Chapter 418: Several Worlds, Several People
Perhaps it was because he sensed that Chen Ping'an's state of mind was somewhat unsettled.
Mao Xiaodong did not summon Chen Ping'an to the study, but instead, choosing a time late at night when no sounds of reading could be heard, took Chen Ping'an on a stroll through the academy.
They walked and chatted casually, as Mao Xiaodong always did. Whether in his conduct or in teaching, he adhered to one principle: I have taught you the book learning and spoken my own principles. Whether for academy students or for his junior apprentice brother Chen Ping'an, you should first listen and consider it as a suggestion. It may not necessarily be suitable for you, but at least it can broaden your horizons.
And so Chen Ping'an followed Mao Xiaodong past the Confucius Hall, where portraits of the three sages hung, past the library building with its occasional flickering candlelight, and past one dormitory after another, filled with sounds of snoring and sleep-talking.
Finally, the two of them reached the summit of Donghua Mountain, where they together overlooked the night scene of the Great Sui capital city.
In the wealthy areas, lights blazed brilliantly, linked together in a vast stretch, so that even from this distance one could almost feel the songs and dances over there.
In the poorer areas, there was also the company of moonlight, also the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Chen Ping'an suddenly said, "Mao Academy Head, I've figured it out. Refining five natal objects to complete the cycle of the five phases is for rebuilding the Longevity Bridge. But I still want to focus more on practicing my fist techniques. Anyway, practicing fist techniques is also practicing swordsmanship. As for whether I can nurture my own natal flying sword and become a sword cultivator, I'll set that aside for now. So, from now on, aside from those key acupoints that might be suitable for housing the five-phase natal objects, I will continue to give the pure martial artist true qi within my body the greatest degree of free rein."
Mao Xiaodong nodded and said, "I think this plan is feasible. As for whether the final outcome is good or bad, first don't ask about the harvest, just focus on the cultivation."
Chen Ping'an hummed in acknowledgment.
Mao Xiaodong actually hadn't fully explained his reasoning. The reason he approved of Chen Ping'an's course of action was that Chen Ping'an was only opening up five mansions, ceding the rest of the territory to the pure true qi of a martial artist. This was not actually a dead end.
The human body itself is a small heaven and earth, and it also has its own concepts of cave heavens and blessed lands. Below the golden core, all acupoints and mansions, no matter how well you manage and polish them, are only within the category of blessed lands. Only by forming a golden core can one begin to glimpse the mysteries of a cave heaven's tranquil dwelling. A certain Taoist classic long ago revealed this heavenly secret: "Cave chambers within mountains connect to the heavens above, penetrate all mountains, resonate with each other from afar, and heaven and earth share the same qi, merging into one."
Only when one has formed a golden core can one be considered one of us.
The reason this saying became popular throughout the world and was regarded as a golden rule by all qi refiners naturally has its own deep roots and origins.
Mao Xiaodong didn't speak of it because, as long as Chen Ping'an kept advancing step by step, he would eventually reach that stage. Speaking of it too early, suddenly presenting a beautiful vision, might instead unsettle the state of mind that Chen Ping'an had only recently managed to stabilize.
Transmitting the Way and imparting knowledge is never easy. How could one not be extremely cautious? Carving beautiful jade requires every cut to remove the dross and preserve the essence, making sure not to damage its bones, tendons, or spirit. How difficult is that? How dare one not deliberate again and again?
To take a step back, wasn't Chen Ping'an treating the little girl named Pei Qian in the same way?
It's just that Chen Ping'an himself probably wasn't aware of it yet.
Mao Xiaodong said softly, "Regarding the teacher's proposition that human nature is inherently evil, we disciples each had our own insights in the early years. Some, as the teacher fell into obscurity, denied themselves, changed their course. Some hesitated, full of self-doubt. Some used it to gain fame, to boast of their uniqueness, claiming to go against the mainstream, vowing never to follow the crowd, and to inherit our teacher's scholarly lineage. With all these various manifestations of the changing human heart, the almost broken thread of our lineage has already become a chaotic scene of myriad forms within itself. Just imagine how complicated it must be for the Confucian Sage and the Lesser Sage, each with their own scholarly lineages, whose true disciples truly fill the world."
Chen Ping'an felt a light slap on his shoulder from Mao Xiaodong. "The burden is heavy and the road is long."
Chen Ping'an smiled bitterly. "I only have two shoulders."
Mao Xiaodong laughed heartily. "This is what I call 'watching someone carry a load and not feeling the weight, standing on the shore and complaining the tide is too small.'"
Chen Ping'an smiled knowingly. The first half of that saying was a saying from his hometown.
---
That night, Pei Qian and Li Huai were hiding outside a small courtyard. They had agreed to both wear black cloth masks, pretending to be assassins, sneaking around to "assassinate" Cui Dongshan, who liked to sleep in the green bamboo corridor.
With all those martial arts novels they'd read, they couldn't let them go to waste! They had to put their learning to use!
Pei Qian generously lent a bamboo sword to Li Huai.
After some discussion at Li Huai's dormitory, they decided they absolutely couldn't enter through the courtyard gate. They had to climb over the wall. Otherwise, it wouldn't show their expert demeanor or the danger of the martial world.
Liu Guan and Ma Lian wanted to join, to serve as vanguard soldiers for Princess Pei Qian, but unfortunately, Pei Qian righteously and sternly refused them, saying they were only novice young heroes with shallow skills. They couldn't kill the great demon lord; they could only get themselves killed.
They arrived at the quiet alley outside the courtyard wall. Using the same method as before with the pole for leaping over rooftops, Pei Qian first jumped onto the wall top, then tossed the Mountain-Traveling Staff, which had rendered great service, down to Li Huai, who was staring up eagerly from below.
Li Huai managed to climb onto the wall without any mistakes, and Pei Qian gave him an approving look. Li Huai puffed out his chest and, imitating someone else, smoothed his hair.
But when they landed, Pei Qian was as silent as a cat, while Li Huai made a fairly loud thud.
Pei Qian said angrily, "Li Huai, what's wrong with you? Such a loud noise, are you beating drums and gongs? That's called going to war on a battlefield, not sneaking into a dragon's lair or a tiger's den to secretly assassinate a great demon lord. Start over!"
Li Huai, knowing he was in the wrong, didn't talk back. He whispered, "Then how do we get out of the courtyard to go back outside?"
Pei Qian glared at him. "Use the main gate. Anyway, this attempt has already failed."
The two of them left through the unlocked courtyard gate and returned to the alley outside the wall.
Cui Dongshan, lying on the corridor, rolled his eyes.
Pei Qian, holding the Mountain-Traveling Staff, muttered an opening line: "I am a ruthless and bloodthirsty wanderer of the martial world."
Li Huai followed suit. "I am a killer without a merciful heart. I kill without blinking. I stir up bloody storms on the martial world..."
Pei Qian frowned. "Why so much chatter? That weakens the momentum. Look at the most famous heroes in the books. Their nicknames are at most four or five characters. Any more, and it doesn't sound right, does it?"
Li Huai thought that made sense. He pretended to wear a bamboo hat, also imitating someone else by adjusting it, and with one hand on the bamboo sword at his waist, he said, "I am a killer and swordsman without a merciful heart."
The two climbed onto the wall one after another. This time, both landed without any mistakes.
Then Pei Qian and Li Huai, one after the other, performed a roll in the courtyard.
This was a step they had "premeditated." Otherwise, just running straight up the steps to give Cui Dongshan a stab or a slash felt too boring to them.
After rolling, they got up and tiptoed, crouching as they ran up the steps. Each of them placed a hand on their bamboo knife and bamboo sword. Pei Qian was about to strike down the infamous "great demon lord" of the martial world when, unexpectedly, Li Huai yelled, "Demon lord, accept your death!"
Pei Qian abruptly stopped, turned, and glared at Li Huai. Li Huai was stunned. "What's wrong?"
Pei Qian asked, "Aren't you supposed to be a killer who comes and goes without a trace? Why does an assassin shout before killing?"
Li Huai suddenly understood.
Pei Qian stamped her foot. "We have to start over again!"
Li Huai apologized profusely.
The two of them completely disregarded the "demon lord" as if he didn't matter.
The two ran back toward the courtyard gate.
Cui Dongshan sat up and said helplessly, "As this demon lord who's just waiting to be killed, I'm even more tired than you two."
Outside the courtyard, Pei Qian lectured, "Li Huai, if you mess up again, I won't take you on adventures in the martial world anymore."
Li Huai promised, "I definitely won't make any mistakes!"
Pei Qian suddenly asked, "Right now, I'm just a nominal disciple. My status in the gang is even lower than yours. After we pull off this feat that will shake the martial world, do you think Sister Baoping will promote me to a small helmsman?"
Li Huai nodded. "Definitely! If Li Baoping doesn't reward fairly, it's fine. I'll let you have the small helmsman position. I'll be fine as a deputy."
Pei Qian said with the air of an old hand, "I never thought that you, Li Huai, with only mediocre martial skills, would still be a true chivalrous hero with a warm heart."
Li Huai retorted, "Killer! Swordsman!"
Right then, both of them got a rap on the head. "It's so late, why aren't you sleeping? What are you doing here?"
Seeing it was Chen Ping'an, Pei Qian immediately kicked Li Huai. Li Huai said with heroic bravado, "I invited Pei Qian to join me in ridding the people of a scourge by assassinating the great demon lord Cui Dongshan."
Chen Ping'an laughed. "Alright, the great demon lord will be handled by the invincible grand chivalrous hero. You two don't have the skills yet. Wait for now."
Pei Qian took her bamboo sword back from Li Huai and went to sleep in the side room of the courtyard. She usually slept with Li Baoping in the dormitory, but tonight was an exception.
Chen Ping'an took Li Huai back to his dormitory.
They met an academy teacher who was making the rounds. As it happened, he was someone familiar: the old gatekeeper surnamed Liang, an obscure Nascent Soul cultivator. Chen Ping'an made excuses for Li Huai, finding a reason to avoid punishment.
The old gentleman was easygoing and didn't mind at all; instead, he pulled Chen Ping'an aside to chat for a moment.
Li Huai felt particularly honored. He wished the entire academy could see this scene and then envy him for having such a friend.
After bidding farewell to the old gentleman, Chen Ping'an ruffled Li Huai's hair and said something Li Huai didn't quite understand at the time: "I can do this sort of thing, but you mustn't think you can do it often."
Li Huai said, "Don't worry, I'll study hard from now on."
Chen Ping'an then said, "Whether you study well or have good aptitude is one thing. Your attitude toward studying, which is often more important than your achievements in studying on the path of life, is another thing entirely. So, when you're young, studying hard is never a bad thing. Later, even if you stop studying and no longer deal with the books of the sages, when you go on to do other things you like, you'll also be accustomed to putting in effort."
Li Huai seemed to understand but not quite.
As they walked, Chen Ping'an casually drew a line in front of him. "For example, this is a line representing our each person's path in life. The cause and effect, all our nature, state of mind, reasoning, and cognition, will involuntarily converge toward this line. Except for academy lecturers and teachers, the vast majority of people will, on the surface, drift further and further away from studying, books, and the principles of the sages. But our attitude toward life, its threads, might have already been set along this line. Our later lives will follow this thread, and we might not even be aware of it ourselves. However, the influence of this line will accompany us for our entire lives."
Then Chen Ping'an drew a circle around the front part of that line. "The road I've traveled is quite far. I've met many people, and I understand your nature, so I could intercede with the old gentleman to let you break curfew tonight without punishment. But you can't do that yourself, because your freedom right now... is much smaller than mine. You can't yet contend with 'rules,' because you don't yet truly understand what rules really are."
Li Huai stared blankly at Chen Ping'an, then suddenly wailed, "I didn't really understand what you said, but I can try to remember it. Chen Ping'an, why do I feel like you're leaving the academy? It sounds like you're giving your last words!"
They had already reached Li Huai's dormitory. Chen Ping'an kicked Li Huai on the backside and said with a laugh, "Get lost!"
Li Huai rubbed his backside and walked to the dormitory door. He turned to look.
Chen Ping'an was still standing there, waving to him.
It was always like this.
---
Chen Ping'an returned to Cui Dongshan's courtyard. Lin Shouyi and Xie Xie were both cultivating.
For a qi refiner on the path of cultivation, before reaching the golden core and becoming a earth immortal, there was often no distinction between day and night.
It was inevitable for a cultivator to cut off ties with the mundane world and purify the mind and desires.
Chen Ping'an sighed softly.
He began practicing the Heaven and Earth Stance in the courtyard, walking on his hands.
Using a mouthful of pure true qi to nourish his internal organs and meridians, his bones and sinews.
It was said that after a martial artist broke through to the seventh Golden Body Realm, with the circulation of qi reaching the ninth level, one could achieve the supreme state of no breath entering or leaving the nose.
By the tenth realm of the martial artist, the realm that Cui the Elder, Li Er, and Song Changjing had reached in their final stage, one could truly form a small heaven and earth within oneself, like an ancient god descending upon the mortal world.
For one skilled in using qi, a breath upon water could make rivers flow backward; a breath upon fire could incinerate lakes and boil seas. One could also be in the midst of a great plague and remain completely untouched, no evil able to approach.
This was the principle.
Chen Ping'an suddenly recalled that trip to Daoxuan Mountain, when he encountered a tall woman on the street.
At that time, Chen Ping'an's eyesight was too shallow to see much. Now, looking back, she was very likely a tenth realm martial artist!
A martial artist attains the Way, heaven and earth unite as one.
Cui Dongshan was not in the courtyard.
He appeared at the summit of Donghua Mountain.
He stood together with Mao Xiaodong.
Cui Dongshan said some rather unkind words. "When it comes to teaching and imparting the Way, you're far inferior to Qi Jingchun. You're just patching up the windows and walls of a house. Qi Jingchun was helping students build the house itself."
Mao Xiaodong rarely failed to clash with Cui Dongshan.
Cui Dongshan continued slowly, "Zhao Yao grew up without worries about food or clothing, naturally intelligent, and gentle-natured. So he had to be taught to let go of some things and understand the hardships of this world, so that he could truly know the value of what he had learned and possessed. Song Jixin appeared arrogant and sharp, but was actually inwardly inferior and timid. He had to be taught certain near-Confucian Legalist principles to make his inner self strong, to let him understand rules clearly. In governing a state, one must forsake petty cleverness for great wisdom, neither straying too far from Confucianism and ultimately heading toward the right path. As for my master, accustomed to having nothing, his inner self is extremely hard, but he also has nothing to lean on. He must be taught to pick up some things, to continuously study and get to know people, and then use those principles he keeps pondering on his own as ballast stones for a small boat crossing the bitter sea. This is called teaching according to aptitude, education without discrimination."
Mao Xiaodong finally spoke. "I am not as good as Qi Jingchun. I don't deny that. But that doesn't mean I am inferior to you, Cui Chan."
Cui Dongshan laughed. "Comparing yourself to a piece of trash like me? Aren't you, Mao Academy Head, lowering yourself?"
Mao Xiaodong curled his lip, disdainful of further words.
Cui Dongshan said cheerfully, "When are you going to formally break through to the upper five realms? I'll prepare a congratulatory gift for you then."
Mao Xiaodong was unwilling to answer that question. His heart was heavy. "Could there be major problems on the Sword Qi Great Wall side? The Hundred Schools are so active now, each placing bets on the various secular dynasties of the Nine Great Continents. This is highly abnormal. I feel..."
Mao Xiaodong didn't continue.
Cui Dongshan sighed. "All of Haoran Heaven feels that it's natural and justified for those exiled criminals to resist the demon race, that it's the duty of sword cultivators and a matter of course. As for the truth and the outcome, let's wait and see."
Mao Xiaodong turned to look at him.
Cui Dongshan gazed into the distance. "Put yourself in their shoes. If you were a remnant of the demon race left behind in Haoran Heaven, wouldn't you want to return to your roots? If you were a descendant of those criminals confined to a fixed area, wouldn't you want to turn around and tell Haoran Heaven... all the thoughts you've bottled up for countless years?"
Mao Xiaodong frowned. "The Sword Qi Great Wall has always had Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist saints stationed there."
Cui Dongshan smiled. "Forget about half a Barren Wilderness Heaven. Even if just a quarter of it were willing to unite as one, willing to pay any price, would it be that hard to take down a Sword Qi Great Wall and then gobble up a few continents of Haoran Heaven?"
Mao Xiaodong said, "I don't think it's that easy."
Cui Dongshan didn't deny it. He just said, "Flip through the history books more often, and you'll know the answer."
Mao Xiaodong hesitated for a moment. "The Nanposuo Continent, closest to Daoxuan Mountain, has a Chen Chun'an who carries the sun and moon on his shoulders!"
Cui Dongshan said slowly, "There are also people in history books—those who die early, their fragrance lasts for a thousand years; those who die late, their stench lasts for ten thousand years."
Mao Xiaodong was about to say something more, but Cui Dongshan turned to him and smiled. "I'm just talking nonsense here, and you take it seriously?"
Mao Xiaodong said, "If it turns out you were just talking nonsense, I'll treat you to some drinks that day."
Cui Dongshan laughed. "As expected of a scholar about to break through to the Jade Pure Realm. With higher cultivation comes greater magnanimity."
Mao Xiaodong looked out into the distance.
Haoran Heaven, with its vast territories, naturally had wars and chaos occurring in various continents and places. But on the whole, it was still like the Great Sui capital—peaceful and prosperous. Children only saw rivers of blood and starvation stretching thousands of miles in books. Adults were busy fussing over daily necessities and trivial expenses. Scholars studying hard by lamplight were all thinking of becoming officials in the imperial court after their rural youth. Many literati who had already become officials might have changed amidst the dye vat of officialdom, but occasionally, in the quiet of the night when flipping through books, they might still feel ashamed before the teachings of the sages, longing for those lofty mountains and bright moons, for a clear and upright world.
Cui Dongshan looked at this nominal disciple of the Literary Sage lineage whom he had never thought much of. Suddenly, he stood on tiptoe and patted Mao Xiaodong on the shoulder. "Don't worry. Haoran Heaven still has people like my master and your junior apprentice brother. Besides, there's still some time. For example, little Baoping, Li Huai, Lin Shouyi—they will all grow up. Speaking of which, what's that saying?"
Mao Xiaodong recited a famous saying of his own teacher. "Indigo blue is extracted from the indigo plant, but is bluer than it."
Cui Dongshan coughed. "To be honest, back then when Old Scholar was able to come up with that saying, I contributed a great deal. How about I tell you the story behind it? That time, Old Scholar and I passed by a dyeing workshop and encountered a delicate and charming young lady..."
Mao Xiaodong grabbed Cui Dongshan by the shoulder and with a strong toss, flung him off the summit of Donghua Mountain, cursing, "You little bastard, addicted to talking nonsense?"
---
The Barren Wilderness Heaven. Three moons hung in the sky.
A massive abyss shaped like an ancient well.
This was called the Hall of Heroes in this heaven.
Legend had it that this was the site of a great battle in ancient times between a monstrous ancestor with immense combat power and a little Taoist boy who had traveled far on an ox.
In this heaven, the description of that battle was stirring and soul-stirring, but only a handful of great demons knew the truth. In fact, there was indeed a great battle, but it was not between the great demon and the Taoist who had come riding a green ox to travel. It was a much more ancient and tragic battle. At that time, a high-generational great demon had spent thousands of years climbing, struggling to break free, and after immense hardship, managed to crawl out of the well bottom to the well mouth. Then the Taoist, standing at the well mouth, pressed down with one finger and knocked it back to the bottom of the well.
Now, above the walls of this "well" were arranged a circle of huge seats.
Fourteen in total, at varying heights.
There were broken, inverted mountains acting as high platforms, parts of what seemed like celestial pavilions from the legendary ancient Heavenly Court, and enormous corpses floating in the endless void.
There was a grand throne of piled bones, on which sat a giant white-boned demon, holding a cup of wine, treading on a skull, grinding it gently.
There was a thousand-zhang tall pillar inscribed with ancient runes, standing in the void, coiled by a scarlet serpent, with a number of dull dragon pearls slowly spinning.
A tattered gray robe, empty within, fluttered in the wind without wind.
A burly figure in golden armor with a face mask had golden light constantly flowing like water from the gaps in the armor, like a blazing sun confined within a deep well.
There was a woman in a black dragon robe with an imperial crown, with a human head and a dragon body, her long tail dragging straight into the abyss. Countless ethereal women, like grains of rice compared to her enormous form, held pipas, with colorful ribbons swirling around their graceful figures—hundreds of them. The woman, bored, rested her cheek on one hand while using two fingers of the other to pop the pipa women one by one.
A Taoist in a snow-white robe, his face unclear, was three hundred zhang tall. Compared to the other "neighbors" on their thrones, he seemed extremely small. However, a crescent moon appeared behind him.
There was a bare-chested, three-headed, six-armed giant sitting on a cushion made of piled golden books, with a horrifying scar on his chest—a slash from the old chief swordsman of the Sword Qi Great Wall.
None of the great demons present had participated in that earth-shattering battle at the Sword Qi Great Wall.
Most of these hidden existences had been awakened from endless slumber.
A small number had been famous for tens of millions of years but had never paid any attention to the battles at the Sword Qi Great Wall, always choosing to stand by and watch.
The two great demons who had visited the old blind man in the Hundred Thousand Mountains back then also did not qualify for a seat here.
The fourteen seats surrounded a suspended stone block in the center.
As the figure of an old man slowly appeared in the center, two more ancient great demons hastily materialized, apparently not daring to arrive later than the old man.
The old man looked around.
One seat remained empty, with only a saber left there.
That seat was the newest addition to this abyss of the Hall of Heroes, and it was the third highest throne after the old man's.
The old man said nothing.
In this Barren Wilderness Heaven, they respected true strength more than anywhere else.
The owner of that saber had secretly fought two life-and-death battles with A Liang of the Sword Qi Great Wall, yet they had also called each other brothers and drunk together. When idle, he would go to the Hundred Thousand Mountains to help the old blind man move mountains.
The seat just below the old man's was occupied by a "middle-aged man" wearing Confucian robes, sitting upright. He did not reveal his true demon form, appearing as small as a mustard seed.
This person's position was even higher than that saber.
Including that Confucian-robed great demon, all the great demons present stood up to show respect to the old man.
The old man said, "No need to wait for him. Let's begin the discussion."
The demons slowly sat down.
The old man looked at the Confucian-robed great demon. "From now on, whatever you say, everyone here will do. Whoever doesn't agree, I'll persuade him. Whoever agrees but then..."
The Confucian-robed great demon smiled and added, "Pretends to comply while opposing in action."
The old man nodded. "Then I'll personally go have a talk with him."
---
On the Barren Wilderness Heaven, a burly man was followed by a boy who seemed to be his sword-carrying attendant.
The man's clothes were clean, neat and tidy. The boy behind him, staggering along, was in rags, with one eye different from the other. In this heaven, he would be mocked as a mongrel.
In this barren, miasma-filled vast world, being able to walk around in human form was itself a symbol of great power.
This man had fought with A Liang and also drunk with him. The boy was bound with a kind of Mohist mechanism called a "sword rack." At a glance, when fully loaded with long swords, the boy's back resembled a peacock spreading its tail.
In Haoran Heaven, on the Central Earth Divine Continent, the Great Duan Dynasty's Cao Ci was being dragged on a journey by his friend Liu Youzhou. Cao Ci never went to martial temples, only to Confucian temples.
On the road, he killed demons and suppressed evil with his bare hands, smashing golden core evil cultivators. Liu Youzhou only needed to watch the show and applaud.
Back when he passed through the gate of the Sword Qi Great Wall and Daoxuan Mountain, breaking through to the fifth realm, Cao Ci, while passing through a small state in Central Earth, practiced his fists as usual and silently broke into the sixth realm.
His vast, surging martial destiny spread in all directions. A nearby martial temple was so full it was about to collapse from the overflow. The martial destiny continued to flow like floodwaters, directly multiplying the martial destiny of that entire state.
On the Green Frost Heaven, a wounded and exhausted boy, filled with grief and indignation, climbed a mountain to beat the Celestial Drum.
After a moment of silence in heaven and earth, a young Taoist with a lotus crown appeared beside the boy, smiling, and accepted him as a junior apprentice brother on behalf of his master.
From top to bottom, the Five Cities and Twelve Towers of the White Jade Capital were shaken.
From then on, the Dao Ancestor gained a new closed-door disciple.
On the Vase Continent, within the Great Sui Dynasty's Cliff Academy.
Pei Qian and Li Baoping, two young girls, sat on a high branch at the mountain summit, looking down together at the area below the tree.
Chen Ping'an was practicing his fists.
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