Cultivators Are So Weak in This World

Chapter 538 - 505 Metamorphosis 3

"Like the wind... like the waves... like the ocean reminiscent of an abyss... In this world, indeed, each person’s methods emerge in succession, until the very end, none can tell who the victor is."

Dongfang Mu stands on the topmost floor of his own earthen fortress, gazing into the distant scenery.

The rising morning sun resembles a red yolk, tender, round, yellow. Anyone who sees it would want to take a bite.

But those who dare approach and bite, none are simple.

"Teacher, is it perhaps unwise for us to rashly ally with the Human Immortal Temple now?"

Behind Dongfang Mu, stood a row of male and female disciples dressed in various attires.

These disciples are dressed like old farmers, wealthy merchants, and even ordinary songstresses in dresses, altogether about ten people, seemingly encompassing every profession.

Yet all of them, at this moment, looked at Dongfang Mu with sincerity and worry.

Worried if the teacher’s health could recover after his injury.

"The Human Immortal Temple... naturally, they will be targeted by gods and buddhas, targeted by all sects. They are our natural allies. Moreover, their temple leader saved my life, whether sentimentally or rationally, must be treated with courtesy. With sincerity." Dongfang Mu coughed a few times, turned around, and sighed.

"As of now, it’s time for our Confucian sect to reappear in the world."

"In today’s world, with the Red Turban chaos, the people are impoverished, and all kinds of evils rise simultaneously, it is precisely the time for us to save the people from fire and water, gaining the people’s hearts. The Human Immortal Temple can also serve as a focal point to attract the attention of gods and buddhas, shielding us." Dongfang Mu said deeply.

"Is the Human Immortal Temple really that strong?" A disciple frowned and questioned.

"No." Dongfang Mu laughed, "But the person behind the temple leader is."

Suddenly, his expression changed slightly as he waved his hand.

"Alright, all of you may go down now."

"Yes." The disciples bowed to Dongfang Mu and then left.

Not long after this group left, a strong and tall figure slowly entered from outside the door. It was Zhang Rongfang, draped in a black brocade robe.

Having worn a taoist robe for a long time, suddenly changing to ordinary clothes, he still felt somewhat unaccustomed.

Thump thump thump. Zhang Rongfang stood at the doorway, knocking on the door.

"Come in." Dongfang Mu’s face showed a gentle smile.

"Mr. Dongfang, the other day you mentioned Confucian martial arts, spoke halfway, the subsequent part was not explained clearly. Zhang has many doubts in mind, might you answer a thing or two?"

Zhang Rongfang himself originally came from a Confucian household, having some understanding of Confucianism.

Now, what he thought was an abolished Confucian sect suddenly emerged with a hidden Grandmaster.

This is somewhat exaggerated.

He suddenly wants to thoroughly understand just how strong the concealed forces of Confucianism are.

Moreover, the Confucian martial arts and the Extreme Realm, what the relation between them is, is something he wants to understand clearly as well.

"I somewhat guessed the temple leader’s intention." Dongfang Mu laughed. "However, yesterday, two members of the Reverse Time Society were present, so I intentionally changed the topic. Now, it’s just you and me, fellow insiders. There’s not much to hold back."

"You also know of my background?" Zhang Rongfang was surprised.

"The temple leader did not disguise his appearance, plus he’s frequently entering and exiting certain mansions in the city, it’s hard not to know." Dongfang Mu answered.

"That’s true." Zhang Rongfang nodded, "Currently, my teacher is directly entering the Great Capital, I wonder what’s the situation now? What’s the Confucian sect planning?"

"Helping the world when prosperous, preserving oneself when destitute. In today’s world, common people all suffer, just do what we can." Dongfang Mu seems to have responded, but also said nothing substantial.

Zhang Rongfang continued, "Since you don’t want to talk about that, then let’s discuss Confucian martial arts and the Extreme Realm. Junior is curious; previously you mentioned, the Extreme Realm seems to originate from the Confucian sect? What’s the explanation?"

"The Extreme Realm can be considered a representative of walking different paths to their utmost." Dongfang Mu sighed. "But the most fundamental source among them is still the core of our Confucian sect - Pure Heart for Jade."

"How do you explain that?" Such topics revolving around martial arts principles greatly interested Zhang Rongfang.

The prerequisite for seizing the initiative against an enemy is first to understand the opponent’s martial arts principles, then observe the opponent’s thought patterns and muscle memory, thereby achieving immediate absolute predictive results.

He has now deeply felt this.

Therefore, the more he understands unknown novel martial arts, the greater the advantage for seizing the initiative against an enemy.

"Since the temple leader is one of us, the old man won’t hide anything." Dongfang Mu slightly smiled, "The key to Pure Heart for Jade is that one must first have a pure heart to then obtain the jade. A gentleman wears jade, nurtures jade, gets jade, then can the heart and jade become one, sincerely transparent throughout."

"And as for how to purify the heart, our Confucian sect inherently has a whole set of ways to cultivate the heart. Benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust are our Confucian Five Constants, originating from Confucius, extending through Dong Zhongshu and Mencius. And now, it refers to our Confucian Five Meridians.

The criteria of each meridian have significant variations.

And our sincerity in ourselves, sincerity in others, though the seemingly many rules, are all ultimately for one thing. That is sincerity in the heart."

"Then what is the jade? Why must one exchange for jade?" Zhang Rongfang asked again. "What’s the connection between Pure Heart and the Extreme Realm?"

"Jade is what you wish to obtain, anything beautiful in your heart, the object you desire, the person, can all be seen as jade.

In the long river of life, many people can leap out of the river’s surface, look towards the front, and review the rear. Jade can be in front of you or it can be behind you." Dongfang Mu answered.

"By exchanging a pure heart for jade, if successful, it reaches perfection. If not successful, one can still walk firmly into the path of utmost sincerity. While the Extreme Realm is such, pursuing infinite jade that will never suffice with a pure heart, but this isn’t the correct path. It’s mainly an evil path of self-depletion."

Zhang Rongfang heard this and seemed to comprehend.

This world also has Confucius and Mencius, which he didn’t anticipate. Up to this point, he has been viewing the development of the Great Spirit more as another historical branch from his previous life.

"What is Mr. Dongfang’s jade then? Might you disclose?" He suddenly asked.

"My jade... is to re-establish Confucianism." Dongfang Mu replied earnestly. "Little friend perhaps hasn’t yet noticed, your jade has now formed."

"My jade..." Zhang Rongfang pondered.

As of now, if there’s one thing he wants to obtain, yet cannot reach.

There is only one — to achieve the complete Human Immortal!

Now two blossoms of his Blood Lotus have opened, the Three Flowers have gathered twice, just lacking the last blossom to complete the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.

Tong Yuan’s talent can also be fulfilled. If Yue Shi’s current actions succeed, it will undoubtedly be a step to ascend to heaven.

If defeated....

He must also prepare for this possibility.

*

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*

Great Capital.

A massive army like black clouds besieged the capital.

All around Great Capital, there were no city walls for defense; forces from both sides gathered, banners covering the sky, forming a massive black and red circle.

Black outside, red inside.

Yuchi Hongshan stood in the midst of the military formation, alongside Spirit Generals like Yue Dewen and Cosimo, gazing at the capital.

Until now, his mind was completely muddled.

What happened before?

Why did the million-strong army suddenly abandon resistance?

Why were King Mu Li’s generals standing beside him, conversing and laughing?

Cosimo was the great enemy; why was he now conversing happily with Yue Dewen?

Luckily, no one cared about him personally; they wanted his reputation. So, no one cared what he thought at the moment.

"The resistance within the city is nothing but the dozen or so grand nobles of the Spirit People. The Fengling Army and Weaving Elephant Army are still halfway here; now it’s too late."

Yue Dewen stroked his beard, gazing into the distance.

"We must go all out without delay."

"What about the response from the palace?" Cosimo asked.

"They haven’t sent out a single person; still waiting," Yue Dewen replied calmly. "They’re calculating, we’re calculating, and the world is calculating. Victory or defeat is not determined in a moment."

With a sigh, he turned around to look at the many Spirit Generals on horseback, ready for battle.

Great Dao Teaching, Zhenyi Sect, Thousand Teachings Alliance, Teaching Alliance, Celestial Lock Teaching, Black Ten Sect... many sects gathered, leveraging the army’s momentum, faintly revealing the aura of divinity and gods.

Above the area where the main general stood, invisible air currents swirled and encircled, piercing through the sky’s clouds.

Clearly, today was overcast weather, yet there was always a small patch above the army that formed a void.

"Comrades, success or failure hinges on this one move."

Yue Dewen slowly raised his hand, clenched his five fingers, and opened them.

"Fight!!!"

He roared angrily.

"Fight!!" shouted the nearby military formation.

"Fight!!" echoed the layers of distant military formations, raising arms with an angry roar.

"Fight!!!!"

All military generals shouted in unison.

The war drums started, and the sound waves spread rapidly like an infection in all directions.

Wave after wave of soldiers shouted in unison.

The sound waves like tidal waves collided thunderously against the remnants of the defenders of Great Capital.

The defenders were purely scraped together from private militia household servants by more than a dozen great nobles of the Spirit People.

At this moment, struck by the massive sound waves, everyone’s faces turned pale, and their bodies tingled.

Some even dropped their weapons and shields to the ground without noticing.

Some squatted down, crying bitterly, and some closed their eyes and recited scriptures.

Areas even began to collapse in chaos, exposing gaps within the red patches.

"I am Yue Dewen of the Great Dao! Today, I shall uphold the heavenly way, correct the imperial order, and protect the new emperor, settling the world’s chaos!!"

Yue Dewen roared, his voice mixed in the myriad of sound waves, clearly audible.

In an instant, the war drums accelerated; military formations marched uniformly towards the capital city.

Siege engines prepared to release ropes, hurling massive stones.

Tens of thousands of archers began to notch arrows, raising their bows to the sky.

"Kill!!!"

Like an explosion, countless black clouds surged towards the capital from all directions.

"Why must it be like this? Why can’t everyone sit down and have a serious, earnest talk? Why... must there be conflict?"

Far from the battlefield, a group of elite Black Armor Army guarded the center.

On the chariot, sat a young man with a gentle demeanor and elegant face.

His position was precisely at a vantage point overlooking the battlefield.

Watching the chaos and terror of the distant slaughter, a flush unknowingly appeared on his pale cheek.

"If sitting down to talk could reset the world, where would there be so many sacrifices in this world?" the nearby golden armored guard in full helmet and armor replied calmly.

"The Prince should understand the painstaking efforts of Sect Leader Yue and others."

"Then what about Brother Wang and them? If Great Capital is seized, how should Brother Wang and them be dealt with?" asked the gentle man.

He was King Dongping, one of the Five Kings supported by Great Dao Teaching and Sensing Sect.

The guard did not respond, remaining silent.

Yet silence was the best answer.

King Dongping sighed, looking mournful. "If possible... could the throne be given to Yue Shi?"

"The throne cannot be held by non-Spirit People; the Prince should speak cautiously." The surrounding guards were startled, quickly advising.

"From the start, I never wanted to be Spirit Emperor..." King Dongping shook his head helplessly.

"But....." He didn’t say more, but everyone guessed his meaning.

Because he had said similar words countless times already.