Qingzhou, located in the heart of the Central Plains, is a land of rivers and proximity to the sea.
To the east, it connects to Jinling and Kuaiji; to the west, it borders Jingchu and Heluo; to the south, it neighbors Yuzhang; and to the north, it leans against Qilu.
This fertile land is home to the Daoist sect's Qiyun Mountain, the Chan sect's Jiuhua Mountain, the Sword sect's Langya Mountain, and the secluded cultivation haven of Tianzhu Mountain.
However, the most famous of all is Mount Huang, known as the ancestral home of rogue cultivators.
Perhaps it is precisely because this place is filled with so many rogue and secluded cultivators, and lacks the presence of any major sects, that the cultivation world here is the most relaxed and free, with little conflict.
Additionally, being far from the northern and southern demonic sects, the area has enjoyed peace for a long time, attracting even more rogue and secluded cultivators.
But the problem is that without any major sects to oversee the region, the spring thunder here has become increasingly scarce, yet no one has noticed.
Instead, it was the Yingyuan Prefecture of Mount Sanqing in Yuzhang that first discovered the anomaly.
Daoist Jianxian and Cheng Xinzhan traveled north along the border of Yuzhang and Kuaiji, entering Qingzhou.
The first thing they encountered was Mount Huang, the ancestral home of rogue cultivators.
Mount Huang earned its name from the legend of the Yellow Emperor refining elixirs here.
Stretching over a hundred miles from north to south, it covers five million acres of land, with towering peaks that seem to touch the heavens.
As the poem goes:
"Mount Huang rises four thousand ren, with thirty-two lotus peaks. Crimson cliffs flank stone pillars, like golden lotuses blooming."
The beauty and majesty of Mount Huang have been praised throughout the ages:
"A painting opened by the heavens."
"The most wondrous mountain under the sky."
"After seeing the Five Sacred Mountains, one need not look at other mountains; after seeing Mount Huang, one need not look at the Five Sacred Mountains."
Now, as Mount Huang loomed before them, a gentle spring rain fell, turning the mountain into a vast ink painting that seemed to stretch from earth to sky.
Cheng Xinzhan gazed at it in awe, feeling that all the praises he had heard still fell short of capturing even a fraction of its grandeur.
"It is precisely because Mount Huang is so magnificent that no single sect or family has ever been able to claim it as their exclusive cultivation ground. Anyone who has tried has been met with fierce opposition, and over time, it has become a haven for rogue cultivators across the land."
Though rogue cultivators are like drifting duckweed, when all the duckweed of the Divine Land gathers here, they form a force that no one dares to underestimate.
I've heard that there is even a Huangshan Administration here, responsible for organizing and coordinating the rogue cultivators.
The leaders are well-known figures, some even reaching the fourth or fifth realm of cultivation.
It's a pity that their knowledge is so fragmented, lacking the profound lineage and teachings of a major sect.
Otherwise, given enough time, the Huangshan Administration might have become the Huangshan Sect.
"Daoist Jianxian gazed at the mountain in the spring rain, his tone filled with感慨. He then explained to Cheng Xinzhan why they had come directly to Mount Huang."
From the information you've gathered, the decrease in spring thunder in Qingzhou is not limited to one county or region—it's affecting the entire area.
If this isn't a coincidence, then it's not just some minor demon causing trouble.
It's likely that a major demonic force has taken root deep underground, corrupting the mountain's foundation or water veins, spreading its evil energy throughout the region.
"Mount Huang is the source of Qingzhou's spiritual veins. All the mountain roots in Qingzhou originate here, while the water veins come from the Yangtze River. However, the Yangtze cuts through Qingzhou, with its water veins branching out on both sides, making it difficult to trace a single source. The rivers crisscross the land, making it hard to pinpoint the problem."
We've come to Mount Huang first to see which of the mountain roots extending from here has been affected.
If we find nothing, we'll follow the river and investigate further.
"Cheng Xinzhan nodded, feeling that he had learned a great deal."
Fortunately, Mount Huang is a gathering place for rogue cultivators.
If it were the territory of a major sect, we wouldn't be able to wander around like this.
"With that, Daoist Jianxian led Cheng Xinzhan along the outskirts of Mount Huang, starting from the south and heading east."
By the way, do you know anything about geomancy and feng shui?
"Daoist Jianxian asked."
A little,"Cheng Xinzhan replied honestly. His master had taught him the Qingfu Transformation Scripture, which began with methods for locating corpses. To find corpses, one naturally had to understand geomancy.
Daoist Jianxian smiled." The Mingzhi Mountain tradition naturally includes this knowledge.
I just wasn't sure if you'd learned it yet.
You've been diligently studying the Mingzhi Mountain teachings while also practicing sword techniques and thunder magic.
That's quite impressive.
"Cheng Xinzhan replied modestly,"I know a bit of everything, but I'm not an expert in any of it.
""That's fine.
Learn as much as you can now, and with time, you'll master it.
"Cheng Xinzhan smiled, thinking the same."
Then let's observe the mountain's energy as we walk.
If there's any corruption in the mountain veins, the spiritual energy won't flow smoothly.
We'll look for places where the wind is interrupted or where there are black stains in the rocks.
Having you here makes this much easier for me.
"As they walked, Cheng Xinzhan took the opportunity to ask about the ancient Thunder Department, especially the deities, as he prepared for his role as an inner court deity of the Thunder Mansion.
Daoist Jianxian answered all his questions, from the Thunder Ancestor to the various generals, marshals, and deities like the Thunder God and Lightning Mother. --- Meanwhile, dozens of miles to the west of Mount Huang, a concentrated beam of radiant light was flying straight toward the mountain. Normally, such radiant light would be fast but scattered, creating a dazzling display.
While beautiful, it would also be highly visible, making it unsuitable for stealth. However, this beam of light was both incredibly fast and tightly focused, making it difficult to detect even in the light rain. Inside the radiant light was a young woman.
She wore a long, pale yellow robe, her waist-length hair tied back with a red ribbon. Her ethereal beauty was accentuated by the rain and the radiant light, giving her an almost divine aura. But despite her appearance, her expression was complex, reflecting the turmoil in her heart.
Zhou Qingyun had come to Mount Huang at the age of eight and spent eight happy years here. At sixteen, her master sent her to Emei in western Shu, where she had spent the last three years—the most difficult years of her life. Now, following her master's orders, she had returned to Mount Huang.
But this master was not the one from Mount Huang's Wenbi Peak, Master Canxia. Instead, it was the leader of the Emei Sect, the head of the Xuanmen, the renowned Miaoyi Zhenren Qi Sumiao. How could one have two masters?
What should she call Master Canxia when she returned? Would she have to address her as"Master Canxia"?
The thought made her laugh bitterly. Back then, on the Tianbo Cliff of Ningbi Peak, in the presence of the Emei Sect's leader and his wife, Miaoyi Zhenren had personally offered to take her as his disciple. How could she refuse?
In that moment, she had thought of many ways to decline, but to her surprise, none of the others with different inheritances—Yan Renying, Yu Yingnan, and Zhuge Jingrui—had refused! She had been the last to kneel and bow, with everyone's eyes on her. She couldn't bring herself to refuse, nor could she imagine the consequences of doing so.
She wasn't afraid for herself, but she didn't know if refusing would bring harm to her true master, Master Canxia, or to Mount Huang, which she considered her home. In the past three years, she had obtained the"Moon Soul"flying sword and studied the Emei Daoist texts.
She knew that Miaoyi Zhenren's cultivation far surpassed Master Canxia's, and the Emei Sect's heritage was far beyond what Mount Huang could offer. But she wasn't happy. Every moment felt like torture, and she constantly missed Mount Huang—its strange pines, unique rocks, sea of clouds, hot springs, and winter snow.
She missed Wenbi Peak and her true master. Now, as she thought about seeing her master again, she felt both joy and shame. Soon, she returned to the land of Mount Huang, which she had longed for day and night.
It was spring, and the rain brought new grass and tender pines, filling the land with life. She never tired of the sight of Mount Huang in the rain. She headed straight for Wenbi Peak and soon saw the familiar radiant light.
But at that moment, she noticed two Daoists, looking around and stopping occasionally, as if they were investigating something. Now they stood still, their eyes fixed on Wenbi Peak. Were they here to harm her master?
Were they visitors, or just passing by? Zhou Qingyun merged into the radiant light emanating from Wenbi Peak, becoming one with it, and slowly approached the two men to eavesdrop. --- Meanwhile, Cheng Xinzhan, who had been observing and listening as he walked, suddenly found himself surrounded by radiant light. But where was this light coming from in the rain?
He looked up and saw a mountain. The radiant light was emanating from it, painting the surroundings in a soft glow. The mountain stood alone, its peak sharp and pointed, resembling a brush pointing toward the sky.
At the very top grew a grove of ancient pines, their twisted branches forming a green canopy. From a distance, it looked like a cluster of green flowers blooming on the tip of a brush. Below the towering peak lay a series of low, rolling stone hills, resembling a reclining immortal.
Cheng Xinzhan had long heard of the famous strange rocks of Mount Huang, and now that he saw this treasure, he couldn't help but marvel.
"Master, look at that mountain."
Daoist Jianxian had also seen it, but what caught his attention first was the radiant light emanating from the mountain. It was unaffected by the rain, clearly not ordinary light. Moreover, the light was pure and serene, without any hint of gaudiness, indicating that it likely belonged to a righteous recluse.
They had stumbled upon this place by accident and were merely observing from a distance, so they probably hadn't disturbed the owner.
"Radiant light in the rain—how splendid,"he remarked.
Cheng Xinzhan nodded.
"What a scene of 'Dreaming of a Flowering Brush.'"
"Dreaming of a Flowering Brush?"
Daoist Jianxian looked at him. Cheng Xinzhan explained,"Master, look at that solitary peak.
It resembles a standing brush, with the pine grove on top like flowers blooming from the brush.
The stone hills below look like a reclining immortal.
It's as if the immortal, in a dream of inspiration, caused the brush to bloom.
"Daoist Jianxian smiled and nodded."
You have a way with names.
Our Jiji Mountain also has many strange pines and rocks.
When we return, I'll report to the mountain lord and have you explore the mountain to come up with some good names.
You might not know, but the current names are all things like 'Broken Head Cliff' and 'Tiger Fall Ravine.' The 'Eighteen Slopes' where we live is actually the nicest-sounding one.
"Cheng Xinzhan chuckled. Inspired by the sight of the mountain in the rain, he suddenly felt poetic and recited:"Stone bones jagged, a unique sight,
Twisted pines weave emerald clouds.
A natural brush blooming with flowers,
Painting wondrous peaks into a masterpiece.
"Daoist Jianxian glanced at him, surprised that his nominal disciple had such a poetic side beyond his cultivation. Meanwhile, hidden in the radiant light, Zhou Qingyun listened to the young and handsome Daoist describe the scene as"Dreaming of a Flowering Brush"and recite a poem praising the mountain. Sensing the pure and righteous aura emanating from the two, she realized she had misunderstood their intentions. To remain hidden now would be impolite."
May I ask which two Daoists are present, and what brings you to Wenbi Peak?
"A young woman in a yellow dress stepped out of the radiant light, appearing before the two men. Daoist Jianxian and Cheng Xinzhan were startled. How had someone gotten so close without them noticing? Seeing such a young girl emerge from the radiant light only added to their confusion. Daoist Jianxian stepped forward, forming the Three Pure Ones hand seal and bowing."
Tao Jianxian of Mount Sanqing, accompanied by my disciple Cheng Xinzhan, greets the senior.
We inadvertently trespassed on your sacred ground and ask for your forgiveness.
"Cheng Xinzhan also bowed. The girl looked about his age, but if even his master hadn't noticed her presence, she must be a master of disguise. Zhou Qingyun blushed at being called"senior"by the two men. She quickly stepped aside, clasping her fists in return, and explained,"You've misunderstood.
I'm just someone who grew up here and learned the art of hiding in radiant light.
I'm not a senior.
"Daoist Jianxian and Cheng Xinzhan exchanged glances, realizing their mistake. Daoist Jianxian said,"I see.
We were so captivated by the scenery that we lingered too long.
It's no wonder you came to inquire.
Our apologies.
We'll take our leave now.
"He made as if to leave. Though the mountain scenery was beautiful, it was someone else's territory, and they couldn't stay long. But Zhou Qingyun, despite her three years at Emei, wasn't the type to chase people away just for admiring Wenbi Peak. She quickly said,"You've misunderstood again.
I just returned home and happened to run into you, so I came out to ask.
I'm not asking you to leave.
My master has always said that the beauty of Mount Huang is for all to enjoy.
You're welcome to stay.
If you don't mind, you could even come up to the peak for a visit.
My master would be delighted to hear the poem you just recited and your description of 'Dreaming of a Flowering Brush.'
"She looked at Cheng Xinzhan as she spoke. Daoist Jianxian, however, shook his head slightly. He had a mission and couldn't afford to delay. Just as he was about to politely decline, something unexpected happened. A white sword light shot out from the sword pouch at Zhou Qingyun's waist, heading straight for Cheng Xinzhan! At such close range and with no warning, Daoist Jianxian's eyes widened in shock. He immediately grasped a thunder talisman, but he couldn't understand why, if this were a demon, it hadn't attacked earlier. He only had time to shout,"This is a misunderstanding!
"At the same time, the lid of the sword gourd at Cheng Xinzhan's waist popped open, and a red sword light burst forth, meeting the white sword light."
Clang!
"A crisp sound rang out. The red and white sword lights had clashed suddenly, but only Daoist Jianxian had reacted in time, though he couldn't stop it. The owners of the sword lights hadn't even realized what was happening.
When the sound of the clash echoed, the two looked up to see the red sword light transform into a white rooster with a red crest, while the white sword light became a blue-eyed jade rabbit.
The two creatures nuzzled each other in the air, as if reuniting after a long separation. --- Debt Report: 1. Two chapters owed for monthly votes; 2. One chapter owed to the alliance leader"The Painter Who Sells Newspapers."
(Both counted as long chapters.)
(End of Chapter)