Claiming the Throne of Gods, Starting from the Rebirth of Nezha

"May I ask, sir, last time you mentioned that by infusing inspiration into my body, it suppressed my own inspiration, leaving me unable to move at all. So what exactly is this inspiration?"

In the classroom, Nezha sat across from Mr. Fan. Curious, he posed his first question, opening the door to the Cultivation World.

Mr. Fan said, "Before answering your question, let me ask you, what is cultivation, what is achieving the Way, and what is an Immortal?"

Nezha pondered for a moment and replied, "Among the Three Teachings, only the Dao is supreme. It neither reports to the Emperor above nor pays homage to the aristocrats below. The heart is like a free cloud, the mind flows like water wherever it wills. Escaping the cage and cultivating freely, could this be the Dao?"

"A heart like a free cloud, a mind flowing like water wherever it wills—such freedom is enviable. Only, as a teacher, I have not met a truly enlightened Immortal, so I cannot answer you."

Nezha laughed and said, "Teacher, there's no need to blame yourself. I have met Taiyi Zhenren. He truly is an enlightened Immortal, but he may not appear as free as you, teacher."

"Haha, as a teacher trapped in the cage of Chengtang's Society, my freedom is indeed the least of all."

"Teacher."

"What?"

"You've strayed off topic."

"I should be punished."

When Mr. Fan said he should be punished, he naturally didn't mean himself. According to his students in Zhaoge, each should have already extended a hand to let himself be hit.

But Nezha was different. This clever child just sat upright there, grinning at him.

Almost wanting to reach for the ruler, Mr. Fan's hand shrank back. He cleared his throat lightly and continued, "In this world, everything has inspiration. The stronger one's inspiration, the stronger they are. The weaker, like grass, trees, stones, and wild beasts in the forest, the weaker their inspiration. To perceive one's own inspiration and that of others, and to control it freely, is the first step on the path of cultivation."

Nezha asked, "Then, may I ask sir, how can one perceive this inspiration?"

Mr. Fan replied, "There are rumors that the Daoist Ancestor meditated beneath the Harmonization Tree, communicating with spirits and practicing star plucking and sun chasing techniques. With such abilities, he compiled the 'Infinite Longevity Scripture' with his insights and experiences. Thereafter, disciples of the Taoist lineage, when meditating, silently recite this scripture. Given time, they may have the chance to perceive the location of inspiration."

The ardor in Nezha's eyes was evident to anyone now: "So, if I want to cultivate, do I need this 'Infinite Longevity Scripture'?"

Mr. Fan nodded and said, "Perhaps there are many other advanced spells, but the Immortal who led me on this path used this method."

Nezha sincerely bowed low and said earnestly, "Please, teach me, sir."

The tall and slender Mr. Fan quietly observed the earnest young student eager to learn about the Dao, a hint of a smile appearing on his face as he lightly rubbed his thumb and forefinger together.

He opened his mouth to ask, "Before that, I would like to ask you one more question."

"Please ask, sir. The student will hold back nothing that he knows."

Mr. Fan, who had not attained the Great Dao through immortal cultivation and remained a mortal, couldn't help but feel thirsty after a morning lecture. He picked up a teacup and drank the fish tea unique to Chentang Pass, then asked, "Why do you cultivate immortality?"

"To indulge my desires." Nezha answered almost immediately.

"Pfft!" Mr. Fan spat out all the fish tea in his mouth. His slender and tall body leaned forward, tremblingly pointing a finger at the drenched Nezha before him, "You! You! You!"

"Master, calm down, calm down." Nezha jumped up directly, came to Mr. Fan, and gently patted his back, feeling a row of bones prickling in his palms. "I just said that the purpose of cultivation and inquiry is freedom. If I cannot indulge my desires, where lies freedom?"

"Indulging desires is to become a demon! With great capability, a cultivator should all the more restrain oneself!"

Looking into Mr. Fan's eyes, Nezha saw the deep affection and expectation within and was genuinely moved.

In his previous life, after seeing off the old dean, he endured and pondered for decades, still walking the world alone. Yet in this life, as a mere seven-year-old child, what merit did he possess to merit so much care and love?

He said, "Master, rest assured. Nezha is your disciple. I will never disgrace your teachings. If that makes me a demon, then what harm would there be in the world having one great demon more?"

Having said this, Mr. Fan fell silent. He furrowed his brows, looking at Nezha's dark eyes, truly not expecting a seven-year-old child to speak such words.

He had a premonition that this Nezha, who had just started calling him 'Master' instead of Mr. Fan, would not remain anonymous in the future. In this world, and even in the Cultivation World, his name would be known.

But I will never be your master.

After a pause, Mr. Fan said, "To perceive inspiration is just the first step on the path of cultivation. Without refining the Golden Core, one cannot surpass a hundred years of lifespan, let alone achieve immortality. Well then, let's see how far you can go."

Mr. Fan, clad in a green robe, refused Nezha's support, stretched his hand to pound his stick-like legs, stood up smiling, and took out two bamboo scrolls from the book chest behind him, handing them to Nezha.

He said, "Do you know how to meditate?"

Nezha bowed again: "Please teach me, sir."

So, Mr. Fan taught Nezha how to meditate and sit quietly. After teaching everything, he advised: "Perceiving inspiration depends not on diligence but on comprehension. Ordinary people without comprehension can look at the Longevity Scripture their whole life and still fail to understand.

When I was young, I also spent several years before identifying where the inspiration lay and was praised by my master for my natural talent. But unfortunately, I achieved nothing when it came to refining the Golden Core. Alas.

So, even if you embark on the path of immortality, that's for the future. Never be impatient. Finish today's tasks today—study the books and do your classwork. You mustn't delay tomorrow's lessons. Do you understand?"

"Nezha understands."

After seeing off Mr. Fan, Nezha's original plans for the afternoon were all forgotten. He didn't even have time to eat, rushing back to his room eagerly and closing the newly oiled carved wooden door by Sister Cuiyu. He immediately jumped onto the bed with the bamboo scrolls.

Spreading out the upper scroll of bamboo, dense tiny characters filled it. Nezha scanned through, feeling drowsy and dizzy.

"Is this the 'Infinite Longevity Scripture'? Written in such an elusive way, who can understand it? Perhaps it's better to ask Mr. Fan again tomorrow?"

Thinking this, Nezha still felt reluctant to give up. As the saying goes, 'Read a book a hundred times, its meaning becomes clear.' But if he reads, he can't meditate, and if he meditates, he can't read. He has to memorize the entire 'Infinite Longevity Scripture.'

For any lively seven-year-old child, this is undoubtedly a painful process.

However, Nezha's seven-year-old heart has already been refined by the years. Even if it were ten or a hundred times more painful, he wouldn't fear.

Nezha understood that in both past lives and this one, no matter whether gods or buddhas exist in the world, there will always be great figures standing aloof, overlooking mortals like ants.

He didn't want to be slaughtered like in his past life but wanted to do what he wished. If indulging his desires makes him a demon in some eyes, so be it.

The premise of all this requires power.

"The void is boundless, in the beginning of Chaos, only the mysterious Dao exists. Infinite Longevity contains all wisdom, upon which all living beings rely."

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"May all sentient beings develop the Bodhi mind, endowed with wisdom, eternally preserving longevity without end."

...

"In ancient times, before the universe was born, before Chaos was discerned, all the ways of longevity were hidden in the void, silent and unmoving, aroused and thus connected."

...