Chapter 976
Riding the Green Ox, Setting Off Again!
Kaiyang Star, Eight Views Palace.
Back then, Ye Fan's actions on Ziwei Star and his competition on the Emperor's Road were a huge blow to Yin Tiande, so much so that they became an obsession and a knot in his heart. As a result, while God Venerable, Jin Chanzi and others had already achieved enlightenment in other ways, Yin Tiande was trapped at the ninth level of Quasi-Emperor, unable to truly break through himself and take that crucial step.
Therefore, a paradox arises: if Yin Tiande wants to take that step, he must resolve his obsession, and the best way to resolve his obsession is to defeat Ye Fan!
But how could that be possible? Not to mention that Ye Fan had already achieved the Great Perfection of the Sacred Body and attained Dao in an unconventional way, he has now truly proven the Dao and is even stronger than before. Even Yin Tiande, who is only at the ninth level of Quasi-Emperor, could probably be crushed by Ye Fan with a single finger. How could he possibly defeat Ye Fan and resolve his obsession?
Moreover, it is foreseeable that the further Ye Fan goes, the stronger he becomes, and the less Yin Tiande will be able to defeat him; his obsession will never be resolved.
Therefore, if you can't resolve your obsession, you either have to learn to accept it or let it go. Otherwise, your cultivation will probably never improve. After all, not everyone is like that empress, who had such a terrible obsession and was still able to go against the tide!
Clearly, Yin Tiande lacked the talent and ability to achieve that. His obsession was just a normal one, and Ye Fan was merely someone he wanted to defeat, not something he truly couldn't let go of.
In the original version of Shrouding the Heavens, Yin Tiande eventually challenged Ye Fan, but was defeated by Ye Fan with one hand. At that moment, Yin Tiande showed a relieved expression. Perhaps it was then that he truly let go of this obsession and truly accepted the fact that he was inferior to Ye Fan!
However, now that Yin Tiande is truly cultivating alongside Laozi in the Eight Views Palace, he has been influenced by Laozi to some extent. That tranquil and inactive mindset has weakened and suppressed his obsession to some degree.
Lao Tzu naturally saw the problem with his cultivation, but such obsessions can generally only be seen through, accepted, and let go by oneself, so he never interfered.
Even today, when Zhou Yi comes to seek his advice, he merely offers guidance to Yin Tiande while giving Zhou Yi pointers.
Having strong combat power does not equate to true strength. The true path of cultivation requires harmony with oneself and with the universe. If one's cultivation is not in harmony with oneself and with the universe, even if one gains a temporary advantage, it is impossible to maintain that advantage forever. He used this to enlighten and guide Yin Tiande, suggesting that he should let go of some of his obsessions.
Fortunately, Yin Tiande was also an extremely intelligent person, and he immediately understood his meaning. He did indeed have some enlightenment in his heart. Looking at the direction of Ye Fan's Heavenly Court in the starry sky, his long-standing obsession dissipated.
Then, he withdrew his gaze, let out a long breath, and all the pent-up frustration of the past years vanished. He bowed respectfully and said, "Master, I understand! Thank you for your guidance!"
Lao Tzu nodded and smiled, "Good that you understand! In this life, that Celestial Venerable has opened up the path to immortality. If you continue to be so immersed in the past and still make no progress, that would be such a pity!"
"Remember, don't rush things. The road ahead is long. Even if others take the lead and achieve enlightenment in a different way, so what? Even if they truly attain enlightenment, so what? Even if they truly undergo Nirvana and return several times, so what? Becoming an immortal is not the end. Even if you truly become an immortal, there is still a path ahead!"
"What you really need to do is to always maintain a positive mindset, not be influenced by external things or people, find the path that suits you best, walk slowly, and gradually understand the mysteries of this world. One day, you will catch up; it won't be too late!"
Upon hearing this, Yin Tiande took another deep breath and replied with utmost respect, "Yes! Master, I have learned a great deal! Today, Tiande has truly grasped Master's state of mind, tranquility and non-action. What is tranquility and non-action? Today, I have truly entered Master's sect and received Master's true inheritance!"
Laozi nodded with satisfaction. When he left his legacy on Ziwei Star, it was just something he did casually. It was fate that Yin Tiande was able to enter the Eight Views Palace and receive his legacy.
However, while Yin Tiande practiced the scriptures, he chose to learn and imitate them, resulting in a somewhat weaker state of mind. Especially after being repeatedly defeated by Ye Fan, his obsession remained unresolved, preventing him from making further progress. Now, however, he has eliminated his obsession, feeling much more relaxed and enlightened, and has truly entered Ye Fan's path.
So Lao Tzu laughed and said, "Now that you understand, go forth and seek your own path! There's no need to sit in seclusion in this Eight Views Palace. Go outside and explore; perhaps you'll gain something different!"
Upon hearing this, Yin Tiande immediately replied, "Yes! Tiande takes his leave!"
Then, he slowly withdrew from the Eight Views Palace.
Before long, outside the Eight Views Palace, Yin Tiande rode a Great Sage Green Ox, looked up at the deep universe and starry sky, and pointed with a relaxed smile. Instantly, the green ox stepped forward and strode into the universe and starry sky, leaving behind a strange phenomenon of purple aura that stretched for 30,000 miles, vast and mighty, filling the entire Kaiyang Star.
Everyone on Kaiyang Star looked up instantly, utterly astonished.
"Huh? Purple aura stretching for thirty thousand miles, what is this?!"
"Yin Tiande?!"
"He hasn't appeared for a long time. Ever since the God Venerable and others achieved enlightenment in different ways, he has been in seclusion in the Eight Views Palace. Why did he come out of seclusion today? Could it be that he has broken through and also achieved enlightenment in a different way?"
"No! He hasn't broken through yet! If he did, his boundless blood energy would surge into the universe, and he wouldn't yet possess the aura of someone who has attained enlightenment! But now that he's emerged from seclusion, he must be close to breaking through, right?"
"..."
On Kaiyang Star, the crowd was abuzz with discussion. Even Shen Pingkang, the Celestial Venerable of Longevity, in the Hall of Longevity couldn't help but turn his gaze over. Watching Yin Tiande ride the blue ox, his purple aura stretching for thirty thousand miles, he raised an eyebrow, then nodded and laughed, "Hahaha! Not bad! Very good! This is truly entering Laozi's gate, not just pretending or blindly imitating others! I look forward to the day you achieve enlightenment in your own unique way!"
At this moment, Yin Tiande paid no attention to the discussions of others. He sat leisurely on the green ox and stepped into the universe with the ox's steps. He wanted to travel to various places in the universe, just like Lao Tzu left Hangu Pass in the past, to find his own way!
He had done the same thing on Ziwei Star before, but at that time he was just learning and imitating without understanding Lao Tzu's true state of mind. His travels were nothing more than a pretentious performance art.
But now things are different. He has truly grasped Lao Tzu's state of mind, truly let go of his own obsessions, and once again rode the green ox, carrying a vast expanse of purple energy stretching for thirty thousand miles, heading towards the cosmos! (End of Chapter)