Chapter 899: Chapter 899: Mountains Are Not Mountains, Clouds Are Not Clouds

Joining the civil service or enlisting in the army.

Both are bright avenues, both are paths full of opportunity.

But Lin Tian never considered becoming an official or a soldier. Because it lacks freedom, because it imposes constraints.

He also imagined that with a single signature or stamp of a foot, he could shake the entire Celestial Dragon Continent, or even the whole world.

Such power is enticing, just like a stunning beauty without clothes, posing seductively in front of you, trying every trick to lure you into bed.

But such an environment is also dangerous. Although it’s not a case of enemies on all sides or deadly ambushes, it surely requires a heart as keen as a hundred and twenty stratagems, with every step taken cautiously, as if walking on a tightrope.

One wrong step leads to another, tumbling into an abyss from which there is no return.

Therefore, such alluring power is something Lin Tian only fantasizes about when bored. If asked to engage himself in it, he would still rather not.

For instance, both the Security Management Institute and the Medical Management Institute have extended olive branches to him, but he didn’t accept them.

Lin Tian’s eyes shone like a torch as he looked at the old monk and said, "Rest assured, I will not walk these two paths."

"You may not take those paths, but as you become stronger, you’ll inevitably interact with those people. Do you think you can come out unscathed?"

Lin Tian smiled slightly, "Do you truly believe I can bring peace with my words and control the universe with my martial skill?"

"Yes!" the old monk replied with great certainty.

"Then I should be able to come out unscathed," Lin Tian said ambiguously.

"At least fifty percent of human errors come from carelessness. I hope you will take it seriously."

Lin Tian always felt there was more to the monk’s words, but if he asked in detail, the monk certainly wouldn’t say more, so he had to ponder it himself later.

"I understand, thank you." Lin Tian smiled and said, "I don’t know why you’re telling me this. Perhaps it’s a heavenly secret not to be disclosed, or maybe I have a destiny to avoid, which I’ll steer clear of."

The old monk nodded with satisfaction. In this world, some people think clearly, and a hint can mean more than a thousand words spoken to a fool.

Compete with those of like minds, don’t argue with fools.

"When you reached the Bodhi Platform earlier, what did you see?"

What did I see?

Lin Tian carefully recalled and said, "What I saw was only snow."

The old monk smiled and waved his hand, saying, "You should go look again. Maybe you will discover something."

Lin Tian’s eyes flickered slightly, suddenly filled with great interest.

The Bodhi Platform at the Five Pure Ones Temple, hidden behind the maze-like Scripture Pavilion, must hold some ’treasure’—not gold or jewels—but enlightenment valuable to cultivators.

"Thank you, I’ll go see again."

After Lin Tian finished speaking, he couldn’t wait to start walking.

"Wait a moment." The old monk stopped Lin Tian and said, "I really shouldn’t intrude, but here’s a kind reminder: Seeing the mountain is not the mountain, seeing the cloud is not the cloud."

Lin Tian silently repeated this in his mind, unsure of its meaning.

Is it about seeing the essence beyond appearances?

Lin Tian thought that becoming a monk is quite a brain-burning affair, deliberately making statements high-sounding and mysterious to give simple words an air of profundity, enhancing one’s perceived status, just like a master.

If it weren’t for the old monk’s formidable telekinesis that caught Lin Tian off guard, Lin Tian would certainly have thought him to be another charlatan.

The conversation with the old monk wasn’t long, but Lin Tian had much to reflect upon, which required careful digestion later.

Lin Tian retraced his steps along the complicated path, full of twists and turns, but thanks to his remarkable memory, he remembered it clearly.

He went around once, thinking carefully, yet still couldn’t uncover any secrets, feeling his mind was a bit overwhelmed.

Lin Tian was never someone who liked to torment himself. Since he couldn’t figure it out, he decided not to dwell on it, after all, he wasn’t a Buddhist disciple who understood their routines.

"Creak~"

Lin Tian pushed open the simple wooden door, and the howling chill of snow on the Bodhi Platform instantly enveloped him, especially the wind, which struck his skin like a whirlwind conjured by the great elder, causing pain.

Taking a deep breath of the icy air, Lin Tian took steps onto the Bodhi Platform again.

"Seeing the mountain is not the mountain, seeing the cloud is not the cloud."

Lin Tian murmured this phrase softly and then raised his eyes to observe the scene ahead.

Previously, his attention had been on Qiyi, so Lin Tian hadn’t noticed the surroundings.

Snow, nothing but snow.

How does scattered snow resemble anything else? Scattered salt in the air comes close, but not as the willow catkins rise with the wind.

This heavy snow covered the entire world; what was seen, touched—everything was snow, even what was stepped upon was snow.

The mountain the old monk mentioned, the cloud he spoke of.

Lin Tian couldn’t see it and even with clairvoyance, he still couldn’t see it.

"Ah-choo~"

While Lin Tian was deep in thought, a sneeze interrupted his contemplation.

Turning his head, he saw Zhou Chenghang standing amidst the icy snow wearing a black coat, resembling a motionless snow sculpture.

However, with Lin Tian’s keen sight, he could tell the man was shivering, albeit slightly, with facial muscles taut. Clearly, he was trying to minimize his trembling.

His black coat contrasted sharply with the white snow, just like... a speck of mouse droppings in rice porridge. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Of course, even though they wore the same coat, Lin Tian felt that Zhou Chenghang was the mouse droppings, while he himself was the most dazzling scenery in this snowy landscape, outstandingly unique. Comparing Zhou Chenghang’s shivering self to Lin Tian’s righteous appearance... was simply insulting to the black coat!

Then Lin Tian turned his gaze to Wang Sijing, who was sitting cross-legged beside Qiyi, with her hands on her knees, eyes closed, entering a state of cultivation.

Wang Sijing didn’t seem annoying while cultivating, mainly thanks to her pleasing face.

Though she mimicked Qiyi’s posture, Lin Tian knew that Qiyi had entered a meditative state, whereas she was merely cultivating.

The difference between the two is significant.

Meditation is the union with nature, with the spirit wandering outside the body, immune to fire and water.

The fluffy snowflakes, before landing on Qiyi’s small form, naturally veered away.

His surroundings seemed to form a small world of their own.

While atop Wang Sijing’s head, shoulders, and legs, snow had already started to accumulate; surely soon she would become a snowman.

Resisting the cold requires inner strength, and how long she can endure depends on her alone.

Seeking enlightenment, entering a meditative state, requires opportunity; just sitting idly doesn’t lead to it.

Lin Tian turned his head and said, "You should head back, staying here longer will freeze you to death."

"None... of your business!"

No one knew if he resented Lin Tian with gritted teeth, or if the cold made his teeth chatter; either way, when he spoke, his upper teeth kept knocking against the lower, as if they were in a fight.

"Idiot."

Lin Tian couldn’t understand what this fool was thinking. Since he wouldn’t listen, let him be.

In such an environment, if you don’t move, don’t keep warm, relying solely on clothing and your body, it’s no surprise to freeze into an idiot.