Qi WuHuo quietly watched the misty rain ahead, never doubting the truth of his teacher's words.
Since so many of his senior fellow disciples had become lost in the ways of the world, and Teacher had merely waited for them to cultivate and awaken on their own, to recall the teachings of their younger days and find their original hearts again, then he would be no different. The old man and he climbed to a slightly higher slope and turned back to see the rain and wind shrouding the burial mound adorned with clothes and a cap.
Mist veiled the cold mountains, stretching as far as the eye could see, as though heaven and earth had joined.
A desolate sense of the Great Dao welled up within him.
The old man said gently, "Those who seek the lesser path may cultivate until the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, the Five Qi Facing the Origin, three thousand merits fulfilled and eight hundred good deeds completed. They may become heavenly immortals, called Emperors or Heavenly Venerables. Those who seek the middle path must follow the road I have shown you, meet no hindrance along the way, pass through the Three Disasters, Seven Tribulations, and Eight Difficulties, and reach the realm of Xuandu."
"But that is, after all, the road I have shown you. You cannot surpass me."
"If you take the highest path..."
The old man's voice paused.
Then he said gently, "Perhaps you'll catch sight of my back."
Seeing that Qi WuHuo seemed about to speak, the old man raised a hand to stop him and smiled warmly.
"But you needn't give me your answer now. Even if you did, I wouldn't listen."
"All you need to do is keep your choice in your own heart."
"When they're young, most