The Blonde Daoist

Chapter 3 - Dao Heart

September 1, 2015 08:00

At the opening ceremony of the Sinology Department of the University of Munich, Jerry Hoffman stood on the podium to present their thesis "Taoist Genes in Bavarian Folklore". On the projection screen, the shepherd's horn in the Alps perfectly coincided with the sonic map of the Taoist snail, and thunderous applause sounded from the audience.

"Thank you, everyone." Aisha Schmidt took the microphone. Her academic gown was embroidered with the meridian diagram of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. "We will continue to explore the hidden connection between Eastern and Western civilizations."

Daoist Priest Bai Xuan, who was sitting in the first row, nodded slightly. Today, he was dressed in a navy blue Tang suit with a bow tie. Next to the old man, there was an empty seat plate engraved with alchemy symbols - it was reserved for the specially invited professors of the Dunhuang Research Institute.

14:30

In the Sinology lab, Jerry experimented with fusing traditional Bavarian woodcuts with Taoist mahogany swords. When he used a laser engraver to engrave the verse "Song of Nibelungen" on the hilt of the sword, the blade suddenly burst into purple flames.

"It worked!" Elsa excitedly waved the acupuncture electrodes in her hand, "This'Epic Sword 'can embody Norse mythology into sword qi!"

Their tutor, Professor Li, pushed the door open and entered, clutching the Tang Dynasty scriptures newly arrived from Dunhuang. "Your papers have attracted domestic attention." He placed the scriptures on the experimental bench, "The research institute invites you to participate in this year's mural restoration project."

July 15, 2016 06:00

When the morning sun in the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang dyed the Singing Sand Mountain red, Jerry and Elsa followed the restoration team into the 36th cave. When the holographic projection of Daoist Priest Bai Xuan appeared in front of the mural, the two were shocked to find that the faces of the Quan Zhen Daoist in the painting were exactly the same as the mummified corpses they saw in the sarcophagus of the monastery.

"This is your past life." Daoist Priest Bai Xuan's voice came from the mural, "In 1277, you traveled east with Marco Polo and introduced Taoist inner alchemy to Europe."

Elsa's crystal ball suddenly projected the scene of Venice in the Yuan Dynasty. In the picture, the young self was demonstrating the "Book of Changes" to Marco Polo. Jerry's Tai Chi cross began to vibrate, and inscriptions intertwined with ancient Italian and Chinese characters appeared on the body of the sword.

13:00

During the mural restoration process, Elsa discovered the hidden star map. When she compared the 28 constellations in the Dunhuang mural with the Bavarian constellation legends, the holographic projection suddenly revealed the mysterious star gate.

"Be careful!" Jerry pushed Elsa away, and two bullets flew past the ends of her hair. Three men in black broke into the cave, led by a Desert Eagle with a silencer.

"Hand over the Dunhuang Star Map!" The leader shouted in English, "We know that you have found the key to cultivation that combines things!"

Elsa threw out the acupuncture bronze figure, and the twelve silver needles were automatically suspended in the air. Jerry brandished the epic sword, and the verses of "Song of Nibelongen" turned into golden sword qi. When "Siegfried's Rage" collided with "Quanzhen Swordsmanship", the cave imploded and sent out a rainbow-colored shock wave.

16:30

During the battle, Elsa's crystal ball was shattered, but the fragments automatically reorganized into the form of the Rhine River Muse. The Muse phantom swung the water flow sword, forming a joint attack with Jerry's sword qi, forcing the enemy into the stargate projected by the mural.

"Hurry up!" Daoist Priest Bai Xuan's holographic projection suddenly materialized, "The stargate leads to the cave abode of your previous life!"

The three walked through the stargate and found themselves in the Hexi Corridor of the Yuan Dynasty. Camel caravans of merchants were sitting around a campfire, listening to young Taoists explain the similarities between the Huangting Sutra and the Divine Comedy.

"Look!" Elsa pointed to the sky, where Jupiter and the Big Dipper were meeting, "just like our childhood visions!"

20:00

When they returned to the modern cave, they found that all the members of the restoration team were unconscious. After inspecting the mural, Daoist Priest Bai Xuan said solemnly, "The stargate is the time and space anchor of the Eastern and Western cultivation civilizations, and now it has been destroyed by those people."

Jerry noticed a new inscription in the lower right corner of the mural:

"When the stargate is broken, only the Twin Core can recast the traditions of the East and the West"

Elsa's crystal ball suddenly issued an alarm, indicating abnormal energy fluctuations deep underground in Dunhuang. The three followed the energy traces to the Sutra Cave and found the Sanskrit version of the Tao Te Ching translated by Wizard Xuanzang and the alchemy manuscript of Marco Polo.

"This is what we are looking for." Daoist Priest Bai Xuan put the two ancient books into the universe bag, "but the real key is in your bloodline."

December 24, 2017 23:00

On the streets of Munich on Christmas Eve, Jerry and Elsa stood under the Christmas tree in City Hall Square. In Elsa's new crystal ball, images of Dunhuang murals and Amber Bay Monastery alternate; Jerry's epic sword hilt, the Rhine Muse and the Yellow River Shuibo statue have been fully merged.

"We should go back." Elsa looked at the starry sky. "Grandpa Bai said that the repair of the stargate requires the cultivation sources of the East and the West."

Jerry took out the alchemy manuscript he had obtained in Dunhuang, and suddenly found a yellowed photo inside - on Christmas Eve 1998, Daoist Priest Bai Xuan held them and took a photo with the mummified corpse in front of the monastery's sarcophagus.

"Look!" Elsa pointed to the background of the photo. The wall clock on the wall of the monastery showed the time at 21:07. "It exactly matches the time of our pocket watch and crystal ball!"

At this time, the city hall bell rang, and the snowflakes on Christmas Eve turned golden. The holographic projection of Daoist Priest Bai Xuan appeared on the bell tower, and his image gradually became transparent, and finally coincided with the Taoist companion in the Dunhuang mural.

"Children, true self-cultivation is the rebirth of civilization in a collision." His voice carried a thousand years of vicissitudes, "Remember, your mission is to be a bridge between the Eastern and Western traditions."

June 21, 2018 00:00

At the graduation ceremony of the University of Munich, Jerry and Elsa wore a combination of Chinese and Western bachelor's uniforms. Their thesis "The Construction of a Cross-Civilization Cultivation System" received the highest honor, and the holographic projection of the defense site displayed both "Zhouyi" and "Critique of Pure Reason".

When the headmaster awarded them certificates, the auditorium dome suddenly revealed the glow of a Tai Chi cross. Elsa's acupuncture bronze birthmark glowed warm red, while Jerry's Yin Yang Fish birthmark glowed with a faint blue star.

"We succeeded." Elsa clenched Jerry's hand tightly. "The fire of self-cultivation from the East and the West will blend in our hands."

Under the stage, Daoist Priest Bai Xuan showed a gratified smile. His figure began to blur, turning into countless golden dots of light, merging with the two of them. At the same time, the murals in the 36 caves of the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang suddenly turned golden, and the Taoist companions in the murals opened their eyes and smiled in the direction of Munich.

Walking out of the auditorium, Jerry and Elsa saw a spectacle in the sky in the direction of Amber Bay.

The Shadow of Taoist Sanqing Palace Rising in the East

The West Appears Christianity's Gate to Heaven

In the middle area, the Norse mythological rainbow bridge perfectly coincides with the Chinese rainbow bridge

Elsa's new crystal ball automatically floated into the air, playing the last message of Daoist Priest Bai Xuan:

"My mission is complete. Now, it's your turn to write a new legend..."

Jerry gripped the epic sword tightly, and the statues of the Rhine River Muse and the Yellow River Shuibo on the hilt began to rotate slowly. Elsa took out the repaired acupuncture bronze figure and found that its acupoint map marked the human meridians and the periodic table of alchemy elements at the same time.

In the twilight of Munich, the neon lights of the BMW headquarters and the lanterns of the Taoist temple were intertwined. With the mission of civilization integration, the two blond youths embarked on a new journey of cultivation...