Primordial Era: From the Creation Lotus to the First Disciple of the Three Pure Ones

Chapter 118 The Oath of Xuandu

With incredibly complex, anxious, and almost desperate feelings, he once again arrived outside the Green Lotus Cave.

He carefully straightened his hempen robes, which were somewhat disheveled from repeated failed training and the backlash of his qi and blood. He took a deep breath, as if to gather all his courage, and then respectfully bowed down, pressing his forehead to the cold stone ground. In the most solemn yet hoarse voice, he stated his purpose: "This humble monk begs to see the Holy Master! I humbly request the Holy Master's mercy and guidance! I—have truly reached a dead end!"

Inside the cave, Qinglian slowly opened his eyes. He had already taken notice of Ziyu's repeated setbacks in martial arts and the Three Ancestors' repeated attempts to help him.

At this moment, with a slight sweep of his divine sense, he clearly perceived the strange situation within Zi's body—a situation where progress was stagnant, the flow of martial arts qi and blood was constantly hindered, and it seemed as if they were incompatible.

At the same time, not relying on divination of heavenly secrets, but originating from the deepest part of his soul's understanding of the "future" of this primordial world, a clear message emerged in his mind: the true name and destiny of this bewildered innate human being Zi, on another trajectory, should be called "Xuandu"!

He is the future leader of the Human Cult, the master of the Taiji Diagram, and the only direct disciple of Laozi, the Taoist Ancestor!

Its foundation and spirituality are indeed extraordinary, but they should not be applied to the martial arts that emphasizes strength, physical training, and relentless progress.

His Dao lies in enlightenment, in nature, in purity and non-action, in the alchemical furnace, in the evolution of Yin and Yang, and in the Great Dao of the Golden Elixir.

Forcing someone to practice martial arts is like asking a fish to climb a tree or a bird to dive into the ocean. It's completely contrary to the natural order and like trying to catch fish by climbing a tree. How can you expect to succeed?

The cave entrance opened silently.

Qinglian appeared at the doorway, still wearing her green robe. Her aura was ordinary yet profound, like the starry sea. Her gaze calmly fell on Zi, who was prostrate on the ground.

Upon seeing the Holy Master's true face, Zi was so excited that his body trembled violently, as if he had grasped at the last straw, and he quickly buried his head even lower.

He recounted in great detail the difficulties he had encountered in his cultivation over the past few hundred years, the despair and pain of being unable to break through no matter how hard he tried or how desperately he fought. His words were sincere, filled with blood and tears, and he was almost in tears.

Qinglian listened quietly, his face expressionless. He raised his hand to support him, and a gentle yet irresistible force lifted Zi up.

His gaze remained calm as he looked into the bloodshot eyes filled with anxiety and anticipation. He spoke slowly, his voice like a clear spring flowing into a parched heart, yet carrying an undeniable, almost cruel certainty: "I know your situation perfectly well. It's not that you haven't tried hard enough, nor that your will is weak. The truth is, your physique and inherent nature are fundamentally incompatible with the path of martial arts."

"Wh-what?"

Zi suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief and a huge, stinging pain from being completely negated, and his face instantly turned pale.

Like all innate humans, he was created by the Holy Mother using the Nine Heavens Breath Soil, the Three Lights Divine Water, and her holy blood. His innate Dao body was flawless. How could he not be compatible with the martial arts created by the Holy Master and most suitable for humans? This almost overturned his understanding!

Qinglian continued, her tone calm yet each word sharp as a knife, cutting straight to the essence: "The path of martial arts emphasizes qi and blood, tempering the body, and solidifying the will, in order to reach the ultimate realm of power and shatter all laws. Unmatched ferocity and relentless advance are the way of conquest, the way of protection, and also the way of ultimate power."

However, all things in heaven and earth have different natures, and the Great Dao also has three thousand forms.

Your spirituality tends to be more inward, more tranquil, more inclined towards contemplation and harmony, more inclined towards enlightenment and sublimation, rather than outward expression and conquest.

Forcing oneself to cultivate martial arts is like trying to ignite a raging fire in water; not only will it be counterproductive, but it will also be futile and damage one's very foundation.

Seeing the look of shock, despair, resentment, and even a hint of faith collapse on Zi's face, Qinglian changed her tone slightly, softening her voice: "However, there are three thousand great paths, all of which can lead to the Primordial Chaos. Martial arts is neither the only path nor the highest. Your opportunity does not lie in this path."

Your path lies elsewhere. There's no need for excessive anxiety or attachment. Quietly wait, refine your character, and your destined path will naturally arrive. That will be a more suitable, direct, and fulfilling path for you.

Upon hearing these words, Zi felt as if each word was the heaviest stone hammer, striking his Dao heart with devastating force.

His centuries of perseverance and effort, countless failures and suffering, were dismissed by the Holy Master as "different paths" and "futile efforts."

An indescribable sense of grievance, anger, and immense loss welled up in his heart, but he was facing a holy teacher who brought life to the human race, was revered by hundreds of millions of people, and was like a father god. He dared not, and could not, show any outburst.

He clenched his teeth so hard that his lips almost bled, and his body trembled violently from extreme excitement and repression.

Finally, all the complex emotions turned into a low growl, as if it were a declaration of his bumpy fate, or as if it were to defend his last remaining dignity that was about to crumble. He shouted loudly, his voice sounding particularly clear and resolute in the sea breeze in front of the cave: "The words of the Holy Master, I—I dare not refute!"

But regardless of whether it is suitable for martial arts, and regardless of where the path leads!

Born and raised here, I am a member of the human race! I hereby swear that I will never betray the human race in this life, and that I will always put the human race first!

The survival of our race is a path beyond all others! Heaven and earth bear witness to this heart; even if countless calamities befall us, and our form and spirit perish, it will never change!

This vow, resounding and carrying a do-or-die determination, seemed more like a final venting of his resentment towards his inability to break through the barriers of martial arts, and a shift and anchoring of his beliefs.

Qinglian looked at his face, flushed with excitement, at the flame of despair yet still burning with unwavering loyalty to his people in his eyes, and listened to his solemn vow, which came from the depths of his soul and was utterly pure.

A genuine look of satisfaction and appreciation flashed in his eyes. He could sense that this vow was not empty words, but truly integrated into Zi's life essence.

This sincerity and sense of responsibility towards humanity may be the foundation upon which he will be able to encounter such great opportunities in the future and bear such weight.

"Good." Qinglian didn't say anything more, but nodded slightly, her eyes filled with a hint of encouragement and expectation. Then she slowly retreated back into the cave, and the stone door closed silently again, separating the inside from the outside into two worlds.

Zi stood alone outside the cave, letting the sea breeze blow his disheveled hair and wet eyes.

The humiliation, resentment, and disappointment in his heart had not completely dissipated, but the solemn vow he had made seemed to give him a new, weighty power and a sense of existence that transcended his personal path.

He bowed deeply once more toward the tightly closed stone door of the cave, then turned abruptly and strode away.

His figure remained lonely and desolate, but seemed a little straighter, carrying a sense of relief after shedding certain burdens, as well as a firm determination to shoulder new responsibilities.

He did not return to the training grounds where martial artists sweated profusely and their blood surged, but instead silently walked back to the tribe and mingled among the ordinary tribesmen.

He began to use his unique, introspective spiritual wisdom to observe the lives and needs of his people more closely.

Seeing that his people still had difficulty making fire by rubbing wood and that the success rate was not high, he began to quietly think about how to improve the method of making fire, try different combinations of wood, and even observe the sparks from the collision of flint.

He noticed that the linen woven by the women was not fine enough or warm enough, so he tried to improve the spinning tools and weaving techniques to make the clothes more comfortable.

He saw that the houses built by Youchao could be even more solid and have a more reasonable layout—he poured all the energy, wisdom and passion that he could not express in martial arts into these seemingly “trivial” but crucial “mundane affairs” that improved people’s livelihoods.

He was no longer a warrior, no longer possessing the power to split mountains and shatter rocks, but he seemed to have found another path to fulfill his solemn vow and contribute wisdom and strength to humanity in another way.

His brows still furrowed slightly from time to time, but no longer from the anxiety of unsuccessful cultivation; rather, it was from the focus of his contemplation and creation.

Inside the cave, Qinglian's divine sense perceived Zi's transformation, sensing that the resentment within him was gradually being replaced by tranquility and a passion for creation. She sighed softly, then nodded gently, muttering to herself, "The seed has been planted; it awaits the east wind. Master, your opportunity, your disciple who embodies the Dao of 'non-action,' is not far off."

His self-illumination seemed to pierce through endless time and space once again, revealing the future that was destined to happen.

Meanwhile, the human race on the shores of the East Sea, under the powerful protection of martial arts and the silent efforts of thinkers and improvers like Zi, is steadily and firmly climbing the ladder of civilization and power.

The cataclysmic storm that was destined to sweep across the primordial world seemed to have temporarily forgotten this emerging race that was quietly accumulating its strength and potential.