Chapter 6

After parting with Ancestor Dragon, Primordial Phoenix, and the others, Qi has only received a single message from them.

- Entities: Ancestor Dragon, Primordial Phoenix, Qi

As for Old Ancestor Hongjun, there is no contact at all; due to the difference in strength, he cannot find their divine sense to initiate contact.

- Entities: Old Ancestor Hongjun

Although I thought we wouldn't meet again for a long time, I never expected that a surprise awaits him on the road ahead.

- No new named entities.

After another four hundred years, Qi reached a tributary of the Yellow River among the Four Rivers and Eight Streams, at the bank of the Luo River within the Eight Streams.

Its waters were vast and boundless, the willows along the banks cast shade, the fragrant grass was fresh and beautiful—a rare sight.

Qi played a tune by the riverside, and it actually drew wandering fish to gather and swim along the shore.

Feeling inspired, Qi sat by the bank, dipped both feet in the water, sensed the ripples from fish darting past, and suddenly heard a voice.

"Little friend, you have great enthusiasm."

Turning back, Qi saw it was Patriarch Hongjun, hurried to rise and pay respects, but was stopped by a wave of his hand.

Only seeing the patriarch seated cross-legged to one side, he again said: "Our meeting today counts as a bond between us; no need for excessive ceremony."

"I originally intended to expound the essentials of immortal cultivation here; you enjoy yourself, do not disturb my interest."

"Although it may be of no use to you, if you are interested you may listen on the side; if you have questions, you may ask after I finish the discourse."

Seeing the talk reach this point, Qi could only sit quietly aside, cease speaking and paying respects, and listen attentively; he was still quite interested in the so‑called immortal Way.

Seeing this, Hongjun smiled satisfied, no longer looked at Qi, and calmly prepared to lecture.

Only seen, rosy clouds rose on the horizon, and in the Luo River several golden lotuses emerged; Hongjun opened his mouth and said:

"Those who cultivate the Way nurture the elixir and breathe qi; those who refine the golden elixir must have a source, hence there is an origin."

"With an origin comes creation, hence there is heaven and earth; using heaven and earth to simmer, hence there is the cauldron; the cauldron holds medicinal substances, hence there is lead and mercury."

"Lead and mercury are clearly divided into two, hence there is union; union becomes the yellow sprouts…"

"Those who breathe qi ingest the six qi and drink the dark mist, rinse the true yang and swallow the morning glow; preserve the clarity of the spirits, let pure qi enter and impurities depart; the body is the master of the spirit, qi is the life of the spirit. Thus the body and spirit rely on qi to exist. Therefore harmonize the four limbs, wander through the six organs…"

Qi listened a while and began to feel bored; this content was useless to him, merely the path for those without cultivation to enter cultivation.

He was born of heaven and earth, nurtured by heaven and earth; his innate starting point already far exceeds the ultimate cultivation level of most living beings.

When the Dao fruition is perfected, one need only familiarize oneself with oneself; if no war or calamity befalls, one naturally shares the same lifespan as heaven.

Since birth, his internal qi has been complete, the golden cauldron and yellow sprouts increase day by day.

If he cultivated by the breath‑qi method, having exhausted the heavenly‑earthly essence of the Yunmeng Marsh, further progress would be difficult.

Yet he did not leave; having listened, he listens fully, and should he meet a karmic person in the future, he can guide them onto the Dao, seeking longevity.

This lecture lasted three years, progressing from shallow to deep; the number of living beings gathering around grew ever more, and the golden lotuses bloomed ever more.

The flying and walking creatures that came listened quietly; if they could not continue, they withdrew silently, with no clamor, leaving only the sound of the lecture.

Within three years, the animals were replaced batch after batch; some gained spiritual wisdom, some gained nothing.

When the lecture ended, the animals dispersed; those who had awakened spiritual wisdom performed a salute, then withdrew on their own.

Seeing the animals all gone, Qi took the initiative to speak, sighing:

"The principles the senior expounded are aimed precisely at these myriad beings; this requires great perseverance, a great merit indeed!"

Hongjun replied: "The Great Dao is fifty, the Heavenly Derivation forty‑nine; the primordial gods, divine spirits, sacred treasures, and spiritual roots already occupy more than half; each spiritual beast race also has innate advantages, but we ought to give these myriad beings a chance."

"How vast the world is; these beings are the main body; they ought to have a way to reach the Great Dao."

Hearing this, Qi bowed in reverence, performed a ceremonial bow.

Hongjun smiled and said:

"You are also a person of keen insight; having just embarked on the path, you already have awareness of your own road."

"Moreover, your blessings are deep, your spiritual treasures share a common origin; what you seek can be obtained on Mount Buzhou, so I need say no more."

Qi asked:

"Patriarch, do you know what I desire in my heart?"

"I do not know, but I understand your mindset; I too am a person born of heaven and earth, blessed with deep fortune."

"Just after birth I had a great treasure born with me, and I witnessed the Five Primordial Enter the Wasteland, gaining benefit."

"Seeing the transformation of heaven and earth, I initially possessed some means and began to wander the world; later I came to know the Heavenly Emperor Cangli of Mount Buzhou."

"He possesses great wisdom; I was fortunate to follow at his side and learn."

Seeing Qi listening attentively, Hongjun again said:

"The Emperor said, we primordial gods emerged from the Great Dao, receiving the blessings of the great god Pangu."

"Born with Dao fruition perfected, we are immortal golden immortals; we need only accumulate magical power, refine divine abilities, comprehend the Great Dao, and eventually have the opportunity to prove the Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal."

"Yet the Dao path is too broad and too long; even if one's golden nature is complete and unblemished, there will come a day when one feels weary and wishes to relax."

"Therefore, on the foundation of the golden immortal, the Emperor transformed the Three Flowers and Five Qi, established the Taiyi Dao realm, and also expounded the Great Luo Heaven."

"Above Taiyi he again obtained the Great Luo Dao fruit, strengthening the root, drawing nearer to Mixed Yuan, shortening the distance to prove the Mixed Yuan Dao."

"He also said, having received the great grace of heaven and earth, one must naturally stabilize heaven and earth, maintain the flow of all things, regulate the environment, and dare not be negligent."

"As time passes, the gods find it hard to maintain; the Heavenly Sovereign again opened the Return to the Abyss, enabling the gods of that era to fall asleep, their power returning to heaven and earth, to be reborn as the present gods."

"He once said, the primordial heaven and earth once included emptiness and Chaos; thus the Great Dao entered the primordial world."

"But now the primordial heaven and earth, with the passing of the great god Pangu, gradually contracts; the Great Dao will ultimately return to emptiness."

"Yet when emptiness disappears, it ought to return to Chaos."

"Chaos is boundless and ever‑expanding; the primordial heaven and earth continually contracts."

"When Chaos exceeds the primordial heaven and earth, that is the moment the Great Dao returns to Chaos, and also the time this world can bear the Mixed Yuan Dao fruit."

"When that time comes, the Heavenly Dao will appear; the primordial world can no longer bear my Dao fruit, the existence of the Great Dao has already made the burden of the primordial world heavy."

"Thus the gods find it hard to endure time, for the way ahead is cut off; I too shall enter the Return to the Abyss to increase the foundation of the primordial world."

"Later, the Heavenly Sovereign bestowed his spiritual treasure upon me, hoping I would undertake the responsibility of guiding all beings."

Having said this, Hongjun's face displayed many complex emotions.

Could it be that the Heavenly Emperor has no successor?

Qi asked.

"At that time, the Three Sovereigns of the Divine Dao, the successors of the Heavenly Emperor—the Earthly Emperor and the Supreme Emperor of the Nine-Headed Clan—had already first entered the Return to the Void."

"I see!" Qi indicated understanding.

"How then does one achieve the Great One and the Great Net, since they are both Golden Immortal Dao fruits, what is the difference?" Qi asked again.

"The Great One is the primordial and initial; seeking within the Dao Fruit, it naturally disperses; although it is not close to the Dao, the three flowers blossom at the top, and the five qi in the chest become one."

"The five qi circulate; although fundamentally there is no change, in power there is great progress."

"The Great Net encompasses all phenomena and gives birth to all things."

"Relying on the Dao Fruit to seek outward, opening up a small world, depending on the Primordial Chaos, the Dao Fruit hangs onto the Primordial Chaos Realm."

"Thus one can draw closer to the Dao, compare with heaven and earth, and in combat drills utilize the power of the small world and the Primordial Chaos."

"Although still a Golden Immortal, it is completely different."

Having said this, Hongjun no longer spoke; the way had already been pointed out, and the rest is up to Qi himself.

Perhaps there is more detailed knowledge, but this is not the time to speak of it.

The Dharma must not be lightly transmitted; today's lecture pointing the way has already exceeded Hongjun's original intention, and so it ends here—any more would be excessive...

(End of Chapter)