Volume One: Turbulence in a Small Town Chapter 13: Enlightenment Through Helping Others

The Dao De Jing consists of eighty-one chapters. No matter how strong Zhang Heng's memory might be, it was impossible for him to memorize the entire text; besides, who would go out of their way to memorize something like that? So Zhang could only write out the first few chapters, which were the most widely known.

Seeing that Qian Muyun seemed convinced, Zhang Heng secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Qian Muyun crossed her arms, smiling sweetly, and said, "Little brother, do you have any more parts of the scripture? Tell your big sister, and I might reward you."

Zhang Heng felt awkward. She was, after all, a supreme powerhouse, yet she didn't care for her image at all, especially with her own disciple watching from the side.

Not daring to meet Qian Muyun's gaze, Zhang Heng lowered his head and replied, "Sister Muyun, I've already shared everything I know with Miss Qingxue."

As for the remaining chapters, Zhang Heng had only skimmed through them in his previous life. He hadn't committed them to memory at all, so this wasn't really lying to them.

Qian Muyun looked disappointed upon hearing this, then asked, "Do you remember where you found the scripture?"

Zhang Heng was puzzled but answered anyway, "I do."

"Take me there."

"Right now?"

"Yes."

Before Zhang Heng could react, Qian Muyun suddenly extended a slender finger, lightly tapping both him and Murong Qingxue.

A flash of white light shone from Qian Muyun's body, and the next moment, she vanished from where she stood.

Although Zhang Heng had come to understand that this was a world akin to the tales of immortals and martial heroes, where the strong possessed various mystical abilities, seeing someone disappear before his very eyes was a visual shock no less intense than witnessing an atomic explosion.

Before Zhang Heng could recover, a powerful force suddenly erupted from the air behind him, sucking him and Murong Qingxue in. Zhang Heng struggled against it, but it was useless.

He felt his body moving at immense speed through a pitch-black void, unable to see a thing. About three seconds later, the force subsided, and Zhang Heng tumbled out from the emptiness.

His insides churned, as if his organs had all shifted places. He immediately crouched on the ground and vomited violently.

Once his body calmed down, Zhang Heng staggered to his feet, only to see Qian Muyun and Murong Qingxue watching him from nearby.

He forced an awkward smile, then began to take in his surroundings.

Towering mountains loomed ahead, stretching endlessly into the distance, shrouded in thick mist that made it impossible to see clearly. Yet it was precisely this hazy mystery that radiated a soul-stirring sense of danger.

This must be the outer perimeter of the Dragon Burial Abyss.

But if these were all mountains, why was it called the Dragon Burial Abyss? Zhang Heng couldn't understand.

Though the Dragon Burial Abyss bordered South Willow City, the two were still hundreds of kilometers apart. In other words, with a simple gesture, Qian Muyun had sent him and Murong Qingxue dozens or even hundreds of kilometers away.

The most powerful cultivators on this continent were truly terrifying.

Although this teleportation nearly cost Zhang Heng his life, it only strengthened his resolve to change his constitution. Having arrived in such a wondrous world, there was no way he would let his life pass by in mediocrity.

Looking at Qian Muyun, he was about to flatter her, but his stomach churned again, forcing him to turn away and retch.

The scene made Qian Muyun burst out laughing, and even the usually serene Murong Qingxue couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh softly.

Once Zhang Heng had recovered, Qian Muyun said, "Come, lead us to where you found the scripture."

Thus, Zhang Heng began wandering with the two women around the outskirts of the Dragon Burial Abyss.

How would I know where to find the Dao De Jing? he thought.

He had originally planned to use the Abyss's fearsome reputation to scare Qian Muyun off, hoping she wouldn't pursue the origins of the scripture further. Who could have guessed that this formidable woman—no, this ancient ancestor—would be so decisive, bringing him straight here without hesitation.

As the saying goes, once you tell a lie, you need countless more to cover it up.

After about half an hour of wandering, Zhang Heng spotted a cave not far ahead. Judging by its appearance, it must have been a spirit beast's lair for decades.

Alright, this will do.

Feigning excitement, Zhang Heng said, "Sister Muyun, Miss Qingxue, this is the place—I found the scripture here, back then..."

Before he could finish, Qian Muyun's figure had already appeared at the mouth of the cave and was heading inside.

"Young Master Zhang, let's go," Murong Qingxue called out, seeing her master had already entered.

As Zhang Heng and Murong Qingxue approached the cave, they heard the agonized cries of a spirit beast from within. Could a spirit beast really be living there?

Entering the cave, they saw a tiger-like spirit beast, covered in wounds, lying pitifully in a corner, watching Qian Muyun nervously as she searched.

Murong Qingxue explained, "That Nether Tiger is a third-rank spirit beast, equivalent to a Qi Sea cultivator. It was just unlucky to run into my master today."

Zhang Heng looked at the Nether Tiger and sighed inwardly. Sorry, Brother Tiger, but I really didn't know this was your territory.

Having found nothing, Qian Muyun glanced at the Nether Tiger again, scaring it so much that it buried its head in the ground.

Outside, Qian Muyun muttered to herself, "I was too greedy—such a wondrous scripture, having part of it is enough."

Then, with an air of mystery, she said to Zhang Heng, "Little brother, are you ready?"

Zhang Heng was alarmed—had she discovered something? Did she mean to teach him a lesson? The image of that pitiful third-rank spirit beast flashed through his mind.

But before he could think further, that strange spatial force enveloped him again.

Three seconds later, Qian Muyun brought the two of them back to the small house Zhang Heng called home. Having experienced it once before, Zhang Heng managed to hold back from vomiting this time.

Qian Muyun was a little disappointed not to see him make a fool of himself. "Little brother, you adapt quickly. I wonder if you're as capable in other ways," she teased.

Zhang Heng was speechless. Could she not restrain herself a bit in front of her pure and innocent disciple? Could she not show a little of a strong cultivator's dignity?

Yet it was precisely Qian Muyun's personality that gave Zhang Heng the chance to interact with such a powerful figure. If it had been anyone else, they might not have bothered with him—or might have crushed him without a second thought.

Forcing the topic to change, Zhang Heng said, "Sister Muyun, you value this scripture so highly—it must be extraordinary."

"Of course," Qian Muyun replied. "It contains the very source of the Dao. Though it's not a cultivation manual, it can help a cultivator enter a state where Dao and technique merge—a rare and peerless scripture."

It could inspire enlightenment?

Was it really that miraculous? Could something from another world actually be useful to cultivators here? Did that mean the other classics in his mind—the Book of Changes, the Book of Rites, the Diamond Sutra—might have similar effects?

"It's a pity it's only a fragment," Qian Muyun said regretfully. "With the complete scripture, one could perhaps enter that legendary state of selflessness. What a shame, truly a shame."

Damn it, Zhang Heng thought. If only I'd known, I should have taken the time to memorize the Dao De Jing back then.

Maybe then, he could have used it to win Qian Muyun's favor. Regret filled his heart.