Chapter 52: The Annihilation of the Trinity Sect! (Second Update)
Chapter 52: The Annihilation of the Trinity Sect! (Second Update)
Luo Feng looked toward the extraordinary figures from the Buddhist and Daoist factions, smiling lightly. “I assume your sects have some records regarding fate and fortune.”
Daoist Mo Yan of Dragon-Tiger Mountain chanted a blessing, nodding in agreement. On the Buddhist side, however, there was a different view. An old monk intoned a Buddha’s name and said, “In our sect, there is no doctrine of fate, but there is the law of karmic retribution.”
Luo Feng nodded. “The Great Way is mysterious; though the paths differ, they ultimately lead to the same destination.”
“According to Daoist principles, we who are loyal and patriotic are aided by the fortune of China.”
“If we speak in terms of karma, it is because we have sown good causes through our actions that we reap good results.”
Here, Luo Feng paused, raising a finger. “But the Daoist and Buddhist discussions of fate are exceedingly arcane and difficult to grasp.”
“I personally have some insights into fate, karma, and human retribution.”
“We would be eager to hear more!” everyone responded with rapt attention, listening as intently as schoolchildren awaiting their teacher to hand out fruit.
Such profound theories of the Dao could never be found explained so clearly in any scripture.
At that moment, a golden gleam emerged from Luo Feng’s fingertip, gathering gradually into a drop of golden liquid.
“This is fortune. I also refer to it as the merit of humanity.”
“Humanity, like people themselves, has joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, and displays natural responses.”
At this, Luo Feng paused again and pointed at Yang Yunqiang with a smile. “Brother, help me demonstrate.”
Yang Yunqiang stood up, utterly confused—what could he possibly have to do with the merit of humanity?
Once Yang Yunqiang was standing, Luo Feng patted him on the chest and asked, “If I were to strike you with my palm, what would happen to you?”
Without hesitation, Yang Yunqiang replied, “I’d be obliterated without a trace.”
Everyone listening nodded instinctively.
Luo Feng’s face darkened. “I meant a gentle palm strike.”
Yang Yunqiang thought for a moment, then said uncertainly, “I’d die with my body intact?”
“No spiritual energy involved, just a regular palm.”
“I’d probably cough up blood,” Yang Yunqiang replied.
Luo Feng waved him back to his seat, dismissing the failed example.
Then, his expression turned serious. “Although Daoist Yang is not the best example, it does illustrate one point: when people interact, there is always a reaction.”
“For instance, if I strike Daoist Yang, he gets hurt, and my hand aches as well.”
“This is mutual force—the foundation of the human path. Whenever an object exerts force on another, the object being acted upon will exert a force in return on the first.”
“By the same logic, when we apply force upon the human realm, it answers in kind.”
“This returning force is called fortune, or the merit of humanity.”
Everyone began to ponder. Explained like this, the mystical concept of fate suddenly seemed comprehensible.
An old Daoist clapped his hands with a laugh. “Daoist Luo, your words are truly exquisite.”
“Yes, indeed! As if flowers rain from the sky and golden lotuses spring from the earth!”
The young monk smiled, once again breaking his vow of silence.
What followed was an endless stream of lavish praise, whether or not everyone actually understood the explanation.
“Enough,” Luo Feng sighed. Though he knew he was handsome, such excessive flattery was starting to make him uncomfortable.
“Are there any more questions?”
At this moment, Li Yan quietly raised his hand.
Luo Feng smiled. “What is it you wish to ask?”
Li Yan asked curiously, “Senior Luo, if there is merit of humanity, is there also merit of the heavens?”
Everyone nodded, their eyes full of curiosity, seeking an answer from Luo Feng.
Since ancient times, heaven and man have been connected; where there is the human path, surely there is the heavenly path.
Luo Feng pondered for a long moment before replying, “There should be such a thing as the merit of the heavens. But the Way of Heaven is ever-changing; it does not survive for the virtuous nor perish for the wicked. In myth and legend, when Nuwa repaired the sky, perhaps that was the merit of the heavens.”
“The merit of the heavens is too profound—beyond the imagination of us mere mortals.”
Everyone nodded, acknowledging that the Way of Heaven stood far above them; not one dared claim to truly understand it.
And privately, they added to themselves:
We are ordinary folk.
But you, well…
Next, Luo Feng turned to the Sword Immortal of Azure Clarity. “The division of thoughts is something I have only recently comprehended.”
“Right now, I can only split my mind into three hundred and sixty-five threads—not yet a deep understanding.”
“Is there something you wish to ask?”
The Sword Immortal of Azure Clarity was silent for a moment, then slowly asked, “I wish to know, what realm has your soul now attained?”
Luo Feng sighed. “I do not know myself.”
The Sword Immortal of Azure Clarity: Σ(°△°|||)︴
“Truly, I am not sure,” Luo Feng shook his head.
By the grace of fate, he had achieved divinity, and upon attaining the first grade, he was now at the eighth-grade lotus level.
But his soul was quite peculiar.
To call it a Yin Spirit, he had already birthed a strand of Pure Yang and was no longer afraid of wind, fire, or the elements.
To call it a Yang Spirit, he could already divide his thoughts and sense the freedom and agility of spirit.
As for the legendary Primordial Spirit True Immortal, he was still far from that—those beings could endure heavenly lightning and roam the void.
Surpassing the Yin Spirit, not yet a Yang Spirit, with traits of the Primordial Spirit—
Such was Luo Feng’s current state.
The Sword Immortal of Azure Clarity frowned. “Then how did you give rise to Pure Yang within your soul?”
Luo Feng stroked his chin in thought. “Let your soul be exposed to the wind, bask in the sun, and in spring, listen to the rumbling of thunder.”
“Oh, but in winter, don’t listen to thunder—it's terribly jarring.”
The Sword Immortal of Azure Clarity was utterly bewildered: ???
“Pass through the wind? Absorb the essence of the sun? Listen to heavenly thunder?”
This approach was truly unrepeatable.
Still, the Sword Immortal vaguely suspected that Senior Luo must have some wondrous treasure protecting his body, to allow such reckless cultivation.
This was no ordinary path.
With Luo Feng’s explanations, the atmosphere lightened, and the gathering took on the air of a Daoist tea symposium.
Luo Feng himself learned many cultivation methods from the exchange.
For example, the structure of the old Daoist’s formations.
Luo Feng resolved that in his next secluded cultivation, he would be sure to lay down protective arrays.
On the surface, he would establish two abodes:
First, three layers within, and then three layers outside, creating six layers of defenses.
Secretly, he would set up two more abodes:
First, three inner circles, then three outer ones, then large rings encasing small ones, and small rings encasing large ones—nine layers of arrays in all.
And finally, he would hide one last abode.
As the saying goes, “A crafty rabbit has three burrows,” and each abode must have its own secret escape route.
...
After the symposium, the participants returned to their respective duties.
Luo Feng and his companions settled into a routine of cultivation, philosophical discussion, and fighting against the extraordinary invaders from the Eastern Isles.
Time flew swiftly.
The aggressive invasion of the Eastern Isles in the mortal world finally shook the nation.
It awakened those still lost in slumber.
Suddenly, the entire country began to resist.
The major sects of extraordinary individuals gradually sent their members to join Luo Feng and the others, launching a full-scale counterattack against the invaders from the East.
When the Great Way is abandoned, there is benevolence and righteousness; when wisdom arises, there is great deceit; when family relations are in discord, there is filial piety and compassion; when the nation is in chaos, there are loyal ministers.
The rotten will inevitably perish, and something new will be reborn from the ashes!
It was the best of times, and the worst of times.
Heroes rose in droves, and villains were not few.
Some strove to turn the tide, some repaid kindness with treachery, some faced death without fear, and some clung to life shamefully.
While Luo Feng, orchestrating the resistance, received a piece of news—
The Trinity Sect had been wiped out!
[This is to make up for yesterday—one more update remains.]
(End of chapter)