Chapter 13: Sitting and Discussing the Dao

Chen Ye truly did not expect Su Chunyi to ask this seemingly ordinary question with such solemnity.

After a moment of thought, he understood Su Chunyi's intention.

This was no mere inquiry; it was clearly a "discussion of the Dao" between righteous cultivators.

Sitting and discussing the Dao to see who shares the same aspirations is the highest form of exchange among righteous cultivators.

It is rumored that in the past, when the Demonic Sects flourished, the five great orthodox sects gathered at Lingyun Peak to discuss the Dao for three days, then swore an oath with blood to form a life-and-death alliance, struggling to win a sliver of hope for the righteous path amidst despair and surviving that terrifying calamity.

A few years later, chaos erupted within the Demonic Sects first; eighteen Demon Lords fought each other for power and profit, causing the Demonic Sects to decline from prosperity, instantly reversing the balance of offense and defense.

In Chen Ye's view, the so-called discussion of the Dao was actually an assessment of whether their values aligned. If they could understand each other's hearts, they could entrust their lives to one another; this was the way of the righteous path.

In contrast, demonic cultivators could never achieve such righteousness. Most among the Demonic Sects were selfish in daily life; although not every single one was a mad killer, when fighting over cultivation resources, they treated human lives like ants, showing no morality whatsoever.

When facing life and death, how could one expect the Demon Lords to support each other and charge forward bravely?

Everyone harbored the idea of "letting the fellow Daoist die while the poor Daoist survives," resulting in no one daring to charge first; instead, they were suppressed by the righteous path's united spirit, ultimately causing the Demonic Sects to crumble from within and decline rapidly.

After this battle, the world knew where the advantage of the righteous path lay and how precious like-minded people were.

When upright and kind people meditate and cultivate Qi, they are not necessarily faster than evil people, but once the critical moment arrives, they can shout in unison "fight side by side," reducing internal strife and consumption within the sect; thus, true unity is incomparable to the scattered sand of the Demonic Sects.

However, such conduct is not without drawbacks.

Take Qinghe Sword Sect, for instance; it is a famous great sect among the righteous path with strict rules and extremely high standards for selecting disciples. How many can persistently uphold the principles of suppressing the strong and helping the weak, and practicing chivalry throughout their lives?

Therefore, even counting all the fallen disciples, Qinghe Sword Sect totals fewer than one hundred people.

As time passes, the stricter the standards, the more difficult the sect's inheritance becomes. In recent years, many sects helplessly relaxed their rules, but some failed to maintain the right balance, quickly becoming heterodox paths or even falling into the Demonic Dao.

When Chen Ye heard these stories, he often sighed; the world changes, times shift, and even the heavens and earth transform, let alone human hearts.

Master Mo Ci once mentioned that only a handful of sects now retain the tradition of "sitting and discussing the Dao."

Chen Ye had never witnessed a true "discussion of the Dao" scene, but judging by Su Chunyi's demeanor, she seemed to have some intention of discussing the Dao.

Logically, Chen Ye should now rack his brains to think of how to use exquisite rhetoric to convince Su Chunyi, making her believe he is a "fellow Daoist," which would bring countless benefits.

Yet, facing Su Chunyi's clear yet sharp eyes, Chen Ye finally decided to speak the truth: "If you ask my true heart, I must say that karma concluded is good, while tangled karmic ties are evil."

Su Chunyi's eyes held confusion as she pressed, "Please elaborate, fellow Daoist."

Chen Ye thought for a moment and continued, "When I first arrived in Cui Xian, I met Wang Wang Sanqi; this ruffian tried to extort me, but I taught him a lesson, and his evil toward me has already received its retribution.

"Later, when I wanted to make a name for myself, I cooperated with Wang Wang Sanqi; he completed his performance, and I treated his old father, so we owed each other nothing.

"In my view, I gained fame, Wang Wang Sanqi saved his old father, and this karma concluded perfectly; that is good."

Su Chunyi's gaze never left Chen Ye for a moment; after listening silently to these words, she remained silent for a long time before asking again, "What about the others bullied by Wang Wang Sanqi?"

Chen Ye shook his head slightly and said slowly, "That is their karma. I told Wang Wang Sanqi to compensate and apologize to those people, but I only mentioned it casually. Whether those people forgive him, choose revenge, or endure silently is their own business.

"Once I obtain what I seek, I will leave this place. Whether Wang Wang Sanqi keeps his promise in the future has nothing to do with me anymore."

Su Chunyi frowned slightly and asked in confusion, "If what you say is true, how can the weak conclude their own karma? Must they endure silently?"

Chen Ye's lips curled up, as if he had expected Su Chunyi to ask such a question, and replied, "When successful, one helps the world; when poor, one cultivates oneself alone. How exactly the karma of mortals is concluded is a problem for immortals to ponder; when I transcend and become an immortal, joining the ranks of the immortals, perhaps I can ensure everyone receives karmic retribution."

There is no concept of the six realms of reincarnation in this world; when a person dies, it is like a lamp extinguishing, ending everything once and for all.

This made Chen Ye full of curiosity; if there is no reincarnation, what do true immortals actually look like?

It is rumored that immortals do exist, and in considerable numbers, but after they ascend, they vanish like a mud ox entering the sea, leaving not a trace; where exactly do they go?

Whenever Chen Ye gazed up at the vast starry sky, he would inevitably fall into such contemplation, growing increasingly yearning for the mysterious unknown above the stars.

Su Chunyi seemed to have heard something shocking and outrageous; her eyes widened as she asked in shock, "Ensure everyone receives karmic retribution? How can that be done?"

Chen Ye perhaps spoke too casually and continued without thinking, "Settle accounts after death. If all mortals could gather in one place after dying, their good and evil deeds in life reflected perfectly in a bright mirror, then based on unresolved karma, those who deserve it go to the oil cauldron, and those who deserve it are reborn; wouldn't that ensure everyone receives karmic retribution?"

Su Chunyi asked again, "Reborn? What does that mean?"

"It means being reincarnated as a human again, or livestock, or flowers, trees, and grass... uh, I was just speaking casually; the specifics, I will think about in detail after I become an immortal."

As soon as Chen Ye spoke, he secretly cried out in alarm; topics as sensitive as the six realms of reincarnation cannot be discussed casually.

In the eyes of cultivators in this world, reincarnation is nearly akin to soul usurpation; if he continued, he feared Su Chunyi would shout loudly, "Bold demon! I can see at a glance that you are not human!"

Then, with a whoosh, a sword light would sweep past, and he would be beheaded and die miserably on the spot.

Fortunately, Chen Ye overthought it; after hearing his wild imagination, Su Chunyi had already fallen into shock.

"Settling sins, concluding karma, reincarnation and rebirth? Mr., your grand ambition truly makes me feel ashamed; everyone in Qinghe Sword Sect has pondered how to save all people under heaven, yet even the sect master has never had such a unique idea."

"Uh, this is not my original creation either; I merely borrowed someone else's wisdom."

Chen Ye felt slightly embarrassed; this was not his idea at all; the six realms of reincarnation underwent countless evolutions to become a rigorous system.

"Mr., your humility and sincerity are deeply admired."

Although claiming the theory of reincarnation was not his original work, Su Chunyi still looked at Chen Ye differently, even changing her form of address.

Chen Ye breathed a sigh of relief; this discussion of the Dao hurdle was probably passed, and he should not be stabbed to death by this Miss Su with a sword.

Su Chunyi blinked her lively eyes and looked at Chen Ye again with that innocent yet seemingly all-seeing gaze, saying sincerely, "I have a great matter to ask Mr. for help."

Chen Ye showed a look of doubt and asked softly, "Ask me for help? Miss Su, you are overestimating me; with my cultivation, what can I possibly help with?"

Su Chunyi's expression grew solemn as she slowly uttered a few words, "It is precisely the matter of Cui Xian forcibly conscripting young boys and girls."