BOOK 2: CHAPTER 430: LECTURING BENEATH THE HEAVENLY RIVER, A STANDOUT AMONG THE REST

Vol 2 Chapter 430: Lecturing Beneath the Heavenly River, A Standout Among the Rest

Zheng Fa never really liked drinking alcohol, and he had rarely ever gotten drunk before.

But today his cup kept being refilled again and again, until his head was spinning and the people in the hall seemed to multiply, as if they'd all mastered clone techniques, and they were all smiling at him.

Considering these people had long been dead...

It wasn't actually that creepy though.

The Tianhe Unity cultivator who brought him here was probably the overly familiar type, his arm slung around Zheng Fa's neck as he declared loudly: "This is Tianhe Sect's tradition - when mourning our senior and junior brothers, we don't cry, we drink."

"Another round!"

Zheng Fa smiled, raised his cup, clinked it with the other man's, and downed it in one go.

These disciples were mourning their fallen brothers.

He was mourning these disciples.

Tianhe Venerable also held a cup of wine, sitting at the head of the table drinking alone, lost in who knows what thoughts.

Apparently these disciples were somewhat afraid of the Venerable, as no one dared to disturb him.

Zheng Fa didn't approach either, instead laughing and chatting with these Tianhe disciples.

He listened to them boast, argue, slam the table and stand up, draw swords and clash in a series of explosive fights, then drink together again afterwards, thick as thieves.

Tianhe Venerable didn't interfere, looking quite accustomed to it all, though his eyes occasionally flickered toward Zheng Fa, noticing how seamlessly he blended with the Tianhe disciples, his eyebrows lifting slightly.

After three rounds of drinks, Zheng Fa propped up his head watching two disciples spar in the hall, their swords moving like swimming dragons, light radiating in all directions.

Just as the atmosphere was heating up, Tianhe Venerable suddenly crooked his finger and lightly tapped the table.

Tap tap.

Though the sound was quiet, the Tianhe disciples reacted as if they'd heard two claps of thunder, their movements freezing instantly.

In that moment, the hall became so quiet you could hear a pin drop, as if the previous noise had been nothing but a grand illusion.

Zheng Fa looked beside him and saw the Tianhe disciple who had been arm-in-arm with him earlier, the outgoing-looking one, now wearing a bitter expression as if troubled. ℞ἈℕỐBÊś

Troubled by what?

Zheng Fa looked toward Tianhe Venerable as he said: "Had enough to drink?"

Scattered responses came: "Yes."

"Then it's time for proper business."

With that, Tianhe Venerable stood up first and walked out of the great hall.

The Tianhe disciples followed behind him. Zheng Fa, somewhat puzzled, quietly asked the cultivator beside him: "What proper business?"

"Mmm, doctrine lecture."

"Doctrine lecture?"

Zheng Fa frowned, thinking to himself that a doctrine lecture sounded like a good thing, so why were they making such bitter faces?

A powerhouse like Tianhe Venerable giving a doctrine lecture - he was practically drooling at the opportunity.

Besides, wasn't coming to the Myriad Swords Realm precisely for learning?

"Because the conflict between our Tianhe Sect and the Holy Dynasty is intensifying. After every major battle, the Sect Leader gives us doctrine lectures... the personal guidance kind."

"Personal... guidance?"

"Yeah, the Sect Leader hits really hard."

Zheng Fa's mouth twitched.

He could see it now - Tianhe Venerable valued his disciples highly, liked post-battle reviews, and apparently believed in "the sharpest sword comes from hardest grinding, the best student comes from strictest teaching."

As an outsider, he shouldn't have to take this beating, right?

Ahead, Tianhe Venerable suddenly turned and glanced at him.

Zheng Fa obediently followed the flow of people out of the great hall.

The scenery of the Myriad Swords Realm had changed again.

This time, Zheng Fa saw the Tongtian Sword Peak again, but it wasn't just the sword peak:

They stood at the summit of the sword peak, on an open flat area, but before them suddenly appeared a nine-level stepped platform shaped like an inverted dipper.

Walking up the steps led to a platform paved with blue bricks, surrounded by jade railings carved with dense constellations.

At the center was a huge stone disk like a sundial, also carved with various directional stars.

Astronomical Observation Platform?

Zheng Fa suddenly looked around, finally understanding where he was:

They stood at the summit of the sword peak, on an open flat area, but before them suddenly appeared a nine-level stepped platform shaped like an inverted funnel.

The Tongtian Sword Peak and this observation platform stood like lighthouses at the island's shore.

Looking upward revealed holes used for astronomical observation.

Some unknown formation spell had been cast on these holes, functioning like astronomical telescopes that brought countless stars right before Zheng Fa's eyes, every detail visible.

Among these glowing objects, some were human-shaped, some resembled divine beasts or spiritual roots, while others took the form of artifacts.

"Are these ancient immortals and gods?"

Zheng Fa couldn't help but ask.

He'd long felt the stars of the Xuanyi Realm were quite strange, and now viewing them from this observation platform, he confirmed his suspicion - they were the legendary ancient immortals.

Tianhe Venerable chuckled lightly and said: "What I will speak of today is what constitutes an immortal, and what constitutes the Dao!"

Zheng Fa was taken aback, thinking this didn't sound like an exam review. Looking at the Tianhe disciples' expressions, he suddenly understood:

Tianhe Venerable was going to transmit techniques!

Simply put, whether the Heavenly River Method or the Yang Spirit Method, they were ultimately for cultivating immortality and pursuing the Dao.

Tianhe Venerable starting from this foundation was actually to help Zheng Fa understand both the how and the why - truly thoughtful consideration.

Realizing this, he couldn't help but prick up his ears and listen attentively.

Tianhe Venerable pointed at the stars visible through the observation holes and said: "For our kind cultivating, starting from the Dao Fruit stage, immortal techniques and cultivation become one, inseparable."

"Therefore, immortal is technique, and technique is immortal."

This was rather clichéd to Zheng Fa, but he still listened carefully.

A mighty being like Tianhe Venerable giving doctrine lectures truly counted as heavenly fortune.

"Immortals are the embodiment of techniques." Tianhe Venerable paused, then suddenly asked: "Who can explain the difference between Scattered Immortals and True Immortals?"

Zheng Fa glanced around and saw the Tianhe disciples all bowing their heads as if the blue bricks beneath their feet contained profound Dao meaning.

The scene felt so familiar it was like coming home.

Tianhe Venerable snorted lightly, apparently displeased with their behavior, and simply pointed randomly at a Tianhe disciple.

The disciple stood up and said uncertainly: "To go from Scattered Immortal to True Immortal, one must undergo the Scattered Immortal Tribulation?"

"Then why is there a Scattered Immortal Tribulation?" Tianhe Venerable was probably a strict teacher, pressing further: "Also, what I asked was: what is the difference between True Immortals and Scattered Immortals!"

The disciple shrunk his head and fell silent.

Now Zheng Fa understood why these disciples feared Tianhe Venerable's doctrine lectures:

The number one expert in the Xuanyi Realm glaring at you and demanding detailed explanations - ordinary people really couldn't handle it.

"Dull! I've lectured on the True Immortal Dao before, yet you still can't comprehend even this much?"

"I could understand this at the Nascent Soul stage, and you still need me to teach you hand-in-hand?"

"Enough! I'll only say this once - commit it to memory!"

Zheng Fa practically wanted to bury his head in the ground.

The Tianhe disciple beside him seemed already accustomed to this, adopting a "let him be strong" attitude.

Just goes to show geniuses aren't suited to teaching, and irritable geniuses even less so.

"The Scattered Immortal Tribulation isn't a conventional thunder or wind tribulation, but a Dao Assimilation Tribulation!"

Zheng Fa started upon hearing this, involuntarily looking up at Tianhe Venerable and listening intently.

"What is the Dao Assimilation Tribulation? It means if you lack your own techniques as foundation and have only learned others' methods, you will become nourishment for those techniques!"

"Only by possessing your own techniques can you preserve a trace of True Spirit through the Scattered Immortal Tribulation and transform into a True Immortal!"

"Understood?"

The Tianhe disciple beside him seemed long accustomed to this, adopting a "let him be strong" attitude.

Scattered Immortal Tribulation (×)

Heavenly Tribulation Plagiarism Check (√)

Engage in plagiarism in the Xuanyi Realm, risk your life!

Only today did Zheng Fa finally understand what this thing actually was.

Simply put, True Immortals valued the innovativeness of a cultivator's Dao techniques?

Seeing his expression of sudden comprehension, Tianhe Venerable's eyes subtly paused.

"Sect Leader, what about Golden Immortals?"

A studious disciple posed his question.

"Golden Immortals are those brightest stars."

Zheng Fa instinctively glanced at the observation holes, wondering what these stars represented, when Tianhe Venerable explained:

"Golden Immortals wield creation." Tianhe Venerable seemed to know these disciples' level wasn't sufficient, so he simply stated.

Creation?

"They open up worlds, wield universes, providing environments for all living beings to multiply and survive." Tianhe Venerable explained.

Parallel worlds?

These stars are parallel worlds?

The parallel world the inner demon came from was created by a Golden Immortal?

Zheng Fa listened in a daze - these concepts were still somewhat distant from him, something he could only listen to for now.

Tianhe Venerable didn't elaborate further, instead returning to the original topic: "Thus, a Golden Immortal's techniques become the Heavenly Dao of his world."

"Golden Immortals wield creation." Tianhe Venerable seemed to know these disciples' level wasn't sufficient, so he simply stated.

Not just Zheng Fa, but even the Tianhe disciples listened with some confusion yet also yearning, quietly pondering the meaning.

"They create worlds, wield universes, providing environments for all living beings to multiply and survive." Tianhe Venerable explained.

Everyone fell silent, their gazes turning to him.

But Tianhe Venerable's eyes settled on Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa somewhat bewilderedly met Tianhe Venerable's gaze as he said: "The essence of immortality is being a stronger, undying living being. This is why we say the Immortal Dao values life."

Zheng Fa nodded slightly.

This wasn't exactly a novel concept.

Any Xuanyi Realm cultivator brought here could understand this.

But presumably Tianhe Venerable had unique insights.

"The difference between immortals and humans is that immortals are composed of Dao techniques, essentially being the rules of heaven and earth." Tianhe Venerable continued: "Cultivating immortality means transforming from a flesh-and-blood body into a being of natural laws."

This statement was also quite straightforward.

The disciples nodded one after another.

"Nodding? Understood?"

"Understood!"

"Truly understood?"

"Truly understood!"

"Good, then let me ask you: since you want to become beings of natural laws, you must understand what living beings are." Tianhe Venerable smiled, looking quite satisfied: "So, do you know?"

The disciples fell silent, beginning to contemplate the Dao with bowed heads one after another.

Just as Zheng Fa was about to lower his head, Tianhe Venerable suddenly said: "Zheng Fa, why don't you explain?"

The disciples nodded one after another.

Remembering his earlier eye contact with Tianhe Venerable, Zheng Fa felt some regret - he'd committed a major faux pas.

Beside him, the Tianhe disciples who had just been drinking and fraternizing with him as brothers now turned their heads, grinning at him with expressions full of relief and delight.

Zheng Fa looked up and saw Tianhe Venerable watching him, curiosity also in his eyes.

He thought for a moment, then first said: "Venerable, many of my ideas actually come from the jade pendant."

"No matter. Only with you here can I glimpse even a fraction of the jade pendant's circumstances, and not completely at that." Tianhe Venerable seemed to understand his meaning, waving his hand: "The jade pendant is not my creation."

The disciples fell silent, many beginning to contemplate the Dao with bowed heads.

"I heard a certain mighty surnamed Xue say that the essence of life lies in order."

"Order?" Tianhe Venerable's eyes lit up, seemingly pleasantly surprised, pressing further: "How do you explain this?"

Zheng Fa lowered his head to consider how to explain more clearly.

In the modern world, he'd read many books. If there was one book that gave him the most insight into life's essence, it wasn't works by biologists but rather a book called "What Is Life?" by the cat-tormenting madman Schrödinger.

This book appeared very early and naturally didn't include later developments in biology, even containing many theories that were later overturned.

But its description of life's essence had stayed with Zheng Fa all this time.

Now it just happened to serve to answer Tianhe Venerable's question.

Summarizing later theories and Schrödinger's viewpoint, the main characteristic of life is actually maintaining its own order by absorbing energy, while simultaneously transferring the entropy it produces to the external environment.

Simply put, humans eat food, plants absorb sunlight, thereby maintaining their own bodily order and low-entropy state.

Releasing heat is essentially transferring one's entropy increase to the environment.

Of course Zheng Fa couldn't say it like this, as the concept of entropy would be too unfamiliar to Tianhe Venerable.

......

"Whether humans, flowers, birds, fish, or insects, they are all ultimately products of the Dao." Zheng Fa explained in terms Xuanyi Realm cultivators could understand:

"The rules within living beings are actually the same as those of heaven and earth - all things share common essence."

Now it happened to serve to answer Tianhe Venerable's question.

Summarizing later theories and Schrödinger's viewpoint, the main characteristic of life is actually maintaining its own order by absorbing energy, while simultaneously transferring the entropy it produces to the external environment.

Zheng Fa explained.

"Like stubborn rocks - wind and sun weather them into soil, yet they remain unaware and unfeeling."

"Only life possesses the desire for survival, essentially self-replicating, wanting to maintain its own order."

The observation platform fell into complete silence. These words seemed somewhat difficult for Tianhe cultivators to comprehend.

"We cultivators can naturally understand that human growth is essentially cellular self-replication."

Tianhe Venerable first frowned: "Cells?"

Then he seemed to think of something and nodded.

Zheng Fa had also anticipated that Tianhe Venerable had seen cells - after all, cultivators' eyesight was nothing to scoff at, and that deceased loyal Tianhe disciple had even fused his innate treasure with cells.

He just didn't know what Tianhe Venerable called cells.

But judging by the situation, Tianhe Venerable seemed to understand.

"Therefore, living beings' instinct is growth and reproduction, which itself is essentially order's self-maintenance."

Simply put, in Zheng Fa's view, life lies in DNA's division and recombination, and DNA's essence is an ordered arrangement of matter.

But Tianhe Venerable and the others didn't know what DNA was, so Zheng Fa could only use order as a substitute to summarize.

"So, Venerable, if you ask me what living beings are, then in my view, living beings themselves are the highest product of heaven and earth's rules - a self-replicating, self-maintaining order."

Then as if having thought of something, he nodded.

Tianhe Venerable fell silent for a while, his expression suddenly showing some disdain.

Had he said something wrong?

But judging by the situation, Tianhe Venerable seemed to understand.

But Tianhe Venerable gave him a deep look, his eyes unreadable, though when his gaze swept over the other Tianhe disciples' faces, his expression was clear - dissatisfaction.

Simply put, in Zheng Fa's view, life lies in DNA's division and recombination, and DNA's essence is an ordered arrangement of matter.

But Tianhe Venerable and the others didn't know what DNA was, so Zheng Fa could only use order as a substitute summary.