MTLNOVEL Chapter 85 Wuzhuang Temple
Lu Yu saw Golden Cicada, now known as Xuanzhuang, and gazed upon the transformed face of an old acquaintance, his heart brimming with thousands of emotions. He slowly walked out of this magnificent capital city.
Looking back, the setting sun sank westward, and the golden sunlight spilled over the towering city walls and the thick gates, causing the iron nails on the gate to reflect a dazzling brilliance.
This was a magnificent capital city, a city revered by all, where countless people experienced their joys and sorrows, hellos and goodbyes, life and death.
Yet all of this had nothing to do with him; he was merely a passerby.
Raising his head, he saw the fierce Dragon of Fortune coiled above the city. As peace reigned over the world and the population increased, the Dragon of Fortune grew stronger. It opened its eyes, watching the people below.
Under the gaze of the Dragon of Fortune, Lu Yu clearly felt an immense pressure. This was the Human Path suppressing those extraordinary beings. Even the Immortal Gods from heaven would be restrained in this city.
Beyond the Dragon of Fortune, the vital energies of the entire human world were ever-changing. As Journey to the West approached, countless spatial fragments began to converge towards the Three Realms. Mystical places that had once vanished from everyone's sight were gradually taking shape again.
Lu Yu did not return to his Cave Heaven, but instead headed westward. He wanted to see what changes there were on the path to the west nowadays.
The moment he stepped out of Kyushu, he immediately felt a change in the surrounding energies. This step seemed to separate two worlds: one orderly, the other chaotic and unstructured.
Thunder shot from Lu Yu's eyes. He could see faint cracks in the void ahead. Through these cracks, he seemed to glimpse a new world.
"I thought along the way, that many places in Journey to the West couldn't be found. It turns out they are hidden within the rifts of space. Only such a drastic change will bring these places to light," Lu Yu realized with a sudden enlightenment.
During his previous travels on the journey to the west, he had found that some places simply did not exist. Places like the Kingdom of Women and Lion Camel Country could not be found at all. Now that Journey to the West was progressing, he estimated that these places would gradually reveal themselves, becoming obstacles on the westward path.
Lu Yu carefully traversed various realms, and the path to the west was beginning to become fraught with dangers. Monsters' traces were gradually appearing on the once peaceful mountaintops, occupying territories and laying the foundations for the grand opening of Journey to the West under the drive of destiny.
After traveling a while, a towering mountain came into view, steep and majestic. Rooted in the Kunlun Mountain Range, its peak touching the middle of the sky. White cranes perched on cypresses and junipers; black gibbons swung from vines. Sunlight gleamed on the verdant forest, creating a thousand strands of red mist; winds stirred the shady ravines, sending myriad streams of colored clouds flying.
In the seclusion of green bamboo, various birds chirped wildly; amidst the wildflowers, peacocks fought splendidly.
"This mountain is bursting with Spiritual Energy, faint with Immortal Qi. It must be the dwelling of a high being," Lu Yu silently asserted to himself.
Stepping off his cloud, he walked on foot into the mountain. He saw that a path had long been cleared within the mountain, paved with bluestone steps, exuding simplicity and antiquity. Green grasses cheekily poked their heads out from the crevices between the steps.
Halfway up the path, a bell rang out, echoing in all directions, purifying the soul and instantly calming the slight irritation in Lu Yu's heart from the journey.
The bell's sound instantly enlivened the quiet forest as numerous beings from every direction converged. They appeared in diverse forms and donned various attires; some were immortals, some demons. Each emanated an aura profound as the abyss, easily identified as no ordinary beings. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire
"Fellow Taoist, why the leisurely pace? If you're late, you won't be able to secure a good spot," a young Taoist said to Lu Yu.
"May I ask, my fellow Daoist, what place is this, and why is everyone in such a rush? Is there some kind of grand event taking place?" Lu Yu asked, a guess forming in his heart, but since this was the real world, he feared his knowledge might be off.
The young Taoist looked at Lu Yu with quite a bit of surprise, seeing that his expression did not seem false, and then he knew that Lu Yu was truly here for the first time. Smiling, he explained, "This place is Wanshou Mountain, and within the mountain resides Immortal Zhenyuan, known as the Ancestor of Earth Immortals. Every ten years, he opens an altar to give a lecture, and all are welcome.
The bell that just rang signifies that it is time for the Great Immortal to give his lecture."
Only then did Lu Yu understand why these people rushed up the mountain at the sound of the bell—they were keen to hear the Great Immortal's teachings.
Lu Yu was long acquainted with Immortal Zhenyuan's profound reputation, coveting Divine Skills such as 'Universe in the Sleeve.' No matter how much he tried to comprehend it, the art eluded him, which spoke to the formidable nature of this Divine Skill.
Since he had stumbled upon the Great Immortal's lecture, naturally Lu Yu would not let go of this excellent opportunity. His Five Qi were already stimulated, and he needed to observe and learn more, to understand implicitly, looking for the opportunity to realize the 'Five Qi leading to the origin.'
After all, the path he and the likes of Monkey Yang Jian walked was different. They were Battle Immortals, where breakthroughs required intense and exhilarating combat to touch upon their fate and destiny, whereas Lu Yu followed the path of a law-based Immortal, needing to comprehend Heaven and Earth to grasp his opportunity.
Along with the young Taoist, Lu Yu moved forward, and before long, they arrived at a Taoist Temple, with winding paths leading through seclusion, and tall pines and cypresses on both sides, lush and green. There stood an altar in front of the temple, with meditation cushions placed below it, and several individuals were already sitting on top, meditating and restoring their spirits.
Lu Yu arrived a little late, and thus there were no seats left for him, so he stood at a distance, taking a careful look.
Soon, a Taoist stepped out from within the temple, his presence profound as the abyss. Lu Yu felt as if he was looking at all living things on Earth, that sort of profound feeling only matched by Empress Hou Tu of the Underworld.
"Again, a great power proficient in the laws of Earth," Lu Yu thought to himself, knowing that the figure must be Immortal Zhenyuan.
The Great Immortal ascended the altar and commenced his lecture on the laws of Earth Immortals and the Dao of the Great Earth.
This Earthly Immortal Path, although originating from the same source as the Celestial Immortal Dao, differed when it came to 'the Five Qi leading to the origin.' By combining the Five Energies of the Cave Heavens with the five energies within oneself, the result would be the attainment of 'the Five Qi leading to the origin.' This would also grant the power of 'the Five Qi leading to the origin,' but ultimately, it could not condense the Three Flowers atop one's head.
Immortal Zhenyuan explained how to stimulate the Five Qi, how to adjust the Cave Heavens, how to combine with the Five Energies of the Cave Heavens, and then how to cultivate after combination.
His words were indeed like precious gems, and people around listened as if they were entranced; even celestial music filled the air.
As the saying goes: "Hear the Dao in the morning, and die content in the evening." As they listened to the lecture, the passage of time lost all meaning, and everyone was so enraptured that they didn't notice time slipping by.
Only upon the sound of a bell did they realize that Immortal Zhenyuan's lecture had ended, each feeling regretful, wishing the Great Immortal would repeat his teachings.
However, everyone also knew it was a great privilege to hear the Great Immortal's lecture at all; to press for more and potentially anger him would be unwise. Thus, they retreated slowly, filled with a sense of loss.
Lu Yu also felt that he had gained much, as the path of the Earth Immortal delved deeply into the study of the Five Qi, which was very enlightening for him.