Chapter Ten: Primal Chaos Innate Essence

“The source of the Way itself, the highest path among the mundane!”
“Indeed, what then did the Patriarch Laozi say?”

Hearing the junior disciple’s words, the faint azure mystical light on Chi Songzi’s robe flickered as he whispered softly. This interpretation seemed fitting. Hundreds of years ago, when Taoism was established, it had always upheld the patriarch’s transcendence beyond the mundane, pursuing the Great Way with the aim of achieving harmony between heaven and humanity, thus becoming immortals.

But now, among the myriad schools of thought, Confucianism and Mohism were the prominent doctrines, while Taoism had faded somewhat from common knowledge. Since the Yin-Yang school split from Taoism five centuries ago, and Taoism itself divided into the Heavenly Sect and the Human Sect three centuries ago, the strength of Taoism had been greatly diminished.

Today, whether it was the Yin-Yang school, the Heavenly Sect, or the Human Sect, all occupied isolated corners, and their disciples no longer thrived as the other schools once did.

If there were a way to elevate Taoism’s fame and status among the schools of thought, it would not be impossible. Just now, disciple Zong Quan handed over this bamboo slip, saying it was authored by Xuan Qing.

Chi Songzi’s spiritual perception stirred; it seemed he had touched upon something, though this single bamboo slip was far from enough. For Taoism, the connection was still incomplete. Though the Primordial Heavenly King was an unsurpassed deity, where then was the patriarch Laozi?

“In ancient times, there was Zhuangzi who dreamed he was a butterfly, fluttering about joyfully, unaware he was Zhuang Zhou. Suddenly he awoke, only to find he was Zhuang Zhou again. But did Zhuang Zhou dream he was a butterfly, or did the butterfly dream it was Zhuang Zhou?”

“Reflecting on junior brother’s thoughts, after the Primordial Heavenly King commanded Pangu the True Man to create heaven and earth, there were five kalpas: the Dragon Han, the Sage, the Supreme Emperor, the Human Emperor, and the Celestial Being. From these five kalpas, the Zhonghua civilization began.”

“Several centuries ago, sensing the endless strife among the lords, the Primordial Heavenly King decreed the appearance of the Sage and the emergence of Laozi, thus Taoism arose and has persisted to this day as the Great Way of Heaven and Earth. Brother, are you satisfied?”

To link Laozi and Taoism with this, Zhou Qing had naturally pondered it long ago. His speech was slow but unhesitant, a gentle smile flickering across his youthful face as he regarded Chi Songzi.

Taoism had never been a secluded sect focused solely on hermitic cultivation. Otherwise, the latter forty-four chapters of the authentic “Tao Te Ching” left by the Patriarch Laozi would not have included treatises on military strategy, self-cultivation, and governance.

Likewise, successive sages held varying views—some advocating active engagement in the chaotic world, others favoring retreat and seclusion. In any case, Taoism was like a single tree blossoming a hundred different flowers, each unique.

“Zhuangzi’s butterfly dream, utterly unaware, today junior brother, you might say, is like entering a fantasy through dreams, obtaining the orthodox source of heaven and earth. This is the first volume ‘Creation of Heaven and Earth.’ As you mentioned, there are still five kalpas to come. Brother is greatly looking forward to it.”

“I have already instructed Zong Quan to devote himself to this task. The more benefits for Taoism, the better!”

As the current leader of the Heavenly Sect of Taoism, Chi Songzi bore the responsibility of revitalizing the sect. Despite the departures of the Yin-Yang school and the Human Sect, if the Heavenly Sect could flourish, it would honor the patriarch and forebears.

If junior brother’s mystical words could spread, Taoism would undeniably gain a true source, albeit a somewhat intangible one like a mirage or moonlight on water. Yet the strength of Patriarch Laozi was enough to suppress all doubts.

“Rest assured, senior brother, junior brother is part of the Heavenly Sect as well!”

Zhou Qing nodded slightly, his small head acknowledging his senior brother’s recognition as expected. Whether he acted or not, someone would take up this cause centuries later.

By acting early, Taoism could lay a deeper foundation, better resisting the encroachments of other schools and the pressures from both external and internal challenges.

With these words spoken, Chi Songzi said no more. He did not return the “Creation of Heaven and Earth” bamboo slip personally penned by Zhou Qing. Instead, he turned, stepped forward, and vanished without a trace.

“It is done!”

Watching his senior brother’s figure disappear into the depths of vision, Zhou Qing gently clasped his hands together and whispered softly.

******

With Chi Songzi’s support, Zong Quan carried out his duties with renewed vigor. Without waiting for Zhou Qing’s urging, he ordered disciples to copy dozens of bamboo slips overnight. At dawn the next day, he led over ten disciples down from the mountain gate.

One day later, Zhou Qing’s mind stirred slightly; his spirit sharpened. The count was: 216!

Two days later, the count rose to 451!

Three days later, 672!

...

By the seventh day, the count had reached 1,545!

The rapid increase in the count was as Zhou Qing had anticipated. Regarding the function of this count, once it surpassed a thousand, Zhou Qing was profoundly shaken.

In a single night, propelled by the count, the thirty-six cultivation methods recorded in the Taoist scriptures brought him to the pinnacle of Qi refinement. His meridians were fully connected, acupoints opened, and his internal energy surged from a small stream to a vast river, gathering the vigorous primordial energy of heaven and earth.

Under the governance of the myriad wonders, the dense heavenly energy converged in the forested mountains like clouds gathering and mist condensing. The void shone with flickering mystical light, and as his internal cultivation circulated, brilliant radiant energies ebbed and flowed.

Chi Songzi was moved by this, as were the elders practicing atop the mountain peak. Strange phenomena appeared frequently. Even Beimingzi, who had been in seclusion for years, broke through his barrier. Sensing this swiftly rising cultivation, Zhou Qing’s progress was meteoric.

It was as if he had gained immense fortune, as if bestowed great blessings—leaping from the initial stage of Qi refinement to near perfection, almost touching the primordial innate state. This was the greatest achievement in Taoism for centuries.

“Master, junior brother has been in seclusion for five days, yet various phenomena continue to rise, and his aura keeps strengthening. By yesterday, he had already reached the peak of meridian Qi refinement. Could it be that junior brother is about to leap directly into the primordial innate state?”

Standing quietly on a protruding rock along the mountain ridge, Chi Songzi, clad in a blue-green Taoist robe with a purple-gold lotus crown binding his hair, bowed slightly and asked the elder before him with deep respect.

“Taoist cultivation depends on fate and opportunity. When the moment is right, it is not uncommon to break directly into the union with the Dao and the return to origin. Do not worry. Your junior brother’s background is extraordinary and he will be a noble figure. Now that he has joined our Taoism, it seems most fitting.”

“He is likely to break directly into the perfected primordial state. With such abundant heavenly energy supporting him, Xuan Qing’s tendons and meridians are fully connected, and many profound mysteries flicker within him, interwoven with numerous supreme Taoist arts.”

“Just from what I sense, there are over ten: ‘Ten Thousand Rivers and Autumn Waters,’ ‘Heart Like Still Water,’ ‘Profound and Utmost Goodness,’ ‘Harmonizing Light with Dust,’ ‘Heaven and Earth Losing Color,’ ‘All Things Revive in Spring,’ ‘Mysteries of Heaven and Earth,’ ‘Primordial Mysterious Softness,’ ‘Limitless Yin and Yang’...”

“Marvelous! It seems Xuan Qing is cultivating the authentic ‘Tao Te Ching.’ Once he fully comprehends it, I believe he will not choose to break into the spiritual transformation lightly!”

The white-haired elder, draped in a purple Taoist robe embroidered with mystical patterns and the undulating rhythms of yin and yang, stood silently with hands folded behind his back, blending seamlessly with heaven and earth. If not observed with the naked eye, one would scarcely notice him.

Though his hair was silver as a crane’s, his face retained a youthful glow, radiating a rosy light. Gazing down upon the gathering mists on the mountainside, he nodded softly. In his eyes, a light of tranquility burst forth, occasionally flickering with surprise.