Primordial Era: Starting by overwhelming the Sages, Hongjun was stunned!

They knelt before Kong Xuan and kowtowed.

"Sage Confucius, please enlighten me."

Kong Xuandao said, "I will not offer guidance."

"If you wish to sit, then sit."

"If you want to leave, then leave."

"What you can learn from this is up to you."

Everyone looked at each other.

Then, he nodded.

"Okay, let's sit down."

They sat in the hall with their eyes closed.

One day, two days, three days.

Some people left, some people stayed.

Those who remain, continue sitting.

I sat there for a long time.

Some people understood, and left with a smile.

Some people didn't understand and left with a sigh.

Kong Xuan neither tried to persuade him to stay nor saw him off.

Come when you want, go when you want.

Recklessly.

This sitting lasted for three years.

Over the course of three years, hundreds of people came and went.

Only three remained.

Three young people, two men and one woman.

His cultivation level is not high; he is only a Great Luo Golden Immortal.

But they can sit still.

He sat there for three years without moving an inch.

Kong Xuan opened his eyes and looked at them.

"What have you realized?"

The first young man spoke: "I've realized that the Tao is right beneath my feet."

The second young man spoke up: "I've realized that the Dao is in my hands."

The woman spoke: "I have realized that the Tao resides within my heart."

Kong Xuan nodded: "Understood, then let's go."

The three men rose and kowtowed.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

They left.

Phoenix Palace fell silent once more.

Nezha asked, "Kong Xuan, are their understandings correct?"

Kong Xuandao: "Yes."

"Not entirely correct either."

"The Way is under your feet, in your hands, and in your heart."

"But the truth is in the soup, in the steamed bun, and in the wine."

"In the everyday, in the ordinary, in the commonplace."

Nezha seemed to understand, but didn't ask any more questions.

Yunxiao brought over a bowl of soup and handed it to Kong Xuan.

"Senior brother, have some soup."

Kong Xuan took it, lowered his head, and took a sip.

It's very hot and smells delicious.

"It tastes good."

The days passed by.

Kong Xuan's hair grew from the ground until it was coiled up.

The black robe was changed again and again, but it was still black and simple.

His face was thinner, but his eyes remained bright.

Like two lamps, shining in the darkness.

This day.

A sword light flew in from the horizon.

Crimson red, like fire and blood.

The Master of Heaven.

He landed outside Phoenix Palace and stepped inside.

His expression was solemn.

"Kong Xuan, something's happened."

Kong Xuan opened his eyes: "What is it?"

Tongtiandao said, "Deep within the chaos, another rift has appeared."

"Bigger than last time."

"Something is awakening in the crack."

"Very strong."

"So powerful that even the Great Dao is wary of it."

Kong Xuan's expression remained unchanged: "What is it?"

Tongtiandao: "I don't know."

"It might be chaos before chaos itself."

"It may have existed before the creation of the world."

"It might be something even older than Pangu."

Kong Xuan remained silent.

After a long silence, he spoke: "I'll go take a look."

Tongtian was taken aback: "You have no cultivation, what are you going to see?"

Kong Xuandao said, "Let's see what it is."

"What's there to be afraid of when you go see it?"

"Let's see who can stop it."

Tongtian looked at him with a complicated expression.

"You're always like this."

"Always risking their lives."

Kong Xuan remained silent.

He stood up and stood with his hands behind his back.

Her hair was piled on top of her head, and her black robe fluttered in the wind.

Yuan Feng walked out from behind the hall, holding a bowl in her hand.

The bowl contains soup.

It was still steaming.

"Child, drink before you go."

Kong Xuan took it, lowered his head, and took a sip.

It's very hot and smells delicious.

"It tastes good."

He returned the bowl to Yuan Feng and turned around.

He walked out of the hall.

Nezha caught up with him: "Kong Xuan, I'll go with you."

Kong Xuan shook his head: "You can't go."

Nezha asked, "Why?"

Kong Xuandao said, "Because it's too dangerous there."

"You'll die if you go."

Nezha said, "I'm not afraid."

Kong Xuan said, "I'm afraid."

"I'm afraid you'll die."

"If you die, your mother will be sad."

Nezha remained silent.

Kong Xuan raised his hand and patted his head.

"Wait for me here."

"I'll be back soon."

Nezha nodded, his eyes slightly red.

"Okay, I'll wait."

Yunxiao stood at the entrance of the palace, looking at Kong Xuan.

"Senior brother, take care."

Kong Xuan nodded and walked out of Fengqi Palace.

They walked into the depths of chaos.

They walked very slowly, each step was difficult.

Because he is now a mortal.

Without cultivation, without power.

It has only two legs.

But he kept walking.

They walked toward the crack.

They walked toward the thing that had awakened.

Go down the right path.

The Tongtian Sect Leader followed behind without saying a word.

The two walked one after the other through the chaos.

It's been a year.

Arrived.

Ahead, there was a crack.

It's bigger and longer than last time.

Like an eye, opening in the void.

Light gushed out from the crack.

It's neither golden nor white light.

It's gray light.

It was hazy and gray, like fog.

Something was wriggling in the gray light.

It is very big and very round.

It looks like an egg.

The eggshell was covered with runes.

The runes flickered, as if they were alive.

The egg is bouncing.

Boom, boom, boom.

Like a heartbeat, like a war drum.

Tongtian stared at the egg with a solemn expression.

"What is this?"

Kong Xuan shook his head: "I don't know."

He approached and placed his hand on the eggshell.

It's very cold and very hard.

Like touching a stone.

The runes on the eggshell suddenly lit up.

A surge of gray light enveloped Kong Xuan.

Tongtian's expression changed drastically: "Kong Xuan!"

He tried to rush forward, but was blocked by the gray light.

I can't get in.

Kong Xuan stood in the gray light, his eyes closed.

My mind sank into my body.

Although he no longer had any cultivation.

But his path remains.

His will remains.

His memory remains.

he was thinking.

I long for the void, I long for the Chaos Dragon.

Think of all the things he destroyed.

Think of the enemies he blocked.

A figure appeared in the gray light.

He wore a gray robe, had white hair, and a weathered face.

His eyes were like stars, and his aura was like an abyss.

He looked at Kong Xuan, his gaze calm.

"It's not easy for you to get this far."

Kong Xuan asked, "Who are you?"

The gray-robed man said, "I am the chaos before chaos itself."

"Existence before the creation of heaven and earth."

"Older than Pangu."

Kong Xuan asked, "What brings you here?"

The man in the gray robe said, "I've come to see you."

"Let's see why you were able to destroy the Ruins and kill the Chaos Dragon."

"Let's see why you can block everything even though you have no cultivation."

Kong Xuandao: "Finished reading?"

The man in the gray robe nodded: "I've finished reading."

Kong Xuan asked, "And then?"

The man in the gray robe said, "Then, I should go."

Kong Xuan was taken aback: "Leave?"

The man in the gray robe nodded: "Let's go."

"Because you're right."

"There's no one up there, just emptiness."

"I have lived for countless years and have never drunk a bowl of soup."

"I've never been waited for."

You are better than me.

Kong Xuan remained silent.

The man in the gray robe looked at him with a complicated expression.

"Kong Xuan, take care."

As soon as he finished speaking, he disappeared.

The gray light dissipated, and the eggshell shattered.

They turned into specks of light and scattered.

The crack closed.

In the depths of chaos, peace returns.

Kong Xuan stood there, gazing at the empty space.

He remained motionless for a long time.

Tongtian walked over and looked at him.

"He's gone?"

Kong Xuan nodded: "I'm leaving."

Tongtian asked, "Not fight?"

Kong Xuandao said, "I won't fight."

"He just came to take a look."

"After I finished reading, I left."

Tongtian remained silent.

After a long silence, he spoke: "Kong Xuan, what exactly did you do?"

"Why do all the people who come to see you leave?"

Kong Xuan thought for a moment: "Perhaps they saw what they wanted to see."

"Perhaps they have found the answer."

"Perhaps they are just thirsty and want a bowl of soup."

Tongtian looked at him with a complicated expression.

"You're such a weirdo."

Kong Xuan remained silent.

He turned and walked towards the immortal volcano.

It's been a year.

Back to Phoenix Palace.

Yuan Feng stood at the entrance of the palace, holding a bowl in her hand.

The bowl contains soup.

It was still steaming.

"Child, the soup is still hot."

Kong Xuan took it, lowered his head, and took a sip.

It's very hot and smells delicious.

"It tastes good."

Yuan Feng smiled.

Kong Xuan sat on the futon with his eyes closed.

Nezha asked, "Where is that person?"

Kong Xuandao said, "I'm leaving."

Nezha asked, "Aren't you going to fight?"

Kong Xuandao said, "I won't fight."

"He just came to take a look."

"After I finished reading, I left."

Nezha nodded and asked no more questions.

Yunxiao brought over a pot of wine and poured a cup.

"Senior brother, let's drink."

Kong Xuan took it and drank it all in one gulp.

The liquor is very strong; it burns like fire when it goes down your throat.

"Good wine."

Yunxiao smiled.

Inside the Phoenix Palace, steam rose from the hot soup.

Flames surged, and the sky turned crimson.

Everything remains the same.

The days passed by.

Kong Xuan sat in the Phoenix Perch Palace, his hair coiled on top of his head, motionless.

The black robe was changed again and again, but it was still black and simple.

His face was thinner, but his eyes remained bright.

Like two lamps, shining in the darkness.

Yuanfeng served soup every day without fail.

The soup still tastes the same, very hot and fragrant.

Kong Xuan always said it tasted good whenever he drank it.

Yuan Feng laughed every time she heard this.

This day.

Nezha suddenly spoke up: "Kong Xuan, I've figured it out."

Kong Xuan opened his eyes: "What do you want to understand?"

Nezha said, "I want to understand what the Dao is."

Kong Xuan asked, "What is it?"

Nezha said, "The Way is to live."

"Only by staying alive can you have soup to drink."

"Only by living can we have food to eat."

"Only by staying alive can you wait for the person you want to wait for."

"Only by living can one be waited for by those who want to wait."

Kong Xuan nodded: "Good, I understand."

Nezha laughed.

Yunxiao opened his eyes as well: "Senior brother, I've figured it out too."

Kong Xuan asked, "What do you want to understand?"

Yunxiao said, "The Way is my home."

"Where there is a home, there is the way."

"Without a home, the Way has nowhere to go."

Kong Xuan nodded: "Good, I understand."

Yunxiao smiled too.

The three sat there, and none of them spoke.

Nobody felt bored.

Outside the palace, flames surged.

Inside the hall, steam rose from the hot soup.

Kong Xuan closed his eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips.

There's still a long way to go.

Take it slow.

Kong Xuan sat in the Phoenix Perch Palace.

Her hair was piled on top of her head, and her black robe hung down.

Without cultivation, without power.

But when he sits, he looks like a mountain.

Yuanfeng brought him soup, and he drank it.

Nezha brought him a steamed bun, which he ate.

Yunxiao filled the cup with wine, and he drank it.

The days passed by.

Plain and quiet.

This day.

A person arrived outside Phoenix Palace.

Dressed in white as snow, with a cool and aloof expression.

Yang Jian.

He entered the hall and knelt before Kong Xuan.

"Sage Kong Xuan, please accept me as your disciple."

Kong Xuan opened his eyes: "You're not following Yuanshi Tianzun anymore?"

Yang Jian said, "My master said I can learn even more from you."

Kong Xuan shook his head: "I have no cultivation, I cannot teach you."

Yang Jian said, "I don't want cultivation, I want the Dao."

"Your Way."

Kong Xuan remained silent.

After a long silence, he spoke: "Get up and sit down."

Yang Jian got up and sat down to the side.

He closed his eyes and stopped speaking.

Nezha looked at him and smiled.

"Another one has arrived."

Yunxiao didn't speak, but poured a cup of wine and handed it to Yang Jian.

Yang Jian took it and drank it all in one gulp.

There is another person in Fengqi Palace.

The quiet remains, the warmth remains.

Three days later.

Kong Xuan opened his eyes and looked at Yang Jian.

"You've sat here for three days, what have you realized?"

Yang Jian opened his eyes: "I have grasped the essence of stillness."

Kong Xuan asked, "What do you mean by 'quiet'?"

Yang Jian said, "Keep your mind calm."

"When the mind is calm, one can see oneself clearly."

"If you can see yourself clearly, you can see the Way clearly."

Kong Xuan nodded: "Keep sitting."

Yang Jian closed his eyes and continued to sit.

Three more days passed.

Kong Xuan then asked, "What have you realized?"

Yang Jian said, "I have grasped the essence of movement."

Kong Xuan asked, "What movement?"

Yang Jian said, "My heart is moved."

"When your heart is moved, you can see others clearly."

"By seeing others clearly, you can see all living beings clearly."

Kong Xuan nodded: "Keep sitting."

Three more days passed.

Kong Xuan asked again, "What have you realized?"

Yang Jian said, "I have realized emptiness."

Kong Xuan asked, "What emptiness?"

Yang Jian said, "My mind is empty."

"When the heart is empty, one can let go."

"Let go, and you will be at ease."

Kong Xuan nodded: "Understood, then let's go."

Yang Jian opened his eyes: "Go? Where to?"

Kong Xuan said, "Go back to where you belong."

"Protect those you should protect."

"Go your own way."

Yang Jian remained silent.

After a long while, he stood up and kowtowed.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

He turned and walked out of Phoenix Palace.

Clad in white, like snow, they vanished into the flames.

Nezha watched his retreating figure and asked, "Has he realized something?"

Kong Xuan nodded: "I understand."

Nezha asked, "What have you realized?"

Kong Xuandao said, "I have come to understand myself."

Nezha asked no more questions.

Life goes on.

More and more people came, and more and more people sat down.

More and more people are leaving.

Some people understood, while others did not.

Those who understood left with a smile.

Those who didn't understand sighed and left.

Kong Xuan neither tried to persuade him to stay nor saw him off.

Come when you want, go when you want.

Recklessly.

This day.

A person arrived outside Phoenix Palace.

He was not a spiritual practitioner, but an ordinary person.

With white hair and leaning on a cane.

His clothes were tattered, and his face was weathered.

He stood at the entrance of the palace, looking at Kong Xuan.

"Master Kong Xuan, may I come in and have a seat?"

Kong Xuan nodded: "Come in."

The old man walked into the hall and sat down to one side.

Close your eyes and don't speak.

Nezha looked at him curiously.

"Old man, what are you doing here if you have no cultivation?"

The old man opened his eyes: "Come and sit down."

"I've heard that this place can bring peace of mind."

I want to give it a try.

Nezha nodded and asked no more questions.

The old man sat for a day, then got up.

"My heart is truly at peace."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

He turned and left.

Kong Xuan watched his retreating figure without saying a word.

Nezha asked, "Has he understood?"

Kong Xuandao said, "I understand."

Nezha asked, "What have you realized?"

Kong Xuandao said, "I have realized that I can find peace of mind."

"Home is where the heart is."

"Home is the way."

Nezha nodded, seemingly lost in thought.

This day.

A person arrived outside Phoenix Palace.

It was a child, about seven or eight years old.

She had her hair tied in two buns and was wearing a red bellyband.

He was holding a candied hawthorn skewer in his hand.

He stood at the entrance of the palace, looking at Kong Xuan.

"You're Kong Xuan?"

Kong Xuan nodded: "Yes."

The child asked, "They say you're very capable, is that true?"

Kong Xuan shook his head: "Not impressive."

"Just a mortal."

The child pouted, "What's so great about ordinary people?"

He walked in and sat down next to Kong Xuan.

She took a bite of the candied hawthorn, her eyes shining.

"But it's quite comfortable here."

"It's more comfortable than my home."

Kong Xuan asked, "Where do you live?"

The child said, "At the foot of the mountain."

"My parents are both dead, and I'm all alone now."

Kong Xuan remained silent.

The child then said, "I heard you have soup here, so I came to try it."

Yuan Feng walked out from behind the hall, holding a bowl in her hand.

The bowl contains soup.

It was still steaming.

"Child, drink the soup."

The child took the bowl, lowered his head, and took a sip.

Eyes widened: "Delicious!"

He finished the drink in a few gulps and returned the bowl to Yuanfeng.

"Auntie, is there any more?"

Yuan Feng smiled and served another bowl.

The child drank three bowls in a row, rubbed his belly, and let out a satisfied burp.

"Auntie, the soup you made is so delicious."

"Can I come here often in the future?"

Yuan Feng looked at Kong Xuan.

Kong Xuan nodded: "Yes."

The child smiled, a smile as bright as a flower.

He sat down to the side, holding the bowl, and stopped talking.

Nezha looked at him, her eyes slightly red.

He was reminded of his childhood.

They were also seven or eight years old when they lost their parents.

If it weren't for Master Taiyi taking him in, he would have died long ago.

Nezha got up and walked to the child.

"What's your name?"

The child said, "My name is Stone."

Nezha asked, "Stone, do you want to cultivate yourself?"

Stone shook his head: "No."

"I just want some soup."

Nezha laughed: "Alright, then let's drink the soup."

Stone nodded, holding the bowl, and closed his eyes.

Before long, she fell asleep.

Yuanfeng brought a piece of clothing and covered him with it.

There is another person in Fengqi Palace.

A child, an ordinary person.

He has no cultivation level and no background.

I just want to drink soup.

Kong Xuan looked at him, a slight smile playing on her lips.

The days passed by.

Stone settled down in Phoenix Palace.

Every day, I drink soup, sleep, and run around at the foot of the volcano.

He neither practices spiritual cultivation nor engages in worldly affairs.

Just existing.

Kong Xuan neither taught him nor spoke to him.

Let him go.

This day.

Stone ran back into the hall, holding a flower in his hand.

It's red, like a flame.

"Kong Xuan, this is for you."

Kong Xuan took the flower and tucked it into his lapel.

"Is it pretty?"

Stone nodded: "Beautiful!"

Kong Xuan smiled.

Stone sat down to the side, holding the bowl, and fell asleep again.

Nezha looked at him and whispered, "Kong Xuan, this child looks like you."

Kong Xuan asked, "Where does it resemble it?"

Nezha said, "Stubborn."

Once a decision is made, there's no going back.