Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Chapter 663: Chapter 321: Envoys from the Rat Clan! Zhang Fan Is No Longer Who He Once Was

Morning, Hongfu Garden, rooftop.

The waning moon had yet to set, and the sun was just rising; the interplay of sun and moon poured golden and silver hues over Zhang Fan’s body, revealing the faint rise and fall of his pores.

Three feet above him, his Primordial Spirit sat motionlessly, allowing the golden and silver glows to flow in and out, seemingly inhaling and exhaling.

Rumble...

A strange ripple emanated from Zhang Fan, layer upon layer, nearly covering the entire Hongfu Garden.

At the security office by the entrance, Liu Fusheng poked his head out, gazing at the highest point of the building where Zhang Fan was, a deep, serious look in his eyes through the lenses of his reading glasses.

At this moment, even someone with his level of cultivation could seemingly see a towering mountain rise loftily from the rooftop, stretching across north and south, east and west, with an aura as if of a Daoist Sect, akin to the Profound Sect.

"Dragon Tiger Mountain..."

Liu Fusheng murmured softly, being the Six-Fingered Talisman Demon, renowned for years, he naturally recognized the aura of the foremost mountain gate of the Daoist family.

"Truly the offspring of Big Brother Zong, the incense of South Zhang has been continued by him."

Liu Fusheng sighed, withdrawing from the window and started eating his steamed buns and soy milk.

At this moment, on the rooftop, that ethereal aura slowly dissipated, the Primordial Spirit Returning to the Acupoint, Zhang Fan’s eyes then slowly opened, with a hint of clarity in the deep darkness, as if that moment of cultivation had considerably enhanced his Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

"What you practiced just now wasn’t the Divine Demon Holy Embryo."

At this time, a familiar and pleasant voice came from not far away, as a graceful silhouette walked out into the sunlight, revealing herself to be Li Miaoyin.

"Early enough." Zhang Fan glanced at her, slowly rising to stretch his limbs.

"That’s the Contemplation Method my dad taught me, nothing like Profound Techniques and Divine Techniques."

"Contemplation Method!?" Li Miaoyin seemed to comprehend.

Within the Daoist Sect, there is a cultivation method called Contemplation, which involves visualizing deities, symbols, landscapes, etc., to purify the body and mind, cleanse thoughts, and return to a natural state, thereby comprehending and aligning with the Dao.

For example, contemplating sun, moon, and stars, contemplating celestial Immortal Gods, etc.

With just a single thought, all other thoughts cease, and eventually even that thought disappears, reaching a state of non-thought, truly attaining the realm of non-action.

"We practice Skill, but we seek the Dao, ignorant and unknowing, the world wastes too much time and effort on Divine Techniques and Skills, not realizing that if the Dao is heard in the morning, Skill is surely achieved by evening." Zhang Fan murmured softly.

"What a bold statement, was that you who said it?" Li Miaoyin looked at Zhang Fan, showing a distinct expression.

It must be said, since returning from Hundred Thousand Mountains, this man indeed seemed somewhat different from before.

"That was not said by me." Zhang Fan chuckled, shaking his head, "That was said by my dad, I haven’t reached that realm yet."

"Great Spirit Sect King!" Li Miaoyin was thoughtful, knowing quite a bit about Zhang Fan’s family situation.

"The Contemplation Method you’re practicing is quite special, can you teach me?" Li Miaoyin asked, eyes shining with a hint of mischievousness.

"You’re really not being polite." Zhang Fan smiled, then shook his head.

"You should also learn the Contemplation Method, it’s actually largely similar."

Laozi said, abandon sage and abandon wisdom.

What is a sage? A model of Great Success, an exemplar of the Mortal World.

The pattern for the world to follow, in other words, is a human-constructed standard, judged by Consciousness, created and unnatural, far from the true and natural Dao, diverging from the original self.

Only by letting go of all judgments and thoughts, stopping all thoughts and dwelling in non-action, can one gradually return to the true nature of nature.

This is the core concept of the Contemplation Method, like Pao Ding slicing an ox, technique approaching the Dao, ultimately Pao Ding, the knife, and the ox become one, no different, blended into the primordial chaos, merely part of nature.

The highest realm of the Contemplation Method is precisely this.

Thoughts stop and ideas rest, only using Profound Skill as double rest, not questioning the affairs of a millennium in the cave, turning back already in free wander but staying.

"So will you teach me or not? I can also teach you my Contemplation Method." Li Miaoyin spoke directly.

"Haven’t you always wanted to test my depth?"

"..."

"Sorry, my dad said, our family’s Contemplation Method is not passed to outsiders, back in the day, my mom only learned it after marrying my dad." Zhang Fan chuckled.

This Contemplation Method, derived from Dragon and Tiger, passed to the direct lineage of South Zhang, is indeed known to everyone in their family.

"Not taught to outsiders, huh." Li Miaoyin said seriously, "Just wait, I’ll make you teach me sooner or later."

"Hmm!?" Zhang Fan paused.

"I’m hungry."

"Come, I’ll treat you to buns." Zhang Fan beckoned.

"I don’t like buns."

"How about tofu pudding?"

"Sure, do you prefer sweet or savory tofu pudding?"

"Savory."

"Then we can share a meal."

Talking and laughing along the way, they descended from the rooftop and exited the neighborhood.

As they passed by the security office, Liu Fusheng paused, feeling as though something had just flashed before him.

He quickly leaned out, watching Zhang Fan and Li Miaoyin’s fading figures, momentarily stunned, then revealed a meaningful smile.

"Fan really has potential, achieving Great Success in divine skill, even bringing a girl home for the night."

"The Zhangs have someone to carry on the line indeed."

Saying this, he withdrew, his appetite whetted, munching on another bun.

Around 7 a.m., the breakfast stalls in the old city were mostly filled with students heading to school, appearing somewhat out of place with Zhang Fan and Li Miaoyin, the two "big kids," sitting there.

Zhang Fan, head down, was eating tofu pudding while looking at his phone, scrolling through his friends’ moments.