Zhang Xuezhou's Fortune

Without a long and rich tradition, without profound cultivation that transcends heaven and earth, and without a significant difference in cultivation level, it is very difficult for a great cultivator to learn techniques from others.

The act of a high-level cultivator learning from a low-level cultivator is extremely rare.

Even within the broad and profound Confucian School school, it would be difficult to achieve the same attitude towards learning as Dong Zhongshu.

It's not a problem that Confucian School scholars are not ashamed to ask questions of those less knowledgeable; the real problem is who dares to learn the teachings of junior cultivators, especially a technique they've never encountered before.

If Li Guang hadn't been unable to help and hadn't been physically exhausted from the power struggle with Shen Peigong, Dong Zhongshu wouldn't have dared to copy everything wholesale.

But he's willing to take a gamble right now.

Putting everything else aside, just based on Dong Zhongshu's certainty that Zhang Xuezhou once possessed great fortune, he felt it was worth a try.

Moreover, Dong Zhongshu did indeed believe that this was a possible way of spiritual practice.

The only difficulty lies in the conditions for practicing the Yang Soul Transformation Technique.

This requires an abundance of Spiritual Qi to be possible for cultivation.

One could find a secret place, possess a spiritual jade, or even have a powerful cultivator deliberately disperse their power and die to fulfill all the requirements.

Dong Zhongshu immediately unleashed a treasure-hunting spell.

But the feeling of emptiness and lack of Technique Method overwhelmed him, and he couldn't help but sigh.

The solution to his physical ailment was right beside him, but he lacked the necessary conditions for cultivation. This undeniably suggests that his luck was mediocre, making it difficult for him to immediately reap the benefits.

"Should we still delve into the Huang-Lao philosophy of 'Zaiyou'?"

Compared to the previous situation where there seemed to be no hope of a solution, Dong Zhongshu has at least now obtained a solution.

However, finding a secret place requires not only fortuitous opportunity but also strength, and finding the spirit jade is a wish he has been unable to fulfill for many years.

As for the conditions for some great cultivators to lose their power and die, they are too harsh. And the aura of cultivators returning to heaven and earth is not very stable. If one wants to condense the Yang Soul Dharma Body, it may take the death of several great cultivators.

Dong Zhongshu eventually prayed for good fortune and found a magical jade, thus escaping his troubles.

If he could split his physical cultivation into two parts, he might indeed have the opportunity to use the Yin-Yang School's cultivation techniques to completely resolve the future problems of his body.

"One is divided into Yin, and the other into Yang, and then Yin and Yang interact and blend into one?"

Dong Zhongshu proceeded step by step, seeking the possibility of mastering the Yang Soul Transformation Technique, and then seeking to integrate the Yin-Yang School's cultivation techniques with his cultivation realm to achieve unity.

"What about me?" Zhang Xuezhou asked anxiously.

He laid bare all his secrets, and in the end, he solved Dong Zhongshu's problem.

Although they were brothers in misfortune, Zhang Xuezhou felt that his own situation couldn't remain unresolved.

"The problem of your Yang Soul Dharma Body condensing within your body is indeed quite troublesome!"

Zhang Xuezhou did not say where the Yangpo Transformation Technique originated, but Dong Zhongshu knew very well that there were not many people in the Three Realms who could do such a thing.

He couldn't understand for a moment why Zhang Xuezhou was so lucky to befriend the master of the Sacred Land.

However, this young man's cultivation level was too low, and he was unable to withstand the benefits that the Lord of the Sacred Land forced upon him.

This allowed Dong Zhongshu to roughly determine the level of Zhang Xuezhou's luck with benefactors.

This kind of fortune is inferior to that of the lord of the Sacred Land and even to that of the emperor, but it is almost equal to that of a feudal lord, and even surpasses that of some feudal lords.

Zhang Xuezhou didn't have the power of a feudal lord, but the Lord of the Sacred Land wasn't someone that just any feudal lord could meet, let alone gain benefits from a conversation with.

"Don't be impatient or anxious, you've always had good luck... Oh, you were also washed under the cauldron, have you used up your good fortune?"

If Dong Zhongshu's cultivation was divided into two parts, one being the realm of Qi and Blood, and the other the realm of Technique Method, then Dong Zhongshu felt that Zhang Xuezhou's fortune was also likely divided into two parts.

Not everyone has the ability to overcome adversity and setbacks.

Like Dong Zhongshu, who struggled repeatedly without seeing any hope, it was Zhang Xuezhou who pulled him out of the mire.

But he didn't see anyone pulling or tugging at Zhang Xuezhou, at least not when he was in Chang'an City.

If Dong Zhongshu wanted to treat Rong Tianding as a benefactor to Zhang Xuezhou, he felt that Rong Tianding was lacking in the necessary qualities; otherwise, he wouldn't have suffered so much misfortune alongside him that his leg was broken.

Dong Zhongshu felt that either some extraordinary figure was secretly protecting Zhang Xuezhou, or if so, Zhang Xuezhou wouldn't need to worry about any health problems.

The other possibility is that Zhang Xuezhou's life is a mixture of extreme misfortune and extreme good fortune.

This is also a more plausible possibility, as Dong Zhongshu speculated.

People in the world who possess two completely different realms of skill like him are rare, and those with a destiny like Zhang Xuezhou's are equally rare.

"That's impossible. If I had top-notch luck, how could I have stayed in Zhang Household Village for eighteen years?" Zhang Xuezhou asked, puzzled.

"Cicadas need to hibernate underground for eighteen years before they emerge as adults. What's so special about you hiding in Zhang Household Village for eighteen years?" Dong Zhongshu retorted. "Even if you did hide in Zhang Household Village, I think you'd definitely be the luckiest person Zhang Household Village!"

"If you put it that way... then you're absolutely right!"

Zhang Xuezhou was indeed the luckiest person in Zhang Household Village.

He doesn't remember much about his childhood, but he developed an illness when he grew up, which saved him from having to practice archery with his peers and caused him a lot of trouble.

He also took a job weighing goods, and he was one of the few literate people in Zhang Household Village.

In Zhang Household Village, he had indeed done his best in some aspects, and there was no way to make him progress even one step further.

Dong Zhongshu's explanation made Zhang Xuezhou somewhat suspicious.

"We need to study this matter carefully. Understanding it is more reliable than anything else," Zhang Xuezhou finally said.

"The study of fate is unfathomable. I will participate in such research, but more importantly, you need to explore it yourself," Dong Zhongshu said sincerely. "You are the one who knows yourself best. Only you can ultimately grasp the balance of your own fate. Perhaps one day, good fortune will not only solve your health problems but also help you find your parents!"

Dong Zhongshu participated in the study of "Yun" (运), and he even adopted the imperial Yun theory from the book "Zaiyou" (在宥).

He will undoubtedly offer Zhang Xuezhou a great deal of guidance on this matter, but only Zhang Xuezhou himself truly understands and masters it.

Just like his physical condition, no matter how much ability and resources Zhang Xuezhou provided, the final solution still depended on Dong Zhongshu himself.

Only by truly understanding oneself and taking control of one's destiny can one possibly break free from a dead end.

Dong Zhongshu untied the knot on Zhang Xuezhou's body, but Zhang Xuezhou might one day discover someone who could untie the ropes binding him.

These people could be him, Rong Tianding, the Holy Mother of Wudang, the new emperor, or many others.

When a drowning person sinks into the water, they don't think about how to learn to swim; instead, they need to grasp at any possible way to save themselves, even if it's just a straw.

Dong Zhongshu proceeded with his analysis in a slow and methodical manner, which calmed Zhang Xuezhou considerably.

Dong Zhongshu is right. He is still young and has the ability to solve problems.

For example, Dong Zhongshu, who had a close relationship with him, Ren Anran, or others.

The number of people practicing the Yang Soul Transformation Technique is constantly increasing; eventually, someone will break the deadlock.

Compared to him, the elderly and frail superiors would be more anxious.

If he is still of any use, he might one day be able to get help from these people to solve his problems, and even improve his cultivation level. This would also allow him to find his parents and many people from Zhang Household Village in the vast world.