205: Chapter 204 Blind Leading the Blind 2 205: Chapter 204 Blind Leading the Blind 2 A month later, Hou Niao felt that he had made some minor achievements in the Purple Mansion.
By minor achievements, he meant not that he could be useful in all sorts of complex situations, but that he could maintain the intensity of his cultivation without a significant setback even after leaving Feileng Spring.
Deep within his eyes, there was already a hint of purple that helped him adapt to Yang’s Aurora even without the assistance of Feileng jade; by this point, the help from external objects had become extremely limited.
This is a natural process in cultivation, as no skill relies on external objects forever; most only borrow strength briefly at the beginning or at crucial stages.
Since he had already rid himself of dependency on external objects, even if Feileng jade was within reach, he wouldn’t take a single drop.
His attempts over the past few days had shown that, although his progress wasn’t as miraculous as when he used Feileng jade, it was still within an acceptable range.
The reason he hadn’t left was that he was waiting, waiting for the blind old man to return.
Although there was no definite evidence, he knew that the old man’s watchful gaze was omnipresent.
Despite his blindness, the old man’s heart was not blind—the grass and trees here, the myriad living creatures, were his eyes and ears.
He had to say farewell to his master properly, and it was impossible to come and go as hazily as he had initially said, without leaving any causality behind.
That state of being might be his ultimate goal, but for now, it was unattainable.
At present, he was still in a phase where he vividly remembered every act of kindness and every enmity.
Just as he had expected, three days after stopping the use of Feileng jade, the blind old man appeared again.
Leaning on a wooden crutch with some impatience, he said, “Why haven’t you left yet?
The Feileng jade can’t be taken with you.
Such Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects, since their birth, exist no more than a day before they return to the Heaven and Earth Spirit Mechanism, regardless of how you try to preserve them.”
Hou Niao felt no irritation at being suspected, as he knew that the old man deliberately used this method to sever the already tenuous connection between them,
He had long passed the age of impulsive reactions and being unable to bear grievances.
“Firstly, I came to bid you farewell.
Fate cannot be forced, but etiquette should not be discarded.
Besides, you have been living in the mountains for a long time and might lack understanding of the outside world?
The Anhe Daoist Sect is peaceful and practices Wuwei, and Jingyang Mountain is secluded from the world, making it an ideal place for hidden cultivation.
But if Anhe were to change hands, robust Daoist sects like the Wu Sect might not tolerate the existence of independent cultivation power within their domain, especially since you alone possess the Spiritual Spring.
I have a limited understanding of the great trends of Jinxiu and a shallow experience, so I have this concern.
I hope you won’t laugh at me.”
The blind old man dismissed the concern with contempt.
“Why would they not tolerate an old man who does not conflict with the world?
I won’t create obstacles for them.”
Hou Niao didn’t understand why he would say such a thing.
At his age, with his Realm, and with his understanding of the ways of the world, he should have a clear view of external affairs or else he wouldn’t have exiled himself and chosen to live in seclusion, right?
“Attributing blame to him!
The Daoist Sect is curious by nature.
They would be very intrigued, what other uses does Feileng jade have besides cleansing the eyes?
What’s the condition of the Spirit Veins beneath here?
If it really comes to that, I fear Jingyang Mountain will never have peace again.”
The blind old man rolled his eyes skyward.
There are many origins they want to figure out.
What is the origin of the Dao?
What is the origin of Buddhism?
Why is the first outside scene that appears in the Purple Mansion of a Jinxiu cultivator a plant?
What’s the origin of the Jinxiu Spirit Mechanism?
They all want to know!
Hou Niao chuckled dryly; this old man really knew how to argue.
“The origins you speak of are the ultimate origins of human cultivation.
Perhaps, maybe they are a bit too far-off?
There’s always a progression from easy to difficult, step by step, right?”
The blind old man snorted.
You might be thinking this world is too simple!
Today I’m in a bad mood, so let me tell you what the ultimate origins are.
There are three ultimate origins: the origin of the universe, the origin of life, and the origin of consciousness!
Hou Niao chuckled dryly, feeling somewhat at a loss, “What you’re saying is too elevated, too vast, too profound; I only understand that being full means not being hungry…”
But the blind old man was relentless, “Why does being full mean not being hungry?”
Hou Niao was completely defeated, “Alright, actually, I’ve never understood this either; I just hope the Wu Sect will devote themselves to the ultimate origins and not bother you.”
Seizing the advantage, the old man pressed on, “Do you know why humanity can never grasp these so-called origins?”
Hou Niao was at his wit’s end; his intent had only been a courtesy goodbye, a tit-for-tat reminder, he hadn’t intended to engage in debate with someone whose eyes might be blind but whose mind was luminous; a person who has nothing to do all day but ponder over these illusory things, a master of lip service—how could he be a match?
“Maybe, maybe humans are too unsubstantial?
Maybe our realm is not high enough?
But I think if cultivation is endless, humanity will ultimately have a day when these origins’ mysteries are unraveled?”
The old man sneered, “You are wrong.
Humanity will never understand!
It’s like a person will never be able to lift themselves up by pulling on their hair!
As long as you are human, you will never be able to clear up these mysteries!
Unless you break away from the category of human, ascend to another dimension, and use the eyes of a god to examine humanity.”
Hou Niao weakly said, “Senior, don’t you think that what we’re talking about now is getting a bit too far-fetched?”
The old man raged at the lack of ambition, “Not far-fetched!
It’s because humans are considered the smartest of all creatures that they always like to think about all sorts of messy, unrelated things—things that have nothing to do with their instincts.
A bunch of needless worries!
Just like a group of pigs, at the hour of si every day the master feeds them; after a while, the smartest cultivator pig in the herd comes to a conclusion—an epiphany: food from heaven at the hour of si!
But then, one day after a year, the whole group of pigs is slaughtered because it’s the New Year!”
it seemed like a bunch of nonsense, but he had to admit there were things in it that made one think.
Could humans be that group of pigs?
Then, who is celebrating the New Year?
Feeling like he had perhaps said too much, the old man stopped his freewheeling talk, “I understand what you’re trying to say, but you don’t realize that Jingyang Mountain has never been the private domain of a blind man like me.
They think it is, but it actually isn’t.
Those who can’t enter are simply creatures that don’t belong here, not because I deliberately keep them out.
Making you wait for a few hours wasn’t to test you.
It’s because the springs of Jingyang Mountain are interconnected, which includes the springs of other mountain ranges as well.
You may think there are several hundred springs here, but you could also consider the whole of Baiquan City to be a single spring!
In the process of returning, you gained the recognition of Jingyang’s natural spirits, that’s why you have such an opportunity.
Everything has unfolded naturally, without schemes; I wouldn’t test a stranger.
So, this is Feileng Spring, but it’s also not Feileng Spring!
Feileng Spring’s essence could appear in any ordinary spring within Baiquan City, so you don’t have to worry.”