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

A gentle mountain breeze blows, and the pine trees seem to whisper secrets.

Li Yuan stood atop the mountain for a moment, his eyes reflecting the gradually brightening morning light and the layered eaves of palaces and temples in the distance.

He brushed away non-existent dust from his Taoist robe and strode toward his secluded courtyard for meditation.

His steps were unhurried and undisturbed, as if the grand cultivation he had just performed, which had inspired the Four Sages and guided the starlight, was nothing more than an ordinary morning breathing exercise.

The courtyard is located on a secluded cliff behind the Daluo Palace. It consists of a few simple houses, a bamboo fence, an ancient pine tree, a stone table, two stone benches, and no other embellishments.

A thin layer of pine needles had accumulated, indicating that no one had deliberately swept it for a long time, yet it possessed a natural, unadorned tranquility.

Li Yuan pushed open the half-closed bamboo door and stepped into the courtyard.

He did not rush to change his clothes or prepare to entertain guests. Instead, he walked to the ancient pine tree, sat down on the stone bench, picked up a simple pottery pot from the stone table, and poured himself a cup of water.

The water is drawn daily from the spiritual spring behind the mountain; it is clear, cool, and sweet.

He sipped his drink slowly, his gaze fixed on the path winding out of the courtyard gate, his expression calm and undisturbed.

What needed to be done had already been accomplished in the plan.

What is meant to be seen will eventually come along the mountain path.

He only needs to wait here.

......

The mountain gate is majestic, shrouded in clouds and mist.

Lu Xuan and his son Lu Jin finally stepped onto the last stone step, and a bright and open view appeared before them.

A magnificent archway, its eaves and brackets seemingly piercing the clouds, stands before you, inscribed with three ancient and powerful characters—

Daluo Palace.

Behind the archway lies a continuous cluster of palaces that rise in layers along the mountainside, their vermilion walls and green tiles appearing and disappearing in the mist, while the distant sounds of bells and chimes carry on, cleansing the soul.

A Taoist priest was already waiting under the archway. Upon seeing the two approach, he stepped forward and bowed with one hand in a gesture of respect.

"May the Heavenly Venerable grant boundless blessings."

"You two have traveled a long way, are you distinguished guests of the Lu family?"

Lu Xuan returned the greeting: "Indeed, thank you for your trouble in conveying this message. Lu Xuan of the Lu family, along with his son Lu Jin, have been ordered to deliver the banquet invitation."

"The abbot had given instructions before going into seclusion that when distinguished guests arrive, they should be led directly to the place where Uncle Liyuan was cultivating in the back mountain."

The Taoist priest turned and led the way.

"Please follow me."

Passing through the mountain gate, the sight before him made Lu Jin gasp for breath.

A magnificent hall was built against the mountain, with nine white jade steps in front of it, and stone beasts of different shapes standing on both sides of each step.

The main hall has nine bays in width and five bays in depth, symbolizing "the supreme ruler".

Glazed roof beasts perched on the eaves, shimmering in the sunlight.

Even more breathtaking is the view from where they stood...

You can also see layers upon layers of palaces and pavilions behind you, extending upwards along the mountainside, a full thirteen stories high, as if they truly lead to the sky.

"This is the Great Luo Palace..." Lu Jin murmured.

The Taoist priest who was leading the way introduced the items as if they were his own treasures:

"The first to seventh floors are mainly the Hall of the God of Wealth, the Hall of the Savior from Suffering, the Hall of the Three Officials, the Hall of the Sixty Yuan Chen, the Hall of Doumu, the Hall of the Nine Luminaries, the Hall of the Twenty-Eight Constellations, the Hall of Lingxiao, the Hall of the Three Pure Ones, and the Hall of the Five Old Lords."

"The seventh floor and above are the Hall of Myriad Wonders, the Lecture Hall, the Hall of Chaos, the Hall of Immortals, and the Scripture Repository."

Lu Jin followed behind her father, passing through palace gates and corridors. Everywhere she looked, there were solemn and majestic statues, halls filled with the smoke of incense, and Taoist priests walking slowly.

The atmosphere in the palace was serene and profound, as if every brick and stone was imbued with the Taoist spirit of a thousand years, which made him unconsciously restrain the impetuousness of his youth and feel a sense of awe.

The deeper one goes, the fewer pilgrims and ordinary Taoist priests one sees.

The Taoist priest leading the way didn't stop, leading them through the main hall area and onto a quieter, more secluded path, heading towards the back mountain.

Ancient trees towered on both sides of the path, covered in damp moss, and birds sang in the secluded mountains, which was quite different from the grand atmosphere of the palace and temple in front of us, and had a unique otherworldly charm.

"Master Li Yuan...doesn't live in the palace?" Lu Jin couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

The Taoist priest turned around, smiled slightly, and spoke with undisguised reverence:

"Uncle-Master Li Yuan prefers tranquility and is not used to the complexities of the palace."

"The Abbot has granted Uncle-Master Li Yuan special permission to choose a place in the back mountain for quiet cultivation. Unless there is an important matter, the disciples in the palace dare not disturb him easily."

Another incense stick's worth of time was spent.

A simple bamboo fence appeared before me, with ancient pine trees forming a canopy inside.

The Taoist priest, who was in charge of receiving guests, stopped outside the fence gate, bowed respectfully, and spoke in a low but clear voice:

"Uncle-Master Li Yuan, the distinguished guests from the Lu family have arrived."

Lu Xuan took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, stepped forward, and was about to knock on the door.

"The door is unlocked, please come in." A calm and clear voice came from inside the courtyard.

Lu Xuan pushed open the courtyard gate.

Beneath the ancient pine tree, beside the stone table, a young Taoist priest was pouring tea into three earthenware cups from a ceramic pot.

He wore a moon-white Taoist robe, not the grand robes with wide sleeves, but a simpler and neater style, which made his tall and slender figure stand out even more.

Her dark hair was loosely tied up with only a wooden hairpin, with a few strands falling down beside her temples.

His face was not strikingly handsome, but rather refined and elegant, with broad and open eyebrows.

His eyes, in particular, are clear and gentle. At first glance, they seem ordinary, but upon closer inspection, one can sense the tranquil depth and unfathomable nature of his gaze.

What is most captivating is its overall aura.

He was sitting there pouring tea, his movements perfectly normal.

Yet it gives one the feeling of being completely integrated with the pine trees, rocks, courtyard, and even the clouds and morning light of the entire back mountain, as if they were one with each other.

It was as if he himself was a natural part of this world, perfectly harmonious and integrated.

Li Yuan raised his eyes, looked at the father and son at the courtyard gate, put down the pottery pot, and gestured with his hand.

"The mountain road is rugged; you two must be tired."

"A cup of coarse tea to quench your thirst and fatigue, please have a seat."

Lu Xuan dared not be negligent and stepped forward to bow deeply:

"Lu Xuan of the Lu family, along with his son Lu Jin, have been ordered to pay a special visit to Daoist Li Yuan and present an invitation to his birthday banquet."

That's all.

He took out a meticulously crafted, gold-sealed note from his bosom and presented it with both hands.

Lu Jin quickly followed suit and bowed, but her heart was filled with turbulent emotions.

The Daoist Master Li Yuan before me seems... quite different from the extraordinary, exceptionally talented "Daoist Child" that my father described on the way.

There was none of the imposing aura of otherworldly elegance that I had imagined, nor the sharp arrogance often associated with young geniuses.

Instead, it is an extreme form of "ordinariness," an unfathomable "blending with the world."

Li Yuan accepted the invitation but did not open it immediately. Instead, he gently placed it beside the open copy of the *Zhouyi Cantongqi* on the stone table and said:

"Grandpa Lu's birthday is a grand event in the world of extraordinary people."

"I have long lived in the mountains and fields, and I am deeply honored to have been invited by you."

"You flatter me, Daoist Master." Lu Xuan sat down on the stone bench, his posture upright.

"My ancestors often said that among the younger generation of Taoists today, no one can surpass Master Liyuan in terms of Taoist cultivation, wisdom, and innate talent."

"If the Daoist Master could grace this birthday banquet with his presence, it would surely bring great honor to our humble abode."

Lu Jin also sat down awkwardly, his gaze involuntarily drifting to the copy of "Cantongqi" on the stone table. The pages were yellowed and the edges were slightly curled, indicating that it was frequently read.

There are also annotations in vermilion ink, the handwriting is elegant and graceful, and the content is only glimpsed in fragments.

Examples include "The timing of the fire here is subtle and should be observed at midnight" and "Lead and mercury are not physical substances, but metaphors for the essence of yin and yang."

It already feels extremely profound.

"You flatter me, Old Master Lu." Li Yuan poured tea for the two of them. The tea was a clear blue-green color with a subtle aroma.

"The Way has no high or low, but understanding it has varying degrees."

"I am merely a few years older than you and have read a few more scriptures. I have only gained some insights from them."

"But Master Lu..." He turned his gaze to Lu Jin, his expression clear and gentle.

"At such a young age, he already possesses a solid foundation in innate Qi, and it seems he has already begun to grasp the basics of the Three Ones Sect's Reverse Life Threefold Path."

Lu Jin was shocked. He thought he had concealed his Qi very well and had not said much about his entry into the sect. Yet the other party saw through him at a glance.

He subconsciously activated his sect's calming mantra to steady his mind and respectfully said:

"The Taoist priest has discerning eyes."

"I am dull-witted and have only just begun to learn; I dare not presume to claim that I have 'peeked into the path'."

Li Yuan nodded slightly, said no more, and simply raised his cup in acknowledgment:

"This is some rough mountain tea, please."

Lu Xuan and his son raised their cups to drink tea.

The tea soup is slightly astringent at first, but it quickly transforms into an indescribable sweetness and smoothness. A gentle warmth flows down from the throat and reaches every part of the body.

Not only did it dispel the slight chill of the morning dew in the mountains, but it also invigorated the spirit, and the fatigue and worries left over from days of travel seemed to be washed away by this cup of tea.

"Excellent tea!"

Lu Xuan couldn't help but praise, "This tea is so refreshing and invigorating, it cleanses the soul and is probably hard to find in this world."

"The old trees on the back mountain absorb the essence of clouds and mist. In my spare time, I gather some to make drinks for myself and to serve guests."

Li Yuan spoke calmly, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"If Mr. Lu likes it, you can pack some to take with you later."

"How can this be..." Lu Xuan quickly declined.

"It's alright. Tea is the essence of plants; sharing it with others preserves its true nature." Li Yuan waved his hand, subtly changing the subject:

"At Old Master Lu's birthday banquet, I imagine many distinguished guests will be present, young and old alike."

Lu Xuan nodded: "My grandfather had a wide circle of friends, and this is his birthday, so he certainly sent out a lot of invitations."

"The Celestial Master has agreed to come, and friends from other factions have also responded."

Li Yuan gave a soft "hmm," his fingertips tracing the warm rim of the ceramic cup, his gaze seemingly penetrating through the teacup.

I saw the Lu family mansion, soon to be filled with guests, and I foresaw the various encounters and clashes that might unfold in the future.

And... a certain boy's "famous scene" of tears streaming down his face.

His heart was calm and undisturbed, with only his Daoist thoughts as clear as a mirror, reflecting cause and effect.

The Lu family banquet was indeed a great opportunity to observe the current generation of extraordinary individuals, make connections with people from all walks of life, and quietly sow some seeds.

"Please tell Old Master Lu..." Li Yuan put down his teacup, his voice clear and steady.

"I will certainly attend the banquet on time."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xuan felt a great weight lifted from his heart, and a genuine smile appeared on his face:

"Thus, my ancestor's wish has been fulfilled, and my journey can be considered complete."

"We eagerly await the arrival of the Daoist Master!"

They chatted for a while longer.

Lu Xuan tactfully got up to take his leave.

Li Yuan did not insist on keeping him, and indeed gave Lu Xuan a small packet of tea.

Watching Lu Xuan and his son walk away along the stone path.

Standing alone under the shade of a pine tree, the mountain breeze ruffled the hem of his moon-white robe as his gaze fell upon the gold-embroidered invitation.

"Lu Jin... Zhang Zhiwei..."

He murmured the two names, and before his eyes appeared the land of Hunan and Hubei, that mansion where the winds of change were about to gather.

The birthday banquet was the beginning of his journey, and also the moment when he officially stepped into this mortal world and faced the cataclysmic calamity that would scorch the heavens in the future.

first step.