What is the unity of shape and spirit?
In Daoism, the human body is referred to as the physical form while the spirit is the Primordial Spirit, and the Yang spirit also belongs to the Primordial Spirit.
Daoism advocates that shape and spirit are inseparable, and they must be combined in so way.
Generally speaking, there are two forms of the unity of shape and spirit.
One is when the shape and spirit unite and the form is still visible, which can be called unity of shape and spirit in reality.
The other is when the shape and spirit unite and beco formless and invisible, which can be called unity of shape and spirit in void.
The unity of shape and spirit in void is known as feathering into an immortal, where the Primordial Spirit becos immortal, and the entire person transcends beyond the Three Realms, no longer within the Five Elents.
For example, Liu Haichan, one of the Five North Patriarchs of the Quanzhen Sect, is an example of feathering into an immortal.
According to Volu Seven of "Biographies of the Immortals": Liu Xuanying, also known as Hai Chanzi, initially nad Cao, served as minister to Liu Shouguang. One day, a Daoist ca to visit, asking for ten chicken eggs and ten coins, placing one coin on the table and stacking the eggs on it in the shape of a pagoda. Hai Chanzi was amazed and said, "How precarious!" The Daoist replied, "The dangers of living in a world of fa and fortune are far greater than this." With this realization, Hai Chanzi retreated to Zhongnan Mountain, completed his elixir, dissolved his body, and white qi erged from his crown, transforming into a crane that flew into the heavens.
As for Daoist Zhang Zhishun, he belonged to the category of feathering, but could not be considered as having feathered into an immortal.
Of course, this interpretation arose after the Tang Dynasty when Daoism began to emphasize the practice of inner alchemy.
Inner alchemy proposed a new concept of unity of shape and spirit, differing greatly from the physical ascension in unity of shape and spirit in reality, which we refer to as unity of shape and spirit in void.
At present, Lu Li is in a stage that is not unity of shape and spirit in void, but rather an initial concept of the unity of shape and spirit in reality in the practice of immortality.
The unity of shape and spirit in reality refers to ascension in broad daylight, where the physical body becos immortal and the spirit ascends to the heavens along with it.
In the initial belief of immortality, this stage was already considered divine.
It is rumored that Xie Ziran, recorded in the official annals of the Tang Dynasty, was in unity of shape and spirit in reality and subsequently ascended to immortality in broad daylight.
Simply put, unity of shape and spirit in reality refers to ascension on multicolored clouds.
Evolution differs from the practice of immortality, yet there are so similarities in the mystery.
Lu Li sensed himself and compared it to the records in "Dao Scripture" on the unity of shape and spirit in reality, finding so differences.
"Indeed, my ’spirit’ has rged with my ’physical form."
He pondered, "However, I haven’t experienced the so-called ascension, and my physical body’s strength doesn’t seem to have significantly changed. It’s just that after ’spirit’ rged with ’physical form,’ I feel a more proficient control over my own power."
For example, previously, if I wanted to observe the distance, I had to extend my Spiritual Power externally; moreover, many superpowers relied on the function of Spiritual Power.
Now, the Spiritual Power has ’disappeared,’ yet it hasn’t truly disappeared but has combined with energy rays, transforming into a new energy. I don’t need to extend the so-called Spiritual Power externally and can rely on the natural assimilation of this new energy to sense my surroundings.
Similarly, if using superpowers, I can also rely on this new energy.
Most importantly, this new energy seems to be endless, and even when I fully "open" my "observational power," I don’t feel any consumption.
As if, in this state, I have complete knowledge of everything within a 20-kiloter radius centered around myself.
"I wonder, when using superpowers with this new energy, will the power be greater?"
Lu Li shook his head, thinking that while he was inside the plane, it wasn’t very convenient to test the power of this new energy.
He planned to finish his work and then properly test this new energy.
"Having this ’omniscient observation’ constantly on is quite annoying, all the information flooding in at once, leaving no sense of peace."
Lu Li was pondering whether he could retract the "omniscient observation."
The mont this thought erged, the surrounding scene seed to suddenly "dim."
Imdiately, Lu Li beca no different from an ordinary person, and the "omniscient observation" from earlier was no longer possible.
Previously, I needed to give a command, then let the Little Golden Man "process the proceedings," and only then would the so-called superpower be turned off.
Now, it vanishes with a re thought?
Lu Li couldn’t help but chuckle, "This is much more convenient."
It seems that the unity of shape and spirit in reality does have its advantages.
"Does my current state count as the unity of shape and spirit?"
Lu Li felt very close to it, but sohow didn’t reach the transcendent level of "unity of shape and spirit."
He always felt that sothing was missing.
"Could it be that I’m not truly at the unity of shape and spirit yet, just on the edge, and that I need to wait for the completion of the fourth deep evolution to achieve true unity of shape and spirit, and then ascend on multicolored clouds?"
Lu Li guessed this might be the case.
This made him more expectant, wondering, once he completed the fourth deep evolution into unity of shape and spirit, where would he ascend on multicolored clouds to?
Will it be like in the myths, ascending to the so-called Immortal Realm?
As he contemplated, the plane entered Huaxia’s airspace and slowly landed in Shanghai.
...
anwhile, in Su City.
It was afternoon.
In Diamond Ho, Liu Ke Ping was on a phone call.
He sat on the sofa in the living room, "...Is there still no news from Jack over there?"
A young woman’s voice replied in English from the other end of the line, "Boss, Jack has been out of contact for two or three days. I’ve already sent people to xico to investigate, we should quickly find out the situation."
Liu Ke Ping humd, "And what about the investigation regarding Lu Li that I asked you to carry out?"
The young woman said, "I spent a fortune hiring people to inquire everywhere, it seems we have so findings; I’ll send it to your email shortly."
Liu Ke Ping said, "Send it over quickly."
The young woman answered, then hung up the phone.
Liu Ke Ping held his phone in contemplation. Ever since he saw the online video a few days ago, he had a vague feeling that Lu Li was that "Ancestor Man" making a great commotion in xico.
A person who ignored rifle shots, tank armor-piercing shells, and could still fly in the sky was simply unbelievable.
Liu Ke Ping could boldly say that if Lu Li was really that "Ancestor Man" in xico, then no matter how much wealth the Liu Family possessed, it could not compete.
Why can’t they compete?
Isn’t it obvious? The other party’s flight speed is reportedly close to the speed of sound, possesses absolute defense, and can emit "laser beams" similar to a superhuman. No amount of conventional weapons could eliminate him, so how could they contend against him?
Unless they used nuclear weapons with the longevity of heaven, maybe then there’d be a chance to eliminate him.
Although the Liu Family is indeed very strong in business, they couldn’t possibly own nuclear weapons. You know, out of over two hundred countries in the world, only five legally possess nuclear weapons.
Moreover, even if you had nuclear weapons, could you use them against a densely populated city for no reason?
The answer is certainly no!
Therefore, Liu Ke Ping believed that if Lu Li was really the "Ancestor Man" and wasn’t courting death, then on Earth, he was an invincible existence.
Hence, he had decided that once he confird Lu Li was the "Ancestor Man," not to ntion his father wanting to take Liu Kexin back to the Ugly Country, even if his grandfather personally ca, he would prevent it from happening.
Just as Liu Ke Ping was lost in these thoughts.
Suddenly, it seed there was the sound of a car coming from outside.
Liu Ke Ping was startled, glanced at his watch, "It’s only after two in the afternoon, my sister hasn’t finished work, could it be that Lu Li is back?"
He thought about it and stood up, ready to "greet" Lu Li.
Unexpectedly, the door was directly pushed open from the outside.
Soon, a few bodyguards escorted a tall and thin spirited elderly man in his sixties slowly inside.
Liu Ke Ping felt a jolt in his heart upon seeing the newcor, and quickly lowered his eyes and said, "Dad, why are you here?"
Father Liu coldly glanced at Liu Ke Ping, and said unkindly, "You still ask why I ca? I’ve given you so many days, why haven’t you brought Kexin back yet? Hmph, where’s Kexin? Call her over imdiately!"
...
Vox, General Manager’s office.
Seated behind the desk, processing docunts, Liu Kexin’s face showed so signs of distress.
For the past few days, worried about Lu Li’s safety and due to the pressure from her family, she has practically been in a state of not eating well or sleeping well.
The ntal pressure was imnse, making her feel like she couldn’t catch her breath.
After finishing a docunt, Liu Kexin paused to catch her breath.
She picked up her phone to check, but there was still no ssage from Lu Li.
Frowning, Liu Kexin put down the phone, pondering to herself, "Where on Earth has Lu Li gone all these days without any news? Could sothing have happened to him?"
No, it couldn’t be.
He’ll be fine.
Liu Kexin comforted herself, but couldn’t help sighing.
Although Liu Ke Ping hadn’t put too much pressure on her these days, her father had called several tis, every call being nothing but asking her to return to the Ugly Country imdiately.
Initially, Liu Kexin argued with her father for a bit, but later she found it unbearably annoying and didn’t even want to answer the phone.
Liu Kexin had already made up her mind that as long as Lu Li didn’t let her down, she would cut ties with her family if necessary and never return to the Ugly Country!
Ring ring, an incoming call.
Lost in thought, Liu Kexin snapped back to attention and looked at the phone screen, only to see it was her father’s number displaying on the caller ID.
Already feeling a bit suffocated, seeing this call made Liu Kexin feel the pressure increase.
She hesitated for a mont but ultimately chose not to answer.
The phone rang for a while before being disconnected due to no answer.
Liu Kexin felt puzzled, given the ti, it should be past two a.m. in the Ugly Country, why was her father still awake and calling at this hour?
She couldn’t help but have a sense of foreboding, "Could Dad have co to Huaxia?"
Just as she was thinking this, the phone rang once more.
Thinking it was her father calling again, she initially didn’t want to deal with it, but out of the corner of her eye, saw the caller ID was Lu Li.
Suddenly, all of Liu Kexin’s pressures seed to lt away.
She quickly answered, her voice slightly cautious, "Lu Li."
Lu Li’s voice ca from the other side, "Kexin, I’m back, on the road now. Should I co to the company to find you?"
Liu Kexin replied, "You should go back to Diamond Ho first, it’s not good if colleagues see."
Lu Li laughed softly, "What’s the big deal? Do you have a handso guy hidden at the company or sothing?"
"You!" Liu Kexin was slightly irritated and snapped, "Nothing good cos out of a dog’s mouth, I haven’t even asked where you’ve been for nearly a week, and you’re accusing ? Hmph!"
Lu Li laughed heartily, "Just had so things to handle, what could I be doing? Alright, that’s settled then, I’ll wait for you at Diamond Ho."
Liu Kexin quickly stopped him, "Hey, hold on!"
Lu Li asked, "What else, babe?"
"Who’s your babe?" Liu Kexin’s cheeks flushed slightly as she retorted and directly asked, "What have you been doing for so long this ti?"
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