Dawn pierced through the mountain mists, gilding the settlement of Lagu with a layer of flowing gold. Dewdrops upon the ancient ginkgo leaves gleamed crystalline in the first light of day, like tiny jewels scattered between heaven and earth. Not far off, birds had begun their morning songs, clear calls echoing through the valley, awakening the slumbering forest.

  Nuwa proceeded lightly along the path remembered from yesterday, her crimson dress floating with the morning breeze like a dancing flame. Though her steps were light, they bore uncommon certainty. The conversation with Elder Canglian from the night before still echoed in her mind, deepening her curiosity about the youth who carried such strange power.

  Passing through a dense thicket of hawthorn, the murmur of the stream grew gradually clearer. Nuwa halted, her slender fingers parting the low-hanging branches before her. Her gaze crossed the verdant foliage to rest upon that prominent stone by the waterside.

  LaUhta still sat there, his posture unchanged from yesterday—cross-legged, his spine straight as a mountain pine, hands resting lightly upon his knees, gaze fixed intently upon the flowing water. Beside him, the fire had died to silver ashes, yet upon the grill, fish had been roasted to golden crispness, their fragrance carried by the morning breeze, awakening Nuwa's hunger.

  "Have you sat here through the entire night?" Nuwa approached with light steps, amber eyes flashing with surprise and admiration.

  LaUhta turned at her voice, a calm and gentle smile crossing his face. Though his eyes showed weariness from his sleepless vigil, they remained clear. "Sleep eluded me, so I pondered your words from yesterday," he said, gesturing toward the fish upon the grill, his tone gentle. "I have prepared these for you."

  Nuwa seated herself gracefully beside LaUhta, her red dress blooming like a flower upon the dew-speckled grass. She took a piece of grilled fish; the skin had been roasted to perfection, making a delicate cracking sound at the slightest touch, while the flesh remained tender and succulent, emanating a tantalizing aroma. She took a careful bite, satisfaction spreading across her face, amber eyes narrowing slightly in pleasure.

  "Have you given thought to my words from yesterday?" Nuwa set down her fish, gently wiping the corners of her mouth, her gaze full of expectation.

  LaUhta carefully placed down the fish bones he had picked clean, his gaze returning to the flowing stream. Morning light penetrated through gaps in the forest branches, casting dappled shadows upon the water's surface, like countless tiny golden runes in motion, seemingly containing the deepest principles of heaven and earth.

  "I have contemplated through the night, and have reached some understanding," LaUhta's voice was calm and steady, like the gently flowing stream. "My body seems different from others, capable of automatically transforming the Ethereal Origin into the 'One'."

  Surprise flashed in Nuwa's eyes as she set down her fish. Her crimson dress swayed slightly as she turned her full attention to listen.

  "On the surface, it appears I have bypassed the step of drawing in the Ethereal Origin to transform it into the 'One'," LaUhta raised his hand, long fingers spreading wide as sunlight passed through, casting intricate patterns of light upon his palm like some mysterious chart. "Yet precisely because of this, I lack the necessary practice and cannot control the flow of the 'One'."

  Nuwa set down the remaining fish bones with graceful movements, amber eyes flashing with disbelief. She leaned forward slightly, her gaze sharp as she examined the extraordinary young man before her, her expression showing both surprise and inquiry.

  "How can this be possible?" Nuwa's voice was low, bearing a slight tremor she could scarcely suppress. Her fingertips traced a path through the air, as though sensing something invisible. "Strange indeed. The 'One' within you differs from all I have witnessed before. Most who walk the path of Tao carry 'One' of gold or other bright hues, yet yours appears as ink or jade, deep and distant."

  Her slender fingers extended slowly, hovering above LaUhta's arm without touching, yet keenly sensing the peculiar energy waves emanating from his skin, like ripples stirred by wind upon still waters.

  After a moment of contemplation, her amber eyes flashed with deep concern. She stepped forward lightly, placing her hand gently upon LaUhta's shoulder, her expression becoming uncommonly serious, her hair floating slightly in the morning breeze.

  "Though drawing in the Ethereal Origin forms the foundation of becoming Tao, your ceaseless accumulation of the 'One' will one day exceed what your body can contain," Nuwa's voice was deep, her gaze intense, her crimson dress rising and falling gently with her breath. "What shall happen then, even I cannot foretell."

  LaUhta looked up at Nuwa, his eyes filled with confusion and a strong thirst for knowledge. The morning light reflected in his dark, bright eyes like scattered fragments, resembling stars twinkling in the night sky. His breathing quickened slightly, revealing his inner unease and urgency.

  Nuwa sighed softly, her red dress swaying in the morning breeze like leaping flames. "If you cannot control its release, then we must slow its accumulation—this is most urgent," her voice, though soft, carried unquestionable resolve.

  "How might I slow this accumulation?" LaUhta asked, his voice calm yet filled with urgency. He spread his hands slowly, long fingers trembling slightly, as though trying to grasp some formless answer from his palms. His brow furrowed, tiny beads of sweat forming upon his forehead, reflecting his inner tension and concern.

  Nuwa sat cross-legged before LaUhta with elegant grace, her red dress spreading like still waters, gleaming with soft radiance in the morning light. She closed her eyes, drawing a deep breath of the fresh mountain air, experiencing with her whole being the pulse of nature around them—the flowing stream, the rustling leaves, the distant birdsong, all forming a harmonious natural symphony.

  "The way of nature is that all things have their rhythm," Nuwa opened her eyes, her gaze as firm as stone, though her voice remained gentle as a breeze. "To reduce your drawing in of power, you must first understand its source."

  "Torht often said: Tao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, Three begets all things," Nuwa summarized concisely, then moved directly to the heart of the matter. "In essence, you must understand that the 'One' comes from the Ethereal Origin, yet transcends it. The key to mastery lies in consciousness."

  LaUhta adjusted his posture, straightening his back, hands resting steadily upon his knees, his expression focused with hungry attention, gaze fixed upon Nuwa, fearful of missing any detail. His breathing was steady and rhythmic, his whole being immersed in this precious teaching.

  "When we say 'Tao begets One,'" Nuwa continued, her voice soft yet dignified, like a clear spring flowing over ancient stones, "it means those who become Tao generate pure 'One' through their bodies. Two begets Three refers to the mingling of yin and yang energies, producing the triad of sky, earth, and humanity. And Three begets all things means the combination of this triad gives rise to all the world's manifestations."

  Her fingers traced an elegant arc through the air, as though displaying an invisible scroll: "Consciousness guides, but the body serves as vessel. You might first try to sense the 'One' within using your consciousness, observing its flow."

  LaUhta contemplated Nuwa's words in silence, his gaze returning to the flowing stream. Morning light filtered through swaying leaves, creating dappled patterns upon the water's surface, like countless tiny runes in motion, as though nature itself revealed some profound mystery of the greater Tao. His fingertips touched the water's surface, creating concentric ripples, as if through this action he sought deeper understanding of those formless principles.

  "When One begets Two, does this represent the alternation of yin and yang, cycling endlessly, like the ceaseless succession of day and night?" LaUhta's fingers traced an elegant arc through the air, precisely mimicking the sun's rising and setting path. Excitement colored his voice, "And when Two begets Three, is this how, through such endless cycling, the sky, the earth, and humanity came to be?"

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  The corner of Nuwa's mouth curved upward slightly, amber eyes flashing with approval, but she then shook her head gently, her red hair undulating like waves with the movement. She bent to pick up a verdant fallen leaf, slender fingers cradling it in her palm, examining its veins carefully in the bright sunlight.

  "Your understanding has strayed," Nuwa's voice was gentle yet firm, like a breeze passing over water, carrying an undeniable force. "Sky refers to the boundless expanse of space; Earth encompasses all non-living matter; as for humanity, it represents all forms of life, not just mankind, but including birds and beasts, flowers and trees—all that breathes belongs to this category."

  LaUhta received this wisdom like sweet rain upon parched earth, his dark eyes flashing with sudden understanding. Unconsciously, he straightened his back, his face showing sudden revelation. The morning light by the stream seemed in that moment to grow brighter, bathing his young countenance in a golden glow.

  Nuwa gracefully crouched down, picking up a smooth, round pebble from beside the stream, placing it gently in her palm. Morning light illuminated the stone's surface, reflecting subtle luster, like fragments of stars fallen to the mortal realm.

  "LaUhta, behold this stone," Nuwa's voice was soft yet resolute, amber eyes sparkling with wisdom, red hair blazing like flame in the sunlight. "Though seemingly ordinary, it contains principles of heaven and earth."

  LaUhta bent forward, concentrating his gaze upon the common pebble, his eyes piercing like flame, attempting to see beyond appearances to the principles within. His brow furrowed slightly, his face filled with focus and thirst for knowledge.

  "One is all, and all is One," Nuwa elegantly tossed the stone toward the stream, where it skipped joyfully several times, creating expanding ripples before silently sinking beneath the surface. "Though all things undergo transformations through Two and Three, all originate from 'One' and return to 'One'."

  Her slender finger pointed to the expanding ripples on the water's surface, her red dress dancing in the morning breeze like a vivid painting come to life. "See those ripples? From a single point they expand, forming countless concentric circles, appearing complex and varied, yet sharing a single source."

  LaUhta nodded slightly, understanding flashing in his eyes, his fingers unconsciously tracing the fading ripples on the water's surface, as if trying to capture that fleeting truth.

  "All things in heaven and earth, though seemingly different, share the same root," Nuwa's voice was clear and melodious as the stream, carrying a transcendent rhythm. "The firmness of mountains, the softness of water, the lightness of wind, the fierceness of fire—all are but different expressions of the 'One'."

  Nuwa turned to face LaUhta, her gaze resting upon this extraordinarily gifted young man. Her eyes contained compassion and boundless wisdom, as though able to perceive the essence of all things. "The 'One' within you is like water in a stream, seemingly flowing without end, yet connected to heaven and earth. Understanding that 'One is all, and all is One' will enable you to master the balance between drawing in and releasing."

  LaUhta fell into deep thought, his gaze slowly moving from the stream at his feet to the undulating mountains in the distance, then upward to the boundless blue sky. The expression on his face gradually shifted from confusion to understanding, as though beginning to grasp the deeper meaning of Nuwa's words. Sunlight bathed his contemplative countenance, adding a touch of sacred radiance.

  "If all things originate from 'One'," LaUhta spoke slowly, his voice bearing traces of contemplation, his brow slightly furrowed, eyes sparkling with inquiring fire. "If this is so, why can Tao generate 'One'? Why can those who become Tao draw in and transform the Ethereal Origin? What is the essence of this ability?"

  "I had not expected you to think so deeply," Nuwa's eyebrows rose slightly, a flash of surprise crossing her amber eyes, her tone carrying undisguised admiration. Her crimson dress rippled beautifully with her slight movement.

  "But your understanding errs," Nuwa's voice was as clear as the morning stream, bearing a firm strength. "It is not that Tao generates 'One', but rather that beings who completely master the 'One' are what we call Tao."

  LaUhta's brow furrowed, his gaze still resting upon the flowing stream, his thoughts rippling like the water, as though seeking some formless answer. His long fingers tapped lightly upon his knee, displaying his inner contemplation. He carefully considered Nuwa's words, his mind swirling with questions about "Tao" and "One." After a moment, he looked up, the clear stream reflected in his dark, bright eyes, which sparkled with curiosity and a barely perceptible longing.

  "If that be so," LaUhta's voice carried a note of inquiry as he leaned forward slightly, showing eager anticipation for the answer, "what is the key to complete mastery of the 'One'?"

  The corner of Nuwa's mouth curved upward in a mysterious smile, yet she did not immediately answer LaUhta's question. She rose gracefully, her red dress blooming like a flower, and walked slowly to LaUhta's side, leaving a trail of elegant footprints.

  "Before answering your question," Nuwa raised her head, amber eyes reflecting the morning light like two brilliant jewels, "let me first ask you: From whence comes the 'One'?"

  LaUhta fell into contemplation, his gaze resting upon Nuwa's slender fingertips moistened by the stream. He focused intently on the water droplets sparkling in the sunlight, as though they contained some revelation. His brow wrinkled slightly, revealing his inner thought process.

  "I have considered this all night, and perhaps, the 'One' is transformed from the Ethereal Origin after it enters the body," LaUhta slowly voiced his conjecture, his tone steady yet carrying a careful uncertainty. His fingers unconsciously rubbed his knees, his eyes sparkling with wisdom.

  Approval flashed in Nuwa's eyes as she nodded slightly, her crimson dress swaying with this simple movement like a fire lotus blooming in a gentle breeze.

  "Your guess is not amiss," Nuwa gently dried her moistened fingers on the edge of her dress, leaving a dark water mark. "The first step in becoming Tao is perceiving the Ethereal Origin; the second is learning to transform it into the 'One.' You have directly bypassed the second step, which has led to insufficient consideration of this matter."

  Nuwa leaned forward gracefully, her amber eyes burning like torches as she looked directly into LaUhta's eyes. Her red hair cascaded like a waterfall, gleaming with intermingled gold and crimson in the sunlight. "When did you begin transforming the Ethereal Origin?" Her voice carried an unavoidable power.

  LaUhta closed his eyes, his brow furrowing slightly, his thoughts like a small boat drifting back to that fate-changing moment. Before his mind's eye appeared the scene of that day—the grey sky, the cold river water, and that instant that changed everything.

  LaUhta slowly opened his eyes, looking toward the flowing stream, as though seeing within it the scene from his memory. Sunlight, filtering through gaps in the leaves, danced upon the water's surface, intertwining with the images in his memory. "In that moment, my consciousness seemed to break free from bodily constraints, expanding infinitely. I perceived the Ethereal Origin invisible to ordinary people."

  "At the same time, that Ethereal Origin rushed toward me as if summoned, penetrating my skin, seeping into my flesh," LaUhta continued his recollection, his voice calm yet powerful, "as though finding its rightful place."

  "I did not then know the meaning of all this, but instinctively reached out to touch them," LaUhta raised his hand, long fingers spreading in the sunlight, as though returning to that moment, "and in the instant my consciousness touched that Ethereal Origin, I felt them begin to change, as if ignited by my consciousness, transforming into another form—the 'One'."

  Understanding flashed in LaUhta's eyes, his voice growing more firm and powerful. "It was my consciousness that guided this transformation. The Ethereal Origin always exists within all things, but only through the guidance of consciousness can it be transformed into the 'One'."

  LaUhta looked up at Nuwa, his eyes filled with enlightenment, his features appearing particularly resolute in the morning light. "So consciousness is the key. Consciousness guides the transformation of the Ethereal Origin, consciousness controls the flow of the 'One', consciousness determines its purpose."

  "Precisely so," Nuwa's voice was as clear as the morning stream, carrying satisfaction and gratification. "Consciousness is fundamental to transforming the Ethereal Origin. Ordinary people cannot perceive the Ethereal Origin, thus naturally cannot guide its transformation; while those who can become Tao do so because their consciousness can touch and guide this transformation."

  She elegantly extended her hand, slender fingers lightly touching LaUhta's chest, like adding the final touch to a painting. "Your insight has touched the essence. Consciousness not only guides transformation but can control the flow and purpose of the 'One.' This is indeed the key to mastery."

  LaUhta closed his eyes, attempting to focus his attention on the surging "One" within. He could sense its presence, yet could not grasp its flow. Beads of sweat slid from his forehead, his fingers trembling slightly, revealing his inner struggle.

  "There is no need for haste; this is but the beginning," Nuwa's voice was calm and resolute. "Imagine the 'One' as flowing water, and your consciousness as the riverbed."

  LaUhta tried again, yet still could not guide the "One" within as he wished. He slowly opened his eyes, a trace of frustration crossing his face.

  "This is more complex than I imagined," he said softly.

  Nuwa nodded slightly: "Conscious control is only the beginning. Tomorrow, I shall teach you how to guide the flow of the 'One' through breath. The method of breath control forms the foundation of practice, the beginning of mastery."

  She rose, anticipation flashing in her amber eyes, her crimson dress swaying gently in the morning breeze. "The path to mastery is not achieved in a day. Today you have gained some understanding, but more practice is needed. You must rest and absorb today's lessons."

  LaUhta respectfully nodded, his eyes showing both fatigue and anticipation for tomorrow's training.