"Whispers of Yuanqi":

"Whispers of Yuanqi" tells the journey of Heng Zhen, a man who survived the destruction of his tribe by rampaging Chaosqi. After realizing that chaos cannot be stopped by force, Heng Zhen decides to stop resisting and simply remain in a secluded valley. Through this silence and total acceptance, he eventually discovers Yuanqi, a calming and non-destructive form of Qi born not of desire, but of acceptance.

The presence of Yuanqi transforms the valley; the surrounding nature and living creatures become tranquil, even attracting lost people seeking peace. Heng Zhen himself undergoes a physical transformation, his face becoming younger and his age seemingly losing meaning.

However, the emergence of Yuanqi creates an imbalance in a world long dominated by Chaosqi. The world begins to reject Yuanqi, viewing it as foreign or even dangerous. Attempts by some, such as San Lie, to enforce Yuanqi actually attract Chaosqi and cause momentary destruction, demonstrating that Yuanqi is only born from total submission and the relinquishing of desire.

Heng Zhen continued to cultivate Yuanqi, entering the Realm of Clearness to purify illusions, and then into the Realm of Ganjing, where Yuanqi began to flow as a direction, forming within him the Foundation of the Body. However, the world's rejection of Yuanqi forced him to retreat to a barren plain, even being chased by lightning. In this tribulation, his Yuanqi reformed, born from a deeper understanding, transcending Chaosqi, toward "something that has no name" before Qi itself. The creator figure, Li Yuan, observing Heng Zhen's journey, emphasized that Yuanqi cannot be dominated but must be born without coercion.

Ultimately, the story emphasizes that Yuanqi is not a single path and cannot be imitated or forced; it is a discovered space, which only emerges when the heart calls for nothing. Those who walk with honest intentions will be transformed and, ultimately, will recognize their true selves by shedding their masks.

This novel is my third. I wrote about the beginnings of breaking qi. This reflects the world created by Li Yuan. In my first novel, it was about the beginnings after the universe was formed. The title is: Understanding Cultivation

Heng Zhen sat upon a stone shaped by wind and time.


There was no light emanating from himyet the world seemed to reflect its colors through his presence.


San Lie, still wrestling with the quiet of a once-wild soul.Lao Wen, gazing into the distance, as if searching for the end of a beginning.Li Rou, like dew not yet fallen.Lu Wen, full of questions—yet no longer rushing to find answers.


"I will meditate," Heng Zhen said at last.


His voice was not a command, nor a request.Just a truth, spoken plainly.


"Perhaps for days. Perhaps for years.Perhaps… there will be no time within it."


He closed his eyes for a moment, then looked in four directions.


"Because I still have more to explore.Yuanqi is not finished… and neither am I."


Li Rou stepped forward."Master… we don't know how."


"Because there is no 'how'.There is only direction… and the courage to walk without a map."


San Lie clenched his fist, then slowly opened his palm.


"You do not need to spread anything.What you need to do… is to be present in the places the world avoids.Sit… among those who have lost their way.And do not try to fix them."


Lao Wen asked softly,"How will we know if we are wrong?"


"Wrong," Heng Zhen said,"is when you force something the world is not yet ready to receive.But even more wrong… is not showing up because you're afraid to be wrong."


Lu Wen looked at his teacher."Is this… farewell?"


"That depends on who gives it meaning.If you walk without burden,we'll meet again—in a place that has no name."


The wind blew, soft as the final breath of a season that had fulfilled its purpose.


Heng Zhen turned and walked into the depths of the valley.


Each step left traces of Yuanqitraces that vanished, as though they had never been.


But their souls knewthe traces did not disappear.They simply no longer needed to be remembered.


The disciples stood, looking at one another.


Only one sentence remained in the air,though none could say who spoke it first:


"Let us go… and sit where the world refuses to be."


Chapter 31 - Chapter 31 share