Beyond the Divine States

Chapter 65 The Significance of Cultivation

It was extraordinary in Tianku Peak.

During several centuries, due to the hard work of cultivators from generation to generation, this heavenly peak was mostly caverned out.

In the mountain, there were countless beehive-like caves. The end of the caves was more than ten stairs. The front half of the stairs were made of stone while the latter half were made of wood. Looking forward along the stairs, you would have an open view and then see continuous spaces adjacent to each other.

The spaces were not dark because every stone brick and rock mass were glittering. All the residential caves were built against the peak. They were elegantly furnished, where the bed, incense table, burning furnace and curio shelf were all exquisitely made and equipped.

In the middle of the peak was a huge straight and round log in view. The big log was joined by countless wood pieces, which also grew a lot of big wooden arms to support all the things in the world of the peak.

"This is the Dragon Intertwining Pillar straightening from the foot of the mountain to the bottom. It is the axis of the mansions, libraries, hidden peaks and many other mechanical traps, which is said to be built by the first grandmaster together with tens of grand cultivators over more than ten years. The Dragon Intertwining Pillar can't be burned off or cut off. Even a cultivator at the peak of the realm of Purple Court can hardly destroy it," Yazhu introduced the huge log which only showed a small part to them, her face faintly proud.

Ning Xiaoling sighed in awe and admiration, "Impressive."

Looking at the huge log that was called Dragon Intertwining Pillar, she felt it was more of a tree and the whole peak was its leaves and branches.

"Dragon Intertwining Pillar..." Ning Changjiu thought of some records in the ancient books.

It was said that in ancient times, there were some peak-like huge pillars in the places like Nanming, Yun State and Guhuang, where the ancient dragons inhabited. The scales of the dragons were even left on many ancient pillars and the scales could be used to make precious armors. The armors were quite rare, which were hailed as Grey Scaly Armor.

However, for some reason, since a thousand years ago, ancient dragons had rarely shown up. Only their descendants were still around.

While sighing about it, Ning Xiaoling couldn't help asking with puzzlement, "Is it nice to stay outside the mountain? Why did they make the effort to cavern out the whole mountain?"

A lot of disciples new to the Oracle Sword Heavenly Sect had the same doubt.

Yazhu thought for a while and then answered with a question, "Xiaoling, what do you think is the significance of cultivation?"

Ning Xiaoling contemplated for a moment and then said, "To pursue Taoism and live forever?"

Yazhu nodded her head and asked, "What if you know you can't reach Taoism or live forever?"

Looking at the huge, complicated and yet exquisite world in the mountain, Ning Xiaoling seemed to be lost in thought. "Then I will work on something I like?"

Yazhu said, "Most of the cultivators can't have the chance to really reach Taoism. Having a longer lifespan than ordinary people is the best result they can get... Generally, people can only live to the age of 100 or so. So what? While you are alive, surely you can't just stay unhappy for being unable to make a progress. Instead, you should do something meaningful, like changing the world."

"Changing the world?" The idea stirred up a small ripple in Ning Xiaoling's heart. Something suddenly occurred to her mind and then she asked, "But Jia... Master told me that cultivators should be isolated from the secular world."

Yazhu said with a smile, "It's not contradictory. Every godless month, cultivators will subdue demons for the folks. A lot of cultivators will also go back to protect the families or a city when they reach the realm of Long Life. A large number of cultivators have joined the anti-war folk organizations."

Ning Xiaoling nodded her head and suddenly looked at Ning Changjiu, asking seriously, "Changjiu, what do you think is the significance of cultivation?"

Yazhu also looked at him. In her eyes, this young man looked ambitious but his unchangeable inherent conditions made him only able to take a glimpse by the threshold of Taoism.

However, she was also curious about his answer.

Almost without thinking, Ning Changjiu said with a composed tone, "Cultivation is to interpret the world."

...

...

"What about this room? It is facing the east so that I can see the sun when it comes out."

"The clouds are too thick here. Even if the sun comes out, you cannot see it clearly. Not a good choice."

"How about this one? The clouds are thin here and even the distant lake can be seen."

"This place faces the north so it is relatively dark all year round. It's not good."

"What do you think of this? It is bright and rich in aura. I guess you must have no problem with this one?"

"Well. It is winter now. The north wind is too cold. You can easily get a cold when you sit here for long. Not a good choice."

"Alas. I'm kind of half a cultivator. How can I get a cold easily? Besides, Changjiu, you asked me to pick myself. Why do you keep judging the rooms I choose? You are such a big liar!"

"A father would tell his daughter to choose the man she likes as her husband but when the daughter really does, it must be another case."

"Well... Changjiu, why do I feel you look like an undercover agent of the evil sect?"

"I'm only giving you suggestions. If you've really made up your mind, I won't say a word."

"You are so picky. Why don't you move to Master Jiajia's room? The peak master's hall is so beautiful with an open view. I guess it will satisfy all your requirements," Ning Xiaoling refuted.

Ning Changjiu wanted to say something but he still held his tongue. Finally, he said, "You pick. And I will stay quiet."

In the end, Ning Xiaoling chose a room facing the north while Ning Changjiu picked the room next to hers.

He sat down by the window, appreciating the scenery outside the window.

Outside the peak, it was snowing around slowly.

He stared at the misty sky and the clouds in the north and suddenly had a hunch but he didn't know what it suggested.

He mulled over it but he still failed to get any clue.

Hence, Ning Changjiu just kept sitting there, leaving his white sleeves on his knees. The window was open, through which the cold wind blew from the south to the north onto his eyes and eyebrows. His black long hair was billowing in the wind.

When he was 16 in his prelife, he also liked sitting quietly and overlooking the scenery out of the cliff like this.

Now, the view was different. Supposedly, in the distant Bu Ke Temple, his six fellow disciples must be still the same as usual.

Only the junior fellow disciple who closed the gates was missing.

It seemed that the sixth fellow disciple had to continue doing that.

Thinking that the sixth fellow disciple, who was grey-haired and taciturn was forced to work, he couldn't help laughing.

He thought for many days but he still couldn't figure out why he would go back to 12 years ago and the 16-year-old self failed to meet his master. However, he was still named Ning Changjiu.

Were there so many coincidences in the world?

Nevertheless, at the thought that his six fellow disciples were still in the same world as him and they could meet one day, he felt so happy.

He never felt being immortal was very important. It was only a task assigned to him by his master before the closed-door training.

The 24 years he spent in the temple were what he couldn't forget.

Therefore, when Ning Xiaoling asked him the question, he gave that reply.

He was named Changjiu but what he yearned for was not longevity.

He wanted to know the reason for what had happened to him. He also wanted to figure out how this world was running. He wanted to discover the truth about the immortal land and the 12 states of Yin, and what the birth and appearance of the spirit-swallowers floating in the sea of debris actually suggested.

Of course, most importantly, he wanted to figure out what on earth his master was up to.

Was it her who made him go back to 12 years ago?

The clouds and mists, just like white curtains blowing in the gale, floated across him.

He suddenly took out the branch and put it on the table. Staring at the branch that was as dark as the black iron and as smooth as the mirror, he didn't know what it actually was though it grew out of his body. He tried to destroy it but anyhow, he couldn't leave any trace on it.

Regardless, he knew it must have something to do with his master.

"This is my sword and my coffin too..."

He recalled this saying.

They were the last words he heard in his last life and the words he should hear 12 years later.

...

The first snow of winter came and went fast. The wind and snow had gradually faded away before the top of the peak turned white.

At night, the sky was full of stars. The wind stirred up by the flow of aura swept across the mountains with a chill, causing shrill cries in the grottoes of Tianku Peak.

The sounds caused by the wind were lingering.

They sounded as if the universe was wailing.

Both the inner disciples or the outer disciples would choose to sit in meditation at this time, absorbing the essence of the sun, the moon and the stars. While the four seasons switched, the universe would reveal the discernible lucky chance. If you were fortunate enough, you would be able to get a glimpse of it, which would benefit your cultivation a lot.

However, Ning Changjiu didn't seize the time to absorb the aura to refill his sea of Qi or sit in meditation to comprehend the destined lucky chance. Instead, he just sat there quietly, unmoved.

He needed a knife and he must have seen the knife before. He had to figure out what it was.

Someone knocked on the door, which woke him up from his thinking.

"Changjiu?" In the dark, Ning Xiaoling slid into his room and called him lightly.

"Yes?" Ning Changjiu was slightly surprised, saying, "According to the rules, disciples cannot visit each other at night. If you are found by others and reported to Lu Jiajia, you will be in trouble."

"Changjiu, you've preached me a lot of times today. So naggy," Ning Xiaoling said in a low voice, walked to him quietly and took a seat.

"Fine." Ning Changjiu nodded with a smile.

In the dark, Ning Xiaoling's eyes appeared even brighter and clearer.

"Changjiu, I want to talk to you about one thing and then I'll go back."