Chapter 173: Chapter 0173: Without the Dharma or Wealth, Nothing is Complete; Both Are Needed to Become an Immortal_1
Zhang Bin stood before the bed, his eyes glowing with a passionate light. His gaze was fixed on the beautiful, seductive scene before him, unable to look away. His face was a canvas of emotion, filled with adoration and bliss.
Liu Ruolan was a mature, voluptuous beauty, exuding an intoxicating aura from head to toe. Xiao Fang, on the other hand, was the picture of pure charm, like an orchid in a secluded valley emitting a heady fragrance. They were entirely different types of women, yet they shared one common trait: their breathtaking beauty. They were the kind of women who could ensnare any man at first sight. Such women could be called natural-born femme fatales, possessing a beauty that could topple kingdoms. In ancient times, they would have been qualified to be an Empress or a Noble Consort.
"Ah..."
Perhaps sensing his presence, both beauties woke up almost simultaneously, letting out a sharp cry that nearly burst Zhang Bin’s eardrums.
"It’s me, don’t be afraid," Zhang Bin said hurriedly.
"Brother Bin? You scared me to death!" Xiao Fang quickly rolled out of bed. "I’ll go make breakfast. You two sleep in a little."
Like a startled fawn, she fled the room.
Zhang Bin was stunned for a moment, then he gently embraced Liu Ruolan. However, he quickly realized something was wrong. He saw that Liu Ruolan’s beautiful eyes were brimming with tears, which soon spilled over and streamed down her delicate, flawless cheeks.
"Sister Lan, what’s wrong?" Zhang Bin asked, a hint of panic in his voice.
"I’m sorry, Xiao Bin, it’s all my fault," Liu Ruolan choked out. "It’s because of me that you’ve suffered so much. It’s because of me that you’ve walked into danger so many times... I’ve failed you."
For the past two months, Zhang Bin had been cultivating feverishly. He had let Tutu intercept all his calls, making him unreachable. Of course, Tutu would inform him if anything truly important happened. As a result, Liu Ruolan had barely spoken to him on the phone during this time.
It was precisely because of this that she had the chance to reflect so deeply. She had come to redefine wealth, her entire perspective on life had changed, and she felt completely lost about her own pursuits. It seemed as if everything she had strived for in the past was wrong. Not only was it meaningless, but it had also brought a terrible calamity upon Zhang Bin.
Before she met Zhang Bin, she had worked hard to make money, hoping to strengthen the Liu Family enough to annul her engagement to the Diao Clan. However, the result was the exact opposite. It was because of her outstanding performance, because she had grown Sifang Pharmaceuticals, that the Diao Clan’s covetousness grew, plunging both her and the Liu Family into peril.
After meeting Zhang Bin, she recognized him as an extraordinary person and decided to join forces with him to establish Wenwu Pharma. Zhang Bin hadn’t disappointed her, developing the miraculous Bright Eye Liquid and Rufei Slimming Pill, which caused a worldwide sensation. But the result was only to trigger the Diao Clan’s greed, leading to a series of major incidents that almost led Zhang Bin to his doom.
Now she had awakened, but she was also lost. What was the meaning of life, after all? What could she bring to Zhang Bin? Wealth, or disaster?
"You haven’t done anything wrong. Everything you’ve done was right," Zhang Bin said softly. "Otherwise, I would still be living in a drafty house, and my family would never have been able to repay its debts. We would be living in despair. So, I have no regrets! If I could live my life over again, I would still pursue you, still start our company together, and still endure the trials. Yes, for an unparalleled genius like me, they aren’t tribulations—they are trials. Now, I am like a sharply honed treasured sword, capable of striking fear into the heart of any enemy. I already have the power to protect you, myself, and all our family and friends. From this day forward, you can continue to make money without any fear. The more, the better..."
"Xiao Bin..." Liu Ruolan wrapped her arms tightly around Zhang Bin’s neck, her voice full of deep emotion. "But wealth is useless to you. It will only attract more greedy wolves. Is there any point in me earning money?"
"Of course wealth is useful—incredibly useful," Zhang Bin said earnestly. "There’s a saying: ’With the Method but no wealth, one’s work is incomplete; with both Method and wealth, one can become an Immortal.’ I am a Cultivator. To become powerful, I must acquire immense wealth. It’s used to buy precious materials, craft Magical Treasures, acquire Spiritual Medicine over five hundred years old, and concoct Elixirs to enhance my Cultivation Level..."
This was no lie; it was something he had read in the *Tao Te Ching*. In the future, he would need to cultivate to the Seed Condensing Realm and even higher Realms. This would require numerous cultivation resources, some of which might not even exist on Earth. Moreover, Gao Si had also told him to amass a huge fortune to prepare for his earth-shattering plan. Therefore, he absolutely could not let Liu Ruolan lose her fighting spirit. She had to pull herself together and continue to boldly earn money.
"With the Method but no wealth, one’s work is incomplete; with both Method and wealth, one can become an Immortal?" A thoughtful expression appeared on Liu Ruolan’s face, and her eyes grew brighter and brighter. Finally, she asked uncertainly, "What does ’Method’ mean?"
"The ’Method,’ or *Fa*, refers to two things: the teachings in written cultivation manuals and the secrets transmitted orally. One can obtain the teachings from books, but the oral secrets can only be passed down from a master," Zhang Bin explained in detail. "Many Cultivation Secret Manuals and Daoist scriptures use metaphors and analogies to convey their principles, rarely giving direct instructions. At critical junctures, they become vague and omit the key points, like a painter who draws a dragon but leaves the eyes undotted. Therefore, to dot the eyes and bring the dragon to life—to grasp its profound and wondrous applications—one needs a master’s guidance. That’s why Bao Pu Zi said: ’Though the texts exist, their essentials are kept secret. One must have oral instructions and guided interpretations to truly comprehend them.’ And Xuan Zhen Zi said: ’The manuals often transmit the Dao but not the secret, the method but not the technique. When they do transmit a secret, they hide the secret within the secret. When they do transmit a technique, they hide the technique within the technique. Without a master’s guidance, it is truly difficult to comprehend and achieve on one’s own.’
"To put it simply," Zhang Bin added after a pause, "there’s another saying: ’A true teaching can be conveyed in a single sentence; a false teaching fills an entire book.’ So, for a Cultivator, the Method is the most important thing. Without it, how can one even speak of Cultivation? Wealth comes second. Without wealth, there are no resources for cultivation, making it impossible to break through bottlenecks."
"Husband, does this mean that one day, you’ll cultivate a Golden Core? Like Master Tianlong, able to fly using Sword Control?" Liu Ruolan now understood completely, and she asked in shock.
"I’m working towards that day," Zhang Bin said.
"Then... won’t you have practically attained the Dao and become an Immortal?" Liu Ruolan said in amazement. "With a long lifespan?"
"Yes," Zhang Bin confirmed.
"Then I won’t be able to be with you for that long," Liu Ruolan said, her tone turning sorrowful. "In the future, when I’m gone, you must take good care of yourself."