The winding path led them through a series of twists and turns until they arrived at Lantern Street, a bustling area known for its flickering lights.
It was easy to see how Lantern Street got its name.
Many courtyards and caves adorned with lanterns of various shapes and sizes lined the way.
At the end of the street, there was a small courtyard, where seven or eight lanterns hung from the eaves.
They were shaped like lotuses, round gourds, and oranges.
A sign on the gate read "Bingchen Courtyard."
This courtyard was supported by wooden beams and stones, hanging precariously off a cliff.
Two pine trees grew out from the crevices above, casting a verdant shade over half the courtyard.
The gate was open.
At this hour, as the sun began to set, golden rays of sunlight filtered through the pine needles, casting dappled shadows on the amber wooden floor and creating glimmers like soft ripples.
The courtyard was spacious, with only two rooms and a pavilion.
The rooms on the east and west were residences, standing side by side, while opposite them stood a pavilion with a furnace about half the height of a person.
Beside the pavilion, a small stream trickled down the cliffside, pouring into a stone basin.
The basin was not large, half a person's height, yet it overflowed, sending water cascading down the stones and out of the courtyard in a graceful waterfall.
Feng Jihu was quite familiar with the courtyard.
He first took a glance at the west room, which also had its door open and was empty.
Not surprised, he led Yun Qi into the east room.
Inside the room, not a speck of dust could be found.
The space was divided by a paper screen, with a study area featuring bookshelves and a writing desk placed in front.
Behind the screen was a wooden bed with a large table beside it, and nothing else.
However, what caught Yun Qi's eye was the row of shelves filled to the brim with neatly stacked books at the entrance.
"Not bad, right? These are the books I've gathered over the years since I entered the school. I spent quite a bit of silver on them. There are even some of my notes inside. I left them here when I left, hoping to help those who come after. Now that I've brought you in, they will come in handy," Feng Jihu said with a smile.
Yun Qi nodded, "Indeed, they are quite good. Thank you, senior."
The two sat and chatted for a while.
Yun Qi learned that Feng Jihu's secular name was Feng Xuhai, who had entered the mountains at the age of thirteen and spent seven years at Wanhufu Peak.
At twenty, he opened his own estate and formally joined the Cuckoo Valley, concurrently studying medicine and herbs, a path he had followed for three years.
Feng Xuhai belonged to the Jizi branch and was naturally warmhearted and reticent in speech.
He was modest and reserved, and his master named him "Tiger," hoping he would be as humble as a valley, though he had a fierce spirit within.
Feng Jihu mentioned that under the guidance of his master, he had been assigned to the Duwu Courtyard to handle various secular tasks, a minimum of ten tasks each month.
After three years, he had finally begun to break out of his introverted nature.
Feng Jihu was a local of Yuzhang, born into wealth, and had been taught the Yulin观 healing practices since childhood.
However, it wasn’t until he was ten that he cultivated spiritual energy.
Therefore, he had much praise for Cheng Yunqi's talent.
Time passed quickly as they chatted.
Suddenly, a loud bird call broke the air, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.
Yun Qi, ever attentive, noted that it sounded like a tall person approaching.
"Bingkun!" Feng Jihu called out.
"Hey, who is it?" a voice from outside murmured, along with the sound of someone striding over.
Soon, Yun Qi saw the newcomer, a tall figure who blocked the entire doorway.
The evening sun illuminated him, making him look like a guardian spirit.
"Xuhai!" The newcomer exclaimed joyfully upon seeing Feng Jihu, bending down to embrace him.
Feng Jihu was already tall, but in the embrace of this man, he looked almost like a chick.
"Alright, alright, let go," Feng Jihu chuckled, giving the man's back a few soft punches before being released.
"Yun Qi, this is He Bingkun, who entered the mountains with me, and we have lived together for seven years. Bingkun, this is Cheng Yunqi, who just entered the sect today. I find Yunqi quite pleasing to the eye, so I arranged for him to stay here. Please, teach him well in the future."
The two exchanged greetings, and Feng Jihu continued, "Bingkun and I are the same age. He is a registered disciple of the Jiutian Yingyuan estate from the Eight Veins of the Lotus Blessed Land. This particular lineage requires the Thunder, Cloud, and Wind estates to be opened at once, merging their powers so that thunderclaps sound with each breath, making the process take quite a long time. However, it should come to fruition soon."
He Bingkun beamed, "By next summer or autumn at the latest."
"Yun Qi, you're also one of the Eight Veins of the Blessed Land, a registered disciple of the Mingzhi Mountain, and you are only fifteen this year. By the way, Yun Qi, weren’t you worried about how to get to Mingzhi Mountain? Bingkun can take you there. He’s about to open his heart estate, and these past few days, he has to visit the Yingyuan estate almost every day. Plus, he happened to encounter an opportunity a few years back and gained a lightning bird, which has exceptional speed.”
He Bingkun assessed Yun Qi, seeing the boy's radiant spirit, fresh and beautiful, with a calm demeanor that showed no sharpness.
He felt a favorable impression and, learning of Yun Qi’s status as a Mingzhi Mountain disciple, said with a grin,
"Nice to meet you, young Daoist."
Yun Qi forced a smile, "Senior, please don’t tease me. You can simply call me Yun Qi."
He Bingkun laughed heartily and then turned to Feng Jihu, "Xuhai, are we staying tonight? Let's have a few drinks in celebration of welcoming Yun Qi?"
Feng Jihu replied with a smile, "That’s exactly what I had in mind!"
"Good! You two don’t need to lift a finger. I’ve got some smoked meat in the furnace, prepared with pepperwood, some fine mountain boar from last winter. I’ll cut it up now, and there’s also good wine in the basin, fine wine from the Chenglu Valley."
With that, He Bingkun rushed out, and soon the sound of the furnace being lifted could be heard.
"Only Bingkun could manage to smoke meat in the furnace," Feng Jihu lightly scolded, then turned to Cheng Yunqi. “Yun Qi, can you drink?”
"I can handle a bit, but I won't dare get drunk. Master Sukong assigned me quite a bit of reading to do."
Hearing this, Feng Jihu laughed, "No worries, no worries. The books Master Yu wants you to read are definitely foundational texts for cultivation. Bingkun and I have long memorized them. We can share a bit with you tonight; it will be a good side dish to accompany the whiskey."
Yun Qi nodded in agreement.
Feng Jihu brought out a table, and they all sat on the empty ground of the courtyard.
At that moment, the golden sun had turned deep red, and the western sky was painted with reds and pinks.
Countless accomplished cultivators rode their swords, rode cranes, or rode clouds, like tired birds returning to the forest, all landing into the vast mountains.
Cheng Yunqi marveled at the breathtaking scene before him, recalling how he had been among ordinary mortals at dawn, and now, as dusk fell, he had entered the land of immortals, with good wine and delicacies awaiting him.
It felt like a dream, making him momentarily lost in thought, not moving for quite a while.
Feng Jihu and He Bingkun exchanged glances and didn’t rush him, silently waiting for Cheng Yunqi to come to.
After about ten breaths, Yun Qi regained his senses, realizing the two were waiting for him, and he hurriedly apologized.
He Bingkun opened the wine jar, and the aroma wafted through the air.
As Yun Qi inhaled, he felt invigorated, recalling the sensation when he first encountered the smell of He Shou Wu while wandering.
He Bingkun took out three wine cups, made of white porcelain, filled to the brim with wine.
"Today, the previous and current three masters of this courtyard are gathered, welcoming both the old and the new. Don’t you agree it deserves a toast?"
Feng Jihu and Cheng Yunqi agreed, and the three clinked their cups and drank it all in one go.
The wine was icy cold on entry, burning as it went down, refreshing the mouth and warming the stomach.
It carried the fragrance of herbs, a delightful wine the likes of which Yun Qi had never tasted before.
"Now that we're gathered today, tomorrow we’ll go to Duwu Courtyard to sign the list, completing Master Sukong's disciple recruiting matters. After that, I’ll be leaving the mountain," Feng Jihu said after setting his cup down.
He Bingkun blinked in surprise.
"What’s going on?"
"I plan to open the Water Estate. The other day, I asked Xu Jishen at Zhuoxing Pool to calculate my fortune, and he said my opportunities lie in the south. I must go out for a while."
He Bingkun nodded, "That sounds promising. Where are you headed first?"
"First, I’ll visit Dianwen. If there’s nothing to gain there, I’ll turn my foot toward the Southern Wastes."
At this time, Yun Qi took the chance to ask, "May I ask you both, what exactly is an estate, and what is a courtyard? What are the eight veins of the Lotus Blessed Land? What Daoist traditions are there within our mountains?"
Feng Jihu and He Bingkun exchanged glances and then Feng Jihu began, "The current world has many schools and traditions. Generally, they can be divided into four categories: Daoist sects, side paths, Buddhist sects, and demonic sects.
The orthodox Daoist sect has more than ninety branches, including Internal Alchemy, External Alchemy, Symbols, Thunder, Deity Prayer, Star Observation, Physical Transformation, and Primordial Spirit.
Our Three Clear Sect takes Internal Alchemy as the foundation of our practice, yet we also advocate for a blend of various practices, emphasizing a comprehensive understanding where all methods interlink, inheriting ancient teachings and creating novel arts as responsibility, hence it’s often called the All Methods Sect.
Since our ancestor established the school six thousand years ago, we’ve accumulated a rich legacy, incorporating both ancient methods and newly formed ones, leading to the current structure. Let me tell you in detail.”
Feng Jihu took a sip of wine and spoke softly: “In the northwestern part of the mountain there lies a Lotus Blessed Land, which you’ve seen, Yun Qi. It is the source of the geologic vein within these thousand-mile mountains. The Lotus Blessed Land consists of nine mountains, with one flat-topped mountain in the center, surrounded by eight towering peaks.
The flat-topped mountain is called the Liangyi Mountain, where the Three Clear Palace stands, alongside the Pure Yang and Yuan Yin Halls. This has been the residence of successive heads.
The eight peaks are arranged according to the eight trigrams, namely: At the Qian position is the Ziyan Mountain, featuring the Flying Immortal Platform that honors the two ancient deities, the Eastern King and the Western Queen, and practices the merging of Yin and Yang, form-changing, and the art of breaking through voids; At the Xun position is the Mingzhi Mountain, home of the Unsung Grave, also known as the Bamboo of Zhan Biyun, practicing Pure Yang, Wood, Earth, Wind, Corpse Transmutation, Soul Returning, and Ghost Summoning; At the Kan position is the Yaoguang Mountain, where there is the Zhuoxing Pool, honoring Guanyinzi, practicing the art of stargazing and seeking fate through mountains; At the Gen position is the Moyan Mountain, which has the Yan Jiao Hall, venerating Yuqing Yuanshi Ancestor, and serves as the library of the sect while practicing the arts of symbols, characters, strange sealed rites, and spirit evocation to drive away ghosts.
At the Kun position is the Baihu Mountain, where there is the Jiu Cha government, practicing Metal, weaponry, formation charts, and puppet mechanisms. At the Zhen position is the Shujiji Mountain, home of the Jiutian Yingyuan Palace, which honors the Jiutian Yingyuan Dazhizong who governs thunder, practicing thunder techniques, dispelling illusions, and deity invocation.
At the Li position is the Danxia Mountain, where there is a well connecting to underground fire springs, honoring the Taiji Dao De Ancestor, and practicing Fire Laws and External Alchemy.
At the Dui location is Baicao Mountain, topped by the Qingbai Lake, planted with acres of lotuses, forming its own realm, and venerating the Shangqing Lingbao Ancestor, practicing formation charts, Water Laws, and Void Laws.
These eight mountains have seen immortals in various forms, whether celestial, earthly, dispersed, or transformed, with each carrying their own legacies, and thus they are known as the Eight Great Veins.
Additionally, there are the Cuckoo Valley in the southeast and the Rainbow Mountain in the northeast, where practices in Qi Huang medicine are taught; to the north lies Chenglu Valley, practicing the path of Taijin physical refinement; to the northwest is the Tossed Sword Mountain, teaching sword techniques and spell sword techniques; in the northeast lies the Clear Mirror Stone Forest, practicing the laws of movement and body sword techniques; and the southwest is the Yin Harvest Mountain, practicing the manipulation of clouds and mist.
The south has Mengmeng Mountain, practicing incantations and secret arts. There are countless paths, and I won’t list them all. Moreover, we cannot know how many Daoists in the valleys and ravines seek ancient knowledge and innovate.
Perhaps in just a few years, more new traditions will emerge that remain unknown."
He Bingkun, feeling a sense of pride, continued, "As Jihu mentioned, our sect builds upon Internal Alchemy while also incorporating other practices. Internal Alchemy, considered the paramount path of old and new, emphasizes refining essence, qi, and spirit, divided into five major realms.
The first realm is called Refining Qi, which mainly involves the inhalation of qi into the body, refining the flesh, and opening the body's vital points. Just the process of inhaling qi involves various methods such as visualization, forgetting oneself, and bodily exercises, differing from one school to another.
After the qi flows in the body, one channels spiritual energy to refine the flesh, known as 'shedding the lead and washing the marrow,' removing all superficialities and retaining a pure spirit, only then can one open estates. Internal Alchemy regards the nasal, throat, and ear orifices as the Thunder, Cloud, and Wind estates.
Once these three estates are opened, corresponding spirit can be stored, leading to the sound of thunder with each breath, forming clouds upon exhaling, and stirring winds through ear movement, all synchronized for rain to fall. The Five Organs—heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys—are considered the five estates, corresponding to the five elements of Fire, Wood, Earth, Metal, and Water.
Once the estates are opened, one absorbs the essence of heaven and earth, commanding the primal qi. The 'Ling Shu' states: the Five Organs are where the spirit, blood, qi, and soul reside. They are the foundation of the human body, allowing for the gathering of qi and essence, extending life.
Opening the three estates and five organs accommodates various methods such as storing spirit, ingestion, and medicinal baths. Different schools have varied sequences for this process. For example, my practice requires opening the three estates before the five organs.
Up till now, I’ve yet to complete a single estate, while Jihu began with the Cloud estate and now intends to open the Water estate. Once all five organs are opened, the essence of the five elements rises from them, coalescing to form a microcosm within the human body, known as the Scarlet Palace.
This small realm lies beside the heart estate, illuminated by the blood and qi, giving it a scarlet hue, hence the name. This is a crucial threshold, known as the Chong Palace. The Scarlet Palace will later house the Yuan Ying, thus this stage is referred to as 'Five Qi Returning to Yuan.'
Reaching the state of 'Five Qi Returning to Yuan' indicates the completion of the refining qi level. In summary, it is about storing qi within the body, refining essence and qi, and harmonizing oneself with nature."
He Bingkun spoke tirelessly, his throat dry, and downed a few cups of cold wine.
Feng Jihu then added, "Yun Qi, do you know? We have around one hundred and fifty thousand disciples, including over ten thousand registered disciples, and of these, only about ten thousand have opened estates." In other words, within this mountain, there are always around fifty thousand people coming and going, yet they may never enter the gates of true Dao.
The majority will end their days on Wanhufu Peak, performing menial tasks like cleaning or assisting in the kitchen.
There are those who voluntarily leave the mountains, becoming chivalrous figures, or they may attach themselves to a Daoist temple, ensuring they won't experience hunger throughout their lives.
This isn’t entirely bad for those of lesser aspirations; it can be seen as a fortunate outcome!
“Those who get lucky enough to open an estate still dream of pushing further, naturally aiming for 'Five Qi Returning to Yuan.' However, how many truly reach there?" Probably only ten thousand.
"Did you hear that? From opening one estate to five, ninety percent are stuck in between."
Now, do many try to forcibly push past the next realm without having opened their estates? Yes, but those are the actions of those following a side path or believers of demonic teachings.
We absolutely do not allow that in our Three Clear Mountain.
"The orthodox Daoist path, while a true path and a smooth way, is also a long and winding journey, akin to rowing upstream; if you do not progress, you will regress. So many lament when their lives end, regretting their lack of dedication in cultivation. Therefore, Yun Qi, time is like a blade, cutting down our youth. As cultivators, we must cherish every moment and not waste time."
As he spoke, Feng Jihu sighed deeply, gazing upon the rising moon, feeling its chill and clarity.
Yet his expression turned slightly absent-minded.
"The moon is cold, and the sun's warmth exists to erode human lifespan. Just the realm of Refining Qi is so challenging; in the future, there are still four significant boundaries to explore: Body Concealment, Golden Dan, Yuan Ying, and Harmony with Dao before we can grasp the sounds of immortals.
The path to immortality divides the Celestial Immortal, Earth Immortal, Corpse Transformation Immortal, and Dispersed Immortal, all difficult to pursue. The Celestial Immortal is hard to become, the Earth Immortal hard to approach, the Corpse Immortal hard to surpass, and the Dispersed Immortal hard to traverse.
I often reflect on these thoughts, yet pondering only raises further doubts about the difficulty of achieving immortality. In the depths of night, feeling low, I can’t help but waver, questioning if beyond the Celestial Immortal truly lies the Golden Immortal, or if there is higher attainment, the Dao fruition of the Great Luo or the boundless ultimate state?"
At these words, He Bingkun let out a cold snort, like thunder bursting forth in a silent field.
Feng Jihu jumped, laughing angrily, "You rascal, I’m merely in a state of reflection; my Dao heart hasn't faltered. No need to scare me with thunder."
"Yun Qi still hasn't entered the door of Dao; why are you saying all that?"
Feng Jihu laughed upon hearing this, then turned to Yun Qi, "Yun Qi, the road to cultivation is long, and the end point very distant. Do you truly believe there are people who can cultivate to the utmost, transcend life and death, and live as long as heaven and earth?"
Cheng Yunqi listened quietly and said softly, "Seniors, based on Yun Qi’s limited understanding of the vast world, all marvels exist. The ant knows not the cicada’s lifespan, and the cicada knows not the tortoise’s. Beyond the tortoise, there are the thousand-year cypress and the ten-thousand-year pine. The ant knows not of the pine, but it does not mean there are none."
"Hahahaha," the two burst into laughter.
He Bingkun pointed at Feng Jihu, "See? Yun Qi's Dao heart is firm. Jihu, are you understanding? Yun Qi said you're the ant in a hollow!"
Feng Jihu shook his head repeatedly, already showing signs of inebriation in his eyes, "We all are the pine and cypress!"
The new book is presented; I hope everyone leaves comments and feedback.
(End of Chapter)