Taoist Mingxin has made a great name for himself in the world during these thirty-four years.

He has long since attained the realm of a true immortal, and his methods are extraordinary. Some people have said that his Taoism is actually enough to overcome tribulations and ascend to immortality, but for some reason he has not taken the last few steps. In fact, his methods and supernatural powers are no longer within the scope of the realm of a true immortal.

Over the years, there have been three to five letters received almost every year.

Qi Wuhuo unfolded the letter and looked at it. At the beginning, as usual, he asked about the Taoist's health, talked about his many insights into the Tao during the journey, and finally talked about how he met this disciple.

"In the original Song State, the disciple walked into a mountain. As the world was still unsettled, there were also bandits in the mountains. A Zhuang was originally a resident of a village at the foot of the mountain, but was later robbed and taken to the mountain. The disciple went to look for him. Originally, he thought he would suffer, but he never thought that he could make those bandits confused with his eloquence."

"This little guy said he wanted to teach the bandits how to become bandits who understand Tao."

"Say, even a thief has his own morals."

"It is called [Thieves also have their own code of conduct]."

"Those thieves and bandit leaders were originally just strong men and defeated soldiers. They relied on their strength to rob people and their property. Not to mention the common people, even they themselves looked down on them. This little guy praised them so much and pointed out that even thieves have their own code of conduct. These thieves all regarded him as their confidant."

"And I subconsciously followed the path of the thief saint pointed out by this little guy."

"By the time my disciples went to find him, this little guy had already become the second-in-command of the bandits."

"It really made me feel both amused and sad. Later, I caught all those thieves and sent them to the government for trial. However, this little guy was able to escape for various reasons. He was idle and carefree, and he lived a carefree life, but he also had a certain demeanor. He is a talent of our Taoist sect."

"There was no one at home, so I used some tricks to make him dumbfounded and envious."

"I will bring him to you."

"With all my heart"

An idle young man?

The black-robed Taoist priest, whose temples were now gray and whose eyes had wrinkles, put down the letter and folded it in half on the table, forming a flying bird. He opened his palm and let the bird flap its wings and fly around the big tree outside the storage room.

Qi Wuhuo looked at the world outside. The warm winter sun fell on him, making him feel a little warm.

Both Queen Wa and Emperor Xi are present.

The old blue ox was basking in the sun while the Taoist priest Randeng was sweeping the floor.

unconsciously.

Qi Wuhuo is already the oldest-looking person among the book keepers.

The Dragon Girl had gradually become familiar with the place. She sat on the raised eaves of the collection room, holding her chin with one hand, looking at the old man with gray hair below. She couldn't help but sigh and said, "Taoist, Taoist, how come you have become so old?"

"Taoist, Taoist, how come your Taoism has become lower and lower over the years?"

Seventeen years have passed.

The Taoist Qi Wuhuo, who was dressed in a black robe and had his hair tied up with a jade crown, shook his head helplessly and just nodded gently to the dragon girl who was sitting on the eaves. Then he paced in the sunshine and walked towards the direction of Jimen. People on the road who met him would take the initiative to salute and greet him, with expressions of great respect and reverence. Even before he got close to Jimen, he could already hear the sound of people talking about Taoism.

Watching from afar, waves of humanity and cultural energy rose into the sky.

How prosperous!

When these young people saw the Taoist coming, they all showed respect on their faces.

They all stopped talking and telling stories, stood up and saluted, calling him "Master."

"You are here."

The Taoist priest in black robe with gray hair nodded with a gentle expression, saying, "Just continue talking, don't worry about me."

"yes."

The rest of the people responded and continued to sit down and talk. However, with this old master here, how could they be as relaxed and casual as before? Each of them looked a little serious, with their backs straight. When they talked about their understanding of Tao, their tone became much more serious than before.

The Taoist smiled helplessly.

These people——

Some of them had heard him preach in those days, and some were young people who had grown up in recent years.

Ximen Da Chong was already a 34-year-old man. After paying his respects to Qi Wuhuo, he waited until the white-haired old man sat down before he sat down himself. He did not sit in the same position as before, but instead turned sideways to face the Taoist with a humble look on his face.

He has gotten rid of the youthful impetuosity of his youth.

He is tall, with calm and sharp brows. He has his own understanding when talking about Tao and Fa. The way of cultivation needs to be achieved step by step. Ximen Da Chong naturally understood it several years ago. With the flow of Tao, he has reached a level of cultivation comparable to that of a Taoist temple master.

It is roughly the level of [Innate Qi].

This seems normal.

However, most people who practice seriously like Ximen Dachong have already reached this state.

Thirty or forty years ago, the innate Qi was enough to open a Taoist temple in a state and recruit disciples. Although it is not so common today, it is certainly not as rare as it was back then. In a state, everyone has Qi in their body, and those who can make this Qi flow and form a system are one in a hundred.

The innate qi requires serious practice to achieve a state that is one in a thousand.

However, in one state, there are actually thousands of people who have reached the level of [Masters of Taoist Temples] and [Abbots of Buddhist Temples]. The number of such people in the whole world is even more countless. In the Taoist sect, there are already real masters who can occupy a peak. Compared with the past, their number is also emerging like a blowout.

Compared with decades ago, this is an almost dreamlike change.

Thinking about it now, the catastrophe in Zhongzhou that the Taoist experienced in the past is happening again in this era.

I'm afraid we no longer need the assistance of the gods of the earth, and even the great array of luck in the human world does not need to be completely opened. There are masters at the level of temple masters everywhere, and there are several in one block. A city may have dozens of blocks at a small scale or more than a hundred blocks at a large scale. These pure temple masters can still be compatible with the luck of humanity.

This is already an extremely strong force.

The normal heavenly soldiers in heaven are at this level.

However, over the years, people have gradually discovered how difficult it is to practice. It is already extremely difficult to climb to the level of true person from the innate Qi level, and there are still no talented people who can reach the immortal realm by relying on Taoist scriptures. It is as if there is an invisible and intangible, but real barrier.

The wind blew through the world. The Taoist's hair turned gray as he gazed at the nine stone tablets calmly.

There are already a lot of words on the nine stone tablets, some are shallow, some are sharp, just a few words, not a chapter. When viewed simply, they lack momentum, but if you connect them as a whole, they are already quite magnificent.

But, it’s not enough—

It’s not enough.

The Royal Tree in front of me has grown a lot, but its branches have not yet spread out.

In the end, it can only be called a sapling. The branches have not yet extended and spread out in all directions. There are no green leaves like shade, which are not enough to provide shelter underneath, and are not enough to keep out the wind and rain.

Silently, the destiny of humanity seemed to have encountered a huge impact. A stream of energy rushed over like a wave cutting through the crowd. The Taoist did not look back, but naturally tilted his neck, then raised his hand, and with his five fingers slightly cupped, he grabbed the teacup that was tearing through his destiny.

The white hair on the temples rises and falls.

The tea in the teacup circulated once, and not a single drop flowed out.

"I really don't know whether your realm is improving or decreasing."

The voice came from behind.

The scholar in green robes leaned lazily against a big tree.

Looking at Qi Wuhuo who was sitting cross-legged in front of him - this Taoist seemed to have made a breakthrough in his realm before, but now his aura was weaker than more than ten years ago. Fuxi raised his eyebrows, walked beside Qi Wuhuo, sat cross-legged, looked at the stone tablet in front of him, and said: "It has been more than ten years, and you haven't forged these [swords] yet."

The Taoist replied in a slow and powerful voice, "Soon."

The scholar in green robes said, "I must remind you once more. You have already made a move and intercepted Yu's hidden card. Now the Southern Emperor of Immortality has tacitly acknowledged that you have such means. Next time he encounters an opportunity to deal with you, he will definitely not let it go and will use the Yujing move in a swift and decisive manner."

“After the human world is unified and its luck flourishes, the unstable luck fluctuations that are like a catastrophe will stop. When that time comes, it means that even if the South Pole or the North Pole fights me, it will be difficult to detonate this luck and swallow up the human world. In other words, when the luck of the human world is prosperous and stable, it is the time for the human world and the heaven to come into contact again.”

"That's when the Antarctic Immortal Society will come looking for you and take action."

"You are now at the level of an Earthly Immortal, and your strength is that of a True Lord, but your condition is still declining."

"Yuqing Qi stays in the human world. How can you resist Nanji Changsheng?"

"Now that Li Zhai has conquered cities and territories, only one city of the last country is left to resist. When he succeeds, it means that you are one step closer to life and death. Of course, if you wish to stay in the human world forever and never leave, that's up to you."

Qi Wuhuo did not answer. He looked at the nine stone tablets in front of him.

The scholar in green robes looked at the people discussing the Dao and said calmly, "It's still a little short of the right timing. Although they have understood something now, it's still not enough. They still lack a little bit before they can transform. The pressure from outside is forcing them to transform."

Qi Wuhuo did not answer.

He looked within himself and found that among the five Qi, the human Qi was almost perfect, and the ghost Qi and the earth Qi were also approaching this realm. It was only a little bit away from the final perfection.

Ten days later, Mingxin brought back the young man, who he described as lazy but free and easy, almost like a Taoist. They went to the storage room and met the Taoist. The young man, whose surname was Zhuang, wore a grey robe, like an iron tower, with messy hair, which he did not like to tie up. Miraculously, he did not look disgustingly sloppy, but instead gave people a sense of freedom.

Perhaps, the reason for this is because of the young man's bright and clear eyes with extraordinary spirituality.

Now Mingxin, who looked like a young man, stretched out his hand, patted the young man on the head, and said:

"Call me Master Uncle."

Great uncle master?

The young man looked up and down at the Patriarch. He was wearing a black scholar's robe, with a peaceful expression. His temples were white, and there were wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. He was wearing a jade crown to hold his hair. There was a lot of silver in his hair. His expression was gentle and dignified. His eyes rolled around, and he cupped his hands and said in a casual manner:

"Zhuang Ergou from Song, I have met this great uncle!"

People of ordinary origin often take humble names in order to have a good living.

The now famous Mingxin, Xi Zhenren raised his hand and slapped the cunning boy on the back of his head, then rested his whisk on his arm, bowed deeply to the Taoist with white hair, and said: "Uncle Master, this child has a natural wisdom and has fully grasped the Taoist's free and easy spirit. I think it will be difficult for me to teach him."

"I also ask Uncle Master to accept him as your apprentice and teach him."

The Taoist looked at the young man in front of him, saw a little cunning in his eyes, smiled and said: "This child should not be taught by me, you take him with you, travel around the world, he will naturally understand."

Ming Xin paused and said, "At least, ask Uncle Master to give him a name."

"……good."

The Taoist priest with white hair waved to the young man to come over, saying that he wanted to tell fortunes. When entering, the cunning young man naturally did not follow the rules. He looked around and suddenly paused, saying, "What is this?"

He shifted his gaze from the gray-haired man in front of him and looked to the side.

Folded there was a stack of dark blue Taoist robes, a wooden hairpin, and a sword hanging next to it.

This was undoubtedly the attire of a Taoist practitioner. The young man asked in confusion, "What is this..."

The black-robed master in front turned around and said, "That one, that one is mine."

"Yours?"

The young man looked at the gentle and solemn man in front of him, dressed in a black robe, with a gentle aura, and seemed to bear an endless weight on his shoulders. He then looked at the Taoist robe and sword beside him, which had a free and easy air. The black-robed master looked at the blue Taoist robe and the sword and said, "I haven't worn this robe or picked up this sword for more than 30 years."

The boy said, “Really?”

"So when will you put on your robes and carry your sword again?"

The black-robed master laughed and said, "Haha, I don't know either."

"Maybe, it will be in the distant future."

"If I raise the sword, perhaps I can shake the six realms of heaven and earth."

The young man rolled his eyes and said, "Bullshit!"

The black-robed master paid no attention to the young man's willful behavior. He just let him shake a hexagram and then interpreted it. When the hexagram was being interpreted, the young man was sitting in front, but he still seemed a little unsteady. Sometimes he looked at the scenery outside, sometimes he was in a daze, and sometimes he was distracted. If Mingxin had not been standing next to him, he would have lay back and fainted.

Mingxin stood dignifiedly, seeming to be more serious and concerned than the young man, and said:

"Uncle Master, what's going on?"

The black-robed master looked at the cunning young man in front of him gently, and gently explained his life's destiny:

"Take all things and benefit the world with your teachings, so you don't go beyond them; walk sideways but don't drift away, be content with what you have and know your destiny, so you have no worries."

"When the name is [Zhou]"

Zhuang Ergou bowed lazily, thinking in his heart.

Are you a person who is content with your fate and has no worries?

He liked this fortune-telling very much, so he said it more seriously: "Disciple Zhuang Zhou."

"Thank you, Uncle Master!"

Mingxin stayed in the capital for a long time, so the young Zhuang Zhou also strolled in the city, often going to the nine stone tablets. He saw that the great-grandmaster was often there. He couldn't help but be curious and asked, "Great-grandmaster, when will these stone tablets be filled?"

"Soon."

"How fast?"

"In a moment."

And during this period of time, a horse came galloping from a very far distance.

A reply from the mighty King Li Zhai:

The last city in the human world has been conquered!

When this news arrived here, Zhuang Zhou suddenly felt something. He turned around and looked at his white-haired great-grandmaster uncle, as if he felt something slightly different, but he couldn't seem to say anything. He just felt that the great-grandmaster uncle in front of him suddenly became more well-rounded.

Qi Wuhuo lowered his eyes slightly and looked inward.

After seventeen years, all five Qi in his body were finally complete.

They have all reached the supreme realm.

The fortune of the world was flowing rapidly, and immediately the second thing appeared before him.

Cast the last of the Nine Cauldrons.

The weight and symbolic significance of this last of the Nine Cauldrons are so heavy that even though it has not yet been started or completed, it has already pushed the destiny of the world to a higher level. In front of the nine stone tablets, the people who were discussing cultivation and Taoism became more and more enthusiastic.

The Yuqing tree is swaying and full of vitality.

Before the Nine Cauldrons, the cultural context had already reached its peak. Now it only lacks an opportunity. It will explode with just a touch of external force, and all the prosperity and heritage that have been nurtured within for seventeen years will burst out and turn into boundless brilliance. This is what is called learning from other people's mountains to polish jade.

And what if this stone from another mountain is itself the most beautiful jade in the world?

The Master with gray hair on his temples was in front, and the young Zhuang Zhou was walking lazily behind. The luck of humanity was flowing, and the Master stopped. Zhuang Zhou was curious and looked in the direction of his sight. He saw the people at the city gate dispersing, with cheers and admiring eyes——

Having traveled through many countries, his name has spread all over the world.

The thirty-four-year-old Qiu, along with his disciples, appeared before the Master again.

…

Consider the origin as the essence and things as the coarseness. Consider accumulation as insufficiency. Live alone and calmly with the gods.

The master is Taiyi, who takes emptiness as reality without destroying all things.

——————Zhuangzi·The World