575 Above All States (2/2)

There was a long pause.

”Legend says that there are other states above all these states. It is not recorded even in the oldest Classics. It is passed down by word of mouth in a Buddhist Temple, a Taoist Temple, and the Second floor of a sect. That is...”

”The Immortal State of the Devil's Doctrine.”

”Nirvana of the Buddhism Sect.”

”Ascension to heaven and becoming immortal of Haotian Taoism.”

”The Academy's Transcending the Worldly.”

The autumn rain grew heavier, and the front of the temple grew colder.

Master Qishan tightly pulled his cotton shirt around him.

”The Devil's Doctrine only started a millennia ago, I have never heard of anyone cultivating to the Immortal State. When Buddha entered Parinirvana, the skies gave a sign, that should be Nirvana. Ascension to Heaven is more common, those are the legends of deities in the secular world.”

Ning Que seemed to understand something.

Master Qishan lamented, ”In the past millennium, there might have been one person who could slowly walk to the end of the cultivation path. There might have been one person who could reach the shore astride, and one who could achieve living forever. Then, they would return to Haotian's embrace.”

Ning Que looked at the stone steps that were wet by the rain. He asked, stunned, ”Would that be death or eternal life?”

”No one knows.”

Master Qishan seemed a bit lost. He said, ”Buddha cannot come back and tell us. Our Taoist seniors who have ascended into heaven and become immortals cannot tell us either. This is the greatest temptation and fear.”

Ning Que looked up at the master and asked, ”Is that why both Liu Bai and Lotus did not dare to take that step?”

Master Qishan answered, ”This should be the case.”

”There is still a large distance between the point where one breaks the Five States and reaching those states. However, once you get a taste of it, you'd want to do it again. After experiencing creating their own rules, cultivators would find it hard to control their desire to continue forth. That is why unless they truly believe that their talent can only bring them just past the threshold of Haotian Taoism, they would not dare to take another step.”

The master shook his head slowly and said, ”However, those who can break the Five States are impressive characters like Liu Bai and Younger Brother Lotus. They are very confident in their own talents.”

Ning Que suddenly said, ”The Headmaster...”

Master Qishan said, ”Don't ask me. Decades ago, the Headmaster himself said that he was not a Sage. If you want me to guess, I would guess that he has cultivated to the State of Peace.”

Ning Que smiled and said, ”He is so noisy, how could he be peaceful?”

Master Qishan said, ”The peace is in his heart and that is enough.”

Ning Que reached out and caught hold of the rain outside the temple. He rubbed it between his fingers, and after a long pause, he asked, ”Is there no one who is capable of ascending to the heavens?”

Master Qishan said, ”Is there anyone who can escape the cycle of nature?”

Ning Que retracted his hand and wiped it on his Academy uniform. He said, ”Teacher never told me about this.”

Master Qishan said, ”That's because the Headmaster believed that you would definitely reach the Peak of Knowing Destiny State. When you see the separation between man and heaven, you would know then, the fear and temptations on Earth.”

Above the Earth was the Firmament.

Ning Que looked up at the skies in the autumn rain and realized that it was bleak.

He felt a little cold.

Heaven's Way was indeed ruthless.