Jiang Tong'er stepped onto the golden light path, heading straight east.
He passed through the scorching summer days, yet now it was the autumn frost scenery.
A year had passed, and he was nearing the Southern Zhanbu Continent.
As Jiang Tong'er walked along the path, he gazed into the distance and saw the end of the golden light, knowing that his master’s teachings had reached Han Gu, and he was almost there.
"Fortunately, the purple qi is still present; it has not yet passed."
Jiang Yuan observed the purple qi in the east and felt at ease, knowing that Laozi had not yet traveled west to Han Gu.
Over the past year, he had practiced diligently every day, truly embodying the phrase, "collecting heavenly fire within the furnace, refining it to be as red as the golden crow."
His cultivation had made progress, and the Golden Crow was gradually taking shape.
As Jiang Yuan approached Han Gu, he reached the end of the path, where the golden light dissipated beneath his feet, revealing the Southern Zhanbu Continent right before him.
Turning around, Tong'er bowed deeply towards Ling Tai Fang Cun Mountain, expressing his gratitude to his master before stepping into the Southern Zhanbu Continent.
Not long after entering the Southern Zhanbu Continent, he saw Han Gu again.
However, Han Gu had changed; at the narrow pass, there stood a magnificent fortress.
The fortress was built at the narrow entrance of Han Gu, with a gate that allowed only one cart to pass through.
If the gate were to close tightly, one would truly sigh at the sight of the pass.
Jiang Tong'er laughed and said, "In the past, my master said to build a pass here, allowing one man to guard it against a thousand. Little did I know that my master foresaw the true establishment of a pass here. This should be called 'Han Gu Pass.'"
After saying this, he hurried towards Han Gu Pass.
As he got closer, Han Gu Pass unfolded before him.
Suddenly, he saw a middle-aged man standing outside the pass, accompanied by five or six servants, waiting.
The path beneath his feet was spotless.
Jiang Yuan looked towards the middle-aged man, feeling a tremor in his mud palace, and his primordial spirit came to aid him.
He saw that the middle-aged man had an ethereal demeanor, with hidden spiritual energy within him.
His heart settled, realizing that he was indeed an extraordinary person.
Such a figure was not merely a cultivator; he was a great sage of the world.
The middle-aged man saw Jiang Yuan approaching, and with his servants, he stepped forward to bow, saying, "Han Gu Pass's Order Yin Xi pays respects to the Western Sage!"
Jiang Yuan was both surprised and puzzled, saying, "There is no need for such courtesy! I am just a young child, not a sage!"
This was indeed Yin Xi, a name he had heard in his dreams.
He was revered as one of the ancestors of Daoism, known as 'Wenshi Zhenren,' and was also honored as the ancestor of the Louguan Dao, with immense renown.
Why was this person bowing to him and calling him the Western Sage?
Yin Xi bowed again and said, "The sage may not know, but I have been fond of celestial numbers since childhood, with some knowledge of changes and divination. I am well-versed in the Eight Trigrams and also understand the Lian Shan and Gui Zang.
A year ago, I observed the celestial phenomena at night and saw the purple qi coming from the east, vast like a dragon, knowing that a sage would pass through to the west.
I also saw the golden light shining brightly from the west, knowing that a Western sage would come east, and the two sages would meet at Han Gu."
Jiang Yuan asked, "How do you know I am the Western Sage?"
Yin Xi replied, "I observed the celestial phenomena and knew that the Western Sage would arrive during the autumn frost scenery. I faintly saw the stars of Yuzhou moving, and the sage's body must be connected to Yuzhou. I saw the sage with the Yuding at his waist, and the sage's spirit was full and agile, undoubtedly the Western Sage!"
Jiang Yuan was astonished; this person was indeed wise.
He shook his head and said, "Order Yin is truly talented! However, I am certainly not the Western Sage."
Yin Xi bowed again and said, "Before the sage, I would never mistake him!"
Jiang Yuan, feeling helpless, said, "Order Yin, listen to me. The Western Sage is my master. I reside in the Western Niu He Continent at Ling Tai Fang Cun Mountain, in the Xie Yue San Xing Cave. My master's法名 is called Bodhi, and he is a close friend of the Eastern Sage. Today, seeing the sage coming from the east, I was summoned to serve the sage, thus I walked the path of the teachings. However, I am indeed not a sage."
Upon hearing this, Yin Xi finally believed him and said, "It was my mistake; I did not expect to mistake the immortal child’s master for a sage. I must apologize to the sage!"
After saying this, Yin Xi bowed towards the west nine times.
Jiang Yuan helped Yin Xi up and said, "If my master knew, he would certainly not blame you. You may rest assured."
Yin Xi nodded and asked his servants to bring a sedan chair, but Jiang Yuan refused.
Jiang Yuan said, "I am waiting for the sage to arrive; there is no need for this."
Yin Xi complied and said, "Then please, master, enter the pass. I have not yet dared to inquire about the master's name."
Jiang Yuan replied, "Jiang Yuan, with the法号 of Guangxin."
Yin Xi welcomed Jiang Yuan into Han Gu Pass and treated him with great hospitality.
Once inside the pass, Jiang Yuan did not partake in any food but sought a place to sit and cultivate.
He required no grains or cereals, instead, he inhaled and exhaled heavenly fire daily, refining the Golden Crow.
This scene naturally astonished the people within the pass, who secretly thought that an immortal had come, not eating or drinking, yet remaining safe and sound.
Order Yin Xi was also surprised, not expecting Jiang Yuan to possess such abilities.
……
This cultivation lasted for three to four months, waiting for the spring to warm and the flowers to bloom, when the red was plump and the green was thin.
One day, Jiang Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, feeling a tremor in his mud palace.
He gazed into the distance and saw the purple qi coming from the east, like waves rolling in the vast sea.
Laozi was about to arrive at Han Gu!
Jiang Yuan stood up, feeling healthy and spirited, eager to welcome Laozi.
Suddenly, he saw Yin Xi approaching.
Yin Xi saw Jiang Yuan and bowed, saying, "Master! The sage is about to arrive; may I invite you to welcome him with me?"
Jiang Yuan asked, "How do you know the sage is coming?"
Yin Xi replied, "I have been restless for several days, sensing a spiritual omen. I noticed that you sat still for two to three months without moving, and today you finally moved, hence I felt the sage was coming."
Jiang Yuan praised, "You are indeed wise. Among my fellow disciples in the mountains, none are as clever as you."
Yin Xi shook his head and said, "I dare not! I am merely a mortal; how can I compare with the disciple of the Western Sage?"
Jiang Yuan noticed some food on the ground nearby and guessed that Yin Xi had sent people to deliver food daily.
He felt quite fond of Yin Xi.
He said, "I see the purple qi approaching, so I believe the sage will arrive soon. Would you like to accompany me to welcome the sage, Order Yin?"
Yin Xi was delighted and readily agreed.
Jiang Yuan and Yin Xi exited the pass.
Yin Xi led his servants out, clearing the path.
Along the way, for forty miles, everything was swept clean, without a speck of dust.
Jiang Yuan observed this and thought to himself, "This child truly practices diligently; he deserves to have a reputation."
He waited by the roadside forty miles away.
After Yin Xi cleared the path, he also stood beside Jiang Yuan, quietly awaiting the sage's arrival.
……
After waiting for more than half a month, it was known that many of the pass's citizens, soldiers, and servants had come to wait alongside Yin Xi and Jiang Yuan.
However, after five days with no one arriving, the citizens left.
After ten days with no one arriving, the soldiers departed.
Another half month passed with no one arriving, and many of Yin Xi's servants left, leaving only three to wait with Yin Xi.
One day, after Jiang Yuan finished inhaling and exhaling heavenly fire, he suddenly felt something and looked towards the sky.
Wow!!
Strange phenomena appeared in the sky, truly 'colorful clouds overlapping, purple qi lush and verdant.'
"They're here."
Jiang Yuan stood up and moved to the side of the road.
Yin Xi and the three servants followed closely behind Jiang Yuan.
As they waited, they saw a figure of an old man appearing in the distance, riding a green ox; it was Laozi.
Soon, the green ox approached, and Jiang Yuan stepped into the road, greeting, "Guangxin pays respects to Master Boyang."
Yin Xi and the others also bowed in greeting.
The green ox stopped in the middle of the road.
Laozi, seeing Jiang Yuan, smiled and said, "Is that you, Guangxin? Truly a clever and wise one, managing to calm the restless heart and the Golden Crow is about to take shape. When I saw you in the past, you had not yet entered the Dao, and your heart was unsettled. Now, seeing you again, you have been in the Dao for quite some time."
Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Thanks to Master Boyang's assistance, I now serve my master's orders, guiding Master Boyang's ox and protecting the law, so that Master Boyang may travel more smoothly."
Laozi nodded with a smile, accepting his intention…
(End of Chapter)