After returning to the shantytown and learning that everyone planned to protest together at midnight, Lu Xuan went straight home.
'I have to join the protest tonight, so it looks like I won't be getting any sleep. It's still early, though. I should get some shut-eye now.'
After making and eating a bowl of instant noodles and setting his alarm, Lu Xuan lay on his bed. He began practicing the Jade Tower Breathing Technique, continuously channeling Essence Qi with each breath to temper his body.
As he continued to channel the energy, he drifted off to sleep. Yet, his breathing continued to follow the rhythm of the Jade Tower Breathing Technique, and the flow of Essence Qi never ceased.
Silently, bit by bit, his body grew stronger.
.......
"Luoyang City is so bustling." Zhang Ling yawned, tilting his head. "Teacher, when can I enter the world? I've already thought it all out. I'm going to assist Qi Xiaobai and unify the old lands!"
The elderly man glanced at him.
"The Mandate of the Great Zhou is not yet spent. It still has four thousand years of fortune remaining."
Zhang Ling pouted.
"The Dukes States have been disloyal and divided for ages. I doubt it'll last that long... Besides, you always say that fate isn't fixed and people are unpredictable. How can you be so sure how much time the dynasty has left?"
"The future is uncertain, but the past is set in stone."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Zhang Ling asked, his curiosity piqued. Then, as if remembering something, he added,
"Oh, right! Teacher, when is that little fellow Lu Xuan coming again? Will it be another two or three days?"
"He's here. Just outside the door."
Zhang Ling froze. A moment later, he heard the door open, and a young man slowly walked in.
"Grandpa Li, Brother Zhang." Lu Xuan bowed respectfully. He didn't act wantonly just because this was his dream, but continued to follow the rules and observe proper etiquette.
Or rather, he was following his true nature.
"The little fellow's here?" Zhang Ling beamed. He reached out to pat Lu Xuan's head but stopped, looking a little regretful. "Oh, right. You're sixteen now. I can't treat you like a kid anymore."
Instead, he patted Lu Xuan on the shoulder and whispered,
"Little fellow, try to persuade our teacher. He likes you. Tell him to let me out, to let me enter the world!"
Lu Xuan glanced at the collection of books in the room, then at the plainly dressed old man, and replied earnestly,
"Brother Zhang, if Grandpa Li won't let you go out, there must be a reason."
"Oh, come on..." Zhang Ling sighed. Just as he was about to say more, he suddenly froze and let out a soft sound of surprise.
"Little fellow, have you started cultivating?"
Lu Xuan paused, surprised, then nodded.
"Yes, I've been practicing a scripture called the Jade Tower Breathing Technique."
"Jade Tower Breathing Technique?" Zhang Ling muttered under his breath. 'I've never heard of it. Sounds like it might be related to the Jade Tower True Scripture, though?'
Then, he said with a carefree air,
"If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me. Even though you aren't formally the teacher's disciple, I can still give you some pointers... Don't be fooled by the fact that I just guard this room of books with the teacher all day. When it comes to cultivation, I'm pretty much an Immortal."
Lu Xuan nodded earnestly. He didn't entirely believe him, but he didn't disbelieve him either. Just as he always did, he checked the time, then calmly went to boil water and prepare a meal. The scent of cooking smoke soon filled the spacious library.
Even though it was a dream, he was never impatient or haughty. From the very first day he arrived, he had taken on the chores of starting the fire, cooking the meals, and dusting the books.
He had had this dream for seven years. For seven years, he had lit the fires. For seven years, he had cooked the meals. And for seven years, he had tended to the collection of books.
"Grandpa Li, Brother Zhang, it's time to eat."
Lu Xuan meticulously arranged the dishes on the low wooden table. The plainly dressed old man set down his bamboo slips, walked over with slow, deliberate steps, and took a seat.
"It smells delicious," the old man commented.
"As good as ever," Zhang Ling added, taking a large bite of food.
The young man smiled happily. Ever since Old Chu passed away, only here, in this dream, did he feel like he was at home. It was as if he had a family.
After the meal, Lu Xuan took the bowls and chopsticks outside to wash them. When he returned to the room, the old man suddenly spoke up.
"Xiaoxuan."
"Grandpa Li," Lu Xuan replied, quickly bowing.
"Though you are an outsider, you have kept an old man like me company for seven years..."
"And me!" Zhang Ling cut in.
The old man shot him an annoyed glare before continuing to address Lu Xuan.
"Though we are not fated to be master and disciple, our seven years of companionship is its own kind of destiny. As such, I would like to gift you a Daoist Scripture. What do you say?"
Lu Xuan cupped his fists and said earnestly,
"No, I do all of this willingly. Being with Grandpa Li and Brother Zhang makes me feel like I have a home."
"You're saying we're your family?" Zhang Ling said, amused. "If that were true, the karmic ties would be enormous!"
Lu Xuan fell silent for a moment, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes, and bowed again.
"That is how it feels to me, at least."
"Alright, alright, you little fellow. Don't look so down," Zhang Ling said, touching his forehead in resignation. "The teacher is offering you a Daoist Scripture, so just accept it. This is your great fortune, a heaven-sent opportunity!"
He seemed afraid Lu Xuan wouldn't grasp the gravity of the situation, for his usual flippant tone vanished, replaced by a solemn one.
Lu Xuan bowed again, but did not speak.
The old man beside them chuckled softly and said,
"Child, if I do not give you this Daoist Scripture, I will be in your debt for seven years of karma. Please, accept it."
Hearing this, Lu Xuan no longer dared to refuse.
"This junior wouldn't dare. I humbly accept."
The old man stroked his beard and nodded.
"Is there anything you seek?"
Lu Xuan paused, thinking for a long moment. He nodded, then shook his head.
"Here, in this place, I only wish for things to continue as they are, year after year. To light the fire and cook every day, with Grandpa Li and Brother Zhang always here... that would be the best. But outside this place, in the other world... what I seek is immense."
"For example?"
Perhaps because it was a dream, Lu Xuan opened up for once.
"First, I suppose, is to get my revenge. Then... to try and attain Longevity."
"What revenge?"
"Vengeance for the lives of an entire city."
As Lu Xuan spoke, he couldn't help but remember that day seven years ago. The entire city had been inexplicably sealed off. Mysterious figures had appeared and begun an inhuman slaughter...
He had only been nine at the time. He was sent out of the city, only to discover his household registration had been erased, making him an undocumented person in the Federation. Fortunately, he managed to hitch a ride and fled all the way to East Sea City...
"And why do you seek Longevity?" the old man asked.
Lu Xuan returned to the present and answered frankly,
"Because I don't want to die."
'Grandpa Zhang gave his life to get me out of that city. I can't let him down. I can't die.'
The old man was silent for a moment, then he chuckled.
"Since you have stepped onto the path of cultivation and seek Longevity, I shall bestow upon you a Divine Technique. If you can master it, it will be a great aid on your path to Longevity."
As he spoke, he produced an ancient book from thin air. It wasn't made of bamboo slips, but of paper—something that shouldn't exist in this era.
Lu Xuan bowed and accepted it.
On the cover, five simple, unassuming words were written: *Thirty-Six Celestial Spirits Techniques*.
"The threes are endless, the sixes are infinite. This Dharma Scripture encompasses a myriad of great Divine Techniques. You may choose one from among them, and I shall teach you," the old man said.
Lu Xuan opened the thin, ancient book. There was little content inside—only thirty-six names were recorded.
Names like Moving Stars and Changing Dipper, Reversing Yin and Yang, Vertical Earth Golden Light, and Commanding the Five Thunders...
The young man stared in a daze for a long moment before letting out a self-deprecating laugh.
'Am I... actually trying to pick one?'
'It's just a dream, after all. Even if a scripture like this were real, I'd just forget it as soon as I woke up, like always.'
He pursed his lips and pointed.
"I'll take this one."
Zhang Ling craned his neck to see. The one the young man had pointed to was... *Mediation of Creation*.
"You actually dared to pick that one!" he exclaimed in amazement. "The first of the thirty-six techniques, the foremost of the thirty-six Great Divine Techniques... Little fellow, you've got a good eye, but you should pick another one. You won't be able to learn it."
He paused, then said with great seriousness,
"Even the hosts of Immortals and Buddhas in the heavens, even the most arrogant of Great Demon Kings, couldn't learn it... Even a Celestial Venerable or a Buddha would struggle to master this technique. And even if you did somehow learn it, you couldn't possibly use it without Heaven-Scattering Magical Power!"
Lu Xuan blinked, looking utterly lost.
But Zhang Ling was still rambling on,
"Mediation of Creation... Do you know of Lady Nuwa? Ages and ages ago, she used this very technique to create the Human Race! Mediation of Creation can reshape the heavens and earth, it can bring all things into existence!"
Lu Xuan, who only vaguely understood, tilted his head.
"But I've already picked it."
Zhang Ling was left speechless, at a complete loss for words.
But the old man, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke in a placid tone.
"Since you have chosen, then it is chosen. Child, watch closely."
The moment his voice fell, the old man lightly tapped a finger.
A mote of starlight descended, landing on Lu Xuan's head and sinking into his Spiritual World, into the sea of his consciousness.
Instantly, the starlight swelled, transforming into an ancient, indescribable scripture, profound beyond measure. It was accompanied by the sound of bells and drums, the chanting of sacrifices, and the cry of the very first infant born since the Creation of Heaven and Earth!
After a long while, the old man withdrew his hand and asked softly,
"Do you remember it?"
"I do," Lu Xuan replied with a bow.
"Then go and practice. As Zhang Ling said, you cannot truly wield this Great Divine Technique without Heaven-Scattering Magical Power. However, grasping even a sliver of its essence will be enough to guide you to the Realm of Longevity."
Lu Xuan nodded earnestly, his heart reeling in awe at the terrifyingly profound Supreme Scripture. Just contemplating it for a moment was enough to send him into a trance.
He felt no sorrow at the thought that he would forget it all upon waking. To have heard the Dao in this moment was enough.
Time flowed on, and his vision abruptly went dark.
The dream... was over.
......
Lu Xuan vanished from the room. Zhang Ling either didn't notice or was simply used to the sight.
He simply asked,
"Teacher, did you really teach him Mediation of Creation? He'll never be able to learn it... Why not just take him in as a disciple? I think the kid's got potential, though I don't know about his aptitude."
The old man glanced at him.
"The karmic affinity isn't there. That child and I are not fated to be master and disciple. And don't you even think about taking him as your own. He will likely come here one last time."
"Why?" Zhang Ling asked, taken aback.
The old man replied,
"He doesn't belong here... He will likely move on to another fragment of time. While I could compel him to return, I will not. My Dao is one of Non-action."
Zhang Ling looked disappointed.
"So we'll only see Little Lu Xuan one more time? I wonder if we'll ever meet again... Hah!"
"Do not sigh. Consider it a karmic encounter fulfilled," the old man said calmly. "Record his name."
"What?" Zhang Ling asked, not understanding.
The old man stood and said softly,
"The youth Lu Xuan has attended to me for seven years. He understands propriety and acts with Daoist Virtue. He has rendered meritorious service in guarding the ancient collection of Zhou. His name shall be recorded in the annals... grant him the rank of Official."
Zhang Ling nodded decisively. After a moment's hesitation, he asked one last time,
"You're really not taking him as a disciple? Not even as a nominal one, like me? What if the boy's aptitude is as exceptional as his character? He could be a prime candidate."
The old man shook his head.
"I have already given my word. Even if the child truly comprehends a sliver of Mediation of Creation, I will not take him as my disciple. At most, I might grant him three more karmic opportunities."
'Yeah, right. If he really has that kind of talent, I'd be shocked if you could restrain yourself,' Zhang Ling muttered under his breath. He casually picked up a blank bamboo slip and began to carve.
*In the Great Zhou's Guardian Storage Room, there was a minor Official named Lu Xuan. For more than seven years, he attended the seventeenth Keeper of the Records. He was diligent and without fault. He earned the praise of Keeper of the Records Li Er, who said of him: "He understands propriety, acts with Daoist Virtue, and has rendered meritorious service in guarding the ancient collection of Zhou."*