I am a fairy in Journey to the West

Chapter 27: Five Qis Return to the Origin, the Lotus Blossoms
Lingtai Mountain, Mountain God Temple.

Zhuang Yan turned the pottery jar upside down, removed the seal, and released the Fire Spirit Immortal from the jar.

The Fire Spirit Immortal fell to the ground, still weak and powerless, even his breathing was as thin as a gossamer.

The Fire Spirit Immortal fell to the ground, but his eyes were fixed on Zhuang Yan. With just a thought, the Fire Spirit Immortal's 'weak' state was relieved.

As the state was lifted, a flash of fire appeared on the Fire Spirit Immortal's body, and he immediately stood up from the ground.

But she did not run away, nor did she attack. Instead, she stood there, staring at Zhuang Yan.

"I saved you, and you don't even say thank you?" Zhuang Yan said to the Fire Spirit Immortal.

The Fire Spirit Immortal bowed and said, "God, I have no grudge against you, why are you trying to ruin my path?"

Zhuang Yan said, "Do you think that you can attain the Great Dao by receiving the incense and offerings of the living beings in that prefecture?"

"How do you know if you don't try? Besides, the incense of that state was promised to me by Samantabhadra Bodhisattva." The Fire Spirit Fairy was neither humble nor arrogant. She had not harmed any living being and had not violated any heavenly rules. She had a righteous heart and was not afraid.

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "If the Bodhisattva promises it to you, then it is yours, right?"

"What does the Lord mean?" Fire Spirit Immortal asked, "Could it be that Samantabhadra is lying to me?"

Zhuang Yan shook his head and said, "Puxian Bodhisattva granted you one mansion of incense, which was the cause. You seized the incense from Guangci Mansion, which was the result. But this is not the end of cause and effect, but the beginning of more causes. You seized the incense from Guangci Mansion, which was the result, but it is also more causes. These more causes will only lead to one 'result' in the end."

"What kind of 'fruit'?" asked the Fire Spirit Immortal.

Zhuang Yan said, "Perhaps, in the future, a monk with powerful magic weapons and great magical powers will appear from nowhere. He will pass by Guangci Mansion and hear about you. He will debate with you, but you will lose. In a duel with him, you will be beaten to death. Then Guangci Mansion will return to Buddhism, but you will die and be reincarnated."

Fire Spirit Immortal was astonished and asked, "How could such a powerful monk suddenly appear?"

"Yes, how could such a powerful monk who can kill you suddenly appear?" Zhuang Yan asked the Immortal Fire Spirit.

Looking at Zhuang Yan's eyes and expression, Fire Spirit Immortal suddenly seemed to understand something, and then Zhuang Yan said: "This worldly affairs are just like our practice, 180 cycles of rotation, in the end it is just a reincarnation."

“I’m not saying that the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas can’t tolerate you, but the power of Buddhism can’t tolerate you. Buddhism is so big. Just look at the mounts of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. There are countless of them that can kill you.” Zhuang Yan said calmly.

Fire Spirit Immortal sighed. She now understood why Zhuang Yan said "save her life". She said with emotion: "Is it so difficult for us cultivators without any background to achieve immortality?"

Zhuang Yan said: "I'm afraid it's not that easy to achieve immortality."

The Fire Spirit Immortal sighed, "Even if you are an earthly immortal, you can only live for 6,000 years. Once 6,000 years are up, you will die and enter the cycle of reincarnation again."

“Is six thousand years too little?” Zhuang Yan said, “A dynasty’s destiny is no more than eight hundred years, and a mortal’s life from birth to death is no more than one hundred and twenty years.”

The Fire Spirit Immortal said: "The Great Dao has no end. I don't care what mortals do. I just want to live forever and pursue the Dao in my heart forever."

Zhuang Yan said calmly: "There is a fixed number of fruit positions in the world. If you want to achieve immortality, I'm afraid it's just a foolish dream."

The Fire Spirit Immortal suddenly looked at Zhuang Yan and said, "God, you are only practicing the Dao of Spirit Returning to Void, but you can seal me with just a wave of your hand. This kind of magic power is definitely not ordinary."

At this point, the Fire Spirit Immortal suddenly knelt down and said, "Since the Supreme God is willing to save me, please give me some pointers. Where is the path to immortality in the future?"

"Where is the road?" Zhuang Yan said with a smile, "The road is under our feet."

The Fire Spirit Immortal glanced at the ground below him, then suddenly reacted and quickly kowtowed and said, "The Fire Spirit is willing to follow the Immortal to practice, and I will serve you without hesitation."

Zhuang Yan said calmly: "I am not a great god, but just the mountain god of Lingtai Mountain. Are you still willing to follow me now?"

Huo Ling Zhenxian said, "Yes! Huo Ling pays respect to the mountain god." Then he kowtowed three times. Zhuang Yan nodded and said, "Okay, my mountain god temple just needs a mountain guard general, are you willing to come?"

"I am willing to come!" Fire Spirit Immortal bowed again.

"Yes." Zhuang Yan took out the Jade Book of the Mountain God and recorded the name of the True Immortal Fire Spirit in it. This general guarding the mountain did not have the rank of an immortal official, but was a 'grass-rooted god' under Zhuang Yan.

Immortal officials are the real "fruit position" of heaven. Once they are ranked, they will receive heavenly blessings. It is not so easy.

However, the grass-roots gods under the immortal officials have the opportunity to be "regularized". As long as they make contributions in the future, they will be rewarded by the Heavenly Court.

This is much easier than obtaining the status of Taoism or Buddhism. These two schools not only look at merits, but also background, virtues, and even "fate".

But it is different in heaven. As long as you have great supernatural powers or have made great contributions, you may be appointed as an immortal official.

Therefore, there is a saying: The first step to achieving enlightenment is to become a grass-roots god.

"Since you have become my subordinate." Zhuang Yan took out the 'Three Magical Treasures Silver Pestle' and presented it to the Fire Spirit Immortal, saying: "This is the Three Magical Treasures Silver Pestle of Lingbao. I will give it to you. You must use it well."

The Fire Spirit Immortal looked up in surprise, and looked at the three magic weapons, the silver pestle, which was shining with Buddha light. She was very fond of it. She looked at Zhuang Yan, then raised her hands to take it, and bowed to Zhuang Yan, saying, "I thank the mountain master for the gift of the treasure."

Although the Fire Spirit Immortal has one or two magic weapons, they are all "real treasures" and are far inferior to the higher-grade "spiritual treasures" of the Three Magical Weapons Silver Pestle.

I didn’t expect to get such a good magic weapon just after joining his army. This Lingtai Mountain God is really worth following!

After taking in the Fire Spirit Immortal, Zhuang Yan practiced in peace in the hermitage.

He took a 'Solo Fairy Fruit' every ten days. Half of the power of the Thoro Fairy Fruit was refined into magic power, and the other half was refined into his physical body.

Three months later, all the Thorao Immortal Fruits were consumed and refined by Zhuang Yan. On the third day after taking and refining the last Thorao Immortal Fruit, Zhuang Yan's chance for a breakthrough finally arrived.

The magic power in his body circulated rapidly, the five energies gathered in his chest, and then a ray of light condensed from magic power rose from the Niwan Palace.

This ray of light carried the five energies in the chest straight into the spiritual platform, and then countless magic powers poured out from the Niwan Palace, condensing into a brilliant light that lifted the five energies to the top of the spiritual platform.

As the five energies rose into the sky, the brilliant light condensed from the magic power instantly poured into the five energies.

In a moment, the five energies blossomed at the top of the spirit platform, and then precious light spread out, illuminating the entire spirit platform.

At this moment, the magic power in the Niwan Palace was still continuously pouring into the five qi. Soon the five qi began to change from virtual to real, and it was colorful. In just a few breaths, the five qi turned into a mysterious treasure lotus, emitting golden lotus light and floating above the spirit platform.

At the same time, Zhuang Yan's Niwan Palace also emitted a faint glow. As Zhuang Yan's Qi rose, his Niwan Palace and magic power instantly sublimated and glowed brilliantly.

As the precious lotus took shape, the magic power in Zhuang Yan's body subsided, and no more magic power surged out of the Niwan Palace.

The precious lotus retracted its light, emitting only a faint precious light as it hung above the spiritual platform, and peace returned to the spiritual platform.

As Zhuang Yan absorbed the Taoist teachings, his body became as smooth as ice and as beautiful as jade, and his aura and temperament made a qualitative leap.

Slowly exhaling a breath of fresh air, Zhuang Yan opened his eyes. He has now advanced from the realm of 'refining the spirit and returning to the void' to the realm of 'refining the void and merging with the Tao'.

What is Lianxuhedao?

"The five energies converge into the spiritual platform, and the mysterious precious lotus will bloom. If he can obtain the true method in the future, the three flowers on his head will shake the land."

(End of this chapter)