Heaven and Earth are Unkind

Opening the first page of The Chant of the Grand Dao, the words inscribed on it are not a cultivation method but a simple statement:

"The heavens and the earth are indifferent, treating all things as mere fodder."

However...

Is that really the case?

I often ponder over these words, unable to grasp their meaning.

Why must it be that the heavens and the earth are indifferent, treating all things as mere fodder?

Some say that this statement implies equality, that the heavens and the earth regard all beings—whether pigs, dogs, cows, sheep, humans, or demons—with equal regard.

Others argue that this statement signifies the supreme authority of the heavens and the earth, rendering all things as insignificant creatures, subject to their whims and control, to be manipulated and slaughtered...

After a century of contemplating these two answers, I no longer find them convincing. Therefore, to the future generations of practitioners, I say:

Both answers are wrong.

The answer, the path of cultivation for you, lies within yourself. All the answers in this world are contained within these words.

Although the road to cultivation is long and arduous, I believe that my path shall never be lonely!

This is the first page of The Chant of the Grand Dao, resembling a soliloquy.

When Zhang San was nine years old, he couldn't understand it at all. Even now, he still doesn't comprehend it fully, but...

As they say, ignorance can be impressive!

If something left behind by an immortal, the words spoken by an immortal, could be easily understood by ordinary people, then what would be the point of being an immortal?

So, when he read the first page, the nine-year-old Zhang San couldn't help but think, perhaps... this is truly immortal art?

It wasn't until he turned to the second page...

Or more accurately, the back of the first page. At this moment, when Zhang San read the arrogant and domineering words written there, he felt the same sensation in his heart as he did when he was nine.

It said:

"Haha!

Do you feel that even though you couldn't understand the words on the first page, they're still awesome?

But unfortunately, none of those words were spoken by Laozi.

Throughout his life, Laozi roamed freely in the heavens and the earth, singing songs of inspiration. He never knew what trouble meant. However, the owner of those words was a legendary figure in the Daoist sect, and Laozi's cultivation path began from him. Thus, I have always remembered his grace.

But despite the gratitude, why did I write his words on the first page of my ultimate technique?

There is only one reason!

Although his words may be incomprehensible, they sound... incredibly cool!

They can add a lot of dominance to my ultimate technique, don't you think?!

As the descendants of my sect, I want to ask: how many generations have passed since my teachings reached you?

Have you spread the songs I sang far and wide? That is the true treasure of our sect! The divine essence of the heavens and the earth! Make sure to spread it everywhere you go!

Cultivation can be set aside, as it has little practical use, but music must never stop!

Also, let me ask one more thing: was our sect ultimately destroyed or not?

Speaking of which, among those who are currently studying this cultivation method, are they our sect's enemies who annihilated us, or are they our disciples?

If you are a disciple, why not bow down to this book and pay your respects? Laozi will bless you, oh.

If you are an enemy, well, it can only be said that you were lucky not to encounter me while I was still alive.

But that's fine too. I don't really care. After all, I reckon that I've long since perished, and my bones have probably turned to dust. Hahaha..."

In any case, whether they are enemies or disciples, if they want to learn my techniques, they are all warmly welcome. Before embarking on cultivation, there are only two words that I can tell you.

The teachings of our sect revolve around the art of life and death!

The way of heaven and earth is celebrated through song.

That's the end of it.

Hmm.

Zhang San felt somewhat speechless, just like when he was a child.

After all, it was evident that the person who wrote those words on the back of the first page was the true author of the Chant of the Grand Dao.

However...

He was clearly not a normal person!

At least judging from his words, he was completely different from an ordinary person. His choice of words exuded an exceptionally arrogant aura. As an ultimate and steadfast killer, Zhang San had always avoided anything that was "arrogant" throughout his life.

But the last two phrases, "the art of life and death" and "the way of heaven and earth," had a truly terrifying tone.

Perhaps only the legendary immortal could utter such words.

Heaven and earth, life and death, all contained within a single sentence.

The content following the Chant of the Grand Dao was the formal method of cultivation.

The first section was about breath control, the second section focused on refining qi, the third section delved into bestowing spirits... but there was a missing part.

Heaven and earth contain myriad objects, formless and soundless, neither dead nor immortal. They govern the workings of all things, ascending to the heavens in times of prosperity and grounding themselves in times of stability. They shape mountains and seas, giving birth to all living beings.

These objects are formless and nameless, and I shall refer to them as the "Dao."

The Dao has no concept of life and death, yet it possesses "rest."

The "rest" of the Dao is what we call "spirit."

Humans have sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.

These are the five senses upon which humans rely. However, due to these five senses, humans find it difficult to perceive the presence of the Dao. As cultivators, we must first extinguish these five senses, entering a state devoid of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Only then can we awaken the sixth sense within us and truly observe the presence of the grand Dao.

This is a portion of the teachings from the first section.

The crucial point within it is the explicit indication that although the five senses are the foundation of human existence, in order to perceive the presence of the Dao, one must close off these senses.

To an ordinary person, the first section seems relatively easy to comprehend. However, the difficulty of the Chant of the Grand Dao lies in the latter two sections.

The section on refining qi and the section on bestowing spirits contain numerous statements that Zhang San had never encountered in his martial arts studies. Yet, when looking at those words, he often felt a strange sensation of "I seem to understand, but not completely."

In any case, Zhang San practiced this immortal technique for twenty years in a state of partial understanding.

As for the results, after practicing for so many years, he hadn't gained any benefits. Of course, he hadn't experienced any drawbacks either.

Practicing was equivalent to practicing in vain.

Since failing in his attempt to assassinate Old Wang in the neighboring village, Zhang San had basically stopped practicing. Occasionally, he would reminisce, and even find his own foolishness somewhat endearing.

Throughout the generations of his master's family, surely everyone had read this book. If there were truly any mysteries to it, after several hundred years, someone should have figured it out by now.

But if the immortal technique was a fake...

Then how could the events of that day be explained?

Especially the peculiar phenomenon of "death and rebirth" described by Wang Xiaoer, it reminded Zhang San of the arrogant and clearly abnormal words written by the author of the ancient book.

The teachings of our sect revolve around the art of life and death.

Life.

Death.

Doesn't it perfectly match what Wang Xiaoer witnessed that day?

So, is the immortal technique real?

For the past twenty years, Zhang San had been unable to sense any trace of the profound art of immortality. At most, during meditation, he would feel a cool sensation in his body, most likely due to entering a deep state of concentration where his senses gradually faded away.

With a furrowed brow, Zhang San, feeling helpless, took out the white jade cloud-patterned finger ring and his gaze wandered between the ring and the ancient book.

Could it be that all the abnormalities he experienced that day were actually caused by this finger ring?

He cut his fingertip with a small night knife.

A drop of blood fell onto the finger ring.

However, there was no further phenomenon of the ring absorbing blood.

Over the past few months, Zhang San had tried numerous times, but the white jade finger ring never absorbed his blood again.

Regarding this, Zhang San considered two possibilities.

Either the finger ring only produced an effect when he was on the verge of death.

Or the ring only needed to absorb blood once.

To verify these two possibilities, the best method would be to wear the ring again or inflict several wounds to cause significant blood loss and bring himself to the brink of death...

However.

Zhang San immediately dismissed these thoughts.

Whether it was the mysterious nature of the finger ring or the uncontrollable power of the Chant of the Grand Dao, which could pose a threat to himself at any time, he realized that having a sense of danger like when he exploded and died was still fresh in his memory.

After barely managing to save his own life, Zhang San naturally didn't want to take any more risks.

"The only way... is to go find Bai Fang again."

Lu Gaosheng had mentioned that this finger ring actually belonged to Bai Fang, or more accurately, it belonged to the Great General of Zhennan from twenty years ago, Bai ShiXuan.

Zhang San glanced at Wang Xiaoer, who was peacefully sleeping inside the temple.

Zhang San thought to himself: Two months ago, I did meet Bai Fang, but it was her wedding day with Ming Qing. Tian Ruo City was still under strict restrictions at the time, so I had to come and go in a hurry and didn't have time to discuss the matter of the finger ring in detail.

Moreover, I didn't mention the finger ring at the time. In fact, I harbored a selfish desire to either claim this precious item for myself or see if it had any connection to my own Chant of the Grand Dao.

But if I can't figure out the mystery of this finger ring, it would be better to return it to her. After all, it's her father's heirloom, and it might be important to her.

Also, I don't know if she has prepared what I asked her that day.