Chapter 975
Harmony with Heaven and Earth, Harmony with Oneself
Kaiyang Star, Eight Views Palace.
Zhou Yi sought guidance from Laozi, demonstrating his understanding of Yin-Yang, Bagua, and the Book of Changes. In an instant, a diagram of Yin-Yang, Bagua, and the Book of Changes appeared around him, its fleeting light illustrating the changes of Yin-Yang and Bagua in the universe, profound and mysterious, as if expounding the wonders of heaven and earth.
He was at the center of heaven and earth, like the Tai Chi symbol. The Yin-Yang, Bagua, and Zhouyi principles around him began to evolve continuously. Sometimes he was as clear and ethereal as the sky, and sometimes as heavy and solid as the earth. There were also the Taiyin and Taiyang, the changes of the Five Elements, and everything was contained in the Zhouyi, with endless changes.
Lao Tzu took a careful look and nodded silently.
Yin Tiande's gaze sharpened, and he raised his eyebrows, seemingly somewhat surprised, as he began to study the matter with a serious expression.
Clearly, Zhou Yi's Yin-Yang, Bagua, and Zhouyi Dao have inspired Yin Tiande. Although Zhou Yi is currently only at the seventh level of Quasi-Emperor, far inferior to Yin Tiande who is already at the ninth level of Quasi-Emperor, high cultivation does not mean high in everything. Some things can still be understood by analogy. Not to mention, as a successor of the Eight Views Palace, Yin Tiande is deeply influenced by Laozi and has a profound understanding of Yin and Yang. He and Zhou Yi's Zhouyi Dao have something in common, both using their own Dao to explain the mysteries of heaven and earth.
Moreover, Zhou Yi's talent is actually quite good. In fact, it can be said that among Ye Fan's many classmates, apart from Ye Fan, his cultivation talent is the strongest.
After all, in the original world of Shrouding the Heavens, when he was a Great Sage, the Woodcutter died, and he made his way through everything on his own, cultivating alone, and eventually reaching the high-level Quasi-Emperor realm. Although he had the advantage of the Golden Age and the background of the Woodcutter's previous cultivation and teaching, all of this shows that Zhou Yi's talent was top-notch in the universe. Even if he couldn't compare to geniuses like Yin Tiande, he was probably only a step behind Di Tian, Fairy Qing Shi, and others.
But things are different now. Zhou Yi has the guidance and training of Shen Pingkang, the Celestial Venerable of Longevity, and he has also come to Laozi for advice. It is foreseeable that his future achievements will definitely be stronger than in the original world of Shrouding the Heavens.
To reiterate, even people like Pang Bo and Zhang Wenchang, with Ye Fan's continuous investment and cultivation, were able to achieve enlightenment or even prove their Dao in unconventional ways. Why can't Zhou Yi do the same?
For example, at this very moment, Lao Tzu looked at Zhou Yi's Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams and the Book of Changes, pondered for a long time, and then casually pointed his finger at the Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams diagram that appeared behind Zhou Yi.
Instantly, the Yin-Yang Taiji diagram began to circulate. Taiji gave rise to Yin and Yang, Yin and Yang gave rise to the Four Symbols, the Four Symbols gave rise to the Eight Trigrams, and there was also the diagram of the Three Powers, Five Elements, and Nine Palaces. All of this encompassed all things, changing endlessly, forming the Way of the I Ching of Heaven and Earth.
In this Zhouyi Dao, Zhou Yi is at the center. As Laozi pointed, Yin and Yang, the Eight Trigrams, and the Three Powers, Five Elements, and Nine Palaces changed. Zhou Yi, who was in the center, suddenly changed his expression. Then he closed his eyes and carefully comprehended the changes. He changed with the changes of Yin and Yang, the Eight Trigrams. Suddenly, he felt as if he had truly become one with heaven and earth, operating Yin and Yang, the Eight Trigrams, the Five Elements, and the Nine Palaces, merging into them, and transforming his body into heaven and earth, feeling the infinite changes within.
After a long while, he suddenly opened his eyes, his expression showing a sudden realization. His eyes brightened, and he murmured to himself, "So that's how it is!"
Then, he took a deep breath, bowed respectfully to Laozi, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Laozi!"
Lao Tzu stroked his beard and asked with a smile, "Do you understand?" Zhou Yi nodded solemnly and replied, "Yes! I understand! The way of the Book of Changes is to merge oneself with heaven and earth, to become one with heaven and earth, only then can one truly perceive the infinite changes of the universe!"
Lao Tzu smiled and nodded, saying, "Then go! Go and comprehend your own world. As for the Way of Heaven and Earth, everyone's perception and understanding are different. You have your own world that you can see. As long as it resonates with you, you will naturally be able to reach the end!"
Zhou Yi bowed deeply again, said no more words of thanks, and slowly took his leave.
He didn't receive any specific secret techniques or cultivation methods from Lao Tzu, such as the "Zhe" secret and the method of accumulating immortal essence bestowed upon him by Shen Pingkang, the Celestial Venerable of Longevity. However, Lao Tzu gave him the most important inspiration and enlightenment, which was to see the world, manipulate the Yin-Yang Taiji diagram, and, based on his own characteristics, see the Great Dao of the world and to operate and comprehend the mysteries of the Great Dao of the world!
In fact, this is the essence of spiritual practice!
All personal cultivation, on the surface, is manifested in cultivation level: the Sea of Wheels, the Dao Palace, the Four Extremes, the Dragon Transformation, the Immortal Platform, the Saint, the Saint King, the Great Saint, the Quasi-Emperor, the Great Emperor. These are all just the surface of cultivation!
But in essence, all of this is about using one's own eyes and perceptions to explain the great principles of heaven and earth!
The Sea of Wheels, the Palace of Dao, the Four Extremes, the Dragon Transformation, the Immortal Platform, and so on are all just paths to cultivation. True cultivation still requires one's own comprehension and practice to see the world and align with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth!
And this is true creation! Creating your own path! Using your own insights to forge your own way!
It can be said that in the world of Shrouding the Heavens, this is the way of the Heavenly Venerables, Ancient Emperors, and Great Emperors. Only they are qualified to create laws and paths and forge their own way!
Of course, some exceptionally talented Great Sages, Quasi-Emperors, and unconventional Daoists will also try to create their own methods and paths, using their own cultivation insights to create their own cultivation methods, thereby establishing religions and sects. Many of the holy lands and sects of the Big Dipper came about in this way.
Moreover, those with special constitutions are essentially the same. Their constitutions are special, so their understanding of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth is naturally also extremely special. Their understanding in a certain aspect may be more profound than that of ordinary people with mortal bodies. Therefore, those with special constitutions can far surpass ordinary people with mortal bodies in terms of cultivation.
See with your own eyes, perceive the world through your own cultivation, and resonate with the world—this is Lao Tzu's Great Way!
But what suits Lao Tzu may not suit Zhou Yi. Everyone has their own unique insights and perspectives. Only by experiencing and understanding things for oneself can one create the most suitable path for oneself and then make great progress. If one learns from or imitates others step by step, one will always fall short.
At this moment, it wasn't just Zhou Yi who had gained some insight and understanding; Yin Tiande, who was sitting cross-legged to the side, also seemed to be deep in thought. After a long while, his expression suddenly became enlightened, as if he had figured something out!
Then, Lao Tzu looked at him and asked, "Do you understand now?"
Yin Tiande rose and bowed respectfully, saying, "Yes! This disciple understands! This disciple should seek his own path and walk his own way. He should not imitate his master, nor should he be disturbed by obsessions, be competitive, or be aggressive, thus losing peace and delaying his own cultivation. Cultivation is not about who has the strongest magic; that is only temporary. Only by truly aligning with heaven and earth and with one's own path can one find the right path of cultivation! This disciple was too attached!"
Having said that, he let out a long breath, looked up towards the direction of Ye Fan's Heavenly Court in the universe, and the gloom in his heart cleared away. Even his cultivation at the ninth level of the Quasi-Emperor realm seemed to loosen. Letting go of his obsessions, he might be able to take that crucial step! (End of this chapter)