Ink-Clad Creator

In the incense burner on the stone table, a stick of incense had burned more than halfway.

Li Xian picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote in the blank space next to the silk scroll containing the first question:

"This substance is called 'Primordial Matter' or 'Original Vibrational Ground State'. It is the original energy form common to all things before the separation of heaven and earth. Its vibrational frequency is chaotic and uncertain, silent and formless, existing independently and eternally, and circulating endlessly."

He paused, then continued writing:

"The five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—are actually the result of the differentiation and manifestation of the fundamental vibrational frequency state under specific rules. Just as white light is separated into seven colors through a prism, the primordial matter is filtered by the laws of heaven and earth, and according to different vibrational frequency ranges, it manifests as the five phenomena: metal (sharp high frequencies), wood (vibrant mid frequencies), water (mellow low frequencies), fire (intense high frequencies), and earth (rich mid-low frequencies). Therefore, the five elements have the same origin but different appearances, and can transform into each other. Their essence is all about vibrational frequency modulation."

As Li Xian wrote this, a slight thought stirred within him. This was an understanding derived from the fusion of Boltzmann's brain-taught string theory and Huang Yan's "energy frequency theory." The beings from another world used "five elements" to refer to them, while Earth sciences used "elementary particles" and "fields"—both essentially describing the same essence.

He looked at the second question.

"The key to the coexistence of the three energies lies in the 'medium' and the 'sequence'."

The brush tip moves smoothly across the silk:

"First, take 'earth' as ​​the foundation. Earth is thick and inclusive, which can be used to build the inner wall of an energy container, isolate external disturbances, and provide a stable foundation."

Second, use "wood" as a bridge. Wood is full of vitality and has the ability to harmonize. Let the wood-related energy, Bing, enter the container first, so that its vitality can permeate the inner wall of the container and create a gentle environment.

Third, the concept of "mutual generation sequence" is introduced. Water generates wood, so the water element energy B is introduced first to enhance the vitality of C. Wood generates fire, and after B and C have stabilized through interaction, the fire element energy A is introduced last. In this way, B nourishes C, and C guides A, forming an energy cycle chain, rather than a rigid suppression.

Principle: Energy conflict originates from frequency antagonism. Introducing a generative sequence transforms this antagonism into a relay, allowing different frequency energies to naturally harmonize during the transition, ultimately achieving dynamic equilibrium.

This is an experience summarized from numerous experiments at the Sacred Gate of Creation, and it is also consistent with Peng Shitao's practice of "wood and fire generating each other" in Flame Valley.

For the last question, Li paused slightly.

He looked up, and the gaze from behind the crack in the main hall door seemed clearer. The question was too direct, pointing straight to his greatest secret.

But now that things have come to this, there's no point in hiding it. Li Xian wrote:

To imbue inanimate objects with spirit, three fundamental elements are required:

"1. Energy carrier: It needs to have a material basis that can carry, conduct and store complex energy information. Such as special wood, jade, or artificial composite materials."

"Second, information encoding: There needs to be a complete 'life blueprint,' namely the path of energy flow, the algorithm of consciousness generation, and the logic of sensory feedback. This encoding needs to be precise to the microscopic level and perfectly match the carrier."

"Third, the initial aura: also known as the 'spark of consciousness'. This is neither energy nor matter, but a self-organizing phenomenon of information encoding 'emerging' under specific conditions. It requires the use of the Five Elements resonance method to stimulate the 'phase transition critical point' when energy is abundant and the encoding is complete, allowing inanimate objects to cross the boundary between 'existence and non-existence'."

He finished writing and put down his pen. The incense in the burner had just burned out its last wisp of smoke.

The young Taoist priest skipped over to collect the scroll. She picked up Li Xian's silk scroll, her big eyes scanning the writing. Suddenly, she exclaimed "Eh!", looked up and carefully examined Li Xian, then glanced at the four women and the three Shi brothers behind him, before running into the main hall with the scroll in her arms.

The palace gates opened.

What emerged first was not a person, but a fragrant breeze—not sandalwood, but a cool, refreshing scent like plum blossoms after a snowfall. Then, a slender white hand lifted the beaded curtain, and a figure gracefully stepped out.

Even though Li Xian had seen Chun Meng's allure, Xiao Lingshan's elegance, Bing Lan Bing Wei's cold beauty, and Peng Shi Tao's innocence, he still felt a momentary suffocation.

She was a Daoist nun who looked no more than twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. Her black hair cascaded down her back, tied in a simple Daoist bun with a white jade hairpin. She wore a moon-white Daoist robe, its light and thin fabric flowing like clouds as she moved. Her face was not exceptionally beautiful, but her features were exquisite, and her demeanor was otherworldly. In particular, her eyes were so clear that they seemed to reflect the deepest thoughts in people's hearts.

She held Li Xian's answer sheet in her hand, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Young Master Li," she said, her voice clear and melodious like a spring striking a rock, "if your answers to these three questions were placed in the Imperial Academy of Crafts in the capital, they would be enough to make those old scholars, with their white hair and brimming with knowledge, overturn their tables."

Li Xian clasped his hands in a fist and said, "This junior spoke carelessly and has made the abbot laugh at me."

"Nonsense?" Daoist Miaozhen chuckled. "For the first question, you pointed out the origin of the Five Elements using the 'Vibration Frequency Differentiation Theory,' a theory that only a few Grand Masters in the academy dare to touch upon. For the second question, you proposed the 'Mutual Generation Sequence Introduction Method,' which coincides with the 'Monarch, Minister, Assistant, and Envoy' alchemy theory of Medicine King Valley, but its application to energy harmonization is a groundbreaking idea."

She paused, her gaze falling on the answer to the third question, her eyes deepening.

"As for the third question... 'Information encoding,' 'spark of consciousness,' 'phase transition critical point'... In my twenty-seven years of life, this is the first time I've seen someone combine these terms together to explain 'spirit creation'."

She raised her eyes and looked directly at Li Xian: "Young Master Li, who is your teacher?"

This question is too direct. Li Xian was silent for a moment before replying, "My knowledge is diverse, including family traditions, fortuitous encounters, and... scattered inheritances from beyond the heavens."

"Beyond the heavens." Miaozhen repeated the word, a strange light flashing in her eyes. "No wonder. Your theory is quite similar to the few words left by that 'wise man' three hundred years ago."

She carefully rolled up the answer sheet and tucked it into her sleeve: "Please come in, gentlemen. As the last guests of the day, I will make an exception and allow both men and women to enter and enjoy tea."

The "three" she referred to were Li Xian, Xiao Lingshan, and Peng Shitao. Binglan, Bingwei, and the three brothers Shi Jian were led to a side hall to rest by the young Taoist boy.

Behind the main hall, there was a hidden world.

Passing through a winding bamboo corridor, a breathtaking view suddenly unfolds before you—a bamboo forest covering several acres, with a stream meandering through it and bamboo bridges spanning it. Deep within the bamboo forest, an exquisite bamboo house stands by the water, with several blue paper lanterns hanging under the eaves, casting a warm glow in the darkening sky.

The bamboo house was simply furnished with a bamboo couch, a tea table, and a few cushions. The walls were adorned with ink wash landscape paintings, their ethereal and elegant style suggesting they were the owner's work.

Miaozhen personally boiled water and brewed tea. Her movements were fluid and graceful, each gesture carrying a unique rhythm, as if she were practicing some kind of martial art.

"This tea is called 'Yunmeng Mist Buds.' It only grows in the mists of the Yunmeng Mountain peak and is harvested only once every three years." She pushed three cups of tea in front of the three people. "Try it."

The tea soup was a clear, greenish-blue, with a delicate and subtle aroma. Li Xian took a small sip and felt a warm, life-giving energy slide into his throat, then spread throughout his body, even making the orange-gold mark between his eyebrows feel slightly warm.

"Excellent tea," he exclaimed sincerely.

Xiao Lingshan and Peng Shitao also showed surprise—this tea is very beneficial to cultivators.

"Good tea is fine, but good conversation is even better." Miaozhen put down her teacup and looked at Li Xian. "Young Master Li, are you going to the Wanxiang Academy in the capital?"

Li Xian was wary, but his face remained impassive: "How did the Abbot know?"

Miaozhen smiled: "First, the timing. It's late summer and early autumn now, the time of the academy's triennial grand examination, when all the talented people in the country flock to the capital. Second, your group of eight includes men and women, cultivators and ordinary people, as well as those strange 'mechanical creations.' This group doesn't seem like a merchant convoy or a wandering traveler; it's more like... a family migration to pursue their studies."

She paused, then added, "Thirdly, the token hanging from the waist of that little wood-elemental girl among you... if I'm not mistaken, it's the 'Azure Wood Token,' isn't it?"

Xiao Lingshan's expression changed slightly, and her hand subconsciously pressed on the token.

"Don't be nervous." Miaozhen waved her hand. "I have no interest in that token. But there are quite a few people in the capital who are interested in it. The Antiquities Appraisal Division under the Heavenly Crafts Institute has been offering a reward of three thousand gold pieces for finding the token for ten years."

Li Xian frowned: "What do they want with the Azure Wood Token?"

"It is said that this token is one of the keys to unlocking a certain 'ancient ruin'," Miaozhen said meaningfully. "And within that ruin lies the secret that allows cultivators to break through the Divine Essence Realm and directly reach the Dao Essence Realm."

Dao Yuan Realm—that is the third major realm after Tian Yuan Realm. There are no more than ten people on the entire continent who can openly reach this realm.

"Of course, these are all rumors." Miao Zhen changed the subject. "What I care about more is you, Young Master Li."

"I?"

"Wanxiang Academy is expanding its enrollment this autumn with great fanfare, but those in the know understand that this is the imperial court selecting 'breakthrough figures'." Miaozhen's expression turned serious. "Three years from now, a 'great calamity' will descend. What it is, is a secret that cannot be revealed, but the bigwigs in the capital are already anxious. They need fresh blood, they need 'variables' that can break out of the traditional framework."

She looked at Li Xian: "And you, Young Master Li, the scent of 'variability' on you is so strong that I can smell it from ten miles away."

The bamboo house fell silent, with only the babbling of the stream coming from outside the window.

After a long silence, Li spoke first: "Why did the abbot tell me all this?"

"Because it's interesting." Miaozhen laughed, a hint of cynicism in her smile. "I've lived in Yunmeng Mountain for almost ten years, and I've seen enough of those hypocritical virtuous men and those truly wicked people who are eager for quick success and instant benefits. When I occasionally encounter someone interesting, I naturally want to say a few more words."

She got up, walked to the window, and gazed at the swaying bamboo shadows in the night outside:

"In addition, regarding the 'metal' and 'water' elements that Young Master Li is looking for, there happen to be two extraordinary figures in the capital who will be hospitalized this year."

Li Xian's spirits lifted: "I'd like to hear the details."

Miaozhen turned around and held up two fingers:

"The first one is surnamed Jin, with the given name Xuan. He is the youngest son of the Sword Pavilion Master of Western Shu. He just turned eighteen this year and was born with the 'Gengjin Sword Body'. It is said that he wielded a sword at the age of three, his sword energy arose spontaneously at the age of seven, and by the age of fifteen, he could cut through a three-inch-thick steel plate with his sword energy. However, he is aloof and dislikes worldly etiquette. This time, he was forced by his father to 'sever their father-son relationship' before he agreed to come to the academy."

She withdrew one finger:

"The second one is surnamed 'Shui' and given name 'Liuli'. She is the only daughter of the island lord of Penglai Island in the East Sea and possesses the 'Mysterious Water Spiritual Vein'. This girl is born with the ability to resonate with all waters. At the age of seven, she saved an entire boatload of fishermen in a storm, and at the age of fourteen, she could control waves ten feet high. But she... has a strange quirk."

"What quirk?"

"She's obsessed with 'freezing everything.'" Miaozhen said with a strange expression. "It's said that there are hundreds of things frozen in her backyard—from flowers and butterflies to fish, insects, birds, and even her father's antique vases. She says she wants to study 'the state of life when it's still.'"

Li Xian, Xiao Lingshan, and Peng Shitao exchanged glances. These two sounded... a bit abnormal, but they were indeed once-in-a-century geniuses in their respective fields.

"How do we find them?" Li asked first.

"The academy's exams are divided into three rounds: a written exam, a martial arts exam, and a specialty exam," Miaozhen said. "With your abilities, passing shouldn't be difficult. After entering the academy, there will be a 'freshman competition' as is customary. At that time, all freshmen will have to go on stage to demonstrate their best skills. Those two are arrogant and will definitely make a move. You will see them then."

She walked back to the tea table, took out three jade tokens from her sleeve, and handed them to the three people respectively.

The jade plaque is warm and smooth, with cloud patterns carved on the front and the character "妙" (wào, meaning wonderful) carved on the back.

"This is my token," Miaozhen said. "If you encounter any trouble after arriving in the capital, you can take this token to the manager of 'Listening to the Rain Pavilion.' I have some influence in the capital and can help you avoid some minor troubles."

She paused, then added, "But the big trouble... you'll have to deal with it yourselves."

As night deepened, the tea grew cold.

Miaozhen escorted the three out of the bamboo house. The young Taoist boy was already waiting under the eaves, carrying a lantern and leading the way back to the front yard.

As they were parting, Miaozhen suddenly called out to Li Xian:

"Young Master Li, I'd like to offer you one last piece of advice."

"Please speak, Abbot."

"The waters in the capital are deep, but the waters in the academy... are even deeper." Her eyes deepened. "There, you will see the truth of this world—the beautiful side and the ugly side. You will meet people who want to help you, and you will also meet people who want to use you and destroy you."

She paused, her voice as soft as a sigh:

"Remember, no matter what you see, stay true to yourself. That pure, 'extraterrestrial' quality within you is...the most precious thing in this murky world."

Li Xian bowed deeply: "This junior will remember this."

The three followed the young Taoist boy away, their figures disappearing at the end of the bamboo corridor.

Miaozhen stood in front of the bamboo house, gazing in the direction they had gone, remaining motionless for a long time.

The night wind rustled through the bamboo forest.

Suddenly, without turning her head, she spoke:

"Aren't you tired after listening for so long?"

The bamboo shadows swayed, and a dark figure drifted down from the eaves, kneeling on one knee. It was a man completely wrapped in black clothes, with only his piercing eyes showing.

"Master, what about Li Xian's answer sheet...?"

"Make a copy and send it to the palace for His Majesty to review," Miaozhen said calmly. "Tell His Majesty that the 'variable' he's been looking for has arrived."

"Yes." The man in black hesitated for a moment. "Then the Green Wood Token..."

"That's not something we should touch." Miaozhen turned around, her gaze icy. "Tell that person in the palace that Yunmeng Mountain is only responsible for 'watching,' not 'seizing.' If he dares to covet the Green Wood Token, the next person to Yunmeng Mountain will not be a guest, but an unwelcome guest."

The man in black trembled: "Understood."

"Go."

The man in black turned into black smoke and disappeared.

Miaozhen looked up at the night sky. The stars were exceptionally bright tonight, but in her eyes, dark red cracks could be faintly seen spreading between the starlight.

"A great calamity..." she murmured to herself, "Li Xian, Li Xian, you've come...just in time."

The night wind blew her Taoist robe, making it flutter loudly.

Behind her, on the wall of the bamboo house, hung a huge star map. On the star map, the position representing "Yinghuo" (Mars) was glowing with an ominous blood-red light.

(End of Chapter 55)