Chapter 83: The Primal Scroll and the Celestial Master's Abacus
Mount Longhu’s current Celestial Master mulled over the words his ancestral founder had just spoken.
He thought, “The founder said, ‘A destined one returns our sect’s supreme treasure; this fulfills a destiny. Rather than simply repaying the debt, it is better to observe him closely. If he is worthy, accept him as a disciple, and in so doing, add new depth to our lineage.’”
A strange feeling rose in the Celestial Master’s heart. Was the founder suggesting they take both the treasure and the man together? He could not help but feel a deep admiration—truly worthy of being called the Ancestral Celestial Master, so far-sighted indeed! While they pondered how best to repay this kindness and settle the karmic ties, the Ancestral Celestial Master planned to gain both the treasure and its bearer.
So, he turned to Zhang Mingde beside him and asked, “Mingde, what is your impression of this Daoist friend Cao Kong?”
After some thought, Zhang Mingde replied, “He is a true cultivator.” He then recounted the circumstances under which he’d come to know Cao Kong.
When the Celestial Master heard that a single phrase from Cao Kong, ‘The wind comes,’ could summon a vast wind across the heavens and earth—not through any display of power or talismanic manifestation, but with immense grandeur—he made up his mind. Indeed, this man was fated to cross paths with the Orthodox Unity Sect.
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Within the Chaoyuan Palace, Cao Kong remained enveloped in a strange state—a hazy, primordial emptiness, as if before the chaos of creation itself.
Suddenly, his vision brightened, and his spirit seemed to drift away. Looking up, he saw a figure—an immortal, perhaps. This immortal held nothing in his left hand, and supported something invisible in his right, exuding an ineffable divine presence.
Cao Kong, his heart aligned with fate, gazed intently and felt himself sink deep into this state, losing all sense of self. The jade ruyi in his Niwan Palace began to emit light, as if lending him strength.
After an uncertain time, a painting began to form in his mind—on it, unmistakably, was the immortal’s image.
Abruptly, all scenes around him shattered like a mirror. Cao Kong started awake to find himself still within the Chaoyuan Palace, holding his lantern to observe the “Primordial Origin.”
Yet the immortal’s image in his mind was utterly real, and its aura was identical to that of the Primordial Lord he faced.
Cao Kong now understood: he had once more encountered great fortune, this time related to the Primordial Lord—a blessing beyond compare.
He bowed deeply to the Primordial Lord, letting his lantern float before him, and with both hands cupped before his abdomen, saluted with utmost reverence.
Regardless of the fortune gained, to meet the Primordial Lord was cause enough to pay homage.
And so his bow was sincere, heartfelt.
Renqing and Renjing, seeing Cao Kong motionless for so long and then suddenly moving, hurried to shine their lanterns and observe.
They saw the Daoist bowing toward the Primordial Origin.
Bathed in the glow of radiant clouds, his figure seemed to merge into the mural itself, as though Cao Kong had entered that solemn Chaoyuan Assembly—standing among the immortals, worshipping the Primordial Lord.
Such a scene—how solemn, how awe-inspiring, how sacred!
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Inexplicably, Renqing and Renjing felt as if the entire Chaoyuan Palace had come alive. The Primordial Lord in the mural seemed to sense the moment and nodded with a gentle smile.
“He smiled—the Primordial Lord smiled!” Renqing and Renjing could scarcely believe their eyes. They rubbed them hard and looked again, but the mural remained unchanged.
“What’s the matter?” Cao Kong, sensing something amiss behind him, straightened up, caught the floating lantern, and asked with concern.
Renqing stammered, “It’s nothing. Perhaps we were seeing things.”
Cao Kong nodded and let it pass.
After a moment’s thought, he praised, “The Chaoyuan Palace is indeed extraordinary. You two, observe with your hearts.”
Renqing and Renjing nodded vigorously, then used their lanterns to shine light, seeking to grasp the divine intent within.
Cao Kong strolled before the murals, pausing before the portrait of his master, the Great Compassionate Sage of Salvation. His master was depicted in the eastern quadrant, almost lifelike, a testament to the ancestral Celestial Master’s profound skill.
He studied the other three cardinal figures, savored their essence, and memorized them. When he gazed at the Jade Emperor, a sense of sovereign dominion surged forth.
After touring the entire Chaoyuan Map and absorbing its immortal atmosphere, Cao Kong found his own cultivation methods subtly enhanced in every aspect.
He sighed, “The ancestral Celestial Master was truly a divine being.”
These murals, brimming with immortal intent, were painted by the ancestral Celestial Master Zhang Daoling. Each generation that observed them would naturally increase in Daoist understanding and spiritual foundation—truly a sacred treasure for the ages.
This single wall was enough to ensure that the Orthodox Unity Sect on Mount Longhu would produce true masters, generation after generation.
Renqing and Renjing, too, unconsciously gained much from the experience. All they saw and heard this day would lie dormant in their hearts and minds, to become nourishment for their Daoist foundation in days to come.
Just then, the current Celestial Master felt a surge of heat in his sleeve. He drew out a jade token identical to the one previously given to Cao Kong and saw it shining with an unprecedented brilliance.
Of these two jade tokens, one was the key to the palace, while the other sensed fluctuations in Daoist resonance. The more Daoist insight the bearer gained, the brighter it would glow.
This was a clever little device for gauging a disciple’s potential.
Never before had the Celestial Master seen so dazzling a light.
And only three people had entered: Renqing, Renjing, and Cao Kong…
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The three soon emerged from the Chaoyuan Palace. Though they had entered at night, they stepped out to find it was daylight.
It truly felt as if they had walked into that great assembly in the heavens, attended the celestial court, and lost all sense of mortal time.
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The scene before them was even more astonishing to Cao Kong.
The current Celestial Master sat at the head, flanked and surrounded by crowds of Daoists.
All eyes turned to Cao Kong. The moment he emerged and met their gaze, everyone bowed in unison as a mark of respect.
The Celestial Master did the same, leading all in homage.
Cao Kong felt a chill run down his spine. He didn’t think he had done anything particularly meritorious—in fact, he was the one who had benefited most.
He stepped aside hurriedly, exclaiming, “Please, this is too much, Celestial Master. I simply returned what was right; such ceremony is unnecessary.”
Renqing and Renjing were likewise startled, as though pricked by thorns, and scurried away.
“That jade slip holds the Orthodox Unity Sect’s talismanic inheritance. Now that it has been returned, our transmission is whole once more. This is a great favor,” the Celestial Master declared. “Tell me, Daoist Cao, is there anything you desire?”
Cao Kong thought of his journey through the Chaoyuan Palace, recalled the vision in his Niwan Palace, and replied, “I have gained much already—there is nothing else I seek.”
The Celestial Master shook his head. “As it is said, our teachings must not be lightly passed on, nor should one take without giving. Our Orthodox Unity Sect possesses talismanic and alchemical traditions, but among these, one set of talismans is the most precious. If you returned the treasure and our sect showed no gratitude, would not the world mock our legacy as cheap?”
With that, the Celestial Master turned to the assembly and said, “In the past, the ancestral Celestial Master left behind Laozi’s words and deeds, and authored two treatises, ‘Laozi’s Teachings to His Disciples’ and ‘Laozi’s Meditations.’ Perhaps we should let Daoist Cao study them.”
The Daoists were all shocked. Zhang Mingde, paling, exclaimed, “How could this be? These two works are the core of our tradition and should only be seen by successive Celestial Masters, no one else!”
The Celestial Master frowned. “Why not? To write a book is to share it. I see that Daoist Cao’s affinity with our sect runs deep. If he enters our ranks and takes the Zhang surname, all is well.”
Zhang Mingde protested earnestly, “Celestial Master, you must not act rashly. This is no small matter—it must be deliberated at length!”
The Celestial Master, growing angry, retorted, “I am the Celestial Master—my word is final! I am willing to accept him as a disciple on behalf of our founder and transmit to him the essence of our tradition. Who dares oppose me?”
“Absolutely not!”
“Celestial Master, please reconsider!”
Cao Kong, standing aside, felt as if fate itself had just crashed down upon his head.