A crescent moon hangs on the branch.
Qin Luo and the others rested near the stream.
A cool evening breeze blew, the stream murmured, and crickets chirped. Qin Luo sat cross-legged on a blue stone, meditating. Chu Peiran leaned against a sycamore tree, reading a book, while Gui Chen held a golden alms bowl and silently recited Buddhist scriptures.
A peaceful and harmonious scene unfolded between heaven and earth.
Qin Luo used his divine sense to look inward and found three marks on his heart that resembled patterns: one red, one golden, and one chaotic.
The three fragments of the Heavenly Dao merged with his heart, and Qin Luo felt somewhat empty. This was a side effect of the Heavenly Dao fragments. He didn't think about it and calmed his mind to feel the world.
Qin Luo was bathed in moonlight.
He felt that heaven and earth and all things were with him.
Guichen's spiritual altar was illuminated, and a path to heaven appeared, where he saw the hope of becoming a Buddha.
Chu Peiran was engrossed in reading, absorbing the vast energy of heaven and earth, when suddenly his chest shone with boundless light.
"I've broken through to a higher realm?"
Chu Peiran broke free of his shackles. He looked at the dense aura of righteousness around him, and his gaze fell on Qin Luo, from whom all this aura of righteousness was overflowing.
Every living being with a conscience possesses some degree of righteous energy. Ordinary beings have very little righteous energy, and even scholars don't have much. However, Qin Luo's righteous energy was so abundant that it was overflowing. Chu Peiran was overjoyed. He cupped his hands to Qin Luo, thinking that they were brothers, and didn't stand on ceremony, continuing to absorb righteous energy.
When Chu Peiran left the academy for training, he had just cultivated his literary courage and was not even ranked in the top ten among the academy's disciples. Now, he has cultivated his literary heart and possesses power comparable to a cultivator in the Nascent Soul Realm.
The next day, early morning.
As the mountain mists dissipated, the first rays of the morning sun shone on Qin Luo. He opened his eyes and felt refreshed.
Chu Peiran then opened his eyes, stood up, bowed deeply, and was extremely excited. "Thank you for your help, fellow Daoist. I was able to successfully cultivate the Literary Heart."
Qin Luo was somewhat bewildered. "Brother Chu, how did I help you? I don't know why."
Chu Peiran was overjoyed, "Brother Dao, it is the righteous energy emanating from your body that is helping me cultivate."
"We're all brothers, don't worry about it."
"Brother Dao, I've heard that the girls in Jiangling City are very talented. When we get to Jiangling City, I'll invite you to listen to my music."
"Brother Chu, do you want to hear some music?"
"Brother Dao understands me best."
Chu Peiran nodded without any attempt to hide his agreement.
Gui Chen stood up, his skin glowing with a golden luster, like a golden tower.
Chu Peiran couldn't help but exclaim, "Master Guichen has actually cultivated a golden body; it seems he's not far from becoming a Buddha!"
Gui Chen shook his head and said respectfully, "This humble monk is still far from becoming a Buddha. Fortunately, I have you by my side, fellow Daoist, which has enabled me to break free from the shackles in my heart and let my mind be freed from all defilement."
Qin Luo didn't think much of it and joked with a smile, "Brother Chu invited me to listen to a song? How does Master Guichen plan to thank me?"
Gui Chen said in a serious tone, "Brother Dao, what do you want? This humble monk will take you to beg for alms."
"Forget it, we're all poor guys."
Qin Luo smiled and waved his hand.
Chu Peiran burst into laughter.
Gui Chen took out a black Bodhi seed and chuckled, "Brother Dao, I was just joking with you. I found this Bodhi seed and hope you will accept it."
"These bodhi seeds are very beautiful."
Qin Luo smiled and accepted the Bodhi seed.
"Master Guichen, monks don't lie, yet you're joking." Chu Peiran laughed heartily. "If I take you to hear some music, can I have one?"
Gui Chen took out a Bodhi seed and handed it to Chu Peiran, saying earnestly, "Brother Chu, I'm giving you this Bodhi seed because I consider you a friend, not because I want to hear any music."
"I understand what you mean."
Chu Peiran smiled and raised an eyebrow.
The bright sunshine shines on the mountains and forests, bringing everything back to life. Birds sing and flowers bloom, and the mountains and forests are full of vitality.
Qin Luo and his group continued their journey over mountains and valleys, enjoying the beautiful scenery and discussing various interesting topics.
On a breezy afternoon with gentle sunshine, Qin Luo and his companions entered the bamboo forest. Deep within the forest were several bamboo houses surrounded by bamboo fences. A small plaque hung on the fence gate, bearing the three large characters "Yangxinzhai" (养心斋).
"Yangxinzhai!"
Qin Luo found it very interesting.
Chu Peiran looked at the plaque and said, "The calligraphy is really good. The person must be a master. Why don't we pay them a visit?"
Qin Luo and Gui Chen nodded simultaneously. They went to the courtyard and knocked on the door. After a short while, a very young Taoist boy in green robes opened the door. "Are you here to see my master?"
Qin Luo smiled and said, "We were just passing through and wanted to pay our respects to the seniors here. May I ask how you are addressed, young friend?"
"Junior Zhou Qing, my master is the Hermit of Floating Clouds. He is fishing by the river outside the bamboo forest." The young Taoist in blue robes spoke respectfully, sensing that Qin Luo and his companions were no ordinary people.
"Then let's go to the riverbank and take a look."
"Let's go."
Qin Luo and the others walked towards the river.
On the riverbank, an old man dressed in a tattered blue robe sat on a wooden bench, wearing a straw hat and holding a fishing rod.
Qin Luo and his companions quietly arrived at the riverbank, stood aside without making a sound, and watched the old man fish.
After an unknown amount of time, a fish finally took the bait. The old man suddenly lifted the fishing rod, and a small fish about the length of a finger flew into the air. Only then did the old man in the green robe notice Qin Luo and the others.
"senior."
Qin Luo cupped his hands in acknowledgment.
Gui Chen and Chu Peiran bowed respectfully.
The old man in the green robe threw the small fish in his hand back into the river. He waved his hands repeatedly, looking flattered. "I am just an ordinary person. You don't need to be so polite."
Qin Luo asked respectfully, "We just happened to be passing by. We don't know if we have disturbed your cultivation, senior?"
The old man in the green robe shook his head awkwardly, "I won't bother you. I'm just passing the time in the mountains. I eat when I'm hungry and sleep when I'm tired. I don't know anything about cultivation."
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