Though the Qiantang Du clan was only a Second-Rank Aristocratic Clan, Du Zigong's fame filled Jiangzuo. He was the best-known leader of the Way of the Celestial Masters in the Eastern Jin, with countless disciples under him. Even the foremost aristocratic houses—the Langya Wang clan, the Chen Commandery Xie Clan, the Kuaiji Kong clan, and the Yixing Zhou clan—had sons studying under him. Thus, Du Zigong's influence in Qiantang far surpassed that of the Quan Clan, the county's highest-ranking family.
At the hour of chen on the fifteenth day of the first month, the gates of the Du clan's villa north of the city opened wide. Followers of the Way of the Celestial Masters from nearby counties, who had long been waiting outside, filed into the ritual grounds within. Chen Caozhi entered with the crowd, accompanied by Lai Fu and his son, as well as Ran Sheng. Looking up, he saw the imposing statue of the Celestial Official Emperor seated in majestic stillness, his face pale gold and his long beard falling in five strands. The sight inspired such reverence that no one dared make a commotion.
The Celestial Official Emperor was also known as the Heavenly Official Who Bestows Blessings and the Purple Tenuity Emperor. The Comprehensive Mirror of Immortals Through the Dynasties also said that the Celestial Official Emperor was Yao, formed from a breath exhaled by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. Shun and Yu had taken form at the same time, becoming the Earth Official and Water Official respectively.
Chen Caozhi listened to these wholly fictitious tales from the Traditions of Divine Transcendents without taking them seriously. His mother believed in them, however, so he dared not go against her wishes by declaring his disbelief. From the historical facts he knew from his previous life, the