Chapter 1555: Taming the Mind, Steadying the Will, Awakening to Emptiness

The three armies fell silent!Heaven and Earth were still.As if only the voices of two young men echoed… echoed…Chong Xuansun said, "Who else but me?"Jiang Wang said, "Perhaps I can contend!"Chong Xuansun and Jiang Wang, beneath the commander's platform, did not gaze at each other.Yet the vast, boundless ocean of troops, for a moment, stirred restlessly. Consciously or unconsciously, everyone vied to witness.Who, after all, was the foremost Heavenly Talent among the younger generation of Qi?Debate had always surrounded Jiang Wang and Chong Xuansun.After the Yellow River Meet, it was naturally thought to be Jiang Wang.But after the expedition into the Maze Realm, Chong Xuansun clearly appeared more invincible.They both continued their own stories, continuously forging legends.And today!Perhaps the matter could be settled."The most outstanding Heavenly Talents of our Great Qi, the most fearless in death."On the commander's platform, Cao Jie spoke, "This is the fortune of our Great Qi, and to command this army, to employ these generals, is also my luck, Cao Jie's!"At this moment, he had long cast the originally designated vanguard general to the back of his mind.Looking across the entire realm of Qi, where could one find candidates more capable of serving as vanguard than these two before him?Those older than them were needed to command the main army, and those younger were all inferior to them.As Chong Xuansun had said, who else but them?Cao Jie was not an indecisive man, nor one afraid of responsibility.Since Chong Xuansun and Jiang Wang had voluntarily requested to be at the front, regardless of their lineage, regardless of the Emperor's great favor, there was no reason why he, Cao Jie, should not use them!Therefore, right there on the commander's platform, he declared in a resounding voice, "As Chong Xuansun has said, those who are unstoppable and possess courage exceeding all three armies shall be the vanguard. Since you two contend for this position, you shall fight a battle before the assembled host. The victor shall be the Vanguard General for the campaign against Xia!"Only then did Chong Xuansun turn, his gaze falling upon Jiang Wang, and he laughed heartily, "Willing to perform for the three armies, to invigorate this expedition!"Wang Yi'ao was expressionless, but the hand gripping the back of his wheelchair tightened instinctively.He, of course, held immense confidence in Chong Xuansun.But he also deeply understood Jiang Wang's terror.Defeated in the Soaring Dragon Realm, defeated again in the Inner Mansion Realm.That was the person who had once shattered his invincible momentum!And Jiang Wang simply said, "As I wished!""Good! This battle shall be personally overseen by this commander. The valor of our Great Qi's Heavenly Talents shall be witnessed by all three armies!" Cao Jie's voice was grand, first giving assurance for this battle, guaranteeing that neither side would suffer mortal harm.Then he commanded, "Three armies heed my order: withdraw twenty paces!"Boom! Boom! Boom!On the vast training ground, the human tide was like a sea.The sound of thirty thousand troops withdrawing in step was as if it were a single sound!Like a giant pausing his step, resembling an earthquake.There was thunder in the sky, it was the killing intent of soldiers shaking the heavens!The thirty thousand troops withdrew twenty paces in neat order, instantly opening up Heaven and Earth. Beneath the commander's platform, before the assembled host, sufficient space for combat was left for these two.This was a battle destined to be remembered by everyone present.The leading representatives from the various states of the Eastern Region were all utterly shocked, awed by such a majestic military display.Even those like General Chen Zeqing, who commanded the Southern Expedition, and Grand Marshal Tian Anping, who led the left flank of the thirty thousand county troops, moved to either side.At this moment, on the entire Liming West Suburb Commander's Platform, only Jiang Wang and Chong Xuansun were the absolute protagonists!Cao Jie said, "If you are ready, you may begin now."Chong Xuansun gave a nonchalant smile and strode forward in his white robes.Jiang Wang suddenly said, "Both being in the Outer Mansion Realm, if I, with my third story, face the fourth of Chong Xuansun, it might tarnish the name of Heavenly Talent… Please wait a moment, while I erect another story!"Chong Xuansun paused his steps, his chin lifted slightly, a look of keen interest in his eyes.And Jiang Wang simply tilted his head back.Tilted his head to gaze at the sky!With a single gaze, wind and clouds stirred.The edge of the sky instantly responded, illuminating a brilliant star that projected light from the distant firmament, a light that surprisingly was no less radiant than the sun.Moreover, starlight surged like a torrent, like the Heavenly River pouring down, instantly cascading, arriving from the Nine Heavens to the mortal realm, paving a broad path of stars!At the far end of the path of stars was that dazzling star-tower, and at this end of the path of stars was this mortal Heavenly Talent."Oh?"A look of surprise appeared in the eyes of Assembly Grand Officer Chen Fu.Even someone like Tian Anping momentarily raised his eyes, displaying a hint of inquiry.The Star Path Secret Art obtained from Xiao Shu displayed its brilliant spectacle before the three armies of the Great Qi Empire.Almost simultaneously with the paving of this star path, two more star-towers illuminated in the distant firmament.Three stars responded to each other from afar, as if connected by some force, giving a sense of fusion.Li Fengyao was in military attire today, her person carved from frosty jade, appearing taller and more alluringly cold. Gazing at the firmament, she raised an eyebrow and said, "Big Dipper!"But behold the firmament above.Jiang Wang's fourth star-light sacred tower, at the position corresponding to the Alkaid star in the ancient firmament, shone brightly!With the positioning of the Dubhe, Merak, and Alioth star-towers, and the paving of the Star Path Secret Art, connecting the ancient and the distant. Without excessive exploration, the Alkaid star-tower was directly established in the conceptual center of the Alkaid star, and it was accomplished in a single step, instantly erected!In Jiang Wang's concept of the firmament, this was a grand and magnificent seven-story purple edifice.It possessed boundless dignity,压制ing all directions.Alkaid, also known as the Army Breaker.Ancient texts called it the "Consuming Star," representing destruction and consumption, a star of the battlefield par excellence.To erect this star-tower before ten thousand troops, to illuminate this star before a clash of powerful opponents, was most fitting!There were the elite forces of the world, renowned generals of the world, a peerless Heavenly Talent as an opponent, and a war to conquer a great nation as the backdrop—this was the opportune time, favorable location, and harmonious people.It was a natural progression, and also a swift and unstoppable advance on the battlefield.In the Dubhe star-tower, Jiang Wang established the character "Trust." In the Merak star-tower, Jiang Wang established the character "Sincerity." In the Alioth star-tower, Jiang Wang established the character "Benevolence." But in the Alkaid star-tower, Jiang Wang established the character "Martial."Courage is Martial, resoluteness is Martial, overcoming with strength is Martial.Jiang Wang was undoubtedly a person with "martial accomplishments."Throughout his journey, he had experienced countless battles and possessed the strength to defeat others.And Martial has seven virtues: to restrain violence and sheathe weapons, to preserve the great and establish merit, to bring peace to the people and harmony to the masses, to enrich wealth. (jí)"Jí" means to conceal.The so-called establishing merit and sheathing weapons, therefore, stopping the spear is Martial.Martial is not about oppressing others.The virtue of Martial lies in quelling chaos, in protecting the territory and bringing peace to the people, in stopping the spear.With this tower erected, concealed within the Star Sea, there was a broad magnanimity. Starlight filled the sky, dragons soared through the mist!The Star Sea, also known as the Sea of Limbs, corresponds precisely to the four Outer Mansion towers.With these four towers standing together, cultivators gained a foundation in the boundless universe. In the past and present, up and down, in all four directions, they gained a definite "position," achieving "Self"!This is what is meant by the completion of the four stages of the Outer Mansion.Cultivators in this realm grasped their own being, and from this point, they could launch an assault upon the barrier between Heaven and Man.The four star-towers illuminated together in the firmament, bringing a mythical radiance, but under people's gaze, everything was not yet finished.Connecting Jiang Wang to the Dubhe star-tower was a brilliant star path.Its light was like a waterfall, seeming to贯通through eternity.And within the Dubhe star-tower, amidst the unparalleled flow of starlight, two more clearly visible star paths extended!Star paths visible to the mortal realm!The star paths that Xiao Shu had connected within the depths of the firmament back then were not sufficient to leave traces. But Jiang Wang had the support of a vast amount of starlight from the Dubhe star-tower, and the selfless divine power contribution of the old dragon of the Forest Sea. How could the stability of these star paths not be exponentially greater?It was seen that with the Dubhe star-tower as the core, one star path instantly connected to the Merak star-tower, and then extended from the Merak star-tower to the newly erected Alkaid star-tower. And the other star path, however, meandered and moved in the distant firmament, passing through Megrez, folding through Phecda, passing through Mizar, and finally turning to Alioth!There were only four star-towers in the sky, but the star paths traversed seven stars!Jiang Wang combined the Star Path Secret Art and the Seven Star Sacred Tower Secret Art, maximizing the advantage of his Dubhe star-tower.Now, the four towers were erected, the star paths connected.The edge of the sky seemed…To be illuminating the Big Dipper!People, consciously or unconsciously, gazed over.The young man in green robes standing before the assembled host, facing the peerless Heavenly Talent Chong Xuansun alone, suddenly rose in momentum like a dragon, giving a sense of "grandeur"!Illuminated by the Big Dipper above, displaying the ten thousand troops below.This was the unwavering peak, the inexhaustible river, the standing tall against Heaven and Earth, the peerless in the world!Whence came such an Outer Mansion throughout history?Who, upon witnessing this scene, could fail to be moved?Even those with the utmost confidence in Chong Xuansun, seeing this situation, this momentum, this person, at this moment, could not help but feel a sense of wavering.Who is this person?Who can contend against him!But for Jiang Wang, this was far from over.This was only the beginning.Although the four towers were complete, although he had combined the Star Path Secret Art and the Seven Star Sacred Tower Secret Art, completing the unprecedented Seven Stars Four Towers.He had not yet touched upon his own Dao path.The Outer Mansion realm has three important levels.They are the completion of the four towers, the Divine Ability Outer Mansion, and the Dao Path Outer Mansion!The completion of the four towers is self-evident, displaying the Sea of Hidden Stars within, and illuminating the distant firmament without. The Star Firmament Sacred Tower from one to four is the ascent of a minor realm, and even more so, the process of a cultivator gradually anchoring their "position."And in terms of combat strength, the Dao Path is not necessarily stronger than the Divine Ability.But in terms of realm, the Dao Path is the fundamental essence of this realm, a true distinction between peak Outer Mansion and ordinary Outer Mansion cultivators.Divine Ability cultivators may explore the most terrifying killing power at the Outer Mansion level, but those who cannot grasp the Dao Path cannot achieve the realm of "洞徹真實" (洞察真实 -洞彻真实 - To penetrate and perceive the truth).Previous generations of wise individuals long ago laid down broad roads, using four characters such as Might, Sincerity, Benevolence, and Killing, to pave the Dao paths for later disciples, enabling tens of thousands of people to walk a single path, greatly increasing the possibility of achieving Divine Descent.The so-called "Reason" (道理 - Dao Li), is that upon which one relies for morale, upon which one relies for stature, upon which one relies for holding one's head high and advancing bravely.But even so, it must be someone who has thoroughly studied the classics and can understand the true meaning of the ancient sages who can grasp that path that spans a lifetime.In Buddhism, it is "Compassion as the foundation." In Confucianism, it is "Where righteousness resides."Today's cultivators, the one in ten thousand who can achieve Divine Descent, are already the result of the pioneers' efforts.And people like Jiang Wang are walking the most difficult path, pursuing a Dao path that belongs solely to him.Of course, he has also read Daoist scriptures, of course, he has memorized history books, read some Confucian classics, and glanced through some military texts. Being constantly bothered by Ku Jue, who calls him "little junior brother Jing Li," makes it difficult to be completely without impression of Buddhist classics. Moreover, he is within a powerful nation, with titles and reputation…He naturally knows those paths.Naturally, he has a vague concept, knowing how to proceed relatively easily.But he still chooses his own path.To verify the self, to temper this heart.That most free… and most dangerous path!This is… the True Self.Regarding the perception of the Dao Path, Jiang Wang actually possessed it quite early on.He had always been someone who knew where he was going.However, he also understood very well how unfathomable this path was.Is human nature inherently good, or inherently evil?This is a philosophical debate that has been ongoing since ancient times.Jiang Wang does not believe that he possesses the wisdom to penetrate the truth of life, and he would absolutely never dare to make a definitive judgment on the discussions of the ancient sages. But from his limited life experience, it seems…Humans are born with both divinity and demon, possessing both good and evil.Humans have inherent compassion, and humans also have the inherent desire for life's pursuits.He absolutely does not force others to be a certain way, nor does he consider his own path to be the only truth.But he believes that if he is to pursue the power of his innate True Self, he must forge a cage to imprison demons within himself.Humans instinctively yearn for sunlight, cleanliness, and beauty.But are those darkness, indulgence, and depravity not also instincts?Living beings are born with both divine and demonic natures.One thought is for good, one thought is for evil.Seeing people cold and hungry, feeling compassion, wishing to cover them, wishing to give them food, this is of course the True Self.Furious enough to draw a sword, wanting to eat when hungry, wanting clothes when cold, wanting fame, wanting to ascend high… Is this not the True Self?Daoism, Confucianism, Military, Buddhism, Mohism… The four characters of the Dao Path established by the ancient sages of these schools are paths that guide people towards goodness and educate the world. They possess supreme power and supreme virtue.And Jiang Wang, emulating the cultivators of the hundred schools, established his own four characters for himself.The so-called Trust, the so-called Sincerity, the so-called Benevolence, the so-called Martial.Some are his perseverance, some are his virtues, some are his path, some are his pursuits.But at the same time… they are all his restraints, his cages, his "rules."Trust, Sincerity, Benevolence, Martial, he confines himself with these four virtues, not to praise himself, but precisely to uphold his original intention. The purpose is not to let his Dao Path deviate, not to let himself fall into "wrong paths"!He realized the strength of his Dao Path very early on, but at the same time, he realized its danger, its unknown nature, its uncontrollability.So why does he proceed one step at a time, why does he exercise self-restraint?Can he not become a demon with a single thought?If only for strength, he could have done so long ago in the ancient demonic lair beneath the Wuyuan Mountain Range.Facing the old case of Consort Lei, before one cold fact after another, in the extremely oppressive aura of death, he told himself to be restrained. To restrain anger.Facing the real power of the Northern Military Commander, facing the opportunity to rise rapidly, he told himself to be restrained. To restrain impatience.When leaving the City of Non-Redemption alone, he told himself to be restrained. To restrain hatred.It wasn't that he couldn't cultivate faster, gain power faster, achieve results faster, but he wanted to walk a longer path.There are certainly many choices in life, but he always remembers.He always remembers—In that home in Maple Forest City's Feima Alley, he held Jiang An'an, sat on the roof, and gazed at the starry sky."Do you remember me telling you about the stars? Dad is there, Aunt Song also went there.""So far away.""Yes, so far away."But my sister, Jiang An'an.But that young boy holding his sister.You must know—The stars have died, but the starlight remains in the long night.Thus, step by step, a trace is left, and the distant path continues to this day.Jiang Wang is forging his "Prison of Imprisoning Demons," while exploring his "Path of Divine Descent."Divine Descent to others is "I descend like a god."For himself, beyond this meaning, it is even more within human nature, after restraining the "demonic nature," revealing the "divine nature"… this is "Divine Descent."In people's vision.Under the combined illumination of the Four Great Sacred Towers and the Seven Star Path.Jiang Wang changed once again.His eyes were clean and pure, filled with unrestrained battle intent surging within.His posture was straight and tall, as if he alone were propping up Heaven and Earth.He became more real, and more himself.He is certainly still in the Outer Mansion realm now, but he is confident that he is no less than Chong Xuansun.Moreover, the four towers are a cage.Thus, one can settle the Mind Ape, subdue the Will Horse, and understand emptiness.Emulating the ancient sages, pursuing the supreme realm of "acting as one desires without transgressing the rules"!(1, "The stars have died, but the starlight remains in the long night." — From "About My Love" by Qing He Yi Shen)