Chapter 89
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Qi Wuhuo saw that the monk had a gentle expression. He appeared to be just over thirty years old, yet his demeanor was clear and tranquil, resembling a young monk. However, his eyes were calm and without ripples, as if he had long grown accustomed to the fleeting splendor of the mortal world. He merely greeted the young Daoist warmly before turning away to look at the pleasure house.
Qi Wuhuo left, and on his way, he overheard people laughing and discussing the strange events of the day.
Strange, truly strange— A monk blocked a poor fortune teller in front of a brothel.
The fortune teller cursed and shouted.
But the monk paid him no heed, merely sitting there in meditation.
How odd, how odd— Within the walls, pairs of lovers laughed; outside the walls, a monk sat with closed eyes. Within the walls, the lovers whispered sweetly; outside the walls, the master turned his prayer beads.
The fortune teller had no money.
He had no choice but to escape through a window.
The monk immediately gave chase.
This world is indeed full of strange happenings.
The young Daoist couldn’t help but smile faintly. Even these extraordinary individuals, once they tumbled into the mortal world, were inevitably stained by its dust and desires, making them feel more familiar, more human. He thought that if they had come in their true forms, they would never have been able to act so freely. Waving toward the Jiaotu and Chaofeng carvings beneath the six-tiered city tower’s eaves, the youth stepped away under the moonlight.
Back at his temporary residence, he saw that the medicinal liquid on the bird egg had already dried slightly.
Yet, he still did not know what kind of egg it was. He wondered if Yun Qin had found any relevant records in the Shangqing Library Pavilion in the heavens. If he could determine its species, raising it would become much easier. Qi Wuhuo reached out a finger, lightly touching the egg’s surface, and felt a faint sense of vitality stirring within its thin shell. A small smile played on his lips.
Afterward, he packed his belongings, carefully organizing the materials needed for the Xuantan altar the next day.
He then lit the furnace and began refining pills.
That night, after completing his alchemy, he sat cross-legged on his bed, absentmindedly munching on a peach blossom pastry he had bought by mistake. At the same time, he flipped through the [Hunyuan Sword Canon] in his mind, slowly working to comprehend the [Seven Orifices Exquisite Sword Heart Chapter]. He even attempted to rewrite it into a new form. Though it lacked any power to cultivate sword qi, it was still an unconventional technique that refined one’s skin, making it smooth and lustrous, and caused one’s body to radiate a warm, jade-like glow.
To Qi Wuhuo, this felt like a playful amusement.
However, if he wanted to refine this adaptation, he would first have to master these so-called “side effects” himself.
He continued his practice deep into the night, only entering meditation for an hour before finally falling asleep.
The next day, he remained engrossed in the study of techniques and the contemplation of divine abilities. When the appointed time arrived, he set up the ritual altar inside his room. Though his expression remained calm, there was still a trace of unease in his heart as he waited.
On Helian Mountain.
The God of Fortune and Virtue of Xunhe Town, Tao Taigong, stroked his beard. At this moment, he was clad in full ceremonial attire, dressed in a manner second only to the time he had once made a rare visit to [Rui Zhu Palace] to pay distant homage to the Empress Houtu, Earth Spirit Goddess. To one side stood the mountain’s spirit creatures—Spirit Deer, Huangjing, Monkey, and others. On the other side were Luo Yizhen and Shen Hongxue, two local earth deities who had long maintained good relations with the Tiger Mountain God.
The Spirit Deer’s face was filled with anticipation, while Huangjing simply sat atop the Spirit Deer’s head, exclaiming: “Any news yet?”
“I’m about to take human form today!”
“And then, I want a pastry!”
Luo Yizhen chuckled at the spirited exchanges of the mountain spirits. Then, lifting a wine jug with an easy air, he remarked: “Tao Taigong, your complexion looks quite good today.”
Tao Taigong cast a glance at the wine jug, stroked his beard, and said solemnly:
“I have already quit drinking.”
He continued slowly: “I only feel that between heaven and earth, all is clear and bright, and all things and principles have become lucid. When I think of those days of decadence, I cannot help but feel deep regret in my heart.”
At these words, Shen Hongxue could not help but burst into hearty laughter.
Luo Yizhen also smiled, but seeing that the old man was growing irritated, he promptly steered the conversation back on track.
“Still, I never expected Daoist Qi to possess such means—able to send pills across a thousand mountains and rivers, even delivering messages through dreams. It all seems rather unbelievable. Tao Taigong, could it be that you drank too much and merely dreamed it?”
This time, however, Tao Taigong did not argue. Instead, he thought of the Precious Invocation he had received.
Unconsciously, he raised a hand to his chest and let out a long sigh.
“I only wish it were just a dream.”
“The time has come.”
“Watch carefully.”
Taking several steps forward, the old deity erected the Xuantan altar, lit fine incense, and then invoked the ritual drum.
Twenty-four beats of the ritual drum.
Luo Yizhen and Shen Hongxue’s expressions changed in unison.
Then, he recited the Precious Invocation aloud.
Their faces shifted further, their astonishment reaching its peak.
They stood wide-eyed and speechless.
Tao Taigong, watching them from the corner of his eye, felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
So, you two finally get to experience this feeling.
With a renewed energy, his Yu Steps grew even smoother, and his voice as he recited the Precious Invocation rang out with ever greater vigor—almost as if the proclamation itself had been addressed to him.
Qi Wuhuo faintly heard his own Precious Invocation, sensing each phrase inscribed in flowing cloud script, guiding toward him. He exhaled lightly, then activated his Xuantan altar, forming a mudra according to the methods detailed in the [Xuantan Original Canon]. With a single gesture toward the prepared elixir, he felt his spirit and mind go empty, and at that moment, the Mountain God Talisman flared with brilliance.
A sliver of Qi Wuhuo’s own spirit was carried away along the Earth Veins of the land, taking the elixir with it.
In that instant, he suddenly understood.
The core of the Xuantan method was not spellcasting—
It was borrowing power.
No wonder the ritual altar had to be set up…
The young Daoist sensed an immense, gentle Earth Vein power—in comparison, his single wisp of divine sense was like a mere drop of water merging into a vast river. He recalled the time he had once attuned himself to the earth veins of Helian Mountain, finding them incomparably vast. But now, in contrast with this grand, boundless earth current, his previous experience seemed utterly insignificant.
Whose power was this?
A trace of doubt flickered in Qi Wuhuo’s heart. His single wisp of divine sense, wrapped around the elixir, crossed countless miles in an instant, delivering it to Tao Taigong’s ritual altar—accomplishing a feat far beyond what his own abilities should have permitted. He wanted to say something, but since he was merely borrowing this power, the moment he attempted to linger, he felt as if he were an arrow fully drawn, ready to be [snapped back] the instant his mind wavered.
Meanwhile, at the foot of Helian Mountain, they saw the Earth’s energy flow, and the elixir had appeared.
It had emerged through the very earth veins of the land, as though carried forth by the energy that connected the mountains and rivers themselves. Tao Taigong, already feeling immensely proud, stroked his beard, barely able to suppress his grin. “Come, look, look! Could this possibly be a fake?!”
“See the quality of this elixir? Witness this divine method! Aside from Helian Mountain’s own Mountain God, Wuhuo, who else could have done this?”
Luo Yizhen was left staring in disbelief. After a long moment, he could only smile wryly and say: “This… It’s only been one year.”
“I still remember a year ago—he was just a youth cultivating Primordial Qi and Essence.”
“How does he have such abilities now?”
“Brother Shen, can you say something?”
Shen Hongxue, the stocky-built man, twitched at the corner of his mouth.
Instinctively pressing a hand against his chest, he thought for a moment before replying, still keeping his face expressionless:
“Hmph.”
“So what if he developed a Precious Invocation in just one year?”
“The world is vast—he’s the only genius? Why not compare him to the prodigies of Dao Ancestor’s lineage?”
“Luo Yizhen, don’t look at me like that.”
“I’m fine, really. My heart’s holding up.”
Tao Taigong was in high spirits.
Meanwhile, Huangjing grumbled in frustration: “He’s still not back? I was just about to transform!” A pure and translucent spiritual aura swirled around it, its form blurring—on the verge of taking on the shape of a child-sized figure. One could faintly glimpse delicate brows and refined features. But in the next moment, its body shivered, forcefully drawing the transformation back, reverting to its smaller, original form.
With arms crossed, it sat atop the Spirit Deer’s head, turning its back to the gathered Land Gods, sulking in silence.
The gathered spirits quickly consoled it.
After dividing the elixir, Luo Yizhen sighed in admiration:
“That young man of the past has truly reached such a level of cultivation. It’s worth celebrating.”
“Tao Taigong, on such a joyous occasion, how about a drink?”
Tao Taigong was silent for a moment before coughing lightly and saying: “Indeed, such a momentous occasion isn’t something one encounters often.”
“Shall we drink a cup?”
“Just one cup.”
“Yes, yes, just one. Hahaha, come, let’s drink together!”
After setting down the elixir, the young Daoist’s wisp of spiritual consciousness was once again swept into the vast and majestic earth veins.
Like a mere drop of water merging into the grand tide of the world. As he flowed through the Earth Veins, his consciousness suddenly perceived an immense, towering gateway—
Majestic and solemn, so vast it seemed to reach the heavens themselves—
Existing within the power of the earth’s veins.
Upon its surface were inscribed countless profound and intricate characters, each unfathomably complex and beyond mortal comprehension. The young Daoist could not recognize a single one.
Then, a vast and gentle power emerged, accompanied by a warm and elegant female voice, laughing in surprise:
“Twenty-four ritual drumbeats, three pillars of clear incense to lead the way— I was wondering which True Sovereign had arrived?”
“Such a grand display.”
“But it turns out to be just a little one.”
“Strange—when did my [Earth Spirit] lineage produce such a prodigious talent, brimming with comprehension, yet an extremely daring little fellow?” The voice seemed to recognize the Earth God Talisman on the young Daoist and, instead of anger, carried a tone of amused encouragement. Then, as if a finger extended from the void, it lightly flicked the young Daoist’s forehead.
“Really now, so naughty.”
In an instant, Qi Wuhuo’s spirit was forcefully flung back—
“Hiss—!”
In the courtyard, the young Daoist stumbled back a step.
Raising his hand, he touched his forehead.
Silent in thought, he eventually took out a mirror and examined himself—
A small bump had indeed formed on his forehead.
“…So it wasn’t my imagination.”
“I actually got flicked on the head.”
Danyang Celestial Palace.
The Shangqing [Registrar], Danyang Miaohua Heavenly Lord, stroked his beard in contemplation.
Many disciples had already employed various divine techniques to search through the records of Shangqing disciples’ origins, yet they had failed to locate the name that had flashed past them twice. Thus, the Shangqing [Registrar] summoned two others from the Shangqing Library Pavilion— The Shangqing [Scripture Master], Qingyang Miaodao Heavenly Lord, and the Shangqing [Salvation Master], Maoyuan Jingwei Ziyang Miaogan Heavenly Lord.
The three Heavenly Lords spent an entire night poring over minute traces— until, at last, in the vast void, golden light threads converged, forming a line of characters.
Qingyang Miaodao Heavenly Lord stroked his beard, reading the words aloud, exclaiming in admiration:
“[Yin and Yang serve as charcoal, while creation works as the craftsman.]”
“[Heaven and Earth form the furnace, and all things are the bronze within.]”
“Excellent. Excellent indeed. To have written such words—he has undoubtedly attained the [core heart transmission] of our Shangqing lineage. This is far rarer than any mere cultivation technique.”
“Even with a True Lord as a teacher to guide him, to comprehend it on his own is extremely rare.”
“He is indeed qualified to become the disciple of the Great Heavenly Venerable Lingbao.”
“That’s right…”
The Shangqing Salvation Master, Ziyang Miaogan Heavenly Lord, sighed:
“But we still don’t know how old this child is. If he is over six hundred years old, then he would still be lacking somewhat.”
“But no matter what, we must find him.”
“I refuse to believe we can’t locate him!”
“Exactly!”
“Even if we have to pry his name out from the cracks of fate, we’ll find him!”
“If necessary, we’ll head to the Ziwei Star and seek an edict from the Northern Emperor, requesting that Ziwei Star Lord personally assist us in deducing his Ziwei Fate Calculation! And if that still doesn’t work, we’ll summon Wenqu Star, the Fourth Star Lord of the Northern Dipper, and even the Wenchang Star Lord of the Dipper Division—I refuse to believe we can’t figure out this brat’s origins!”
“Once we do—he will be brought into the sect!”
The three old Heavenly Lords, with their immense age and supreme status, made up their minds.
They actually assumed the positions of the Three Talents and joined forces in divination. With the status of the three of them, even the Star Lords of the Battle Division, who oversee destiny through Ziwei Doushu, would have to step aside. Even the True Lord of the Heavenly Pivot Profound Contemplation Academy wouldn’t dare to object. In the underworld, even the listening beast, Di Ting, ridden by Kṣitigarbha, wouldn’t dare to open its eyes and look. Their status is of the highest order— even those Heavenly Venerables and Celestial Emperors would have to clasp their hands in respect and address them as Old Heavenly Lord. If they truly wished to search for something within the heavens and earth, it would be as easy as turning over their hand.
[TL_Note: Ziwei Star = Purple Tenuity Star, associated with astrology and destiny]
Thus, they were on the verge of uncovering something significant.
A name slowly surfaced on the Jade Tablet.
But suddenly, the Danyang Celestial Palace erupted into chaos.
A disciple rushed in anxiously, exclaiming: “Oh no! Disaster—this is a disaster!”
“Heavenly Lords, disaster has struck!”
Danyang Miaohua Heavenly Lord frowned. “What matter has you in such panic?”
“Why is there such a commotion outside?”
The old Heavenly Lords furrowed their brows:
“Who dares cause trouble in my Danyang Celestial Palace? Do they not fear being beaten and thrown out, or that we might take this matter directly to the Judiciary Honored Sovereign for justice?”
That disciple saluted and stammered, “I-It’s the Lord of Xuandu Temple in the Purple Palace of Shenxiao Heaven… the Great Benevolent, Serene, Compassionate, Wondrous, and Joyful Heavenly Venerable… the Sealing-Mountain, Cave-Breaking, Orthodox One’s Numinous Officer, Grand Marshal of All… the Five-Manifestation Numinous Temple Great Emperor…”
He rattled off an entire chain of illustrious titles in one breath before finishing with:
“The Taishang Xuandu, Incomparable Wondrous Grand Dharma Master, is smashing the door down!”
The three Shangqing Heavenly Lords were stunned.
“WHO?!”
“Oh no! Something bad has happened!”
Before they could react—Bang! Bang! Bang! A few heavy knocks, followed by— BOOM!
The grand gates of Danyang Celestial Palace were directly kicked open.
The sudden disruption shattered the divination of the three Heavenly Sovereigns.
The name on the Jade Tablet, just on the verge of forming, dissipated.
The doors burst open, revealing a handsome Daoist in azure cloud robes, adorned with a black Daoist crown, cloud-walking shoes, and a waist sash woven from five-colored silk.
In his hand, he carried a purple pill furnace, inlaid with the Seven Treasures of Daoism.
He slowly withdrew his right foot—the very same one that had just kicked in the palace doors.
His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced at the dissolving name.
Then, smiling, he said: “Three Daoist brothers, it has been some time. I trust you’ve been well?”
“Pindao Xuandu was refining pills just now and suddenly had a feeling…”
[TL_Note: Pindao= This Poor Daoist]
“I realized I hadn’t visited my three Daoist brothers in quite some time.”
“And I felt rather embarrassed about it.”
“So, I have come to pay my respects.”
PS:
“Orthodox Daoist Canon · Zhengyi Section”: The Great Merciful, Silent, and Joyous Honored Sovereign Expounds the Five Sacred Sutras of Blessings and Virtue
Precious Invocation and Mantra: The Spirit-Observing Emperor, wise, sagacious, and perceptive.
The Sunlight Bodhisattva, whose radiance reaches the imperial heavens.
The gold-engraved sacred image…
