harleyscars Chapter 143 The First Appearance of the Dao Threshold
Chapter 143 The First Appearance of the Dao Threshold
Chapter 143: The First Appearance of the Dao Threshold
For several days in a row, Lin Yan didn't step out of Laurel Estate. He would either absentmindedly help Old Charles trim the lawn, which he always strived for perfection, with large shears, or casually water the rose bushes with a watering can, his gaze often drifting into the distance, staring blankly at the Los Angeles Basin shrouded in a thin haze. Even when Xiao Qi came to him with its favorite toy, he would only give it a perfunctory pat on the head before falling into deep thought again.
That afternoon, the warm sunlight streamed into the garden. Charles placed a freshly brewed cup of black tea on the small wicker table beside Lin Yan, but instead of leaving immediately as usual, he sat down in another wicker chair nearby. The old man's gentle gaze fell on Lin Yan's slightly bewildered profile, and he asked softly, "Young master, is something troubling you? Would you mind telling me?"
Lin Yan turned around at the sound and looked at Charles—the old man who always presented himself as an English butler—for the first time so carefully. He was wearing a smart black tailcoat, his silver hair was neatly combed, and his face had typical Western features, but in his deep eyes, there would occasionally flash a kind of vicissitude and wisdom that came with the long years, which could not be accumulated in just a few decades of life.
Lin Yan stared at him for a moment, then suddenly asked with a laugh, "Charles, what's your real name?"
Charles, or rather, the consciousness occupying this puppet body, was clearly taken aback. A complex emotion flashed in his eyes—a mixture of reminiscence and感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of deep emotion), which ultimately transformed into a gentle smile. He bowed slightly and answered in Chinese that was somewhat different from his usual composed butler's tone, carrying a hint of antiquity: "Young Master, my real name is... Huang Qingtian, and my Daoist name is Pingxiao Zhenren. Alas, it's been so long, so long that I've almost forgotten this name myself. I never expected that Young Master would ask about it today."
Lin Yan picked up his black tea and took a sip, his tone tinged with self-deprecation: "It seems I overlooked something. You've integrated into this world so well that I've often forgotten that you are, in essence, Eastern cultivators from another time and space."
Charles—Huang Qingtian, upon hearing this, laughed heartily, a hint of exhilaration in his smile: "Young Master, you may not understand. This past year has perhaps been the most exhilarating time for us 'old relic' during the endless years we've been sealed away."
He gazed at the distant, undulating mountains, his eyes distant: "Before you awakened us, countless eons had passed in that dark, sunless tower. When we awoke, the world had turned upside down, becoming bizarre and strange, unsettlingly unfamiliar. If it weren't for your fortuitous encounter with the ancient artifact, the 'Universe-Stabilizing Disc,' activating the time laws contained within it and bestowing upon us, these puppet bodies bound to the artifact, the protection of 'not being affected by time,' we would have instantly turned to ashes the moment the seal was broken."
His voice lowered, carrying a barely perceptible hint of sorrow: "Our past relatives, masters, friends, and even the world we knew have long since vanished into the dust of time. It was you, young master, who gave us a second life, a brand new journey. Therefore," he turned his head, his gaze solemnly fixed on Lin Yan, "young master, please believe me, we have no ulterior motives and will spare no effort to assist you. Your path to enlightenment is the meaning of our existence; your longevity is the foundation upon which we pursue our path. If you have any concerns, feel free to speak them aloud, so I can offer my guidance!"
Feeling the sincerity in Huang Qingtian's words, Lin Yan felt a warmth in his heart, and the inexplicable knot in his heart seemed to loosen somewhat. He sighed, gathered his thoughts, and began to recount his experiences since leaving New York—the "game" with fighter jets in Philadelphia, the corruption vortex in Cleveland, the awe-inspiring sight of the might of nature in Yellowstone National Park, the vibrant tapestry of Los Angeles, and finally, Emily's straightforward and passionate emotional expression a few days ago. He focused on describing the various insights he had gained in the face of the power of nature and the myriad aspects of human nature, that feeling of having touched the edge of some mysterious "Tao," yet always separated by a thin veil, unable to enter its gates—a sense of bewilderment.
"I think I've grasped something," Lin Yan said, his brows furrowing slightly. "It's about the laws of heaven and earth, about the essence of the human heart, but it's still vague and unclear. I'm always just a step away from it, and I feel very frustrated because I'm stuck in this rut."
He had only intended to confide in someone, but to his surprise, Huang Qingtian's face showed extreme shock after listening. His usually calm eyes were filled with disbelief as he stared intently at Lin Yan, as if he were seeing him for the first time.
Lin Yan was stunned by that look. "Charles? What... what's with that expression?"
Huang Qingtian didn't answer immediately. Instead, he abruptly stood up and strode towards the other "servants" tending the flowerbeds nearby. He cupped his hands in greeting and, in a hurried and excited tone, recounted Lin Yan's description of the situation. Finally, his voice trembled as he asked, "Fellow Daoists, you are all former Golden Core cultivators who have roamed the land, with vast knowledge. Please help me analyze this situation. Is our young master... in the Foundation Establishment stage... already... already touching the threshold of the Heavenly Dao and the Human Dao? Has anyone throughout history ever heard of such enlightenment?!"
Upon hearing this, the servants all changed color, exchanged glances, and saw horror in each other's eyes.
Lin Yan was left standing to the side, completely bewildered and frustrated as his subordinates instantly switched to "old fogies of the cultivation world" mode. "Hey! What are you guys up to? Don't look like you've seen a ghost! You're just leaving things unsaid, deliberately trying to keep me in suspense, aren't you? Do you think I'm stupid? If you keep playing games, I'll dock your spirit stone salaries at the end of the year!"
Provoked by Lin Yan's half-serious, half-joking "threat," Huang Qingtian and his fellow cultivators burst into laughter, instantly easing the tense atmosphere in the garden.
Huang Qingtian walked back to Lin Yan's side, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement and respect. He patiently explained, "Young Master, please calm down. We lost our composure. It was simply because what you just said was too astonishing." He composed himself and began to explain in detail:
"Young Master, a cultivator's entire life, in the final analysis, is about 'seeking the Dao.' This 'Dao' can be roughly divided into two categories. One is the 'Heavenly Dao,' which is to comprehend the laws governing the operation of the universe and understand the principles of the birth and death of all things. The ultimate goal of those who seek the Heavenly Dao is to find one or more fundamental laws that best suit themselves. There are two choices: one is to merge one's own soul with the laws, becoming a part of the Heavenly Dao, and thus borrowing the infinite power of heaven and earth; the other is to rely on supreme comprehension to thoroughly understand and control the laws. At that time, one's words will become law, and one's own body will be the law. The former is already extremely difficult, and the latter is even rarer. Throughout history, those who have achieved this have all been unparalleled figures who suppressed an era."
"The other type is the 'Human Way.' This involves experiencing the myriad aspects of life in this mortal world, tempering one's heart through the various aspects of human nature and the vicissitudes of human hearts, in order to find one's own Way. Those who seek the Human Way may not cultivate as rapidly as those who focus on the Heavenly Way, but their will is unwavering, they are rarely troubled by inner demons, and they encounter relatively fewer bottlenecks on their path of cultivation. However, whether it is the Heavenly Way or the Human Way, to truly 'enlighten' and touch the threshold, in addition to excellent comprehension and sufficient experience, the most important thing is the accumulation of time like a slow and steady process. Generally speaking, a cultivator who can touch even a trace of the 'Way' needs at least the cultivation level of the Nascent Soul stage and thousands of years of accumulation."
Huang Qingtian's tone became incredibly solemn, even tinged with fervor: "But for someone like you, young master, still in the Foundation Establishment stage, already on the verge of enlightenment, simultaneously touching upon both the Heavenly Dao (comprehending the power of nature) and the Human Dao (understanding the ways of the world and people's hearts)... this is simply unheard of! If this were in our era of flourishing cultivation, once the news spread, all the transcendent holy lands and ancient sects across the myriad realms would probably be fighting tooth and nail, practically begging you to become their Holy Son or Dao Son!"
Lin Yan was stunned by this barrage of words. He opened his mouth, then pointed to his nose after a long while, muttering incredulously, "I...I'm that amazing? But...but I just went out to play for a few months! I don't feel like I did anything special...Enlightenment, is it that simple?"
Looking at the several former Golden Core cultivators in front of him, who had confident expressions and shining eyes, he couldn't help but wonder: Could these old guys be conspiring to flatter me and trying to get me to give them more spirit stones as a year-end bonus?
With this complex mix of disbelief, elation, and a sense of unreality, Lin Yan couldn't bear to remain confused any longer. Filled with curiosity and bewilderment, she turned and went back to her bedroom to process this astonishing "diagnosis."