Chapter 82: The Daoist Raises the Torch to Observe the Return of the Primordial

The contemporary Celestial Master looked at Cao Kong and then bowed deeply.
"The treasure of our Dao tradition has been lost for many years, resulting in a deficiency in our Orthodox Dao inheritance. Today, I am deeply grateful for your kindness. I hope you will stay on Mount Dragon-Tiger for a few days. Once we return the treasure to the Celestial Master's Hall, we shall certainly come to thank you again."
Cao Kong smiled and said, "Fellow Daoists, the matter of restoring the sect's treasure is of great importance. You go ahead—I will simply wander about Mount Dragon-Tiger for a while."
Zhang Mingde shook his head, "That won't do. You have bestowed a great favor upon our Orthodox Dao; we must not treat you lightly."
Then, Zhang Mingde turned to the Celestial Master, "Senior brother, may we allow Daoist Cao to enter the Palace of Origin?"
He addressed these words to the contemporary Celestial Master.
Celestial Master Zhang pondered for a moment, then observed Cao Kong's ethereal bearing and sensed his pure aura. He said, "Very well."
"In that case, we shall return the treasure to the Celestial Master's Hall, and I will have the younger generation guide Daoist Cao to the Palace of Origin."
Zhang Mingde beamed with joy, "Excellent."
Celestial Master Zhang looked at Cao Kong with a hint of apology, "Forgive us, Daoist, for our neglect. Please wait here for a while—I have already summoned someone."
He then took a jade token from his sleeve and handed it to Cao Kong. "This is your credential to enter the Palace of Origin."
Cao Kong received the token, intrigued and tempted to ask questions, but seeing the urgency in the Daoists' eyes, he said,
"No matter, no matter, please go ahead."
With that, the group hurried off—some to bathe, some to burn incense. The matter concerned the very foundation of their Dao tradition and could not be taken lightly.
Thus, Cao Kong was left alone before the Celestial Master's residence, and with nothing else to do, he gazed at the scenery.
Now, dusk approached. The setting sun, fiery as blood, painted the sky crimson.
As the sun sank further, the heavens above shifted from east to west in a gradient of colors—the east was dark and dim, but the nearer to the west, the more dreamlike it became.
The glow of the clouds was neither truly red nor blue, tinged with white amid the pink, gentle and endlessly dreamy.
Cao Kong gazed intently, his spirit unconsciously absorbed in the scene. How wondrous the world, how beautiful the sights of heaven and earth.
Suddenly, footsteps startled him. Two young Daoists appeared, looking about eleven or twelve, both uniquely spirited.
"Oh dear, Grandfather Celestial Master called us in haste, and I hurried too much—the wick in my lantern is nearly spent. The Palace of Origin is still far ahead; it will be hard to see the way soon. Is your lantern still usable?"
The other young Daoist examined his lantern and smiled, "Mine is fine—it should last a while, no worries."
Their footsteps drew closer, and the two caught sight of a figure before the Celestial Master's residence. They called out loudly,
"Are you the Daoist Grandfather Celestial Master mentioned?"

"It is I. My name is Cao Kong. May I ask how you two should be addressed?"
The young Daoists approached, bowing with meticulous courtesy. "I am Renqing, and he is Renjing. By order of Grandfather Celestial Master, we are to guide you to the Palace of Origin."
With that, the two led the way, unafraid and lively, peppering Cao Kong with questions as they walked.
"Where are you from, Daoist? How old are you? Can you perform magic?"
"I am from Hidden Mist Mountain. As for age, I am nearly a hundred. Regarding magic, I know a little."
Cao Kong found their childlike curiosity amusing and gladly conversed, asking what the Palace of Origin was.
"The Palace of Origin, they say, was built after our Patriarch and the gods of the Daoist court visited the Primordial Lord of Heaven, witnessed the celestial wonders, and painted a mural called the Diagram of Origin. The mural was bestowed upon us in a dream, so our Celestial Master's residence constructed a palace to house it, adding to our foundation. It is said that viewing it brings benefit."
"Have you seen it yourselves?"
Both shook their heads, then excitedly added, "Grandfather Celestial Master said this time we can enter with you, Daoist!"
Just then, Renqing cried out—his lantern had gone completely dark.
"Oh no, Daoist, only Renjing's lantern remains. We must be careful as we walk." Renqing said with a troubled face.
"How about you let me show you a little trick?"
Cao Kong spoke gently, and Renqing instinctively handed him the lantern.
Holding the lantern high, Cao Kong pointed to the lingering glow in the distance and smiled, "Watch."
The two young Daoists gazed as he reached into the air, and in his palm, the glow of the clouds gathered like a mirage.
"Wow!"
Cao Kong heard their cries and smiled with delight, then threw the gathered glow into the lantern.
In an instant, the radiance from the sky settled within the lantern, illuminating the mountain path.
He handed the lantern back to Renqing, who took it, eyes wide with wonder and admiration for Cao Kong.
"Daoist, you are amazing."
Renjing was equally envious, wishing his own lantern would extinguish so he could ask the impressive Daoist to catch a bit of the clouds' glow for him.
Unfortunately, the flame in his lantern burned steadily.
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After about half an hour's walk, they arrived before a palace.
The plaque above the door read "Palace of Origin," exuding boundless solemnity and a hint of divinity, as if it stood with heaven and earth.
The jade token Cao Kong had tucked in his sleeve began to emit a clear, ethereal light, slowly rising and entering the Palace of Origin, causing the doors to open. Inside, it was dim and mysterious, like chaos.
Curious, Cao Kong entered with the two young Daoists. Renjing proactively handed his lantern to Cao Kong.
"Daoist, it has grown dark. Take the lantern for better visibility—we can share one between us."
Cao Kong smiled and accepted the lantern. At his level, seeing in the dark was trivial, but he did not wish to reject the young Daoist's kindness.
Holding the lantern, he entered, and instantly felt as if he had stepped into another world, into a celestial palace, accidentally trespassing on the home of immortals.
The palace faced north from the south, so the first thing he saw was the mural of the Primordial Lord of Heaven.
Though it was but a painting, Cao Kong felt as though the Primordial Lord possessed a spirit, smiling at him.
Unconsciously, he stepped forward. Though he could see in the night, he raised the lantern, his gaze reverent and respectful, as if performing a ritual.
Faintly, his consciousness grew hazy, as if drawn into a wondrous, spiritual realm.
It was as if he entered before the dawn of creation, before chaos itself.
Renqing and Renjing sensed Cao Kong's change. Their cultivation was shallow and they could not discern what was happening, but dared not disturb him, only watched in awe.
They saw the Daoist raise the lantern to view the mural.
Strangely, witnessing this scene, they felt a sense of pilgrimage.
At that moment, within his mind palace, the eighty golden characters of Cao Kong's Taiyi Golden Light Mantra—especially the four characters signifying the Three Pure Ones—shone faintly for a moment.
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Meanwhile, in the Celestial Master's Hall, the Daoists had all bathed and burned incense. The contemporary Celestial Master offered the treasured jade scroll before the statue of the patriarch.
He then placed three sticks of incense.
"Unworthy disciples have finally returned the treasure of our Dao tradition—may the patriarch forgive us."
Celestial Master Zhang spoke thus, and saw before him that the three incense sticks, which should have emitted thin wisps of smoke, suddenly blossomed into clouds of azure mist.
In the midst of the haze, Celestial Master Zhang faintly heard a voice—the words of the patriarch.