Chapter 45: The Four Great Realms of Meditation

  "What is called soul meditation is to integrate the three aspects of soul, spirit, and intention into one, achieving a state of clarity and stillness in everyday speech, with a quiet and empty mind, guarding the clarity, and repeatedly entering the realm of nature. In simpler terms, it means using power to build the world of the soul. The difficulty of meditation lies in how to control the flow of time in this world. This process requires gradual accumulation of experience."

  Zhuo Yifan highly agreed: "Indeed it's very difficult, I get exhausted after contemplating for a while."

  "A quarter of an hour?" Lan Xichen let out a strange laugh, "This isn't meditation at all."

  "Isn't it meditation? What is it then? This is a method taught by my grandfather."

  "This is just daydreaming! Hehe, it's a misconception of the novices. The effects of daydreaming and meditation seem similar, but they are actually different. Meditation is a wonderful spiritual realm that makes people forget time, forget everything, and walk alone on the grand path, with only oneself present. When one thought can transform into a hundred years, it's a wonderful feeling that cannot be felt by ordinary means." Blue Master revealed a hint of longing in his expression.

  A thought can change a hundred years, it sounds easy to say. But who can reach such heights? Think about it, if there really is such a person, even if this person's natural talent is insufficient, but in the spiritual world, after a hundred years of cultivation, they can still fly ahead of others.

  "True meditation is not something that can be learned with a laughable method. Even if there really was such a method, it would only be an advanced form of daydreaming that could prolong the time, and after waking up, one would become extremely weak."

  Zhuo Yifan and Leishi stared with their eyes wide open, listening very seriously, no longer interrupting Lanyeye's words, and remembering every word of Lanyeye's in their hearts.

  "Of course, meditation also has its boundaries and is somewhat different from the usual spiritual quartet."

  "First Layer: Fusion of Spirits"

  "Second Layer: Departing Soul"

  "Third Layer: Relief of Mind"

  "The Fourth Layer: Forgetting the Self"

  "Each realm is further divided into three stages: shallow, deep and samadhi."

  Lan Ye looked at the two confused young men, "True meditation must reach the level of fusion with the soul, freely entering and exiting the spiritual world, refining spiritual skills, and replenishing mental energy. However, wanting to successfully bring one's meditative powers up to the standard of fusion with the soul is very difficult!"

  "As for the second layer of escaping the soul, this is a brand new beginning. Reaching this realm allows one to use their own soul to breathe and cultivate energy. Using the soul, they can absorb external essence, repair their physical body, and quickly recover from injuries. Even if their internal organs are shattered, they can reform their physical body. However, this will consume their lifespan, so it's not something that should be done unless absolutely necessary. Although I managed to regrow my severed arm, it came at an extremely terrible cost, and even now, I remain very weak."

  Lan Ye's voice was icy cold, recalling past events, and a hint of elusive light flashed in his eyes.

  "Although Shuang'er's strength was only at the level of Body Tempering, she had already reached the Out-of-Body state in her meditation realm and could release Soul Arrows to attack, causing damage that pierced through the soul. Even Zixiao Emperor couldn't surpass her."

  "So that's how it is." Zhuo Yifan nodded and asked somewhat impatiently, "Then what does the third layer of Jie Xin mean?"

  "The way to understand the mind is vast." Lanye said, "To understand the mind, one must break through the eight minds of color, greed, desire, killing, forgetting, foolishness, slowness, and doubt. It's not easy to achieve this point. The human heart always has a dark side, complex and difficult to understand, who can be sure what the other person is thinking? You came from the outside world to the Blood Prison, you should have gained some insight along the way."

  "If it can really dispel the eight worldly concerns, wouldn't everyone attain enlightenment?" Zhuo Yifan and Le Shi were completely stunned, finding it hard to comprehend.

  Everyone has their own private thoughts, how can they possibly put these things down? If it were truly possible to reach such heights, everyone in the world would attain enlightenment and become saints, there would be no more human intrigue and deception, and no more wars with smoke-filled skies.

  Obviously, this is unrealistic.

  Lan Die noticed the two's confusion and continued to analyze the meaning of "Jie Xin", "What is meant by 'Jie Xin' is not letting you put down your heart, but rather making you deeply recognize your own heart, communicating with your soul through your heart! Cultivators who can achieve 'Jie Xin' are one in a billion. After achieving 'Jie Xin', they transcend their souls and use their souls to launch powerful attacks without physical form."

  "Isn't it too powerful? If Xie Xin is this strong, then what's the concept of 'Wang Wu'?" Le Shi asked hastily.

  "If I were to think of you all dying right now, would you really die?"

  "Of course not." Zhuo Yifan replied very succinctly.

  "Not bad, relying solely on my imagination to intervene in your fate is naturally impossible, but those who have reached the state of selflessness can do it!"

  "Leaving the physical form, transcending the soul, and forgetting oneself to be reborn. This means detaching from the flesh, merging with the Great Way, and thoroughly forgetting one's self to freely roam in the realm of truth. This is the state of self-forgetting! Using thoughts to interfere with actions. Detached from the physical form, merged with the Great Way. Forgetting the original self, restoring the true self. In the world constructed by the true self, influencing another world. Not using those soul techniques to directly affect the soul, this is truly 'a thought and it's done!' This is also the realm of the gods!"

  "Is it God's boundary?" Zhu Yifan and Le Shi both nodded.

  "You still have a long way to go in the future, and you won't think about these trivial things. It will only add anxiety and distractions." Blue Grandfather reminded.

  Zhuo Yifan and Le Shisi pondered every sentence, gaining a few points of enlightenment. Standing up, he bowed deeply to Lan Ran: "Thank you, Master Lan, for pointing that out."

  "No harm done. Usually, I think about saying something but no one comes to listen. The things I just told you are all precious information that I've collected. You're lucky to have heard them. Legend has it that beyond the state of forgetting oneself, there's an even higher realm... but I don't know about that..."

  Lan Cai waved his hand, twirled the white flowers on his beard, and finally said: "To achieve fusion of spirits, one must completely calm down their thoughts. Any extra thoughts will only bring trouble to oneself. It's actually quite pleasant chatting with you all. You can stay here for the next few days, and if there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me. There are two empty rooms downstairs to the left."

  After finishing, he casually took down the two animal skin coats hanging on the iron wall and threw them to the two people. He said in an unstoppable tone: "Put it on for me. Since you've come here, there's a rule here. These two spiritual beast skin coats are very warm, even at night, you won't feel cold, and can also drive away snakes, insects, rats and ants."

  Facing the transformation of this eccentric old man, Zhuo Yifan and Le Shi couldn't help but feel delighted. Although they didn't know what "scheme" or ulterior motive this old man had, at least they could clarify many unclear things here.

  To survive in this bloody prison, this old man is a key figure!

  "Thank you, Master Lan!" The two people smiled at Lan Ran and bowed again.

  Clang!——

  At this time, Shura Village suddenly rang out a distant bell sound.

  Looking out the door, Zhuo Yifan saw that the men and women of Shura Village, who were wearing animal skins, seemed to be gathering in one direction.

  "Old Blue, Widow Wang from the village entrance is looking for you?" Zuo Yifan immediately recalled this matter.

  "What the hell's widow king!"

  Listening to the bell, Blue suddenly woke up from a big dream, patted his head, "I've been talking with you for so long, I actually forgot about the important things. Not good! Today is the Blood God's worship day. You two quickly change your clothes and follow me! Hope it's not too late!"