noffsinger Chapter 45 Abbot Collects Bitter Bamboo
Chapter 45 Abbot Collects Bitter Bamboo
Having completely mastered the Innate Three Talents Formation, Zhen Yuanzi's thoughts stirred slightly, and his divine will permeated every inch of the earth's veins and every wisp of spiritual energy on the three immortal islands like flowing water.
The layout of the island, the nodes of the restrictions, and even the unique Daoist aura emanating from the core object were all clearly reflected in his heart, as if he could see the lines on his palm.
The resonance emanating from the central Penglai Immortal Island was the strongest, like the call of the Earth Mother, almost originating from the same source as his own Earthly origin, attracting him to go there immediately.
However, Zhen Yuanzi, with his enlightened mind, knew that although the opportunity had arrived, it should be seized step by step and not hastily.
The serene and bitter aura emanating from Fangzhang Island on the left, though not his primary cultivation path, possessed a unique mystery and might be beneficial to his path.
He suppressed his eagerness for Penglai Island, his mind clear, and took a step forward.
The array patterns beneath his feet flowed naturally, and the space rippled like water. In the next instant, he used the teleportation ability of the array to appear silently in the core area of Fangzhang Island without disturbing a speck of dust.
The spiritual energy here is so rich and dense that it almost becomes a tangible mist. But strangely, this spiritual energy does not give people a feeling of abundance and sweetness. Instead, it carries an indescribable bittersweet flavor.
Inhaling it into the lungs is not about enhancing magical power, but rather like drinking a cup of clear tea, which is slightly bitter at first, then sweet, and finally leads to a sense of calm and tranquility.
Looking around, the core area has no magnificent palaces or steep peaks, but only a seemingly ordinary spiritual land with a restrained Taoist charm.
The spiritual soil is dark brown in color, with a faint blending and flow of the essence of Yi wood and the essence of Wu earth, clearly indicating that it is no ordinary item.
In the center of this spiritual land, a single spiritual bamboo stands alone.
The bamboo is about ten feet tall, its entire body is emerald green and crystal clear, as if it were not an ordinary plant or tree, but rather a piece of flawless glass.
The bamboo stands tall and straight, with distinct joints. Each joint is naturally imprinted with mysterious spiral patterns, which seem to contain a strange power that stirs the mind and unifies the laws of nature.
The bamboo leaves are sparse, numbering only a few dozen, yet each leaf is like a fine piece of jade, meticulously carved, as thin as a cicada's wing, with clear veins, radiating a warm and lustrous glow.
They move without wind, and the rustling sound they make as they rub against each other is not the ordinary rustling of bamboo leaves, but a subtle yet penetrating sound that reaches the depths of the soul, like a chant or a Zen hymn, echoing faintly in this tranquil space, washing away all restlessness and distracting thoughts.
It is one of the ten innate spiritual roots, a wondrous object containing the law of "transformation"—the bitter bamboo.
As Zhen Yuanzi's gaze fell upon the bamboo, his mind cleared instantly upon contact, and at the same time, a strange and invisible power permeated his entire body.
This power is not a fierce and domineering attack, nor does it possess any bewitching or evil charm. Rather, it is more like a subtle and pervasive influence of the Dao.
It quietly washes away the dust of the heart, leading people to let go of all attachments and resolve all kinds of troubles, guiding them towards an absolute "stillness" and a profound "enlightenment," and even faintly carrying a sense of salvation that makes people yearn for it and want to "take refuge" in this tranquil and ethereal realm.
If it were an ordinary Golden Immortal or even a Taiyi cultivator here, they would probably lose their Dao heart in no time, unknowingly abandoning their past convictions, and their mind and nature would tend towards a certain state of emptiness and tranquility, thus sinking into the illusion of "enlightenment" and losing their true self.
"What a powerful Bitter Bamboo! Its power to transform and convert is truly astounding..."
Zhen Yuanzi felt a chill run down his spine, and then he understood.
"This item later ended up in the hands of those two in the West..."
The Guide and the Cundi later established a great religion in the barren lands of the West, making forty-eight great vows. The essence of their doctrines and their wondrous supernatural powers were all closely related to "guiding those with affinity" and "converting sentient beings."
The innate transformative laws contained within this bitter bamboo are a supreme treasure that perfectly aligns with their Great Dao.
However, fate is fickle. Now that Zhen Yuanzi found the island first, this item must be destined to be his.
He did not become impatient after realizing that this treasure was connected with the West, and did not immediately take action to collect it.
Having reached his level, he deeply understands that harvesting innate spiritual roots, especially top-tier ones like bitter bamboo, is not something that can be done simply by uprooting them.
Such behavior is tantamount to burning a zither and boiling a crane; it may not only damage the spiritual source but also cause one to miss the true meaning of the Great Dao Law contained within the spiritual essence.
Only by calmly contemplating and understanding the true meaning of "suffering" and the mystery of "transformation" contained within can one truly unleash its effects, and even integrate the beneficial essence of its laws into one's own path to immortality, making one's foundation for the Dao more solid and complete.
Having made up his mind, Zhen Yuanzi found a flat bluestone beside the bitter bamboo, brushed away the non-existent dust, and sat down cross-legged peacefully.
He was calm and focused, his mind was at peace, and the innate Earth Qi and Wood essence flowed naturally within his body, merging with the surrounding environment.
Immediately, his vast yet gentle divine sense slowly extended out, like a thin mist under the warm spring sun, gently enveloping the entire bitter bamboo.
He did not forcefully attack the core of the bitter bamboo, nor did he attempt to refine it immediately. Instead, he acted as a humble observer and contemplator, carefully experiencing the true meaning of "bitterness".
This "suffering" is not physical pain, nor is it the resentment of unfulfilled desires. Rather, it is a profound tranquility that arises from experiencing all things and understanding the impermanence of life; it is a true liberation gained after severing the three thousand strands of afflictions; it is a strange power that guides the mind toward absolute peace, close to the Tao.
From a certain perspective, the power of "transformation" can also be regarded as an extremely sophisticated "mental influence" and "law assimilation" that directly addresses one's true nature.
Although Zhen Yuanzi did not cultivate the path of annihilation and emptiness, all three thousand great paths ultimately lead to the same destination, and all methods are interconnected.
Comprehending this path will be of immense benefit to him in further solidifying his primordial Dao heart, deepening his understanding of cause and effect, karmic forces in the mortal world, and even in the future, if he needs to deal with the two Western religious leaders or other great supernatural beings who are skilled in mental attacks and bewildering the primordial spirit.
In the primordial era, time was immeasurable. Within the Three Immortal Islands, which were shrouded by a primordial array and formed their own world, the passage of time was even more imperceptible.
I don't know how much time has passed; perhaps it was just a snap of the fingers, or perhaps it was a thousand years.
The originally heavy and majestic earth element Daoist aura surrounding Zhen Yuanzi gradually began to exude a sense of tranquility, which was of the same origin as the bitter bamboo. The flowing aura made his figure appear even more ethereal and otherworldly.
But soon, it was embraced, dissolved, and absorbed by the deeper and more vast Daoist essence of the earth, returning to a state of balance, harmony, and perfection.
He slowly opened his eyes, and a clear light seemed to flash deep within them. He had already gained a preliminary understanding and control of the "transformation" law contained within the bitter bamboo. Although he had not yet mastered it, he had grasped its essence and was able to wield it freely without being tainted by its power.
The time has come. Zhen Yuanzi extended his right index finger, and at the tip of his finger, a wisp of extremely pure Yi wood vitality and Wu earth nourishing energy flowed together, exuding a compassionate meaning that nurtures all things.
He gently touched the sacred soil at the base of the bitter bamboo, not by forcibly infusing it, but by guiding and comforting it, conveying goodwill and acceptance.
At the same time, he quietly unleashed his signature skill—the art of concealing one's inner world within one's sleeve.
However, the sleeves did not suddenly expand to devour the heavens and the earth. Instead, the Dao principles flowed within the space. With its profound understanding of the earth and the Dao of life, it instantly constructed an independent, stable cave space that was most suitable for the survival of innate spiritual roots like bitter bamboo. The quality of the spiritual soil within it was even better than that of the outside world.
The bitter bamboo seemed to possess a spirit, trembling slightly, and the clear, melodious chirping of its leaves seemed to bring it a little joy.
It sensed the righteous and peaceful aura emanating from Zhen Yuanzi, a powerful aura far surpassing that of ordinary beings, as well as the harmless guidance, coupled with the comfortable allure emanating from the space within his sleeve, and thus ceased to resist.
The entire bitter bamboo stalk radiated a warm, jade-like glow, then transformed into a vibrant stream of light. It detached itself from its original roots and gracefully entered Zhen Yuanzi's seemingly ordinary, wide sleeve. There, it took root anew in the simulated top-grade spiritual soil, its branches and leaves unfurling, continuing to absorb spiritual energy and grow peacefully. In fact, due to the better environment, its spiritual light seemed even brighter than before.
Having collected the bitter bamboo, Zhen Yuanzi felt little turmoil; his Dao heart remained calm.
He moved again, the array patterns beneath his feet flashed, and ripples spread through the space. In the next moment, he appeared in another world from the desolate and bitterly cold Fangzhang Island—the core of Yingzhou Island on the right.