Did Zhuang Zhou dream that he had become a butterfly, or did the butterfly dream it had become Zhuang Zhou? This was the story of Zhuang Zhou's dream of butterflies, one that everyone in China knew. When he heard Zhuangzi utter this story, Chen Mo clearly sensed a mysterious force gush in the surroundings.
This energy seeped into his heart and mind. Apparently, only his thoughts recognized Zhuang Zhou's Dream Butterfly Realm, and he was unable to free himself.
Fortunately, Chen Mo had researched Zhuang Zhou's Dream Butterfly before. The core of Zhuang Zhou's Dream Butterfly was Daoism's question on life and death. Life knew not where death was, death knew not where life went. Between life and death was a thought, but was it real or fake.
Now that he had the sages' wishes, he could be even more masterful. The sages' aspiration energy rose in his heart. Clouds and mist moved over his mind, and the half-dreaming, half-awake, seemingly real and fake energy whirled around. The cloud-qi in his mind rolled, then became two distinct forces that separated, like two carps.
Surprisingly, this was the Dual Modes.
The ancients concluded that life and death were Yin and Yang. Chen Mo used the sages' power to answer Zhuangzi's question, fusing Yin and Yang together.
Zhuangzi faintly smiled. The force binding Chen Mo instantly vanished.
Chen Mo knew that he already received the qualifications to enter Zhuangzi's legacy.
The butterfly that Chen Mo had become stopped on her fingernail. He was vaguely able to see the corner of the girl's lips.
She softly said: "Transient mushroom grass knows not night and day. The cold cicadas that live in spring and die in summer, that live in summer and die in autumn, know not the length of a year. This is known as a short life. Ancient Star World had a kind of tree called ‘Spirit Turtle.' It treats five centuries as a single springtime, another five as autumn. But the Star General who lives a thousand years through a Star Era nevertheless calls herself eternal due to her longevity. Everyone wishes to compare themselves to her. How deplorable!""Tang asked Ji: ‘Up and down, left and right, front and back, is there a limit to any of these directions?' Ji said: ‘Beyond the Wuji is the Wuji…'"1
Chen Mo attentively mulled over every word that Zhuangzi uttered. He knew she was reciting the Carefree Wandering, and he knew every character by heart. But Chen Mo did not need to answer, nor did he need to show any indication. He needed only to listen to the last words that Zhuangzi left in Star World.
There was a very marvelous and warm sensation. Chen Mo felt as if he had returned to when he was a young boy.
That was an afternoon when the cicadas began to drone. There was sunlight, verdant trees, blue sky, floating clouds, and mother. He lay on his mother's lap, listening to her use a warm voice to tell the story of Zhuangzi and the crane – how the king of Western Chu offered Zhuangzi a high office to face the Purple Rose Star Emperor. Zhuangzi politely refused and told the emissary a story. There once was a raven that specifically ate carrion. It found a putrefied rat and was overjoyed. An immortal crane flew over from the side. The crow, believing its meal was about to be stolen, let out a shrill squawk that startled the immortal crane, who had already flown high into the clouds.
Perhaps it was because of this warmth that Zhuangzi's voice in his mind became increasingly clear. The meaning of every word was limitlessly magnified and branded deeply into his mind, at some point making Chen Mo benefit enormously.
Outside the valley.
Chen Tuan was quietly watching a butterfly flutter and land on Chen Mo's body after his mind entered "Zhuangzi's Legacy." Each of the multi-colored butterflies were a small dreamland that Zhuangzi had left behind.
"Chen Xian'er, you gave ‘Carefree Heavenly Dao' Zhuangzi's legacy to a man. Does your heart not ache?"
Su Mian approached the valley. She saw that Chen Mo was currently receiving the radiance of Zhuangzi's legacy.
As the greatest genius of Daoist sages in ten thousand years, Zhuangzi's Realm had already surpassed vast Star World. Even Su Mian could not contain such powerful energy, but Dream In A Millennium very clearly knew that while she could not, the man in front of her definitely could.
This man was also considered a once in ten thousand years genius.
"Master Zhuangzi has her own intentions. I merely acted as a guide." Chen Xian'er calmly replied.
Su Mian sighed. "Back then, Zhuang Die adored Father so much. Father scaled Maiden Mountain, and she had these qualifications, too. But why did she not? Up until now, I still have not figured this out."
Chen Tuan did not respond.
After a moment of silence, the Sleeping Immortal asked: "Your Majesty, for what purpose are you doing this?"
"Hm?" Su Mian insincerely grinned, an expression of "I do not understand what you are talking about."
"Subjugating Zhu Yuanzhang. Killing a Star Marquis. Star World's order will fall apart, and the Central Dynasty that Your Majesty's father established will also be brought to ruin in that case."
"Zhu Yuanzhang killed the Seven Sages Of The Bamboo Grove. Should I not subjugate her? The Star Marquis want to destroy Mount Hua. Should I not kill her either?" Su Mian disagreed.
"Your Majesty previously went to the Primordial Chaos Star World in search of the Marquis of Sui's Pearl?' Chen Tuan said.
Su Mian smiled: "As expected of the Sleeping Immortal. Both you and my mother love to sleep, and nothing could ever fool either of you."
"One of the two great treasures of Star Generals is the ‘Marquis of Sui's Pearl.' The other is the ‘Mr. He's Jade.' Han Feizi once wrote: Mr. He's Jade is not an adornment of the five colors; Marquis of Sui's Pearl is not an adornment of precious metals. The one able to obtain these treasures reportedly can break through eternity, obtaining the Xuannü of the Nine Heavens' asylum and enter Maiden Mountain."
"Who would not like this."
Chen Tuan said: "Your Majesty, this is a tad obsessive."
"Ha, ha. This Palace is still unable to achieve refinement like yours, Chen Tuan. This Palace is also a woman and is always in search of beautiful accessories to adorn herself with." Su Mian regretfully said: "Pity that This Palace flipped through the Primordial Chaos Star World, slayed countless Primeval Fierce Beasts, but was unable to find the Marquis of Sui's pearl. It seems this treasure cannot remain in Star World, indeed."
"I have no right to stop Your Majesty's decision. But I do not want to see Star World return to those chaotic times."
"Even if things actually reach that stage, there will always be someone like my father, who will emerge to unify Star World." Su Mian's gaze stared intently at Chen Mo.
Chen Tuan also turned her gaze to him.
Chen Mo sat quietly. His current sitting posture was already very detached, a level that was unconscious of the boundary between oneself and the external world. This was the highest Realm in chess. Ancestor Chen Tuan had achieved it once before, but the Sleeping Immortal had used refined slumber and experienced centuries of change to achieve it. However, Chen Mo already comprehended the true essence in but the moment he entered Zhuangzi's legacy."
"Zhuangzi once said: "Without limbs, without mind, I abandon physical form and knowledge. I am one with the Great Pervader. This is known as sitting and forgetting.2 Truly unexpected." Su Mian sighed.
Butterflies flew away one after another, becoming ray after ray of flawless qi tempered and refined by Heaven and Earth entering Chen Mo's body
"Carefree True Qi…"
Su Mian was astounded.
This was the strongest power of "Carefree Heavenly Dao" Zhuangzi's Daoism, Carefree True Qi.
As expected, this man should have obtained the inheritance of Zhuangzi's legacy.
"He is becoming more and more interesting." Su Mian faintly smiled.
…
After Zhuangzi finished with the "Carefree Wandering," she warmly stared at Chen Mo. Chen Mo was completely unaware that his butterfly form had already returned to his original appearance. Zhuangzi's Carefree Wandering made the sage aspiration in his mind combine into one. Not a moment later, the fluttering butterflies became True Qi that entered Chen Mo's body.
His limbs and bones entered a peak state that was precisely Zhuangzi's mental emptiness, and all of the experience was brandished within Chen Mo's mind in an instant, absorbed in a fleeting moment. This was pervasive.
An odd True Qi flowed throughout his body. The originally still-yet-to-be-refined Azure Dragon Spirit was covered by this True Qi, but in an instant, it was completely absorbed into his soul. The Black Turtle and White Tiger spirits were also fused even more thoroughly.
Chen Mo sensed his body was weightless, but every one of his movements also seemed to have the weight of Heaven and Earth, as if he was one with the world. Was this the power of "Carefree Heavenly Dao" Zhuangzi?
Chen Mo slowly opened his eyes.
Zhuangzi stood in front of him.
"With Heaven and Earth as inside and outside, with time as their connection, stars as pearls, all things can be my funerary offerings…" The girl spread her arms and embraced the world. Then, a storm-like Carefree True Qi roared and broke through the confines of Heaven and Earth, flooding into Chen Mo's body.
…
Meanwhile at Mount Hua, Fu Jian found a hall and dispatched people to clean it. Then, she called for someone to move her enormous lovemaking bed into the hall.
At first moonlight, the Imperial Empress Of Bedfellows absorbed the sweetness of the starlight.
"As expected of the Western Moon!! The Star Energy in this place truly makes This Palace sickly sweet." Fu Jian cultivated her Purple Rose Qi. In the environment of the Western Moon, Purple Rose Qi refinement to her Star Name was much easier than before.
"Rou'er, why not come sleep?" Fu Jian cultivated for a spell. Then, she saw Wang Meng stand on the Yang Terrace.
The Kingdom Destroyer Great General stared at the main peak of Mount Hua, her expression ferocious.
"Mount Hua is merely struggling on death's door. It will not last much longer. They say the Purple Cypress Divine Fruit is soon to be ripe. At that time, This Palace and Rou'er will enjoy it nicely." Fu Jian stroked Wang Rou's snow-white shoulders. Her large hand moved from Wang Rou's clavicle down to her towering peaks.
"What is the matter, Rou'er. Ever since you saw that man again, your gaze has always been fixed on him." Fu Jian's voice was captivating.
"If This General had been a bit more serious back then, he would not have escaped. Given this man's Pure Yang Qi, the Imperial Empress' Bedfellow True Qi would be stronger." Wang Meng allowed the Imperial Empress Of Bedfellows to caress her, but she remained stone-faced.
"Now is also good. He cultivated the Four Symbols, and he will be more delicious when This Palace enjoys him." Fu Jian chuckled.
"However, back on topic, are there whereabouts of those two girls who stopped you back then currently unknown? Compared to this man, This Palace is much more interested in those black and white twins. What a pity, what a pity."
"They addressed him as a young master. They should appear."
"Then that is very good. This time, we will remain at Mount Hua, seize the chance while others go to subjugate Zhu Yuanzhang to gorge myself." Fu Jian laughed.
All of a sudden, a disdainful snicker came from the sky.
"Who!"
The two women were startled. Fu Jian's hand drew back from Wang Meng's breast, and she broke into a cold sweat. She unexpectedly did not detect anyone spying on her.
"Truly disinteresting. You have ruined Ziyi's appetite."
Guo Ziyi ate a "Crystal Bodhi" as she watched the show from the top of a building. The girl appreciated the moonlight, her expression peaceful. Those eyes made up with golden eyeshadow glowed with an enchanting radiance under the moonlight.
If not for this woman being too strong, Fu Jian would have had the urge to play with her.
"Guo Ziyi, you have a hobby of spying. No need to do so, This Palace invites you onto the dragon bed."
Guo Ziyi chuckled, finished eating her bodhi and dusted off her hands.
Her gaze saw through a hundred li and fell upon Mount Hua's main peak, where she saw Su Mian and Chen Mo in discussion.
"Ziyi was hungry and wanted to go outside Mount Hua to find something to eat. En, there are still a few days. If you wish to eat Mount Hua's only food, please feel free. Just do not blame Ziyi for not warning you." The girl licked the sweetness remaining on her fingers.
"What?" Wang Meng wrinkled her brow.
"Be wary of Dream In A Millennium. Her appetite is definitely not as small as Ziyi's." Guo Ziyi said.
Neither Wang Meng nor Fu Jian understood her words. The next second, Guo Ziyi chuckled, rose, and took a step forward. She vanished into thin air, leaving only the pervasive fragrance of the bodhi, which lingered for a long time.
- 無極 I sometimes TL this as "Without Ultimate." ↩
- https://ctext.org/zhuangzi/great-and-most-honoured-master?filter=516108 ↩
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