Chapter 19: Fear and Taoism
"645...644...639..."
The figures of classmates one after another appeared in front of Qian Shen. He couldn't see their figures clearly, but he could clearly see the scores displayed on their heads.
"680, 690, 660..."
The scores displayed on everyone’s heads were so unattainable and so shining that Qian Shen felt ashamed of himself at this moment.
He felt so miserable and lowly standing in front of his classmates.
“I stood among these people like a bag of wet garbage.”
"With just over 600 points, I don't deserve to be here, let alone talk to them or get close to them..."
In his eyes, the scores on those classmates' heads kept rising, and their figures kept getting taller, like giants towering into the clouds. Gradually, he could only see their legs and could not even see their faces clearly.
…
At the same time, on the other side of the exhibition, Li Xingyu's drone from Mangshan High School drew a trajectory in the air and slowly flew towards the direction of the Tianren Yanwu Tu.
But the next moment, with a crackling sound, the drone seemed to have some kind of malfunction and fell to the ground crookedly.
"The soul cultivators of Mangshan High School have a lifelong contract, so don't come and join in the fun."
Li Xuelian muttered softly, then turned her gaze away from the drone and continued to look at the other students.
"Unfortunately, most of the students who came to try out the art exhibition this time were freshmen. If you want to master the martial arts in the Tianren Yanwu Tu, only students in the second and third years of high school have a better chance."
"But it's no wonder... the top students in the second and third years of high school either don't meet the age requirements or already have contracts, so it's impossible for them to look for a master."
At this time, the director of Songyang City of Xianyun Group, who was shining with golden light, came to Li Xuelian's side and said with a smile: "This picture of heaven and man performing martial arts is worthy of being drawn by Xinghuo Zhenren himself. It is really amazing. I wonder what the test is about?"
Li Xuelian did not directly answer the other party's question, but said calmly: "The first level of the Heavenly Martial Arts Diagram tests the heart of Taoism."
"Those who cannot withstand it will often be forced to retreat, and even leave some flaws in their hearts."
…
Zhao Tianxing felt the contemptuous and mocking gazes of countless people around him, and his body could not help but retreat backwards, away from the range of the Heaven and Man Martial Arts Diagram.
When he came to his senses and looked at the situation around him, he realized that the 'entire audience watching' and 'contemptuous looks' were just the effect of the Heavenly Martial Arts Show.
Thinking of this, he realized that he had not passed the test of the Heavenly Martial Arts Diagram at all. His face immediately turned red and he quickly stepped back, fearing that someone around would discover that he, a security guard, had brought disgrace upon himself.
…
At the exhibition, Li Xuelian continued, "If you can pass this first test, it will have the effect of sharpening your heart."
"As for the so-called Dao Heart Level, most of us cultivators rely on the Heart Method to improve it."
"Different mental methods require different thoughts to match them."
"Like the ancient method of worshipping the gods, the practitioner must be extremely pious and have absolute faith in the gods. The more pious one is, the better the effect of the method of worshipping the gods will be."
"Another example is Ziyun High School's Tianqin Heart Method, which requires the practitioner to practice to the extreme and integrate the practice into his own instincts in order to achieve the greatest effect."
"For example, the basic training method for high school students requires a calm mind and concentration, and requires silent endurance and the spirit of perseverance and perseverance."
"There are thousands of mental methods to improve the Dao heart, some are high and some are low, but the key is whether the practitioner has the thoughts that match the mental method."
"But thoughts are hard to predict. What a person is thinking and whether it is really in line with the mind method, let alone outsiders, sometimes even he himself may not be able to tell clearly."
"Fortunately, the stronger the Dao heart, the stronger the willpower. It is the simplest way to measure the Dao heart level and test the effect of the mental method improvement by the strength of willpower."
"But the Heavenly Martial Arts Diagram does not simply test the strength of one's willpower to confirm the strength of one's heart of Tao."
"The Heavenly Martial Arts Diagram targets the fear in people's hearts. It directly attacks people's spiritual weaknesses, not giving them a chance to resist with their minds. It tests their truest reactions."
“When facing spiritual weaknesses, only by adjusting your thoughts in time can you make up for the weaknesses in your heart and get through it.”
The director of Songyang City of Xianyun Group's eyes moved and said, "I understand. Senior Xinghuo wants a disciple with flexible thinking? A disciple who can practice the God Worshiping Heart Method and change the God Worshiping, and practice the Tianqin Heart Method and can roll up while practicing hard, and can also roll up while lying flat."
Li Xuelian nodded: "There are thousands of mental methods. It is good if the thoughts can match the mental method. But only those who can constantly adjust their thoughts, adapt to changes in the environment, and adapt to changes in mental methods are true geniuses and are not bound by mental methods."
"Especially now that the times are developing faster and faster, the ten major sects are influencing every aspect of society, and the entire Kunxu is undergoing drastic changes. If you can't adapt your thoughts in time, it won't work."
"For example, in today's world, if you want to embark on the path of cultivating immortals, exams and scores are indispensable. They have long been integrated into the lives of every cultivator."
"So naturally, modern cultivators are obsessed with exams and scores."
"Having excellent grades and being obsessed with them can make a top student determined, and it will be easier to improve the level of Dao Heart."
"But on the other hand, this is also a kind of spiritual weakness. There are always people who are better than you, and a temporary lead does not mean a permanent lead. Many top students are more confident when they are ranked at the top, and they feel inferior when they lag behind."
"To overcome this spiritual weakness, practitioners need to be flexible in their thinking in a timely manner. This is the key to passing the test."
"For example, there was a student who repeatedly experienced low scores in the test during the Tianren Yanwutu test. He eventually overcame his fear of low scores and honed a kind of delusion."
…
Lian Tianji listened to the teacher's announcement of the results and suddenly laughed a few times: "Hahahaha, since I'm already the last ranked student, I'll start over from the beginning."
"From today on, I am the most useless person, the student with the worst grades."
"But as a poor student, I have the opportunity to surpass you one by one and take the top spot."
"I will definitely be number one in my grade!"
As he overcame the fear in his heart, he felt as if he was back at the art exhibition again, and the scene of the martial arts performance between gods and men before him became clearer and clearer.
…
Li Xuelian went on to say, "Kunxu has 36 floors above ground and 18 floors underground. Each floor is a different world. Whether it's humans or immortals, they are all divided into different levels. This grading is ingrained in every immortal cultivator and affects everyone's thoughts."
"Earlier, there was a student who experienced countless oppressions in the Tianren Yanwutu, and eventually developed the idea of lying down."
…
Qian Shen looked at the giants whose scores far exceeded his as they rose from the ground, becoming taller and taller, until their faces gradually became unclear.
Only the scores on the giants' heads continued to grow, shining brightly.
He tried to keep up with the other person, but to no avail.
As the giants grew taller and taller and the scores increased, his mood changed from nervousness to fear, from fear to despair, and finally to numbness.
He lay down on the ground and never looked at the giants again.
"All right."
"I won't chase you."
"As long as I can cultivate immortality, that's all I need. It doesn't matter if no one can compare to me... As long as I can cultivate immortality, that's all that matters."
As if waking up from a big dream, Qian Shen, who was lying on the ground, opened his eyes and looked at the painting exhibition and martial arts performances in front of him, with a hint of understanding in his eyes.
…
During the exhibition, the Songyang director of Xianyun Group listened to Li Xuelian's analysis and agreed: "The change of ideas is inseparable from the influence of the development of the times."
He guessed, "In today's society, everyone cannot live without borrowing. I'm sure this will also be reflected in the trial of the Heavenly Man Martial Arts Diagram, right?"
"That's right." Li Xuelian nodded and said, "There was once a student who faced the horror of paying off debts on the immortal road during the test of the Heavenly Martial Arts Diagram, and ended up becoming a deadbeat."
…
Looking at the debt-collecting thunder brewing in the sky, Bai Zhenzhen squatted down with a look of horror on her face.
"Wait! I'll pay you back!"
"I'll pay you back, okay?"
There is no wrong version in the 1619 book forum!
"Don't hit me!"
She quickly opened her phone and checked her account to see how much she owed and how much she could pay back.
"800,000?!"
When Bai Zhenzhen opened the first lending platform, her heart sank.
Then the 1.2 million yuan debt owed by the second platform made her break out in cold sweats.
2 million...5 million...8 million...
As the total amount of debt she calculated in her mind continued to grow, the hand holding the phone gradually fell limply.
A total debt of 8 million, such a huge amount of money would either make a high school student collapse completely or...
Bai Zhenzhen suddenly fell to the ground, looked at the thunder in the sky and shouted: "If you have the guts, strike me to death."
"If I'm killed, all 8 million people will be reduced to ashes."
Looking at the thunder that had not yet fallen, Bai Zhenzhen continued, "Either you kill me with lightning or the eight million people turn into ashes."
"Or you can find me some work, and I'll pay you back when I make money."
As the thunder gradually dissipated, the picture of the heavenly martial arts performance reappeared in front of Bai Zhenzhen.
While watching the people practicing martial arts, Bai Zhenzhen seemed to have some enlightenment.
…
At the exhibition, Li Xuelian sighed: "Whether it's delusion, lying down, or being a deadbeat, it's just a state of using thoughts to fight pressure under heavy pressure. Although it can sharpen their will and Tao heart, what the future holds will ultimately depend on how they act in reality."
"After all, this is just the first level of the Tianren Martial Arts Diagram, just a threshold."
She recalled that when she was in high school, her father had also tested her faith in Taoism.
At that time, the person she feared the most was her father. She was severely oppressed by her father during the test, but she finally rose up in resistance under the heavy pressure and established the idea of filial piety. After waking up, she blasted the old man's gold coins, and her cultivation improved by leaps and bounds.
However, not long after, the pressure from all aspects of real society and her father's every move made her regain her admiration and respect for her father.
The director of Songyang City of Xianyun Group nodded slightly, knowing that Li Xuelian was right. The effect of this kind of test of Taoism was only temporary.
After all, people's thoughts are changing all the time. How can the influence of a mere test of the Tao heart withstand the long-term influence of the entire society in the real world?
Li Xuelian continued, "After you get through the first stage and overcome the fear in your heart, the next step is true enlightenment."
"After passing the stage of comprehension, whether or not you can finally master it is another matter."
The director nodded, understanding that overcoming fear, comprehending the martial arts diagram, and practicing martial arts were the three levels of comprehending the heavenly martial arts diagram.
"Then how many of the people present here can achieve success?"
Li Xuelian looked at the many students present, shook her head and said, "I'm afraid it's hard to find one."
…
When Zhang Yu saw the figure in the picture of heaven and man performing martial arts gradually become clearer, and watched the figure begin to practice a set of boxing techniques, he suddenly felt a chill in his heart.
"Please abide by the ritual agreement and work hard to complete your wish. Do not deliberately be lazy and procrastinate. 10."
Zhang Yu was slightly stunned: "No... I am now working hard to comprehend the martial arts diagram. Isn't that the same as studying hard and trying to get into a good university?"
But the chill could not communicate with him and simply continued to count down.
"Please abide by the ritual agreement and work hard to fulfill your wish. Don't deliberately be lazy and procrastinate. 9."
"Please abide by the ritual agreement and work hard to fulfill your wish. Don't deliberately be lazy and procrastinate. 8."
Zhang Yu had no choice but to sit down and try to breathe in and out to see if he could stop the countdown.
As he began to breathe, the chill gradually dissipated and the countdown stopped.
"This idiot..."
Just as Zhang Yu was breathing in and out and secretly cursing the power of the ritual, another surge of chill surged up in his body.
"Please abide by the ritual agreement and work hard to complete your wish. Do not deliberately be lazy and procrastinate. 10."
Hearing this new countdown, Zhang Yu was shocked.
"No... I'm working hard on my training."
"Why is there another countdown?"
"What's wrong with this stupid ritual?"
Zhang Yu simply stopped breathing and tried, and found that the surging chill and countdown did not disappear, but a new chill and countdown occurred.
Listening to the two countdowns in his head, counting down one after another, Zhang Yu finally understood what was going on.
"There are two countdowns?"
"Is one of the two fake?"
(End of this chapter)