NOVEL NEXT Chapter 405: It's a Long Story
Jiang Yuan seemed to somewhat understand and yet not really understand. Is this the legendary seeing a mountain as a mountain and yet not a mountain?
Indeed, he truly had no talent for understanding Daoist techniques.
Anyway, I can only guarantee not to harm others' interests within a certain moral boundary. But not caring about life and death without competing or fighting? That's absolutely impossible!
Suddenly, he remembered hearing a similar theory somewhere.
Reflecting carefully, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows in shock—back when he was clearing the Riverfront Village instance, those workshops talked about people eating people, which bore some resemblance to the Daoist techniques pondered in Qingfeng Hall.
The difference was, the workshops constantly preached that people ate people, filled with evil; whereas Elder Lü's words were closer to the Natural Daoist Technique.
"But..." Jiang Yuan realized they weren't eating peaches either and had to find a way to keep the conversation going, otherwise he would have to rise and take his leave. The completion of the side quest was still far off!
"This junior is dull-witted. If one says that all things in heaven and earth return to the same source, then as an individual that exists as 'me' dies, 'I' can no longer exist; scattered spirit becomes nothing that is 'me'. Therefore...when it comes to death, I really can't be as carefree as the seniors."
Elder Lü chuckled and said, "Not understanding it is normal, everyone has their own Dao and must explore and discover it themselves. To us, the gathering spirit is me and not me; the scattering spirit is not me and is me. This old body is me, and when the body dies and the Dao disappears, the spirit returns to the source and re-gathers, creating a new soul consciousness that is also me.
It's just that the connection between me and myself is unknown. The great Dao is formless and the heavens vast, the cycle of spirit's birth and extinction is what we pursue in the Natural Daoist Technique.
Let alone someone young like you, even Lin Yao cannot understand; otherwise, you wouldn't have come here for nothing."
"It wasn't for nothing." Elder Qi, who had been silent all along, looked at Jiang Yuan with a kind smile, "I thought this child looked familiar right from the start, clearly tied to us in Qingfeng Hall. Didn't you bring us news from the outside? Since the sect closed its doors to guests, we've long been unaware of the commotion outside."
Alright, now there's a new topic!
Jiang Yuan eagerly asked, "This junior dares to inquire out of curiosity, why does Qingfeng Hall close its doors to guests and avoid interaction with the outside world?
I have a friend who is a disciple of the Cloud Concealment Sect. He once mentioned knowing only the name of Qingfeng Hall but never seeing the splendor of its disciples. If it weren't for Lin Yao-senior granting a token, I'm afraid it would be difficult to find your sect."
"Our ancient ten sects each have their strengths and pursue their own great Dao." Elder Lü began to explain, "You're a clever child who is likable, and it's been a while since we've seen juniors, so it's fine to chat more with you."
An inexplicable sense of closeness made it difficult for her to refuse his curious questions. After all, it's no secret, just casual talk.
"It's a long story, but since today's uneventful, it's only proper people of the Human Race know about what happened. Let me start from the beginning." She paused, sighed, "Since you came from Lin Yao, I assume you've already heard of this world's tragic past from her."
Her temper, ah, hasn't changed even a bit over the years, and she wouldn't miss the opportunity to tell the whole world. Actually, Lin Yao is not to blame, because at the beginning, those demon cultivators sought refuge here from the Black Tortoise Pavilion."
Jiang Yuan stood up immediately. From what happened later, wasn't Black Tortoise Pavilion welcoming wolves into the fold?
"Black Tortoise Pavilion is located on Black Tortoise Mountain, and it's said to be the birthplace of the Four Symbols Divine Beast Xuanwu. Revering Emperor Xuanwu, the pavilion specializes in water element techniques, emphasizing the way of water like the highest virtue. The first batch of demon cultivators that escaped from their realm came under the banner of worshiping Emperor Xuanwu, seeking refuge with Black Tortoise Pavilion and asking for shelter."
Elder Lü took a sip of tea to moisten her throat and continued, "Child, you must know that all demon cultivators regard the divine beasts as their supreme. Whether flying in the sky, running on the ground, or swimming in water, whether big like wolves, tigers, and leopards, or small like butterflies, fish, and insects, having a trace of the divine beast's bloodline is their pride.
So those demon cultivators used the excuse of worshiping Emperor Xuanwu to make it hard for the always benevolent Black Tortoise Pavilion to refuse.
Therefore, after hearing the demon cultivators' tearful accounts of their cataclysmic near-deaths, the then Pavilion Master of Black Tortoise Pavilion gathered all the sect leaders of the other nine sects to discuss how to accommodate these refugees from the Otherworld.
I didn't see it personally, but learned from sect ancient records that during that time, our world was vast, abundant, and joyful. The cultivators from various sects protected the mortal races; the mortal races lived and worked in peace and harmony, continuously producing new generations of cultivators; it was a world filled with harmony."
Elder Qin hurriedly interjected, "Of course, it wasn't the legendary Human Immortal Realm, as it had both good and bad among all races regardless of age or gender. Naturally, there were evil cultivators as well. But back then, with the ten great sects watching over, the world was overall good, filled with abundant spiritual energy suitable for living and cultivation."
"Hmm, this premise was indeed important, and it also laid the groundwork for future tragedies." Elder Qi added a comment.
Upon hearing their words, Jiang Yuan suddenly felt an ominous foreboding.
Being too well protected, many people's thinking became confined to an information cocoon, just like merchants from Cloud City getting completely devoured in other cities!
Indeed, Elder Lü sighed and continued, "At that time, the sect leaders gathered together, and opinions were not very unified, mainly worrying that allowing demon beasts to settle would harm the weak mortals.
Those cunning demon cultivators cried and promised that demon beasts were tame and gentle; if we provided them with shelter, the demon beasts could serve the Human Race like regular livestock.
The Pavilion Master of Black Tortoise Pavilion, having the most contact with them, was deeply deceived by appearances and fully vouched for the remaining demon cultivators and demon beasts. Moreover, as Human Race cultivators practiced the Dao focusing on goodness, should they really see these beings seeking refuge become homeless and die in the void?
The sect leaders who were against the idea were convinced by Black Tortoise Pavilion. Everyone decided to allocate regions uninhabitable by humans, with harsh environments, for demon beasts to live. Back then, they all believed no matter what, outsiders were still a minority, and with the ancient ten sects and so many sect cultivators present, what trouble could mere demon beasts cause?
After a heavy sigh, she remained silent for quite a while, "You know the result; people living in joyful abundance couldn't possibly imagine the depravity of the Demon Race. They're adept at disguising themselves, deceitful and greedy. When they'd gathered enough strength to reveal their fangs, even the ten great sects couldn't reverse the situation."
There were even many cultivators and people of the Human Race colluding with demon cultivators, stabbing sects and cultivators fighting on the front.
The worst deceived was Black Tortoise Pavilion, who sincerely wanted to save lives but ended up making themselves the traitors of the Human Race.
Black Tortoise Pavilion fought the hardest and longest against the Demon Race, with one group of cultivators after another knowingly sacrificing themselves despite being unable to fully eliminate the enemy. Even now, they're still training death warriors against demon cultivators.
Lin Yao was born in Black Tortoise Pavilion; her grandparents, parents, and siblings were all disciples of the pavilion. If she hadn't shown extraordinary talent and been designated as the Pavilion Master in her youth, she would have already died in battle with her brothers and sisters long ago."