419: After heaven and earth, there are no more Saints.
419: After heaven and earth, there are no more Saints.
Gu Wen really wanted to know how to bring Yu Hua back to life, but since his master was determined not to tell him, he could only give up.
At least the situation wasn’t the worst, if his master was confident in reviving Yu Hua now, then naturally, if he became stronger than his master, he could do it too.
Therefore, he was not eager.
In fact, he was even more composed than Li Yunshang had expected.
Having sat alone in Immortal Land for eight hundred years, Gu Wen certainly had the required determination.
So he asked for the next best thing, “Where is her physical body now?”
“In the Yuqing Main Lineage, I have set up restrictions.
Once you go, you will know,” Li Yunshang revealed a hint of mischievous smile.
“However, you must not do anything strange.
Your master will be watching you.”
“Master, what kind of person do you take me for?”
Gu Wen showed a look of helplessness.
Li Yunshang huffed and said, “You are not even a thousand years old, inexperienced in worldly affairs, so naturally, I need to be cautious.
And don’t say that a thousand years is a lot for mortals.
Those old monks in the temples can also break their celibacy vows.”
“But you can’t just assume that I will make a mistake.”
“All beings measure their age by Heavenly Life, but those who cultivate move from short life to longevity.
It’s otherwise; one must look at their experiences and nature.
To me, you are still a youth full of vigor.”
Li Yunshang cupped Gu Wen’s face and rubbed it, and their eyes met with the same calm and indifference.
Even though Gu Wen had found his own path, it ultimately originated from the Yuqing Heart Method.
“It should be an old youth.”
“Master, it seems you’re not over three thousand years old either.”
“But your master has fought for over a thousand years, governed the world for eight hundred years, so it’s not the same.”
Li Yunshang raised her head slightly.
Gu Wen understood that as long as he did not surpass his master, the latter could find countless reasons.
It turns out that one must have the stronger fist.
“Why didn’t you exercise the Venerable’s authority in the end?
I wanted to see what high insights you had, to solve some problems that have troubled your master for years.”
Li Yunshang let go of Gu Wen, who guessed, “Has the utopia you seek not been achieved?”
Eight hundred years of development, discounting the years of war, also accounted for four hundred years.
In fact, it had been longer than the red theories of his past life.
Along the way, the people could be said to be living and working in peace and contentment, but they had not reached the utopian standard.
It was probably like the golden age of a dynasty, without hunger or disaster.
“They all failed.
Whenever I moved towards this direction, it felt like grappling with the whole world, including the Daoist Sect blocking me.
But if I went to verify, most could not pick out a clear cause and effect for their demise.”
Li Yunshang’s face showed confusion.
She could comprehend the principles of heaven and earth, knew the essence of cultivation, divine skills, and Daoist Skill came as easily as turning over one’s hand.
But she didn’t understand the human heart.
“Three hundred years ago, I resided in the Jade Palace, diligently striving for over a hundred years.
Only Xuanhuang State approached the utopia.
But then everything inevitably crumbled and returned to a slightly higher point than the starting place.
This cycle repeated seven times, like the tides, and utopia could only last for a few years, fleeting as the morning dew.”
“You say that one person’s efforts can match the force of a myriad.
Utopia requires the effort of everyone.
In fact, those who work for the people and the world have multiplied a hundredfold since eight hundred years ago, but half of these people have difficulty maintaining their original intentions after gaining power and profit.
Daoist Sect, Venerables, even the common people themselves.”
Gu Wen asked, “Does Wen Kui State’s Lan Yongning count?”
Li Yunshang nodded, “He counts as half, but he has also become much more lax; he thinks that the people of Wen Kui State being happy is already enough.
But people living happily only means their jobs keep them fed.
If they want their children to read and practice cultivation, it would take the savings of three generations.”
“Do you want everyone to practice cultivation?”
Gu Wen asked again; Li Yunshang pondered for a long while.
The other two people present could not join the conversation at all.
Whether it was Fox Fairy or Chi Yu Zi, they both felt as if there was an insurmountable gulf separating them from this master-disciple pair.
It wasn’t the gap in cultivation, but an indescribable sense of purpose.
Li Yunshang’s intent was like the burning morning sun, no one could approach it, and even Fox Fairy could only stay by her side by complying.
Gu Wen could get close; he could understand Li Yunshang, understand his own master.
Li Yunshang’s eyes cleared of perplexity, and her tranquil gaze shone like the bright moon, smiling, “Cultivation is good.
I want to give all my fellow beings the chance to practice cultivation.
Let them soar between the green hills, bare-chested upon the ice and snow, leisurely tasting honey, and, when busy, subsist on wind and dew.
The sky stands ninety thousand zhang high, and my people should reach eighty thousand.”
“To be born human, one should live this way, and one must live this way.”
Gu Wen listened quietly and then said, “What you seek requires everyone to reach the Qi Cultivation Stage, but we can’t even ensure that everyone can read.”
“Disciple, your master just wants to know the answer and the method.”
Li Yunshang flipped her right hand, and a very thick notebook appeared.
Gu Wen looked at his master, stubborn as a mule, and sighed silently.
The words his master had spoken to him earlier could also be applied to Li Yunshang.
Haste brings disaster, but considering she had persisted for over four hundred years, it seemed one could not say she was hasty.
His gaze swept over the neat or messy text, those summaries and records of repeated failures.
Four hundred years of peace, a hundred years of prosperity, three years of utopia, followed by five years of chaos, a decade of rebellion.
After suppression, there was peace again.
Around and around, endlessly cycling.
Generation upon generation challenged the authority of the Daoist Sect, and one great power after another challenged Qingcang.
They all stated a desperate fact, at least in this world with transcendental powers, it is extremely difficult to achieve a utopian world.
His master’s notes contained this sentence, if most people could possess thirty percent of the world’s Spirit Fields, then a modest standard of living could be achieved; to possess fifty percent, utopia would be possible.