147: Chapter 147 Receiving the Dao from Jieyin and Zhunti
---
Within Chaos, Lu Mingyuan walked.
Towards that golden light.
That light grew closer.
Brighter.
So bright it seemed it would dye the entire Chaos golden.
Yet that gold was different from other lights.
Not a blinding glare.
It was a gentle, compassionate glow, like the light of dusk.
Shining upon him, warm.
Shining within his heart, quiet.
Then, he saw.
Two figures, standing within the golden light.
One was very thin.
Thin as a bamboo pole.
Yet within that thinness, there was something.
A transparency that comes from seeing through everything, and thus caring for nothing.
That was Jieyin.
Lord of the Western Sect.
The one who had asked him in the Zixiao Palace, 'If they die one by one, where is the path to life?'
The other was very fat.
Fat as a cloth sack.
Yet within that fatness, there was something.
A compassion that comes from seeing through everything, and thus embracing everything.
That was Zhunti.
Second Saint of the Western Sect.
The one who had said to him in the Zixiao Palace, 'Those who go far do not do so because they walk fast, but because they walk long.'
---
Lu Mingyuan stepped forward quickly and bowed deeply.
'Disciple Lu Mingyuan, pays respects to Ancestral Master Jieyin, pays respects to Ancestral Master Zhunti.'
Jieyin looked at him and smiled.
That smile was full of compassion.
Zhunti also looked at him and smiled.
That smile was very gentle.
Jieyin spoke.
'Rise.'
Lu Mingyuan straightened up and looked at them.
Jieyin and Zhunti looked back at him.
The three of them stood within the golden light.
No one spoke.
Yet within that silence, there was something.
Something understood without needing words.
---
Finally, Zhunti spoke first.
'Young one, do you know why we came together?'
Lu Mingyuan thought.
'Please enlighten me, Ancestral Master.'
Zhunti said:
'Because the Dao of the Western Sect cannot be explained clearly by one person.'
He glanced at Jieyin.
'Senior Brother explains the principle, I explain the application. Principle and application together constitute the Dao of the Western Sect.'
Jieyin nodded.
'Correct. Principle is the essence, application is the manifestation. Essence and manifestation are not two; that is Emptiness and Existence are Not Two.'
Lu Mingyuan listened.
As he listened, he recalled that debate in the Zixiao Palace.
Jieyin had asked him 'emptiness or existence?' and he had answered 'emptiness and existence are the same thing.'
Now, what they were about to explain was that 'same thing.'
---
Jieyin looked at him.
'Young friend, in the Zixiao Palace you said emptiness and existence are the same thing. This poor monk asks you, was that something you realized, or something you learned?'
Lu Mingyuan thought.
'It was walked out.'
Jieyin asked:
'How was it walked out?'
Lu Mingyuan said:
'Standing at The Rift, in my heart there was nothing. No self, no fear, no thought of life or death. That was emptiness. Yet standing, I was truly standing. Fighting the demon soldiers, I was truly fighting. Saving the Loose Cultivators, I was truly saving. That was existence.'
He looked at Jieyin.
'Emptiness and existence, while standing there, were the same thing.'
A light appeared in Jieyin's gaze.
That light was one of gratification.
'Correct. This is Emptiness and Existence are Not Two.'
He took a step forward.
'But do you know why emptiness and existence are the same thing?'
Lu Mingyuan thought.
'Because emptiness is not nothingness, and existence is not solid reality?'
Jieyin shook his head.
'That is the principle. Not the cause.'
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
'Emptiness and existence are the same thing because of the mind.'
---
Lu Mingyuan was stunned.
'Mind?'
Jieyin nodded.
'Yes. Mind.'
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
'When the mind is empty, then it can hold. When the mind holds, then it can be empty. When empty, the mind is a mirror. When holding, there are things in the mirror. But the mirror and the things are the same thing. Without the mirror, there are no things. Without things, the mirror remains a mirror.'
He paused.
'When you stood at The Rift, your mind was a mirror. When demon soldiers came, there were demon soldiers in the mirror. When Loose Cultivators were injured, there were Loose Cultivators in the mirror. When you saved people, there was you saving people in the mirror. But the mirror was still that mirror. When the demon soldiers left, the Loose Cultivators lived, you finished your task, the mirror became empty again.'
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
'That is Emptiness and Existence are Not Two.'
---
Lu Mingyuan stood there, listening.
As he listened, he suddenly remembered something.
Remembered a time at The Rift, after a Demon Tide had receded.
He sat alone in his tent, his heart holding nothing.
No thought of the battle just fought, no thought of tomorrow's fight, no thought of life, no thought of death.
Just sitting.
Sitting in emptiness.
At that time, his heart was very still.
Still as a mirror.
Later, someone entered and spoke to him.
While speaking, the mirror held the speaker, held the words spoken.
But when the person left, the words finished, the mirror became empty again.
He looked at Jieyin.
'Ancestral Master, this Disciple seems to understand.'
Jieyin asked:
'Understand what?'
Lu Mingyuan said:
'Understood that Emptiness and Existence are Not Two is not a doctrine. It is a state. It is the state of the mind between emptiness and existence. When empty, the mind is a mirror. When holding, the mirror holds things. But the mirror is always that mirror. Emptiness and existence are both forms of the mirror.'
He looked at Jieyin.
'Like water. When water is calm, it is still. When water has waves, it moves. But the water is always that water. Stillness and movement are both forms of water.'
---
Jieyin smiled.
That smile was full of compassion.
'Correct. This is Emptiness and Existence are Not Two.'
He extended his hand.
'Come, this poor monk will transmit something to you.'
Lu Mingyuan extended his hand and grasped it.
In that instant, he sensed something.
Something very strange.
Not light, not heat, not force.
It was a kind of... emptiness.
A kind of emptiness that held nothing.
Yet within that emptiness, there was something.
Compassion.
Wisdom.
That transparency that comes from seeing through everything, and thus caring for nothing.
That compassion that comes from seeing through everything, and thus embracing everything.
He stood within that emptiness.
Standing in emptiness.
Yet while standing, he saw.
Saw many, many people.
Saw those Loose Cultivators who had died at The Rift.
Saw those Jie Sect Disciples who had died in the Investiture of the Gods Calamity.
Saw those Yao Race and Wu Tribe members who had died in the Witch-Demon War.
Saw those Dragon Clan and Phoenix members who had died in the Dragon-Phoenix Great Tribulation.
Saw those Three Thousand Demon Gods who had died in the Heaven-Opening Great Tribulation.
They were all within that emptiness.
Standing in emptiness.
Yet while standing, they were present.
They were truly present.
Within emptiness, present.
---
Jieyin's voice came from within that emptiness.
'Do you see?'
Lu Mingyuan nodded.
'I see.'
Jieyin asked:
'What do you see?'
Lu Mingyuan said:
'I see those who have died.'
Jieyin asked:
'Where are they?'
Lu Mingyuan said:
'In emptiness.'
Jieyin asked:
'What is within emptiness?'
Lu Mingyuan thought.
'Within emptiness... there is them.'
Jieyin smiled.
'Correct. Emptiness holds them. Emptiness holds all things. Emptiness holds everything. Because it is empty, it can hold. Because it is empty, it can contain. Because it is empty, it can give birth.'
He paused.
'Emptiness is not nothingness. It is not clinging after holding. It is being able to be empty again after holding. It is being able to hold again after being empty.'
---
Lu Mingyuan listened.
As he listened, he suddenly felt something become clear.
He looked at those who had died.
They were within emptiness.
Standing in emptiness.
Yet they were standing.
They were truly standing.
He suddenly understood something.
Those who had died had not truly died.
They were within emptiness.
Within emptiness, they were forever present.
As long as his heart was empty, they were present.
As long as his heart had a mirror, the mirror held them.
He looked at Jieyin.
'Ancestral Master, this Disciple understands.'
Jieyin asked:
'Understand what?'
Lu Mingyuan said:
'Understood why the Buddhist gate speaks of 'emptiness'.'
He looked at Jieyin.
'Because only when empty can it hold all people. Because only when empty can it hold everything. Because only when empty can those who have died not truly die.'
He paused.
'At The Rift, this Disciple's heart always held Iron Ox, held those Loose Cultivators. But while holding, the heart was heavy. Now this Disciple knows, one must be empty. Only when empty can one hold better. Only when empty are they truly present.'
---
Jieyin looked at him, his gaze full of gratification.
'Correct. This is emptiness.'
He withdrew his hand.
Lu Mingyuan emerged from that emptiness.
Yet that emptiness remained.
Within his heart.
Empty.
Yet within the emptiness, there was something.
Those who had died.
Those who were alive.
All things.
Everything.
---
Zhunti walked over.
He looked at Lu Mingyuan and smiled.
'Senior Brother has finished speaking of emptiness, now I will speak of existence.'
Lu Mingyuan looked at him.
Zhunti said:
'Emptiness is the mirror, existence is the people in the mirror. But the people in the mirror are not just people. They are events, objects, dharmas, all dharmas. They are the things you have done, the paths you have walked, the Daos you have realized.'
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
'You have walked so many paths, done so many things, realized so many Daos. Those are all existence. But how are those existences to be applied?'
Lu Mingyuan thought.
'Please enlighten me, Ancestral Master.'
Zhunti said:
'Application is action.'
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
'The Buddhist gate speaks of 'action'. Action is not walking. It is doing what should be done while walking. It is standing where one should stand while standing. It is living as one should live while alive.'
He paused.
'The things you did at The Rift were action. Your standing was action. Your fighting the demon soldiers was action. Your saving the Loose Cultivators was action. Your living for Iron Ox was action.'
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
'Action is taking the things from emptiness and applying them in existence.'
---
Lu Mingyuan listened.
As he listened, he remembered something.
Remembered at The Rift, after every battle, he would sit alone for a while.
While sitting, his heart was empty.
Yet within that empty heart were those who had died.
Iron Ox, those Loose Cultivators.
They were in his heart, empty.
Yet when the Demon Tide came the next day, he would stand up again.
While standing, those empty, dead people in his heart became strength.
Became the strength for him to stand.
Became the strength for him to fight the demon soldiers.
Became the strength for him to save the Loose Cultivators.
He looked at Zhunti.
'Ancestral Master, this Disciple seems to understand.'
Zhunti asked:
'Understand what?'
Lu Mingyuan said:
'Understood how emptiness and existence are applied.'
He looked at Zhunti.
[part:gemini-2.5-flash]
"When empty, your heart holds them. When full, they become strength. Empty is the mirror, full are the people in the mirror. But the people in the mirror can become people who do things. They can become people who stand. They can become people who live."
He paused.
"This is 'use'."
---
Zhunti smiled.
That smile was very gentle.
"Yes. This is 'use'."
He extended his hand.
"Come, this poor monk will also pass something on to you."
Lu Mingyuan reached out and grasped it.
At that instant, he felt something.
Something very substantial.
It wasn't empty; it was full.
Completely full.
So full it felt like it would burst him open.
But within that fullness, there was something.
There were the paths he had walked.
There were the deeds he had done.
There were the Dao he had comprehended.
There were the people he had met.
There were the demon soldiers he had killed.
There were the Loose Cultivators he had saved.
There were the places he had stood.
There were the tears he had shed.
All of those were within that fullness.
Completely full.
Yet that fullness was not heavy.
Because that fullness was the fullness of emptiness.
It was the kind of fullness where emptiness was filled with things.
It was the kind of fullness where the mirror was filled with people, yet the mirror remained a mirror.
---
Zhunti's voice came from within that fullness.
"Do you see it?"
Lu Mingyuan nodded.
"I see it."
Zhunti asked:
"What do you see?"
Lu Mingyuan said:
"I see the paths I've walked, the deeds I've done, the Dao I've comprehended, the people I've met."
Zhunti asked:
"Where are they?"
Lu Mingyuan said:
"Within the fullness."
Zhunti asked:
"What is within the fullness?"
Lu Mingyuan thought for a moment.
"Within the fullness... is everything."
Zhunti smiled.
"Yes. Within the fullness is everything. But all of that comes from emptiness. Without emptiness, you cannot hold all of this. Without all of this, emptiness is still emptiness, and useless."
He paused.
"Emptiness and existence are one and the same. Substance and function are also one and the same. The things in the mirror and the mirror are one and the same. The things in the mirror, and the person looking in the mirror, and the things they do, are also one and the same."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"This is the 'use' of Emptiness and Existence are Not Two."
---
Lu Mingyuan listened.
As he listened, he suddenly felt that something had completely clicked.
He looked at Zhunti.
"Ancestral Master, this Disciple understands completely."
Zhunti asked:
"What do you understand?"
Lu Mingyuan said:
"I understand that emptiness and existence, substance and function, the mirror and the person, are one and the same."
He looked at Zhunti.
"When empty, the heart is a mirror. When full, there are things in the mirror. When in use, the person in the mirror comes out to do things. But the person doing things is still that mirror. The things being done are still things in the mirror. The mirror, the person, the things, are one and the same."
He paused.
"Just like this Disciple. This Disciple is the mirror, and also the person, and also the things. When this Disciple is empty, he is the mirror. When this Disciple is full, he is the person in the mirror. When this Disciple does things, it is the person in the mirror coming out to do things. But when doing things, this Disciple is still that mirror."
He looked at Zhunti.
"This is Emptiness and Existence are Not Two."
---
Jieyin and Zhunti looked at him.
They looked at this young man.
They looked at this cultivator who walked out of The Rift.
They looked at this person who had seen through emptiness and existence, substance and function, mirror and person.
They exchanged glances.
Then, they both smiled.
That smile was very compassionate.
Very gentle.
Very gratified.
Jieyin spoke.
"Little friend, you understand the Dao of the Western Sect."
Zhunti also spoke.
"If you understand, there's no need to learn."
They stretched out their hands and placed them together on Lu Mingyuan's head.
At that instant, Lu Mingyuan felt two things.
One was emptiness.
One was fullness.
Emptiness and fullness descended upon him together.
They settled in his heart.
They settled on the path he had walked.
They settled in the deeds he had done.
They settled upon the people he had met.
They settled into everything.
Then, they withdrew their hands.
---
Jieyin looked at him.
"Little friend, the Dao of the Western Sect has been entrusted to you."
Zhunti also looked at him.
"It has been entrusted to you. Not for you to learn, but for you to use. The place to use it is in the human world. The time to use it is when you walk. The person to use it is you. The things to use it for are those things that ought to be done."
Lu Mingyuan stood there, looking at them.
His eyes were a little red.
He bowed deeply.
"Many thanks to the two Ancestral Masters."
Jieyin shook his head.
"No need to thank us. This is what you deserve."
Zhunti also shook his head.
"No need to thank us. If you use it well, that is thanks enough."
They turned around, preparing to leave.
After two steps, they suddenly stopped.
Jieyin did not turn back.
"Little friend, this poor monk has one more thing to say."
Lu Mingyuan asked:
"What is it?"
Jieyin said:
"Emptiness is not the goal. Existence is not the goal either. Emptiness and existence are both for walking. For walking the path beneath your feet well. For reaching the place you ought to go."
He paused.
"When you arrive, both emptiness and existence will be forgotten. To forget is to truly understand."
Zhunti also spoke.
"This poor monk also has something to say."
Lu Mingyuan asked:
"What is it?"
Zhunti said:
"Those who walk far do so not because they walk fast, but because they walk for a long time. But walking for a long time is not for walking far. It is for walking for a long time. So long that you forget you are walking, so long that walking is living, and living is walking."
He paused.
"At that time, you are the Dao. The Dao is you."
---
Then, their figures gradually vanished into the golden light.
The golden light also dissipated.
Chaos returned to its original state.
Gray and hazy, with nothing.
But Lu Mingyuan knew that something had changed.
The emptiness in his heart became even emptier.
Empty enough to contain everything.
The fullness in his heart became even fuller.
So full it contained all the paths he had walked, the deeds he had done, the people he had met.
But emptiness and fullness were one and the same.
The things in the mirror and the mirror were one and the same.
He stood there for a very long time.
Then, he bowed deeply.
"Many thanks to the two Ancestral Masters."
He straightened up.
He looked at the Chaos ahead.
Chaos was still Chaos.
Gray and hazy, with nothing.
But in his heart, there was something.
There was the emptiness passed on by Jieyin.
There was the fullness passed on by Zhunti.
There was the principle of Emptiness and Existence are Not Two.
There was the 'use' of Emptiness and Existence are Not Two.
There was the Dao of the Western Sect.
He took a step.
And continued forward.
As he walked, he suddenly remembered a sentence.
It was what Jieyin had just said.
"When you arrive, both emptiness and existence will be forgotten."
He smiled.
That smile was very light.
Light as the wind.
But within that wind, there was something.
There was that sense of reassurance, finally knowing how to walk.
He walked.
Step by step.
Not fast.
Not slow.
Just walking.
---
As he walked, light reappeared in the Chaos ahead.
This time, the light was colorful.
Five-colored.
Like clouds and mist.
Like splendid embroidery.
Like... Nuwa.
Lu Mingyuan looked at the light.
He knew that someone was still waiting for him ahead.
There was still Dao to be passed on.
There was still Dharma to be taught.
There was still a path to walk.
He continued forward.
Towards that colorful light.
Towards the next person waiting for him.
Towards the path he ought to walk.
---
In Zixiao Palace, Jieyin and Zhunti returned.
Yuanshi Tianzun looked at them.
"Finished passing it on?"
Jieyin nodded.
"Finished passing it on."
Zhunti also nodded.
"Finished passing it on."
Laozi asked:
"Did he understand?"
Jieyin said:
"He understood."
Zhunti said:
"He understood completely."
Tongtian asked:
"How completely?"
Jieyin said:
"When empty, his heart has a mirror. When full, there are people in the mirror. When in use, the people in the mirror come out to do things. But the person doing things is still that mirror. The mirror, the person, the things, are one and the same."
Zhunti said:
"He said, 'This is Emptiness and Existence are Not Two'."
In Zixiao Palace, the Saints fell silent.
Within that silence, there was something.
There was gratification.
There was surprise.
There was that sentiment of, "This child is truly extraordinary."
Nuwa spoke.
"What he said is even deeper than what I comprehended back then."
Houtu nodded.
"Because he has walked. Because he has used. Because he has tested emptiness and existence in The Rift."
Yuanshi Tianzun looked into the depths of Chaos.
"Then let's see how deeply he can comprehend at Nuwa's place."
---
Within Chaos, Lu Mingyuan continued walking.
Towards that colorful light.
Towards Nuwa's Dao.
Towards the next person waiting for him.
He walked.
In his heart was Laozi's One Qi Transforming into Three Pure Ones.
In his heart was Tongtian's Dao of the Jie Sect.
In his heart was Jieyin and Zhunti's Emptiness and Existence are Not Two.
In his heart were the paths he had walked, the deeds he had done, the people he had met.
His heart was empty, yet also full.
He walked.
Step by step.
As he walked, he suddenly remembered something.
He remembered a time at The Rift when he saved a child.
That child was very small.
Small like a kitten.
He carried the child out of the battlefield.
The child fell asleep in his arms.
When asleep, there was a smile on their face.
That smile was very pure.
So pure it seemed untouched by this world.
He looked at that smile, and his heart suddenly felt warm.
That warmth didn't come from outside.
It sprouted from his heart.
It shone into his heart from that child.
Now he understood.
That was creation.
That was Nuwa's Dao.
---
He continued forward.
Towards that colorful light.
Towards the source of creation.
Towards the person waiting for him.
As he walked, the light grew closer.
And brighter.
So bright it seemed to dye the entire Chaos with five-colored clouds and mist.
Then, he saw it.
A person, standing in the colorful light.
That person was beautiful.
Beautiful beyond human description.
But within that beauty, there was something.
There was that compassion that viewed all life as if it were her own children.
That was Nuwa.
The Lord of Creation.
The one who had touched his glabella in Zixiao Palace.
---
Lu Mingyuan quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Disciple Lu Mingyuan greets Nüwa."
Nuwa looked at him and smiled.
That smile was very warm.
Warm like spring sunlight.
"Rise."
Lu Mingyuan straightened up, looking at her.
Nuwa also looked at him.
For a very long time.
Then, she spoke.
"Do you know why this poor Daoist came to find you?"
Lu Mingyuan thought for a moment.
"Please enlighten me, Empress."
Nuwa said:
"Because of that child you saved at The Rift."
She looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"That child is a descendant of this poor Daoist."