Chapter 4: Ten Thousand Tablets Facing Heaven Peaks

"What is your name?"

"Cheng Yunqi, the Cheng of Bo Fu, the Yunqi of floating clouds and mist."

Daoist Sukong nodded and said, "From now on, you are my registered disciple. If you can stick to the Dao heart and sect rules, and one day open your heart mansion and be recorded in the life register, you will be an entry disciple."

Although Yunqi didn't understand what a heart mansion was or what a life register was, he still nodded and said yes.

"You are registered under my name. If outsiders ask, you must be able to answer the origin of the Dharma lineage. Let me tell you, my Mount Sanqing was founded by Ancestor Ge Hong during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. It has been more than six thousand years and has passed down more than forty generations.

My Mount Mingzhi is one of the eight veins of the Lotus Blessed Land of Mount Sanqing. The first mountain master's surname was Zhan, secular name Biyun, Daoist name Shiming, and was a fourth-generation disciple. I am named Daoist Sukong, the twenty-fifth generation disciple. Counting from Ancestor Shiming, it has been passed down for twenty-one generations. If you can enter the sect, you will be of the Xin generation, the twenty-sixth generation member of Mount Sanqing."

Yunqi listened carefully and remembered them one by one in his heart.

"According to the rules in the mountain, registered disciples all live in the Ten Thousand Tablets Peaks. In the first ten days of each month, you can go to other peaks to listen to lectures. The 16th, 22nd, and 28th are days for sitting and discussing the Dao. When you go to Wan Hufeng, remember to get a class schedule. In addition, you need to come to Mount Mingzhi on the 9th to 15th of each month to check in and follow me to practice the Dao.

In my Daoist sect, anyone who gives lectures, you should call them 'Learning Master'. Only after you open your heart mansion and are recorded in the life register of my Mount Mingzhi can you call me 'Master'. Do you understand?"

Yunqi agreed.

"Today is the 11th. According to the rules, there will be lectures tomorrow. But considering that you have just entered the mountain gate and your Earth Soul has traveled outside, you don't need to come this month. Rest well. In addition, you need to read "Ten Thousand Years General History", "Yu Zhang Immortal Records", "Sanqing Records", "Twelve Main Meridians of Internal Alchemy", "Theory of Dao Body and Life Treasure", "Lingmingzi's Explanation of Yin-Yang and Five Elements", "Lingshu Classic", oh, and you also need to read "Daoist Sect Bans", "Sanqing Dharma Precepts", "Daoist Sect Regulations"."

Yunqi remembered them one by one, and Daoist Daoist Sukong felt she had said enough, so she let Yunqi wait in place for Daoist Jihu to pick him up, while she returned to her cave dwelling first.

Yunqi couldn't see it, but after Daoist Daoist Sukong turned around, a look of relaxation immediately appeared on her face, and she slowly let out a long breath.

Yunqi didn't know that from the moment he saw Daoist Jihu, his every move was clearly visible under Daoist Sukong's Mirror Flower and Water Moon technique. He was the first to step into the cliff, calm and composed on the cloud carriage, and didn't panic when he saw Lord Kuishan. After arriving at Mount Mingzhi, he was the first to step forward to accept the assessment.

Yunqi couldn't guess that he was the third person in the five thousand years since the founding of Mount Mingzhi to return his soul within two quarters of an hour and choose the bamboo staff to inhabit.

Yunqi just stood in place alone, looking around at the mountains, layer upon layer, full of green, only feeling the mountains were far and the sky was wide, his spirit was clear.

Not long after, Daoist Jihu returned.

"Congratulations to the young lay practitioner for stepping into the immortal mountain from now on. You will definitely be able to live long and have endless blessings."

Daoist Jihu smiled and bowed.

"I also have to thank the immortal elder for leading the way."

Yunqi replied.

But Daoist Jihu waved his hands repeatedly: "Since you have entered the mountain gate, the word 'immortal elder' must not be said casually. You just need to call me 'Daoist brother'. Moreover, you are registered under Master Yu Daoist Sukong. When you enter the sect one day, your seniority will be much higher than mine. By then, I will have to call you 'Little Daoist Master'!"

Yunqi didn't know how the seniority in the mountain was calculated, so he didn't speak, just smiled in agreement.

"Master Yu Daoist Sukong accepted a registered disciple for the second time, which is truly gratifying."

Yunqi asked: "Has the Learning Master accepted disciples before?"

"Yes, but I hadn't entered the sect at that time. I heard about it. Twenty-eight years ago, forty or fifty people came to Mount Mingzhi to accept the Master's assessment, but none of them could stay."

Daoist Jihu added: "Presumably Master Yu Daoist Sukong has already explained it to you. Now follow me to Wan Hufeng."

Yunqi naturally followed.

Daoist Jihu summoned two white clouds again, and the two stepped on them. Yunqi saw that Daoist Jihu was kind, so he tentatively asked:

"May I ask Daoist brother, when can I learn the ability to ride clouds and mist?"

Jihu laughed when he heard this: "Riding clouds is not a difficult thing. As long as you eat Qi, it is just a matter of drawing a talisman, or opening a cloud house or opening a water mansion, you can summon clouds and rain. If it really doesn't work, just spend money to buy it."

The Daoist was indeed friendly, and Yunqi became bolder: "Then may I ask what is eating Qi, what is a cloud house, and what is a water mansion? Just now Master Yu Daoist Sukong also said that I should open my heart mansion. What is that?"

Daoist Jihu still had a warm smile on his face, "Cloud house is the throat orifice, water mansion is also called kidney mansion, referring to the kidneys. Heart mansion is also called fire mansion, referring to the heart. These are the foundations of practice. After I send you to the place, borrow some books to read and you will know."

"Okay."

The two drove the white clouds and flew east along the East Heaven Road, feeling the wind brushing their faces. Yunqi frowned:

"Daoist brother, Wanhu Peaks are separated from Mount Mingzhi by the entire East Screen Mountain. If I rely on foot power to go to Mount Mingzhi, I am afraid I won't be able to get there in a few days and nights."

But Daoist Jihu laughed loudly: "Exactly, exactly. The Lotus Blessed Land is the farthest from Little Wan Mountain. If you are registered under the eight veins of the Blessed Land, running back and forth every day is the most exhausting. In the early days, the predecessors of the eight veins mostly lived in huts at the foot of the Blessed Land mountain when they were registered, and only returned to Little Wan Mountain after the monthly lectures."

But Cheng Yunqi breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good. If it's just at the foot of the mountain, I think it won't take too much time."

Hearing this, Daoist Jihu laughed again: "But living in a hut at the foot of the mountain is not as convenient as in Little Wan Mountain. Later, many people figured out many convenient methods, some of which are still in use today."

"I would like to hear the details."

"First, rent or buy a cloud carriage. The sect's Shouyin Mountain is good at making clouds, among which the step-carriage cloud can be used by mortals. You can buy or rent it. Second, rent cattle or cranes. The sect's Green Ox Palace and Huang He Cave have cattle and cranes that can be rented for riding."

"I don't know how the price is calculated?"

"Cloud carriages are hard to calculate. If you buy them, it costs at least a dozen taels of silver, and at most hundreds or thousands of taels. If you rent them, it costs a few Zhu of broken silver a month. Green oxen and yellow cranes also cost a few Zhu of broken silver a month, but the grass and fruit feed for the green oxen and yellow cranes must be borne by the individual."

Yunqi was puzzled, "Could it be that the outside world is the same as the secular world, also using silver as money?"

Jihu smiled and said: "Junior brother, you got it backwards. Naturally, people in the mountain first used gold, silver, and copper as money, and then the secular world also used gold, silver, and copper. However, the two are very different. The gold and silver of the secular world are dead things without spirituality. The gold and silver in the mountain are not only rare but also have miraculous uses. You don't have to ask more. "Cosmic Scenery", "Elements and Refined Gold Theory", "Talks on the Origin of the Three Treasures Furnace", these three books are from shallow to deep, enough for you to read."

Yunqi nodded, thinking that entering the immortal mountain is like a newborn baby, not understanding anything, so he thought he could only read books.

Between questions and answers, Wan Hufeng appeared in front of them. Dense stone peaks stood tall, truly like ten thousand tablets facing heaven, steep and abnormal. But if you look more at the green pines between the stones and the clouds and mist outside the peaks, you feel that these peaks are like bamboo shoots clustered on the green fields after the rain, full of vitality.

Closer, breaking through the clouds and mist, you can see countless pavilions and houses attached to the stone walls of the peaks, green, yellow, ochre, purple, colorful. The peaks are connected by aerial corridors, and pedestrians come and go like shuttles, which is very lively. The two docked at a mountain top on the east side of the peaks. A hanging wooden path extended from the edge of the cliff, straight into the clouds and mist, like a pier by a big lake.

"Eh, Xuhuai, why are you back? Yo, could this be the new junior brother?"

As soon as the two landed, they were seen by passersby, who immediately came up to greet them.

"Yes, I took a list from the Duwu Institute to pick up newcomers from outside the mountain for Master Yu Daoist Sukong of Mount Mingzhi, earning some silver. This is Cheng Yunqi, a registered disciple of Master Yu Daoist Sukong. Yunqi, this is Deng Wanchun, who entered the sect a few years later than me. He is a registered disciple of Toujian Mountain. Now his magic power is full, and opening the mansion is just a matter of time. Maybe he will leave the mountain in a few days."

Deng Wanchun was not tall, but he had thick eyebrows and big eyes, and looked very kind. Yunqi bowed, "I have seen Daoist brother Deng."

Deng Wanchun returned the salute, "So it is the new Daoist Master from Mount Mingzhi. If you have any questions, feel free to come to Jiyou Courtyard of Water Color Street to find me."

Yunqi said he didn't dare, "Daoist brother is joking, just call me Yunqi."

This person looked back at Daoist Jihu, "Xuhuai, it seems that the name given to you by Master Yu Jianci is really correct. Now looking at you from calm and generous, your voice is loud, where is the appearance of not being able to say two words in three days a few years ago."

Daoist Jihu suddenly blushed, "Why mention the past."

Deng Wanchun laughed, "I won't delay your business. When I open the mansion, I will invite you to drink."

After saying that, he left.

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Feng Jihu smiled and agreed, continuing to take Yunqi into the mountain.

The scenery in this mountain is slightly different from what Yunqi thought. Strange stones, weird cypresses, sea of clouds, and pine waves go without saying. But in this, houses and courtyards are lined up. Yunqi walked on the mountain road. On the right side of the mountain road are houses hanging on the cliff, and on the left are cave dwellings formed by digging into the mountain walls. Houses are in rows, and cave dwellings are in strings, like a market in the sky.

"I will take you to the Duwu Institute to choose a place to live and get some supplies."

The two walked tortuously on the mountain road, meeting many of Feng Jihu's acquaintances, all greeting with smiles. After hearing that Cheng Yunqi was a registered disciple of Mount Mingzhi, they all called him "Little Daoist Master" in unison, which made Yunqi quite embarrassed.

Arriving at a vermilion cave dwelling, a plaque hung above the gate, with the words "Duwu Institute, Wan Hufeng, Qian District 3" written on it. Walking in, it was a space like a karst cave, very large. There were many holes dug on the stone walls, with things inside. Opposite the door was a wooden case, and behind the wooden case sat an old Daoist dozing off.

"Daoist Master Yao!"

Feng Jihu called the old Daoist with a loud voice. The old Daoist looked at Feng Jihu and smiled, "It's you, the stuffy gourd, who is back."

"Daoist Master Yao, is there still a room empty in Bingkun's courtyard?"

"It's empty, it's empty. Isn't that the room you lived in back then? Except for you, no one else could stand Bingkun's snoring."

Feng Jihu smiled when he heard this, turned his head and asked Yunqi, "Yunqi, are you afraid of snoring?"

Cheng Yunqi shook his head, he didn't care about this.

"Then I recommend you choose Bingchen Courtyard on Lantern Street. It was my residence when I was registered. There are only two rooms in the courtyard. Now my best friend lives in the west room, and the east room is empty. What do you think?"

"Thank you, Daoist brother, for the arrangement."

Yunqi thanked him immediately, knowing that Feng Jihu was arranging for an acquaintance to bring him along.

Feng Jihu smiled, "Daoist Master Yao, this is a registered disciple of the new generation of Mount Mingzhi, named Cheng Yunqi. Please arrange for him to go to Bingkun's courtyard."

"Oh? It's Mount Mingzhi."

The old Daoist looked at Yunqi deeply, "Mount Mingzhi has always been mysterious in selecting disciples. It is rare to hear of anyone who hasn't opened the mansion. It seems that Wanhu Mountain has another Little Daoist Master."

The old Daoist said, took out a white jade green tassel waist pendant from the wooden drawer on the table, and placed it on the table.

"Little Daoist Master, report your name."

"Returning to the Daoist Master, the late student is Cheng Yunqi, the Cheng of Bo Fu, the Yunqi of the cloud Qi in the mountains."

"Stretch out your hand."

Yunqi did as he was told.

Only to see the old Daoist wiping his fingertips, taking out a drop of blood, and the Daoist used blood as ink and fingers as pens, writing several runes in the air, and then pinched the seal and hit it into the jade pendant.

Yunqi looked and saw several blood-colored runes growing inside the white jade pendant.

Feng Jihu explained on the side: "This is Yunli, written with your name. From now on, this waist jade is your proof in the sect. Keep it carefully."

Yunqi nodded and took the jade pendant.

"Okay, you go to the left seven cave to take the standard clothes and tools for registered disciples, one set of inner clothes, outer robe, hairpin, socks, shoes, and towel; then go to the right six cave to take two sets of casual clothes, choose the style yourself. When taking them, just stick the waist jade on the cave entrance."

Yunqi said yes, took the jade pendant and paced to the stone wall to look for it. The stone wall was full of small holes two feet square. There was light in the holes, but I don't know where it came from. There was a layer of gas film at the entrance of the hole, which was colorful under the light, like oil poured on the water surface.

Through the gas film, you can see the things in the hole, including crowns, robes, hairpins, etc. Besides daily clothes, the most are bottles, jars, and talisman paper.

Yunqi quickly came to the stone wall marked with left seven, randomly chose a near one, stuck the jade pendant on the gas film, the gas film dissipated immediately, and he hugged a stack of clothes from the hole, which were: a sky-blue Daoist robe, a stack of white inner clothes, an ebony Daoist hairpin, a pair of grass-yellow hemp shoes, and a white long towel.

Following the same pattern, he went to the right six stone wall. There were many more styles of clothes here, but Yunqi didn't delay for long. He quickly took two sets, which were:

An outer robe with silver dots and ink spots, a set of pure white inner clothes, a black carefree towel, a pair of cloud-patterned cloth shoes;

A lake-blue solid-colored outer robe, a set of light peach-colored inner clothes, a purple one-word towel, a pair of cloud-patterned cloth shoes.

Yunqi took the things, said goodbye to the old Daoist, and followed Daoist Jihu out.

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(End of this chapter) ===== CHAPTER 5 =====