txolops Chapter 24 Sermon, Wisdom Gradually Growing
Chapter 24 Sermon, Wisdom Gradually Growing
Let's start with Zhen Yuanzi.
He did not talk about those overly profound and obscure laws of the earth that pointed directly to the Great Dao of Hunyuan. Instead, he started from how the primordial world was created from chaos and how the pure and the impure separated, explaining how Yin and Yang gave rise to the Five Elements and how the Five Elements gave rise to all things.
His voice was both majestic and peaceful, as deep and reliable as the vast earth, and every word contained his most fundamental understanding and love for this world.
That powerful yet gentle surge of divine thought, mixed with his unique aura as the embodiment of the earth, was like warm sunlight shining on frozen soil, delicately and persistently nourishing the tender, seemingly extinguishable spark of spiritual light within the golden dragon's body, building its "foundation" of understanding the world.
As Zhen Yuanzi preached, golden lotuses sprang up from the ground in the courtyard, and sweet springs emerged from the void. Streams of incomparably pure Houtu essence were drawn from the depths of the earth.
Transforming into visible yellow threads of light, they gently wrapped around the golden dragon's body, slowly seeping into its scales, making the dark golden light seem even more restrained and profound.
Zhen Yuanzi spoke for eighty-one days before taking a break.
The spiritual light within the golden dragon's body had become stable, transforming from a faint, flickering flame in the wind into a lamp flame embedded in a glass lamp. Though still small, it no longer wavered and exuded a sense of composure.
Next is Wanshou Yuanjun.
He smiled slightly, and a bright blue light shone around him. Behind him, the faint shadow of a towering tree appeared, its branches and leaves swaying, exuding endless vitality.
He began to teach the way of life of Yi Wood, explaining how seeds break through the soil, how tender shoots sprout, how all things grow and flourish, how the four seasons cycle, and the infinite principles of creation hidden between life and death.
His voice was clear and full of energy, each syllable seemingly carrying the freshness of morning dew and the fragrance of trees.
His Daoist aura was not as profound as Zhen Yuanzi's.
Instead, it is like a gentle spring breeze and nourishing rain, delicate and ethereal, penetrating every corner of the golden dragon's body, stimulating the instinctive desire and vitality for "life" in its nascent spirit, guiding it to perceive the beautiful and subtle changes in the outside world, and to experience the joy of "existence".
As he preached, the four banana trees in the courtyard rustled, scattering countless points of azure light, like countless green sprites joyfully merging into the golden dragon's body.
The surrounding area was filled with blooming flowers and fragrant plants, and the lush vitality was almost tangible.
Wanshou Yuanjun also spoke for eighty-one days.
The spiritual light within the golden dragon was no longer a simple point of light; it had expanded several times, resembling a hazy mist. Within it, extremely faint emotional fluctuations began to emanate—a joy and curiosity about "life."
Finally, there's Hongyun.
He could no longer contain himself, and as soon as Wanshou Yuanjun finished speaking, he immediately joined in, showing the utmost enthusiasm. Because he himself had attained enlightenment through the Red Cloud, his original attributes were quite similar to some of the power (the energies of wind, water, and fire) contained in this golden dragon.
He described the vastness of the sky, the freedom of the wind, the ever-changing clouds, and the awe-inspiring power of thunder, even incorporating his own insights into merit and the primordial energy without reservation.
His voice was neither as deep as Zhen Yuanzi's nor as clear as Wanshou Yuanjun's, but rather carried a pleasant, ethereal quality, sometimes near, sometimes far, sometimes high, sometimes low, as if it were truly the drifting clouds on the horizon, unrestrained and free.
His way is light and imaginative, as if using sound to depict a vast and wonderful picture of heaven and earth for that ignorant mind, trying his best to attract it to actively explore, understand and embrace this magical world.
As Hongyun got into the story, he even manifested part of his true form. A crimson auspicious cloud rolled above his head, sometimes turning into wind, sometimes into fire, and sometimes stirring up faint thunder, vividly demonstrating the way of the heavens.
The Daoist principles he spoke of were like the most suitable nourishment, greedily absorbed by the spiritual light and mist within the golden dragon's body.
The three great masters took turns preaching, each displaying their strengths.
What they preach is not a single, profound system of teachings, but an all-encompassing path to enlightenment, cognition, and survival. It aims to build a complete and positive foundation for the world's cognition for this nascent spiritual intelligence, gently guide its wisdom to grow, and accelerate the process of its spiritual maturity.
For them, this process was also a chance to re-examine and re-evaluate the foundation of the Great Way, yielding unique insights.
The two little ones, Qingfeng and Mingyue, were naturally listening intently.
Although the masters spoke of the most basic enlightenment, the words spoken by the three Great Golden Immortals were precious and contained profound truths. The great way is simple, which is of great benefit to them in consolidating their cultivation as Taiyi Golden Immortals and strengthening their foundation.
They were filled with childlike curiosity about the beautiful and majestic golden dragon that was being "born".
Whenever a master paused his sermon, two young Taoist boys would tiptoe up to the golden dragon.
If Qingfeng were a little bolder, he would stretch out his fair and tender little hand and gently and carefully touch the cool yet warm dragon scales that shimmered with the golden light of merit. Upon touching them, he felt a strange warmth that came from the very source of life, which made him feel very comfortable and at ease. He couldn't help but touch them again and again.
Mingyue was more careful, mostly staring intently at the naturally formed, complex, and mysterious runes on the dragon's body with her big, round, black grape-like eyes, her little face full of amazement.
Occasionally, she would muster the courage to quickly touch the tip of the dragon claw, which was larger than her whole body, with her fingertips, and then quickly pull her hand back like a startled rabbit, hiding behind Qingfeng, but her face was filled with an uncontrollable smile of excitement and curiosity.
The massive body of the golden dragon remained silent and motionless, but the spiritual mist within it was nourished by the continuous and unreserved Daoist chants of the three Great Luo Golden Immortals, and by the daily "accompaniment" and touch of the two lively and curious Daoist boys.
It is growing stronger, more solid, and becoming clearer and more dynamic at a speed visible to the naked eye (and visible to the divine sense).
That nascent consciousness began to learn to more clearly perceive the Daoist principles of the outside world, and began to develop an extremely faint, almost instinctive sense of closeness and dependence on that gentle touch...
Inside the Wuzhuang Temple, the sounds of Taoist chanting lingered for a long time. The golden light of merit and the vibrant brilliance of the azure wood intertwined and flowed, illuminating the ancient and dignified face of Zhen Yuanzi, the serene and detached figure of Wanshou Yuanjun, the eager and expectant expression of Hongyun, and the innocent figures of the two Taoist boys, creating a scene of peace and holiness.
The three powerful beings were filled with anticipation, while the two young disciples were innocent and curious. They were all patiently waiting for the complete blossoming of the intelligence of an extraordinary life that inherited the legacy of Pangu and accumulated profound merit.
Time seemed to lose its meaning in this primordial cave, with only the ever-growing spiritual light within the golden dragon indicating that creation was unfolding.