Nüwa and Fuxi

Fuxi also shared with Xuanqing his insights into his deductions about the Primordial Eight Trigrams.

Xuanqing listened, engrossed.

Though Fuxi's deductions were still in their early stages, they had already revealed extraordinary wisdom.

Xuanqing also posed a few questions at opportune moments and offered some of his own insights.

Every time he spoke, Fuxi's favorable impression of him grew.

Fuxi realized that although this young man's cultivation was inferior to his own, his understanding of the Great Dao was unusually profound.

More importantly, the pure aura of merit around him made one feel as if basking in a spring breeze.

And there was something about Xuanqing's face that felt familiar to Fuxi.

Xuanqing took the initiative to introduce himself.

Only then did Fuxi realize that Xuanqing was the disciple who had listened to the Dao Ancestor's teachings behind Yuanshi Tianzun.

Their discussion of the Dao continued for several hours.

Xuanqing felt that his understanding of the Heavenly Dao had reached a new level.

Fuxi, too, had gained some inspiration from Xuanqing's words.

"Discussing the Dao with you today has truly been a great blessing," Fuxi said sincerely.

Xuanqing rose and bowed. "I feel the same, senior."

"Fellow Daoist Fuxi's wisdom has opened my eyes."

Fuxi smiled and pointed toward the depths of the valley. "My younger sister, Nüwa, lives atop Wind Perch Mountain."

"She has always been fond of solitude and dislikes socializing."

"But if you have the chance to speak with her, you might gain something from it."

Xuanqing was delighted. He knew Fuxi was offering to introduce him.

"Thank you for your guidance, Fellow Daoist Fuxi," Xuanqing said again.

In the palace, after finishing her meeting with Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi, Nüwa was still troubled. She returned to her Cloud Bed, but no matter what she did, she couldn't calm her mind. The maid's report about the Witch Clan's attack kept circling in her thoughts.

Dijun's airtight lies only deepened the chill in her heart. In their eyes, those weak members of the Yao Clan were worth so little.

"Your Majesty!"

Just then, the maid who had reported earlier hurried back inside.

"Your Majesty, those little yao are gathering herbs on Phoenix Mountain."

Nüwa rose abruptly and flashed out of the hall. Following the direction the maid had pointed, she appeared before Rabbit and the others in an instant.

Rabbit and the little yao were carefully making their way back with the herbs they had gathered. Nüwa's sudden appearance startled them, and they nearly dropped the herbs in their hands.

"Your Majesty!"

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

When they saw that it was Nüwa, joy and excitement surged across the faces of all the little yao. They hurriedly dropped to their knees, trembling.

Nüwa looked at the weak members of the Yao Clan before her, her gaze sweeping over the little yao behind Rabbit.

"Are any of you hurt?"

Her voice was cool, yet held a note of concern.

Rabbit quickly raised her head, eyes brimming with tears. "Your Majesty, none of us are hurt. It's all thanks to that senior who came to our aid!"

Nüwa nodded gently and reached out with one slender hand, grabbing at the air. Several spiritual herbs, glowing softly, flew from the depths of Mount Buzhou and landed neatly before Rabbit.

"These herbs will help with your injuries and calm your nerves. Take them."

Rabbit and the little yao looked at the rare herbs before them, so moved they could hardly express it. Her Majesty cared so much for even the weakest living beings.

"Thank you for your generous gift, Your Majesty! We will never forget your kindness!"

Rabbit bowed over and over, and the other little yao followed suit, thanking her repeatedly.

Nüwa's gaze settled on Rabbit, and her voice softened. "Where is the person who saved you now?"

Rabbit raised her head and pointed in one direction. "Your Majesty, that senior said he had something else to do and went deeper into Phoenix Mountain."

Nüwa looked where Rabbit had pointed. That was where Fuxi was discussing the Dao.

"What did he look like? Did he have any distinguishing features?" Nüwa continued.

Rabbit tried to recall Xuanqing's appearance. "That senior wore a robe made of animal hide and looked like an ordinary yao immortal. But he had a refined air and clear, handsome features. There was also a black... puppy perched on his shoulder."

A puppy? Nüwa wondered. She didn't dwell on it, simply nodding.

"Return to your cave and rest."

After speaking, Nüwa flashed away and disappeared. She headed deeper into Phoenix Mountain, following the direction Rabbit had indicated.

Meanwhile, Xuanqing and Fuxi's discussion of the Dao had reached its height.

Fuxi felt as though he had finally met a kindred spirit. He had thought that few in Honghuang could discuss the Primordial Eight Trigrams with him. He never expected that this disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun's would understand his deductions so profoundly.

"What you said—that 'the Heavenly Dao follows its constant course, neither existing for the sake of existence nor perishing for the sake of perishing'—speaks straight to my heart."

Fuxi stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes shining brightly.

Xuanqing also brought up some later generations' understanding of the Book of Changes, adapting it to fit the context of Honghuang. Fuxi listened, nodding repeatedly.

"Fellow Daoist Fuxi's Primordial Eight Trigrams have already glimpsed a corner of the heavenly secrets. If you take it further—observing the birth and death of all things in heaven and earth, and discerning the karma of all living beings—you may make an even greater breakthrough."

Xuanqing's words plunged Fuxi into thought. He had only ever deduced the workings of heaven and earth. It had never occurred to him to include the karma of all living beings.

"The karma of all living beings..." Fuxi murmured, a light of understanding flickering in his eyes.

"Fellow Daoist Xuanqing, your insight has been like an enlightening infusion!"

He looked at Xuanqing with admiration and respect.

Xuanqing chuckled inwardly. Fuxi really was clever; he understood immediately. If Xuanqing wanted to guide Nüwa toward creating humans, Fuxi, the future Emperor Xi, was an ideal point of entry.

Just as the two were chatting cheerfully, a cool, powerful aura quietly descended upon the valley.

Xuanqing's heart tightened. He knew that aura all too well.

Nüwa!

He turned toward the sound and saw a graceful figure approaching from the entrance to the valley, walking lightly and steadily. She wore an elegant palace dress, and her exquisite face was cool and beautiful. It was none other than Empress Nüwa.

Nüwa's gaze immediately fell on Xuanqing beside Fuxi.

A flicker of surprise passed through her clear eyes, so subtle it was almost imperceptible. It really was him.

She had seen Xuanqing before in Zixiao Palace. Back then, Xuanqing had sat behind Yuanshi Tianzun. Though he had only been a Spiritual Root who had taken human form, the aura of merit swirling around him, as well as the importance Yuanshi Tianzun had shown him, had made him hard to overlook.

Xuanqing also looked surprised. He quickly rose and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Xuanqing pays his respects to Your Majesty, Empress Nüwa!"

Seeing Nüwa arrive, Fuxi also came back to himself, emerging from his thoughts on their discussion.

"Little sister, what brings you here?"

Nüwa walked over to Fuxi and looked at Xuanqing again.

"I heard the Witch Clan had been harassing the foot of the mountain, and that this Daoist had come to their aid. I came to thank him."

Her tone was even, but her gratitude was sincere.

"Your Majesty, you're too kind. It was only a small favor. The Witch Clan was committing evil, so Xuanqing had to step in."

Xuanqing answered modestly.

Nüwa looked at Xuanqing, her favorable impression of him growing. In Honghuang, most powerful figures minded only their own affairs. This disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun's, however, seemed to have a sense of justice.

"So you're Fellow Daoist Xuanqing," Fuxi said, suddenly understanding. "I was just discussing the Dao with him, and his wisdom impressed me greatly. He even resonated with my music and had unique insights into the Primordial Eight Trigrams."

Hearing this, Nüwa grew curious as well. She knew her elder brother Fuxi had a deep understanding of the Great Dao. For him to praise Xuanqing so highly showed that Xuanqing truly was extraordinary.

"Fellow Daoist Xuanqing, saving those weak members of the Yao Clan was a truly virtuous deed."