Family Rise: Beginning with Grandfather.

Chapter 1082 Discussion
“Give Senior Luo a proper burial!” Yang Zhengshan said.

He then flashed and arrived at a large canyon in the western part of the Spirit Source Land.

This canyon is a thousand miles long, and its deepest part is a thousand feet deep, extending deep underground where yin energy gathers, making it seem like the deepest hell.

The Hall of Divine Souls is located at the deepest part of the canyon, in a dark and gloomy place.

As soon as Yang Zhengshan appeared, he felt the biting cold wind. The chill here did not come from the temperature, but from the yin energy.

Hehehe~~
A cheerful hiss rang out, and the red soul came to Yang Zhengshan's side, nuzzling affectionately against his chest.

Yang Zhengshan's lips curled up slightly as he reached out and stroked its soft mane.

"How is the Divine Soul Palace doing?"

Red Soul is the guardian of the Divine Soul Hall, but in fact, this place is more suitable for its cultivation and is of great benefit to its cultivation.

At the same time, it is not only responsible for guarding the Hall of Divine Souls, but also for teaching those newly born Yin Souls.

"Everything is fine, it's just that those guys are too stupid, they always like to run around!" Red Soul said in a childish voice.

It can already speak. Not only can it speak, but it can also transform into human form. However, it still prefers to be a horse and doesn't like to transform into human form.

Ghost cultivators are different from demon cultivators. Demon cultivators transform into human form in order to have a more suitable body for cultivation, that is, a body like a human.

The cultivation of ghost cultivators has nothing to do with that of immortal cultivators. Ghost cultivators only cultivate their souls and do not need a physical body, so the form of the body is irrelevant.

The "stupid fellow" that the red soul mentioned is the Yin spirit in the Divine Soul Palace.

The Divine Soul Hall was built on the orders of Yang Zhengshan after the Battle of Zhenyang Immortal City.

In that great battle, many people from the Spirit Origin Land died. Most of them perished near the True Yang Immortal City, and even their remnant souls could not be retrieved. Only a small number of people returned to the Spirit Origin Land, but died from their severe injuries.

Yang Zhengshan then ordered the construction of this Hall of Divine Souls to house the souls of the deceased.

It has only been a little over a decade, but there are already more than thirty Yin spirits in the Divine Soul Hall, which are ghost cultivators.

Although these ghost cultivators are still at the lowest level, they have a great chance to become ghost generals or even ghost kings in the future.

However, Yang Zhengshan will turn them into divine generals in the future.

To be honest, Yang Zhengshan's actions were somewhat unethical.

He expects people to serve him while they are alive, and even after they die, he still expects them to serve him.

Yang Zhengshan entered the Divine Soul Hall and placed Luo Cheng's remnant soul into a memorial tablet. This tablet was made of Yin Divine Wood and could store the divine soul within it.

The yin energy gathers here, and if a soul stays here, there is a high chance it will be transformed into a ghost cultivator.

Yang Zhengshan's arrival aroused the curiosity of many ghosts. These ghosts were as ignorant as newborn children. They had no memories of their previous lives, only some of their habits.

Upon seeing Yang Zhengshan, they couldn't help but surround him, seemingly curiously observing him.

It was only because Yang Zhengshan concealed his aura that these guys would have been scared away.

Yang Zhengshan waved his hand, and pure divine soul power seeped from his fingertips, flowing into the bodies of these Yin spirits.

These pure divine soul powers come from the Seven Treasures Soul-Suppressing Pagoda and originate from the divine soul of the Water Halberd.

After he killed the Water Halberd, he put the Water Halberd's soul into the Soul Returning Array of the Seven Treasures Soul Suppressing Pagoda. Then he transformed the Water Halberd's soul into pure soul power, giving a portion to the Red Soul, making the Red Soul a Ghost General, and keeping the rest until now.

Having obtained soul power, the group of Yin spirits were as excited as if they had received a delicious treat, and they began to circle around Yang Zhengshan even more enthusiastically.

"Master, me too!" Red Soul said with longing.

Yang Zhengshan's lips curled slightly, and he took out another wisp of soul power, "You'll get your share!"

Red Soul, with a horse-like face, absorbed the soul power with an expression of enjoyment.

Yang Zhengshan took another stroll around the Divine Soul Hall to make sure everything was normal before returning to the Immortal Palace.

Inside the celestial palace, Xuanzhen was already waiting in the Hall of Longevity. Upon seeing him return, Xuanzhen immediately stepped forward and laughed loudly, "You've finally emerged from seclusion!"

His attitude towards Yang Zhengshan had changed significantly; he was less respectful and more casual than before.

This is normal. He was only a Foundation Establishment cultivator before, and his status was not equal to Yang Zhengshan's. Even if he didn't like that respectful manner, he couldn't ignore the difference in their cultivation levels.

Now that his cultivation has reached the Golden Core Realm, he is on the same level as Yang Zhengshan, and has returned to his original carefree state.

"I haven't congratulated you on successfully forming your core yet! Congratulations!" Yang Zhengshan chuckled, completely unconcerned about Xuanzhen's change in attitude.

"That's right, I've finally caught up with you. All my years of hard work in cultivation have not been in vain!" Xuanzhen said freely.

Yang Zhengshan's lips curled slightly. "Catch up with me? You're still a long way off!"

As he spoke, his aura suddenly erupted, and his immense magical power filled the entire hall, almost pressing Xuanzhen to the ground.

Xuanzhen stared at him in astonishment, "Mid-stage Golden Core!"

"Heh, the difference isn't in cultivation level, but in supernatural abilities!"

Yang Zhengshan waved his hand, and Xuanzhen felt the surrounding space become closed off, as if he had been locked in a sealed room.

"This is!" Xuanzhen was somewhat confused.

He had just broken through and was not yet used to traveling between the void and the real world, so he did not notice the difference for a while.

Yang Zhengshan reached out and grabbed at the void, and Xuanzhen finally noticed the difference.

"I can't even sense the Great Void anymore!" His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Yang Zhengshan smiled and slowly walked up the steps to the main seat, saying, "Hehe, be more careful in the future. I am the master of the Immortal Palace!"

His words carried a hint of warning, yet he spoke as if it were a joke.

Actually, he was giving Xuanzhen a warning. He knew Xuanzhen too well; Xuanzhen was the kind of guy who would get into trouble if he wasn't disciplined for three days.

Even though he was over a hundred years old, his personality hadn't changed at all.

If we don't teach him a lesson, he might get cocky.

Upon hearing this, Xuanzhen pursed his lips and said, "Yes, this humble Taoist greets the True Lord!"

Yang Zhengshan stroked his beard, seemingly lost in thought, and said, "Isn't the title 'True Lord' too general? Don't you think I should have a more prestigious title?"

True Lord is an honorific title for Golden Core cultivators. Every Golden Core cultivator is called True Lord, and even some demon kings are sometimes referred to as True Lord.

However, those in positions of power are given different titles, such as Ancestor, Supreme Being, Demon Lord, and so on.

“Of course, how about I give you one!” Xuanzhen’s eyes darted around.

Yang Zhengshan glanced at him and said, "No need, I've already made up my mind!"

"Oh, what's your name?" Xuanzhen asked curiously. Yang Zhengshan stood up, hands behind his back, and said, "The Daoist Master of Withered Glory!"

"Daoist Venerable? Isn't that a bit too grand a title?" Xuanzhen asked.

"Then let's call him True Lord of Withering and Flourishing for now!" Yang Zhengshan said casually.

He didn't actually care about these fancy titles; he only chose them to make it easier for others to address him.

True Lord, True Lord, there are already four True Lords and one Demon King in the Spirit Source Land, all of whom are called True Lords, making it difficult to distinguish between them.

In the past, people would add a surname before the title, but that didn't sound as comfortable as a two-character title.

Since others couldn't give him a title, he simply gave himself one.

Compared to the Dao of the Great Void, he still prefers the Dao of Withering and Flourishing. Using Withering and Flourishing as a name can both demonstrate his supernatural powers and satisfy his desires.

In fact, he had an even more preferred title, which was "Longevity," such as the True Lord of Longevity or the Dao Lord of Longevity.

However, the words 'immortality' were too grandiose, and he wasn't thick-skinned enough to dare use them.

Immortality, immortality—the goal pursued by countless cultivators for billions of years.

But how many people in this world can achieve immortality?
Or is immortality really possible in this world?
Anyway, Yang Zhengshan has never heard of anyone who can achieve immortality.

Even the ruler of authority can only live for ten thousand years. As for the Dao Lord, he is not even as good as the ruler of authority.

"True Lord Ku Rong! It's so-so!" Xuanzhen chuckled.

Yang Zhengshan glared at him, knowing that this Taoist priest was not going to say anything nice.

However, he was magnanimous and didn't bother arguing with this guy.

"Have you chosen the palace?"

"I've chosen it. It will be in the palace where I'm in seclusion. I've already renamed it the Xuanzhen Dao Palace!"

"Well, do you have any other questions?"

“Yes, my supernatural power is the Golden Light Path, but I’m a little confused about the origin of this power,” Xuanzhen said with a serious expression.

Each Golden Core cultivator comprehends a different divine power, but their origins can all be traced back to the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. However, some divine powers appear exceptionally peculiar, belonging to the kind of existence that ordinary people cannot understand.

Xuanzhen cultivates the Eight Great Divine Incantations, and the foundation of the Eight Great Divine Incantations is the Golden Light Divine Incantation, so it is not surprising that he comprehends the Golden Light Dao.

However, the origin of the Eight Great Divine Incantations is somewhat peculiar, not belonging to the conventional immortal cultivation methods, and should be considered a rather unconventional immortal cultivation method.

Although Xuanzhen had a profound understanding of the Golden Light Divine Mantra, he had only recently formed his core, and his understanding of the divine power was still superficial. It was normal that he could not trace its origins.

Yang Zhengshan also practices the Golden Light Divine Mantra. Although he is currently only at the minor completion stage, his understanding of the divine arts is far superior to that of Xuanzhen.

Especially now that he has touched upon the origin of the Dao of the Great Void, and through this extensive understanding, he also has his own unique insights into other supernatural powers and doctrines.

"The Path of Golden Light? The Golden Light Divine Mantra? The Eight Great Divine Mantras!"

Yang Zhengshan pondered for a moment before saying, "The golden light is the pure Yang Qi that existed before Heaven and Earth."

"It appears as if it were empty, yet feels warm to the touch; it is silent to the ear, yet possesses power when wielded. One cannot grasp its form by grasping it, yet its trace can be seen by following it. It encompasses the universe without overflowing, and nurtures all living beings without sufficiency."

"Its energy is boundless, overflowing yet never overflowing; its light is silent, illuminating yet never extinguishing. Negative influences cannot obscure it, nor can evil spirits invade it. It does not overcome by force, therefore its nature is genuine."

He spoke a long string of cryptic and mysterious words, which made Xuanzhen frown deeply.

"What is meant by being born before Heaven and Earth?" Xuanzhen asked.

“Taiyi, Taichu, Taishi, Taisu, Taiji,” Yang Zhengshan said.

"When was the Pure Yang True Qi born?" Xuanzhen continued to ask.

“The Great Yi is emptiness, the Great Beginning is the origin, the Great Origin is the source, the Great Simplicity is the truth, the Taiji divides into Yin and Yang, and pure Yang naturally arises from the Taiji!” Yang Zhengshan said.

Xuanzhen stroked his beard, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Yang Zhengshan was referring to the Five Primordial Elements, which are the five stages of the universe's evolution from Wuji (the primordial state) to the creation of heaven and earth. To put it more precisely, it is the process of the universe coming into existence from nothing. To go even deeper, it is the initial stage of the formation of realms.

Taiyi can be understood as Taixu, which is infinitely vast. Boundaries arise from Taixu, which is to say, from Taiyi.

The so-called "primordial chaos" refers to the primordial energy, which can also be understood as the seed of a realm, the starting point for the formation of a realm.

The Great Beginning is the beginning of the formation of realms, from the formless to the formed, and is the source of everything in the world.

Tai Su represents the process from tangible to material, that is, the foundation of matter, and is therefore considered true.

Taiji represents the stage of creation, the way of heaven and earth, which uses the two energies of Yin and Yang to create all things. Heaven and earth, sun and moon, thunder and lightning, wind and rain, the four seasons, before and after midnight, as well as male and female, hard and soft, movement and stillness, manifestation and concealment—all things are divided into Yin and Yang.

This understanding came to Yang Zhengshan only after he deeply comprehended the Dao of the Great Void, and can be regarded as a process of the formation of the realm.

Of course, his understanding is also one-sided. The formation of a realm contains infinite Dao principles, which cannot be explained in just a few words.

However, it cannot be denied that Yang Zhengshan's insights on these matters are quite well-founded.

For Xuanzhen, Yang Zhengshan's words were like opening a door directly to the origin of the Great Dao, giving him a new understanding of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, and allowing him to feel the complexity and profundity of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.

However, it was still somewhat difficult for Xuanzhen to comprehend his own supernatural powers from this.

Seeing him deep in thought, Yang Zhengshan chuckled, “The Dao cannot be easily transmitted, nor can it be forced. As the saying goes, the Dao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Dao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. Nameless, it is the origin of heaven and earth; named, it is the mother of all things. Therefore, one should always be without desire, so as to observe its mystery; one should always have desire, so as to observe its manifestations. These two arise from the same source but have different names; they are both called profound. Profound and yet more profound, the gateway to all mysteries.”

The Dao is something that cannot be explained or described clearly; it cannot be taught by others, nor can it be forced upon oneself.

To attain enlightenment, one must follow the natural order.

When you are ready to understand, you will naturally understand; when you are not ready to understand, you can rack your brains and still not figure it out.

Xuanzhen snapped out of his reverie and sighed softly, "I was too hasty!"

"Hehe, it's all the same. When we first glimpse the path, everyone thinks they can see through everything, but in reality, you and I are just at the starting point of the journey."

"Take it slow. After a while, you'll be able to face it calmly!"

Yang Zhengshan spoke from his own experience.

Going with the flow isn't just a saying, it's a mindset.

In the path of immortality, one strives for resources and seizes opportunities. However, one's Dao heart cannot be contested or seized; one can only persevere and let nature take its course.

Yang Zhengshan often goes into seclusion to contemplate things, but he never sets goals for himself during these seclusions. He contemplates whatever he wants and whatever he can.

To attain enlightenment, mindset is very important.

(End of this chapter)