After becoming an Elder, life wasn't as busy as Chen Yu had imagined. In fact, it could be described as quite leisurely.
The Green Cliff Hall was situated at the base of a secluded cliff face on the green cliff, backed by a thousand-ren sheer precipice and facing a deep pool and secluded valley.
The hall consisted of several simple cottages built from bluestone and logs. Their eaves soared upwards, covered in thick moss and vines, blending seamlessly with the surrounding rocks and forest. Though unremarkable at first glance, they possessed a serene, transcendent air.
Every day, looking out the window, one could see the waterfall cascading down like a silver ribbon, its roar echoing, the mist it kicked up refracting rainbows in the sunlight. Beside the waterfall, a sparse but well-arranged grove of plum trees was nurturing buds in the cool autumn breeze.
Further away, one could occasionally spot a few figures, either sitting cross-legged on the bluestones by the pool, meditating and circulating their qi, or practicing sword techniques and Daoist arts in the clearings among the trees. These were disciples who had come here voluntarily for quiet cultivation and enlightenment.
Generally, only disciples who had violated sect rules, but not too seriously, were sent here for wall-facing reflection. Managing them wasn't troublesome; it was mostly about giving gentle guidance, relying primarily on the disciples' own introspection.
If one engaged them in deeper conversation, they'd find these disciples, though young and spirited, were refined in speech and not bad-natured at heart.
During this time, Elder Hong of the Enforcement Hall would often bring one or two like-minded friends to visit Chen Yu. They would boil water, brew tea, chat, and discuss the Dao at the stone table in front of the hall.
After a few such visits, they became quite familiar.
During their chats, Chen Yu had intentionally and unintentionally mentioned his thoughts on taking disciples and passing on teachings. The Elders immediately understood. Not long after, they each brought a few promising younger relatives or favored disciples connected to them, with decent talent, to pay their respects at the Green Cliff Hall.
Chen Yu accepted them all without refusal—after all, his "Guo Dong" identity was for convenience; taking on a few more nominal disciples was no issue.
Then, he "casually" selected a few ordinary Outer Sect disciples who came for wall-facing reflection or quiet cultivation. They seemed to have good character, were diligent and steady, but had no background, and he also took them as disciples.
This naturally included his gel clone from the Cloud Depth Small Lodge. He also arranged for Shao Qingsong to take up a position at the Green Cliff Hall, assisting with daily chores and receiving visitors.
This absolutely delighted Shao Qingsong. He thought it was his Junior Brother Chen Yu who had put in a good word for him in front of Elder Guo, securing him this cushy job. He worked diligently every day and often visited Chen Yu with good tea and snacks.
No one knew that Elder Guo Dong and Chen Yu were, and always had been, the same person.
He took on many disciples this time, nearly fifteen. The clone mixed among them was inconspicuous.
It only made people think that this Elder from the Northern Dynasty, moved by the scene, saw his own shadow of arduous cultivation in the harsh lands in these ordinary, even somewhat clumsy disciples, and made an exception to take them in—a nostalgic and kind-hearted elder.
However, among the disciples he accepted, there really were a few interesting characters, each with their own strengths in temperament and comprehension, which Chen Yu found quite amusing. Guiding them wasn't boring either.
Four days passed slowly.
Once Chen Yu had fully settled into life at the Green Cliff Hall, arranged his disciples' cultivation schedules, and handed daily affairs over to Shao Qingsong and a few steady disciples to manage, he finally stepped out again after a long while.
His destination was the Scripture Pavilion in the side hall of one of the Inner Sect's three great halls—Cloud Sky Hall.
Within the Three Origins Sect's Inner Sect, there were three main halls: Cloud Sky Hall, Chongshan Hall, and Mingxin Hall, corresponding to the three talents of Heaven, Earth, and Man.
And these three talents of Heaven, Earth, and Man were precisely the origin of the Three Origins Sect's renowned name and the core philosophy and foundational legacy of the sect.
Not only that, even the sect's core heritage cultivation methods were divided into three scriptures.
...
Cloud Sky Hall, Scripture Pavilion.
Accompanied by Hong Changtian, Chen Yu stepped into this ancient and magnificent sea of books.
The interior space was extremely vast, with astonishingly high ceilings. Towering bookshelves reaching into the clouds surrounded them, densely packed with countless books, jade slips, leather scrolls, and other forms of classics.
Taking a careful sniff, one could detect a faint scent of old books and the aroma of insect-repelling and preservative herbs in the air.
Even more astonishing, numerous books were floating in mid-air. They moved and spiraled slowly as if alive, sometimes automatically flying to a disciple who was consulting materials.
This was the effect of the book-finding and shelving magic formations arranged within the Scripture Pavilion.
Some Inner Sect disciples were still borrowing or copying books. Noticing Chen Yu and Hong Changtian entering together, and seeing the specially crafted wooden tokens representing Elder status hanging at their waists, they politely stood up, bowed from a distance, and offered respectful greetings.
Hong Changtian had, over these past few days, figured out Chen Yu's temperament. He knew Chen Yu preferred quiet, was single-mindedly devoted to the Dao, and disliked excessive formalities and socializing.
So, unlike his usual visits to the Scripture Pavilion where he might linger to guide disciples or exchange pleasantries, he merely waved his sleeve, nodded slightly a few times in acknowledgment to the bowing disciples, and led Chen Yu straight up the spiral wooden staircase to the second floor.
Contrary to Chen Yu's imagination, the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion wasn't as majestic and imposing as the main hall outside. Instead, it more closely resembled a simple, unadorned wooden loft that had returned to a state of natural simplicity.
The light inside was soft, emanating from several Bright Light Stones embedded in the walls that emitted a gentle white glow. The air was thick with the rich scent of ancient books. One could even see fine dust particles slowly floating up and down within the beams of light.
The bookshelves were made of dark wood that looked extremely old, with clear wood grain visible and corners polished smooth and warm. On the shelves, jade slips were rare. Most were various thread-bound books with yellowed pages and slightly curled corners, lying there quietly as if they had slept for thousands of years. The marks of time left upon them were clearly visible.
However, upon careful investigation with spiritual sense, one would discover that these seemingly ordinary bookshelves were covered with numerous intricate and complex protective magic formations. They could prevent spiritual sense from spying, protect the books, and even in a corner of the room, a gray-robed, gaunt-faced old librarian sat with eyes closed, silently guarding this secluded place like a statue.
Hong Changtian waved his hand, and three particularly ancient-looking, heavy books floated down from one of the shelves.
He stroked the long beard beneath his chin, his expression turning solemn as he said to Chen Yu, "Fellow Daoist Guo, these are the Foundation Establishment cultivation methods of our Three Origins Sect that I mentioned to you. They are precisely related to the sect's philosophy of the three talents of Heaven, Earth, and Man. Each cultivation method corresponds to a direct path leading to the Great Dao of the Golden Core. They are the supreme treasures left behind by our sect's Dao Masters after their ascension."
He paused, his gaze burning as he looked at Chen Yu, and asked, "Do you know which three great paths these three methods respectively correspond to?"
Chen Yu promptly cupped his hands in salute, his face wearing an appropriately inquisitive expression. "I am ignorant and uninformed. Please enlighten me, Elder Hong."
Hong Changtian chuckled happily, seeming quite pleased to be able to recount the sect's glorious past to this studious new colleague. He cleared his throat and began his explanation:
"In the past, our Three Origins Sect's founding patriarch, with just a single sword, could block rivers, overturn seas, move mountains, and fill valleys. He once, alone with his sword, held back a million barbarian slave soldiers from the Northern Dynasty at the nation's border, protecting the Sheng Kang Dynasty's peace and stability for hundreds of years. It was from then on that the mortal world and the immortal world gradually merged, leading to our Three Origins Sect's transcendent status in the Southern Border today."
"And that one sword corresponds precisely to the supreme 'Primordial Origin Sword Dao'. This is the essence of the patriarch's lifelong learning, representing the ultimate of Heaven, the supreme path of ultimate sharpness and killing. Even comprehending just half a trace of its true meaning could allow one to enter the Dao in a single day, forge a flawless Dao foundation, with limitless future prospects."
"Of course, such a supreme classic that points directly to the origin of the Great Dao is often like a heavenly scripture, profoundly mysterious. Ordinary cultivators simply cannot understand it, let alone comprehend it."
"The original text left behind by the patriarch himself is a wordless heavenly book. Only those with exceptional comprehension and profound destiny, who vaguely grasp that trace of the Great Dao's true meaning, have a chance to understand the book's contents."
"Since that's the case, wouldn't Foundation Establishment cultivators have no way to practice this path at all?" Chen Yu timely raised the question.
"Not so, not so." Hong Changtian shook his head with a smile, simultaneously beckoning one of the ancient books to float before Chen Yu.
Chen Yu reached out and took it.
The book felt heavy in his hand. The cover was made of an unknown dark cyan leather, cool and tough to the touch.
He looked down and saw five large characters written on the cover in an ancient, vigorous calligraphy:
【Primordial Sword Induction Art】
The moment his gaze fell on these five characters, an aura of sharp sword intent, as if capable of tearing the heavens, mixed with phantom images of a sky filled with raging winds and sword rain, violently surged from the book, rushing straight into his consciousness sea. It nearly dragged his mind into an illusionary realm filled with endless sword energy.
Hong Changtian waited for him to regain his composure before unhurriedly explaining, "Later generations were not without those who completely comprehended the 'Primordial Origin Sword Dao'. Our Three Origins Sect's second Dao Master—Dao Master Yunhe—was one of them."
"This patriarch was originally a mortal woman from the Southern Border with no spiritual roots, born into humble circumstances. It is said that while gathering herbs in the mountains, she encountered a celestial opportunity. An ancient sage appeared in her dream to enlighten her. In a single moment of sudden enlightenment, she directly glimpsed the true meaning of the 'Primordial Origin Sword Dao', thus embarking on the immortal path. She advanced triumphantly all the way, ultimately condensing a Golden Core and even ascending."
"Dao Master Yunhe, grateful for her own hard-won opportunity and to facilitate later generations with destined individuals to enter the Dao, used her supreme wisdom and profound understanding of the 'Primordial Origin Sword Dao' to write this eternally renowned 'Primordial Sword Induction Art'."
Hong Changtian looked at the ancient text in Chen Yu's hand and said solemnly, "Although this art remains profoundly abstruse and extremely difficult to cultivate, compared to the profoundly mysterious, nearly ungraspable 'Primordial Origin Sword Dao', it is already countless times clearer. It is like a guide, pointing out a feasible path for later generations towards the 'Heavenly Origin' Great Dao."
"If one can master the 'Primordial Sword Induction Art', it is equivalent to carving out a climbable staircase on the towering peak that is the 'Primordial Origin Sword Dao'. Although one cannot reach the summit directly, one can already catch a glimpse of a corner of that supreme Great Dao. From then on, condensing a Golden Core is no longer a distant dream but something that follows naturally and is easily accomplished."
Chen Yu felt his heart stir slightly upon hearing this, but his gaze fell on the other two equally ancient books in Hong Changtian's hand.
"Elder Hong, where do these other two come from?" he inquired.
Hong Changtian stroked his beard and smiled.
"Fellow Daoist Guo, do you know why our sect is named 'Three Origins'?"
"Of the three talents of Heaven, Earth, and Man, the 'Primordial Origin Sword Dao' is only the 'Heavenly Origin'. As for the 'Earthly Origin' and the 'Human Origin', where do they come from? Listen to me explain in detail."
He paused, as if organizing his thoughts, then continued in a tone filled with emotion:
"From ancient times to the present, in Xu Xuan Heaven, cultivators worthy of the title 'Dao Master' number only a mere twelve. And our Three Origins Sect has produced three of them. Besides the founding Cloud Sky Dao Master and the aforementioned Dao Master Yunhe, there was also one who appeared, a dazzling talent, arguably unparalleled in all of Xu Xuan Heaven."
"This patriarch called himself 'Cloud Cliff Wanderer'. No real name was left behind, so later generations respectfully called him—Dao Master Yunya."
Chen Yu's heart stirred, vaguely guessing something.
Hong Changtian seemed to discern his thoughts and nodded. "That's right. Dao Master Yunya was not satisfied with merely comprehending the 'Primordial Origin Sword Dao', this single 'Heavenly Origin' Great Dao."
His tone became complex, carrying deep admiration. "He even publicly commented, believing the 'Primordial Origin Sword Dao' was too extreme, its edge too sharp, harming the harmony of Heaven. Although supremely hard and sharp, it was not the end of the Dao, nor the only correct path."
"These words caused an uproar throughout the world at the time. The Primordial Origin Sword Dao was left by Dao Master Yunxiao, recognized as the supreme sword dao. Dao Master Yunya's statement was tantamount to questioning the founding patriarch. But at that time, he had already achieved the Golden Core, even becoming the world's acknowledged master of the 'Primordial Origin Sword Dao', his strength unmatched under heaven."
"Therefore, although many in the world held dissenting opinions in their hearts, no one dared to refute him to his face."
"For several decades after that, this astonishing and unconventional Dao Master Yunya vanished as if evaporated from the mortal world, disappearing from everyone's sight and perception. No one knew his whereabouts, no one knew his life or death."
"Until..." Hong Changtian paused, "...until he reappeared, he had already merged with the Dao and ascended."
"And after his ascension, he only left behind three wordless heavenly books within the sect's forbidden grounds."
"These three heavenly books respectively represented the three paths of Heaven, Earth, and Man. Among them, the one representing the Heavenly Origin was the 'Primordial Origin Sword Dao'. The other two respectively represented the Earthly Origin's 'Mysterious Yellow Kun Origin Dao' and the Human Origin's 'Primordial Unity True Method'."
"It was from then on that our sect possessed the complete heritage of the 'Heaven, Earth, Man' three talents, and thus became famous as the Three Origins Sect."
"One person comprehended and left behind three supreme great paths leading directly to ascension?" Chen Yu was somewhat surprised.
Hong Changtian's face was full of emotion. "Correct. One person mastered three paths, all reaching the ultimate state, merging with the Dao and ascending. Patriarch Yunya is therefore revered by later generations as the 'Number One of Xu Xuan Heaven'. What astonishing talent, what unprecedented and unmatched brilliance."
"Only, it's a pity..." He shook his head. "After Dao Master Yunya, our sect's descendants, let alone simultaneously comprehending three paths, have never again had anyone who could follow any single one of these paths to its end and achieve the position of Dao Master."
"Later sages and worthies, with utmost dedication, only managed, based on Dao Master Yunhe's 'Primordial Sword Induction Art' and imitating its approach, to write the 'Kun Origin Foundation Establishment Chapter' corresponding to the Earthly Origin Great Dao, and the 'Primordial Unity Qi Absorption True Explanation' corresponding to the Human Origin Great Dao."
He pointed to the other two ancient texts in his hand. "Although they are not as famous and illustrious as the 'Primordial Sword Induction Art', they are also supreme methods pointing directly to the Golden Core Great Dao, each with their own profound mysteries, in no way inferior."
Hong Changtian pushed these two books towards Chen Yu. "Fellow Daoist Guo, since you have joined our Three Origins Sect, you are qualified to choose one of these three great paths as your future fundamental Dao. This is a major matter concerning the foundation of your path; you must be extremely cautious. You can contemplate and examine them carefully here in peace. I shall not disturb you further."
"If you have any questions, you can come find me anytime."
With that, he patted Chen Yu's shoulder, turned, and quietly left, leaving this tranquil space filled with ancient texts and formations to Chen Yu alone.
Chen Yu stood in the simple wooden loft, gazing at the three ancient texts floating before him, emanating an aura of vicissitudes and Dao charm, sinking into deep thought.
Actually, was there a possibility... that he could practice all three of these Foundation Establishment cultivation methods simultaneously?