Chapter 238

Summer rain comes fast and goes fast; in the blink of an eye, the downpour vanished without a trace.

As soon as the Jiang River calmed and the sandbar in its center rose higher than Nanchang's city walls, the clouds scattered and the rain ceased, the great sun once again bathed the world in light, as if the apocalyptic scene moments before had been but an illusion.

The Yellow Dragon and Green Tiger returned to Cheng Cheng Xinzhan's hands, coalescing into a jade scepter; Cheng Cheng Xinzhan and his disciples resumed their place in the procession, and the entire entourage set off once more amid the cheers and praises echoing through Nanchang City.

Yet ordinary mortals, with their fleshly eyes, could not distinguish between the cultivators of Mount Sanqing and those of Wanshou Palace; seeing the procession cross the river toward Mount San yuan, they all shouted that Wanshou Palace's Master had boundless merit.

As soon as the procession crossed the Ganjiang River, Cheng Cheng Xinzhan and the others saw brilliant light erupt from Mount San yuan:

Golden auroras flooded the sky, dyeing the heavens into a sea of radiance, where eighty-one fish-dragons drifted and danced.

Purple qi surged upward, condensing into vast swathes of purple clouds within the golden sea, and thirty-six nine-colored luán phoenixes soared through them.

And amid this purple-gold celestial canopy, a vast complex of divine palaces suddenly materialized in midair.

The white jade bases of the palaces resembled pure white clouds, shimmering in harmony with the nearby purple clouds; the continuous, tiered eaves stretched endlessly, their crimson glazed tiles glowing like flames, nearly merging with the golden auroras, indistinguishable from them. The dragon-shaped roof ornaments looked like chi-wens, their forms lifelike, impossible to tell true from false.

On the towering gatehouse south of this divine palace complex hung a massive vermilion plaque, inscribed in crimson and gold characters:

Wanshou Palace.

Immediately, from beneath the gatehouse of Wanshou Palace, countless snow-white jade lotuses bloomed out of thin air, forming a luminous jade bridge that stretched all the way to the feet of the procession.

In the procession, Dong Dong Shouren was startled by the spectacle of Wanshou Palace; he left his post before the Three Pure Ones' statue and rushed to the front of the line, staring toward Wanshou Palace with confusion etched on his face and in his eyes—hadn't they agreed to welcome them with "Nine Luán Welcoming Guests" and "Fish-Dragons Leaping in Gold"?

What was this spectacle now?

"Golden aurora sea," "Purple qi rising from the east," "Ninefold fish-dragons," "Sixfold luán phoenixes," "Jade Lotus Pure Bridge," "Wanshou Bright Hall."

Dong Dong Shouren faintly recalled that even during Master Xu's six-thousandth birthday grand ceremony, Wanshou Palace had never staged such a grand reception.

Such a display could not possibly be for him, nor merely for the Three Pure Ones' procession—he suddenly turned his gaze to Cheng Cheng Xinzhan.

Was it because of this child?

But what could Cheng Cheng Xinzhan possibly possess that Wanshou Palace would value so greatly?

Yet in the next instant, Dong Dong Shouren saw a sight that stunned him even more:

On the "Jade Lotus Pure Bridge," True Person Bao Yuan himself came out to greet them!

Behind True Person Bao Yuan stood Vice-Abbot Zhen Chang Daoist, Head of Precepts Zhong Zheng Daoist, Chief Lecturer Zhong De Daoist…

Every senior disciple of the Jingming Sect whom Dong Dong Shouren could name had left the sect to welcome them!

The spectacle left Dong Dong Shouren dizzy and disoriented; imagine the crowd trailing behind the scripture-seeking procession—swallows of saliva echoed everywhere.

And among these True Persons and Xuan Masters on the "Jade Lotus Pure Bridge," even the least among them were Golden Core Fei Masters; when they stood in formation together, even without deliberately radiating their aura, their sheer aura as great cultivators caused the purple-gold sky to ripple and swirl.

Dong Dong Shouren hurried forward, stepped before True Person Bao Yuan, and bowed first, wearing a wry smile.

"What is the True Person trying to accomplish?"

True Person Bao Yuan seized Dong Dong Shouren's hand and burst into loud laughter.

"Daoist Dong Shouren, our two sects both founded their lineages in the Eastern Jin; at this six-thousand-year juncture, what grandeur could we not endure? You don't know how overjoyed we were when Hehe True Person told us your sect was coming to seek the scriptures and deepen our ties!"

Dong Dong Shouren did not believe it for a moment—his own Sect Master and True Person Bao Yuan had exchanged countless letters over many days; the Jingming Sect's initial stance had been far from as eager as Bao Yuan claimed.

Behind True Person Bao Yuan, the Xuan Masters and Fei Masters were equally baffled.

At this moment, among all present, only Liang Yuan Daoist, Shen Shen Zhaoming's master, had witnessed Cheng Cheng Xinzhan's actions in full, and held high standing in Wanshou Palace, privy to secrets unknown to others; he led Shen Shen Zhaoming forward with a smile and bowed to Dong Dong Shouren.

"The Sect Master speaks truly: the Three Pure Ones' emissaries are long-awaited by our entire sect. Our two lineages have maintained unbroken ties through generations. My unworthy disciple and your sect's Wanfa Jing Shi once jointly slew demons in Xiangxi and were jointly called the Northern and Southern Kui Stars—I am deeply comforted."

Shen Shen Zhaoming stared in astonishment at his master—he had never seen his master so shocked and uncomposed before, nor had he ever seen him laugh so joyfully—is this still his own master?

"Yes! Yes! Where is your sect's Wanfa Jing Shi? Let him step forward and speak!"

True Person Bao Yuan took up the thread; though speaking to Dong Dong Shouren, his gaze was fixed on Cheng Cheng Xinzhan in the procession.

At that moment, Dong Dong Shouren knew he had guessed correctly, and called Cheng Cheng Xinzhan forward.

"Immortal bearing, Daoist grace."

True Person Bao Yuan gazed at Cheng Cheng Xinzhan as if he were some transcendent immortal from another age.

Liang Yuan Daoist looked at Cheng Cheng Xinzhan, his eyes filled with reverence.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan felt uneasy under their stares and quickly bowed.

"Greetings, True Person, Daoist—your praise is excessive."

But before Cheng Cheng Xinzhan could fully bow, both men hastily stepped aside, speaking in unison:

Yet before Cheng Cheng Xinzhan could bow, both hurriedly stepped aside, saying in unison,

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan was utterly confused—what were these two Daoists trying to do?

Dong Dong Shouren was equally baffled; his mind raced with speculation, and the only plausible explanation he could conjure was that Cheng Cheng Xinzhan was the reincarnation of a Wanshou Palace ancestor.

"Enter the mountain for further discussion."

True Person Bao Yuan smiled.

Thus, Shen Shen Zhaoming and the other designated hosts led the bewildered Huo Huo Jingyan and the Three Pure Ones' procession toward the Scripture Repository; the many Golden Core Fei Masters summoned at the last moment merely stood in formation, showed their faces before Cheng Cheng Xinzhan, and now, equally confused, returned to their quarters.

Dong Dong Shouren and Cheng Cheng Xinzhan, however, were escorted by True Person Bao Yuan and several Xuan Masters to the Yuzhen Baodian.

Dong Dong Shouren and Cheng Cheng Xinzhan were escorted by True Person Baoyuan and several members of Xuanzai to the Jade Truth Precious Hall.

Wanshou Palace was magnificent, distinguished by its entire complex facing strictly southward, symmetrically aligned east-west, built into the mountain yet exuding formal grandeur, like a royal garden upon the hill.

The Yuzhen Baodian stood at the far end of Wanshou Palace's central axis, the hall dedicated to the sect's ancestral masters.

The Yuzhen Baodian had nine courtyards; True Person Bao Yuan did not lead the guests through the main gate of the first courtyard, but entered through the rear three. Accompanied by Jingming's high masters, Dong Dong Shouren and Cheng Cheng Xinzhan successively offered incense before the Three Pure Ones' statue, the Star Mother "Doumu Doumu Yuanjun," and the Water Palace Filial Deity "Xiaogan Lady," finally arriving at the last courtyard: the Ancestral Master Hall.

Here stood the statue of Xu Xun, the founding patriarch of the Jingming Sect.

Inside, the patriarch bore three long beards, high arched brows, eyes slightly lowered in a compassionate gaze, clad in a Daoist robe embroidered with the Eight Trigrams and crane feathers, standing upright and solemn upon the altar.

In his left hand he formed the Jingming Dharma Seal; in his right, he held the Sword of the Serpent-Slaying, its blade engraved with the seal script characters "Loyalty, Filial Piety, Clarity, and Illumination"; his feet trod upon stone-carved serpent heads, their eyes inlaid with copper nails.

After the two guests completed their incense offerings, all gathered in the side hall and sat.

Dong Dong Shouren spoke first:

"True Person, there are no outsiders here—honestly, your display today has frightened me!"

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan nodded in agreement—how terrifying it was for a True Person to come out to meet them.

True Person Bao Yuan laughed heartily. "Forgive me, forgive me!"

Dong Dong Shouren continued:

"True Person, we agreed that Liang Yuan Daoist would receive the procession, that we would pay respects at the Ancestral Hall, and that after the inspection, we would proceed to the Scripture Repository—was that not the plan?"

True Person Bao Yuan nodded with a smile.

"But when we arrived at Mount San yuan, nothing followed the plan—you changed even the reception rites! True Person, let's speak plainly: you must explain this to me."

True Person Bao Yuan still smiled, but his eyes turned to Cheng Cheng Xinzhan.

"But that rainstorm—was that in the plan either?"

"Rainstorm?"

Dong Dong Shouren was puzzled—wasn't it because Cheng Cheng Xinzhan was the reincarnation of a Wanshou Palace ancestor?

"The rainstorm!"

True Person Bao Yuan affirmed.

"Enough, True Person, stop teasing!"

Dong Dong Shouren grew impatient.

When True Person Bao Yuan first met Cheng Cheng Xinzhan, he had been visibly moved and uncomposed; now, seated in the Ancestral Hall, he was calm and composed, tapping his fingers on the table as he sighed:

When True Person Baoyuan first came out to greet guests and met Cheng Cheng Xinzhan, he had been deeply moved and uncomposed; now, seated in the Ancestral Master Hall, he was calm and composed, tapping his fingers on the table and sighing,

Before Dong Dong Shouren could press further, he turned directly to Cheng Cheng Xinzhan and asked:

"Daoist, the sandbar you used to pile up the mountain stones—had you ever seen it before?"

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan replied at once:

"I cannot accept the title 'Daoist' from you, True Person—please call me Cheng Xinzhan. To answer your question, I had indeed seen the sandbar before, but last time, it was not nearly this large—just a patch of white sand."

True Person Bao Yuan was clearly intrigued, pressing further:

"When did you first see the sandbar?"

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan had already recalled this during the journey, and answered promptly:

"Twenty-two years ago. At that time, the sandbar was only as large as a small boat—barely visible unless you looked closely. The year before, twenty-three years ago, when I crossed the Ganjiang, I saw no sandbar at all."

True Person Bao Yuan's smile deepened. He asked again:

"When did you begin your cultivation?"

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan did not understand why the True Person asked this, but answered honestly:

"Twenty-four years ago."

Upon hearing this, True Person Bao Yuan and the several Xuan Masters exchanged glances, then burst into laughter together.

This left Dong Dong Shouren and Cheng Cheng Xinzhan utterly confused—what was so funny?

When their laughter subsided, True Person Bao Yuan turned to Liang Yuan Xuan Master and said:

"Liang Yuan, tell Cheng Xinzhan what happened twenty-four years ago."

Liang Yuan Daoist nodded with a smile, then addressed Cheng Cheng Xinzhan:

"Between Wanshou Palace and Nanchang City, the Ganjiang's center has long held a deposit of white sand—this sandbar has existed for thousands of years. But the sand accumulated so slowly that the bar remained submerged beneath the river's surface; only Wanshou Palace and those familiar with the Ganjiang knew of it.

"Until twenty-four years ago, the sandbar finally emerged above the water, becoming a true sandbar. Thus, when you saw no sandbar twenty-three years ago, it was not because it did not exist—it had just begun to surface, and you did not notice.

"After it emerged, its growth accelerated sharply, expanding several inches daily; by the time you passed the Ganjiang again, twenty-two years ago, the sandbar was already clearly visible."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan still did not fully understand, so he ventured a guess: "Could the sandbar's growth be connected to my cultivation?"

Liang Yuan Daoist did not answer directly, but said:

"This sandbar has surged forward three times: first in the spring of seventeen years ago, second in the spring of last year, third in the autumn of last year. And after last autumn, it fully took on the shape of a dragon. Cheng Xinzhan—during these three periods, did you make progress in your cultivation?"

This sandbank has grown rapidly three times: the first was in the spring seventeen years ago, the second was last spring, and the third was last autumn; and after last autumn, the sandbank had fully taken on the shape of a dragon. Cheng Xinzhan, have you made any progress in your cultivation during these times?

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan spoke with surprise, "That was the time I advanced to the Second Realm, the Third Realm, and crossed the Jin Dan Tribulation."

True Person Daoist Liang Yuan clapped his hands and laughed heartily, "That's it."

"Then may I ask, what karmic connection does this sandbar in the river have with my Cheng Xinzhan?"

Dong Dong Shouren asked urgently.

This matter cannot be taken lightly. In this vast world, anything is possible—some people's destinies are bound to the land and waters of a place, though such ties can bring either fortune or misfortune.

As the saying goes, the land nurtures its people. If the land is fertile, it returns blessings to those whose destinies align with it—cultivation leaps forward, all things proceed smoothly, and when one's cultivation reaches the highest levels, one may even merge with the Dao of that land and become a Fifth Realm Great Cultivator.

But if someone discovers or calculates this connection in advance and destroys the landscape, the damage inflicted upon the destined person will be catastrophic—a Dao wound that shatters the heavens.

If Cheng Xinzhan truly has such a karmic bond with this mid-river sandbar, then even if it lies beside the imperial bed of Wanshou Palace, Mount Sanqing must build a pavilion here!

True Person Baoyuan saw Dong Dong Shouren's urgency and said,

"Friend Dong Shouren, do not rush. Cheng Xinzhan's connection to the sandbar is not a true karmic bond—it is merely a subtle prophetic linkage."

Dong Dong Shouren steadied his breath and said,

"I beg you to elaborate."

True Person Baoyuan nodded. This time, he did not delegate—he spoke himself, slowly and clearly:

"Five thousand two hundred and forty years ago, our Xu Zu's Dao was perfected, and he was summoned to ascend. At that time, Long Mu Ao Xue of Poyang Lake, accompanied by her son, the Poyang Lake Dragon Prince Pofei Yu, journeyed south to visit their kin in the Southern Seas, passing along the Ganjiang River."

"Pofei Yu was then only about ten years old—a young dragon who had never left Poyang Lake. Long Mu had brought him specifically to introduce him to their clan in the Southern Seas."

"The mother and son, along with their retinue, traveled upstream along the Ganjiang. As they neared the river's source, the channel grew narrower. Pofei Yu, believing the narrow river and its failure to reach the Southern Seas disgraced his mother's journey, transformed into his true dragon form and plowed through the earth ahead, carving a new channel straight to the sea."

"His actions naturally devastated both banks. Long Mu, still weakened from giving birth and only just recovering after ten years of rest, could not stop him. The shrimp and crab soldiers dared not oppose a true dragon. All she could do was plead with him."

"But Pofei Yu had been raised in the safety of Poyang Lake, pampered by his parents, his bronze sinews and iron bones never having been unleashed. Now, freed from the lake and awed by the vast world beyond, he grew reckless, refused to heed his mother's pleas, and caused terrible casualties among the people on both banks, destroying countless fields and farms."

"The cries from both shores woke the Ancestor, who sat in silent meditation. He pinched his fingers and calculated, instantly understanding the truth. He drew his sword and chased after them. The young dragon was no match for the Ancestor—even hundreds of miles away, the Ancestor's flying sword qi severed Pofei Yu's tail. When the Ancestor arrived, he prepared to sever the dragon's head to appease the suffering people."

"At that moment, Long Mu, desperate to protect her son, rushed to block the Ancestor. The Ancestor raised his sword and wounded her severely. He then intended to hold her accountable for failing to restrain her son and the Poyang Dragon King."

"Long Mu knelt before the Ancestor's feet, clutching his sword hand and pleading desperately. But how many mothers and children had died because of Pofei Yu? The Ancestor could not yield—he would execute the dragon prince on the spot."

"But the Ancestor had not anticipated that Long Mu had waited millennia to bear this one son—she cherished him more than her own life. Seeing the Ancestor determined to kill him, she offered her life in exchange. Before the Ancestor could object, she plunged her neck onto his sword and died."

"At that moment, the Poyang Dragon King, hearing his son's wail of a severed tail, arrived on the scene. He saw Long Mu dead upon the Ancestor's blade and immediately begged the Ancestor to kill him too—only asking that his son be spared."

"Long Mu's will to die was absolute; her life force was gone. The white dragon's corpse fell among the mountains and became a mountain of white stone. The Dragon King and his son wept blood. The Ancestor, moved by pity, ordered the Dragon King and Prince to make amends for the damage on both banks, and forbade the prince from ever leaving Poyang Lake again—then he let him live."

"This place later became known as Bai Long Mountain, also called Hai Mu Mountain, and is the source of the Ganjiang River. The Ganjiang's waters erode Bai Long Mountain, carrying pure white dragon-sand downstream."

"Six months after this event, the Ancestor, back at San Yuan Mountain, suddenly saw the white sand at the riverbed. He sighed, moved by the boundless love of parents for their children, regardless of species. At that very moment, fate decreed his ascension was near. He ascended with his entire household. Before entering the Heavenly Gate, he looked down at the white sand beneath the river and suddenly felt a divine insight—he left a prophecy for his disciple, our Wanshou Palace's Second Ancestor."

"What prophecy?"

Dong Dong Shouren asked urgently, feeling that after all this, the final words were the key to Cheng Xinzhan's fate.

True Person Baoyuan looked at Cheng Cheng Xinzhan and spoke slowly,

Five thousand two hundred and forty years after my ascension, within the region of Yu Zhang and the Five Peaks, eight hundred Earth Immortals shall emerge; their master shall come from Yu Zhang and greatly spread my teachings. At that time, a dragon-shaped sandbar shall suddenly rise in the heart of the Jun River. He who places white sand upon the dragon's spine, raising it higher than Nanchang City, is he. When dragons or water monsters bring harm, those eight hundred shall obey the Earth Master's command and slay them.

(End of Chapter)