**Chapter 16: The Spark of Enlightenment**
A violet lightning bolt gathered with a destructive aura that struck fear into Chi Yan's heart. She knew this strike was beyond her, even with all her techniques. Death was inescapable.
This was the Upper Realm's interference, the force Chixiao had long schemed against.
Closing her eyes in despair, Chi Yan felt a wave of despondency. Despite years of cultivation, she couldn't stand beside her junior brother against *High Immortals* or *True Immortals*, nor withstand a single strike from their realm-transcending treasures.
Though ignorant of Chixiao's full plans, she had surely aided him. Delaying this long, his endeavor must be nearing completion.
In a flash, myriad thoughts raced through her mind.
Yet, her final vision lingered on that Taoist. Opening her eyes, they held no surrender, blazing with defiance. If Chi Yan must die, she'd do so dry-eyed, facing her foe's onslaught.
But as the violet lightning surged downward, she couldn't help glancing back at Qingmu Peak, yearning for one last look at her junior brother, the youth who'd grown beyond her protection.
In that moment, a teal whirlwind stirred Chixiao's tied hair, his robes billowing in the sudden gust.
As the wind enveloped her, Chi Yan met cold eyes. She wanted to call out, but her gaze was drawn, following the teal figure.
Chixiao charged the violet bolt without hesitation. With a sweep of his sleeve, he caught it, spinning to compress it into a crackling orb, hurling it back whence it came.
"Audacious Taoist, daring to harm a Patrolling Immortal! I, the *Luofu High Immortal*, shall punish you with divine thunder, annihilating body and soul!" Chixiao's swift action preceded a booming celestial voice, brimming with confidence in the thunder's might.
"Such arrogance from a former mountain wraith, groveling for scraps and calling itself a High Immortal!" Chixiao scoffed, roaring back.
The violet orb pierced the clouds, sparking wildly. The voice cried in shock, "Who dares!"
The lightning spread, and with a deafening boom, the cloud treasure shattered in a dazzling flare.
"It's you, Chixiao!" the voice raged, seething.
A fiery meteor streaked from beyond, a summoned asteroid hurtling toward Chixiao.
"Petty tricks," Chixiao sneered, drawing a peachwood sword and thrusting at the blaze.
His *jianzhi*[8] guided the blade, shattering the meteor into fragments. His finger shadows pierced, crushed, and ground them into dust.
"Chixiao, ascend to the Upper Realm if you dare, and see how I deal with you!" the voice roared, realizing it couldn't best him. Ignoring the grounded Thunder Immortal, it departed in fury.
"In the Dao realm, why fear you? Come down if you've got the guts!" Chixiao taunted, unrelenting.
Seeing the foe flee, Chixiao turned to Chi Yan, still hovering.
"Senior Sister, how are your injuries?" he asked, scanning for Chi Song with a grave expression.
"I'm fine. I sent Chi Song to *Chihuo Peak*[8]. I know you avoid involving the *Five Elements Sect*[11], but tending to him should be harmless," Chi Yan replied. Though she questioned Chixiao's refusal to seek aid from Chi or Xuan elders, she respected his choice.
"The Upper Realm knows I've reached the Dao realm. We've kept the Thunder Immortal, but this tears away their facade. Destroying Luofu's patrolling treasure delays their report, but we must guard against retaliation on the sect and the *Three-Eye Dynasty*[33]," Chixiao said solemnly.
"It's my failure, falling for the Thunder Immortal's trap…" Chi Yan said bitterly.
"Not your fault," Chixiao reassured. "I hunted an Immortal recently, a High Immortal's son wreaking havoc with countless *chang gui*[7]. Ignoring Kongxiang's counsel, I slew it. This ambush was likely ordered—else that pleasure-seeking Immortal wouldn't bother."
"I'll heal," Chi Yan said curtly, departing.
Chixiao watched her go. Moments later, his gaze pierced Qingmu Peak's roof, settling on Qingyun meditating below.
---
At the moment of *Enlightenment*[20], Qingyun focused on slowing his breath, striving for the *yuan*[19] observation state. This fixation brought a trance of self-forgetting, the simplest method to settle a novice's mind.
Unseen, Chixiao sweated profusely, as if aiding Qingyun's ritual was his greatest labor. After intricate gestures, bubbles appeared in his hands, each containing compressed ritual materials. They swirled, condensing into a golden seal.
Biting his tongue, Chixiao spat blood onto the seal and decisively infused it into Qingyun's crown.
As the blood-flecked seal entered, Qingyun, absorbed in breathing, felt himself return to the dream's cloudscape.
This time, he faced the chained prisoner directly. The chains bore cracks, the tormenting lightning gone, the prisoner lying serene.
Approaching to check, Qingyun's wrist was seized by a robust hand. Startled, he tried to pull back, but the grip held firm. Meeting the prisoner's calm eyes, he paused.
The prisoner spoke, "I am Qian Yuan Dao."
Qingyun tilted his head, puzzled. "Your name?"
The prisoner nodded, gazing silently.
Qingyun tugged his hand, finding the grip loosened. Stepping back, he asked, "Why am I here? Did you bring me?"
The prisoner shook his head, mute.
Frustrated by the silence, Qingyun sighed, recalling Master Lüsong. "What can you say? Speak, then send me back."
The prisoner remained silent, pointing behind Qingyun.
Turning, Qingyun saw a mysterious, radiant purple vortex, both enchanting and profound.
Tentatively, he asked, "You mean I can leave through there?"
The prisoner nodded.
Skeptical, Qingyun approached, glancing back. The prisoner watched calmly until Qingyun neared the vortex, then spoke, "Trust no one."
Startled, Qingyun questioned, but the self-proclaimed Qian Yuan Dao stayed silent. Gritting his teeth, Qingyun stepped into the vortex.
Instantly, his body gained weight, no longer adrift. But his focus shifted—he could observe yuan.
He felt both minuscule and vast, seeing his entire body and its constituent yuan. With a thought, he focused on his left palm's yuan.
Narrowing his scope, their faint vibrations clarified, yet each yuan pulsed chaotically, as scriptures described.
Recalling the Kunwu Technique's rhythm, he tried aligning them, but they resisted, like a child lifting a heavy weight.
No wonder, he thought, scriptures say observing yuan isn't entering the Dao—controlling their motion is.
Focusing on one yuan, he struggled to align it with his mental rhythm, but it defied him.
Remembering Qingxuan's words—that halting yuan vibration enabled basic *Cloud-Soaring*[40]—and a tale of a dull Taoist who stopped his yuan's motion to bypass others' struggles, Qingyun resolved to try.
Stopping multiple yuan's varied rhythms was daunting, like a chef juggling mismatched dishes.
Steadying himself, he concentrated on halting one yuan's vibration.
In the yuan-observing state, time vanished. Scriptures noted vibrations occurred thousands or tens of thousands per breath, imperceptible outside meditation. Here, each was slow and vivid.
Gradually, his targeted yuan's vibrations slowed. Elated, Qingyun, restrained by meditation, suppressed an urge to leap and cheer.
**Footnotes**:
[2] **Dao**: Core Taoist principle, "the Way," embodying universal order and spiritual growth.
[5] **Fuzhi**: Taoist talismans channeling spiritual energy or repelling evil.
[6] **Eight Gates Formation**: Protective Taoist array based on the Eight Trigrams.
[7] **Chang gui**: Ghostly minions luring souls for Immortals.
[8] **Chihuo Peak**: A fire-aligned peak in the Five Elements Sect.
[11] **Five Elements Sect**: Taoist sect mastering the five elemental forces.
[15] **Kunwu Technique**: Cultivation method for wielding heavy weapons.
[19] **Yuan**: Fundamental energy units in a cultivator's body.
[20] **Enlightenment**: Taoist initiation ritual to enter the Dao, often using rare materials.
[23] **Great Evolution Void Travel Technique**: Advanced Taoist art requiring severing emotional roots.
[32] **Void Roc Wings**: Rare material from Void Roc Immortals, used in cultivation rituals.
[33] **Three-Eye Dynasty**: The ruling dynasty, named for symbolic significance.
[37] **Imperial Eye**: Chi Yan's mystical third eye, granting enhanced perception.
[38] **Thunder Immortal**: A powerful Immortal wielding lightning, bearing divine artifacts.
[39] **Battle Body**: Kunwu Technique state enhancing physical strength and resilience.
[40] **Cloud-Soaring**: Basic Taoist flight technique achieved by halting yuan vibration.
原始中文文本
紫色雷電帶著一股讓赤煙恐懼的毀滅氣息凝聚,赤煙心知這記雷擊不是自己能夠應付,即使她將身上所有手段都使出,也無法避免死亡.
這是來自上界的阻擋,也是赤霄處心積慮對抗的存在.
赤煙絕望地閉上雙目,心中忍不住生起一股頹喪.沒想到修練了這麼久,即便不能站在師弟身邊,和他一起對抗那些「上仙」,「真仙」,卻連對方隔界操控仙寶的一擊都無法承受.
雖然不知道師弟究竟在謀劃什麼,但自己應該有幫助到師弟了.至少拖了這麼久時間,師弟想做的那件事,應該也到收尾的階段了.
電光石火間,赤煙閃過許多想法.
最後,畫面卻仍然停在那名道人身上.她驀地睜開眼,眼眸中卻沒有絲毫氣餒,一團火焰在赤煙雙眸中燃起.她赤煙即便是要死,也絕不流淚,也要睜著眼看著對手的攻勢.
但是,就在紫色閃電向她轟擊而下時,赤煙還是忍不住回頭向青木鋒上望.想最後再看一眼那位師弟,那位已經脫離自己羽翼下的昔日青年.
就在她回首時,一道藏青色旋風吹起赤霄綁在身後的髮絲,連衣袂也被這股突如其來的急風刮得飄盪不止.
在旋風臨身那瞬間,赤煙看見了一雙冰冷眼眸,她忍不住想要開口叫喚,目光卻像是被吸住一般,隨著那道藏青色身影而轉.
只見赤霄義無反顧地衝向那道紫色電光,袖袍一揮,紫色電光便被他托住,隨著他身軀一旋,紫色電光已然被他搓成一團電球,向來時方向倒射而回.
「大膽道士,敢傷巡天之仙.本仙乃『羅浮上仙』,今日便以神雷罰之,形神俱滅!」赤霄動作極快,就在他瞬間將紫色雷球拋回時,方傳來一道響徹雲霄的天音.天音主人似乎對紫色神雷極有信心,將神雷劈出後便直接張口宣告.
「好臭的口氣!不過是曾經的山間鬼魅,捧了臭腳來啃,都敢自號上仙了.」赤霄怒哼一聲,大聲罵道.
紫色雷球衝入雲內,烏雲一陣電光閃爍.天音再次響起,此次卻是一聲驚呼:「何人如此大膽!」
紫色電光逐漸佈滿烏雲,最後轟然一聲,烏雲仙寶在一道炫目光芒中炸裂.
「原來是你,赤霄!」天音氣急敗壞,怒喝一聲.
隨即,一團天火從天外劃過,竟是一顆隕石由域外被招來,瞬息間便奔騰而至,轟向赤霄.
「雕蟲小技.」赤霄冷笑一聲,從懷中拔出桃木劍,一劍刺向這團天火.
劍指貼在劍側,隨劍而至.頓時,天火被桃木劍刺中,炸裂成無數小塊,碎塊又被漫天指影或刺,或掐,或輾,一一化為漫天碎末.
「赤霄,有膽你就飛升到上界,屆時看本仙怎麼處置你!」天音一聲怒吼,似乎是知道自己奈何不得赤霄,連地上雷仙都不願理會,憤然離去.
「哼,同是道境,貧道豈會怕你?有種你下來!」赤霄卻仍不解氣,朝域外叫囂道.
赤霄見對方直接離開,也不再多作糾纏,返身回到仍在半空中的赤煙身旁.
「師姐,傷勢如何?」他向赤煙問道,並神色凝重地左右尋找起赤松身影.
「無礙,赤松方才已經被我送向赤火峰.師姐知道你不願連累五行觀,不過只是照顧赤松,想來是沒關係.」雖然赤煙對於赤霄拒絕其他同門,甚至玄字輩師叔伯的幫助,感到有些不諒解,但她依然尊重赤霄的選擇.
「上面早知貧道已臻道境,這次雖然將雷仙留下了,卻也算是與祂們撕破了臉皮.不過羅浮壞了一件巡天仙寶,必然不敢太快上報.反倒需得提防祂對五行觀與三目王朝的報復.」赤霄臉色凝重地說道.
「是師姊無能,沒想到竟被這雷仙擺了一道⋯⋯」赤煙表情苦澀.
「並非師姊之過,貧道前些陣子尋仙.其乃上仙之子,落於凡間大肆殺戮,貧道前去時,見祂倀鬼無數,心中升起必殺之心,不顧空相勸阻,斷然戮之.想來這次雷仙的刻意找碴也是獲得授意.否則以這貨貪圖享受的個性,豈會如此上心.」赤霄寬慰道,並說出心中猜測.
「貧道去養傷了.」赤煙沒再多說,直接向赤霄說了一句便離開了.
赤霄在空中目送赤煙離開.片刻後,他忍不住看向青木峰,目光透過屋頂,直視正在屋內打坐觀元的青雲.
回到開光那一刻.
青雲正努力放緩自己的呼吸,試圖想要進入觀元狀態,此舉讓他專注在呼吸上,頓時達到物我兩忘的心境.
這也是最基礎的觀元之法,可以幫助初學道者快速沉澱心緒.
然而,在他看不見的後方,赤霄已經冷汗涔涔,似乎幫青雲開光,比任何事情都要辛苦.他在一陣繁雜手勢後,手上出現諸多氣泡,每個氣泡裡都是一樣被壓縮在內的開光材料.這些材料在赤霄雙手之間翻轉,最後凝聚為一道金色符印.
赤霄咬破舌尖,對著金色符印噴出一口血,然後便毅然決然地將符印由青雲頭頂百會灌入.
在染著點點鮮血的金色符印末入青雲頭頂那刻,注意力全放在呼吸上的青雲頓時感覺自己又回到了夢裡那片雲端.
這次不再是背對囚者出現.當他一進到幻象裡,便看見那位被鎖鏈纏繞的囚者.
青雲很快發現這次情況不同,囚者身上的鎖鏈紛紛出現裂痕,折磨對方的電光也不再閃爍,而囚者正面容安詳地躺在地面.
他忍不住走近,俯身想要查看對方的狀況,但才剛伸出手,手腕便被一隻粗壯手掌握住.
被這突如其來的變故嚇了一跳,青雲想要抽身後退,卻發現囚者握得死緊,目光不由得看向他,只見對方眼眸平靜地望向他.
然後,囚者開口了.他說:「吾乃乾元道.」
青雲頭一歪,臉現疑惑,問道:「你的名字?」
囚者頷首,沉默地注視著他.
青雲抽了抽手,發現對方沒有再握得死緊,連忙趁此機會起身後退,遠離數步後,向他問道:「我為什麼會在這裡?是你拉我過來的嗎?」
囚者搖頭,沒有開口回答.
看見對方這副如同啞巴的樣子,青雲忍不住想起那位「綠松大師」.他嘆了一口氣,只能繼續問道:「你能說什麼?直接說罷,說完送我回去.」
囚者依舊沒有說話,只是這次舉起手,朝青雲身後一指.
青雲順著他的手指望向身後,卻看見自己身後有一個玄紫色漩渦,透著絲絲神秘,卻又美麗異常.
他試探地問道:「你是說,從這裡我就可以回去?」
囚者仍然只是點點頭.
青雲半信半疑地走近漩渦,期間回頭看了囚者幾次,發現對方都只是目光平靜地看著他,直到他靠近漩渦時,囚者才再次開口說了一句話.
「誰都不要信.」
青雲詫異地望向對方,然而這次不管他怎麼問,自稱乾元道的囚者都不再說話.最後,他只能相信對方,一咬牙走入漩渦.
下一刻,青雲突然感覺自己的身體有了實重,不再像是飄盪著,隨時會被風吹走的樣子.但隨即他便沒有將心思繼續放在這等小事上,因為他發現自己可以觀元了.
他感覺到自己似乎變得極小,又變得極大.他可以同時看見自己整具身體,也可以看見那些組成自己身體的元.心念一動,青雲隨意挑了左手掌的元,將心神投向此處.
關注的元變少後,那些本來只能隱約察覺的細微震動,馬上變得清晰起來.但青雲馬上發現,那些元都各自以自己的規律在震動,就像道經上說的一樣,雜亂不堪.
他心中回想昆吾訣的節奏,嘗試想要讓他關注的這些元以此節奏震動,卻發現自己竟然無法驅動分毫,就像是孩童試圖想要拿起重物,連控制一個元都感到極為困難.
青雲忍不住心裡想道:難怪道經上說,能入定觀元還不能算是入道,能夠操控元的動向才能稱得上入道.
於是他索性將注意力集中在一顆元上,努力想要讓元的震動跟隨自己腦海中的規律.但即使如此,那顆元依舊不聽他的話.
他突然又想到,青璇當時說過,讓元停止震動是騰雲駕霧最基本的方式.而自己也在道經中看過一個故事:曾有一名道士,因為自身資質駑鈍.在最初觀元時,決定先將自己選中的元都一一停止,反倒使其避免了其他道士遇上的難題,那便是「顧頭不顧尾」.
要使震動規律不同的幾顆元規律一致都很困難,何況是讓全身的元?那無異於同時顧許多鍋子的廚子,而這些鍋子裡還正煮著不同的菜色.
於是他定下心來,開始專注於讓一顆元完全停止震動.
在觀元的世界裡,彷彿失去了時間,那些震動在道經上是提過,若非入定觀元的狀態下根本無法計數,每息都是數千下,甚至數萬下以上的震動.
但是此時此刻,在入定觀元的狀態下,它們每一次的震動,都如此緩慢與清晰.
終於,青雲集中注意力影響的那顆元,震動的次數開始減少.青雲不由得大受鼓舞,若不是在觀元狀態,恨不得跳起來大聲雀躍歡呼.