Spreading the Dao

In the cultivation world, besides Zhang Sanfeng's fame, the Wudang Sect was actually considered a small sect. If it weren't for Wudang's martial arts leading to the Dao, granting them exceptional combat power, the cultivation world might have overlooked them entirely. Although Wudang was only at a lower-middle level in the ancient cultivation world, their influence in the secular world was second only to Shaolin. Currently, many members and even leaders of special forces within the Chinese government, such as the Dragon Group and Leopard Group, hailed from Wudang. Naturally, they had also dabbled in various secular industries to some extent. Therefore, as the second disciple of Wudang's Sect Leader, Daoist Master Qingmu, he sometimes had to act as a firefighter, descending the mountain to resolve troublesome issues. Inevitably, he had also made some friends in the secular world. Zhao Liya was the daughter of the Zhao Group's chairman, and her father was a close friend of Song Feng in the secular world. Lin Ling, of course, was the daughter of Song Feng's other good friend, Lin Qiming.

As soon as Zhao Liya saw Song Feng, she tearfully recounted the events that had transpired on the mountain. Song Feng was secretly astonished. He knew Zhao Liya's cultivation level very well; even he wasn't confident he could subdue her without a fight. Moreover, from Zhao Liya's description, the Daoist had subdued her with just a gentle force. This was something that at least his master's level could achieve. When had such a powerful young master appeared on Wudang Mountain, and he had no idea?

After comforting Zhao Liya, Song Feng sternly warned both of them never to provoke that young Daoist. Seeing Song Feng's serious expression, Zhao Liya asked indignantly, "Even Uncle Song can't defeat him?" In Zhao Liya's heart, Song Feng was an unparalleled master, and even her father was no match for him, let alone that annoying Daoist. Lin Ling also looked at Song Feng with anticipation.

Although Song Feng wanted to say he could, he knew that based on Zhao Liya's description, someone who could restrain her with the power emanating from their body had at least reached the Innate Realm. He, on the other hand, was still struggling in the Postnatal Realm and couldn't possibly be a match for someone in the Innate Realm. Song Feng shook his head helplessly and said, "Perhaps my master can defeat him!" If only he knew that the Daoist he was referring to was a disciple of Zhang Sanfeng, he might have said the same thing, or perhaps he would have wished for a hole to swallow him whole.

"Ah!" The two beauties exclaimed in unison. They never imagined that the lecherous and seemingly ordinary Daoist was so powerful, comparable to the Sect Leader of Wudang Sect. It seemed impossible to ask Uncle Song to step in and teach that annoying Daoist a lesson. The two beauties lost all the excitement they had upon arriving at Wudang Mountain. Under Song Feng's guidance, they quickly toured Yuchun Palace, paid their respects to Zhang Sanfeng's statue, though who knew if they would have paid such sincere respects if they discovered Zhang Hupan was Zhang Sanfeng's disciple! They then conveyed their fathers' greetings to Song Feng and expressed their hope for a gathering at West Lake at an appropriate time before hastily departing for Hangzhou.

Just as Zhao Liya and Lin Ling left, Song Feng saw Qing Teng's slightly plump figure waddling towards him. As the second disciple of the current Wudang Sect Leader, Song Feng knew some deeper matters of Wudang. For instance, he knew that this young, plump Daoist approaching him was the closed-door disciple of his grand-master, whom he had never met. They all cultivated in the back mountains of Yuchun Palace, but that area was covered by an immortal formation. It was said that only the seniors of the Wudang Sect, figures like Immortals, lived there. Song Feng had always yearned for that place, but unfortunately, only his master and a few uncles were allowed entry. Of course, with Song Feng's current cultivation, even if he were allowed in, he couldn't activate the immortal formation, as he was still a mortal with a Postnatal body.

"Greetings, Uncle!" Seeing Qing Teng indeed approaching him, Song Feng quickly bowed respectfully. Wudang Sect was a sect that highly valued respect for teachers and elders. Although Daoist Master Qing Teng was only a young Daoist of fifteen or sixteen, Song Feng dared not be disrespectful.

"Oh, it's Nephew Mingde! Is Senior Brother Qingmu here?" Mingde was Song Feng's courtesy name.

"Yes, yes, Master is cultivating in Xuanmen Hall!" Song Feng said, pointing towards the back hall.

"Thank you, Nephew Mingde. I have some business with Senior Brother Qingmu. I'll take my leave now!" Qing Teng nodded at Song Feng and hurried towards Xuanmen Hall, leaving Song Feng bewildered. He muttered to himself, "Why is Uncle Qing Teng acting so differently today, with such a good attitude!" Qing Teng used to rely on the fact that he was Qingmu's junior brother and often lived with the legendary immortal-like figures of Wudang. Even though he only swept the floor there, it was enough to make him arrogant. He never looked directly at these junior nephews before, but after receiving teachings from the ancestor Zhang Hupan today, how could he dare to be arrogant any longer!

Qingmu became the Sect Leader forty years ago after his master, Daoist Master Ziyin, abdicated. Twenty years ago, after unremitting efforts, Qingmu finally entered the Innate Realm and had now reached the Late Qi Gathering stage. Therefore, although Qingmu was over a hundred years old, he looked as young as sixty or seventy. If not for his snow-white hair and beard, no one would believe Qingmu was over a hundred years old. At this moment, Qingmu was also surprised by the surge of spiritual energy that had erupted from the back mountain earlier and was preparing to investigate. After all, Qingmu was a true cultivator and was very sensitive to spiritual energy. Seeing Qing Teng looking for him, he immediately set off with Qing Teng towards the back mountain without a word. Along the way, Qing Teng explained what had happened to Qingmu. Qing Teng spoke with great enthusiasm, while Qingmu listened with a burning heart, already envisioning celestial pills with fragrant spiritual energy and celestial swords brimming with spiritual power.

In no time, Qing Teng and Qingmu arrived at the Daoist temple in the back mountain. Upon entering the main hall, they found that the Daoist priests, who were two to three hundred years old, were sitting on meditation cushions like primary school students, attentively listening to Zhang Hupan expound on the Dao. The scene was incredibly comical and peculiar: a group of old Daoists with white beards and youthful complexions stared eagerly at a young Daoist sitting cross-legged with a gentle expression, listening intently. Some of the old fellows even took out small notebooks and began taking notes.

The Dao that can be told is not the eternal Dao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the origin of heaven and earth; the named is the mother of all things. Therefore, always without desire, one observes its mystery; always with desire, one observes its manifestations. These two, though different in name, are the same in their origin. They are called the profound. The profound means deep and far-reaching. To attain the profound Dao, one must attain stillness upon stillness, and tranquility upon tranquility. Within this, there is nothing. This is observing the mystery without desire, the first profound. When the vital energy stirs, though there is awareness, no knowledge arises; though there is movement, no thought of movement remains. There is one mind, no two thoughts. This is observing the manifestations with desire, the second profound.

In essence, the point where thoughts arise is the profound, and it is the beginning of the creation of heaven and earth, and the birth of people and the nurturing of all things. Since ancient times, all Immortals have been formed from this moment of awakening and action. It is also said that observing the mystery without desire and observing the manifestations with desire are rooted in each other, one still and one moving, thus they come from the same source but have different names...

Sentence after sentence of profound Heavenly Dao teachings left these old fellows mesmerized. Qingmu and Qing Teng outside the hall had long since joined the ranks of students listening to the teachings. The poor Qing Teng and Qingzhu, whose cultivation was still relatively low, couldn't fully grasp these profound Heavenly Dao principles. They fully embodied the saying "a poor memory is worse than a bad pen," constantly scribbling furiously.

In fact, it wasn't just the young Daoists Qing Teng and Qingzhu who couldn't understand; even Kuye, whose cultivation had reached the Mid-stage Pill Formation, had many words he couldn't comprehend at the moment. It was hardly surprising, considering Zhang Hupan's cultivation. He was already a Nascent Soul Stage expert with a Half-Immortal Physique. Furthermore, his teacher was Zhang Sanfeng, who had already become an Immortal. Before Zhang Sanfeng departed, he had imparted all his knowledge to Zhang Hupan. It could be said that Zhang Hupan now possessed the knowledge and insights of an Immortal, even though his cultivation was still at the Nascent Soul Stage. It was like a child who understood the techniques of wielding swords and sabers but couldn't lift a heavy greatsword or halberd. Now, having such a knowledgeable Zhang Hupan teach these juniors, who were at most in the Mid-stage Pill Formation, was child's play. It was a pity for these older students, who were bombarded by Zhang Hupan's knowledge, leaving them dizzy and feeling utterly ignorant for the first time in their lives, truly a disgrace to the cultivation world and a failure of the Wudang Sect. Fortunately, those fellows, ashamed, embraced a spirit similar to Lu Xun's character Ah Q. Damn it, I don't understand, but others might not either! Daoists from other sects didn't even have the chance to hear such profound Heavenly Dao! After this self-consolation, these fellows finally managed to calm down and listen attentively, preventing themselves from biting their tongues in frustration.

The sun quietly set, but all the Daoists were immersed in the profound and mysterious, infinitely wondrous Heavenly Dao. The day-long lecture dispelled the confusion in many of their hearts. Everyone's understanding and knowledge had completely ascended to a new realm. Almost every Daoist discovered that their cultivation had unconsciously improved by a level. Cultivating the Dao inherently relied on sudden enlightenment. These old Daoists, who had cultivated for hundreds of years, had already accumulated abundant magical power and absorbed plentiful spiritual energy from heaven and earth. What they lacked was that moment of enlightenment. Now, Zhang Hupan's profound words were like a spring rain, causing seeds to sprout and begin their life under the sun. Of course, the young Daoists Qing Teng and Qingzhu, with their Postnatal bodies, couldn't achieve this. After all, what Zhang Hupan was explaining was too profound and esoteric for them! However, the Heavenly Dao Zhang Hupan spoke of was deeply etched into their minds, greatly aiding their future cultivation. Because of this lesson, the two young Daoists would eventually achieve astonishing cultivation that could move heaven and earth, a story for another time. (To be continued)