The Dao arises from One, One evolves into Two, Two transforms into Three, and Three gives birth to all things in the universe. The return of Three to Two is like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea; the return of Two to One is like myriad streams tracing back to their source; the transformation of One into all things resembles the primordial parting of Chaos. At the dawn of heaven and earth, all things were like uncarved jade before Chaos divided. Within Chaos, the two poles of Yin and Yang were conceived, blending together as seamlessly as water and milk. The Taiji came into being in accordance with the grand design, resembling a brilliant pearl radiating a mysterious glow. The Taiji spawned the Liangyi, like Yin and Yang fish dancing gracefully across the vast cosmos. The Liangyi further differentiated into the Sixiang, mirroring the changing of the four seasons in an endless cycle. The Sixiang subdivided into the Bagua, shining like a dense cluster of dazzling stars, and finally, the Bagua manifested all things in the world, painting a magnificent and colorful scroll. Let the spiritual sources of heaven and earth obey my command; heaven derives forty-nine, the Great Dao comprises fifty, and the myriad gods and demons of the heavens ultimately return to One.
Xuwu gives birth to creation, creation births Hongmeng, Hongmeng evolves into Chaos, Chaos splits into Yin and Yang, Yin and Yang transform into Taiji, Taiji generates Liangyi, Liangyi generates Sixiang, Sixiang generates Bagua, and Bagua transforms into all things, thereby bringing forth the birth of the universe. The birth of every individual is like the birth of a newborn universe: man represents extreme Yang, and woman represents extreme Yin. The union of man and woman is the state of Xuwu giving birth to creation; only through the combination of Yin and Yang is a new life born, much like Yin and Yang converting back into Chaos. Before a newborn’s gender is differentiated, it is merely a single cell newly emerging from nothingness, mirroring the state of undifferentiated Chaos and Hongmeng. To have life is to face death, just like the stars in the sky. The fall of a star is the manifestation of the Dao of death, while the birth of a new star is the manifestation of the Dao of life. Yet from life to death, and death to life once more, this is akin to a grand cycle—this is the embodiment of the Dao of reincarnation.
All things generate and restrain one another in an endless cycle of reincarnation. The Dao of life and death is like the alternation of Yin and Yang, vast and inexhaustible. In this boundless universe, every life is a shining star experiencing the cycle of life and death. When a life reaches its end, it is not the ultimate conclusion. Death is simply another beginning—an opportunity to return to Chaos and be reborn. Just as stars inevitably fall, their light is forever engraved in the memory of the universe. Upon the grand stage of reincarnation, everyone plays a unique role, whether as a hero or an ordinary person, acting out their own distinct legend. And this endless reincarnation is precisely the mystery and miracle bestowed upon life by the universe.
Days passed by, and Ji Yunsheng's life continued as it always had. Another five years slipped away in this manner. One evening, much like any other, as he gazed up at the starry sky and pondered, he finally sensed a trace of energy flowing within his body. Ji Yunsheng was overjoyed. He felt the surging power inside him, and this cultivation technique seemed to resonate perfectly with his very thoughts. He decided to begin practicing immediately to see what kind of changes this mysterious power might bring him. As the cultivation technique operated, Ji Yunsheng's body was gradually enveloped in a layer of strange light. The surrounding spiritual qi surged toward him like a tidal wave, and he became completely immersed in the world of cultivation, losing all track of time. After who knows how long, Ji Yunsheng opened his eyes, a brilliant flash of light shooting through his gaze. He felt that his strength had undergone a qualitative leap, as if he had shed his mortal shell and been reborn. His heart was filled with confidence, and he looked forward to the future with great anticipation. Ji Yunsheng knew deep down that the creation of this cultivation technique was merely the beginning. He would continue to explore and refine it, turning it into his ultimate weapon in the pursuit of the supreme realm. Only today did he truly confirm that cultivation was not a myth. He pondered for a moment while sensing the energy swirling around him, feeling that the energy seemed a bit weak. It appeared he needed to visit those forbidden zones to see if cultivation ruins truly might exist there.
By the end of November 2029, Ji Yunsheng finally arrived at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains. Gazing at the boundless mountain range, he sighed in admiration at how magnificent it truly was! He named the cultivation technique he had created "Xuwu"—being naturally lazy, he hadn't wanted to come up with a complicated name—and for the cultivation realms, he simply borrowed the terminology used in immortal cultivation web novels. Right now, as he sensed the energy within his body, he wore a look of utter bewilderment, having no clue what his situation was or what realm he belonged to. He felt that if he wanted to, he could directly destroy a planet. Could it be that he was already on par with an immortal? Then, dismissing the thought with an indifferent wave, he muttered, "Whatever! Since I don't know now, I'll just find someone powerful enough to test it out later and I'll find out." Little did Ji Yunsheng know, while ordinary cultivators advanced step by step toward higher realms, he had directly begun perceiving the Great Dao itself. If the Immortal Emperors of the Immortal Realm were to find out, they would undoubtedly curse, "Damn it, this guy is truly shameless! I've been cultivating for over a hundred thousand years and I've only just touched the threshold of the Great Dao, yet you manage to master the Great Dao right from the start. Are you the biological son of the Heavenly Dao or something?"