Joining the Call Together
He then turned around, lowered his eyes, and said:
"Master Daoxing said in his Book of Inquiring into Tribulations: ' The Profound Qi governs tribulations, knowing them yet not avoiding them. Tribulations are the pivot of heaven and earth, like the order of the four seasons and the alternation of day and night. Where there is rise, there must be fall; where there is prosperity, there must be decline. Although I govern tribulations, I cannot defy them; although I know them, I cannot escape them. Therefore, later disciples should not presume to use techniques to control tribulations, but should use tribulations as a mirror to observe the times, discern good and bad fortune, and follow the natural order.'"
Calamities are unpredictable, like a gust of wind stirring up a duckweed. At first, they are subtle and imperceptible, but when they gain momentum, they can destroy mountains and overturn seas, becoming unstoppable. Therefore, later generations of disciples should not contend with calamities, but rather choose the right time to act and the right place to reside. If the calamity is with them and not with us, then we should hide in the mountains and fields, in secluded places, and wait for the calamity to dissipate on its own. If the calamity is with us and not with them, then we should go with the flow, use the Bandit Cultivator, seek survival within the calamity, and seek the Dao within the calamity.
Remember: Avoiding calamity is not cowardice, nor is advancing recklessly. Only by assessing the situation and acting accordingly can one be wise; only by following the trend can one achieve success. If the time is not right, one should remain hidden and not force it; if destiny is on your side, one should emerge and not hesitate. Seek survival in calamity, seek the Way in survival, and seek oneself in the Way. Only then will you live up to the name of the Profound Qi Heaven, the Supreme Calamity Karma Purification, and the nature of sin, and live up to my teachings.
After speaking, he raised his head and looked at Su Yao and Zilin, his gaze intense:
"Fellow Daoist Su just said that this opportunity is once in a thousand years, and Fellow Zilin said that there is no way out. What you say is exactly in line with the ancestral master's teachings. The calamity is with us, not there. If we don't seek the Purple Mansion now, when will we?"
He then gave a wry smile:
"As you both know, after the departure of the Daoxing Ancestor, the Second Ancestor, upon Book of Inquiring into Tribulations, was filled with fear and thus secluded himself from the mountain. However, the Zhou Dynasty was in chaos, and a great calamity befell us, and our Golden Court had no way to avoid it. If it weren't for the fact that two of the Daoxing Ancestor's disciples were Investiture of the Gods of the Gods back then and later secretly protected by the Heavenly Court, our Dao would have long since vanished into thin air by the Zhou Dynasty. Now, hundreds of thousands of years have passed, and we have yet to recover our vitality."
He paused:
"From that time on, our lineage masters have known that it is better to face calamity head-on than to avoid it. Sealing off the mountains and locking the gates may seem safe, but it is merely tying one's own hands and feet. When a great calamity comes, one can avoid it for a while, but not forever. Only by entering the calamity, experiencing it, and transcending it can one find a glimmer of hope in the flames of calamity and then take control of it."
His gaze fell on Su Yao, his voice not loud, but carrying an unprecedented solemnity:
"Fellow Daoist Su, you just said, 'Even the Great One is not omniscient,' and I wholeheartedly agree. The Great One has his own chess game, and we have our own tribulations. Today, as we seek the Purple Mansion on Golden Ao Mountain, the three of us are risking our lives for ourselves. If we face this tribulation head-on, even defeat will be without regret."
After listening, Su Yao remained silent for a moment.
He looked into Yang Xiu's eyes, which were no longer playful but filled with solemnity, and slowly nodded.
"Sanlang is right." He no longer addressed Yang Xiu as "fellow Daoist," but instead called him by his childhood name. "The lord has his own chess game, and we have our own tribulations. Now that we've come this far, there's no need to look back. Since the three of us were ordered to go south, from the words revealed in the wooden box to the reincarnation of Proclaiming Earth, from the fall from the grotto to the issuance of the edict of self-reproach, every step we've taken has been a precarious situation. Since we've entered this tribulation, we must face it. There's no way to avoid it, so we might as well face it head-on and forge a path."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Yang Xiu and Zilin, his voice deep and serious:
"Moreover, although our journey has been perilous, we are not without support. Although the Immortal Box has vanished, it appeared in the world as a wooden box before it disappeared. When it accompanied us, the decree stated: 'Upon the successful completion of the Proclaiming Earth a ritual), there will be rewards; among the immortals and deities, you will all be included.' Although the Proclaiming Earth has not yet been successfully completed, we have already sent the reincarnation of the True Lord into the grotto heaven."
Upon hearing this, Zilin raised her head, the caution and worry in her eyes gradually fading during the previous silence.
She first looked at Yang Xiu:
"Fellow Daoist Yang's words dispelled the last vestige of doubt in my heart."
Then he turned to Su Yao, his gaze calm and firm, and said with a smile:
"Ten years of pear blossoms and snow nourish the teacup; one night of calamity hastens the departure of the sword-wielding boat."
Undeterred by the vast and uncertain path ahead, we dare to dedicate our hearts and souls to the journey to the heavens.
The moon shines coldly over Mount Lao, its peaks silent; the wind blows high over the Purple and Green hills, bringing autumn to all the trees.
If we talk about the Golden Ao incident someday, I will still remember how we volunteered for the cause today.
Su Yao was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then clapped his hands and laughed:
"What a wonderful line, 'Daring to dedicate our hearts and souls to the journey to the heavens,' and what a wonderful line, 'Joining hands in volunteering!' With this poem from Fellow Zilin, our path to the Purple Mansion is no longer lonely."
Yang Xiu nodded, his usually smiling and sarcastic eyes unusually subdued, and he simply chuckled and teased:
"If future generations remember this Pear Garden, they will most likely first recall Fellow Zilin's words from today."
Zilin smiled upon hearing this, and then said:
"Fellow Daoist Su, why don't you compose a poem in response?"
"Fellow Zilin expressed his aspirations through poetry, and I, Su, responded with a poem in response."
Su Yao stood with his hands behind his back, took a few steps forward, looked out of the hall, and recited in a melodious voice:
"How many autumns have I been banished to the mortal world? I have always believed myself to be a celestial being."
Pearls sink in the ocean, leaving only tears; jade shatters on Kunshan, bringing no sorrow.
The wind has not yet ceased, the sword is hard to sheathe. The ashes of calamity have all vanished, the moon hangs high above the tower.
Do not say that the immortals are nowhere to be found; a clear day shines on the returning boat.
After Su Yao finished reciting, Zilin took two steps forward, landing one step behind Su Yao. She whispered and repeatedly savored the lines "Ni Chang Zi Xu Ben Xian Liu" and "Tian Yi Qing Zhou Zhao Gui Zhou" several times, a faint smile appearing in her eyes.
Yang Xiu watched from the side, shaking his head inwardly, thinking to himself: The goddess is willing, but the flowing water is unaware.
So he coughed lightly twice, and just as he opened his mouth:
"Fellow Daoist Su..."
But before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Li Siyi's voice coming from outside the hall:
"The Dao Child has been made."
The sound that came from outside the hall was clear and steady, like a pebble thrown into the heart of the lake where poetry, wine, and shared destiny had just been expressed.
The expressions of all three changed.
The smile that had just appeared in Zilin's eyes because of Su Yao's words faded away. She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a very faint shadow on her cheeks. The intimacy that had arisen from their shared recitation was intertwined with the disappointment of being interrupted, and her expression became slightly downcast.
Yang Xiu witnessed this scene and was secretly amazed.
He thought to himself: Sometimes, there is some truth to the stories of the mortal world.
Su Yao was slightly taken aback. He hadn't noticed the subtle exchange between the two behind him. The impassioned poetry and discussion of calamity were still ringing in his ears. Li Siyi's "It's done" seemed to gently bring him back to reality from the clouds.
He straightened his sleeves and strode to the palace gate, leaving Yang Xiu behind, watching his back. Zilin, who was still looking down, and shook his head inwardly, but the smile on his face deepened.
Upon arriving outside the hall, Li Siyi, her face beaming with joy, held Zhengji in both hands. Seeing Su Yao emerge, she exclaimed happily:
"The envoy has already gone to Qixia Mountain, Mount Lao, and Golden Court."
Then she added:
"The messenger said that he had already anticipated that you would have Yang Zhao and the other three switch cultivation Cultivation Method, and that Cultivation Method of the same nature had been prepared for them. He immediately gave it to me and asked me to bring it with me."