Dragon's Origin

Chapter 147: The Door to the Dao (Part 2)

Upper Line: The great form has no shape, called Yi, called Xi, called Wei, bearing Yin and embracing Yang, illusory yet not illusory;

Lower Line: Supreme goodness is like water, guarding the feminine, guarding the dark, guarding the humble, returning to simplicity and genuineness, profound and mysterious.

This was a couplet Wang Sheng knew from the Laojun Temple on Earth, and it couldn't be more suitable for use in front of the giant statue of Laojun.

This time, the old Daoist didn't laugh wildly as he did when he saw the first couplet, but stood on the riverbank for a long time.

It wasn't just the old Daoist standing for a long time; the abbot and several high-ranking Daoists from the Laojun Temple were also silently looking at the couplet, speechless.

In this world that Wang Sheng transmigrated to, currently, there is only one religion: Daoism. However, Daoism hasn't developed as thoroughly in theory as it did on Earth. Even after generations of research and supplementation, it's still just a large framework, not delving into the depths of the Dao.

But this couplet that Wang Sheng copied from Earth contains the essence of the Daoist supreme classic, the *Dao De Jing*. It also completely aligns with some of the Daoist concepts of this world, yet it's even more thought-provoking than the existing concepts.

They are all high-ranking Daoists, so how could they be indifferent when faced with such Daoist theories that, like a great bell, awaken and enlighten people? Standing there silently for a long time only meant that everyone was immersed in their own understanding, unable to extricate themselves.

Everyone is pursuing the true meaning of the Dao, but all along, everyone has been like looking at a beauty through a veil, vaguely seeing the outline but unable to see the true face. Even the most spiritually advanced and virtuous Daoists are like this.

Suddenly, a pole lifted a part of the veil, allowing everyone to see a small corner. How could the joy within be understood by the craftsmen who thought these high-ranking Daoists were collectively acting foolish?

Some of the younger disciples of the Laojun Temple didn't understand and turned their gazes to Wang Sheng. Although they wouldn't suspect that Wang Sheng had cast some kind of evil spell on their masters, grandmasters, and ancestral masters, the fact that Wang Sheng's couplet had turned all these elders into this state definitely meant Wang Sheng was up to no good.

Could it be that this couplet actually hid some kind of confusing formation that had ensnared so many elders? After waiting for a long time without any movement from the old Daoist and the other Daoists, some of the younger disciples were becoming restless.

Just at this moment, a voice of praise suddenly came from the river: "Good calligraphy! Good calligraphy!"

The voice was loud and came from a boat on the river. This shout awakened the old Daoist and the abbot from their contemplation. They had finally entered a mysterious and profound state, and as long as they could break through the obstacles before them, they could take their cultivation a step further. But suddenly, they were interrupted by a shout of praise. The old Daoist was so depressed that he wanted to kill someone.

"Bullshit good calligraphy, what are you shouting about?" The old Daoist, displeased, didn't care who the other party was or their status and immediately cursed.

The abbot and several high-ranking Daoists were also forcibly interrupted in the process of comprehension, and their hearts were filled with regret. However, their expressions weren't as straightforward as the old Daoist's. Although they looked calm, they also showed a hint of displeasure when they looked at the boat.

"You can't even see such good calligraphy, you're blind and unworthy of being a scholar!" The voice from the boat immediately retorted, and then an old man with white hair and a white beard appeared on the deck, shouting towards this side.

Seeing a group of Daoists and then seeing the abbot of the Laojun Temple, the old man seemed to be stunned for a moment, and then he understood. Then he whispered to the boatman to stop the boat at the riverbank.

Several Daoists from the Laojun Temple also saw the old man's face and hurriedly greeted him. Both sides recognized each other, so they couldn't argue. The other party also apologized to them, and the old Daoists couldn't pursue the matter of him interrupting their comprehension, and the atmosphere became harmonious.

The white-bearded old man was a literary master from the capital, holding the official title of Grand Scholar and Crown Prince Tutor, and he was usually very fond of literature. Hearing that new calligraphy and new fonts had appeared, he had rushed over overnight. Before, he had only seen the large characters on the couplet, and he had only just realized that such a large statue of Laojun must be related to the Laojun Temple.

Leaving aside the greetings on this side, the old Daoist directly pulled Wang Sheng and the abbot aside.

"Prepare a quiet place for me," the old Daoist unceremoniously instructed the current abbot. "I want to use it after reading the third couplet. I have gained some understanding and may be able to advance another level."

"Congratulations, congratulations!" Wang Sheng immediately cupped his hands in congratulations when he heard that the old Daoist might advance. However, what Wang Sheng found strange was that the abbot of the Laojun Temple looked at Lingxu Old Daoist as if he had seen a ghost, with an unbelievable expression on his face, almost shouting out.

What's going on? Wang Sheng didn't understand. But the abbot of the Laojun Temple was really about to shout out in shock. If he wasn't deep in the city, he really wouldn't be able to hold back.

Wang Sheng didn't understand, but the abbot was very clear. The ancestral master of the Laojun Temple was already of unknown age. According to legend, a long time ago, he had already broken through the limits of the ninth realm and was already in the legendary tenth realm Great Perfection realm. This legend had already spread to the point where it was impossible to believe.

That was really a legend! Tenth realm Great Perfection, as long as anyone with common sense knew, no one in the world had ever heard of anyone breaking through the limits of the ninth realm, tenth realm? Only someone with water in their brain would believe it.

But what did the ancestral master just say? He was going to advance again? The abbot didn't know how to describe his mood. If such a ridiculous thing was said from someone else's mouth, he would definitely slap that nonsense-talking guy to death. But the one speaking was his own ancestral master, even if he wanted to, he wouldn't dare to do it!

Even if the legend wasn't true and the ancestral master was only in the ninth realm, what was the concept of advancing soon? The abbot already felt that his brain was a bit insufficient. Could it be that he had calculated incorrectly, and nine should actually be eight?

The old Daoist ignored the abbot's entanglement and pulled Wang Sheng to practice calligraphy and drink wine again. He liked Wang Sheng for this point, he never easily said impossible, that's why they were so compatible.

After staying for another two days, on the last piece of riverbank, everyone collectively saw the third giant statue. Just like the first and second statues, it was majestic and imposing, and they also saw the third couplet that made people speechless.

The Dao produces one, one produces two, two produces three, three produces all things;

Man follows the Earth, the Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Dao, the Dao follows Nature.

Boom, the old Daoist, the abbot, and the other high-ranking Daoists, who had been忍着 (ren zhe - enduring/restraining) and not peeking in the middle, only saw it after all the cliffs were broken open. Their minds roared. Suddenly, they felt that they had seen another wonderful world, a world that the Daoist ancestors had been pursuing for generations. That world had finally opened its doors to them.