They rambled on for a bit, but we didn't care. "Is everyone here?" I asked.
“It’s due, we can start now,” Luo Wanjun said, leading us to the center of the basement, where there was a large table and several large lamps hanging overhead, illuminating the place brightly.
Then Luo Wanjun introduced us to each other. Those old men were the leading experts in the field of ancient culture. One of them, surnamed Ren, had reached an incredible level of research on ancient Shu culture and was able to decipher the ancient Shu script.
After a brief introduction, we began. Both sides took out their maps and placed them on the table. Then, one of the experts started to piece together the map, making some simple repairs. Using advanced equipment, the map was projected directly onto the monitor, enlarged, and the text and patterns were recorded.
It must be said that modern science has developed to a fairly high level, and with the help of some instruments, archaeological research can be conducted more conveniently and simply.
We waited quietly, knowing it would take time and there was no guarantee that we could decipher it.
Luo Wanjun brought out chairs for us to sit down and have some tea. About two hours later, the old men put down their tools. The expert surnamed Ren excitedly said, "We've deciphered it! All the text can be translated, but the map is incomplete. There's nothing we can do; the map is too badly damaged."
We are quite satisfied with this result, so of course we won't say anything.
Then the expert surnamed Ren said with a puzzled look, "However..."
"But what?" Luo Wanjun asked immediately.
"However, these characters are very strange. Even if they are translated, we can't understand them. And the picture seems to be the same object, but it also seems to be something else. Anyway, we can't understand it."
We had already surrounded them, and the experts showed us the translated text. As soon as we saw it, we understood. No wonder they couldn't understand it. This was the oldest Taoist language. Even though it was translated into modern language, it still needed to be understood using Taoist methods.
It took us a lot of effort to understand it, and after looking at the deciphered image, it was indeed very strange, just as the expert Ren said.
It's described as a place, but it feels more like an object, or even a bronze human face statue; in any case, it feels strange.
Luo Wanjun looked at us expectantly, "So, any progress?"
"It will take time. These characters are ancient Taoist language, and we need to understand them slowly. We can't really explain this map either, but we'll try our best," I replied simply.
"I see. Then I'll have to trouble you all to get the results as soon as possible. We'll be waiting for your news."
"Okay, I'll give you news in two or three days. We'll go back and study it now," Xiang Fei replied.
Ultimately, we decided that we would go back to the hotel first, while Luo Wanjun and his men would wait here. As soon as we had a result, we would begin our operation.
We took the materials back and began our research, starting with the text. We were all very excited. The text on the map of the land of immortality was likely from the ancient mythological era, and it contained secrets about the origin of Taoism. It might even contain ancient Taoist methods, which would be an invaluable treasure for us Yin-Yang Masters.
After closing the door, the few of us immediately put the documents on the table and started looking at them.
After a while, our faces turned grim. We could indeed understand the deciphered text; its content was ancient Taoist magic.
To find the path to immortality, one must comprehend these ancient Taoist methods. However, although we can now read the text, we have no idea what they mean.
We can only understand the first sentence, which comes from the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic: "In ancient times, people could live to be a hundred years old, and their movements did not decline..."
Next is the explanation of the ancient Taoist methods. The Tao emphasizes all-encompassing things, the laws of heaven, nature, heaven and earth, the universe, and is based on yin and yang. It integrates all the laws of heaven and earth to achieve the purpose of sublimation and then transcend the mortal world.
Although we understood the general meaning, we couldn't understand the key content, which made us anxious, like ants on a hot pan.
The origins and ancestral laws of Taoism are something any Yin-Yang Master would envy, but they wouldn't understand them. It's like seeing a priceless treasure in front of you, but you can only look at it and not take it.
"I am the reincarnation of a great immortal, but unfortunately I cannot understand this ancient Taoist magic," the old blind man boasted even at this point.
At this moment, Uncle Liu from Hunan suddenly said, "The ancient Taoist methods and their principles should be exactly the same as the Tao of later generations. Why don't we try to understand them word by word, and then connect them together to comprehend them? Perhaps we can succeed."
When we heard him say that, our eyes lit up. It was indeed a good idea. We were too impatient and hadn't thought of it.
So a few of us worked together to slowly understand each word, and then recorded them on another text. It took us most of the day to finally figure it all out.
We tried to understand it using modern Taoist terminology, and after a while, everyone's expression became serious. In the end, everyone was terrified.
This is indeed an ancient Taoist method, which can be described as defying the heavens. It expounds the true meaning of the Tao, explains how to cultivate the Tao, and finally mentions the ultimate goal of cultivating the Tao, which is to ascend to immortality.
Of course, it doesn't explicitly state that cultivating Tao can truly lead to ascension to immortality, but considering the entire content, it seems to vaguely suggest that the ultimate goal of Tao is to become an immortal and ascend to another world.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
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