This place is fun

Chapter 203 Fourfold Barrier

Su Daoshan naturally couldn't hear the commotion in the Spirit Realm.

When he stepped onto the final step of the three-tiered barrier, and the illusion vanished before his eyes, everything was quiet.

There was no light gate that appeared when breaking through the second barrier, no music or rituals, no instructors in green robes to greet you, and even the platform for the third barrier that should have appeared was nowhere to be seen.

All that appeared before my eyes was a hazy mist.

I felt as if I were in a mountain.

A clear and melodious bird song drifted over, and Su Daoshan walked forward along the stone path beneath his feet.

After passing through a bamboo grove covered with fallen leaves, and following a clear stream with a babbling brook, and crossing a small stone bridge covered with moss, Su Daoshan saw a small courtyard with green tiles and bamboo fences.

In the courtyard, an elderly man in simple clothes was sitting in a rattan chair, drinking tea and reading a book.

"come in."

Upon seeing Su Daoshan, the old man put down his book and smiled.

"This student pays his respects to the venerable sir." Su Daoshan entered the courtyard, bowed, and said, "I am unaware of this place..."

“Now that you have passed the third level, this is naturally the fourth level.” The old man gestured to Su Daoshan not to stand on ceremony, picked up the kettle on the small clay stove, and personally poured him a cup of tea.

After thanking him, Su Daoshan sat down, picked up his teacup, and took a sip. He immediately felt a pleasant fragrance in his mouth. Most importantly, he felt that after taking that sip of tea, his spirit suddenly became stronger, as if he had received a wonderful nourishment.

This is not an illusion.

According to Su Daoshan's estimation, his mental strength had increased by at least one percent.

"Excellent tea!" Su Daoshan praised, then took the initiative to pour a refill for the old man, and also poured himself a cup.

The old man had a half-smile on his face, but he didn't stop them. He just asked with a smile, "What is the Way of Heaven?"

"They're launching into this ultimate move right from the start, asking such a profound question?" Su Daoshan paused slightly in his tea-serving hand and asked, "Is this a test question?"

The old man shook his head and said, "No."

“I don’t know.” Su Daoshan shook his head even faster.

The old man laughed and said, "Although it's not a test question, it can be interpreted in different ways. A good answer is a stroke of luck."

"Oh?" Su Daoshan became interested and asked, "What kind of divinely ordained opportunity?"

"Then it depends on how well you answer. The greatest chance is to obtain one of the five righteous arts," the old man said leisurely.

Upon hearing this, Su Daoshan's heart skipped a beat, but he immediately shook his head without changing his expression, looking completely uninterested.

As is well known, different professions in the extraordinary world follow their own paths. Martial artists, apart from being able to randomly comprehend miscellaneous extraordinary arts through the "Illusion Diagram of Extraordinary Arts," cannot use the extraordinary arts of other legitimate professions.

However, this is different for scholars and intellectuals.

Because scholars have a path of "imitation." As long as a scholar awakens to this path, even if he cannot perfectly replicate the extraordinary skills of other professions, he can still use about 60-70%.

Moreover, according to Su Daoshan, as one's realm increases, the methods of imitation will evolve, not only allowing for the solidification of more imitation techniques, but also resulting in higher similarity in the imitations.

Under such circumstances, Su Daoshan could naturally adopt a certain attitude.

He was very familiar with the tricks of haggling and feigning indifference, which he had been practicing since childhood with his old Taoist master.

"Oh?" The old man was somewhat surprised to see Su Daoshan's expression. After thinking for a moment, he understood and smiled, "What if we add corresponding exclusive professional characteristics?"

"What about characteristics of other professions?" Upon hearing this, Su Daoshan couldn't hold back any longer.

That's a unique feature!

Different characteristics are the foundation of different extraordinary professions!
Su Daoshan originally didn't want to answer the old man's question. The question of "What is the Heavenly Dao" was too broad. Even if it was a native, orthodox, unorthodox technique, he didn't feel it was worth it.

However, if we add a unique trait specific to another profession, that would be enough.

Imagine a scholar who possesses hidden talents and unique skills in agriculture, industry, or commerce. How unexpected it would be if he were to unleash them at a crucial moment!
“You can choose any of the five righteous paths,” the old man said. “However, given your current level, your special skills and special characteristics are limited to the human realm.”

"Oh." Su Daoshan said with a slight regret. However, he also knew that just as a student who had completed a preliminary examination could not write an essay suitable for the imperial examination, or an apprentice who could not carve a masterpiece, extraordinary martial artists were also limited by their own level of cultivation.

If one's level of attainment is insufficient, one cannot comprehend the corresponding extraordinary techniques, and the same applies to special characteristics.

Su Daoshan sat up straight and said, "Please ask your question, sir."

"What is the Way of Heaven?" the old man asked.

“Man follows the earth, the earth follows heaven, heaven follows the Tao, and the Tao follows nature,” Su Daoshan said without hesitation.

Upon hearing this, the old man's eyes lit up with wonder. Above his head, colorful clouds gathered. The sounds of the bamboo grove and the flowing stream that had surrounded the courtyard fell silent at that moment.

"What is the Way of Heaven?" the old man continued to ask.

"Survival of the fittest," Su Daoshan said after thinking for a moment.

The old man's eyes gleamed with even greater intensity. He silently pondered those eight words for a long time before finally asking, "What is the Way of Heaven?"

"If a person doesn't look out for themselves, they'll be punished by heaven and earth," Su Daoshan replied.

"What is the Way of Heaven?" the old man asked.

This time, Su Daoshan paused for a moment, then said slowly and deliberately, "As heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement."

The old man suddenly stood up.

At this moment, seven-colored clouds gathered in the sky above the courtyard, resembling a great river stretching to the horizon. Within this river, colorful clouds rolled and starlight shone, and countless figures in elegant robes and hats seemed to emerge from the depths of history.

All eyes were on Su Daoshan.

At the same time, twelve melodious bells rang in Su Daoshan's ears.

As the bell tolled, the old man's face flushed with excitement. It took him a long time to recover from his shock before he bowed deeply to Su Daoshan, saying, "Hearing your words, young friend, is like a sudden enlightenment. I have learned a great deal."

Su Daoshan accepted the bow without hesitation, and only after the old man bowed again did he quickly get up to avoid him and return the bow.

This was not because Su Daoshan was arrogant or presumptuous; rather, it was because his answers to the old man's four questions about the Dao were based on the most precious wisdom of his predecessors from his past life.

The first question, "What is the Way of Heaven?", is Su Daoshan's answer at the level of the "Way." He uses a classic discussion from the *Tao Te Ching*. Lao Tzu left behind the *Tao Te Ching*, a five-thousand-word text, after leaving Hangu Pass, and it is revered as the king of all classics, every word a gem.

The four characters "Dao follows nature" directly reveal the essence of the Way of Heaven. Such a classic statement resonates with Heaven and Earth; how could it not move people?

The second question, "What is the Way of Heaven?", is answered by Su Daoshan at the level of "Heaven," using Darwin's theory of evolution. The eight characters "survival of the fittest" are not just applicable to the evolution of species, but a law encompassing all things in the universe.

The third question, "What is the Way of Heaven?", was answered by Su Daoshan at the level of the Earth. He used the Buddhist classic "The Sutra of the Ten Virtuous Deeds," and the meaning of the saying "If a person does not act for himself, he will be punished by Heaven and Earth" is not as selfish as commonly believed.

In fact, the word "为" in this sentence is pronounced with a second tone. It means to achieve or to accomplish.

On this vast land, all things grow and flourish. Grasses, trees, birds, beasts, and even mountains and rivers, each have their own form and their own meaning of existence. Under the law of natural selection, every living thing actively grows and evolves, thus achieving its own fulfillment.

This is the calling of all spirits.

As for the fourth question, "What is the Way of Heaven?", Su Daoshan's answer is at the level of "humanity." On the surface, this level seems the lowest, but the question of the Way of Heaven, from the grand to the specific, ultimately asks about humanity and must be addressed in the human context.

If there were no people, there would be no question about the Way of Heaven. Therefore, for those born as human beings, this question is the most difficult to answer.

Faced with this problem, Su Daoshan used the Book of Changes, a timeless classic hailed as the foremost of all classics and the source of the Great Way.

The Book of Changes (I Ching) was created by Fu Xi with the Eight Trigrams, King Wen with the Sixty-Four Hexagrams, and Confucius with the Commentary on the Book of Changes. It embodies the wisdom of these three sages and inspired the thoughts of Confucianism, Taoism, Mohism, and other schools of thought. Its profoundness and high status are self-evident.

Many people in later generations regarded the Book of Changes as a miscellaneous book for divination and fortune telling, which was a waste of its precious resources.

Every word in the I Ching tells you about the choices you can make and the corresponding changes that come with them, depending on the time and space you are in, the different stages of development you are facing, and the different circumstances you are in.

The phrase "As heaven's movement is ever vigorous, so should a gentleman constantly strive for self-improvement" from the Qian hexagram is a concise summary, representing the fundamental principle for a person to establish themselves in the world.

It is humanity's response to the Way of Heaven!

These four sentences are the culmination of Su Daoshan's three views, the result of his twenty years of education in his previous life, and his reflections on the philosophy of life and the Way of Heaven.

In a past life, it might have been insignificant. But in this world, even a single sentence from the Tao Te Ching is like a rare treasure appearing in the world, dazzling and resounding.

Therefore, Su Daoshan was worthy of this courtesy! After returning the greeting, the two sat down again. By this time, the strange phenomenon in the sky had also dissipated. The old man looked at Su Daoshan, feeling an irresistible urge to speak, yet unable to find the words.

Although Su Daoshan's answers were only fragmentary, with the sensitivity of countless sages throughout heaven and earth, how could he not know the profound wisdom hidden behind each word?

In particular, the phrases "The Way follows nature" and "As heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement" offer a glimpse into the essence of things, making one want to explore and delve deeper.

However, the old man restrained himself and took out a scroll, unfolding it on the table. On the scroll appeared a village with green hills and clear waters, crisscrossing paths, and neatly arranged farmhouses.

Smoke curls from chimneys in the village; cowherds play in the water; farmers till the fields; peddlers sell their wares; craftsmen work; soldiers drill… In the village school, teachers and students recite in unison.

The old man gestured with his hand, inviting the young man to choose one of the Five Elements Arts. Please, young friend.

Su Daoshan carefully examined the miniature world before him. Farmers, craftsmen, peddlers, and others were all surrounded by a shimmering magic circle. As long as one's divine sense touched it, illusions would appear, demonstrating the extraordinary skills of this profession.

Su Daoshan looked up at the old man and asked, "If it were you, sir, which path would you choose?"

The old man said, "The way of agriculture is stable, the way of commerce is slippery, the way of industry is unpredictable, the way of military affairs is tough... Each has its own advantages, it just depends on which aspect you need more. What I have chosen may not be suitable for you."

Su Daoshan nodded; he had actually asked casually. But based on his own needs and his understanding of various industries, he immediately had an idea.

First, this extraordinary technique and its corresponding characteristics must be sufficiently secretive. Ideally, even if used, it shouldn't be easily revealed.

Secondly, special skills and unique characteristics must complement one's own abilities and be able to play a sufficient role in critical moments, becoming a trump card for survival.

With that in mind, Su Daoshan quickly identified several targets.

First, there is the farming of the agricultural road.

The unique characteristic of the Agricultural and Woodworking Path is its affinity with nature, including plants and animals, allowing it to foresee the seasons and utilize the terrain. It also possesses powerful regenerative abilities. In battle, it is far more tenacious than other extraordinary martial artists.

The farming skill is the initial special skill of the farmer path in the agricultural and woodworking way. Mastering this skill not only gives one the ability to plant and harvest, but also the ability to control plants.

Tang Mo'er, whom Su Daoshan rescued earlier, followed this path. It was precisely because of the powerful regenerative abilities granted by this path that she was able to survive the pursuit of the Nether Demon.

What Su Daoshan valued was the resilience of the farmer's approach.

If I can master this path, I will become the most resilient among the scholars of the Shitu Dao. And at crucial moments, manipulating plants to unexpectedly bind opponents will also be a deadly move.

Secondly, what Su Daoshan was interested in was Bingjindao's [strategy].

The unique characteristic of the Bingjin Dao is that they are heavily armored and wield sharp weapons, possessing unparalleled bravery. They have attack power, defense, and vitality far exceeding that of ordinary people.

When facing off against others, the armored warriors of the Golden Path naturally possess greater power and can forcefully gain the upper hand in battle, turning the tide of battle.

Moreover, armored men are not only tough, but also incredibly tenacious. It's no exaggeration to say that defeating an armored man in a direct confrontation is harder than climbing to heaven. Even if an armored man is only half alive, he is still extremely difficult to deal with.

Moreover, given the opportunity, his recovery speed is not slow. Apart from lacking the healing abilities of the extraordinary profession of Agriculture, his physical self-healing ability is even superior to that of martial artists in the Agriculture path.

The three paths to becoming a soldier are self-strengthening, weapon mastery, and tactical strategy.

The initial special skill corresponding to the tactical strategy path is the execution of the strategy.

Besides these two, the industrial fire route and the commercial waterway also possess their own alluring magical abilities. In particular, the commercial waterway's transportation route, with its single complete version of the [Mist Dispersion] technique, is enough to make anyone's heart flutter.

Since arriving in this world, Su Daoshan himself has lost count of how many times he has escaped death by copying the "Mist Disperses" painting.

After much deliberation, Su Daoshan made his choice.

He cast his divine sense at the soldiers who were training. As soon as he made his choice, a beam of light flew out from the magic array on the soldier's body and entered Su Daoshan's brow. Immediately afterward, the scroll on the table, along with the village that had appeared, turned into light mist and disappeared.

"Congratulations." The old man smiled and raised his teacup.

Su Daoshan smiled and raised his cup in thanks. Although he was still in the spiritual realm, he had already sensed the changes in himself in the real world as that ray of light entered.

As a scholar who studies literature, and also possessing the characteristics of a warrior who wears armor and a unique skill, I can be considered both a scholar and a warrior, right?

Su Daoshan could not hide his excitement.

If he weren't still climbing mountains and overcoming obstacles, he would have loved to return to the real world immediately and try out the benefits of combining military strategy with practical application.

Thinking of this, Su Daoshan asked curiously, "How many people possess both professional characteristics?"

The old man chuckled and said, "There are as many as there are who have passed the fourth level."

"So, it's just me?" Su Daoshan asked in surprise.

The old man nodded and said, "Originally, when ascending the Heavenly Ladder of Inquiry, you could freely choose each level. Once you reached a certain level and didn't want to continue, you could directly enter the Tower of Inquiry. Otherwise, if you failed a level, all your previous efforts would be wasted..."

Upon hearing this, Su Daoshan's eyes widened. He had just passed through three trials before being forcibly dragged into this fourth one.

But the old man continued, "However, after passing the third test, the fourth test is mandatory. Just like the imperial examination followed by the palace examination. Therefore, as compensation, this question is posed before the fourth test begins. This question is profound, and it is not expected that anyone can answer it perfectly; it is simply a matter of opinion. The opportunities bestowed by heaven vary from person to person."

As the old man spoke, he exclaimed with emotion, "Your ability to rouse so many sages to manifest your divine power is unprecedented, and I fear there will be no one like you in the future."

Su Daoshan asked curiously, "Will the same question be asked on the second and third levels of Tiandao Mountain in the future?"

The old man raised an eyebrow slightly, a half-smile on his face: "You've got some good ideas."

It seems there isn't any left. Su Daoshan smiled awkwardly and reached for the teapot again.

"Alright," the old man's eyelids twitched, and with a wave of his sleeve, the small stove, teapot, and teacups on the table disappeared, replaced by writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

"The questions of Heaven's Way are most important in the first three trials. The fourth trial tests one's attainments in various fields." The old man looked at Su Daoshan, then turned to look around the courtyard. "Since you are a student of literature and the Way, then compose a poem on the theme of this pastoral scene."

Almost as soon as the old man finished speaking, an uproar broke out in a house on Tiandao Mountain.

The house is situated atop a suspended mountain, seemingly hidden in the void. The overall architecture is octagonal, spacious and majestic. Within it, there are courtyards in the shape of the Chinese character "回" (hui), located to the southeast, northwest, and southwest. These four courtyards converge at the central location to form the main courtyard.

Above the plaque hanging on its main building, the three characters "Fuzishan" are ancient, profound, and majestic.

The floating mountains, the majestic and spacious buildings, the solemn plaques... everything is like the Tower of Inquiry, seemingly illusory and dreamlike, as if existing in the flowing river of time.

"I knew it! Using a pastoral poem as a test question with four levels of difficulty is way too easy. This is blatant favoritism and cheating, treating everyone like fools!"

"Tsk. You're just a blacksmith, what do you know about the issues scholars have?"

"Exactly. Besides, if we're talking about favoritism, hasn't your Eastern Academy done enough? If you're so capable, then produce someone who can pass the fourth level."

"This person appeared out of nowhere, but his origins are unknown, and he is rejected by the Heavenly Dao... Your Southern Academy had better think this through."

"But Heaven also protects him!"

At this moment, in a corridor in the center of the house, dozens of scholars dressed in long gowns of different colors and patterns were arguing fiercely.

In the middle of the corridor is a circular lake as clear as a mirror. From the lake, one can see Su Daoshan and the old man inside the four gates.

During the argument, a teacher from the Eastern Academy sneered, silencing the crowd.

"Pastoral poetry? I'm afraid that's just overkill." He raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways at the teachers of the Southern Academy. "A young man who knows nothing of hardship and has never experienced life's trials, who has never climbed mountains to see the wonders of the world, how could he possibly understand the beauty of the scenery below..."

“Master Qin is right,” said another teacher from the Northern Academy. “Poetry is divided into five grades: artisan’s earthenware pottery, the sounds of the marketplace, the sounds of the temple’s red strings, the sounds of the jade palace, and the sounds of the heavens… If it were other themes, that would be fine, but with this young man’s temperament, I don’t believe he can write anything worthwhile on the pastoral theme. Once a poem is written, it will be judged by the sages and worthies. If he can even achieve proper meter and form, reaching the fifth grade of artisan’s earthenware pottery, that would be quite good.”

With that, the scholar let out a cold laugh: "The top three in the first rank are the champion, the second-place scholar, and the third-place scholar. Even if he is the only one who has made it into the top rank now, have you ever seen someone who became the champion with a fifth-grade poem?"

Everyone nodded in agreement. However, several teachers from the Southern Academy, whose cuffs were adorned with red patterns, exchanged glances and frowned.

Just then, in the scene depicting Mirror Lake, Su Daoshan had already picked up his pen.

Pastoral poetry is something that a student majoring in Chinese language and literature is extremely familiar with.

The ink-soaked brush fell onto the snow-white paper, and elegant characters emerged line by line, seemingly possessing some kind of magic in this small courtyard with its green tiles and bamboo fences.

"I built my hut in the midst of human habitation, yet there is no noise of carriages and horses."

"How can you be like this? When the heart is far away, the place naturally becomes secluded."

"Picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, I leisurely gaze at the Southern Mountains."

"The mountain air is beautiful at dawn and dusk, and the birds fly back together."

"There is a true meaning here, but I have forgotten the words to express it."

Tao Yuanming is the progenitor of pastoral poetry!
(End of this chapter)