Chapter Seven: Hearing the Way

  "Little one, to cultivate the Tao, you must first understand the Tao, and then you can comprehend it. The ancients said, 'Sincerity of heart brings spiritual enlightenment.' This saying can be used to describe the Tao - only with a sincere heart can you feel the Tao in your heart. With the Tao in your heart, you can apply the Tao's principles. If your heart is not sincere, you cannot even enter the gate, let alone receive true transmission. So remember, the Tao is in your heart, and ten thousand evils will not invade."

  As Jiang Le put on a serious listening face, Mao Xiaofang's expression also became solemn, and he said seriously.

  Jiang Le's expression suddenly solidified.

  Mao Xiaofang began by saying that he would not pass on the secrets of the school or discuss the Taoist scriptures, but instead said something like this, which was obviously very important.

  After careful consideration, Jiang Le gained some insight. True transmission is just one sentence, while false transmission is a million volumes of scriptures. Mao Xiao Fang's words seem like ordinary common sense, but they contain profound meaning and are the foundation of the Taoist doctrine. If you don't listen to them, you will be blocked outside the Taoist gate; if you do listen, you can understand the path of the Tao.

  Quickly understanding in her mind, Jiang Le nodded and smiled: "I've remembered it, Master."

  Mao Xiaofang also smiled. A clever disciple is like this, only needing a hint to understand thoroughly. This is his true comprehension, and for cultivating the Way, it surpasses bitter practice and hard work. Only ordinary disciples would need constant explanation, making the master tired of teaching and the disciple tired of learning.

  "Alright, now that you understand, I'll teach you how to cultivate."

  "The cultivation of Taoism is progressive and emphasizes the foundation. The so-called foundation refers to the power of law, and the depth of the power of law determines how far you can go."

  "Then, Master, how should I condense my spiritual energy?"

  "Refine essence into energy, refine energy into spirit, refine spirit back into emptiness, and refine emptiness to merge with the Tao."

  Jiang Le's face turned black, and he wordlessly said: "Can you be more specific? Those so-called qigong masters on the internet use these words as their guiding principle for practicing, it feels like they're cheating people."

  Mao Xiaofang laughed and scolded: "This is the summary of the senior practitioners of the Taoist school on their cultivation, you actually think it's nonsense, you little brat."

  "Huh, isn't this being deceived by swindlers too much? Hearing it so many times, I naturally won't believe it. Master, you wouldn't tell me that this is the cultivation method you were talking about, would you?" Jiang Le asked with a puzzled face.

  Mao Xiaofang was taken aback and lost his smile, saying: "Of course not. Relying on these sixteen characters to enter the Taoist path is impossible, even if one were a reincarnated immortal. However, these sixteen characters summarize the entirety of cultivating the Tao. You must remember them carefully."

  Kang Le hastily nodded and then anxiously said: "That detailed cultivation method, Master please quickly tell me, maybe I'll succeed in just one try."

  Mao Xiaofang was speechless, this kid is really ignorant of the danger.

  But seeing Jiang Le's eagerness to learn, he was still very pleased. As long as he is willing to learn, he will be able to set foot on the right path early and make his family's legacy shine.

  The five major realms of Taoist cultivation are: Condensing Method, Meridian Piercing, Dao Soul, Yuan Shen, and Half Immortal. The Condensing Method is the foundation, only when one has condensed their spiritual power can they be considered a cultivator. Next is Meridian Piercing, where there are eight meridians, all of which must be pierced for infinite spiritual power. At this realm, one has already achieved some success in cultivation and can travel freely, subdue demons, accumulate merit, and pierce the meridians. After that is the Dao Soul realm, where spiritual power and soul combine as one. At this realm, one has a foothold in achieving immortality, even if they fail on the path of the Tao, they can still seek a position in the underworld and become a ghost or spirit. Following the Dao Soul is the Yuan Shen, which is an existence higher than the Dao Soul, allowing one to exist independently from their body, manifest during the day, and with a single thought, ascend to the heavens or descend into the depths of hell. At this realm, in the Taoist tradition, there is a special title: True Person.

  Jiang Le's blood was boiling with excitement. This is right, the Daoist cultivation, how can it be only sixteen words? This realm division makes people have a general understanding of cultivation.

  No way, there are only four realms, and there's still the half-immortal realm. If a True Self Cultivator is this powerful, then becoming a half-immortal would be even more incredible?

  "Master, what about the Half Immortal Realm? You haven't said anything about it yet." Jiang Le asked curiously.

  Mao Xiaofang sighed: "The realm of a half-immortal, this is just a legend."

  Jiang Le was shocked, what does this mean? Is it that no one has reached this level? What's the point of doing this?

  Looking at Jiang Le's confusion, Mao Xiaofang smiled and said: "Don't guess blindly, the Half-Immortal Realm does exist, and it is the last realm before becoming an immortal. Those who reach this realm have boundless magical powers, and ghosts and gods are afraid of them. In the Taoist school, there is a special name for this realm, which is Tian Shi (Heavenly Master). However, this realm is too difficult to attain. From ancient times to the present, many diligent practitioners have tried, but those who have achieved the Half-Immortal Realm are extremely rare, and each one is a legendary figure in the history of Taoism."

  Jiang Le furrowed his brow and said: "If someone has cultivated to the realm of a half-immortal, why did it become a legend?"

  "This matter I also only half understand, only knowing that after the end of the Ming dynasty, the meaning of the Tao between heaven and earth became much more obscure. From then on, cultivating the Tao was difficult, not just for the Taoist sects, but even for the demonic and ghostly paths, there were few who achieved success. For hundreds of years, those who achieved the true self of the yuan spirit can be counted on one's fingers. What's more, I have sealed away the Blood Demon for decades, and from what I've gathered from Old Man Jin's words, I'm afraid that even now, cultivators in the Dao Soul realm are nowhere to be found."

  Jiang Le was silent.

  Before that, he had heard Mao Xiaofang and Jin Lao talking, but only felt confused and couldn't understand.

  But combined with Mao Xiaofang's words, there are also some ideas.

  It's probably because there was a major change in the world, deliberately letting the Taoist sect decline and allowing technology to develop.

  However, it seems that advanced technology is not necessarily a good thing. The improvement of material life has led to the acceleration of environmental degradation on Earth. Humans are heading towards self-destruction.

  "It's pointless to tell you these things, you won't understand anyway. Your task now is to focus on your cultivation, and become a true practitioner as soon as possible. Listen carefully, young one, gather your thoughts and listen to my teachings." Miao Xiao Fang's deep voice interrupted Jiang Le's wandering thoughts, and then began to explain the cultivation method of focusing one's mind.

  "The path of cultivation starts with visualization, using the Dao as a guide and thoughts as a lead, communicating one's own vital energy, repeatedly refining it, transforming it into Qi, circulating it through the eight extraordinary meridians, condensing without dispersing, forming a self-generated power."

  "Listen to my words, concentrate your spirit and calm your mind, the divine palace is empty and bright, your will is like a round pearl, communicating with the essence of Qi, blending like lakes and seas, transforming Qi into spirit, circulating through the eight meridians, the power of the method is naturally formed."

  The way of condensing energy is simple and easy to understand, the process is not complicated, Mao Xiaofang repeated it several times, and Jiang Le remembered it in her heart.

  Of course, this is what he can remember today, and who knows, after a good night's sleep, he might forget it all by tomorrow.

  But now remembering, Jiang Le couldn't help but start cultivating according to Dao Jue's words.

  Slowly, Jiang Le's expression became more natural, his eyebrows and eyes relaxed, the corners of his mouth curled up in a smile, and he seemed to have entered a state of being half asleep.

  Mao Xiaofang had been observing Jiang Le's performance all along and was shocked by what she saw.

  "This kid has already entered a state of cultivation!! How is this possible?!"

  Thoughts of those years were also known as a genius in cultivation, but at the beginning of cultivation, it took a week to enter the state of cultivation.

  This kid, having just heard the Daoist decree, didn't even need me to explain or guide him, and yet he's already entered a state of cultivation? His innate talent has already reached such an astonishing level?

  Mao Xiaofang looked at Jiang Le, her eyes filled with speechlessness, admiration and a hint of jealousy.

  People have different fates, so you can't compare everything with this kid, or it's too stimulating.

  Mao Xiaofang suppressed many distracting thoughts and looked at Jiang Le with anticipation.

  Entering a state of cultivation is one thing, but whether or not you can cultivate anything out of it is another matter altogether.

  I remember when I first cultivated it, it took seven days to enter the state, and another seven days to observe my own vital energy, then a whole month to condense the vital energy and transform it into magical power.

  I don't know if this kid can be overjoyed, but he directly thought of his own vital energy.

  Mao Xiaofang had some fanciful ideas.

  Of course, he still didn't dare think that Jiang Le could directly cultivate magical powers. If it were true, he would suspect that Jiang Le was a reincarnation of some great immortal.

  Time slipped away unnoticed.

  Jiang Le sat upright on the bed, a smile on his face, as if he were asleep but not quite, as if he had entered some strange and mysterious realm.

  Suddenly, his eyelids moved, and then slowly opened his eyes.

  "Ah, it's so comfortable! I feel warm all over my body and my spirit is full. I don't have that dizzy and confused feeling like I used to when I woke up." Jiang Le twisted his body and a look of surprise appeared on his face. Could this be what cultivation feels like? Even if he couldn't cultivate any abilities, it was still worth it.

  But I'm really hungry, it seems that cultivating consumes a lot of energy, and my stomach keeps making growling noises.

  Rubbing his belly and looking towards the window, Jiang Le was shocked again.

  It's broad daylight outside the window now.

  Look at the time, it's already 7 o'clock in the morning.

  I've actually been practicing for so long?

  Yes, and what about Master?

  Turning his head around, Mao Xiaofang had long since disappeared, leaving behind only a pure Yang Bagua on the bed.

  Master is in a Taoist soul state, can't he see sunlight like a ghost?

  Lost in thought, Jiang Le gave up searching and quickly got dressed and out of bed.

  I'm so hungry that my stomach is protesting loudly. Jiang Le only wants to hurry up and go out, find a breakfast shop, and have a full meal.

  In the living room, Old Mother Jiang Hua was no longer there, she should have gotten up early to work on today's handicrafts.

  However, on the table in the living room, there were still five yuan left, which was the daily breakfast money that Jiang Hua would leave for Jiang Le.

  After some thought, Jiang Le ran back to his own room and took out a stack of small denomination bills from an iron box in one drawer. He counted them, 136 yuan.

  This is Jiang Le's private money, now his stomach is really too hungry, he is afraid that five yuan is not enough for him to eat.

  Jiang Le stuffed the money directly into his pocket and ran out of the house.

  Arriving at the entrance of the residential area, Jiang Le yelled to a breakfast shop in the distance: "Yang Auntie, give me a bowl of noodles and a steamer basket of buns. No, make that two steamer baskets of buns."

  "Hehe, Xiao Le, you didn't eat dinner last night? You're eating so much for breakfast?" A busy middle-aged fat woman in her 40s, smiled at Jiang Le in the breakfast shop.

  "Yang aunt, don't ask for now, I'm starving to death."

  "Alright, don't rush, I'll be right there." The middle-aged fat woman looked at Jiang Le in surprise, skillfully took down two steamer baskets of buns and placed them in front of Jiang Le.

  Jiang Le couldn't bear the scalding hot food and picked one up, taking a big bite.

  I'm so hungry, it wasn't obvious at first, but as time passed, my stomach got more and more uncomfortable, it seemed like the food I ate last night had been completely digested.

  This cultivation is really making me hungry, Master didn't say it would be like this. Tonight, I must interrogate him thoroughly, it's too much of a scam.