Master Qishan smiled and said, "Hope and reality are two different things. Even if you break through, it's not something to be proud of. As you said before, it's hard to think that you're the special one."
Ning Que smiled and said, "You're too arrogant."
Master Qishan was slightly stunned and said, "How so?"
Ning Que said, "The Five States are the gap between heaven and man. If you can break through the Five States, you'll become a legendary Sage. There hasn't been a Sage in the cultivation world for many years, but you said it's nothing. Isn't that arrogance?"
Master Qishan shook his head and said, "Although it's difficult to break through the Five States, there are many people in the cultivation world who have the chance. And even if you break through the Five States, how can you be called a Sage?"
Ning Que was puzzled and said, "Why haven't I heard of anyone who can break through the Five States?"
Master Qishan looked at him and asked, "What's Mr. Second's current state?"
Ning Que thought for a while and said, "Second Brother should be at the peak of Knowing Destiny State, but … you know his temper. Who knows if he'll break through the void if he's really angry."
After saying this, he couldn't help but laugh.
Master Qishan didn't laugh because he didn't understand.
Ning Que awkwardly stopped laughing.
Master Qishan said, "Since Mr. Second is already at the peak of Knowing Destiny State, then …"
After saying this, the master stretched out a finger and pointed to the top of the hall.
Ning Que suddenly realized that since Second Brother was already at the peak of Knowing Destiny State, Eldest Brother was naturally close to breaking through the Five States, and might even have broken through. As for the teacher … this was a normal human discussion and had nothing to do with him.
"Well, I admit that some people can break through the Five States."
"Liu Bai once fought with Master Yan Se, and the East Sea was turbulent. Everyone said that he was most likely to break through the Five States. In my opinion, he could have broken through the Five States long ago, but he just didn't take that step."
Master Qishan said, "Junior Brother Lotus was amazing back then. He practiced both Taoism and Buddhism, and had the foundation of the Devil's Doctrine. If he wanted to, it wouldn't be difficult for him to break through the Five States, but he didn't want to."
Ning Que had heard this from Lotus himself at the Front Gate of the Devil's Doctrine. At that time, he only believed 60% of it because he felt that it sounded like a big shot bragging before he died.
"Why?"
Ning Que was puzzled and asked, "Why didn't these people choose to take the last step?"
"Breaking through the Five States means that the cultivator has left the secular world. Not only can he completely grasp the law of the aura of heaven and earth and understand the rules of the world, he can even create new rules. However, this is Haotian's world after all. The rules of the macro world cannot be challenged, so we still have to rely on the rules of the macro world."
Master Qishan said, "So for those few real powerhouses, the biggest difference between the peak of Knowing Destiny State and breaking through the Five States is the understanding of the origin of the world. It doesn't increase their strength much."
Ning Que could not understand and said, "It's always a good thing to improve. Who can resist such temptation?"
Master Qishan sighed. He glanced at the gray sky again and said, "You are right. The temptation is indeed too great. But it is precisely because of the temptation that those people do not dare to take that step."
"Do you know what realms are above the five realms?"
"Heaven Opening, Limitless … I've only heard of these two."
Ning Que answered. This was what he heard from Lyu Qingchen on the journey from the City of Wei to Chang 'an. At that time, he could not cultivate. Now he was a Grand Cultivator in Knowing Destiny State, but his understanding of the legendary realms above the five states was still at this level.
He had once asked in the back of the mountain of the Academy, but his Senior Brothers thought that his question was too boring and ignored it. Now it seemed that he could hear the answer from the master, so he could not help but feel a little excited.
"In the Classics, there are many realms beyond the human world. The Heaven Opening you mentioned is the one that is recorded the most in the West-Hill Classics. The Limitless is also a Great Divine Power. In addition, there are also the Infinity and Extinction of Buddhism, the Omen Realm of the Devil's Doctrine, the Quietness of Haotian Taoism … These realms are all above the five states. They have their own wonders, but there is no difference between them."
Master Qishan paused for a long time at this point.
"In the legend, there is a more wonderful realm above all the realms. Even the oldest Classics do not record it. It is only passed down by word of mouth on the second floor of a temple, a monastery, and a sect. That is …"
"The immortality of the Devil's Doctrine."
"The Nirvana of Buddhism."
"The Ascension of Haotian Taoism."
"The Transcendence of the Academy."
…
…
The autumn rain pitter-pattered, and it gradually became cold in front of the hall.
Master Qishan wrapped his cotton-padded coat tighter around his body.
"The Devil's Doctrine was founded less than a thousand years ago, and I have never heard of anyone who cultivated to immortality. When the Buddha passed away, there was a vision in the sky. It should be the Nirvana. The Ascension of Haotian Taoism is relatively common, and they are the immortals in the folklore."
Ning Que vaguely understood something.
Master Qishan said with emotion, "In tens of thousands of years, there may be one person who can reach the end of the long road of cultivation. One person can reach the other shore, and one person can be immortal. At that time, they will return to the embrace of Haotian."
Ning Que looked at the stone steps wet by the rain and asked in a daze, "Death or immortality?"
"No one knows."
Master Qishan was slightly perplexed and said, "The Buddha will not tell us, and neither will the seniors of Haotian Taoism who have ascended to immortality. So this is the biggest temptation and also the biggest fear."
Ning Que looked up at the master and asked, "So neither Liu Bai nor Lian Sheng dared to take that step?"
Master Qishan said, "That should be the case."
"Breaking through the Five States is still a long way from those supreme states. However, as the saying goes, one can only know the taste after tasting the marrow. After a cultivator understands the feeling of creating rules by himself, it is difficult to control the desire to continue to pursue upward. So unless one is sure that one's talent is just enough to cross that threshold, no one dares to take that step."
The master slowly shook his head and said, "However, those who can break through the Five States must be great figures like Liu Bai or Junior Brother Lian Sheng. They are very confident in their talent."
Ning Que suddenly said, "Headmaster of the Academy …"
Master Qishan said, "Don't ask me. Decades ago, the Headmaster of the Academy said that he was not a saint. If you want me to guess, I guess he cultivated the State of Pureness."
Ning Que smiled and said, "He is so lively. How is he quiet?"
Master Qishan said, "It is enough to have peace in the heart."
Ning Que reached out to collect some rainwater outside the hall and rubbed it with his fingers. After a long time, he asked, "Is there no one who can not ascend to heaven?"
Master Qishan said, "Who can escape the cycle of heaven?"
Ning Que slowly withdrew his hand and wiped it on his Academy uniform. He said, "Teacher did not tell me this."
Master Qishan said, "Because the Headmaster of the Academy is sure that you will definitely reach the peak of Knowing Destiny State in the future and see the gap between heaven and man. Then, you will naturally know the temptation and fear in the human world."
Above the human world was the firmament.
Ning Que looked up at the firmament in the autumn rain and found that it was indeed desolate.
He felt a little cold.
The Way of Heaven was indeed ruthless.
…
… (To be continued.) If you like this work, you are welcome to come to qidian.com to vote for me. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
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