Grasping the Evil-Chapter 970: The Heartless Nature of Plants and Trees
Mu Island is home to seven ancient pine trees that are forbidden areas, and the body of Mu Qi is the Seventh Pine.
Within the Seventh Pine lies Mu Qi’s wood enlightenment from tens of millions of years, integrated into 72 strokes of Buddha talismans. The last six strokes, which are the essence of it, were comprehended by Ning Fan and integrated into his own Symbol of Devil Raising. Thus, there wasn’t much point for Ning Fan to continue staying in the Seventh Pine forbidden area.
After giving some advice, Mu Qi receded back into the tree. Ning Fan stored away Jianmu’s Essence and, along with others, left the Seventh Pine forbidden area and headed to the Sixth Pine forbidden area.
The Sixth Pine was also an ancient purple-skinned pine tree, exuding a heavier aura than the Seventh Pine. Within a hundred steps, the air seemed to be solidified, with not a hint of wind sound, an eerie silence.
That silence was like a decade of wordless barren Zen, like the world’s silence if I remained silent.
Ning Fan gazed at the Sixth Pine, lost in thought, while the Mu Island Sect members stayed a hundred steps away, paying respects to the Sixth Pine. Monk Songguo lowered his voice, not daring to speak loudly, and informed the Sixth Pine of Ning Fan’s intent to comprehend the enlightenment here. He even mentioned Ning Fan’s creation of an ancestral talisman at the Seventh Pine to the Sixth Pine Tree Spirit.
After a long while, finally, a human face emerged on the Sixth Pine’s trunk. It was the tree spirit of the Sixth Pine, Mu Liu.
Mu Liu remained silent, but his gaze towards Ning Fan was somewhat touching and attentive.
Then, he opened his mouth and spit out dozens of green light clusters, sending them in front of Ning Fan.
"It’s Jianmu’s Essence again!" Wu Laoba’s eyes were ablaze, puzzled by why this silent tree spirit would give his master so much Jianmu’s Essence as soon as they met. If this was a greeting gift, wasn’t it too generous?
Monk Songguo, seeing Ning Fan also appeared puzzled, explained to Ning Fan, "The Sixth Master Uncle never speaks. His intention is to watch the scene of Daoist creating a Symbol of Devil Raising, like the Seventh Master Uncle, in order to gain enlightenment and break through bottlenecks. These Jianmu’s Essence pieces are the Sixth Master Uncle’s payment, ensuring Daoist doesn’t exert effort in vain."
"I see..."
Ning Fan nodded and took all the green light clusters in front of him, saying to Mu Liu, "Please display the Buddha talisman."
This time, he didn’t step within a hundred paces of the Sixth Pine. To comprehend the Dao Principle of this pine, he didn’t have to go under the tree; directly understanding from the tree spirit’s Buddha talisman would undoubtedly be faster.
Mu Liu remained silent but, upon Ning Fan’s request, opened his mouth and emitted a green light that soared into the sky, gradually presenting a Buddha talisman depicting an ancient pine pattern in the air, stroke by stroke.
Mu Liu’s Buddha talisman consisted of 74 strokes, far more profound than Mu Qi’s talisman. Strangely, the moment this talisman appeared, the entire world fell into a dead silence, as if all sound vanished in an instant.
"The wood Dao Principle that the Sixth Tree Spirit comprehended is also based on pine; he comprehended the meaning of silence of pine..."
Ning Fan stood a hundred steps away from the Sixth Pine, slowly closing his eyes, repeatedly going over each stroke of Mu Liu’s Buddha talisman in his mind.
His mind gradually merged with the Daoist thought of the Sixth Pine forbidden area, the complex 74-stroke Buddha talisman becoming clear and discernible.
"This Buddha talisman has 74 strokes, identical to Mu Liu’s talisman, based on 66 strokes, with 8 strokes containing the enlightenment of wood..."
Ning Fan raised his right index finger, demonic glint emanating as he sketched the Symbol of Devil Raising in the air before him.
The 158-stroke ancestral talisman gradually appeared before everyone, especially the final six strokes giving Wu Laoba, Monk Songguo, and other Masters an incredibly mysterious feeling, as if these six strokes encompassed countless great Dao of wood, yet were too profound and esoteric. So much so that they wanted to mimic, to trace the Dao paths with their own strength, only to find it impossible...
Nonetheless, just by watching these few strokes, everyone gained their insights into the wood Dao, bringing them joy despite the insights being minimal.
Especially Wu Laoba, who held an almost obsessive attachment to the wood Dao Principle, out of countless Dao paths, for an unknown reason, he only favored this one.
To gain his enlightenment on wood from watching Ning Fan’s rune creation was an immense joy for Wu Laoba, who was already submissive to Ning Fan. At this moment, he felt that serving Ning Fan was an incredibly wise choice!
"Though peach and plum are silent, they naturally form paths; pine and cypress do not speak, yet live evergreen for eons. A sage is quiet for three years, and beyond the seas, all is silent; yet one word can astonish the world. It appears this Sixth Tree Spirit practices the Buddhist silent meditation. This person has comprehended the subtle art of silent meditation from the sound of countless green pines, cultivating the silence of pine, capable of silencing all things. Thus, he hasn’t spoken a word since our meeting, and within a hundred steps of this place, not even a breath of wind is heard..."
"In terms of cultivation, this person surpasses me significantly, already at the Immortal King realm. Yet, from my perspective, his silent meditative path with pine hasn’t reached its peak, and seems to have gone on the wrong path..."
"If I were to cultivate silent meditation, I would divide it into four realms: one is silence out of fear, indicating cowardice; one is silence out of pain, indicating reluctance; one is silence out of laughter, indicative of an unnecessary; the final one is emotions of neither sorrow nor joy, no heart or thought, desiring expression but losing words, indicating non-attachment..."
"This person remains silent, yet his inner voice cannot cease. Upon seeing me, although clearly excited inside, he dared not speak, forcing silence. Even within silent meditation, this is considered inferior. His Dao contains fear, and thus, his eight strokes of wood enlightenment inevitably carry a hint of fear. True silence silences not the mouth but the heart. I can take his enlightenment, but this fear cannot be accepted—modification is necessary to integrate it into my Symbol of Devil Raising..."
Strokes 159, 160, 161... each stroke was added extremely slowly. As time drifted by, one day quietly passed.
The number of strokes in Ning Fan’s Symbol of Devil Raising finally increased to 166, encompassing Mu Liu’s countless years of enlightenment within it!
The Symbol of Devil Raising’s power in the wood Dao Principle saw significant advancement!
These simple eight strokes contain unimaginable wood Dao enlightenment, allowing Wu Laoba and the Mu Island Sect members to gain insights, some pondering deeply, others frowning, each with different expressions.
Mu Liu, on the other hand, wore an expression of sudden realization, as if given a wake-up call, attaining clarity.
So that’s how it is, that’s how it is!
The reason he was stuck at the bottleneck, unable to progress in cultivation, was due to following the wrong path...
The eight strokes incorporated into Ning Fan’s Symbol of Devil Raising appeared similar to his Buddha talisman but differed fundamentally.
Those eight strokes not only reversed his Buddha intent, integrating demonic thoughts, but crucially, Ning Fan’s Symbol of Devil Raising’s eight strokes lacked any hint of fear...
Cultivation inherently rebels against heaven; Buddha cultivators may endure suffering, but in their hearts, there should be no fear...
"Wood is not wood, silence is not silence, closing the mouth is opening it, sounding yet silent... Over these years, my stubborn silence, clinging to appearance... Young friend, thank you!"
Mu Liu repeatedly sighed in admiration and, after thanking Ning Fan, retreated back into the ancient pine. All the Mu Island Sect members were hugely surprised, as Sixth Master Uncle, who hadn’t spoken for millions of years, had actually spoken today!
"Let’s see the Fifth Pine."
Having completed this enlightenment, Ning Fan and the group proceeded to the Fifth Pine forbidden area.
The Fifth Pine was filled with an intense battle spirit; Monk Songguo and others stated their intentions to the Fifth Pine, and a human face soon emerged with furrowed brows and cold eyes, fixing on Ning Fan among the crowd.
"I am Mu Wu, what’s your name!" Mu Wu’s voice was loud, like a roar, echoing like thunder.
"I am Ning Fan." Even Wu Laoba, Monk Songguo, and others were left with ear pain by Mu Wu’s voice, but Ning Fan remained unfazed.
"I heard from Monk Songguo that my sixth and seventh brothers received considerable benefit from you. I am very interested in your creation of the ancestral talisman, but my Buddha talisman carries intense momentum; can you withstand it?"
"Please display the Buddha talisman, Senior!"
"As you wish!"
Mu Wu let out a fierce shout, an unimaginable, overwhelming battle spirit shaking the heavens and earth, turning the skies green.
Amid the green light, an ancient pine Buddha talisman took shape, stroke by stroke, the pressure increasing with each stroke.
When the talisman reached the twenty-fourth stroke, the Thought-Shattering Cultivators present could hardly stand firm.
When it grew to forty-eight strokes, Wu Laoba, Monk Songguo, and the others also turned pale, unable to withstand the battle spirit within the talisman.
As the talisman progressed to seventy-six strokes, the entire Mu Island was submerged under Mu Wu’s intense battle spirit.
Even Wu Laoba, facing Mu Wu, felt an instinctual trembling, as if he was already intimidated before the battle.
Mu Wu did not glance at the crowd at all, unlike the others who were swayed by his intimidating presence, Ning Fan stood like a straight green pine, proudly, unaffected by the surrounding battle intent.
This made Mu Wu regard Ning Fan even more highly, and he laughed heartily.
"Exciting, exciting! Even the ordinary Triple Calamity Immortal King would feel some fear before me, yet you do not flinch under the suppression of my will. Since this is so, I won’t hold back either! Let’s have a hearty battle!"
In his excitement, Mu Wu forgot his original intention was to display the Buddha Talisman to Ning Fan to observe the moment Ning Fan created his Symbol of Devil Raising.
At this moment, he only wanted to fight ardently with Ning Fan, but as he roared thunderously, the roar formed into tangible divine skills, like a substantial blue will, crushing down on Ning Fan’s head like a mountain collapsing, shaking the heavens and earth.
"So this Fifth Ming Luo Tree is a battle maniac..."
Ning Fan was slightly speechless; he had come for insight, yet Mu Wu directly took action against him...
He could naturally see that Mu Wu didn’t mean any harm nor was he heavy-handed; it was just out of a joyful desire to spar with him.
The blue will pressed down on the cultivators here, suffocating them, yet Ning Fan remained utterly unmoved.
He slowly lifted his hand, pressing his five fingers, instantly tearing apart the descending blue will, which then collapsed with crackling sounds.
Ning Fan had mastered War Yin and Yang; in a clash of wills, he feared nothing!
"Good lad, you actually tore apart my will suppression directly, come, come, let’s fight again!"
Mu Wu was thrilled and wanted to battle once more with Ning Fan, but Ning Fan gently shook his head, saying nothing but pointing a finger towards the void above the Fifth Pine.
It was merely an ordinary gesture, incomprehensible to others, but as soon as the finger descended, Mu Wu’s battle-hungry expression turned into shock.
This hovering gesture easily sealed the flow of will within him, calming his originally turbulent battle intent instantly, as though cold water had been poured on it!
He couldn’t break free! He couldn’t escape this seal! This... was suppression at the Control Position level!
"This lad possesses the Palm Position Path in the realm of will!"
Mu Wu’s expression dramatically changed.
Throughout Eastern Heaven, there are only four Great Emperors who can cultivate the palatial void of Control Position. Few Immortal Emperors can even slightly comprehend the Palm Position Path.
This lad only has the Immortal Venerable Cultivation Level, yet he can understand and apply the Palm Position Path, using Control Position Power to seal the flow of will within him...
"In cultivation, it’s about moderation. You seem to be overly fond of battle..."
Ning Fan’s casual words were like a sudden realization for Mu Wu, making his expression further shaken, and left him in brief confusion.
Moderation, moderation...
He was cultivating the unyielding will of the pine, but he didn’t realize when that unyielding will transformed into a frenzied battle intent...
This path, it truly went wrong... If someone else said Mu Wu walked the wrong path, he might retort, but hearing this from Ning Fan gave it a different significance.
Ning Fan could cultivate the Palm Position Path in the realm of will; his understanding of the path of will was naturally profound, his words couldn’t be dismissed!
"May I ask you, Daoist friend, if I were to choose again, how should I proceed?"
Mu Wu changed his previous battle craving expression, asking politely.
The Mu Dao Gate members were all shocked, their jaws dropping; the Fifth Master Uncle had never been polite to anyone, even often assuming airs of the Heavenly Healer before their master, Daoist Wood Pine. Who could have thought the Fifth Master Uncle would be courteous to someone...
Ning Fan didn’t directly answer Mu Wu’s question, instead closing his eyes, outlining in his mind the 76 strokes of Mu Wu’s Buddha Talisman.
Among these 76 strokes, only 10 contained insights belonging to wood. Mu Wu comprehended the unyielding will of the pine...
Ning Fan stood there for an entire day, never answering Mu Wu’s question.
After a day, Ning Fan finally opened his eyes, lifted his hand, and began drawing his Symbol of Devil Raising stroke by stroke.
His Symbol of Devil Raising had grown to 166 strokes, and upon integrating Mu Wu’s wood insights, he drew the 167th stroke.
Following that was the 168th stroke, the 169th stroke, the 170th stroke...
Mu Wu’s wood insights only had ten strokes, but this time, relying on his understanding of will, Ning Fan extended those ten strokes into twelve strokes.
His Symbol of Devil Raising ultimately expanded to 178 strokes. With more strokes, the ancient pine image he drew became progressively more restrained, stable, and composed.
"Have you understood..." Ning Fan finally spoke, having already answered Mu Wu’s question through his actions.
Mu Wu showed a pensive expression, vaguely feeling he grasped something crucial, yet he remained puzzled. After a long time, he bitterly smiled at Ning Fan, shaking his head.
Ning Fan said nothing, moving next to an ordinary pine tree, using his finger as a blade to cut it down, pointing at the tree rings, and asked, "Do you understand now..."
Looking at the tree rings on the pine’s section, Mu Wu felt a thunderous revelation in his mind, understanding what had once bewildered him.
Mu Wu let out a long sigh and sincerely thanked Ning Fan, "Thank you, Daoist friend, for your guidance!"
Ning Fan pointed the way: it was to be restrained...
Mu Wu saw will as the patterns on the pine bark, while Ning Fan saw will as the innermost tree rings...
The cultivation of will shouldn’t be aggressively exposed but should be akin to the tree rings of the pine, hidden within, growing layer by layer from the inside out.
Verbal gratitude was insufficient to express Mu Wu’s thanks; thus, he naturally gifted all his Jianmu’s Essence to Ning Fan.
Ning Fan accepted the essence, bade farewell to Mu Wu, and together with others went to the forbidden grounds of the Fourth Pine.
After explaining their presence, the spirit of the Fourth Pine, Mu Weiliang, manifested, displaying his Buddha Talisman to Ning Fan.
Unlike the Buddha Talismans of the previous three tree spirits, Mu Weiliang’s Buddha Talisman similarly depicted a pine tree, but beneath the pine was a naive little girl...
"My Buddha Talisman isn’t the strongest on Mu Island, but it’s different from the others..." Mu Weiliang’s gaze was cold and unfeeling. As his Buddha Talisman appeared, the Dao Principle of Wood on Mu Island slightly shifted.
Ning Fan’s expression immediately tightened; Mu Weiliang’s Buddha Talisman surprisingly contained a trace of Wooden Control Position Power!
"My thousands of years of wood insight can be summarized in one phrase: grass and trees have no emotion..." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations, monthly votes on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read on m.qidian.com.)
