In the long river of history, the Taoist school is like a bright pearl, emitting a mysterious and profound light. And Laozi, the founder of the Taoist school, has become a legendary figure praised through the ages with his extraordinary wisdom and profound thoughts.

Laozi, named Li Er, was extremely intelligent since childhood and was full of curiosity and exploration towards everything in the world. He read widely, had extensive knowledge of ancient and modern times. With his outstanding talent, he served as the historian in charge of the archives in the Zhou Dynasty. In this position, Laozi was able to access a large number of ancient books and precious historical materials. He absorbed the nutrients of knowledge eagerly and continuously enriched his knowledge and insights.

However, as time went by, Laozi gradually found that the rule of the Zhou Dynasty was becoming increasingly corrupt, society was in turmoil, and people's lives were miserable. He witnessed the darkness of officialdom, the cruelty of war, and the degeneration of human nature, and his heart was filled with worry and helplessness. Laozi knew deeply that in such a troubled time, it was difficult to change the status quo with his own strength alone. So he had the intention of retiring.

After careful consideration, Laozi decided to leave the Zhou Dynasty and find a peaceful place to continue exploring the true meaning of life and the mysteries of the universe. He rode on his green ox and slowly headed west. The green ox took steady steps, carrying Laozi through mountains and rivers and past fields and villages. Along the way, Laozi quietly admired the beauty of nature, feeling the rhythm of life and the harmony of the universe.

When Laozi arrived at Hangu Pass, Yin Xi, the guard commander of the pass, was patrolling on the city tower. Suddenly, Yin Xi saw a purple qi rising in the east, like a giant dragon coiling up. His heart was startled. He knew that this was a sign that a sage was approaching. Yin Xi hurriedly descended from the city tower and led everyone to wait in front of the pass. After a while, Laozi came slowly on his green ox. Yin Xi saw that Laozi had an extraordinary temperament and an air of immortality. He was overjoyed and quickly stepped forward to welcome him.

Yin Xi respectfully bowed to Laozi and said, "I am Yin Xi, the guard commander of Hangu Pass. It is truly a great fortune to see the sage today. Seeing the purple qi coming from the east, I know that the sage must have great wisdom to impart to the world. I earnestly request the sage to stay here and leave your wisdom to benefit all living beings in the world." Laozi smiled faintly. Looking at Yin Xi's sincere eyes, he was touched. He knew that his thoughts might bring a glimmer of hope to this troubled world.

So Laozi stayed at Hangu Pass for several days. During this period, he had heartfelt conversations with Yin Xi and expounded his profound insights into life, society, and the universe. Yin Xi listened with rapt attention and was deeply impressed by Laozi's wisdom. Finally, Laozi decided to organize his thoughts into words so that they could be better passed down. In a quiet room at Hangu Pass, he wrote vigorously and composed the five thousand-word "Tao Te Ching" that has been passed down through the ages.

The "Tao Te Ching" covers Laozi's profound thoughts on various aspects such as the universe, life, morality, and politics. With concise and profound language, it expounds the core thought of Taoism, that is, "Tao". Laozi believes that "Tao" is the root and essence of all things in the universe and is a mysterious power that transcends human cognition. People can only achieve inner peace and social harmony by following "Tao" and following the laws of nature.

After completing the "Tao Te Ching", Laozi handed it to Yin Xi and then rode away on his green ox. Yin Xi held the "Tao Te Ching" as if he had found a treasure. He knew deeply that this classic would have a profound impact on later generations. Since then, the "Tao Te Ching" has been widely circulated in the world and has become a classic work of the Taoist school, also providing endless wisdom and inspiration for future generations.

The story of Laozi riding a green ox and leaving Hangu Pass not only shows Laozi's extraordinary wisdom and noble character but also reflects the profoundness and broadness of Taoist thought. Taoism emphasizes following nature and governing by non-action, and pursues inner peace and spiritual freedom. In today's society, Taoist thought still has important practical significance. We can draw wisdom from Taoist thought, learn to follow nature and not forcibly interfere with the development of things; maintain inner peace and not be disturbed by the turmoil of the outside world; pursue spiritual freedom and not be bound by material desires.

Laozi rode a green ox and left Hangu Pass, leaving a legendary story through the ages. His thought is like a bright star, illuminating the way forward for humanity. Let us, while savoring this legendary story, also deeply think about the profound connotations of Taoist thought and draw wisdom and strength from it to add a touch of tranquility and beauty to our lives.