001 CHAPTER ONE: A. PUZZLING PREAMBLE: A PARANORMAL PROLOGUE
> In chaos undivided, before heaven and earth took form,
> A vast expanse, endless and unseen by any norm.
> Then Pangu emerged, shattering the murky mist,
> Creating distinctions, separating the pure and the mist.
> Nurturing all beings with benevolence and grace,
> Giving birth to goodness, in every living space.
> To understand the wonders of nature's grand design,
> Read Journey to the West, where enlightenment will shine.
Long ago, it was believed that the cycle of heaven and earth spans one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred years. This cycle is divided into twelve branches, each associated with an animal: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. These twelve branches are what we now know as the twelve zodiac signs. Each branch lasts for ten thousand eight hundred years.
Let's imagine a single day: During the Rat hour (from 11 pm to 1 am), the energy of Heaven prevails, and at the Ox hour (from 1 am to 3 am), the rooster crows. The Tiger hour (from 3 am to 5 am) lacks illumination, but the Rabbit hour (from 5 am to 7 am) marks the rising of the sun. After the Dragon hour (from 7 am to 9 am), it's time for a meal, and during the Snake hour (from 9 am to 11 am), people take a break. The Horse hour (from 11 am to 1 pm) represents the peak of the day, while the Goat hour (from 1 pm to 3 pm) sees the sun descending in the west. The Monkey hour (from 3 pm to 5 pm) is the afternoon, and the Rooster hour (from 5 pm to 7 pm) witnesses the sun's setting. As the Dog hour (from 7 pm to 9 pm) approaches, dusk sets in, and at the Pig hour (from 9 pm to 11 pm), everything settles down for the night. If we were to reach the end of the Dog branch, it is said that the world would plunge into darkness, and all living things would cease to exist.
Five thousand four hundred years later, at the beginning of the Pig branch, a time of darkness would envelop the world, causing chaos and confusion. Everything would appear formless and unclear. Another five thousand four hundred years would pass, and as the Pig branch nears its end, the Earth's energy emerges. It moves toward the Rat segment, gradually bringing light and illumination. There is an ancient saying that goes, "During the midpoint of the winter solstice, the celestial heart remains unchanged; it is when the first yang energy stirs, and before the birth of all things."
At this moment, the Earth takes a firm shape and becomes stable. After another five thousand four hundred years, precisely during the Rat branch, bright and pure energy ascends, giving rise to the sun, moon, stars, and constellations. These four entities are known as the four celestial bodies, and we say that Heaven opens during the Rat segment.
After another long period of five thousand four hundred years, as the Rat branch is about to end, the Earth's energy starts to become solid. We are getting to the Ox branch. The Book of Changes says, "The energy of Heaven is powerful! And the energy of Earth is deep! Everything exists and follows its own path." This is when the Earth starts to become more dense.
Then, after another five thousand four hundred years during the Ox branch, the Earth's energy gets heavier and denser. The Earth is giving birth to different things like water, fire, metal, wood, and earth. We call these five forms the five elements. The Earth opens up during the Ox branch!
After another five thousand four hundred years, when the Ox segment ends, the Tiger branch begins, and that's when things come into existence. The calendar says, "The heavenly energy comes down, and the earthly energy rises; heaven and earth come together, and all living beings are born." At this point, Heaven becomes clear, and the Earth becomes refreshing, with Yin and Yang harmoniously united.
After another five thousand four hundred years, the Tiger branch finishes, and the Rabbit segment starts, leading to the emergence of all living beings.
Following another five thousand four hundred years, the Rabbit branch ends, and the Dragon branch begins. This period marks the birth of humans, animals, and birds. During the Dragon phase, the balance between heaven, earth, and humans is established, shaping human life as we know it.
Long ago, when Pangu created the world, the Three Sovereigns and the Five Emperors established order, and the world was divided into four major continents: the Divine Continent in the east, the Cowherd's Territory in the west, the Shambhala in the south, and the Land of Jambu Trees in the north. This book mainly focuses on the Divine Continent.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
In a far-off land beyond the seas lay a country known as Aolai. This country was situated near the vast ocean. Within the sea, there stands a magnificent mountain named Flower Fruit Mountain. This mountain was the ancestor of ten continents and the source of three islands. It emerged when the clear and turbid forces separated, taking shape after chaos settled. Truly, it's a wondrous sight! There's even a poem that describes its beauty:
> Majestic seas, tranquil and serene,
> A force reigning over waves, silver fish dive unseen.
> Calm and mighty, the ocean of Yao's grace,
> Waves like snow-capped mountains, mirages at a fast pace.
> Water and fire, united they stand,
> In the Eastern Sea, towering peaks command.
> Strange rocks on cliffs, peaks that stand tall,
> On the crimson cliffs, twin phoenixes call.
> Before the rugged cliffs, a lone Qilin lays,
> Atop the peaks, the pheasant's song conveys.
> Dragons emerge from caves in the stone,
> Amidst the forest, immortal deer roam.
> Heavenly cranes perch on tree branches high,
> With evergreen pines, eternal spring nigh.
> Fruitful peaches bloom without decay,
> Mystic cranes nest in bamboo that sway.
> A hidden valley filled with vines and moss,
> A verdant mound surrounds, new grass emboss.
> A pillar supporting a union of streams,
> A timeless root, the foundation it deems.
At the summit of that mountain, there was a mystical celestial stone. The stone measured three zhang and six chi and five cun in height[1], with a circumference of two zhang and four chi. Its height of three zhang and six chi and five cun corresponded to 365 days in a year. The circumference of two zhang and four chi corresponded to the twenty-four solar terms in the calendar.
On the stone, you'd found nine holes and eight apertures, representing the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams[2]. There were no trees around to cast shadows, but lush grass and fragrant orchids surrounded the stone.
Since the dawn of time, the mountain has been infused with the essence of heaven and earth, absorbing the sun's energy and the moon's radiance. Gradually, it gained a sense of spiritual connection. Deep within its core, an immortal presence took shape. One fateful day, it burst open, giving birth to a stone egg resembling a round ball. Fueled by the wind, the stone egg transformed into a stone monkey with all its features and limbs in place.
Its eyes sparkled with two golden lights, shooting towards the celestial palace of the North Star. This remarkable sight caught the attention of the compassionate and merciful Jade Emperor, the August Sovereign of the Mysterious Heavens, residing in the Golden Tower Cloud Palace at the Lingxiao Hall. Upon witnessing the radiant golden lights, he called the celestial officials to assemble. Then he commanded the General Thousand-Mile Eye and the General Wind-Following Ear to open the Southern Gate of Heaven and observe.
The two divine generals quickly followed the imperial order, observing clearly and listening attentively. After a while, they reported back, "We have followed the heavenly order to observe and listen to the source of the golden lights. It is located within the small Aolai Country in the eastern part of the Divine Continent. There, on the Flower Fruit Mountain, a stone gave birth to a stone egg. The egg transformed into a stone monkey, which now pays respects to the four directions. Its eyes emit golden lights that shoot toward the celestial palace of the North Star. At present, it is consuming food and water, and the golden lights are beginning to subside."
Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor bestowed his benevolent grace, saying, "Creatures in the mortal realm are born from the essence of heaven and earth; there's nothing extraordinary about it."
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[1] One cun is 1,31 inches. 10 cun are one chi. One chi is a bit more than one foot (1 ft 1 in) and one zhang is 10 chi. So three zhang six chi five cun are around 40 feet.
[2] The "Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams" (九宫八卦) is a significant concept in Chinese folklore and traditional culture, deeply rooted in ancient Chinese cosmology, philosophy, and divination. It is a symbolic system used to understand the patterns of nature, the relationships between elements, and the interplay of various forces.
The Nine Palaces refer to a set of three horizontal rows and three vertical columns, forming a square grid with nine squares in total. Each square is associated with a particular Chinese constellation and corresponds to different directions and elements. The center square represents the Earth, surrounded by eight other squares, each linked to a specific heavenly direction: North, South, East, West, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest.
The Eight Trigrams, on the other hand, are a set of eight symbols, each composed of three lines, either broken (yin) or unbroken (yang). The trigrams represent different natural phenomena, such as heaven, earth, thunder, wind, water, fire, mountain, and lake. These trigrams are combined to form the basis of the I Ching, or the Book of Changes, which is an ancient Chinese divination text used for fortune-telling and providing guidance on various life situations.