1novels Chapter 80 Obtaining the Ghostly Talisman, He Begins to Ascend the Great Dao
Chapter 80 Obtaining the Ghostly Talisman, He Begins to Ascend the Great Dao
Chapter 80 Obtaining the Ghostly Talisman, He Begins to Ascend the Great Dao
After Lin Zhuo finished threshing the rice, Jin Xiaohu winnowed the rice grains. The two of them, one human and one cat, took brooms and swept the cleaned rice grains into bamboo baskets, which they then carried to the granary for storage.
Qinghong followed and observed the entire way.
He could tell that Lin Zhuo's movements were a bit clumsy, obviously he had never done farm work before, but this person learned very quickly. He couldn't tie the straw the first time, but he could do it properly the second and third time. Moreover, his movements were so careful that he even used his spiritual energy to pick out a few grains of rice that were scattered in the cracks between the bricks.
Lin Zhuo wandered around, collecting every grain of rice that was scattered outside.
Seeing that he had gone to such great lengths for such a small matter, Qinghong felt extremely disapproving and said, "Master Lin, in my humble opinion, leaving the rice in the field is not a bad thing. Look, this old palace ruin is now overgrown with weeds. If you leave the rice seeds among the bricks and stones, they will sprout and mature, just like if they were buried in the furrows."
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhuo continued to collect rice grains. When he could no longer find a single grain, he straightened up, held a pile of golden rice grains in his palm, and gently blew away the dust.
The elderly woman walked over, bowed deeply to Lin Zhuo, and stretched out her withered arms, which looked like two rotten pieces of firewood. She took the grains of rice from Lin Zhuo's hands with her somewhat deformed, thick-skinned palms, and slowly walked towards the granary as if she were holding a treasure.
After a moment of silence, Qinghong Taoist priest reflected, "I am shallow and do not know the value of rice. This handful of rice can be a meal."
Lin Zhuo nodded. He had become somewhat taciturn these past two days, trying to remain silent whenever possible.
Because the aura and power of numerous talismans constantly swirled in his mind, these runes describing soil and gravel acted like stubborn, dry stones, pressing down on the tongue of the enlightened one, making Lin Zhuo unable to speak fluently.
After harvesting the rice, he went to the fields to continue clearing the land. Without farm tools, he used his hands, which were infused with true energy, to bend down, pierce the soil, and shovel up stones, tree roots, and grass stems with one hand. With a gentle tap, the large clumps of mud immediately crumbled, and the various impurities mixed in were blown away by the palm wind, leaving only clean soil.
The tabby cat followed behind Lin Zhuo, holding a small hoe.
Through the possession of the divine veins, he infused his spiritual energy into a small hoe. With each stroke of the hoe, his true energy surged forth, turning over a large patch of soil. In just a few strokes, he leveled the uneven wasteland that Lin Zhuo had cultivated, then built ridges and dug small holes for sowing and planting seedlings.
They worked together seamlessly, and what would normally be a barren land that would take an ordinary strong laborer several days to cultivate was quickly transformed into excellent farmland.
Qinghong heard that in ancient times, people were open-minded and a hundred schools of thought contended. Warriors often gathered together to discuss ways to govern the world and survive.
Among them were farm children who specialized in cultivating silkworms and bringing their skills to the fields. They found joy in the harvest, happiness in poverty, and took it upon themselves to feed and educate the people. They disliked power and wealth, rejected fame and fortune, and distanced themselves from sensual pleasures. They had the ambition to benefit the world and were willing to live a life of obscurity.
Although he had never seen a farmer's son in person, the scene before him closely matched the descriptions in the book.
Qinghong stood by the stream, watching Lin Zhuo and Jin Xiaohu work in the fields.
Lin Zhuo's back view resembled that of a thin ox, but he would occasionally stop what he was doing, sit cross-legged in the mud, mutter to himself, and draw on the stone slabs and dust with his fingers, doing something that was unclear.
Qinghong was afraid of discovering Lin Zhuo's sect's secret techniques, so even though he was curious, he didn't approach to take a look. After all, stealing someone's teachings was always considered shameful in the martial arts world, and could even lead to death.
The autumn wind swirled, and the valley was filled with the clamor of nature; no one spoke.
Those who were working did their work, and those who were observing others observed others; everyone stayed in their place and did not disturb each other.
Lin Zhuo carefully sensed the magical power of the runes.
As his understanding of the runes deepened, the strokes of the runes he wrote became more and more coherent, and the syllables he recited became more and more precise.
The way of runes and incantations emphasizes the accuracy of form, sound, and meaning; only by unifying these three secrets can one unleash magical power to its limit.
Lin Zhuo devoted himself to contemplation until a certain moment when a symbol of "bearing" suddenly became clear and bright in his mind, like a pearl or jade with its thick stone shell polished clean, hanging high in his heart, never to be lost or forgotten.
After two days of hard work, he finally deciphered the first ghost-drawn talisman.
At this moment, the essence of the runes surged in his mind. Lin Zhuo truly felt himself transformed into the humble dust beneath his feet, trampled by all things, yet also supporting all living beings, calm and steadfast, without a word of complaint.
"Hoo—" The wonderful synesthesia was fleeting, and after a long sigh, only a faint memory lingered in my heart.
Lin Zhuo extended his index finger and, with powerful force, carved the runes onto the stone slab, then began to chant.
As he pronounced the syllable of the symbol, the surrounding air trembled slightly as if a drumhead had been struck, and the dust on the nearby ground also rippled slightly.
To onlookers, it appeared as if Lin Zhuo was uttering a faint rumble of thunder, sending chills down their spines.
"Alas, I have succeeded." The young warrior sat in the field and clapped his hands and laughed.
In the eyes of the Taoist Qinghong, this mysterious young master was even more unfathomable, acting strangely and displaying extraordinary phenomena.
"Why is Master Lin laughing? I am also delighted by your joy."
"I have entered the path."
Lin Zhuo sat in the field, covered in mud and dust, his skin flushed, yet he smiled contentedly.
Although it was only a small step forward, it convinced Lin Zhuo that he had truly entered the door and was walking on the smooth road to success. How could this not be a joyous occasion? It was even more gratifying than killing dozens of bandits and thieves.
In the evening, Qinghong returned to the Sword Sect's headquarters and the valley to bring a fine and sumptuous meal to the distinguished guests Lin Zhuo and Jin Xiaohu. The elderly female Taoist priest tended her own small stove, eating coarse rice and pickled vegetables, and drinking half a can of water.
Everyone has their own life. Lin Zhuo tried to share the meals, but the old Taoist priest simply smiled and refused. Her life no longer needed to satisfy her appetite to be fulfilled. After the meal, she would begin her evening prayers and chanting, just as she had done for thousands of days and nights before.
As darkness fell, Lin Zhuo still had no intention of returning to Chaoyang Peak, and prepared to continue his cultivation without ceasing.
Jin Xiaohu followed Daoist Qinghong back to the White Egret Sword Sect. The tabby cat yawned and went to rest in the guest room, while Qinghong paid his respects to the sect leader and reported on what he had seen and heard that day.
When Chang Mingzi heard that his distinguished guest had gone to help an unknown, ordinary Taoist priest with farming, he simply smiled and nodded, saying, "There is nothing wrong with this. Young Master Lin is an extraordinary person, and his actions are naturally different from others."
"Master, I observe that Grandmaster Lin, though young, possesses the bearing of an ancient being. As the saying goes, 'When you see someone virtuous, think of emulating them.' May I follow him and learn from him to improve my martial arts?"
"It will naturally be beneficial to get closer to such people. If you can keep a low profile and avoid annoying others, then you can go."
"Excellent! However, this disciple is still unsure about Master Lin's temperament. Master's judgment of character far surpasses that of this disciple. Please enlighten Qinghong: how can I avoid offending him?"
"In your opinion, what kind of person is Young Master Lin?"
"When I first met him, I only felt that Master Lin was straightforward, decisive, and strong-willed, like a raging fire that was not easy to get close to. Later, I learned that he had rescued the courtesan and helped my White Egret Sword Sect eradicate internal troubles, which made him a man of great righteousness. But after meeting him today, I can't figure him out at all."
"Has he changed?"
"Yes. The current Master Lin is calm and mild-mannered, completely different from before."
"A person's temperament may change, but their way of handling things rarely deviates. Qinghong, do you think Young Master Lin is the kind of person who speaks without purpose and acts arbitrarily?"
"Of course not. Every move Master Lin makes has a profound meaning, seemingly interconnected, but my vision is too limited to see it clearly."
"Indeed, countless people in the world drift with the tide, but they are all mediocre people. It is people like Young Master Lin who truly know what they want, are not afraid to change their circumstances, adapt to the times, and do not care about the attention of others. They are determined to do things their own way. This is the demeanor and style of a true first-rate master. If you want to learn from him, start learning from here."
"This disciple has learned a great deal."
"Go and rest. As the old saying goes, 'Among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me.' Just treat him as your second teacher and don't be reluctant to show off your pride as a true disciple of the White Egret Sword Sect."