Dharma Ring: Selling dung beetles at the border

Wuming patted his forehead:

How could I have thought there would be some hidden maze dungeon deep in a basement?

How deep can the basement be? When you open the door deep into the basement, there is only another small room.

There are many fine crystals on the floor of the small room. There are bookshelves on both sides of the room, filled with various scrolls and magic books.

In the side of the room, a big-headed woman was sitting behind a desk, flipping through a volume of books intently, completely unaware of the nameless person opening the door and coming in.

Wuming approached the desk and found that the big-headed woman's head was just a big hood. The dark blue robe below the hood outlined the figure of a normal woman.

His bare feet were curled up under his robe, looming as the clothes swayed.

The hood seems to be made of plaster, carved out of a soft female face, with a cluster of green pyroxene at the crown of the hair.

He couldn't even see where the holes in the hood were, and he didn't know how the woman read.

Wuming coughed twice.

But the woman still ignored Wuming. She took out a pen, wrote on the scroll, and muttered something.

Wuming stopped talking and just stood quietly to one side, leaning against the bookshelf, watching the woman read.

After a long time, the woman finally raised her head, stood up and quickly left the desk and walked towards the bookshelf.

Only then did the woman notice Wuming blocking the bookshelf and paused.

She stopped rushing towards the bookshelf and stood solemnly and elegantly:

Oh, you are... the faded one. She noticed the dimness in Wuming's eyes, It's rare to have such a rare guest. My name is Se Lian. As you can see, I am a magician.

My name is Wuming, a businessman. Wuming said.

Businessman... Se Lian looked at the armor on Wuming's body, Then, what are you doing?

It's okay, I accidentally walked in and disturbed you. Wuming stepped away from the bookshelf.

Se Lian stared at Wuming for a moment, nodded slightly, and stepped forward to take down a scroll from the bookshelf.

She placed the scroll on the table without unfolding it.

It's nothing. Se Lian said, I'm not too busy.

I see you are quite focused. Wuming said.

Focus is a good habit, so that you can keep your eyes on the goal and not let the clutter of the outside world affect you. Se Lian said, But your own research is not important, it is just a boring thing to pass the time.

Wuming said: I thought everything a magician is willing to spend time studying is important.

I am a pyroxene magician and a stargazer. Se Lian's voice was a little gloomy. Reading is only the most superficial learning. If you want to understand the secrets of pyroxene, you need to walk and observe.

Your current body is fake, so you can't walk and observe? Wuming asked.

Se Lian looked at Wu Ming, and even with the hood on, she could feel her surprise:

You have good observation skills.

I'm just better at illusions. Wuming stretched out his hand and traced it across Se Lian's body.

Se Lian's body was like a reflection in water, with ripples appearing.

It has a very special feel. It is not a complete virtual image, but it is not an entity either.

Se Lian said: Yes, this is not my real body. Through this body, it is like looking at flowers in the mist or looking at the moon in the water. You can't see clearly. You can only read books, but you can't observe more subtle objects, so I I can no longer do my research.

What are you studying? Wuming asked.

Stars. Se Lian pointed upward.

Wuming raised his head and looked at the ceiling of the basement.

No wonder you're so upset. Wuming smiled, It's like a painter without paint or a musician without ears.

Se Lian said: Or to use an example that will make you more empathetic - the fading person has lost his blessing.

Wuming smiled: It doesn't matter if you give me a blessing. If you think of a way to get it, all roads lead to the royal city. For example, since you can't see clearly, you can think of ways to increase the scale of your observation and collect more information so that you can see clearly.

Wuming is talking about light magic.

If a person has a problem with his eyes, he can adjust the light path to see clearly. A precision instrument like a telescope allows the human eye to receive distant light.

From Wuming's point of view, Se Lian wanted to see more things and collect more information, so just get a big mirror.

When Se Lian heard what Wuming said, she stared at Wuming, her words full of appreciation:

I didn't expect you to think so too. Yes, this is the right path for a magician. Are you also a magician?

I don't count, I can only be regarded as an apprentice. Wuming said, I once had a witch teacher.

Se Lian said: Once?

She has passed away. Wuming said.

Se Lian was full of regrets: To be able to teach a disciple with your understanding, he must be a respectable magician.

It is indeed worthy of respect. Wuming agreed.

If we two witches can communicate with each other, we will definitely gain more precious knowledge and enlightenment than these books. Se Lian said, What kind of magic are you learning?

Me? I learn everything. Wuming said.

Although being knowledgeable is a good thing, it is not conducive to specialization. Se Lian said, You said you are a businessman?

Yes, my study is only for application. Wuming said, So I don't call myself a magician. I am just learning. I am just an apprentice. I have not explored the unknown frontier.

But I respect those who have the courage to explore. Wuming added.

Se Lian sighed: Humility is the shortcut to knowledge. If those unqualified magicians could be as humble as you and realize their immaturity, they would not be so mediocre.

After saying that, Se Lian shook his head mockingly:

What difference does it make to me now? I have lost my destiny and can only pass the time here.

Are you very free? Wuming asked.

My life is like my body. Se Lian sighed.

Do you want to be a teacher? Wuming's eyes lit up.

Do you want to learn pyroxene magic from me? Se Lian asked, You are very qualified and I will be happy to teach you.

No. Wuming said, I want to invite you to my store, hold a class, and teach the faded people magic. Of course, it is paid.

Do you just want to use knowledge to make money? It's really like a businessman. Se Lian said.

Se Lian's tone seemed a little unhappy.

Wuming said: It's nothing. Don't you need funds to study magic?

One is the purpose and the other is the means. Se Lian pointed out the difference.

Of course it's a means. Is the money I earn from doing business the ultimate goal? Wuming said, My purpose of earning runes is not for the sake of runes.

Se Lian was silent for a moment: You are right, I made a wild guess. You may have a more noble purpose.

Yes, that's it. Wuming nodded happily, I make money to fill my stomach.

Se Lian was silent again, and after a while, he said:

No.

It's paid. Wuming said.

No.

When I say paid, I don't mean runes. Runes are mine. There are no runes in your reward. Wuming said.

Then what do you want to pay me? Se Lian asked.

Knowledge for knowledge. Wuming said, It's fair.

========

It is indeed fair to exchange knowledge for knowledge.

Wuming earnestly advised Selian: Look, if you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange, there will still be only one apple. But if you have a piece of knowledge and I have a piece of knowledge and we exchange, everyone will have it. Two pieces of knowledge, a win-win situation.”

Se Lian said: In the past, my colleagues at the Magic Academy also said this.

Yeah, look--

But apples and apples are the same. Of course, exchange will only get the same result. Se Lian said, If you want to use apples to metaphor knowledge, then you should not use the number of apples to compare, but the taste of apples. The difference in knowledge is the key point. If apples and oranges are cut in half and exchanged, then both parties can reap two flavors. And if the knowledge of two people is exactly the same, then even if they exchange, it is still a piece of knowledge, and even the mutual exchange is wasted The time of knowledge.”

Se Lian looked at Wu Ming:

Do you agree with that ridiculous story about using apples as an analogy to knowledge?

Wuming said: I agree when it is useful.

Easy to use?

Wuming smiled: It's not easy to use now. It can't be used to fool you.

Se Lian also laughed:

It seems that being a utilitarian magician does not mean being stupid.

Wuming leisurely said:

Have you ever thought that the words of the utilitarian businessman may also be said to gain your favor?

I can't prove it, but the point is the difference in knowledge, isn't it? Se Lian said, Do you have any knowledge worth learning from me?

I can try. Wuming picked up a fragment of pyroxene from Se Lian's room and held it in his hand.

He pointed toward the door, and a cluster of crystals spread out from the ground, extending to the end of his sight.

The crystals passed through the basement, surged out and broke out sharp thorns one after another, and rushed out of the basement.

The big flowers outside were still swaying, blocking the entrance to the basement.

The crystal grows over, starting from the root, and splits the large flower in half in the center.

Dahua let out a mournful scream, and the two parts of her body collapsed and fell on both sides of the basement entrance. Green bodily fluids overflowed from the wounds and flowed down the basement steps.

The iron-covered leg armor stepped on Green Blood's body, shattering the crystals, and walked out from the middle of the big flower's corpse that was split into two pieces.

Wuming crushed those sharp crystals and looked back at Se Lian:

How about it?

This is one of the most powerful magics Wuming has mastered. In order to win over this magician, Wuming hopes to show enough shock when he comes up.

Wuming believed that she had never seen such a spell.

Se Lian also followed out, with his hood lowered, staring at the crystals in trance.

She squatted down and reached out to touch the crystals:

It's like the magic of the Crystal Sect, but it's a little different.

The unknown self-confidence collapsed:

You've really seen it.

Se Lian picked up a small piece of crystal fragment, her hand looming, as if it was about to disappear at any moment.

Seeing this, Wuming squatted in front of Se Lian, grabbed the crystal and handed it to Se Lian's eyes.

Se Lian said: I am not a crystal sect, but I have a good relationship with the crystal sect and am also very interested in their magic. The source of crystallization is very close to the ideal of the origin.

So, you are interested in this knowledge? Wuming was very happy.

Yes, it is worth learning. Se Lian stretched out her hand and fiddled with the crystals on Wuming's palm.

Wuming jumped up happily:

Okay, I found the magic teacher.

Se Lian did not echo the excitement. She hesitated:

While I'm interested in your magic, I'm afraid I'm not cut out to be a teacher.

Aren't you willing? Wuming asked, Don't worry, food and accommodation are included, as well as wages.

Although Wuming knew that Serian didn't care about these things, that was all he could promise.

Se Lian shook his head: It's not that I don't want to, I'm afraid you won't. I am not only a witch, but also a heretical witch who was expelled from Rhea Lucalia Academy and was shunned by everyone.

She retracted her hand and looked directly at Wuming:

Be careful when choosing a teacher.

Wuming tilted his head, thought for a while, and then said:

So the witch is not a heretic witch?

How can it be the same? Se Lian said, A witch is a witch, and a heretic is a heresy, just like the quality and taste of apples are two different evaluation criteria.

Wuming scratched his head in embarrassment:

I see. All the witches I know are heretics. I thought witches were heretics.

They are all heretics... Se Lian glanced sideways, Then you are really lucky. Most of the people around me in the academy are mediocre, and I don't dare to violate the so-called orthodoxy assigned by the academy.

You are indeed lucky to meet someone again. Wuming smiled.

Just when he was thinking about finding a magic teacher, he met a witch. Wuming felt that he was indeed lucky.

Hearing Wuming say that he was lucky to have met him, Selian paused:

What you said is like those colleagues in the academy who want to date me.

Oh, then you are very popular. Wuming said.

Compared to knowledge, those people seem to be more fascinated by the face under my hood. Se Lian touched the dignified and soft mask, Humph, don't they understand that this mask itself is the most beautiful, it represents Knowledge and talent are only awarded to the best apprentices.

You can't stand them so much. Wuming held up his face, Then you rejected those colleagues?

Se Lian said: No, I agreed. I changed their minds, and they have since then focused on the exploration of truth and origins.

Her tone was a bit eerie:

So I was called a heretic witch and was expelled from the academy. The Origin Sect is one of the oldest sects, and now they actually regard the Origin as a taboo.

Se Lian calmed down her emotions and said calmly:

Now you also know that I am a heretical witch who cannot be tolerated by the world and am not suitable to be a teacher.

What exactly did you do? Wuming was curious. It sounds like your method of changing the minds of your colleagues... is not very civilized? You can explain it carefully. If I don't agree, I will naturally give up on you.

Wuming patted his chest and promised:

Don't worry, even if I don't agree, I won't attack you. If you don't believe me, ask my witch.

I made them into magician balls. Se Lian said, Gathering their bodies and souls together to observe the source of thinking. They are willing to gather their bodies to the roots of the tree and their souls to the golden tree, but they are not Willing to use the same access and power to explore the origin, simply because the Golden Law promised them a chance to be reborn, and the origin is full of unknowns.

The more Se Lian talked, the more excited he became:

But exploring the greatest unknown - exploring the starry sky, isn't it the original dream of stargazers? In order to put on this robe, they swore to dedicate their lives to exploring pyroxene and the amber of the stars, but now they have all turned their backs and forgotten it.

Wuming looked at Se Lian and said cheerfully:

You are indeed very similar to the magicians I know. They are all quite fanatical and crazy.

Se Lian said: They are not willing to dedicate their souls to the stars, but are only willing to dedicate their souls to the golden tree. Of course, in this era, I am indeed a heretic. You are also afraid of this kind of behavior - binding the soul and not returning to the tree.

She turned around and walked back to the basement:

Go back. My thoughts have not kept up with the times. It is reasonable for you not to agree. I am not suitable for teaching and educating people.

Wuming looked at Se Lian's bitter and determined expression and scratched his head:

Is this the taboo?

Se Lian paused and turned to look at Wu Ming:

What did you say?

Wuming smiled:

Come and be a teacher. Making money is important, taboos are nothing.

Se Lian walked quickly towards Wu Ming and got close to his face:

Do you really agree with me?

I don't agree. Wuming said, But I don't care. I think...it's not a big deal.

Isn’t it just about bringing people’s souls together…

Wuming lowered his head to look at his chest, then raised his head, smiled and stretched out his hand to the heretic witch Se Lian:

Join my round table.

========

round table hall

The blacksmith was making new weapons for Neferi, while Neferi was squatting aside, comforting the girl in red robe who was brought back to the round table.

But the girl was still in shock, cowering and unable to carry on a normal conversation.

Neferi touched the girl's head, but the girl could not calm down.

Is limb replacement so scary... Neferi wondered.

She knew how hateful Grek was, but to be able to scare people like this was something Neferi couldn't understand as a warrior and a brave man.

Blacksmith Xiugu said:

She probably saw something scary and was frightened.

The scene with the limbs? Neferi said.

Maybe more than that. I am familiar with her eyes. Xiugu said, She has the potential to adjust spirits and can sense souls. She may have seen something unclean.

Hearing what Xiu Gu said, the girl in red robe perked up and said tremblingly:

Many people are wailing, like a storm. In the fire of hell... endless burning... so many people, so many people...

Damn Greg. Neferi hammered the floor.

The girl in red robe held her head: Many, millions... millions of souls are wailing.

This is an exaggeration. Neferi was surprised, There aren't that many people in Nimgefu.

Xiu Gu shrugged: Then I don't know. It seems that she needs to cultivate for a while.