The Three Teachings' True Meaning: A Hundred Methods Converge, None Exceeding the Realm of the Three Teachings!
The Characteristic of the Great Dao (Postnatal Creation)!
A black talisman created by Tao Hongjing, the Ninth Patriarch of Shangqing, within the True Spirit Registry. Under the influence of the Donghua Immortal Scripture, it refines the scriptures of the Three Teachings into one, achieving supreme true meaning.
The Ninth Patriarch of Shangqing, in his youth, studied Zhou and Kong, and by his twentieth year, had mastered the Six Classics. In middle age, he perused Taoist texts, knowing both the named and the nameless. In his later years, he delved into Buddhist scriptures, shining like the moon among the stars. He was versed in the arts of the Three Teachings, and during the Southern Dynasties, people called him the "Sage Immortal"!
Those who can see this talisman will be taught the incantation: "There are no two paths under heaven, and the sage has but one heart!"
By reciting this incantation, one can refine all methods and integrate them into oneself. One can find any method, refine it, and then extrapolate from it to create new methods belonging to any of the "Confucian, Buddhist, or Taoist" schools!
Influenced by the teachings of Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi and the scriptures of Heavenly Venerable Lingbao, the inheritor of the Three Teachings' Black Talisman is the Lord of Incense. They can refine it into the methods of "Heavenly Demons"!
Those who possess the Characteristic of the Great Dao must not abandon the Great Dao! When new methods are forged using the True Meaning of the Three Teachings, a "Calamity of the Mortal World" will arise. The intensity of this calamity will depend on the power of the method being forged!
The Calamity of the Mortal World, a Punishment Descending Upon the Body: The Great Daos of the Three Teachings originally had their own order. The True Meaning causes them to merge into one, which will inevitably displease the other two Daos. Therefore, the Calamity of the Mortal World is a prerequisite for using the True Meaning of the Three Teachings. Each time the Calamity of the Mortal World is overcome, your cultivation will advance. Simultaneously, the Calamity of the Mortal World will draw you into an inexplicable disaster. If you extrapolate a Confucian method, you will be drawn into the disasters of Taoism and Buddhism, and vice versa for the other two.
Weak calamities can be evaded by using the method from the tenth lesson of the Yuqing Hidden Book. The tenth lesson of the Yuqing Hidden Book can give birth to the three corpses and sever the three corpses, using the three corpse spirits to receive the calamity in one's stead, and then severing them, the calamity will naturally dissipate.
The Characteristics of the Great Dao are difficult to obtain. The more Characteristics of the Great Dao one possesses, the easier it is to comprehend the Great Dao. Yin and Yang are one. What is gained must also be lost. Chaos is the ultimate of all things...
The blank divine tablet did not display everything. It seemed to have unspoken words regarding the comprehension of the Great Dao, and the final words before disappearing were thought-provoking, like a warning.
Ji Xiang felt this was normal.
Based on the information already obtained, many immortals in the Inner Rivers and Mountains sought to manifest the Great Dao of the Outer Rivers and Mountains. As for their elders, who had been in the Outer Rivers and Mountains for a thousand years, they had been extrapolating in the Inner Rivers and Mountains for over ten thousand years. Yet, in such a long time, they could not glimpse the mysteries of the Outer Rivers and Mountains.
Even the powerful Great Dao that maintained the dynastic changes in the Outer Rivers and Mountains, which continued without interruption, was difficult for them to grasp. This led them to constantly change dynasties and trigger various periods of chaos to peek into its secrets.
Although the blank divine tablet was immensely powerful, it seemed to have some things it could not manifest. Ji Xiang breathed a sigh of relief. If he were to glimpse the great secrets of heaven and earth, and if these secrets were to be exposed, he feared he would have to die at least once.
To contend with even one Heavenly Heart Realm cultivator was a pipe dream. Who knew how many Heavenly Hearts existed in the Inner Rivers and Mountains?
In any case, there were certainly as many Ascended cultivators as there were clouds and rain, for that was a world of immortals, while the Outer Rivers and Mountains were equivalent to the mortal world.
"However, even if many things cannot be manifested, to have gained the Characteristic of the Great Dao for free is truly overwhelming!"
Ji Xiang had seen the Great Sage Yuan Miao before, and at that time, the Characteristic of the Great Dao had appeared. His belonged to the "Heavenly Fugitive," capable of reversing worldly virtues and violating natural laws. Harm inflicted upon him would turn into self-inflicted wounds, but it came with a price: he had to constantly conceal his true form.
Once exposed, he would be punished with the Heavenly Fugitive's retribution. At that time, Ji Xiang had used Master Sa's "Discourse on Thunder" to briefly break through the Great Sage Yuan Miao's concealment, exposing him and causing him to abandon the Great Dao.
"Calamity of the Mortal World? That's acceptable. It's better than being a solitary star, at least it won't kill relatives and friends. It only involves me, and the price is acceptable. The weaker the cultivation method I extrapolate, the smaller the disaster. If I extrapolate an introductory spell, perhaps the disaster will be tripping at the temple gate and falling face-first into dog excrement."
"But I'll try it first!"
"However, this requires one method for one method. That is to say, using a primary spell as a blueprint for secondary creation, and using other learned techniques as the flame for refinement..."
Ji Xiang looked around. No one was present, and he didn't know where the Master of Maoshan had gone. It seemed that when his consciousness was blurred earlier, the other party had greeted him, but he couldn't recall clearly.
He had been in a daze then and couldn't hear the Master of Maoshan's voice. Now that he had left the Great Yuan Treasure Hall, he had naturally departed for something. He didn't know how long he had been in the painted world.
He had suddenly emerged without bidding farewell to the Donghua Fairy or Heavenly Venerable Lingbao, leaving in a hurry.
Fortunately, there were many classic spellbooks in the Great Yuan Treasure Hall. Of course, he couldn't access the secret areas. So, he picked up books from the outside and began to extrapolate from a mortal martial art.
"There are no two paths under heaven, and the sage has but one heart!"
This was a Daoist saying that could shake the soul. Merely by uttering it, a powerful force circulated within his body. Under the operation of this force, all Daos could be refined into one. Regardless of the school of any scripture, it could be incorporated, and then the arts of the Three Teachings could be extrapolated.
As Ji Xiang recited the incantation, the first thought that came to his mind was that immortal scriptures had grades. This seemed to be an inherent power of the True Spirit Registry, to assign grades to things without grades. In fact, it was a good thing, making things simple and clear.
So, would the scripture he was extrapolating this time also have a grade?
The mortal martial art in his hand was a set of sword techniques. The basic martial arts of the Shangqing Sect primarily focused on fist and sword techniques. Of course, mortal martial arts were nothing special. They were kept in the Great Yuan Treasure Hall simply because they were the most basic of the basics.
An ordinary person, even with immortal roots, had to start practicing from the most basic mortal techniques after joining Shangqing. However, for those with immortal roots, their practice of techniques would make them martial arts prodigies in the martial world. What took others decades of practice, they might achieve in three months.
After basic martial arts came immortal sect Daoist magic.
It was like how Old Zhang had once evaluated Emperor Wanli. With Emperor Wanli's mediocre talent, if he were to practice martial arts, combined with the cultivation of a cultivator, he could reach the third realm of Golden Sinews and Jade Bones. In the mortal world, this would already be a top-tier expert, capable of defending against assassination without any problem, especially given the flimsy defenses of the Forbidden City.
As for those first-rate experts, in this era where monsters roamed everywhere, ghosts and demons walked freely, and life was in constant peril, they wouldn't foolishly come to fight cultivators in the name of breaking through themselves. With one punch, you'd be blown into eighteen pieces, and what enlightenment could you possibly gain?
In fact, these people were already cultivating themselves. Therefore, even first-rate experts in the Jianghu were more or less cultivators, albeit the very lowest tier of cultivators.
As Ji Xiang refined this spell, it soon underwent a wondrous transformation.
The basic sword techniques in the scripture began to twist. The diagrams and characters became obscure and profound. Ji Xiang, following the logic in his mind, improved the mortal martial art, supplementing its deficiencies. With just a thought, the scripture reformed itself.
Soon, a brand-new cultivator's spell appeared in his hands.
Everything within it was as Ji Xiang had envisioned, written according to his will. With Ji Xiang's current cultivation, coupled with the Maoshan formations he had previously acquired, understanding their application, it was not difficult to write such a simple book.
Moreover, Ji Xiang felt a trace of aspiration, which he had imbued into this book.
"Truly astonishing. This aspiration is very weak, but it truly exists because this is something I created, an original copy... not a printed edition. The purpose of this aspiration is to guide people in correct cultivation. When one reads this scripture, it's as if an immortal is dancing with a sword before their eyes, revealing everything clearly and allowing one to quickly understand the important points of the spell scripture."
It could be imagined that once this scripture flowed into the mortal world, it would definitely cause those second-rate martial arts masters to fight tooth and nail for it. This was because such a scripture was equivalent to a Daoist scripture, allowing them to contend with the weakest cultivators solely based on their moves without being at a disadvantage.
Although mortals wouldn't ascend, they could definitely dominate a small area and pass down a prominent family lineage peacefully, as long as no demons or ghosts came to visit. This was absolutely sufficient.
Ji Xiang pondered, then casually gave this sword scripture a name. Immediately, the extremely faint aspiration strengthened considerably, meaning people could now "comprehend" this sword scripture.
This was a huge difference from initial learning. Learning required a step-by-step process, practicing each move. Even if the scene of an immortal dancing with a sword was recreated for you, you would still have to imitate it like a monkey. But comprehension did not require that!
Comprehension was unreasonable. If I say I understand it, then I understand it!
The key was in the word "comprehend." It was like... those who understand will understand, and those who don't won't understand even if you explain it. jpg
"A small sword scripture, let's see how great the Calamity of the Mortal World it brings will be?"
Ji Xiang waited for a moment. In the depths of his consciousness, a calamity indeed appeared. Ji Xiang now possessed the Yuqing Hidden Book as the fundamental scripture for cultivation, making him much more sensitive to calamities and karmic forces.
"It's indeed not a major calamity, but because it's too small, I don't know where this calamity will manifest!"
"Let me move and see."
Ji Xiang suddenly felt a mix of amusement and exasperation. Because the mortal martial art was only slightly upgraded, the calamity it brought was very weak. Ji Xiang didn't even know what form this calamity would take, and he couldn't detect it without careful sensing.
To resolve it seemed easy. This small-scale calamity was simply bad luck.
If he had a stove god's good jar, eating one red bean a day would cure all ailments. Unfortunately, he only had a black jar. Eating black beans would only prolong his bad luck.
Furthermore, there was a way to sever calamities, by using the three corpse spirits as scapegoats.
The three corpses are unlucky, you want to catch the three corpses, what does it have to do with me, Ji Xiang?
The three corpses of a person persist, and the three corpse spirits like to report. All human desires are caused by them. It is said that once a person dies, the three corpse spirits are freed and can roam freely.
The Song Dynasty Daoist Zhang Junfang, in order not to have the three corpse spirits report to heaven and incite his desires, did not sleep for thirty consecutive years. Although he did not sever the three corpses, one day after thirty years, he ascended to heaven in broad daylight and became an immortal.
He didn't know how his three corpses fared during those thirty years.
With a thought from Ji Xiang, his intentions stirred up all ten directions of divine powers. At this moment, a spiritual light descended in his mind, and the first corpse above the three corpses was driven out by Ji Xiang. All that was needed was some incense energy.
The upper corpse fell to the ground, and immediately calamity befell it. Ji Xiang also used the method of the Central Jade Book to imbue it with form and spirit, making it a minor deity of no great rank.
This minor deity ran towards the entrance of the Great Yuan Treasure Hall, only about an inch tall. As Ji Xiang directed it, it rammed its head against a pillar of the Great Yuan Treasure Hall and died. Then its body dispersed, transforming back into incense energy, which Ji Xiang swallowed back in a single gulp.
And the calamity that had already arrived also vanished without a trace.
The elimination of bad luck meant that unlucky events that would have occurred would no longer happen.
And this minor deity was originally an unintelligent entity, a fabricated three corpse spirit. After dying, it could be recovered and then continue to ram. From now on, this minor deity's job would probably be to repeatedly smash its head against the ground.
"This little thing is really fun."
Ji Xiang casually extrapolated a few more martial arts, upgrading them into cultivator spells, and then watched as this minor deity continuously condensed, repeatedly smashed walls and the ground, died and lived again, doing push-ups over and over.
"For calamities of this level, one corpse god can offset it. Further up, it would likely require two, then three, until it becomes unavoidable. What the blank divine tablet means is that minor calamities can be avoided, but major calamities are hidden."
Ji Xiang, for a moment, felt a desire to try out this Characteristic of the Great Dao. However, upon further thought, he realized he didn't know how much time had passed in the True Spirit Registry, and leaving others waiting in Shangqing was not very good.
"Well, right, I should get myself a flying spell!"
Ji Xiang slapped his forehead. The Great Yuan Treasure Hall also had flying spells, but cultivating cloud-riding and mist-driving techniques took time. If he used the Bright Light Heavenly Book to cast them, it would consume incense energy.
So, Ji Xiang saw through this cloud-riding and mist-driving spell, and then found a mortal walking martial art. He extrapolated it slightly, creating a速成版 (speed-up version) of "Cloud Riding and Mist Driving."
After spending about half a day learning this cloud-riding and mist-driving technique, he left the Great Yuan Treasure Hall. Clouds rose beneath his feet, and he floated into the sky. Although the speed was a bit slow... he headed straight for the Nine Heavens Palace of Maoshan.
In the Nine Heavens Palace, the Shangqing Daozi had been unconscious for ten days. The atmosphere in the main hall was somewhat strange because the successor of the first lineage had suddenly encountered problems, and the entire palace was helpless. Under these circumstances, Maoshan had to choose the successor of the second lineage... that is, Miss Hou.
However, the Master of Maoshan was not in the Nine Heavens Palace at this moment.
He was in a secret place in Maoshan, meditating for several days, his expression somewhat haggard. This was because the ancient immortal ancestors from the Inner Rivers and Mountains had sent news, but it was not good news.
"Qiankun Zi, I'll tell you one last time: bring that girl to inherit the Dao lineage. You don't need to worry about anything else afterward."
"The trace of the Shangqing Ancestral Scripture has appeared in the Outer Rivers and Mountains. These two Daozi are vessels for our descent."
The Master of Maoshan said with difficulty: "Daozi are related to the inheritance of the Dao lineage, not objects for others to possess. Are you... truly ancestors?"
"You've asked many times! Then I'll patiently answer you again and again!"
In that secret place, several illusory figures appeared.
"The Dao lineage of the Outer Rivers and Mountains is merely a pawn. As long as it is not destroyed, it is sufficient. In the face of the Shangqing Ancestral Scripture, all Dao lineages can be shattered and rebuilt. Now, it is a struggle between the Shangqing and Maoshan two lineages. Will the Qingxu lineage emerge victorious, or the Sanmao lineage?"
"Whoever obtains the Ancestral Scripture will be the true宗 (patriarch/founder) of Shangqing!"
"As a disciple of the Qingxu lineage, you should know the importance of this matter!"
"By the way, you also need to prepare a large amount of essence of sentient beings for us, whether it's from demons or humans, it doesn't matter. With the essence of sentient beings, we can change their physiques to match ours, so that we can perfectly arrive in the world."
The Master of Maoshan refused: "I am a righteous sect of the Three Mountains, how can I perform the deeds of the Lower Maoshan? Moreover, there aren't so many essences of sentient beings here!"
The illusory figure snorted: "Most of the techniques of the Lower Maoshan were passed down from the Upper Maoshan, with changes over thousands of years! Since you can't find them, then go find the White Lotus Sect. Wherever the White Lotus Sect has passed, there are victims. Bring back their essences!"
"Wasn't a Daozi betrayed not long ago?"
The Master of Maoshan was stunned for a moment, then his face filled with alarm!
"You, you! That was... he was your...!"
"And he took the Qingping Sword with him... that was also you...!"
The illusory figures laughed heartily:
"The Qingping Sword is an ancient divine artifact. Keeping it as the treasure of Maoshan, it was about to rust. This sword has great uses! Don't worry, no one will know about this. We will take the blame for you, and you will still be the righteous path of the Three Mountains in the Outer Rivers and Mountains, because the killer was Biyou Palace, not your Shangqing Sect!"
"After all, you were not aware of this matter!"