Chapter 47: The Taiji Revelation and a Deeper Mystery

Su Liyue knew the time was ripe.

She elegantly raised her teacup, a faint smile gracing her lips.

“Rest assured, Dean.

I will personally convey your message to my master.

Given his venerable nature, I’m certain he will be quite interested in such an exchange.”

Dean Yu Qinglan stroked his beard, the wrinkles between his brows smoothing out slightly.

“Excellent, then.

Should any difficulties arise in the future, do not hesitate to seek me out, as long as it falls within the academy’s capabilities.”

As he spoke, his magic staff traced a soft arc of light in the air, a gesture symbolizing the weight of his promise.

The three exchanged knowing smiles, raising their cups in a silent toast of mutual understanding.

Amidst the fragrant steam of the tea, this conversation, fraught with hidden intentions, finally settled into a delicate balance.

The Dean’s gaze suddenly shifted to the small phoenix dozing on Mu Wanqing’s shoulder, the tip of his magic staff glowing with a gentle probing magic.

“Is this the legendary Starlight Phoenix?

Its miniature form certainly adds a touch of adorableness.”

Upon hearing this, Mu Wanqing’s back immediately stiffened, her fingers trembling slightly as she clutched her teacup.

“Ye-yes…”

Her flustered demeanor, however, only brought a comforting smile to the Dean’s face.

‘This was precisely how a student her age should behave.’

“There’s no need to be nervous,” Dean Yu Qinglan said, lightly tapping his magic staff.

A teacup automatically refilled itself with fresh tea for her, and a delicately crafted biscuit floated over.

“I am merely updating the academy’s familiar spirit compendium as a routine procedure.”

He intentionally softened his tone.

“Its… its attributes… seem to be both fire and ice simultaneously…” Mu Wanqing murmured, taking small sips of hot tea as she gradually relaxed.

“Ice and fire from the same origin?

This truly overturns the common understanding of elemental opposition…”

He looked towards Jiuwu, who was still dozing.

The small phoenix, as if on cue, suddenly sneezed, and the chaotic flames it exhaled condensed into icy, crystalline sparks in mid-air.

Su Liyue subtly exchanged a glance with Ye Xingchen.

The Dean then emitted a soft glow from his magic staff, touching the icy crystal with its light.

In an instant, the crystal fractured into hundreds of miniature specks of light, showering the office in a dazzling rain of stars.

“Marvelous!” the Dean exclaimed, rising excitedly from his seat.

“This is no longer simple elemental fusion; it’s the Taiji (TL Note: The Supreme Ultimate, a fundamental concept in Chinese philosophy often represented by the Yin-Yang symbol.).”

He abruptly fell silent, for the specks of light were now coalescing into ancient runes, forming the very Taiji symbol seen in the Yin-Yang Bagua.

Jiuwu, perched on Mu Wanqing’s shoulder, suddenly opened her eyes, her golden pupils reflecting the swirling runes.

She elegantly unfurled her wings, and wherever her tail feathers swept, all the scattered documents automatically returned to their proper places, an overturned inkwell righted itself, and even the Dean’s askew hair ornament straightened on its own.

‘Taiji?’

Su Liyue and Ye Xingchen stared at the familiar Taiji symbol, exchanging stunned glances.

‘Could it be that this other world also harbored the Taiji, Yin-Yang, and Five Elements of Earth?’

“Dean, if you don’t mind my asking, where did you come across this Taiji Yin-Yang symbol?” Ye Xingchen suddenly spoke, a hint of urgency in his voice.

‘If this truly originated from Earth, it might hold clues to their home planet’s coordinates.’

‘Ever since arriving in this world, he had been perplexed by the temporal juncture of their current space.

If he couldn’t ascertain the specific river of time, what meaning would there be in returning to Earth, even with coordinates, only to find his old acquaintances gone?’

“Oh? You actually recognize this symbol? I first encountered it in an ancient text within the academy’s treasured library.”

“An ancient text?” Ye Xingchen’s heart skipped a beat, and he unconsciously recited, “The Dao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to the myriad things.

All things carry yin and embrace yang, and through the blending of their vital forces, they achieve harmony.”

“The Limitless creates the Taiji, the Taiji creates the Two Poles, the Two Poles create the Four Images, and the Four Images create the Eight Trigrams,” Su Liyue quietly continued.

After listening, Dean Yu Qinglan’s eyes flashed with surprise, and he nodded.

“The content within is indeed as you say, yet its meaning is truly abstruse and difficult to grasp,” he mused.

“Based on our current understanding and analysis, we merely interpret it as two distinct extreme energies combining through some connection to achieve a delicate balance.”

‘Balance?’

‘It seemed this world lacked much cultural knowledge from Earth, yet how could a Daoist enlightenment text of the cultivation world like the Dao De Jing appear here?’

‘Ever since he embarked on the path of cultivation, he had known that the Sage Laozi (TL Note: An ancient Chinese philosopher and the reputed author of the Dao De Jing.) was recorded as the first to establish and discover the “Dao”‘

‘Laozi had spent his entire life compiling this scripture, revealing the ultimate truths of heaven and earth to future generations, ultimately presenting it as the Dao De Jing to allow them to comprehend the profound mysteries of the cosmos.’

‘Now, to find it in another world—could there be some deeper secret hidden within?’

“Dean, might we be so fortunate as to borrow some of the ancient texts from the treasured library?” Ye Xingchen asked respectfully.

‘Over the years, he and Su Liyue had practically scoured the outer library sections.’

‘The books there primarily covered basic magical knowledge, which, while helpful for beginners, was clearly insufficient for in-depth research.’

‘Furthermore, since it contained a book like the Dao De Jing, it might also house Confucius’s Analects, or even a series of precious classics such as the River Diagram (TL Note: A mythical diagram said to have emerged from the Yellow River, associated with the origins of the Bagua and Chinese cosmology.) and the Luo River Book (TL Note: A mythical turtle shell diagram said to have emerged from the Luo River, also associated with Chinese cosmology and numerology.).’

Dean Yu Qinglan replied, “The texts in the treasured library are far from ordinary.

They not only record forbidden curses and secret arts but also contain various rare editions accumulated since the academy’s founding…”

“Then… what if we only borrowed a few crucial ones?” Su Liyue probed hesitantly.

‘She wanted to test if her status as an outstanding student, coupled with the mention of her “master’s” background, could sway the Dean into making an exception.’

“Regrettably, Student Su,” the Dean’s tone was gentle yet firm.

“I am aware of your excellent performance at the academy, but the books in the treasured library are not something I can personally decide to lend out.

The very fact that these books are housed in the treasured library indicates their extraordinary nature; they may even pertain to the academy’s secrets or forbidden knowledge.

Even if I wished to consult them, I would have to undergo a rigorous application process.”

‘Evidently, the books in the treasured library were indeed extraordinary, their significance far exceeding what they had imagined.’

Su Liyue and Ye Xingchen exchanged a look, a shared thought emerging in their minds: ‘For now, they would have to abandon this plan.’

“However…” Dean Yu Qinglan’s tone suddenly shifted.

“If you are willing to formally join the academy, there might be opportunities in the future.”

Upon hearing this, Su Liyue immediately understood the Dean’s unspoken intention: he sought to use this opportunity to have her join the academy, thereby indirectly drawing in the “master” behind her.

It was, in essence, killing two birds with one stone.

‘However, her ambitions did not lie here, and selling herself for a few books seemed far too unprofitable, especially since…’

She glanced out of the corner of her eye at Ye Xingchen beside her, almost laughing aloud.

‘Wasn’t her greatest backer sitting right here?’

‘He was both her own person and her fiancé, and now, he had suddenly become her master.’

‘It was just… why did this relationship feel like she was inexplicably gaining so many advantages?’