Chapter 283: Chapter 7 Yellow Millet Dream
According to legend, Pure Yang True Man, Luu Dongbin, was born into a scholarly family and was a well-read student before he embarked on the path of Dao.
Despite his innate intelligence and quick thinking, Luu Dongbin faced constant setbacks in the imperial examinations, failing time after time.
Feeling disheartened, he often drowned his sorrows in wine. One day, while out seeking drink, he encountered Zhongli Quan, who was disguised as a wandering traveler.
Noticing Luu Dongbin’s exceptional natural talents, Zhongli Quan invited him to practice in the mountains. However, Luu Dongbin, still clinging to worldly desires for fame and success, firmly refused to leave the bustling secular world.
Zhongli Quan was not upset; instead, he simply started preparing a meal with firewood and Yellow Millet.
Before Luu Dongbin could react, he felt his eyelids grow heavy and soon fell into a deep sleep.
In his dream, Luu Dongbin returned to his past, and this time, he passed the examinations with top honors on his first attempt, enjoyed a successful career, and even married the daughter of the Prime Minister. His life was harmonious, and his fortunes rose swiftly and prominently.
Later, Luu Dongbin was framed by others, suddenly faced serious charges, and had his family’s property confiscated. His entire family was tragically exiled, enduring bitter cold and hunger. Amidst life’s uncertainties, Luu Dongbin suddenly woke up.
At that moment, the Yellow Millet had not yet cooked, thus giving rise to the saying, "a Yellow Millet Dream."
After dreaming a lifetime of fifty years and experiencing countless ups and downs, Luu Dongbin, guided by Zhongli Quan, finally achieved enlightenment, relinquished his worldly attachments, and began his cultivation, which led to many later stories.
And now, Jiang Li was about to undergo his own Yellow Millet Dream.
However, dreams vary from person to person. Luu Dongbin was preoccupied with fame, which led to his dream of prestige followed by banishment; Jiang Li, on the other hand, had little interest in fame. What he truly sought were the mighty powers of cultivation and, moreover, to return home.
Consciousness seemed to traverse time and space, with various scenes flashing by until everything finally settled into the darkness of the night sky, dominated by the bright, full moon.
A gust of night wind brushed against Jiang Li’s face, bringing a hint of chill.
Like someone awakening from a dream, he looked up to see the enormous moon filling his eyes.
Tonight, with few stars visible, was a perfect time for moon-gazing.
Below the moonlit sky were countless household lights, a series of bright and dim illuminations that lit up the night city, symbols of modern civilization.
Jiang Li leaned on the balcony railing, soullessly watching this scene, feeling a mix of emotions.
A crisp notification sound suddenly appeared; Jiang Li instinctively reached into his pocket and took out his familiar Fruit-brand mobile phone. Clear and crisp notifications from his Penguin group lit up the screen.
Face recognized, phone unlocked, entered into the group chat.
Rows of "Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!" flooded the screen alongside notifications for collecting red envelopes.
Then came all kinds of emojis, including seals flaunting the amounts in their red envelopes.
The familiar formula, the familiar taste, the familiar memes—all made Jiang Li smile.
"Ding!"
Another notification popped up; this time, it was a private message.
Jiang Li casually clicked on it, and what appeared was an animated GIF of the bright moon along with a line of congratulatory words.
—"Jiang Li, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!"
"Crack—"
Suddenly, the phone screen cracked.
Jiang Li clenched his phone tightly, the smile he had earlier replaced by a gloomy expression. His grip was so tight it bent the not inexpensive phone.
He was not called "Jiang Li," or rather, Jiang Li’s past life was not named "Jiang Li," but another name.
Yet, that name that should have appeared was now replaced with "Jiang Li."
Everything around him seemed so real, but Jiang Li’s memories told him it was false.
The strength to easily crush the phone told him it was false.
The message "Jiang Li, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!" told him it was false.
Jiang Li’s Yellow Millet Dream was not a sealed memory; even the details of the dream constantly reminded him that it was just a dream.
Luu Dongbin dreamt a lifetime of fifty years, experienced another life, and woke up to be enlightened; whereas Jiang Li was supposed to find enlightenment within the dream and make a choice.
—To let go?
—Or not to let go?
If he let go, the Yellow Millet Dream would be considered past, the Promotion Ceremony completed, achieving the Sixth Rank, earning the Uniqueness Dao Fruit, Pure Yang True Man.
If he could not let go, the dream would remain just a dream, and once it was over, there would be no promotion or Dao Fruit.
This was a choice, but not a simple decision; it was about enlightenment.
Enlightenment cannot be changed overnight; when Jiang Li achieves the enlightenment to let go, he would complete the ceremony and, moreover, completely relinquish his attachment to returning.
Although everything before him was false, the enlightenment he was to make was not.
If he wished to temporarily set aside his thoughts of returning, thinking he could pick them up again after the promotion, that would be impossible. Such perfunctory actions could deceive others but not oneself.
And the essence of the Yellow Millet Dream was still a test of Jiang Li’s true heart.
Jiang Li arrived at a crossroads in life.
Thus, Jiang Li asked himself,
"Do I truly want to go home?"
Then, he answered himself, "In the world of my past life, I actually had no attachment; without traversing through times, I would have merely strived all my life, serving others as a mere beast of burden, unable to compare to this life. What I truly miss is the affection of family."
Then, should it be necessary to let go of this obsession for a Sixth Grade Dao Fruit?
"The Sixth Grade Dao Fruit isn’t worth such a sacrifice, but this hurdle of mine needs to be overcome. Whether I let go or not, I must confront it directly, and make a realization."
Burying memories itself harbors thoughts of escape, for Jiang Li knew that even if he could return, it would be a long way off, and he did contemplate letting go because it seemed too remote. He had thought of giving up.
But because he couldn’t bear to, he couldn’t let go.
Until now, due to this Promotion Ceremony, Jiang Li finally reached the point where he had no choice but to make a decision.
Should he let go?
"Let time test all this," Jiang Li thought lightly as he set down the broken phone.
Jiang Li didn’t know if after a long time he would still hold this thought, and he even knew that it was very likely that time would dilute his obsession.
But for now, not much time had passed, and no matter what the future holds, Jiang Li currently wanted to return.
Therefore, Jiang Li planned to dream, letting the time in the dream tell him whether he could let go.
If, in the dream, decades pass and eventually his thoughts fade, then he would let go.
If they remain unchanged, it shows that this is Jiang Li’s true intention, so he will not let go.
Time will reveal the truth.
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Meanwhile, Tong Yuanzi was shaking the Palm Leaf Fan, seriously observing Jiang Li.
Just now, Jiang Li showed a gloomy expression, his Qi Mechanism around him surged, seeming to cover all directions, but suddenly, it calmed down abruptly, regathering into his body, and returned to being calm.
At this moment, Jiang Li sat in the small pavilion, upright in posture, his visage calm, faintly emitting a crystal-like luster, possessing a divine dignity.
Merely sitting there, his presence seemed almost unbearable for Qingfeng and Mingyue to confront directly.
"Temple master, is he... about to succeed?" Ming Yue asked, lowering her head but unable to restrain from inquiring.
Tong Yuanzi did not reply, but slowly approached, as if to observe closely.
Yet before he could take a step, a faint starlight appeared out of nowhere, dropping down and enveloping Jiang Li, shielding him from external forces.
Tong Yuanzi, seeing this, couldn’t help but laugh, "Fellow Daoist Jiang is indeed cautious enough."
He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, relaxing.
"With this, I needn’t worry about any accidents, very good, very good," he said slowly, waving his fan, "It’s just unknown which one of these fellow daoists will align more with the Dao Fruit of Pure Yang True Man, with which to advance."
The essence of the Yellow Millet had already spread out; not only Jiang Li, but also Zhang Daoyi, had entered the dream state as the aroma reached them.
The outcome would now depend on whose Mental State was more perfect, whose foundation was deeper.
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"It seems to be on the right track."
In a certain hall, Tianxuan’s eyes held starlight, her vision seemingly filled with myriad scenes, all that happened around Jiang Li was clear to her.
"Indeed, it’s a Yellow Millet Dream..." Tianxuan murmured softly, her hand lightly lifting, a faint brilliance emerging. A full moon appeared behind her at some unknown time, emitting a transcendent and sacred aura.
If anyone understood dreams, Tianxuan believed no one in the world could surpass her, at most, could only match her. Upon sensing Jiang Li’s Promotion Ceremony, she immediately connected it with related legends and discerned the essence of the ceremony.
"Walking in dreams, the key is to remain conscious, needing an anchor continuously connected to oneself. Just like a kite tethered by its string..."
After a brief contemplation, a beam of moonlight split from the moon behind Tianxuan, and through an invisible connection, flew towards a distant place.
"With my Qi Shu shielding his life pattern, even if he fails to advance, this should ensure his safety. Moreover, it could even guide him to awaken if he becomes lost."
Having arranged for Jiang Li’s safety, the moon behind Tianxuan gradually faded, and the anomaly in her gaze also slowly vanished.
However, just then, she suddenly sensed something; an inexplicable connection seemed to have formed between her and Jiang Li through the communication of Qi Shu.
This should not have happened, at least when Tianxuan used this method to protect Gongsun Qingyue before, it did not occur.
She intended to explore it further, but just at that moment, a palace maid walked in with small steps and, bowing, said, "His Majesty requests your presence at the Purple Extreme Hall."
Thus interrupted, Tianxuan could only temporarily suspend her investigation. She nodded lightly, saying, "Lead the way."
She walked out of the hall, her step neither hurried nor slow, her splendid skirt completely covering her shapely legs, also concealing a brief glimpse of a red thread that had appeared on her stockings which subtly flashed a hint of rouge.
Within a few steps, that thin red line disappeared again, never to reappear.
However, that inexplicable connection persisted, allowing Tianxuan to precisely grasp Jiang Li’s condition using the Yi Dao Xuan Technique.