Forty Millenniums of Cultivation

Chapter 45: Debating on the Grand Dao

Translator: Strivon / Ash Editor: Geoffrey / Lancent

Finishing his words, Zhao Tiange faced Zhong Boya with a nod and turned around to leave.

The vast majority of youths followed Zhao Tiange. Only a small portion of students was enraptured by the Spiritual Energy Particle Collider. They stayed behind to ask Zhong Boya more deeply.

“That was close! I even thought that these two might start a fight!” This contention was largely outside of Li Yao’s realm of expectation. His face was covered in a cold sweat. Fear still lingered in his heart when he had spoken.

These two university professors were at least at the Building Foundation stage. They broke out with all their strength to produce an imposing air that was absolutely frightening. This was not something that Li Yao could bear.

“Who said this wouldn’t happen! 修真者, Cultivators, Daoists. The character 真 has the meaning of Truth. Every Cultivator pursues their own Truth. If truths are different, to the extent of being completely opposite, then of course there will be a collision of truths with sparks flying everywhere. There is an absolute need to demolish the opposing party! Fortunately there’s a lot of people here today; both sides were able to control themselves. If this was a different situation with no one around in all directions, the two parties will really go and have a bout. This is trivially common!” Zheng Dongming said with utter sorrow.

“They would be this extreme? They would go so far just for a theory?” Li Yao smacked his tongue.

“Of course they would go this far. Cultivators, or ‘修真’, means to Cultivate ‘修’ in the Truth ‘真理.’ To explain in terms from the Ancient Cultivation World, this ‘Truth’ is our Dao-Heart. Our heart’s path. When our Truth becomes refuted by others, when doubts arise in our hearts, then our hearts become swayed and becomes an ‘Unguarded Dao-heart,’ making it easy to fall to madness. The cultivation of the self is then halted. In serious cases, their world collapses, their cultivation falls wildly, and they become cripples! Legends say that there once was a strong Monad cultivator who debated with others on the Dao. His opponent brought out an irrefutable fact, thoroughly demolishing the Truth he persevered in. The Monad exploded! And his heart became unguarded! An external demonic influence took advantage of the opening and entered his heart, transforming him on the spot into a demonic cultivator! And this demonic cultivator quite nearly caused a great calamity! And so, when cultivators debate over the Truth, it’s more like they’re debating over the greater Truth, the Great Dao. Only the brave can forge ahead and press forward. They cannot shrink back by even half a step!” said Zheng Dongming with utter graveness.

Li Yao looked pensive as he nodded his head.

Indeed, today his world has been broadened. He received so much knowledge on the world of cultivators, but there was a bit that he still did not understand.

“Oh, that’s right. At the end, Zhong Boya addressed Zhao Tiange as Fellow Daoist Zhao. What does that mean? After Zhao Tiange heard this, I saw his attitude become gentler. He even sent his regards to Zhong Boya with a nod before he left. It seemed that he wasn’t that hostile anymore.”

Zheng Dongming explained, “Fellow Daoist is an honorific used in the world of cultivators. The meaning is, ‘I may not agree with your concept, but I recognize that you and I are the same. We both pursue the truth and advance forward on the Great Dao. Our truths may be different, but we both have the same kind of heart — the kind that pursues the truth. Therefore, we are friends, though ones who walk alone on our respective Great Daos’. And that is the ‘Fellow Daoist’. It is a very formal address! When Zhong Boya addressed his opponent as a Fellow Daoist, he gave goodwill on his own accord. Zhao Tiange also did not want to escalate the matter, so he naturally went with the flow and walked off the stage.”

Zheng Dongming, upon seeing Li Yao muttering to himself and not speaking up, laughed and asked, “What is it? Are you interested in Star Nebula University?”

Li Yao thought seriously to himself. He shook his head while saying, “It looks like Star Nebula University’s expertise lies more in the underlying theory in their academic subjects. I have never received a proper education, so my fundamentals are on the weaker side. Also, I am not interested in theory. Is there a university that focuses more on practical applications?”