People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 381, Understanding the I Ching

Xu Qing looked at Chisongzi expectantly. If he could defeat Xiaoyaozi and allow Tianzong to continue to control Xueji, then Tianzong would be the orthodox lineage of Taoism.

At that time, he will lead the Taoist scholars into Qin, and with the help of the snow clearing, he can mobilize the people of the Human Sect.

"At Guanmiao Terrace, the swordplay is merely a facade. What is truly being compared is your and Xiaoyaozi's understanding of the Dao. It is a contest between the Dao of the Heavenly Sect and the Dao of the Human Sect, as well as a clash between the Dao you and Xiaoyaozi have chosen."

As he spoke, Chishongzi rose from the futon and walked to the bookshelf behind him to continue.
"Uncle-Master He Guanzi once said that you are an unparalleled genius in the cultivation world. You mastered the Dao of Noble Emptiness through self-study alone, and at the same time, you have a fairly good understanding of his Dao of Heaven and Man in less than two months."

"He also mastered the techniques of 'Ten Thousand Rivers Autumn Water' and 'Heart Like Still Water,' successfully opening up a new path. Therefore, if you want to defeat Xiaoyaozi, the key is not the sword, but the Dao."

The other eight men stroked their beards and nodded in agreement. Xu Qing's talent for learning Taoism was something they had never seen before. If given another year or two, they believed that Xu Qing would definitely be able to defeat Xiaoyaozi.

However, there's not enough time now, so we have to use other methods to give Xu Qing a quick boost.

Xu Qing listened to Chishongzi's words and roughly understood what he meant. He said thoughtfully...
"So, Senior Brother means that I should go into seclusion to cultivate the Dao during this period, so that I can use my understanding of the Dao to defeat Xiaoyaozi?"

The Taoist Tianzong school believes that the Tao should be selfless, merging with heaven and earth, and that all things should be devoid of emotion, thus being without emotion.

But it is not true ruthlessness; rather, it is viewing all things from a third-party perspective, like the great Dao of Heaven and Earth, impartial and unbiased.

The Humanist school, on the other hand, believes that all beings should be treated equally, experiencing the trials and tribulations of the mundane world to temper one's mind, embracing everything with great love, and thus transcending all beings.

“That’s right. In the letter that my senior master sent to the Heavenly Sect, he said that the Taiji Dao you created not only incorporates his Dao of Heaven and Man and Liezi’s Dao of Valuing Emptiness, but also contains many Daos that even he has never seen before.”

"However, it is precisely because of this that your Tai Chi path is too complicated, and you have been unable to cultivate it to perfection for a long time, so as to enter the realm of the Celestial Master."

"This Xinzhai is where the classic martial arts of our Heavenly Sect are stored, and it also contains the understanding of the Dao and the martial arts experience of the sages of past generations. Starting tomorrow, junior brother, you will stay in Xinzhai for seclusion and read the classics left by the sages."

"By drawing upon the experience of the sages, you can refine your own Tai Chi Dao. If you can complete your Tai Chi Dao, even if you cannot reach the Celestial Master realm, you will be able to fight to a draw or defeat Xiaoyaozi."

Chisongzi placed his hand on the bookshelf, and his balanced and peaceful inner energy instantly covered the entire Xinzhai (a meditation hall), causing scrolls of bamboo slips to fly out from the bookshelf.

A large number of bamboo slips floated in mid-air, like dazzling stars. Under the control of Chisongzi's internal energy, they landed steadily in front of Xu Qing, piling up into a neat little mountain.

"These bamboo slips are all related to Yin and Yang, Taiji, Guixu, and the unity of heaven and man. They also contain the supreme mental cultivation method of the Heavenly Sect, He Guang Tong Chen, and the Zhuangzi Three Swords sword technique," said Chisongzi.

Xu Qing looked at the bamboo slips that were almost half his height and felt a chill run down his spine. Just reading through so many bamboo slips would take at least seventeen days, let alone studying the Dao within them.

Do they really think he's a top-tier cultivation genius? Do they believe he can understand the Daoist principles just by reading it once?

That's giving him way too much credit; he's just a half-baked amateur.

"Senior brother, isn't this too much?" Xu Qing asked cautiously.

Chisongzi did not answer Xu Qing's question. He circulated his inner energy in his left hand again, and an invisible ripple once again enveloped Xinzhai. Then, bamboo slips fell again and piled up on Xu Qing's right side, but there were half as many as before.

"This is the Book of Changes, known as the foremost of all classics. Although it is obscure and difficult to understand, from the time Fuxi obtained the Hetu and Luoshu to King Wen's development of the Zhou Yi, it encompasses everything. If you feel that there are too many classics before, you can try to comprehend the Book of Changes like the sages Liezi and Zhuangzi, and understand your own path."

Chisongzi stroked his beard and said.

"The Book of Changes!?" Xu Qing stared at the bamboo slips, now half missing, lost in thought.

"The Book of Changes has been passed down to this day, but much of it has been lost. The Book of Changes that my Heavenly Sect has preserved is only a part of it. Originally, the Yin-Yang School split off from the Taoism and took a part with it. Later, when the Heaven and Man split off, another part was taken away."

"Over the years, Tianzong has been trying to recompile the complete Book of Changes. Although they have obtained some from royal families of various countries, much is still missing."

Wu Guanzi spoke up.

Xu Qing looked at the two small mountains of bamboo slips in front of him, pondered for a moment, and then decided to choose the Daoist scriptures.

The Tai Chi he cultivates was something that the sages of the Taoist Tianzong sect had never even touched upon, and his own understanding of Tai Chi was only superficial. If he really wanted to forge his own path, the best way would be to study the I Ching, which is hailed as the foremost of all Taoist classics.

"Senior brother, I've decided to study the I Ching first," Xu Qing said solemnly.

Although the Book of Changes is incomplete, it is still the first of all classics. Most importantly, it is related to Fuxi and King Wen of Zhou. The Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon mentioned by Han Fei are also related to these two. Even if the Taiji Dao cannot be completed, we may still find some clues about the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon.

Seeing that Xu Qing had chosen the more difficult I Ching, Chisongzi and the others were silent for a moment, and then sighed softly.

“Since you have made your choice, Junior Brother, I will not object. From now on, you are free to enter and leave the Heart Pavilion and freely browse the classics within. If there is anything you do not understand, you can also come and ask us,” said Chisongzi.

“I understand, Senior Brother,” Xu Qing nodded and said.

Chisongzi took out the key to the Heart-Mind Chamber from his robes, tossed it to Xu Qing, and entrusted it to him.
"If you find the I Ching difficult to understand, do not force yourself to practice it, lest you suffer a backlash."

"Thank you for your instructions, Senior Brother. I understand," Xu Qing nodded and said.

Seeing this, the others didn't know what to say and could only pray in their hearts that Xu Qing could successfully comprehend the Book of Changes and thus complete his own Tai Chi Dao.

After giving Xu Qing a few more words of advice, the group led him away from Xinzhai.

After saying goodbye to everyone, Xu Qing followed Qing Xiaozi toward his residence. Halfway there, Xu Qing stopped.

"Junior brother, is there something you need?" Qing Xiaozi asked, puzzled.

"Senior brother, I'd like to ask where Miss Hu has been assigned?"

Xu Qing looked at Qing Xiaozi, feeling somewhat embarrassed. It wasn't appropriate for him to go see Hu Meiren right now, but since he was here, he had to go see her; he wasn't the kind of person who would turn away without a second thought.

"She is in the town of Dongyuan at the foot of the mountain. Here is a map and identification token of Mount Taiyi."

Qing Xiaozi smiled helplessly, handed over the prepared map and token to Xu Qing, and then turned and left.

"Thank you, senior brother."

After thanking him, Xu Qing opened the map and followed the route to find Hu Meiren.

(End of this chapter)