Ever since Daoist Nun Wei left, there were no more disturbances in Mount Shenwu. Zhang Yan left all the matters of the sect to Chu Mu Ran and his two brothers while he sealed his cave abode and diligently practiced the Five Elements Escape Art.
In the blink of an eye, eight years had passed.
There were still a few months left until the Gathering of the Dragon Pillars. Zhang Yan felt that he had made some progress in the Five Elements Escape Technique. If he wanted to improve further, he couldn't do it in a hurry. Thus, he waved his sleeves and closed the forbidden door, stepping out of his cave residence.
Jing You was on duty outside the door every day. When he sensed it, he quickly ran over and bowed, "Welcome back, Master."
Zhang Yan sat down on the jade couch and asked, "Caiwei, has Caiting returned to the mountain?"
Jing You replied, "Not yet, but there is a letter." He took out a letter from his bosom and presented it with both hands.
Zhang Yan took it, opened it, and scanned through it. He understood the situation within, and then he flicked his finger lightly to turn the letter into ash. After that, he said, "Go invite Fellow Daoist Zhang over."
After a short while, Zhang Boyan entered the cave abode and bowed in front of the seat.
Zhang Yan returned the greeting and invited him to take a seat. He said, "Zhang Zhang, I intend to leave for Chu in the next few days to attend the Gathering of the Dragon Pillars. Come with me."
Zhang Boyan already knew that Zhang Yan had such a plan, so he wasn't surprised. He chuckled and said, "The Sixth Prince of Chu has sent several letters to invite Manor Head to go. This time, his wish can be fulfilled."
Zhang Yan nodded and said, "The Sixth Prince has sent quite a number of spiritual herbs. I owe him a favor. Why don't you write a letter to clarify this matter?"
Zhang Boyan said, "That's easy."
He leaned to the side and cupped his hands, "I wish to bring my disciple Zhao Yang along this time. I wonder if the Manor Head will agree to this? "
Zhang Yan smiled and said, "Why not?"
The two of them discussed in detail for a while more before Zhang Boyan took his leave.
In the following days, Zhang Yan took the time to deal with the mundane affairs that had accumulated over the years. After everything was settled, he prepared to set off. However, the strange thing was that there was still no reply from the Sixth Prince.
Zhang Yan guessed that there might be some changes, but he didn't think much of it. Emperor Zhong Tai's relatives were Zhong Tai's disciples in name. However, this generation loved to enjoy pleasure and sensual pleasures. They couldn't stand the solitude of cultivation, and they didn't have the patience to meditate and comprehend the profound. Thus, they were only disciples in name. He did not have much interaction with the orthodox Daoist cultivators.
Previously, for the sake of the Spiritual Herbs. Only then did he politely reply. Since there was no news, there was no need to bother about it.
On the tenth day, he summoned Zhang Boyan and his disciple, Song Chuyuan, the lame Daoist, and the others. He turned into a streak of light and headed for Chu Country.
Because they weren't in a rush, the four of them didn't go up to the Extreme Sky to ride on the astral winds. After traveling for ten days, they were still a thousand miles away from Chu Country's Dayang City.
Chu Country's capital city was Dayang, with tens of millions of residents. It was one of the few metropolises in Dongsheng Continent. The city was surrounded by three rivers and willows. The five of them looked down from the sky. Outside the city, there were vendors selling their wares. Carriages and horses came and went, and merchants shouted.
In the east and south, there were two large ponds called the Pond of Benefit and the Pond of Virtue. In the water, there were two Golden City Dragon Boats that protected the country. They were six thousand feet long and covered with twelve floors of pavilions. On each floor, there were altars with jade tables and offering tables. Incense was burning in spirals and the air was like steam, forming into clouds.
Although they could see the situation outside the city, there was a thin layer of fog covering the city. Even if they used their eyesight, they still couldn't see the situation inside.
Song Chuyuan pointed there and said, "That is the Heaven Locking Restriction Formation. If we fly over, we will definitely be stopped. We need to get the genealogy to pass."
When Zhang Boyan came last time, he only went to the celestial city and didn't go to the human state city. He took a few glances and saw that the restriction was crude and couldn't be compared to Hanyuan Mountain Gate's formation. With their cultivation, it wasn't impossible for them to break through. He couldn't help but sneer, "It's just a restriction formation, it can only stop ordinary people. It won't affect us."
Zhang Yan said, "Zhongtai is the host and we are the guests. We don't need to rely on force. Daoist Song, how do we get the genealogy?"
Song Chuyuan bowed and replied, "Zhongtai Sect has a dao palace outside the state city. We can go there to get the genealogy."
The lame Daoist swept his gaze around and pointed at a boundary. "That's it."
Zhang Yan turned to look and saw that the direction he was pointing at was a mountain ridge that looked like a brush rack a hundred miles away from the mountain ridge. There was a temple on top of it and smoke was rising from the roof tiles. The wind could not disperse it and the smoke rose straight into the sky. It was obvious that it was the work of a cultivator.
There were more than ten Mao Ci Village at the foot of the mountain and there was a stream surrounding it. There was a very flat road at the entrance of the village and there was a small pond by the side. There was a huge rock that was half the height of a person.
However, after taking a few more glances, he noticed that there were rays of spiritual light coming out from the rock. Zhang Yan felt that something was wrong and floated over there. After landing, he took a closer look and smiled at the people behind him. "Can the three Daoists see anything?"
A ray of light shot out from Song Chuyuan's eyes and after a while, he said with certainty, "This rock is formed from an ancient tree that is billions of years old. There is a stone core inside and it will break out of its shell in at most ten years. If it's lucky, it can use the human qi here to take the form of a human."
The lame Daoist shook his head and said, "It's rare for a stone to turn into a spirit. It won't take more than ten years, but I dare to say that it will meet its doom before it can break out of its shell!"
As soon as he said that, the rock seemed to move and let out a whimpering sound. There was also water that looked like tears flowing out from the cracks of the rock.
The few of them didn't have any expression on their faces. They could tell that the spirit in the rock felt sad and self-pitying.
Zhao Yang couldn't help but say, "Sect Master, since we are passing by this place, we are fated. Why don't you help it?"
Zhang Yan muttered to himself and took out a Form Transformation Pill. He flicked his finger and sent it into Zhao Yang's hand. He said with a smile, "This pill can help it transform. However, if you help it, you will take on the karma of this stone spirit."
Zhao Yang didn't care at all. He turned the pill into a wisp of clear air and used his mana to slap it into the rock.
Zhang Boyan didn't say anything and let his disciple do what he wanted.
After a while, the big rock suddenly shook and a crack appeared. A ray of light shot out from it and a girl in white with almond-shaped eyes and rosy cheeks walked out. She bowed to Zhao Yang and said timidly, "I'm Qiao Ying, thank you for enlightening me, Celestial Master. I'm willing to use this body to serve you and repay your kindness. "
Zhao Yang looked at her up and down and said with a smile, "Coincidentally, my master needs someone to serve him, so I'll choose you."
Zhang Boyan snorted and said coldly, "I don't need anyone to serve me."
Zhao Yang smiled and said, "Since master doesn't accept you, then you can only be my disciple."
The girl in white said in fear, "I don't dare."
She looked at Zhang Boyan with some fear and lowered her head to stand behind Zhao Yang, looking obedient.
At this moment, a farmer happened to pass by and saw them surrounding the rock. He was stunned at first. After hesitating for a while, he came forward cautiously and said, "Immortal Masters … are you interested in this rock?"
Zhao Yang looked at him and said, "So what if I am. So what if I'm not? "
The farmer shrunk his neck. He stammered, "No, nothing. It's just that the stone steps in front of the Taoist temple on the mountain are missing a corner. I ordered me to fix it. I remembered that there was an ownerless big rock at the entrance of the village, so I wanted to use it … "
The girl in white couldn't help but cover her mouth with her sleeves and let out a low cry of surprise.
If Zhang Yan and the others came a step later, she would have suffered a disaster. Although she had already shed her shell, this rock was where she originally resided, so she couldn't give it up easily.
Zhao Yang understood the reason behind it. Since he had already made his move, he was determined to be a good person to the end. He waved his hand and said, "I've already taken a liking to this rock, you can change to another one."
The farmer didn't dare to compete with him and quickly said, "Since the immortal masters have taken a liking to it, just take it, just take it."
He looked at them carefully and said fawningly, "Immortal Masters, since you are passing by, would you like to have some tea in the village? The water is from the well in the Taoist temple. Other than the immortal masters who come here, no one in the village would drink it. "
Zhao Yang laughed and said, "Who are you trying to fool? The children in the village just pee and throw stones, how would we know?"
The farmer was shocked and hurriedly knelt down. He said with a sad face, "Master Taoist, the well watchers usually take care of it. I'm telling the truth, I wouldn't dare to lie to you."
Zhao Yang said it casually, but seeing that the farmer was trembling, he didn't want to mess with him anymore. He said, "I don't need you to bring any tea, just go to the Taoist temple and call the deacon here."
The farmer quickly got up and left in a panic as if he was running for his life.
After a while, a ray of light shone from the mountain and a middle-aged Taoist came down. He was wearing a bright Taoist robe and his hair and beard were meticulously combed. They were black and tidy. It was obvious that they were similar to the elders in the sect, especially the young Taoist among them. His breath was as deep as the ocean, which meant that he wasn't a simple person. He hurried over and said respectfully, "I'm Liu Xian, the general affairs officer of Alchemy Mountain Taoist Palace. May I know where you are from? What can I do for you? "
Zhao Yang stepped forward and said, "I'm going to the Dragon Pillar Conclave with a few masters and passed by here. I'm here to ask for a pass certificate."
The Taoist temple in Chu was built by Zhong Tai. Since this Taoist was also a disciple of his sect, he didn't avoid the topic and told them the reason for his visit.
The Daoist became even more respectful upon hearing that. He said, "So it's the few of you who are rushing to the Dragon Pillar Dharma Assembly. There are a few large-winged eagles that our sect has reared in our palace. If you ride on these spiritual birds, they can escort you into Dayang City without the need of a genealogy certificate. It's just that taming them usually costs a lot, this …"
Zhang Yan smiled and waved his sleeve, tossing a jade bottle to the Daoist. The Daoist nimbly caught it, opened the bottle cap, and smelled it. He couldn't help but be overjoyed, and carefully put it away in his bosom. Then, he took out a bamboo whistle and blew it a few times. Five black-winged eagles appeared in the distant sky, and after circling in a circle, they flapped their wings and landed in front of the five people.
These eagles were as tall as a human. Their feathers were like ink and their beaks were like hooks. They looked majestic and extraordinary.
Zhao Yang liked them and went up to grab them by the neck. The eagle didn't resist and lowered its head obediently. Zhao Yang flipped over and sat on it.
Zhang Yan looked at the eagles and suddenly smiled. He pointed and the eagle in front of him turned into a wooden token and flew back into his sleeve.
The Taoist was shocked when he saw this.
Zhang Boyan, Song Chuyuan, and the lame Daoist all pointed with their fingers, and the large eagle in front of them also transformed into a wooden tablet.
Zhao Yang was shocked and said, "Sect Master, Master, this is …"
Zhang Yan smiled and said, "This is just a small technique to activate the Soul Essence. This wooden token is the pass certificate. Zhao Yang, your cultivation isn't high enough. It's better for you to ride the eagles."
As soon as he finished speaking, a streak of light appeared around him, and in a flash, he rose from the ground and streaked across the sky. The three Nascent Soul cultivators behind him also released streaks of light and followed after him.
…
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
