"Superficial knowledge, just so clumsy opinions, not to be taken seriously."
"Yet, the myriad forms in the world, five lakes and four seas, this old man has seen only a tenth of them, but I’ve encountered quite a few people like you."
Speaking, i Siren paused, his eyes filled with contemplation, choosing his words carefully: "Perhaps in the realm of Dao cultivation, they are not as advanced as you, but each of these people has a noticeable... characteristic."
Characteristic?
A flaw, perhaps?
Xu Xiaoshou instinctively corrected Master Siren’s choice of words, his gaze wandering in the empty space, observing i Siren.
"Dare to ask, what characteristic?" Kong Yuhen eagerly sought enlightennt.
"Self-imposed constraints."
i Siren stated firmly.
Self-isolation? Self-confinent? Self-imposed restrictions?
Xu Xiaoshou pondered this, looking at Kong Yuhen, feeling that what Master had said was quite fitting.
This guy really does have a touch of autism; he’s isolated, stubborn, living in his world, with his own set of rules.
But the condition shouldn’t be too severe; he can talk with people, he can spread anxiety.
In the All Ti Forgotten Sorrow Pavilion, one can forget anything—though worry arises from within, it is unending, and even the Tower Master is no exception.
"Dare to ask, what is the aning of self-imposed constraints?" Kong Yuhen asked again.
i Siren shook his head this ti.
He didn’t fully understand Kong Yuhen, but from their first eting, he sensed this feeling and chose to speak about it.
He couldn’t offer a definitive answer, as he’s just a sword teacher, not an old doctor.
He looked at Xu Xiaoshou: "This old student’s words might offer so insight to you as well."
"What words?"
"Transcending Dao is easy, distinguishing the self is hard."
At these words, Xu Xiaoshou felt enlightennt, as if clouds had parted, and the elusive shadow hanging over Kong Yuhen had found its source.
This guy is in a state of "lostness"!
According to Bazhun’an’s past sayings, each generation has a Kong Yuhen.
He may have experienced not just nine lifetis of reincarnation but ten thousand lifetis.
Could it be that due to these ten thousand lifetis, Kong Yuhen seeks a certain outco, ultimately forgetting the goals of each generation’s Kong Yuhen?
"Complex, muddled, confused..."
Xu Xiaoshou is currently experiencing the myriad forms of the world; he understands them.
He can still maintain his true self because these insights are too superficial for him.
When experiencing the lives of the Ten High Nobles, Dragon Ancestor, Phoenix, and other high realm cultivators, he also needs to spend ti settling himself down.
Otherwise, what he gains could be like the above three words, not essence, but re dregs.
The myriad forms can refine one’s heart.
But the heart refined may not be a pure heart anymore.
It must rise from the mud untainted, yet not necessarily achieving such a realm; it’s another kind of high realm heart.
Might Kong Yuhen be stuck at this last step, incapable of advancing or retreating?
"Thank you for the guidance..."
Across the tea table, Kong Yuhen was similarly contemplative.
He bowed his head, pondering sothing, and after a long ti, when he returned to his senses, he wore an expression of helplessness.
"Perhaps so?"
His tone uncertain: "But distinguishing the self is truly difficult, I don’t know where I co from or why I’m here, I only vaguely rember a general direction to go in."
i Siren may not be a doctor, but he excels at guiding students onto the right path.
He doesn’t excessively "give", instead capturing the details in Kong Yuhen’s words, offering enough space for thought, before speaking again with gentle persuasion:
"Eight or nine out of ten things in life don’t go as one wishes, but seeking Dao, even achieving one out of three is fortunate. Though unaware, where do you wish to go?"
Kong Yuhen did not answer directly at first. Instead, he seriously looked at the makeup character, deeply imprinting this person:
"Old Sir, if leisure permits in the future, I would invite you to enter the pavilion."
Farewell then...
i Siren’s fanning motion froze montarily.
This ti, sitting beside him were Xu Xiaoshou and Bazhun’an, he knew nothing unexpected would happen; these two would not let anything happen to him.
If they t alone, there would be much more to worry about!
"Very well." i Siren smiled lightly, calm and composed.
Only then did Kong Yuhen return his gaze to Xu and Bazhun’an, stating his "destination" with a serious expression:
"The realm of ti is what I seek."
This business-like tone made Xu Xiaoshou sit upright, hearing this stern and imposing man’s voice again:
"This ti, I invite you into the pavilion mainly to ask for sothing, I wish to borrow a door from you."
Door?
Xu and Bazhun’an exchanged glances, puzzled.
Xu Xiaoshou recalled previously at Fusang, Dan Saint Lu Shiyu and Military Saint Iron Big Mouth talked briefly about a "door."
In the City of the Living Bodhisattva, there is a tower of nihility, and atop the tower might be a door, called the Gate of Nihility.
The Ancient Six Gates are divided: spaceti, reincarnation, guiding, Dao thod, sub-plane, and Gate of Nihility.
Yet unknown is what these six gates are used for and what might happen once they are gathered.
Iron Big Mouth ntioned a Nihility Tower, which nobody could enter, except the handso scholar who could.
Xu Xiaoshou knew upon hearing this, that Kong Yuhen was searching for a door.
Very well, he’s found us!
No, he’s found you!
Xu Xiaoshou raised his brows; he knew among the six ancient gates was a familiar secondary plane door, held by Bazhun’an, from Abyss Island.
Bazhun’an didn’t offer it, instead asking: "Are the Ancient Six Gates related to the realm of ti?"
"Perhaps they are."
Kong Yuhen gave an ambiguous answer.
To which, Bazhun’an seed unsatisfied: "That door, I might not have it." He stated resolutely.
Old Eight, you are indeed tough!
At crucial monts, one must rely on Old Eight... these words reminded Xu Xiaoshou of that boastful line from the Heavenly Ancestor Divine Court on Abyss Island, "For a hundred generations, none like , this heaven’s pride, for ten thousand cycles, none better will erge."
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