Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 341 - 215 Old Acquaintance Visits, Farewell_2

Chapter 341: Chapter 215 Old Acquaintance Visits, Farewell_2

"Thirty thousand years ago, if the Human Race had such a Divine Beast, perhaps they would not have chosen to cultivate barren lands but instead, ride upon this Divine Beast’s Grotto Heaven and move far away from Jianmu. And for an ordinary sect acquiring this beast, it could achieve transcendence beyond worldly cataclysms, unaffected by any."

"Transcenders can only protect themselves, yet it can shelter billions of beings."

"Can it take me away?"

"Only when its own Law can contend with Jianmu."

"Then there’s no difference; it’s as if I’ve just raised a little cat or dog."

Gu Wen stroked the cat’s head and, after a bit of thought, suggested, "I’ll call you my Heirloom. I’ve been calling you that for so many years, too lazy to change it. If I can’t get out in the future, I’ll pass you on to Yu Hua."

With its own Grotto Heaven, accompanied by a Spiritual Spring, had he obtained this treasure back then, he would have left Bianjing long ago to rigorously pursue ascetic cultivation.

As long as one’s talent was sufficient, one could hide in the Grotto Heaven, become an Immortal without harm. In the midst of becoming an Immortal, it could also serve as a shelter, hiding from any tribulations for tens of thousands of years.

Then, he would build a palace, plant several Spirit Fields, and take a wife.

Idle and nothing to do, learn to garden, play with the splendor of things day and night.

Gu Wen’s thoughts were intricate, adapting as he encountered them, finding peace in his contemplations.

He closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep. His breath stretched long, reflecting with the Grotto Heaven, light and clouds in complement, man and heaven coexisting.

"Aw~"

The Heirloom licked Gu Wen’s chin, then lay down on his chest and closed its eyes too.

By the time he woke up, a month had passed.

He returned to his own room that had started to drip water again, holding a brush, drawing circles where the water dripped.

Silent as water, hitting the ground without leaving a mark.

Each circle was an extremely small space.

The Immortal Sword silently watched all this, feeling that the once vibrant youth had fully grown up, becoming ever more understated and elusive.

Every move in harmony with the great Dao.

"Have you comprehended the Dao?"

"A slight understanding."

Gu Wen was noncommittal, then with apparent modesty, as if stating a fact, said, "It’s a small trick, just used for catching water."

A casual stroke of a Sumeru Mustard Seed, and this is considered a small trick?

The Immortal Sword deliberated for a moment, saw the water droplets at the mouth of the Grotto Heaven, which was merely the size of a fist on the inside.

He harbored thoughts of discussing the Dao and asked, "What is the grand Dao?"

"What constitutes ’grand’?"

"The grand Dao is eternal, heaven and earth are grand, the sun and moon are grand, the stars and constellations are grand."

"Is cultivation about becoming heaven and earth, the sun and moon, the stars?"

"To seek to emulate the eternal nature of heaven and earth, hence the pursuit of long-lasting life."

"Heaven and earth encompass ninety million miles. So, they are just ninety million miles. The sun and moon are singular, the stars are countable. Dust, in comparison, is countless. So, who is grand, and who is insignificant?"

Gu Wen provided an example that left the Immortal Sword pondering for a long time, unable to reply even after a period equivalent to the burning of an incense stick.

"Quantity is infinite, time is endless. The constancy of heaven and earth is inconstancy; their beginning and end unknown. As such it is with humans, the unknown is always greater than the known. The extent of my Dao is unknown, naturally greater than heaven and earth."

Buzz!

The Immortal Sword vibrated, its profound sound spreading endlessly.

It had become a great power, authentically and truly.

-----------------

That same year, in autumn.

Gu Wen cultivated a piece of Spirit Field within the Heirloom’s Grotto Heaven, irrigated it with the Spiritual Spring, planted grains and vegetables, and had a bountiful harvest.

He tossed a basket of cucumbers into the well water, with a splash breaking the tranquility of the well, and then quickly calming again, reflecting back the little white hair of the person drawing water.

A familiar voice came from behind.

"Brother Hongchen, truly enjoying leisure."

Turning his head to look, outside the fence and cowhorn flowers, stood one man and two women.

A scholarly-looking handsome man stood there, his eyes curving, a smile on his lips, with a basket of herbs on his back. Beside him stood a red-dressed, barefoot young girl, as well as a curvaceous woman in a purple dress.

Lan Yongning, Lu Chan.

Three words burst forth from Gu Wen’s mind, along with all the memories of bygone days.

The Oiran of Qianfeng Tower in Bianjing, Li Shanyu, the foremost Pill Master of the younger generation Lu Chan.

Practicing swordplay by the Luo River, asking the deft for guidance, paying visits to doorsteps, only to be chased away by Lan Yongning several times.

"Brother Lan, Miss Lu, Miss Li, what brings you here?"

The rope Gu Wen was holding slipped from his hands, water splashed up from the well as he moved quickly to the door, taking three steps at a time to open the courtyard gate and greet them.

The reunion of old friends brought unparalleled joy; after a brief exchange of pleasantries, Gu Wen invited them in and poured a cup of tea for each.

Among them, Li Shanyu, a talent seen as unremarkable, looked incredulously flattered.

They chatted about their recent situations, and since parting ways in Luodu, they had mostly gone their separate directions to seek opportunities. Lan Yongning had stopped at the Eighth Level of Dao Foundation, while Lu Chan had made a breakthrough to Eighth Level Perfection, reversing their rankings on the ground list.

The former ranked sixth, and the latter fifth.

Li Shanyu remained much more ordinary, with only a Sixth Level Dao Foundation.

"How unpredictable life is, to have not seen Miss Lu for a mere moment, she has now surpassed Brother Lan."

Gu Wen couldn’t help expressing his feelings, recalling how Lan Yongning had once been heralded as the first among the Three Religions’ Inheritors. After being overtaken by the enlightened Xiao Yunyi, and now by Lu Chan.

"If three days apart warrant a second look, what more after more than twenty years."

Lu Chan stood tall, her face full of pride, while Lan Yongning could do nothing but shake his head with a wry smile, saying, "I’m no match for her, there’s nothing to say."

The conversation then stumbled, without a topic, Gu Wen inquired about the scenery beyond the heavens, Lan Yongning was somewhat evasive, and Lu Chan answered questions incompletely, withholding information. Only after much probing from Gu Wen did they gradually open up.

Lan Yongning mentioned that when it came to calligraphy beyond the heavens, Wenkui Continent was the leader, which was also the location of the Liuyun Sect.

Lu Chan described her own sect’s Land, Huajian Continent, where song and dance were abundant, dual cultivation was widespread, brothels were countless, and artists were numerous.

With the two continents being adjacent to each other, their societies of openness and conservatism looked down upon each other with disdain. The former scorned them for prostituting themselves without shame, while the latter criticized the pedantic scholars as hypocrites lacking integrity.

Lan Yongning chuckled, "If Brother Hongchen is truly interested in song and dance, our Wenkui Continent also has purer establishments. I will take you there sometime to see, they are not inferior to those coquettish Demon cultivators."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Lu Chan kicked Lan Yongning, secretly transmitting a scolding message that promptly turned his complexion unnatural.

Could he still go out?

"I’ll definitely come for a visit sometime."

Gu Wen noticed their small gestures, with their Daoist cultivation now far beyond what it was before, he could not be easily deceived about many things.

The two of them, deliberately or not, started avoiding the topic about the world beyond, and instead talked about family and sect life, sharing amusing anecdotes from within their sects. Gu Wen was equally enthralled, discussing sect discipleship, elders, and the minor and major trials.

The sun set, and only then did the four regain their senses.

Lan Yongning stood up and with hands clasped said, "I’ve come to say goodbye, my opportunity in the Immortal Land has come to an end, and I’m afraid that after this farewell, it will be difficult to meet again. Therefore, I inquired from various sources and found my way here."

"I’m in the same situation, Brother, and after this meeting, I do not know if we will be able to see each other again." Lu Chan bowed with a clasped hand, and on the side, Li Shanyu, in her role as a guardian, also bowed respectfully.

The three of them appeared solemn and serious, with a touch of sorrow, as if attending a memorial.

"Congratulations, Brother Lan, may we meet again in the Cultivation World."

Gu Wen smiled and lightly bowed in return.

Hearing this, Lan Yongning’s expression grew even more pained, as he covered his face to wipe away tears, saying, "I hope Brother Gu does not give up, and that we will meet in the future in the Cultivation World."

In the evening, he saw off the three of them for ten miles. The trio turned into streaks of light and sped away, with one occasionally circling back.

Lu Chan stopped five steps from him, neither too bold nor too distant.

"Brother, I often found myself involuntarily thinking of you, your confrontation with the Lord Emperor at Dragon Bridge, and how you killed a True Monarch despite the difference in cultivation. Later, whenever I heard about your battles against the Devil Clan, your top position on the ground list, and subsequently the first on the human list, my joy knew no bounds. Every bit of news about Brother, I cared for deeply."

By then, Lan Yongning and Li Shanyu had also circled back, holding their breath at the scene.

Gu Wen listened silently and did not interrupt.

"I wondered if it was a fleeting youthful infatuation? But if so, why did I not recognize you at first glance, and why is it always your unrivaled elegance that I remember? Later, I understood, and thus, I achieved Dao Foundation Perfection. Now, we might be parting forever, and I felt the need to tell Brother."

Lu Chan gracefully stepped closer, leaning slightly forward, her smile radiant, "My admiration for Brother Gu is pure and surpasses that of even a Heavenly Girl. My attainment of Eighth Level Perfection is thanks to Brother Gu, and for this, Lu Chan is grateful."

Gu Wen’s mouth curved into a faint smile, light and gentle.

"Brother, I’m leaving."

Lu Chan moved lightly, as if the wind could carry her away. In an instant, she flew a kilometer to stand with the other two, then waved goodbye once more before drifting away.

Gu Wen stood at the edge of the field, watching their silhouettes merge with the sunset, along a river that glowed red.