Mountain and Sea Demon Martial Arts, Starting with Vertical Pupils

Chapter 78 Strange

Seeing the servant's terrified expression, Chen Luo was momentarily confused.

But then he remembered what the other person had just said, "the remaining two bottles of Harmony Pills," and instantly understood.

According to Pharmacist Xu, the Harmony Pill is a strictly controlled medicine in the martial arts school. If there are any left over, they must be handed over to the school. It is absolutely forbidden to keep them privately.

The remaining Qi-regulating pills only imply two possibilities.

Firstly, once a registered disciple has completed one year and leaves the martial arts school, they must hand over any remaining Harmony Pills.

Secondly, once a disciple breaks through to the Inner Realm, they no longer need the Harmony Pill.

More than a month has passed since Cheng Yuling and Lu Cheng were expelled from the martial arts school, so it's impossible that it took until now to retrieve the Harmony Pill.

Therefore, the servant's words conveyed only one message.

"Of the other four new members of the martial arts school, two have already entered the inner realm?"

Chen Luo was astonished. Qingshan County had not produced a new Inner Realm cultivator for eight years, yet now two Inner Realm cultivators had emerged in succession.

Which two people could it be?

After the incident, Manager Song noticed Chen Luo's silence and became uneasy. He quickly and cautiously said, "Young Master Chen, this was an unintentional incident. Please don't blame me."

Chen Luo glanced at him and said, "It's alright."

According to the rules of the martial arts school, it is strictly forbidden to inform other disciples who are currently cultivating about a disciple's advancement to the Inner Realm, so as to avoid fostering a sense of comparison and urgency among others, which could interfere with their cultivation of the Heart Sutra.

Manager Song and the servant inadvertently leaked this information, which violated the rules of the martial arts school.

But Chen Luo knew that the reason they were so nervous and even panicked was mainly because of Hu Qiu's example.

They feared he might misunderstand, that he might think they were trying to deliberately disturb his peace of mind, and that this would invite his retaliation.

After all, the last Hu Qiu who schemed against him is already dead.

Chen Luo actually understood that this was a misunderstanding, since no one knew in advance that he would be here.

At the same time, he couldn't help but smile to himself, thinking that he really needed to establish his authority.

A single act of killing establishes authority and inspires awe, thus saving countless troubles.

There's no way around it; that's just human nature. Most people fear authority rather than appreciate virtue.

Hearing that Chen Luo seemed unwilling to pursue the matter, Manager Song and his companion breathed a sigh of relief. The handyman, in particular, quickly stepped aside, afraid of getting too close to Chen Luo.

Manager Song asked, "Young Master Chen, are you here to collect the medicine?"

"Yes."

Chen Luo nodded, and after obtaining the Nourishing Spirit Pill, he turned and left, still pondering the two newly promoted Inner Realm cultivators.

He speculated that Gu Youcai and Lin Lu were the most likely to break through to the next level.

The reason is simple: these two were the first to master the Nine Yang Strength, entered the martial arts school the earliest, and had been training for a longer period of time.

"But if we only look at talent, Song Ruokui's chances are pretty high too," Chen Luo muttered to himself.

Although Song Ruokui has been trapped at the sixth level of strength for nearly two years, no one dares to underestimate her potential.

However, this conjecture was quickly ruled out.

Because when he returned to the Seventh Courtyard, he immediately saw Song Ruokui sitting at the stone table in the Fifth Courtyard, drinking tea. The northerly sunlight outlined her beautiful profile, and a strand of hair fell beside her ear.

The inner disciples have a special residence in the east of the martial arts school. This place is secluded and reserved only for registered disciples to cultivate in peace.

If Song Ruokui had advanced to the Inner Realm, she wouldn't still be stuck here, so she obviously hasn't broken through yet.

Noticing the gaze, Song Ruokui turned her head and looked towards the Seven Character Courtyard.

Her eyes were clear and bright, and Chen Luo met her gaze and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Song Ruokui nodded calmly, then turned her head away and continued drinking her tea.

Disciples on the official basis are not allowed to interact with each other. However, due to Hu Qiu's scheme, the two were neighbors. When they occasionally met, they would only nod silently to each other, like they are now, and there was no further communication.

Although he didn't know the reason, Chen Luo had gradually gotten used to her aloof demeanor and had almost forgotten what she looked like when she smiled.

Sometimes Chen Luo would think that he and Song Ruokui were actually strikingly similar in some ways.

Song Ruokui is no longer as serene as before, but has become as aloof and unapproachable as she is now.

He himself went from being a confused and self-destructive person to being a determined person who is now devoted to martial arts.

Upon closer examination, the changes in the two seem to have begun after they entered Zhengyang Martial Arts Academy and came into contact with martial arts.

What's even more similar is that he lay low for a year, and with the help of the Vertical Pupil, his martial arts progressed by leaps and bounds; while Song Ruokui, since entering the martial arts academy, has been far ahead of the competition, but inexplicably stagnated at the sixth level of strength for two years.

Over the years, he and Song Ruokui have experienced ups and downs, but they came into contact with martial arts at the same time, and at the same time mastered the Nine Yang Strength and entered the Qingyun Martial Arts School.

Whether it was just a coincidence or there was some other reason, Chen Luo didn't know.

What he has recently come to understand is that everyone may have their own secrets. He does not believe that Song Ruokui is unaware of his changes, but since she never investigates, he does not need to investigate why she has been trapped in the sixth level of strength for two years, or why her temperament has changed.

Things seem pretty good as they are now.

With that thought in mind, he paid no more attention to the beautiful figure in the neighboring courtyard and returned to the main room.

He swallowed a newly acquired Mind-Nourishing Pill, lit a stick of Tranquilizing Incense, and in the fragrant aroma, he closed his eyes and silently recited the Heart Sutra's key points. His heartbeat gradually slowed, his breathing became long and even, and he soon entered a state of stillness.

He began to try "mind stillness".

According to the Heart Sutra, the stillness of the body is a condition for the stillness of the mind, while the stillness of the mind is the foundation of stillness, and also the most difficult hurdle in the entire Heart Sutra.

Previously, Hu Qiu plotted against him, attempting to create a mental barrier for him, specifically targeting this "mental cessation."

"Cease your striving, and let your mind be free from distraction..."

Chen Luo silently recited the Heart Sutra's description of mental stillness, but did not deliberately suppress his mind. Instead, he let his mind roam freely without any restraint.

This is also what the Heart Sutra describes—"Those who are restrained are not at peace."

Indeed, only when the mind is completely unrestrained can one test whether a person's state of mind is truly peaceful and free from any biases or delusions.

If delusions exist, and the mind wanders, the state of "mind stillness" will dissipate like a mirage.

True "cessation of mind" is when the mind is allowed to roam freely, yet it automatically stops its distractions, ceases its clinging, and returns to absolute stillness and selflessness.

Chen Luo relaxed his mind and let his thoughts wander.

During this process, as soon as he circulated the Heart Sutra, all sorts of distracting thoughts surged in like a tide. He seemed to see the dead Lin Zhou, Hu Qiu, and the ferocious Huan beast, and even his deceased parents from his past life's memories, a beautiful figure gradually fading away, and growing resentment...

As these distracting thoughts came rushing in, Chen Luo frowned slightly, a strange tremor running through his heart. It seemed as if a special idea was lurking in the chaos of these many distracting thoughts.

He subconsciously tried to catch this strange thought.

However, the moment one's subjective consciousness touches upon it, all distracting thoughts vanish, and one's heart is suddenly filled with a sense of emptiness.

A thought struck him, and he opened his eyes.

But what came into view was not the main wing of the Seven-Character Courtyard, but an endless expanse of darkness.

The darkness was endless, without any light. He instinctively wanted to take a step, but suddenly realized that he had no limbs or torso, and could not even look down at himself. There was no such thing as "looking down" because he could feel that he was headless.

It was as if, in this dark space, he only had his eyes and his self-awareness left.

"This is...the inner eye?"

Chen Luo was stunned.

It is important to know that the inner eye is a sign of reaching the state of "subtle vision".

To achieve "subtle insight," one must possess both "cessation and insight." However, he has only just completed physical cessation and is beginning to achieve mental cessation.

If "stopping" is not even completed, and "observation" is not even mentioned, how can one possibly attain "wonderful insight"?

Chen Luo was extremely surprised, but he felt that several gray cracks appeared in the surrounding darkness, and there was a faint sign of collapse.

He knew this was caused by his unstable mind, so he quickly calmed himself down, and the crack disappeared.

"It seems that this darkness is the ethereal form of my hidden mind."

"Why can't I see the mind's aperture?"

Chen Luo was puzzled again. If it were the realm of wondrous insight, one should be able to see the mind's aperture in this void.

According to the Heart Sutra, the mind resides in the void of the physical body. Only by touching upon "wonderful insight" can one generate a pair of inner eyes in the void to perceive the mind.

This place should be nothingness right now. I seem to have an inner eye, but I can't see the mind's aperture.

"Is it because there is no 'observation'?"

Chen Luo muttered to himself that he had never practiced "observation" before.

After hesitating for a moment, he silently went through the secret of "observation" in his mind.

He had long since memorized the Heart Sutra of Samatha-Vipassana, and although he didn't know why he was now in the state of "wonderful vision" and had come to this realm of emptiness, it did not prevent him from trying "visualization".

The concept of cessation is divided into two types: physical cessation and mental cessation. Similarly, the concept of contemplation is divided into three types: the contemplation of emptiness, the contemplation of provisional existence, and the contemplation of the middle way.

Among them, emptiness is the insight into one's own physical form; illusion is the correct understanding of one's own thoughts.

The Middle Way, the final perspective, is a combination of the views of emptiness and the view of provisional existence. It enables one to achieve unity of mind and body, to see oneself wisely amidst the emptiness of the physical body, and to perceive the mind's essence.

Of course, regardless of the perspective, it is all based on "cessation," using cessation to support perspective.

Therefore, logically speaking, he has not yet achieved "cessation of mind" and should not be able to achieve "three views" at all.

but.

As soon as Chen Luo tried to use the "Emptiness Observation" technique, something strange happened in the void before him.

In the midst of the vast darkness, a grayish-white halo quietly emerged.

Chen Luo was completely bewildered.

"The source of the heart lies dormant within the heart's aperture, which is hidden deep within the void of the physical body with a gray light, still and unmoving..."

He murmured, "Is this what my mind is like?"

But he only practiced emptiness meditation once, so how could he see the mind's aperture? Isn't it only possible to see it by practicing the middle way?

Chen Luo felt increasingly puzzled, as he felt there seemed to be some problems with his practice of the Heart Sutra of Cessation and Contemplation.

After hesitating for a moment, he then tried to apply the "false view" again.

The strange event occurred again.

But within this void of form, a dim, grayish-white light reappeared.

The two beams of light were not far apart and were similar in size, but one was bright and clear while the other was dim.

Chen Luo was completely dumbfounded.

"Two acupoints?"