Chapter 573 - 521: Divine Immortal Path? Earthly Immortal Path?
Chapter 573: Chapter 521: Divine Immortal Path? Earthly Immortal Path?
“The path of cultivation consists of refining essence, refining qi, and refining spirit. These are but different methods of cultivation and none are superior to the others. Those who refine their essence, polish and temper their bodies, aiming for physical immortality; those who refine qi, harbor a vital breath within, merging their qi with the universe, aiming for ceaseless primordial qi; and those who refine the spirit concern themselves with forging the soul and nourishing the spirit, allowing it to leave the body unharmed, aiming for an immortal spirit. I humbly practice all three paths, aspiring for an indestructible body, infinite qi, and an everlasting spirit. Once such a realm is reached, one is considered a true immortal, eternally existing in the world…”
In the public lecture area of the Taoist Academy, a nine-zhang high platform stood in the center, Pei Xuanjing, clad in a Taoist robe and holding a Sanbao Jade Ruyi in his hand, was elucidating his path of cultivation.
Although the Taoist Academy’s public lecture area housed several platforms, the largest one in the center was exclusively used by Pei Xuanjing.
It wasn’t that Pei Xuanjing prohibited anyone else from using it but that the instructors regarded listening to Pei Xuanjing’s lectures as an honor, treating him with the respect of a disciple, not daring to share the same platform, demonstrating their admiration.
At the time when Pei Xuanjing expressed his intentions of establishing more branches of the Taoist Academy, recruiting more principals for these branches, and the news relating to the instructors being spread, countless people flooded in hoping to receive Pei Xuanjing’s favor and acquire the position of an instructor in the academy.
Pei Xuanjing did not reject any of those who swarmed in. He announced to everyone that he would give public lectures in the Taoist Academy for a while, and all those who aspire to become instructors and branch principals were welcome to partake in the lectures.
Once Pei Xuanjing’s lectures were over, they could write about their experiences and understandings during this period of listening to the Tao on the contribution ledger of the Academy. They would then be granted a varying number of contribution points based on what they had gained. Pei Xuanjing would proceed to choose the instructors from the people who had earned the highest contribution points, meaning the ones who gained the most from listening to the Tao.
This was essentially an examination; Pei Xuanjing lectured, and the people took in his teachings, creating a thesis that they would then upload onto the cultivation method exchange platform built by Pei Xuanjing. He would then evaluate their gains, grading the points which would replace their grades, and then distribute them.
Moreover, this method created a win-win situation for both parties as Pei Xuanjing could derive inspiration from their comprehension and insights, while they could earn contribution points in exchange for things they required, making it a scenario of killing two birds with one stone.