"Xinzhan, do you think the decision to alter the formation was Emperor Hongwu's idea or Emperor Yongle's?" Zhu Jianmo asked as he watched the golden light ascend into the heavens.
Cheng Xinzhan shook his head.
"It doesn't matter. Senior Jinmingzi was a man who was ruthless to his enemies but generous to his friends. That's all that matters."
Zhu Jianmo nodded and didn't dwell on it further.
In the distance, Sun Miaoshu and the other three approached.
They had also witnessed the scene.
"Was that Senior Jinmingzi?" someone asked.
"Yes, the senior has ascended," Cheng Xinzhan replied.
"By the way, how did you manage to sever the connection between the capital's dragon vein and the imperial city so quickly?"
Sun Miaoshu explained, "Our Three Pure Mountains are known as the ancestral grounds, and we have branches all over the south. We went directly to the Qingzhou Fengyang branch, known as the Qinglin Temple, and had them coordinate with the local authorities to evacuate the area and plant explosives. That's how we did it."
"Oh, I see," Cheng Xinzhan said, finding it simpler than he had imagined.
"But we didn't expect Senior Jinmingzi to ascend directly. We still need to visit Qinglin Temple to align our stories."
So, they quickly made their way to Qinglin Temple, which was similar to Yulin Temple, both being prominent temples in the mortal realm.
They told the temple master that a corpse immortal had been gestating in the area since before the founding of the Ming Dynasty.
Coincidentally, Emperor Taizu of Ming had also chosen this auspicious land to relocate his ancestral tomb.
The Zhu family's dragon vein had suppressed the corpse immortal, and for the corpse immortal to emerge, it would have to disrupt the dragon vein, causing widespread disaster.
Fortunately, this corpse immortal was benevolent and had summoned them to help sever the dragon vein.
Now that the corpse immortal was free, it had ascended.
However, they didn't mention the corpse immortal to the mortals.
Instead, they said that the Zhu family's ancestors, after receiving four hundred years of worship, had achieved merit and ascended.
The temple master agreed and immediately set about calming the people.
After returning to the Three Pure Mountains, Sun Miaoshu led the group to the heart of the mountains, the Yuhua Peak.
The Yuhua, Yuxu, and Yujing Peaks were the highest peaks in the Three Pure Mountains, serving as the administrative centers.
Those who practiced and worked here were all at least at the second realm.
Yujing Peak managed all daily affairs, overseeing various departments such as the General Affairs Office, Kitchen Office, Teaching Office, Examination Office, Evaluation Office, Engineering Office, Medical Office, and External Affairs Office.
Yuhua Peak handled emergencies and had the authority to mobilize all personnel and resources.
For instance, when Daoist Jianxian and Cheng Xinzhan discovered changes in the earth's veins connected to the mortal capital, Yuhua Peak coordinated the response, dispatched personnel, devised strategies, consulted records, and sent a team to assist.
Yuxu Peak was responsible for the mountain's defense and overall planning, maintaining the protective formations and various restrictions within the sect, as well as the layout of the mountains and rivers.
Yujing, Yuhua, and Yuxu Peaks were also considered the embodiments of the Three Pure Saints—Taiqing, Yuqing, and Shangqing.
Out of respect, disciples often referred to them as Taiye Mountain, Jianxin Mountain, and Diaoyun Mountain.
The group landed on Yuhua Peak, which was dotted with numerous palaces.
They arrived at the Red Dust Hall, responsible for worldly affairs, where the on-duty elder received them.
They detailed their mission, explaining that the ascended being was a corpse immortal, the source of the earth vein disturbance, and clarified the恩怨 involved.
The elder nodded in approval, praising them, "There's indeed much complexity in this matter. We can have the External Affairs Office investigate the health of the Ming emperor to verify. You've done well, with no casualties, considering the impact on the mortal realm, aligning your stories, and even forming a good relationship with a corpse immortal. This mission can be rated as A-minus, and I'll contact the Examination Office to issue your bonuses."
They thanked the elder.
Cheng Xinzhan then added, "Elder, Senior Jinmingzi also mentioned his background, his connection to our founder, and shared some information about the founder. We request an audience with the sect leader to report this."
The elder was surprised and said, "Wait a moment."
He left hurriedly and returned after about half an hour, informing them that the sect leader had granted them an audience and that the formations and restrictions along the way to the Lotus Blessed Land's central Flat Top Mountain had been cleared.
They left Yuhua Peak and flew to Flat Top Mountain in the Lotus Blessed Land.
Flat Top Mountain, also known as Two Forms Mountain, was named for its flat summit, which resembled a chessboard with thirty-step-wide tiles.
The mist on the summit moistened the tiles, creating a mirror-like effect where one could see their reflection clearly.
From a distance, the summit appeared like a vast lake, reflecting the sky, clouds, and cranes, making it seem as though they were walking on water.
Three grand halls stood quietly on the lake-like summit, each with white walls.
The left hall had red glazed tiles, the right had black tiles, and the rear had azure tiles.
The three halls stood symmetrically on the flat summit, their reflections in the misty tiles adding to the serene and solemn atmosphere.
The group, initially chatting and laughing, gradually quieted as they approached the halls.
Except for Cheng Xinzhan, who had been here once before with Wen Sukong, the others were visiting for the first time and were curious about the sect leader.
They walked between the Pure Yang Hall and the Primordial Yin Hall, arriving at the final palace.
The palace's gate bore a plaque with three characters written in cursive script: Three Pure Palace.
The palace gates were wide open, revealing towering jade statues of the Three Pure Saints.
The central Taiqing Saint was an old man with clasped hands, the left Yuqing Saint was a middle-aged man stroking his beard, and the right Shangqing Saint was a young man with hands behind his back.
All three saints wore benevolent smiles, making the visitors feel like ants before them.
In front of the statues was an incense burner with rising smoke.
A cushion was placed before the incense burner, where a man sat, watching the group approach.
They entered with bowed heads but stole glances.
Cheng Xinzhan also peeked and finally saw what the sect leader looked like.
Surprisingly young.
That was Cheng Xinzhan's first thought.
He had expected an old man with a white beard, but the sect leader appeared to be in his thirties.
The sect leader wore a simple green Daoist robe, unadorned and without any magical glow.
He wore a lotus crown and had his hands resting naturally on his knees.
The sect leader's face was delicate, fair, and slightly thin, with phoenix eyes and faint eyebrows, resembling a scholar.
Yet, he exuded a relaxed and confident aura, with a smile that suggested he cared about nothing and yet controlled everything.
If Cheng Xinzhan had to compare, he thought the sect leader was like a phoenix.
"You've all arrived. Please, sit and speak," the sect leader said, his voice as elegant as a phoenix's call or the sound of a flute.
Six cushions appeared before them.
They bowed and took their seats.
"You all look unfamiliar. We haven't met before. Please introduce yourselves," the sect leader said gently, not immediately asking about Jinmingzi.
"Forty-sixth-generation disciple, Sun Miaoshu of Ziyan Mountain, greets the sect leader."
"Forty-eighth-generation disciple, Xu Jishen of Yaoguang Mountain, greets the sect leader."
"Forty-seventh-generation disciple, Zhu Jianmo of White Tiger Mountain, greets the sect leader."
"Forty-sixth-generation disciple, Wang Miaoyuan of Hundred Herbs Mountain, greets the sect leader."
"Forty-eighth-generation disciple, Feng Jihu of Azalea Valley, greets the sect leader."
"Twenty-sixth-generation disciple, Cheng Xinzhan of Meiji Mountain, greets the sect leader."
They answered respectfully.
The sect leader smiled and nodded.
"Good, all young people. Cultivate diligently and don't waste time. The future of the Three Pure Mountains depends on you. Here, I have six lotus seeds for you. They can be planted or used as medicine. Take them."
He took out six glowing lotus seeds from his robe, and they flew to each of the six disciples.
"Thank you, sect leader!"
They accepted the seeds without hesitation.
"Now, tell me about the senior who ascended."
Seeing they had accepted the gifts, the sect leader finally asked about the main matter.
They had agreed on the way that Cheng Xinzhan would answer, as he was the only one present from start to finish.
Cheng Xinzhan briefly recounted the events, emphasizing Jinmingzi's first ascension as a celestial immortal, his second as a corpse immortal, and repeated Zhu Jianmo's and his own questions about the absence of golden immortals in the heavens, Qilin's first search for the founder, and the explanation of the metal nature.
The sect leader listened quietly without interruption.
After Cheng Xinzhan finished, he said, "Senior Jinmingzi's words are precious. You should ponder the nature of metal. I now understand the matter. Regarding Jinmingzi and the founder, including the mortal dragon vein, you need not speak of it further, not even to your masters. I will instruct them not to inquire. You've worked hard. Return to your cultivation. Xinzhan, stay."
The other five glanced at Cheng Xinzhan in surprise, then bowed and left.
Cheng Xinzhan was unsure why the sect leader asked him to stay and felt uneasy.
"Xinzhan, how many years have you been in the mountains?" the sect leader asked.
"Three years, sect leader."
The sect leader nodded.
"Do you know about Meiji Mountain's situation?"
Cheng Xinzhan thought he meant the few disciples and high seniority.
"I know a little."
"Yes," the sect leader nodded.
"The Three Pure Palace sect leader, Pure Yang Hall deputy sect leader, Primordial Yin Hall deputy sect leader, Yujing Peak deputy sect leader, and Goddess Peak deputy sect leader—except for the Goddess Peak deputy, all have been from Meiji Mountain."
Cheng Xinzhan was shocked and looked directly at the sect leader.
The man smiled and shook his head.
"Not me. I came from Ziyan Mountain's Ascension Platform. It seems you didn't know this. I'm telling you this because I see you're refining the Five Elements, right? There's an unwritten rule in the Three Pure Mountains that only those who refine the Five Elements and Yin-Yang can become sect leaders."
Cheng Xinzhan was puzzled.
"Sect leader, what does refining the Five Elements mean?"
"Oh, so you don't know. Didn't Sukong tell you? She's always been careless, only focused on cultivation. It's hard for her to teach disciples."
The man chuckled and continued, "Most cultivators, when practicing the Five Elements, find one element that resonates with them.
In the Qi Refining stage, they focus on the corresponding organ, understanding its innate or acquired essence, while paying less attention to the other elements and organs, just aiming to open them and gather the Five Elements to open the Crimson Palace. Their spells, incantations, and talismans will have preferences.
By the second realm, they lean towards Yang or Yin based on their favored element. Even when forming and refining their Golden Core, and during the Dao Union, they are influenced, and this influence lasts a lifetime."
"Like your fellow disciples, it's clear Sun Miaoshu favors Earth, Xu Jishen and Wang Miaoyuan favor Water, Zhu Jianmo favors Metal, and Feng Jihu favors Wood. Later, it's also evident that Sun Miaoshu and Zhu Jianmo favor Yang, while Xu Jishen, Wang Miaoyuan, and Feng Jihu favor Yin."
"But you're different. Although you first opened the Heart Mansion and used the visualization method to consume Yang Fire, forming the Pleiades Inner Scene Deity, which is good, from your question to Senior Jinmingzi about the nature of Metal, I know you don't just focus on Fire, right? And I see you already have some Metal nature within you. You want to refine Yin Metal with Yang Fire, balancing the Five Elements and Yin-Yang, right?"
Cheng Xinzhan nodded.
He didn't favor any element, finding each endlessly mysterious.
The sect leader smiled.
"This is what refining the Five Elements means. You must thoroughly understand each element, as each is a key to comprehending the Dao. Your master Sukong isn't like this. She favors Water and Metal, with Yin in the Two Forms. This relates to talent and perception. Some want to practice all Five Elements but lack the ability, and when their lifespan runs out, they hastily choose one to refine. Others have the ability but inherently prefer one or two elements. Sukong is the latter."
"What guidance can you offer, sect leader?"
The sect leader sighed.
"The cultivation world is becoming increasingly浮躁. Fewer people refine the Five Elements. Seeing you, I know you can walk this path. That's why I asked you to stay, to remind you to not just seek immediate gains but to look far ahead. See, Sukong gave you a good Dao name—look far and aim high."
"Moreover, among the Eight Lotus Veins, only Ziyan Mountain and Meiji Mountain's teachings directly point to Yin-Yang and encompass the Five Elements. Thus, most sect leaders come from these two mountains. Also, Meiji Mountain hasn't had a sect leader for several generations. With few disciples and Sukong not up to the task, you must strive harder."
The sect leader suddenly smiled mischievously.
"In our generation, the number of sect leaders from Ziyan Mountain and Meiji Mountain is equal. It's up to you juniors to see who comes next."
Seeking monthly tickets and recommendations! Comments and messages are welcome!
(End of Chapter)