Chapter 1096
Efforts Gone Halfway
Chapter 1096 Efforts Gone Halfway
Tao Ji's eyes reddened, and he dared not look Xuan Miao in the eye. He looked away for a moment, and after holding back for a long time, he sobbed, "Junior sister, I don't want you to choose me out of gratitude."
The tenderness on Xuanmiao's face vanished instantly. Her hand moved faster than her mind could process, and she slapped him on the head: "If I don't love someone, I won't be moved even if that person is torn to pieces in front of me. If he dies for me, I will send his enemies to the underworld to meet him and let them continue to fight in the netherworld. But because it is you, I am afraid."
Tao Ji's face lit up immediately, and he grabbed Xuanmiao's hand: "Junior Sister!"
As Xuanmiao knelt before him, she snorted, "I'm trying to talk to you nicely, but you won't listen. You only believe me when I get angry?"
Pan Yun, who was standing to the side, shivered when she saw the two of them being affectionate again.
She rolled up her sleeves and glanced at her arms, only to see goosebumps all over them. She immediately turned away and ran to find Zhang Liuzhen.
She's just here to show off; she doesn't want to eat dog food, especially that cloying kind of dog food.
"Wang Guan is going to teach me the Dharma?" Zhang Liuzhen asked in astonishment.
Pan Yun urged, "Would you like to learn a phrase?"
After a moment of silence, Zhang Liuzhen bowed solemnly to Pan Yun and said in a deep voice, "Thank you!"
Pan Jun waved his hand dismissively: "We disciples of Sanqing Mountain are broad-minded. When we spread the teachings, we only value character and do not care about status."
Zhang Liuzhen looked at Pan Yun, who was secretly pleased with himself, and couldn't help but chuckle: "Yes, in this respect, Sanqing Mountain is indeed superior to Longhu Mountain."
He paused for a moment and then said, "But in terms of the transmission of the Dharma, Longhu Mountain will have a longer and more prosperous lineage than Sanqing Mountain."
Zhang Liuzhen sighed and said, "Good character is, after all, rare."
Pan Yun remained silent. She couldn't say he was wrong, because in later generations, Longhu Mountain was superior to Sanqing Mountain in terms of status, power, and reputation.
In the 26th century, Longhu Mountain not only had a complete system of inheritance, but also opened a Taoist academy on the site of the former academy. With government support, it not only taught Taoist practices, but also conducted research on ancient Taoist practices.
She had studied abroad during her university years.
As for Mount Sanqing, the small Taoist temple on the summit today has remained unchanged for nine centuries. Even after the great changes in the world in the 26th century, the same small Taoist temple still stands on the summit.
They only go to Sanqing Mountain to conduct research when they want to study the history, magic, and elixirs related to Taoist medicine.
Sanqingshan, which now holds a significant position, declined after the number of successors dwindled, especially in later generations, where only one person could be found per generation to carry on the tradition.
Sometimes, a successor may spend their entire life trying to find a suitable successor. In some cases, the abbot may pass away shortly after a successor is chosen, resulting in an incomplete succession and the gradual decline of Sanqingshan.
Pan Jun's eyes were filled with a turbulent mix of emotions.
It seems she needs to make some preparations for future generations.
Longhu Mountain is mainly based on the Zhang family tradition, which is a clan tradition.
In addition to their own disciples, they also recruit a large number of disciples and even select talented orphans from the common people, give them surnames, and teach them to become successful.
Li Wenying was an orphan who was entrusted to a junior disciple surnamed Li by Zhang Maocheng for upbringing, and was named Li Wenying.
Because the other party was taking care of him on his behalf, Li Wenying knew clearly that his benefactor was his master Zhang Maocheng and the Zhang family, so he was extremely loyal to the Zhang family.
Even without the academy jointly run by the imperial court and the Zhang family, the Zhang family would still have a large number of disciples. One person tells ten, ten tell a hundred, and Longhu Mountain would still be the place of the Taoist lineage, with immense power.
In contrast, the inheritance of Sanqingshan requires not only good character and talent, but also a certain aesthetic appeal.
This connection includes the mountain god, the abbot, and fellow disciples.
Pan Yun was brought up the mountain by Xuanmiao and Tao Ji. Regardless of the initial reason, the fact that the two of them brought her to Sanqing Mountain was itself an affirmation of her.
This is something Pan Yun only realized much later.
On the way up the mountain, Tao Ji sang a song that resonated with heaven and earth, because the mountain god lowered his eyes, and she was carried up the mountain in one leap, which means that Sanqing Mountain also recognized her.
When she first met Wang Feiyin, she thought he was attracted by her talent and wanted to take her in as a disciple. But after living together, she realized that Wang Feiyin would not accept all talented people into his fold.
Take Xue Shao, for example. He entered Sanqing Mountain more than once, but Wang Feiyin never considered letting him join the sect.
How could Sanqingshan possibly grow strong with such a cautious and demanding approach to accepting disciples?
Furthermore, the transmission of teachings at Sanqing Mountain does not necessarily involve accepting disciples. In other words, while their Taoist practices may be spread outwards, the reputation of Sanqing Mountain itself may not be.
Pan Yun decided to design a program to leave a spark for future generations of Sanqing Mountain.
Of course, what happens to future generations is a matter for them to consider; she did her best and left the rest to fate.
In the present moment, the people around us are the most important.
Pan Yun urged Zhang Liuzhen to go to Sanqing Mountain to study the Dharma.
Zhang Liuzhen hesitated for a moment, but still went.
He was gone for three months. When Zhang Liuzhen returned to the mountain, he was no longer the same Zhang Liuzhen.
Even an ordinary person like the emperor could see that he was different.
Because his complexion became rosy, his eyes became brighter, and he looked stronger.
Even the emperor was tempted and immediately summoned the imperial physician to take Zhang Liuzhen's pulse.
The man who was originally thought by the imperial physicians to be short-lived now has a new diagnosis: his pulse is getting stronger every day, and with proper care, he may have another four or five years to live.
Great, in just three months, I went from not living past thirty and dying young to easily passing thirty.
The emperor wanted to go to Sanqing Mountain.
Pan Jun felt that the emperor had eaten too much, and said to the emperor, "Your Majesty, my Sanqing Mountain is naturally rich in spiritual energy and has outstanding people, but the reason why Master Zhang's health is so good is more due to the cultivation methods of my Sanqing Mountain."
The emperor's eyes shone brightly.
Pan Jun was straightforward, saying, "Your Majesty does not have the talent for cultivation. Of course, if you have plenty of time and want to try, I will not hesitate to personally teach you."
The emperor didn't hesitate at all and immediately agreed.
So Pan Yun taught him the first stage of "All Trees Return to Spring," which, like all cultivation methods, begins with calming the mind and entering a meditative state.
So the emperor learned to sleep cross-legged.
After three months, he hadn't even developed any internal strength, let alone any sense of qi. However, because he often meditated and fell asleep, the time his legs were numb was decreasing, his thighs were getting thicker, but his flexibility was improving.
Three months passed, and a year went by. The emperor's patience finally ran out. He couldn't remember to cultivate unless Pan Yun appeared before him.
Cheng Jing initially reminded him earnestly, "Your Majesty, it's time for you to meditate."
Later, Cheng Jing discovered that every time he brought it up, the emperor would frown and be displeased, and several times he would pretend not to hear it. So Cheng Jing cleverly stopped bringing it up.
Pan Yun was in seclusion and busy, and those around him no longer mentioned it. In addition, the new year had just passed and the court was busy with state affairs. By the time the emperor remembered about cultivation, it was already June of the fourth year of Jingtai, and the national teacher's birthday was approaching.
The emperor then realized that his cultivation path had made no progress at all.
The emperor was very worried, and he couldn't help but sigh.
But he was used to being mild-mannered, so he sulked to himself. An hour later, he calmed himself down and summoned Cheng Jing to ask, "Where is the Imperial Preceptor?"
Cheng Jing bowed and said, "The Imperial Preceptor has gone to the grasslands to perform rituals and pray for the herdsmen."
(End of this chapter)