"When will Daoist Jiang emerge from seclusion?"
"Young Daoist, we really only want to enter the temple and offer a stick of incense."
"Yes, young Daoist, we've traveled a long way. Please announce our arrival!"
Outside the gates of Qingxuan Temple on Qingping Mountain, gentry and wealthy merchants from across Dongjun gathered, hoping to meet Jiang Sheng.
The local gentry of Qingshan County were actually outnumbered by the visitors.
Ever since these gentlemen had learned of Jiang Sheng's abilities, some had hoped to secure his protection and give their lineages another layer of security.
As for the gentry of Qingshan County, they would rather come to Qingping Mountain to seek an audience with Jiang Sheng than approach Zhang Qingyun, who demanded a lion's share.
After all, Zhang Qingyun asked for most of their wealth and farmland the moment he opened his mouth. Despite his imposing air, Magistrate Zhang was actually borrowing Jiang Sheng's might.
How could paying respects to the county magistrate be as useful as paying respects to Daoist Jiang himself?
Who in Qingshan County did not know that Daoist Jiang was the one true god of its fifteen towns?
Tian Ming'an, too, had truly experienced what it meant to bask in glory.
Countless gentry and wealthy merchants had come seeking incense and talismans in recent days, and everyone addressed him with utmost respect as "young Daoist."
Their deference naturally had nothing to do with Tian Ming'an possessing great abilities.
But what could they do? Tian Ming'an was Jiang Sheng's only disciple at present.
Although these people tried every conceivable way to curry favor with him, Tian Ming'an had not let their promises and flattery dazzle his eyes.
Before Qingxuan Temple's gates, Tian Ming'an stood expressionless in a plain gray Daoist robe.
"My master has been cultivating in seclusion lately and has no time to attend to you. This is no place for your clamor, either."
"Disperse. My master cultivates in peace and does not concern himself with worldly affairs. Stop making noise here."
Standing before the gates, Tian Ming'an, a boy barely thirteen years old, had actually stopped all these gentlemen in their tracks, leaving them afraid to advance.
It was not as though they had come without servants. How could they travel such great distances without guards?
Yet none dared make a rash move.
Merely thinking of the man standing behind Tian Ming'an extinguished any thought of using force.
So much so that Tian Guofu, who had brought a large contingent of servants up the mountain to bolster his grandson's authority, found them entirely unnecessary.
With just a single instruction from Jiang Sheng, Tian Ming'an had cowed these gentlemen into obedience.
In the end, they could only remain at the foot of the mountain. Even unable to see Jiang Sheng, they still refused to leave.
The Lantern Festival was fast approaching, yet they remained unwilling to return home, still clinging to the hope of meeting Jiang Sheng.
Meanwhile, inside Qingxuan Temple, Jiang Sheng had finished refining another batch of pills.
After carefully counting the pills he had on hand and confirming they were sufficient, he stopped refining.
Keeping his mind taut for too long did his cultivation no good, so Jiang Sheng turned to drawing talismans to ease his state of mind.
"Ming'an."
Hearing Jiang Sheng call, Tian Ming'an hurried to the rear hall. "Master, your disciple is here."
"What has all that noise outside the gates been about lately?" Jiang Sheng asked as he drew a talisman.
Tian Ming'an explained, "Master, gentry from the various counties have come seeking incense and talismans. Those from our own Qingshan County are especially eager to see you."
Jiang Sheng chuckled. "I never saw such devotion to the Dao from them before. Now they suddenly know to seek incense and worship the gods."
Tian Ming'an added, "The demon flooded six towns with its sorcery. Who knows how many common people were driven from their homes and left with nothing but four bare walls?"
"These wealthy merchants and gentry have entrenched themselves in Qingshan County for years, squeezing untold amounts of land and money out of others. Yet now, when asked to give some of it back for disaster relief, they drag their feet and make excuses."
"With hearts so crooked, they still presume to seek your help. They truly don't know their place."
Jiang Sheng's brush traced its strokes, spiritual power flowing through its bristles into the cloud-script. With the final stroke, a second-tier Light Feather Talisman was complete.
Picking up the talisman to examine it, Jiang Sheng said, "As the saying goes, do not turn Xuanmen into a marketplace; set aside your schemes when honoring the gods."
"If they wish to come, let them stay at the foot of the mountain. As long as they do not climb it, leave them be."
Though cool and aloof by nature, Jiang Sheng did not like taking lives without cause. So long as those people stayed off the mountain, he would not lay a hand on them.
The mountains were a good place to cultivate. Jiang Sheng continued his secluded cultivation, ignoring outside affairs and devoting himself to reaching the Purple Mansion Realm.
With the arrival of the Lantern Festival, colorful lanterns once again hung high throughout Qingshan County.
Lately, Zhang Qingyun had used the money and farmland confiscated from those wealthy gentry households to aid the townspeople affected by the disaster. He had even distributed money to everyone in the county office.
For a time, ordinary people throughout Qingshan County praised Magistrate Zhang to the skies, and he had finally brought the county office firmly under his control.
At last, Zhang Qingyun bore some resemblance to a true lord of his county.
Yet a knot remained in his heart: Jiang Sheng, secluded on Qingping Mountain.
He could not forget how he had humbled himself and bent his knees before Jiang Sheng.
Especially now, when the common people sang his praises, the entire county office held him in awe, and even the gentry and wealthy merchants became servile in his presence.
Yet the more they raised him up, the harder it became to forget the great mountain that still loomed over his head.
Jiang Sheng was simply too powerful. Even secluded in the mountains, his every word and action could influence all of Qingshan County.
Who knew how many gentlemen had flocked to Qingping Mountain lately, hoping for an audience with Jiang Sheng? Zhang Qingyun did not even dare send men to arrest them, which only deepened his frustration.
Although he knew they had knelt at the foot of the mountain for days without ever seeing Jiang Sheng, he still felt uncomfortable.
Nevertheless, Zhang Qingyun buried all these feelings and showed none of them.
As Zhang Qing had said, an immortal figure like Jiang Sheng was merely residing in the mountains for now. Sooner or later, he would soar through the nine heavens.
Thinking of his present glory, Zhang Qingyun sighed again. "Should I go to Qingxuan Temple and offer a stick of incense?"
Seeing her father so conflicted, Zhang Qing said, "Father, of course you should."
"Daoist Jiang doesn't like that." Zhang Qingyun still hesitated. He truly did not want to visit Qingxuan Temple.
Whenever he went there, he no longer felt like the ruler of a county, much less someone with any authority.
Every time he met Jiang Sheng, he was the one nodding and bowing. There were even rumors in the streets that he had obtained his magistrate's seat by kneeling before Jiang Sheng. How could he swallow that?
Yet that was the truth. In Jiang Sheng's eyes, perhaps Zhang Qingyun was no different from a beggar, for he regarded them both as ants.
Knowing her father felt resistant, Zhang Qing said, "Father, Daoist Jiang indeed dislikes being disturbed."
"But today is the Lantern Festival. Daoist Jiang may not want anything, but you cannot fail to go."
That single sentence dispelled Zhang Qingyun's awkwardness completely.
"You're right, Qing'er. Prepare the gifts immediately. I shall go to Qingxuan Temple to offer incense."
The servants soon prepared the gifts, and Zhang Qingyun and Zhang Qing hurried toward Qingping Mountain with the yamen runners.
At the same time, Cha Liangping arrived in Qingshan County with several gifts. His destination, too, was Qingping Mountain.
Thus, Zhang Qingyun and Cha Liangping reached the foot of Qingping Mountain one after the other.
Looking at the gentry from various counties gathered below Qingping Mountain, then at the magistrate's ceremonial procession stopped at its foot, Cha Liangping understood just how much prestige his fellow Daoist Jiang commanded in Qingshan County.
Rather than rashly climbing the mountain, Cha Liangping took out a visiting card and sent it into the mountain with his spiritual power.
Before long, he saw a young Daoist in a gray robe hurry down the mountain and approach him. "Greetings, Senior. When my master learned of your visit, he sent me to welcome you. He is already waiting for you at the gates."
Smiling, Cha Liangping took out a sealed packet. "I've long heard that Daoist Jiang took in a fine disciple. Seeing you today, you truly are an outstanding young talent."
"I haven't brought much in the way of gifts for this fine festival. Take this as a little spending money from me."
Accepting the red packet with both hands, Tian Ming'an quickly said, "I dare not refuse a gift from an elder. Thank you, Senior."
With that, Tian Ming'an led Cha Liangping up the mountain. The gentry and wealthy merchants gathered below stared wide-eyed. None knew the identity of this middle-aged man dressed like an ordinary wealthy gentleman.
When he reached the gates, Cha Liangping indeed found Jiang Sheng waiting.
Jiang Sheng wore an azure Daoist robe and a Daoist crown. Spotting Cha Liangping from afar, he smiled. "You have traveled far, fellow Daoist, yet I failed to come out to greet you. Forgive my discourtesy."
"I'm the one who has come calling so abruptly. Please don't blame me for arriving unannounced, fellow Daoist Jiang." Cha Liangping smiled as well, looking quite sincere.
Jiang Sheng invited Cha Liangping inside the temple. Cha Liangping first offered a stick of incense in the front hall, then toured the temple with Jiang Sheng, voicing his admiration from time to time.
"The mountains are tranquil, and the temple is serene and elegant. No wonder you are reluctant to leave your secluded home here, fellow Daoist Jiang. If I weren't burdened by my lineage, I too would find a mountain and live as a hermit, cultivating in peace."
Hearing his praise, Jiang Sheng smiled. "You jest, fellow Daoist Cha. These impoverished mountains and remote wilds are only bearable because I am accustomed to austere living. If I had anywhere better to go, I wouldn't be cooped up here."
After showing Cha Liangping around, Jiang Sheng invited him to sit in a side hall, then brewed spiritual tea for his guest.
"There is little of worth in these mountains, save for the clear, cool spring water. The tea is a coarse variety I prepared myself, and the water comes from a mountain spring."
"Please don't disdain it, fellow Daoist Cha."
Despite Jiang Sheng's words, Cha Liangping treated it with great seriousness.
The fragrance drifting from the leaves alone told him this was no ordinary tea. Otherwise, it could not have left even a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator like him feeling so refreshed.
"Please, fellow Daoist."
"Please, Daoist."
After finishing a cup of spiritual tea, Cha Liangping smiled. "You made quite a name for yourself in Dongjun recently, fellow Daoist Jiang."
"Now, throughout Dongjun and even half of Qing Province, who doesn't know that a senior ritual master from Penglai cultivates in seclusion on Qingping Mountain, and that he slew a Purple Mansion Realm demon despite being only in the Foundation Establishment Realm!"
"Your name has spread throughout Qing Province, fellow Daoist Jiang."
Jiang Sheng chuckled. "That is hardly good news. A tall tree catches the wind. Now that I attract so much attention, I fear it will be difficult to enjoy peace on Qingping Mountain in the future."
Cha Liangping fell silent for a moment, then finally revealed his true purpose. "In fact, I came at my eldest brother's request to give you a warning."
"Fellow Daoist, calamity will soon be upon you."
Today's second update.
Yesterday, in the early hours, Lin Yuan discussed this book with several veteran authors.
They pointed out many mistakes and offered quite a few suggestions for revisions.
But Dao Lord has already reached 110,000 characters, and revising the earlier text is truly difficult.
Lin Yuan worked on revisions until six this morning and barely managed to make some changes to the earlier chapters. That is why this chapter was delayed until now.
Right now, Lin Yuan is still considering whether to overhaul the plot. Dear readers, please offer some suggestions.
PS: If you have any suggestions about the plot, feel free to comment here.
Whether you think the plot is padded, lacks satisfying moments, is too bland, or is frustrating to read, please feel free to say so. Lin Yuan will decide whether to substantially revise the earlier plot based on your feedback.
(End of chapter)
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