Journey to the West: Starting with the True Lord of the Pure Land

Why not take the Ironclad Soldiers of the Will?

I remember that when you were carving these words, this thought flashed through your mind like a spark, and it was quite interesting.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao's shoulders stiffened slightly.

That was a joking thought he had when he was carving the characters, but he never expected that the Dao Ancestor would see through it so clearly.

Chen Jiao couldn't help but look up at the Dao Ancestor, and saw that his gaze was clear, as if he was genuinely curious.

After a moment of silence, he lowered his head slightly and replied:

"Teacher, you are wise. My momentary lapse of judgment has made you laugh."

"Oh?"

The Daoist Ancestor's tone remained calm: "But why abandon following your heart and choose what you desire?"

Chen Jiao pondered for a moment, recalling how he had ultimately suppressed his impulsive thoughts, and then looked up to answer:

"Even a wish-fulfilling object needs a golden headband to restrain it; following one's heart is not truly following one's heart."

The word "follow your heart" seems carefree, but it is actually a delusion.

How can a heavy iron rod be used at will? Even a Ruyi (a scepter symbolizing good fortune) needs golden hoops at both ends to restrain its movements, lest it lose its proper measure.

"Following one's heart... easily breeds arrogance and pride, which is undesirable and makes one unsuitable as a vessel for conveying the Way."

The Dao Ancestor listened quietly, and seeing Chen Jiao's slightly embarrassed expression, he finally chuckled softly.

The laughter was not loud, but it seemed to carry a gentle power that understood the ages, causing the clear light in the quiet room to ripple slightly.

"What a fine phrase, 'probably not a vessel for conveying the Way.'"

You can restrain your physical form, but you can't restrain your restless mind. It's good that you can see this.

I see that your heart remains as still as water all day long, undisturbed by any ripples. I worry that your cultivation of Taoism has made you lose all humanity.

I noticed your eyebrows twitch just now, and it made you seem a bit more lively than usual.

Chen Jiao's eyes flickered slightly, as if he was puzzled.

Before he could ask a question, the Dao Ancestor continued speaking, his voice calm, yet every word struck the heart:

"Those who cultivate themselves seek a state of unwavering mind."

However, this heart is neither withered wood nor dead ashes. To suppress one's temperament at all costs would make one lose humanity and become almost heartless.

"Indifference is not the Way; only annihilation remains."

The Daoist Master spoke slowly, his voice like a gentle breeze caressing the strings of a zither:

"Don't follow your senior brother Xuandu's example. Back then, he sought only stillness and silenced all thoughts. He seemed to have reached perfection, but in reality, he was in danger and almost passed away."

One should be single-minded, but ruthlessness is unnecessary.

To be able to reflect on oneself even in the face of a momentary lapse in judgment is an immense blessing.

When Xuandu was mentioned, Chen Jiao's eyes flickered slightly, as if he had sensed something, but he quickly calmed himself down and sat down to think.

Inside the quiet room, only the lingering aroma of tea remained, along with the words of the Taoist patriarch, settling deep within my heart.

A moment later.

The Dao Ancestor's gaze fell on Chen Jiao once again.

"You have reached the realm of a true immortal. The next step is to refine the five elements within your heart so that your foundation can be perfected and you can glimpse the immortal nature of gold."

The Daoist Master's voice was calm, yet each word was as if carved in stone:

"The five elements of heaven and earth give rise to the ten Heavenly Stems. Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng, and Ren are Yang, while Yi, Ding, Ji, Xin, and Gui are Yin."

This is the pivot of the circulation of the Five Elements in the universe, and the prelude to the birth and death of all things.

The type of the five elements one absorbs, and which one one prioritizes, determines the depth of one's foundation in the Dao and the distance of one's journey.

He paused briefly, as if observing Chen Jiao's expression, before slowly saying:

"Breathing in qi into the chest is like casting a precious cauldron; one must select the finest essence."

Tell me, which five paths do you wish to take as your foundation? And which one should you prioritize, and which should govern the central palace?

Chen Jiao sat upright on the futon, his black robe remaining perfectly still in the clear light.

He did not answer immediately; his gaze was slightly lowered, as if he were observing someone's mind.

In the quiet room, only the sound of Taoist chanting could be heard flowing quietly, like silkworms eating leaves, dense and continuous.

After a moment, Chen Jiao raised his eyes, his gaze clear and bright, and replied:

"In my humble opinion, Yin and Yang cannot be forcibly separated. The Five Elements are inherently harmonious."

Chen Jiao's voice was steady and each word was clear:

"Since we need to incorporate the Five Elements, why not take all Ten Qi?"

As soon as he finished speaking, it was as if a gentle breeze had swept through the quiet room.

In the teacup on the table, the clear tea leaves moved spontaneously without any wind, creating delicate ripples.

The Daoist master paused slightly in his hand holding the pot, the spout hovering in mid-air, a crystal-clear drop of water about to fall.

He looked up at Chen Jiao, and after a long pause, said:

"Take it all?"

The Daoist Master put down the teapot, his sleeve brushing across the table. He did not rebuke him for his arrogance, but instead asked with great interest:

Why such greed?

The ten elements clash with each other, and the pure and turbid elements mutually restrain each other.

It is like controlling ten dragons to absorb all ten energies, and the difficulty increases with each step. The suffering caused by the clash between Yin and Yang and the conflict between the five elements is beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

If one is not careful, the imbalance of Yin and Yang will cause the foundation of one's cultivation to collapse, and the reversal of the Five Elements will cause the immortal body to perish.

Do you know the danger involved?

Chen Jiao met the Dao Ancestor's gaze. His eyes were clear, showing no fear or retreat, nor any youthful arrogance, only the calmness of a deep pool.

He hesitated for a moment, then spoke:

"I am aware of the danger."

However, the Five Elements and Ten Qi circulate throughout the six directions, evolving into all things. They all originate from the same source and cycle endlessly.

If we take five and discard the other five, it's like severing the cycle of change, forcibly separating yin and yang, which might lose the original intention of natural harmony.

While one may find peace and stability, it is like seeing only a part of the whole picture, making it difficult to grasp the true essence of the great path, thus falling into a lower category.

Only by fully absorbing them, allowing them to mutually generate and restrain each other, circulating endlessly within one's heart, can one achieve a truly perfect and flawless foundation of the Five Elements.

The Dao Ancestor listened attentively, his smile deepening, but he neither agreed nor disagreed, only saying calmly:

"It sounds easy. But such a slight mistake could lead to utter ruin."

Are you... truly confident? Are you absolutely certain you won't regret it?

Chen Jiao lowered his head slightly, his voice becoming a few decibels lower:

"As for the chance of success... this disciple dares not speak presumptuously. With the Great Dao before us, we can only humbly put it into practice and give it a try."

Moreover…

At this point, he slightly changed the subject and chuckled:

"Isn't the teacher here?"

Upon hearing this, the Dao Ancestor was taken aback.

He then chuckled and shook his head, pointing a finger at Chen Jiao, his laughter and scolding tinged with a mixture of helplessness and indulgence:

"You cunning rascal! So this is where you were waiting for me!"

Laughter echoed in the quiet room, dispelling the somber atmosphere brought about by the previous remarks.

A hint of helplessness flashed in the eyes of the Dao Ancestor, but more than that, there was an indescribable appreciation.

This young man's character and courage are truly beyond the reach of ordinary people.

The Dao Ancestor gazed at his disciple, whose sharpness was concealed and whose Dao heart was as firm as a rock, and remained silent for a long time before letting out a soft sigh, his tone gentle yet solemn:

"Very well, since you've made up your mind, I'll do as you say."

If you're willing to call me "teacher"... I, your teacher, will naturally not stand idly by.

But you will have to bear all the hardships alone. As your teacher, I can only offer some protection when your life is in danger.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao's expression turned solemn.

He straightened his dark robes and was about to kneel down to perform the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony to become a disciple.

As soon as he moved, the Dao Ancestor's sleeves fluttered slightly.

An invisible force, like a gentle spring breeze and nourishing rain, quietly supported his knees, preventing him from bowing.

"Foolish child."

"When did this humble Taoist priest need to perform such vulgar rituals of kneeling to heaven and earth when accepting disciples?"

Chen Jiao paused slightly and looked up.

The Dao Ancestor sat upright on a futon, his body exuding an aura of harmony with heaven and earth and coexistence with the Great Dao.

His eyes shone with a clear light, without the slightest hint of criticism, but rather with a serene composure that seemed to have seen through all things.

Chen Jiao suddenly realized that he had been attached to appearances.

Our teacher is the ancestor who created the world, and even the heavens and earth were transformed by him.

All external rituals are meaningless to them. Why bother with such reverence for heaven and earth to demonstrate their hierarchy?

Seeing that he understood, the Dao Ancestor nodded slightly:

"The sentiment is enough."

If you have the Way in your heart, every word and deed you do will be a sign of respect for your teacher.

If one's heart is devoid of the Way, even kneeling until this prayer mat is worn out and smashing these blue bricks will be in vain.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao did not insist on kneeling and bowing.

He simply bowed deeply, his black robes cascading down like clouds.

This bow is not to worship heaven and earth, nor to pay homage to ghosts and gods, but only to revere the Dao!

The Dao Ancestor accepted the bow without hesitation.

After the ceremony, straighten up.

The moonlight inside seemed even brighter.

The Dao Ancestor looked at him with delight and said slowly:

"Now that you have entered my school, you should understand that the Great Dao is formless, yet it gives birth to heaven and earth; the Great Dao is without emotion, yet it governs the sun and moon. You should uphold your original heart, for this is the best way to show respect to your teacher."

Above you is a senior disciple, who is our master's first disciple. He prefers tranquility and spends most of his time in seclusion, studying profound mysteries. When the time is right, the two of you will meet again.

After a brief explanation.

The Dao Ancestor gazed at Chen Jiao, his eyes clear and profound, seemingly able to reflect the very source of all laws, and asked:

"Your willingness to embrace all five elements is commendable."

However, for the circulation of the ten qi, it is necessary to establish a central palace as the main rotation point to govern all qi.

The ruler of the central palace is like a commander in an army. He not only needs to be strong and resilient, but also needs to have the ability to govern the four directions and harmonize yin and yang.

If this position is not properly chosen, it will not only be of no benefit but will also become a source of chaos.

Therefore…

The Dao Ancestor paused slightly, and the Daoist aura in the quiet room seemed to freeze for a moment as well:

"It is not that I, your teacher, am asking you this question, but rather that you must ask yourself: what is the foundation of your path?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao's expression became even more solemn.

After a moment of contemplation, he did not answer rashly, but once again performed the disciple's salute.

He looked at the Dao Ancestor, but instead of mentioning a specific name, he asked:

"This disciple is dull-witted and still remains confused about this crucial point."

"Teacher, if we follow the order of the universe's operation, what is the beginning? What is the foundation?"

There seemed to be approval in the eyes of the Dao Ancestor, but also a deeper meaning.

The steam from the clear tea on the table rose gently, condensing and lingering in his gaze, subtly revealing the image of the cyclical movement of the universe.

The Dao Ancestor did not directly state the answer, but simply said leisurely:

"Heaven opened at the hour of Zi, earth was established at the hour of Chou, and humankind was born at the hour of Yin."

Before heaven and earth were separated, chaos was like a chicken egg.

The Daoist Master's voice was like an ancient chime, neither hurried nor slow:

"The pure Yang energy rises to become the heavens, while the turbid Yin energy sinks to become the earth. This is the first order."

The white vapor surged and billowed, the clear part rising like a canopy, the turbid part sinking like a chariot.

"With heaven and earth established, the sun and moon shine in turn." The Dao Ancestor lightly touched his fingertip, and the shapes of the Golden Crow and Jade Rabbit appeared in the tea aroma, rising and falling alternately.

"During the day, Yang Qi takes charge; at night, it is in charge. This is the second order."

Chen Jiao observed intently.

"The four seasons alternate: spring brings forth life, summer fosters growth, autumn brings harvest, and winter brings storage."

As the Taoist master's sleeves fluttered slightly, the aroma of tea revealed scenes of withering and flourishing vegetation, and the changing seasons:

"Wood, fire, metal, and water each have their own function. This is the third order."

He looked up at Chen Jiao, his gaze calm:

"Among the ten elements, Jia wood represents the beginning of breaking through the earth, while Gui water represents the end of returning to its source."

The waxing and waning of Yin and Yang are like the alternation of the sun and moon, and the rotation of the five elements are like the changing of the four seasons.

The natural order exists in all things; why should human intervention forcefully establish a hierarchy?

As the aroma of the tea gradually dissipated, the quiet room returned to its serene state.

The Daoist Ancestor picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and said calmly:

"If you insist on prioritizing a certain energy, you are going against the natural order of the heavens."

Instead, let us emulate Heaven and Earth, allowing the ten elements to be like the sun, moon, and four seasons, each in its proper place and following its own time.

After speaking, the Dao Ancestor's gaze remained calm as he awaited Chen Jiao's response.

Chen Jiao sat upright on the futon, his black robe appearing even more serene in the moonlight.

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