Chapter 41: Conclave (2)
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Chapter 41: Conclave (2)
The Flame Division Elders exchanged confused glances, seemingly hoping to find some modicum of surety in their fellow colleagues’ countenances. Truthfully speaking, the contingent from the Sky Division was faring no better, but they had gained some manner of resistance to their Grand Patriarch’s tendency to subvert expectations by this point; thus choosing to maintain silent, stoic expressions instead.
Tradition dictated that the one who proposed the Dao Discourse share his knowledge first, thus passing on the responsibility to present Yao Shen with questions to the attending Elders and Patriarchs. However, none present knew enough about the Esoteric Dao to make purposeful inquiries; and to ask frivolous questions would be to lose face.
Before the silence could transition into discomfiture he decided to intervene, offering, “I would like to make a proposal.”
“Please, go ahead Grand Patriarch,” Earth Patriarch Kang Long was quick to reply, his inflection betraying the relief he felt.
Yao Shen gave a grateful nod in his direction, before continuing, “My Dao is an Esoteric one and consequently, I do not expect the venerable attendees to be well-versed in its specifics. Thus, I wish to begin with a thought experiment.”
“A thought...experiment?” Meili Zhu slowly enunciated the words aloud, hoping to demystify its meaning. Both words existed in Liwan, the language that was predominantly used by cultivators and mortals alike in Ionea, though admittedly the translation for the word ‘experiment’ was rather inexact. This chapter was first shared on the Ñøv€lß1n platform.
“A thought experiment is a...,” Yao Shen paused, searching for a description that would capture the intrigue of his fellow cultivators, “... tool that Human Dao Cultivators employ to further our understanding, in a manner of speaking.”
A wave of surprise reverbrated through the hall, before the cultivators in attendance shifted their full attention to Yao Shen, their gazes solemn. Whilst one could not hope to decipher the secrets of an Esoteric Dao through a second-hand experience, it was still unheard of for a practitioner to give out such knowledge. They did not completely believe Yao Shen’s claims, but they would listen with the utmost care.
Since there were no objections even after a minute had passed, he continued, “Very well. Close your eyes.”
The cultivators complied without protesting, for it was not eyes alone through which they could perceive the world.
“For a moment, I wish for you to visualize your daily lives in each of your respective divisions,” Yao Shen’s tone was calming and gentle as he imbued the emotions ‘tranquility’ and ‘peace’ into his words using his Human Dao. His influence was immediately noticed by the cultivators, but they did not fight it— it was nothing their willpower couldn’t immediately overcome.
“Suddenly, your senses detect a loud explosion, one you place within the sect,” Yao Shen’s inflection turned overbearingly loud and raucous, a sharp juxtaposition in face of the calm he had projected earlier. The emotions ‘shock’ and ‘surprise’ were imbued into his words, painting a disturbing atmosphere.
The Elders ofcourse were unmoved, but his efforts served well to paint a vivid image in their mind’s eye.
“You rush out of your abode, weapon artifact in hand. Your sight confirms the grim picture your divine sense had painted. An army of Demonic Path Cultivators lays arrayed before you, their numbers beyond your wildest expectations-,” Yao Shen was about to continue, but one of the Elders interrupted him.
“Which Sect does the army belong to, Grand Patriarch,” One of the Elders spoke, a tinge of hatred audible within his voice. The hatred wasn’t directed towards him, but seemed to be the general hatred of the man towards the Demonic Path.
“That is irrelevant,” Yao Shen replied, not at all bothered by the man’s question. This was a Dao Discourse, after all. “A thought experiment deals in suppositions, not fact. You may visualize whichever Demonic Sect that comes to mind.”
“An astute answer. Patriarch Kang Long, another question. Do you fear death?” Yao Shen asked, his question drawing more than a few raised eyebrows, some even wondering if it was his attention to insult the Earth Patriarch’s face.
“A cultivator that does not fear death is no cultivator at all, Grand Patriarch. One cannot pry upon the secrets of the Grand Dao without first pondering upon the value of one’s own existence,” Patriarch Lei Weiyuan replied with composure.
Now that was an impressive answer.
“You are partially correct, Patriarch Kang Long. You are also, however, partially incorrect,” he replied.
That caught Kang Long’s attention.
“You see, Patriarch Kang Long, you fear death because you value your own life. But you are not truly afraid of death.”
“I.. do not understand,” the Earth Patriarch replied, wondering if this was truly how Yao Shen developed his Human Dao.
“The mortal farmer grows grain to feed his village. The mortal potter sells his wares in exchange for grain so he can provide for his wife and offspring. But why does the cultivator, cultivate? Why do you, Kang Long, venture deep into the Nayun Forest to hunt powerful spiritual beasts, risking your life? Why do you boldly face the wrath of the heavens, step after step, in the pursuit of cultivation?”
“I...,” The Earth Patriarch began to respond, only to face the realization that he... had no answer to give.
“The legacy of your ancestors. The burden and the responsibility of your sect. The desire to rejuvenate the glory of the Azlak Plains. The selfish desire to see what lay at the highest echelons of power. Or, more simply, the desire to live longer. These are your anchors, Kang Long. These are what make you something greater than the sum of your parts. Something more than ‘just’ yourself. Now tell me, what anchors does a disciple, who had been a mortal merely a few years ago, have to offer?” Yao Shen’s voice was strained, as he looked Kang Long in the eye. For once, he was struggling to contain his own emotions.
“Anchors...,” The word rolled off Kang Long’s tongue, his tone ponderous. What anchors did a mortal child whisked away to a world of cultivators have? Why did he cultivate? The more he thought about it, the more his expression seemed to scrunch up.
“I don’t know,” he replied after a while.
Yao Shen mirthfully laughed for a good minute before shaking his head. “Patriarch Kang Long, you were born a prodigy. Privileged. Protected. I do not blame you for your failure to answer. But, surely, you understand when the Demonic Path attacks, mere platitudes will not be sufficient to win the war! The Demonic Path is vicious and barbaric in their methods, but they are also far stronger at the weaker stages of cultivation. You think the fear of death will suffice as an Anchor? Laughable! Your defense is unrivalled in the Azlak Plains, Kang Long, perhaps that has made you forget that the fear of death does not give one the courage to stand!”
“Then, Grand Patriarch, what Anchor does such a cultivator possess?” Meili Zhu’s pacifying voice gently sounded out, the only one brave enough to speak. The other cultivators, even including the Flame Patriarch, seemed stunned into inaction as they meditated upon Yao Shen’s shocking words.
Yao Shen’s eyes seem to fall a little, their original brightness dimmed by a fleeting sorrow as he softly spoke, “That which you take from them. Mortal friends. Mortal Family. A home.”
Silence befell the hall.
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Chapter 41: Conclave (2)
The Flame Division Elders exchanged confused glances, seemingly hoping to find some modicum of surety in their fellow colleagues’ countenances. Truthfully speaking, the contingent from the Sky Division was faring no better, but they had gained some manner of resistance to their Grand Patriarch’s tendency to subvert expectations by this point; thus choosing to maintain silent, stoic expressions instead.
Tradition dictated that the one who proposed the Dao Discourse share his knowledge first, thus passing on the responsibility to present Yao Shen with questions to the attending Elders and Patriarchs. However, none present knew enough about the Esoteric Dao to make purposeful inquiries; and to ask frivolous questions would be to lose face.
Before the silence could transition into discomfiture he decided to intervene, offering, “I would like to make a proposal.”
“Please, go ahead Grand Patriarch,” Earth Patriarch Kang Long was quick to reply, his inflection betraying the relief he felt.
Yao Shen gave a grateful nod in his direction, before continuing, “My Dao is an Esoteric one and consequently, I do not expect the venerable attendees to be well-versed in its specifics. Thus, I wish to begin with a thought experiment.”
“A thought...experiment?” Meili Zhu slowly enunciated the words aloud, hoping to demystify its meaning. Both words existed in Liwan, the language that was predominantly used by cultivators and mortals alike in Ionea, though admittedly the translation for the word ‘experiment’ was rather inexact. This chapter was first shared on the Ñøv€lß1n platform.
“A thought experiment is a...,” Yao Shen paused, searching for a description that would capture the intrigue of his fellow cultivators, “... tool that Human Dao Cultivators employ to further our understanding, in a manner of speaking.”
A wave of surprise reverbrated through the hall, before the cultivators in attendance shifted their full attention to Yao Shen, their gazes solemn. Whilst one could not hope to decipher the secrets of an Esoteric Dao through a second-hand experience, it was still unheard of for a practitioner to give out such knowledge. They did not completely believe Yao Shen’s claims, but they would listen with the utmost care.
Since there were no objections even after a minute had passed, he continued, “Very well. Close your eyes.”
The cultivators complied without protesting, for it was not eyes alone through which they could perceive the world.
“For a moment, I wish for you to visualize your daily lives in each of your respective divisions,” Yao Shen’s tone was calming and gentle as he imbued the emotions ‘tranquility’ and ‘peace’ into his words using his Human Dao. His influence was immediately noticed by the cultivators, but they did not fight it— it was nothing their willpower couldn’t immediately overcome.
“Suddenly, your senses detect a loud explosion, one you place within the sect,” Yao Shen’s inflection turned overbearingly loud and raucous, a sharp juxtaposition in face of the calm he had projected earlier. The emotions ‘shock’ and ‘surprise’ were imbued into his words, painting a disturbing atmosphere.
The Elders ofcourse were unmoved, but his efforts served well to paint a vivid image in their mind’s eye.
“You rush out of your abode, weapon artifact in hand. Your sight confirms the grim picture your divine sense had painted. An army of Demonic Path Cultivators lays arrayed before you, their numbers beyond your wildest expectations-,” Yao Shen was about to continue, but one of the Elders interrupted him.
“Which Sect does the army belong to, Grand Patriarch,” One of the Elders spoke, a tinge of hatred audible within his voice. The hatred wasn’t directed towards him, but seemed to be the general hatred of the man towards the Demonic Path.
“That is irrelevant,” Yao Shen replied, not at all bothered by the man’s question. This was a Dao Discourse, after all. “A thought experiment deals in suppositions, not fact. You may visualize whichever Demonic Sect that comes to mind.”
“An astute answer. Patriarch Kang Long, another question. Do you fear death?” Yao Shen asked, his question drawing more than a few raised eyebrows, some even wondering if it was his attention to insult the Earth Patriarch’s face.
“A cultivator that does not fear death is no cultivator at all, Grand Patriarch. One cannot pry upon the secrets of the Grand Dao without first pondering upon the value of one’s own existence,” Patriarch Lei Weiyuan replied with composure.
Now that was an impressive answer.
“You are partially correct, Patriarch Kang Long. You are also, however, partially incorrect,” he replied.
That caught Kang Long’s attention.
“You see, Patriarch Kang Long, you fear death because you value your own life. But you are not truly afraid of death.”
“I.. do not understand,” the Earth Patriarch replied, wondering if this was truly how Yao Shen developed his Human Dao.
“The mortal farmer grows grain to feed his village. The mortal potter sells his wares in exchange for grain so he can provide for his wife and offspring. But why does the cultivator, cultivate? Why do you, Kang Long, venture deep into the Nayun Forest to hunt powerful spiritual beasts, risking your life? Why do you boldly face the wrath of the heavens, step after step, in the pursuit of cultivation?”
“I...,” The Earth Patriarch began to respond, only to face the realization that he... had no answer to give.
“The legacy of your ancestors. The burden and the responsibility of your sect. The desire to rejuvenate the glory of the Azlak Plains. The selfish desire to see what lay at the highest echelons of power. Or, more simply, the desire to live longer. These are your anchors, Kang Long. These are what make you something greater than the sum of your parts. Something more than ‘just’ yourself. Now tell me, what anchors does a disciple, who had been a mortal merely a few years ago, have to offer?” Yao Shen’s voice was strained, as he looked Kang Long in the eye. For once, he was struggling to contain his own emotions.
“Anchors...,” The word rolled off Kang Long’s tongue, his tone ponderous. What anchors did a mortal child whisked away to a world of cultivators have? Why did he cultivate? The more he thought about it, the more his expression seemed to scrunch up.
“I don’t know,” he replied after a while.
Yao Shen mirthfully laughed for a good minute before shaking his head. “Patriarch Kang Long, you were born a prodigy. Privileged. Protected. I do not blame you for your failure to answer. But, surely, you understand when the Demonic Path attacks, mere platitudes will not be sufficient to win the war! The Demonic Path is vicious and barbaric in their methods, but they are also far stronger at the weaker stages of cultivation. You think the fear of death will suffice as an Anchor? Laughable! Your defense is unrivalled in the Azlak Plains, Kang Long, perhaps that has made you forget that the fear of death does not give one the courage to stand!”
“Then, Grand Patriarch, what Anchor does such a cultivator possess?” Meili Zhu’s pacifying voice gently sounded out, the only one brave enough to speak. The other cultivators, even including the Flame Patriarch, seemed stunned into inaction as they meditated upon Yao Shen’s shocking words.
Yao Shen’s eyes seem to fall a little, their original brightness dimmed by a fleeting sorrow as he softly spoke, “That which you take from them. Mortal friends. Mortal Family. A home.”
Silence befell the hall.
Chapter 41: Conclave 2The Flame Division Elders exchanged confused glances, seemingly hoping to find some modicum of surety in their fellow colleagues' countenances. Truthfully speaking, the contingent from the Sky Division was faring no better, but they had gained some manner of resistance to their Grand Patriarch's tendency to subvert expectations by this point; thus choosing to maintain silent, stoic expressions instead. Tradition dictated that the one who proposed the Dao Discourse share his knowledge first, thus passing on the responsibility to present Yao Shen with questions to the attending Elders and Patriarchs. However, none present knew enough about the Esoteric Dao to make purposeful inquiries; and to ask frivolous questions would be to lose face. Before the silence could transition into discomfiture he decided to intervene, offering, I would like to make a proposal. Please, go ahead Grand Patriarch, Earth Patriarch Kang Long was quick to reply, his inflection betraying the relief he felt. Yao Shen gave a grateful nod in his direction, before continuing, My Dao is an Esoteric one and consequently, I do not expect the venerable attendees to be well-versed in its specifics. Thus, I wish to begin with a thought experiment. A thought...experiment? Meili Zhu slowly enunciated the words aloud, hoping to demystify its meaning. Both words existed in Liwan, the language that was predominantly used by cultivators and mortals alike in Ionea, though admittedly the translation for the word experiment' was rather inexact. This chapter was first shared on the Nvl1n platform.A thought experiment is a..., Yao Shen paused, searching for a description that would capture the intrigue of his fellow cultivators, ... tool that Human Dao Cultivators employ to further our understanding, in a manner of speaking. A wave of surprise reverbrated through the hall, before the cultivators in attendance shifted their full attention to Yao Shen, their gazes solemn. Whilst one could not hope to decipher the secrets of an Esoteric Dao through a second-hand experience, it was still unheard of for a practitioner to give out such knowledge. They did not completely believe Yao Shen's claims, but they would listen with the utmost care. Since there were no objections even after a minute had passed, he continued, Very well. Close your eyes. The cultivators complied without protesting, for it was not eyes alone through which they could perceive the world. For a moment, I wish for you to visualize your daily lives in each of your respective divisions, Yao Shen's tone was calming and gentle as he imbued the emotions tranquility' and peace' into his words using his Human Dao. His influence was immediately noticed by the cultivators, but they did not fight it it was nothing their willpower couldn't immediately overcome. Suddenly, your senses detect a loud explosion, one you place within the sect, Yao Shen's inflection turned overbearingly loud and raucous, a sharp juxtaposition in face of the calm he had projected earlier. The emotions shock' and surprise' were imbued into his words, painting a disturbing atmosphere. The Elders ofcourse were unmoved, but his efforts served well to paint a vivid image in their mind's eye.You rush out of your abode, weapon artifact in hand. Your sight confirms the grim picture your divine sense had painted. An army of Demonic Path Cultivators lays arrayed before you, their numbers beyond your wildest expectations-, Yao Shen was about to continue, but one of the Elders interrupted him. Which Sect does the army belong to, Grand Patriarch, One of the Elders spoke, a tinge of hatred audible within his voice. The hatred wasn't directed towards him, but seemed to be the general hatred of the man towards the Demonic Path.That is irrelevant, Yao Shen replied, not at all bothered by the man's question. This was a Dao Discourse, after all. A thought experiment deals in suppositions, not fact. You may visualize whichever Demonic Sect that comes to mind.An astute answer. Patriarch Kang Long, another question. Do you fear death? Yao Shen asked, his question drawing more than a few raised eyebrows, some even wondering if it was his attention to insult the Earth Patriarch's face. A cultivator that does not fear death is no cultivator at all, Grand Patriarch. One cannot pry upon the secrets of the Grand Dao without first pondering upon the value of one's own existence, Patriarch Lei Weiyuan replied with composure.Now that was an impressive answer. You are partially correct, Patriarch Kang Long. You are also, however, partially incorrect, he replied. That caught Kang Long's attention. You see, Patriarch Kang Long, you fear death because you value your own life. But you are not truly afraid of death. I.. do not understand, the Earth Patriarch replied, wondering if this was truly how Yao Shen developed his Human Dao. The mortal farmer grows grain to feed his village. The mortal potter sells his wares in exchange for grain so he can provide for his wife and offspring. But why does the cultivator, cultivate? Why do you, Kang Long, venture deep into the Nayun Forest to hunt powerful spiritual beasts, risking your life? Why do you boldly face the wrath of the heavens, step after step, in the pursuit of cultivation? I..., The Earth Patriarch began to respond, only to face the realization that he... had no answer to give. The legacy of your ancestors. The burden and the responsibility of your sect. The desire to rejuvenate the glory of the Azlak Plains. The selfish desire to see what lay at the highest echelons of power. Or, more simply, the desire to live longer. These are your anchors, Kang Long. These are what make you something greater than the sum of your parts. Something more than just' yourself. Now tell me, what anchors does a disciple, who had been a mortal merely a few years ago, have to offer? Yao Shen's voice was strained, as he looked Kang Long in the eye. For once, he was struggling to contain his own emotions. Anchors..., The word rolled off Kang Long's tongue, his tone ponderous. What anchors did a mortal child whisked away to a world of cultivators have? Why did he cultivate? The more he thought about it, the more his expression seemed to scrunch up. I don't know, he replied after a while. Yao Shen mirthfully laughed for a good minute before shaking his head. Patriarch Kang Long, you were born a prodigy. Privileged. Protected. I do not blame you for your failure to answer. But, surely, you understand when the Demonic Path attacks, mere platitudes will not be sufficient to win the war! The Demonic Path is vicious and barbaric in their methods, but they are also far stronger at the weaker stages of cultivation. You think the fear of death will suffice as an Anchor? Laughable! Your defense is unrivalled in the Azlak Plains, Kang Long, perhaps that has made you forget that the fear of death does not give one the courage to stand! Then, Grand Patriarch, what Anchor does such a cultivator possess? Meili Zhu's pacifying voice gently sounded out, the only one brave enough to speak. The other cultivators, even including the Flame Patriarch, seemed stunned into inaction as they meditated upon Yao Shen's shocking words. Yao Shen's eyes seem to fall a little, their original brightness dimmed by a fleeting sorrow as he softly spoke, That which you take from them. Mortal friends. Mortal Family. A home. Silence befell the hall.
