Chapter Twelve: Xuanyuan Descends to the World, Kungtong Pays Homage

  Shennong saw that Nüwa was already fine, so he bid farewell to Hongyuan and the others, and returned to the human tribe. Nüwa stayed on Fangzhang Island to study with Hongyuan.

  In the central part of Nanzhanbu Zhou, there was a tribe called You Xiong. The chief of the You Xiong tribe was Shao Dian Shi, and his wife's name was Fu Bao. Fu Bao was gentle and kind by nature, and she had won Shao Dian's deep affection.

  One day, Fu Bao was leaning on the railing, gazing at the moon, when he suddenly saw a huge change in the Big Dipper in the northern sky. The seven stars of the Big Dipper shone brightly, dazzling his eyes, and their rays intertwined, pouring down from the northern horizon into the sky above the You Xiong tribe. Gradually, they formed a seven-star ladle that flew down, circled around, and danced nine times before diving into Fu Bao's abdomen. Instantly, with Fu Bao as the center, the starlight surged forth, illuminating the entire tribe and startling Shao Dian Shi.

  Shao Dian saw the scene of Fu Bao's body shining with starlight and was immediately shocked, standing there in a daze. When the starlight disappeared, Fu Bao also fainted on the railing, Shao Dian was greatly startled, hurriedly ran over to hold Fu Bao and brought him inside, checked his breathing, found it peaceful and stable, knew that Fu Bao had just fallen asleep, secretly let out a sigh of relief, and then fell into deep thought again.

  The rooster crowed, and when the first ray of dawn appeared on the eastern horizon, Fu Bao slowly woke up from his sleep, opening his sleepy eyes to see Shao Dian's tired face after a night of vigil. A deep sense of emotion rose in his heart, and Fu Bao gently called out to Shao Dian, saying in a soft voice: "It was hard on the elder to keep watch, but it was my fault!"

  "Madam, what are you talking about? As husband and wife for many years, we should support each other." He then asked in puzzlement: "But I don't know what happened last night. Is it good fortune or bad?" After speaking, he let out a helpless sigh.

  "The chieftain need not worry about this. Last night, I had a dream in which a divine being told me that I was summoned by the North Dipper last night and conceived, and will give birth to the future human emperor."

  Shaodian was shocked by the words and hastily asked: "Is this true? I just don't know what that immortal looks like?"

  Fu Bao furrowed her brow and thought for a long time, but still couldn't recall the immortal from last night's dream. She inadvertently raised her head and happened to see the portrait of Hongyuan hanging in the main hall of the house, and exclaimed: "The immortal I dreamed of last night was actually my holy father!"

  Mr. Shao was also shocked when he heard this, and he hastily asked: "Are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"

  Fu Bao nodded firmly and said: "It's definitely not wrong, the person I dreamed of is indeed the Holy Father!"

  Shaodian heard the words with great joy, hastily lit incense under the portrait of Hongyuan, pulled Fu Bao to kneel in front of the portrait, and devoutly worshipped: "The human tribe has the bear tribe's patriarch Shaodian here to thank the Holy Father for his guidance!" Immediately after nine bows, just about to get up, but saw that the portrait suddenly moved without wind, floated up, surrounded them in a circle three times under their astonished eyes, and then returned to the wall.

  The two were overjoyed and said that the Holy Father had appeared to them. They then bowed three times in reverence before the icon, their hearts filled with expectation for the child yet to be born.

  Fu Bao was pregnant for twenty-four months. On the third day of March, nine dragons came from the horizon and circled around the beam nine times before leaving. Immediately after, a strange phenomenon appeared in the sky: a heavenly maiden flew over Fu Bao's roof, scattering flowers everywhere, with an ethereal music lingering in the air. Before long, a baby's cry was heard coming from inside the house. Shao Dian Shi, who had been anxiously waiting outside, was overjoyed at this sudden turn of events.

  He didn't care about anything else, and hastily ran in, only to see Bao lying weakly on the bed, holding a bright-eyed baby with an air of majesty between his eyebrows. At this moment, the baby was enjoying milk. Shao Dian carefully took over her son, affectionately kissing his cheek, and the rough stubble made the child laugh and giggle, filling the small room with a warm atmosphere among the three people.

  Fu Bao smiled gently and said: "Tribe leader, give the child a name!"

  Shao Dian thought for a moment and said: "This child was born on Xuan Yuan Hill, so let's take Gong Sun as his surname and Xuan Yuan as his name!"

  Gongsun Xuan was born with the ability to speak, and as a child he was intelligent and perceptive. As he grew older, he became more dignified and virtuous. From a young age, he showed exceptional talent, and even at a tender age, his clansmen did not dare to look down on him, and everyone revered him with great respect. Seeing Xuan's prestige in the clan rising day by day, Shaojian was also overjoyed, and convened a grand meeting of the clan, where, under the proposal of the elder members, he passed on the position of chieftain to Xuan. Xuan ascended to the position of chieftain of the Youxiong clan amidst great expectations.

  The night was cool and refreshing, the evening breeze blew gently, and the stars twinkled with a mesmerizing color. Shao Tian looked up at the night sky and asked Xuan Yuan behind him: "Xuan Yuan, do you know why you were born?"

  Xuanyuan replied in a respectful tone, "I know, Mother has said that the Holy Father spoke to her in a dream, saying that I am the one destined by Heaven to be the next co-ruler of our people, and that I was born for the sake of our people!"

  "You know, Xuan Yuan, that in the ancient times of Hong Huang, the witch and demon tribes ruled the entire world. Our human tribe was weak and vulnerable, barely surviving in the cracks. The demon tribe even slaughtered billions of our ancestors. If it weren't for the existence of the Holy Father, the Holy Master, and our ancestors, our human tribe would have long been extinct. The Holy Father taught us to strive tirelessly, and under the rule of Fu Xi Sheng Huang and Shen Nong Gong Zhu, our human tribe finally reached its current state after a long and arduous journey. As the future leader of the human tribe, don't disappoint the expectations of the Holy Father and the heroic spirits of our ancestors! Do you understand?"

  Xuanyuan's expression was firm as he said, "Xuanyuan will remember his father's words and press on for the sake of our people!" His eyes suddenly shone with a dazzling light, brighter than any star in the sky!

  The peaks of the mountains are like a thousand swords being unsheathed, piercing the sky; the steep cliffs stand upright, as if carved by the gods with sharp blades. The vast forest is shrouded in mist and fog, creating an ethereal realm. The lake's water is crystal clear, reflecting the same color as the autumn sky. Immortal creatures frolic and play, while sacred herbs and lingzhi mushrooms bloom, dazzling the eyes. What a fairy mountain, not of this world, only appearing in dreams!

  Xuanyuan was completely absorbed in the beautiful scenery of Kongtong Mountain, and it wasn't until now that he realized he had come here to seek the Tao and pay homage to a master. It turned out that Xuanyuan had been yearning for the Great Way since childhood, and when he heard from the elders of his tribe that there were immortals on Kongtong Mountain, he arranged some affairs within his tribe and came alone to Kongtong Mountain to seek immortality and ask about the Tao.

  At this time, a song came from afar in the depths of Kongtong Mountain:

  Heartfelt reverence and devotion. Above the Three Realms. Brahma, the supreme. Supreme without peer. The Heavenly Emperor of the Center. Jade Mountain's Upper Capital. Distant and majestic Golden Gate. Dense forests and clear rivers. Profound Origin, One Energy. Before Chaos. Within the Precious Pearl. Profound within Profound. Opening Illumination, Three Sceneries. Transforming and giving birth to all heavens. Countless heavenly true ones. Innumerable multitudes. Rotating the Dipper, traversing the Sieve. Returning to the Five Constants. Lofty and grand, the Great Model. The ancestral temple of the Myriad Ways. Mahā Brahma, Jade Clarity. Void and natural spontaneity. The ultimate, wondrous Way. Yuanshi Tianzun.

  Just finished singing this one, and here's another one:

  A winding path of pine and bamboo, a gate with two leaves of misty windows; three volumes of the Yellow Court Scripture, flowers blooming in all four seasons. New poems written at will, cinnabar

  Support yourself with a stove; hang your fishing rod and take a stroll in the hills and streams, sit facing the mat, and say that you are moving away from the dragon's gate and tiger's den. The effort of dusting off the distant path is crazy.

  Whistling proudly and crowing.

  When the singing stopped, Xuan Yuan only saw a group of Daoist priests with elegant demeanor standing in front of him. He hastily bowed respectfully and said: "Greetings to the immortal elder, I am Gong Sun Xuan Yuan of the Bear Clan, at your service!"

  The Taoist returned a Taoist salute and said: "I am Guangchengzi of Kongtong Mountain, returning the courtesy! I don't know where the clan leader is from?"

  Xuanyuan replied: "I have loved Tao since I was young, and now I come here to pay homage to the master and learn from him!"

  "The essence of the Supreme Way is subtle and profound, its ultimate truth is obscure and silent. Without seeing or hearing, embrace the spirit in stillness. The body will naturally be upright, it must be calm and clear; without toiling the body, without disturbing the spirit, only then can one achieve longevity. When the eyes see nothing, the ears hear nothing, and the mind knows nothing, then the spirit and body are united as one, and only then can one achieve longevity!"

  Xuanyuan seemed to have an epiphany and said to Guang Chengzi, "The immortal must indeed be an immortal! I hope the immortal will accept Xuanyuan as a disciple!"

  Guang Chengzi smiled and said, "I have come specifically for you. You and I have a master-disciple relationship. Today, I will pass on to you the 'Natural Classic' of the Jade Pure Great Way." With that, he took out a book from his sleeve and handed it over to Xuan Yuan.

  Xuanyuan happily accepted the scripture and paid homage to Guangchengzi, from then on Guangchengzi followed Xuanyuan back to the Youxiong tribe to teach him the Jade Clear Great Way.

  It is: On the mountain of Kongtong, visiting the immortal master, with good fortune hearing the Tao is Yuqing!