426: Chapter 426 The Difference Between Visualization and Meditation, Water Prison Retreat

"What Protectorate Clan, martial arts Family, they're just remnants of the previous dynasty..."

Hearing this, Ma Donghe couldn't help muttering softly on the side:

"Ever since I was little, I've never seen the Family hand out an extra penny. I still have to pay for utilities out of my own pocket, and finding a job or taking the civil service exam requires pulling strings and begging everyone left and right."

Though his voice was soft, Ma Jianguo heard it loud and clear. He immediately glared, his accumulated Aura about to transform into a scolding.

Ma Donghe shrank his neck and cut him off first:

"Dad, don't rush to scold me. I just want to ask, since our Family's Old Ancestor is so formidable, how do they compare to that former head of the Special Investigation Team named Li Guizhen? Who is actually stronger?"

This question caught Ma Jianguo off guard. Stroking his beard, he swallowed back the reprimand that was already on the tip of his tongue.

After pondering for a moment, he said somewhat vaguely:

"Well... The Old Ancestor was a Grandmaster of his generation, bestowed titles by the imperial court back then, and revered by millions with a lofty status in the Martial Forest."

"As for Senior Li, his abilities are indeed very strong. He bore heavy responsibilities, safeguarded national security, and made great contributions, but after all, he is a latecomer."

To save some face, he cleared his throat and added:

"Furthermore, back then, in order to break through his Bottleneck, he even specially borrowed this blessed land of feng shui from my grandfather to Cultivate the Visualization Technique in seclusion, and only then did he smoothly advance to the Realm of Inner Scene external manifestation."

Although his previous account of the Ma Family history had its fair share of boasting about ancestral glory,

it also clearly conveyed the core concept of their School's Visualization Technique to Fang Cheng: "Within the utmost yin and darkness, visualize the utmost yang and rigid thunder and fire."

Taking advantage of this topic, Ma Jianguo then carefully detailed the specific Cultivate points of the three Visualization levels.

Listening intently, Fang Cheng rapidly compared and analyzed these theories in his heart with his own daily experience in Meditation.

The first step mentioned by Ma Jianguo, "Establishing the Intent", required establishing an eternal and unchanging core in the spiritual world.

Fang Cheng immediately thought of the unceasingly burning Flame of Spirituality in his mind.

Could this be the "Intent" within the Visualization Technique?

The second step, "Shaping the Realm", required building a complete Inner Scene World based on the core.

This reminded him once again of the "Memory Palace" he had gradually built in the spiritual world using his Speed Reading skill.

The two seemed similar, but his palace was more like a tool for storing information, a room for consciousness to briefly stay in.

Meanwhile, the "Inner Scene" in Ma Jianguo's mouth sounded like a nearly real, self-operating micro-world.

What puzzled him the most was the third step, "True Self".

According to Ma Jianguo, one needed to visualize a "Self" in the Inner Scene that completely merged with one's martial arts philosophy and Qigong cultivation, acting as the Dominator of this inner world.

Fang Cheng wasn't sure what the mysterious golden sphere of light in his Memory Palace actually counted as.

Anyway, when entering it normally, he could at most use the ability of Mind Resonance to establish spiritual connections with others.

He still couldn't control the entire spiritual Secret Realm, let alone modify the environment inside at will according to his own will.

At the very least, this Memory Palace was still shrouded in boundless darkness, making it impossible to see its true full picture.

These doubts concerned his biggest secrets, so naturally he couldn't speak them out directly.

After pondering for a moment, Fang Cheng asked in a tone of seeking guidance:

"Master, what is the difference between 'Shaping the Realm' that you mentioned and using external environmental information to simulate a spiritual space that exists based on memory through imagination in the brain?"

"Also, how should that 'True Self' be defined and shaped? Is it necessary to refer to external objects and gain inspiration from nature?"

"Your question hits the nail on the head."

Ma Jianguo gave him an approving look and explained:

"These questions actually touch upon the essential difference between the Visualization Technique and ordinary Meditation techniques."

"What our traditional martial arts visualize is our own Inner Scene."

"For example, visualizing the Dantian as a sea of Chaos, visualizing 'consciousness' as a glowing sun or moon, and visualizing Meridians as crisscrossing, endlessly flowing rivers within the body."

"Through this concrete imagination, we can more efficiently absorb the external Origin Qi of heaven and earth, and then use our intent to guide the energy to run within the body."

"At the same time, simulating the environment of energy interacting with the body during Visualization and continuously evolving it ultimately achieves the purpose of transforming oneself. This is a path born from within."

"As for many other Cultivate systems, they visualize external targets, walking a path of 'from outside to inside'."

"For instance, quite a few religious Schools have Disciples visualize the divine manifestations of deities or the solemnity of Buddha statues."

"Take those prominent families with a Legacy as another example; their descendants can rely on their Bloodline to sense the ancestral spirits condensed by the Family's past ancestors."

"Through the methods of belief and spiritual resonance, they borrow power from these external presences to strengthen their own spirit and thereby Awaken special abilities."

"Although this path also carries great risks, by comparison, it is much safer than the Visualization Technique practiced by us Martial Artists."

"Because they always have a clear external target to reference and rely on."

After listening, Fang Cheng lowered his head in deep thought for a moment, then looked up at Ma Jianguo, trying to summarize:

"So when all is said and done, our Martial Artists' Visualization Technique is about searching inward, relying on ourselves to polish and transform the body bit by bit. The initiative of Cultivate is entirely in our own hands."

"And those who rely on Meditation targets lean more toward borrowing external force. How much strength they gain is actually heavily influenced by the external presence they rely on, right?"

"That's precisely the logic."

Ma Jianguo nodded slightly, extremely satisfied with the Comprehension Ability of this gifted Disciple before him.

Then his expression turned serious, and his tone grew stern once again:

"A-Cheng, do you know why I keep emphasizing the dangers of the Visualization Technique?"

"Because on this path of cultivation, you have no external targets to connect with, and no deities to worship."

"The only one you can rely on, from beginning to end, is yourself."

"And this characteristic of 'having to rely only on oneself' precisely conceals the greatest weakness."

Ma Jianguo paused, purposely leaving a moment for Fang Cheng to digest it, before continuing:

"During the process of practicing the Visualization Technique, there are mainly two major dangers. First is 'deviation', which means distortion in Visualization."

He raised a finger, his gaze growing even more solemn:

"Your Inner Scene is essentially the manifestation of your own will. If your will is not firm, the sun you visualize might turn into a black hole that swallows everything; the river you visualize could also overflow out of control, washing away the dikes of your Physical Body."

"At that time, at best your Qi and blood will be thrown into disorder, injuring your foundation; at worst, your consciousness will be trapped in the collapsing world you created, turning you completely mad."

"Second is 'falling into demonic obsession'."

He then raised his second finger, his tone sinking a bit more:

"A person's spiritual world is never a pure land. Many dark, negative emotions hidden within your consciousness, and even certain external spiritual pollutions stained during cultivation, could turn into a Heart Demon when you deeply visualize."

"They will disguise themselves as the scenes you desire most to seduce you, disturb your mind, and pollute your Inner Scene core."

"Once the Heart Demon occupies the dominant position of your consciousness, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"Especially when reaching that step of shaping the 'True Self', you need to resonate with all things in heaven and earth, verifying the 'Dao' you have comprehended. This is the so-called 'heaven and man communion', and it is also the most dangerous checkpoint in the entire cultivation process."

Ma Jianguo looked at Fang Cheng with a solemn expression, making a layman's analogy:

"This is like a computer without any antivirus software installed, directly connected to the internet. You have no idea what you will sense or what you will download."

"It could be insights left by predecessors, or it could be malicious spiritual fragments dissipated by some unknown existence."

Fang Cheng was taken aback upon hearing this, not expecting the old man to come up with such a trendy metaphor.

Ma Jianguo smiled slightly and stroked his beard:

"Therefore, I specially chose today's hour and made you worship before the ancestral tablets, hoping to utilize the right time and human harmony to add an invisible layer of protection for you."

"In this way, during the Visualization process, you can more easily connect to the positive and fierce spiritual imprints left behind by my Ma Family ancestors, allowing them to guide you instead of other messy things."

Only then did Fang Cheng fully understand Ma Jianguo's deep meaning.

Although this Tai Chi Sect Head's kung fu Realm wasn't top-notch, his theoretical knowledge was extremely profound and deep, living up to the heritage of a martial arts Family passed down for hundreds of years.

This detailed explanation lasted for a full hour or so.

Seeing that the setting sun had already stretched the tree shadows in the courtyard quite long.

"Everything that needs to be said, I have already said."

Ma Jianguo took a sip of tea to moisten his throat:

"If you have any further questions, you can feel free to raise them now."

Fang Cheng went through all the key points in his mind and shook his head:

"I've remembered them all, Master. Should I start practicing the Visualization Technique right here?"

Ma Jianguo was startled upon hearing this. Looking at the full confidence on Fang Cheng's face, he recalled the latter's monstrous learning ability.

In the end, he only nodded and stood up:

"Follow me, we're going to the back mountain."

Just as he took a step, he remembered something and turned around to ask:

"Right, I told you before that learning Visualization takes at least a week. Have you asked for leave from the company and your Family?"

Fang Cheng nodded immediately:

"Everything was already arranged before I came."

In fact, in order to calmly digest the flesh and blood of the crimson eye in his stomach, he had long asked the company for an extended leave and told his mother that he was going on a business trip to another province.

Coupled with the fact that the Noah Organization was suffering a severe crackdown and was currently overwhelmed, it no longer posed any threat at all.

Within a short period of time, there shouldn't be any trouble finding its way to him.

Watching the two getting ready to leave, Ma Donghe hurriedly waved his hand and said:

"You guys go ahead, I won't keep you company. I stayed in that damned place for over a month, and I never want to go in again in this lifetime."

As he spoke, he patted Fang Cheng's shoulder and encouraged him with a chuckle:

"A-Cheng, good luck!"

Yet his words could hardly mask the schadenfreude.

Dropping these words, terrified of being called back by his father, he slipped into his room in a flash.

Fang Cheng looked at his retreating figure and shook his head speechlessly.

The village's back mountain was actually just a dozen-meter-high earthen hill.

The trees grew quite dense and lush, blocking out most of the sunlight.

The air was filled with the scent of vegetation and humus, and various insect chirps and bird calls intertwined.

"During Visualization, remember never to force it."

"If irritation arises in your heart or terrifying illusions appear, it is better to pause your cultivation than to forcefully resist; otherwise, it is very easy to breed a Heart Demon..."

Leading the way, Ma Jianguo continued to urge him.

Carrying a cross-body bag, Fang Cheng followed behind him, nodding from time to time and replying "Yes".

The two walked up along a beaten path that grew narrower and narrower, almost swallowed by the bushes on both sides.

Parting a clump of blocking thorns, an inconspicuous cliff wall covered in green vines appeared before them.

Ma Jianguo reached out and pressed a few times on a moss-covered rock.

Silently, a stone door slid open on the cliff face, revealing a pitch-black cave entrance.

A chillingly damp Aura, as if imprisoned for hundreds of years, instantly rushed into their faces.

"Let's go."

Ma Jianguo said, stepping into the door first.

Walking down the stone steps for dozens of meters, the insect chirps and bird calls from the outside completely vanished.

Only the dull footsteps of the two and the sound of dripping water from an unknown source echoed in the cave.

The air grew colder and colder, the moisture seemingly seeping into their bones.

Finally, the two arrived at the bottom of the cave and opened another stone door.

Inside was an artificially excavated water prison, about ten square meters in size.

A pool of water occupied most of the space, dark and pitch-black, with an unfathomable depth.

In the middle stood a stone platform just large enough to accommodate a person sitting cross-legged.

At the top of the cave, there was a natural crack.

A sliver of light leaked down from there, shining precisely on the stone platform, becoming the only light source in this darkness.

At the end of the beam of light, a bronze bell hung down, covered in green patina, having weathered unknown ages.

Fang Cheng raised his head, looking around with the help of that faint light.

He saw that the stone walls were densely carved with handwriting.

Many places were even covered by moss, but the phrases written on them could still be vaguely discerned:

"The heart fire never extinguishes, the intent sea never runs dry..."

"Observing the body is not the body, seeing the self is not the self..."

"Qi circulates the Heavenly Cycle, the spirit wanders the Great Void..."

The handwriting was either vigorous and powerful, or elegant and fluid, mostly consisting of insights and realizations from cultivation.

"This is the water prison excavated at a huge cost by our Ma Family ancestors back then in order to comprehend the intent of the 'Thunder and Fire Cauldron'."

Seeing this, Ma Jianguo immediately explained:

"The words above were all carved by the past ancestors of the Ma Family and Seniors of the Tai Chi School when they were in seclusion here."

"Among them are plenty of precious experiences. Aside from your Visualization, you can study them yourself, and perhaps it will be beneficial."

"Alright, now that the right time, advantageous terrain, and human harmony are all complete, you can safely Cultivate right here in this cave."

Pointing at the stone platform, he added at last:

"If you encounter an unsolvable problem or want to come out, ring this bell. Seven days later, I will come down to bring you food and water."

After giving a few more reminders and seeing that Fang Cheng had memorized them all, Ma Jianguo said no more, turned around, and walked outward along the steps.

Along with a muffled rumble of "boom", the stone door slowly closed.

The entire world instantly plunged into darkness and deadly silence.

The surrounding rock walls were narrow, filled with an unshakeable earthy stench and the chill of water.

Only that sliver of faint light and the crisp sound of dripping water ringing intermittently kept a trace of vitality here.

Fang Cheng took a deep breath, and the cold air rushed into his lungs, refreshing his spirit.

The dry heat all over his body seemed to be slightly dispelled by this chill as well.

Throwing aside his cross-body bag, he leaped forward, landing steadily on the central stone platform, and sat down cross-legged.

Feeling this isolation that cut off everything, his gaze was calmer than ever before.

"Now is the time to verify the skill..."