The Great Dao's Mystic Chaos

The fifteenth day of the second month, just as dawn was breaking.

Zhang Yu stepped out of his residence, looked around, and felt his spirits lift.

It had rained for days without pause, only stopping last night. The air was exceptionally fresh now, and the flowering trees and branches before his eyes were bright with color, washed clean and glistening.

Today was the day the Profound Residence opened. However, it stood at the Academy's northern end, far from where he lived, and vehicles and horses weren't permitted within the Academy grounds. So he set out on foot alone.

After walking for more than half a summer-hour, he finally arrived.

The Profound Residence's halls backed against Mount Qi. Since its ceremonial rank was high, there were no buildings on its three outward-facing sides. The area around it was clearly vast and empty, with only a straight stone-paved avenue leading to the arched gates beneath the outer city platform.

The stone slabs along this avenue clearly hadn't been repaired in a long time. They were cracked and broken, weeds spread everywhere, and ancient ruined stone pillars stood on either side. Atop every pillar sat a statue of a ferocious native deity.

The morning sun had risen, yet Mount Qi to the north blocked it. The Profound Residence's magnificent halls and city platforms remained buried in shadow. Still, the golden light steadfastly broke through the obstruction and fell upon the earth, casting long, narrow shadows whenever it passed those statues.

Zhang Yu studied them for a few moments. He didn't know why the Academy or the Profound Residence had preserved these ancient ruins here. Some buildings in the capital had likewise merely been rebuilt over old god-temples instead of being torn down and reconstructed. But on reflection, there had to be a reason for it.

Since it was still early and he was the only one here, he took out a small notebook and a charcoal pencil from his satchel. Facing those statues, he began sketching them, gradually becoming absorbed in his work.

As time passed, more and more people arrived in the open square. They were all Academy students, though most merely yearned for the power to transcend the mortal world and knew very little about cultivation itself.

Seeing the sun rise ever higher until it shone directly at him, Zhang Yu found the glare somewhat harsh and prepared to find somewhere shaded.

But after taking only two steps, a strange feeling suddenly rose within him. He paused and looked diagonally upward. There crouched a statue with a bird's body and a human face, its wings folded, claws gripping the pillar top, its face split in a grin that looked wicked and uncanny.

That wasn't the important part.

A thread of heat was radiating from the statue.

There was clearly Source Energy within it!

He couldn't help stopping to examine it.

"I heard this statue was a concubine dearly favored by an evil god. None of the other statues here are as exquisite or lifelike as this one."

Zhang Yu turned toward the speaker. He was a young man in his twenties, dressed in an assistant instructor's robes like Zhang Yu, with a short boy of fifteen or sixteen beside him.

He raised his hands in salute. "Zhang Yu. May I ask who you are?"

The young man returned the salute with a smile. "Brother Zhang, my name is Zheng Gao, and this is my nephew, Zheng Yu." The boy immediately gave Zhang Yu a solemn bow.

Zhang Yu's gaze fell on Zheng Yu, and he nodded to him.

Zheng Gao asked curiously, "I saw Brother Zhang drawing here earlier, but I didn't dare disturb you rashly. Might Brother Zhang be an artist?"

"My specialty is Ancient Natural History," Zhang Yu said. "When I see ancient remnants like these, I can't help wanting to study them."

"No wonder." Zheng Gao suddenly understood. He said eagerly, "I'm also very interested in the ancient empires of legend on this continent. Unfortunately, I've always just pondered them alone. I never expected to meet Brother Zhang today..."

This man seemed exceptionally talkative. Once he started speaking, he showed no sign of stopping, and he didn't even need anyone else to respond. His nephew Zheng Yu stood at the side with a helpless expression.

Seeing that it was still early and the Profound Residence hadn't opened yet, Zhang Yu was happy to keep him company, since standing here allowed him to absorb Source Energy.

However, he soon discovered that Zheng Gao truly knew a few things. It wasn't all nonsense; he often offered unique insights. So Zhang Yu spoke up a few times to affirm him.

With that encouragement, Zheng Gao's enthusiasm soared even higher.

After Zheng Gao had talked without pause for nearly a summer-hour, a bell suddenly rang from the Profound Residence. Zheng Yu hurriedly tugged his sleeve and reminded him, "Uncle, the bell has rung. It's time to enter the Profound Residence."

Zheng Gao smacked his lips, apparently still unsatisfied. Few people were usually willing to listen to him go on at such length. Today, he'd finally had his fill. Regretfully, he said, "Brother Zhang, after the bell rings three times, the Profound Residence allows entry but no exit. Our conversation can only end here today."

He pulled Zheng Yu over and cupped his hands to Zhang Yu. "My nephew is still young and has little experience. He's entering the Profound Residence to cultivate this time as well. If it's convenient for Brother Zhang, I hope you'll look after him a little. Zheng Gao would be endlessly grateful."

Zhang Yu was only seventeen in this life, and by rights wasn't much older than Zheng Yu. Yet he had lived two lives, and his temperament was calm and reserved. He was naturally elegant and striking, and with his assistant instructor's robes, no one regarded him as someone of this age.

He nodded and asked, "Brother Zheng, aren't you coming with us?"

Zheng Gao laughed loudly and repeatedly waved his hands. "I won't be going. I can't stand that tedious cultivation. Studying ancient relics is much more interesting."

Zhang Yu glanced at him. Though this man was a chatterbox, he understood very well what he wanted. He was the kind of person who, once he set his sights on a goal, would walk that path without wavering.

He checked his Divine Essence again. Since he had stood rather far away, he had absorbed only a little from earlier until now. It seemed he'd have to find another chance next time. So he cupped his hands and said, "Brother Zheng, then we'll part here for now."

Zheng Gao returned the salute, his expression solemn. "Brother Zhang, good luck." Then he looked at his nephew.

Zheng Yu lifted his face, looking expectantly at his uncle and hoping for similar words of encouragement and blessing. A large hand came down and patted his head. Zheng Gao smiled warmly. "Little Yu, don't force yourself. Even if you can't do it, you still have your uncle."

You already know I can't do it?

Are you really my uncle? I don't want you anymore!

Zheng Yu looked utterly aggrieved.

After they parted, Zhang Yu led Zheng Yu toward the Profound Residence's gates. Those waiting outside also surged in that direction one after another, their faces full of anticipation and excitement. There appeared to be at least a hundred people.

Passing through the towering gate tunnel beneath the city platform with the others, they saw a great hall with double eaves and a hip-and-gable roof standing ahead. All three palace gates stood open, but due to the lighting, they couldn't see what lay inside.

Zhang Yu walked before the hall, raised his head to examine the towering double eaves, then stepped up the stone stairs.

Just as he was about to enter, he felt something and looked back. The falling sunlight happened to shine upon the steps before the hall, as though it were a clear boundary dividing the inside and outside into two separate worlds.

He withdrew his gaze, flicked his sleeve, and stepped through the gates without looking back.

The instant he entered the hall, an unusual sensation arose within him. Everything around him seemed to vanish, leaving only vast emptiness, with him standing there alone.

Then he sensed something faintly. Raising his eyes, he saw a Daoist in wide sleeves standing upon the elevated hall platform ahead. The man was hidden within a gentle radiance. Just as Zhang Yu was about to inspect him more closely, the Daoist looked over, and their gazes met.

Boom!

His consciousness jolted violently. Then, as though a light had exploded in endless darkness, he found himself standing beneath a magnificent, brilliant curtain of light.

He looked up and saw rows upon rows of Seal Glyphs embedded in the light curtain, like countless silver stars. Yet the writing within the seals was exceedingly blurred, impossible to make out.

This is... the Seal of the Great Dao?

The moment that doubt arose, an unfathomable intent was transmitted to him and directly reflected into the depths of his heart. For no apparent reason, he understood its meaning.

To cultivate Profound Methods, one must first recognize oneself within the Dao Seal.

I am the root of all things, the place where beginnings arise. Only by understanding oneself can one distinguish the self from all things in the Great Dao, and thus climb upward toward that infinitely high and sublime place.

Having lived two lives, he possessed an exceptionally profound understanding of "I" and cared incomparably deeply about his own existence. This obsession burned with extraordinary intensity. Almost the instant he understood that unfathomable intent, the many Seal Glyphs upon the light curtain suddenly faded away, leaving only one shining brilliantly before him.

This was the Seal Glyph that represented the existence of self!

Yet to read this Seal Glyph, he still needed one thing.

The moment this thought passed through his mind, he felt threads of Divine Essence gradually being generated within his body under the influence of that intent, though the amount was not particularly great.

With a thought, he guided this newly generated Divine Essence toward that Seal Glyph.

At the same time, the glyph's name became clear:

"Self-Existence"!

Once this Seal Glyph was established, six more emerged from it as their starting point, forming a great circle around it. They connected to one another in neat, orderly arrangement, appearing as raised vermilion inscriptions. They were pleasing to the eye, utterly different from the sunken white inscriptions he had seen before, which had been full of broken gaps and tooth-like marks.

Each of these six Seal Glyphs bore a single character: eye, ear, mouth, nose, body, and intent. Yet none shone as brightly as the glyph of "Self-Existence."

Just as he was about to examine them more closely, the light curtain abruptly scattered and vanished, and the scene before him changed with it.

He found himself still standing in that empty hall. Zheng Yu and another dozen or so students stood not far away, their faces all filled with shock and confusion.

"Gentlemen," a mellow voice came from ahead.

Zhang Yu raised his head and looked toward the voice. There stood a tall, broad, stout Daoist of around forty. However, he was not the same person Zhang Yu had seen before.

The Daoist smiled gently. "Since you gentlemen have successfully sensed the Seal of the Great Dao that the Profound Residence allowed you to read, and successfully planted the seal of 'Self-Existence,' from this day onward, you are disciples of our Mystic Cultivator lineage."

Zhang Yu lowered his head slightly. So it truly was the Seal of the Great Dao?

But a question inevitably arose. If what he had just seen was the Seal of the Great Dao, then what had his teacher taught him before?

The Daoist looked at the uncertain, dazed expressions on everyone's faces and smiled. "My name is Xiang Chun. The Profound Chief entrusted me with managing the affairs within and beyond the Profound Residence. If you gentlemen have any questions, you may ask me now."

Zheng Xiaolang looked around, hesitated, then gathered his courage and stepped forward. He solemnly bowed toward the front. "This student is Zheng Yu. May I ask Steward Xiang, aside from us, where have the rest gone?"

Xiang Chun smiled. "Zheng Xiaolang, rest assured. Those students couldn't sense the Seal of the Great Dao, so they naturally had no affinity with our Profound Residence. They have all left safely."

Zheng Yu let out a breath, looking happy. He bowed again. "Thank you, Steward, for resolving my doubts."

Xiang Chun looked at the crowd, his gaze moving slowly across them. "Do you gentlemen have anything else to ask?"

Zhang Yu considered it. He very much wanted to know what exactly he had studied before, and how it differed from the Seal of the Great Dao he had just seen. Yet instinctively, he felt this matter absolutely couldn't be revealed to others. Even if he asked, he couldn't let anyone see his true intent.

After thinking for a moment, he had an idea. Joining his hands, he bowed toward the platform. "This student, Zhang Yu, has a question and wishes to seek Steward Xiang's guidance."

Xiang Chun looked kindly at him. "What does Gentleman Zhang wish to ask?"

Zhang Yu raised his head slightly and spoke clearly. "This student just recalled a line from Summer Wind, one that I believe all of us Celestial Xia People have heard." Looking upward, he said, "'The Great Dao's Mystic Chaos bears heaven and earth; a million Sky City soldiers split the clouds as they come.' What does the phrase 'The Great Dao's Mystic Chaos bears heaven and earth' mean?"

Many of the students present showed thoughtful expressions. They knew the lines of Summer Wind by heart, but their interpretations varied greatly, with no unified explanation. Especially this first line—it undoubtedly concerned the transformations of the Great Dao. Perhaps no one except the Profound Residence could offer the correct explanation?

However, Xiang Chun's expression changed slightly. He didn't answer immediately, instead falling silent. He looked as if he were listening to someone speak. After a long while, he sighed. "Originally, these matters shouldn't have been told to you today. But since Gentleman Zhang has raised the question, I may as well explain them all to you gentlemen."

Upon hearing this, all the students focused their attention.

Xiang Chun looked deeply at everyone below and said in a grave voice, "The Seal of the Great Dao is a vessel that carries the Dao. We cultivators cultivate Dao methods by reading this object and comprehending the principles of the Great Dao within it. Yet all things are divided into yin and yang, and creation unfolds heaven and earth. This object is not the only one..."

"The Seal of the Great Dao is divided into two parts: the Profound Dao Chapter and the Great Dao Unified Text. What you study is the Profound Dao Chapter, the orthodox chapter of the Great Dao! As for the Great Dao Unified Text..."

He paused, his expression incomparably solemn. "Listen carefully. The Great Dao Unified Text runs contrary to the righteous path—it is an evil chapter! And those who cultivate through the Unified Text are the great enemies of our kind!"