stjorthotic Chapter 10 Listening to the Dao Before the Hall of Ten Thousand Laws
Chapter 10 Listening to the Dao Before the Hall of Ten Thousand Laws
The Immortal Mountain of Crossing Calamity stood steadily on the vast and boundless plaza of Ten Thousand Laws Peak.
As the protective light curtain completely dissipated, an even richer spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged forth like a tide.
It invigorated all the young people who had just set foot here, as if every pore on their body was cheering.
Looking around, the square is paved with a special kind of blue jade, smooth as a mirror, reflecting the flowing clouds and the distant floating fairy mountains.
Countless cultivators moved about, some riding the wind, others on cranes, their composure a stark contrast to the excitement and curiosity on the faces of the young people.
The towering Wanfa Hall stands at the end of the square, its doors wide open, as if welcoming a new generation of seekers of the Way.
"Everyone, line up!" A serious-looking middle-aged monk's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.
The thousands of youths immediately stirred and, under the guidance of their respective leaders, began to search for their own groups.
Lu Ming, Qin Feiyu, and Hu Zhen naturally stood together.
Besides them, there were several other young men from Qingzhou whom they met on the road, such as Lin Hao, a calm and collected young man from a cultivation family in Qingyang City, and a shy young man named Shitou from a remote mountain village.
"Wow, this place...it's huge!"
Qin Feiyu looked up at the Myriad Laws Hall, which seemed to connect to the sky, and exclaimed in amazement, "Won't we get lost if we have classes in here?"
Hu Zhen looked around at the distinguished "senior brothers and sisters" with curiosity, her eyes filled with longing: "They all look so amazing."
Lu Ming remained silent, quietly sensing the extraordinary spiritual energy of this place.
However, in that instant when he was completely absorbed in his thoughts, the perception deep within his mind, honed through the trials of self-examination, detected an extremely faint anomaly.
It was as if something resonated with a certain order that was omnipresent in this world after entering the Taoist Academy.
Like a drop of water falling into a calm lake, creating faint ripples that then disappear.
[Remember the fastest online novel website: 202ᴋᴋs.ᴄᴏᴍ]
Lu Ming frowned slightly and subconsciously began to circulate the spiritual energy within his body, but everything remained normal, as if it had just been an illusion.
"Don't look around, keep quiet!"
The team leader, Senior Brother Zhao Ling, reminded him in a low voice. He had also changed into the robes of the Taoist Academy, making him look even more capable.
The team was quickly organized.
Led by several cultivators, thousands of new students entered the magnificent Hall of Ten Thousand Laws in an orderly manner.
The interior space of the hall appears more spacious than the exterior, clearly due to the use of a spatial expansion technique.
Thousands of prayer cushions were neatly arranged in a fan shape facing a high platform at the front.
The high platform was made of white jade and was completely empty.
Following the instructions, the new disciples sat down on their respective prayer cushions.
The hall was completely silent, save for the slightly hurried breathing of the boys.
A moment later, the space above the platform distorted slightly.
An elderly man dressed in a blue Taoist robe, with a long beard reaching his chest, appeared there without warning.
He didn't exude a particularly strong aura, but when his gaze swept across the audience, everyone felt as if they were being seen through, and no impure thought could escape their notice.
It was none other than the True Man Chongming who was stationed at the Immortal Mountain of Crossing Calamity that day!
"I am Chongming, the Transmission Elder of the Daoist Academy."
The old man's voice was calm, yet like a morning bell and evening drum, it resonated clearly in everyone's mind.
"Today, I will teach you your first lesson—the structure of this world and the principles by which our academy was founded."
With a gentle wave of his sleeve, a huge scroll of light and shadow appeared above the high platform.
At the center of the scroll is a vast area clearly defined, with the outlines of mountains and rivers faintly visible.
"The land beneath our feet is the Nine Provinces!"
The voice of the True Man Chongming was as loud as a bell, and his fingers cast shadows at the center.
"When Emperor Yu established the capital, he divided the land into nine regions: Qing, Zhong, Shen, Li, Chu, Tai, Liang, Jing, and Ji!"
The fertile land of Kyushu is the cradle of our human civilization, the place where destiny resides. Billions of people have lived and multiplied here, and countless dynasties, sects, and aristocratic families have established themselves here!
Above the light and shadow, the outlines of the Nine Provinces are clearly visible, each shimmering with a different light, and the location of Qing Province is also specially highlighted.
Immediately, the scroll of light and shadow expanded outwards, revealing an even more expansive region beyond the Nine Provinces.
"However, although the Nine Provinces are vast, they are not the entirety of heaven and earth!"
Master Chongming continued, "Beyond the Nine Provinces lies the Four Seas, vast and boundless, nurturing countless aquatic creatures and wandering cultivators from overseas."
Hidden within are even more celestial islands, where opportunities and risks coexist.
As the light and shadow shifted again, vast regions shrouded in mist appeared beyond the Nine Provinces and the Four Seas.
"Furthermore, there is the endless wilderness, with ancient trees reaching the sky, and rampant miasma, inhabited by many ancient species and barbarian tribes, following the oldest law of the jungle."
"And that vast and unpredictable demon realm is a paradise for all demons in the world. Great demons emerge in great numbers. There are occasional conflicts with the human race in the Nine Provinces, but it also has its own order and heritage."
His gaze swept across all the eager faces in the audience:
"In addition, there are many other secret realms, dangerous places, ancient caves, and even celestial mountains and blessed lands floating in the heavens, not belonging to the aforementioned regions, scattered throughout the vast world, waiting for those with the right destiny."
"And the Daoist Academy is the leader of all the mystical sects in the world," Master Chongming's voice rose, filled with pride, "standing in Qingzhou, in the east of the Nine Provinces!"
Our path is the inheritance of the Immortal Path, which lies in "obeying Heaven and responding to the Dao, protecting all living beings".
Our responsibility lies in cultivating talents to protect the Way, so that for all living beings and for this world, the flame of civilization may continue to burn!
His voice gradually softened, yet it resonated even more deeply with people:
"All things in the world have their own principles. There is more than one path to spiritual cultivation."
However, all methods are inseparable from the Dao. The Dao of Immortality originates from the Dao of Heaven, and all methods in the world evolve from the Dao of Immortality.
The Taoist academy focuses on cultivating immortality, drawing upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to refine oneself, comprehend the laws, and unleash supernatural powers in order to achieve longevity and transcend the cycle of reincarnation.
At the same time, they also practice martial arts to strengthen their muscles and bones, refine their qi and blood, and improve their physical health.
The physical body is the precious raft for crossing the world; only a strong physique can bear more exquisite Taoist techniques and unleash more powerful spells!
These two are like the two wheels of a cart or the two wings of a bird; neither can be missing.
"However, whether it's the path of immortality, the path of martial arts, or any other cultivation system in the world, its essence lies in the 'heart'!"
Master Chongming spoke solemnly.
"When the heart is upright, the qi flows smoothly; when the heart is wicked, demons arise. The Taoist Academy does not prohibit fighting, but it strictly forbids fellow disciples from killing each other."
You must remember that cultivation begins with cultivating the mind; power used for good will be good, and power used for evil will be evil.
"I hope that you will not only learn the arts of heaven and earth here, but also be able to distinguish right from wrong and forge an unwavering heart devoted to the Way!"
These words, like the resounding toll of a bell, echoed in the hearts of many young people.
Some people seemed thoughtful, some were excited, and some were indifferent.
This grand world view stirred everyone's emotions, making them feel their own insignificance and the infinite possibilities of the future.
Lu Ming was deeply moved, afraid of missing a single word.
The pursuit of the Tao is not merely about power, but also about exploring truth and questioning one's own existence. Lu Ming's vision for the future became clearer.
Master Chongming did not elaborate on the details. The main purpose of this first lesson was to establish a macro-level understanding and correct values for all new students.
He then briefly introduced the basic structure and rules of the Taoist Academy, such as how all disciples initially lived together in the Chuming Garden.
They all receive basic courses at the Wanfa Hall, and after five years, they are assessed and then assigned to different specialized mountains for in-depth practice based on their performance and aptitude.
As the course ended, Master Chongming vanished as quietly as he had arrived.
Guided by the cultivators, the new students orderly exited the Hall of Myriad Laws and headed to their assigned accommodations, the Chuming Garden.
It was an area nestled against the mountains and beside the water, with countless independent courtyards built there. The environment was serene and the spiritual energy was abundant, enough to accommodate these thousands of new students.
Walking on the cobblestone path, watching the babbling streams and leisurely cranes on both sides, the boys chatted excitedly, filled with boundless aspirations for the future.
"The Nine Provinces and Four Seas, the Wilderness and Demon Realms... this world is far larger than I imagined!"
Qin Feiyu said excitedly, "I'm determined to make a name for myself here and go see those places someday!"
"Yes, let's work together." Lu Ming nodded, and the two smiled at each other.
Looking at her two energetic partners beside her, Hu Zhen smiled sweetly.