Chapter 133: Gift

"This secret is known only to the people of Mount Mount Mingzhi, the Hong Jiaozhu, and the two Vice Sect Masters of Pure Yang and Primal Yin. Those who reach the third realm and above are informed when they enter their twilight years; the rest know nothing of it."

Wen Daoist Sukong said.

Upon hearing this, a thought arose in Cheng Cheng Xinzhan's heart:

He must ensure these elders would never face a day of being summoned awake.

"As for those golden coffins."

Wen Daoist Sukong looked at the golden coffins. "Those are the corpses of emperors from generations past."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan's eyelids twitched again.

Wen Daoist Sukong gazed at her disciple and asked,

"Do you still recall what the 'Classic of the Green Fu's Transformation and Birth' says regarding corpses of the Ji Earth?"

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan naturally remembered; he replied,

"A corpse of the Ji Earth is a zombie, accounting for eight or nine out of ten walking corpses in the world. Though easy to form, they rarely achieve great power, except for one kind..."

He suddenly stopped speaking, looking at those golden coffins, then at Wen Daoist Sukong.

"Except for one kind, named the Imperial Corpse. Once formed, great calamity emerges; it can command all zombies under heaven and overturn Yin and Yang!"

Wen Daoist Sukong nodded.

"Correct. Yet if you scour the historical records, have you ever seen an account of an Imperial Corpse causing chaos in the world?"

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan shook his head.

"The Imperial Corpse began with the First Emperor. During his life, he sought to establish an Immortal Dynasty and also prepared a contingency: his mausoleum and burial figurines. He was the first to master the art of nurturing Imperial Corpses."

"The First Emperor wished to establish an Immortal Dynasty, aiming both to break the convention that human kings cannot attain immortality and to treat gods and immortals as minor clerks, thereby inviting attacks from deities everywhere. Although the First Emperor ultimately died, he had made arrangements beforehand. After his death, someone collected his corpse and buried it in the imperial tomb; sure enough, he transformed into an Imperial Corpse, leading his vast burial army to assault the mortal world, inverting Yin and Yang and brewing a great catastrophe."

"Later, the various gods who had destroyed the Immortal Dynasty returned helplessly to suppress the undead, but this past event was not recorded in historical books, precisely to prevent later emperors from imitating it."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan listened intently. Though he had always loved reading history, he truly did not know of this secret passage of the past.

"However, after such a vast calamity of god-slaying, how could news not leak? Later emperors still plotted this matter. The second Imperial Corpse was the last emperor of the Eastern Jin, but just as that Imperial Corpse had barely spawned spiritual awareness, our Mount Sanqing detected it. It was the founding ancestor of our Mount Mount Mingzhi who went out and subdued it."

"Afterward, to completely prevent the emergence of Imperial Corpses, Mount Mount Mingzhi took on an additional duty: the corpses of any emperor who greatly expanded their tomb earth during their reign would be retrieved by our Mount Mount Mingzhi after death and suppressed within the mountain."

"Thus, from the Jin dynasty to the Ming, there was no further calamity of Imperial Corpses in the mortal world; even rumors of Imperial Corpses gradually vanished."

"I have been handling this matter until now; from here on, it will be your task."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan nodded, remaining silent for a long time. So Mount Mount Mingzhi concealed so many secrets beneath it.

"Immortal cultivation is clear; emperors are turbid. Our founding ancestor also used these coffins to arrange the 'Clear-Turbid Dual-Phase Teng Snake and Black Tortoise Great Formation.' Any intruder below the Celestial Immortal realm would be ground to dust by the great formation in a single exchange."

"Moreover, immortal cultivators unwilling to ascend is detested by the Heavenly Dao, while gathering Imperial Corpses to avert disaster accumulates merit. These two offset each other, allowing our Mount Mount Mingzhi to endure and the thousand-year strategy of Mount Sanqing to continue."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan suddenly understood.

"In that case, is this Mount Mount Mingzhi sufficient for your visualization?"

Wen Daoist Sukong asked with a smile.

"Naturally, it is sufficient."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan replied immediately.

Master and disciple emerged from underground and returned to the mountain top. At this point, Wen Daoist Sukong spoke again,

"The Mount Taishan and Mount Laoshan you mentioned naturally embody the utmost transformations of Yin and Yang, seizing heaven's creative power, yet the principle remains the same. You yourself know that the Inner Landscape Deity of the Heart Palace and Thunder Palace must be visualized in a lowered form; the same applies to the Wu Earth."

Wen Daoist Sukong spoke with earnest gravity,

"The mountain of the Wu Earth need not be just one. First visualize Mount Mount Mingzhi; later, you may add the forms of Mount Taishan and Mount Laoshan into your Earth Palace. If your heart's ambition grows even greater, what harm is there in placing the Three Mountains and Five Sacred Peaks within it?"

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan assented.

"As for the Inner Landscape Deity, the one who commands all mountains and local earth gods under heaven and holds the mechanism of life and death is naturally foremost the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak. However, the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak holds a status too high, equal to that of the Thunder Ancestor, making it difficult to visualize his true form and divine intent."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan listened carefully; previously, he had not even dared to think of the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak.

Wen Daoist Sukong was also thinking seriously; her knowledge was evidently greater. After pondering for a moment, she said,

"What of the third son of the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak, Lord Lord Bingling, Crown Prince Lord Bingling, whose title is Marshal Commander of the Three Mountains, Overseer of the Five Sacred Peaks, and Benevolent and Gracious Emperor Lord Bingling? What do you think?"

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan listened, considered it seriously, and immediately felt it was brilliant.

Lord Lord Bingling, being the son of the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak, possessed a noble fate. In the mortal world, he commanded the Three Mountains and Five Sacred Peaks within and beyond the seas; in the underworld, he exclusively managed the ghost registers. Truly, he fully embodied the divine intent of the Wu Earth!

He bowed low and said,

"Thank you, Master, for your guidance."

Yet at the same time, he felt some difficulty in his heart. Although the true form diagram of Lord Lord Bingling was said to be easier to obtain than that of the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak, in terms of divine rank, it was in no way inferior to the Demon-Sweeping True Lord of the Thunder Headquarters; obtaining it would surely not be easy.

For the Demon-Sweeping True Lord, he had taken a shortcut, adapting folk legends and finding many ancient Thunder Department classics within the Nine Heavens Responding Yuan Prefecture, but Lord Lord Bingling seemed more mysterious, making him difficult to visualize.

"You need not worry about the true form diagram of Crown Prince Lord Bingling; your master will find a way. First visualize the mountains and peaks; once the mountains are formed, the deity will naturally come."

Wen Daoist Sukong knew what her disciple was thinking and spoke these words.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan felt somewhat moved in his heart, bowed his head, and assented.

From that day onward, every day at sunrise Cheng Cheng Xinzhan did not rush to leave the mountain, and at sunset did not rush to return, spending a period of time gazing at Mount Mount Mingzhi from afar.

Previously he had not noticed, but now looking closely, he realized Mount Mount Mingzhi was not as towering as Mount Mount Shouyin, not as steep as Mount Mount Toujian, lacked the majesty of Mount Mount Shuji, and did not possess the elegance of Mount Mount Baicao.

Mount Mount Mingzhi was very regular, very rounded, like a huge pebble standing upon the earth.

Until one day, as the sun was about to set, the evening light pierced through the bamboo forest, revealing the outline of the great mountain stripped of vegetation: a perfectly regular cone shape.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan suddenly realized with a start; this was clearly a tomb mountain.

Yet this indeed accorded with the key principles of Mount Mount Mingzhi's dharma lineage.

Sometimes he would walk along the small paths between the mountains, and sometimes he would go alone into the mountain to view that 'Clear-Turbid Dual-Phase Teng Snake and Black Tortoise Great Formation.'

He had visualized the Palace of Light for the Star Official of Mao Ri, the Thunder Headquarters for the Demon-Sweeping True Lord, the Summer Palace and Autumn Palace for the Generals of Divine Thunder and Water Thunder, and the Ming Imperial Mausoleum for the Golden Kirin Corpse.

But for this visualization, he did not visualize a temple or palace for Crown Prince Lord Bingling; he visualized only Mount Mount Mingzhi. Later, there might be the Three Mountains and Five Sacred Peaks; he thought, the myriad mountains themselves would be the palace of Crown Prince Lord Bingling.

About half a month later, his left eye had turned cinnabar-colored due to cultivating the 'Nine Yang Eye Refining Art.' Originally a youth as refreshing as a clear mountain breeze, the eye color now added a touch of nobility to him.

In the alchemy cave beneath the Weaponry Courtyard, inside Daoist Jiang Jiang Weishan's furnace, the embryo of a Fire-Element Dharma Sword was nearing completion.

On the twenty-second day of the seventh month, he opened the furnace and retrieved 'Taodu.'

After eighty-one days of combined refinement, 'Taodu' was as if reborn. Faint feather patterns showed through its crimson sword body, the whole emanating golden mist, with fire light restrained inward and the Pure Yang dharma intent becoming even more refined.

The sword spirit manifested, still in the form of a white-feathered rooster, but the red comb on its head had turned into a golden crown, dazzling and brilliant.

After leaving the furnace, the flying sword darted through the alchemy cave, weaving among the tall refining furnaces, its trailing light like a strip of golden brocade. The sword spirit cried out repeatedly, provoking responses from precious artifacts in many refining furnaces; a few were at critical stages and nearly suffered furnace explosions due to their artifact spirits losing control.

Daoist Jiang Jiang Weishan told Cheng Cheng Xinzhan to quickly take the conspicuous 'Taodu' and leave.

Just as he arrived at Mount Mount Mingzhi, he heard his master calling. He quickly changed direction and landed at the location of the Hidden Bamboo Stele.

Wen Daoist Sukong sat in the bamboo pavilion; he sat once again on the rush cushion outside the pavilion. "Master."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan nodded and offered his respects.

"Your visualization diagram is ready."

Wen Daoist Sukong did not beat around the bush but spoke directly.

This was truly a double blessing.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan waited in anticipation.

Wen Daoist Sukong flipped her hand, and a scroll appeared in her palm. She waved her hand, and the scroll unfurled in mid-air.

It was a vertical scroll; the surface was slightly yellowed. Looking closely, the bottom of the scroll depicted three great mountains rising from a vast ocean, each with a different form, distinct atmosphere, and unique merits.

Beneath each of the three great mountains was a label in cloud-script, reading:

Penglai, Fangzhang, Yingzhou.

Among the peaks of the Three Mountains, clouds and mist obscured the view, yet within the mist one could faintly discern many gods and immortals standing solemnly.

Above the Three Mountains, a youth dressed in bright yellow casual robes stood in the void. His hands were clasped behind his back, his posture elegant and refined. He did not lower his head; indeed, it was slightly raised, yet his gaze glanced downward, displaying an air of disdainful supremacy.

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A line of characters was written in the upper left corner of the scroll, stating:

'Diagram of Crown Prince Lord Bingling Going Out to Sea to Inspect the Gods of the Three Mountains.'

"This is an ancient treasure left from antiquity, which your master obtained in exchange from Mount Mount Yandang. This treasure contains profound dharma mysteries; you may project your consciousness into it to behold the true countenance of Crown Prince Lord Bingling. However, as this treasure has been passed down for ages, the dharma mysteries within are not abundant. You have only one opportunity to enter the painting and visualize the deity; you must firmly imprint the divine essence."

Wen Daoist Sukong said.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Cheng Xinzhan was startled. It was actually a treasure handed down from ancient times; what great price had his master paid for this?

"Project your consciousness in to view it now. I will guard you, lest your consciousness be captured by the deity's awe and unable to extricate itself."

Wen Daoist Sukong urged once more.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan thus stopped overthinking, separated a strand of consciousness, and probed into the painting.

The moment his consciousness touched the image, it was suddenly seized by a powerful suction and pulled inside. Cheng Cheng Xinzhan felt himself suddenly appear amidst a vast expanse of clouds and mist, speeding forward rapidly.

"Lord Jun of Zou, faster!"

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan suddenly heard a shout beside his ear.

He turned his head to look and discovered that, separated by the clouds and mist, several other people were also speeding alongside him.

He realized this was a scene recorded or illusorily transformed within the scroll, and that he had merged into that scene, so he did not truly open his mouth to answer.

That person seemed very anxious and spoke rapidly,

"Lord Jun of Zou, as a newly promoted mountain god you do not know, but Crown Prince Lord Bingling puts on great airs. Every time he inspects the immortal mountains within and beyond the seas, the mountain gods must line up and wait for him. If he arrives and we have not yet reached our posts, and are not registered under the Main Lord, it will be regarded as abandoning our post and neglecting our duty, and we will be investigated and punished!"

"With the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak above, this time Crown Prince Lord Bingling is playing too big. He suddenly demands an inspection of the Three Mountains and all their branches, claiming he will arrive immediately. How are we, who were visiting friends, supposed to explain ourselves?"

That person sighed heavily, yet his speed was truly not slow.

Soon, the several branch mountain gods who had left their posts to visit friends, hurrying as fast as they could, finally returned to an island mountain, landing upon the peaks of their respective branches.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan looked around and recognized this as Mount Yingzhou from the scroll, yet in detail, it was far more intricate than when viewed from outside the scroll. He hurriedly committed it to memory.

Soon, a wave of divine awe approached from the west; he could feel the body of Lord Jun of Zou, whom he was possessing, trembling.

However, as Cheng Cheng Xinzhan watched, he saw that Crown Prince Lord Bingling arrived alone, treading the void, without a carriage or attendants, so he did not feel the prince carried much airs.

As he drew nearer, Cheng Cheng Xinzhan gazed through the eyes of Lord Zou Shan and saw Crown Prince Lord Bingling clearly.

This time, the view was even clearer.

Crown Prince Lord Bingling looked not yet thirty, very young, yet he emanated an imposing dignity that commanded awe without anger; taking steps of a thousand zhang each, he crossed from the horizon to the skies above Yingzhou Island in just two or three strides, casting a sweeping glance downward.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan felt Lord Zou Shan's body trembling.

Seizing this opportunity, he carefully contemplated the Daoist intent radiating from Crown Prince Lord Bingling.

Though treading the void high in the heavens, the prince seemed to employ the divine ability "Shrinking Earth to Inches"; though positioned high above, he appeared as steady as the earth itself; though not physically massive, he loomed as towering as a mountain range.

Gazing upon him was like viewing a mountain; looking up, he seemed ever higher.

His presence was like the earth itself, boundless and endless.

The power of life and death lay entirely within his grasp.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan had only caught a fleeting glimpse of Crown Prince Lord Bingling, yet the prince had already taken all of Yingzhou Mountain into his sight; taking one more step, the myriad peaks swept backward beneath his feet, and in that single stride, he left Yingzhou Mountain far behind, moving on to the next mountain.

"Crown Prince Lord Bingling is truly majestic!"

The Mountain God beside him spoke again, but before Cheng Cheng Xinzhan could nod, a sudden force yanked his consciousness out of Lord Zou Shan's body, piercing through clouds and mist; his vision blurred, and his consciousness returned to his own flesh.

When he looked at the scroll again, he found the image of Crown Prince Lord Bingling had vanished, and even the three mountains depicted below had dimmed considerably.

"Did you see clearly?"

Wen Daoist Sukong asked.

"I saw roughly clearly,"

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan replied.

Wen Daoist Sukong nodded. "Good then. Keep this scroll. Although the ancient god's divine intent has dissipated, the spiritual forms of the three mountains remain. You may still enter the painting to observe their mountain qi, though you likely won't need to do so many more times."

She waved her hand, and the scroll rolled itself up, landing before Cheng Cheng Xinzhan.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan accepted the scroll and said,

"Thank you, Master."

At that moment, Wen Daoist Sukong retrieved another object from the cave stone; upon meeting the wind, it expanded instantly, transforming into a massive object hovering before Cheng Cheng Xinzhan.

It was a painted shadow screen, three zhang long.

Its colors were vivid, its momentum majestic.

Depicted upon it were five great mountains, whose forms were already renowned throughout the world; having seen them in various classics and atlases, Cheng Cheng Xinzhan could guess the name of this painted shadow screen even without inscriptions:

"True Form Chart of the Five Sacred Mountains."

"This is the 'True Form Chart of the Five Sacred Mountains' I temporarily borrowed from a friend on Mount Heng," Wen Daoist Sukong said. "Though there are countless copies of this chart in the world, the divine intent within each varies greatly. This shadow screen comes from the Erquan Temple of Mount Heng, painted by the great Gao Xiu during the Tang Dynasty. While it may not be the supreme version among all charts, it is the finest work I could conceive of for you. Take it back to copy and visualize; once you have gained something from it, return it to me so I may restore it to its owner."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan rose and bowed deeply; such kindness left him at a loss for words of thanks.

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