Chapter Eighty-One: Singularity

With Yu Lang as guarantor and Chen Wuning’s nod of approval, together with Li Mi’s status as the traveling envoy of the Myriad Phenomena Daoist Sect, the miscellaneous matters of applying for entry to the Library Pavilion were quickly concluded. Instructor He personally led Li Mi inside.

The Library Pavilion was divided into nine levels. Only after reading through each floor and passing the floor master’s assessment could one proceed to the next. Li Mi found this arrangement intriguing; he was determined to finish reading all nine levels in the shortest possible time.

Instructor He smiled faintly at this: “What lofty ambition you have, Daoist Li. But the Library Pavilion of our Washing Moon Academy is not as simple as you imagine. When I was young, I too achieved the degree of presented scholar and dare say my scholarship was on par with any contemporary master. Yet after decades of effort, I only reached the fifth level. The texts above the fifth are profound and obscure, some even contrary to our ordinary understanding. It is truly difficult to grasp their essence.”

Li Mi only smiled, silent, and began perusing the first shelf in order. If there were no challenge, he wouldn’t have come.

Meanwhile, Chen Wuning’s meeting with Yu Lang took place on the third floor of the Tree of Men Hall.

The Tree of Men Hall was a forbidden ground in Washing Moon Academy. The first floor would only be opened for major ceremonies, with some core disciples invited to observe. The second floor was beyond the reach of most instructors; as for the third, Yu Lang was perhaps the only one beside Director Chen himself ever to set foot there.

The space on the third floor was not large—just enough for one table and two meditation cushions.

This quiet chamber appeared unremarkable, yet the spiritual energy within was dense and concealed, even richer than the Marrow Cleansing Pool Yu Lang had once entered.

Yu Lang and Chen Wuning sat facing each other, both settling their minds and calming their spirits in preparation for insight.

Chen Wuning was the first to speak. “What, in your understanding, is the origin of Dao?”

This question could be as vast or as minute as one pleased, with no fixed answer. Everyone’s Dao was unique; Chen Wuning’s purpose was to probe Yu Lang’s heart of Dao.

Yu Lang raised his head slightly. “I believe the origin of Dao is the truth of this world. The universe is boundless, and yet we are born here, now. Compared to the vastness of the cosmos, the individual is insignificant. We, as cultivators, seek to discover the true face of the world. From the path of inner breath, to the essence of force acting on objects, to the understanding and mastery of laws—cultivation is the process of approaching the origin of Dao.”

“Your Dao is grand indeed. To realize it will be a thousandfold struggle.” Chen Wuning’s expression was a blend of joy and concern. “Consider further: if the Dao you cultivate took form, what would it be? A sword, a cloud, a brush, perhaps even a flower?”

This form would later become the Dao Seal. Yu Lang furrowed his brow, sinking into thought.

“No hurry. Relax. When your soul is fully unfurled, it will naturally appear before you.”

Yu Lang shut his eyes tightly, stopping the flow of inner breath, even slowing his breathing, opening himself completely.

In his mind appeared a childhood memory: dusk in his grandfather’s courtyard. His grandfather lay on a recliner, humming a tune and fanning himself, the half-fallen sun hung precariously in the west, as if a gust of wind might blow it away at any moment.

Yu Lang lay in the yard, arm under his head, watching wild geese fly overhead in a “V.” Suddenly he noticed a small black dot in the sky. The dot seemed to notice him too, flickering a few times.

In an instant, the black dot burst forth with an incomparable pull, drawing the entire courtyard, the whole world into itself, forming a chaotic vortex.

The vortex shrank smaller and smaller, returning to a black dot. The universe fell utterly silent, an indescribable stillness.

No one knew how much time passed before the black dot exploded, continually releasing energy, expanding, and in this spreading, countless stars were born.

Chen Wuning’s voice rang out: “Enlighten!”

Yu Lang’s eyes snapped open. A tremendous force pulled the expanding galaxy back into a single point.

As the dazzling light receded, a small black dot hovered above Yu Lang’s head.

Chen Wuning could not tell whether the process of condensing this Dao Seal had succeeded or failed. In all his years, he had seen countless Dao Seals, but never anything as peculiar as this little black dot.

It seemed weightless, yet heavier than a mountain; it seemed frail enough to break at a touch, yet nothing could break it.

Inspired, Yu Lang uttered two words: “Singularity.”

His Dao Seal was the primal singularity of the universe. The Big Bang gave birth to the universe, which expanded, and would one day collapse back into a singularity.

Yu Lang’s Enlightened Profundity Dao Seal was precisely this: the origin and the end of all things.

To test it, Chen Wuning conjured two ordinary Dao Seals—wind and cloud—and sent them spiraling toward the inconspicuous singularity. The black dot did nothing at first.

But when the three Dao Seals were within an inch, a sudden change occurred. The singularity quivered, and the wind and cloud Dao Seals vanished into nothing.

“What a domineering Dao Seal,” Chen Wuning could not help but praise, though he felt a strange drain on his strength.

Yu Lang, meanwhile, took advantage of this surge and broke through from the initial stage of Enlightened Profundity to the middle stage in one leap.

He himself was startled by this: “Master, it seems my Dao Seal can devour other Dao Seals.”

“Marvelous!” Chen Wuning’s eyes were full of satisfaction. He quickly formed seals with his hands, conjuring five more Dao Seals of various types, feeding them into the singularity.

The sudden increase in power was almost too much for Yu Lang; he had to circulate his inner breath several times to calm the turmoil within, and his cultivation reached the upper stage of Enlightened Profundity. This time, through inner vision, he saw the entire process clearly: Chen Wuning’s Dao Seals were not consumed by the singularity, but destroyed. The energy released before it could dissipate was drawn in by the power of the Northern Abyss. The combination of the singularity Dao Seal and the Northern Abyss created this miraculous effect—perhaps no other boundary-breaker knew the Northern Abyss Dao Seal could do more than just expend energy.

“Master, what are you doing?”

Chen Wuning’s face was marked by age. “I originally intended to use forbidden arts to forcibly infuse you with some power—dangerous and costly. Who knew your Dao Seal would come with this absorbing function? It saves me a great deal of trouble.”

Yu Lang was touched. “But you’re already badly injured…”

“Heh, you needn’t feel indebted. In fact, I owe you. Yang Yuhuan is a huge problem for Washing Moon Academy. His Majesty ordered me to escort her to Chang’an—an impossible task for me, as I can never leave this academy now. For you to take on this duty, it’s only fitting I help you. The journey to Chang’an is perilous, the city itself full of hidden dangers. Cultivation at the upper stage of Enlightened Profundity will help keep you safe.”

Yu Lang blinked. “Give it to me straight: what are my chances of surviving to escort Yang Yuhuan to Chang’an?”

Chen Wuning smiled bitterly. “Less than thirty percent.”

“I’ll give the power back—how about I don’t go to Chang’an?”

“Fine. I’ll just sit here and watch you return the power to me.”

“Old man, I knew you were up to something!”

“Heh, challenges and opportunities are for the young. Who knows, you might just make it to Chang’an alive.”

“…”

Yu Lang left the Tree of Men Hall with mixed feelings. Though he’d bantered with Chen Wuning, in his heart he was deeply grateful. It’s easy to judge if a gift is given out of goodwill—whether it’s offered willingly or out of necessity. Clearly, Chen Wuning was of the former kind. No matter how dangerous the road to Chang’an might be, it was already out of Chen Wuning’s hands. Yet he was still willing to deplete his own cultivation to help Yu Lang, showing true care for his last disciple.

Instructor Shen caught up with Yu Lang. “I hear you’re going to Chang’an?”

“Yes, I’ll leave after the New Year.”

“After the New Year—that’s tomorrow, isn’t it?”

Yu Lang started, counting the days in his mind. Indeed, without noticing, the twelfth lunar month had ended; tonight was New Year’s Eve.

Instructor Shen smiled. “It’s good—young people ought to venture out. Spend your whole life trapped in Washing Moon Academy, in Yangzhou City, and you’ll never amount to much.”

“If I get tired, I’ll come back to visit.”

Snow began to fall, landing on Instructor Shen’s grizzled beard, though he didn’t notice.

For the first time, Yu Lang realized they were all growing old—from Chen Wuning to Instructor He and Instructor Shen. Over three years, Yu Lang had matched wits with them, gotten into all kinds of trouble, and these elders had always shielded him. Now, when he should have become the new pillar of Washing Moon Academy, he was leaving.

“Washing Moon Academy truly has no one to succeed us.” Instructor Shen sighed. “Qingqing is gone, your family has no one left. Come home with me for New Year’s, why don’t you? It’s been so long since I had a drink with you.”

“No, I want to spend my last New Year in Yangzhou at home. Tomorrow I’ll visit you to pay my respects.”

Instructor Shen nodded, turned, and walked away over the patchy snow.

The snow fell softly, blanketing the academy in silence.