Chapter 29
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The Land God Tao Taigong slowly lifted his hand away from the token, feeling the delicate, slightly cool touch of it fade away. In his heart, there was still a tinge of reluctance. After all, the [Mingzhen Dao Alliance] was a rather loose yet neutral large-scale organization. With this token and the imprint of one’s Primordial Spirit, one could leverage the Dao Alliance’s resources to accomplish many things.
It allowed participation in discussions among cultivators in the cities and one could invite experts to clarify doubts on the path of cultivation.
You can even seek rare valuable spiritual herbs and treasures.
The [Mingzhen Dao Alliance] was not an ordinary marketplace in the secular world.
Rather, it was an organization with the principle [Illuminating the Truth to Break Illusions, Striving Toward the Great Dao] at its core. Transactions here were purely bartering.
Even mortals, through a stroke of luck, might inadvertently stumble into its midst, making it a remarkable encounter with immortality.
Divine abilities, wondrous techniques, alchemical scriptures, jade manuals, and treasures of the world—all can be found here.
Possessing the token meant being privy in advance to the Mingzhen Dao Alliance’s forthcoming discourse meetings.
A privilege that tempted even Tao Taigong. This was why, earlier, despite knowing that Tantai Xuan had been captured by the Mountain God and slain by Qi Wuhuo, he took the token for himself. After all, he thought, Tan Taixuan’s soul was destroyed by him, and this young man had limited cultivation. What use would he have for the token? It seemed reasonable for him to take it.
However, what lay before him now dispelled such thoughts.
At this moment, taking it out voluntarily was to forge a karmic connection.
Even though he was a God of Fortune and Virtue, and even though the young man before him appeared to have only ordinary cultivation.
However, just the two characters [Taishang] carried this kind of weight.
Even if Qi Wuhuo belonged to the lineage of Taishang, it was merely his guess.
It would still hold true!
For those outside the Daoist sects, they could not comprehend the weight of these two characters.
Qi Wuhuo gazed at the token.
Even now, despite the depletion of his Primordial Qi and Primordial Spirit…
He still forced himself to stand, his body weak, yet he respectfully bowed and said: “Thank you…”
Years ago, in the Jinzhou disaster, all his family and friends had perished. The last person who had been kind to him, that gentleman, also died there. He saw people who weren’t people and things that weren’t things. He once thought was merely a natural disaster, but now he was beginning to see things from a different perspective——
The [Mingzhen Dao Alliance] might just be the opportunity.
An opportunity for him to truly understand what had happened back then.
Tao Taigong was momentarily taken aback, noticing the grief on the blue-robed youth’s face. He recalled the things the young man had mentioned while on the mountain and thought of a nine-year-old child experiencing such a catastrophe. Even an old Earth Deity, who had long developed deep calculations and considerations in his heart, couldn’t help but feel compassion. He sighed and comforted: “Wuhuo, young Daoist friend, the dead cannot return to life… my condolences, my condolences…”
“Though Buddhism and our Daoism are different, Buddhism teaches about letting go, and there is some wisdom in that.”
“Sometimes, letting go of attachments can also be a choice.”
“To forget the past, and you may glimpse the Tathagata.”
The youth carefully accepted the token, responding solemnly:
“My mother died first, my father passed after.”
“The Gentleman entered the market and exchanged my return to the world of the living.”
“I wonder, Tao Taigong.”
“Have you ever witnessed people eating each other?”
The old man remained silent.
After a long sigh in his heart, and exchanging a few more pleasantries, when it was time to take his leave, there was a hint of genuine sincerity in his words. He said: “Younger Brother Wuhuo, you are always welcome to visit my mountain from time to time. I have cultivated here for many years and have traveled the world. There are many ancient texts on the Five Arts of Daoism that we can discuss together.”
“Besides, the Mountain God is on the verge of a breakthrough. Once he succeeds, he won’t stay here long and will begin his journey wandering the lands.”
“We should gather before that time comes.”
By this time, Qi Wuhuo had regained some of his strength, and despite his lingering weakness, he forced himself to rise and see the old man off.
Standing at the wooden door, Tao Taigong halted, smiling as he stopped Qi Wuhuo, saying: “Young Brother Wuhuo, you’ve not yet fully recovered your strength. There’s no need to send me any further.”
Qi Wuhuo stood at the doorway, pondered for a moment, and said:
“Tao Taigong, you mentioned just now.”
“Buddhism teaches that all beings suffer, and by letting go, one can attain liberation.”
Tao Taigong nodded and replied: “Yes.”
Then he saw the child, no older than fourteen or fifteen, give a gentle smile.
He was a pure and graceful youth, like a breeze beneath a bright moon.
He responded:
“If that is the case.”
“Then I wish never to be liberated.”
Tao Taigong’s smile faltered, his hand, which had been stroking his beard, abruptly stopped. As if touched by these words, his heart stirred, and after a moment of reflection, he sighed, cupped his hands in farewell, and turned to leave. When he reached the alley’s end, he looked back to see the young man still standing at the door, watching him depart. The old man sighed again, murmuring softly to himself:
“People from all walks of life seek Daoist teachings and legacies, but who realizes that the Daoist lineage also selects disciples based on their character?”
“Both Confucian and Daoist, he is indeed fit for the lineage of Taishang…”
The old man sighed with emotion for a long while. With a single step, he pressed his foot to the ground, and his body merged into the Earth’s Veins, moving as effortlessly as a fish through water. In the blink of an eye, he had traveled dozens of miles, arriving at a wonderful place. Before him lay a well-ordered residence, no less grand than the estates of wealthy families in the city. The interior was filled with ancient relics from hundreds of years ago, exuding an antiquated charm.
At the entrance hung a couplet:
The upper line read: [Though the temple is small, divine powers are vast.]
The lower line read: [Though the heavens are high, the sun and moon endure.]
Upon entering another room, there was another doorway. It faintly resembled the Earth Deity temple in the city, differing only in size. This one, too, had a couplet:
The upper line read: Do not mock my small temple and humble deity—make a wish and try.
The second line is: Don’t rely on your power and influence, if you commit evil see what happens?
In the past, the old man had always taken pride in this couplet, but now, recalling the young man’s gentle exterior and hidden resolve, he suddenly found the second line of the couplet rather glaring. As he swept into the room, he noticed two other Land Gods were already present. Shen Hongxue, dressed in a brown robe, was drinking wine, while Luo Yizhen sat smiling, reading a scroll.
When Tao Taigong entered, Luo Yizhen looked up and smiled: “Old brother, you’ve come quite late. Where have you been?”
Shen Hongxue laughed: “From the direction Tao Taigong came, I’d wager he went to visit that new friend of the mountain god, that little baby. How is he? Is he cultivation material?”
Unexpectedly, the usually kind and affable Land God slammed his teacup onto the table and reprimanded with a frown: “What little baby?!”
His tone had grown stern, which stunned both Shen Hongxue and Luo Yizhen.
After a brief pause, Tao Taigong straightened up, cupped his hands, and said solemnly:
“He should be called Young Friend Qi!”
Qi Wuhuo watched as Tao Taigong left, then slowly walked back to the stone table, his steps faltering slightly before he collapsed onto the seat.
He let out a long breath, his expression showing signs of fatigue and weariness. His eyes gleamed faintly as he gently rubbed the waist token in his hand, the only clue he had at the moment. Lost in thought for a long time, he exhaled again and turned his gaze toward the mysterious black iron sword box.
Reaching out, he stroked the cold surface of the sword box, the chilling sensation seeping into his bones through his fingertips.
This was indeed a decent spiritual treasure.
Qi Wuhuo vaguely sensed a space within the sword case where his Primordial Qi could be stored. As his energy circulated, the sword box suddenly emitted a few cracking sounds, and a brilliant glow burst from it. In the next moment, the light surged dramatically, and several items flew out of the sword case, landing steadily on the table. Qi Wuhuo was astonished, realizing he had unintentionally activated the treasure.
These objects must have been the hidden collection of that evil cultivator.
There were quite a few things, enough to fill the table.
Upon closer inspection, they could be categorized into several types. The first things that caught his eye were three white porcelain vials with slender necks.
There were also several boxes, each containing various medicinal herbs and materials.
One sword, wrapped in red string, looked ominous.
A bundle, from which crystalline stones radiated a soft white light.
A small, jade-green glowing three-legged alchemy furnace, small enough to rest in his palm.
Aside from these, there was an old scroll that had turned yellow with age.
“This is… a cultivation journal?”
“Or perhaps something related to the Mingzhen Dao Alliance?”
Qi Wuhuo did not pay attention to the objects emitting spiritual light.
Instead, he picked up the scroll and unrolled it. The very first line of text made him pause in surprise.
[Record of Ascension to Immortality].
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