Immortality Through Array Formations

The content of the booklet was very simple, just a few Contemplation Maps for Mental Concentration and breath regulation, and a few pages of notes on mental methods, introducing how to regulate the breath, halt the breath, and enter into Mental Concentration, and how to cast aside distractions to enter the state of meditation where both the self and the external world are forgotten.

After Mo Hua glanced over the few maps and the booklet of a few lines of text, he hesitated to speak.

“Do you think it’s very simple?”

Mo Hua nodded, then asked, “Gentleman, is this just a basic Meditation Method?”

“No,” Mr. Zhuang denied, “All the insights and Cultivation methods of the Meditation Method are contained within this small booklet.”

Seeing Mo Hua’s confusion, Mr. Zhuang further explained:

“The Meditation Method is simple when you say it’s simple, and yet it’s extremely difficult when considered difficult. Simplicity lies in the fact that all the key points of this spell point are evident at a glance in this map and these few pages of insights. The difficulty lies in the elusive nature of human thoughts. It’s not about entering into Mental Concentration or forgetting both self and the world whenever you wish to do so.”

Thoughtful, Mo Hua listened as Mr. Zhuang continued to explain:

“Take for example, the myriad worldly desires. Many can verbally claim detachment from them, but how many can truly let go in their hearts? Some principles seem simple; those who understand can grasp them immediately, while those who don’t can spend a lifetime in confusion. Often, those who are confused still believe they understand.”

“The same applies to this Meditation Method. If you can truly enter into Mental Concentration and cast away distractions, naturally you will learn quickly. However, if your mind is burdened with heavy thoughts and encircled by distractions, no matter how you learn, you will not be able to grasp it.”

Suddenly enlightened, Mo Hua frowned and said, “So, if I can’t cast off distractions, does that mean I won’t be able to learn it?”

Mr. Zhuang smiled, “It’s not as difficult as you think. I have used this Meditation Method for many years and have distilled the simplest essence of entering into Mental Concentration down to just one sentence…”

“Let the heart follow nature, without deceiving oneself.”

“Let the heart follow nature, without deceiving oneself…” Mo Hua repeated to himself quietly.

“All things in the world are what they are; this includes your own thoughts, whether they are restless or calm, savage or dejected, honest or despicable, accept them all frankly without self-deception.”

“If you manage these two things, the heart can be as still as water and as clear as a mirror, and you will be able to enter into Mental Concentration to some extent.”

Having gleaned some insight, Mo Hua began to flip through the “Meditation Method.” After a while, his curiosity piqued and he asked:

“Gentleman, does the Meditation Method have any special use when mastered to a higher level?”

“Not at all, the Meditation Method from beginning to end merely enables you to enter into Mental Concentration and restore your Divine Sense. Even when mastered to a high level, it merely allows for faster access to Mental Concentration and rejuvenation of Divine Sense. Furthermore, the longer you practice it, it’s not necessarily the case that you will get better at it.”

Stunned, Mo Hua said, “Does it even get worse with more practice?”

Mr. Zhuang looked at Mo Hua with a profound gaze, “You are still a child now, with simple thoughts and senses, not cluttered with many distractions. Perhaps you can enter into Mental Concentration quickly. But when you grow up and have seen more of the world’s myriad things and are beset by many distractions and worldly desires, entering into Mental Concentration will not be so simple.”

Mo Hua had a sudden realization.

Then he thought that his own experiences weren’t exactly limited, after all, as he had memories of another lifetime.

But upon reflection, he considered that in his other life he was in his twenties, and didn’t really have much experience. And in this life, he had only ten years to his name. Combined, his age across both lives was still far less than Mr. Zhuang’s, and his experiences and insights couldn’t compare. To be called a “child” wasn’t incorrect.

Curious again, Mo Hua asked, “Then, Gentleman, how does your Meditation Method now compare to the past?”

Mr. Zhuang reflected for a moment and said, “I was about ten or so when I memorized various theories of Formation, and I had almost mastered the Formations within one grade. I then began to learn the Meditation Method. I learned quickly at the beginning, and then as a youth, my learning improved as I practiced. Often, after completing a Drawing Formation, a single session of meditation as long as it took to drink a cup of tea was enough to replenish my spiritual energy.”

“When I was young and impetuous, my mind was unsettled, so my progress in the Meditation Method stagnated. Later, faced with life’s vicissitudes and a tumultuous heart, I seldom calmed my mind, and my proficiency in the Meditation Method even regressed instead of advancing.”

“Now, as I’ve become indifferent to many things, I no longer have a need for this Meditation Method…”

Mr. Zhuang was somewhat moved, and when he regained his composure, he realized he had unwittingly said too much. Seeing Mo Hua still eagerly listening to the story, he tapped on Mo Hua’s forehead and said, “Learn well.”

“Oh,” Mo Hua then gathered his thoughts, quieted his mind, and slowly started to study the Meditation Method.

The key points of the Meditation Method lie in casting aside stray thoughts, a mind clear and unobstructed, entering a state of self-forgetfulness.

Following the methods in the “Meditation Method,” Mo Hua calmly meditated, considering nothing, and gradually entered a state of Mental Concentration.

After entering the state of Mental Concentration, he indeed felt a sense of relaxation throughout his body, as if he had shed the physical constraints, his mind suddenly open and expansive. The Divine Sense that had been expended while Drawing Formation was slowly retracing, restoring at a speed significantly faster than before.

However, Mo Hua’s state of Mental Concentration was very shallow, and less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, his thoughts drifted slightly, and he exited the state of Mental Concentration.

Mr. Zhuang, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened his eyes upon noticing this and said:

“For a first attempt, to reach this level of concentration is quite good. Once you master it in the future, after Drawing Formation, you only need to meditate and enter concentration, and the results will naturally be much more effective.”

“Thank you, Gentleman!”

Mo Hua was overjoyed. Before, he could only practice Formation in the stele within his Sea of Consciousness. His progress in practicing during the day was slow. Now that he had learned to meditate, his Divine Sense could recover quickly. Even though his foundation couldn’t compare to those Disciples of the Worldly Family, with diligence he could compensate for his lack of talent, and in the future, he might not necessarily be that much worse than others.

With a change of thought, Mo Hua then asked, “Gentleman, I now understand the Meditation Method, but what about the visualization law you mentioned before?”

Mr. Zhuang lay leisurely on the bamboo chair and said, “Take a guess, what is the visualization law used for?”

After thinking for a while, Mo Hua said, “The Meditation Method is used to recover Divine Sense, so is the visualization law used to enhance Divine Sense?”

“Correct,” Mr. Zhuang nodded. “The Cultivation World does not have Cultivation Techniques for cultivating Divine Sense, so the great Cultivators of ancient times invented the visualization law, using it to strengthen Divine Sense.”

“Is the visualization law different from Cultivation Technique?”

“The visualization law is a simplified, unstable method that can increase Divine Sense, but it is not a Cultivation Technique for cultivating Divine Sense,” Mr. Zhuang said.

“Spiritual Power can be observed and known, can drive Spiritual Artifacts, can be used in Taoist Skills, and has channels to follow; but Divine Sense is different. There are no channels in a person’s Sea of Consciousness to explore the trajectory of Divine Sense operation. Therefore, there is no stable method that can cultivate Divine Sense.”

“The only way to quickly enhance Divine Sense is through Observation. Observing patterns, characters, or ancient objects that contain the principles of Heavenly Dao or powerful Divine Sense to a certain degree allows for assimilation and a gradual increase in Divine Sense.”

“However, this form of visualization varies from person to person, as different individuals achieve different effects. Even among those Noble Clans, the Contemplation Maps available for practice are extremely rare, so they are not widely disseminated in the Tao Cultivation World. Unlike Cultivation Techniques, they cannot be promoted as a stable method of cultivation.”

“Visualization law…” murmured Mo Hua.

Mr. Zhuang hesitated for a moment, his expression becoming somewhat serious as he said:

“Although the visualization law can enhance Divine Sense, you’d better not use it, and even if you do, read more and be careful not to rely on it completely.”

Mo Hua asked in confusion, “Is it because my talent isn’t enough, so I would suffer backlash?”

Mr. Zhuang shook his head, “It has nothing to do with talent. The Contemplation Map reflects someone else’s Divine Sense and their understanding of the Heavenly Dao. In other words, what is visualized is someone else’s ‘Tao,’ or perhaps, the ‘Tao’ of some Non-Human. Once Divine Sense is immersed in it, it can often lead to extremely terrifying consequences.”

Mo Hua’s heart chilled.

Mr. Zhuang waved his hand, “These matters are still too early for you to worry about. You just need to focus on learning Formation. As for things like Contemplation Maps, you may not even encounter them in the future.”

After these words, Mr. Zhuang had Mo Hua practice the Meditation Method a few more times until the sky gradually darkened, then let Mo Hua leave.