Starting from a peasant family, he mastered the profound art of martial arts.

Chapter 60 Preaching

It gradually got dark.

There were few worshippers at Caiyun Temple; only a few temple keeper and lay Buddhists were sweeping and cleaning.

"The envoy has asked you to spread the word on his behalf," Meng Chen said, bringing up the matter of spreading the word on behalf of Ya.

"No rush." ​​Gong Ziming smiled, exuding confidence. "Let's go to your house first, bid farewell to your young wife, and then go to my house to discuss metaphysics."

After exchanging a few words and paying respects to the goddess, the two descended Dragon Head Mountain.

By the time I got home, it was already dark.

Qingyu prepared hot water, cooked soup and rice for the two of them, and served them hot wine.

"What is Wulingzhi?" When Qingyu learned that Meng Chen was going to the mountains with Gong Ziming to collect Wulingzhi, she looked completely bewildered.

"It's the droppings of the Siberian pheasant, which can be used in medicine." Old Chen was over eighty years old and had a wealth of knowledge.

"Bird droppings?" The bluefish was still confused.

"It's not a bird, it's a flying squirrel." Meng Chen was good at coaxing the little girl. "The price of Five Spirits Oil is high these days, and Ping An Pharmacy is looking to buy it at a high price. Brother Gong happens to have connections, so I thought I'd go take a look. I'll probably be back in about half a month."

"It's not even the end of the first month of the lunar calendar yet, and it's already very cold. Who knows how cold it must be in the mountains? Can't we wait until after the New Year to go?" Qingyu said with great concern.

"That's right," Old Chen also had something to say. "Other people learn martial arts, gain skills, and then go out to enjoy a life of luxury. But you, you go to the mountains to dig up manure."

"Wulingzhi can be used in medicine, and it's very valuable!" Gong Ziming, who came from a background of collecting herbs, immediately retorted to Old Chen.

"Just tell me if it's shit or not?" Old Chen's words left Gong Ziming speechless.

Meng Chen had no choice but to argue with them for a long time before finally persuading the grandfather and grandson.

The next day, Meng Chen and Gong Ziming set off together, bringing with them a lot of flatbreads that Qingyu had made overnight.

Upon arriving at Xiazijian, the two met Gong's mother. Gong Ziming put the things he had bought at home and was about to leave when Gong's mother stopped him.

"Look how clever that girl Meng brought is! She's already arranged her marriage and will be able to hold her chubby little boy this year! You're a year older than him, and I can't sleep because I'm so worried!" Gong's mother's arm wasn't fully healed yet, but that didn't stop her from nagging.

Gong Ziming was a filial son. After listening for a while, his eyes gradually became unfocused, and his spirit gradually faded. He no longer had the vigor he once had.

"I'll save some money this time I go into the mountains, and then I'll find a marriage partner for Brother Gong." Meng Chen also felt a headache coming on.

Gong's mother finally released Gong Ziming, and the two of them, carrying dry food and sacks, headed into the mountains.

The snow had not yet melted, making the mountain path difficult to traverse. Coupled with the cold wind and sun, the two did not walk very fast.

Meng Chen followed closely behind Gong Ziming, wandering around and passing through many dangerous paths, finally arriving at a cliffside plank road at dusk.

The plank road was no more than three or four feet wide in some places and no more than a palm's width in others; ordinary people simply could not cross it.

After walking slowly along the plank road for a while, Meng Chen lit a torch and walked for another half an hour before seeing a cave entrance on the cliff.

The cave was only a few feet deep, filled with dust and bird droppings, and contained an iron pot and a straw mat.

"At the end of last year, I found a glass-like herb on the cliff. It was in order to collect this herb that I discovered this place. I named this place Dragon Gate Cave, which means 'fish leaping over the dragon gate'." Gong Ziming sat down and lit a charcoal fire. "It was also this glass-like herb that gave me the money to learn martial arts. At that time, I didn't know the market price, and Young Master Zhu from Ping'an Pharmacy only gave me one hundred taels. Hehe."

"Can a glass bag be used to make precious medicines?" Meng Chen asked.

"Exactly." Gong Ziming took out a small booklet and said, "The envoy has entrusted me with spreading the word, which is a great honor for me. I can only tell you what I know or what I have encountered, so that we can verify each other's information."

He spoke very humbly, but his expression clearly showed confidence and pride.

Meng Chen couldn't wait any longer and quickly sat down to listen attentively.

Gong Ziming pointed to the sky and said, "I told you before that the Dao Ancestor transformed into a fish and swam among the stars, sending down rain and dew. Some places received more rain, and some received less. Wherever it landed, there were extraordinary things. That glass bag was actually glass grass. Glass grass itself is a precious thing, but after being nourished by rain and dew, it became an even more precious glass bag, the price of which is immeasurable."

At this point, Gong Ziming tapped his chest again and continued, "Outsiders don't know about Xuanxiu (mystical cultivation) and only think it's about cultivating immortality and becoming a god, but that's not the case. We Xuanxiu are simply communicating with heaven and earth, borrowing the power of external things, and unleashing our own supernatural abilities. The envoy said that even if you reach the seventh realm, you can't be called an immortal, and you still have many troubles. However, after understanding Xuanxiu, you do live longer than a martial artist."

"How much longer do you live?" Meng Chen asked.

"I don't know," Gong Ziming replied.

"How do I comprehend the profound mysteries?" Meng Chen asked.

"First, you must sense the spiritual energy between heaven and earth." Gong Ziming handed the booklet to Meng Chen and said, "In fact, spiritual energy is no different from rain and dew. Some places have more, and some places have less. In densely populated areas, the spiritual energy will inevitably be pushed aside; in places where mountains, forests, lakes and other places are blessed with spiritual energy, it is better."

He looked reverent. "I heard from the envoy that before the Dao Ancestor separated Yin and Yang, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth became increasingly scarce. Later, after the Dao Ancestor transformed into a fish and sent down rain and dew, the decline in spiritual energy was slightly stopped. However, places like Taiyi Temple and the Hanging Temple are places that the Dao Ancestor once visited; they are indeed treasure lands."

Meng Chen couldn't help but recall what the monk Bujie had said, so he asked, "Is this the Dharma-ending Age?"

"That's true. The envoy said that there are fewer and fewer cultivators these days, and there are still a few old fogies occupying positions without doing anything." Gong Ziming sighed as he warmed himself by the fire, "Even someone like the envoy has many troubles."

Meng Chen didn't understand any of this. By the light of the fire, he flipped through the booklet and saw three words written on it: Crane Breath Technique.

"The Crane Breathing Technique was passed down by the envoy." Gong Ziming stepped forward and patiently explained, "This is a meditation and breathing method that allows one to enter a meditative state and stop thinking about external things. After mastering it, it will be of great benefit to both martial arts and metaphysics, because calmness is extremely rare. Taoism and Buddhism also have their own methods, but even without these methods, as long as one can calm the mind, one can still achieve it."

He then explained the method in detail, and Meng Chen listened very attentively, afraid of missing any details.

The Crane Breathing Exercise has no strict requirements regarding posture; one can sit cross-legged or upright. It can be practiced at any time, but it is best to find a quiet place. Moreover, it is best to be slightly hungry, not on a full stomach.

Its most important aspects are the breathing techniques and the mind's focus.

"To achieve success, one must be relaxed yet not slack, calm yet not confused. One must reach a state of clarity, forgetting both self and external things." Gong Ziming had the same imposing manner as when Master Du was preaching.

"I remember Brother Gong said he entered the Dao in six days. Is that fast or slow?" Meng Chen was an outsider, but judging from Gong Ziming's appearance, he knew that six days was very fast.

"The envoy said that I am slightly inferior to him." Gong Ziming raised his head, very proudly. "Mystic cultivation and martial arts are one. Just calculate based on the time it takes for us to break through in martial arts cultivation. Breaking through within a month is not bad, and within half a month is considered outstanding talent."

He pointed to the fire and said, "It was here that I sensed the Qi and entered the Dao. This is my blessed land, and I hope it will be yours as well."

Then Gong Ziming had Meng Chen sit cross-legged and carefully taught him the breathing techniques.

This Crane Breathing Exercise is not difficult. As long as you practice it for three to five days and become proficient, it will have the effect of calming the mind and body.

From then on, Meng Chen would sit quietly every day, and when his buttocks ached, he would get up and practice two sets of boxing.

After three days, he had mastered the Crane Breathing Technique without any hindrance and was able to calm his mind and body, but he had not yet reached the "state of clarity" that Gong Ziming had described.

Three days later, Gong Ziming stopped accompanying her.

"When you reach the state of clarity, you will know it yourself. At that time, you will be like a pine tree in the mountains, as if you are in harmony with heaven and earth, and you will be able to feel the spiritual energy between heaven and earth, which is the subtle rain and dew energy left behind by the Dao Ancestor."

Gong Ziming packed his things. "Stay here for half a month and I'll come to see you from time to time. Remember, you must remain calm. Wild beasts from the mountains can't get here. At most, there might be some eagles and flying squirrels, but there's no need to worry. If you sense that wisp of energy, don't rush to touch it. Wait for me to protect you."

Meng Chen naturally obeyed.

A few days later, Gong Ziming came again. Seeing that Meng Chen still showed no signs of entering the Daoist path, he left some dry rations and went back to work.

"There's a lot going on at the church." Gong Ziming was even busier than Qu San.

The sun and moon are hard to see in the mountains, so Meng Chen carved a stone to record the days.

The Lantern Festival is just around the corner, and snowflakes are falling from the sky again.