Chapter 252: Fish and Shrimp at the Bottom of the Water, Dragons on the Crest of the Waves

Among the mountains and ridges in the southwest of the Divine Land, there is a plain. This place is dangerous on all four sides, surrounded by mountains, with a thousand li of fertile soil, like the bottom of a basin. Ancient classics call it: "The Wilderness of Duguang."

With the "Wilderness of Duguang" as the hub, covering two thousand li of mountains and forests around it, including both the "basin bottom" and the "basin edge," this is the so-called "Ba-Shu" land. Sometimes, it is also simply referred to as "Shu land," or "Western Shu," or "Shu."

On the west side of this "Wilderness of Duguang," that is, on the western edge of the basin, there is a large river running north to south, called the Min River. On the east side of the Min River, there is another continuous mountain range, also running north to south, called the Longquan Mountain.

Between this river and this mountain, there is a giant city that has stood since ancient times, which is:

"Chengdu."

Chengdu is in the field of the Jing and Gui constellations, governing civilization and abundance, which is also recorded in the "Astronomical Records": "Southern Official Vermilion Bird, Jing and Gui are Shu."

When ancient people built the city here, they saw the light of the Jade Pivot star of the Big Dipper hanging between a river and a mountain, and felt that "the heavenly pivot forms an image, and it falls to the ground as a capital," so they took the name "Chengdu."

Also as a large city in the field of constellations, Chengdu is full of the smoke and fire of the red dust, which is even more so than the large eastern city of Nanchang and the large northern city of Luoyang.

Moreover, the Western Shu Xuanmen advocates cultivating the Dao in the red dust and does not view the red dust as a flood or a beast. Instead, they advocate using the red dust to temper the primordial spirit. As for the flesh and skin worn away by the red dust, it doesn't matter; it can be discarded after the primordial spirit is accomplished.

Therefore, based on Chengdu's excellent feng shui and the pursuit of refining the spirit in the red dust, the mountain gates of many large sects in the Shu land are on the edge of Chengdu city.

In the western suburbs of Chengdu, there is such a mountain force.

Most immortal sects that cultivate the Dao are built on high mountain clouds, so they often refer to the cultivation sect as "on the mountain" and the red dust as "under the mountain." But in this place in the western suburbs of Chengdu, there are no high peaks or spiritual mountains, and the terrain is very flat. This sect is built by a spiritual lake.

I saw this spiritual lake with ten thousand hectares of blue waves, surrounded by green curtains, lake mist hazy, and bamboo shadows overlapping.

From time to time, sword light flew out of the forest, like electricity or a rainbow, sweeping across the water, and in a moment, it sank into the bamboo sea. From time to time, there were plain clothes and mysterious Daoists, with sleeves bringing wind, walking on the waves, and disappearing into the depths of the smoke and mist in an instant.

It was truly a scene of an immortal family.

At this time, two escape lights came from the west, sweeping rapidly, setting off a gust of wind. The bamboo waves surged, the rustling sound was like a dragon's chant, startling a group of white cranes on the branches, bringing up a piece of green leaves flying.

The strong wind blew into the lake, reflecting the sun, rippling thousands of grain patterns, pushing gold layer by layer.

On the north side of the large lake, a gentle slope rose, and green tiles and flying eaves were revealed from the gaps in the forest. Among them, the most towering and imposing one was the huge gate tower sitting north and facing south at the beginning of the gentle slope.

The two escape lights landed in front of the gate tower.

Wu Mei looked up at the golden and brilliant gate tower, feeling very disgusted. Zhan Biyun Lake is such a clean and quiet place, yet they insist on building such a flashy and vulgar gate tower. It is truly boiling cranes and burning lutes, ruining the scenery.

On the plaque of the gate tower, four large characters were clearly written:

"Heavenly Light Separate Mansion."

And behind this tall gate tower made of jade and gold essence, there was another gate tower, but it was only two people high, much smaller than the one in front, built with green bamboo, simple and elegant, and a plaque was also hung on it, with four characters written:

"Zhan Biyun Dwelling in Truth."

This was the original gate tower of the Zhan Biyun Nunnery.

Wu Mei and Cui Qi passed the gate tower and walked toward the nunnery.

"Eldest Senior Sister!"

"Eldest Senior Sister!" "Cui Senior Sister!"

Along the way, young disciples kept greeting the two.

Wu Mei and Cui Qi nodded to indicate, as the personal disciples of the Zhan Biyun Nunnery Master, the Drunken Daoist, their status in the nunnery was extremely high.

Although Mount Emei sent people to garrison the Zhan Biyun Nunnery, Master Lady Miaoyi still valued the Drunken Daoist very much. At the same time, it was also to ease the resistance of the Zhan Biyun Nunnery, so the Zhan Biyun Nunnery Master was not replaced, and it was still the Drunken Daoist.

The Drunken Daoist only had three personal disciples: Eldest Senior Sister Wu Mei, Junior Brother Yan Yan Renying, and Junior Sister Cui Qi.

Now the Drunken Daoist is drifting outside, with no news. Yan Yan Renying, who was cultivated as the successor Nunnery Master, has changed his sect and was taken by Mount Emei. Wu Mei, as the eldest disciple of the Nunnery Master, naturally has a high status.

"Eldest Senior Sister, Senior Sister Zhou is here, waiting for you in the Yantian Nunnery."

At this time, a Kun Dao saw Wu Mei and reminded her.

Wu Mei nodded, indicating she knew, and was not surprised.

Wu Mei and Zhou Zhou Qingyun were the two most outstanding people in the younger generation of the Xuanmen who practiced the Sword Rosy Light Dao, and both were women, so they had close contact and often discussed the Dao and talked about their hearts.

Wu Mei looked at Cui Qi.

The latter shook her head and said,

"Although I respect Zhou Zhou Qingyun and have no malice toward her, I don't want to meet her in private. Senior Sister, go ahead, I'm going back to my Shouyue Nunnery."

Wu Mei nodded, then walked up the stone steps of the mountain road and returned to her Yantian Nunnery.

Stepping into the nunnery gate and turning around the screen wall, the view suddenly opened up. There was a ten-acre square pond in the nunnery, the water color was greener than the outer lake, and it was bottomless.

The waterside pavilion in the pond was winding, like a dragon lying on the waves. In the center of the pond, there was an octagonal pavilion, built entirely of green bamboo. Each of the eight corners hung a jade bell, swaying lightly with the wind, the sound clear and pleasant. Eight sides hung plain gauze, and at this moment, a figure could be vaguely seen through the plain gauze.

Wu Mei lifted the plain gauze and stepped into the pavilion, saying,

"Zhou Qingyun is here."

The woman in the pavilion was naturally Zhou Zhou Qingyun, still wearing a goose-yellow long shirt, red rope tying her hair, her temperament becoming more and more out of the dust and cold.

At this moment, seeing Wu Mei walk in, she smiled,

"Hmm."

"Why didn't you tell me in advance? Have you been waiting long?"

Wu Mei asked.

"Not long. I came back from the West Sea, passed through Chengdu, and thought of coming to see you. For a period of time in the future, the sect has arrangements, so I'm afraid I won't be able to see you often, or discuss the rosy light."

Zhou Zhou Qingyun replied.

"West Sea, did you go to the Starry Sea to find trouble with the Five Ghost Sect?"

Wu Mei asked.

Zhou Zhou Qingyun replied,

"Yes, and no. It's mainly because the Five Ghost Heavenly King and the Xuanyin Sect of the Black Water River in Longyou broke through the Fifth Realm one after another. These two have been very close recently, both ravaging the north, and there is the Blood God Sect pushing behind them.

"Now the righteous path in the West Sea and Longyou has retreated or been destroyed. It is already the world of the demonic path there.

"The sect is now building strongholds at the Baihe Mouth at the border of Ba-Shu and the West Sea, and at the Minshan at the border of Ba-Shu and Longyou, to prevent the northern sect from going south.

"Arrangements have been made in the mountain. For a period of time in the future, I will garrison the Baihe Mouth. This time I was sent over to see the situation in advance. After I return to the sect to pack up, I will enter the Baihe Mouth, and I am not allowed to leave without an edict."

Zhou Zhou Qingyun said.

"Is it already that serious?"

Wu Mei was a bit surprised.

Ba-Shu is a place surrounded by demons, and it borders Longyou, West Sea, Little Little Xikang, Dianwen, Miao territory, Wuling, and Guanzhong, all of which have demonic sects.

Among them, Wuling is a minor ailment, and Little Little Xikang, Dianwen, Miao territory, and Guanzhong have demonic sects, but there are also righteous sects to check them. In the past, Longyou and West Sea were the same.

But now, if Longyou and West Sea have already been occupied by the demonic path, then Ba-Shu will bear the brunt.

And recently, the Chuanxin Monk built a sect in Little Little Xikang, the Tibetan Mohe Sect behind him is eyeing it covetously, Dianwen and Miao territory are being oppressed by the southern sect, and it is also uncertain when they will all be the world of the demonic sect.

By the time that happens, this piece of Duguang Wilderness will be attacked from both sides.

Zhou Zhou Qingyun nodded and said,

"Master said that the spiritual atmosphere of heaven and earth has changed. The clear Qi is thin, and the turbid Qi is surging. Looking at the stars, the Ziwei is dim, the Seven Killings are rushing into the palace, and the Greedy Wolf is swallowing the Dipper. These are all signs of heavenly killing tribulations and demons causing chaos in the world.

"Look at how many demonic giants have broken through the Fifth Realm in recent years. Conversely, few righteous path members have promoted to the Fourth Realm. This is clear evidence."

Zhou Zhou Qingyun looked at Wu Mei and said again,

"Master ordered that Senior Brother Yan should watch the Tibetans, Li Yingqiong should go to Minshan, Yu Yingnan should go to Dianwen, and Junior Brother and Junior Sister should go to Miao territory. I think it won't be long before all Xuanmen disciples in the entire Ba-Shu territory will receive the edict to rush to the front line."

Wu Mei nodded with a solemn expression,

"Slaying demons and eliminating evil, we Xuanmen disciples should naturally be duty-bound."

Zhou Zhou Qingyun sighed faintly,

"The demonic tide is vast and mighty. Once the killing tribulation begins, most are fish and shrimp at the bottom of the water, dying in countless numbers. I don't know how many people can be the dragons on the crest of the waves."

Wu Mei laughed loudly upon hearing this,

"What is there to be happy about in life, what is there to suffer in death? To eliminate demons and defend the Dao, I, Wu Mei, am not afraid of death, but I definitely cannot die at the bottom of the water like a fish or shrimp. I want to be a dragon on the waves, either dying gloriously or taking advantage of the situation to turn into a true dragon!"

Zhou Zhou Qingyun was moved by the heroic posture of her friend and smiled,

"You, the Female Flying Bear, are a dragon on the waves, and you should be a true dragon."

Wu Mei nodded with a smile, suddenly remembering today's events, and said,

"By the way, Zhou Qingyun, today I met a Mingding Sanren from Qingzhou. He is your fellow countryman."

"Oh?"

Zhou Zhou Qingyun looked over with interest.

"Kun Dao or Qian Dao?"

"Qian Dao, and he looks quite handsome!"

"Where is he from?"

"He said he is from Yicheng."

"Yicheng, then he is from Mount Mount Tianzhu?"

Wu Mei shook her head,

"I didn't ask in such detail, but he is a very interesting person."

Zhou Zhou Qingyun was a bit curious hearing this. She knew her friend's taste; she rarely mentioned men actively, and even praised them for being interesting. She asked with a smile,

"How interesting is he?"

Wu Mei smiled,

"We met at the wine table. His wine is good, his taste in wine is good, and he can write poetry. Listen to me recite two lines for you."

Zhou Zhou Qingyun nodded with a smile.

"This person came from afar and wanted to settle in the White Dragon Flag. He passed the literary exam with a poem, 'Ode to White Dragon Flag Mountain,' which is:

Heavenly wind blows snow to turn into dragon scales, silver light pours down to shake the earth and tilt the mountains.

It should be the place where immortals plant jade, a floating cloud and wild crane visiting the Jade Capital.

How about it? Not bad, right? By the way, he calls himself Yunlai Mingding Sanren. Later, when drinking, he wrote a short poem to chant wine, which is:

Do not mock the turbid wine of the peasant's year-end, for in a bountiful year, guests are welcomed with plenty of chicken and pork.

Look, it can sing of the mountain's grandeur and praise the wine's simplicity; it has the interest of idle clouds and wild cranes, as well as the sentiment of the peasant's year-end wine. What do you think of it?

Zhou Zhou Qingyun looked at her friend's burning gaze and smiled,

"It's not bad. However, in my opinion, the charm of that grand poem is not as sincere as that short line."

Wu Mei clapped her hands and laughed, saying,

"Exactly! Exactly! Zhou Qingyun understands me best. It is precisely because of this short line that I think highly of him."

Zhou Zhou Qingyun nodded with a smile, but in her heart, she couldn't help but think of when she first met that person. She thought he was a thief and hid in the rosy light to watch him. At that time, she heard him chant a poem, chanting exactly her own Wenbi Peak. That poem, she was afraid she would never forget it,

The stone bones are angular and the atmosphere is unique, the coiled pines weave green and the brocade clouds spread.

A natural brush that produces flowers, writing all the strange peaks into the painting.

Zhou Zhou Qingyun recited it again in her heart and still felt that this poem was better. But this was also reasonable. That Qingzhou Mingding Sanren, unknown, how could he compare to him?

Wu Mei said again,

"In addition, I fought and sparred with him, and he broke my rosy light with sword fire. This is the most important thing; otherwise, I would just think he is a flowery pillow."

"Oh?"

This time Zhou Zhou Qingyun was really surprised. She knew her friend's ability. Someone actually broke her rosy light? So she asked repeatedly,

"How old is this person? An old Golden Core?"

Wu Mei shook her head,

"No, I said he looks quite handsome, and there is no old air in his gestures. Judging from his magical power, his realm is equivalent to ours. He is not an old monster who powders his face to pretend to be young."

"That is very extraordinary!"

Zhou Zhou Qingyun praised.

"That's why I came to ask you if there is such a person in Yicheng, Qingzhou, who calls himself Yunlai Mingding Sanren."

Zhou Zhou Qingyun frowned and thought for a while, then shook her head,

"I haven't heard of him. However, you also know that I was sent to Mount Emei when I was very young, and I only stayed on Mount Huangshan when I went back to visit relatives. I am really not familiar with people in Qingzhou."

"That's true."

Wu Mei nodded and said again,

"And his sword technique is very powerful, agile and swift, like wind wrapped in fire, difficult to grasp. I don't know what his background is."

Zhou Zhou Qingyun's heart jumped. How could she be so familiar with such a sword technique inheritance?

"And, when drinking and fighting with swords, Yan Renying was also there. Yan Renying also said that this sword technique looked familiar, but he couldn't remember the source for a moment."

Could it be...

An absurd thought suddenly appeared in Zhou Zhou Qingyun's mind: When fighting with swords in Baiyujing, he used the "Li Fire Rapid Sword Scripture," and Senior Brother Yan was present!

"What does that Yunlai Mingding Sanren you mentioned look like?"

Zhou Zhou Qingyun asked, pretending to be calm.

"Hmm?"

Wu Mei looked over curiously.

"Such a sword technique inheritance should not be simple. It may not be a simple Mingding Sanren. Tell me what he looks like. I'll see if he matches any Qingzhou fellow Daoists I know. Perhaps Yunlai Mingding Sanren is just a nickname he took on a whim."

"Oh, right."

Wu Mei nodded and recalled, then said,

"He is dressed like a hermit, in green clothes and a green robe, often holding a dust whisk in his hand, with a gentle face and a pair of apricot eyes."

Zhou Zhou Qingyun sighed in her heart, but then thought, where could there be such a coincidence? There are many agile and swift fire-attribute sword techniques in the world. Senior Brother Yan might have just met a similar one when fighting with others before and left this impression.

She must have thought of him because Wu Mei mentioned chanting poetry, which led her to further wild thoughts.

She pretended to think for a while, then shook her head again,

"There is indeed no match. However, there are many crouching tigers and hidden dragons in Yicheng. There were many Qi practitioners hiding and cultivating in Yicheng during the Qin and Han dynasties. It is not strange for a capable person to come out now."

"That's true."

Wu Mei nodded.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 253 =====