Under One Person: I Have a Billion Taoist Gods Within Me

Taoism has been one of the three pillars of Chinese culture since ancient times.

Since the Ming and Qing dynasties, only the Quanzhen and Zhengyi schools of Taoism have survived.

There are several ancestral temples, including Yongle Palace, Chongyang Palace, Baiyun Temple, Longhu Mountain, Maoshan Mountain, and Shangqing Palace.

However, when it comes to the number one Taoist temple in the world, it has to be the Mianshan Daluo Palace, which can be compared with the Potala Palace.

However, this renowned Taoist temple, which had been passed down for over a thousand years, was destroyed by the damned Japanese pirates in 1942.

But what the future holds, no one in the world can know.

Only Li Yuan, who was reborn into the present world as the Dao Child of the Great Luo Palace, understands all of this and vows to protect it!

At this moment, at the foot of the mountain, the blue stone steps wind upwards and disappear into the clouds.

Two figures, one old and one young, were climbing the steps.

The boy was about fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in a moon-white long robe, with bright and lively eyes. He was looking up at the palace in the clouds, his eyes full of amazement and curiosity.

"Father, do you think that Daoist Li Yuan is really as miraculous as the rumors say?"

"And this Daluo Palace, hailed as the number one Taoist temple in the world, could it truly be as the legends say, containing the highest realm of Taoism—the 'Daluo Immortal Realm'?"

The young man spoke, his voice clear and bright; he was none other than Lu Jin, the rising star of the Sanyi Sect and the young master of the Lu family.

The middle-aged man walking in front was tall and straight with a serious face. He looked about 70% like Lu Jin, but his eyes and brows had a more weathered and composed look.

It was Lu Jin's father, Lu Xuan.

Lu Xuan continued walking, his voice steady: "If the rumors were untrue, would your great-grandfather have sent me personally to the Daluo Palace to deliver the banquet invitation?"

He paused, then glanced back at his son:

"You should know that the invitations to the banquets sent to Longhu Mountain and Baiyun Temple were all sent by disciples."

"Only this Great Luo Palace requires my personal presence."

Lu Jin quickened her pace to catch up, her eyes filled with even greater doubt: "But didn't Grandfather say that the current abbot of the Great Luo Palace has been out of the public eye for many years?"

"And this banquet invitation..."

"The person your great-grandfather wanted to invite was not the current abbot of the Great Luo Palace."

Lu Xuan looked up into the depths of the clouds, his gaze complex:

"It's that Daoist Li Yuan you just mentioned, the legendary 'Born Dao Child'!"

"A born Dao Child?" Lu Jin blinked, his youthful nature making him both curious and skeptical about the title.

That's why he came to the Daluo Palace with his father, wanting to see for himself if the rumors were true.

Lu Jin continued, "I've heard that those prestigious sects also have many geniuses, like the Little Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, and me from the Sanyi Sect..."

"Ahem, I mean, is it really that amazing?"

Lu Xuan did not answer directly, but instead asked:

Do you remember what Taoism refers to as "Primordial Qi"?

Lu Jin pondered and said, "Taoism believes that before all things came into being, in the chaos of the universe, there was a vital, primordial, and pure life force that was constantly generating life, which is called the Primordial Qi."

"When a person is pregnant, they receive this vital energy and are born, but after birth, they are gradually obscured by the impure energy acquired later in life."

"At the beginning of cultivation, one must try to sense and even subdue this Qi."

"Not bad." Lu Xuan nodded.

"And Li Yuan, it is said, possessed extremely rich 'innate Qi' and was completely isolated from the world of the afterlife, remaining untainted."

The father and son continued climbing the mountain.

Lu Xuan's voice spread out amidst the mountain wind and the faint sound of bells and chimes, outlining a stunning silhouette for that legendary figure:

"In addition, there were extraordinary celestial phenomena at the time of Master Liyuan's birth."

"Eighteen years ago, on the fifteenth day of the eleventh lunar month, a night with a full moon."

"Suddenly, a purple aura appeared outside the Daluo Palace from the east, and the thousands of statues of gods enshrined inside the palace trembled at the same time, and bells and drums sounded on their own, which continued for the entire night."

"The next morning, the gatekeeper found an infant outside the palace gate, surrounded by purple mist that lingered for a long time."

"The current abbot of the Great Luo Palace, Master Xuanwei, personally brought the baby into the palace and accepted him as his only true disciple."

Lu Jin listened intently, slowing her pace.

Lu Xuan continued, "It is said that Li Yuan, this born Dao child, had already attained the profound understanding at the age of half a year."

"When he was one year old, the True Man Xuanwei opened an altar in front of the Sanqing Hall to preach the Qingjing Jing (Classic of Purity and Tranquility).

"When the master spoke of 'The Great Dao is formless, yet it gives birth to heaven and earth,' a sudden gust of wind arose outside the hall, stirring the branches and leaves of the ancient cypress trees in the courtyard, making a rustling sound."

"And at that moment, he unconsciously raised his hand, his fingertips tracing a line, and the trajectory of the fallen leaves in the wind changed, naturally arranging them into the Eight Trigrams in the air, which then dissipated in an instant."

Lu Jin paused, exclaiming in surprise, "This...this is real?!"

"The entire hall of Taoist priests witnessed it with their own eyes." Lu Xuan continued climbing the mountain.

The Master sighed and said, "It is not a strange technique, but rather the natural connection caused by the primordial Qi that has not yet dispersed."

The mountain breeze swept through the forest, carrying the distant sound of bells.

Lu Xuan's voice continued to echo on the stone steps, his tone filled with disbelief.

"When he was three years old, he was already able to browse through the library's books on his own."

"Once, a highly skilled talismanic master from Longhu Mountain visited and tried to draw 'cloud seal script' with cinnabar in the guest room."

"Li Yuan glanced at it as he passed by and pointed out that the direction of one of the strokes, 'Qi Path,' was off, not in accordance with the ancient meaning recorded in the 'Records of the Three Caverns Divine Talismans.'"

"The sorcerer initially didn't take it seriously, but after returning home, he made minor adjustments according to the child's instructions, and then wrote the talisman again. When the talisman was completed, its spiritual light actually intensified!"

Lu Jin's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief:

"Can a three-year-old understand the talismans drawn by a high-ranking master?"

"Can you point out any shortcomings?"

"This matter is circulating within small circles among various schools of talisman practitioners, which is quite puzzling."

Lu Xuan paused slightly, as if recalling the shock he felt upon hearing the news.

"When he was five years old, a Quanzhen elder from Chongyang Palace came to discuss the 'internal alchemy fire control,' and his words were subtle and profound."

He listened quietly for a while, then suddenly spoke, using the cycle of the four seasons and the rising and setting of the sun and moon as metaphors to explain the wonder of "lead and mercury extraction and replenishment".

"He actually transformed the abstract alchemical formula into a metaphor for natural phenomena, which made that elder clap his hands in admiration."

"It is said that he has attained the natural pleasure of the Dao of Alchemy, which is no longer merely a matter of verbal learning."

The father and son had reached the mountainside.

The clouds and fog thickened, and the Daluo Palace appeared and disappeared in the clouds like a mirage.

The mountain wind picked up, blowing the stray hairs on Lu Jin's forehead and stirring his heart.

These rumors go far beyond the category of "genius" and are almost akin to "being born with knowledge"!

"And the interruption when I was eight years old..." Lu Xuan lowered his voice slightly.

"This was the beginning of when Li Yuan's name truly alarmed the top figures in the entire world of supernatural beings."

"At that time, the old Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain personally went to the Daluo Palace."

"Ostensibly, it was a visit to a friend to discuss philosophy, but in reality, it also carried the implication of considering this rumored 'Taoist Master'."

"The Celestial Master and the True Man Xuanwei discussed for three days in the Hunyuan Hall. Apart from the two of them, only Li Yuan, who was specially allowed to listen in, was in the hall."

As the mountain path wound its way through the hills, Lu Jin felt as if her father's words had transported her back to that mysterious palace.

"The first three days were dedicated to discussing 'what is the concept of bearing burdens'."

"The Celestial Master quoted scriptures and classics to explain the interaction between heaven and man, cause and effect, and karma. He mentioned the Thunder Commandery, which acts as heaven's representative in punishing crimes, in order to demonstrate the impartiality of the Way of Heaven."

"The True Man of Mysterious Subtlety approaches the issue from the perspective of 'natural non-action,' discussing the operation of the Great Dao, where life and death are determined by the natural order, not by deliberate retribution."

"Both sides held their own opinions, making it difficult to determine which was superior."

"On the afternoon of the third day, the topic shifted to 'Calamity and Salvation'."

"The old Celestial Master talked about the 'Yellow Heaven shall rise' at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the 'Demon King shall be born' during the Song Dynasty."

"It is said that whenever calamities occur, the Zhengyi Daoist talisman and the Shenxiao Thunder Magic manifest their power to save the world and deliver people, dispelling evil with righteousness and protecting the Dao with the law."

"The True Man of Profound Subtlety then spoke slowly, saying that the great calamity arises from the collective karma of all beings, and the essence of salvation lies in calming the mind and transforming one's nature."

"If everyone returns to tranquility, the calamity will dissipate on its own; it cannot be resolved solely by external forces or incantations."

Lu Xuan stopped and turned his gaze to the high-ranking members of the Great Luo Palace deep in the clouds:

"Just as the old Celestial Master and the Mysterious True Man were exchanging words, their arguments becoming increasingly profound and subtle, to the point that they sounded like heavenly scripture to ordinary cultivators."

"Li Yuan, who had stood silently for three whole days, suddenly raised his head and asked the old Celestial Master a question. He said..."

"Celestial Master, the Dharma you speak of can dispel the clouds of calamity. The heart that Master speaks of can dissolve the causes of calamity."

"But what if that greatest 'calamity cloud' is meant to destroy all 'Dharma' and all those who understand how to cultivate their 'mind'..."

"Should we use lightning magic first, or calm our minds first?"

Lu Jin imagined that scene:

Inside the magnificent hall, between two Taoist masters, an eight-year-old child posed this question.

He couldn't help but hold his breath.

"Upon hearing this..." Lu Xuan said slowly, his tone still filled with disbelief.

"Silence fell instantly inside the Hunyuan Hall."

"The eyes of the Celestial Master and the Mysterious Master were both on him."

"This problem seems simple, even a somewhat childish 'dilemma'."

"But it touched on a certain 'key point' where all the grand discussions of the Old Celestial Master and the Mysterious Master over the past three days converged."

"It transcends the framework of 'burden,' 'calamity,' 'dharma,' and 'mind,' pointing directly to a more fundamental and cruel possibility..."

When destructive forces target the "Tao" itself, are the original paths still entirely applicable?

"Which should come first, self-cultivation or helping the world, in the face of dire straits?"

"This is no longer a simple doctrinal dispute, but touches upon the fundamental solution for the survival of Taoism."

The old Celestial Master remained silent for a long time, his expression extremely solemn, and finally let out a long sigh, saying...

“Fellow Daoist, this child’s question is beyond our ability to answer today.”

"It points to a future that none of us want to see, but that we have to think about."

"Later, the Celestial Master publicly praised him as 'the future leader of Taoism,' which originated from this question in the Hunyuan Hall."

Lu Jin remained silent for a long time, feeling his heart and soul stirred.

At the tender age of eight, a single question left the old Celestial Master speechless, directly pointing to the future predicament of Taoism. What profound understanding and insight this child possessed!

The slight sense of comparison that might have lingered in his heart had now completely transformed into pure admiration and curiosity.

"When he was twelve years old..." Lu Xuan continued.

"The current abbot of Baiyun Temple came to visit and examine his studies."

Not only did Li Yuan answer fluently, but he also asked a counter-question: "If one's nature is like the bright moon and one's heart is like the shimmering waves, where does the moon's nature remain when the waves end?"

"This question not only subtly aligns with Zen principles and points directly to the ultimate goal of self-cultivation, but it is also purely within the context of Taoism."

"After pondering for a moment, the current abbot of Baiyun Temple actually stood up and performed a half-bow."

"Afterwards, when asked why he had shown such respect, the current abbot of Baiyun Temple replied: 'It was not out of respect for the person, but for his perspective. What this young man saw had already crossed the threshold.'"

It's already reached the threshold...

Lu Jin was deeply shocked.

The current abbot of Baiyun Temple is such a figure that the "threshold" he speaks of is a realm that countless practitioners can hardly reach in their entire lives.

For a moment, Lu Jin was speechless, feeling that compared to the person in the rumors, his past progress in cultivation was like a firefly compared to the bright moon.

"By the age of fifteen, he was already able to teach the Zhouyi Cantongqi on behalf of his teacher," Lu Xuan continued.

"Among those present that day were Taoist priests from various sects, including Maoshan and Gezaoshan."

"When he talked about 'Kan and Li form the framework, and the hub moves along the axis,' he casually drew a line in the air with his finger."

"Among the listeners, those with keen intuition even vaguely saw black and white energies swirling at his fingertips, like a miniature Tai Chi symbol."

"Although it has no actual power, it seems to be able to subtly activate and demonstrate the profound principles in the scriptures with its own pure 'Qi'."

Lu Xuan couldn't help but sigh from the bottom of his heart: "Therefore, all the listeners were convinced, not by his eloquence, but by his ability to 'explain the Way through his own actions'."

"Now he is eighteen years old, and it is said that he has reached the supreme realm of 'understanding one law and understanding all laws'."

"Last month, the Wudang Sect Leader discussed the Dao with him for seven days. No one heard the content, but when the Sect Leader descended the mountain, someone saw him stop halfway up the mountain, looking back in the direction of the Daluo Palace, and muttering to himself..."

"What?" Lu Jin asked urgently.

"No supernatural powers are visible, but the countenance of the Dao is evident. The place where this child stands already belongs to another world."

Lu Jin was utterly shocked and speechless.

Who is the leader of Wudang Sect that he would describe it as "another world"?

Lu Xuan patted his son on the shoulder: "Now do you understand why your great-grandfather was so solemn?"

"The mystery of this Daoist Li Yuan lies not in how earth-shattering his strength is."

"His 'miracle' lies entirely in the 'Tao' itself."

"Understanding the classics, comprehending principles, cultivating one's nature, nourishing one's vital energy, and aligning with nature..."

"He seemed to be born with knowledge of a realm that others could not reach even a corner of in their entire lives, and it naturally revealed itself as he grew older."

"Perhaps this is the true meaning of a 'born prodigy'."

At this point, the father and son were approaching the gate of the Daluo Palace, where the majestic palace appeared even more sacred and unfathomable amidst the clouds and mist.

Lu Jin looked up, his heart filled with indescribable awe and curiosity towards the Daoist Li Yuan he was about to meet.

Lu Xuan finally whispered:

"As for whether the 'Great Luo Immortal Realm,' the highest realm of Taoism, truly exists within the Great Luo Palace..."

"That's beyond our knowledge."

"In this world today, perhaps only a handful of people, such as the Xuanwei Zhenren, the Celestial Master, and the abbot of Baiyun Temple, know about it."

"Besides this, perhaps there is another person who may know or even touch upon the secrets within..."

He didn't finish speaking, but Lu Jin already understood.

It must be that one, the born Dao Child, Li Yuan.