txolops Chapter 2516 On the Spiritual Body
Chapter 2516 On the Spiritual Body
Chapter 2516 On the Spiritual Body
"This disciple wishes to switch to studying the *Taiyi Lingshu Jing*!"
Bai Ying'er stood in front of Qin Sang with a resolute expression.
Qin Sang sat cross-legged on the altar, staring at his disciple, and said in a deep voice, "Have you thought this through? My actions are like dealing with a tiger for its skin; one wrong move and I will die and be doomed forever!"
To establish a spirit network, it is necessary to start with the spirit core of a certain cultivator. As the spirit core of the entire spirit network, this cultivator is the 'Spirit Network Master'.
Within the Spirit Network, cultivators are divided into different levels, with the level determined by their status and cultivation. These levels include Spirit Pivot Envoy, Spirit Pivot Commander, Spirit Pivot Minister, and so on. According to Senior Zhou, these levels evolved from the official ranks of the ancient Daoist court.
Based on Qin Sang's understanding of the "Taiyi Ling Shu Jing", the so-called "Master of the Spirit Network" does not mean controlling the Spirit Network and arbitrarily deciding the life and death of other cultivators in the Spirit Network.
Just like in Taoism, although the altars and their masters in various places are subordinate to the Taoist court, if most of the altar masters are alienated from the Taoist court when setting up the altar and performing the ritual, the ritual will fail.
This aligns with Qin Sang's previous predictions: winning people's hearts is the true path, while threats and control are not the right way.
However, the position of the Lord of the Spirit Network is still very important. First, he must possess some authority that other cultivators do not have. Second, in the future, connecting with the Qianzhou Spirit Network will also require going through the Lord of the Spirit Network.
Qin Sang originally intended to become the master of the Spirit Network himself. With the Jade Buddha protecting him, he would still have room to maneuver if the Qianzhou Spirit Network directly tampered with his primordial spirit. However, Senior Zhou knew the Dao Court too well and directly colluded with the Qianzhou Spirit Network. Qin Sang worried that the other party would discover the Thunder Ancestor in the altar and expose their true nature.
If he weren't personally in this position, he would have to hand it over to someone he could completely trust, and Bai Ying'er, being his own disciple, was the perfect choice. However, this position directly faces the Qianzhou Spirit Network, making it extremely dangerous. If Qianzhou were to plot anything, the Spirit Network's leader would be the first to suffer.
Moreover, Bai Ying'er had just switched to practicing the Daoist Thunder Technique and then the Taiyi Ling Shu Scripture. Frequent changes in her cultivation methods were not conducive to her path of cultivation.
Unlike Qin Sang, who is close in age, Bai Ying'er is still in the early stage of the Void Refinement Realm and only recently stabilized her cultivation. If she were to follow Qin Sang's example and cultivate both spiritual and physical abilities, she would only waste her precious time.
Qin Sang explained the pros, cons, and dangers to Bai Ying'er. If Bai Ying'er was unwilling, he would not force her, after all, he was not the kind of master who would possess his disciple's body.
"It is a disciple's duty to share the burdens of his master!"
Bai Ying'er bowed deeply and respectfully, "Please, Master, impart the Dharma!"
If the skin is gone, the hair will not be attached.
Qin Sang's plan failed, so how could Bai Ying'er, as Qin Sang's disciple, remain unscathed? Conversely, if the plan had succeeded and helped Qin Sang break through to the Fusion stage, everyone involved would have benefited greatly.
"Alright! I will do everything in my power to protect you and will not mistreat you!"
Qin Sang passed down the *Taiyi Ling Shu Jing*, and Bai Ying'er now needs to focus on cultivation, handing over the affairs of the Five Thunder Sect and the Jiao Sheng Kingdom to others. However, Qin Sang has already summoned Xiao Yue and Di Xing Gong from Feng Mo, and they should be arriving soon, making the Jiao Sheng Kingdom increasingly well-managed. After annexing the Ying Shen Kingdom and the Chi Rong Kingdom, Ning Ye and Yuan Zuo will also be there, both excellent statesmen.
As for the Five Thunder Sect, Bai Ying'er's disciples are now capable of handling things independently. There might be some chaos at first, but they will soon get back on track.
After obtaining the cultivation technique, Bai Ying'er did not rush to leave. She studied it while asking Qin Sang for guidance, and her understanding of the technique gradually deepened. However, she did not have as smooth a process as Qin Sang when constructing the spiritual core.
Qin Sang inscribed Senior Zhou's golden words into the jade slip and personally made annotations on it, so that Bai Ying'er and her disciples could study them from time to time, which would surely be of great benefit.
Only after Bai Ying'er had cultivated into a Yin Spirit did she accept her orders and take her leave.
Just as Bai Ying'er stepped out of the cave, a figure appeared in front of her. It was Yu Ying, who said with a smile, "Congratulations, Sister Ying'er, you are becoming more and more valued by the sect leader."
Bai Ying'er dared not be negligent towards this Jade Protector, and hurriedly returned the bow, saying, "Master instructed that the Jade Protector's understanding of the spiritual cultivation path far surpasses that of us, master and disciple. Master often consults the Jade Protector, and I'm afraid I will have to bother the Jade Protector frequently in the future. I hope the Jade Protector will not find it offensive."
"What are you saying, Sister Ying'er? I'm overjoyed," Yu Ying said with a hint of reproach, then added affectionately, "I'm not bragging, but I am also a general under the sect leader, and I am utterly loyal to him. Sister Ying'er is the sect leader's only disciple, so we should get closer in the future so that we can better share the sect leader's burdens."
Yu Ying had not yet made up her mind to change her cultivation method for the "Taiyi Lingshu Jing", but she knew that Qin Sang had decided to spread the teachings on a large scale. She guessed Qin Sang's intention in bringing Bai Ying'er here, and she approached Bai Ying'er to observe her more closely.
Bai Ying'er dared not disturb her master too often; Yu Ying was the best teacher for her.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Yu Ying said, "Two old friends of the sect leader have arrived outside. I will go in and report to them. Sister Ying'er, please don't leave yet. These people may need to be arranged by you."
Before long, Xiaoyue and Dixinggong entered the cave as summoned.
"We have failed our Lord's trust, please punish us!"
The two of them had been staying in Fengmo, following Qin Sang's instructions to secretly investigate Fengmo's secrets, but without much success. They were both somewhat uneasy about being suddenly summoned back this time.
Qin Sang did not punish them, but instead comforted them and ordered them to stay in the Horned Kingdom to assist them wholeheartedly. Only then were the two demons at ease.
"We have brought most of our subordinates back as instructed by our lord, and selected some alert ones to be scattered throughout the Wind Desert. They will immediately send out warnings should anything happen in the Wind Desert," said Di Xinggong, who was hoping that Qin Sang would help him take revenge and carried out Qin Sang's orders meticulously.
Qin Sang nodded slightly. He didn't know how much the Dragon and Phoenix clans knew about the Ancient Demon Court, whether they had already pinpointed its approximate location, or were still casting a wide net across the Great Wind Plains aimlessly.
The Ancient Demon Court and the Origin of the Qilin are definitely related, and it is highly likely that they have fallen into the Wind Desert. However, Qin Sang does not dare to continue to search in the Wind Desert in a large-scale manner, and can only wait and see for the time being.
The two demons then bowed and took their leave. Qin Sang sealed off her cave and continued to study the "Taiyi Ling Shu Jing".
Today, Qin Sang has a deeper understanding of the dual cultivation of spirit, magic, and body that these senior masters like Bai and the Ghost Mother spoke of.
The state of perfect harmony, where one merges with the Dao, is like a fish swimming into a river.
The Three Thousand Great Daos are like three thousand rivers, and cultivators are like fish in those rivers. It's impossible for their bodies to wander in one river while their souls roam in another. The Great Daos are vast, and cultivators are insignificant. A single Great Dao is enough for a cultivator to dedicate their entire life to understanding and pursuing; therefore, cultivators at this stage often become extremely focused and dedicated. Of course, among the myriad beings and countless cultivators in the world, it's possible that some anomalies will emerge.
The practice of cultivating both spiritual and physical aspects has both advantages and disadvantages.
Cultivating all three to a certain level will result in a completely different level of perception of heaven and earth and understanding of the Great Dao, which will definitely help cultivators to comprehend the Dao and break through barriers.
The problem is that Qin Sang has received quite a few inheritances, but he has never seen a technique that can simultaneously take into account all three aspects and make them all top-notch.
Most cultivators who wish to cultivate both spiritual power and physical body must, like Qin Sang, choose three different cultivation methods. These different methods will inevitably differ, involving different Daos, and may even be contradictory or mutually destructive.
If one cultivates all three techniques to their peak, the cultivator will experience a tremendous improvement. However, this too much exposure to a wide variety of techniques may interfere with the cultivator's comprehension of the Dao and even lead to conflicts between them.
This is like when breaking through to the Void Refinement stage, choosing between a balance of the five elements or focusing on one element to its fullest potential and purity.
Finding three compatible superior cultivation methods is extremely difficult. Forcing oneself to practice ordinary methods would be a waste of time, energy, and resources, ultimately resulting in more harm than good. Without such fortuitous opportunities and top-tier inheritances, Qin Sang's cultivation level wouldn't have improved so quickly, and she would have to proceed with extreme caution, daring not to overthink it.
Therefore, many cultivators at the Void Refinement stage do not or dare not practice this concurrently.
Qin Sang had other spiritual cultivation techniques before, but she never practiced them, and this was the reason.
He currently cultivates three different techniques: the Purple Star Sword Scripture, the Heavenly Demon Refining Form Scripture, and the Taiyi Spiritual Pivot Scripture. However, just as with the principles of Yin and Yang, which can both restrain and generate each other, the Great Dao is the same, depending entirely on one's own opportunities and comprehension.
Senior figures like Bai and the Ghost Mother are all extraordinary talents, the pride of their era. In their eyes, these problems might not be troublesome at all. The fact that they all unanimously suggested that Qin Sang cultivate both spiritual and physical bodies indicates that this path should be more beneficial than harmful.
Qin Sang's progress in comprehending the fifth level of the "Taiyi Lingshu Jing" was also very fast. It wasn't until he was about to break through to the sixth level, when the Yin spirit was transforming into the Yang spirit, that he encountered a real bottleneck for the first time.
The Yang Shen is equivalent to the Dharmakaya or Dharmakaya. Upon reaching this level, Qin Sang must proceed step by step and can no longer progress as easily as before.
……
Once Qin Sang's will was conveyed, the entire Chi Rong Kingdom was mobilized, accelerating its expansion.
The surrounding countries had all joined the coalition forces of the Shadow God Kingdom to conquer the Horned Kingdom. Although they later repeatedly requested peace and even wanted to cede territory and pay reparations, the Horned Kingdom resolutely refused.
The grudges have not yet been resolved, and with the Five Thunder Sect stirring things up, they have become increasingly entrenched in the hearts of the people of Jiaosheng Kingdom, like a sharp thorn. Only by completely removing the thorn can the hatred in their hearts be extinguished.
On the other hand, the Five Thunder Sect's 'Thunder Towers' are scattered throughout every corner of the Horned Life Kingdom. Each Thunder Tower is guarded by disciples of the Five Thunder Sect. They not only practice thunder magic and guard the Thunder Tower, but also often go down the mountain to slay demons and resolve injustices in the world.
In the Kingdom of Jiaosheng, there is not only the Five Thunder Sect, but also an official system including an emperor and a court, responsible for government affairs. However, all officials are subject to the supervision of the Five Thunder Sect, and anyone found to be incompetent, corrupt, or lawless will be punished immediately.
The Five Thunder Sect was established as the state religion by imperial decree of the King of Jiaosheng Kingdom. Having developed to the point where it now holds sway over the court and the royal family, the reason the Jiaosheng royal family remains in their positions is because Qin Sang has no intention of replacing them. If an incompetent leader were to emerge, a single decree from the Five Thunder Sect would force the King to abdicate.
Therefore, including the king, everyone had to work hard and dared not slack off.
Human nature is unpredictable, and the disciples of the Five Thunder Sect are not entirely without selfishness, but they are bound by the sect's teachings. The teachings are strict; when Qin Sang established the teachings, he referenced some of the Daoist precepts. The Daoist court is able to maintain such a vast system, so using it to govern a small immortal kingdom is merely a trial run.
The Kingdom of Jiaosheng is a harmonious and prosperous place with a constant flow of resources for spiritual cultivation, as well as superior and wondrous teachings. Here, many cultivation methods are openly taught, and as long as one's talent and temperament meet the requirements, one can join the Five Thunder Sect—a truly meteoric rise.
Many half-demons who were forced to surrender after their kingdoms were destroyed also acknowledged the Kingdom of Horned Life and sincerely submitted to it. The people, seeing the Kingdom of Horned Life growing increasingly prosperous, were overjoyed and eagerly awaited revenge.
However, Qin Sang's ambitions went far beyond annexing a few small countries. As a result, the Five Thunder Sect appeared to be growing larger and larger, with a large number of disciples, but in his view, it was still far from enough.
Besides, among the immortal kings and nobles who were destroyed by the Kingdom of Jiaosheng, only a few fled. Most of them surrendered to the Kingdom of Jiaosheng with their entire clans. More and more powerful people joined the Kingdom of Jiaosheng. Some chose to continue to be local lords, while others saw the potential of the Five Thunder Sect and requested to switch to thunder magic and join the Five Thunder Sect.
Once these people join, they can quickly become independent, so the screening of them is particularly strict and is carried out by Yu Ying herself.
The Kingdom of Jiaosheng has long since escaped the predicament of having no one to rely on. Demons such as Dixinggong, Xiaoyue, and Pancong, as well as half-demons who later surrendered to the Kingdom of Jiaosheng, such as Yuying and Wunandu, are all proud and arrogant. The only one who can rightfully suppress these powerful figures is Bai Ying'er, Qin Sang's only disciple.
However, Bai Ying'er had already gone into seclusion to comprehend the "Taiyi Ling Shu Jing," while Qin Hou had not yet broken through to the Refinement Void realm, ultimately falling short. At Yu Ying's suggestion, Qin Sang ordered Yuan Zuo to send an avatar, disguised as Bai Ying'er, to take over full military and political power.
With Yuanzu's talent, he governed Jiaosheng Kingdom with ease.
What's even more ingenious is that, while the Shadow God Kingdom and the Horned Blossom Kingdom remain outwardly enemies, the Shadow God Kingdom has been secretly sabotaging the Horned Blossom Kingdom, accumulating resentment among its people, and brewing a final battle. In the future, the Shadow God Kingdom will inevitably be annexed by the Horned Blossom Kingdom. In that battle, the Shadow God Kingdom must suffer a defeat that is plausible, believable, and believable. With Yuan Zuo manipulating both sides simultaneously, absolute certainty can be ensured.
Before we knew it, fifty years had passed in the blink of an eye.
For an ordinary person, fifty years is the time it takes for them to go from childhood to old age, and to live out their entire life.
For the rulers of the half-demon kingdoms and the immortal kingdoms, fifty years was merely the prelude to chaos. Although this period was not short, they had enough patience to continue waiting.
Qingning Palace was the focus of everyone's attention. This natural disaster had lasted for decades, yet the mysterious immortal abode remained unchanged. The five superior kingdoms were far more patient than others imagined, still surrounding the forbidden area and remaining inactive, only sending out some powerful figures to investigate the immortal abode every now and then.
For powerful figures like the Wood God Envoy and Xuanqiu True Lord, who were plotting to seize the Ancient Demon Court, fifty years was merely an insignificant beginning. They could patiently wait for thousands or even tens of thousands of years to make their move gradually.
In the past fifty years, the Wood God Envoy and True Lord Xuanqiu have not even made a special contact with Qin Sang, as if they have forgotten about that matter.
For the Kingdom of Jiaosheng, fifty years was enough time for the Immortal Kingdom to leapfrog a level in national strength. Under Yuanzuo's impetus, the Kingdom of Jiaosheng continued to grow stronger and its reputation spread far and wide, making it stand out among all the kingdoms.