Night descended, and beneath the ancient ginkgo tree in the center of the settlement, flames leapt skyward. Canglian had ordered the lighting of the ceremonial fire, used only for the greatest of celebrations. The orange-red flames illuminated each expectant face, dyeing the night sky in warm hues. The ginkgo tree's massive branches, in the firelight, resembled the extended limbs of a great dragon, its leaves rustling in the night breeze, casting dappled shadows, as if narrating some ancient legend.

  The villagers gathered gradually, whispers rising and falling among the crowd like surging tides. The elders leaned on their walking sticks, steps faltering yet unwilling to miss this once-in-a-millennium occasion; the children darted about the adults' feet, playing and laughing, knowing little of what was to transpire yet equally excited, small hands clasped together, their eyes twinkling with curiosity.

  The entire settlement was shrouded in a mysterious and solemn atmosphere, the air filled with the fresh scent of burning wood mingled with the perspiration of the gathered people, forming a special fragrance unique to celebrations. In the distance, the mountains dissolved into ink-black silhouettes, while stars twinkled in the heavenly canopy, as if watching this earthly festivity.

  Canglian, leaning on his polished staff, walked slowly to the fireside and stood firm. The firelight illuminated his pale countenance, making him appear extraordinarily solemn and dignified, like the incarnation of an ancient oracle. His deep eyes swept across the gathered crowd, lingering briefly on each familiar face, as if confirming the presence of witnesses. Beside him stood LaUhta, the youth's face as calm as still water, only the occasional flash in his eyes betraying the turmoil within. LaUhta wore the settlement's distinctive deep blue ceremonial robe, embroidered with silver patterns symbolizing reverence for heaven and earth.

  "Tonight, the heavens send a blessed omen!" Canglian raised his hand, his voice, though not loud, penetrating the entire square like a sword cleaving the night sky. The crowd immediately fell silent, all eyes focused on this venerable priest. "For many years, none in our settlement has touched the mysteries of the 'One.' Today, heaven has blessed our Lagu; Uhta has at last become a Dao Seedling! From this day forth, Uhta shall be known as 'LaUhta,' signifying our settlement's recognition and expectation of him."

  Surprised murmurs rippled through the crowd, quickly followed by unrestrained cheers. The entire settlement erupted. The cheers rose like mountain streams, converging into a heart-shaking torrent, echoing through the valley. The elders wept openly, children danced and waved their arms, the middle-aged clapped and shouted. Wang, Bu, Ziping, these villagers who had helped raise him now gathered around, some to embrace, some to smile through tears, together witnessing this moment of glory.

  LaUhta stood at the center of the crowd, feeling unprecedented attention and expectation, his heart a mixture of emotions—joy at finally gaining recognition on one side, concern about the unknown power on the other. He could sense the flow of the "One" within him had changed from before, like a dragon lying dormant, ready to awaken at any moment. This power both enticed and frightened him.

  The ginkgo leaves rustled in the night wind, sounding like ancient whispers. LaUhta raised his head toward the starry sky, those distant stars seeming to gaze back at him, guiding his path. The heat from the bonfire swept over him, yet could not burn away that nameless worry in his heart—could he truly master this power? Could he bear the weight of such expectations?

  "Though the path of the unknown stretches far, my heart yearns toward it," LaUhta whispered, his gaze turning to the vast world beyond the window, his voice soft yet filled with unwavering resolve.

  The following dawn, LaUhta, sleepless through the night, departed from the settlement still immersed in the festive atmosphere. The east was brightening with the first light, dispelling the night's ink-black hue, the sky washed clean, appearing pure and transparent. The morning mist among the mountains danced like graceful gauze, taking on a faint golden hue in the morning light, draping the peaks in a mysterious veil.

  He walked with firm steps along a winding path, heading deeper into the mountains behind the settlement. The mountain path beneath his feet, rugged and uneven, posed no challenge to his now-strengthened body. The morning dew dampened his feet, sparkling in the sunlight. His stride was light yet determined, like a graceful mountain cat moving through the forest.

  The forest air was fresh and moist, carrying the fragrance of pine needles and wildflowers, filled with the breath of life. Bird songs, clear and melodious, rose and fell, composing a symphony of nature. Occasionally, squirrels leapt among the branches, making soft rustling sounds. Sunlight pierced through the dense leaves, scattering golden spots on the ground, like flowing fragments of gold.

  After crossing two mountain peaks and passing through a dense bamboo grove, the view suddenly opened before him. A deep mountain cave appeared, its entrance wide and tall, like an open mouth. The entrance was half-concealed by thick vines, like a curtain of emerald, decorated with several small purple wildflowers, emitting a faint fragrance.

  Outside the cave was an open, level ground, overgrown with knee-high wild grass, swaying in the breeze like green waves. Not far away, a clear stream flowed gently, sunlight reflecting off its surface in dazzling brilliance. The water struck smooth pebbles, producing melodious sounds like nature's instrument. In the stream, silvery fish darted about, occasionally leaping above the surface, raising crystal-clear splashes.

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  Looking around, all was silent, save for the rustling of wind through leaves and the flowing of water. In the distance, mountains stretched endlessly, wreathed in clouds and mist, appearing and disappearing, like a realm of immortals. Far from the settlement, uninhabited by men, it was indeed an excellent place for seclusion. LaUhta nodded with satisfaction, a flash of joy in his eyes. He pushed aside the vines blocking the cave entrance and bent to enter, the vines swaying gently behind him, producing a soft rustling sound.

  The cave was dark and damp, the air permeated with the scent of earth and moss. As he ventured deeper, the light from outside gradually diminished, yet strangely, LaUhta felt no hindrance to his vision. He could clearly see the texture of the cave walls and the scattered stones on the ground, as if guided by some inner light. The cave was not deep, perhaps a hundred paces to its end, forming a circular space large enough to hold ten or more people.

  LaUhta sat cross-legged on the smooth stone surface, his back against the cool cave wall. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply, his chest rising and falling rhythmically, allowing his thoughts to calm like the stream outside. Last night's clamor still echoed in his ears, the cheers seeming to linger in the air. Canglian's expectations of him becoming a "Tao" weighed like a mountain on his young shoulders. The power within his body, continuously surging, both excited and unsettled him, like holding a sharp sword without knowing its use.

  "Now that I have touched the 'One,' how will my body change?" This question circled in his mind like an eagle soaring through a valley, seeking a place to land. He could feel that power still flowing within, containing infinite possibilities, yet like an untamed wild horse, difficult to control. His fingers trembled slightly, sensing the subtle touch transmitted from his fingertips, even the fine texture on the cave wall clearly perceptible.

  After sitting quietly for a moment, LaUhta decided to sense the changes within his body. He adjusted his breathing, making it long and even, like the mountain wind, gentle yet unceasing. He sought to explore that newborn power within, attempting to establish some connection with it. Slowly opening his eyes, he was surprised to find the darkness in the cave no longer so thick, the outlines of surrounding objects clearly visible, even more distinct than in daylight.

  Wind from the mountains passed through the cave entrance, bringing the scent of distant forests and the fragrance of flowers and herbs. LaUhta closed his eyes, this time directing his awareness outward, with even more surprising results. He listened attentively, his ears twitching slightly, like an alert deer in the forest. He could distinguish the frequency of birds' wingbeats outside, even capturing the sound of fish playing in the stream hundreds of paces away. Moreover, his sense of smell had become extraordinarily keen, able to detect the fragrance of grass and flowers outside, even the faint scent of a wildflower just blooming in the distant forest. This sensory change was both astonishing and somewhat uncomfortable, like someone accustomed to darkness suddenly placed in strong light.

  LaUhta picked up a small stone, feeling its weight and texture in his palm. Each ridge and hollow on the stone's surface transmitted clearly to his fingertips. With a gentle squeeze, the stone shattered in his hand, breaking into small fragments and powder, slowly falling through his fingers, forming a small heap of greyish-white sand on the cave floor.

  He looked at his palm in astonishment; the wooden stick that yesterday he could barely break with full strength, today he could easily crush a hard stone, like crumbling a fallen leaf. He could feel that strange power surging like a tide within him, growing stronger with each breath, like a dragon that might awaken at any moment. He sensed in his fingertips each subtle touch, his fingers gently rubbed the cave wall, feeling the energy flow within the rock, as if hearing the stones recounting tales of ancient times.

  "The power of the 'One' is indeed so miraculous," he whispered, his voice echoing in the spacious cave as he opened his eyes again, a light of both wonder and slight unease flickering in his gaze. At this moment, he seemed proud of this power, yet also slightly worried about the responsibility that might come with it.

  He rose and walked toward the cave entrance, each step as light as the wind, as if his body had shed the weight of the mortal world, like floating on water. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the vines, casting dappled light on the ground, his shadow passing through these patches of light, as if traversing countless dimensions.

  Standing at the edge of the cave entrance, LaUhta took a deep breath of the morning air, filling his lungs with the mountain's freshness. He bent his knees slightly and leapt lightly, his body rising unrestrained, as if carried by the wind. He traced a graceful arc through the air, like a hawk sweeping across the valley, the wind rushing past his ears, bringing an unprecedented sense of freedom.

  In the air, he felt the currents flowing across his body, his form seeming to merge with heaven and earth, becoming part of nature. Yet when he landed, he stood as steadfast as a mountain, his feet touching the ground without raising a speck of dust, as if reaching some harmonious agreement with the earth. He smiled, delighted as a child with a new toy, his eyes sparkling with wonder and anticipation for this new power.

  However, beyond his joy, a thread of concern rose in LaUhta's heart. This power, so strange yet so naturally integrated into his body, seemed to belong there from the beginning. But he still did not know how to control it, how to guide it, how to truly become its master. The "One" continuously flowing into his body was restrained by some mysterious force, unable to flow freely, like a fierce beast caged, both dangerous and awe-inspiring.

  LaUhta raised his head toward the starry sky, the Milky Way spanning the heavens like a silver ribbon. The night breeze gently caressed, carrying the scent of forest and the fragrance of soil, making his thoughts clearer. "Though the path of the unknown stretches far, my heart yearns toward it," he whispered, his gaze turning toward the vast world beyond the window, his voice soft yet filled with unwavering resolve.

  LaUhta returned to the depths of the cave, once again sitting cross-legged. In the days to come, he would cultivate here, exploring the mysteries of the "One," learning to master this power. No matter how difficult the path ahead, he would press forward without hesitation, for this was not only his destiny, but also the hope of the entire Lagu settlement.

  "The unknown path begins beneath one's feet," LaUhta said softly, his voice echoing in the cave, like a solemn oath, yet also like a gentle ballad, speaking of all the possibilities of the future. He knew this was only the beginning, the true challenges yet to come. But at this moment, in this tranquil realm of his own, he was prepared to meet everything, like the rising sun in the east, full of light and hope.