In a Taoist temple deep in the mountains, far away from the hustle and bustle of the earthly world, there was a Taoist named Xuanming. He had stepped into the Taoist sect since he was young and embarked on a long journey of cultivation with reverence and pursuit for the Tao. As time flew by, decades had passed in the blink of an eye while he stayed in this temple.

Every day, Xuanming's life followed strict cultivation rituals. In the early morning, before the first ray of dawn pierced through the morning mist, he would get up early. Wearing a plain Taoist robe, after washing his hands and face, he would head to the main hall of the temple. In front of the solemn and sacred statues, he would burn incense and worship piously, chanting ancient Taoist scriptures with a murmur. The melodious sound of chanting echoed in the silent hall, as if communicating with the gods of heaven and earth across time and space.

During the day, Xuanming would either study Taoist classics in the Sutra Pavilion. Those yellowing books carried the wisdom and insights of the predecessors. He savored every word and sentence, trying to understand the profound meaning within. Or he would practice Taoist skills and swordsmanship in the courtyard. With agile movements and sharp swordplay, each move and stance embodied the Yin-Yang changes and the combination of hardness and softness in Taoism. His figure dancing in the sunlight seemed to blend with the surrounding nature, fully demonstrating the elegance and unrestrainedness of Taoism.

However, despite Xuanming's pious and diligent cultivation, fate didn't seem to favor him particularly. For many years, his fortune had been mediocre, and he hadn't achieved significant breakthroughs in his understanding of Taoism. Watching some of his peers or younger disciples making rapid progress in their cultivation due to fortuitous opportunities or outstanding talents, he couldn't help feeling a bit confused and lost in his heart.

One day, Xuanming went down the mountain to the nearby market to buy some items needed for the temple. In the bustling market, he happened to meet a Taoist wearing a Taoist robe. That Taoist had a thin face, yet his eyes were deep and wise, and every gesture of his showed an extraordinary and refined temperament. Xuanming's heart was stirred, as if there was an inexplicable connection that urged him to go forward and strike up a conversation with that person.

After respectfully saluting the other party, Xuanming couldn't help pouring out his confusion and helplessness in cultivation over the years. With a long sigh, he said, "Fellow Taoist, I have been painstakingly cultivating in this Taoist sect for dozens of years without the slightest slackness. However, my fortune has never improved, and I've hardly made any breakthroughs in my understanding of Taoism. I really don't know why." The Taoist slightly raised his head, looked at Xuanming calmly, remained silent for a moment, and then said slowly, "Brother Taoist, good fortune in fate often lies in the subtleties. It's not something earth-shattering that can be seen at a glance. The path of cultivation is long and arduous, and we mustn't be eager for quick success. True cultivation lies in being down-to-earth and focused in every step, just like a trickle of water. Although it seems weak, it can accumulate over time and converge into rivers, lakes, and seas."

After hearing this, a flash of inspiration crossed Xuanming's mind, and he immediately fell into deep thought. Looking back on his years of cultivation, although he had been busy every day, when chanting scriptures, he sometimes got distracted by miscellaneous thoughts; when practicing skills, he occasionally overlooked the details and the inner essence of the movements due to his eagerness for quick results. He realized that it was precisely because of his lack of that down-to-earth and focused attitude that his cultivation had stagnated.

After returning to the temple, Xuanming seemed like a changed person. He began to reexamine his cultivation methods and adjust his mindset. When chanting scriptures, he no longer just recited them mechanically but tried to feel the profound meaning behind each word and sentence with his heart. He closed his eyes and immersed his thoughts in the world depicted by the scriptures, as if he could see those ancient sages telling the mysteries of the Tao right in front of him. Every morning and evening, in that quiet corner, he focused on accompanying the scriptures, allowing his soul to be nourished and purified by them.

When practicing skills, Xuanming was even more absorbed. Starting from the most basic movements, he repeatedly pondered over each move, experiencing the flow of power and the changes in breath within. He focused on every tiny movement of his own, from the movement of his feet to the extension of his arms, from the rhythm of his breathing to the concentration of his eyes, striving to make everything perfect. He was no longer distracted by external factors. Whether it was the trifles in the temple or the occasional distractions in his mind, none of them could shake his determination and focused state of mind for cultivation.

As time passed, Xuanming gradually felt the changes within himself. His heart became calmer and more peaceful, and the restlessness and anxiety gradually drifted away from him. During the cultivation process, he began to be able to keenly perceive some details and insights that he hadn't noticed before. For example, during one swordsmanship practice, when he was fully concentrated on wielding the sword in his hand, he suddenly grasped a new variation in the swordsmanship. This variation not only made his swordsmanship more exquisite but also enabled him to have a deeper understanding of the Yin-Yang principle in Taoism.

Time still slipped away quietly, but in this daily focused cultivation, Xuanming continued to accumulate and grow. Finally, by a stroke of chance, Xuanming ushered in a major breakthrough in his cultivation career.

It was a quiet night, and the moonlight spilled into the courtyard of the temple like water. Xuanming was sitting in meditation in the courtyard as usual. His body and mind were completely immersed in an ethereal state. Suddenly, a strange light flashed through his mind, as if opening a door to a mysterious world. His consciousness instantly became extremely clear, and all the insights and knowledge accumulated during his cultivation over the years, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, perfectly combined at this moment. His understanding of the Tao reached a whole new level, and an unprecedented power surged within him.

Since then, Xuanming's fortune also began to change dramatically. His insights and understandings of Taoism were recognized and praised by many predecessors and fellow Taoists. People came to consult him one after another. His reputation gradually spread in the Taoist cultivation community, and he became an object of admiration for everyone.

From the perspective of Taoist thought, Xuanming's experience vividly interprets the concept of "The Tao lies in daily life, and enlightenment comes from focus". Taoism believes that the Tao exists everywhere. It exists in the subtleties of all things in the world and in every moment of people's lives. And if cultivators want to understand the true meaning of the Tao, they must abandon the impetuous and eager-for-quick-success mindset and feel and explore with a down-to-earth and focused heart.

In Xuanming's initial cultivation, although he was diligent, he didn't truly focus on every present moment. He was confused by the external appearances, pursuing quick results and significant improvements in fortune, while ignoring the connotation and meaning of cultivation itself. This is just like in Taoist cultivation, some people overly pursue powerful spells and extraordinary abilities, while neglecting the cultivation of the inner self and the fundamental understanding of the Tao, and ultimately they often find it difficult to reach the true realm.

When Xuanming realized the importance of focus and being down-to-earth, his cultivation method underwent a fundamental change. He began to experience the existence of the Tao in every ordinary cultivation link with his heart. This focused cultivation enabled him to establish a deeper connection with the Tao, thus achieving inner growth and a rise in his realm. This also reflects the ideological state of "Reaching the extreme of emptiness and maintaining profound tranquility" advocated by Taoism. When cultivators can reach a state of inner emptiness, tranquility, and firmness, they can better perceive the operating laws of the Tao, conform to nature, and achieve growth and breakthroughs.

Xuanming's story is like a bright lamp, illuminating the path forward for countless cultivators. It tells people that whether on the path of cultivation or in the face of various situations in life, persistent efforts and focus are the keys to changing fortune and achieving self-transcendence. Only when we can calm down, focus on every single thing at present, and pay and accumulate with our hearts can we, like Xuanming, welcome our own turn of fate in the long river of time and achieve the sublimation and glory of life.