The Great Way to Truth, Starting from Jiazi Laodao

Chapter 266 Journey to the Future, Finally Enlightened by the Great Yi

Hidden Peak, Seeking the Way Academy.

Xuanming slept for ten days and ten nights.

When the tenth life ended, he should have woken up, but his body only trembled twice and then fell silent.

As the effects of the alcohol wore off, Xuanming, half-asleep and half-awake, saw a butterfly, dreamlike and ethereal, fluttering gracefully in the entryway.

From the *Huangting Neijing Yujing*.

It is composed of thirty-six streams of chaotic energy.

The butterflies fluttered around the primordial spirit, and with each rotation, a portion of the ten-thousand-foot-long primordial spirit shrank.

After nine cycles of forward and backward motion, the three-inch primordial spirit rode a nine-inch butterfly, which fluttered its six-inch wings and flew out of the Heavenly Gate on the top of the head.

Crash~!
The sound of splashing water.

In a hazy state, Xuanming arrived at a large river.

Its source is unknown, its end unseen; each wave represents a period of time, holding countless stories within.

Every living being sees something different.

"Time...the river of time!"

Xuanming was surprised.

I never imagined I would return to this place.

The butterfly fluttered, carrying him downwards, and he was about to cross the point between the present and the future.

Xuanming felt nervous and uneasy, wondering if this mysterious butterfly could take him across timelines.

But he didn't stop him; he wanted to give it a try.

However, to prevent any unforeseen circumstances, he was prepared to summon the time boat transformed from the "Huangting Zhongjing Yujing" at any time.

Butterflies flutter along the river of time.

When the time came, a giant wave struck, and a fierce wind howled, threatening to pulverize the butterfly.

The wind was high and the waves were rough. Butterflies fluttered their wings, creating a dreamlike scene. Chaotic energy swirled around, forming layers of barriers that even made Xuanming ethereal, as if he didn't exist at all.

The spray missed its target, falling back into the long river of the future.

A butterfly carried Xuanming as he fluttered about, his head bowed and eyes lowered, as he gazed into the future.

Unlike the transparent river of the past, symbolizing the established, like a mirror's reflection; and unlike the clear river of today, representing progress, being formed; the river of the future will be turbid, churning endlessly, symbolizing countless possibilities, good and bad, benevolent and malevolent...

The river water was gray and its waves were ever-changing. Every drop of water had countless directions, making it difficult to predict and see clearly.

Xuanming saw countless versions of himself.

Still being sacrificed, breaking free from fate, drifting along, achieving immortality, falling into mortal life, living peacefully and joyfully, cynical and resentful...

The butterfly continued downwards, seemingly without end.

Xuanming became increasingly fascinated as he looked at it, his mind churning with thoughts, his primordial spirit gradually revealing profound mysteries, and he slowly came to understand.

"The past cannot be chased, and the future is unknowable; we should focus on the present. Changing the present can alter the past, and changes in the present can determine the future. The present is both the past and the future."

The past has been continuously extended.

It's ongoing now.

The future keeps moving forward.

Just like traveling by carriage on an endless road, the direction the carriage takes determines the straightness and steepness of the road in the past, and also determines what kind of scenery you will see in the future.

Therefore, there is no need to try to change the past or try to see the future. Grasping the present is change itself, and breakthrough itself.

---

One thought leads to understanding, and a hundred thoughts lead to understanding.

Xuanming rode the butterfly and turned back.

Pass through the nodes, and return to the present.

He rode a butterfly and flew into the river.

Untouched by time, undiminished by years, the spirit returns to its origin the instant it enters the water.

The heavenly gate closed, and the butterflies vanished.

Inside the thatched hut, Xuanming awoke and laughed loudly: "My path has been achieved!"

His eyes held the passage of time and the ebb and flow of chaos, an extraordinary mystery. When the strange phenomenon disappeared, Xuanming fell silent, and thinking of his experience in seclusion, he stroked his beard slightly.

During his five-year seclusion, he mastered all the Heavenly and Earthly Divine Powers he had not yet cultivated, until he had fully integrated them. He then continuously attempted to integrate them.

Trials and trials, failures and failures.

Despite repeated defeats, Xuanming persevered and finally, this winter, the trapped dragon ascended to heaven, and the clouds dispersed.

The fusion of the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Divine Powers was successful.

After drinking the millet wine and further washing away his worldly desires, he traveled through the river of time again through Zhuangzi's dream of the butterfly.

Break down barriers and see the future.

Not only did he have the opportunity to peruse the "Huangting Neijing Yujing," but he also successfully entered the Taiyi Gate, reaching the fifth stage of Hunyuan. His past, present, and future were on the verge of merging into one. Once his physical body reached the level of a half-step Great Power, he could leap across that abyss and become a Great Power.

Upon realizing this, Xuanming was overjoyed.

After his emotions calmed down a bit, he continued to sit cross-legged, retreating to digest and consolidate what he had learned.

As the year draws to a close and frost lessens, spring arrives and the plants and trees know it. In late winter and early spring, the ice and snow melt away on the floating clouds and mountains, and lush greenery flourishes.

The Temple of Truth Seeking has become lively again.

One by one, the true masters who had traveled far and wide returned.

Some achieved breakthroughs in cultivation, some underwent a spiritual transformation, some reaped meager gains, and some returned injured.

Everyone's experiences are different.

Whoever returns to the Taoist temple immediately looks up at Zangdao Peak, either smiling or bowing.

When the last true person returned to Qiuzhen Temple, it was already March, a time of bright and beautiful spring sunshine.

With a creak, the door opened, and Xuanming, with white hair and a gray robe, stepped out, holding a whisk and with a kind and benevolent expression.

He stepped out of the courtyard and walked through the mountains and forests.

After enjoying the beautiful scenery and feeling the vitality, Xuanming returned to the courtyard via telepathy.

---

Not long after, they went to the Daoist Academy.

The aroma of tea wafts through the air, rising like a mist.

When Xuanxu and the others arrived, even Xuansu returned from the Taiping Sect's small world, and the three generations of Taoists gathered together.

After enjoying tea and reminiscing for a while, and after three cups of tea, Xuanming put down his teacup and glanced at everyone, asking, "Are you all ready, fellow disciples?"

The seven True Immortals, including Xuanxu, were invigorated. As someone whose seniority was second only to Xuanming, Xuanxu sat up straight and said:

"Don't worry, senior brother. We disciples have been preparing for five years and everything is ready."

Xuanming nodded: "Then we will start refining the treasure tomorrow."

Xuanxu laughed and said, "Excellent!"

Xuan Yang: "I will leave it to my senior brother to decide."

Xuan Kong: "This humble Taoist will follow the arrangements of my fellow disciples."

……

Next, the group shared their experiences, talking about everything under the sun, in a harmonious atmosphere. Xuanming listened with great interest until dusk before reluctantly dispersing.

That day, Xuanming went to bed early.

As the first hint of dawn appeared on the horizon, he woke up, walked out of the courtyard, and came to the outside of the Flying Fire Palace.

The three generations of immortals, including Xuanxu, were already waiting here.

The Taoists nodded and smiled, exchanged greetings, and were led by Xuanming into the depths of the main hall.

Soon after, Li Zizai, Changning, and Chang'anzi arrived. They were there to protect the Dharma. As fellow prodigies of the Qiuzhen Temple, the three Taoists had a good relationship. Li Zizai took out a jar of spiritual wine.

Changning licked her lips slightly.

Chang'anzi's eyes lit up.

The three rising stars of the Truth-Seeking Temple exchanged knowing glances, their conversation revealing the origins of the wine.

As they descended the winding staircase, the Taoists entered the quiet chamber at the deepest part of the Flying Fire Hall. They gathered around the Eight Trigrams Furnace, each finding a futon to sit on. Xuanming sat in the center, and the eight third-generation Taoists arranged themselves in the Eight Trigrams positions.

Xuanming closed his eyes, cleared his mind and focused his spirit.

As the sun peeked out and the sun and moon met, he opened his eyes, lightly waved his whisk, and unleashed a burst of magical power. The Eight Trigrams Furnace was opened, absorbing the yin and yang energies of heaven and earth.

A moment later, Xuanming waved his whisk again, and the Five Elements Laws entered the Eight Trigrams Furnace, with the Fire Law taking the lead, and the Samadhi True Fire burned fiercely.

(End of this chapter)