Chapter 180: Chapter 113: The Buddha Proves the Dao, Zhong Ming Proves Himself

’If I can eliminate my body’s fatigue, the efficiency of my *Star Heaven·Divine Monarch* cultivation will at least multiply several times over.’

’And the Clear state of the Fifth Realm of Longxi Peak might allow me to "see" the fatigue inside my body right through my skin. As long as I can see it, I’ll have a chance to eliminate it!’

When the Longxi Peak lineage’s Cultivation Technique reaches the Fifth Realm, its pursuit is a Heart Spirit that is Clear, like a mirrored lake, reflecting one’s own flaws and soul.

This realm seeks the power of the mind. Therefore, normal training consists of meditation and insight, gradually eradicating one’s distracting thoughts during the cultivation process.

Without a doubt, this realm is difficult to achieve.

More importantly, the cultivation method for this realm is somewhat esoteric.

Whether it’s meditation, eliminating distracting thoughts, or using the mind as a mirror, it all pursues the power of one’s own mind and Thought.

Since everyone’s mind is different, cultivating this realm has a feeling of being something that "can only be grasped, not taught."

Because of this characteristic, the Fifth Realm of the Longxi Peak lineage’s Cultivation Technique has also become a major threshold.

Ninety-nine percent of Longxi Peak disciples find themselves bound by this realm, unable to advance even an inch.

Furthermore, only when the mind becomes a mirrored lake can one comprehend Intent Rhyme. This causes ninety-nine percent of Longxi Peak Cultivators to also stagnate in the late stage of Qi Cultivation.

Naturally, this realm was no obstacle for Zhong Ming.

With Heaven Rewards Diligence, he continuously gained experience just by sitting down to meditate.

However, for Zhong Ming, this rate of progress was simply too slow.

’I have no desire to spend half a year, or even a full year, just to comprehend the Fifth Realm of the Longxi Peak Cultivation Technique.’

Zhong Ming had previously considered other methods. Back then, he had looked for ways to increase his aptitude for Enlightenment, or to find True Intent Maps and treasures containing the Clear Dao Rhyme to aid his cultivation.

This was also one of the reasons he was competing for the title of Child of the Morning Star—to acquire resources.

But after obtaining the Great Dream of Thousand Years, an even bolder idea sprang into Zhong Ming’s mind.

’When the Buddha sought Enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, the Demon King Boshun of the Sixth Heaven of the Desire Realm: Heaven of Transfiguration and Freedom, sensed the threat and led his Eighty Billion Demon Army to obstruct him.’

’But in a way, Celestial Demons are an abstract concept. They are the personification of the three poisons within the heart—greed, aversion, and delusion—the negative forces in a Cultivator’s consciousness that hinder awakening.’

’The Five Aggregates Demon, for instance, represents the psychosomatic hindrances composed of form, sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness.’

’The Tribulation Demon symbolizes psychological defilements like greed, aversion, and delusion.’

’The Death Demon is the fear of death itself.’

’Others include the fear of change, attachment to desire, self-doubt...’

’So-called demon subduing is simply the mind triumphing over aversion and hatred.’

’The Buddha’s transcendence was his mind remaining undisturbed by any external desires!’

As Zhong Ming recalled the Buddha’s path to Enlightenment, he wasn’t just letting his mind wander. Drawing from this story and the power of the Great Dream of Thousand Years, a peculiar idea was born in his heart.

’What if, within a dream, I could transform my distracting thoughts into all sorts of Demons and have them attack me?’

As he murmured this in the dreamscape, Zhong Ming raised the sword in his hand, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

’The Buddha’s mind was undisturbed by the outside world, and he achieved his Dao Fruit.’

’But I walk the path of the Sword Dao. I will not be like the Awakened, passively enduring the temptations of Demonic Fiends.’

’When faced with the temptations of Demonic Fiends, I should use the sword in my hand to utterly annihilate them all.’

Zhong Ming believed that once he had slain the Demonic Fiends born from the various distracting thoughts and greedy desires in his heart, his mind would naturally become as Clear as a mirrored lake.

’Not by relying on insight, but by using the sword in my hand to cut down everything, huh?’ At this point, Zhong Ming let out a low laugh. "Hahaha, I feel like this method completely defies the conventional practices of Longxi Peak, but without a doubt, this is the path that suits me best!"

BUZZ...

With a single Thought from Zhong Ming, the dreamscape formed from his Heart Spirit and Sea of Consciousness suddenly turned grim.

The next moment, the roars of demons and monsters erupted from all corners of the dreamscape. One after another, hideous figures materialized, staring at him with vicious eyes, incessantly chanting vexing Demon Sounds:

"Why hold back? You should declare to the world that you are invincible..."

"Xue Yao, Yi Yunya, Ji Qinglian, Ji Qingyue... everything should be ours."

"Relying on outsiders... Zhong Ming, you bring me shame!"

These Demon Sounds were all his negative emotions, his distracting thoughts and greedy desires. Listening to them for too long would make even his Heart Spirit grow agitated.

Seeing this, Zhong Ming sneered, and the longsword in his hand was suddenly unsheathed.

"You’re all too noisy!"

"Longxi - Sword Pulling!"

CLANG!

As a brilliant Sword Light flared in the dreamscape, with a SCHRRRIP, a Demonic Fiend was instantly slain by Zhong Ming.

The moment he killed the Demonic Fiend, a system notification sounded in Zhong Ming’s ear.

[You have slain a Demonic Fiend born of greed. Clear progress +1]

’It really works... But this makes sense. Using the mind to form a sword and slash away distracting thoughts is a common practice during Longxi Peak’s meditative cultivation!’

’All I’ve done is use the Great Dream of Thousand Years to substantialize everything, turning the Demonic Fiends into tangible entities that can be slain!’