Ming Xuan mentioned, "For your better understanding, I will ask you, 'What's your name'?"

"Long Aotian"

"Is Long Aotian truly who you are? Your name is just a label for this body. Understanding your true self is crucial. Over-identifying with a name like 'Long Aotian' leads to binding oneself to false beliefs and accumulating endless karmas.

As long as you're influenced by this misconception, karmas continue to bind. Even in sleep, assuming the identity of 'Long Aotian,' this cycle persists." Ming Xuan replied

"Then, Master, how should this cycle stop? Is there any way to stop accumulating karma?" Long Aotian inquired curiously.

Ming Xuan responded, "The way to resist accumulating karma is to answer the question, "Who am I?" If you understand this, you will stop the cycle of binding karmas. The most significant karma is dozing off thinking, "I am Long Aotian," restricting the self within a narrow identity."

Following this, Long Aotian queried, "Master Is it the body or the soul that's bound by karma?"

Sigh! Why is this disciple so troublesome? But I've aced countless scholarly exams in my past life. These are trifling questions I could answer effortlessly. Let me demonstrate why I was named 'Dao Seeker' in my past life.

"The body itself is akin to karma. The feeling of bondage arises from within. Who feels imprisoned—the prison or the inmate? This body is the prison; the one within it feels bound. Believing "I am bound, I am Long Aotian" signifies the binding," explained Ming Xuan.

Long Aotian inquired, "So, does the soul create and resolve karma through the body?"

"No, the soul isn't involved. The soul is inherently free and detached. It's the ego, formed by false impositions, that binds karma and experiences its results. You are the pure Atman/Self, yet claiming to be Long Aotian signifies the ego, a false imposition usurping someone else's identity. When this ego dissolves, freedom prevails, free from bondage."

"Then, Master, if karma implies a cause followed by its effect, how can one trace back to the original karma?" Long Aotian inquired.

"There's no starting point in something without a beginning. It's akin to a beaded necklace. Where is the start of the headed necklace?" responded Ming Xuan.

"It seems like there's no starting point," remarked Long Aotian.

"Indeed, the world is continuous and round. Liberation from this cycle is possible due to the presence of the Atman or Self. Everything is circular, not square. If it were square, you could trace it from one corner to another. But in something round, there are no corners. The universe is round, though your intellect might struggle to grasp this. Let your intellect step aside; understanding comes through wisdom."

Ming Xuan continued, "Consider the question of the chicken and the egg; it's like talking in circles. Anything without a solution is round. The cycle of birth and death, like that of chickens and eggs, awaits those who delve into endless questions."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Long Aotian then questioned, "What about the first karma? The original karma that led to this body."

"No one gave you this body. It's a result of the interplay of the six eternal elements. You haven't been given this body; you've assumed it to be yours—an illusion. When this illusion fades, there will be nothing. It all emerged from the belief, "I am Long Aotian."" Ming Xuan replied.

"Master, there was a renowned saint in my city. He was miserable because he claimed he suffered for others' miseries. Is that possible?" Long Aotian asked, recounting a life experience.

Ming Xuan exclaimed, "What a load of bullshit! No one can take on someone else's misery. Such claims are mere deception, fooling people to gain worship. It's a result of his own causes. I will speak frankly; people suffer their own miseries. It's absurd to consider taking away someone else's miseries."

"But can't you cause someone to suffer?" Long Aotian asked.

"No one can transfer their misery to another. Any suffering inflicted or received is the consequence of one's actions. Both the ability to cause suffering and the ability to receive it are outcomes. It's an effect—no deliberate action, just a natural outcome." Ming Xuan replied calmly.

"Is the suffering of a mortal the result of balancing the good and bad karma he acquired through his deeds?" Long Aotian probed.

"No, it's not about balancing or cancelling out deeds. That's a rule in this world's existence. If it were so, people would manipulate it, doing many good deeds to overshadow a few bad ones. Nature ensures the experience of both good and bad deeds."

"Master, when I was young, my mother said that performing charitable deeds reduces the intensity of negative karma. Is this true?" Long Aotian inquired.

"No, it doesn't diminish it. Karma isn't a math equation with addition or subtraction. Doing good deeds creates new karma, but one still faces consequences for harming others. Nature's law is precise—bad deeds' consequences won't be subtracted from good ones," clarified Ming Xuan.

"So, the results of good and bad deeds remain separate?" Long Aotian asked, grasping some understanding from his Master's explanation.

"Exactly. Bad karma leads to unpleasant outcomes, and good karma leads to positive ones. There's no increase or decrease. Imagine donating a hundred gold coins (a good deed) but also causing harm worth five gold coins (a bad deed). The five gold coins become a debt in your karmic account, while the hundred gold coins become a credit. This law is exact."

Ming Xuan, then concluding, said, "If it weren't so, people would aim to keep a continuous credit balance. But karma functions differently; it credits a hundred and loans five without deducting. Whatever credit you accumulate, you'll experience its consequences."

"Having excessive credits in karma results in an abundance of outcomes, which eventually become burdensome to enjoy. Over time, one grows weary of an excess of favorable results. Both excessive credit and excessive debt become tiresome. The yearning for simplicity arises because the comforts experienced aren't genuine or the true bliss of the Atman/Self; instead, they are transient and illusory happiness. The permanent bliss of the Pure Soul never brings weariness or dissatisfaction."

"By understanding the nature of the ego and its false impositions, the false identification with the ego dissolves, returning to the pure Atman/Self, the cycle of binding karma ceases. It's the realization of one's true nature that leads to liberation from this cycle." Ming Xuan concluded his understanding of Karma.

"I understood, Master."

Ming Xuan nodded his head in satisfaction before turning around to speak, "Ao'er, since you have comprehended a Lesser Dao-True/False Dao. Tell me everything about that. I will help you perfect your Dao."

After saying that, he was extremely excited. God knew how poor he was. He has nothing to be remotely considered as a cultivation technique. He will now stea- Ahm! borrow his disciple's Dao comprehension. Just imagine that one day he could shout, "Vanish, for I deem you False!" and make his enemies disappear.

What a spectacular scene that would be! Just thinking of that scene made him feel overwhelmed with joy.

However, dreams were grand, but reality was a bitch. Long Aotian hurriedly shook his head and said, "Master has taught me more than enough. I do not want to further lower your expectations. If I did that, I would be ashamed to call you Master in this lifetime."

The moment Long Aotian said that, Ming Xuan froze like a statue.

"It's an insignificant matter. I will give you some pointers. There is no shame in asking you doubts. It is a Master's duty to make his disciple's doubts clear." Ming Xuan forced a smile while saying that.

However, Ming Xuan remained determined, cupped his fists, and said, "Master, there is no need to make me happy by saying that. I will definitely comprehend Greater Dao-Karma. Only after doing that will I be satisfied to call you Master. This disciple will now take his leave. Farewell! Master."

After saying that, he decisively walked out, leaving Ming Xuan dumbfounded.

Hey, hold on there! You're jumping ahead. You're the one creating these scenarios in your mind. Who said I was offering sympathy by giving you guidance? His disciple's imagination seems quite vivid. Couldn't he just simply tell him his True/False Dao quietly?

Ming Xuan felt like crying, but no tears came. Instead, he looked at the system's store and used his points to purchase the most affordable martial skill.

Ming Xuan's misery knew no bounds! How utterly miserable he felt!