Cultivation: I Can Reincarnate Into Various Worlds-Chapter 64. Emperor Purple Destiny (seeking additional reading)

The Old Daoist, holding his dust-whisk, spoke slowly.

He practiced Daoist techniques and followed the path of a Corpse Liberation Immortal. Compared to Corpse Liberation Immortals, the paths of Heavenly Immortals and Earth Immortals were obviously better. However, being just an ordinary person born in the age of decline, he could only take this path...

"Corpse Liberation Immortal?"

Xu Xing took a deep breath.

To be honest, he was not unfamiliar with the term Corpse Liberation Immortal. Before coming to the Golden Immortal Temple, he had read some Dao Sutras and knew a little about Corpse Liberation Immortals. Corpse Liberation Immortal was the lowest level of becoming an immortal! However, those who could cultivate into Corpse Liberation Immortals were not ordinary people. For example, Bai Yuchan, one of the five great masters of the Southern Daoist School, practiced the Water Resolution Technique of Corpse Liberation Immortal. He once wrote a poem: "At the age of ninety, the day of Corpse Liberation comes, and I still appear as a young man to outsiders." Although Corpse Liberation Immortals seemed inferior, it was not a path that anyone could follow.

"Disciple is willing to learn the Corpse Liberation Method."

Xu Xing calmed his mind, stopped thinking about other things, and respectfully bowed.

He just had an opportunity to seek the teachings of Quanzhen Taoism. He wasn’t a genuine disciple of Quanzhen and had no right to be choosy. Furthermore, even the cultivation method of a Corpse Liberation Immortal was highly sought after in the outside world. If the methods of cultivating Heavenly Immortals and Earth Immortals were placed before him, he might not even be qualified to practice them. Whether in life or in cultivation, it is essential to have self-awareness. Do not aim too high. Daoist Ming Cang said he was an ignorant person who could only practice as a Corpse Liberation Immortal. He knew his own limits. It took Master Ma’s careful guidance for over half a month for him to barely get started with the Stony Heart Method. Without guidance, even more challenging Immortal Law would be elusive...

"You will be an Unofficial Disciple of mine," the Old Daoist said. "I will teach you the Corpse Liberation Method."

Seeing that Xu Xing no longer asked questions, the Old Daoist nodded slightly and asked Xu Xing to kneel and pay homage to him as his Master. Although Quanzhen Taoism and Guan Learning were related, the True lineage teachings could not be revealed carelessly. Xu Xing could only be taken as a disciple.

"Quanzhen’s generational names are ’Dao De Tong Xuan Jing, Zhen Chang Shou Tai Qing, Yi Yang Lai Fu Ben, He Jiao Yong Yuan Ming, Zhi Li Zong Cheng Xin...’ I am from the Ming generation, the twentieth generation of Quanzhen. My Daoist Name is Ming Cang. Your secular name is Xu Xing; from now on... you shall be called Xu Zhi Xing."

After Xu Xing knelt and paid homage to his Master, the Old Daoist pondered for a while and then spoke.

"Zhi... Zhi Xing?"

Xu Xing was stunned at first, then a smile of joy appeared on his face.

There were differences between Unofficial Disciples. Not being granted a generational name meant one had not truly entered the Quanzhen sect, and the teachings received might be genuine but perfunctory. If one were granted a generational name and entered the sect, the chances of being treated perfunctorily would be much smaller.

"The Three Cavern Precepts say: ’If the Dao Sutras are not taught by a master, their practice will not be effective.’

"Lü Zu also said: ’...The way of Quanzhen Taoism is to teach Daoists to first understand the root of the Dao. Mystical achievements cannot be spoken, as Dao cannot be expressed; this refers to the mind and nature. Only through faith can one communicate with the divine. When one’s mind and nature reach perfection, the arts and techniques will naturally be at their command.

"’Disregarding divine techniques and abilities is meant for those who have not received the orthodox lineage.

"’Beware of neglecting the lineage due to momentary desires, greed for techniques, and destroying one’s own Dao Fruit, only to fall into the Left Path.

"’Those who seek the Dao must first be accepted into the Orthodox Daoist Teachings to listen to the teachings of his Master. The arts and techniques will naturally be imparted to them by his Master. Our Quanzhen sect does not emphasize techniques; how else could we deter demons...’"

After leading Xu Xing to a side room, the Old Daoist began his earnest instruction.

The meaning of his words was very clear. Without the guidance of a master, Daoist techniques would not work effectively. Even if someone obtained a technique by chance without receiving the lineage, they would ultimately be following a Left Path, not considered part of the Orthodox Daoist Teachings.

Upon hearing this, Xu Xing suppressed his own fleeting thoughts.

Although he could only practice the Corpse Liberation Method, he also coveted the methods of Heavenly Immortals and Earth Immortals. After all, when his aptitude improved in the future, he might be able to switch to practicing those methods. However, hearing Daoist Ming Cang speak in this way, he dared not harbor any ill intentions of "snatching" a lineage. A lineage can only be passed on through a master; a lineage obtained through force is a false lineage that cannot be practiced. In other words, becoming a disciple was like the ancestors from the upper realm granting disciples in the lower realm permission to cultivate immortality. This allowed them to begin cultivating immortality and enter the Orthodox Daoist Teachings. Without this permission, even if one had the method, it would still be an inferior version...

Next, Xu Xing bathed and changed his clothes, attended by a Jin Xian Guan Servant. Huogong was an old term for people who did miscellaneous chores. After bathing, he changed into a Quanzhen Daoist robe and followed Daoist Ming Cang into the Hall of the Three Purities. Under Daoist Ming Cang’s guidance, they jointly participated in the ritual, petitioning the revered ancestors of Quanzhen Taoism.

"You have condensed a new Emperor Purple Fate [Underground Lord]."

"Would you like to solidify it with [Taoist Fruits]?"

[Underground Lord (Purple): Third-class Wandering Ghost of the Underworld, the beginning of a Corpse Liberation Immortal, no ghost registration, no duties. After one hundred and forty years, can be taught the teachings of a Low Immortal and the Great Dao.]

Is this... the ’master’s teaching’ of Quanzhen Taoism?

Xu Xing looked at the words condensed on the Mirror Surface and fell into deep thought.

Just as Daoist Ming Cang had said, after the ritual, he was acknowledged by the ancestors of Quanzhen Taoism. He now had the qualification to practice the Corpse Liberation Immortal techniques. The so-called Emperor Purple Fate [Underground Lord] was related to the "master’s teaching" of Quanzhen Taoism. Daoist Ming Cang had conducted the ritual to ask for the permission of the ancestors for him to practice the Corpse Liberation Method.

But... just having a cultivation qualification has reached Emperor Purple... This...

Xu Xing was astonished.

An Emperor Purple Fate was clearly equivalent to the Destiny of an Emperor. The Emperor Purple Fate [Underground Lord] was extraordinary and invaluable.

However, after thinking for a moment, he understood.

Even powerful figures like the Qin Emperor and Emperor Wu of Han desperately pursued immortality in their later years. This cultivation qualification, while seemingly ordinary, was actually extremely rare.

"Corpse Liberation has Fire Resolution, Resolve with Soldiers, Water Resolution, and Staff Resolution..."

After completing the ritual, the Old Daoist inserted the Magic Incense into the incense furnace, looked at Xu Xing, and asked kindly, "Which method do you wish to practice?"

Corpse Liberation Immortal was also one of the paths to the Great Dao. There were various techniques.

"Disciple... has not yet decided..." Xu Xing replied after some thought. "I would like to read some of the Daoist Collection first before giving Master my answer."

Now that he had taken Daoist Ming Cang as his Master and obtained the qualification to practice the Corpse Liberation Immortal lineage, he didn’t need to rush his cultivation. A few days would not make much of a difference.

"Good!" The Old Daoist stroked his beard, smiled, and slowly nodded. "To see one’s mind and nature clearly shows you are a person of great talent. Even if the Corpse Liberation Method is a practice for ’ignorant people,’ it does not mean that it is not selective. Some people are suitable for Fire Resolution, while others are suitable for Water Resolution; it is all uncertain."