The eastern sky gradually brightened with the first pale glow of dawn, the ink-like darkness of night slowly suffused with light. The silhouettes of mountains emerged from darkness, distant peaks already gilded with a layer of pale gold by the early sun. The stream flowed in the morning light, making clear, pleasant sounds that harmonized with birdsong from the distant forest. A mountain breeze passed through, carrying the fresh scent of vegetation, gently caressing LaUhta's face and stirring his somewhat disheveled hair.

  LaUhta stood upon a flat rock by the stream, eyes half-closed, feeling the flow of the "One" within. Since returning from his journey in the Inner Realm, this power no longer ran wild like an untamed horse, but circulated in an orderly fashion through his meridians, like a stream that had found its proper channel—maintaining its powerful current yet no longer flooding uncontrollably. With each breath, he could clearly sense the "One" cycling within him, a sensation both novel and reassuring.

  "How does it feel?" Nuwa stood a short distance away, her red dress swaying gently in the morning breeze like a flame dancing in the wind. Her amber eyes sparkled with curiosity in the dawn light, those star-like beauty marks appearing especially lively with her slightly tilted head.

  LaUhta slowly raised his hand, carefully examining his fingertips in the morning light, as if he could see the formless "One" flowing within. His countenance appeared particularly resolute in his concentration, the youthfulness of his features replaced by a composure beyond his years.

  "Unprecedented... clarity," he answered softly, his voice carrying an undisguised note of wonder, joy and reverence for this new power gleaming in his eyes. "Like fog and clouds clearing away, I can feel every movement of the 'One,' every place it dwells. I can even anticipate how it will change."

  Nuwa nodded with satisfaction, the dual beauty marks beneath her eyes dancing lightly with her expression. She approached with graceful steps, her red dress tracing elegant arcs across the stone surface, like a fairy about to begin a dance.

  "Conquering the fear within often unlocks certain shackles," her voice rang pleasant as a spring, echoing through the mountains. "Your 'One' no longer flows in disorder. This is the first step toward reaching a higher realm."

  LaUhta closed his eyes, immersing himself in this new sensation within. Sunlight passed through his eyelids, creating a warm red field in his vision, reminding him of that life-and-death struggle in the Inner Realm.

  "In the Inner Realm, when I shattered that shadow, something seemed to break, while something else reconnected," he opened his eyes, a clarity never before seen shining in them, like stars that had undergone purification. "As though a floodgate opened. Before, the 'One' surged like a flood yet was difficult to guide; now it obeys my will, like an arm commanding a finger."

  "A precise description," Nuwa smiled, approval gleaming in her eyes as she lightly brushed aside fallen strands of hair with slender fingers. "The battle in the Inner Realm was truly a battle of the spirit. You conquered fear, broke the shackles of the mind, and naturally the 'One' flows unimpeded. This is a path all practitioners must travel, though you completed this stage through unconventional means."

  Morning sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting golden rays upon LaUhta. He seemed gilded at the edges, his posture as tall and straight as a pine. He stood up, a power and confidence he had never known before surging in his chest. This power differed from the keen edge often found in youth, being instead a deeper certainty born from within—he had begun to understand the true essence of the Tao.

  He clenched his fists then slowly opened them, a barely perceptible black light flashing at his fingertips. A feeling of relief flowed through his body like a gentle stream, followed by a fiery excitement and anticipation, like the newborn sun, warm and full of hope.

  "This power... what can I do with it?" LaUhta asked softly, the expectation in his voice like tender shoots breaking through soil, full of vitality. His gaze turned toward distant mountains, as if already glimpsing a vast future.

  The dual beauty marks beneath Nuwa's eyes became more animated with her smile, wisdom gleaming in her amber eyes. She bent to pick up a smooth pebble, placed it in her palm, and showed it to LaUhta.

  "First try once more to infuse the 'One' into the stone," her voice was gentle yet firm, her fingertip lightly touching the stone's surface. "This time, do not fear, but learn to control. Power without measure is like a flooding river; precise control makes it useful as a great waterway."

  In the open space of the mountain ravine bathed in morning light, Nuwa stood upon a flat rock, her red dress floating gently in the breeze, standing out against the surrounding verdant forest like a blooming red lotus. Her countenance appeared especially serene in the dawn light, the dual beauty marks beneath her eyes trembling slightly with her smile, like two dancing stars.

  "Today, I shall teach you to extend the 'One' beyond your body," Nuwa raised her jade-like arm, pointing to LaUhta's fingers, her movement graceful as flowing clouds and water. "Guiding the 'One' beyond your fingertips, allowing it to merge with external objects, marks the beginning of mastery."

  LaUhta nodded respectfully, picking up a smooth pebble from the stream's edge and placing it in his palm. The stone shone with a warm jade-like luster in the sunlight, its surface sparkling with tiny points of light, as if containing some mysterious power. He sat cross-legged, his spine straight as a pine, eyes half-closed, beginning to sink into a meditative state, feeling the flow of the "One" within.

  Nuwa's voice came gentle as a breeze, yet each word reached LaUhta's ears with perfect clarity: "Guide with your breath, let consciousness be the bridge, send the 'One' into the stone. Between breaths, your thoughts follow, neither hasty nor sluggish, letting nature take its course."

  LaUhta adjusted his breathing, his chest rising and falling rhythmically as he attempted to guide the "One" within toward the stone in his palm. He could feel the "One" flowing inside him, clear and powerful like a mountain stream, yet when trying to direct it toward the stone, he found the "One" unable to cross the boundary of his fingertips, as if meeting an invisible barrier.

  After several consecutive attempts, each time feeling the "One" flowing within yet consistently unable to cross the boundary of his fingertips, his breathing grew rapid with increasing attempts, fine beads of sweat forming on his brow as frustration washed over him like a rising tide. LaUhta opened his eyes, his brow furrowing slightly with disappointment, looking toward Nuwa with questioning confusion: "Why does it not work? I can feel the 'One' flowing within me, yet cannot guide it into the stone."

  Nuwa's gaze remained calm as an ancient well, showing not the slightest disappointment or impatience. She walked slowly toward him, her red dress tracing an elegant arc across the stone, gently crouching down to meet his eyes at the same level.

  "Recall your experience in the Inner Realm," her voice rang pleasant as a spring, yet contained the wisdom of a sage. "How did you merge with the 'One' then? Did you force it to comply with your will, or become one with it?"

  LaUhta closed his eyes, recalling his experience in the Inner Realm. There had been no forcing, no deliberate effort, only acceptance and merging. His consciousness and the "One" coexisted, like fish in water or birds in sky—an instinctive harmony rather than intentional control.

  "Perhaps... I was too impatient," LaUhta whispered, his voice trembling slightly with sudden insight. "I seem to have been trying to harness the 'One' rather than flow with it. Like attempting to forcibly change a stream's direction instead of guiding its natural flow."

  Nuwa nodded slightly, the dual beauty marks beneath her eyes appearing more lively with her smile. Sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, falling upon her shoulders, gilding her with a soft golden edge.

  "The 'One' is not external, but an extension of yourself," her voice was like an ancient ballad, filled with the power of wisdom. "Do not force it, but seek harmony of intent. As an arm commands a finger, there is naturally no separation; as water and riverbed, they naturally depend on each other."

  LaUhta nodded thoughtfully, placing the stone once more in his palm. This time, he did not rush for results, did not approach with a conquering mindset. He took a deep breath, letting his tense body gradually relax, his mental state becoming as clear as a placid lake. Rather than trying to push the "One," he felt it, accepted it, as if the stone had already become part of his body, like a finger, like an arm.

  The initial eager anticipation gradually dissipated, and the brief sense of frustration transformed into steady focus. LaUhta's breathing synchronized with the flow of the "One" within, like two parallel streams finally converging at some point. His consciousness established a subtle connection with the stone, as natural as holding a leaf or feeling water flow, no longer dominating but guiding.

  A slight tingling sensation came from his fingertips, like a small electric current passing through. LaUhta opened his eyes, surprised to see a thread of black energy flowing from his fingertips, like a small stream, slowly seeping into the stone in his palm. The stone's surface began to show black patterns, like ink dripping into clear water, quickly spreading out, like frost flowers blooming on winter ice, beautiful and mysterious.

  "This......" LaUhta held his breath, fearing the slightest movement might break this wondrous connection. Wonder and joy sparkled in his eyes, like a traveler discovering treasure.

  The stone's color deepened, eventually turning completely black, gleaming with a strange luster in the sunlight, like a fine piece of ink jade. More wonderfully, LaUhta felt an unprecedented sense of connection, as if this stone had become an extension of his body, no longer external but a part of himself. He could feel the pulse of the "One" within the stone, as clear as his own heartbeat.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  He tried gently pushing with his mind, thinking silently: rotate. To his delight, the black stone actually began to slowly rotate in his palm, like a small star orbiting, beautiful and magical.

  "This is......" LaUhta's voice trembled slightly with joy, like a mountain stream, clear and full of life.

  Nuwa smiled slightly, the beauty marks at the corners of her eyes appearing more animated with her upturned lips. Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction, like watching a student take an important step.

  "You have mastered the method of guiding the 'One' into objects," her voice was gentle yet certain, like spring wind passing through a valley. "This is an important step on the path of the Tao, and also the beginning of exploring the mysteries of the 'One.'"

  LaUhta gazed at the black stone in his palm, the surprise in his heart gradually transforming into a quiet confidence. He could feel the "One" pulsing within the stone, as clear as his own heartbeat. In this moment, he seemed to see a broader road opening before him, leading to an unknown yet hope-filled future.

  The midday sun penetrated the canopy, casting dappled shadows upon the mountain stream, like a flowing golden painting. A gentle breeze passed by, carrying the unique warmth of summer and the fresh scent of vegetation, caressing LaUhta's face. He stood on a flat stone by the stream, his posture as straight as a pine, holding the now completely blackened stone, feeling the pulse of the "One" within it, as natural as feeling the flow of his own blood, familiar and intimate.

  Nuwa stood a short distance away, her red dress dancing lightly in the wind like a blooming red lotus. Expectation gleamed in her amber eyes, a faint smile hanging at the corners of her mouth. She raised her slender arm, pointing toward a protruding boulder on the opposite bank, which appeared blue-gray in the sunlight, its surface marked with weathered patterns.

  "Try it," her voice rang clear as a mountain spring, pleasant to the ear. "Cast the stone toward that place. But remember, this is no ordinary stone; you must control the power of the 'One' well."

  LaUhta nodded, taking a deep breath, his gaze locking onto the target like a hawk. He could feel the rhythm of the "One" within the stone in his palm, resonating with his heartbeat, like two harmonious melodies intertwining. This feeling was both strange and familiar, as if he had established an invisible bond with the stone, no longer a relationship of master and tool, but a resonance between two lives.

  He leaned back slightly, his right arm swinging backward, muscles tightening in the sunlight, revealing young yet powerful lines. Then, with a fluid motion, he cast the stone, like an experienced hunter throwing an unerring spear. The black stone traced a graceful arc in the sunlight, like a black lightning bolt, precisely striking the boulder on the opposite bank.

  What happened next far exceeded LaUhta's expectations.

  A deafening explosion suddenly erupted, like thunder striking beside one's ear, the shock wave sweeping across the surroundings. The target boulder instantly shattered, transforming into countless fragments scattering like rain. The blast of air raised the water's surface, like an invisible giant hand slapping water, splashing up several feet high, forming a brief rainbow in the sunlight. Nearby trees shook violently, leaves falling like rain, several nesting birds flew up in panic, cutting across the sky with frightened calls.

  LaUhta stood rooted in place, his eyes wide with shock, like two full moons. The aftermath of the explosion swept toward him, carrying hot air and stony dust; he could feel the "One" still trembling in the air, like an invisible ripple. In this moment, time seemed frozen, all sounds receding, leaving only the strong beating of his heart echoing in his ears.

  LaUhta suddenly understood that mastering power was not an end, but the beginning of another journey. This power could both protect and destroy, the key lying in the heart of its wielder. Nuwa's words echoed in his mind: "Great power brings weighty responsibility, heavy as mountains." He resolved to become the solid shield protecting the Lagu settlement, not its threat.

  "Is this... the power of the 'One'?" LaUhta murmured, his voice trembling slightly with shock, like reeds stirred by wind. He looked down at his hands, his palms slightly reddened from exertion, knuckles distinct, as if seeing them for the first time. These hands had just released such astonishing power.

  Nuwa stood motionless nearby, her red dress floating gently in the wind like a static flame. Complex light flickered in her amber eyes, showing both satisfaction and a trace of barely perceptible concern. She gazed at the now-ruined boulder across the stream, a thoughtful expression crossing her face, a fine wrinkle briefly appearing between her brows. Her gaze moved between LaUhta and the ruins, as if assessing something, calculating an unknown equation.

  "Creation and destruction, two sides of one coin," Nuwa said softly, a glimmer of concern passing through her eyes. "Torht's texts state: 'The One as a thing divides into yin and yang, merging to form the supreme ultimate. Its gathering creates life, its dispersion brings destruction.' Your black 'One' possesses both qualities, able to concentrate like the force of a star's gravity, yet release energy like a stellar explosion. This is the supreme principle of the Heaven's Path, neither leaning one way nor the other."

  She approached LaUhta with light steps, gently touching his shoulder, her movement showing rare closeness, as if they were not merely master and student, but shared deeper understanding and recognition. "All things have measure, power included. Too much overflows, too little dries up. You must understand that great power brings weighty responsibility, heavy as mountains."

  LaUhta's emotions underwent a tumultuous storm: the initial curiosity and experimental attempt, transforming into shock and awe at the explosion's power, finally settling into deep reverence and sense of responsibility for this force. He felt an unprecedented excitement, the blood within his body seeming to boil at this demonstration of power, like spring meltwater becoming a torrent; at the same time, a thread of unease crept into his heart, like small vines twining around his heart—such tremendous destructive power, if used improperly...

  He suddenly recalled scenes from the Lagu settlement: morning smoke rising from cooking fires, elders sitting in discussion at the village entrance, children chasing each other on the grassland, Canglian sitting before the altar reciting ancient texts. That peace and tranquility formed a stark contrast with the destructive power before him. His heart warmed, and he silently vowed: however powerful this force might be, he would use it to protect his homeland, to protect those people and things he cherished.

  "Can I... control this power?" LaUhta asked softly, his gaze still resting upon his hands, his voice mixing reverence and concern. This was no longer mere cultivation or exploration, but a true power, an ability that could change the world. "If this power were used improperly, the consequences would be unimaginable."

  Afternoon sunlight shone through the cave entrance, casting patches of gold upon the stone wall inside, creating a wonderful pattern of light and shadow. LaUhta sat cross-legged, his posture straight as a pine, various materials arranged on the stone floor before him—a polished wooden chip, several differently shaped pebbles, a small copper piece, and a section of flexible vine. These items displayed different colors and textures in the sunlight, like a small exhibition.

  Nuwa stood quietly nearby, her red dress swaying gently in the breeze, like a silently blooming red lotus. Her amber eyes focused intently on LaUhta's every movement, the dual beauty marks beneath her eyes appearing especially animated as she tilted her head slightly.

  "Different materials respond differently to the 'One.' Feel them, resonate with them," Nuwa's voice was like a mountain breeze, neither forcing nor neglecting, guiding LaUhta's exploration with perfect measure.

  LaUhta nodded solemnly, reaching for the wooden chip, delicate in texture, smooth on the surface, emitting a faint woody fragrance. He placed it in his palm, closed his eyes, and began guiding the inner "One." This time, he no longer deliberately forced it, but followed that inner feeling of protection and connection, letting the "One" flow naturally like a stream.

  In his perception, the "One" moved like an obedient small snake, flowing along the meridians of his arm toward his fingertips. His fingertips soon emanated black energy, like ink dripping into water, the wooden chip rapidly turning black, gleaming in the sunlight with a luster like black jade.

  Just as LaUhta was immersed in this novel experience, the wooden chip suddenly made a slight cracking sound, like a dry branch breaking. Then the chip rapidly crumbled, turning to powder scattered on the ground, like fine sand flowing through fingers.

  "Wood is gentle in nature, easily accepting the 'One,' yet difficult to bear it for long," LaUhta said thoughtfully, realization gleaming in his eyes. "Like a stream flowing into a pond—when full, it overflows."

  LaUhta reached for the copper piece. The copper gleamed with a warm luster in the sunlight, its surface reflecting blurred images. He attempted the same method, guiding the "One" into the copper. However, this time he felt a distinct resistance, as if the "One" were trying to penetrate an invisible barrier, like a stream striking hard rock.

  LaUhta increased the intensity of his will, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead, glittering like morning dew. The copper finally began to change color, but the process was slow, like ice slowly spreading across a winter river.

  As he focused on the copper, the infused "One" suddenly became chaotic within the metal, the copper's surface growing hot and deforming, making an unsettling hissing sound, like water droplets falling into boiling oil.

  "Careful!" Nuwa warned, her voice carrying unusual urgency.

  LaUhta's heart jumped; he quickly withdrew his will, redirecting the chaotic "One," thus avoiding an explosion. The copper gradually cooled, its surface showing a curious half-black, half-golden coloration, as if darkness and light had divided their territories upon it.

  "Metal has strong resistance, difficult to penetrate, but once it accepts, it holds more durably," LaUhta concluded, lightly tapping the half-black copper, producing a clear sound that echoed through the cave. "Dangerous yet stable."

  "This is the principle of yin and yang, the balance of hardness and softness," Nuwa added with a nod, appreciation gleaming in her eyes. "You have begun to understand the nature of all things, which is the foundation of the Tao."

  LaUhta continued experimenting with different materials, occasional small accidents occurring—the vine began to twist and contort after receiving too much "One," dancing like a living thing; a pile of fine sand formed a curious spiral shape upon receiving the "One," grains floating in the air like a miniature galaxy. Each exploration revealed new properties of the "One" to LaUhta, deepening his understanding of his own abilities.

  As practice deepened, LaUhta's control over the "One" grew increasingly skillful, like an experienced musician plucking strings at will. He no longer relied solely on emotional fluctuations to guide the "One," but could consciously control its flow and direction, like a practiced water engineer managing channels. He attempted to infuse the "One" into only certain parts of objects, or to control the amount infused; most of these attempts succeeded, giving him deeper insight into his abilities.

  "You have begun to understand the way of the 'One,'" Nuwa watched LaUhta skillfully manipulating the "One," approval gleaming in her eyes, like watching a sapling grow into a great tree. "The 'One' is not external, but an extension of the heart. Where the heart reaches, the 'One' follows. Like a hand holding a brush—where the brush goes, characters form; like a bow shooting an arrow—where the arrow flies, the target is struck."

  LaUhta held a completely blackened pebble, feeling the pulse of the "One" within it, like feeling his own heartbeat. For the first time, he truly realized the practical nature of this ability—it could become a powerful weapon, could change the properties of matter, and might even have other uses he had yet to discover. This both excited him and made him feel the weight of responsibility, like bearing a heavy yet precious treasure upon his shoulders.

  "This power... so strong, yet so subtle," LaUhta said softly, the tentative uncertainty in his eyes replaced by firm confidence, like starlight piercing through mist. "Like holding a double-edged sword, capable of slaying evil or harming the innocent."