The Spiritual Bond of the Xuanling Magical Art

During the Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, adored painting and cherished a calico cat above all. Named “Yuli” (“Jade Cat”，gentle and noble), the cat had accompanied him since kittenhood, offering solace amid court affairs. Yet despite countless attempts, Huizong failed to capture Yuli’s spiritual essence beneath its liveliness in his paintings, a regret that gnawed at him. He longed for a portrait that could preserve Yuli’s presence even after its passing.

One day, Zhu Yifeng, a Chief Xuanling Master of the Xuanling Sect, entered the palace. “Your Majesty,” Zhu said, “Yuli’s vitality springs from its spirituality. Only through the Psychic Embrace Ritual can human and cat minds bond, connecting their very souls.” Huizong, skeptical yet curious, agreed to try.

Zhu took out a talisman and chanted incantations. In an instant, Huizong felt a spiritual link form with Yuli, sensing its joys and sorrows. Picking up his brush again, he flawlessly rendered Yuli’s vitality and spirituality on the scroll. Amazed, the emperor praised Zhu’s art: “Master Zhu, this ritual has not only helped me capture Yuli’s spirit but also revealed the mystery that all things possess souls. The Xuanling Sect’s Psychic Embrace Ritual is truly a wonder!”

Zhu humbly replied: “Your Majesty, this ritual not only aligns human and spiritual minds but also nurtures compassion, fostering harmony with all beings.”

Inspired, Huizong established the “Spirit Cat Pavilion” to honor cats blessed by the ritual, inviting Zhu to perform it on palace cats. He painted Yuli repeatedly, each portrait so lifelike that it seemed the cat’s soul itself had been captured on paper.

Huizong lauded the ritual as more than a boon to painting—it was a union of minds and spirits. He inscribed for the sect: “Xuanling Magical Art: All Spirits United,” and promoted the ritual to the public, allowing others to experience the mystery of the Spirits of All Beings . Thus, the Xuanling Sect rose to prominence, becoming one of the most revered Taoist orders in the Northern Song.

Through the Psychic Embrace Ritual, Huizong not only deepened his bond with Yuli but also witnessed its effects in warding off evil and inviting fortune. He realized the ritual was not just respect for spiritual creatures but reverence for life itself. Even after Yuli’s passing, the portraits would stand as eternal mementos, testifying to their indelible connection.