Chapter 38: What is Cultivation?

  Walking into the Lingxu Cave, Ye Fan's heart still echoed with scriptures after more than a hundred steps. The entrance with dozens of levels of ancient green stone stairs was left behind, where it was not ordinary, but Ye Fan did not stop and did not allow himself to stay.

  In front, the mountain peaks are beautiful and majestic, with a strong spiritual atmosphere. Far away, a thousand-meter-long waterfall is falling from a high mountain, with white silk-like water hanging like a silver river, and the sound of rushing water is like the galloping of ten thousand horses, magnificent and gorgeous.

  "It's truly a blessed place with extraordinary scenery, like a pure land outside of the world."

  A winding path made of cobblestones leads through a waterfall and into the depths of a beautiful mountain. Along the way, ancient trees stretch towards the sky, their branches strong and sinuous like dragons. Several temples can be seen hidden among the foliage, blending harmoniously with nature.

  On both sides of the ancient road, there are artificially opened medicinal fields. Inside, ginseng is as thick as a child's arm, and lingzhi mushrooms hang high with nine leaves. There are also many unknown medicinal herbs that shine brightly, containing subtle light and fragrance, refreshing the heart and spleen.

  Most people on the road would bow to a few elderly people, and their attitude towards Weiwei was also very friendly. The status of this rare talent in Lingxu Cave Heaven can be imagined.

  Vivian returned the courtesy, without a hint of arrogance, in this peaceful and pure land, she was as lovely as an immortal, finally like a gentle breeze, she drifted away, disappearing into the picturesque depths of the cave.

  Ye Fan and Pang Bo were taken to a small hill, where there were three or five thatched cottages, two or three bamboo groves, a medicinal field in front of the house, and several old trees closely connected.

  Although the Jade Palace is not as luxurious as the Crystal Palace, everything looks ordinary and simple, but it wins in serenity and naturalness, peaceful like a pure land outside the world, making one's soul feel baptized, far away from the mundane world, washing away all troubles.

  "You all stay here first." The old men instructed and entrusted a few words, then left. Another classmate was also taken into the Lingxu Cave Heaven, but did not live with Ye Fan and the others, but was sent to another place.

  Around noon, a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy came here with a lunch box and let them have lunch. The food was simple and light, including lotus slices, yellow essence, Chinese angelica, and gastrodia, mostly medicinal materials.

  "This meal... is it edible? There's not even any minced meat. For the past two days, we've been eating wild fruits and drinking spring water, and now we're still eating this stuff, our mouths are so bland that a mountain spring could flow out of them."

  Although the food didn't have a bit of oil or water, Ye Fan and Pang Bo still swept it all away, not even leaving a single piece of vegetable leaf behind.

  "Can you bring just roast chicken?"

  Seeing the two of them like this, the young man who delivered the meal was stunned and said: "No... nothing, Dongtian doesn't provide these things. If you two haven't eaten your fill yet, I can send some more food over."

  "How can there be no meat? I see that many cranes and white deer are being raised, not to mention many unknown rare birds and exotic beasts. Roasting one or two of them would suffice, I think those cranes have been raised plump enough."

  The boy who delivered food fled as if he had met a snake spirit, and immediately escaped. He was afraid of the two people and avoided them as much as possible.

  "It seems that entering the immortal gate to cultivate is not something worth celebrating, this life is too bitter, can't even eat meat, how will we live in the future?" Pang Bo complained constantly.

  Ye Fan was also very hungry and at this moment he really wanted to grab a roasted chicken, tear off a drumstick, lift a jug of fine wine and have a hearty feast.

  For the next dozen or so days, several old men never appeared, but the young man who delivered food gradually became familiar with the two of them. As they continued to chat, Ye Fan and Pang Bo gradually adapted to this ancient Chinese language. The young man was very envious of them, saying that newly entered disciples would not normally have an independent residence, and could only open up a cave after achieving success in their cultivation.

  "A thatched cottage with three or five rooms, can this also be considered as having one's own den?"

  Ye Fan and Pang Bo put on the clothes sent by the young man, except for their hair being still very short, they were no different from the people of Ling Xuan Cave Heaven.

  "It can't be said like that, everything around this short mountain is yours, if you have the ability, you can naturally open up a cave mansion."

  "Since Dwarf Mountain is ours, if we kill a deer and roast two cranes, who will care?"

  Hearing them say this, the young man didn't dare to speak again, feeling that these two were really bold and had ideas completely different from ordinary people.

  "Don't be afraid, we won't mess around. Now you tell us, what's this so-called cultivation all about?"

  This is a matter of great concern to both Ye Fan and Pang Bo, but so far they don't understand it at all, only hearing people mention "Sea of Suffering", "Divine Bridge" and "Other Shore" a few times.

  The young man shook his head and couldn't say anything. He had just entered the Lingxu Cave Heaven and hadn't really set foot on the path of immortality yet.

  "It seems you can't wait any longer." Just then, a white-haired and youthful old man appeared in front of the short mountain. His large sleeves fluttered as he floated over to the thatched hut without touching the ground, as if carried by the wind. He nodded at the young man who was bowing beside him and said, "You go."

  "You are..." Ye Fan and Pang Bo neither of them knew this ruddy-faced, white-haired old man, who looked like a transcendent immortal from another world.

  "I am the elder of Lingxu Cave Heaven, named Wu Qingfeng. All disciples who have entered the sect for three years are taught by me."

  "I've seen old people's homes."

  "You're welcome."

  "Old man, can't you improve our food first? If we continue like this, before we even achieve immortality, we'll really starve to death. This food is too bland! Now when we see just a few ants, we all want to drool." Pang Bo complained repeatedly.

  Wu Qingfeng's old face was solemn, and he said: "In the mortal world, there are many desires. When you first enter the blessed land of Dongtian, the first thing to do is to cut off your worldly desires, purify your body and calm your mind. If you can't even give up your desires for food, then it will be difficult to pass through the temptations on the path of cultivating immortality in the future."

  When they heard these words, Pang Bo really didn't know what to say anymore. As for Ye Fan, since he hadn't joined the Dongtian Fudi, it was even more impossible for him to make any requests here.

  Ye Fan and Pang Bo had many questions in their minds, but Ye Fan didn't dare to ask. Since Pang Bo was already a disciple of Ling Xuan Cave Heaven, he had no scruples. He asked Wu Qingfeng to sit on the wooden stump in front of the thatched cottage, and began to ask various questions. As for so-called cultivation, they were completely ignorant.

  "Doesn't the sky look clean?"

  "Ten thousand miles without clouds, blue sky like washing, very clean." Ye Fan didn't know why he asked this way, but seeing the old man looking at him, he opened his mouth to answer.

  "Wrong, dust is endless." Old Wu Qingfeng opened his mouth and pointed to the palm of his own hand, saying: "There is also endless powder in this palm and finger cun."

  "What...do you mean?" Pang Bo asked in confusion.

  Wu Qingfeng's old man was very calm, as if he were an immortal from another world. He continued, "What do you think this endless dust is?"

  "What can it be? It's just dust."

  "It is dust, yet it isn't dust." The old man said calmly.

  "What is it if not dust? What else could it be?" asked Pong Bo.

  "It's a big world, it's a vast world." Old man Wu Qingfeng said calmly and naturally.

  "It's a vast world... You're not kidding, are you?" Pang Bo was shocked and uncertain.

  "In the future you will understand, every speck of dust, every blade of grass, and every tree is a world."

  "Could you... speak more plainly? I feel like I'm listening to a heavenly book, although the literal meaning is easy to understand, but what's implied is completely incomprehensible."

  Wu Qingfeng smiled faintly and said, "Let's not talk about these things today. What I want to say is that in the universe, there are countless dust particles, and each particle of dust is a world. Similarly, our bodies are also like this - we can't see anything, but they contain countless 'gates', just like the dust particles in the universe. The seemingly insignificant body contains numerous 'gates' that cannot be counted, and constantly opening these gates to discover the 'true self' is what cultivation is all about."

  Seeing both of them reveal a look of surprise, Wu Qingfeng Lao Ren was as calm as an ancient well without ripples, and asked: "Now, do you understand what cultivation is?"

  "It seems... I've somewhat understood."

  "Alright, you can understand it slowly later. Now, I'll tell you what the Sea of Suffering is. There are countless methods in the world, but none of them can open up the path to immortality without starting from this."

  "Elder, you must speak carefully this time." Although they had not yet truly embarked on the path of cultivation, Ye Fan and Pang Bo both understood that initial concepts were most important.

  "All things in the world have their years of growth, some can last forever, eternal and immortal, while others are born to die, even just a fleeting moment, and a lifetime has passed."

  "Old man, you're talking too mysteriously, what are you trying to tell us?"

  The old man didn't mind him interrupting and pointed to a ancient tree not far away, saying: "Do you know how many years this tree has lived?"

  "It's natural to know by cutting down and counting the annual rings."

  "Good, time is merciless and will leave marks on everything. Trees have growth rings, and our bodies also have the wheel of life."

  "Do we humans have these things too?" Ye Fan and Pang Bo felt a bit absurd.

  "What I'm talking about is cultivation starting from the wheel of life in the human body..."