Chapter Thirty-One: Inquiring of the Patriarch

Page (1/3)

“This must be the manifestation of the Patriarch’s spirit. Look, Zhen’an has received a divine sign and, in deep meditation, glimpsed the true form of the Patriarch! Let us quickly compose ourselves and not miss this rare opportunity!”

Hearing Zhen’an’s words, Ji Yuan became all the more convinced of his own deduction. In a rush, he informed his two companions, then crossed his legs and began to meditate. The other two, equally convinced, bowed three times to the Xuan Zhen Hall and, like Ji Yuan, entered into meditation.

Only the young Daoist boy, Zhenchang, was not so easily swayed, his mind quick to catch inconsistencies.

“Though the Patriarch dwells in the Nether Prison, he is a divine being who commands a celestial domain. Even if he descends to the world, he often appears as a Daoist in his true form—so why would he be dressed in black robes and have black eyes?”

Recalling the various Daoist scriptures he had studied, Zhenchang’s doubts deepened. Yet, glancing over at Ji Yuan and the others, he saw the three Daoists swiftly entering the profound, unmoving state of mind and Dao in meditation.

Such deep meditation is the most revered among all Daoist states, the highest of the five levels of Daoist practice, forming the foundation of all fundamental methods. Ji Yuan and his companions had originally been sent to Xin City because their minds were not pure, and their meditation could barely reach the state where movement and stillness were in equal balance—a fourth rank among the five levels, just slightly better than Zhen’an, who as a lay disciple had only just entered the path with more movement than stillness.

“Perhaps I was mistaken? Indeed, the Patriarch’s powers are vast, far beyond what I, a mere Daoist boy, can comprehend. I should follow the lead of my uncles.”

After some thought, Zhenchang decided he might have been overthinking it, and perhaps things were just as Ji Yuan had said, that the Patriarch’s spirit was truly manifesting. He too imitated Ji Yuan and the others, preparing to enter meditation.

As for Zhen’an, he was utterly confused by the situation. His mind was much clearer now, but he still could not fathom the actions of his three uncles and Zhenchang.

Ordinarily, seeing others meditate, he would follow suit. But having just awakened from his own enlightenment, he was in a most peculiar state; until he had fully absorbed this experience, he could not enter meditation.

So, after sitting cross-legged for a while and feeling the chill, he went inside, brought out thin quilts, and covered the three Daoists and Zhenchang. Then he sat quietly on the floor, watching the spiritual flames enveloping Xuan Zhen Hall.

As time passed, the aura entwined around the bronze lamp gradually burned out. The spiritual flames that had wrapped the hall slowly subsided and finally extinguished.

Once the flames were gone, the stream of spiritual energy that had been feeding back into Liu Chen’s consciousness ceased. As Liu Chen grew more adept at absorbing it, the stream dwindled and, by the time dawn broke, Liu Chen had absorbed every last trace.

Page (2/3)

When Liu Chen opened his eyes again, he felt as light as a feather, barely able to exert force as he walked—much like the sensation after staying up all night as a normal person.

Yet in this state, Liu Chen’s mind was exceptionally active, almost feverish.

“This is truly maddening!”

His thoughts raced from the terror on Lu Qingcai’s face as he was killed, to visions of himself roaming the world in a corpse’s body, attracting all eyes, then in an instant shifting to sad memories of his life on Earth.

In one breath, hundreds of thoughts collided, joy and sorrow, anxiety and relief, all flickering in and out. It felt as if his heart had been splashed with every flavor, leaving him utterly unsure what he felt.

“Huh, what’s that? Why do I vaguely sense someone nearby?”

Faced with such chaotic thoughts, Liu Chen had no good solution. He could only give himself something to do, hoping it would help restrain his unruly mind.

But as he pondered what to do next, he suddenly sensed the vague presence of someone nearby.

This was not the usual sensation of a corpse’s body detecting life energy. It was subtler, more direct—a connection, one might say.

“Let’s go see, then!”

Curiosity rising, Liu Chen could not resist. He ignored the fact that daylight meant he should be leaving, stepped out, pushed open the side door of Xuan Zhen Hall, and walked over.

Outside, Liu Chen found there were not just one but five people. Apart from a young Daoist boy watching him, the others were deep in meditation, which explained why he had not sensed their life force before.

Normally, to avoid being found by suddenly awakened Daoists, Liu Chen would have left immediately. But in his current state, though he knew what he ought to do, his many restless thoughts compelled him to approach the young Daoist boy with whom he had somehow formed a connection, to ask what had happened.

Page (3/3)

So Liu Chen strode boldly up to Zhen’an and, under Zhen’an’s curious gaze, asked:

“Are you Zhen’an or Zhenchang? What did you do last night?”

As Liu Chen spoke, Zhen’an kept scrutinizing him, hesitating to reply. But when Liu Chen called his name, joy lit up his eyes and he looked at Liu Chen eagerly.

“You really are the Patriarch! You even know my spiritual name!”

Being addressed as the Patriarch left Liu Chen bewildered—how had he become someone’s revered ancestor overnight? Though his thoughts were chaotic, his mind sharpened, and recalling the commotion he had caused last night, he could guess most of the reason.

Still, though he understood why Zhen’an called him Patriarch, Liu Chen could not bring himself to claim the title. Deceiving such a young child would be beneath him.

“Patriarch, Zhenchang said you are vastly powerful and merciful, descending to the Nether Prison to save countless ghosts. Did you rescue my parents? How are they now? Have they gone to Dongling Heaven to enjoy happiness?”

Liu Chen was about to stay silent, but Zhen’an poured out his words. When he finished, he stood respectfully, head raised, waiting for Liu Chen’s answer.

Hearing this question, Liu Chen’s curiosity instantly turned to regret, wishing he could run away. The query was so similar to Luo An’s earlier question, and having already deceived one person on this matter, Liu Chen could not bear to lie again.