Immortal in Qingping Mountain

Immortal in Qingping Mountain

"To ask someone for help, you must show the proper courtesy."

"If he wants Father to invite him in person, then Father should prepare sufficient gifts and make the journey to Qingping Mountain himself."

"He can beat or scold you as he pleases. You must show enough sincerity and persuade that Daoist priest to come."

Thinking of his daughter's instructions, Zhang Qingyun could not help but sigh.

They truly had no one left to rely on, and their safety was utterly unsecured. Otherwise, why would they need to invite some wild mountain Daoist?

Yet Zhang Qingyun also knew he had no room to bargain, so he went to great pains to prepare quite a few fine gifts.

He had only one hope: that the Daoist in Qingping Mountain possessed some genuine skill and would not make his trip a wasted one.

At this moment, in Qingping Mountain, Jiang Sheng was meditating and cultivating within the Daoist temple.

The temple was not large, but it was especially tranquil and elegant, perfectly suited to Jiang Sheng's tastes.

The temple faced south from the north. Besides its front, middle, and rear halls, it had several guest rooms, a dining hall, quiet rooms for cultivation, and more. It was built with every facility complete.

Though the sparrow was small, it possessed all five organs.

Jiang Sheng was currently meditating in the front hall, where a portrait of the founding patriarch of Penglai Dao Sect was enshrined.

Before the portrait, the altar table was laden with fruits. Three sticks of sandalwood incense burned, their green smoke curling upward. Jiang Sheng wore a blue Daoist robe and a Daoist crown, sitting cross-legged upon a meditation cushion as he recited his daily scripture.

Outside the front hall, several birds would occasionally alight, tilting their heads as they watched the Daoist. There was no chirping clamor—only profound quiet.

It was as though a world unto itself had formed there.

The deep mountains were secluded, the Daoist temple serene.

Wisp after wisp of sandalwood incense drifted out from the hall, becoming green smoke that rose into the air and gathered above the temple without dispersing.

Birds were drawn in, quietly landing upon the temple eaves; beasts were drawn in, meekly lying outside the temple.

All manner of birds and beasts, even those that were ordinarily natural enemies, now crowded obediently together, listening to the Daoist's soft recitation from within the temple.

Jiang Sheng spoke of the cultivation technique he was practicing. Beyond the Dao Sect elders' explanations and interpretations of the technique, it also contained much of Jiang Sheng's own understanding of the technique and of nature.

Jiang Sheng possessed an excellent temperament and extraordinary comprehension, so he had always been highly valued by the elders.

After forging his Dao foundation, the sect had passed down to him the Purple Mansion Realm section of the Heaven Generates Water Scripture, enough for Jiang Sheng to cultivate all the way to the great completion of the Purple Mansion Realm.

The complete Heaven Generates Water Scripture was an exceptionally profound cultivation technique that pointed directly toward the Nascent Soul Realm.

Jiang Sheng even knew that this Heaven Generates Water Scripture was merely one volume of a fundamental art from the Dao Sect.

Cultivation time passed swiftly. After Jiang Sheng completed his lessons for the day, he said softly, "That is all for today. Disperse."

As though they understood the Daoist's words, the birds and beasts all obediently departed without the slightest chaos.

All things possessed spirituality. Jiang Sheng had enlightened them, so they naturally knew gratitude.

Every day, Jiang Sheng did not need to trouble himself searching for food. Birds and beasts would bring him fresh fruits of their own accord.

Jiang Sheng then placed all those fruits before the patriarch's portrait. He himself was already on the verge of abstaining from food; each day, feeding on the purple qi of morning dawn and the flowing essence of moonlight was enough.

Yet such peaceful days never lasted long.

After Jiang Sheng drove Tian Guofu and the others away, on the third day alone, the magistrate of Qingshan County truly came to his door.

Led by Tian Guofu, Zhang Qingyun brought gifts up the mountain at daybreak and arrived before the temple halfway up Qingping Mountain around the hour of the dragon.

Pointing at the temple, Tian Guofu said, "County Magistrate, Daoist Jiang cultivates here. This place was originally the Mountain God Temple, but it was occupied by that tiger demon."

"After Daoist Jiang slew that evil tiger, this humble one and the gentry and common folk of Qingping Town joined forces to build this temple for Daoist Jiang."

Zhang Qingyun examined the temple, only to suddenly spot venomous snakes coiled before it and hungry wolves watching from the sidelines!

Then he looked at the temple walls and saw fierce birds of prey, such as hawks, perched there as well!

This... this was truly a Daoist temple?!

Zhang Qingyun looked around in startled uncertainty, then suddenly realized that among those fierce beasts and birds were ordinary wild creatures such as Luo Sparrows and hares.

Yet there was no conflict whatsoever among these living creatures. Even when Luo Sparrows and hares came right up to their mouths, the fierce birds and beasts showed no intention of pouncing upon them.

Every creature quietly found a place for itself and gazed into the Daoist temple.

Suddenly, the sound of scripture recitation arose from within the temple. Wisping green smoke rose from the temple and turned into clouds and mist that curled around its roof.

As the chanting began, Zhang Qingyun's originally anxious heart suddenly became calm. The chaotic thoughts troubling his mind were suppressed, and his thoughts became incomparably clear.

Only then did Zhang Qingyun understand why so many birds and beasts had gathered before this temple. Daoist Jiang was no ordinary Daoist—he possessed great skill and great Dharma power!

This Daoist priest had an extraordinary background!

Without realizing it, the contempt in Zhang Qingyun's heart toward Jiang Sheng faded by thirty percent.

As for the attendants Zhang Qingyun had brought, as well as Tian Guofu and the others, they were all quietly listening to the chanting, their expressions exceptionally peaceful, as though their souls had been cleansed.

The daily scripture lessons of Penglai Dao Sect all possessed miraculous effects.

For example, the passage Jiang Sheng had spoken of today could calm the spirit and settle the heart, making one's body and mind clear and unclouded.

When the chanting ended, Jiang Sheng's bright, clear voice came from within the temple. It was not loud, yet it rang beside everyone's ears. "That is all for today. All of you, disperse."

At those words, the birds and beasts scattered one after another.

Only then did Zhang Qingyun come back to himself and hurriedly motion for his attendants to step forward.

Upon reaching the temple, Zhang Qingyun finally saw the plaque above its entrance: Qingxuan Temple.

Taking a deep breath and straightening his robes and cap, Zhang Qingyun was already certain that this trip had not been in vain. He would use the best possible attitude to invite Jiang Sheng down from the mountain.

Thus, Zhang Qingyun bowed deeply. "Zhang Qingyun, magistrate of Qingshan County, heard that a highly accomplished Daoist master was living in secluded cultivation upon Qingping Mountain. I have come especially to pay a visit and beg pardon for the disturbance."

Yet silence fell within the Daoist temple.

Zhang Qingyun remained bent at the waist, his expression turning somewhat ugly. He was a dignified county magistrate, here to invite someone, yet he was being treated with such contempt!

But he also knew the importance of this journey, so he forcibly endured and continued waiting.

After a long while, a voice finally came from within the temple. "This poor Daoist is but a man of the wild mountains. I only wish to cultivate quietly here and do not wish to be disturbed."

"If the county magistrate has no business, then please return."

Zhang Qingyun hurriedly said, "Daoist priest, please do not be angered. Qingyun was at fault before, and I have come especially to offer my apologies."

As he spoke, Zhang Qingyun had someone bring the gifts of flowers and fruit before the temple. Then he said with utmost sincerity, "Qingyun has come because I truly wish to invite Daoist priest to descend the mountain."

Jiang Sheng's cold voice sounded again. "Could it be that the county magistrate does not understand this poor Daoist's words?"

Shame and indignation filled Zhang Qingyun's heart.

Thinking of the wealthy gentry of Qingping Town, such as Tian Guofu, along with his own attendants, all being present while Jiang Sheng gave him so little face, Zhang Qingyun could not help wanting to flick his sleeves and leave.

But in the end, Zhang Qingyun thought of his ambitions, of his own future and his daughter's future.

Finally, with a ruthless resolve and gritted teeth, he dropped to his knees.