[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl":3,"chapter-the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-325":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Great Jin's Most Iron Rice Bowl",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1897099,2531,"Chapter 325: Upholding Goodness","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-325",325,"\u003Cp>The Divine Lamp fell into the Four Spirits Realm just over a thousand years ago, yet it caused Great Jin to undergo three massive transformations: from low martial arts to high martial arts, and finally to cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi said, \"The fall of the Divine Lamp feels like a signal for the recovery of spiritual energy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Guiyi, who had remained silent until now, spoke up: \"That is not incorrect. The Divine Lamp comes from outside the realm. Since the Four Spirits Realm is sealed, objects from outside should theoretically be unable to breach the realm barrier and fall in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The fact that the external Divine Lamp could fall in indicates that the realm barrier was already loosening at that time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi, Jingliao, and Yan Zhenzhen all nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Guiyi continued, \"Based on our current understanding of magical artifact grades, the Divine Lamp is at least an eighth-grade Daoist artifact.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Theoretically, even a broken eighth-grade Daoist artifact is not something mortals can wield, yet the Divine Lamp uniquely uses human emotions and desires as its fuel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since all humans possess desires, anyone who finds a fragment of the Divine Lamp has the opportunity to ignite it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Divine Lamp burns with Yin and Yang flames; what are Yin and Yang?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heaven and Earth are divided into Yin and Yang. Yin symbolizes the chaotic and violent aspects of the world, while Yang represents the bright and friendly aspects.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Yang flame of the Divine Lamp can help ignite the good thoughts in one's heart, while the Yin flame can trigger the evil thoughts and various desires within.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When the Divine Lamp was intact, the Yin and Yang flames embraced each other. Those destined could draw both flames into their bodies; through perceiving these flames, they could gain a sharper awareness of both their own good and evil thoughts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Only when both Yin and Yang flames burn is there balance and harmony. In this state, it holds positive significance for both mortals and cultivators.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, since the Divine Lamp shattered, many who found fragments possessed either only the white jade lotus petals or only the black jade lotus petals. Very few managed to gather both.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The white jade lotus petals can only be ignited by those with pure and kind hearts, so few have lit them. As for the black jade lotus petals... as long as they fall into the hands of someone with strong desires, they can be ignited.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thus, the balance between good and evil was broken.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whether one ignites only the white jade lotus petals or only the black ones, they will eventually suffer backlash.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In reality, the last five hundred years of the Great Jin Dynasty have always been fraught with turmoil and instability.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking to this point, compassion appeared on Master Guiyi's face, while Jingliao and Yan Zhenzhen also sighed heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Guiyi said, \"The Yang flame stimulates the bright and friendly aspects of humanity, and people all crave beauty and peace. Therefore, anyone who ignites the white jade lotus petals can attract a large number of followers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Yin flame, however, triggers the evil thoughts and various desires in the human heart. Evil thoughts are often accompanied by threats of fear and death, while desires are like bottomless pits. Those who ignite the black jade lotus petals can also expand their own forces by inducing fear and desires in others.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The scattering of the black and white lotus petals led to the separation, and even the opposition, of good and evil.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since those who ignite the white jade lotus petals are clearly fewer than those who ignite the black ones, the overall social atmosphere has continuously shifted toward evil thoughts and various desires.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You should all know the Asura Sect. Why has the imperial court been unable to eradicate it? It is because there are too many people burdened by heavy desires, allowing the Asura Sect to continuously recruit new disciples.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Guiyi looked at Hua Changxi: \"You have only ignited the Yin flame within you; this problem must be resolved soon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You previously asked what the difference is between those who have ignited the Yin flame and those who have not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let me put it this way: everyone has desires, but normally, these desires lie dormant within the body.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The world is chaotic, and the vast majority of people live within this chaos. Unless subjected to severe external stimulation, most ordinary people have little awareness of their own desires in most situations.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For instance, a greedy person never believes themselves to be greedy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, once the Yin flame is ignited, whenever a person is provoked by desire, the Yin flame grows stronger. Under such circumstances, self-deception becomes impossible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi said, \"Then speaking of which, igniting the Yin flame is actually a good thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Guiyi nodded with a smile: \"I believe the artifact master who originally forged the Divine Lamp indeed intended to create a tool to assist cultivators in their practice. Therefore, whether one ignites the Yang flame or the Yin flame, if used correctly, it benefits cultivation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yet desires are hard to control. Especially evil desires; catalyzed by death and fear, they unconsciously engage in devouring and destruction, ultimately leading to ruin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Without the balance of the Yang flame, the Yin flame will grow endlessly until it devours the cultivator's mind, causing the cultivator to be completely controlled by it. At that point, the person is no longer human, but merely a vessel of desire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jingliao added, \"Demonic qi is the best catalyst for triggering human evil thoughts. Those Nascent Soul cultivators who ignited the Yin flame, upon inhaling demonic qi, will cause their Yin flames to grow. As the Yin flame strengthens, it will again stimulate the various desires and evil thoughts deep within their hearts. Consequently, their destructiveness will only increase.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he looked at Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Before you ignite the Yang flame, you must stay far away from demonic qi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi nodded seriously to indicate she had taken note, then asked the question that concerned her most: \"Master, why am I unable to ignite the Yang flame?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Guiyi looked at her: \"Since the Divine Lamp was forged to assist cultivation, igniting the Yin and Yang flames can also be viewed as a form of practice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The fuel of the Divine Lamp is the seven emotions and six desires. To balance the Yin and Yang flames means one must control one's own emotions and desires.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young friend Hua, do you feel you have controlled your emotions and desires well?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was stunned by the question: \"I feel... I have.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Guiyi, Jingliao, and Yan Zhenzhen: \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jingliao said, \"It is not about what you feel. People can be arrogant, self-deceptive, self-deprecating, and stubbornly trapped in their own imagined worlds. The 'you' that you think you are may not be the real you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Guiyi asked with a smile, \"Does young friend Hua feel that you understand yourself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi replied, \"I feel... I understand myself quite well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Master Guiyi smiled helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Hua Changxi asked, \"Then how can I be considered to truly understand myself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Guiyi looked at her: \"Others are like a mirror! One needs to recognize oneself through interactions with others.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi fell silent for a moment: \"What does this have to do with igniting the Yang flame?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Guiyi said, \"Do you know why the Yin flame is easier to ignite than the Yang flame?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because the Yin flame can be ignited passively; amidst overflowing desires, even a slight stimulus can trigger greed, anger, and ignorance. However, good thoughts require a person to actively choose and persist in them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Upholding goodness is the key to igniting the Yang flame.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi widened her eyes: \"I have been actively upholding goodness all along!\" She paused, then added, \"During the recent chaos at the Artifact Saint Palace, I saved quite a few people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Guiyi looked at her: \"The emphasis of upholding goodness lies not in what deeds one performs, but in the active choice and active persistence originating from the heart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let me ask you this: if treating those injured people outside would cause harm to you, young friend Hua, would you still choose to save them? Furthermore, if saving the injured threatened your life, would you still be willing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi frowned: \"Master, does your so-called upholding goodness require one to 'sacrifice oneself for the benefit of others'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Guiyi shook his head: \"It is not about sacrificing oneself for others, but about clearly knowing what kind of person you truly wish to become, neither catering to the outside world nor being influenced by it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Upholding goodness means that good thoughts have merged with you, becoming part of your very being. You guard that spark of goodness just as you guard yourself, because this is the kind of person you want to be.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi: \"Master, your standard for benevolence is far too high; I do not believe there are so many such people in this world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Guiyi: \"...Perhaps they are not absent, but rather, you yourself are not pure enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1530,"2026-06-12T02:51:23.636Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","abf5b659232f06fa6239a58454b93bb47b20596149592257f5db257c31ffc023","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-326","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-324",558,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-cover.jpg"]