MTLNOVEL Chapter 86: Master Zhenyuan Discusses Transcendence
The Five Qi realm represents the pinnacle of the Earthly Immortal Path, and this technique of merging the Five Qi with Cave Heaven, albeit a shortcut, can still be considered an alternative way to cultivate the Five Qi towards primordial origin.
Just as Lu Yu was preparing to slowly retreat along with the crowd, two exquisitely beautiful Taoist Child Servants blocked his way. These two children were very cute, clad in Taoist Robes and with their hair tied up in buns, quite charming indeed—except for the slightly arrogant expression on their faces. They were Qingfeng and Mingyue, the two Child Servants.
"Esteemed sir, my master invites you with respect," the two Child Servants greeted Lu Yu.
Lu Yu was slightly stunned; he had never had any dealings with Immortal Zhenyuan, so why the unexpected invitation? Especially now, as the Journey to the West was nearing, it inevitably set him thinking.
But since he had already arrived at the gates of Wuzhuang Temple and received such an invitation, it would be rude not to accept. Thus, he bowed his hands and said, "Since the Great Immortal has invited me, I dare not disobey."
Under the guidance of Qingfeng and Mingyue, Lu Yu walked into the temple on foot and upon reaching its gate, he saw the famous couplet: The Immortal Mansion of Eternal Life, the home of a Taoist who shares longevity with heaven.
Lu Yu couldn't help but clap in admiration and exclaimed, "This truly speaks of immortals." What seemed like simple phrases instantly conveyed the power and spirit of the temple's occupant, truly deserving of an Ancestral Master who could establish his own path.
A bit proudly, Qingfeng and Mingyue seemed pleased to hear the praise and said with raised chins, "Our master is the Ancestor of Earth Immortals, how could these two lines possibly encompass all of his strength?"
Yet, Lu Yu merely smiled and shook his head, for the children surely did not understand—that it is in the ordinary that one discerns the extraordinary, and such seemingly plain statements often reveal true stature.
Upon entering the main gate, he discovered another world beyond; just one doorway divided this place into two realms. Outside, it appeared a small temple, but inside, it revealed another universe entirely, comparable to Mount Fangcun encompassed in a mustard seed.
"Truly masterful." Such skill, Lu Yu had only ever seen in Mount Fangcun's Cave Heaven; Master Zhenyuan's prowess was clearly evident here.
Passing through the deep and lengthy hallway, Lu Yu entered the main hall where Master Zhenyuan was already seated on a cushion, clad in a grey Taoist Robe, with ethereal long whiskers, holding a horsetail whisk, meditating on the cushion with his eyes closed.
There was a profound aura about him, as if a majestic mountain stood before him, inspiring a feeling of awe and reverence.
Sensing Lu Yu's arrival, Master Zhenyuan opened his eyes and with a smile, said, "Fellow Taoist has arrived; please, take a seat."
Lu Yu, unsure why the Ancestor of Earth Immortals had invited him, took his seat with a heart full of apprehension, waiting for what was to follow.
Then Master Zhenyuan commanded Qingfeng, "Qingfeng, go to the backyard and fetch a Ginseng Fruit for this fellow Taoist."
Looking at Lu Yu with surprise, Qingfeng felt very puzzled inside, not knowing what status Lu Yu held for his master to use such a treasure to entertain him. The Ginseng Fruit, also known as the Grass Returning Pill, blossoms once every three thousand years, bears fruit every three thousand years, and ripens after another three thousand years; only after a full ten thousand years is it edible.
It produces just thirty fruits, and just recently, when the fruits ripened, his master allowed all to share in the harvest, yet now he was being so generously offered one.
Lu Yu was also startled by such a grand gesture; how could he accept such a gift? Unless he understood the reason for this cause and effect, how could he dare to accept it?
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"This gift is too significant, I am not fortunate enough to accept it," Lu Yu hurriedly waved his hands in decline.
Master Zhenyuan seemed to perceive Lu Yu's concerns, smiled, and said, "You should accept this item, for I have a matter to ask of you. Please, do not rush; let me explain everything."
Upon hearing Master Zhenyuan's words, Lu Yu finally felt reassured, and he responded with a bow, "I hope the Great Immortal will enlighten me."
"Just now, I noticed you were among the crowd listening to my teachings. Did you gain anything?"
"I indeed gained a lot. The integration of the Five Qi, the Great Immortal has truly taken it to the extreme," Lu Yu couldn't help but exclaim.
"Yes, the path of the Earth Immortal is fundamentally about focusing on the Five Qi. Hence, if we discuss the richness of accumulated Five Qi and the profundity of their integration, even compared to the powers of the Celestial Immortal Dao, I, Master Zhenyuan, dare say they are not inferior to them," Master Zhenyuan stated with pride on his face.
To carve out a unique path in the universe that offers beings another route to eternal life is undoubtedly the proudest achievement in his life.
Then he shifted the tone of his conversation, "However, it ultimately is taking a shortcut, not the true integration of the Five Qi towards origin. Although the Mystical Power is not inferior, there's still one aspect that can't quite match the Celestial Immortal Dao."
At this point, a hint of regret inevitably appeared on Master Zhenyuan's face, as admitting that his Technique couldn't match another was a painful thing for a pioneer of a path.
"I hope the Great Immortal will impart his teachings," Lu Yu said, his interest piqued upon hearing this.
Initially, the Ancestral Master explained the Dao of human gods and specters of the Five Immortals in a generalized manner without going into depth, and although his own cultivation was in the Celestial Immortal Dao, the path of the earth and heaven immortals were like two branches of the same tree, yet there were differences.
"That is the lack of hope for Transcendence. For many, achieving the integration of the Five Qi and having a long and healthy life might be enough, but for some, it's akin to an abyss," Master Zhenyuan lamented.
Hearing this, Lu Yu gradually discerned the underlying meaning. It inevitably involved Master Zhenyuan's path to Transcendence, but he still couldn't understand how his modest mana could be of any help to Master Zhenyuan.
"The biggest trouble with the Earthly Immortal Path is that even wanting to rebuild the foundation is extremely difficult, for it merges with the Cave Heaven, in a sense, merges with the universe. As the mana of the Earthly Immortal Path deepens, the connection with the universe becomes more robust, making it tremendously hard to achieve Transcendence," he explained.
"Dare I ask, Great Immortal," Lu Yu took the opportunity to voice his own confusion, "I have heard much about Transcendence, but I'm still unable to understand what it means."
"They say that to step outside the bounds of fate and the river of time is to achieve Transcendence, which is true, but that's the result, not the process. Transcendence is like a person having a house that shelters from the wind and rain, allowing him to grow healthy. But as he grows, the small house becomes cramped.
Then, the house is no longer a shelter but instead turns into a cage, and thus he must break free from it," he described.
"However, it's not just you living in this house. If you break free, the other inhabitants might not survive. Hence, the best approach is to renovate the house, and naturally, during this process, opportunities to leave will arise. This is what Transcendence is."
Master Zhenyuan vividly described the process of Transcendence, giving Lu Yu a moment of sudden clarity. Now he could understand why, after the Ancestral Master completed the Heavenly Dao and established the Heavenly Court, he had the opportunity to transcend, and why now the major powers were initiating the Journey to the West.