Chapter 530: The Invitation of the Ancestor Hall

The location of the Shuiyue Nunnery was indeed somewhat secret.

Although it was at the foot of Mount Qingcheng, it was far from the official road and surrounded by towering bamboo forests; if no one pointed the way, it would truly be hard to find.

This was normal.

After all, this was a nunnery, where female practitioners lived, and they didn't need offerings from commoners; what they sought was tranquility.

In the winter season, the snow had just cleared.

The roof of the nunnery was covered in pristine white snow, and crystal icicles hung from the eaves.

Among the bamboo forest, branches hung low, the accumulated snow bending the bamboo leaves, and occasional light breezes caused snow dust to fall with a rustling sound.

The small path was covered in snow, with only a few shallow footprints leading to the quiet nunnery gate.

Inside the Shuiyue Nunnery, the snow in the courtyard had not melted, a vast expanse of white, with a few wintersweet plum trees standing proudly in the snow, appearing even more secluded and serene.

The main gate of the nunnery hall was half-closed, and warm light shone through the cracks.

Green lamps and ancient Buddhas, the sound of wooden fish—all was peaceful.

Not far from the Shuiyue Nunnery, in a pavilion surrounded by bamboo forests, a small red clay stove boiled tea, and some simple snacks were laid out.

In the pavilion, besides Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan, there were the elderly Lady Bai and Master Xiaoyue; cooking tea in the snow was quite elegant.

"Apologies, it's not convenient to invite you two inside the nunnery hall."

Master Xiaoyue nodded with a smile, explaining the reason.

"Master, please don't be so formal."

Li Yan cupped his hands. "We have already delivered the letter of introduction up the mountain and have come to disturb you briefly before we leave."

Some things could be seen at a glance.

Although life in the Shuiyue Nunnery was austere, these women of the Bai family were very adaptable, needing no contact with outsiders, finding joy in their own tranquility.

Master Xiaoyue smiled faintly and said, "It was my intention to send word for you to come early."

"The heavy snow has sealed the mountains, and the roads are difficult; it wasn't originally the best time to head up, but Mount Qingcheng has just stabilized, and there will be many rituals from the twelfth lunar month to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and it will be even busier after the start of the year."

"It's better to get some things done early."

"Master is right."

Li Yan also nodded in agreement. "We are not very familiar with the situation on Mount Qingcheng, so I ask that you please enlighten us, Master."

This was the purpose of his visit.

Although he had met Ming Shanzi at Jianfu Palace, that person considered problems more from the Cheng family's perspective.

Some words could not be fully trusted, and some things were not easy to ask.

The Shuiyue Nunnery was relatively transcendent, and with the connection of the elderly Lady Bai, some things could be asked clearly face-to-face.

Master Xiaoyue nodded slightly. "Since you were introduced by me, you should naturally be arranged properly, otherwise it would be hard to answer to Feng Feng Shixiong Yu Chanzi."

"Mount Qingcheng has an ancient heritage, with generations of high-ranking Mystic Sect practitioners coming here to practice; although they are all of one school, there are quite a few traditions left behind."

"There is the Orthodox School of the Celestial Master; back then, the Celestial Master Zhang preached on the mountain, so Qingcheng is also the ancestral home of the Celestial Master School. They have a close relationship with Long Hu Mountain..."

"There is the Shangqing School, passed down by Du Guangting, mostly practicing at the Shangqing Palace..."

"There is the Qingwei School, formed in the Northern Song Dynasty, specializing in thunder arts. It was extremely prosperous during the Southern Song Dynasty, producing several generations of sect leaders; Huang Shunshen was even titled 'Thunder Abyss Vast Fortune Universal Transformation Immortal'..."

"There is the Dan-Cauldron Ziyang School. Passed down by the Ziyang Immortal Zhang Boduan when he entered Shu, it has already united with the Quanzhen Longmen School."

"Currently, the largest on Mount Qingcheng is the Quanzhen Longmen School, belonging to the Dantai Bidong lineage of the Quanzhen Longmen School, which has the best relationship with Wudang. The new sect leader, Chen Kongzi, comes from this school... There are also many other small traditions."

"You have Feng Feng Shixiong Yu Chanzi's handwritten letter, so you should receive courteous treatment after heading up the mountain, and no one will deliberately make things difficult for you. But you should know who is close and who is distant, as some people have practiced in seclusion for years and have somewhat strange temperaments."

"That's good."

Li Yan breathed a sigh of relief and asked again, "What about the Cheng family?"

Master Xiaoyue smiled. "The Cheng family is the Cheng Jianxian lineage of Qingcheng, passed down from the ancient immortal Ning Fengzi, and later flourished under Li Yibai; they were the leaders of the sword practitioners on the mountain and were originally the biggest variable, but now they have voluntarily stepped down, which has calmed the disputes."

"The Cheng Jianxian suppressed the Shu region for decades; although his merit is great and his prestige heavy, the younger generation of the Cheng family has no outstanding individuals. Only by getting rid of the old and bringing in the new can Qingcheng welcome further development."

"That Fire Head-Monk was invited up the mountain by the Cheng Jianxian back then. Since you have established a relationship with the Cheng family, he will certainly be attentive when refining artifacts."

"Therefore, now is the best time to head up. When the kilns open next year, Long Hu Mountain, Wudang Mountain, and Maoshan Mountain will all send people, and they will inevitably have their own agendas, which will surely drag you into the middle of it."

"Many thanks for your guidance, Master."

Li Yan cupped his hands solemnly in thanks.

Outsiders would not know these things. Knowing them, he would have a foundation when heading up the mountain and would not say the wrong things and offend people.

"It is only right."

Master Xiaoyue nodded slightly, stood up, and said, "You chat; the time has come, and I must go to lecture on the scriptures to the disciples."

After seeing off Master Xiaoyue, the elderly Lady Bai spoke, recounting the general situation of the Bai family members, and then said solemnly, "Yan'er is practicing on the Great Snow Mountain, and I have already sent people to follow and protect her."

"You don't need to go and disturb her. At the beginning of spring, when the hibernating insects begin to stir, that will be the day she breaks through the barrier. If she succeeds, she will go to meet you."

"If she fails... I will choose a grave on the Great Snow Mountain to bury her."

Li Yan's heart trembled upon hearing this. "So dangerous?"

Back when they fought with several earth immortals, Long Yan'er had destroyed her own natal Gu to buy him time; he had thought she had only lost her cultivation, so how could there be a life-threatening danger?

The elderly Lady Bai was silent for a moment, shook her head, and sighed, "The path of cultivation is inherently difficult, and everyone has their own fate. This child seems easygoing, but she is actually miserable and stubborn."

"In the future, I hope you will take good care of her while she is with you."

"That is only natural."

Li Yan nodded solemnly in agreement.

…………

After bidding farewell to the elderly Lady Bai, the two turned again to head up the mountain.

With the guidance, they didn't get lost this time.

They ascended the snow-covered mountain path, seeing jade-carved ice sculptures on the cliffs, as if naturally formed, with pine and cypress trees on both sides weighed down by snow, branches hanging low.

The serenity of the mountains and the coldness of the ice and snow were perfectly integrated.

Ordinary people heading up the mountain might only see the beautiful scenery, but they had already awakened their supernatural powers and could feel the circulation of the innate gang-qi, a magnificent sight.

"Squeak, squeak!"

Not long after passing the mountain gate, they saw a flash of gold jumping among the snow forest—it was a golden monkey.

Like an elf in the snow, it shuttled between the pine and cypress trees.

"Is this the lay practitioner Li from Shanzhou?"

A clear voice rang out from afar, and then a middle-aged man in a blue Daoist robe, sleeves fluttering, appeared to be walking on air, drifting over from the snowy path on the mountain.

What fine light-body martial arts!

Seeing this, Li Yan couldn't help but praise inwardly.

He could tell that this person wasn't using supernatural arts, but purely explosive force, allowing him to travel across the slippery snowy path faster than skiing.

Swish!

After the Daoist stood still, the agile golden monkey also jumped down, landing on his shoulder, chewing on fruit and curiously observing them.

Its eyes were agile, clearly having long possessed spiritual intelligence.

"Greetings to the two lay practitioners."

After confirming their identities, the Daoist offered a salute and smiled. "I am Ling Yunzi, the 'Guest Greeter' on the mountain, and I have been ordered by the sect leader to welcome you two here."

"Guest Greeter" was a grassroots position in Daoist temples, responsible for receiving guests, arranging accommodation, and handling daily affairs.

Those who held this position had to be humble, polite, dignified, knowledgeable about affairs, and well-versed in human feelings. Especially to be a "Guest Greeter" in a place like Mount Qingcheng, it wasn't just about being able to talk; after several years of experience, they could often climb to higher positions.

"Many thanks, Daoist."

Li Yan and his companion dared not underestimate him and returned the salute in thanks.

"You two, please don't be formal; please follow me."

This Daoist Ling Yunzi was graceful, and not only did his speech make people feel favorable, but his martial arts and cultivation were also quite good.

Walking on the steep and slippery mountain path as if on flat ground, he introduced things to the two as they walked.

"From here, you can reach the back mountains of Qingcheng, where there are secluded valleys and springs, the Hundred-Zhang Bridge, and the Long Yin Ancient Plank Road; the scenery is secluded, strange, and mysterious. You can go visit when you have time, though the roads are not easy to walk in snowy weather..."

"From here, you can reach the Yuqing Palace, the Shangqing Palace, and the Laojun Temple on the Laoxiao Peak, the first peak of Qingcheng..."

"The Blessed Land of the Cave Heaven is relatively far, over at Zhao Gong Mountain, which is said to be the place where Zhao Gongming lived in seclusion. If you want to practice and build a tower, you can explain in advance so arrangements can be made..."

"We are heading up the mountain; may we pay a visit to Sect Leader Chen Kongzi?"

"Of course, the sect leader is at the Ancestor Hall; I will take you two there now."

(Please... collect...!)

On Mount Qingcheng, mountain paths of all sizes crisscrossed, but with Ling Yunzi leading the way, and the three having extraordinary foot speed, they moved very quickly.

However, Li Yan also discovered something fishy.

This Ling Yunzi seemed to be intentionally taking them on a detour.

It wasn't out of malice, but when they reached certain places, he would use the excuse of sightseeing to deliberately bypass them.

Feeling the tremor of the hook-token in his robes, Li Yan already understood.

Presumably, earth immortals were living in seclusion in these places on Mount Qingcheng.

Of course, he didn't point it out, pretending not to notice, and under Ling Yunzi's guidance, they headed deep into the mountains.

Similar to Mount Wudang, Mount Qingcheng was also dotted with Daoist temples of all sizes, and occasionally they would encounter patrolling Daoists, as well as people meditating and practicing sword arts on the snow-covered plains.

The snow scenery covered the mountains, and the sword light was hidden in the clouds and mist, not like the mortal world.

Even with the foot speed of the three, it took a full hour before they saw a huge palace complex, backed by high mountains, with a stream in front, and towering pine and cypress trees on both sides, covered in snow, appearing very secluded.

"This place is the Ancestor Hall."

Ling Yunzi smiled and introduced, "This place was first built in the Jin Dynasty, originally named Dongtian Temple, and later renamed Ancestor Hall. Xue Chang, Du Guangting, and Princess Yuzhen all practiced Dao here."

As he spoke, he pointed to a pavilion with an ancient shape in the distance. "That is the Asking Dao Pavilion; legend has it that back then, the Yellow Emperor asked the Dao from the Immortal Ning Fengzi ancestor right there."

"Qingcheng is truly extraordinary..."

Li Yan smiled and nodded, praising it.

To tell the truth, although the Asking Dao Pavilion looked ancient, how could a building from the time of the Yellow Emperor be preserved?

It was most likely built by later generations for commemoration.

What made him feel good was the place chosen by the Qingcheng Sect Leader.

On Mount Qingcheng, there were many palaces.

Although the Ancestor Hall had a secluded environment, its area was not large. If Mount Qingcheng were to receive guests, they would mostly choose places like the Shangqing Palace or the Yuqing Hall.

And the Ancestor Hall worshipped the True Martial Great Emperor and the Eight Immortals.

They were heading up the mountain with a letter of introduction from Yu Chanzi, and the new sect leader, Chen Kongzi, choosing to meet here clearly had his own deep meaning.

Inside the Ancestor Hall temple, there were not many Daoists, only a few disciples seen meditating in the scripture hall, and one person was waving a large broom, sweeping away the accumulated snow.

"Please enter, you two."

Arriving outside the True Martial Hall, Ling Yunzi whispered, "The sect leader is inside; I will wait for you outside."

Li Yan and his companion nodded and walked into the True Martial Hall with broad strides.

This True Martial Hall was not large, and with the overcast winter sky, plus the towering pine and cypress trees in the temple, the light was somewhat dim.

Only in front of the True Martial Great Emperor's statue was a Daoist adding incense; his figure was tall, wearing a jade crown and a black and white Daoist robe.

After the two entered the hall, the other party also happened to turn around.

A sect leader is the face of a sect; since ancient times, those who could serve as sect leaders, besides cultivation and attainment, also had requirements for their appearance.

The Chen Kongzi before them was the same.

The other party looked a bit younger than Yu Chanzi; although he was over fifty, his hair was still jet black, his skin fair, his eyes bright, and his long black beard hung to his chest, possessing quite the bearing of an immortal.

Seeing this, Li Yan couldn't help but praise inwardly.

This person's appearance was actually somewhat like Lu Dongbin's.

Inside the True Martial Hall, one could also suppress supernatural powers; Li Yan could not feel the other party's cultivation, but those who could serve as sect leaders were at least at the Sixth Floor.

"Greetings to the sect leader."

The two dared not be negligent and cupped their hands in salute together.

"No need for formalities."

Chen Kongzi smiled slightly. "Feng Feng Shixiong Yu Chanzi and I were close friends who traveled the martial world together when we were young."

"He had already sent word to me before, but because there were many things on the mountain, I didn't have time to send someone to invite you two."

After inviting the two to sit and having a young Daoist serve tea, Chen Kongzi continued to ask, mainly asking about some things on Wudang Mountain.

After chatting for a while about family matters, Chen Kongzi's expression changed, becoming serious. "Feng Feng Shixiong Yu Chanzi's letter mainly mentioned Zhao Changsheng; this monster is causing chaos in the human world and must be eradicated as soon as possible!"

"I have also heard a little about the news on the road since you came all the way from Ezhou. Have you found any clues?"

"The Dragon-Worshipping Sect, the Shu Prince's Mansion!"

Li Yan said in a deep voice, "Behind Zhao Changsheng is not just one person, but he also went to the Shu Prince's Mansion with another criminal, the Qin Dynasty alchemist Lu Sheng, after which the Shu Prince's temperament changed drastically, and he developed a desire for longevity..."

He didn't hide it either, telling everything he knew.

Of course, he hid some things.

For example, Lu Sheng's plotting for the Nine Cauldrons and the calamity of the Erlang True Monarch's reincarnation.

These were too important.

Unless he could be sure that this Chen Kongzi was trustworthy.

"So there's this matter..."

Chen Kongzi heard this, stroked his beard slightly, and said, "Qingcheng has already sent people to join forces with Emei and Guangde Temple to encircle and suppress the Dragon-Worshipping Sect. If we can catch their sect leader, we should be able to clarify the reason."

"As for the Shu Prince's Mansion, the Shu Prince has been seriously ill recently; I will ask a senior brother to go and visit, and take the opportunity to investigate."

"If the Shu Prince is truly involved with evil spirits, I will personally write a letter to His Majesty to avoid a major disaster."

"Feng Feng Shixiong is wise."

Li Yan cupped his hands slightly and flattered him.

Mount Qingcheng had a special status, and the relationship between the Mystic Sect and the imperial court was not entirely one and the same; every move had to be careful.

This involved the Shu Prince, and Chen Kongzi being able to do this was already quite good.

After saying this, Chen Kongzi took another sip of tea and smiled. "I waited for you here because there is actually one more thing."

"Young friend Li, there is an old senior on Mount Qingcheng who wants to take you as a disciple and inherit a lineage; I wonder if you are willing?"

Li Yan was somewhat surprised. "I wonder which school it is?"

Chen Kongzi said indifferently, "The Northern Emperor School, the Earth-Deity Lineage!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 531 =====

As a team of wandering immortals, helping companions find their heritage was their main mission. It was a pity that the only clue they had found along the way was related to the Maoshan Shangqing Sect.