The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 316 Visualization
The mark of the Great Free God King became even more alluring and vibrant blue, shining brightly within his dantian.

Zhao Ti remained silent for a moment before beginning to refine the mark.

The imprinted seed contains special power; it was formed using supernatural abilities by the previous God-King before his fall.

These seeds cannot be completely dissolved and absorbed immediately; it takes several days or even ten days.

While refining the imprint seed, Zhao Ti pondered the techniques and supernatural powers of the Great Freedom Heaven. The supernatural powers were secondary, as they could not be used until one reached the Dao Palace realm, but the techniques could be practiced now.

The main practice of the Great Freedom Deity is the Great Freedom Merit Sutra.

This sutra begins by stating that the merits of being free and unhindered, expressing one's true nature, and having clear and unobstructed thoughts are the foundation of virtue. By accumulating merit in this way, one can ultimately attain equality with the Buddha.

Although the name is "Freedom" and it talks about merit, in Zhao Ti's view, while it is indeed free, it has absolutely no merit whatsoever.

Because the general principles of this practice are extremely unorthodox and rebellious, emphasizing unobstructed mind, clear thinking, understanding one's true nature, and acting in accordance with one's true nature, one achieves freedom and merit.

But if one's nature is evil, and one's thoughts are all extremely evil, with murderous and wicked intentions, then what can be called merit?

However, this general outline of the practice considers this to be meritorious as well. Recognizing one's true nature, even if it is all evil, is meritorious if one acts in accordance with one's true nature and one's mind and emotions are at ease.

Recognizing one's true nature is merit, and acting in accordance with one's heart is virtue. Merit and virtue are unrelated to good and evil.

When Zhao Ti received the inheritance at the Great Freedom Heavenly Temple, he was truly shocked by the general outline of this cultivation method.

It's not just heresy, it's demonic talk, but upon reflection, the identity of the Great Free Heaven becomes clear.

Buddhist deities and protectors are mostly those who have been subdued or converted by the Buddha. They are powerful supernatural beings who can do whatever they want. Few of them truly respect the Buddha's teachings or actively seek enlightenment and take refuge in the Buddha.

There are various explanations for why Mahasthamaprapta entered Buddhism. Judging from this sutra, he probably did not become a Dharma protector king because of his reverence for the Buddha. It is more likely that he had fought with the Buddha and was eventually defeated before entering Buddhism.

Destruction and annihilation are the very nature of Shiva, and also the most direct aspect of him that he presents to the world.

Without concealment or disguise, nature and form are in harmony. This is the name to reveal one's true heart. Recognizing one's true nature and finding peace of mind is true freedom. Acting accordingly leads to the perfection of one's true nature, which is true virtue.

Zhao Ti took a deep breath. This was the Great Free Heaven's own realization, not the Buddha's insight.

The Buddha may not have considered the understanding of the Great Free God to be correct, or even erroneous.

Even if the Buddha believes it is right and without error, it is still necessary to use Buddhist teachings to eliminate the evil side and retain the good side of one's original mind in order to achieve merit.

So, did Buddha save them? Obviously not.

Otherwise, Mahasthamaprapta would not be a guardian deity king, but a Buddha, and this treasonous statement would not exist in the general outline of this lineage.

The God-King's lineage is his own, not the Buddha's; it expresses his own true nature and intentions.

Zhao Ti fell into deep thought. Although the general outline was extremely unorthodox, the cultivation method was not impossible to practice.

The general principles are a manifestation of the God-King's state of mind; it is not that one must accomplish all of these things in order to practice this technique.

This is merely the essence of the practice, the unwavering intent of the lineage. Once mastered, being able to express it is sufficient; it doesn't mean one must achieve all of this before beginning to practice the technique.

Otherwise, if one is too weak to even kill a chicken, or lacks sufficient strength, and is inherently wicked, going out to unleash that wickedness would result in being beaten to death long ago, and there would be no point in talking about cultivation.

Moreover, the intention to be open and relaxed does not necessarily mean to act recklessly or commit all kinds of evil, which is also different.

But one must still recognize one's own nature; only by recognizing one's true nature can one cultivate oneself.

As for how to achieve successful cultivation, that's another matter entirely.

If this insane intent cannot be resolved or corrected, then the Buddha would not accept the Great Free Heaven as his disciple.

Clearly, the Buddha had a way. Otherwise, how could the Great Free Heaven have stayed peacefully in the Buddhist temple? He would have gone out and caused chaos long ago, and the Buddha would have suppressed him long ago, instead of letting him rule the highest heaven of the Form Realm, the Form Ultimate Heaven, and be the ruler of the heaven for a day.

However, if you want to cultivate yourself, you must first recognize your own nature. Your nature is the source of your merit. Only after recognizing it can you begin.

So what is his true nature? Zhao Ti pondered again.

Is it good? Is it evil? Is it majesty? Is it weakness? Is it violence or moderation? Is it malevolence? Is it integrity? Is it indulging in wine and women, or upholding moral principles? Is it seeking pleasure, or striving for self-improvement?
People are all different, and there are countless Buddhas with countless faces. Every person's nature is different. There are no two flowers that are exactly the same, nor are there two people whose natures are exactly the same.

As for good and evil, right and wrong, it depends on which perspective you take to understand it.

What I do is good, others may do evil; what others do is good, others may do evil.

If so, the disaster will befall the present generation, but the benefit will last for generations. How should such a case be judged?
What is poison to one is honey to another; different people have different opinions. Some love it and wish it to live, while others hate it and wish it to die.

Zhao Ti's lips gradually curled up. Nature, nature. Confucianism says that human nature is good at birth, and also that human nature is evil at birth. Which one is correct?

If we insist on preserving the inherent goodness of human nature, can we change it if we don't preserve it?

Human nature is inherently evil and can be corrected through learning. But can one's nature really be corrected?

Confucianism has its methods, and Buddhism has its methods; otherwise, it wouldn't have been able to take in so many gods, demons, and even celestial demons.

So, does one have an inherent nature or not? Is what can change still considered inherent nature?

When true nature arises, although the six senses have the ability to see, hear, feel, and know, they are not tainted by the myriad realms, and true nature remains ever free.

Everyone's true nature is as clear as crystal, but it is covered by dust at birth. We need to cultivate ourselves to clear away obstacles such as ignorance and afflictions, and after enlightenment and understanding, we will not be polluted and will always maintain it.

Or is it that from the moment a person is born, it is a process of learning and changing, and true feelings and nature are merely a process of formation and accumulation?

Zhao Ti's smile deepened, and his eyes gradually became crystal clear. Did these things matter?
It's not really important, because it's also a kind of attachment, a kind of appearance.

Even the Buddha could not see through this kind of appearance. He was lost in this appearance and could not cross to the true other shore. Therefore, the Buddha attained Nirvana.

In an instant, Zhao Ti suddenly felt a strange clarity. None of these things mattered; what mattered was the present moment.

It is the present moment, the immediate present, now, this very instant, today, this very hour...

As heaven's movement is ever vigorous, so should a virtuous person constantly strive for self-improvement; as earth's nature is receptive, so should a virtuous person always be mindful of bearing all things with magnanimity!
Zhao Ti let out a clear whistle, and boundless blue light emanated from his dantian, with a faint blue light also emanating from his body.

At this moment, he had completely refined the Great Freedom Heaven's mark. The seal, which would normally take several days or even ten days to dissolve, melted away in an instant. Feeling the power of inheritance seeping into his bloodline, he nodded slightly.

He then immediately began practicing the cultivation method. This Great Freedom Scripture's cultivation method was extremely profound, similar to martial arts, yet also like Taoist magic. If one only remembered the text, it would be extremely difficult to understand it in a short time, and it might take a long time to ponder it.

However, the transmission of knowledge involves various explanations and practical experience, and combining these makes it less difficult.

Zhao Ti absorbed the inherited power, channeling his energy through all his meridians, attempting to follow the path described in the cultivation method.

But that's not enough. If one could cultivate Taoist magic and supernatural powers in this way, it wouldn't be called Taoist magic and supernatural powers anymore, but would be closer to martial arts.

The Great Freedom Sutra not only contains methods for cultivating Qi, but also methods for visualization. Both must be combined to cultivate this sutra and attain the abilities and skills of the Great Freedom Deity.

The method of visualization involves the five images of deities found in the scriptures.

Clearly, it is the King of Precious Elephants, representing the removal of obstacles; the King of War, representing battle; the King of Wrath, representing death; the King of Might, representing power; and the King of Destruction, representing the end of the world.

The King of Elephants has an unusual appearance: an elephant's head and a human body, with bright, piercing eyes that seem to emit light, a curled trunk and long tusks that seem to possess great strength.

He was exceptionally tall and strong, wearing golden armor, and his appearance constantly changed from four-armed to eight-armed, ten-armed, and twelve-armed.

He held different ritual implements, including a long axe in both hands, as well as lotus flowers, dew bowls, prayer beads, and so on. The axe head was so broad that it seemed capable of splitting mountains and clearing away all obstacles in front of him.

The God of War has six heads, a handsome and majestic appearance, and rides a peacock burning with green flames. He is depicted as a young man, wielding a divine spear that radiates boundless light. He possesses powerful combat abilities and can defeat all kinds of evil forces.

The Wrathful Queen is a woman who is beautiful but has a strange and terrifying demeanor.

She was born from rage, with black skin, many arms, an extended tongue, and weapons in hand. She wore a long necklace of human skulls and a belt made of human hands around her waist, standing on the back of an unknown deity.

She was surrounded by black flames, containing boundless magical power to destroy all evil. She represented the power of death, using dark violence to destroy evil and ignorance.

Mighty King is also depicted as a woman, equally beautiful, but unlike the Furious King, she is terrifying, with a lively and graceful appearance and captivating eyes.

She has three bodies that can switch between, with eight arms, ten arms, and eighteen arms respectively. She wields weapons such as a trident, spear, bow and arrow, and shield, and rides either a lion or a tiger. She is surrounded by raging flames, as if she can burn everything in the world.
Her many arms symbolize her boundless strength and wisdom, enabling her to overcome all challenges and difficulties, while her mount, a lion or tiger, symbolizes her majesty and dominance, as well as her deterrence against evil forces.

She seems to embody the power of all gods and demons in the world, vanquishing evil, protecting the mortal realm, and representing strength, courage, and justice to overcome all evil and darkness.

The Destroyer King has three images that switch between each other. The most prominent one is a blue phantom whose true face is unclear. It seems to be somewhat similar to the manifestation of the Great Free Heaven's inheritance seed at that time. Zhao Ti suspects that this is the blurry image of the Great Free Heaven God King himself.

Another form is the Destruction form, with five faces and four arms, a light blue body, three eyes on its face, two protruding teeth, fierce and terrifying, a string of skulls around its neck, and a third eye on its forehead that can shoot divine fire, seemingly capable of destroying everything. It appears in a wrathful state, holding a calamity cup in its left hand and a three-pronged sword in its right, its body adorned with skulls, ferocious and terrifying.

The remaining figure is more gentle, with hair adorned with goddess images, flowers, skulls, and a crescent moon. She is dancing gracefully with her four arms outstretched, stepping on a dragon and an elephant. On her right, one hand holds a drum, and the other makes the abhaya mudra. On her left, one hand holds fire, and the other makes the flame mudra.

Zhao Ti only briefly observed the images of the four deities behind him before withdrawing his thoughts and not looking at them closely, because if he did, he would feel extremely dizzy and breathless, as if his whole body was being drained.

This is because his skill level is insufficient; he is not capable enough to visualize the following four images, and he cannot even look at them for a short while longer.

At this moment, he absorbed the power of the inheritance rapidly, not only refining it countless times faster, but also absorbing it countless times faster.

Moreover, while absorbing the essence, visualize the first image of the King of the Elephant.

If one has sufficient skill and successfully visualizes the pattern, one can create a phantom image of the Elephant King outside the body for use in battle.

This is magic, not martial arts. In the past, even if one learned this kind of magic, one could not use it because internal energy and true qi could not activate this kind of magic; only magical power could.

Magic power is formed from spiritual energy, or it can be internal energy mixed with spiritual energy, but spiritual energy must be the majority. The more spiritual energy it contains, the purer the magic power will be, and the greater the power of the spells it can unleash.

The same applies to martial arts. Internal energy is mixed with spiritual energy, but internal energy is the majority. When it is used in martial arts, it becomes a more refined form of true energy.

This is the path to enlightenment through martial arts. Those who achieve enlightenment through martial arts can not only use magic, but also martial arts skills.

Those who simply absorb spiritual energy to cultivate magical power are practicing pure Taoist arts. The magical power they use is extremely refined, and its power is bound to be higher than that of those who cultivate Tao through martial arts, but they cannot use martial arts techniques.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages, and it's hard to say which is stronger in a direct comparison; each has its own strengths.

Zhao Ti cannot abandon his internal energy and start over, as that would be too wasteful of time. Moreover, spiritual energy in the world is still very scarce. If he cultivates pure magic power, it would take a long time to reach the twelfth level.

While absorbing and circulating the power of inheritance, he visualized the first image of the Treasure Elephant King.

Visualization is different from simply observing. You must immerse yourself completely in the image and condense it into a pattern. Only the pattern you condense yourself can be used externally, not the pattern that the technique itself instructs you to learn.

He recalled the long axe depicting the King of the Elephants. This axe was not short-handled, but had a long, gleaming golden shaft that was taller than the King of the Elephants himself when standing upright.

The axe, in particular, was enormous and incredibly sharp, appearing to be indestructible.

This is not an easy process. Not only must one be fully immersed in capturing the essence of the image, but one must also imagine the sharpness of the axe. However, one cannot just imagine; one must follow the description in the scriptures without the slightest deviation. Otherwise, this method cannot be used at all.

Time passed slowly and unnoticed, and it was already bright outside. Zhao Ti slowly opened his eyes.

He had almost absorbed the power of the inherited imprint, and it was because of this power that he was able to cultivate directly and visualize the pattern.

However, he possessed internal energy, so this power was not pure. Yet, because he also possessed internal energy, the two forces combined, allowing this power to directly stand on the Twelve-Story Xuanji Platform.

Zhao Ti took a deep breath, focusing all his thoughts on the giant axe of King Baoxiang. Then, this power surged wildly, and a whirlwind suddenly arose in front of him.

At the center of the whirlwind, golden light burst forth, and layers of oppressive force permeated through, as if something was about to emerge. Zhao Ti's face turned pale, and he felt that his internal strength was slightly insufficient.

However, he quickly added all his internal energy except for the Illusionary Yin True Qi, the Cold Ice True Qi, and the Everlasting Spring Skill.

Although this power becomes increasingly impure, it still contains more spiritual energy than internal force, and can still be called magical power.

Then, this internal force acted like fuel, adding fuel to the fire. Although the light in the vortex dimmed slightly, it appeared more quickly, and a giant axe, several times larger than a washbasin, suddenly materialized.

As soon as the axe was unleashed, the air rippled, as if sweeping away all obstacles and hindrances. The entire secret chamber instantly became clear and transparent, like glass, or a crystal palace, untouched by any dust.

Zhao Ti continued chanting, intending to summon the axe handle, but then a loud "bang" rang out, and golden starlight radiated in all directions. Not to mention the axe handle, even the axe head shattered. This was because his visualization was insufficient, and his magical power was too weak to continue.

Seeing this, he stopped pressuring it. Since his wish had come true, he could take it slow and eventually learn all of the treasures of the elephant king.

He then sat on the couch, practiced breathing exercises for a while, and then got up and walked out of the secret room.

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(End of this chapter)