Chapter 1306: Longevity: My Farming-Style Cultivation Is Too Steady Chapter 1306 What Is Cause and Effect?

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Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

"What is cause and effect?"

Three thousand disciples sat cross-legged beneath the Wan Dao Tree, lifting their heads to gaze at the white-haired, gaunt old man on the stone platform.

No one spoke.

No one moved.

Even their breathing was made extremely light and faint.

The Dao Ancestor's gaze swept over the disciples one by one, then he spoke again, his voice still gentle and calm, as if chatting about everyday matters:

"Cause and effect are not the decrees of the Heavenly Dao.

Between cause and effect, there is only time."

After saying this, he stopped.

The branches and leaves of the Wan Dao Tree swayed gently in the wind, making a rustling sound.

Among the disciples, some frowned in thought, while others blinked blankly.

Cause and effect are not the decrees of the Heavenly Dao?

Then what are they?

Is cause and effect not simply good deeds rewarded and evil deeds punished?

You reap what you sow—isn't that the rule set by the Heavenly Dao?

Dao Ancestor, why deny this right at the start?

Among the disciples in the front row, a burly descendant of the Divine Clan with a flame mark on his forehead spoke up: "Dao Ancestor, I have a question."

"If cause and effect are not the decrees of the Heavenly Dao, how should we understand the idea that good is rewarded and evil is punished?"

The Dao Ancestor looked at him, his gaze calm as he answered: "Good rewarded and evil punished are rules set by people, not rules of the Dao."

"The Dao will not reward you because you do good."

"Nor will it punish you because you do evil."

"Do good, and good results arise on their own."

"Do evil, and evil results follow on their own."

"This is not a decree, but a trajectory."

That Divine Clan descendant frowned, thought for a moment, then nodded, as if he understood, yet as if he did not fully understand.

The Dao Ancestor turned his gaze elsewhere, as if waiting for the next person to speak.

But after a while, no one dared to speak.

At this moment, a voice rang out.

It was not from a disciple sitting in the front row, but came from the Outer Perimeter.

The voice was not loud, carrying a few points of the clear brightness unique to a youth, and in this atmosphere so quiet it was nearly solemn, it sounded especially clear.

"Dao Ancestor, can cause and effect be changed?"

The one who spoke was Zhang Daoxuan.

After asking, he straightened his back, those clear eyes staring unblinkingly at the Primordial Dao Ancestor on the stone platform.

On the Dao platform, under the gaze of the three thousand disciples, while those disciples whose cultivation far surpassed his were still hesitating whether to speak, Zhang Daoxuan spoke first.

Immediately, the Dao Ancestor's gaze fell upon this young disciple: "Cause cannot be changed, effect cannot be reversed, but the time between cause and effect can be changed."

Zhang Daoxuan became interested and asked: "How can it be changed?"

The Dao Ancestor said in a calm tone: "From cause to effect, time can be long or short, straight or curved."

"Whichever timeline you walk, the effect will fall where it may."

"Time is the only bridge between cause and effect, and also the only variable."

"Master time, and you master cause and effect."

"I see!"

"No wonder the Dao Ancestor said cause and effect are not the decrees of the Heavenly Dao!"

"If there is only time between cause and effect, then cause and effect are indeed not decrees!"

"When the time comes, the cause naturally bears fruit; when the time has not come, the effect is forever changing!"

"Doesn't that mean whoever masters time masters cause and effect?"

Hearing this, everyone could not help but discuss among themselves.

Different people had different understandings and thoughts on this.

Zhang Daoxuan, hearing this, looked thoughtful: "Time?"

Xu Zhangqing raised an eyebrow: "This scene—why does it seem familiar?"

Next, Zhang Daoxuan asked three questions about cause and effect in succession.

His tone had neither the caution of a disciple before the Dao Ancestor nor any deliberate showing off; he simply wanted to ask, asking quickly and directly.

The Dao Ancestor answered them one by one, his gaze lingering on Zhang Daoxuan's face for one or two breaths longer than on others.

In those old eyes, a trace of extremely faint praise flickered past.

This gaze did not escape the eyes of those present.

The disciples in the front row all turned to look at Zhang Daoxuan.

There was envy, there was scrutiny, and also a few parts of unspoken alertness.

Cultivators who can sit beneath the Wan Dao Tree and listen to the Dao — there is not a single fool among them.

Everyone could see that this young man who had only just entered the sect not long ago had not only shown his face before the Dao Ancestor, but had done so remarkably beautifully.

Next, several more disciples asked questions in succession.

A disciple asked: "Dao Ancestor, how do karma and fate differ?"

The Dao Ancestor looked at her and answered: "Fate is heaven-determined; karma is one's own.

Heaven determines your starting point, but cannot determine your end point.

From starting point to end point, every step is karma."

Another disciple asked: "Then, Dao Ancestor, what about karma and heavenly secrets?

They all say heavenly secrets must not be leaked — is it because heavenly secrets are also within karma!"

The Dao Ancestor gave a slight smile: "The world believes heavenly secrets cannot be leaked because heavenly secrets are too high, too far, too profound.

That is not so.

The reason heavenly secrets cannot be leaked is because heavenly secrets have not yet occurred.

You see a seed buried in the earth; you know it will grow into a tree in the future, but can you say that tree already exists?

You cannot.

Heavenly secrets are that seed which has not yet sprouted.

They are not secrets — it is simply not yet time!"

The questions extended from karma, touching on fate, heavenly secrets, even the laws of heaven and earth's operation — simply a dazzling variety.

Xu Zhangqing merely sat quietly, asking nothing, participating in nothing.

Not everyone has the opportunity to listen to the Primordial Dao Ancestor expound the Dharma and resolve doubts.

This kind of experience was extremely wondrous.

While listening to the Dao Ancestor's explanation, he was also sorting out his own understanding of karma.

In the end he had to admit the gains were great.

Unknown how much time passed, this "Dharma expounding" finally concluded.

Some beneath the tree discussed in groups of three or five the content the Dao Ancestor had just expounded.

Some hurried back to their own Cave Abodes, directly entering seclusion to comprehend.

There were also several streaks of escape light, flying toward the distant mountains in a puff of smoke.

Zhang Daoxuan and Xu Zhangqing, the two of them, did not walk toward the stone cave's direction, but followed upstream along that stream they had come by, going upward all the way.

The stream water made a great bend deep in the mountain valley; at the bend's heart lay a flat stone beach, the beach covered with goose-egg stones smoothed and warmed by the water's scouring.

The trees on both banks happened to yield a gap right here.

This stone beach is a place Jiang Yuan and Zhang Daoxuan often come to.

Quiet, no one disturbs.

"Brother Jiang!"

Zhang Daoxuan cupped the cool stream water and drank a mouthful, then found a spot and sat down: "In the future, I also want to become someone like the Dao Ancestor."

Xu Zhangqing shook his head: "The Primordial Dao Ancestor is the sole one of the Zhutian Wan Jie.

He establishes the Dao laws, transmits the Dao lineage, opens the immortal road — he is the founder of the cultivation era.

Such a person, there is only one between heaven and earth.

Cannot be replaced, and no one can surpass."

Zhang Daoxuan, hearing this, was stunned, then knitted his brows.

Xu Zhangqing said with a smile: "What, struck a blow?"

Zhang Daoxuan looked at him and said seriously: "Since the Dao Ancestor is the only one, then I'll switch to another.

The Great Dao is fifty, the minor Daos three thousand.

My Dao is supreme — that is the Dao Zun.

Why not just call it……"

He tilted his head and thought for a moment, then said with determined eyes: "Great Dao Zun!"