Chapter 163: The world is in flux, with times of prosperity and decay (Thanks to the

Sixth Third Third Shixiong wants to settle down here; if he could get to know the County Magistrate, it would clearly be much easier, and it would also suit his lazy nature perfectly.

Of course, Sixth Third Third Shixiong is a legitimate successor of Mount Yishan. With his skills, since he has come to this Daoist temple, sooner or later, the powerful and wealthy in the city would come to visit him by reputation. This just saves him a lot of time at the beginning.

After some polite conversation, the County Magistrate finally revealed his purpose.

It turns out that he had just arrived at this post and felt that although this place was wealthy and prosperous, and relatively stable, the officialdom was full of undercurrents.

Even he couldn't be sure.

Presumably, these undercurrents had already reached him, but since they had just met, although he knew he was facing some people who practiced the Dao, he didn't say it explicitly, but instead asked about the situation in this area in a roundabout way.

This is exactly the skill Sixth Third Third Shixiong excels at.

But before the spirit-writing, he also said to the County Magistrate:

"The County Magistrate must know that the operation of things in the world and the cycle of cause and effect are like the sands of the Ganges, the number of which cannot be measured, and like the clouds in space, the changes of which cannot be imagined. Although the Spirit Ji Xianren can predict future events, how much of what the Spirit Ji Xianren says can be believed and how much should be believed must be weighed in your own heart."

"I understand, I understand."

Sixth Third Third Shixiong didn't say anything more. He took a winnowing basket from the main hall of the Daoist temple, spread a thin layer of rice on it, took an iron pen, hung it from the roof beam with a thin string, and let the tip of the pen touch the rice sand tray.

He lit three sticks of incense and called out sincerely:

"Spirit Ji Xianren, please come.

"Spirit Ji Xianren, please come.

"Spirit Ji Xianren, please come."

Compared to when they were at Fuqiu Peak, the time for calling and waiting was longer.

The County Magistrate had naturally seen spirit-writing and knew this magic, but when he felt the cool breeze blowing in the hall and saw that Sixth Third Third Shixiong was not holding the pen with his hand or the winnowing basket, and didn't even touch the pen, he knew that this Daoist priest's method of spirit-writing was different from the ordinary spirit-writing down the mountain.

Sure enough, after a moment of silence in the hall, the iron pen moved without wind, as if held and controlled by ghosts or gods.

It wrote a line of poetry on the sand tray made of the winnowing basket and rice:

"Heroes of the world each have their own hearts;

"In these troubled times, I climb to this height."

As soon as the County Magistrate saw these two lines of poetry, he was suddenly shocked, and then asked again: "This... this... I... I wonder if I may ask, what kind of trouble is it?"

Sixth Third Third Shixiong didn't speak, just smoothed out the sand tray made of rice, and the iron pen started moving again immediately.

"The grass on the plain grows lushly;

"Withering and flourishing with each passing year."

Little Xiao Shimei watched from the side in confusion, while Lin Jue was lost in thought, but the County Magistrate was even more panicked.

His body even started to tremble.

"This..."

The County Magistrate pointed at the rice tray with trembling fingers, and then turned to look at Sixth Third Third Shixiong, Seventh Third Third Shixiong, Lin Jue, and others.

The others didn't say anything.

Only Sixth Third Third Shixiong said with a smile:

"County Magistrate, don't look at me or ask me. This is what the Spirit Ji Xianren said, not what I, the poor Daoist, said. Spirit-writing has always been like this; it only makes spirit-poems and does not interpret the meaning of the poems. I, the poor Daoist, don't understand the meaning of the poems either; only the County Magistrate can interpret them yourself."

"This..."

"County Magistrate, have you forgotten what I, the poor Daoist, just said? Spirit-writing matters should not be fully believed."

"Yes, yes, yes..."

The County Magistrate then calmed down a little, but he treated Sixth Third Third Shixiong with even more awe and solemnity. After a moment, he cupped his hands and asked: "I wonder which immortal the Spirit Ji Xianren you invited is?"

Sixth Third Third Shixiong chuckled a few times:

"Those who practice spirit-writing in the world, when inviting a Spirit Ji Xianren, mostly borrow the names of ancient celebrities, sages, or even gods. The County Magistrate wouldn't think that the ones they invited are really the ghosts of those celebrities, sages, or gods, would you?"

"Isn't it?"

"If they really invited a Spirit Ji Xianren to answer questions and solve doubts, and tell the secrets of the past and present, the Spirit Ji Xianren wouldn't even dare to show their face, so how would they dare to reveal their real name?" Sixth Third Third Shixiong laughed, "It's just borrowing a famous name to make the world believe more and be more willing to open their purses."

"That... that makes sense."

"My Spirit Ji Xianren practices in the deep mountains and has a lifespan of a thousand years. I don't know the name either."

"So that's how it is..."

The County Magistrate then bowed to him and the sand tray again.

"I didn't bring much silver when I went out today. When I was on the street, I was conquered by the immortal arts of the Daoist's junior brother. In my amazement, I couldn't help but give it to the Daoist. Now my pockets are empty. I hope the Daoist will wait a moment, and I will send the reward for inviting the Spirit Ji Xianren today to the Daoist when I return."

"Sincerity is enough."

"I will come to visit again tomorrow."

The County Magistrate didn't even dare to ask further, just exchanged a few polite words with Sixth Third Third Shixiong, and then left in a hurry, feeling uneasy.

Many senior brothers watched his back.

Lin Jue was examining the sand tray and the iron pen, and suddenly asked: "Sixth Third Third Shixiong, has your Spirit Ji Xianren senior left?"

"Not yet."

"Why don't you ask the Spirit Ji Xianren for me too?"

"Hmm? Didn't you learn spirit-writing and have a Spirit Ji Xianren?"

"That Spirit Ji Xianren senior of mine has a cold temperament and told me not to disturb him all the time." Lin Jue smiled embarrassedly, "It just so happens that you invited a Spirit Ji Xianren, and since you're here, why not take this opportunity to ask."

"You!"

Sixth Third Third Shixiong couldn't help but laugh, and then said: "Then what do you want to ask? Ask."

"When Master was alive, he once told me that the weapons of bean soldiers change from small to large, so they become loose. If you want to forge divine weapons with this method, you must add golden essence to the spiritual gold. But I don't know where to find this golden essence." Lin Jue paused, "The Spirit Ji Xianren senior is knowledgeable and has great magical powers, so I would like to ask the Spirit Ji Xianren, where can I find top-quality golden essence?"

The Spirit Ji Xianren was silent for a moment, the iron pen still moved without wind, sliding across the winnowing basket and rice tray, making a rustling sound.

"In the northwest there is a high building;

"Up to the floating clouds it reaches."

Lin Jue leaned over to look carefully.

For the time being, he only saw the two characters "northwest".

Lin Jue recited it a few times, remembered it, and asked another question: "Is it in Huizhou and the surrounding areas of Jiangnan?"

"The mountains and rivers are vast and have no traces,

"The forest sea is vast and hard to find."

It seems it is not within this range.

Just when Lin Jue was greedy and wanted to ask a few more questions to investigate further, he saw the cool breeze blowing away the green smoke, and then the little coolness that was originally in the hall was gone. Lin Jue had learned spirit-writing, so he naturally knew—

This was the Spirit Ji Xianren not wanting to answer anymore and leaving directly.

"The Spirit Ji Xianren has left."

Sixth Third Third Shixiong said to him while packing up his things.

"It says the northwest direction. The next nearby temple is in Biluo County, which seems to be in the northwest direction of Qiuru." Second Third Third Shixiong said to him, "We will mostly be heading northwest later."

"Hmm."

Lin Jue nodded.

He thought that when the time came, he would invite the "Rebuttal Third Shixiong" again and ask him. The knowledge and experience of the "Rebuttal Third Shixiong" were definitely not inferior to the Spirit Ji Xianren senior of Sixth Third Third Shixiong's family. This time, he took advantage of Sixth Third Third Shixiong still being here to quickly take the opportunity to ask his Spirit Ji Xianren senior.

Later in the evening, the servant of the Qiuru County Magistrate came to knock on the door and sent ten taels of silver, saying it was to thank Sixth Third Third Shixiong for solving his doubts today, a small token of his appreciation.

Lin Jue sat on the cushion in the courtyard, pondering the meaning of the two poems written by Sixth Third Third Shixiong's Spirit Ji Xianren.

"Heroes of the world each have their own hearts; in these troubled times, I climb to this height...

"The grass on the plain grows lushly; withering and flourishing with each passing year..."

In his mind, he suddenly recalled what he and Little Xiao Shimei heard those two immortals say on Tiandou Peak.

The "withering and flourishing with each passing year" mentioned in the poem clearly does not refer to the change of seasons, but to the change of dynasties.

The change of dynasties is also like the change of seasons, unstoppable, unchangeable, and has its own laws to follow. It is not that one needs the ability to foresee future events to know it; knowledgeable people can all see through it.

Speaking of the heroes of the world and this place, Lin Jue recalled a long time ago, when he and Third Third Third Shixiong returned from the Great Offering at Mingjiu Mountain and passed by Qiyun Mountain, the Prefect of Huizhou also went to Qiyun Mountain and was solemnly received by Daoist Lingqing of the Profound Heaven Temple. I don't know what they talked about.

In short, these two lines of spirit-poetry clearly spoke to the heart of this County Magistrate Gao, and perhaps they coincided with his own guesses, which is why he was so shocked.

Regardless, it was easy for Sixth Third Third Shixiong to take root here.

"Junior brother, do you think that after Sixth Third Third Shixiong came down from Mount Yishan and settled here, he will be able to spread his branches and leaves in the future and spread his immortal name in the local area?"

Lin Jue was pondering, and this sudden voice almost startled him. He looked back and saw that it was Seventh Third Third Shixiong, who was also carrying a cushion and walking from behind, talking as he walked.

The fox beside him sniffed.

Lin Jue also sniffed.

He smelled a little bit of powder again.

"Who knows? Anyway, except for Third Third Third Shixiong, every senior brother will be like this. From now on, their lives will be in their own hands, and the chapters of the future will be decided by themselves. Perhaps the deeds of some Daoist or immortal that will be passed down through the ages will start from here." Lin Jue said.

"The deeds of some Daoist or immortal that will be passed down through the ages will start from here..." Seventh Third Third Shixiong savored his words and couldn't help but laugh, "Junior brother really knows how to talk."

"There are even better things to say."

"What?"

Lin Jue imitated the tone of First Third Third Shixiong: "Seventh Third Third Shixiong, go to those places of wind and moon less often."

"?"

Seventh Third Third Shixiong was stunned for a moment, then smiled, just pretending not to hear it. He also put down the cushion and sat down, sighing: "Staying here with Sixth Third Third Shixiong for a few days, I guess there won't be much time to spend together."

"A few more days."

"I really can't bear to part."

"Yes..."

Lin Jue knew that before he and Little Xiao Shimei went up the mountain, he and Sixth Third Third Shixiong were the youngest, so naturally, their relationship was the deepest.

After thinking for a while, he said:

"Seventh Third Third Shixiong, why don't you take advantage of this time on the road to teach me your method of taking objects from the air!"

"Hmm?"

Seventh Third Third Shixiong was stunned by his sudden change of topic:

"I still want to ask, when did you learn that trick of making wood bloom!"

"That's not a trick, it's a very powerful magic. Thanks to the Azure Emperor for giving me good fortune, I learned it." Lin Jue said to him, "But it can also be used as a trick. It just so happens that it is also very powerful for fighting. If Seventh Third Third Shixiong likes it, I can teach it to Seventh Third Third Shixiong, so that in the future, when walking in the world, you will have a way to protect yourself."

"Is there enough time?"

"I have already written it down."

"Hmm?" Seventh Third Third Shixiong was surprised, then smiled, "Then I will teach you the method of taking objects from the air first. If you learn it quickly and have time, I can teach you other things."

"Okay."

Lin Jue sat up straight.

"This method of mine for taking objects from the air is very mysterious. No matter how much you use it when you are fighting in the world, the mystery and difficulty of this magic are probably higher than most of the magic you have seen. But most of such mysterious magic secretly matches our Yin-Yang spiritual law mysteries. Little Junior Third Shixiong, you have great talent, so I think you won't fail to learn it."

Lin Jue had learned magic from Seventh Third Third Shixiong before, which was the lamp-lighting technique that was often used. Perhaps this was not a skill good for fighting, but it was an extremely practical magic.

On many nights of reading by the lamp or writing hard by the bonfire, he relied on this magic to get through.

Seeing Seventh Third Third Shixiong's specialty "method of taking objects from the air" this morning, he was amazed in his heart. Now, taking advantage of the fact that they hadn't parted on the road, he wanted to learn another one.

At this time, he naturally listened attentively. ===== CHAPTER 164 =====