Forty-two, Listening to the Way at the Purple Mist Palace

  Colorful clouds are flying high all the way, passing by star after star, going through layer after layer of stormy wind, and crossing over heavy seas of thunder.

  After decades, Caiyun entered a chaotic void where earth, water, fire and wind rampaged everywhere, strange and bizarre things appeared, the void was destroyed and reorganized, and the breath of destruction and creation spread.

  On the colorful cloud, Laozi and his three companions looked serious. On Laozi's head hung a golden Lingbao Pagoda, with mysterious yellow energy pouring down like a waterfall to protect everyone; Yuanshi's head rose with a festive cloud, on which golden lanterns rolled continuously, surrounding everyone; Tongtian's head shone with a green light, outside of which the sword energy crisscrossed in all directions, causing the approaching earth, water, fire and wind to splatter everywhere.

  Colorful clouds slowed down a lot, carefully avoiding the voids that were about to collapse everywhere.

  Zengzi was already shocked and amazed, his eyes wide with wonder, although he was under the protection of Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian, he was also frightened out of his wits.

  After many years, I finally crossed that eerie region and arrived at a vast expanse of shimmering light. This void was extremely calm, with only the flickering aurora, nothing else.

  In this desolate expanse, Xun Daozi drifted aimlessly, losing all sense of time. He felt a strange sensation, as if time had ceased to exist in this place. During the tedious journey, Xun Daozi also refined the purple-gold gourd and the calabaza vine belt that Yuan Shi had prepared for him. These two treasures were quite liked by Xun Daozi. The purple-gold gourd utilized the divine power of the "Pouch of Day and Night" to conceal an enormous space, which was actually a miniature cave heaven. This space could hold people and objects, making it extremely formidable. The calabaza vine belt, on the other hand, was refined into something akin to a "Sage's Rope", capable of capturing immortals and binding monsters with ease. Once bound, one's divine soul and magical powers would be suppressed. When facing an enemy, Xun Daozi could summon it at will. Without a treasure to protect oneself, unless the gap in cultivation was too great, this belt would guarantee a sure capture. Xun Daozi was extremely satisfied with this belt and eagerly tied it around his waist after refining it.

  All the way uneventful, Xun Daozi just focused on his cultivation with peace of mind. Anyway, when they reached their destination, Shifu would wake him up. The three of Laozi rode on clouds all the way forward, and Xun Daozi occasionally looked at the scenery along the way, then sat behind Laozi's trio to meditate and practice his skills.

  At some point in the past, at a certain moment, Xuanzang suddenly heard Yuanshi's soft shout in his mind: "Wake up!"

  Xun Daozi stopped his cultivation and opened his eyes to see that in front of him, the misty haze was flickering, with mysterious Taoist marks appearing and disappearing, and a mystical trajectory emerging and submerging.

  Colorful clouds rapidly fly across, passing through the misty haze.

  Suddenly, Xun Daozi only felt a vast and majestic aura rushing towards him, and in the distant void, a magnificent palace appeared, revealing its mysterious and profound presence.

  Xun Daozi knew that was the Zi Xuan Palace. Looking at the vast and mysterious Zi Xuan Palace, he couldn't help but mutter to himself: This is indeed the Zi Xuan Palace! When Hong Jun certified his dao, he said that those with fate could come to the Zi Xuan Palace to listen to the dao, but what exactly are those with fate? How many practitioners in the vast wilderness have the ability to come to this Zi Xuan Palace? Alas, it seems that those with fate should be those with ability! Maybe I'm really one of those with fate, without ability, coming alone to the Zi Xuan Palace, but because I worshiped Yuan Shi as my master and happened to catch up on the lecture at the Zi Xuan Palace. My masters, shifu, shibo, and shishu also brought me along to this Zi Xuan Palace. It seems that I'm really one of those with fate! Hehe!

  This seeker saw the Zi Xuan Palace and felt a twinge of unease in his heart, with no respect to speak of. Who knows what the founder of the Hong Jun Dao would think if he knew?

  Soon, Caiyun landed in front of the mysterious and vast Zixiao Palace gate.

  Arriving in front of it, I truly felt the shock that Zixiao Palace gave people. There was an extremely grand aura that shook one's soul. The three large characters "Zixiao Palace" on the gate's plaque were like a Taoist seal, mysterious and unfathomable, moving one's heart and soul. The palace gates were wide open, with a mysterious aura drifting about.

  Xun Daozi followed behind the three of Laozi, stepping onto the green jade steps in front of the gate. Suddenly, he felt a strange pressure bearing down on him, as if it was going to squeeze out the "small" thing inside his body.

  Xun Daozi was shocked in his heart, and for a moment he sincerely respected many people. After a while, the pressure was gone. Two bright-eyed and white-toothed children, one boy and one girl, came out of the palace. They walked to the front and bowed to everyone, saying: "The Taoist ancestor has not come out yet, you can go to the main hall to wait."

  Laozi, Yuan Shi, Tong Tian nodded and walked through the gate. Xun Daozi had already put away his disrespect in his heart, seeing two young boys, wondering if they would be the future masters of the Heavenly Court: Huang Tian and Yao Chi. Seeing Laozi and the three others leave, he quickly bowed to the two young boys, with a sincere expression, and hurriedly followed Laozi and the other three amidst the two boys' hasty return of courtesy.

  Xun Daozi followed the three of them into the grand hall of the Purple Cloud Palace, and saw that the hall was very spacious, but it looked simple and unadorned, without any feeling of gold or jade. Several huge pillars supported the roof of the hall, and in the center of the hall was a white jade cloud bed. In front of the cloud bed were six tatami mats arranged in a row. When Xun Daozi saw the tatami mats, he thought to himself: Is this the legendary sacred seat?

  The great hall was empty, with no one else present. The three old men walked straight to the front and sat down on the first three mats, without saying a word. Xun Daozi also walked behind Yuan Shi, took out a quiet grass-made mat, sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes quietly, and meditated.

  It's also unknown how much time passed, but people kept coming into the grand hall. Most of them quietly found a place to sit down and wait after entering. A few people came to pay their respects in front of Laozi and the other two, and then they too sat down silently waiting.

  Soon, a Taoist acquaintance finally came in, wearing a large red Taoist robe, carrying a huge red gourd on his back, and sporting a head of bright red hair. The venerable Red Cloud chuckled as he entered. Beside him followed an ethereal Taoist with a wispy beard, a face like polished jade, eyebrows like sleeping silkworms, eyes like shining stars and moons, and a feather duster casually draped over his arm, exuding a warm breeze. His otherworldly demeanor inspired reverence, making one feel drawn to him involuntarily.

  Two people came to the front of Laozi and paid their respects, and Laozi also stood up to return the courtesy. Yuanshi pulled Xun Daozi forward and said: "Disciple, you have come to see Zhenyuanzi Daochang!"

  Xun Daozi hastily stepped forward and saluted Zhen Yuanzi: "Xun Daozi has seen the Dao Master!" He also paid his respects to Hong Yun Laozu, saying: "Xun Daozi has seen the Dao Master!"

  Zhenyuanzi returned a courtesy and stepped aside. Hongyun Old Ancestor chuckled: "The young friend has also arrived!"

  Then, Zhenyuanzi and Hongyunlaozu sat down on a mat behind the three old men, silently waiting with everyone else.

  Several more people came in, including Taiyi, whom Xun Daozi had met before. He still looked arrogant and held the shiny bronze bell. The man walking with him was also wearing a bright yellow long gown, exuding an air of majesty. However, at this moment, he had a smile on his face and nodded to everyone he saw. Xun Daozi guessed that he should be Emperor Jun, who was born together with Taiyi in the Sun Star, and would become the master of the future You tribe's Heavenly Court, possessing the innate spiritual treasure 'Hetu Luoshu'.

  Behind them came a Taoist priest with a huge eagle nose, piercing eyes and wearing a green robe.

  A man and a woman entered together, the woman was stunningly beautiful, elegant and noble, with a warm aura about her, she was the Nuwa that Xunzi had met before. The man was handsome and refined, carrying a jade qin, with a smile on his face.

  The two of them nodded and greeted everyone they met along the way, until they arrived in front of Laozi and his three companions. After exchanging greetings with the three of them, Nüwa sat down on a mat beside Tongtian, while the man sat behind Nüwa.

  At this time, another person entered the hall from outside, wearing a green robe and carrying two swords on his back. His face was somewhat gloomy, he walked into the main hall, looked around, clasped his hands together and leaned against a pillar, closing his eyes to meditate.

  A woman in a light yellow palace dress came in, looking bright and pleasant. She walked into the grand hall, found a corner to sit down, and didn't speak to anyone.

  After that, many people entered in a continuous stream. Among them, two men caught the attention of Xunzi. These two men walked together into the grand hall and went straight to the front row. The one in front had a three-inch short beard, his hair was tied up in a knot on top of his head, he wore a grey robe, and his eyes shone brightly. The one behind him was even taller and larger in build, his hair curled like a roll, his ears hung down to his shoulders, and two pieces of yellowish-brown cloth were slung over his shoulder, tied at the waist with a bundle of silk thread.

  The two came to the front row and paid their respects to Laozi, after which the tall one sat down beside Nüwa, while the other sat on the last mat.

  Xun Daozi guessed on the side: It seems that these two are the Western Daoren and Zhunti Daoren; The one behind Nüwa should be Fuxi, the elder brother; Is the eagle nose possibly Kunpeng? The one with double swords on his back is probably Minghe? The goose-yellow palace-dressed woman may be Houtu.

  Just as Zidu was indulging in wild fancies outside the temple, no one had been seen for a long time.

  Just as Xun Daozi was about to look around, he suddenly felt a movement in his heart. He raised his eyes and saw that an old man with a majestic appearance had already sat down on the white cloud bed in front of him. His hair and beard were like silver, his eyebrows were like snow, his eyes were clear, and his face had a red glow. He was sitting naturally, yet mysteriously, as if he were a phantom.

  At this time, Xun Daozi heard the sound of the palace gate closing outside the hall, and immediately two young boys entered the great hall and stood behind the old man.

  The old man opened his mouth and said, "Today is the last time I will lecture in Zi Xiao Palace. After this lecture, I will merge with the Tao to prove my own Tao. You all take care of yourselves." The voice was like a sound in their minds. The crowd stirred slightly, then fell silent again.

  The old man's voice rose again: "The Way is that which covers Heaven and supports Earth, extends to the four directions, and reaches to the eight extremities. It is high and cannot be reached, deep and cannot be fathomed. It envelops Heaven and Earth, and receives the formless. Its source flows like a spring, surging forth and gradually filling; its flow is murky and gradually clears. Therefore, when planted, it fills Heaven and Earth; when laid out, it extends to the four seas. When applied, it has no bounds, and there is no time or space that it does not penetrate. When extended, it fills the six directions; when rolled up, it does not fill a single fist. It can be contracted and expanded, hidden and revealed, weak and strong, soft and hard. It extends to the four cardinal points and contains yin and yang, encompasses the universe and manifests the three lights. It is extremely profound and subtle, extremely fine and minute. Mountains are high because of it, rivers are deep because of it, beasts run because of it, birds fly because of it, the sun and moon shine because of it, the stars move because of it, the unicorn roams because of it, the phoenix soars because of it...

  Non-action aligns with the Way, non-speaking communicates virtue. Serene and unassuming, it achieves harmony, having countless differences yet conforming to nature. Spirit relies on the tip of autumn's finest hair, embracing the grand totality of the universe. Its virtue surpasses heaven and earth, harmonizing yin and yang, regulating the four seasons and balancing the five elements. Nourishing and protecting all, myriad creatures thrive. Moistening grass and trees, seeping into metal and stone. Birds and beasts grow robust, fur and feathers luxuriant, wings fluttering, horns budding...

  Xun Daozi's face turned bitter again, listening to Hong Jun's lecture was a great opportunity. In the future, people would flock to the Zi Xuan Palace to listen, and those with good luck could even grab a cushion to sit on. Listening to the Tao made one's cultivation soar, after several sessions of listening, one would either become a saint or an quasi-saint; at the very least, they could remember everything for future enlightenment, and once enlightened, they would be invincible in the vast expanse of Hong Huang!

  Finally arrived at his own place, after much difficulty, he hitched a ride to Zi Xuan Palace to listen to the lecture. But! It's all over, it's all over! Still in a fog, still in a fog. What kind of Tao is this?!

  Sneaking a peek at the expressions of my masters, their faces were truly fascinating, one moment surprised, the next furrowed in concern, then suddenly enlightened, followed by delight, intense focus, wide-eyed wonder, and lowered eyebrows...

  It was really into it!

  Look around again, and the facial expressions are equally colorful, with joy, sorrow, enlightenment, despair, delight, gloom...

  Those faces - really look good!

  Xun Daozi thought that looking at people's faces was more interesting than listening to the Tao.

  It's not a big deal to come and go, but it's hard to understand what's being said. Since I've already come, I might as well practice the improved technique and see if I can perfect it, so that I can master it sooner and free up time to comprehend and enlighten the Tao.

  Xun Daozi actually started cultivating in the grand hall of Hongyuan's lecture, all by himself. If Yuanshi were to find out, who knows how he would treat this eccentric disciple...

  ;