Big Data Cultivation-Chapter 1917 - 1919: Cultivation Is Not Easy
Feng Jun felt a bit heartbroken after seeing the resources prepared by each family; the current state of the Daoist Sects is truly in such decline!
However, he wasn’t in a hurry to intervene; instead, he wanted to see how these people planned to cultivate.
Nonetheless, for the Daoist Sects to have endured in the Secular World for so long, it’s not just luck; each has its own skills.
Take the young Taoist from Siming Mountain as an example. He didn’t know much about martial arts, nor did he have any proper Spirit Plants. He also lacked a foundation in Daoist arts, but he was diligent. Besides necessary morning lessons and meditation, he mostly ran around helping others.
If someone needed to cook, he’d help organize it. If someone’s delivery arrived, he’d help pick it up. If some pure Martial Artists didn’t understand Daoist terms and concepts, he’d help explain. For things he didn’t understand, he’d ask others everywhere.
Actually, he wasn’t even the worst off. The worst off were those who only knew martial arts. Supposedly, with the dense Spiritual Energy here, just practicing martial arts could yield great improvement. But no one dreams that they can become an Innate Expert and then achieve Martial Enlightenment!
It’s still conceivable to become an Innate Expert—true Martial Experts are quite proud. Even though no Innate Expert had appeared for hundreds of years, they were regarded as legends. Now that Luo Hua consecutively produced Innate Experts, they also dare to aspire.
However, speaking of achieving Martial Enlightenment after becoming Innate—it’s just wishful thinking. It’s widely acknowledged in the Huaxia Daoist Sect that, currently, the only known lineage still holding such inheritance is Luo Hua.
Even the renowned Kunlun, despite having many Martial Cultivators, has no examples of advancing to the Innate level and then converting to the Qi Refinement Realm. Most Kunlun Martial Cultivators exist as protector forces for the Daoist tradition.
However, for Martial Cultivators wanting to switch to Dao Cultivation, there are still quite a few inheritances, much like the cultivation method Feng Jun designed for his parents. First practice martial arts, and after reaching a certain level, switch to Dao Cultivation. Of course, the start of Dao Cultivation is at the stage of shedding the mortal coil.
This kind of cultivation is a bit of a time-waster, but it is indeed a relatively easy path to achieve.
Therefore, pure Martial Cultivators are the most helpless in the Xiuzhen Courtyard. If they only want to practice martial arts, this is a dreamland. But knowing there’s a higher level, who wouldn’t want to stand up and take a look?
Moreover, they’re not just representing themselves; they have their sects’ hopes behind them. Even if they only want to excel in their field without reaching higher levels, what would they report to their sects if they gained nothing?
For example, a Wudang disciple named Wang Dapeng was wholeheartedly devoted to martial arts. His main goal was to bring glory to Wudang in various competitions, so his exposure to Daoist knowledge was merely limited to martial aspects.
Last year at the Dragon Gate conference, he missed it because he was in mourning at home for his father in accordance with ancient rituals for three months. Otherwise, he probably would have made it to the top four.
Such a person coming to the Xiuzhen Courtyard was understandably depressed. Although he brought Spirit Plants, they were public properties of Wudang. He was just assisting with cultivation; during the harvest, he’d get a share.
So his situation was even less favorable than that of the young Taoist from Siming Mountain. Although the young Taoist’s few ginseng plants were pitiful, they were still his private property. He even dared to promise that after leaving the courtyard in three years, he could give away a ginseng plant.
But Wang Dapeng didn’t even have the qualification to say such words.
Furthermore, the young Taoist had some understanding of Daoist arts, whereas Wang Dapeng only knew about meridians and acupoints.
The young Taoist from Siming didn’t disdain Wang Dapeng and was willing to explain some Daoist arts to him, but he...had nothing to offer in return!
Wang Dapeng considered helping everyone farm, but that was something the young Taoist was also eager to do, which indeed put him in a difficult position.
Of course, where there are those who fare poorly, there are those who fare well. The Maoshan disciples in the Xiuzhen Courtyard were absolutely enviable. They had Daoist arts, martial arts, were proficient in Talismans, and had some Spirit Plants—at least Spirit Valley or Spirit Rice to cultivate.
Most importantly, they had a "Senior Sister." If something wasn’t understood, they consulted their Senior Sister. If they didn’t have Spirit Valley or Spirit Rice to plant, they’d borrow some from her first!
In a sect, having someone good at cultivation is traditionally seen as favorable!
Besides Maoshan, the lives of Danxia Heaven Disciples weren’t bad either. Their Daoist arts and martial inheritance were a bit lacking, but they could exchange knowledge. As for Spirit Plants, they brought some from the secret realm. Although they didn’t have a Senior Sister, even Maoshan disciples didn’t dare underestimate them.
Others, like the disciples from Qingcheng, Mount Taibai, and Luofu Mountain, had their own supports, at least getting by.
But some smaller Daoist Sects’ cultivators really weren’t doing well—a sense of happiness comes from comparison. Although the Spiritual Energy here was extremely abundant, far more delightful than before, comparing horizontally, it truly was embarrassing.
However, one good thing was, being fellow Daoist Practitioners and using resources borrowed from Luo Hua, none dared to lightly slight another Daoist friend. After a few days, everyone was even able to sit together and discuss the Dao!
Ultimately, the Daoist Sects are one family, and what the Daoist Sects emphasize is "I find my own path," promoting breakthroughs and sublimation through the training of mind and body. They do not embrace the concept of "heretics must die" as seen in monotheistic self-purifying doctrines.
Therefore, the main obstacle to communication among Daoist Sects is the practice of guarding one’s own secrets and not showing them to others, rather than the fear that speaking out might lead to being attacked as a heretic.
Why did Daoist Sects have the habit of holding talks in the past? It was because everyone was always looking for directions to break through their personal barriers—although others’ perspectives might not be suitable for you, listening is always beneficial.
In the current Xiuzhen Courtyard, although they are all elite figures from the Daoist community, their inheritances are incomplete and they lack a lot. Because of the presence of Luohua, everyone is willing to exchange fairly—you have to give to receive.
Within a few days, the atmosphere of cultivation in the courtyard wasn’t particularly intense, but rather there was a sense of old times when people debated the Dao.
Take Wang Dapeng from Wudang as an example. He is very proud by nature. Without this atmosphere, his pursuit would have been to break through to the Innate level and become a prodigy.
But now that everyone is willing to share their insights, what he can do is to share his own martial insights—the ultimate level Martial Cultivation can reach is not as high as Dao Cultivation, but without a good body, one might not get far on the Dao Cultivation path either.
Another example is the disciples of Luofu Mountain. Besides Qing Xiaozi, they have little to boast of, at least after the appearance of Luohua, because Feng Jun wanted to avoid the painful memories of Guangzhou and did not give Luofu Mountain any benefits.
Among the ten great Cave Heavens, the impressive Zhu Mingyao Zhen Zhi Heaven is now impressively known as "Baiyue’s richest temple"...
But in truth, having Qing Xiaozi is already remarkable for Luofu Mountain. The old Taoist has profound knowledge of the Dao, albeit with a mediocre cultivation level; that really isn’t his fault—in the era of the end of Dharma and without any miraculous encounters, how could one’s cultivation level be high?
Because Qing Xiaozi has imparted personal teachings, the Taoists of Luofu Mountain have a good understanding of Dao techniques. They dare to lecture on the Dao not only in Australia, but also at Wudang and Maoshan, where no one dares to say they lack the qualifications.
Thus, although Luofu Mountain disciples are not particularly strong in martial arts or Dao techniques, and their Spirit Plants are only slightly better than those of Siming Mountain, as long as they are willing to share their insights in the courtyard, others will benefit.
This is why Daoist Sects have been able to pass down for so long. Even after a long decline, they have managed to preserve their flame for a reason. Luohua has provided a platform, and disciples from various lineages have actively found their place.
This time, Danxia Heaven also has a notable figure, Wang Keer, who switched from Wangwu. She is not yet thirty but already at the second layer of the Mundane Transformation Stage, and without comparing to the Luohua group of aberrant talents, she can certainly be considered a new leading figure among the Daoist Sect.
After switching to Danxia Heaven, Magu personally took her under her wing and allowed her to cultivate in the secret realm. Within a short time, she broke through to the third layer of Mundane Transformation Stage, and with Danxia Heaven having six slots in this Xiuzhen Courtyard cultivation, Wang Keer was sure to get a turn.
When Wang Keer arrived, she was initially quite low-key—having just transferred from Wangwu to Magu Mountain, she didn’t want to draw gossip.
However, even at Wangwu, she was in the top student category, and hearing everyone else giving talks, she couldn’t help but want to speak up.
Because she had learned across branch lineages, and although Wangwu lineage’s inheritance had weakened significantly, it remains the leader among the ten great Cave Heavens—There’s still a half-alive Spirit Gathering Array now, and their understanding of Dao law is quite unique.
Although Danxia Heaven is on the decline, Magu after all is an ancestor at the Exaltation Stage, and her knowledge is evident.
Others kept giving talks, and several Danxia Heaven disciples felt restless. They weren’t worried about being discriminated against, but rather felt that being positioned among the top forces of the Daoist Sect, not being able to speak was quite frustrating.
Knowing Wang Keer’s level of knowledge in this area, they approached her, "Sister Wang, staying silent all the time isn’t good either. Can you share something with us?"
Wang Keer is naturally forthright; otherwise, she wouldn’t have applied to transfer to Danxia Heaven in front of everyone. Hearing their request, she felt she couldn’t avoid it any longer, so she replied, "Of course I can talk... I’ll do it after the morning session tomorrow!"
In the Xiuzhen Courtyard, there are no rules for giving talks. It’s possible for three people to be giving talks at the same time, each choosing a spot and starting without interrupting others. Whoever wants to listen can, it’s all up to fate.
This atmosphere is somewhat similar to ancient Daoist exchanges, free and unfettered, choosing whom you want to listen to completely at will.
Luofu Mountain disciples have previously remarked, "The ancient atmosphere, the Daoist Sect really has hope for a revival!"
In the end, Luohua set up this platform, and it’s necessary to have Spiritual Energy and Spirit Land. No other Daoist Sect could achieve this goal.
On the first day of Wang Keer’s talk, everyone listened out of courtesy—it’s only an hour or so anyway.
But by the second day, more people were listening—they were all Cultivators, and though their levels varied, they could tell whether the speaker had valuable insights.
Feng Jing, who is responsible for the Xiuzhen Courtyard, keenly noticed the anomaly.
(Updated, calling for votes.)
