Chapter 25: The Ancestral Dragon's Welcoming Gift, the Great Divine Ability of Summoning Wind and Rain

"What is the matter with you?" Lu Ge asked, looking at Shen Dao's strange demeanor with curiosity.

Shen Dao stared blankly at Lu Ge, momentarily at a loss for how to respond. After a long while, it seemed he had reached a conclusion.

"Grandmaster," Shen Dao began, "may I follow you from now on? I have evolved my legal theories from both the Taoist and Confucian schools, and I have been searching for an enlightened lord to serve, so that I may put my philosophy into practice."

Although the future ruler of all under heaven would not be from the State of Zhao, that did not matter. He still had the Grandmaster. As long as he held tight to the Grandmaster's coattails, he would surely be able to thrive. Perhaps, even ten million years from now, he would still have his name recorded in the annals of history.

Lu Ge naturally did not refuse Shen Dao's request. As one of the five elders of the Taoist school, Shen Dao might have seemed unremarkable before Xunzi, but in the current age, he was already of the highest tier.

"Of course you may," Lu Ge said with a wave of his hand. "Not just you, but the Taoists, the Confucians, and all the other hundred schools of thought—anyone who wishes to come is welcome."

Shen Dao felt a sense of relief. In this era, although heroes were rising everywhere, they were nominally all vassal states of the Zhou royal house. Many talented individuals did not swear eternal loyalty based merely on their birthplace. They would seek out enlightened masters for the sake of peace or to fulfill their own ambitions. Li Si's entry into Qin was one such example, just as Su Qin wearing the seals of six prime ministers was another.

As the two spoke, they waited. Finally, footsteps sounded outside, and Lu Buwei entered, accompanied by a man. The man was dressed in magnificent robes and held an infant in his arms.

"Grandmaster, Zichu has arrived," Lu Buwei said with a bow and a smile.

Lu Ge nodded and looked at Zichu behind him. Zichu, feeling slightly nervous, bowed his head toward Lu Ge. "I am holding my young son and cannot perform the full rites; I hope you will not take offense."

Lu Ge laughed, "No offense taken, none at all. Please, come closer and let me see the child."

Seeing Lu Ge’s reaction, Lu Buwei, whose mind worked with great speed, understood immediately: the Taoist Grandmaster was interested in Zichu's young son.

Zichu hesitated for a moment, wondering if the Grandmaster held any ill intentions toward his child. But then he reconsidered: as a hostage prince, he had little power. If this Taoist Grandmaster truly had malicious intent, he would hardly need to be so courteous. With that thought, Zichu stepped forward, holding his son out so that Lu Ge could see him clearly.

Lu Ge looked at the infant, and his eyes met the child’s clear, piercing gaze. In an instant, various illusions appeared before him. He saw a vast, chaotic expanse, with churning waves of energy and boundless, murky nothingness. There was no heaven, no earth, no myriad things, and no living beings.

Suddenly, the roar of a dragon erupted. A streak of golden light tore through the void, shattering the chaos and bringing forth the heavens and the earth. A dragon with five claws emerged from the chaos, riding auspicious clouds, soaring above the nine heavens. As the divine dragon exhaled, numerous five-colored heavenly dragons were born: red, golden, black, azure, and yellow, along with the winged Yinglong. From the dragon, countless aquatic creatures evolved—great pythons and small snakes, eels and loaches, fish, shrimp, and crocodiles. In the blink of an eye, a world of scaled aquatic life, where dragons reigned supreme, was born.

"My name," the primordial dragon coiled in the highest heavens declared, "is the Ancestral Dragon."

It then lowered its head, its gaze piercing through the long river of time to look at Lu Ge.

With just that single glance, inspiration exploded within Lu Ge’s mind. Within his sea of consciousness, the three divine dao talismans seemed to respond, shining with an unprecedented brilliance. Only the *Tao Te Ching* remained constant, the voice of Lao Dan chanting scriptures echoing in his ears.

The next moment, his sea of consciousness churned. A spark of insight emerged, transforming into a divine brush that sketched out dao patterns. Soon, a new divine dao talisman appeared. A new supernatural power was born: The Great Power of Summoning Wind and Rain.

Lu Ge’s mind withdrew from his sea of consciousness, and when he looked out again, the illusions had vanished. Only the infant’s large, round eyes were looking back at him. Lu Ge reached out and patted the baby’s head.

"Good, good, very good indeed."

The reincarnation of the Ancestral Dragon, destined to be the Sovereign of Humanity. Across the river of time, the Ancestral Dragon had gifted him a supernatural power upon their first meeting. He did not need to guess its intent; it was clearly a hope that Lu Ge would protect its reincarnated form.

"This child and I are fated," Lu Ge said, breaking the silence as Lu Buwei and Zichu waited nervously. "Would you be willing to let him become my disciple?"

Zichu was startled, then overjoyed. "Of course! To be a disciple of the Grandmaster is my son’s great fortune."

As a hostage in a foreign land, his life and death were no longer in his own hands. Although Lu Buwei looked after him, it only ensured he had food and clothing. He never knew when a decree from the Zhao palace might turn him into a sacrificial victim. If his son became a disciple of the Taoist Grandmaster, it would be like grabbing hold of a powerful protector; the Zhao royalty would have to think twice before acting against them.

Lu Ge, naturally, was unaware of Zichu's thoughts. He never expected that he, who had once dreamed of clinging to Lao Dan's coattails, had now become a powerful pillar himself.

"Very well. From this day forward, he is my first disciple," Lu Ge said. "By the way, have you named him yet?"

Zichu nodded. "I have. His name is Zheng."

Lu Ge nodded. "Zheng? Zhao Zheng?" As he spoke, he couldn't help but reach out and poke the baby’s chubby cheek. "May I hold him?"

Zichu, more than willing, handed the infant to Lu Ge. Lu Ge took him with the utmost care, terrified of dropping him. Looking at the baby, Lu Ge felt a sense of daze. This Emperor who would unify the world was currently nothing more than a nursing infant, being held in his own arms. The workings of the world were truly mysterious.

The Qin royal family belonged to the Ying clan and the Zhao lineage. According to proper etiquette, the child should be called Zhao Zheng, though Ying Zheng was also acceptable. Names were, after all, merely labels. Come to think of it, the states of Zhao and Qin shared the same ancestors, though it was a pity they were now locked in a life-or-death struggle.

Little Zhao Zheng nestled in Lu Ge’s arms, swaying back and forth, waving his hands and feet happily with a beaming smile. Lu Buwei laughed from the side, "It seems little Zheng is very fond of the Grandmaster."

Shen Dao also leaned in, curious to see this future ruler of all under heaven. Unfortunately, this "ruler" was currently a baby who, after being swayed for too long by Lu Ge, began to spit up milk.

"Oh! What's happening?" Lu Ge asked, bewildered as he watched the milk bubble from little Zhao Zheng’s mouth. He had never raised a child before and had no idea what to do.

Zichu hurriedly took the baby back and patted his back. "It is nothing, nothing at all. He had just finished feeding before we came. Being swayed for so long has made him a bit dizzy, that is all."

Lu Ge rubbed his nose in embarrassment. "You should take him back to rest. I am staying at Shen Dao’s home; feel free to bring him over to visit whenever you like. When he grows a bit older, I will begin his enlightenment and teach him."

Lu Ge looked at the child once more before adding, "We shall take our leave now."

Lu Buwei hurriedly saw them off. Lu Ge and Shen Dao parted ways with Zichu at the entrance, each returning to their own affairs.