150: Chapter 150 The Primordial Beginning imparts the Dao
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Within the Chaos, Lu Mingyuan walked.
Towards that white light.
The light drew nearer and nearer.
Brighter and brighter.
So bright it seemed it would illuminate the entire Chaos.
Yet this white light was different from other lights.
It was not the faintness of Laozi, not the azure of Tongtian, not the gold of Jieyin and Zhunti, not the multi-hued brilliance of Nüwa, not the yellow of Houtu.
It was... order.
It was rules.
It was the certainty of 'how things should be, they are.'
Then, he saw.
A person, standing within the white light.
That person was tall.
Tall as the heavens.
That person was upright.
Upright as if measured by a ruler.
That person's eyes were calm.
Calm as if nothing had happened, yet everything was reflected within them.
That was Yuanshi Tianzun.
The Master of the Chan Sect.
The guardian of the Dao of Order.
The one who had presided over the Great Debate within the Zixiao Palace from beginning to end.
The one who, from start to finish, had spoken but a few words, yet each one struck at the crucial point.
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Lu Mingyuan stepped forward quickly, bowing deeply.
"Disciple Lu Mingyuan pays his respects to Yuanshi Tianzun."
Yuanshi Tianzun looked at him.
He did not speak.
He merely looked at him.
For a very, very long time.
That gaze was calm.
Calm as a mirror.
Yet within that mirror, there was something.
All the paths Lu Mingyuan had walked.
All the people Lu Mingyuan had seen.
All the things Lu Mingyuan had done.
All the Daos Lu Mingyuan had comprehended.
Everything that resided within Lu Mingyuan's heart.
Then, he spoke.
"Rise."
Lu Mingyuan straightened up, looking at him.
Yuanshi Tianzun also looked at him.
The two of them stood within the white light.
Neither spoke.
Yet within that silence, there was something.
Something akin to discussing the Dao without needing to speak.
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Finally, Yuanshi Tianzun spoke.
"Do you know why I am the last to come?"
Lu Mingyuan pondered.
"Please, Tianzun, enlighten me."
Yuanshi Tianzun said:
"Because my Dao is different from theirs."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"Laozi imparted to you 'One'. Tongtian imparted to you 'Severance'. Jieyin and Zhunti imparted to you 'Emptiness and Existence'. Nüwa imparted to you 'Creation'. Houtu imparted to you 'Reincarnation'. Those are all Daos. All are good things. All are things that can help you walk further."
He paused.
"But those things are too many."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"Your heart now holds too many things. One, Severance, Emptiness and Existence, Creation, Reincarnation. Each is a great Dao. Each could be walked for a lifetime. Each could lead to Sainthood or Patriarchhood."
He paused.
"But held together, they become disordered."
---
Lu Mingyuan stood there, listening.
As he listened, something stirred within his heart.
Disordered?
He recalled the experiences of these past days.
Laozi's "One", Tongtian's "Severance", Jieyin and Zhunti's "Emptiness and Existence", Nüwa's "Creation", Houtu's "Reincarnation".
For each, he felt he had understood.
For each, he felt it was good.
For each, he wanted to hold onto it.
But as he held them, he indeed felt his heart was somewhat... full.
Not the fullness of substance.
But the fullness of having too many things, not knowing how to place them.
He looked at Yuanshi Tianzun.
"Tianzun, this Disciple's heart... is indeed somewhat full."
Yuanshi Tianzun nodded.
"Yes. Full. Full to the point of nearly overflowing."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"But fullness is not the problem. The problem is how to place them."
He paused.
"The things in your heart are all good. But good things must also be placed where they should be. Placed where they should not be, good things can also become bad things."
---
Lu Mingyuan listened.
As he listened, he recalled a matter.
He recalled his childhood, copying books in Heyin City.
Copied books had to be returned to the shelves.
His Master said there were rules for placing books. Classics together, histories together, philosophers together, anthologies together. They could not be placed haphazardly. Placed haphazardly, they could not be found next time.
Back then, he did not understand why they could not be placed haphazardly.
Now he understood.
When there are many things, there must be rules.
Without rules, there is disorder.
Disorder leads to things being lost.
He looked at Yuanshi Tianzun.
"Tianzun, what you speak of... is order?"
Within Yuanshi Tianzun's gaze, a light appeared.
That light was gratification.
"Yes. Order."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"Do you know why I am called Yuanshi?"
Lu Mingyuan pondered.
"Yuanshi... is the beginning?"
Yuanshi Tianzun nodded.
"Yes. Yuanshi is the beginning. But the beginning is not a chaotic beginning. It is a beginning with rules."
He paused.
"When Pangu opened the heavens, there were rules first, then the heavens and earth. Clear Qi rose to become the heavens, turbid Qi descended to become the earth. Those were rules. The movement of the sun and moon, the succession of the four seasons. Those were rules. The growth of all things, life, death, and Reincarnation. Those were rules."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"Without rules, there would be no heavens and earth. Without rules, there would be no myriad things. Without rules, you would not be standing here."
---
Lu Mingyuan stood there, listening.
As he listened, he suddenly recalled the matters at The Rift.
He recalled that when they fought, there were also rules.
Who was in front, who was behind. Who was responsible for the left wing, who for the right wing. When to attack, when to defend. When to rest, when to rotate defenses.
Those rules were not arbitrarily set.
They were forged through battle.
They were forged through death.
They were exchanged for with countless lives.
Without those rules, they would have been scattered by the demon soldiers long ago.
He looked at Yuanshi Tianzun.
"Tianzun, this Disciple seems to understand."
Yuanshi Tianzun asked:
"What do you understand?"
Lu Mingyuan said:
"I understand what order is."
He looked at Yuanshi Tianzun.
"Order is not about controlling people. It is about enabling people to walk together. It is about enabling people to stand firm. It is about preventing disorder."
He paused.
"At The Rift, we had rules. Who stood in front, who stood behind, there were rules. Those rules were not innate. They were forged through battle. They were forged through death. They were exchanged for with countless lives."
He looked at Yuanshi Tianzun.
"But with those rules, we could stand firm. We could block the demon soldiers. We could allow more people to survive."
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Yuanshi Tianzun looked at him, his gaze filled with gratification.
"Yes. This is order."
He took a step forward.
"But do you know what is most difficult about order?"
Lu Mingyuan pondered.
"Please, Tianzun, enlighten me."
Yuanshi Tianzun said:
"The hardest part of order is not setting it. It is upholding it."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"Anyone can set rules. But not everyone can uphold them. Upholding for a day, anyone can. Upholding for a year, not everyone can. Upholding for a lifetime, not everyone can. Upholding for hundreds of millions of years, only I can."
He paused.
"Because the hardest part of upholding rules is not the upholding, but when the rules change."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"Rules are not immutable. The heavens and earth change, human hearts change, the Dao also changes. If rules do not change, they die. But if rules change too quickly, there is disorder."
He paused.
"When to change, when not to change. How much to change, how to change. After changing, how to uphold. That is the most difficult part."
---
Lu Mingyuan listened.
As he listened, he recalled that the rules at The Rift had also changed.
In the beginning, none of them understood.
They fought chaotically, charged chaotically, stood chaotically.
Many people died.
Later, they gradually groped their way to some rules.
But those rules were not always effective.
When the demon soldiers' tactics changed, their rules had to change.
When the position of The Rift changed, their rules had to change.
The appearance of demon generals forced their rules to change as well.
Only by changing back and forth did they survive.
He looked at Yuanshi Tianzun.
"Tianzun, this Disciple understands."
Yuanshi Tianzun asked:
"What do you understand?"
Lu Mingyuan said:
"I understand that rules are living, not dead. I understand that upholding rules is not stubbornly clinging without moving. It is upholding what should be upheld, changing what should be changed. It is not changing when change is not needed, and changing when change is needed."
He looked at Yuanshi Tianzun.
"Like walking. There are rules for walking, but if the path changes, the way of walking must also change. Not changing leads to a stumble. Changing too much leads to getting lost. Changing a little when needed, not changing when not needed, only then can one continue walking."
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Yuanshi Tianzun looked at him for a very, very long time.
Then, he smiled.
That smile was faint.
Faint as the heavens.
Yet within those heavens, there was something.
The gratification of finally meeting someone who understood.
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"Young man, do you know why I was willing to come?"
Lu Mingyuan shook his head.
Yuanshi Tianzun said:
"Because you upheld the rules at The Rift."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"You stood in front, that was a rule. You protected the Loose Cultivators, that was a rule. You stood in place of the dead, that was a rule. You enabled the living to continue walking, that was a rule."
He paused.
"You were not taught by a Saint. You walked your own path. Yet the rules you forged on your path are the same as those taught by Saints. Even deeper than those taught by Saints."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"Because you have walked. Because you have upheld. Because you have changed. Because you have consistently upheld."
---
He extended his hand.
"Come, I will impart something to you."
Lu Mingyuan extended his hand and grasped it.
In that instant, he felt it.
He felt many, many threads.
Those threads were not of one color.
There were red, yellow, blue, green, purple.
Those threads were not of one direction.
There were horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curved, straight.
Those threads were not of one length.
There were long, short, thick, thin, broken.
Those threads were woven together.
Woven into a net.
A vast net.
That net covered the heavens and earth.
Covered the myriad things.
Covered everything.
He stood within that net.
Within the net were the paths he had walked.
The people he had seen.
The things he had done.
The Daos he had comprehended.
Laozi's One, Tongtian's Severance, Jieyin and Zhunti's Emptiness and Existence, Nüwa's Creation, Houtu's Reincarnation.
Those things were all within the net.
Within the net, placed neatly and orderly.
Each in its proper place.
Each as it should be.
No disorder.
No crowding.
Just right.
---
Yuanshi Tianzun's voice came from within the white light.
"Do you see?"
Lu Mingyuan nodded.
"I see."
Yuanshi Tianzun asked:
"What do you see?"
Lu Mingyuan said:
"I see a net. I see those threads. I see those Daos, all within the net."
Yuanshi Tianzun asked:
"What is that net?"
Lu Mingyuan pondered.
"It is... order."
Yuanshi Tianzun asked:
"What is order?"
Lu Mingyuan looked at those threads.
Looked at those Daos.
Looked at those neatly arranged things.
Suddenly, he understood.
He looked at the white light.
"Order is what allows everything to return to its proper place. It allows Laozi's One to be where Laozi's should be. It allows Tongtian's Severance to be where Tongtian's should be. It allows Emptiness and Existence, Creation, Reincarnation, all to be where they should be."
He paused.
"It is also what allows the things within this Disciple's heart to return to their proper places."
---
Yuanshi Tianzun smiled.
That smile was faint.
Faint as the heavens.
Yet within those heavens, there was something.
The satisfaction of 'finally getting it right'.
"Yes. Order is allowing everything to return to its proper place."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"The things in your heart are all good. But they cannot be crowded together. Crowded together, there is disorder. With disorder, they are no longer good."
He paused.
"You must let them return to their proper places. Laozi's 'One', place it at the root. Tongtian's 'Severance', place it on the path. Emptiness and Existence, place it in the heart. Creation, place it in the hands. Reincarnation, place it in the earth."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"Each in its proper place, only then can each fulfill its function. Each fulfilling its function, only then can you walk further."
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Lu Mingyuan stood there, listening.
As he listened, he suddenly felt something become completely clear.
Not the clarity that comes bit by bit.
The clarity that comes all at once.
He looked at Yuanshi Tianzun.
"Tianzun, this Disciple understands everything."
Yuanshi Tianzun asked:
"What do you understand?"
Lu Mingyuan said:
"I understand why you were the last to come."
He looked at Yuanshi Tianzun.
"Because you are helping this Disciple place those Daos where they should be. Because you want this Disciple to know that with rules, one can walk far. Because you want this Disciple to understand that order is not about controlling people, but about enabling everything to live well."
He paused.
"The things in this Disciple's heart are now each in their proper place. No disorder, no crowding, just right."
---
Yuanshi Tianzun looked at him for a very, very long time.
Then, he reached out and patted Lu Mingyuan's head.
That hand was light.
Light as the heavens.
Yet within those heavens, there was something.
The recognition of the Chan Sect Master.
The entrusting of the Dao of Order.
The gratification of seeing a child finally grown.
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"Young man, you understand the Dao of Order."
Lu Mingyuan bowed deeply.
"Many thanks, Tianzun."
Yuanshi Tianzun withdrew his hand.
He turned, preparing to leave.
After a few steps, he suddenly stopped.
He did not turn his head.
"By the way, there is one more thing."
Lu Mingyuan asked:
"What is it?"
Yuanshi Tianzun said:
"The things in your heart are now each in their proper place. But they are still themselves. They are not yours."
He paused.
"You must make them yours. Make them part of your walking. Make them part of your standing. Make them part of your living."
He continued walking forward.
"At that time, you will not need to remember them. Because they will be you."
His figure gradually faded into the white light.
A final sentence came through.
"Young man, walk well."
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Lu Mingyuan stood there, looking in the direction where Yuanshi Tianzun had disappeared.
For a very, very long time.
Then, he bowed deeply towards the white light.
"Many thanks, Tianzun."
He straightened up.
He looked at the Chaos ahead.
The Chaos was still that Chaos.
Gray and misty, containing nothing.
But his heart was different.
Laozi's One, at the root.
Tongtian's Severance, on the path.
Jieyin and Zhunti's Emptiness and Existence, in the heart.
Nüwa's Creation, in the hands.
Houtu's Reincarnation, in the earth.
Yuanshi's Order, in everything.
Each in its proper place.
Each fulfilling its function.
No disorder.
No crowding.
Just right.
He smiled.
That smile was light.
Light as the wind.
Yet within that wind, there was something.
The relief of finally having everything sorted out.
The steadiness of finally knowing how to walk.
He stepped forward.
Continued walking forward.
As he walked, he suddenly recalled Yuanshi Tianzun's final words.
"You must make them yours."
He smiled.
"I will. As I walk, it will be so."
He walked.
Step by step.
Not fast.
Not slow.
Simply walking.
---
As he walked, the Chaos ahead suddenly changed.
No longer gray and misty.
It became... a place.
A familiar place.
It was The Rift.
The Rift where he had stood for two years.
The place where he had buried Iron Bull.
The place where he had shed blood, tears, and sweat.
He stood there, looking at The Rift.
The Rift was still there.
But before The Rift, there was no one.
No Loose Cultivators, no demon soldiers, no Zhang Lingyun, Fa Ming, Li Haoran, Yue Wushuang.
Only him, alone.
He stood there, looking at The Rift.
Suddenly, he heard a voice.
That voice came from within The Rift.
"Will you still walk?"
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