Immortal Demonic Path

Chapter 97 I'm the Newcomer

"The Tai Xuan Natural Temple is a quiet place established for Taoists throughout the world."

Daoist Wangchen recounted, "Unfortunately, most people cannot achieve true tranquility."

"Everyone has their own desires, there is no other way," Li Changsheng sighed softly.

Everyone has their own ambitions; some yearn for fame and fortune, while others yearn for power and profit. It's impossible for everyone to quietly cultivate themselves.

The two said no more and resumed their discussion.

After the discussion, Li Changsheng followed Daoist Wangchen to the Taiqing Natural Temple.

After paying homage to the Supreme Daoist Master Tai Xuan and receiving the Daoist robe from the Natural Temple, one is considered a member of the Natural Temple.

Li Changsheng followed Daoist Wangchen as they walked around the temple.

There are many secret chambers for alchemy and weapon crafting, as well as places to accept alchemy and weapon crafting quests. There are also many quests in the Treasure Pearl Realm.

"There are no Treasure Pearl Realm quests in Yingtian City, but I didn't expect there to be so many within the Nature Temple?"

Li Changsheng glanced at them briefly and saw that there were dozens of missions in the Treasure Pearl Realm.

Daoist Wangchen smiled faintly and said, "Brother Dao, there are countless cultivators in this world, not just in Yingtian City."

Li Changsheng suddenly realized: "It was my narrow-mindedness."

"That's the scripture library. Fellow Daoist, you are welcome to browse there at your leisure. There are no restrictions," said Daoist Wangchen.

Li Changsheng exclaimed, "The Temple of Nature is truly a treasure trove. Aren't you worried that some wicked person might rummage through the Taoist scriptures inside?"

  

"There really is."

Daoist Wangchen whispered, "Brother Dao, if you encounter a masked thief in black while you are reading the Daoist scriptures in the temple, do not make a move. Just read the scriptures as you please."

"What if it's a cultivation method?" Li Changsheng asked.

"There are indeed many cultivation methods inside, but they are all cultivation methods placed by fellow disciples."

Daoist Wangchen smiled faintly, "It's not some secret that's never been passed down. You've seen it, so be it."

"His view of nature is truly peculiar," Li Changsheng said with a smile.

"If you happen to read this, please remember to leave your thoughts and insights, as they will also benefit your fellow disciples," said Daoist Wangchen.

"A thousand people, a thousand faces; different people, different insights." Li Changsheng nodded.

Li Changsheng followed Daoist Wangchen and toured the entire Natural View Garden.

His residence was right next to that of Daoist Wangchen, so the two could often discuss Daoist principles in the future.

Li Changsheng settled down at the Natural View and began accepting alchemy and weapon-forging tasks from the Treasure Pearl Realm.

Daoist Wangchen is also undertaking tasks at the Golden Core stage.

The other Taoists who believed in nature were similar to them, refining elixirs and crafting artifacts in exchange for cultivation resources.

Moreover, he could earn more by refining pills and crafting weapons here; he could get two pills from each batch of pills.

Also, there are just too many tasks; it's impossible to finish them all.

Li Changsheng didn't think too much about it; he was there to comprehend the Daoist scriptures, not to explore the mysteries of nature.

After refining the elixir, he went to the Scripture Pavilion to read Taoist scriptures and comprehend cultivation methods.

These Taoist scriptures and cultivation methods all have annotations and insights, left behind by the Taoist master Ziranguan.

Feel free to browse; even in the dark, there are no security measures here.

Li Changsheng began to immerse himself in the Sutra Repository, studying cultivation methods and Taoist scriptures.

The True Scripture of the Natural Way, the Scripture of Tranquil Mind, the Scripture of Heaven and Earth...

Li Changsheng quietly flipped through the pages of these scriptures, all of which emphasized a calm mind.

Only with a calm mind can one truly appreciate the universe.

Li Changsheng's mind was very calm, but his understanding of the universe and all things was somewhat lacking.

In terms of cultivation methods, the strongest is the Precious Pearl Realm method, while there is no Yin Spirit Realm method.

Li Changsheng spent his days immersed in it, studying Taoist scriptures and comprehending the ways of heaven and earth.

"The essence of the ultimate truth is profound and mysterious. Ignore all sight and sound, embrace the divine heart with stillness. The form will naturally become upright, the heart pure and clear..."

"Heaven and earth have clear and turbid air; the upper part is clear air, and the lower part is turbid air. Clear air is righteous, and turbid air is evil..."

"Purity is the source of turbidity, and movement is the foundation of stillness. If one can always maintain purity and tranquility, all things in heaven and earth will return to their proper place. The human spirit loves purity, but the mind disturbs it; the human heart loves tranquility, but desires pull it away. If one can constantly dispel desires, the heart will naturally be still; if one can purify the heart, the spirit will naturally be pure. Naturally, the six desires will not arise..."

Li Changsheng read through the Taoist scriptures and memorized them.

The other books are all the insights and reflections of a certain Taoist priest who read Taoist scriptures.

Li Changsheng naturally wouldn't let this opportunity pass him by. With these insights and understandings, he could save himself years of arduous cultivation.

He stayed in the library for three years.

Aside from discussing the Dao, he would also browse through Daoist scriptures in the library.

Having studied the Taoist scriptures, he finally understood that the pure energy that dispels demonic energy is the pure energy of heaven and earth, and also the righteous energy of heaven and earth.

During those three years, he also encountered people dressed in black and wearing masks.

There were quite a few people dressed in black and masked, and five of them frequently entered the library to look for books.

They seemed to have some purpose; they only glanced at most of the scriptures, and it was unclear what scriptures they were looking for.

Li Changsheng followed Wangchen's instructions and ignored them.

They ignored Li Changsheng and went about their own business.

Li Changsheng's understanding of the Taoist scriptures also gave him a deeper understanding of the Five Elements and Yin-Yang.

The sky is pure air, and the earth is turbid air.

Heaven and earth are Qian and Kun, with Qian representing Yang and Kun representing Yin.

Yang represents Heaven, Yin represents Earth.

Having grasped these points, he gained a deeper understanding of Liu Wuyou's Scriptures of All Realms and the Scriptures of the Five Emperors.

Back in his room, he started accepting quests to earn pills for cultivation.

Daoist Wangchen often discussed the Dao with him, and they each verified their understanding.

Li Changsheng's cultivation level steadily improved, and he enjoyed a leisurely life every day, with Taoist scriptures to read.

I wouldn't trade this kind of life for high-ranking officials and wealth!

He felt that this natural landscape was the place he had been searching for, and if nothing unexpected happened, he would settle down here.

Practice with peace of mind, feel free and comfortable, and make progress in your cultivation.

In the blink of an eye, ten years have passed, and Li Changsheng has advanced to the mid-stage of the Primordial Pearl.

Meanwhile, Daoist Wangchen has reached the peak of the Golden Core stage and is about to advance to the Primordial Pearl.

The two had stopped discussing their respective paths of cultivation, as they both thoroughly understood each other's teachings.

Of course, if it's not mentioned, then you definitely won't know it.

Ten years is a long time for ordinary people, but for these cultivators, it is just a blink of an eye.

Li Changsheng continued to visit the Sutra Repository to read books. Although the books were still the same, his understanding of them had increased.

As long as people leave their thoughts here, there will always be new content.

Li Changsheng suddenly felt a bit of admiration for the natural way of thinking. Generally, cultivation insights are very important and are not easily passed on to others.

As for the view of nature, it doesn't need to be too extensive; it only needs these people who can comprehend the Taoist scriptures and leave behind their insights.

In other words, a group of practitioners were helping to comprehend the Taoist scriptures.

Li Changsheng shook his head, not thinking much about it; it was a mutually beneficial thing.

He lived a carefree life, occasionally seeking out fellow Daoists in the Treasure Pearl Realm to discuss the Dao.

As long as these people are not in seclusion, they are happy to discuss philosophy together.

Discussions and exchanges of ideas, and mutual verification, are all beneficial.

The atmosphere here is great, and Li Changsheng likes it very much.

As for what's happening outside, he hasn't paid attention to it for ten years, and no one here talks about what's going on outside.

It was as if they were completely isolated from the world.

Li Changsheng focused on his cultivation, detached from worldly affairs, refining pills and crafting weapons to earn high-grade True Essence Pills for his cultivation.

In the blink of an eye, another ten years have passed.

He discovered something embarrassing: he had hit a bottleneck.

No matter how much he cultivated himself, he could not make any further progress.

Is my natural talent really that bad?

They haven't even gotten close to the Primordial Pearl in its later stages, and they've already started to stagnate?

At first, he wasn't in a hurry, as cultivation is something that is accumulated over time.

But now, after three years of practice, he has made no progress.

I read the Taoist scriptures over and over again, and I memorized the profound principles, but it didn't help much.

Li Changsheng went to find Daoist Wangchen, who has now also advanced to the Treasure Pearl Realm.

Wang Chen was leisurely sipping his tea when he saw him arrive. He smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist, why didn't you go to the Scripture Pavilion today?"

"But I've encountered an obstacle in my cultivation," Li Changsheng sighed softly. "I haven't made any progress in three years."

"Three years?" Daoist Wangchen pondered. "Even the Daoist scriptures are no longer of any help?"

"The Taoist scriptures and elixirs are useless," Li Changsheng said, shaking his head.

He took and refined the pills, but his strength did not improve. Instead, the power of the pills dissipated, and the pearl seemed to have reached its limit, unable to contain any more Dao energy.

"Fellow Daoist, have you gained any understanding of the Dao?" Wangchen asked.

"Naturally, by studying the Daoist scriptures, we can see that the Dao is omnipresent," Li Changsheng said.

"Fellow Daoist understands these principles, but has never come into contact with the Dao."

Daoist Wangchen chuckled and said, "Natural View does have a method that can help you, but I'm afraid you won't know how to do it."

"What method is it?" Li Changsheng asked.

"To become a mortal," Daoist Wangchen said leisurely, "to live like a mortal, working at sunrise and resting at sunset."

"Transformation into a mortal state?" Li Changsheng pondered. "Can one break through to a higher realm simply by transforming into a mortal state?"

"Not necessarily." Daoist Wangchen shook his head and said, "In our cultivation, we start from knowing nothing at the beginning, and then we build a solid foundation. The Dao is the same."

"Fellow Daoist, you have read the Daoist scriptures and comprehended the Dao, but the Dao is omnipresent in the world, yet you have not truly experienced it."

"Start with small things, and seek enlightenment?" Li Changsheng pondered.

"Indeed, as you once said, a thousand people, a thousand faces; different people, one Daoist scripture, will glean different insights."

Daoist Wangchen said unhurriedly, "Then cultivation is the same. What path do you cultivate, fellow Daoist? And what path do I cultivate?"

"I understand now, thank you for clearing up my doubts, fellow Daoist," Li Changsheng said, bowing.

Daoist Wangchen said, "I only heard from my fellow Daoists that there is a small village behind the mountain called Mortal Village, where you cultivate fertile fields and chop wood for a living."

"Thank you for your guidance, fellow Daoist. I'm heading to the mortal village from here," Li Changsheng said.

Daoist Wangchen instructed, "Fellow Daoist, when you leave, abide by the rules and do not use your cultivation."

"This humble Taoist priest is from the province." Li Changsheng smiled and rode away on a cloud.

The back mountain.

Ordinary People's Village.

There is a small river at the entrance of the village, surrounded by dense forests, beyond which are wastelands and cultivated fields.

Seventy-two wooden houses, connected together.

Li Changsheng went inside, where the Taoist priests were dressed in coarse linen clothes.

None of these people showed any fluctuation in their cultivation level; they had sealed their own power using special methods.

An elderly man with gray hair sat on a wooden stool.

"This humble Taoist priest, Li Changsheng, greets all fellow Taoists." Li Changsheng bowed in greeting.

"There are no fellow Daoists here, only villagers." The white-haired old man stood up and said with a smile, "I am Li Dabai, the village chief of the Mortal Village."

This name... reminds me of the rabbit spirit Erbai.

Li Changsheng bowed slightly: "Greetings, Village Chief."

"There's no need for formalities. Alright, go to room number forty-seven. There are farm tools inside. I'll give you some grain on credit initially, and you can pay me back later."

Village chief Li Dabai waved his hand.

The other villagers stared at him as if he were a monkey.

Someone clicked their tongue and remarked, "I think I was like that thirty years ago too?"

"Was I this foolish ten years ago?"

Li Changsheng: "..."

These village names all belong to Daoist brothers who have transformed into mortals. They all seem to be very successful and enjoy gathering together to watch the excitement.

Li Changsheng smiled and went straight to room number forty-seven.

There was a book, some coarse linen clothes, and farm tools such as hoes and shovels in the room.

Li Changsheng took out a book, which read: "Once you enter the mortal village, you will be a mortal for life. You will not be able to use any cultivation. This is a restriction."

Li Changsheng did not learn this restriction technique; it only sealed his own power, which he could do on his own.

To live here, you have to clear land and grow crops yourself.

You can also go hunting in the mountains or fishing in the river.

There are some common wild animals in the mountains, and the surrounding area has been cleared, so there are no monsters.

After changing his clothes, Li Changsheng found Li Dabai again: "Village Chief, where should we clear land?"

"You've adapted pretty quickly, kid." Li Dabai grinned, revealing his gap-toothed grin. "It's just outside the woods. It's getting late. Are you still going?"

"Of course I'll go," Li Changsheng said. "There's still more than an hour until sunset. I'll make progress as much as I can, and I want to be a diligent mortal."

"Alright, go ahead." Li Dabai waved his hand and said, "I'll leave the grain at the door for you; you can return it to me later."

"Thank you, village chief."

"Double the payout!"

Li Changsheng: "..."

I thought they were being kind, but it turns out they were just trying to make money off me.

That makes sense, since we're not familiar with each other, how could we not make some money?

Shouldering a hoe, he walked out of the woods.

Fortunately, I am a long-lived tree that has been cultivating its body, so I am strong and healthy and not afraid of getting tired at all.

Upon arriving at the reclaimed fields, we found more than ten villagers working hard in the fields, all sweating profusely.

Li Changsheng looked on in surprise. These people had transformed into mortals far too thoroughly, even sealing away their physical strength.

Indeed, only in this way can one truly understand the hardships and toil of ordinary people.

Li Changsheng sighed softly. In his previous life, he was an ordinary person who had done a lot of work, but unfortunately, he was not an expert in farming and was more of a professional worker.

After wandering around for a while, Li Changsheng found a wasteland. The ground was flat and there were not many stones, so it should be considered a good place.

After thinking for a moment, Li Changsheng sealed his own physical power as well, though his strength remained intact.

From this moment on, I am a mortal with extremely strong defenses!

"By the way, how's that Black Wind Demon outside?" a villager's voice rang out.

One villager said, "What else can we do? They're being chased like dogs by the Demon Extermination Hall."

"You still have the mood to talk about these things? Food prices are going to drop. If this continues, how am I going to buy new clothes, new fishhooks, and new farm tools?" a villager sighed.

"The price has dropped again? Didn't it just drop a few days ago? Could it be that bastard village chief is trying to drive down the price?"

"Everything in Yingtian City has fallen. Although the village chief is shameless, he's not too heartless."

"I have a suggestion. How about we lend the grain to the newcomers?"

"That's a good idea. Lend it to the new guy, and then have him pay back double the amount with an IOU."

"Good idea, but that old codger village chief might borrow it first."

"Shameless!"

"Hey brother, what are you doing clearing land? Are you short of food?"

"It looks somewhat unfamiliar."

Li Changsheng said with a dark face, "I am the newcomer you're talking about!"

The villagers: "..."

A little awkward, huh?

(End of this chapter)