The four essentials of spiritual cultivation are wealth, companions, Dharma, and environment.
Famous Taoist priests in Chinese history were mostly wealthy. For example, Zhang Daoling is said to be an eighth-generation descendant of Zhang Liang, the prime minister of the Western Han Dynasty, and came from a well-off family; Ge Hong, known as the "Little Immortal," was a Marquis within the Passes; Tao Hongjing was called the "Prime Minister in the Mountains" during his time...
These renowned cultivators, regardless of whether they have truly achieved immortality, are all incredibly wealthy.
How can someone who is busy and tired all day long have time to cultivate themselves?
After dinner, Lin Yi sat cross-legged in the quiet room of the side hall, quietly observing the flow of blood in his body, the accumulation of vital energy in his dantian, and the changes in his thoughts.
The "three-month period" mentioned in the letter during the day was not good news for Lin Yi. He sighed and muttered to himself, "I have spent ten years building my foundation. Am I going to lose it all in one day?"
Taoism has the saying "a hundred days to build a foundation," while in secular society, new recruits generally need to train for three months. There is also the saying "it takes a hundred days to recover from a bone injury."
For one hundred days, one trains the muscles, bones, and skin externally, and cultivates the breath internally. By working hard in this way, both internally and externally, one can condense true energy, which is the beginning of "refining essence into qi".
This is the path that most people take. But Lin Yi chose a secret method that Lin Zhengyang obtained by chance, a method to return from the acquired to the innate and achieve an unparalleled Dao body.
"Dayan Temple, Supreme Dao Body," Lin Yi murmured softly, having already made his decision.
Choosing to give up today is for the sake of gaining more in the future.
P.S.: In online articles, "稽首" (jīshǒu) roughly means bowing with one hand. It's a rather sophisticated term, so I'm just using it that way. Please don't overthink it.
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Chapter Two: Lechun County Town, Hundred Schools Academy
Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
After packing his things, Lin Yi went to the back mountain to pay respects to his master before leaving the place where he had lived for more than ten years.
The grass on both sides of the mountain road was very lush. Since Lin Zhengyang passed away, fewer and fewer people have been traveling on this road.
As fewer people walk on the road, it naturally falls into disrepair.
Lin Yi felt a little sad, but more than that, he felt longing and anticipation for the future.
This is a world where Taoist magic manifests its power, and Lin Yi mostly learned about the outside world from his master.
The place he was in was Leshou County, Nancang County, one of the nine prefectures of Lingzhou under the rule of the Great Xia Dynasty in the Eastern Divine Continent.
The Great Xia Dynasty has been established for nearly ten thousand years and is a human dynasty that transcends immortals and gods.
As time goes by, countless remarkable figures and legendary stories emerge, and the profound weight that has settled with time needs to be felt with the heart.
At the foot of the mountain lies a small village nestled against the mountain and beside the water. A mud wall, along with fences and thorny trees, forms the village's most basic defenses.
At the entrance of the village, there were many teenagers practicing boxing techniques meticulously under the guidance of an old man who was missing an arm.
Lin Yi's arrival did not cause any commotion; beads of sweat slid down the boys' faces, wetting the ground.
"Ha ha……"
A childish voice came from nearby, and several other children wearing open-crotch pants were imitating the older children's boxing.
The people of this world have a strong martial spirit, which is closely related to their living environment and is also the result of the deliberate guidance of the Great Xia Dynasty.
Because to the west of the Eastern Divine Continent, beyond the Western Regions, there is another great continent called the Western Sacred Continent.
It is said that the area is ruled by Taoist sects, which is the exact opposite of the situation in the Eastern Divine Continent.
Lin Yi's master, Lin Zhengyang, once planned to travel to the Western Sacred Continent to seek immortal opportunities, but the Western Regions were too chaotic and difficult to traverse, so he returned empty-handed.
A moment later, the one-armed old man came over and asked, "Where is Mr. Lin going?"
Lin Yi smiled and said, "I plan to travel around. I would appreciate it if the villagers could help look after my master's grave behind the mountain in their spare time, so that the wild animals in the mountains don't damage it."
The one-armed old man laughed loudly, "Don't worry, Mr. Lin."
Lin Yi nodded slightly, took out three talismans he had prepared beforehand from his pocket, handed them over, and said, "These are three 'Rejuvenation Talismans,' please accept them, sir."
The one-armed old man didn't refuse and immediately accepted it.
As the saying goes, those who live near the mountains live off the mountains, and those who live near the water live off the water. The men of the village often encounter danger when they go hunting in the mountains; these three "resurrection charms" are like three lives saved!
Lin Yi looked back up at the mountain, then left without further delay.
Around noon, Lin Yi arrived outside the county seat of Lechun County. After passing through the city gate and entering the county seat, he heard countless hawkers' cries and saw all kinds of classical high-rise buildings standing tall.
The city's roads are wide, and its drainage ditches, underground waterways, and winding rivers are all very well-constructed. The streets are bustling with traffic, a lively and vibrant scene.
This is a very prosperous and beautiful city.
Lin Yi felt the atmosphere of the mortal world and headed west of the city.
The county's Hundred Schools Academy is located in the western district.
Half an hour later, Lin Yi arrived at his destination.
The Hundred Schools Academy is a simple and elegant building, adorned with ancient pines and bamboos, built against the mountain and occupying a large area. Located in the heart of the city, it remains completely unaffected by the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Ethereal and natural, serene and timeless.
Above the main gate hangs a plaque with the four large characters "Baijia Academy" written on it, the strokes of which are elegant and refined.
Two large stone lions crouch in front of the gate, and there are hundreds of steps leading up to it.
Two boys stood guard at the entrance, making it seem deserted, but from a distance, one could see halls and pavilions standing tall on the mountain, without a trace of decay.
The two gatekeeper boys, seeing Lin Yi dressed in a Taoist robe, dared not be negligent and quickly came down. The boy on the left asked, "May I ask what business this Taoist priest may have?"