Chapter 379: Steady Path, Everyone Confused!

Simple!

Too simple!

This is the first thought in everyone's mind.

This is worlds apart from the previous questioning of Xuánjiàn, Yàoshī, and others.

One must know, the current Xu Kongzang is also a Taiyi Golden Immortal in cultivation.

Facing a Golden Immortal-level enemy, it is naturally a crushing existence.

Moreover, I have two great sages behind me holding the fort.

On the contrary, looking at the enemy side, they have also stated clearly, with no hidden tricks, and no helpers nearby.

Is there even a need to think about it?!

Of course, just go up and fight directly!

Without exception, everyone present thinks this way.

Xu Kongzang is naturally no exception.

Therefore, he hesitated not, and immediately opened his mouth to respond.

"Hehe, naturally one would take out a spiritual treasure to suppress it on the spot, or even completely slay it."

This time, Xu Kongzang's answer made everyone nod again, finding no fault.

As the words fell, he also looked expectantly at Chen Ku.

With so many listeners of the Dao, I thought I would certainly be the first to receive praise, right?!

But upon hearing his answer, Chen Ku at this moment neither affirmed nor denied, his face calm and unruffled.

The next moment!

Pa!

Another foot-long ruler fell down, slapping onto Xu Kongzang's palm.

Xu Kongzang was completely dumbfounded.

"This... Senior Brother Chen Ku, is my answer also wrong?!"

He felt wronged and puzzled as he questioned Chen Ku.

At the same time, everyone's gaze turned to Chen Ku, waiting for his response.

"Could this question also have a trap?!"

"What... traveling with sages, what is there to worry about?!"

"Senior Brother Xu Kongzang's answer is already flawless."

"We really cannot think of any shortcomings."

Even some whispered, eyes wide.

Amidst everyone's doubtful and bewildered gaze, Chen Ku finally spoke.

"Impulsive, too impulsive!"

"Even if the situation looks certain to win, one must not relax vigilance."

"One must know, whenever conflict erupts, it may expose one's whereabouts, or trigger subsequent troubles."

"If unnecessary, avoid fighting others."

"And even if one must act, think thrice afterward, leaving oneself a retreat."

This explanation again left everyone stunned and dazed.

Just fighting, is it necessary to make it so complicated?!

You must know, in the vast wilderness of heaven and earth, cultivators are countless, and each is unruly and arrogant, with ambitions higher than heaven.

Great battles, killing and seizing treasures, etc., are commonplace and not surprising.

But never have I heard that before acting, one needs to make so many preparations.

Is this Senior Brother Chen Ku (predecessor) perhaps overly cautious?

Of course, awed by Chen Ku's might, everyone thought this in their hearts, but did not say it outright.

However, Chen Ku, with just a glance, directly saw through everyone's thoughts.

"Remember, this is not making a mountain out of a molehill!"

"Even if your strength can pierce heaven and earth, not stirring up trouble is the safest path for a cultivator's growth."

"Reducing outings reduces all possible risks."

"And borrowing others' strength can preserve one's strength and aid in planning."

Chen Ku's words fell.

But this time, everyone merely stared at each other, momentarily unsure how to react.

The reason is simple!

This lecture has already left everyone dazed.

From beginning to end, Chen Ku's talk has been outstanding in emphasizing the word "cowardly."

It seems... in his lecture, once something happens, what one should do is only to retreat everywhere.

Even, even when facing someone weaker than oneself, one must be extra cautious, think thrice before acting.

This is worlds apart from, and completely contrary to, the teachings everyone has always accepted.

Before this, even if it was Jieyin, Zhunti, and others, their teachings were to uphold a Dao heart and then advance fearlessly.

It is no exaggeration to say that hearing Chen Ku's words left everyone with a feeling of confusion.

Damn it, in future cultivation, what exactly should I do?!

Ordinary beings dare not ask, but Mílè is not so hesitant.

"Senior Brother Chen Ku, what you spoke of earlier, we heard it but only half-understood!"

"I don't know... Senior Brother, could you please explain it more concretely, to point the way forward for us?!"

What Maitreya said is also what everyone is thinking in their hearts.

They only wanted to hear more concrete teachings from Chen Ku's mouth.

And "Little Chen Ku" became solemn, pondered for a moment, then said:

"In short, since you are all beings of the Western Buddhist sect."

"Then, the primary thing is that you should remain peacefully cultivating on Mount Sumeru, not actively venturing into the wilderness conflicts."

"Whether it's refining pills, seeking treasures, encountering enemies, and so on, if you can avoid it, then avoid it."

"Do not personally face danger, do not escalate disputes."

"Only then... can you preserve your own longevity and eternal vision, remain safe and sound."

This statement can be said to have already told everyone what they should do.

One after another, figures wore expressions of deep thought, finally gradually comprehending Chen Ku's profound meaning.

But immediately after, another being curiously asked:

"May I ask, Senior Chen Ku, what is this Great Dao?!"

Upon these words, everyone also changed expression greatly, all looking toward Chen Ku with eager curiosity.

Yes!

In the wilderness, all things and phenomena can attain the Dao.

And what Great Dao is Chen Ku transmitting today?!

Once clarified, when walking between heaven and earth in the future, if others ask, one can also have a response.

Otherwise, wouldn't one be considered merely a "coward"?!

This question, however, left Chen Ku momentarily stunned, somewhat taken aback.

What Great Dao?!

This... he really hadn't thought about it carefully.

But Chen Ku's reaction was also extremely quick.

Just as his mind stirred, he opened his mouth to respond:

"Hehe, getting to the root of it, it's merely the two words 'steadfast'!"

Good!

Steadfast!

These short two words are everything Chen Ku wishes to impart to those before him.

Steadfast means avoiding danger, holding firm means survival!

In the vast wilderness of heaven and earth, almost every day sees countless beings perish, ceasing to exist.

This also makes it so that in the cognition of all beings, death seems no longer something to fear.

After all, even if the Demon Race's billions of beings perished initially, what effect would it have on heaven and earth?!

But Chen Ku does not think so.

What cultivation, spirit treasures, spirit roots, or various great fortunes and opportunities, etc.

When all is said and done, none are as important as the single word "life"!

He won't care about the opinions of outside cultivators.

Even if it seems "cowardly," only by preserving one's own life does one have the qualification to speak of other things; this is also the fundamental basis for establishing oneself in the wilderness.

And upon hearing Chen Ku's words, everyone also showed expressions of thoughtful contemplation.

"The Way of Steadfastness? It truly lives up to its name."

"Indeed worthy of Senior Chen Ku, explaining in plain and easy-to-understand terms, yet containing a profound subtlety of the Great Dao."

"We feel for the first time that listening to the Dao can actually be such a simple matter."

"Good, good, this Way of Steadfastness, compared to other Great Daos, is much easier to comprehend."

The crowd marveled and sighed.

Out of reverence and awe for Chen Ku, they naturally took his words "steadfast" as a supreme Great Dao.

Moreover, everyone was also very happy to accept this name.

After all, "steadfast" sounds much better than the single word "coward."

More importantly, when Jieyin and Zhunti expounded the Dao before, it could be said to be profound and obscure, extremely difficult to comprehend.

But this time, Chen Ku's exposition was plain and easy to understand, without any obstruction.

Everyone also became more willing to accept it.

And it seems that having summarized the two words "steadfast," Chen Ku also thought of many more things.

He continued to instruct everyone:

"In short, if one simply guards one's territory, cultivates in peace and safety, with nothing happening, then it is naturally the best possible."

"And when facing an enemy, first one should distance oneself from the opponent, assess strength, and whether there are helpers present."

"When one must act, first one should take out defensive spirit treasures and formation disks, etc., which can both protect oneself and trap the enemy."

"Preserve life first, then consider the matter of resisting the enemy."

Everyone nodded, deeply agreeing, with no voice of doubt.

At this very moment, Guanyin's expression shifted, as if she had thought of something.

"Teacher, disciple has a question."

"In our Buddhist sect, we emphasize compassion as the heart."

"If all means are fully employed, and the enemy is completely surrounded with no way to escape."

"Then... should we not try to convert them with Buddhist teachings? Or perhaps give them a way out?!"

Guanyin's words drew strange expressions from everyone.

We've already completely surrounded the enemy, and yet we're supposed to give them a way out?!

You really are a living bodhisattva!

But upon further thought, could what Chen Ku said today really mean this?!

After all, compassion in the heart is indeed a Buddhist teaching.

Moreover, from beginning to end, Chen Ku's discourse has been permeated with a sense of "kindness and harmony."

At once, everyone's gaze gathered again on Chen Ku, awaiting his response.

This time, Chen Ku hesitated not.

He glanced helplessly at Guanyin.

"Since the enemy is already surrounded, it means there is no possibility of conversion."

"If we still give them a way out, wouldn't that be inviting ridicule for womanly benevolence?!"

Hmm??

Everyone's faces changed dramatically, deeply surprised.

They clearly felt that at this moment, Chen Ku's entire aura seemed to shift instantly, revealing an unmatched fierce momentum.

Indeed.

Immediately after, Chen Ku continued speaking:

"Once it reaches that point, there is no need to hold back."

"We must utterly destroy the enemy, annihilate their true spirit until it vanishes like smoke and clouds, leaving no chance of revival."

"If doubts remain, for safety's sake, repeatedly destroy them with spirit treasures, formations, etc., and examine the corpse."

"Thus cutting off any hope of the enemy's revenge."

"Know that wildfire cannot burn it all—spring wind blows and it grows again!"

Chen Ku's words rang out like metal on stone, gripping the heart.

As he spoke, he couldn't help but recall Yang Mei and Ji Du from before.

At that time, Chen Ku had done exactly this.

Even Yang Mei's true form—that hollow willow tree—was burned in fierce flames.

Yet even so, Chen Ku could not be certain the enemy was truly dead and gone, vanished without trace.

One can imagine, in the primordial wilderness, everyone's life-preserving methods are endless and hard to fathom.

Therefore, at critical moments, combining killing and replenishing, examining corpses, etc., is also very necessary.

But as his words fell, everyone stared blankly at Chen Ku, faces full of surprise, dazed and lost.

"Destroy the enemy until their true spirit vanishes like smoke and clouds?!"

"Repeatedly destroy them?!"

"Even examine the corpse?!"

"This... is too ruthless, isn't it?!"

Numb!

Completely numb!

Chen Ku's response, compared to his earlier attitude of constant retreat and "compassion in the heart," is like heaven and earth.

The speed of change left Maitreya, Mahasthamaprapta, and others feeling utterly unprepared.

Let alone ordinary beings.

In everyone's eyes, a flash of unfamiliar expression appeared again.

"Is this... still the Chen Ku senior we know, the one with compassion in the heart?!"

Someone unknown suddenly voiced such a doubtful whisper.

Hearing this, Chen Ku smiled knowingly.

"Heh, what is compassion in the heart?!"

"So-called compassion is not merely avoiding harming ants when sweeping the ground, or protecting moths from lantern light."

"The wrathful vajra gaze, decisive slaughter—these too are compassion!"

"After all, if at a critical moment one uses thunderous means to strike down the wicked, it is also benefiting the world's living beings."

This time, everyone seemed somewhat dazed.

After all, the profundity and subtlety of Buddhist teachings are beyond their full comprehension.

Chen Ku also knows that teaching the Dao requires measure.

What he has spoken today is enough for everyone to digest and reflect upon.

Glancing around at everyone, the young Chen Ku said no more.

"Well, today's lecture ends here!"

"You may all disperse and reflect on what I have said."

Thus, everyone let out a long breath in relief.

They still feared Chen Ku might raise another question, triggering the ruler's harsh fall.

Figures immediately rose and dispersed on their own.

But only now did everyone's expressions shift, as they recalled something.

No way!

This time coming to listen to the Dao, I originally wanted to hear what insights of the Great Dao, or perhaps to pass on various divine abilities and great techniques.

How did it end up, I listened to a bunch of "timid" life experiences?!

Confused!

Everyone was truly confused beyond measure!

But thinking of the ruler falling, that burning pain, everyone could only leave with hearts full of doubt, each going their own way to ponder.

Ao Li, Ao Zhan, Ao Tian and several other "third-generation dragons" gathered together at this moment, unable to help but whisper and discuss privately.

"This... Senior Chen Ku's words compared to our initial expectations are simply worlds apart."

Ao Li spoke first, saying this, and immediately drew nods from the others, who wholeheartedly agreed.

Before coming to the Buddhist gate, they had imagined Chen Ku to be a supreme existence, every word and deed containing profound and mysterious, utterly sublime Dao principles.

Who could have imagined that now, finally having entered the Buddhist gate and listened to the Dao for the first time, Chen Ku would actually speak of some life-preserving methods?!

This contrast was too surprising for several of them.

The most crucial point is, according to what Chen Ku said, can one truly cultivate into an unparalleled powerhouse?!

Everyone had some doubts about this.

And just at this moment, a figure suddenly descended behind Ao Li and the others.

"Hehe, why do you all show such confused expressions?!"

Hearing the sudden voice, Ao Li and the others hurriedly turned toward the sound.

At a glance, their expressions instantly turned stern.

"Senior Black Dragon?!"