Amid the astonished gazes, Zhao Ran huddled in an unnoticed corner. Under his command, applause rang out like waves, and the atmosphere in the entire banquet venue was extremely warm.
"... I still remember that in those days, I was taught by Master Qiu, an old Taoist, and I firmly believed in the Tao. So I left my family and career, bid farewell to my official career, and visited the famous mountains in the sea. Finally, I met my teacher, Master Huolong. My mentor Yuan Qie explained the practice to me.
The secret technique. From this we know, the so-called innate has no weight, the fire has no strategy, only the old and the young are divided, but the civil and military are distinguished, purely based on the true intention, the sword and the guide are difficult to understand, the old Taoist I held the Yuan Fei in ten months, nine years
And facing the wall..."
This paragraph is Zhang Laodao's self-narration of his experience in Taoism when he entered Taoism. It is mixed with a lot of practice essentials and can be regarded as the essential content of this speech. All the monks listened attentively and understood each other, and the senior practitioners in the United Tao realm were no exception.
Finally, Zhang Laodao expressed his feelings: "...the treasure of the innate soul is essentially empty, what kind of flower is it? There is no flower, it is intangible and imageless, and it is difficult to draw...Although it has no name or surname, it is
To the extreme of emptiness, to the spirit, still and motionless, and then through the senses, just like calling a valley to spread the sound, the wonderful treasure in the vacuum is also... Use the true fire of samadhi to become true, from the vacuum, you can return to Taixu. If the road returns to Taixu, it will be empty.
There is nothing, nothing but truth, nothing else..."
"The treasure of the innate true spirit unites the three things of essence, Qi and spirit. When the true spirit is restored, all three things are restored. They create and transform themselves. The dense clouds of water merge together and become one. In the beginning, something was created out of nothing. Then something exists out of itself.
Disappear into nothingness.”
These insights are what all the Taoist monks who attended the ceremony valued most, especially the great monks who were in the Tao realm. They thought about it carefully and reflected their own cultivation, and each gained something.
Zhang Laodao finally finished speaking. After heaving a sigh of relief, he folded the crumpled manuscript paper and was about to put it away. However, Zhao Ran, who had been waiting early, caught up to him and took a few steps to him. He took it and put it in his arms.
hit, and then handed a glass of wine backhand, indicating to Zhang Laodao to follow the procedure.
Zhang Laodao's cheeks were slightly hot, but he had no time to look away. He picked up the wine glass like a marionette, and then said to the audience: "Here, Lao Taoist, I will bring you a glass of wine to express my gratitude to all of you fellow Taoists as guests. Thank you all.
I traveled thousands of miles and worked tirelessly to get to Wudang to see the old Tao off."
Amidst the sound of "drinking together", Zhang Laodao stepped down from the altar, took his seat and returned to his seat.
Sun Biyun continued on the stage, said two emotional sentences, and then said: "In order to reward all fellow Taoists and guests, I, Wudang, have specially prepared some songs and dances, please enjoy them together."
These were some small programs prepared by Zhao Rante for the banquet. Because time was tight, he issued a strict order to the Shifang Jungle in Huguang. This order made the laymen in the Forbidden Palace at the foot of the mountain busy, and they were busy for a while.
Where to prepare? Later, someone came up with a way and went directly to the Chu Palace to "forcibly recruit" the palace's musicians and dancers. Only then was the task completed.
At this moment, the bells and music are ringing in the hall, and there are singing and dancing on the stage. This is a tea-picking song with folk characteristics in Jingchu area.
Amidst the music and dancing, Zhao Ran came to Zhang Laodao and reminded in a low voice: "Master, it's time to change clothes."
So Zhang Laodao got up helplessly, and accompanied by the Taoist priest in Qingyi, went into the hall to change his Taoist uniform. After a while, Zhang Laodao, dressed in purple robe, held a cup and went to the table to toast, accompanied by the Taoist priest in Qingyi.
Zhao Ran was holding a plate with wine and a glass on it. He looked very much like a loser. He stayed behind and kept company without saying a word, just to get acquainted with his face.
After a round of toasts, Zhao Ran continued to urge Zhang Laodao to "change clothes." Zhang Laodao appeared in a golden Taoist robe and walked up to the high altar. Sun Biyun introduced that this was a disciple of the Seventeenth Lineage of the Wudang Yinxian Sect "saying goodbye to his ancestor."
"Picture" moment.
The first one was the disciple of Nanyan Palace from Sun Biyun's lineage. They brought the futon and sat on it each, surrounding Zhang Laodao. Several folk painters gathered from Wuchang and Xiangyang were already ready and immediately got down on the ground to sketch.
.
After a cup of tea, several painters sketched out a rough outline, and then replaced it with the next group of Taihe Palace disciples.
These painters have a heavy task. After they go down, they have to discuss together to finalize each painting.
The entire banquet passed in such a lively and lively atmosphere, and it didn't end until midnight.
Zhao Ran didn't care to send his teacher Jiang Tenghe back to Taihe Palace to rest, and apologized: "Teacher, please forgive me, I'm really too busy."
Jiang Tenghe smiled and said: "You go and do your work. Today's banquet is a bit interesting. Many seniors think it is very novel and festive. It is not only lively, but also very polite. It was your idea to let the great master and the disciples of the Seventeen Meridians take pictures.
I heard from Master Xu that the ceremony for their ascension in the future will also be conducted in this way."
Zhao Ran said hurriedly: "Disciple is ashamed. Actually, it is just to leave a memory for Wudang... Teacher is gone, I won't send you off... Oh, Wu Tianshi, you are really neglectful today... Hello, Li Tianshi, haha
, you have given me the prize, how dare you..."
While Zhao Ran was busy seeing off the guests, Zhang Laodao was comforting his descendant, his great-grandson Taoist Qingyi: "I am not deceased, why are you crying?"
Tears fell from the corners of Qing Yi's eyes, and she sobbed: "I also know that this is a great happy event, but today's celebration banquet, for some reason, I just feel that the joy is full of sadness. When I think about the heaven and earth from now on,
Being separated from each other and unable to listen to your teachings, I always feel very sad and flustered."
Zhang Laodao said with a smile: "I look forward to the day in one or two hundred years when our ancestors and grandchildren will meet in heaven. Then we will all be very happy."
After a pause, he continued: "The disciples from all branches of Wudang Mountain have promised to take good care of you, so there is no need to panic. It's just that you are alone in the world of practice from now on. No one can talk to you, which is hard. Patriarch
I have also thought about it, you are thirty-eight years old now. If you can't bear the hardship, you can also find a dual cultivation that you like, but you have to enter the realm of master training. Although my lineage does not fully pay attention to discipline,
But the soul must give birth to a baby before the body can be broken, otherwise the golden elixir will be unstable and hinder the great path."
Qing Yi's face turned red: "Ancestor, what are you talking about? My granddaughter is cultivating the great path and strives to go to heaven to meet the ancestor as soon as possible. How can she have time to cultivate both ways!"
"It's up to you." Zhang Laodao raised his eyes, glanced, and called Zhao Ran over: "Zhi Ran!"
Zhao Ran ran over again and said, "Da Zhenren?"
Zhang Laodao pointed at Qingyi and said: "I don't need to worry about my grandson's cultivation, but if I have any difficulties in my daily life, you guys, especially you, can help me take care of me."
Zhao Ran nodded hurriedly and said: "Don't worry, the affairs of Taoist Qingyi are my business, Louguan's business, and my business, Zhao Zhiran! If I eat, Taoist Qingyi will eat it, and if I wear it, Taoist Qingyi will freeze."
Not!"
Zhang Laodao sighed: "I'm just afraid that she will be alone and have no one to talk to. Although there are many disciples in Wudang, they all focus on practicing in seclusion, which is not a good partner. Furthermore, she is a female cultivator.
It’s not good to always hang out with a group of male cultivators.”
Zhao Ran immediately said: "Don't worry. After I went to Junshan Cave Heaven, Lou Guan prepared a special place for Qingyi Taoist priests. It was right next to the Wenqing Sect. They were all female cultivators. Besides practicing, we could also have more exchanges and discussions.
"
Zhang Laodao nodded with satisfaction: "That's it."