Chapter 104: Intensive Practice of the Five Elements

"Xinzhan, you say this changing of the formation, was it the intention of Emperor Hongwu, or Emperor Yongle?"

Zhu Jianmo watched the golden light escape into the Heavenly Realm and said leisurely.

Cheng Xinzhan shook his head: "It doesn't matter. Senior Jin Mingzi is a person who is cruel to enemies and generous to friends. That is enough."

Zhu Jianmo nodded and didn't think about it anymore.

Sun Miaoshu and the other four in the distance also came over. They also saw that scene.

"Was that Senior Jin Mingzi?"

Someone asked.

"Yes, Senior has ascended."

Cheng Xinzhan said: "By the way, how did you cut off the connection between the Central Ducheng dragon vein and the imperial city so quickly?"

Sun Miaoshu said: "Our Mount Sanqing is known as the Ancestral Court. Naturally, there are branches in various places in Jiang Nan. We went straight to the branch in Fengyang, Qingzhou, which is called Qinglin Temple, and asked them to contact the local government, evacuate the crowd, and bury gunpowder. The matter was done."

"Oh, so that's how it is."

It was simpler than Cheng Xinzhan imagined.

"But I didn't expect Senior Jin Mingzi to ascend directly. We still have to go to Qinglin Temple to align our stories."

So several people went to Qinglin Temple immediately. Qinglin Temple was not much different from Yulin Temple; both were large temples in the mortal world.

Several people told the abbot that a Corpse Immortal had been gestating in the ground since before the founding of the Ming Dynasty. Coincidentally, Ming Taizu also took a fancy to this treasure land and moved the ancestral graves here.

The Zhu Ming dragon vein suppressed the Corpse Immortal. If the Corpse Immortal wanted to come out, he would have to overturn the dragon vein and harm the area. Fortunately, this Corpse Immortal was a kind corpse. They met several people traveling here, so he summoned them and entrusted them to resolve the dragon vein. Now the Corpse Immortal is out of trouble and has ascended.

However, they didn't mention the Corpse Immortal to the mortal world, just saying that the Zhu family ancestor had received incense for four hundred years and had achieved merit and ascended.

The abbot agreed, and after sending them away, he hurried to appease the people.

————

After Cheng Xinzhan and the six returned to Mount Sanqing, Sun Miaoshu led them to fly to Yuhua Peak in the hinterland of Mount Sanqing.

Yuhua, Yuxu, and Yuqing peaks in the hinterland of Mount Sanqing are the three highest peaks in the Mount Sanqing area and are the management hub of Mount Sanqing. There is no one below the Second Realm practicing and working inside.

Yuqing Peak manages all daily miscellaneous affairs within the sect, under which are the Ministry of Affairs, Ministry of Kitchens, Ministry of Teaching, Ministry of Calculation, Ministry of Evaluation, Ministry of Engineering, Ministry of Medicine, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, etc.

Yuhua Peak is responsible for dealing with various emergency matters and has the power to mobilize all people and things in the sect. Like this time, Daoist Jianxian and Cheng Xinzhan discovered that the earth veins had changed and were connected to the mortal capital city, it was Yuhua Peak that received the urgent letter and came forward to coordinate, mobilize people, discuss measures, consult data, and finally send a group of people to support.

Yuxu Peak is responsible for the protection and overall planning of the mountain gate, responsible for hosting and maintaining the mountain-protecting formation and the Dharma prohibitions in various parts of the sect, and responsible for the layout of the mountains and the flow of rivers in the sect.

Yuqing Peak, Yuhua Peak, and Yuxu Peak are also regarded as the incarnations of the three saints of Taiqing, Yuqing, and Shangqing in Mount Sanqing. Therefore, to show respect, disciples of the sect do not call them by their original names most of the time, but call them Taiye Mountain, Jianxin Mountain, and Tiaoyun Mountain.

The group landed on Yuhua Peak. There were many palaces on Yuhua Peak. Several people came to the Red Dust Hall responsible for secular affairs, and the duty elder received them.

Several people told the details of the trip carefully, and also said that the one who ascended today was a Corpse Immortal, which was the source of the harm to the earth veins, and explained the grievances clearly.

The duty elder nodded repeatedly and praised them:

"It turns out there are such twists and turns. You can let the Ministry of Foreign Affairs go to Yan-Zhao to inquire about the health of the Ming emperor and verify it. You all did well, there were no casualties, and it is rare that you considered the influence on the mortal world, unified the stories, and formed a good relationship with a Corpse Immortal. This errand can be rated as 'Grade A-Middle,' and the bonus will be contacted by the Ministry of Calculation to be issued to you."

Everyone thanked him.

At this time, Cheng Xinzhan said again: "Elder, Senior Jin Mingzi also told his background. Senior had old ties with the ancestor and also said some things about the ancestor. We request to see the sect master to report in person."

The duty elder was startled upon hearing this and said: "Wait a moment."

After saying that, the duty elder hurried away.

Several people waited for about two quarters of an hour before the duty elder returned, saying that the sect master had an invitation, and had already greeted Yuxu Peak. The formations and spiritual prohibitions along the way were already unobstructed, and they could go to Pingding Mountain in the center of the Lotus Blessed Land by themselves.

So the group left Yuhua Peak and rode clouds to Pingding Mountain in the Lotus Blessed Land.

Pingding Mountain is a mountain shape. The name of this mountain is actually Liangyi Mountain, but the name Pingding Mountain is too vivid, so people in the sect still call it Pingding Mountain most of the time, and few call it Liangyi Mountain.

It was not Cheng Xinzhan's first time to Pingding Mountain, but this time, he saw the full picture.

The top of Pingding Mountain was smooth and flat, as if cut by a knife. The square bricks on the ground didn't know whether they were paved later or chiseled out on the original mountain top. Each one was thirty steps wide, as if dividing the mountain top into a chessboard.

The mist on the mountain top fell on the stone bricks, moistening the surface of the stone bricks, and each brick looked like it was covered with a thin layer of water, forming a mirror-like effect. Looking down, one's own reflection was clearly visible.

Looking further away, the mountain top seemed to turn into a large lake, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and yellow cranes, and several people seemed to be walking on water.

Three large halls were quietly placed on the lake. These three large halls were majestic but not gorgeous, and all were white-walled. The one on the left was cinnabar red glazed tile, the one on the right was black mysterious gold tile, and the one behind was sky-blue emerald tile.

The three large halls stood on the flat mountain top in a symmetrical layout, reflected in the water vapor on the bricks, looking quiet and solemn.

The group was laughing and talking, and except for Cheng Xinzhan who had been brought here once by Wen Sukong, the others were here for the first time, and everyone was seeing the sect master for the first time, guessing what kind of person the sect master was. But as they walked, they were infected by the quiet atmosphere and gradually became quiet.

The group walked between the Pure Yang Hall and the Original Yin Hall and came to the last palace.

A plaque hung on the palace gate, with three large characters written simply and sloppily in cursive script:

Three Pure Ones Palace.

The palace gate of the Three Pure Ones Palace was wide open. Everyone saw the Three Pure Ones jade statues as high as the palace roof enshrined in the hall. The jade statues were lifelike. The Taiqing Saint in the middle was an image of an old man cupping his hands, the Yuqing Saint on the left was an image of a middle-aged man stroking his beard, and the Shangqing Saint on the right was an image of a young man with his hands behind his back. The three saints all had compassionate and kind smiles on their faces, and people were like ants in front of the jade statues.

In front of the huge jade statues was an incense burner, and green smoke curled up in the incense burner.

A meditation cushion was placed in front of the incense burner, and at this moment, a person was sitting there, looking at the group of people coming.

Everyone walked in with their heads down, but they all secretly raised their eyes to look.

Cheng Xinzhan also took a peek and finally saw what the sect master of Mount Sanqing looked like.

Unexpectedly young.

This was Cheng Xinzhan's first reaction. He thought the sect master would be an old man with a white beard, but he didn't expect him to be so young, looking like he was thirty years old.

The sect master wore a blue Daoist robe. The fabric didn't look luxurious, and there was no magic light flashing. On the contrary, it was very ordinary. He wore a lotus crown on his head, his hands were empty, and he just placed them on his knees very naturally.

The sect master's face was naturally very delicate, very fair, and a bit thin. He had a pair of phoenix eyes, and his eyebrows were light, like a scholar, but his whole person exuded a relaxed and absolutely confident meaning. He had a smile on the corner of his mouth, as if he didn't care about anything, and as if everything was under his control.

If he had to make a comparison, he thought the sect master was a person like a phoenix.

"You all came. Sit down and talk."

The sect master said to them, his voice as clear as a phoenix cry, like the sound of a flute.

Six meditation cushions appeared out of thin air opposite the sect master.

Everyone saluted and agreed, and each found a meditation cushion and sat down.

"You few are unfamiliar. We should not have met yet. You can introduce yourselves first."

The sect master didn't ask about Jin Mingzi immediately, but instead gently let them introduce themselves.

=9+Book_Bar

"Forty-sixth generation disciple, Sun Miaoshu of Purple Smoke Mountain, pays respects to the sect master."

"Forty-eighth generation disciple, Xu Jishen of Shake Light Mountain, pays respects to the sect master."

"Forty-seventh generation disciple, Zhu Jianmo of White Tiger Mountain, pays respects to the sect master."

"Forty-sixth generation disciple, Wang Miaoyuan of Hundred Grass Mountain, pays respects to the sect master."

"Forty-eighth generation disciple, Feng Jihu of Du Juan Valley, pays respects to the sect master."

"Twenty-sixth generation disciple, Cheng Xinzhan of Mount Mingzhi, pays respects to the sect master."

Several people answered respectfully.

The sect master nodded with a smile: "All good, all young people. Practice well and don't waste time. The future of Mount Sanqing ultimately depends on you young people. Come, I have six lotus seeds here, which can be planted or used as medicine. You take them."

The sect master took out six lotus seeds emitting green light from his bosom, opened his palm, and the six lotus seeds flew out by themselves and stopped in front of the six people.

"Thank you, Hong Jiaozhu, for the gift!"

The gift from the sect master naturally didn't need to be declined. The six people responded in unison and put away the lotus seeds.

"Good, tell me about that senior who ascended."

Seeing that several people had accepted the meeting gift, the sect master asked about the business with a smile.

Several people had already agreed on the way that if the sect master asked, Cheng Xinzhan would answer, because in this matter, he was the only one who was there from beginning to end.

So Cheng Xinzhan briefly told the story, but focused on the experience of Jin Mingzi's first life as a Heavenly Immortal being besieged and killed, and his second life as a Corpse Immortal ascending. Then he repeated the two questions of Zhu Jianmo and himself, and told in detail about the lack of Golden Immortals in the Heavenly Realm, the failure of the Qilin's first life to find the ancestor, and the explanation of Golden Nature.

The sect master listened quietly, without interrupting even once. After Cheng Xinzhan finished speaking, he said,

"Senior Jin Mingzi's words are pearls of wisdom. You should also ponder Golden Nature well. I already know about the matter. Regarding Jin Mingzi and the ancestor, including the red dust dragon vein, you don't have to spread it out. Your masters don't have to say it either. I will let them not ask more. Thank you for your hard work. Go back and practice. Xinzhan, you stay."

The other five people glanced at Cheng Xinzhan unexpectedly, then stood up, saluted, and left.

Cheng Xinzhan didn't know what the sect master wanted him for, and was somewhat uneasy.

"Xinzhan, how many years have you been in the mountain?"

The sect master asked.

"Returning to the sect master, this year is the third year."

The sect master nodded and said again: "Do you know the situation of Mount Mingzhi?"

Cheng Xinzhan thought the sect master was talking about the few inheritances and high seniority, so he said, "I know a little."

"Hmm," the sect master nodded, "The sect master of the Three Pure Ones Palace, the deputy sect master of the Pure Yang Hall, the deputy sect master of the Original Yin Hall, the deputy sect master of Yuqing Peak, and the deputy sect master of Goddess Peak—these five sect masters, except for the deputy sect master of Goddess Peak, the others have all been done by people from your Mount Mingzhi."

Cheng Xinzhan was startled upon hearing this and looked straight at the sect master.

The man shook his head with a smile, "I am not. I came out of the Flying Immortal Platform of Purple Smoke Mountain. It seems you don't know this yet. I tell you these things because I see that you are intensively practicing the Five Elements, right? Mount Sanqing has an unwritten rule that only those who intensively practice the Five Elements and Yin-Yang can be qualified for the position of sect master."

Cheng Xinzhan was somewhat confused, so he asked, "Hong Jiaozhu, what is intensive practice of the Five Elements?"

"Oh, it turns out you don't know these things. Didn't Su Kong tell you? Also, she has always been careless and only focused on practicing the Dao. It is really hard for her to bring a disciple."

The man laughed and continued, "Actually, most practitioners will find a line attribute that best fits their heart when practicing the Five Elements. Then in the Qi Refining Realm, they will focus on the corresponding internal organs, realize the innate or acquired Dharma essence, and pay less attention to other line attributes and internal organs, only seeking to open and gather the Five Elements to open the Jianggong. There will be preferences in practicing magic, spells, and talisman arts. When they reach the Second Realm, they will lean toward Yang or Yin according to their favorite line attributes. When forming the core and washing the core, there will also be a focus, and even when merging with the Dao, they will be affected. This influence will run through a lifetime."

"Just like your few fellow disciples just now, it is very obvious that Sun Miaoshu likes Earth, Xu Jishen and Wang Miaoyuan like Water, Zhu Jianmo likes Metal, and Feng Jihu likes Wood. Later, it can also be guessed that Sun Miaoshu and Zhu Jianmo like Yang, and Xu Jishen, Wang Miaoyuan, and Feng Jihu like Yin."

"But you are different. Although you first opened the Heart Mansion and used the visualization method to eat Yang Fire, and concluded the 'Mao' constellation inner landscape god, this is very good. But from the question you asked Senior Jin Mingzi about what Golden Nature is, I know you don't just focus on the Fire Element, right? And I see that there is already some Golden Nature remaining on you. You want to use Yang Fire to refine Yin Metal, have the Five Elements, and have Yin-Yang balance, right?"

Cheng Xinzhan nodded. He really didn't prefer any line attribute, just feeling that every line attribute had infinite mysteries.

The sect master smiled and said, "This is called intensive practice of the Five Elements. Every line attribute must be pondered thoroughly. Every line attribute is a key for you to realize the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. Your master Su Kong is not. She likes Water and Metal, and the two rituals are in Yin. This has to do with talent and cognition. Some people want to practice the Five Elements together but don't have that ability. When their lifespan arrives, they panic and pick a line attribute to practice intensively. Some people have this ability, but they only prefer one or two line attributes from the bones. Su Kong is the latter."

"I wonder what the sect master has to teach me?"

The sect master sighed, "Now the atmosphere in the cultivation world is becoming more and more impetuous, and fewer and fewer people are intensively practicing the Five Elements. Seeing you, I know you are someone who can go down this road. So I kept you behind to specifically exhort you. In the future, don't just focus on the temporary pleasure of the moment when practicing. Your vision must be long-term. Look, the Dao name Su Kong gave you is very good. You must be far-sighted."

"Moreover, in the eight veins of the Lotus, only the Dharma lineages of Purple Smoke Mountain and Mount Mingzhi point directly to Yin-Yang and take into account the Five Elements. Therefore, the position of sect master mostly comes from these two mountains. Also, Mount Mingzhi has not produced a sect master for several generations. Your disciples are scarce, and Su Kong cannot be counted on. You must work harder."

The sect master suddenly smiled mischievously, "In our generation, the number of sect masters from Purple Smoke Mountain and Mount Mingzhi is exactly equal. Later, it will depend on you juniors."

Please vote for monthly tickets and recommendations. Comments and messages are welcome!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 105 =====