Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Chapter 552: Chapter 334: Cultivation (First Update)

The two exchanged words, their concern thinly veiled.

Yet Xu Yang maintained an unconcerned demeanor and even chuckled lightly, “After all, meet the enemy head-on and cover up the situation as it arises—what is there to fear?”

His words were carefree, not the least bit perturbed, or perhaps he had anticipated this all along.

He was very aware of the origins of the Golden-Furred Lion, for in his way of doing things, before any move was made—though not guaranteed to be foolproof—he would thoroughly investigate to know both himself and the enemy. Rarely would he act on a whim.

Therefore, he had investigated long ago and understood the relationship between the Golden-Furred Lion and Buddhism, but after careful consideration, he still decided to use it to set an example.

Knowing full well the opposition’s background, yet still making a decisive move—could it be he was not afraid of Buddhism?

Indeed, he was not!

For one burdened with too many debts is not weighed down; he feared not even the Heavenly Court, so what harm could Buddhism do?

Not to mention the way Buddhism operated, it was destined to clash with him eventually. It was merely a matter of sooner or later; avoiding it would be meaningless. Better to take the initiative, as a probe and to prepare the board for the future.

This was also why he came here to establish the “Mount Longevity Wuzhuang Temple” Tao Lineage.

In this world, although there are the Heavenly Court and Buddhism, as well as various Immortal God Tao lineages, the Tao is not the true Tao, and the Buddha is not the true Buddha. They are successors who have inherited the titles.

According to the philosophy of the World of Dao and Law, they are all false—false Buddha, false Tao, false Immortals, false Gods, even indulging in demonic and corrupt practices.

Thus, Xu Yang was not at all surprised by Buddhism’s actions, as the current ethos of the Earth Immortal Realm was such—benefits far outweighing morality and ethical conduct, much like the cultivators of the present Cultivation Realm. They would go to any length for profit, and their integrity was far inferior to those in the World of Dao and Law.

How about the morality of the Ancient Immortal Gods?

Xu Yang had no direct contact and could not judge, but based on the current actions of the so-called Heavenly Court and Buddhism, they hardly deserved the names of true Tao, true Buddha, or sanctified Immortal Gods. They were simply riding on the coattails of greatness.

Hence, he decided to play a role temporarily—to adopt the persona of the “Ancestor of Earth Immortals.” He would put on airs and make a show of power, causing the various faction to take heed and buy time for his early developments, creating a suitable environment. If they could masquerade under false banners, why couldn’t he indulge in a bit of role-playing and feign strength?

As for the potential karma that might arise from such actions…

Setting aside the fact that, according to his research, within the Tao lineages of the World of Dao and Law, there was neither a Mount Longevity Wuzhuang Temple lineage nor a character named Zhen Yuan. Even if there were, if others feared not in impersonating the Heavenly Emperor or Buddha, what should he fear?

Should there indeed be karma, he would deal with it in the future!

…

Let us leave Xu Yang’s scheming aside for the moment.

Let us look at Lord Chu Shan and Lord Lutu.

“Brother Dao…”

Seeing Xu Yang in such a state, the two wanted to speak but hesitated and ultimately did not voice their thoughts.

In truth, they had a solution to this problem that could avoid conflict and minimize the issue.

That would be to bow to Buddhism, return the Purple-Gold Bell, and tacitly let the matter slide.

After all, no matter how you slice it, Buddhism is a pillar of the Righteous Path, and while it’s permissible to ascend to Mahayana by letsing loose a mount, becoming a demon in the Lower Realm, it’s quite another to talk about it openly. If it were to be made public, it would not look good for Buddhism.

Besides, with the Golden-Furred Lion dead, to harbor resentment against a cultivator with great potential and capable of ascending to Mahayana over a mount that had lost its value, would not be a wise decision; even for an entity with the stature of Buddhism. It would not be wise to make such enemies.

So, as long as Xu Yang would relent by giving back the Purple-Gold Bell, a medium-grade Immortal Artifact, allowing Buddhism and the Great Mercy Bodhisattva to step down gracefully, this issue might not be completely overlooked, but it could certainly be greatly mitigated.

At the very least, the Great Mercy Bodhisattva would not have a justifiable reason for retaliation, and Buddhism wouldn’t be able to directly intervene, else they would truly appear to be accomplices of demons—without moral justifications or sound arguments, opening themselves to criticism.

The name of Righteousness and Great Justice is heavy or light, it all depends on how you utilize it.

That was the solution in the minds of the two Lords. They had intended to suggest it, but seeing Xu Yang’s stance, they ultimately decided against voicing the idea.

With Brother Zhen Yuan’s integrity, perhaps he did not care about the Purple-Gold Bell, but he was sure not to hand it over and show weakness to Buddhism.

Perhaps, he was already aware of the Golden-Furred Lion’s origins but had still viciously eliminated it, clearly refusing to give Buddhism that satisfaction.

For cultivators at their level, who didn’t possess intricate schemes and penetrating insight? The significance was clear to them, and they would not embarrass themselves and spoil the atmosphere of the feast.

“Since Brother Dao insists, we have no more to say, but do be extra cautious; caution does not err,” said Lord Chu Shan with a shake of his head, speaking solemnly, “The Heavenly Court has five Emperor Venerables, all True Immortals who have transcended the Nine Heavenly Tribulations. Buddhism also has two Buddhas, four great Bodhisattvas. The Buddhas, ranked above the Emperor Venerables, have passed the Nine Heavenly Tribulations, while of the four great Bodhisattvas, Great Wisdom, Great Virtue has passed Eight Calamities, and Great Mercy, Great Practice is also undergoing the Seventh.”

“The four great Bodhisattvas, still within the tribulations, are entangled with karma and cannot be lightly provoked.”

Lord Lutu took over the conversation, his voice somber, “But Buddhism is mighty, with Mahayana figures serving as attendants. Like the four great Vajra Protectors, and the Eighteen Arhat Venerables, they are comparable to the lords of the various palaces of the Heavenly Court and are specialized in combat, serving as the protectors of Buddhism with unmatched fighting ability and vast divine powers.”

“The four great Protectors, the Eighteen Arhats, are attendants to those two Buddhas, but as one of the four great Bodhisattvas, the Great Mercy Bodhisattva also has many attendants, among them not lacking Mahayana figures. If one or two were to be dispatched to the South Observance Continent…”

Lord Lutu’s words outlined the structure of Buddhism’s power.

Meanwhile, Lord Chu Shan sighed, “Buddhism is not like the Heavenly Court; both Buddhas are present, and their relationship is close without too much strife. Thus, in many cases, they can mobilize forces, unlike the Heavenly Court, which is full of intrigue and stretched thin…”

“Ahem!”

Seeing his friend becoming more outspoken, to the point of criticizing the Heavenly Court, Lord Lutu hurriedly gave a soft cough as a reminder.

Lord Chu Shan realized his gaffe and immediately stopped speaking on that subject, then turned to Xu Yang, “Would Brother Dao consider taking a position in the Heavenly Court?”

Xu Yang smiled softly and said, “I have no such intentions. I am accustomed to freedom and do not fancy the constraints of the Heavenly Court, nor do I covet the Nine Heavens Immortal Towers. I simply wish to live as a carefree hermit in this Earth Realm.”

Upon hearing this, Lord Chu Shan couldn’t help but give a wry smile, “Brother Dao is so unrestrained, unlike us.”

Within the Earth Immortal Realm, there is no explicit division, but there are still references to the Immortal Realm and Earth Realm.

The Immortal Realm refers to the Heavenly Court’s Nine Heavens Immortal Towers and Buddhism’s Pusuo Pure Land, while the Earth Realm includes the four great continents.

It is only with such a clear distinction above and below that the saying “the Lower Realm belongs to demons” exists.

Although Lord Chu Shan and Lord Lutu are cultivators of the Earth Realm, they also hold nominal positions in the Heavenly Court, serving as the Mountain God of Chu Mountain and the Land Deity of Lutu, respectively. Although their positions are not comparable to those of the Star Lords in the Heavenly Palace, they are still considered high officials of a region.

This is only at the Integration Realm. If one is at the Mahayana, or even a Calamity Immortal, then one could even become a regional overlord.

A regional overlord rules his own domain and could even defy the Heavenly Court’s summonses, enjoying true freedom.

The two only being at the Integration Realm, do not have such capital. On normal days it’s manageable, but during wartime, they must answer the Heavenly Court’s call to arms and head to the frontline to combat demons, since South Observance Continent is also part of the Earth Immortal Realm. The ruling power of the Heavenly Court and Buddhism is weak here, but they still have considerable restraint over cultivators in the Integration Realm; only those in Mahayana can act with great autonomy. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Xu Yang’s words clearly indicated that he wanted to be an “Earth Immortal” in this realm, unconstrained by the Heavenly Court.

To this, the two could only respond with a bitter smile.

This Zhen Yuan brother, capable of refining and killing the Golden-Furred Lion and advancing to Mahayana — not guaranteed, but almost certain — naturally has the confidence to stay out of the Heavenly Court and ignore its decrees. Unlike them, whose chances of reaching Mahayana are slim; they will be bound by the Heavenly Court for life.

Originally, combating demons was the duty of cultivators, and they had no cowardice or fear in this regard; however, the Heavenly Court’s handling of matters is truly unjust, especially now with “Taihuang Emperor” in seclusion, rumored to be ascending to the Earth Immortal Realm. He has not been seen for tens of thousands of years, and the authority of the court has been handed over to the newly appointed “Jade Emperor” who governs with the Four Auxiliary Imperial Lords. The five Imperial Lords are engaged in constant intrigue and factional disputes…

Under such circumstances, every time the Heavenly Court goes to war, there is a great deal of dirt and ulterior motives at play. Not to mention the various Immortal Gates of the Earth Realm, even within the Heavenly Court itself, different palaces and departments are filled with reluctance to fight, with none eager to dispatch troops to the frontline.

Conversely, Buddhism, despite being less powerful than the Heavenly Court but with two Buddhas stabilizing the world, is united in handling demons. They handle it with ease, unlike the Heavenly Court, which is stretched thin and increasingly in a bind.

How difficult!

Lord Chu Shan showed a bitter smile, and Lord Lutu was silent too.

Xu Yang smiled and said lightly, “Today opens the temple, where we will feast and discuss the Tao. Let’s not talk about anything else!”

“Brother Dao is so unrestrained!”

Upon hearing this, Lord Chu Shan also let go of his concerns, lifted his cup as if it were wine, and said to Lord Lutu, “Please!”

“Please!”

…

The feast and discussion ended after three days, with both parties gaining not insubstantially.

After seeing off the two guests, Xu Yang returned to his temple, ready to close off and proceed with his cultivation.

The top priority now, was to break through and ascend to Mahayana!

The matter with the Golden-Furred Lion, Buddhism will definitely demand a reckoning, but they won’t come knocking immediately, after all, they too have dignity to consider.

If the master were to come knocking immediately after his mount was killed, wouldn’t that prove the accusation of “indulging one’s followers, causing calamities for the living”?

Buddhism wouldn’t want to take on such a bad reputation, so at least a period of time will pass before they come “realizing belatedly” to settle matters.

By then, even if there is criticism, it could be handled with an excuse of “lack of strict supervision, an unintentional mistake.”

In addition, this period of time gives Xu Yang a chance to make a statement. If he is willing to bow his head and return the Purple-Gold Bell, then this matter could well be downplayed from serious to minor.

But Xu Yang had no such intention, so before this time comes, he wanted to ascend to Mahayana, to better deal with Buddhism and carry out a series of actions afterward.

So…

Xu Yang sealed the mountain gate, sat in the temple, and began the attempt to condense the Immortal Spirit Mechanism.

Cultivators on their path have distinctive features at each realm and gate.

Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul Condensing.

Deity Transformation, Return to Void, Integration, Mahayana.

The first four realms are self-evident and need no further explanation.

For the latter four realms, Deity Transformation is when the Nascent Soul transforms into the Primordial Spirit, elevating the soul situated in the Lower Dantian up to the Purple Mansion within the Upper Dantian. During this process, one condenses the Five Qi within the chest and the Three Flowers above the head, finally transforming into the Primordial Spirit.

This is Deity Transformation.

As for Return to Void, it involves cultivating the Purple Mansion to refine the Primordial Spirit to the ultimate level of postnatal perfection. Then one can meld the spirit with the Tao to grasp a hint of Innate Mechanism, transitioning the spirit from postnatal to innate, stepping into the Integration Realm.

After entering Integration, one must diligently cultivate the innate to its apex. Once complete, one can try to condense the mechanism of the Heaven and Earth Immortal Spirit, turning mana into immortal power. As long as even a strand is transformed, reaching the “emergence of the Immortal Spirit” state, that marks the ascension to Mahayana.

At present, Xu Yang is at the peak of Integration, aiming to ascend to Mahayana by condensing the Immortal Spirit Mechanism.

This step offers no shortcuts; it is a matter of perseverance and accumulation, with success naturally following ample preparation.

This is challenging for cultivators of the Lower Realm and not straightforward for those of the Upper Realm either.

Fortunately, he now resides at Mount Longevity, with the power of the Daoist temple aiding him. Condensing the Immortal Spirit Mechanism and cultivating will greatly speed up, and within a century, there should be hope for ascending to Mahayana.

And so…