The True Lord has arrived

Chapter 370 Paying Homage to the Supreme Lord
Louguan Taoism, the contemporary Supreme Being...

The title of "Supreme One" represents only two words.

The strongest!
Ma Ningyang never expected such a change.

Lou Guandao's behavior seemed to have undergone a terrifying and drastic change because of the Taoist in front of him. Only when the words "The Taoist sects of China are hunting down disciples from the Three Mountains overseas" were uttered did he realize the seriousness of the matter.

"No, that's not how it is!!!"

He subconsciously exerted all his strength to circulate his magic power and continuously bombard the strange seal, but the more he tried to break through the seal, the stronger the seal's power became!
It was as if it was drawing upon his own magical power to transform into chains that bound his eight extraordinary meridians.

Such bizarre effects can be expressed in a completely upright and honest way!
That surge of the five elements grew increasingly fierce and powerful, eventually even directly connecting with Ma Ningyang's internal organs, forcibly locking them into a knot. The excruciating pain of having all his meridians and magical power coiled into a knot instantly turned Ma Ningyang's face deathly pale.

He screamed and uncontrollably knelt on the ground, his body instinctively curling up, so his head was hanging down. The excruciating pain stimulated his brain, causing his vision to go black in waves. He could only see the Taoist's straw sandals and the hem of his dark blue Taoist robe.

He struggled to lift his head.

My vision gradually darkened and then returned to normal, and I could no longer make out the Taoist's face and features.

As high as the sky!

All that could be seen were four simple, ethereal characters above his head: Supreme Morality.

Perhaps it is because the mind is influenced by the environment. In the past, when I looked at these four words, I only focused on the word "morality". That naturally meant being indifferent and non-active, peaceful and calm, like flowing clouds and water. If you came to provoke me, it seemed that I would not have any temper or consequences.

But at this moment, he was in excruciating pain all over his body and knelt down in front of the road.

Only then can one see the domineering sharpness hidden beneath the gentle and refined surface of the two characters "Supreme".

The head of each generation of the Daoist sect is called Taishang.
It is what is called supreme.

"Please, please forgive my unintentional words just now..."

"I... no, all these things were just my own nonsense, my own ideas, and have nothing to do with the Three Mountains Overseas. I have offended the Louguan Daoist and the True Man, and I deserve to be punished. I will commit suicide here to atone for my sins!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Ma Ningyang's eyes as he drew his sword, intending to commit suicide.

He was prepared to risk his life to retrieve the three mountains overseas, hoping to stop the matter and leave a stain on the Louguan Dao sect, so that there would be no way to verify the truth. But just as he was about to make a move, he felt a sharp pain and couldn't help but scream.

With a crisp clang, the short sword fell to the ground, its surface gleaming with a faint emerald green. The blade exuded a chilling aura. Ma Ningyang let out a wail of agony, causing Chang Ningxue and the others kneeling behind him to turn pale. They saw wisps of sword-like energy pierce through Ma Ningyang's elbow, staining his Taoist robe with blood.

Strands of golden sword energy coiled up like silk threads.

Light, elegant, and serene, it intertwined in the sunlight, transforming into a golden butterfly that seemed to flutter and dance as if alive.

Louguandao's architecture is simple and ancient, dating back to the time of Emperor Gaozu of Tang. A gentle breeze blows across the eaves, the bells under the eaves ring, and sunlight streams in through the cracks in the windows, landing perfectly on the butterflies.

Beautiful, dreamlike.

Like a long, unending dream.

Yet it possessed a power that seemed capable of instantly killing a sixth-rank Xuan official.

Chang Ningxue and the others held their breath as they watched the butterfly land. The Taoist priest sitting under the four characters "Taishang Louguan" stretched out his right hand, and the butterfly calmly landed on his finger, its wings quietly folding away, revealing no trace of its previous sharpness and terror.

Although it's not quite the right word, everyone here at this moment subconsciously thought of that well-known story: Zhuangzi dreaming of a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming of Zhuangzi.

Zhou Yan looked at the butterfly on his finger.

This butterfly comes from the [Tengdie Tu], and the sword energy and sharpness within it comes from Li Taibai's gift. That sword energy lotus is not only a personal supernatural power, but also carries the sword intent of Li Taibai's entire set of sword techniques. Zhou Yan has gradually mastered the basics.

With the natal magic weapon of the immortal Li Yuanying, dealing with this old Taoist whose cultivation was suppressed by the Doushuai Palace would be a piece of cake. Zhou Yan looked at Ma Ningyang, who was pretending to be in a sorry state and deliberately wailing.

What was he thinking?

He thought of his good friend Xuan Zhuzi, who was still lying in the pharmacy in Langzhong, and how the latter had swallowed the poison of the Sanyang Jiemie Sect to save someone and suffered endless torment; he thought of Li Zhiwei, who was almost dead, and the corpses of those people in Langzhong...

With a silent gaze, the old man's feigned pitiful wails only irritated Zhou Yan, fueling his anger. However, he maintained a quiet demeanor, a silence that suppressed his rage.

"As for suicide, the Taoist school certainly has the virtue of cherishing life, so there is no need for suicide."

Everyone heard the Taoist's voice. Zhou Yan casually flicked his sleeve, causing his dark blue Taoist robe to billow. The golden butterfly vanished, turning into streaks of golden light that disappeared into the morning sunlight.

"Then all that's needed is to strip away all your cultivation."

Zhou Yan stood up and paced back and forth, calmly pressing down his right hand.

The Tushita Palace's move of reversing supernatural powers directly bombards the Dao foundation, transforming the innate five elements' Qi to highlight the two Qi of water and fire, and then using the two Qi of water and fire to transform Kan and Li, reversing Yin and Yang. The rotation of Yin and Yang is precisely the change of the Tushita Palace's move.

boom! ! !
Ma Ningyang screamed, and clouds of mist billowed from his body's orifices, surging into the sky and stirring up the surrounding sea of ​​clouds. When Zhou Yan withdrew his hand, the old Taoist, whose skin had been smooth and rosy and whose hair had turned white, now had a face full of wrinkles like a withered tree.

The flesh on his fingers seemed to have been cut away, and his hair was like withered white weeds.

A distorted sound came from his throat: "Ah..."

"You... you've destroyed my cultivation..."

He stopped acting and wailing; his eyes were filled with despair. Finally, he collapsed there like ashes after his life had been burned out.

Zhou Yan calmly looked at Chang Ningxue and the others. The latter, who looked like a young and beautiful woman, was now deathly pale and screamed, "No, no! True Man, True Lord, Supreme Lord, please don't destroy my cultivation!"

"I, I'm willing to be a slave or a servant, I'm willing to say anything!"

She kowtowed frantically.

But then they saw butterflies flying out, their faces turning deathly pale. Despite their wailing, the butterflies still managed to shatter their Dao foundations. Finally, Zhou Yan stepped forward and said, "Take them all away."

“Copy Taoist scriptures daily.”

"Yes, Grandmaster Uncle."

The Taoists of Louguan looked at Zhou Yan, their voices filled with a sense of awe. They felt that their grandmaster uncle, who had been so playful and sarcastic on the mountain, had changed a lot after going down the mountain and visiting Sichuan.

After Xiweizi finished giving his orders, he walked out with his hands tucked into his sleeves and stood behind Zhou Yan, saying, "Grandmaster Uncle, crippling their cultivation and power is more painful than killing them."

Zhou Yan looked at Yunxia as if she were looking at the many ancient gods and demons of the second spiritual world. He said, "If it's not like this, then how can the punishment have any effect? ​​True Person Xiweizi, do you feel that this is somewhat inappropriate?"

Xiweizi stroked his beard and said, "The highest good is like water, and of course it must be punished."

"However, the method of punishment also needs to be carefully considered."

Zhou Yan looked at this Taoist priest with a strong sense of integrity. During the chaos caused by the Weaver Girl, Xiweizi did not hesitate to damage his own foundation, even at the risk of losing his life force, in order to fight to the death to kill that monster. He knew that Xiweizi was not the kind of person who was bound by convention.

This is perhaps his philosophy of doing things and being a person: he likes to do good and likes to leave a way out for others.

Zhou Yan used to think that such people were very persistent. He didn't agree with them, but he respected them.

This time, Zhou Yan simply raised his hand, and the vital energy in his palm transformed into a ball of light. He said, "This time when I entered the mortal world, I witnessed many things and gained some insights. Let me explain my thoughts."

"Pure good and pure evil are not the Way."

"The transformation and change of Yin and Yang is called the Dao. If we use the two polarities to explain the Great Dao, then isn't the constant kindness of the True Man Xiweizi just isolated Yang? Isolated Yang cannot produce anything, and isolated Yin cannot grow."

Xiweizi stroked his beard, his smile freezing slightly.

He only wanted to advise this young cultivator not to be too impetuous. He didn't care much about Zhou Yan crippling Ma Ningyang's cultivation, but he was slightly moved by the ball of light in Zhou Yan's hand.

Zhou Yan glanced sideways at the master of Louguan Dao.

"May I ask you, fellow Daoist, what is meant by 'A solitary yang cannot produce life'?" The tone was solemn.

This is asking the question, and it is also the beginning of discussing the Dao.

Xiweizi replied solemnly, "Yin and Yang are interdependent and neither can be lacking. Yang is based on Yin, and Yin is driven by Yang."

This is a classic explanation and standard response from the Taoist school. Zhou Yan said, "Then, please listen to my answer. Whether it is doing things or being a person, it is impossible to always have only one side. If one only has one side, then one will collapse sooner or later."

Confucius once said, "What kind of person is a gentleman?"

His disciple replied that he should be close to everyone, but Confucius refuted him, saying that only a gentleman is one who is close to virtuous and good people, while being disliked and avoided by wicked and petty people.

"If it's just about making everyone like you, then it's just..."

"Speak human language to humans, and ghost language to ghosts."

"Just a smooth talker!"

boom! ! !
Whether this statement was intentional or unintentional is unclear.

In short, it was like a thunderbolt that struck Xiweizi's heart, making his face turn pale. This revelation was a wake-up call for the young, talented Daoist master who, after becoming the sect leader, had begun to suppress his temper and become adept at social maneuvering.

It's not a very profound principle.

But it is precisely this kind of truth that everyone seems to know that is easily overlooked.

When you suddenly notice something, it really feels like a thunderbolt has struck – that's what they call a sudden realization.

The ball of vital energy in Zhou Yan's hand swirled continuously as he said:
"Let me give you an analogy: trees face the sun, but their roots are down; people need to breathe, to exhale and inhale... Just like people, of course they should be kind, but they must also have a bottom line."

"Kindness is the nature of human beings, but it is the bottom line that makes a kind person precious."

"For a nation, the sword is the plow."

"In terms of heaven and earth."

“Then there is day and night, then there is the sun and the moon.”

"And hatred is a shady spot on the sunny side; you can't erase it with appeasement or persuasion, you can never. Hatred can only be washed away with blood..."

"Um?!!!"

Zhou Yan noticed Xiweizi's change. He realized after a little thought that Xiweizi had been in charge of Louguandao for too long, and he had to make many compromises, prioritizing the overall situation in everything.

It was like the yang, but even that little bit of yin disappeared.

Today, it was just a disagreement between two people, a heated argument and discussion, which prompted Xiweizi to turn back.

The old Taoist priest's aura suggests he's on the verge of a mental breakthrough.

Zhou Yan suddenly clenched his fist, and the ball of energy in his hand, which was simulated as a Tai Chi diagram, was suddenly crushed and exploded, causing ripples of energy to spread out and making Zhou Yan's dark blue sleeves flutter and roll!

When a person's gaze and all their attention are focused on one corner, if that thing suddenly explodes or changes abruptly, it will immediately feel as if a hand is directly grabbing their mind from their gaze. Therefore, the Taoist school calls gaze "eyesight".

This sudden exertion of force caused Hippietzon's mind to shake violently.

"Xivzi!"

Zhou Yan suddenly called him by his Taoist name.

As I took a step forward, the earth seemed to shake violently.

Pointing one finger to the sky and one finger to the earth, he roared:

"Do they know the universe?!"

Hippiezi instinctively staggered backward.

Zhou Yan took another half step forward and continued to shout:
"Xivzi!"

"You can know day and night!"

Xiweizi took a half step back, staggered and sat down on the ground. He subconsciously looked up and could only see the churning sea of ​​clouds and a large sun behind Zhou Yan. Because of the backlight, the sunlight could not be seen on his face. Xiweizi could only see a Taoist standing there.

The dark blue Taoist robe resembled clouds, and hanging from his waist was the wooden plaque he had originally obtained from Louguan Tao, bearing only the character "Tai". Behind this Taoist was the double-linked structure of Louguan Tao, which had stood there for over a thousand years.

[Auspicious purple clouds travel 30,000 miles eastward, and five thousand words are spoken upon first crossing the Hangu Pass!]
[The green ox journeys westward through countless eons, while Louguan Temple hangs perpetually as a celestial grotto!]
Within this double couplet, amidst the vastness of heaven and earth, the Taoist priest let out a final, furious roar, asking him:

"Xivzi!"

"It is known that the sun and the moon are related!!!"

After a long silence, Xiweizi felt dizzy and everything in front of him became blurry. When he raised his hand to touch it, he suddenly realized that at his advanced age, after cultivating Taoism for more than sixty years, he was actually in tears at this moment.

It is a secret that everyone knows, but it is precisely this kind of thing that is most likely to deceive people's eyes and minds.

Zhou Yan withdrew his hand. He had been through this before, so he knew what to do at this moment. He clasped his hands together, his wide Taoist robe rolled down, and watched as Xi Weizi composed herself. Xi Weizi was not helped by anyone and wiped away her tears.

He stepped back, fell down, and then finally got up on his own.

Zhou Yan, with his discerning eyes, saw a clear energy circulating around the old Taoist priest. Although it was still weak, it had indeed dispelled the drowsiness of the past. So he smiled and said:
"Congratulations, congratulations... Now, Master, you no longer need to use those strange forbidden books to represent your [yin]."

"Cry when you need to cry, laugh when you need to laugh, and feel good when you need to. Don't hold back your anger. If you want to hit someone, throw a punch. If punching isn't enough, you can at least kick them hard."

When Xiweizi's reason for reading forbidden books was exposed, his old face flushed red, but he forced a straight face, stroked his beard, and said:
"Oh? Is this what cultivation is?"

Zhou Yan has experienced many things, and the adventures and responsibilities he has undertaken are more than many cultivators have in their entire lives. He also learned the original text of the Tao Te Ching from Nuwa before entering the mortal world, and it was only after this journey that he gained some understanding.

He laughed and said, "Following one's nature and the will of Heaven, how can that not be considered spiritual practice?"

"Alright, alright, I'm going back now. If anything happens, just use the same method as before. Oh, and remember to give the talismans I gave you to the disciples you sent out. They're life-saving items, so don't forget them."

"gone."

Zhou Yan turned around and casually waved his hand with his back to the old man.

He still had to carry those two innate spiritual trees back to the two ancestors in the blessed land, otherwise there would be a lot of trouble when they got back. Behind him, Xiweizi raised his head and took a breath, feeling that all the burdens of the past had been swept away.

Feeling refreshed and clear-headed, with bright eyes.

He watched the young Taoist walk away with his back to him, his expression complex, which finally turned into admiration.

Discussions of the Way know no age; those who have attained it come first.

This serendipitous guidance already makes him a teacher for a day.

Xiweizi straightened his sleeves, placed his left hand on top of his right, clasped his hands, and lowered his gaze to eye level. Finally, it was no longer the cooperative relationship he had before, based on the so-called 'high seniority' obtained from imperial power.

Instead, he said it truly, honestly, and respectfully:
"Disciple Xiweizi thanks you for your guidance."

"Disciple Xiweizi greets Grandmaster Uncle."

"Disciple Xiweizi—"

"Greetings, [Supreme One]!"

(End of this chapter)