Daoist Master of Qing Xuan

Qingyin would never expect such circumstance to happen with the current reputation of the Guangqing Celestial sect. However, things had not been smooth for the recent years.

On the contrary, Qing Xuan may look like it had endured a heavy damage, but it was actually prospering, emerged with extraordinary talents like Chen Jianmei, and Shen Lian.

Chen Jianmei was in a phase surpassing any expectations, and his level of techniques was unknown. According to Huanzhen, even the immortal Zhenren could not capture him.

Shen Lian stayed within the Mountain Gates, and studied under the sect whereas Chen Jianmei was based in Xi Huang, showcasing the influence of Qing Xuan which was well spread.

Qingyin replied, “Your Holiness shall not worry. We do not know if the Underworld Demon sect may not be specifically coming after us.”

Huanzhen said lightly, “There is nothing as unusual as this in the world. How is current status of your task in the Luoism?”

“Luoism has already crumbled and torn apart, being split into multiple secret schools. Besides taking in Wuwei School, I have just reorganized Hongyang School recently. However these secret schools are only small branches, with mediocre caliber, and I am concerned that people would take notice of what I am doing,” Qingyin whispered.

Huanzhen murmured, “Within the Luoism, there has not been an appearance of any immortals in such a long time. It wouldn’t matter even if you are noticed. The Grand Luoism Assembly is ten years time. You must succeed before then, and if you can become the Saintess of Luoism at that time, the grand immortal will have the means to take in the remaining fate of the Luoism Sect. By that time you will be able to return to the mountains with your head held up high.”

Qingyin’s pretty eyes could barely contain her excitement, and said, “I will not let you down, Your Holiness”.

Huanzhen looked at her, and sighed, “However once you have gone on the path of Shen, it will be difficult for you to succeed”.

Qingyin looked down and replied, “I, your disciple, never had the chance of walking down the path of land immortals. Now that I have the opportunity on the path of Shen, this is my blessing already.”

From the beginning, there were five categories of immortals, namely, heaven, land, human, gods, and ghost.

They were also called heaven immortals, land immortals, human immortals, godly immortals and ghost immortals. Among all, the heaven immortals were different from the other four categories, which transcended the heaven and earth, which was also the ultimate objective of the land immortals, human immortals, and ghost immortals.

Land immortal was the category that the immortal Zhenren fell in, which was also the easiest path towards heavenly immortal because an individual who was superior in Dao cultivation would exceed heaven and earth like a heaven immortal. He would breakaway under nobody’s jurisdiction, and become a real immortal, hence gained the name of immortal Zhenren.

Human immortal, was the ancient son of the heavens in the beginning. They had great godly prowess and also called as ‘the path of human kings’, very packed with the fortune of kingdom. If they combined forces with heaven and earth, they would even overpower the gods in heavens. If they did not achieve the Dao of heaven immortals, eventually relying too much on the kingdom’s fortune, their kingdom would ‘falls as abruptly and rapidly as it rises’. However, this path still escaped the nature of lives and deaths.

The Dao of heaven immortals, also known as ‘Dao of gods and spirits’ was the nature that manipulated heaven and earth, assisting the heavens in order executive. As the scripture says, ‘In the beginning was the Doa, and Dao was with God’. Regardless what method was used, they would still not be able to cultivate the inextinguishable divine aura, and merge with the rules of natural order of heaven and earth, jump out of birth and destruction, and gain ultimate godly prowess. However the gods and spirits were nurtured in the heavens, and could control the natural orders since birth; whereas the acquired gods and spirits required all kinds of cultivation, which majority of it required the collection of joss sticks worshipping from all beings to light the godly nature within. When they finally become a god, they would still rely on the nourishment of joss sticks along this path. If the religious sect was destructed one day, their godly status could not be retained either.

The origins of ghost immortals were more complicated. All those that lived in the human world would have their souls, which through cultivation would be strengthened to the extent of firm flesh body. They could enter and exit the portals of the underworld as ghost immortals. But all the ghost immortal’s aura levels varied and associated with remnants, so they would need to be struck by lightning, the lightning trial, to overcome this catastrophe and gain access to the path of heaven immortal. However, the lightning trial was painful to endure. Unless they were cultivator without a body, and those without unknown origins, else they would go on this path. Even though they lost their bodies, the spirits who turned into ghost immortals would still find means to reborn, because the ghost immortals were strong, and with some ill thoughts in them, plus the strength of their spiritual essence, the cultivation process of achieving godly immortality would speed up as well.

In three thousand paths of Daoism, any path was aimed to stay immortal in this world, hence there was no concrete method to determine which was stronger. However, from the ancient days until now, the number of people who attained the path of land immortals far exceeded those who went on other paths. Therefore, the path of land immortals was considered the authentic Xuanmen, and immortal Zhenren a well-respected figure.

The robe on Huanzhen was floating without a breeze, as he threw the dagger from his hand, it turned into a gleam again and pierced through the skies. This method of mail transfer through flying daggers could only be done by someone who had attained the cultivation level of Huandan. The sender of this mail had to be his Junior Apprentice-Brother, one of the twelve Daoists who attained Powang.

With Guangqing’s current strength level, other than Xuantian sect, he feared any challenge that came his way.

Huanzhen had immense confidence in him. When he could not use his wisdom to solve a problem, he would bulldoze with sheer force. He calmly said, “The matter about Underworld Demon Sect, I will rush over to sort it out. But before the Grand Luoism Assembly is conducted, I will come and look for you for sure. The matter about Qing Xuan can be put away for now. Any kind of trick would not work in front of real strength”.

After the Luo Sect plans had worked out, his grandmaster, Yuming the Honored Celestial, would be able to grab the remaining fate of Luo Sect. Among all the ancestors that the Luo Sect worshipped, there were only a few whose achievements surpassed his. Other than to snatch the fate of Luo Sect, Huanzhen also planned to search for the path of Dao left by Luo Sect, which might help him surpass the state of Powang and gain immortality.

After his conversation, he hopped to the front.

It was a high drop in front of him, but as he stepped on thin air, he did not fall a bit and walked as if he was on flat ground. He stepped higher and higher, and finally, a cloud was born under his feet, casually carrying him, as he promptly vanished within the blue skies and white clouds.

Qingyin stared at the direction where Huanzhen vanished, then slowly descended the mountain. She entered and exited silently, not alarming anyone else. She approached the foot of Mount Taicang and was going to ride away on a gleam of light.

A young man walked towards her as he shouted, “Fairy, please wait a moment!”

Qingyin looked at this man, a young man with very low cultivation level. He had short hair and scarce eyebrows, almost none were visible, but he did not look like a monk on ascetic practices. His features were passable, quite good looking with those glittery eyes.

Qingyin asked coldly, “Who are you?”

The young man replied, “Fairy, are you from Guangqing Celestial Sect of Mount Taicang?”

Qingyin replied, “What does this have to do with you?”

Young man’s face lit up and said, “I heard that Mount Taicang is opening its mountain gates again, so I thought I’d try my luck, hoping to enroll into the celestial school”.

Qingyin thought, “So the mountain gates are open again.” But she expression got colder, she said, “If you want to find a teacher, go find one yourself. Why come in my way?”

The young man said, “I have not gone to a celestial mountain before. I do not know the way. Looking at Fairy’s extraordinary outlook, you must be of the celestial family, so forgive my rudeness in asking for directions, I have no other intentions”.

Qingyin thought, “This fellow has average bone structure, though a bit aged, but no harm trying. If he is destined for the sect, the sect will naturally take him in.”

She said, “Walk straight for thirty miles and you will see a huge valley. Walk into the valley and you will see a river. Stop there and there will be someone receiving you in a canoe. Anything after this will depend on your destiny.”

The young man held his fist and bowed, “Thank you, Sister Fairy”.

Qingyin did not bother to reply, she walked past him in a hasty speed, and leaving only a visible shadow.

The young man took in a deep breath, as if he detected the pleasant aroma left by Qingyin, and mumbled, “What a choking scent of joss.” Then he proceeded to walk straight, with a slight grin on his face, looking quite chilled. He was Yanxu, who came to Guangqing looking for a master.

______________________

Within Mount Qing Xuan, atop Zifu Peak, inside Taiwei Pavillion, there was Shen Lian at the second level. He was holding a jade scroll, strolling back and forth. Wherever he passed, there would be visions of wind and fire, flashes of swords, but all were visionary and not real.

Forty portraits of immortal Zhenrens were seen hanging. The drawings of Zhenren on the portraits were very lively as if they were all staring at Shen Lian’s steps.

All his steps were made in directions of the eight trigrams, and turned into five elements.

It was as if thousands of Dao techniques and skills were hidden within his movements. Finally, his figure slowed down. Shen Lian’s body was emitting with dense purplish gas as he shut his eyes close, not leaking any ray from his eyes.

Even the jade scrolls were away from him, as he slowly merged and the Dao scriptures of godly prowess gradually transformed into mirages and formed a stream of techniques, surrounding Shen Lian.

The dense purplish gas around him slowly flowed into his today, creeping in, and Shen Lian finally let out a long breath, and all the mirages dispersed with it.

He opened his eyes, and two golden rays shot out of them, eventually blocked by the shield in Taiwei Pavillion, not disrupting its surroundings.

Since the last time when Qingjiang surrendered, it was five years ago. Gu Caiwei also set up her own affiliate elsewhere, establishing her turf. Under the guidance of Shen Lian, coupled with teachings from many visiting Huandan Doyens, he was able to grow new seeds.

However as the timespan was still short, there was only one person who had the qualification to enter the mountain gates of Qing Xuan.

As time passed, the number of people who could enter had increased. Many scattering cultivators had come as far as ten thousand miles to Qing Xuan’s affiliate, to seek celestial destiny.

In the words of Qing Xuan, all people were treated equally. It was still extremely difficult to enter the school. But in the fifty years since the mountain gates were opened, there was new hope which delighted to all cultivators.

Xuanmens were difficult to enter, but upon entering, the hopes of attaining Daoism would enlarge.

In the five years span, Shen Lian, under the influence of many miraculous medicine and potions, speedily escalated his skill levels to Buxu level, coupled with the buildup of Tongtian Skill, he entered a whole new realm. Adding on with his constantly developing spirits which finally halted a year ago, encountering a bottleneck.

This halting of spiritual developing finally let Shen Lian breathe a sigh of relief. This was because if Mastery of Sense could help his spirit grow constantly, that would not be a good thing, after all, there was no such good reward in this world.

Today, it was considered a perfect fusion of Tongtian Skill and his Taixu Strategy. As Shen Lian had cultivated to a certain level beyond mystical, it was now time for Shen Lian to exit the mountain gate and complete a mission.