Once there was a son of the Chi family named Yizhou, who encountered a strange fate at the Mo Yuan Studio. Many people envied him, yet he never saw this anomaly again. Yizhou also felt unfinished in his heart, hoping to encounter extraordinary events once more.
One evening, with the wind high and the moon dark, Yizhou walked alone on a rural path. Suddenly, a strange wind arose, and dust filled the sky. When the wind settled and the dust fell, he was startled to see a huge mansion standing tall, its lacquered door tightly closed, creaking ominously. Yizhou peered in, feeling a chill of fear, yet curiosity stirred within him. He touched the door, which opened silently. Inside, it was deep and dim, with no one and no light. Yizhou stumbled forward, the lanterns in the corridor flickering with faint light, and he stopped in front of the mansion, where the sign read "Fragrant Pavilion." Pushing the door open, he saw simple furniture, the room filled with fragrance, and the sound of a qin suddenly arose, sorrowful and moving. Yizhou followed the sound behind a screen and saw a pale-faced scholar playing the strings of the qin, the music filled with deep sorrow, drawing him to listen closely.
As Yizhou approached to observe, the scholar raised his head and smiled, saying, "It has been a long time since we last met!" Yizhou replied that he did not understand, and just as he was about to ask, the scholar pointed behind him and said, "Since you have come to this place, you must have something to seek?" Turning to look, he saw scrolls of paintings and calligraphy hanging on the wall, with many seals, all appearing mysterious. The scholar said, "These are all my collections, which may help you resolve your doubts!" Yizhou was increasingly astonished and reached out to take a scroll to examine it. As soon as his hand touched it, he felt a chill penetrate his body, and the scroll suddenly transformed into a dark shadow, lunging at him. Yizhou cried out and fell back to the ground. In the darkness, several ghostly women appeared, their hair disheveled, their eyes like dead ashes, dancing around him and gradually closing in, while a cold wind brushed by, causing the candlelight to flicker. When he awoke, he found himself deep in an ancient forest, surrounded by ancient trees and tangled vines.
Yizhou rose and walked, suddenly seeing a cemetery densely packed ahead. A cold wind blew between the tombs, and mist filled the air, with each tombstone inscribed with names, very hastily, and the patterns were very strange. Wanting to turn back, he saw the words on one tombstone writhing incessantly. Yizhou's heart was terrified, wanting to flee, but he lost his direction. At that moment, a cry arose, piercingly sorrowful. Yizhou's heart was filled with fear, and he suddenly felt a cold wave wash over him, surging into his heart and ears. The cries grew closer, and Yizhou, in panic, saw a dilapidated temple among the tombs and slipped inside to hide. Peering through a crack in the temple, he saw a woman in white approaching slowly. The woman’s face was as white as paper, her shadow mysterious, and when she reached a tomb, she wept sorrowfully, "My son! Who has harmed you to this extent?" Her cries echoed ethereally, seeming to come from all directions, a myriad of hearts returning home. Suddenly, the woman turned her head, gazing at the distant temple, and solemnly said, "You have come! I have waited for you for a long time!" Yizhou felt a chill run through him, wanting to escape, but he could not move.
In an instant, the sky changed dramatically, with thunder and lightning, striking the temple roof, and a loud bell rang out, deafening. In a moment, all sounds ceased, and there was silence all around. Yizhou, frightened, was just about to leave when he suddenly saw golden light flashing, and the bronze bell transformed into a golden bridge, magically connecting to the void. His heart thought this was a heavenly opportunity, so he gathered his courage and stepped onto the bridge. The golden bridge extended, leading him into a wondrous realm. After walking several dozen steps, he found himself in a vast and bright place. This realm was isolated from the world, with unparalleled scenery, cranes flying in the sky, and auspicious beasts playing among the green mountains. Yizhou was amazed, hearing a melodious song, and soon saw a fairy descending from the clouds. The fairy floated gracefully, her skirt billowing in the wind, her face like peach blossoms, and she carried a light fragrance.
The fairy said, "Are you Yizhou, the son of the Chi family! Where you have arrived is not the human world; this is the immortal realm of Penglai! Your earnest desire for art has moved heaven and earth, thus summoning you here!" Upon hearing this, Yizhou was overjoyed and earnestly requested, "I wish for the fairy to guide me!" The fairy smiled and said, "The desire for art is commendable, but you must know that true art lies in a sincere heart! What art do you wish to learn?" Yizhou replied, "I wish to learn the art of seals!" The fairy waved her hand, and a flash of divine light transformed into an ancient scroll, landing in his hand. "This is the 'Mystical Seal Sutra,' containing the secrets of seal art; you must comprehend it well!" Yizhou received the book, tears of gratitude streaming down his face. The fairy continued, "This book must not remain in the mortal world for long; you must return it here in ten days." After saying this, she floated away.
Yizhou returned to the mortal realm, having obtained the 'Mystical Seal Sutra,' casting countless bronze seals, which were passed down to future generations. From then on, the 'Mystical Seal Sutra' became widely known, hailed as a treasure of seal art throughout the world. As for the ten-day promise, no one ever knew its origin.