At the foot of the green mountain, inside the study.
Li Qingchen looked at the young man before him, his mind in turmoil.
With a mortal body, he understood the Dao patterns at a glance, and didn't even need much contemplation, just like reading ordinary characters.
A prodigy in literature?
Born a great scholar?
Dao patterns are not just simple characters; they contain Dao and reason.
If one can understand the writings composed of Dao patterns, one's comprehension in the Confucian path will advance by leaps and bounds, which is why he cared so much.
Li Qingchen had traversed the literary world all his life, encountered countless geniuses, but this was the first time he had seen such a situation, momentarily frozen in place.
Su Changqing, seeing his teacher staring intently at him, was also somewhat nervous.
"So serious? Did I say something wrong?"
The atmosphere in the room was a bit odd, with neither speaking, both pondering silently.
After a while, Li Qingchen slowly spoke, but this time his tone was much gentler.
"Clearly, you saw it at first sight, why wait two hours?"
Li Qingchen initially wanted to complete the transaction simply, but now he was moved by a desire to nurture talent.
However, he chooses disciples not just based on aptitude, but also character. If Su Changqing's character was decent, he didn't mind accepting a fourth disciple.
"Sir, the simple character contains deep meanings, and I just figured it out," Su Changqing replied.
Li Qingchen chuckled silently; indeed, the fault was his.
His intention was for recognizing the character to be considered passing, yet the person recognized it at once but hesitated to speak.
After all, it was the teacher's assessment. How could it be a simple 'one'?
The Dao pattern is difficult for others to understand, yet Su Changqing grasped it at a glance, no wonder the other would think twice.
Thinking of this, Li Qingchen looked at Su Changqing with interest and said:
"Can you see deep meanings in a simple 'one' character?"
"Why don't you tell us, what meanings are contained in this 'one' character?"
Li Qingchen smiled at the corner of his mouth, poured himself a cup of tea, and looked at Su Changqing with some teasing.
He wanted to hear what grand principles this literary prodigy could derive from this simple character.
"The great Dao is simple, evolving to complexity."
Su Changqing's first sentence made Li Qingchen's face change instantly.
"'One' although simple, can be seen as the beginning of all things."
"The Dao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, three gives birth to infinite things."
"At our first meeting, sir bestowed the 'one' character, implying the soaring journey of the Dao begins beneath one's feet, starting from 'one'..."
At this moment, Li Qingchen's mind shook, unable to hear what Su Changqing was saying next.
"The Dao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, three gives birth to infinite things!"
A few short words echoed like a great bell tolling, stirring up a boundless tempest in his heart.
He, the leading figure in contemporary Confucian Dao, understood the terrifying weight of these few words precisely because of his position.
Each word contained profound reason, mysterious Dao, a few simple words yet encompassing the cosmos, revealing the essence of all living beings.
These simple words not only made Li Qingchen's spirit tremble.
Zhongzhou, Sacred Academy.
As the academy established by the Literary Emperor, it is a place coveted by all scholars.
To prevent the talents of cold-door scholars from being buried, the Literary Emperor erected a sculpture.
Whenever words emerge that shake the world, the sculpture emits the glow of Confucian Dao, guiding scholars and announcing to the world.
Two days ago, a young scholar composed a four-character quatrain, making the Literary Emperor's sculpture shine a hundred feet, descending mighty righteousness, allowing the young scholar to achieve Foundation Establishment in a day.
This matter was widely discussed, even after two days had passed, it was still sung throughout the streets and alleys.
But suddenly, the Literary Emperor sculpture in the center of the Sacred Academy trembled fiercely.
Ten thousand feet of glow illuminated the entire city, majestic mighty righteousness filled the whole sky.
[Great Dao Ultimate Principle]
Four shining Dao patterns appeared in the sky, persisting for a long time.
Everyone in the city, whether street vendors or famed scholars, were dumbstruck looking at the changed sky, the whole city fell silent for a moment.
In the next instant, a tumultuous uproar filled the heavens.
"The Literary Emperor manifests! The Literary Emperor manifests! What kind of great talent has appeared for such glow to shine ten thousand feet!"
"Great Dao Ultimate Principle! Such high praise, what kind of astonishing article has been written!"
"Two days ago they said a hundred feet of glow from the Literary Emperor was unprecedented in a decade, who would've thought someone could make the Literary Emperor's sculpture shine ten thousand feet, this...this hasn't happened in ten thousand years!"
"A hundred-foot luminescence dares to compare with ten-thousand-foot literary Dao glow? They are entirely different concepts!"
"No matter who it is, they must be found, send word to Confucian Immortal, yes! Send word quickly to Confucian Immortal, this person must be brought back..."
The great scholars of Sacred Academy were anxious.
As the holy land of Confucian Dao, their thirst for knowledge was far greater than ordinary people.
[Great Dao Ultimate Principle], these simple four characters, left them restless as if cats scratching at their hearts.
They wanted to see what kind of expressions were worthy of such a high evaluation from the Literary Emperor.
Zhongzhou was in turmoil, unaware that elsewhere was similar.
In the Eastern Region, Daoist holy land, Profound Pure Sect.
Despite many Daoist sects existing, the Profound Pure Sect was the leader, for the previous Dao Emperor hailed from Profound Pure Sect.
Recently, it was the gathering day of the younger generation from many Daoist sects for discussing Dao.
In front of the Dao hall, confident Dao heirs either bloomed like lotus or showed off divine techniques, forming a lively scene.
Only the disciples of the Shenxiao Sect were downcast.
"Alas, if our sect's Dao heir hadn't perished, this day of discussing Dao would have been brilliant."
The Sect Leader of Shenxiao Sect sighed, looking dejected.
"Senior brother need not be troubled, the Dao heir experienced this tribulation, it's decreed by fate."
"What's important now is to establish a new Dao heir; our sect's young generation cannot go without a leader."
An elder donned in Daoist robes comforted.
"Establish a new Dao heir...difficult indeed." The Sect Leader sighed in response.
Unlike other sects, the appointment of a Dao heir in Daoist sects depends on fate and insights into Dao laws.
A Dao heir may not have high cultivation, but their insight into Dao laws must surpass others.
Such a person is hard to select.
"The other disciples in the sect lack the ability; in some time, I'll descend the mountain to see if there is an appropriate choice."
The Sect Leader just finished speaking, and before the elder beside him could respond, the heaven and earth suddenly trembled.
Ten thousand miles of purple aura rose from the east, a grand and mysterious Dao sound echoed between heaven and earth.
Beaded curtains crossed the sky, bead garlands covered the ground, clusters of blue lotuses blossomed from the void.
This auspicious scene left all the Daoist experts present stunned, then showed expressions of shock.
Moreover, at the rear of Profound Pure Sect, the portrait of Daoist Ancestor that had been hanging for unknown ages started to shine.
Everyone was dumbfounded, never having seen such a scene.
But only the Daoist experts showed expressions of excitement.
"Ancestor's portrait manifests, showing there exists a cultivator catching the attention of Daoist Ancestor!"
"Find him! He must be found! Whether Daoist flourishes this generation might hinge on this person!"
Upon hearing this, while others were still reacting, the Sect Leader of Shenxiao Sect had already stood up.
His fingertips formed seals continuously, moving so fast they almost left afterimages.
"Unable to calculate? Covered by domain boundaries?"
The Sect Leader's expression turned fierce, spitting out a mouthful of essence blood, Dao seals spread, seeming to bring forth ten thousand miles of landscapes.
"In the Southern Region!"
His eyes revealed excitement, about to calculate a closer point, but upon a green mountain's appearance, his expression suddenly changed.
Two cold snorts akin to divine roars detonated in his consciousness sea, the terrifying aura involuntarily making him cough up blood, showing fear.