Tears Shed on Hidden Mist Mountain (XIX)

Now, Ao Tu arrived outside the cave and sang loudly:

"Nine Cauldrons cook and boil the sand nine times, distinguishing the seasons without error."

Spirit, energy, and blood all belong to the three essentials; north, south, east, and west are all one family.

Heaven and Earth change, white snow flies; Yin and Yang unite, gold and glory are produced.

The final imperial edict descended from the sky, and I rode a tiger and a dragon to pay homage to the Zixia Clouds.

Upon hearing this, Taoist Youde in the cave sang:

"To seek the root of immortality, one must cultivate both the Yin spirit and the Yang soul."

First, teach the Mysterious Mother to return to the Li Gate, then send the Void King to guard the Kan Gate.

The tiger arrives at Jia, where the wind howls; the dragon dwells within Geng, where the waters are warm.

"Those who are lost should not easily reveal their mistakes; this principle must be discussed by those who have attained understanding."

Ao Tu said, "Set up the furnace and cauldron, and burn metals, minerals, lead, and mercury; with water and fire combined, we will make cinnabar Cinnabar."

The Taoist Youde, "The divine furnace and immortal cauldron forge the frost and snow; the jade gate and golden barrier bind the maiden and the infant."

Ao Tu said, "If we can obtain the Nine True Elixir, why not ride a cloud raft in broad daylight?"

The Taoist Youde, "When the dragon and tiger unite, the Primordial Yang gathers; why bother with a thousand kinds of metals and stones?"

After they finished speaking, they burst into laughter.

Ao Tu asked, "Brother Youde, how have you been?"

The Taoist Youde, "Why trouble Taixi with such concern!" He then stepped out of the cave and looked around at the sky.

When Erlang saw this, his followers hid behind the clouds.

The Taoist Youde smiled and said to Ao Tu:

"Brother Dao, if your visit is merely for discussing Daoist principles and reminiscing, please take a seat in the cave; if it's to plead for the monk, then we must have a proper discussion."

Ao Tu said, "Brother Dao, why are you picking a fight with the monk? Why don't I do you a favor and turn hostility into friendship, how about that?"

The Taoist Youde laughed and said to the heavens, "Who would bring troops to do a favor? Don't hide yourselves. Come down and fight. If I'm even slightly less skilled, I'll turn hostility into friendship!"

Upon hearing this, Nezha was enraged. He flew out of the clouds and shouted:

"Old Daoist, stop your arrogance! Magic Treasure!"

Having said that, he threw out a Universe Ring.

Taoist Youde ducked to dodge, but the Universe Ring came from behind again. Taoist Youde raised his long banner to parry the Universe Ring. The banner pole was bent by the blow, and the Universe Ring was knocked off to the side, spun around, and returned to Nezha's hand.

Erlang ordered, "Attack the mountain!"

Upon receiving the order, the Six Brothers of Meishan led 1,200 Grass-Headed Gods to surround the mountain from all directions, intending to rescue Tang Sanzang and his disciples from the cave.

Having received the benefit, the Howling Celestial Dog exerted itself even more, leaping forward first to bite the Taoist Youde's leg.

The Taoist Youde stood still, stretching out his thigh, allowing the Howling Celestial Dog to bite him. The thigh was as hard as metal and stone, and the Howling Celestial Dog could not tear it apart. The dog's teeth ached from the impact, but it still held on tightly and did not let go.

The Taoist Youde laughed and said, "Good dog!"

He kicked the dog away, and seeing the Six Generals of Mount Mei leading their troops up the mountain, he took a step, made Dipper Steps, opened his mouth, puffed out his chest and abdomen, and spat out a burst of Six-Ding Divine Fire.

Good fire:

The fire of the Li Palace, embodying the elements of Bing and Ding, spews forth crimson clouds, piercing the azure sky.

No need for firewood or firewood; it relies solely on the supernatural Supernatural Ability of this talisman.

In an instant, flames surged forth, and Red Light enveloped the heavens and earth.

Relying on the supreme power and divine might, the heretics were thoroughly eradicated, and the four fields were peaceful and tranquil.

Upon seeing this, the Six Generals of Mount Mei hurriedly gave way and dared not advance.

Ao Tu tossed a precious furnace into the air, extinguishing all the flames.

Good furnace:

It exhales wisps of purple mist; it moves the sun and moon, manipulates the Five Phases. Civil Fire gathers all the fire of the Heavenly Cycle, and puts it all into the Golden Furnace. When the gentle fire is withdrawn, ten thousand Rosy Radiance appear; Martial Fire enters, a thousand layers of emerald mist appear. But when all the fires are withdrawn and the Red Light fades, only ashes and cold smoke remain, a desolate emptiness!

Wukong shouted, "True Lord, what a treasure! True Lord, what a treasure!"

The Taoist Youde, "Brother Taixi, you use my Daoist School treasures to aid those treacherous Buddhist Sect monks. You are truly unfilial! Take this beating!"

A tall banner came crashing down on his face.

Ao Tu held the treasure furnace on his head to shield it.

Upon seeing this, Nezha shouted, drew his Demon-Slaying Sword, and, riding his Wind Fire Wheels, flew down to help.

Erlang picked up his Three-Pointed, Double-Edged Spear and leaped down.

Without his Golden Cudgel, Wukong could only stand behind the crowd, holding the Alms Bowl in his hand, chanting a spell, and releasing Golden Light to envelop the Taoist Youde.

Upon seeing this, the Taoist Youde waved his hands, his left hand transforming into a positive polarity and his right hand into a negative polarity. He caught Ao Tu on the left and stuck Nezha on the right. With the Yin and Yang and yang combined, Nezha's Demon-Slaying Sword struck Ao Tu.

Nezha staggered, quickly sheathed his Precious Sword, and asked in surprise, "Are you alright?"

Ao Tu helped him up and said, "It's alright."

Nezha said, "What formidable supernatural Supernatural Ability!"

Ao Tu said, "This is the Taiqing Yin and Yang Method!"

On the other side, Erlang attacked with Three-Pointed, Double-Edged Spear, Taoist Youde raised his banner pole to block the Three-Pointed, Double-Edged Spear.

Wukong then covered the Alms Bowl with it again.

The Taoist Youde drew the Great Way of Yin and Yang in the air, creating a Yin-Yang Talisman, which he then affixed to Wukong's Alms Bowl, causing the Alms Bowl to lose its magical power and fall to the ground.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Erlang took out his Mountain-Splitting Divine Axe from his waist and swung it at the banner pole.

The Taoist Youde was preoccupied with dealing with Wukong's Alms Bowl and didn't notice Erlang beside him. Erlang swung his Erlang down, hitting the flagpole. The flagpole had been bought by the Taoist Youde for five qian of silver at the town market, and it couldn't withstand Erlang's axe blow, breaking with a loud thud.

Wukong laughed, "Old Daoist, now you've run out of flags to play with!"

The Taoist Youde was furious and raised his hand to manipulate Yin and Yang.

Erlang tried to escape, but was stuck by the Yin-Yang Two Qi and could not get away. He then tried to use the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts to escape.

The Taoist Youde glanced at Erlang, then manipulated Yin and Yang, disrupting Erlang's balance and causing him to suffer from kidney deficiency, stomach deficiency, spleen deficiency, and lung deficiency, leaving his Yang energy concentrated solely in his heart, making him extremely hot.

Erlang had never encountered such Supernatural Ability since he began cultivating Daoism.

That vital energy gathered in his heart, leaving his four internal organs weak. He couldn't expel it, nor could he process it, causing his hands and feet to burn with cold sweat, his eyes to sink into deep sockets and his spirit to fade. He had to bite his tongue to draw blood before he could catch his breath for a moment. He couldn't help but say:

"Great Sage, where did you get these people from?"

The Taoist Youde smiled, struck out with his palm, and sent Erlang tumbling down onto Mount Hua.

Upon seeing this, Ao Tu pulled Nezha back onto the cloud, shouting, "Great Sage, retreat quickly!"

Wukong's Alms Bowl was still on the ground. He wanted to pick it up, but seeing Erlang being slapped away with a palm, he didn't dare to provoke the Daoist Ao Tu.

Ao Tu made a hand seal and summoned the Yuqing Divine Thunder.

Good thunder:

A thunderous roar echoed through the Bixiao, and shimmering lightning soared into the heavens.

A gust of wind rises and clouds gather, a billowing mist fills the sky.

Hurry, hurry, hurry! Thunder roars, thunder roars, mountains and rivers tremble.

Quickly, quickly, all Three Thousand Great Daos will dissolve!

Wukong leaped with joy in the air, exclaiming:

"What excellent Thunder Method! What excellent Thunder Method! Your thunder magic, True Lord, is even more Solar Essence!"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "In the past, the Great Sage suffered a minor defeat at my hands, so I have been diligently studying Supernatural Ability, hoping to have another chance to spar with the Great Sage in the future."

At the source of the lightning, the Taoist Youde could not withstand it, so he picked up his Alms Bowl, retreated back into the cave, and sealed the entrance to the Great Way of Yin and Yang.

Ao Tu used Divine Thunder outside for three days and three nights, while Taoist Youde remained holed up inside the cave and refused to come out.

If they were to smash the mountain, they feared it would injure Tang Sanzang, so they had no choice but to have Wukong challenge it outside the cave.

Wukong cursed and swore outside the cave, but the Taoist Youde didn't utter a single word in response. He simply stayed inside the cave and refused to come out.

Unbeknownst to Wukong, while he was cursing, the Taoist Youde had already left his Primordial Spirit and gone directly to the Great Thunderclap Temple on Spirit Mountain. He bought Petition at the market at the foot of the mountain, spent twenty taels of silver to hire an India Litigation Lawyer, and went to Spirit Mountain to accuse Wukong of aiding and abetting the destruction of the Tao.