Early June, Connecticut City, somewhere in the Holy Top Church.
At the front of the church was a towering cross. The seats on both sides extended all the way to the door. Almost all the seats were filled with believers. The dome in the sky was grand and spacious. The walls and windows were narrow and colorful. Rays of sunlight seeped in, bringing a sense of solemnity.
A bishop was holding a scripture in his hand. He was preaching slowly in a grand and dignified voice, guiding the lambs closer to the light of heaven. The whole scene was sacred and extraordinary. It made people forget their daily troubles and obtain spiritual sustenance.
At this moment, Lou Cheng, wearing a white T-shirt, casual pants, and sneakers, walked in from the door. He put his hands in his pockets and took a few steps forward. He looked around and found an empty seat at the back.
He didn't clasp his hands or lower his head like the believers present. Instead, he closed his eyes and leisurely used his ears, spirit, and soul to sense everything around him.
Because of the discussions on the Internet, he became a hot topic again. He didn't dare to stay long in Xiushan. A few days later, he flew to Connecticut City. After more than a month of rest, he had recovered most of his strength.
The reason he came to the Holy Top Church to observe the ceremony was not because he wanted to convert to God. For a martial artist like him who had a firm will and knew what he wanted and what he was fighting for, faith was faith. He would never rely on an illusory god for the peace of his heart and the path of his future.
During this period of time, Lou Cheng had been here to observe and comprehend.
According to Geezer Shi, all training methods would lead to the same destination in the end. Lou Cheng felt that the next step of combining martial arts and cultivation, which was also the important step of advancing to Physical Invulnerability, might be to focus on the word "sameness".
Because of this, he decided to broaden the scope of his study and not limit it to cultivation and martial arts. Through the church rituals and martial arts sects, he could find the common ground, the meaning of the word "sameness", and the essence of improving himself. From there, he could gain a strategic advantage.
Lou Cheng closed his eyes and listened carefully. His will was "three feet above his head". In a state of concentration and detachment, he read the changes in the ritual environment and the spiritual stability of the believers.
After a while, the choir began to sing in a neat, holy, and lofty way. With the help of the special design of the chapel, the audience seemed to be immersed in the baptism of the holy light. The hesitation and anxiety in their hearts were swept away. In a short time, they seemed to have been reborn.
Lou Cheng slowly opened his eyes and saw that some of the believers were already in tears. He could vaguely see milky white light rippling in the chapel, but it also seemed like an illusion.
This feeling … He watched, listened, and experienced thoughtfully. He had some ideas, but he couldn't grasp the essence of it, let alone find any similarities.
In a similar atmosphere, the ceremony came to an end. Lou Cheng didn't stay any longer. He stood up, put his hands in his pockets, and walked slowly to the door.
A man sitting in the front row of the church happened to put down his hands and looked around as if he had sensed something. He glanced around and saw the back of the person at the door.
"Huh?" The golden-haired, blue-eyed youth suddenly cried out in confusion.
"What's wrong, Oblak?" The black-haired youth beside him asked in confusion.
Oblak frowned and replied, "That person just now looked familiar."
However, he couldn't recall who it was because he could only see the back of the person.
"There's no one here." The black-haired youth looked back and saw no one by the open door.
"Forget it. It's nothing important." Oblak shook his head and stood up. "I have to go back and prepare for tonight's match."
He and the black-haired youth, Charles, came from Europe's Brutale, a branch of the Mission Sect. They were currently escorting the Holy Grail on an exhibition tour in America and sparring with local Grandmasters of Martial Arts.
As one of the Mission Sect's main strongholds on this side of the ocean, Connecticut's activities had been upgraded to a small-scale competition to determine the strongest person below the Crown.
The Mission Sect believed that the human body had ten Primordial Essences in different positions, corresponding to different symbols. When all of them were condensed, a Tree of Life would "grow" and reach the ultimate Crown, which was equivalent to the Physical Invulnerability of China.
Although the "crown" was known as the ultimate, in the context of the Church, it was only the ultimate of mortals. When the three "crowns" were worn, one would be able to lift the "curtain of shadows" and see the "God of Concealment" and become a true "Archangel."
Oblak had made a name for himself at a young age and was brimming with talent. Due to the setback and provocation in China, he had given up on his arrogance and impetuousness. As a result, he had condensed all ten Primordial Essences faster than expected. He was only half a step away from "growing" the Tree of Life and one step away from attaining the Crown. In this competition, he had been victorious and was about to enter the finals.
…
Late at night, in a villa.
In the center of the living room on the first floor, there was an altar with strange symbols drawn on it. On the surrounding chairs, sofas, dining tables, and even the carpet, there were naked men and women in the midst of intense intercourse. Some were one-on-one, some were one-on-many, and some were even one-on-many. Their expressions were intoxicated and full of joy, as if they had obtained the ultimate release.
At the railing on the second floor, Lou Cheng stood quietly with a paper cup in his hand. There was fruit juice in the cup.
His desire rose as he watched. His mouth was dry as he drank the cold drink. He tried his best to restrain his thoughts as he sketched out the Confrontation Formula stroke by stroke, clearing his mind and body.
Seizing this opportunity, he activated his Kung Fu and froze water into ice, turning the lake into a mirror, and making a deity appear three feet above his head.
Looking at the scene below, Lou Cheng had already shed his lust and impulsiveness. His eyes were dark and deep again as he observed calmly from the side with an aloof attitude.
"This bunch of spirit cultivators sure know how to play …" He chuckled to himself.
This was a Spirit Cultivator Sect that had developed properly. In other words, they obtained members through their own preaching. They didn't need to use drugs, bewitchment, or abduction to trick innocent men and women into joining them. Therefore, he had no intention of being chivalrous.
Moans entered his ears as the sea of flesh churned. Lou Cheng gently swirled the paper cup in his hand as he observed quietly and harmlessly. He gradually gained some understanding of such a scene and such "cultivation."
"To put it simply, this is a method to break the fixed pattern …" He nodded slightly and sipped his fruit juice. "Since birth, everyone is bound by various rules and requirements. Once these are broken, one's body and mind will be liberated, relaxed, happy, and stimulated. Combined with one's lust, it's equivalent to the Buddhist Tantric Enlightenment of Lust and Emptiness. It doesn't seek lust, but to break one's obsession, break one's shackles, and break the original pattern of one's body and mind.
"In the process, if you indulge in 'lust', indulge in such indulgence, and indulge in the feeling of emptiness and relief after the matter is over, you will be on the wrong path. You will jump from one fixed pattern to another, forming new obsessions and new restraints."
"The Spirit Cultivator's method of seeking Self Spirit is similar to that of Tantric Buddhism. Both are extreme and easy to fall into the Devil's Path …
"This is a ritual to enhance one's Self Spirit. For a spirit cultivator to enter the Physical Invulnerability stage, one's Self Spirit is closely related to one's Self Spirit. What is the similarity between it and the Church, the sects that focus on combat, cultivation, and martial arts?
Lou Cheng, who had recently read many classics, pondered seriously. After a long time, he took the paper cup and silently disappeared from the second floor.
When the ritual was over, the host Spirit Cultivator returned to the second floor. He planned to seize the opportunity to see his Self Spirit and raise it while his body and mind were in a relaxed and liberated state.
At this moment, he looked at the study in confusion. The window was wide open, and the night wind blew in, filling the empty space.
"I forgot to close the window?" The Spirit Cultivator was confused.
…
A car sped through the empty streets at night. Smith looked ahead and asked, puzzled,
"Lou, why would you want to watch a devil's ritual?"
Lou Cheng pressed his lips with his right hand and casually made up a story. "Devils have their own logic. Only by understanding them can we defeat them."
"You've become more and more mysterious recently." Smith shook his head and sighed.
He was a Puritan passed down from his ancestors, and hated the activities of Spirit Cultivators.
Without further ado, Smith asked, "There are two more places. Where to first?"
Lou Cheng thought for a moment and laughed self-deprecatingly.
"Let's call it a night. Send me back."
What a strange guy … Smith criticized silently. He turned the steering wheel and turned into the road to the North District.
…
The next morning, Lou Cheng finished his training. Wiping his sweat, he walked back to the house and happened to see Yan Zheke coming down from the second floor with light steps.
"Ke, have you felt any obvious nourishment in your body recently?" He beat her to it and asked the question that he would ask every three to five days.
Yan Zheke was wearing a T-shirt that exposed her delicate collarbone. She rolled her eyes and said, "It's fine. Ever since I collected the Nine Words Formula, my spirit has been improving rapidly. The effect of nourishing my body is also getting better."
As she spoke, she walked down the stairs and said with her dimples,
"I feel like it won't be long before I can nourish my body, understand 'withdraw', achieve Dan equilibrium, and strengthen your foundation of blending cultivation and martial arts! Isn't that awesome? "
"As expected of Coach Yan!" Lou Cheng gave her a thumbs up and praised her with a bright smile.
When he first completed the Cultivation and collected the Nine Words Formula, he purely wanted to help Ke make up for her congenital deficiency. Who would have thought that it would actually help him open up his own path?
If he wanted to rely on George and the others to achieve Dan equilibrium, who knows how long it would take!
And the effect of practicing the Nine Words Formula was also very good. His spirit had improved a lot. Recently, he even felt like a "charlatan".
Yan Zheke pursed her lips and said proudly, "But the improved spirit has been used to nourish my body. My current state is about the same as last year. I can't stay up too late …"
At this point, she covered her mouth with her hand and yawned cutely. Then, her face turned red and her expression turned fierce. She lifted her leg and "kicked" Lou Cheng's shin. Although it was quick and swift, she didn't use much strength.
Therefore, Lou Cheng could only smile in response.
After breakfast, he sent his wife to Connecticut University. After leaving Aunt Du to protect her, Lou Cheng went to the Martial Arts Club and then to the Holy Top Church to continue his observation and comprehension.
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