Chapter 1742: Theory of the Five Virtues (II)
Chapter 1742: Theory of the Five Virtues (II)
The fire vein surged within the cave dwelling. Li Quewan had waited for a long time before Li Ximing finally emerged from the void.
The Daoist Master's expression was composed, and he seemed far more relaxed. He patted her head and said with a smile, "Don't worry. Everything has been taken care of."
The two then rose upon a streak of light and sped away. Seeing the confusion written across Li Quewan's face, Li Ximing reassured her, "As long as you are not at Zhen Tao Residence, it does not matter even if we lose that Purple Mansion Realm grand formation.
“Our destination is the Nine Mounds Dao Lineage, and its master is Daoist Master Yuandao. Be courteous and mind your manners. Whatever matters come up, only speak when you are directly asked."
Li Quewan immediately grew somewhat nervous and nodded solemnly. Li Ximing laughed and said, "When I was gravely wounded back then, I fled here for refuge... You called it an eastern journey, so let us call it that. The master of Nine Mounds treated me very well and even gave me a spiritual flame. You should make a good impression. I also intend to sound him out today. If anything happens in the future and you find yourself stranded in the outer-sea, it would be best if you could come here and seek his help."
The solemn expression on Li Quewan's face immediately fell away. She pursed her lips and answered him softly.
Several decades had passed since his last visit, yet Nine Mounds Mountain remained awash in purple and crimson. The sea breeze swept through the maple leaves, sending waves rippling across the mountainside. Li Ximing waited before the mountain gate until he saw an elderly man descending along a mountain path.
The old man greeted him with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Zhaojing, it has been far too long!"
This elderly man was none other than the old Daoist Master Lingdu from all those years ago! Although the old Daoist Master's cultivation was not particularly high, he possessed the refined bearing of an immortal and a kindly face that put others at ease.
Li Ximing smiled, feeling somewhat reassured, and replied, "Greetings, senior. I was young and ignorant back then and caused you a great deal of trouble..."
Lingdu smiled and shook his head, inviting him up the mountain as he replied, "There's no need to say such a thing."
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, the two arrived beneath the maple trees. The stone table where Lingdu and Houfu had once played Go still stood at the summit. Li Ximing sighed inwardly at the sight, then shifted to the side to take a seat beside it.
Lingdu noticed this but merely shook his head without a word. Li Ximing tacitly refrained from mentioning the Supreme Yang Dao lineage.
Accepting the tea the old man offered him, he said, "I came this time to inquire about your lineage's [Hidden Clarity Mystic Dew]. Our family has produced a promising junior who cultivates the Lesser Yin Dao, and I wish to make some preparations for his future..."
Lingdu raised his eyebrows and asked with considerable interest, "What does he cultivate...?"
Li Ximing replied succinctly, "[Sunken Fragrance]."
"How rare!" Lingdu offered a word of praise, set down his tea, and asked with a smile, "That will not be difficult. Are you preparing for his divine ability breakthrough? Shall I reserve a place for your junior in the pool?"
When Li Ximing had cultivated in the [Hidden Refinement Pool] years ago, he had sensed that the pool could sharpen one's spiritual sense and greatly aid in attaining a divine ability. However, he had never expected Lingdu to be so generous. He had only come to request some of the pool's water, so delight immediately appeared on his face when he heard this.
He said happily, "Your generosity is a great kindness, senior! I originally came only to request a portion of the mystic dew!"
Lingdu shook his head with an amused smile, then said solemnly, "The Hidden Refinement Pool is steeped in Lesser Yin, with Pure Essence settled deep within it. Not just anyone can achieve a breakthrough there. The fact that it can condense a spirit material such as [Hidden Clarity Mystic Dew] means that it is inherently intended for cultivators of the Lesser Yin Dao."
He tapped the table lightly, and a cultivator soon hurried over and bowed to them both. Lingdu instructed him, "Go and fetch the Profound Bowl, then call your eldest senior brother. Wait for the pool to thaw at midnight, draw a bowlful of [Hidden Clarity Mystic Dew], and bring it here."
He turned back to Li Ximing and explained, "[Hidden Clarity Mystic Dew] ordinarily cannot be taken out of the pool. However, after so many years of study, our Dao lineage has made some progress. We possess a [Pill Essence Profound Bowl], crafted from Lesser Yin and Pure Essence treasures. It allows the dew to be transported for a short time, though it still cannot preserve it for long."
He smiled and continued, "The [Pill Essence Profound Bowl] is a spirit embryo currently being nurtured by my disciple, so please remember to return it once you have finished using it, fellow Daoist."
Li Ximing nodded solemnly. "Thank you! Thank you!"
Had this happened years ago, he would certainly have marveled at how casually Lingdu lent out a spirit embryo. Now that he had seen much more of the world, however, it seemed only natural. Ancient Dao lineages such as theirs had accumulated untold treasures over the ages.
The journey is a long one. When the time comes, I can simply have Guo Nanwu make the trip.
Naturally, Li Ximing would not accept their treasures without offering anything in return. He immediately slipped a box from his sleeve and said solemnly, "This contains a [Cangzhou Serpent Scale] and an [Under-Neck Feather]. Please accept them as compensation, fellow Daoist. The first is in thanks for the [Hidden Clarity Mystic Dew], while the second is to repay the kindness of saving me all those years ago!"
There was a reason Li Ximing had apologized for his youthful ignorance and the offense he had caused as soon as they had met. Back then, he had not understood how precious the [Hidden Clarity Mystic Dew] was for strengthening a divine ability, but now he understood perfectly well. After all, the [Empty Sleeve Profound Dao Powder] that Sima Yuanli had refined to strengthen his divine ability had required [Hollowheart Profound Mulberry], which was a spirit item!
If that was the case, there must be a limit to how much the [Hidden Refinement Pool] could condense. Back then, he had used [Valley Wind Leading Fire] to absorb more than one person's allotted share. How could they possibly have been unaware?
"You are far too courteous, fellow Daoist."
Seeing Li Ximing's gesture, Lingdu gave him another appraising look and smiled. He shook his head, pushed the spirit materials back, and explained, "[Hidden Clarity Mystic Dew] can strengthen divine abilities only while it remains within the [Hidden Refinement Pool]. Most of its efficacy actually comes from the pool itself. Otherwise, why would I give an entire bowlful to a junior of yours at the Foundation Establishment Realm? There is no need to overthink it.
"Nor should you place too much importance on the [Hidden Refinement Pool], fellow Daoist... It can indeed keep one's divine sense clear, but attaining a divine ability follows the natural laws of heaven and earth. Once the Ignorance stage manifests, even the [Hidden Refinement Pool] cannot dispel it. As for the descent of one's heart demons, that is an entirely personal ordeal!"
Only then did Li Ximing come to a sudden realization. He nodded thoughtfully, but he left the returned items untouched on the table. Sensing an opportunity, he feigned reluctance and asked, "Can the Ignorance stage truly not be eliminated? With so many cultivators and great powers throughout history, has there never been a single exception?"
He was clearly making an oblique inquiry about his family's own situation, though he did so quite naturally. Lingdu stroked his beard, paused briefly, and asked, "That is not entirely the case. Have you ever heard of... Wuguan's Legacy, Fellow Daoist?"
Li Ximing raised his eyebrows and adopted an interested expression as the old man explained, "Each of the Three Profundities Dao lineages has its own traditions and distinct principles. In the very earliest days of the Douxuan Dao lineage, there was a great being known as Wuguan. He was among the first to propose abolishing the Theory of the Five Virtues and replacing it with the Pure and Boundless Theory of the Six Principles. He occupied the Intercalary Position of Pure Essence, and was one of the Four Ancestors of the ancient Devil Dao.
"He left behind a legacy formed from an Order beneath his seat. Those favored by this legacy can obtain many profound benefits, one of which is the ability to diminish the Ignorance stage and elevate Shenyang."
Li Ximing frowned as he listened, finding the notion difficult to understand. "Abolish the Theory of the Five Virtues? The Five Virtues are principles of heaven and earth. How can they simply be abolished?"
Lingdu shook his head and replied, "Fire Virtue, Water Virtue... Those are merely standardized names used among the various Daoist schools. Yet what connection truly exists between water and fire? On what basis are the Five Elements collectively called the Five Virtues? You have heard that Earth Virtue encompasses five earths, yet there is also a sixth earth known as Azure Manifestation. Azure Manifestation also belongs to Ancient Merging, does it not?
"Ultimately, these are merely conventional names used by the people of the world. In the eyes of those at higher positions, Fruition Attainments may be higher or lower, with some closer to one another and others farther apart, but they do not necessarily belong to any single overarching category. Perhaps such categories do exist, but the immortals and Immortal Lords could never fully agree on them, so no definitive classification remained.
"The world was peaceful in ancient times. Disputes were not battles of life and death, but debates between Dao lineages. Cultivators exchanged knowledge and generously shared their own Dao Collections, while numerous schools of thought contended with one another... That was how these theories spread throughout the world."
He glanced at Li Quewan behind Li Ximing and smiled with interest.
"For example, the great being of [Whole Pill] classified the Three Shamans and Two Zhus[1] as [Primal Virtue], placing it as the sixth virtue. He proclaimed that [Whole Pill] was the primordial embryo of [Primal Virtue], while [Primal Virtue] was the fundamental nature of [Whole Pill].
“This doctrine still has successors even today... Each lineage developed its own theories to better organize its cultivation arts and make them easier for later generations to practice. He was also among those who supported abolishing the Theory of the Five Virtues.
“If you were a [Whole Pill] cultivator, using the... [Theory of Whole Pill and Primal Virtue] to understand the mysteries of heaven and earth and the transformations of material nature would undoubtedly come far more naturally than using the Theory of the Five Virtues!"
Li Quewan raised her head thoughtfully, realizing that he was offering her guidance. She listened as the old man continued, "The Purple-Gold Dao indiscriminately grouped all Dao lineages outside the Five Virtues and Twelve Essences together under the name [Ancient Merging]. Although this did not create any problems in cultivation, it also reflected the impatience and shallow foundations of the Purple Mansion and Golden Core Dao when it first arose.
"That is precisely why Azure Manifestation can be both the sixth earth and Ancient Merging. There is no contradiction between the two!"
1. Three Shamans refers to Xiukui, Supreme Shaman, and Jade True. Two Zhus refer to Hengzhu and Azure Manifestation. ☜