Chapter One: The Diagram of the Mysterious Dao
The Great Song Dynasty, Baihe County, Jiang Estate.
This mansion was immense—one of the grandest in the county. Its corridors twisted and turned, water flowed in winding streams, rockeries layered upon each other, flowers and greenery dotted the grounds, offering a tranquility imbued with luxury.
To the east lay a refined courtyard, its plaque reading “East Peace Pavilion.” Within stood a loft, even with water diverted through its grounds. Beside a stone table in the courtyard sat a young man, his long hair tied back, dressed in a robe of blue that swept the ground. His fair face was marked by a somewhat vacant gaze.
“Upon waking, I’ve become an eighteen-year-old youth named Jiang Fan?”
“A Great Song Dynasty where immortals, demons, monsters, and buddhas all coexist?”
“Just outside the county, river demons already wreak havoc?”
“The path of cultivation can lead to ascension as an immortal?”
“The founder of the Great Song Dynasty bore the surname Song, not Zhao?”
Jiang Fan absorbed the memories, understood the situation, and his initial anxiety gradually eased, replaced by excitement.
“The cultivation path leads to immortality!”
“Foundation building, Qi refining, Innate realm, the Dao…!”
“But this body seems somewhat useless!”
“Eighteen years old and still not finished foundation building!”
Jiang Fan felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head.
He shook his head, helpless.
His original self had been kidnapped by evil sectarians as a child, half sacrificed before being rescued, but his vital essence was severely depleted, nearly dying. Though he was nursed back to health, the best time for cultivation had already passed.
He was exceptionally intelligent, with a prodigious memory, and thus refused to be mediocre, constantly delving into the cultivation arts.
His gaze fell upon a booklet atop the stone table, titled “Profound Dao,” which he opened to find thirty-six illustrations.
He memorized each one.
The first six depicted the methods for foundation building. Though he had studied them deeply, he had only completed cultivation of the first five.
He reviewed the past, grasped the present.
Standing, he looked up—the sky was azure, wisps of white clouds drifting through the ages.
“Such splendid springtime, how could I waste it?”
With a carefree laugh, Jiang Fan took the Profound Dao manual and left the small courtyard.
Passing the martial practice grounds, he saw some cousins leaping over ten meters, shattering rocks with their fists, their sword energies shining dozens of meters—his heart leapt in awe.
“Fan, feeling restless after such tranquility?”
A young man in white leapt across more than twenty meters in an instant, landing lightly in front of him and speaking softly.
“Third Brother, my heart yearns for the immortal path, but my aptitude is too poor. Helpless, I came to watch your feats, to comfort my frustrated soul.”
Jiang Fan naturally fell into the role, gesturing to the youths training in the field, shrugging.
This Third Brother, his cousin Jiang Shan, had a good relationship with him.
“You’ve always been clever, unforgettable in memory. Who could have foreseen that one calamity would ruin your foundation… Perhaps, it’s heaven’s envy of talent. Fan, don’t fret too much. Who knows, maybe one day fate will grant you an immortal opportunity, and you’ll soar in a single leap!” Jiang Shan said, taking out a small porcelain bottle from his chest and handing it over. “This is a Marrow Cleansing Pill I recently obtained. It’s useless to me, but if you take it, perhaps your constitution will improve, and your strength increase!”
“Thank you, Third Brother!” Jiang Fan gratefully accepted. He knew well the value of a Marrow Cleansing Pill—it was worth a fortune. Thanks to a good father, he had taken two before; otherwise, he’d still be a sickly weakling.
“No need for thanks between brothers!”
After chatting briefly, Jiang Shan was called away for a duel.
Jiang Fan, feeling bored, wandered leisurely to the pond.
A gentle breeze stirred the lotus leaves.
It was only early April, so the lotus flowers had yet to bloom. When they did, the whole garden would be filled with fragrance.
As he walked, he heard familiar voices not far off.
“Listen carefully, now!”
“Our Jiang family, in ancient times, was renowned. Even the likes of Supreme Sword Sect, Primordial Sect, and Heavenly Monster Mountain had yet to make a name for themselves.”
“Mentioning the Jiang family, all gods and buddhas showed respect!”
“Legend has it our ancestor was King of Gods, Lord of Immortals. I recall, his name was… what was it? Ah, Jiang Tai Gong Jiang Ziya!”
“When Jiang Tai Gong appeared, all gods retreated!”
“Such glorious days, but alas, the descendants have failed!”
“Now our Jiang family can only huddle in this tiny county city!”
An elderly man with white hair and beard sat on a recliner, surrounded by children, recounting tales and myths, sighing with emotion.
“Jiang Ziya?” Jiang Fan approached, raising a brow in inquiry. “Third Grandfather, I’ve never heard of him. Besides, Supreme Sword Sect has at least ten thousand years of history, right?”
“Fan!” Third Grandfather looked over, blowing his beard. “What do you know? Our Jiang family’s ancestor is Jiang Ziya, a figure who suppressed the heavens and ruled the cosmos. At least a hundred thousand or a million years ago! I only know a few fragments, and you, little fellow, even less!”
“Who can match your wisdom!” Jiang Fan squatted down. “Third Grandfather, if our family has such illustrious roots, did we inherit any treasures?”
“After countless generations, what treasures could remain!” Third Grandfather said, then noticed the Profound Dao manual in Jiang Fan’s hand, his eyes lighting up. “Speaking of treasures, there is indeed one!”
“You aren’t referring to this, are you?”
“Indeed! Though few in our Jiang family cultivate the Thirty-Six Profound Dao Diagrams, this is a true inheritance. Unfortunately, cultivation is too arduous. The first six diagrams for foundation building are manageable, but the middle twelve are exceedingly difficult—often taking twenty or thirty years, and still not guaranteed. Even if successful, one only gains muscle and bone of steel, no longevity, no sword energy unleashed—it falls far short of Qi refining. Over time, it’s been largely abandoned. Yet, our family has a legend: the Profound Dao manual hides a world-shaking secret. No one has discovered it, but the manual persists through the ages!”
“Perhaps just rumor. Has no one tried to complete all thirty-six diagrams?”
“Of course they have! The later diagrams require ever greater talent. Our family once had a rare genius, destined for the Dao, perhaps even greater heights. Yet, proud and ambitious, he sought the secret within the Profound Dao manual, ignoring all opposition. At eighteen, he completed the first six and middle twelve diagrams; by twenty-five, all thirty-six. Apart from attaining formidable defense and strength, able to contend with Dao-level adversaries, he found no further revelation. The path ahead was blank; all he could do was sigh. By then, it was too late to switch to Qi refining!”
“I’ve heard that after foundation building, if one cultivates the Thirty-Six Profound Dao Diagrams, they cannot refine Qi. The Qi refining path relies on absorbing spiritual energy and transforming it into true Qi, but the Profound Dao diagrams are too domineering—they seize the energy directly, and even if true Qi is formed, it is seized and broken down. It’s a dead end for Qi refining.”
“Exactly! Fan, guess what became of him?”
“Don’t keep me in suspense, please tell!”
“Haha, very well!” Third Grandfather laughed twice, then sighed. “Pity, sorrow, and respect! He tried everything, but could not switch paths, so he resigned himself and fought for the family. Mastering the Profound Dao manual only meant attaining innate perfection, yet he single-handedly slew five Dao-level demons, a feat that earned our Jiang family its reputation as the county’s foremost clan. Otherwise, we would not be so prosperous today. Alas, after a hundred years, he too became dust. The Dao-level can live two hundred years!”
“Truly a tale of sorrow and respect!” Jiang Fan’s heart stirred, raising the manual. “This Profound Dao book—how is it so well preserved?”
“Simple—it’s a copy! An ancestor seeking its secret burned the original, found nothing, but thankfully had copied it. Over the years, who knows how many times it’s been reproduced. Our clan alone has dozens, and the first eighteen diagrams have spread widely—who knows how many have been misled!”
Jiang Fan was speechless at this.
He excused himself and left, but Third Grandfather called after him: “Fan, I know you strive, but one must accept fate. If you’re not destined, effort only brings sorrow. Let me share a shortcut—unique to you! While you’re young, marry hundreds, father thousands of sons. If just one succeeds, he’ll gift you an immortal pill, and you’ll live hundreds of years with ease—maybe even ascend! Too bad I realized this too late, my old back won’t allow it. Fan, remember, everything else can fail, but your back must not fail!”
“Grandfather, you truly see life’s truths!” Jiang Fan laughed, waving as he walked away.
He wandered the estate for a while, and the day passed.
His parents managed the clan’s industries, only returning occasionally at night. He had a younger sister who left long ago to study under a master. Usually, only he and two maidservants remained at home, tending to his bed, washing clothes, preparing meals, and managing household affairs.
“This Jiang family seems quite nice!”
Lying on his bed, Jiang Fan prepared to sleep. Closing his eyes, his mind sank, but then he sensed a small space deep within his mind, glowing with light, filling him with wonder.
His heart stirred, eager to investigate, and in the next moment, his entire consciousness was drawn inside.