“If that’s the case, then if one wishes to take advantage of cause and effect to achieve success, one should seek out an orthodox sect, borrow the sect’s power, and gain more benefits while suffering fewer karmic retributions. Alternatively, one could attempt to glimpse the hidden mysteries of fate in order to pursue fortune and avoid misfortune. But what if one refuses to involve oneself in karma at all?” Mei Qing asked.
“If one refuses to involve oneself in karma, then one’s actions need not be constrained by any restrictions or concerns. One can simply follow one’s heart’s desires. For example, those who are bound by karma dare not commit excessive killings, or else they will suffer severe karmic consequences. However, those who are not bound by karma can act without restraint. No matter how much killing they commit, it won’t bring them the slightest calamity. However, those who are not bound by karma face two major disadvantages. First, heavenly tribulations come without warning and follow no predictable pattern. Surviving these tribulations depends entirely on one’s cultivation level, mental fortitude, and luck, making them extremely troubling. Second, cultivators generally hold certain prejudices against those not bound by karma, and some even regard them as practitioners of the demonic path.”
“In that case, wouldn’t the benefits of being bound by karma far outweigh those of not being bound by it? Why did my master still ask me to consider it carefully?” Mei Qing asked, somewhat confused.
“Firstly, Master Ku must have already noticed that your nature inherently lacks a strong sense of karma. Even if you were to enter this path, it might not necessarily bring you much benefit. Secondly, well, over the past few centuries, the advantages brought by karma have gradually diminished, and instead, its drawbacks have become more apparent,” Zhang Shisan said somewhat gloomily.
Originally, when the concept of karma first entered the Central Plains and was accepted by the cultivation community, it was remarkably effective for a period. The number of cultivators ascending to immortality surged dramatically, causing great joy within the cultivation world. Everyone regarded karma as the ultimate method, believing they had finally solved the most persistent and troublesome issue in cultivation history, bringing everything back to its former level. Initially, people still harbored hopes, but soon realized this situation did not improve; instead, it continued to deteriorate. In fact, in recent centuries, there have been no successful ascensions at all!
Faced with this situation, various sects began to suspect one another. Although no one explicitly stated that it might be due to karma, everyone secretly harbored such suspicions.
“What does this have to do with karma? If the karmic method was so ineffective, why did the number of ascensions surge when it was first adopted?” Mei Qing asked.
“Exactly because of this. Initially, karma was simple, and karmic retributions were not numerous, so naturally, many cultivators ascended. However, this sudden increase in ascensions meant that later generations had to bear the consequences. Thus, the karmic burdens on later cultivators became increasingly heavy. This is merely a suspicion, as there is no concrete evidence to support it. Initially, many sects were inclined to break free from the constraints of karma and revert to the old methods. However, during the previous dynasty, there was an individual who did not adhere to karma and caused widespread chaos within the Daoist community. Since then, various sects have shut themselves away, unable to pay much attention to external matters, and fewer people dared to choose paths outside the karmic framework,” Zhang Shisan said, his gaze wandering and his tone filled with a sense of desolation.
“Oh? Who was this person?” Mei Qing pressed further.
“He was none other than Zhang Liusun, the leader of the Xuan sect.”
Zhang Liusun—this name now rang in Mei Qing’s ears like thunder.
With his own strength, he stirred up chaos throughout the Daoist community, truly a heroic figure within Daoism. At the time, Mei Qing had also pondered why this leader of the Xuan sect acted with such audacity. Today, hearing Zhang Shisan’s explanation, it seemed this involved issues of karma and morality, suggesting there were likely hidden complexities.
“Zhang Liusun possessed extraordinary talent, second to none. Perhaps you, Mei Qing, also know of this person, as he originally came from our Celestial Master sect. At the time, the elders of our sect held him in high esteem. However, after he initially established his foundation in cultivation, he declared: ‘Opportunity lies within me; what does karma have to do with it?’ He firmly believed that cultivation was meant for personal freedom and enjoyment, and he rejected the timid and restrictive path of avoiding and evading constraints, refusing to follow such a path. Therefore, he insisted on not entering the karmic framework and pursued cultivation entirely according to his own will,” Zhang Shisan explained to Mei Qing.
“At that time, all the sects across the land regarded karma as the golden key to cultivation. Although the number of ascensions had already begun to decline, it was not yet as severe as it is now. When Zhang Liusun voiced his views, the elders of our sect were greatly displeased. Sigh, thinking back now, if our sect had shown more foresight and assigned him a good master for careful guidance, he might have brought great glory to our sect.
“At the time, Zhang Liusun was still young, although his talent was extraordinary. However, he was not from a prestigious lineage, and his personality was arrogant and strong-willed. Combined with his refusal to adhere to karma and his defiance of others’ advice, which elder would be willing to take him under their wing? Eventually, seeing his exceptional talent and reluctant to waste it, they simply assigned him to a high-ranking elder, leaving him to his own devices.
“However, that elder was already nearing ascension and spent his days in retreat, preparing to face heavenly tribulations, leaving Zhang Liusun largely unattended. Yet Zhang Liusun was remarkable, managing to cultivate on his own and, through sheer individual effort, advancing two stages within a few decades. Among the younger generation of Mount Longhu, he quietly gained a reputation as the top young expert.
“Not long after, Zhang Liusun’s master failed to ascend and perished in the heavenly tribulations. Zhang Liusun, unwilling to change sects, continued cultivating on his own. Later, our sect appointed a new leader, none other than Zhang Zongyan.
“Speaking of cultivation skills, Zhang Zongyan could not even compare to Zhang Liusun, nor was he particularly outstanding among his contemporaries. However, he came from a legitimate lineage, was amiable and honest in character, so his appointment as the new Celestial Master faced no significant opposition. Particularly unexpected was that the usually aloof and arrogant Zhang Liusun got along quite well with Zhang Zongyan. At the time, the elders of our sect were quite pleased about this. Who could have imagined that Zhang Liusun was actually a man of deep scheming and far-reaching ambitions, far beyond the comprehension of ordinary people?
“At that time, it was the Yuan dynasty, and the emperor of the previous dynasty favored both Buddhism and Daoism, showing special favor to the Celestial Master sect. However, as a ruler of a different ethnic group, although we cultivators were not entirely detached from worldly affairs, we were not necessarily willing to submit to his authority. Moreover, since the rise of the karmic doctrine, all sects and cultivators focused on avoiding trouble and minimizing karmic entanglements, adopting a stance of self-preservation and going with the flow, with no inclination to provoke disputes. Our Celestial Master sect naturally adopted a similar approach, merely seeking to avoid mistakes.
“However, the imperial court suddenly issued an edict summoning the current Celestial Master to the capital, which posed a significant dilemma. Yet, with the situation akin to riding a tiger, how could one afford hesitation? In the end, Zhang Liusun stepped forward voluntarily, saying that since everyone else feared karmic entanglements, he, who was unafraid of such matters, would accompany Zhang Zongyan on this journey. Zhang Zongyan merely needed to put on a show, while Zhang Liusun would handle all the challenges and difficulties.
“With everyone unwilling to get involved in this messy situation, who wouldn’t readily agree to the emergence of someone unafraid of trouble? Moreover, Zhang Liusun’s cultivation had progressed rapidly, nearly matching that of some senior figures within our sect. Thus, it was entirely appropriate for him to accompany Zhang Zongyan to the imperial court.
“However, no one could have foreseen that Zhang Liusun’s journey would stir up countless troubles. From that point on, the Southern sects of Daoism merged into the Zhengyi sect, leaving them greatly weakened and each sect retreating behind closed doors. Meanwhile, Zhang Liusun established his own Xuan sect, and Mount Longhu almost became the enemy of the entire Daoist community. Alas, who can truly unravel the intricate causes and effects behind all this?”
Zhang Shisan spoke with a tone of desolation, filled with inexpressible feelings of lamentation and indignation.
Although Zhang Shisan did not elaborate on the many details of Zhang Liusun’s journey to the capital, Mei Qing could imagine how Zhang Liusun, with his own strength, managed to impress the Yuan emperor, received the title of National Preceptor, broke away from his original sect to establish the Xuan sect, and united all the talisman sects under the Zhengyi sect. Such a display of power and influence was enough to send chills down anyone’s spine.
“When Zhang Liusun wished to establish his own Xuan sect, the elders of our sect tried to dissuade him. They even promised that if he returned to Mount Longhu, they would recommend him to study under the senior elder, allowing him to freely choose from the sect’s secret techniques and methods. However, Zhang Liusun replied that although he had established a separate sect, he had not forgotten his origins and would certainly repay Mount Longhu, helping the Celestial Master sect flourish. As for the matter of secret techniques, he declared: ‘My Dao is mine alone; I do not beg from others. A true man, pursuing cultivation against the will of Heaven, should fear neither the dangers of the path nor the words of others. I will not follow in the footsteps of others or merely pick up the discarded remnants of the past.’ When Zhang Shisan mentioned this elder, his expression was quite complex.
“My Dao is mine alone; I do not beg from others,” Mei Qing murmured. “With such a mindset, it’s no wonder this leader of the Xuan sect could stand alone and establish his own school.”
“Sigh, in truth, his words were not without resentment towards our sect. At that time, with his extraordinary talent, he did not receive fair treatment. Other disciples had masters who carefully guided them, while he alone had to rely on second-rate techniques that any low-level disciple might access, managing to cultivate up to the Qi Condensation stage on his own. However, at that point, he had no further methods to follow. Unless one belonged to a prestigious sect like ours, who else would possess the profound techniques needed for guidance? Therefore, at that time, the sect’s conditions were indeed somewhat coercive. We never expected that Zhang Liusun would be so proud that he would rather devise his own plans, even going so far as to destroy the Shenxiao sect to obtain their cultivation techniques, rather than accepting any further teachings from the Celestial Master sect,” Zhang Shisan shook his head.
Mei Qing couldn’t help but sigh as well. Indeed, Zhang Liusun’s pride was excessive. Simply because he had not received proper teachings within the Celestial Master sect in his early years, he refused to follow their methods ever again. In the early stages of cultivation, one could still make progress using basic techniques through personal talent and effort. However, in the advanced stages, without genuine cultivation methods, it would be nearly impossible to make any progress. It turned out that Zhang Liusun’s efforts to destroy the Shenxiao sect were not only aimed at unifying the Zhengyi sect and eliminating obstacles but also to obtain the cultivation techniques necessary for establishing a foundation for his sect.
As Zhang Shisan recounted these past events, his voice grew hoarse, clearly moved by the emotions stirred within him: “At the time, when he spoke of repaying our sect, everyone thought he was merely speaking casually. No one expected that he would actually persuade the imperial court to issue an edict unifying all talisman sects under the Zhengyi sect, with Mount Longhu as the ancestral temple, thereby overseeing the entire Daoist community. This repayment indeed helped the Celestial Master sect flourish in ways never seen since its founding. However, no one anticipated that this action would also greatly offend other Daoist sects. Looking at the recent years when the imperial court stripped away the title of Celestial Master and various sects took the opportunity to attack us, leading to the decline of our sect and a state of near-collapse, one cannot help but wonder if this was the inevitable consequence of our former prosperity?”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage