Chapter 218: Seeing Manqian in Chang'an City

The moment the Heavenly Star Vine entered his body, the Yin and Yang grinding disc, which had been waiting for a long time in Fang Longye's dantian, immediately began to rotate.

Crack—

A crisp, shattering sound reached his ears.

The grinding disc turned slowly; with just a single grind, the incredibly tough Heavenly Star Vine vine shattered instantly.

It ground a few more times, turning into tiny fragments that fell into the Yin and Yang furnace below.

It was as if a Star Sea were floating and sinking within the smelting process.

The Dao fire burned fiercely, continuously calcining it until, in the end, no fragments remained, and it transformed into a cluster of brilliant starlight brimming with divine charm.

With a shift of his mind, the starlight suddenly rose, floating out from the furnace to be continuously ground by the 'Yin and Yang grinding disc' appearing above.

Then, he cast it back into the furnace, repeatedly calcining and grinding it until it was extremely refined, only then smelting it into his Bloodline origin.

In an instant, changes sprouted forth.

Not to mention the changes to his true form, his internal Grotto-Heaven alone immediately welcomed a massive transformation.

For a time, stars rose one after another, tens of millions of them, reflecting against the deep, vast firmament, trailing colors and glowing with brilliance.

Then, the stars swayed, dripping down wisps of sweet rain that transformed immediately upon hitting the ground.

This caused strange patterns to emerge throughout the entire Grotto-Heaven, spreading in all directions.

In just a moment, there was a heavy, very dense, very solid, and very profound feeling within the Grotto-Heaven.

If the original foundation of the Grotto-Heaven was like a pile of stones, it was already solid enough.

Then now, it was as if a layer of reinforced steel had been cast upon that foundation, making it even more impregnable and unshakable.

"There is just one thing~"

An avatar of Fang Longye entered the internal Grotto-Heaven and immediately sensed the issue.

Standing within it, he suddenly felt that this world was top-heavy, with a sensation that heaven and earth were about to overturn.

He was not at all unfamiliar with this situation. He had encountered it once before when the two spiritual branches of the Fusang and Moon Laurel entered and evolved the sun, moon, and stars.

It was merely an imbalance of heaven and earth, though this time, it was clearly more obvious and intense than the last.

This was not surprising.

Above the firmament, the sun, moon, and stars were now all present; the combination of the three was naturally incomparable to the previous starry sky, which only had the sun and moon while the rest was entirely illusory.

Compared to this, the mountains and rivers of the Grotto-Heaven were clearly somewhat weak.

After all, the best treasure fused into these mountains and rivers so far was merely the Five Elements Five Peaks World-Suppressing Peaks, a post-celestial exotic treasure.

Naturally, it could not compare to the three Innate Spiritual Root branches that evolved the sun, moon, and stars.

Furthermore, the mountains and rivers of this Grotto-Heaven were originally derived through the Water Origin Great Dao of the Canghai Map and the mutual generation of the Five Elements.

If one were to interpret the world according to the Heaven Earth Water Three Origin Great Dao, then among heaven, earth, and water, the Dao of earth was born in a weak position.

Fortunately, there was the Xun Wood supporting heaven and earth, and his internal Grotto-Heaven was born with extremely strong stability, so there was no major harm.

"However, it is still best to make up for it as soon as possible~"

"Although this situation has not damaged the solidity of the Grotto-Heaven, and the degree of solidity has even greatly increased due to the perfection of the sun, moon, and star laws."

"But this imbalance of heaven and earth clearly affects the further development of the Grotto-Heaven."

Fang Longye's avatar in the void of the Grotto-Heaven could not help but shake his head as he felt this top-heavy sensation.

"Hmm, the Three Origin Great Dao—heaven, earth, and water are the foundation of all things. In heaven, they are the three lights of the sun, moon, and stars; on earth, they are the three essentials of water, fire, and earth; in humans, they are the three substances of essence, Qi, and spirit."

"To make up for the defects in the Dao of earth, spiritual objects related to water, fire, and earth are indispensable."

Fang Longye's gaze was deep and focused as he pondered secretly.

"Moreover, although the Three Origin Great Dao is most suitable for the operation of my Grotto-Heaven—after all, I revere water! —the Five Elements are also indispensable."

"Spiritual objects related to the metal element cannot be missing either."

As Fang Longye calculated in his heart, he could not help but feel his heart bleeding.

"Good grief, calculating it all up, the spiritual objects I obtained from beachcombing at the Rakshasa Sea Market are not enough combined. I still have to add quite a lot more."

"No wonder not many people walk the path of the Inner World! Even when it is just weak, it is already a bottomless pit for money~"

Of course, complaints aside, Fang Longye was still very proactive when it came to actually investing in it.

After all, the sunk cost was there; he had no choice but to follow this path to the end.

In the center of the Grotto-Heaven.

At the top of the heaven-supporting Xun Wood.

Fang Longye condensed spiritual Qi to form a high platform and sat cross-legged upon it.

Looking at the mountain of spiritual object essences, he let out a breath, mobilized the power of the Grotto-Heaven to form a huge grinding disc, and began to grind.

"Hmm, this internal Grotto-Heaven of mine was obtained by smelting the origin of the Canghai Map. With the water element flourishing, the fire element is the weakest. Hmm, then let's refine the fire-attribute spiritual objects first!"

Fang Longye muttered to himself, gathered a pile of spiritual objects emitting a crimson light, and cast them into the grinding disc in front of him.

……

After spending some effort, Fang Longye finally compensated for the imbalance of heaven and earth caused by the completion of the sun, moon, and stars.

Withdrawing his avatar from the Grotto-Heaven, Fang Longye opened his eyes and revealed a smile.

After this, the Grotto-Heaven was not far from advancing into a Small World.

Feeling the changes in his true form, Fang Longye laughed out loud.

Looking within himself, golden light shone in the void, brilliant and colorful, filling every acupuncture point in his entire body, as if a Star Sea were floating and sinking.

Wisps of star essence fell into his heart, full of the profound mysteries of the Dao of stars.

To see it was to understand it.

"Heavenly Star Escape?"

Fang Longye's mind shifted; smelting the Heavenly Star Vine, besides making great progress in the Grotto-Heaven, had also allowed him to comprehend an escape technique.

"However, it is only in the Zhou Tian Star Sea on the outskirts of the Heavenly Realm that it can exert its greatest efficacy. These mysteries regarding the path of the stars, though..."

Fang Longye pondered for a moment, his eyes undergoing a change; starlight burst forth, thousands upon thousands of rays, deriving mysterious hexagrams, each character like a peck measure, hanging down with brilliance.

"'Moving Stars and Changing Dippers' is truly extraordinary!"

Fang Longye let out a breath, a smile appearing on his face. It was through these mysteries of the path of the stars that he had successfully mastered the basics of 'Moving Stars and Changing Dippers'.

He suddenly felt that the profundity of this divine ability was beyond words.

Actually—

As things stood, he had already obtained all of the so-called Thirty-Six Heavenly Transformations from his past life.

It was just that, greedy for too much, one cannot chew it all; Fang Longye had not practiced them all.

Some divine abilities either overlapped in effect with the ones he had already mastered, or were simply too difficult to begin learning.

And 'Moving Stars and Changing Dippers' was the latter.

This divine ability was not simple.

Starting from the path of the stars, it led in the end to the Great Dao of Heavenly Secrets, and even involved the path of destiny.

The so-called "Heaven releases a killing intent, shifting stars and changing constellations." Heavenly Secrets are like the will of Heaven. When a Saint points out the mechanism of the heart, that is Heavenly Secret; this is a great art of life and death.

At the beginning, it only changes the celestial phenomena to conceal Heavenly Secrets. After achieving minor success, one can summon projections of stars to bolster oneself in battle.

After reaching great success, one can directly tamper with Heavenly Secrets and even arrange the destiny of others. Using Heavenly Secrets to kill, one does not touch the slightest trace of worldly smoke.

Of course, once one reaches that step, it is the realm where "my heart is the heart of Heaven, and my will is the will of Heaven"—if Heaven wants to kill, how many can block it?

"Alright! It is time to go and meet that high disciple of Donghua Dijun, the founding master of the crosstalk world!"

Fang Longye stood up, paced to the window of the Treasure Pavilion, and pushed it open to look outside.

Influenced by the Treasure Pavilion, the surroundings were no longer as desolate as before, but lush and green.

Right in the center, a plum tree had actually grown; in the winter, it was blooming with fragrant snow, rich and fragrant, the scent brushing against one's clothes.

"Has it actually been over three months?" He still remembered that when he first arrived here, it was only early autumn; now it had already reached winter.

He chuckled, shook his head, put away the Treasure Pavilion, and soared into the air.

Inside Chang'an City.

Near the area where the Great Han Imperial City was located, there was a courtyard, quite deep.

Tall locust trees and deep bamboo were planted within, their emerald green hanging down like robes. The rocks were craggy and, after being washed by water, were crystal clear and in a thousand different poses.

Beside a pond in the back garden.

The owner of this courtyard—Dongfang Shuo—was staring intently at the uninvited guest who looked like a noble young master before him, and said coldly: "May I ask which Dragon Lord is before me?"

He was secretly complaining in his heart: I don't remember ever scamming a Golden Immortal, do I?

Fang Longye acted as if he hadn't heard and did not respond, merely standing with his hands behind his back, surveying the surroundings.

There were storied buildings and high pavilions, winding corridors and flower kiosks, water and trees clear and elegant. The wind blew, the bamboo leaves rustled, the water ripples rose, and the light and shadows were cold and sharp, giving one an indescribable sense of refinement.

He couldn't help but chuckle: "I didn't expect that Fellow Daoist Manqian was so highly valued by the Han Emperor—look at this mansion, it is truly magnificent!"

"It seems that Manqian is also enjoying wealth and honor in the human world."

Dongfang Shuo smiled bitterly: "How can mere human wealth and honor enter the eyes of a Dragon Lord? I do not know where the Dragon Lord's immortal home is, that you must come to play such a joke on me?"

Fang Longye turned his head to look at Dongfang Shuo, seeing him in a brocade robe, with a fair face and little beard, around forty years old, his entire appearance quite humorous.

It very much fit the title of the founding master of crosstalk.

However, this was only his appearance in the secular dynasty. Fang Longye's eyes were bright and shining, seeing clearly that beneath this appearance of a secular official was another look.

He was only eight or nine years old, wearing a Daoist robe patterned with drifting clouds and shimmering light, his waist bound with a silk sash of interlaced brilliance. On his head, he wore a scholar's cap embroidered with stars, and on his feet, he wore straw sandals for wandering the immortal mountains.

What a child with the air of an immortal!

Fang Longye praised in his heart.

No wonder he could amuse Xiwangmu Niangniang and be forgiven for his act of stealing the Flat Peach. With this appearance, who wouldn't want to pet him twice? It is truly said: Refining the primordial truth, shedding the original shell, when the work is done, one is happy and content. Recognizing the essence, energy, and spirit of the origin, the master knows there is no mistake. Escaping the name, now happy with boundless longevity, the sixty-year cycle cannot control him. Turning through the corridors, ascending the Treasure Pavilion, he has touched the Flat Peach of Heaven three times.

Facing Dongfang Shuo's inquiry, Fang Longye did not hide his name and origin in the slightest: "Yuanlong of Cangmang Mountain, greetings, Fellow Daoist."

It was because he now had some attainments in the deduction of Heavenly Secrets, and this Dongfang Shuo was currently only at the True Immortal level.

It would have been fine if they hadn't met, but once they met—

A single glance face-to-face, except for matters involving great powers, the past and future were as clear as the palm of his hand.

In Fang Longye's peering into his past and future, this Dongfang Shuo really didn't know how to sneak into the Heavenly Palace. The one who truly mastered that secret path was the white ape that took him to Heaven to steal peaches when he was a child.

Actually, at the beginning, Fang Longye did not intend to expose his name and origin, and even his appearance was a different one.

Only the Aura of the Dragon Clan was not concealed, while the rest was shrouded in mist.

After all, he had come to find Dongfang Shuo to ask about the secret passage to the Heavenly Palace; it was clear he was going to do something bad, so naturally, he had to be secretive.

As a result—

He didn't expect that this Dongfang Shuo had not yet been officially accepted as a disciple by Donghua Dijun; only the fate of master and disciple had been set, and he would officially enter the sect after his affairs in the human world were finished.

In this way, without the protection of Donghua Dijun's fortune, he didn't need to ask at all; just by looking at him face-to-face, plus extracting his Aura for deduction, the answer he wanted entered his heart naturally.

Like this, there was naturally no need to hide his identity anymore.

Yuanlong of Cangmang Mountain?

Is there such a person in Nanzhan Buzhou?

A question arose in Dongfang Shuo's heart.

Although he had not been practicing the Dao for long, and it seemed he had always been mingling in the imperial court, he did not have much understanding of the immortals and gods of Nanzhan Buzhou.

But over these years, he had often traveled with his primordial spirit, visiting the various immortals and gods of Nanzhan Buzhou.

Of course—

To put it nicely, this is called visiting famous mountains and seeking fellow practitioners.

Actually, it was just using the name of being a future disciple of Donghua Dijun to sponge off others.

He wasn't lying about this.

When he was young, he was taken by a white ape into the Heavenly Palace to steal peaches. After being caught, he used witty and humorous words to please the Queen Mother of the West.

Not only did Wangmu Niangniang forgive his transgressions, but he also gained the regard of Donghua Dijun, who established a master-disciple connection with him.

Therefore, he could not be considered a liar.

It was just that when he publicized it, he unintentionally omitted what Donghua Dijun had said: it was merely a connection, and whether he could pass the test remained to be seen.

Because of this, with many immortals and deities intentionally trying to curry favor with him, he could be said to know every figure in Nanzhan Buzhou like the back of his hand.

Yet, he had truly never heard of the place name Cangmang Mountain. The same went for the Dragon Lord Yuanlong; as a Dragon Lord at the Golden Immortal Realm, logically, he should not have been unaware of him.

Could it be a hidden place?

Or perhaps from another continent? Dongfang Shuo had a thousand thoughts in his mind, but he set aside this doubt and instead asked about the purpose of Fang Longye coming to see him.

"I wonder what business brings the Dragon Lord here? Could it be that you have something to instruct this humble Daoist?"

"Heh~"

Fang Longye looked at Dongfang Shuo with a half-smile and said slowly, "Before long, there will be a fortuitous encounter here. I will have to trouble fellow Daoist Manqian for some time."

"That wouldn't be too much trouble, would it?"

A fortuitous encounter?

What kind of fortuitous encounter could there be in Chang'an City? Dongfang Shuo was full of confusion, but on the surface, he still said with joy, "The Dragon Lord gracing my humble abode makes it shine with brilliance. I am naturally honored that you are willing to linger in my humble abode."

Fang Longye nodded inwardly; no wonder he was known as the patriarch of the crosstalk world—just this slick and worldly manner alone made him worthy of the title.

One must know that Dongfang Shuo had already stepped half a foot into the gate of Donghua Dijun. Yet, facing him, an uninvited guest, he could still manage to be flexible and accommodating.

It was not easy!

If it were some other people, their tails would have been raised high into the sky long ago! 'I am a disciple pre-ordained by Donghua Dijun. You old mud loach, merely a Golden Immortal. How dare you be so rude?' Fang Longye could even imagine what some people would say! It was fortunate that Dongfang Shuo could not probe Fang Longye's thoughts, otherwise, he would definitely have cursed out loud: "Do you think I don't want to be arrogant and show off my power?"

"Do you think I am willing to be trembling in front of you, this old mud loach?"

"Do you think I don't want to bully others by relying on my connections?"

He wanted to so badly!

The key was that Donghua Dijun had only established a master-disciple connection with him and hadn't given him anything else.

The divine abilities, Dharma techniques, and Spirit Treasures on his person were all obtained by using the name of being a future disciple of Donghua Dijun to swagger about and sponge off others over these years~

He didn't even know if he could pass Donghua Dijun's test.

Because Donghua Dijun hadn't even said what the test was at the time, only saying that once his affairs in the human world were finished, he would decide whether he could enter his gate.

Although Fang Longye was not particularly clear on this point, after all, it involved Donghua Dijun, this great power.

But he could understand a thing or two through Dongfang Shuo's actions over these decades.

However, because of his memories from his past life, he had already prejudicially regarded Dongfang Shuo as a disciple under Donghua Dijun.

Naturally, he had not considered this point.

Fang Longye waved his hand and said, "Then I shall trouble fellow Daoist to arrange a place for me to cultivate in quiet!"

Dongfang Shuo naturally nodded and agreed.

Leading Fang Longye to a refined dwelling, Dongfang Shuo said respectfully, "Dragon Lord, this is originally my place for quiet cultivation. Compared to Longgong, it is naturally quite simple; I hope you will be magnanimous."

Fang Longye shook his head and laughed, "I am already imposing on you, fellow Daoist, so how can there be talk of it being simple or not?"

Seeing this, Dongfang Shuo said, "Then this humble Daoist will take his leave first~"

"I must still thank you for taking me in, fellow Daoist~"

Fang Longye thanked him again, and Dongfang Shuo tactfully retreated.

……

Pacing inside, the refined dwelling was not large, with bookshelves on three sides made of spirit wood, carved with hollow-out exquisite patterns, and delicate partitions.

Some were round like the sky or square like the earth, some curved like the moon, some like blooming lotus flowers,... in a thousand different postures.

Among them, some held books, some held vases, some held ruyi,... and so on, each different.

Below the bookshelves was a spotless wooden couch.

In front of the wooden couch were table and chairs as clear as jade.

On the desk was an incense burner three feet high, with curling smoke rising, condensing without dispersing, like clouds and mist.

Fang Longye came to the wooden couch and sat down, with a smile on his face: "Now it just depends on whether, in this world, Wangmu will descend upon Chang'an to present Flat Peaches to Han Wudi as in my past life."

This was the fortuitous encounter he had mentioned in front of Dongfang Shuo. At the very least, for most people, it was a rare fortuitous encounter.

If it were just as it was in the legends of his past life.

(End of this chapter)