Under one person: I, Zhang Zhiwei, the arrogant Zhang.

Zhang Zhiwei did not refuse Lü Ci's request. In any case, this kind of thing was not difficult for him. He asked Lü Ci for the address of Lü Family Village, and his figure turned into a bolt of lightning and disappeared into the horizon of Longhu Mountain.

Lüjia Village is located in the mountains where Huizhou Prefecture and Jiangxi Province meet, and the entire village is a typical example of Huizhou-style architecture.

Rows of ancient courtyards with white walls and black tiles, with tall horse-head walls like screens and mountains, layer upon layer, and eaves like wings, exude a unique, inviolable dignity and reserved closed-off nature of clans and families amidst the swirling clouds and mist.

When Zhang Zhiwei appeared in front of the archway of Lüjia Village like a bolt of lightning, the entire village was instantly alarmed.

Lu Ci was the first to run out, followed by the head of the Lu family, several white-haired elders of the family, and a large group of Lu family members, all coming out of the village to greet him.

"The entire Lü family respectfully welcomes the young Celestial Master!"

The crowd shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the valley. The scene was grand, and such a high level of respect was evident in their reverence and regard for Zhang Zhiwei.

"You're too kind, everyone!"

Zhang Zhiwei waved his hand and said.

"Not at all, the arrival of the young Celestial Master is a great honor for my Lü family. We have been too uncivilized in our hospitality!" the Lü family head said with a smile.

When Zhang Zhiwei arrived, the Lü family should have held a grand banquet to entertain him. However, with the country facing a crisis, it was not appropriate to engage in such formalities, so everything was kept simple.

After some pleasantries, everyone ushered Zhang Zhiwei to the ancestral hall and to the seat of honor. Zhang Zhiwei went straight to the point, asking the head of the Lü family:

"Patriarch Lü, how many people does the Lü family plan to send to fight the Japanese pirates?"

After a moment's contemplation, the head of the Lü family said, "The rise and fall of a nation is the responsibility of every citizen. My Lü family has been rooted in the Central Plains for a thousand years, and we have never produced a coward. All the elders and young men within the family who have achieved some level of cultivation are ready to fight. Of course, this matter concerns life and death, so everything is entirely up to the individual."

"Excellent!" Zhang Zhiwei exclaimed.

"I learned about the Little Celestial Master's training methods from my good-for-nothing second son. I wonder if the Little Celestial Master could use his supernatural powers to make arrangements for my Lü family? My Lü family would be eternally grateful!" The Lü family head adopted a very humble attitude.

“Patriarch Lü, you’re too kind. When I was slandered by the Quanxing demons, you stood firmly by my side. Given my relationship with Lü Ci, I certainly had to help. As for thanks, that would be too formal,” Zhang Zhiwei said with a smile.

"What do you need to prepare to set up the formation, Little Celestial Master?" asked Patriarch Lü.

"No need to prepare anything, just gather those who want to deal with the Japanese pirates," Zhang Zhiwei said.

Immediately, the head of the Lü family hurriedly made arrangements, and before long, the men and women gathered at the ancestral hall of Lü Family Village.

Afterwards, Zhang Zhiwei asked them to form teams according to their relationships, with fifteen people per team. However, in the end, they couldn't make up fifteen people; there were only three.

Seeing this, the head of the Lü family frowned and said, "Little Celestial Master, should we find a few more people to participate?"

“No need, three people can also activate it, but with three people, it will probably be more challenging in the inner realm trial,” Zhang Zhiwei said.

Upon hearing that it was challenging, Lü Ci, who had been standing at the front of the crowd, suddenly had a glint of light in his eyes!
What he likes most is a challenge!
He exchanged a glance with Lü Ren standing beside him. A hint of helplessness flashed in Lü Ren's eyes, but since he was Lü Ci's brother, he could only follow along.

The two of them stepped forward.

"I'll take the lead, let's go for the formation with the fewest people!"

Lu Ci strode over to the remaining three people, pointed to himself and Lu Ren, and told them to switch. Of course, the two of them had no reason not to switch, so they quickly stood in Lu Ci's previous position.

“Three people is just right! Fewer people means more fun to fight. I want to see just how challenging this so-called challenge really is,” Lü Ci said with a smile.

Zhang Zhiwei grinned as he watched Lü Ci rubbing his hands together, thinking, "You'll get what's coming to you later."

Subsequently, just as he had done before at Longhu Mountain, Zhang Zhiwei set up several "Returning Origin Formations" in the ancestral hall of Lüjia Village.

The interior scene still contained the infamous "Verdun Meat Grinder" instance. To facilitate the Lü family's monitoring of their disciples' training, he also installed a similar surveillance-like projection screen above the heads of these participants.

The people of Lüjia Village had never seen such unfathomable and miraculous methods before. They gathered around the light screen, dumbfounded and exclaiming how incredible it was.

Of course, what they found even more incredible was the interior setting.

The terrifying battlefield, the devastating artillery fire, and the various ways their proud members of the Lü family were blown to pieces and riddled with bullets—the sight brought tears to the eyes of many women and children of the Lü family, who covered their faces and wept.
The thought of their husbands, sons, and brothers being sent to this hellish battlefield clenched their hearts.

Even the head of the Lü family, a renowned figure in the martial arts world, hesitated. He was a seasoned veteran, having witnessed the chaos of warlord battles, but compared to the terror depicted in the inner realm, those battles were child's play. The rows of massive cannons, like steel behemoths, sent chills down his spine.

He couldn't help but ask Zhang Zhiwei, "Little Celestial Master, are all battles against the Japanese pirates... this brutal?"

Zhang Zhiwei shook his head and told the truth: "The national strength of the Japanese pirates is still somewhat inferior to that of the two countries depicted in the inner scene. Their artillery fire cannot reach that intensity."

Upon hearing this, the head of the Lü family breathed a slight sigh of relief.

“However,” Zhang Zhiwei changed the subject, “the ferocity of the Japanese pirates is only greater than that of the enemies in the interior scene.”

“Ferocity is not scary!” A ruthless glint flashed in the eyes of the Lu family head: “The dogs raised by my Lu family are all very ferocious, but so what? As long as they are not completely powerless to fight like in this illusion and are worn down by enemy fire, as long as they can still fight, there is a chance!”

Zhang Zhiwei nodded and said, "That makes sense. The Japanese pirates have their advantages, and we have ours. By using our strengths to attack their weaknesses, we have a chance of victory!"

After exchanging a few more words with the head of the Lü family, Zhang Zhiwei did not stay in Lü Family Village for long. After giving some instructions, he left.

Not long after Zhang Zhiwei left, Wang Ai, who had returned to Chongqing from Shanghai, wanted to contact Lü Ci to discuss some matters, but found that she could not get in touch with him no matter what she tried.

He thought something had happened to Lü Ci, so he managed to contact the Lü family head. After learning that Lü Ci was actually conducting battlefield trials in the inner realm set up by Zhang Zhiwei, Wang Ai was greatly surprised and immediately went to contact Zhang Zhiwei again.

Zhang Zhiwei briefly explained the uses of the Guiyuan Formation to him, and casually asked if the Wang family would like to try out a few Guiyuan Formations as well.

As a result, Wang Ai refused without even thinking. "No, no, no!" Wang Ai repeatedly refused on the other end of the phone: "Our Wang family is not born to do this. Our family's 'Divine Coating' technique is good for intelligence gathering and logistical support. But this kind of work that requires going to the battlefield and fighting with real weapons, forget it, forget it."

Although he had a great time following Zhang Zhiwei to Liaodong last time and had fought his way through the enemy lines, he didn't want to experience that kind of danger of losing his life at any moment again.

Therefore, naturally, I don't want to suffer in such a dangerous interior.

Wang Ai didn't go, and Zhang Zhiwei didn't force her to.

Shortly after, the Left Master of the Sanyi Sect also contacted him.

It turned out that not long ago, Lu Jin contacted Zhang Zhiwei through the Yin-Yang Paper. He learned from Zhang Zhiwei's loose tongue that Longhu Mountain was training troops in the Guiyuan Formation. He realized that this was superior to the Sanyi Sect, so he went to report to his master, Zuo Ruotong.

In fact, he could have invited Zhang Zhiwei to help himself. Even if he had asked, Zhang Zhiwei would have given him face. But Lu Jin didn't. He felt that matters concerning the entire sect should be decided by his master.

Zuo Ruotong was deeply shocked when she learned of this news.

Although the San Yi Sect also used illusions in its pre-battle training, he knew very well that the illusions created by the illusion masters he had invited were far inferior to the Guiyuan Array created by Zhang Zhiwei, which could connect everyone's mental world and simulate real death, in terms of strength, effect, and realism.

The Left Sect Master was extremely concerned about the lives of his disciples. He immediately contacted Zhang Zhiwei, earnestly requesting that he come to the Sanyi Sect to make arrangements for the disciples.

Zhang Zhiwei had no reason to refuse such a thing, and immediately set off for the Sanyi Sect headquarters in Fujian.

Similarly, he received the highest honors from everyone in the Sanyi Sect. After some pleasantries, Zhang Zhiwei also set up several "Return to Origin Formations" for the members of the Sanyi Sect.

It is worth mentioning that after handing over the affairs of the sect, Zuo Ruotong actually participated in this training herself.

Given his level of cultivation, the interior scenery arranged by the "National Preceptor" should theoretically have no effect on him at all.

However, he deliberately sealed away most of his power, and like an ordinary disciple, he fought, battled, died, and resurrected in the illusion...

In order to immerse himself more fully, he maintained only the physical strength of a normal person from beginning to end.

As a result, this Great Ying Immortal, the pinnacle of the supernatural world, was also blown to death several times by the overwhelming artillery fire.

Because the Left Sect Master was going to personally participate in the battle, the Sanyi Sect mobilized almost its entire force, with everyone signing up for the special training, unlike Longhu Mountain, where many Taoists were unwilling to go.

This made Zhang Zhiwei uneasy: what if the Sanyi Sect was wiped out in this war, ending up as a family of loyal martyrs? After all, in the original story, the Sanyi Sect's final fate was extermination...

Afterwards, after the Left Gate Master came out of the inner realm, Zhang Zhiwei had a private talk with him.

Zuo Ruotong's realm means that the inner realm cannot confine him; he can awaken from the Guiyuan Formation at any time.

The minimum operating condition for the Guiyuan Formation is three people, so he can come out from inside at any time without affecting the normal operation of the formation.

However, the disciples inside the inner realm who are used to fighting under his leadership may find it somewhat difficult to adjust.

Upon hearing Zhang Zhiwei's concerns, Zuo Ruotong first thanked him for his concern for the Sanyi Sect, then smiled and said that he was overthinking it.

"Young Daoist Zhiwei, rest assured. Since we are going down the mountain to fight the Japanese pirates, I have naturally made some corresponding arrangements."

"First of all, don't be fooled by the fact that almost the entire San Yi Sect has signed up for special training and wants to follow me down the mountain. I know very well that many of them are not truly motivated by a sense of national duty, but simply want to follow me. For example, that kid Li Muxuan is one of them."

“I will not take these disciples who are unwilling to get involved in killing to the real battlefield. I will only take those disciples who are truly committed to saving the country and who have passed this special training down the mountain.”

"Furthermore, I will not take too many people with me at once. I will take them in small groups. For me, saving the country is secondary this time. My main purpose is to take my disciples to experience the world and improve their mental state. Therefore, ensuring their safety is the top priority."

Hearing Zuo Ruotong's words, Zhang Zhiwei finally felt relieved. This Great Ying Immortal was far more insightful and thoughtful than he had imagined.

After setting up the Guiyuan Formation for the Sanyi Sect, Zhang Zhiwei did not leave immediately. Instead, he was invited by Zuo Ruotong to a quiet room inside the sect to enjoy tea and discuss the Dao.

Inside the quiet room, a faint wisp of sandalwood incense wafted from the incense burner, while outside the window, bamboo shadows swayed and pine trees rustled in the breeze. The two sat facing each other, with a pot of tea and a few plates of light snacks, the atmosphere serene and profound.

Zuo Ruotong poured Zhang Zhiwei another cup of tea: "Young friend Zhiwei, I have recently gained some insights into the 'Saint Thief' technique and would like to discuss them with you."

Zhang Zhiwei put down his teacup: "Please speak, Master Zuo!"

Zuo Ruotong slowly began to speak: "The Tao Te Ching says: 'Heaven and earth are ruthless, treating all things like straw dogs.' Most people interpret this as heaven and earth being heartless, regarding all things as worthless. But I have recently come to understand another meaning."

"Straw dogs are used in sacrifices; they are adorned when in use and discarded afterward. Heaven and earth view all things in the same way. Birth, growth, harvest, and storage all follow their own way. Heaven does not rejoice because of the birth of a single thing, nor grieve because of its death. This is not heartlessness, but rather the utmost selflessness and impartiality."

“Cultivating the ‘Sage Thief’ means borrowing the power of heaven and earth, which is like borrowing from this selfless heaven and earth. I believe the key to this path is not how much one can borrow, but how to ‘not be indebted’.”

"The power of heaven and earth is like an inexhaustible treasure trove. The Yin Fu Jing says, 'The universe is in your hand, and all transformations are born from your body.' It seems inexhaustible. However, when entering this treasure trove, one must restrain one's desires and always maintain a sense of awe."

"Only take the Qi that naturally overflows from heaven and earth during one's own cultivation to make up for one's own deficiencies, without actively plundering even a trace of the original Qi of heaven and earth, and do not take even a hair out of the tree."

"Only in this way can we achieve what the Tao Te Ching says: 'To give birth to things without possessing them, to act without relying on them, to nurture them without dominating them; this is called profound virtue.'"

"Because I increasingly feel that no matter how much one takes from heaven and earth, it ultimately belongs to heaven and earth. What is borrowed must be returned, and one day it will return to heaven and earth. Only one's own nature and destiny, which are sublimated and refined through cultivation, are eternal."

"And in this process, I have also begun to understand more things. What is 'I'? What is 'heaven and earth'?"

"As Zhuangzi said in the chapter 'On the Equality of Things': 'Heaven and earth and I were born together, and all things and I are one.' When I no longer deliberately 'steal' but integrate myself into this great cycle of heaven and earth, I can more clearly perceive my own essence and subjectivity."

"I feel that I am getting closer and closer to the realm that my patriarch spoke of." (End of Chapter)