"East Victory Divine Continent, its land is narrow in the east and wide in the west, shaped like a crescent moon. The people’s faces are also crescent-shaped, their bodies are eight elbows long, and their lifespan is two hundred and fifty years."
"South Sea Continent, its land is narrow in the south and wide in the north, shaped like a carriage. The people’s faces resemble the terrain, their bodies are often three and a half elbows long, with some reaching four elbows, and their lifespan is a hundred years, with many dying prematurely."
"West Cow Herding Continent, its land is shaped like a full moon. The people’s faces also resemble the full moon, their bodies are sixteen elbows long, and their lifespan is five hundred years."
"North Gathering Continent, its land is square, resembling a marsh. The people’s faces also reflect the terrain, their bodies are thirty-two elbows long, and their lifespan is a thousand years, with no premature deaths."
During the Western Zhou period, Jiang Yuan sat in a thatched hut, holding a bamboo slip, reading each word carefully.
After finishing, he frowned, lifted the bamboo slip, and saw that it was nameless, shaking his head involuntarily.
This bamboo slip left him unable to discern where he truly was.
Yet he was certain that what was recorded on this bamboo slip was indeed true.
This was solely because the person who had given him the bamboo slip was extraordinary.
"This bamboo slip should be regarded as a geographical book, akin to the Classic of Mountains and Seas, yet I have never read it. That Daoist is indeed a remarkable person," Jiang Yuan sighed.
He did not know where he had come from; he only remembered a dream in which he died from a great illness.
At the moment of his death, it felt both dreamlike and real, awakening in this realm, as if separated by an era.
Flowers are not flowers, mist is not mist, I am not I.
Jiang Yuan did not know if he had crossed over or if it was merely a dream.
Now, after a grand dream, he had awakened.
Dreams are like bubbles, but the pain of life and death is forever etched in his heart.
Jiang Yuan awoke at the age of four, and now he was twenty-nine.
Since his awakening, he had understood where he would go from here.
In this life, he would never again suffer the pains of life and death or the torment of illness.
He sought longevity, he sought the Dao.
But with his parents alive, how could he dare to wander far? When he was four, he saw both his parents present, hiding his heart, only intending to serve them for a lifetime before seeking immortality and the Dao.
At the age of thirteen, his father passed away unexpectedly, and his mother fell ill from longing, passing away when he was sixteen, leaving Jiang Yuan alone.
With no more attachments, he dismissed the servants, set fire to his former home, and departed to seek immortality and the Dao.
He visited the mountains and, at the age of nineteen, found a remarkable person in a cave on 'Shangjing Mountain' and sought the Dao from him.
However, that Daoist shook his head, simply stating that he did not accept disciples.
Jiang Yuan was unwilling to give up and insisted on following that Daoist.
In the end, the Daoist was forced to relent and said that he would accept him as a disciple when the dying withered tree on the mountain sprouted new buds.
From then on, Jiang Yuan built a thatched hut beside the dying tree and focused on researching grafting techniques.
Finally, after ten years, he made a breakthrough.
He replaced the thin film with rare mud, learned to control humidity and the tightness of wrapping, and had a slight chance of success.
Jiang Yuan set down the bamboo slip in his hand and walked out of the thatched hut.
Outside the hut, an ancient withered tree stood before him.
Jiang Yuan approached, holding his homemade water jug, carefully tending to the withered tree.
He looked at a new branch wrapped in rare mud on the withered limbs, faintly seeing a hint of fluorescent green.
Whether he could seek a master and the Dao depended on this bud.
Jiang Yuan's lips curled up, feeling joyful.
"Jiang Yuan, what makes you so happy?"
A slightly aged voice sounded.
Jiang Yuan turned to see an old man dressed in purple, with a solemn yet kind expression, walking over.
This old man was the remarkable person he had encountered.
Observing his behavior and demeanor, he resembled a Daoist, so Jiang Yuan regarded him as a Daoist Master.
This Daoist had stayed in the mountain cave for ten years.
Jiang Yuan had also accompanied him for ten years, during which he not only tended to the withered tree but also researched the delicacies from his dreams to share with him, creating games like 'Go' and 'Xiangqi' for entertainment.
Over the ten years, their relationship was extraordinary.
Though he had never formally become a disciple, the Daoist often showed him some peculiar bamboo slips.
Jiang Yuan extended his hand from his wide sleeves, pointing at the withered tree: "Sir, this withered tree is about to sprout new buds."
Upon hearing this, the Daoist was taken aback and walked over to the withered tree: "Allow me to take a look."
As he spoke, he gently stroked the new branch of the withered tree.
"Indeed, it is a new bud."
"Strange, this tree clearly has lost its vitality, yet you have managed to extract life from it, allowing this tree to rejuvenate."
"Good technique."
The Daoist marveled.
Jiang Yuan bowed: "Sir, if so, could you accept me as a disciple?"
After ten years of hardship and diligent research, he sought a glimpse of the Dao and a lifetime of longevity.
The Daoist was moved by his perseverance and said: "Why do you go to such lengths? Over the past ten years, I have often been touched by your actions. With your talent, if you were in the mortal world, you would surely enjoy wealth and honor, living without worries. Kings and nobles would treat you as a distinguished guest, while commoners would bow in reverence."
Jiang Yuan shook his head and said: "I only seek the wonders of longevity and the Dao."
Based on what he had seen and heard in his dreams, as long as he wished for it, boundless wealth would come in the blink of an eye.
Even if he wanted to become the ruler of China, he could achieve it.
In a lifetime, whether rich or poor, in the end, it all amounts to nothing.
From the moment breath enters the body to the moment it is exhaled, it is merely a fleeting dream.
Without longevity, without the true Dao, it ultimately becomes a flower in the mirror, a moon in the water.
The Daoist said: "Why go to such lengths?"
Jiang Yuan simply replied: "I wish to use this body to seek the Dao of longevity. Even if I die, I have no regrets. If fate decrees that I cannot attain longevity, I only wish to have a chance to see the Dao before I die, and I fear not death."
"Sir, to hear the Dao in the morning is worth dying in the evening!"
Boom!
Thunder rumbled, and the winds and clouds changed suddenly.
In this era where a hundred schools had yet to contend, the power of 'to hear the Dao in the morning is worth dying in the evening' was immense.
The Daoist said: "Enough, enough, enough! I will accept you as a disciple! Longevity is hard to seek, and the Dao is difficult to see. You may not see it in your lifetime, but you can attain longevity. Are you willing?"
Jiang Yuan remained silent, straightened his clothes, stood like a pine tree, raised his hands to his brows, knelt simultaneously on both knees, facing the Daoist, and slowly bowed, placing his palms on the ground, his forehead touching his palms, performing the 'bowing ceremony.'
This was the ceremony of bowing to a king or for a sacrifice.
He expressed his determination through this act of respect.
The Daoist was astonished: "Why do you perform such a ceremony for me?"
Since the Western Zhou period, the rites had been established, each type of ceremony serving its purpose and not to be used arbitrarily.
Jiang Yuan said: "Heaven and Earth are my parents and teachers. Today, I bow to you as my master, wishing to spend my entire life seeking the Dao and longevity, and I must perform the bowing ceremony."
The Daoist praised: "You truly are a great talent. You will enter my cave and become a disciple today. I will call you Jiang Tong'er, but you still need a Dharma name. I have twelve characters under my name: 'Broad Wisdom, True Suchness, Ocean of Nature, Enlightened and Complete.'"
"You are my first disciple, so your name will be 'Broad.' Since you are greedy for longevity and your heart is difficult to tame, I will give you the Dharma name 'Guangxin,' hoping you can tame your heart and hear the Dao soon."
The Daoist said.
Guangxin!
Broad Wisdom, True Suchness, Ocean of Nature, Enlightened and Complete!
How familiar it sounded.
Jiang Yuan recalled the scenes from his dreams and suddenly awakened.
"Dare I ask, Master, what is your Dharma name?"
"Bodhi."
This is actually the Journey to the West!
My master is actually Patriarch Bodhi!
(End of Chapter)