Chapter 1

In the Central Province of Tianxia, at Laojun Mountain,

It was midsummer, and the heat was unbearable. Once inside the mountain, the air instantly became cool.

Laojun Mountain is sparsely populated, and cable cars have yet to be installed. The ancient stone steps wind from the foot of the mountain to the top, where the Golden Hall stands, a total of nine thousand steps, enough to deter ordinary tourists.

Three Taoist priests live on the mountain: the old Taoist Sun Guan, who reads faces and predicts fortunes; the middle-aged Taoist Zhu Changzhi, who manages the incense offerings; and the young Taoist Li Mi, who cleans the Golden Hall. They have clear roles and work together harmoniously.

"Today, only five tourists, and only two made offerings. Life is really hard to sustain." Zhu Changzhi wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, flicked the 20-yuan note in his hand, and turned to see Old Taoist Sun meditating with his eyes closed, and Li Mi reading "Laozi Xiang'er Zhu" intently. He couldn't help but sigh, "Li, you've been on the mountain for almost three years, with no income. Have you not thought about your future?"

"You're so handsome, you won't have trouble finding a wife. Listen to Uncle's advice, go down the mountain early. This cultivation has no future."

"Nowadays, monks have opened martial arts schools all over Tianxia. A set of Luohan Quan has been learned by millions, and they have earned mountains of gold and silver. The incense offerings are also at their peak, a world apart."

"When will the Great Ancestor show his power? If he doesn't take care of his disciples, the Taoist tradition will be lost!"

Li Mi smiled but did not answer.

The image of Laozi in the center of the Golden Hall was ethereal and serene.

Li Mi had been in this world for three days.

His previous life was spent in an orphanage, with a solitary and introverted personality, rarely speaking, and living alone. He studied religious studies in college and, after graduation, joined the Taoist order, received a degree, and became a recognized Taoist priest in Tianxia.

After graduation, he chose to settle on Laojun Mountain. His daily life consisted of cleaning the Golden Hall, living on the wind and dew, meditating, reading Taoist texts, and wandering in the mountains, a lifestyle typical of ancient Taoist practitioners, which is quite rare in today's world.

This is a world where martial arts are flourishing. Martial artists not only strengthen their bodies but also cultivate true qi through breathing techniques, breaking the limits of human potential.

In ancient times, there were many martial arts guided by Taoist philosophy, and most were among the highest levels.

However, three hundred years ago, the spiritual energy of the earth changed dramatically, and the ancient martial arts lost their effectiveness, marking the beginning of the Great Transformation Era.

Ultimately, the Zen Master Kōkai of Leiin Temple, after studying past texts and understanding the spiritual energy of the earth, broke the secrets of the human body and created a new Luohan Quan. Almost anyone could practice it and cultivate Luohan true qi, reaching an unprecedented level of mastery, living for 180 years.

Since then, Buddhist martial arts have flourished, and countless advanced martial arts have been developed based on Luohan Quan, dominating the martial arts schools of Tianxia.

In contrast, generation after generation of Taoist sages failed to create a foundational martial art comparable to Luohan Quan. Advanced martial arts became like castles in the air, like the moon in the water or the flower in the mirror.

Thus, the Taoist tradition began to decline.

Today, the Tianxia Buddhist Association has over a million registered monks, while the Tianxia Taoist Association has only about 8,000 registered Taoist priests.

Now, no one expects the birth of a foundational Taoist martial art, and young people with martial arts talent will not choose to waste their time in the Taoist tradition.

Three hours later, as the sky grew dark, the Golden Hall on the mountain top was empty, with only Li Mi remaining.

Li Mi bathed and changed into a new blue Taoist robe, then bowed and knelt three times before the image of Laozi.

"Great Ancestor, unworthy disciple Li Mi is fortunate to be favored by the Great Ancestor and to hold the Laozi Seal. From now on, I will spread the Great Dao and glorify the Taoist tradition!"

Since his arrival in this world, Li Mi's mind has contained a purple-blue Taoist seal, yin and yang embracing, in the shape of the Taiji, mysterious and profound, with the words "Laozi" inscribed on it.

This Taoist seal is endowed with a great power, known as "Harmonizing Creation."

Harmonizing heaven and earth, profound and creative, the source of the universe and all things, it is considered the highest great power of the Taoist tradition.

However, for Li Mi to use this great power, he relies on "Teaching Degree."

Since joining the Taoist tradition three years ago, Li Mi has practiced diligently, and his Teaching Degree has naturally increased. Three days ago, this number was 99.7, and today it is exactly 100 points, meeting the minimum requirement to use the "Harmonizing Creation" great power.

Li Mi always felt that his arrival and the golden finger were the work of the Great Ancestor, much more reliable than an unknown system. Now it was time to witness the miracle!

Investing 100 points of Teaching Degree into the Laozi Seal, Li Mi focused his mind: "I choose to create—Taiji Quan!"

The Taiji Quan on Earth, although named after the Taiji, could not cultivate true qi and could not break the limits of the human body. Even though Li Mi had practiced the 24-form simplified Taiji Quan, he did not think it could compare to the Luohan Quan created by the great master Kōkai.

But what kind of mystery would the Taiji Quan created by the great power of "Harmonizing Creation" have?

A flash of purple-blue Taiji light from the Laozi Seal, and a new Taiji Quan was already imprinted in Li Mi's mind.

This Taiji Quan consists of 36 forms, starting from the first form "Primordial Wuji" to the 36th form "Yin and Yang Embracing," from Wuji to Taiji, from Taiji to Yin and Yang, the mystery of Taiji is all contained within.

Notably, each form is not difficult, and even elderly people in their seventies and eighties can perform it effortlessly.

Thus, Taiji Quan can be practiced by anyone, regardless of age or gender, as long as they can sit, lie, and walk, with a much lower threshold than Luohan Quan.

Li Mi couldn't help but slowly practice this Taiji Quan in front of the image of Laozi, wanting to personally experience its mystery, which was far more enjoyable and focused than any unboxing review.

The essence of Taiji Quan was deeply imprinted in Li Mi's mind, surpassing any master. His movements were not fast but were quite fluid, as if he had practiced it thousands of times.

Li Mi was completely immersed in it. As he performed the 36 forms, it felt as if he had experienced the creation of the universe, from the Primordial Wuji to the separation of Yin and Yang, profound and mysterious, beyond description.

After completing the Taiji Quan, Li Mi's entire body's qi and blood were fully activated, like a great river, surging and roaring.

A point of initial Taiji true qi gathered the spiritual energy, emerging from the void, instantly merging into his qi and blood, just as the Dao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two give birth to three, and three give birth to all things, evolving endlessly.

When Li Mi came out of his profound understanding, he noticed that it was already the middle of the night, and the Taiji true qi was already circulating like a river, endlessly.

"True qi river, endlessly? This is already at the level of a martial master!"

Martial artists practice martial arts, starting with a high-level foundational martial art, and after twenty years of hard work, they might be able to condense and gather true qi into a river, endlessly circulating. In the entire martial arts world, this is considered a significant achievement, qualifying one to teach and spread the art, known as a martial master.

Martial artists are divided into six levels from low to high: martial apprentice, martial warrior, martial master, grandmaster, patriarch, and great patriarch. Martial apprentices cultivate true qi, martial warriors open meridians, martial masters have a true qi river, the first three levels are in the postnatal realm.

The last three levels are in the prenatal realm, requiring extremely high qualifications, temperament, and resources, with each threshold stopping countless talented individuals.