone becoming more serious:
"Of course, there are also many traditions in the cultivation world that record methods of taking shortcuts—such as sacrificing one's lifespan, burning one's essence and blood, and then using special mediums to forcibly open a corner of the rules of the world's operation in order to peek at scenes that do not belong to one's own realm."
During the process, one might witness glimpses of cause and effect, fortune and misfortune, but this method has three major drawbacks:
Firstly, what one sees may not be accurate, and one is easily disturbed by inner demons;
Secondly, due to the suppression of his own cultivation level, he was unable to explore high-level karma at all.
Thirdly, the cost is too high; the lost lifespan and essence are irreparable, ultimately making it a heretical and unorthodox path, and therefore unacceptable.
"The true and righteous path should be to 'unite the body with heaven and earth'."
Old Hu's voice sounded exceptionally clear in the wind and snow.
"Through long-term observation and understanding of heaven and earth, gradually experiencing the patterns of the alternation of the sun and moon, the rotation of the four seasons, and the flow of mountains and rivers, one's own energy gradually merges with the energy of heaven and earth. Over time,..."
Nature can perceive subtle changes in the world.
Add to that one's own interpersonal relationships and the changes in the energy flow of the cultivation world,
Naturally, one can gradually discern the clues of cause and effect, fortune and misfortune.
He spoke of his experiences with a touch of emotion:
"My life, the first half of which was similar to yours, was spent struggling in the mortal world, witnessing the everyday life of ordinary people, and also experiencing the hardships on the path of cultivation."
My experience is…”
Over the next ten days or so, Lao Hu, drawing on his own experiences, insights, and past encounters, gradually offered Chen Yi guidance:
For example, in the early days in the market, how to predict the weather from changes in the clouds, and then extend that to sensing the fluctuations of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth;
For example, on one occasion in the mountains, he noticed the unusual withering of the vegetation and avoided a crisis caused by anomalies in the earth's energy channels.
He broke down his process of perceiving the universe, understanding cause and effect, and judging fortune and misfortune into specific segments, patiently explaining the logic and details within them.
Chen Yi listened attentively, nodding occasionally and frowning sometimes—he seemed to have grasped some key points, such as "integrating oneself with heaven and earth rather than resisting them."
Upon closer reflection, however, it seems as if there is a thin layer of mist obscuring the view, preventing it from being fully transparent.
According to Lao Hu, this orthodox method of comprehending the universe cannot be mastered without special opportunities or by simply accumulating knowledge over time; it would take at least a thousand years.
Chen Yi has only vaguely seen the direction of this "Gate of Heaven and Earth" at present. As for how to get to the door and truly enter, there is still a long way to go.
Even so, it was already a huge gain for Chen Yi.
He at least understood that "perceiving the universe" was not an abstract concept, but something that could be internalized into every aspect of spiritual practice and daily life.
When meditating, sense the flow of spiritual energy; when walking, observe the contours of mountains and rivers; even feel the direction of the wind with each breath. Time is long, but as long as you persevere, you will gradually get closer to that door.
As for the unorthodox methods mentioned by Lao Hu, Chen Yi had already made a judgment in his mind: those methods were essentially divination and calculation.
A few orthodox methods of calculation are not only inexpensive but also highly accurate; however, such lineages are almost extinct in the Great Green cultivation world.
Moreover, it requires extremely high talent from the cultivator, and its difficulty is comparable to comprehending what Lao Hu called "the body merging with heaven and earth";
However, unorthodox methods like those used by Elder Blood Fiend, which rely on blood essence for calculations, are extremely harmful to oneself and are clearly not his choice.
The Crimson Soul Sparrow continued its journey through the wind and snow, Old Hu's explanations went on, and Chen Yi's thoughts drifted away with the words.
He knew that the guidance he received over the past ten days might become a significant turning point on his path of cultivation.
Half a month later, the Crimson Soul Sparrow finally broke through the boundary of the Monster Mountain Range.
Previously, in the mountains, all that could be seen were gray-brown rocks and snow-covered peaks. The air was filled with the ferocious aura of monsters and the violent energy of lightning, and even the wind was biting cold.
But the moment you cross the boundary, the scenery changes abruptly:
The barren land beneath our feet has been replaced by lush green meadows and winding streams, with colorful flowers blooming in the sunlight, emitting a faint fragrance.
Looking up, the sky was a clear, deep blue without a single cloud, and the stars were several times brighter than those in the Monster Mountain Range, as if they could be reached out and touched.
The distant lake shimmered with light, the mountain peaks were shrouded in a misty aura, and even the air became moist and warm. Breathing in the pure spiritual energy was refreshing and invigorating.
"What a sacred place!"
Looking at the scene before him, Lao Hu couldn't help but sigh.
After spending the past two weeks in the Monster Mountain Range, the group was exhausted by the harsh environment. Seeing this beautiful and spiritual place now greatly eased their depressed mood.
Looking back on the journey of 300,000 miles, although there were occasional setbacks, it was generally smooth. The only trouble along the way was encountering demonic cultivators who set up a checkpoint and questioned them in a narrow canyon.
Chen Yi initially took out the identity token given to him by the little monk. Although the other party acknowledged some of the token's validity, he still prevented him from passing on the grounds that he was "not a cultivator from Zhongzhou".
Finally, Chen Yi had no choice but to take out Ning Bu'er's exclusive token, saying that he was ordered to go to Zhongzhou on business. Only after seeing the demonic sect mark on the token did the demonic cultivators dare not stop him anymore and let him pass.
With Chen Yi's ability to conceal his presence and Lao Hu's precise directions, the group avoided all potential dangers and finally arrived safely in Zhongzhou.
Chen Yi landed the Crimson Soul Sparrow on a lush green meadow beside a spirit lake, and everyone cleansed their auras.
They need to thoroughly cleanse themselves of the demonic energy from the Monster Mountain Range to avoid attracting unnecessary attention after entering the Central Plains cultivation world.
The group sat cross-legged for half a day, letting the pure spiritual energy of Zhongzhou envelop their bodies, gradually replacing the impure energy remaining in their bodies, until the spiritual energy around them merged with the outside world, before slowly opening their eyes.
"Fellow Daoist Chen."
Old Hu stood up, his gaze falling on Hu Mingyue, his tone somewhat solemn.
"I entrust my little daughter to you."
My wife and I will then travel throughout the Central Plains, exploring ancient sites and hidden realms, seeking opportunities for spiritual practice. We will maintain contact with you throughout this time, and will communicate promptly if anything urgent arises.
Chen Yi nodded in agreement, his gaze towards Hu Mingyue softening slightly.
"Don't worry, Fellow Daoist Hu."
Even in the harsh environment of the Monster Mountain Range, Mingyue was able to maintain the purity of her magical power without any impurities, which shows her strong will and ability to achieve something no matter where she cultivates.
With me looking after her at the Star Moon Sect, she will definitely be safe and sound.
"it is good."
Old Hu nodded with satisfaction, then, as if remembering something, took something out of his storage bag.
It was an extremely ancient and hard shell, with blurry patterns engraved on its surface, resembling neither wood nor stone.
"In the past two weeks, I have observed that you have begun to grasp the basics of understanding the universe."
I obtained this item through a great stroke of luck in the past. It can help one enter a state of enlightenment and deepen one's understanding of the mysteries of heaven and earth. Wearing it may accelerate your cultivation.
Chen Yi reached out and took it. When his fingertips touched the shell, he could vaguely feel the warm and moist aura contained within. He secretly guessed that this might be the shell of some kind of ancient spiritual fruit.
He didn't use the system to investigate on the spot, fearing that Lao Hu's keen senses would detect the abnormality, but simply thanked him sincerely.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, I have some thoughts about this item, and before we part today, I'd like to offer you one more piece of advice."
Old Hu's voice carried a hint of solemnity, his gaze fixed on the ancient-looking fruit shell, as if holding a deeper meaning.
"Since you are currently only in the Core Formation stage and your cultivation is not yet stable, you only need to carry this item with you at all times. There is no need to waste too much energy studying it."
It is far beyond your current understanding; forcing your way into it will only be a waste of time and energy, and may even cause unnecessary trouble.
He paused, his tone becoming even more insightful:
"When you successfully form your Nascent Soul and have a lifespan of a thousand years, and your cultivation and vision have both improved, it will not be too late to study it a little."
In fact, even if you reach the Nascent Soul stage, the early and middle stages are still not the best time.
If you can advance to the late Nascent Soul stage in your lifetime and touch upon the laws of heaven and earth of high-level cultivators, perhaps you will have a chance to unlock some of its secrets.
At this point, Lao Hu changed his tone, becoming more composed:
"Of course, the path of cultivation is against the heavens, and not everyone can reach the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm."
If you ultimately fail to reach that level, there's no need to force it—simply pass this item on to someone destined to receive it; keeping it with you might be a hassle.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Hu. Rest assured, I am not a reckless person."
The two said their goodbyes formally.
Afterwards, Chen Yi led Hu Mingyue back onto the Crimson Soul Sparrow and flew towards the city with the most abundant spiritual energy not far away.
Old Hu then took out a small flying boat, boarded it with his wife, and slowly traveled in another direction along the spiritual energy channels between heaven and earth, their figures gradually disappearing into the horizon.
Several days later, Chen Yi and Hu Mingyue arrived at their destination—Moon Lake Immortal City.
This immortal city is located on the shore of Moon Lake and possesses a third-grade superior spiritual vein. It is the largest immortal city within a radius of 100,000 miles.
From a distance, the city walls of the immortal city are made of white spiritual jade, reaching a height of a hundred feet, and are engraved with intricate array patterns, gleaming faintly with spiritual light in the sunlight.
The buildings within the city are arranged in a staggered manner, mostly pavilions with upturned eaves and roofs covered with glazed tiles, reflecting the shimmering light of the lake.
The moisture from Moon Lake intertwined with the spiritual energy of the spiritual veins, forming a thin layer of mist above the city, making the entire immortal city resemble a fairyland, exuding a magnificent and ethereal aura.
Chen Yi did not rush into the city. Instead, he stayed outside the city with Hu Mingyue for several days, completely converting the magical power within his body into the attributes of the spiritual energy of the Central Plains.
After ensuring that his aura was no different from that of the local cultivators, he rode the Crimson Soul Sparrow toward the city gate.
Unlike the towns near the Monster Mountain Range, the immortal cities in Zhongzhou have no entrance fee and no cultivators guarding the city gates; people can come and go freely.
Because the area surrounding the Immortal City is filled with abundant spiritual energy, mortals simply cannot cross such a long distance, and those who come and go are almost all cultivators.
As a Core Formation True Person, Chen Yi was not required to dismount when entering the city according to the rules of Zhongzhou.
He released his Core Formation power, which was instantly sensed by the protective array surrounding the Immortal City. A soft spiritual light emanated from the array, automatically opening a passage for him and allowing him to enter the city.
After entering the city, Chen Yi rode the Crimson Soul Sparrow and flew slowly until he approached the inner city's grand formation—the inner city was the core area of a third-tier spiritual vein, and according to the rules, he had to dismount and walk.
He put the Crimson Soul Sparrow into his spirit beast pouch, led Hu Mingyue to the inner city gate, glanced at the Qi Refining cultivators waiting around, and casually pointed to a young man in his twenties with a sunny smile:
"You'll be our guide."
The young man quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, senior. You can just call me Xiao Sun. Where would you like to go? I can give you detailed directions."
"First, rent a third-tier spirit vein cave dwelling, and then introduce me to a few merchant guilds that sell spirit herbs, spirit ores, and other materials."
Chen Yi spoke calmly, his gaze already surveying the inner city's environment. Shops lined both sides of the street, and the cultivators coming and going exuded a composed aura, revealing the prosperity and order of the Central Plains cultivation world.
After entering Moon Lake Immortal City, Chen Yi spent several days specifically learning about the prices of cultivation materials in Central Continent, as well as the difficulty of obtaining high-level resources.
The more he learned, the more certain he became: Zhongzhou truly deserves to be called a paradise for cultivating immortality.
In the Qi Kingdom, high-level resources such as third-tier spiritual herbs and spiritual ores are almost impossible to find on the market, and are mostly monopolized by sects or large families.
In Zhongzhou, however, these supplies were readily available, displayed on the shelves of the Chamber of Commerce, and there were virtually no barriers to purchasing them.
Only rare resources, special artifacts, or magic treasures in the mid-to-late stages of the third tier require a certain status to purchase; they must either be acquired through bidding at large auctions or circulated internally within a special trading circle composed of Nascent Soul cultivators.
What surprised him even more was that at the once-a-decades large-scale auction, pills like the Crystal Condensation Pill, which were considered rare in the Qi Kingdom, were no longer uncommon, and even the main ingredient of the Nascent Soul Pill might appear.
Moreover, the overall prices there are about 20% lower than in the State of Qi.
"I came to the right place." Chen Yi was secretly pleased.
All of this proves that the cultivation civilization in Zhongzhou is advanced, with abundant resources, numerous inheritances, and endless secret realms and forbidden areas, making it far more suitable for his cultivation than the Qi Kingdom.
However, he was also aware of the risks in Zhongzhou, where there were many high-level cultivators.
In the Qi Kingdom, Nascent Soul cultivators are a rare sight among ordinary cultivators, but in the Central Plains, they are not uncommon.
He had only been in the Immortal City for half a month when he had already sensed the power fluctuations of a Nascent Soul cultivator twice. The pressure was heavy and condensed, far beyond what a Core Formation cultivator could match.
"It seems I have to return to a life of quiet cultivation."
Chen Yi had made up his mind and was no longer as flamboyant as he had been on the way from Qi.
These past few days, accompanied by his guide Xiao Sun, he has figured out the main products and prices of various shops and chambers of commerce. He then gave Xiao Sun ten spirit stones as a reward and sent him away.
Afterwards, Chen Yi changed his appearance several times, visiting different chambers of commerce each time under a different identity.
They purchased a large quantity of third-tier puppet materials, spirit ores, spirit herbs, and other cultivation resources.
They even managed to acquire a small amount of materials that are hard to find in the Qi Kingdom, such as third-tier thunder beast blood and thunder spirit ore.
Organizing the harvest, disposing of old items, and understanding their condition have become his main tasks recently.
(End of this chapter)