Tianshan Ancestor slightly nodded, gazing with affectionate eyes at his disciple Hu Yuan, and slowly said: "Yuan'er, the path of cultivation is long and rugged, and its most crucial part lies in the cultivation of the mind. You must understand that only with a clear and tranquil state of mind, undisturbed by external things, can you walk farther and steadier on this path. Those worldly matters are like passing smoke and should not be overly obsessed with; as for the various disturbances and karmic entanglements in the mortal world, there is no need to dwell on them too much."
Scratching his head and wearing a puzzled look, Hu Yuan asked: "Master, I have only recently stepped onto the path of cultivation. Although I have learned many spells and incantations, how can I truly comprehend their essence without personal practice? And how can I elevate my cultivation realm through this?"
Hearing this, Tianshan Ancestor smiled faintly and said softly: "What you say is not without reason. Cultivation does not mean completely detaching oneself from the hustle and bustle of the mortal world. On the contrary, we should integrate cultivation into our daily lives, tempering and refining our minds through trivial matters. As your cultivation attainments grow day by day, your desires and attachments to worldly material things will naturally fade away."
Hu Yuan nodded thoughtfully. After a brief silence, he looked up at Tianshan Ancestor again and asked with a firm gaze: "Master, if in daily life I happen to encounter people in urgent need of a helping hand, how should I act?"
Tianshan Ancestor looked at Hu Yuan with a gentle and profound gaze, and slowly said: "Yuan'er, as a practitioner, it is certainly important to have a compassionate heart, but you still need to thoroughly comprehend its deeper meaning. You must know that the affairs of this world are complex and tangled, and everyone has their own unique fate and trials. Some matters are destined trials for others in the first place; if you rashly step in to interfere, you will become entangled in the karma and will have to bear the corresponding responsibilities. Even if you extend a helping hand to help others, the other party may not necessarily feel grateful to you. Some people, no matter how well you treat them, will take it for granted. At the slightest dissatisfaction or if things do not go as they wish, they might even immediately turn against you and become your enemies. Therefore, you must learn to distinguish right from wrong and good from evil, to discern who is worth extending a helping hand to, and from whom you should keep your distance. You must not wait until you are weighed down by heavy karmic burdens without having gained the slightest benefit before you live to regret it!"
Hu Yuan listened quietly to the teachings of Tianshan Ancestor, and ripples stirred in his heart. Indeed, to walk steadily and far on this long path of cultivation, one must not only have a kind heart, but also know how to protect oneself. As the saying goes, harbor no intention to harm others, but be ever vigilant against harm from others. Everyone encounters various dilemmas and difficulties in life, but when facing those unreasonable requests, one must bravely refuse them and never become a 'pushover' who lacks principles and agrees to everything. Only in this way can one avoid being exploited by others while ensuring that one's own interests are not harmed. Thinking of this, Hu Yuan secretly resolved to be cautious in his words and deeds from now on, and to face the various challenges in life with wisdom and courage.
Stroke his beard, Tianshan Ancestor looked at the Hu Yuan before him with a gentle yet profound gaze, and softly said: "Yuan'er, have you ever pondered this question—is there a hidden, unknown dark corner deep within everyone's heart?"
Hearing these words, Hu Yuan immediately bowed respectfully to Tianshan Ancestor and replied: "Master, your disciple is dull-witted; please enlighten me."
Tianshan Ancestor nodded slightly, then slowly spoke: "Look at the people of this world, among whom there is no shortage of insatiable greedy wretches. Their craving for fine food and delicacies is endless, and they are never satisfied even when faced with mountains of delicacies; they chase after female beauty with frantic zeal, and even with peerless beauties by their side, they still desire more maidens in their arms; as for wealth and supreme power and status, these are things they pursue throughout their entire lives, never knowing satisfaction. This is a major flaw in human nature!"
Hu Yuan listened quietly to his master's teachings. After lowering his head in contemplation for a moment, he finally looked up and solemnly responded: "What Master says is entirely correct, and your disciple has already understood. If one is too greedy, one's mind will be blinded by desire and lose reason. In this way, one might not only bring disaster upon oneself, but even ruin one's entire life."
Stroke his beard, Tianshan Ancestor sighed softly and continued: "True, yet besides greed, there is an even more terrifying inner demon called jealousy. Some people are extremely narrow-minded and cannot bear to see others living smoother and more auspicious lives than themselves. Once they find that someone else is living in luxury and riding high on success, an inexplicable fire of jealousy will surge in their hearts. Thus, spreading gossip and hurling malicious words behind others' backs becomes commonplace for them, and some even go so far as to resort to all sorts of despicable means to harm the other person in order to achieve psychological balance. Such behavior is truly not that of a gentleman."
"Jealousy is like a slow poison, quietly infiltrating the depths of a person's soul, bit by bit corroding the originally pure and flawless mindset, and ultimately completely distorting a person until they become unrecognizable—a truly horrifying prospect." Tianshan Ancestor looked intently at Hu Yuan and earnestly said, "Yuan'er, human hearts are unpredictable in this world, and all sorts of people exist. You must keep firmly in mind that once you encounter those insatiable and burning-with-jealousy fellows, you must exercise double caution in your actions and never associate too closely with them. At the slightest carelessness, you are very likely to be implicated by them, bringing endless troubles upon yourself and even triggering a series of unpredictable karmic retributions."
After pausing for a moment and taking a deep breath, Tianshan Ancestor continued: "Furthermore, you must also keep your distance from those who are narrow-minded and inherently suspicious. Such people live in constant panic and heavy doubt day in and day out; even if you pour out your genuine feelings and care for them in a hundred ways, the moment the slightest trivial matter occurs, they will hesitate not at all to question you. Entangling oneself with such eccentric and fickle people is truly mentally exhausting and extremely agonizing!"
"Finally, you must also watch out for those who have no opinions of their own and simply drift with the current. Such people are like weak grass on top of a wall, swaying when the wind blows and bowing when the rain beats down. If you associate too closely with them, you will easily acquire bad habits of depending on others for everything, refusing to make progress, and indulging in comfort and ease. If this happens, not only will it be difficult to make progress in your own cultivation, but you are also likely to lose yourself and forfeit your ability to think independently and make your own choices."
Tianshan Ancestor earnestly said: "Therefore, you must choose your own path and avoid these pits and bumps. Make friends with those who are kind-hearted and treat others sincerely; only then can you walk more steadily and further."
Tianshan Ancestor's words echoed in Hu Yuan's heart. He nodded deeply, indicating that he understood this principle: only by steadfastly holding onto one's original intention could one find a pure land of one's own in this complex and bustling world.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Tianshan Ancestor gazed with a profound and distant look at the rolling mountain ranges in the distance, as if able to see through the layers of clouds and mist to the ordinary beings of this mortal world. He stood there quietly, motionless, as if time itself had frozen in that moment. After a good while, he slowly turned around, a gentle smile appearing on his weathered yet still dignified face as he looked at Hu Yuan beside him.
"Yuan'er," Tianshan Ancestor said softly, his voice as melodious and pleasing as a clear stream in the mountains, "you have now stepped into this mortal jianghu and will face all kinds of people. Remember your master's words: never judge a person solely by their appearance, for that is often just a superficial show. Learn to use your heart to feel and perceive others' true inner worlds. Do not blindly follow the trend and drift with the crowd; you must hold fast to your own judgment and choices."
Saying this, Tianshan Ancestor paused slightly, then continued earnestly: "The way of making friends is as important as finding a good teacher and helpful friend. You must seek out those who are upright in character, honest, and trustworthy as friends, and must never mix with those who know only of eating, drinking, and making merry without any desire to progress day in and day out. However, if you are fortunate enough to encounter someone who is filial to their parents, possesses noble morals, holds great ambitions, and knows how to be grateful and repay kindness, you must extend a helping hand to assist them. Such a person is truly a bosom friend worth sincerely befriending and exerting your utmost to help. Remember, you must never look down on anyone, regardless of their noble or humble background; yet at the same time, you must not rashly offer help to those who are utterly worthless and unrepentant. In conducting oneself and dealing with the world, one must have one's own principles and bottom line in order to walk steadily and far without getting lost in this complex and bustling din."
Hu Yuan slowly raised his head, fixing his gaze directly into Tianshan Ancestor's profound and wise eyes, and summoned the courage to ask: "Master, your disciple has a question lingering in my mind, and I do not know if I should ask it. Why do you place filial piety toward parents in such an important, primary position?"
Hearing Hu Yuan's question, Tianshan Ancestor smiled faintly and said softly: "Yuan'er, regarding this question, your master shall resolve your doubts today. Many people believe that filial piety is merely a traditional custom that needs to be followed. However, for us practitioners, filial piety is actually a concrete manifestation of the Heavenly Dao.
Think about it carefully: our parents gave us our precious lives and raised us to adulthood through all kinds of hardships and bitter toil, and the painstaking effort and hardship they poured into it cannot possibly be described in words! The depth of this grace is higher than the sky and deeper than the sea. Therefore, so-called filial piety stems from that genuine gratitude and deep respect for one's parents from the bottom of one's heart, and it must be repaid through practical actions. To put it without exaggeration, this grace is truly supreme and unparalleled."
After listening, Hu Yuan furrowed his brows slightly and asked softly: "Your disciple knows well that our parents' nurturing grace is higher than the mountain and deeper than the sea, yet your statement just now that filial piety is the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao remains somewhat difficult for your disciple to comprehend. I hope Master can explain it in detail."
Hearing this, Tianshan Ancestor slowly stood up from the straw mat. He raised his right hand, extended his slender index finger toward the high and boundless firmament, and spoke with a solemn and grave expression: "Disciple, this Heavenly Dao is like a magnificent and grand rule and law of the universe, silently controlling the operating trajectory and developmental laws of all things in the world from beginning to end. And filial piety is actually an important component of this vast Heavenly Dao system. Think of it this way: if all people under heaven could wholeheartedly fulfill their filial duty to their parents, does this not mean that we are conforming to the guidance of the Heavenly Dao? If so, heaven and earth will surely bless us. This blessing is not merely limited to material bestowments, but is even more about the nourishment and care for our inner world."
Tianshan Ancestor paused briefly, seemingly to leave Hu Yuan some time to digest what he had just said. A moment later, he continued: "In fact, whenever we harbor gratitude toward the parents who gave us life; whenever we view with pious reverence the sun, moon, and stars hanging high in the sky; and whenever we face with appreciation the earth that nourishes all living things along with natural elements like wind, fire, and water, our own physical and mental state will naturally resonate with the vast universe, thereby achieving harmonious unity. At that moment, it is as if our souls have undergone a baptism and been sublimated, allowing us to more deeply perceive the true connotation and meaning of life."
Filled with awe upon hearing this, Hu Yuan bowed to Tianshan Ancestor and said: "Master's teachings, your disciple will engrave in my heart."
Tianshan Ancestor nodded and said with satisfaction: "You can understand this, and you can be considered to have truly entered the gate. Remember, filial piety is not only respect for parents, but also respect for life. Only those who understand filial piety can truly understand the Heavenly Dao, conform to heaven and earth, and achieve themselves."
Recalling his cultivation last week, Hu Yuan remembered how he had looked inward at his whole body and seen a strange scene deep within his navel, as if a mysterious precious pearl was hidden inside his navel. He sought the truth from Tianshan Ancestor, asking whether that red round bead meant he had found the second precious pearl.
Hearing this, Tianshan Ancestor burst into hearty laughter and then explained: "Yuan'er, those six precious pearls you mentioned are not so easily collected by a single person. It depends on fate, you know? That red round bead you mentioned is the Fetal Origin."
Hu Yuan nodded slightly, a curious look on his face as he inquired of Tianshan Ancestor: "Fetal Origin—I remember Master mentioning the special nature of the Fetal Origin when helping me clear the meridians in my body, but I didn't pay much attention to it at the time. Master, could you explain it in detail?"
Stroke his beard, Tianshan Ancestor explained: "The Fetal Origin is the very first point produced by the combination of your parents' vital essence and blood before you were born. It is like the seed of your body, hiding all your potential within it. That little red ball inside your navel that you saw is the Fetal Origin."
"Oh, I understand!" Hu Yuan suddenly realized, "Then what is the use of the Fetal Origin?"
Tianshan Ancestor smiled and continued: "The Fetal Origin is a treasure indeed. Before you were born, it helped you absorb nutrients from your mother's body so you could grow slowly. After you were born, when cultivating, the Fetal Origin is also a crucial point. You must find it first before you can open the various meridians and apertures of your body and unleash that magical power."
Hu Yuan listened with relish and asked again: "Then is the Fetal Origin very difficult to find?"
Tianshan Ancestor shook his head: "Not really, as long as you know the method. However, there are three kinds of Fetal Origins, and what I just mentioned is the lower Fetal Origin. This lower Fetal Origin is a living aperture, not a fixed one. When your cultivation reaches a certain level, this aperture can move freely and go wherever it wants—it is extremely powerful."
Tianshan Ancestor once again deeply elucidated to Hu Yuan the wondrous relationship between the six spirit apertures and the six elements. He slowly said: "The spiritual platform corresponds to the sun, the mysterious pass corresponds to the moon, the heart aperture corresponds to fire, the kidney aperture corresponds to water, and the immortal bone corresponds to wind. Each aperture corresponds to an element, echoing each other and endlessly regenerating."
Hearing this, a trace of doubt flashed in Hu Yuan's eyes, and he pursued the question: "Are those six spirit apertures and six elements related to the six mysterious precious pearls?" Hearing this, Tianshan Ancestor sighed softly and shook his head, saying: "The conditions are not ripe; cannot be spoken, cannot be spoken."
Unreconciled, Hu Yuan continued to press: "The materials left by Master mention the sun, moon, stars, water, fire, and wind. Are these related to your cultivation system? And how should I cultivate?"
Tianshan Ancestor smiled indifferently and said: "The way of cultivation requires the mind to follow intent and intent to move with the mind. You only need to quietly comprehend, and the opportunity will naturally arrive. When that time comes, everything will naturally become clear."
Hearing this, Hu Yuan nodded thoughtfully and bowed deeply.
Subsequently, Hu Yuan asked Tianshan Ancestor how to properly express himself when informing Zhang Tao about the treatment for his father's serious illness. Hu Yuan hoped to find an appropriate way that could both clearly explain the situation and make Zhang Tao convinced and willing to accept it.
Tianshan Ancestor nodded slightly and said slowly: "Zhang Tao's father's matter indeed needs to be handled with caution. You can first cut in from the perspective of friendship, letting him know that you sincerely want to help him. Then, gradually guide him to understand some things beyond ordinary perception."
Pausing slightly, he added: "You can first inform him that you have recently studied some special Daoist medical techniques under a master, and through the power of Daoist medicine, you might be able to help his father."
Upon hearing this, Hu Yuan bowed deeply to Tianshan Ancestor and said: "Master, your teachings, your disciple will never forget for the rest of my life."
The master and disciple then continued to discuss the treatment plan...