Chapter 23: The Third Divine Ability, Heartless Void

State of Zhao, Handan.

"Grandmaster, my home is just ahead."

Shen Dao’s face beamed with joy. Having spent many years at the Jixia Academy, he was naturally overjoyed to finally be returning home. The carriage wheels rattled over the ancient streets, passing through the bustling districts before turning into a quiet, secluded lane.

"Grandmaster, we have arrived," Shen Dao said, pulling the carriage to a stop.

Lu Ge jumped down, looked around, and nodded with a smile. "This place is quite tranquil; it is a fine spot for scholarly pursuits."

Shen Dao waved his hand dismissively. "It is mainly because the family is poor and cannot afford a grander estate. This way, please, Grandmaster."

The two arrived at the entrance, and Shen Dao knocked firmly on the door. Before long, the gate creaked open, and an elderly man with white hair appeared.

"Oh! Has the master returned?" The old man’s clouded eyes brightened instantly upon seeing Shen Dao.

Shen Dao looked toward Lu Ge with a smile. "Grandmaster, this is my family’s old retainer; he has served us since my father’s time."

Lu Ge nodded slightly, and the old man hurriedly bowed. "This humble servant, Shen Zhong, greets you, honored sir."

In this era, the term "honored sir" carried two meanings: it was used to address one's elders or father, or it was used to address the nobility and the powerful. Seeing that even Shen Dao addressed Lu Ge as "Grandmaster," Shen Zhong understood that this visitor was no ordinary person.

"Go take care of the carriage first," Shen Dao instructed Shen Zhong, then turned to Lu Ge. "Grandmaster, let us go inside."

They crossed the threshold into the courtyard. The house was not large, consisting of only a few rooms. There were no ornate pavilions or artificial landscapes to be seen.

"There are no other servants in the house, and since I have been away for so long, I am not familiar with the place," Shen Dao said. "I will have Shen Zhong prepare a room for you to rest later. For now, let us sit and relax."

Lu Ge pulled over a cushion and sat down casually. "Didn't you say you had many classics here? Since we have nothing to do, why not bring them for me to look at?" Lu Ge had been thinking about this all along.

Shen Dao rose hurriedly. "Please wait a moment, Grandmaster."

With that, he hurried away. Shortly after, he returned carrying a large pile of bamboo slips. "Grandmaster, I have brought these for now. Please, have a look."

The pile of bamboo slips, numbering over a dozen scrolls, sat on the ground like a small hill. Lu Ge picked one up at random and unrolled it.

"In ancient times, the sages used the Yin and Yang to order the heavens and the earth. If that which has form was born from that which has no form, then from whence were the heavens and the earth born?"

"There is the Great Change, the Great Beginning, the Great Commencement, and the Great Simplicity. The Great Change is when the breath has not yet appeared."

"The Great Beginning is the start of the breath; the Great Commencement is the start of form; the Great Simplicity is the start of substance."

Shen Dao noted from the side, "These are the works of the sage Liezi. If you do not like them, I also have the works of Zhuangzi, the Zixia commentary on the Book of Changes, and others."

Lu Ge, his attention entirely focused on the bamboo slips, shook his head slightly. "No need to change them. I shall simply read them one by one."

Seeing that Lu Ge was reading with such intensity, Shen Dao did not disturb him further. He quietly picked up a scroll of his own and began to read as well. By the time Shen Zhong had finished stabling the carriage and feeding the horses, he returned to find them in this state.

"Master," Shen Zhong called out softly.

Shen Dao looked up. "Prepare a guest room for the Grandmaster, and then arrange some food." Shen Zhong acknowledged the order and departed once more.

Time flowed on, and a month passed in the blink of an eye. Every day, aside from eating, sleeping, and attending to his needs, Lu Ge spent his time feverishly devouring the classics.

"Tsk, life is good these days," Lu Ge sighed, clutching a stack of bamboo slips. "I never had such conditions before. With so many classics available, it is as if the deepest truths are laid out before me in the most simple and direct way."

Intrigued, Shen Dao asked, "How did you study and attain enlightenment in the past, Grandmaster?"

Lu Ge let out a long sigh. "Those were bitter times. Every morning I had to herd cattle, and only in the afternoon could I learn the Way from my teacher. At night, I had to observe the celestial phenomena. As for these classic books, I never saw a single one."

Lu Ge complained of the hardship, but the envy in Shen Dao’s eyes was overflowing. *Is this something a human would say? To have a sage personally teach the Way every day? I would love to suffer such 'hardship' myself.*

Having finished his reflection, Lu Ge set down the bamboo slips. "I have finished reading the books of Liezi this month. I have already gained an entry into his divine abilities. Let us move on to Zhuangzi."

Shen Dao was startled. "Grandmaster, you... have you succeeded? Have you attained the divine ability of 'riding the wind' as described by Liezi?"

Lu Ge shook his head. "Liezi’s 'riding the wind' is merely the appearance. His true ability should be called 'The Heartless Valuing of Emptiness.' 'Heartless' is the state of mind; it is the unity of internal and external, where there is no distinction between the self and the world. 'Valuing Emptiness' is forgetting both existence and non-existence, merging all differences into one. It is to move within the ultimate void, to let the mind wander in the great nothingness, to race beyond the bounds, to walk through the gateless gate, to listen to the soundless, and to see the formless—unbound by the world and untethered by convention."

Shen Dao looked a bit bewildered. "Grandmaster, I do not quite understand."

Lu Ge thought for a moment before explaining, "Simply put, this ability allows one to enter a state of 'heartless' unity. Once in this state, one gains the various powers of the Great Void. For instance, one can walk freely between heaven and earth, roaming the universe without any hindrance. To an outsider, it appears as if one is riding the wind through the void. Furthermore, one can render the body ethereal; others cannot see you, hear you, or harm you."

Hearing this, Shen Dao was struck with awe. "Doesn't that make you invincible?"

Lu Ge chuckled. "All divine abilities in this world are derived from the Great Way. There is no such thing as an 'invincible' ability. For one, Xunzi’s 'Separation of Heaven and Man' could suppress this 'Heartless Valuing of Emptiness.' Once one enters the domain of that separation, it would be difficult to maintain the heartless state."

Previously, Xunzi could not overcome Lu Ge, partly because the "Immortality" was the supreme divine ability. While it lacked offensive power, its status and authority were the highest, allowing it to remain immune to the effects of the "Separation of Heaven and Man." Furthermore, the "Big Dipper Death-Dealing Sword Qi" was a gift from the Star Gods, possessing such overwhelming celestial might that it could resist the separation.

This new ability, while formidable, was not so far removed from the "Separation of Heaven and Man" in terms of status. If they were to clash, it would be hard to say who would win. In the end, it would come down to who had a deeper understanding of the Great Way and whose cultivation was higher.

Shen Dao rose and bowed. "The disciple has been instructed. Please wait, Grandmaster, I shall go fetch the next set of bamboo slips." As he spoke, he began to clear away the scattered Liezi scrolls.

At that moment, Shen Zhong hurried in from outside. "Grandmaster, Master," (having spent a month with them, Shen Zhong had begun addressing Lu Ge as Grandmaster as well), "an invitation has arrived from the palace, requesting the presence of both the Grandmaster and the Master at a banquet."

Shen Zhong held out the invitation, which was written on silk. The King of Zhao was certainly wealthy.

Shen Dao turned to Lu Ge. "Grandmaster, shall we go?"

Lu Ge waved his hand. "No, no. With that time, I would rather read a few more volumes of the classics."