He Mountain Expounds the Dao

"Second Brother, at least clear up this little brother's confusion. Why send Xuanqing to the West?"

Yuanshi Tianzun looked at Tongtian Cult Leader, a trace of helplessness in his eyes.

"Third Brother, you always charge straight ahead like this. Whenever you can avoid using your brain, you do."

He sighed softly and said slowly, "Mount Sumeru in the West—back when Luo Hou fought the Dao Ancestor, its earth veins were damaged, its spiritual qi dried up, and baleful qi soared to the heavens. This is a great hidden danger in Honghuang."

Tongtian Cult Leader nodded. Naturally, he knew all this.

"Xuanqing's true form is the Purifying Mystic Bamboo. He was born with the ability to cleanse the baleful qi of heaven and earth. With Double Merit Fortune upon him, he is even favored by the Heavenly Dao."

Yuanshi Tianzun paused before continuing, "If he goes to the West and uses his innate divine ability to purify the baleful qi and restore the Western Spiritual Veins, not only will he gain an ocean of merit, he will also eliminate a hidden danger from heaven and earth."

Tongtian Cult Leader frowned slightly. "I know that. But what does it have to do with those two, Jieyin and Zunti? Back at the Purple Mist Palace, I already found them displeasing to the eye."

Taishang Laojun, standing nearby, merely chuckled and shook his head.

Yuanshi Tianzun looked at Tongtian Cult Leader, his gaze deep.

"If the Western Spiritual Veins can be restored, it will undoubtedly be a heaven-sized favor to the Two Sages of the West. This Karma will then fall upon Xuanqing."

"When the Two Sages of the West attain the Dao in the future, this Karma will become a talisman protecting Xuanqing—and also a thread binding our Mysterious Gate together."

At this time, Zunti and Jieyin had yet to establish the West Teach, so they and Yuanshi's group were all members of the Mysterious Gate.

Upon hearing this, Tongtian Cult Leader instantly came to a realization.

"So that's how it is!" He slapped his thigh, admiration appearing on his face.

"Second Brother, brilliant."

Yuanshi Tianzun smiled faintly and said nothing more.

Taishang Laojun merely lifted his teacup with detached calmness and took a light sip.

Everything was understood without being spoken.

After leaving the main hall of Jade Void Palace, Xuanqing rode Auspicious Clouds straight toward his own He Mountain.

At this time, the spiritual qi on He Mountain was much denser than when he had left.

Presumably, his disciples had diligently tended the place, or perhaps Kunlun Mountain's overall spiritual vitality was continuously recovering.

The moment Xuanqing landed before the mountain gate, the spirit cranes guarding the mountain let out clear cries.

The cries spread throughout the entire mountain. Soon, several streams of light swept down from Cave Abodes scattered among the peaks.

At their head was a young girl in an emerald-green dress, with delicate features and lively eyes.

She was Luyao, the Great Disciple he had accepted.

"Master! You're finally back!"

Luyao landed before Xuanqing and cried out happily.

Behind her, three male disciples arrived in succession and bowed in unison.

"Disciple Song Xuan pays respects to Master."

"Disciple Zimo pays respects to Master."

"Disciple Lingyunzi pays respects to Master."

Xuanqing stood where he was, his gaze sweeping over the four of them.

He had now reached the Golden Immortal Realm, and his discernment was naturally no longer what it had once been.

Luyao's cultivation had advanced the fastest. She had already entered the Great Yi Mysterious Immortal Realm, her mana smooth and complete around her body, clearly showing a solid foundation.

Song Xuan and Zimo were somewhat behind, both in the late Mystic Immortal Realm. Lingyunzi, who had taken human form the latest, had also broken through to the peak of the True Immortal Realm.

In the current Honghuang, such cultivation might only count as the backbone, but in the future Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods, as long as they did not take the initiative to provoke major trouble, it should be enough for self-preservation.

"Not bad. It seems that while I was away, none of you slacked off."

Xuanqing nodded, his tone carrying satisfaction.

Song Xuan spoke steadily from the side. "Master, everything on the mountain is well. The spiritual plants have also been tended in perfect order."

Xuanqing smiled. "Today, after observing your cultivation, I found that most of you have encountered bottlenecks. As it happens, I have just returned from Mount Buzhou and gained some insights into the Great Dao. Today, I shall expound the Dao for you."

At once, ecstatic expressions appeared on all four disciples' faces.

In Honghuang, a master expounding the Dao was a heaven-sized opportunity.

Especially when the master was a cultivator like Xuanqing, who had listened to teachings at Purple Cloud Palace and cultivated under Yuanshi Tianzun.

"Wonderful! With Master expounding the Dao, we'll definitely break through our bottlenecks!"

Lingyunzi nodded excitedly. He had taken human form only recently and had the most doubts about cultivation.

"Don't celebrate too soon. Go make preparations and sweep the open ground before the Cave Abode clean."

Unlike his Master Yuanshi, Xuanqing governed his disciples through inaction. As a result, Luyao and the others did not behave so stiffly before him—and that was precisely what Xuanqing wished to see.

Xuanqing waved his hand, signaling for them to get busy.

While his disciples were occupied, Xuanqing slapped his sleeve.

With a thump, a pitch-black little fellow fell out of the Sleeve Universe.

Xiao Hei rolled twice across the ground, then, once he had steadied himself, flicked his tail in displeasure.

This Ink Qilin cub had kept himself curled up ever since entering the Jade Void Palace. Only now, upon reaching He Mountain, did he finally relax.

"This little fellow is a qilin. You can call him Xiao Hei from now on."

Pointing at the little fellow on the ground, Xuanqing spoke to Luyao, who had just walked over.

Luyao's eyes widened as she crouched down and curiously examined Xiao Hei.

"An Ink Qilin?"

Xiao Hei lifted his head and shot Luyao a glare with his jet-black eyes, as though emphasizing his own nobility.

Luyao, however, was somewhat frightened and hid behind Xuanqing.

Fortunately, Luyao did not know Xiao Hei's true identity. Otherwise, she would have been even more at a loss.

Watching this, Xuanqing could not help grabbing Xiao Hei.

"All right, Xiao Hei, behave yourself. We'll listen to the Dao together in a while."

Hearing that they were going to listen to the Dao, Xiao Hei finally quieted down. He broke free from Luyao's embrace and found a spot to squat down.

A short while later, everything was ready in the open space before He Mountain Cave Abode.

Xuanqing had changed into a clean azure Taoist robe and sat upright upon a prayer mat.

He raised a hand, and a thread of pale golden spiritual energy spilled from his palm.

The spiritual energy swiftly spread, transforming into a thin curtain that enveloped all of He Mountain.

The clamor in the mountains vanished in an instant, replaced by an atmosphere of tranquility and peace.

Xuanqing closed his eyes, and the profound truths once expounded by the Hongjun Dao Ancestor surfaced in his mind.

Those principles were far too profound; even he found them difficult to grasp, much less these Mystic Immortals and True Immortals.

Xuanqing merged the true essence of the Chan Sect taught to him by Yuanshi Tianzun with the Dao Ancestor's methods.

He stripped away the obscure and incomprehensible parts, leaving behind only the most fundamental logic of cultivation.

Xuanqing slowly began to speak. His voice was not grand, yet it rang clearly in the ears of every living being.

As he spoke, the clouds in the sky gradually gathered, taking on all manner of auspicious forms.

The spiritual herbs on the ground straightened their stalks, greedily absorbing the Dao Rhyme permeating the air.

Xuanqing spoke of the foundations of cultivation: how spiritual energy entered the body, how one opened up the Consciousness Sea, and how one came to comprehend the laws.

He spoke very slowly, every word containing his own understanding.

Luyao listened as though intoxicated. The Taiyi Mystic Immortal bottleneck that had long troubled her unexpectedly showed signs of loosening at this moment.

Song Xuan and Zimo were also immersed in it, and the path of cultivation before them gradually became clearer.

Even the mischievous Xiao Hei put aside his playful nature at this time. With his eyes closed, faint ripples of waterlight circulated around his body.

The process of expounding the Dao was tedious, yet also incomparably profound.

As time passed, wondrous changes took place upon He Mountain.

The birds and beasts that had originally darted through the mountain forests all stopped in their tracks.

Several white immortal cranes alighted on nearby pine trees, lowering their heads without moving.

The mountain rabbits and foxes in the grass also boldly ran to the edge of the clearing, squatting on the ground in imitation of humans.

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