Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 359 The Way of Cultivation
In the Wanjing Building, people came one after another to read the classics.

And Lu Zheng on the first floor attracted a lot of people's attention.

The main reason is that Lu Zheng flips through the book very quickly, as if he is skimming through it, which makes people wonder whether Lu Zheng is really reading.

But Lu Zheng didn't care about other people's eyes at all, and looked for the knowledge he needed in books.

Liu Changan pretended to hold a book and stood not far away, observing Lu Zheng.

After hearing An Jing’s warning, Liu Changan became more curious about Lu Zheng.

However, he would never take the initiative to do anything extraordinary unless he knew the details of others.

He really looked like he was reading seriously. Liu Changan was thinking, could it be that another nerd had come?

Liu Changan observed Lu Zhenghao for a while and found that Lu Zheng would pick up and read any book, which made him unable to figure out what Lu Zheng was doing.

How boring... Liu Changan shook his head slightly. He was not very interested in these books, so he put the book down and left Wanjing Building to go somewhere else for fun.

Time passed quickly and soon it was evening.

Qingwan frowned and walked to Wanjing Building in small steps.

Meng Yuan, who was pondering a strange formula, glanced sideways and couldn't help but feel happy when he saw Qing Wan's expression.

Meng Yuan smiled and said, "What's wrong? No one is willing to guide you?"

Qing Wan came back to her senses after hearing this, looked at Meng Yuan and shook her head: "No, I have already asked for your advice."

"Oh? Who did you ask for advice?" Meng Yuan asked curiously.

Qing Wan said, "Senior Yun Shao!"

Meng Yuan paused, then asked in surprise, "Yun Shao? You actually found her?"

That person is usually busy taking care of spiritual medicines, and even the disciples in the sect rarely get his guidance.

"What's wrong?" Qing Wan asked curiously, "Senior Yun Shao is very kind. She even wants to take me in as her disciple, but I don't want to."

Meng Yuan looked at Qing Wan, and even suspected that this little girl Qing Wan was bragging.

"Then why are you still frowning?" Meng Yuan couldn't help asking.

Qing Wan sighed softly and said, "Senior Yun Shao used her great magic to help me cultivate many bean seeds, but I didn't get the beans I wanted. She said it's impossible to cultivate beans like that."

"Tsk..." Meng Yuan raised his eyebrows, "So, you plan to..."

Qing Wan's face hardened as she said, "I won't give up! Everything in the world is constantly changing and developing. Quantitative change leads to qualitative change! I'm still young, and I have plenty of time to cultivate the perfect bean seeds!"

Although a big shot like Yun Shao denied her fantasy, Qing Wan would not give up so easily.

Qing Wan encouraged herself, then ran excitedly to find Lu Zheng.

Meng Yuan touched his chin and murmured, "Quantitative change leads to qualitative change. The little guy really understands a lot."

Qing Wan found Lu Zheng in the corner of the first floor and told him something in a low voice.

After listening to this, Lu Zheng took Qingwan into his little world.

On a green hill in the small world, Qingwan quickly cultivated the land, planted some new bean seeds, and then recorded them.

It’s time for Wanjing Building to close again.

Lu Zheng was the last one to leave the pavilion on time.

When we reached the hall, a dry cough was heard.

Lu Zheng turned his head slightly and looked at Meng Yuan not far away.

Meng Yuan said calmly: "Since you like reading so much, don't go back at night."

Whether Wanjing Building can keep people at night is just a matter of his words.

Upon hearing this, Lu Zheng said, "Thank you, senior."

Meng Yuan said again: "Come on, come on, explain to me, what does this mean?"

Meng Yuan took a small notebook and pointed to the contents on it.

Lu Zheng walked closer to take a look, then explained it carefully.

Meng Yuan nodded slightly after hearing this. "All the laws of the world can be summarized into axioms and formulas. Who taught you these?"

Lu Zheng thought about it, but couldn't think of any good explanation. After all, facing someone like Meng Yuan, he couldn't fool him with just a casual remark.

Seeing that Lu Zheng was silent, Meng Yuan said, "It's better not to say anything. You should have learned more than this, right?"

Lu Zhengdao: "If you want to see it, I will sort it out when I have time."

Meng Yuan smiled and said, "We in the Yunmeng Sect will not take advantage of others. As long as what you give is valuable, we will definitely give you a satisfactory reward."

Lu Zheng nodded slightly and turned to browse the books again.

Several days passed like this, and Lu Zheng stayed in Wanjing Building without leaving.

An Jing knew that Lu Zheng had been reading a book, so he didn't disturb him.

By the night of the eighth day, Lu Zheng had read all the books on the first floor, but he had learned less than one percent of them.

But he has already noted down the key points of the books he wants to read now.

Lu Zheng walked upstairs, ready to read the books on the second floor.

Qing Wan, while taking time to tend to the fields, also studied in the Wanjing Building. She had her own subjects to learn, and unlike Lu Zheng, she did not skim through them, but continued to study diligently on the first floor.

Seeing Lu Zheng heading upstairs, Meng Yuan couldn't help but ask, "There are so many books on one floor. Is there nothing you want to learn?"

Lu Zheng paused and replied, "There's nothing I want to learn right now. There are a lot of good martial arts books on the first floor, but unfortunately I don't have that much time right now."

The Yunmeng Sect’s collection of books is very good. Lu Zheng doesn’t know how long he can stay here, so he can only pick out the books he needs most right now.

Lu Zheng didn't have time to read those valuable martial arts books out there, and just glanced through them.

Meng Yuan nodded slightly and asked, "You said before that you wanted to save the world. Have you found the book on salvation that you want to learn?"

Lu Zheng said slowly, "I've read a lot of ancient books, and there are many legends about sages who saved the world. However, considering the current situation in the world, those methods are not enough to save the people."

Meng Yuan said quietly, "The world is so big, how can what you said be so easy?"

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "It's certainly not easy, but didn't our ancestors bravely bravely pave the way for us younger generations? I also want to do something for those who come after me, so that my cultivation in this life will not be in vain."

Meng Yuan looked at Lu Zheng, his eyes flickering with a strange color, "I have seen many people who cultivate righteousness, and there are also people with ambitions like you. But..."

But how many people have achieved anything? Meng Yuan sighed in his heart.

He didn't finish his words because he didn't want to upset Lu Zheng too much.

Lu Zheng's face remained calm upon hearing this, and he said, "I have something I would like to ask you, Senior."

"Go ahead." Meng Yuan said.

Lu Zheng asked, "According to various historical records, the human race didn't have so many different paths of cultivation in the beginning. Later, saints discovered the secrets of cultivation and developed different methods of cultivation, such as martial arts, Confucianism, and Qi training."

"I would like to ask, how can I open up another path to cultivation? Do I need to become a saint?"

When Meng Yuan heard Lu Zheng's question, he couldn't help but sit up straight.

What is a young person thinking when he asks such a question?
Meng Yuan couldn't help but ask, "You don't want to open a new path of cultivation to save the world, do you?"

Lu Zheng just smiled and said nothing.

"Are you serious?" Meng Yuan exclaimed in amazement. "Thinking like that is very dangerous! It's easy to end up with nothing..."

Throughout history, only a few people in the human race have found the path to becoming a saint.

It’s not that there are no other people exploring other paths, but that they have not succeeded.

Lu Zhengdao: "I'm just curious and want to find out something."

Meng Yuan narrowed his eyes and pondered for a moment before saying, "The sixth realm leads to enlightenment, the seventh realm asks for the Way, and the eighth realm attains the Way and becomes a saint... If you want to find another way, you just have to reach the realm of asking for the Way and have the ability to touch the laws of the Heavenly Dao."

"The realm of seeking the Tao is the realm of a great scholar in Confucianism, but you are a Confucian scholar. If you want to take other paths, you must jump out of Confucianism!"

"As for this kind of thing, I don't know the method. The founder of the Legalist school of thought broke away from Confucianism and Taoism, but he never achieved enlightenment and became a saint until his death, so he can't be considered to have opened up a legitimate path of cultivation..."

"I see that you are now at the fourth level of Confucianism. With such a high level of cultivation at such a young age, you are considered a genius among the nine kingdoms. However, you haven't even mastered the path of Confucianism yet. If you want to go beyond it, you still have a long way to go."

Meng Yuan shook his head and explained to Lu Zheng.

Not many people in this world can complete the path of spiritual practice and become a saint.

Moreover, it is simply wishful thinking to try to jump out of these avenues and open up other paths.

Meng Yuan saw that Lu Zheng seemed to have such an idea, but did not take it too seriously.

Just think that young people are full of youthful vigor and always have too many unrealistic ideas. When they hit a wall, they will naturally turn back.

Lu Zheng's expression didn't change after hearing this. He then asked, "What about the Ninth Realm?"

"Nine Realms?" Meng Yuan's expression shifted slightly as he spoke, "The Nine Realms are merely a fantasy of cultivators, and no one has yet set foot within them. It's said that to achieve the Nine Realms, one must master all the laws of heaven and earth. How could this be achieved by human power?"

Lu Zheng nodded slightly, "I see. Thank you for your guidance, Senior."

Meng Yuan said quietly, "You should just focus on your practice. You're only at the fourth level, so don't overthink it. It won't be too late to think about it when you reach my level."

He was thinking so much at this level. Meng Yuan felt that Lu Zheng had read too many books these days and had some inappropriate fantasies.

Lu Zheng's eyes moved, "Senior, what realm are you in?"

"I've already taken a step into the path of enlightenment!" Meng Yuan said calmly, "But the path to immortality is vast, and I'm not sure where to take my next step."

There are many paths for immortals to follow in their pursuit of enlightenment and becoming immortals through Qigong practice.

Meng Yuan does not have the same naive ideas as Lu Zheng. He does not want to take the smooth road, but insists on figuring out another way of cultivation.

Could another way of cultivation save the world? Meng Yuan didn't think so.

Lu Zheng cupped his hands and said, "I hope you can ask the question soon."

Meng Yuan waved his hand and said, "I'll give you some good advice. You should also practice well."

Lu Zheng said no more and walked up to the second floor of Wanjing Building.

The second floor has far fewer bookshelves than the first floor, and there are also some jade slips placed there for people to view.

Lu Zheng took a quick glance and started reading from the first row of bookshelves.

"Jump out..."

Lu Zheng murmured softly, his eyes gleaming brightly.

(End of this chapter)