Chapter 648: Chapter 259: True Monarch’s Sermon, Arriving at Tinglang Market

After another quarter hour, the vast majority of Cultivators had arrived.

Many Sect Disciples, in particular, walked straight to the first three rows and took their seats.

The entire hall began to grow noisy.

But once 1:00 PM arrived, everyone quieted down again.

They began to look forward to the final and most anticipated part of the ceremony: the sermon.

In their anxious waiting, time itself seemed to slow down.

After waiting for a long while, many Cultivators grew restless and started looking around, wondering why True Monarch Ziyang had yet to appear.

But no one dared to rush him; they could only force themselves to wait patiently.

After waiting for a full hour, soft whispers even began to ripple through the crowd.

Only then did a figure emerge from the back, ascend the lecture platform, and leisurely take his seat.

"Thank you all for waiting."

"The first point I wish to discuss today is called ’focusing the mind’..."

True Monarch Ziyang didn’t bother with any opening remarks, instead launching directly into his cultivation habits.

Simply put, he told a few short stories about how he increased his concentration to improve his cultivation efficiency, and how he persisted in arduously cultivating for sixteen hours every day.

These words made several True Disciples nod silently, seemingly moved.

However, most of the Loose Cultivators in the audience were rather disappointed.

What they had been hoping for weren’t these grand principles, but techniques to raise their Cultivation as quickly as possible.

Ideally, something they could use immediately and see instant results.

To put it more bluntly, this was a desire for quick success and instant benefits.

But life truly wasn’t easy for Loose Cultivators. They had no sect to provide cultivation resources, nor did they have the luxury of meditating for sixteen hours a day.

Most of them had to spend their time rushing about, struggling to earn Spirit Stones.

After experiencing so much of the world, it was hard to concentrate on their cultivation with the single-mindedness of a child.

Coupled with their generally average cultivation aptitude, they naturally tended to seek out all sorts of tricks and shortcuts.

As for Xiao Chen, he felt it was a bit of a shame as he listened to these stories.

For him, this sermon had come a little too late.

Now that he possessed the Heart of Clarity, he no longer needed to worry about his concentration.

He could enter Meditation at will. He could cultivate whenever he wanted—he was completely free.

"That is all for the stories about cultivation."

True Monarch Ziyang seemed to sense their thoughts. "Next, I will discuss a few details regarding specific breathing regulation, starting with the Refinement of Magical Power."

He then explained in detail four minor techniques for breathing in Spiritual Qi, applicable to Foundation Establishment and Golden Core Cultivators respectively.

This time, the reaction from the audience was completely different.

The Sect Disciples were unfazed; after all, they already knew all of this.

The Loose Cultivators, however, were ecstatic. Many had moments of sudden enlightenment, and some even slapped their thighs in excitement on the spot, feeling as if they had been on the wrong path all along.

’Come on, get to the good stuff!’

Xiao Chen complained inwardly. ’If I’d known he was just going to talk about this, I wouldn’t have come.’

As luck would have it, just as he had this thought...

...True Monarch Ziyang, on the stage above, changed the subject. "Finally, I will say a few words about my insights on breaking through a Major Realm."

"To enter the Mystic Gate and refine the True Form, first tame the Dragon and Tiger in the Heart’s Palace."

"Sever the thousand thoughts within the mind, and illuminate the single point of light on the Spirit Platform."

...

"The Three Huns gather at the crown to form the Infant’s head; the Seven Pos congeal like Frost to forge the Jade Body."

"One day you shed your mortal coil, as violet qi soars to the sky to knock on Heaven’s Gate."

With that said, True Monarch Ziyang simply stood up, turned around, and walked behind the Magic Altar.

The sermon was clearly over.

Huh?

Xiao Chen blinked. ’That’s it?’

’Don’t just recite the lines, where’s the explanation?’

’Logically speaking, it’s not impossible that what he just recited was a Mantra from some Cultivation Technique.’

Most of the Cultivators below the platform were completely bewildered. Many were simply dumbfounded.

"Oh no, the True Monarch’s words were too profound! I couldn’t understand a thing."

"Just now, the True Monarch spoke of the ’Seven Pos congealing like Frost.’ What does that mean? The souls are hidden within the body, how can they withstand such frost and cold?"

"At the end, I heard ’violet qi.’ Could he be referring to the ’Violet Qi from the East’?"

Everyone quickly began discussing amongst themselves, but it was all just people asking for help. No one could step forward to provide any answers.

As a result, many Cultivators sighed in frustration, feeling they had missed a golden opportunity.

To be honest, Xiao Chen also found it all very cryptic and didn’t understand many parts.

But he didn’t dwell on it. Instead, he immediately closed his eyes and reviewed what he had just heard.

’In the end, it’s already generous of him to give a sermon at all,’ he thought. ’You can’t really expect someone to take their own Cultivation Insights, break them down, grind them up, and spoon-feed them to you.’

Relying on the powerful memory granted by his Divine Sense, Xiao Chen firmly committed every line of the Mantra to his Sea of Consciousness.

Later, he could contemplate them in his free time. He believed he would gain something from it, sooner or later.

Besides, speaking of which, Xiao Chen had already successfully defended the arena to win the Glazed Pearl, and he had also received a prize of a million Spirit Stones.

He had already gotten more than his money’s worth; the trip hadn’t been a waste at all.

For him, the sermon had become more of a bonus. Whatever he could understand was a gain, whatever he could comprehend was a plus.

Therefore, Xiao Chen was able to maintain his composure, not growing worried or anxious just because he couldn’t understand.

"Fellow Daoists!"

The director of Chongzhen Temple stepped forward again. "I have just received word that the other True Monarchs are occupied with important matters and will not have time to discourse on the Dao."

He paused deliberately here, making it easier for the crowd to remember the arrogant posture of the other sects.

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