Beginning of Cultivation
Chapter 44: What is Humanity Really Like?

Chapter 44: What is Humanity Really Like?

Beneath the warm golden sunlight of the afternoon, a group of curious individuals was slowly ascending to the sky in a hot air balloon. They stood side by side, admiring the breathtaking landscape where nature and humanity merged beautifully.

Below them, a vast capital city unfolded with its uneven rooftops and large, majestic architectural structures crafted by human hands. The meandering canals around the capital looked like threads in their eyes, with closely farmed plots of land at the outskirts. Everything displayed a unified approach to planning.

The distant mountain ranges stood firm, like gods guarding the land beneath them. The majestic natural scenery seemed to silently beckon them, making each passing moment indelibly vivid.

Jun Wu Xiao looked around and saw his friends all enjoying the scenery. He said:

"The view from up here is truly beautiful."

"Indeed, from the ground, we could never see such scenes. This can also be called changing perspective and perception will also change." Chu Wu said.

The others nodded, including the researchers. Although Chu Wu could not compare to them in their field of study, his over a hundred years of life experience was something they all could learn from.

Yue Guang recalling the scenery of the Kunlun Mountains, then she said:

"The beauty of where we live and here each has its own unique beauty, its own uniqueness, so we cannot say which is superior. It’s more accurate to say that the beauty of each view has its own distinctiveness. When we come here, we see the flourishing beauty of society. When we rise above, we see the blend of a civilization’s beauty with nature."

Jun Wu Xiao nodded, thinking the same. The scenery at each place had its own characteristic beauty, and each perspective had its uniqueness. He said:

"Look at the distant layered mountains and then back at the capital city. Which do you think is more outstanding, the beauty of nature or that of humanity?"

Everyone paused at the question, not expecting it at this moment. They pondered seriously, feeling that both nature and humanity were profoundly beautiful.

Then, a researcher spoke up:

"In my view, you cannot compare humanity and nature. Nature has its own beauty, created by the cosmic laws, and also represents what is logical. The beauty of humanity, on the other hand, lies in creativity and the relentless endeavor to advance forward. Humanity doesn’t contravene the cosmic laws. To be precise, humans use these laws to create the best things for humans."

Everyone then began to ponder again. Indeed, there was no fault in that statement. Both nature and humanity possess their unique qualities.

"You’re not wrong. In my view, your understanding of this world is truly excellent." Dao San Qian said.

His praise was heartfelt, acknowledging the researcher’s profound insights into the world. Although the researcher had not reached enlightenment like him, his observations were nonetheless commendable.

"Thank you for the compliment, senior." the researcher replied.

Referring to him as ’senior’ wasn’t an exaggeration since anyone who was a friend of Chu Wu’s was considered from an earlier generation.

Jun Wu Xiao was also quite intrigued by these scientific researchers. In his view, these individuals were somewhat unusual. However, the path they walked was not as frantic as the path pursued by Jun Wu Xiao and his companions.

"I am curious, why did you choose to become a researcher?" Jun Wu Xiao asked.

The researcher paused, having been engaged in research for many years, yet never before had he been asked this question. He replied:

"Does the senior want me to tell the truth or to lie?"

Jun Wu Xiao was momentarily taken aback by the counter-question but having asked, of course, he wanted to hear the truth. He said:

"Speak the truth, whatever you say, I will not blame you."

"Alright, I was going to answer that it’s to benefit humanity or something similar, but since the senior wanted the truth, I will tell the truth. I became a researcher purely out of personal curiosity. I want to know more, I want to understand the world better, I want to create great research works." the researcher said.

Jun Wu Xiao looked at the other researchers. Though their expressions varied slightly, he knew that each of them had their own aspirations when they chose to become researchers. He said:

"So, you must know that one day you will die."

The researcher was momentarily stunned. Not from surprise, but because Jun Wu Xiao stated something that everyone already knew, he said:

"Senior jests, who doesn’t know that? After all, countless humans have died over the years."

Jun Wu Xiao nodded, obviously aware that this was common knowledge. But his aim was clearly not to speak nonsense. He continued:

"Now I ask all of you, do each of you not wish to create research works that hold great value?"

The researchers nodded, of course, they wanted that to happen. That was also why they endeavored in their research.

"So if one day you succeed in creating those great research works, years after you will die like any other people. Then what will happen with your works?" Jun Wu Xiao continued.

His friends were also curious. They did not understand his intention with these questions.

"Of course, it would be left for future generations."

"Exactly, isn’t the knowledge we develop intended for the use of future generations? Knowledge is not created to be buried with its creator."

"That’s right."

....

The researchers said in unison. They were still unsure why Jun Wu Xiao was asking about this.

Jun Wu Xiao smiled contentedly as if he had achieved what he intended.

Chu Wu and the others saw his expression and were even more puzzled. They didn’t understand why he was smiling.

"You clearly know that you will die, and you clearly know that you will leave a lifetime of achievements for the next generation of humanity, but you still choose to try hard. So, aren’t you all extremely great people, dedicating yourself to the cause of human civilization? You are inherently so great, you just don’t understand your own heart." Jun Wu Xiao said.

Hearing this, everyone was stunned, not only the researchers but also his friends. No one expected Jun Wu Xiao would talk about this.

"Am I really that great?" a researcher skeptically asked.

Jun Wu Xiao smiled and looked at him, then he said:

"Exactly, you are that great. And it’s not just you, most of humanity is that great. If humanity were not so great, how could it develop like it does today? If humanity is truly selfish, why is knowledge passed down to the next generation? If they were truly selfish, they should have kept their knowledge a secret, used it to get rich, and then buried that secret with them. Humanity is truly great, the only thing that prevents humanity from realizing that is greed and selfishness in a negative direction. Those things were originally formed and passed down in the consciousness of many generations because in nature, survival is too difficult.

But is this still true now? Look, are these great architectural works natural? Are those seemingly endless fields natural? But is the canal in the capital also natural?

No! Absolutely not. Those things are the achievements of the entire human civilization. The achievements of people born in this era are not simply theirs, but they also inherit countless knowledge passed down from thousands of generations ago.

If you want to say that you have to pay for books or knowledge to get them, then this doesn’t mean anything to the great people of the past. If you pay, they won’t receive any money. How can they get the money after being dead for so long? So to be precise, they give it to future generations for free. But the people who teach you and the people who print the books for you to read also have merit, so paying them is to pay them, not the people who create the knowledge you learn.

Human civilization can develop as it is now thanks to the greatness of humans. At the same time, humanity is also the highest-level creature on earth. Although humanity is not the first life, humanity is the only king of the earth. Otherwise, why can’t other species form civilizations like humans? Simply because they are not on the same level as humans." Jun Wu Xiao said.

Everyone listened and gained a deeper understanding. Indeed, selfishness and greed exist, but they had never really questioned if they genuinely needed these traits. Now they understood that these were merely survival mechanisms from ancient times, but prolonged over such long periods, they still influenced behavior.

"So, according to senior, what should we do? I have heard that greed is the driving force behind human development, but if we do not need greed, how can we progress?" a researcher asked.

Jun Wu Xiao paused slightly, thinking they had understood, but it seemed there was still some confusion. He continued:

"What I mean is greed and selfishness in a negative sense. If it’s directed positively, of course, there’s no problem. And what constitutes a positive direction? It’s quite simple: as long as you bear humanity in your heart and do not harm the civilization of humanity, that is considered positive. I also don’t hate people who are wealthy or powerful, whether much or little, these are the results of their efforts or those of the generations before them. So, you should work according to your heart.

Humana should not harm humans, otherwise, it cannot be called human. If human harms humans, it is because no one has taught them about what they really are or because they are not human at all."