Chapter 40: Old Daoist of Xianyuan Temple Lectures on Scriptures

"Third Shixiong brother!

"Third Shixiong brother!"

A fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl was climbing up the mountain. Because the mountain terrain was too steep, she had to use both hands and feet. She did not have the reserve of other young girls of her age at the foot of the mountain, nor was she as weak as them. She shouted while climbing up the mountain quickly, and actually climbed quite fast.

Suddenly, a vast expanse appeared before her eyes; she had already reached the top of the mountain.

"Third Shixiong brother!"

The girl straightened her upper body and looked around.

Although the peak of Fuqiu Shanfeng was not as narrow as some other dangerous peaks, it did not have a large area either, and she saw it all at a glance—

There were only some miscellaneous trees and chaotic stones around, and an exceptionally large and strange ancient pine tree; there was nothing else.

Oh, there was also something.

It was a fox cub the size of a palm on the ground. Such a small cub grew very fast, and in a few days, it had changed a lot. At this time, it was sitting honestly, its tail swinging left and right, looking up and staring at her.

"Not here?"

Wasn't it said to be here?

The little girl was a bit puzzled, just as she was about to walk down, she saw that little fox cub sitting on the ground, so she was even more puzzled.

"Where is senior brother?"

As soon as the voice fell, she saw a person actually walking out from the ancient pine tree.

It was precisely the junior senior brother she was looking for.

"Hm?"

The little girl was stunned on the spot, looked at Lin Jue, and then looked at the ancient pine tree that was thicker than a person: "Third Shixiong brother, how, how did you come out from the tree?"

oC〇

"Method of wood escape."

Lin Jue said to her straightforwardly.

If it had been when he first arrived at this Daoist temple, he might have avoided this little girl, or warned her not to tell Master and the senior brothers. However, after staying for a few days, he almost knew what the traditions of this Daoist temple were and what kind of personalities his Master and senior brothers had.

These Daoists were too lazy to care about these things.

Leisure and detachment, and being leisurely oneself were the most important.

At the same time, the Fuqiu Temple absolutely did not have a rule that disciples in the temple could not practice other spells or could not practice spells from other places. Otherwise, Daoist Yunhe would not have asked him to learn spells from the master of the Xianyuan Temple, and the Fuqiu Temple would not have had other spells besides those seven original spells.

Lin Jue could almost guess that after he joined the Fuqiu Temple, he would probably spend most of his time on the mountain, and he would not have much opportunity to come into contact with other spells in these few years. Just this one was really fine.

This spell also needed practice and continued realization.

Lin Jue had just learned it, his performance was not stable, and he was not free enough to use it. He needed to adjust his state of mind to escape into the tree. At the same time, perhaps because of the spiritual aura in the "Earth-Wood Essence" and peach gum, Lin Jue could move freely between living wood and dead wood from the beginning. However, he was not free to move in the tree; there was resistance, it was very strenuous, and if he wanted to hide in the tree, the tree must be wider than him, otherwise the part of his body that was extra would be exposed.

It was said that if one practiced to a high level, one did not need to care about the difference between the shape of the tree and one's own shape. Even if it was a tree as thick as a bowl, or a flat door panel or wall panel, one could hide in it.

The most important point was that Lin Jue could not breathe when he was hiding in the tree now.

Therefore, he could not stay for long.

This point was quite fatal.

In fact, Lin Jue had almost known by now that this spell was related to both talent and nature. It was not something that could be practiced smoothly just by effort. Even though he was very cautious when chopping firewood, he never destroyed grass and trees for no reason, but he could only practice to a high level at most. There was almost no possibility of practicing to the legendary state of moving by borrowing the root system of grass and trees and the branches and leaves that were in contact with each other.

This was also normal.

There were countless spells in the world, and countless people. Everyone had their own strengths. How could one person have top-tier talent in every direction? Moreover, time and energy were not enough.

Lin Jue was already satisfied.

However, he also had to practice.

And this kind of practice, over a long period of time, could not be hidden from the senior brothers and Daoist Yunhe in the temple.

Since this was the case, why cover it up?

"Junior sister, have you ingested the 'Earth Element spiritual aura' I gave you?"

"I have ingested it. After ingesting it, there was a wonderful feeling, as if I had many dreams. Master said that when I start learning 'Jishi', the benefits of these realizations will be reflected."

"That's good."

"Third Shixiong brother, I came to find you to tell you that Master just told me that the master of the Xianyuan Temple, Daoist Wangji, is lecturing to his newly received disciples today, and asked us to go and listen."

"Good! When?"

"Master said we don't need to go back, we will go directly there. He has already discussed it with the master of the Xianyuan Temple." The junior sister said hurriedly, "He asked a crow to show us the way, and told me to call you."

After speaking, she patted her satchel:

"I have already brought the food on the road. It's a bit far, we have to walk fast."

"Then let's go."

Lin Jue looked back at the little fox, then followed the junior sister down the mountain.

Sure enough, there was a crow standing on the branch below. Seeing the two people and one fox come down, it immediately flapped its wings and flew up, flying along the road people could walk, leading them to the Xianyuan Temple.

Mount Yishan was very large, with a width of dozens of miles from east to west, and even nearly a hundred miles from north to south. There were more than a hundred mountain peaks that could be named, and there were quite a few Daoist temples. The Xianyuan Temple was relatively close, but it was uphill and downhill, and the road was difficult to walk, so it was also very time-consuming and energy-consuming.

The two people and one fox were almost running.

The little girl had a very lively personality and was already familiar with her senior brother. Even though they were walking so fast, she still had things to say.

"Third Shixiong brother, look, there is a pine tree there, one side is green and the other is red! Do you know? Yesterday third senior brother told me that it was touched by the messenger of the Mountain Lord. The place touched by the messenger will turn red."

"Maybe he was drunk."

"Oh..."

The mountain terrain was steep, and soon they were panting.

The Xianyuan Temple also appeared before them.

This was a dangerous and beautiful mountain peak, as if it were painted by a freehand painter in a landscape painting, but in this weather when the rain and mist had just stopped, this mountain walked into reality under the clouds and mist. He did not know if it was often like this or if the two of them were lucky, but there was a circle of colorful light hanging on the sun above their heads, making it look even more like a fairyland.

There was a group of buildings on the mountain, not a courtyard-style Daoist temple like the Fuqiu Temple, but palaces and pavilions scattered on the mountainside, connected by stone steps, which was quite imposing.

At this time, there was incense smoke curling in the temple, mixed with clouds and mist, hard to distinguish from each other.

"So big."

The junior sister could not help but say.

After speaking, she turned her head and explained to the senior brother beside her:

"Master said that the Xianyuan Temple is the largest hidden Daoist temple in Mount Yishan. They have recruited many disciples, but they are just cultivating, and there are basically no incense pilgrims from the foot of the mountain coming to offer incense."

"Then let's go."

Lin Jue stepped forward and walked forward.

The gate of the Xianyuan Temple was open, and Daoists wearing Daoist robes were entering and leaving inside. Lin Jue and the junior sister's Daoist robes had not been made yet, and they only wore ordinary clothes. These Daoists were very strange when they saw them, and they did not think they were incense pilgrims coming to offer incense in the temple.

It was just that Mount Yishan was remote, and this was deep in Mount Yishan. These Daoists established a Daoist temple here just to cultivate with peace of mind. Let alone incense pilgrims, even people who loved mountains and rivers would find it very difficult to walk here.

"The two of you are..."

"Daoist friend, compassion." Lin Jue saw that the Daoist who spoke was also very young, so he returned the salute, "We are newly received disciples of the Fuqiu Temple, and we are on good terms with your temple. I heard that the master of your temple is lecturing to new disciples today, so our Master asked us to visit and listen."

"Daoist friends of the Fuqiu Temple, the master is lecturing over here, I will take you there."

"Thank you, Daoist brother."

Since others were enthusiastic and polite, Lin Jue changed his address.

"Thank you, Daoist brother!"

The junior sister almost learned his tone.

So the two followed this young Daoist forward for more than ten *zhang*, and then walked up along a stone step on the left, arriving in front of a large hall.

The hall door was also open, and blue smoke was curling inside.

In the hall, more than ten meditation cushions were laid on the ground, and more than ten little Daoists were sitting, most of whom were also ten or so years old, and there were also two or three who were twenty or so, all wearing brand-new Daoist robes. An old man sat in front, answering the questions of many little Daoists unhurriedly.

"The Dao is mysterious, and yet not mysterious. The reason for all things is naturally the Dao. Since you were born into the world, what you see and hear, the Dao is everywhere around you. But to understand the Dao, it is difficult."

The old Daoist looked younger than Daoist Yunhe.

"Master, can you start lecturing on the Dao?"

"You brat! How can you be anxious when cultivating the Dao? You must know that this is the thing in the world that is most eager for success but fails to achieve it." The old Daoist said, looking at the three people outside, "I said there were other Daoist temple disciples who hadn't come, what can you do if you wait patiently for a while? Moreover, isn't this here?"

That young Daoist who led Lin Jue and the other one stood at the door, performed a salute, called the master, and then said: "Two Daoist friends from the Fuqiu Temple have come to visit, saying they are here to listen to the master lecture on the Dao."

Lin Jue also hurriedly stood at the door and saluted inside.

"Seen Daoist Master Wangji."

"Seen Daoist Master Wangji."

The old Daoist's eyebrows stood up, but he asked: "Are only the two of you coming?"

Obvious dissatisfaction could be heard in his voice.

"Only the two of us."

Lin Jue stood outside and answered.

"Humph! In the past, when disciples of your Fuqiu Temple came to listen, at least the first time they came, the master would follow them once to be polite. Now, does that old Daoist Yunhe not even want to walk these few steps?"

The junior sister lowered her head and listened, feeling something was wrong. She stood at the door for a while, not knowing what to do, so she had to turn her eyeballs and steal a glance at her senior brother.

"Master's health is not good."

Lin Jue was also somewhat unsure.

"Hm? What's going on? Since you're here, why are you standing at the door talking? Come in and sit down!"

The old Daoist waved his sleeves, fanning the blue smoke in the hall.

More than ten little Daoists all turned around and looked at these two Daoists from other Daoist temples who had kept them waiting for so long. Some were curious, some were displeased, some felt why they didn't even wear Daoist robes, and some were somewhat unfriendly because of their master's attitude.

Lin Jue led the junior sister into the hall.

There happened to be two empty meditation cushions.

Lin Jue knew they were left for them, so he walked over with the junior sister and sat down.

"Why did your Daoist temple recruit two disciples this time? Didn't you recruit one and then be full?" Daoist Wangji continued to ask.

"I don't know either, it's fate."

"What fate? Isn't it just having a pair of good eyes? How is your master now? Is it really that he can't even walk a few steps?"

"To tell the truth, Daoist Master, since Master returned to the Daoist temple, his health has indeed looked worse and worse."

Lin Jue chose to answer truthfully.

Perhaps sincerity was the best way to respond. The dissatisfaction in Wangji's voice should have been there, but when he heard this, he fell silent, and then sighed:

"It's really self-inflicted!"

"..."

"He was too impatient in his cultivation when he was young, his Yin and Yang were unbalanced, but he was greedy for progress and delayed consuming time to adjust. When he got old, he naturally left the root of the disease. I heard that he went to visit an old friend a few months ago, and probably forcibly raised some spiritual energy. Now that he has returned to the Daoist temple, his spiritual energy has declined, and plus he saw that old friend, his heart's wish was fulfilled, so he naturally waited for death.

"This is also the reason why he asked you to come to me to listen to my lecture.

"If he can't even cultivate himself well, how can he lecture to others?"

Wangji said, paused, and did not forget to warn the little Daoists below:

"Among you, there are also some who are impatient in temperament, so you must take it as a warning. Remember, no matter what, Yin and Yang cannot be unbalanced. You must know that Yin-Yang imbalance is the cultivation method of monsters and spirits. If humans learn it, there will definitely be future troubles."

There was a chorus of agreement from below.

Lin Jue could not help but turn his head to look at the junior sister. It happened that the junior sister was also turning her head to look at him. Her face was white and clean, her features were delicate, and her eyes were wide open, but she always felt a bit dull.

The two looked at each other, knowing the reason why their master's health was not good, and also kept Wangji's warning in mind.

"Enough idle talk. Today, I will lecture to you about the five kinds of Qi of heaven and earth and the Yin-Yang spiritual aura. The two from the Fuqiu Temple, listen carefully to me too. How much you can get depends entirely on you."

Daoist Wangji sat cross-legged and waved his sleeves.

The little Daoists below kept looking at Lin Jue and the junior sister, and when they heard the sound, they immediately sat up straight, posing as if they were listening attentively, but there were still people moving their attention to them, not knowing whether they were looking at Lin Jue or the quite delicate and fair junior sister. ===== CHAPTER 41 =====