Chapter 75

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The young girl’s words carried no trace of distracting desires; instead, they elicited a faint smile from Qingyang Miaodao Heavenly Lord, who said: “If you’ve mastered the Supreme Scarlet Spirit Script, naturally, there’s no harm in passing it on. But, little one, have you yet learned the Cloud Seal Script? The Cloud Seal Script is described as: [The natural Primordial Qi of flight and mystery, forming words in emptiness, spanning one zhang, originating within the heavens and giving rise to all].”

“All the myriad methods of the world require the assistance of the Cloud Seal Script to preserve the Dao resonance upon the written words.”

“Talismans, pill refinement, and treasure forging all rely on the Cloud Seal Script for support.”

“How far have you progressed in learning it?”

Yun Qin had not expected that merely asking about the Supreme Scarlet Spirit Script would prompt this Heavenly Lord to inquire about her own studies. Her voice grew quieter as she replied: “Well, there’s still a little bit I haven’t mastered.”

The elder stroked his beard, smiling as he asked: “Which part?”

The young girl lowered her gaze, her voice weak as she replied: “This…”

“This?”

“This part here.”

“And that part there.”

The elder was momentarily stunned, then burst into hearty laughter. “You, oh you! Your mother back in the day diligently and wholeheartedly studied to achieve her impressive cultivation. And your father, though once an ordinary mortal cultivator, ascended step by step to become a Dao Protector and Divine General. Even after being demoted for some reason, he managed to rebuild his cultivation and ultimately reached the strength of a Star Lord. And here you are, with such a playful heart!”

“But this isn’t so bad either. Innocence and a natural disposition, acting as one pleases without going too far—this aligns with three parts of Dao resonance.”

“Come now, come now, let this old man test your Cloud Seal Script.”

The young girl’s face turned pale, and she immediately thought of an excuse to slip away unnoticed.

Yet the elder’s smile deepened as he said: “If you satisfy me…”

“…passing on a Supreme Scarlet Spirit Script to you wouldn’t be out of the question.”

At this, Yun Qin froze mid-step.

After a moment of internal struggle, she had no choice but to return obediently.

Bowing politely, she said with a hint of resignation:

“Please, Heavenly Lord…”

She raised her head, her expression one of determined martyrdom, as if prepared to die for her friends.

“Be merciful.”

Qingyang Miaodao Heavenly Lord couldn’t help but stroke his beard and laugh. “What an amusing child.”

He then retrieved a jade slip and handed it to the young girl with a gentle smile. “Come, give it a try.”

Yun Qin’s fingers lightly touched the jade slip, and as she glimpsed the ever-changing characters within, she felt as though these Cloud Seals recognized her—yet she absolutely did not recognize them. For a moment, her head throbbed with pain.

The Heavenly Lord before her was the [Sutra Master] of the Shangqing Lingbao lineage, a master teacher renowned for guiding disciples of the Shangqing Lineage. His methods were unparalleled.

Ordinarily, studying the Cloud Seal Script was just about learning the script itself.

Yet the jade slip before her presented a cultivation question written entirely in Cloud Seal Script.

It required simultaneous mastery of the script’s writing, reading, and an understanding of the Dao’s profundities.

The girl’s face turned ashen.

She glanced at Qingyang Miaodao Heavenly Lord.

Then she looked back at the jade slip.

And then back at the Heavenly Lord, her expression full of desperate struggle and an unspoken plea: Spare me, please.

The old Heavenly Lord smiled gently, extending a finger. “A single Supreme Scarlet Spirit Script.”

He paused for effect and added: “And one from the highest tier of those available.”

As the foremost of the Three Masters of the Shangqing Lingbao Lineage, he had taught countless disciples of the Shangqing Lineage.

This was largely due to the Great Heavenly Venerable’s carefree and unrestrained nature—too detached and indifferent. When in the mood, he would impart the Dao even to the grasses and trees by the roadside. Yet, when his mood turned idle, even his direct disciples would find it hard to track him down. Thus, amidst the countless celestial beings and gods of the Heavenly Court, only the title of [Lingbao Three Masters] existed.

Why? Simply because the Great Heavenly Venerable was fond of taking in disciples but disliked teaching them.

Precisely for this reason, Qingyang Miaodao Heavenly Lord had developed a clear understanding of how to subtly guide his disciples into learning.

Thus, he was known for his approach of being [patient and persuasive, making it impossible to resist].

Yun Qin opened her mouth to speak, struggling several times. In the end, her promise to her dear friend outweighed her desire to avoid the situation.

With a sigh of resignation, she obediently sat down to study the Cloud Seal Script.

When the cold winter wind dissipated, sunlight cascaded down, and Qi Wuhuo opened his eyes on time.

After freshening up, he made a bowl of millet porridge and prepared a small dish of crisp, pickled vegetables.

He ate comfortably, and then, under the warm sunlight, began to stretch his body.

As he casually practiced his punches, there was no fixed routine or style. He simply followed his instincts, striking wherever his Primordial Spirit moved. His Primordial Qi naturally circulated as he wished, while his Primordial Essence closely followed. His breathing synchronized with his movements, and his actions unfolded with ease. Unintentionally, the Dao rhythm of the Three Talents of Daoism manifested in his gestures, exuding an effortless grace. When he lifted his hand and pulled it back slightly, the flowing wind converged in harmony.

At that moment, a bird flew by, only to be caught in the swirling Primordial Qi and gently brought into Qi Wuhuo’s palm.

Its flapping wings failed to free it, and it remained perched in his hand.

As Elder Zhou strolled over from a distance, he saw the clear skies and, in the courtyard, the young Daoist clad in a blue Daoist robe. The youth raised his left hand, with the bird resting on it. The bird, unafraid, ceased its attempts to fly and instead nestled comfortably in the young Daoist’s palm, turning its head to leisurely preen its feathers. The scene exuded a natural charm, blending the mundane with the ethereal.

As the old man approached, the bird suddenly grew alert.

With a quick flap of its wings, it flew off.

“Ah… haha, this bird is truly alert.”

Elder Zhou had intended to stroke the bird to feel its texture but hadn’t expected such sharp awareness. With a few helpless laughs, he greeted: “Little Daoist, did you sleep well?”

“Mm, I slept very well.”

“Haha, that’s good to hear.”

Qi Wuhuo replied, exchanging a few pleasantries with the old man. Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and he asked: “It didn’t rain last night, did it?”

The elder sighed and replied: “Indeed, it didn’t rain.”

“Such heavy rain clouds gathered…”

“…yet not a single drop of water fell.”

Qi Wuhuo’s heart stirred slightly.

Not a single drop of water fell…

Which meant the rain predicted by the fortune teller hadn’t come to pass.

He thought of that disheveled fortune teller and his muttered words, ‘I was wrong…’

Curiosity rose within him. He considered going to the city to inquire further but then remembered Yun Qin’s mention of an extremely challenging spell. After some thought, he decided to contact her again first.

Perhaps I can learn it, he mused.

If he couldn’t, he resolved to eat the osmanthus cakes first, lest they spoil while he spent too much time mastering the incantation.

Then, on his next trip to the city for more osmanthus cakes, he could ask the fortune teller about it.

He wondered idly, Is she making any progress in her search for the original text of the Xuantan Incantation?

The young Daoist instinctively glanced upward.

The sky was a brilliant, cloudless blue.

Disaster! So, so hard!

Too difficult!

These thoughts seemed to seep from every corner of the Shangqing Scripture Pavilion.

Yun Qin had been dutifully studying the Cloud Seal Script. After sitting there for three full hours, the elder finally said he would teach her a Supreme Scarlet Spirit Script. However, because the Supreme Scarlet Spirit Script was the origin of many Cloud Seal characters, teaching her this one script naturally led to branching into others. By the time the lesson ended, the elder had explained not only the Supreme Scarlet Spirit Script Script but also all the scripts derived from it, weaving together a comprehensive web of knowledge.

Yun Qin left the Shangqing Scripture Pavilion in a daze, her steps unsteady.

The Qingyang Miaodao Heavenly Lord stroked his beard with a chuckle. “An interesting child, with decent talent.”

“Yet I’m afraid she seems spoiled by that Yellow Ox and Ox Constellation Star Lord.”

“She cultivates well enough, but lacks patience and shows little interest in studying Cloud Seal Script and similar disciplines.”

“But as a disciple of the Shangqing Sect, not understanding the Spirit Script and Cloud Seal Script is akin to a disciple of the Taishang lineage not knowing alchemy. It would tarnish her reputation if word got out. [Danhua Fuying], you must teach your disciple well.”

A glimmer of light flickered, and Yun Qin’s master, the Danhua Fuying Celestial Monarch, stepped forward. Clad in cloud shoes and flowing sashes, her sharp brows softened as she bowed respectfully. “I must thank the Heavenly Lord for guiding her.”

After a pause, she asked: “What does the Heavenly Lord think of Yun Qin’s aptitude?”

The elder replied: “Her breathing and cultivation techniques are of the highest grade, and her nature is pure, unmarred by distracting thoughts.”

“But precisely because of this, she is rather fond of play and needs close supervision.”

“As for Cloud Seal Script, her aptitude is average.”

He spoke plainly: “Take the [Five Sovereigns’ Heaven-Stabilizing True Script] as an example. A single meaning in Cloud Seal Script may have five different written forms.”

“Not to mention the other texts.”

“Cloud Seal Script is not a constructed language, nor does it follow a system of character formation. Its written forms are either based on rhyme, analogy, or combined through intersecting elements, free from strict constraints. At its core, all Cloud Seal Script represents a single essence—[Primordial Qi].”

“Different forms signify different [phenomena] and [scenes].”

“If one tries to memorize them one by one, how could they ever master it? That would merely be rote memorization.”

“There are 129,600 Cloud Seals, representing the number of unity in Daoist cosmology.”

“And each Seal has no fixed form, but can transform into 129,600 variations, corresponding to the transformations of unity.”

“To commit them all to memory, even if one succeeded, would still be a postnatal effort, far from superior attainment.”

“Only by moving the heart without conscious intent, achieving action through inaction, can one reach a higher level. What one sees should not be individual Cloud Seals but the [phenomena of all things] and the [scenery of heaven and earth]. Only then can the brush follow naturally, and true mastery be achieved.”

“At that point, there is no need to look or think—when you behold a vista, you write a character as naturally as flowing water. That is the true essence of Cloud Seal Script.”

The elder shook his head with a sigh. “Regrettably, though there are many disciples of the Shangqing Sect, most are no different from outsiders. They learn with deliberate effort and thus fall into the lower ranks. They memorize certain variations, use them to cast spells, and interpret Daoist texts.”

“Although they bear the name of Shangqing disciples, they can hardly be considered true inheritors of the lineage.”

The Danhua Fuying Celestial Monarch fell silent, pondering for a moment before speaking. “But is it really appropriate for the Heavenly Lord to teach her the Supreme Scarlet Spirit Script?”

“The [Supreme Scarlet Spirit Script] emerges from the void of nature, creating heaven and establishing earth, enlightening divine beings.”

“Every single Supreme Scarlet Spirit Script is, in itself, a grand divine power.”

The elder stroked his beard and chuckled. “Ha! Your nature is always so cautious. Why, are you unhappy that I’m teaching your disciple?”

Then, as if to reassure, he continued: “Don’t worry. With her aptitude for Cloud Seal Script being so ordinary, I wouldn’t teach her anything overly dangerous. These characters naturally resonate with spiritual essence, and if one is not careful, they could harm themselves.”

“That’s why I chose the most unique one for her.”

The Danhua Fuying Celestial Monarch raised an eyebrow.“The most unique?”

The elder nodded. “Yes, the very first Supreme Scarlet Spirit Script.”

“Its use is stringent, far beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.”

“That child, even with her determination to commit it to memory, will completely forget it in a day.”

“And even if she does comprehend it, she cannot possibly wield its power.”

“After all, neither you nor I have the standing or qualification to use this character.”

The Danhua Fuying Celestial Monarch was slightly startled. “You mean that character?”

“Indeed, it is that character.”

The elder sighed with a trace of reverence, his hand stroking his beard as his eyes lowered. He murmured:

“Above, it is called the Spirit, capable of stabilizing the Five Sacred Mountains and ensuring the enduring existence of nations. Below, it is called the Treasure, a mystical artifact of spiritual essence, revered by all creation.”

“Its name is—”

“[Chi (Decree)].”

PS:

The description of Supreme Scarlet Spirit Script is drawn from The Jade Scroll of the Five Elders of Primal Origin (Yuanshi Wulao Chishu Yupian) and The Celestial Record of the Seven Sages Returning to Heaven (Qisheng Xuanji Huitian Shangwen):

“Some are formed by harmonizing with rhymes, others through analogy and mutual reference, or by combining elements above, below, and in all directions to form characters.”