Laozi rode the green bull backward, with Jiang Yuan acting as his protector, traveling westward.
This journey passed swiftly, lasting eighteen years.
Along the way, they traversed many nations, allowing Jiang Yuan to gain considerable knowledge.
It is said that in the West Niu He Continent, the people’s faces were as round as the full moon, their heights varied, some as tall as sixteen elbows, others as short as three or four elbows, with most being around six or seven elbows.
However, Laozi came to teach and enlighten, passing through many countries, yet the people feared the Dao like a tiger, avoiding it at all costs.
After eighteen years, there had been no progress.
Laozi remained indifferent, focusing solely on moving forward, his heart as calm as still water.
Jiang Yuan was the same, diligently protecting Laozi.
He had not practiced for many years; after comprehending the Dao, he had spent several years refining the Golden Sovereign with heavenly fire.
The Golden Sovereign had taken shape and required quiet cultivation before it could be released.
Yet, as he protected Laozi, he had no time to spare, thus it was set aside.
He only ignited the fire twice in a ten-day period to keep the Golden Sovereign in the lung palace still.
On this day, they arrived at a desolate road.
Laozi rode the green bull and said, “Guangxin, your Golden Sovereign is about to form; why not return to the mountain to cultivate?”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan shook his head and replied, “I came to fulfill my master’s command; I cannot disobey.”
Having accepted his master’s command, he was to protect for thirty-three years.
He knew that Laozi possessed great supernatural powers and immense magical strength; his role as protector was optional, yet the kindness must be repaid, regardless of the level of power.
Laozi said, “Guangxin is truly a gentleman.”
Jiang Yuan shook his head and asked, “Baiyang Xiansheng, as we travel through many nations, in those countries, the people fear the Dao like a tiger. In the West Niu He Continent, there are few who have heard of the Dao, and many are barbaric.”
Laozi laughed and said, “There will eventually be those who hear the Dao; we do not abandon them because they are barbaric.”
Jiang Tong’er then bowed in submission.
…
After thirty-three years of travel.
Laozi and Jiang Yuan did not know where they had arrived, having seen many nations, none of which had anyone who had heard of the Dao.
They only spoke, “When will the struggle for fame and profit cease? Only worry about clothing and food, laboring tirelessly. Why fear the King of Hell when he comes to take? No one is willing to turn back.”
Jiang Yuan knew there was still less than half a day left; Laozi was about to leave the world and return to the heavens.
This journey had been slow to progress, as if there were obstacles preventing any advancement.
Laozi was neither anxious nor impatient, moving forward gradually.
On this day.
Jiang Yuan walked beside the bull when he suddenly felt something and looked into the distance, seeing a middle-aged man walking in the desolate road.
His mud palace shook violently, prompting his primordial spirit to assist him.
He saw the middle-aged man covered in black mud, yet there was a hint of spiritual insight.
Although he was a barbarian, he sat cross-legged on the ground, seemingly wise.
He had seen black mud before, which was from years past when his ancestor traveled westward with him.
He recognized the black mud as the sea of suffering.
If he were to touch it, the black mud would corrupt his heart’s monkey, cloud his primordial spirit, and lead him into the sea of suffering.
What was the nature of this middle-aged man?
Jiang Yuan had traveled for thirty-three years without encountering any demonic obstacles blocking his path.
He knew it was Laozi carrying the purple qi, and the demonic obstacles did not dare to obstruct them.
Thus, this middle-aged man was not a demonic obstacle.
Moo!
The green bull let out a moo and stopped in its tracks.
Laozi took out a book and tossed it downwards, letting it fall in front of the middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man, seeing the book fall from afar, opened his eyes and woke up, looking around.
However, due to the distance, he could not see Jiang Yuan and Laozi, leaving him utterly confused as he picked up the book.
Jiang Yuan was startled; he did not know what this book was, yet he understood that this book represented the vitality of the West Niu He Continent.
The beings of the West Niu He Continent all entered the sea of suffering; it was easy to ferry one or two people, but difficult to ferry all beings.
Perhaps Laozi possessed this great power, yet Laozi left a chance for life before departing the world, not using great power to ferry all beings.
To ferry all beings, only the beings themselves could do it.
This book of Laozi was akin to the “Dao De Jing” left in the Southern Zhanbu Continent; it was a chance for life.
This Dao was like a withered tree yearning for spring, and the chance for life was the technique of grafting; whether one lived or died depended entirely on fate.
Suddenly, Laozi looked up and smiled, saying, “Guangxin, I must go.”
To transmit the Dao and teach, half a day is sufficient.
Jiang Yuan understood and bowed, “I respectfully send off Baiyang Xiansheng!”
In the mortal realm, Laozi was known as Li, with the courtesy name Boyang, and after leaving the world, he would ascend to the thirty-three heavens in the Dou Shuai Palace, becoming the Taishang Laojun.
Laozi smiled and said, “This journey has lasted thirty-three years, and I have troubled Guangxin to accompany me, which has delayed your cultivation for many years. You should have refined the Golden Sovereign long ago; how is it that it has not yet formed?”
Jiang Yuan replied, “It is my fortune to protect Baiyang Xiansheng. Without the cauldron you gifted me years ago, my path would have been difficult.”
Laozi extended his hand from his sleeve, pointing at Jiang Yuan.
In an instant, a purple qi entered the child’s lung palace.
Jiang Yuan saw that within the lung palace, everywhere was filled with the red glow of a furnace, and within the two pearls appeared a piece of steel, which was nurturing a body full of spiritual energy.
It was a treasure; if this steel were to be forged into weapons, the Golden Sovereign would surely become even more powerful.
Laozi said, “This treasure will assist you, Guangxin. I must go.”
Having said that.
The green bull let out a moo, and beneath its feet, a cloud of rosy clouds rose, soaring into the sky, accompanied by myriad rays of rosy light and swirling purple qi, disappearing without a trace.
Jiang Yuan bowed again, “I respectfully send off Laojun!”
After completing his salutation, he turned to leave, heading back to Ling Tai Fang Cun Mountain.
He saw the road ahead suddenly stirred up with wind and sand, dim and hazy, blinding his eyes, with numerous demonic obstacles preventing his return.
Jiang Yuan summoned a black and white fish and prepared to smash the Yu Ding.
How was it that when Laozi was present, the demonic obstacles hid away, leaving no trace? Now that Laozi had left, they dared to come and bully him; he was not a soft persimmon.
Just as Jiang Yuan was filled with anger, suddenly, golden light came from the west, dispersing the wind and sand, causing the demonic obstacles to retreat and clearing a path.
It was his ancestor casting a spell to guide the child back home.
Jiang Yuan bowed in gratitude and walked along the golden path.
…
After a year of travel, he returned home, as the child was eager to return.
Jiang Yuan arrived at Ling Tai Fang Cun Mountain, directly entering the Xie Yue San Xing Cave.
Upon reaching the Yao Tai, he saw his ancestor waiting for him with a smile on the altar.
Jiang Tong’er bowed before the altar of his ancestor, sincerely prostrating, “Master, I have returned!”
The ancestor personally descended from the high altar, helping Jiang Tong’er up and saying, “Child, sit down. After thirty-three years, your cultivation has made great progress.”
Jiang Yuan sat down alongside his ancestor and then spoke, “Master, my cultivation is largely due to Baiyang Xiansheng. Years ago, when I arrived at Hangu Pass, I met the wise man Yin Xi, who sought the Dao from Baiyang Xiansheng, bowing three times to request Baiyang Xiansheng to write a book.
I gained some benefits from this, thus the Golden Sovereign is about to form. After arriving at the West Niu He Continent, I rested for several years before refining again, and the Golden Sovereign is complete, just awaiting quiet cultivation.
Before Baiyang Xiansheng left the world, he bestowed upon me a piece of steel, which I need some time to refine into the Golden Sovereign.”
The ancestor nodded and smiled, “So it is. Child, you are indeed fortunate. This steel is no ordinary item; if your Golden Sovereign obtains this treasure, it will surely be of great use!”
Jiang Yuan asked, “Disciple has not served before Master for thirty-three years; how is Master?”
The ancestor replied, “I am well! Since your cultivation is crucial, you should hurry to cultivate, allowing the Golden Sovereign to form early, so that five can return to two.”
Jiang Yuan was reluctant, conversing with his ancestor for a long time.
After repeated reminders, the ancestor finally allowed Jiang Yuan to leave.
Jiang Yuan departed from the Yao Tai and wandered within the San Xing Immortal Cave, noticing that there were quite a few disciples in the cave, now numbering thirteen.
He knew that after his departure, many cultivators had come.
He saw that the disciples practicing in the cave were polite, discussing the scriptures and the Dao, practicing calligraphy and burning incense, all well-prepared, making the cave quite lively.
Jiang Yuan summoned his primordial spirit to assist and saw that among the thirteen disciples, none had a stable heart; they were all practicing the righteous path, yet they had all cultivated the sidetracks.
The disciples recognized him as the senior brother and eagerly asked him what path he was cultivating.
How could he say he was cultivating the Golden Core Dao? If he said he was cultivating the righteous path, he had something others did not, and they would not seek him.
If he agreed, he would mislead others; if he refused, it would surely lead to karmic consequences.
Thus, the child whimsically spoke of a path within the ‘Fire’ character, prompting the younger disciples to guess.
He then exited the cave, seeking to cultivate on the green moss stone.
This time, with a single push, the Golden Sovereign was about to emerge.
Jiang Yuan was eager to see what kind of weapons his Golden Sovereign would become and what powers it would possess…
New book period seeking follow-up! Seeking monthly tickets!
(End of chapter)