Chapter 914
Discussion on the Dao in the Two Realms
Chapter 914 Discussion on the Dao Between Two Realms
The Alliance of Resistance Against Calamity exists solely to resist extraterrestrial demons, and it has no right to interfere in matters within the sect itself.
Each sect has its own ideas, and there are also different voices within each sect.
Pursuing one's own path is acceptable, but revealing the sect's cultivation techniques is absolutely forbidden.
However, if they don't offer something of equal value, how can the Nine Realms Divine Continent offer anything of real value?
The exchange between the two sides to jointly explore the path is not something that can be achieved simply by discussing each other's views and insights on the Great Dao. Rather, it involves exchanges on the fundamental aspects of the Great Dao, which inevitably delve into a deeper level.
Moreover, the Spirit Lord's move was intended to gather everyone together, pool their wisdom and efforts, and find a way out for their respective realms, which is not something that one or two sects can accomplish.
For months, the various sects in the spirit world were abuzz with discussion.
Supporters argue that the incompleteness of the Heavenly Dao in the Spirit Realm is an urgent matter, and without adaptation, the Spirit Realm's path will only decline further. While the Nine Realms of Divine Continent have their shortcomings, they still possess nearly ten Void Immortals, proving that their path has merit. If their essence can be extracted to fill our deficiencies, a new path may indeed be forged.
Opponents, however, argued that cultivation techniques are the foundation of a sect, the culmination of the efforts of generations of patriarchs, and should not be easily revealed to others. They warned that if these individuals harbored ulterior motives and used the pretext of discussing the Dao to extract the secrets of our spiritual realm, they would turn their backs on us once we revealed all our trump cards. What could we do then?
The two sides held their own views and argued endlessly.
The attitudes of the elders who truly held power in the sects were even more complex.
They were naturally aware of the crisis caused by the incompleteness of the Heavenly Way.
At their level, their perception of the path ahead is far clearer than that of younger cultivators. Indeed, the path ahead is becoming increasingly dark, and compared to the past, it is far more difficult.
If there is no further change, the road ahead may truly come to an end!
Despite the fact that Gu Yuanqing and Li Miaoxuan became virtual immortals one after another.
But apart from those two, who else was there in the past 50,000 years?
That's precisely why they hesitated even more.
Our own sect's cultivation techniques are hard-won, passed down through generations of masters with their blood and sweat. How can we easily reveal them to others just because of a simple request to find a way forward together?
Moreover, the core parts of those techniques are often bound by oaths and restrictions. Not to mention passing them on to outsiders, even within the sect itself, they cannot be lightly passed on to anyone other than a true disciple.
As for the so-called joint search for the future, who is actually searching for whose path?
Some say it's an equal exchange between the two sides, or that the spirit realm is being used as a stepping stone for the Nine Realms Divine Continent? Nobody can say for sure.
Some say that discussions about principles are, in essence, exchanges of benefits. But how to exchange, how much to exchange, what to exchange, who gives first, and who gives last—there's much to consider here. If the talks go well, both sides get what they need; if they go badly, it's like inviting a wolf into the house.
There are various opinions, but no consensus can be reached.
However, under the impetus of the Spirit Lord and the Mysterious Heavenly Lord, and after various deliberations, many sects in the Spirit Realm still reached a consensus on certain levels.
Discussions are permissible, but caution is essential.
Establish the charter first, then discuss the content.
Each sect needs to carefully consider what can be exchanged, what must be kept, and what needs to be exchanged for something of equal value.
When discussing the Dao, one should proceed from the shallow to the deep, from the outside to the inside, to ensure that the final results can be used by everyone.
There are just too many things involved here.
Moreover, everyone knows that no matter how thoroughly you think things through, it's useless; ultimately, it all comes down to the progress of the actual discussions.
Not everyone is confident about this debate. After all, there are too many differences between the two paths. If the Spirit Lord hadn't verified its feasibility with his own methods, it would have been difficult to proceed.
Moreover, the path that a Spirit Lord can find may not be suitable for others.
Only then did these cultivators from the Spirit Realm realize that the Nine Domains Divine Continent was willing to provide a fair environment because of Gu Yuanqing's great kindness to the Nine Domains Divine Continent.
Hearing that Gu Yuanqing had actually surpassed the Heavenly Demon at the peak of the Void Immortal realm, they were even more astonished.
The Dao of the Spirit Realm also shocked the Nine Domains Divine Continent.
Putting everything else aside, there was just one thing that made them go to great lengths to push forward this discussion: lifespan!
Even cultivators in the Nine Realms Divine Continent, those at the Void Immortal level, rarely live beyond ten thousand years.
When lifespan ends, the five signs of decay in both the divine and the human are irreversible.
However, Yin-Yang cultivators in the Spirit Realm can live for ten thousand years, and those who are immortal can live for thirty thousand years!
Leaving aside whether discussing the Dao with the Spirit Realm can lead to a path beyond the Void Immortal realm, the fact that one's lifespan is three times longer is enough to make cultivators from the Nine Realms Divine Continent flock to it!
As for Gu Yuanqing himself, he wasn't that concerned about the two realms discussing the Dao and seeking the path together.
After all, his path is smooth, and all he needs is time.
However, he was still somewhat interested in participating in the Daoist discussions. The exchange between the two realms, with many sects setting aside sectarian and boundary distinctions and engaging in a clash of wisdom, could also be beneficial to him.
Several years passed in the blink of an eye, and all the major righteous sects sent their elders to the Nine Domains Divine Continent.
The first debate took place within the Nine Realms Divine Continent.
Li Yanshen, the Prefect of the Heavenly Pivot Palace of the Great Hao Divine Dynasty, personally came out to greet them.
The place for discussing the Dao is set within the Nine Heavens Domain.
Because the Nine Heavens Sword Sect had the closest relationship with Gu Yuanqing, the Spirit Venerable also trusted Ling Yi much more.
On the eve of the debate between the two realms, Gu Yuanqing and Li Miaoxuan arrived in the Nine Realms Divine Continent.
It's still the same mountain, but over the years, the area around it has changed.
Previously, this mountain was uninhabited, but now it is home to many sects from the Nine Realms Divine Continent.
However, no one actually comes up to this mountain, because they learned from Ling Yi that this is where Gu Yuanqing has settled in this realm.
For the Nine Realms Divine Continent, Gu Yuanqing was undoubtedly a great benefactor. A demonic calamity was imminent, but his arrival averted it. The major demon lords suffered heavy losses, giving humanity a chance to regroup, and perhaps even reversing the course of events that had persisted for millions of years.
Such favors are something even the Great Hao Divine Dynasty wouldn't dare to defy the world's opinion of.
Not long after the mountain courtyard appeared out of thin air, Ling Yi arrived in person, accompanied by Li Yanshen.
This also reveals Gu Yuanqing's status in the Nine Realms Divine Continent at that time.
After drinking tea and discussing philosophy in the courtyard for a while, they were then led by two others to enter the Nine Realms Divine Continent from Wangxiang Pass.
This time, the city gates were wide open, a rainbow bridge was erected to welcome guests, and ceremonial music resounded.
Countless soldiers stood atop the wall, solemn and dignified, their eyes filled with admiration and gratitude as they looked at Gu Yuanqing.
Furthermore, the eldest prince of the Great Hao Dynasty personally attended, representing the Great Hao Emperor to welcome him with the highest honors.
Lingzun and the others also arrived in Wangxiang City to wait. Seeing this scene, they couldn't help but sigh.
In contrast, the welcoming ceremony they received in the Nine Realms of Divine Continent was completely different.
Jinxiu City, with the Dahao Palace serving as a place for discussions.
Inside the main hall of the Dahao Palace, bells and chimes rang out, and ceremonial music filled the air, enveloping the entire hall in a solemn and dignified atmosphere.
On the high throne, Emperor Xuan Hao of the Great Hao Dynasty sat in extreme mode. He was dressed in a black imperial robe, and his aura was as deep as the sea, exuding an aura of majesty that suppressed the four extremes and eight wastelands.
On the other side, next to Xuan Haoji, was the seat for Gu Yuanqing.
Li Miaoxuan sat quietly beside him, her demeanor as aloof as frost and snow.
Below, cultivators from both realms sat on either side.
On the left are the people from the Spirit Realm, including the Spirit Venerable, Xuanji Heavenly Lord, Ji Shan, Xiao Lingyue, and elders from various sects who have arrived recently. All of them are important figures in the Spirit Realm, and their cultivation levels are all at the Chaotic Heaven level. Behind them are the disciples of various sects.
On the right are cultivators from the Nine Domains Divine Continent, led by several Void Immortals including Li Yanshen, the Prefect of Tian Shu Prefecture, Ling Yi of the Nine Heavens Sword Sect, the Palace Master of Zhou Tian Star Palace, and the Supreme Elder of the Supreme Forgetfulness Sect, as well as top figures from the Great Hao Divine Dynasty and various domains and sects.
Although neither cultivator from the two realms deliberately released their auras, they could clearly sense the difference while sitting together.
Most cultivators in the spirit realm possess a deep and steady aura, forming a unique whole. Even if they are not entirely in harmony with the heavens and earth, their aura remains as profound as an abyss and as majestic as a mountain, without diminishing their power.
The spiritual will of cultivators in the Nine Realms Divine Continent is even more prominent. Their aura naturally influences the formation of heaven and earth, giving them a transcendent feeling. This is a manifestation of their will being sublimated to the extreme.
Xuan Haoji looked around and slowly spoke: "Today's gathering, where the two realms meet and discuss the Great Dao, is an unprecedented event throughout the ages."
The Way of the Spirit Realm emphasizes inner cultivation, working within the celestial and human world to solidify the imprint of the Dao, taking oneself as the universe, thus possessing profound power and a long lifespan. The Way of the Nine Realms emphasizes external exploration, observing the immortal Dao inheritance diagram, refining one's will to transcend the universe, thus possessing a powerful divine sense and a clear mind.
These two paths may be different, but they may lead to the same destination. This discussion is not about ranking or superiority, but simply about verification. I hope all fellow practitioners will speak freely and express their own opinions.
After he finished speaking, he looked at Gu Yuanqing.
Gu Yuanqing smiled and said, "Then let's begin."
But at this moment, the hall fell silent.
The cultivators from both realms looked at each other, and for a moment no one spoke.
After all, although the two sides have been in contact for many years, this is the first time they have truly sat down together to discuss their ideas.
Moreover, given the vast difference in their paths of cultivation, they had no idea where to begin or to what extent to discuss it.
In the end, it was the Spirit Lord who spoke first.
He cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards the Nine Realms Divine Continent and said in a deep voice, "I have been in the Nine Realms Divine Continent for some years and have some understanding of it. The method of visualization is unique in terms of cultivating the soul and sublimating the will, quite different from that of my Spirit Realm. However, there are still many newcomers who do not quite understand it. So, I will offer my humble opinion and ask a few questions: How do cultivators in your realm visualize the Immortal Dao Inheritance Diagram? And what is the origin of the fundamental diagram of that inheritance?"
After a moment of silence, Ling Yi of the Nine Heavens Sword Sect smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Lingbao, I will answer your first question. The visualization diagrams passed down by various sects were left by ancient immortals, and they contain the will of the immortals. When we cultivators visualize these diagrams, we are actually reflecting the immortal's heart with our own heart, and resonating with the immortal's will with our own intentions. Over time, our will is sublimated layer by layer, our state of mind is transcended step by step, and finally we comprehend the true meaning of the diagram and achieve the Dao fruit."
He paused, then looked at the Spirit Lord: "I wonder how cultivators in the Spirit Realm condense that Heavenly World?"
The Spirit Venerable pondered and said, "The world of Heaven and Man is the natural way of the Dao, based on oneself, simulating the way of the operation of heaven and earth. In the beginning, it is an illusion, only a small area. As cultivation increases, it gradually expands and eventually transforms into a real world. Within the world, the imprint of the Dao will be generated. When the imprint is perfected, one can then glimpse the gate of creation."
Ling Yi said, "Taking oneself as the universe is quite different from the way of the Nine Realms. We seek transcendence and unity with the universe; but fellow Daoists of the Spirit Realm take themselves as the universe and incorporate the universe into themselves. One looks outward, the other inward, they are different paths."
The Spirit Lord laughed and said, "That's right. So I think that although the two paths seem to be contradictory, they actually lead to the same goal. Whether it is transcendence or introspection, the ultimate goal is to achieve enlightenment and become an immortal. It's just that the paths are different."
In fact, both Ling Yi and Ling Zun were aware of these issues long ago; they were simply using this as a starting point.
As they exchanged questions and answers, the atmosphere gradually eased.
The cultivators from both realms began to exchange words.
Some asked about the method of condensing the Daoist imprints of the Spirit Realm, while others asked about the challenges of sublimating the will of the Nine Realms Divine Continent.
Someone recounted an anecdote about a certain patriarch of their sect attaining enlightenment.
Some people have described the mystical experience of visualizing a celestial image.
The conversation gradually became more in-depth.
The cultivators of the Nine Realms Divine Continent discovered that the cultivators of the Spirit Realm indeed had a profound understanding of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.
They spoke eloquently about the cycles of Yin and Yang, the interactions of the Five Elements, and the ever-changing nature of the Dao, as if these principles were etched in their minds and readily available to them.
This understanding stems from the connection between the celestial and human realms. They possess a world within themselves, and their comprehension of the workings of heaven and earth naturally far surpasses that of ordinary people.
The cultivators of the Spirit Realm also discovered that the cultivators of the Nine Domains Divine Continent had a level of mastery over willpower that far exceeded their expectations.
When they talked about the methods of visualization, the cultivation of mind, and how to break through oneself and transcend the mundane, every word they spoke conveyed an indescribable clarity, as if their hearts had truly touched upon some higher realm.
Two completely different paths collided and converged at this moment.
Some listened intently, some seemed to understand something, some frowned and pondered deeply, and some suddenly smiled knowingly.
The discussion lasted for an entire day.
There were short breaks during the period, with spiritual fruits and tea served, and cultivators from both realms having private conversations, but they soon returned to discussing the Dao.
Until night fell and the moon was high in the sky.
Xuan Haoji and Gu Yuanqing exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.
Xuan Haoji then slowly stood up and announced that today's meeting was over and would continue tomorrow.
Everyone rose to their feet, bowed, and dispersed.
Gu Yuanqing and Li Miaoxuan walked out side by side.
Li Miaoxuan asked softly, "How is it?"
Gu Yuanqing smiled slightly: "That's interesting."
He didn't say much, but Li Miaoxuan understood what he meant. The sparks generated by the collision of the two realms had indeed inspired him.
Although it is not enough to make him make great progress in his cultivation immediately, this inspiration will one day become an aid on his path.
In the distance, the Spirit Lord and the Lord of the Heavenly Pivot Prefecture walked and talked, their expressions very harmonious.
Xuanji Tianjun and Ling Yi walked side by side, seemingly discussing the topics for tomorrow's Dao discussion.
Today's discussion is just the beginning. Although the two sides seem to have had a deep conversation, they have only discussed the principles and not the practices.
While the Tao is fundamental, how to ascend to it is the culmination of wisdom from both realms.
……
Within the North Spring Cave.
Li Miaoxuan and Gu Yuanqing had different opinions.
Li Miaoxuan asked, "Do you think that through this discussion, cultivators from both realms might find a way to resolve this predicament?"
"It will be difficult. This matter cannot be resolved in a short time, especially for those who have already achieved great success. Their foundation is already established, like a tall building that has already been built. How easy is it to replace the beams and pillars? Moreover, the fundamental concepts of the sects in the Nine Domains Divine Continent are the foundation of the sect and are not easily understood by others. If it is just a copy, I'm afraid it will not be of much use. However, if this matter is successful, it will be a great achievement for generations to come!" Gu Yuanqing said with a smile.
In fact, Gu Yuanqing had long had some ideas about the Dao of the Two Realms. After all, he was the first person to cultivate the Dao of the Two Realms and achieve success. However, he did not intend to reveal them now, as it was not the right time yet.
Just like stir-frying, the timing of the heat and the addition of seasonings at the right time are crucial for making the dish more delicious.
Moreover, he also wanted to gain more from this discussion, and there was still plenty of time, so he wasn't in a hurry!
(End of this chapter)