Shushan Earthly Immortal

Chapter 401 Mountains High and Waters Deep, Each Goes Its Own Way (5K words presented, please support with monthly votes~)

Yunnan script, Wuliang Mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, there is a flat slope called Peach Blossom Garden.

This place was originally called Drunken Snake Slope because there was a grove of poisonous peach trees here, each of which was as thick as a water vat, and the oldest of them were over a thousand years old. In the center of this peach grove was a deep pool, with a diameter of more than thirty feet and a depth of more than one hundred and twenty feet, which was called Thousand-Foot Pool.

This pool is extremely cold and damp, with a chilling aura rising from its bottom. The people of Wuliang Mountain call it the Cold Pool Miasma. The peach grove is poisonous, and the poison is even more potent when the peaches are in bloom, hence the name Peach Blossom Miasma. Whenever the peach blossoms bloom, these two elements intertwine on the surface of the pool, forming the Cold Pool Peach Blossom Miasma.

This miasma has a sweet and fragrant aroma that attracts eyeless, cold snakes from the bottom of the pool to rise and collect it. Some snake demons are too unintelligent and, not knowing how much to collect, often become intoxicated and float on the surface of the pool. At this time, disciples of Wuliang Mountain, who are also waiting there, appear and use rope nets to collect the snakes. They can use the eyeless, cold snakes to refine poisonous insects or cut open their bellies to extract the miasma. The poisonous miasma, after being refined by the cold snakes, forms a higher-quality Cold Snake Peach Blossom Miasma, which can be used as a source of Yin energy to form a elixir.

If managed properly, this place should have been a wonderful spiritual land, but the demons of Wuliang Mountain were clearly not good at that. Their management method was to throw errant disciples and captured mortals into the icy pool so that the icy snakes could feast on them and multiply.

Later, when Cheng Xinzhan took over as sect leader, he undertook large-scale construction and reorganized the earth's energy. He then ordered the area to be enclosed, forming a garden that was renamed Peach Blossom Garden. He established rules that this place was only open to people from two realms each spring. If they were raising Gu (poisonous insects), each person could only take one Gu. If they were collecting miasma, they were not allowed to kill any living creatures and had to release them after taking the Gu. Furthermore, it was forbidden to capture pregnant snakes or young snakes.

In addition, regardless of whether snakes are ultimately caught or not, once they enter the park, they either pile 200 jin of green manure under the peach trees or choose to throw 50 jin of pine ants or bamboo locusts into the pond.

Green manure is relatively easy to find; as long as you don't mind the mess, you can always find it by digging into the mountain gullies. However, collecting the latter two requires a bit more effort. These are insects of little value in the Wuliang Mountains—non-toxic, without any supernatural powers, and they particularly favor pine and bamboo. Precisely because they are of little value, the demons of Wuliang Mountain neglect them, and these insects proliferate, leading to the destruction of vast amounts of pine and bamboo. There are many such pests in the Wuliang Mountains, but Cheng Xinzhan had someone test them, and the Eyeless Cold Snake only eats these two types.

There are many other places like this in Wuliang Mountain that have undergone rectification, and the cultivation environment and atmosphere of Wuliang Mountain disciples have also undergone tremendous changes. These people went from initial incomprehension to gradual acceptance, and then to supporting and accelerating this change, all in just a few months.

Modifying the radical is not as difficult as you might think.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

On this day, in late summer or early autumn, the peach blossoms in the peach orchard were late bloomers, lasting the entire spring. So now, the peaches were ripe and falling from the branches into the pond. At this time, the eyeless, cold-blooded snakes in the forbidden garden confidently surfaced and began to gnaw on the peaches.

The serpents live at the bottom of a pool hundreds of feet deep. They have no eyes, but their hearing is exceptionally keen. When they hear footsteps approaching, they quickly grab the peaches and sink down.

"Master Zang, this is the deepest pool in Wuliang Mountain. It is called Thousand-Foot Pool, but it is actually more than 120 feet deep. Please take a look."

Cheng Xinzhan led Zang Faxian into the peach orchard and brought him to the edge of the cold pond.

He was also surprised. He didn't expect that after he talked about the idea of ​​Lushan entering Yunnan at Linshui Palace, Lushan Sect couldn't sit still at all. They didn't even want to wait a day. When Cheng Xinzhan returned to Wuliang Mountain, Zang Faxian, as the deputy leader of Lushan Sect, came over.

Zang Faxian was a man who appeared to be around forty years old. Compared to the sect leader Huang Faming, he looked younger and fairer. He arrived at the edge of the icy pool, his spirits high, his eyes shining. He paced back and forth, carefully examining the pool, filled with awe, and muttering incantations to himself.

"well!"

Everyone knows that it's easier to go to heaven than to go down to earth.

Any cultivator at the second level of cultivation, as long as they can avoid strong winds and thunderstorms and have a good flying artifact to aid them, can ascend to the third level of heaven, easily reaching a distance of a hundred miles. However, if they wish to descend deeper underground, even reaching ten miles becomes extremely difficult.

There are five cities and twelve towers in the Three Heavens, but apart from the legendary Underworld, there has never been any deep and large palace complexes underground.

Not only humans, but also the laws of nature apply. Let alone a mountain a hundred feet high, even a mountain a thousand feet or ten thousand feet high is not particularly rare in the world. But when it comes to water depth, a hundred feet is definitely a major threshold. Waterways deeper than a hundred feet are rare in the world. It should be noted that the deepest point at the bottom of the Minjiang River, where the Lushan General Altar is located, is only eighty feet.

Now that I've just arrived in Yunnan, even this inconspicuous little pool in the Wuliang Mountains is hundreds of feet deep. How much deeper must the bottomless cave in the Ailao Mountains and the Fuxian Lake in eastern Yunnan, which is famous for its deep waters, be?

Seeing is believing, and it was truly a delightful surprise.

"Master Zang, this pool is a bit small. I wonder if it's big enough to build an altar?"

Cheng Xinzhan asked.

"That's enough! That's enough!"

Master Zang couldn't stop smiling.

"That's good, that's good. By the way, Master Zang, there's a group of cold snakes living beneath this pool. I wonder if that will affect the construction of the altar?"

Cheng Xinzhan asked again.

Leader Zang waved his hand and returned.
"No impact, sir, please rest assured. When we enter the water near the altar, we become part of the water, which will only stabilize the water veins and enrich the spiritual energy. Unless we actively cast a spell, it will not have any adverse effects on the water or the various creatures in the water."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded in agreement.

"That's how it should be; I've been overthinking it."

Zang Faxian was now extremely envious. Wuliang Mountain was currently owned by the unorthodox Wuliang Sect, with Master Guangfa as its Supreme Leader; he couldn't possibly take it. But the Bottomless Cave of Ailao Mountain was such a treasure trove, yet it was owned by a demon and used to grow vines—a complete waste of its resources. He needed to seize it quickly. Therefore, he anxiously asked…
"Sir, may we begin setting up the altar now?"

Cheng Xinzhan hadn't expected Leader Zang to be in such a hurry. Considering that he was the one who had called him over for help, he politely inquired...

"Master Zang is new here, shouldn't you rest for a while?"

"We are all cultivators, so we should prioritize eliminating demons and protecting the righteous path. Besides, it's not a long journey from Fujian, so we don't need to rest."

Zang Faxian spoke with righteous indignation.

Cheng Xinzhan could only nod and say,

"Then please proceed, Master Zang. I have already issued a decree in Peach Garden, so no one will disturb your altar construction. Oh, by the way, Master Zang, how long will it take you to complete the altar construction and ritual?"

Zang Faxian already had a prepared speech in mind, and upon hearing this, he immediately replied...

"With such good water, the altar can be built quickly. However, since we need to transfer our troops here, the altar can't be too small. So it will take me about twenty-one days to build the altar. Actually, if it's just for casting a spell on the Dragon Bathing Staff, it won't take that long."

"However, it's good to have a large altar. Once it's built, it will be easier to use the Dragon Staff. That demon has only entered the fourth realm and comes from a humble background. I don't think he has any extraordinary protective treasures. As the master said, we only need to paralyze him. I think it will take another seven days. In total, twenty-eight days will be more than enough."

"but."

As Zang Faxian spoke, he took out a pair of vermilion ritual implements and handed them to Cheng Xinzhan.

This thing is two feet long and looks like a naturally formed conch shell, except that its surface is painted with vermilion lacquer and decorated with the Big Dipper, the Southern Dipper, and patterns of the sun, moon, and clouds, making it look particularly mysterious.

"This is a ritual implement from our Lushan Sect, called a 'Dragon Horn.' It's essential for deploying troops; the master said he has a way to send it in. We'll have to trouble him then."

Cheng Xinzhan took the conch shells. They were extremely heavy and felt substantial in his hand. At the same time, he gained a clearer understanding of the Lushan Sect's magic. They had managed to do both the altar construction and troop deployment and the casting of spells in less than a month.

He put the conch shell away and replied, "Don't worry, Master Zang, I will definitely deliver it to you. It's just that you're delivering it faster than I expected, so I need to hurry up and set up the altar."

"Oh?"

Zang Faxian was surprised to hear this.

"Sir, you also know altar rituals?"

As soon as he said it, he realized what he had said and asked,

"Sir, are you going to use the 'remote teleportation' ritual to send the 'dragon horn' in? Could it be that you left something in the Ailao Mountains during the last magical duel?"

Cheng Xinzhan was surprised by Zang Faxian's quick reaction. He first nodded, then shook his head.

"Master Zang is quick-witted and his prediction is correct. I intend to set up an altar and send the items inside, but it's not just about sending the items. I also want to cast a spell on that demon. That demon has an avatar that is even more difficult to deal with than the original body. We must use both methods simultaneously to ensure success."

Zang Faxian's expression changed upon hearing this, and he repeatedly advised,
"Please reconsider, sir! Sending gifts remotely is nothing, just a common spell that consumes some magic power. But casting curses is too dangerous. If you suffer a backlash, it will shorten your lifespan! I don't think it's necessary. You've given us Mount Ailao as a gift, and exorcising demons is our Lushan Sect's duty. How about this, sir, rest assured, I'll just cast a powerful curse to kill that Poison Dragon Venerable, and then send troops into the mountain to take over. The Southern Sect won't have time to react, and this should be a safe bet."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xinzhan shook his head vigorously. Directly cursing to death a fourth-realm cultivator would be too costly. Moreover, Lushan magic was adept at cursing dragons, so the backlash was minor. But the Poison Dragon Venerable was only called a Poison Dragon; although he possessed dragon breath, he was still human. To unleash such a powerful curse would cost Sect Leader Zang half his life. He explained...
"Master Zang, rest assured, I have the skin and hair of the Poison Dragon incarnation as a catalyst, and that incarnation is a vine. It's just a curse to kill the monster, the price isn't as high as you think. I know what I'm doing."

Zang Faxian was still somewhat worried. This was the person predicted by the patriarch. If he watched something go wrong, how could he face his ancestors, whether he went to heaven or hell?

Seeing his expression, Cheng Xinzhan smiled and reassured him again.
"Don't worry, Master Zang, I know what I'm doing. We'll each build our own altars and agree to take action in twenty-eight days."

Zang Faxian wanted to persuade him again, but then he thought about it. This Mr. Guangfa had only fought with Venerable Poison Dragon once, yet he had taken his skin and hair and left something in the mountains. Judging from this, he must be a man who plans carefully and is meticulous in his calculations. Such a person should indeed be sensible.

So he didn't say anything more and readily agreed.

"As you wish, sir."

Cheng Xinzhan smiled and nodded before leaving.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Cheng Xinzhan leaped into the air and landed on the main peak of Wuliang Mountain, the very top of Bijia Mountain.

In general, the higher the altar, the better, except for the unique "waterside altar" of the Lushan School. Cheng Xinzhan's altar is no exception.

He first used the method of observing qi to find the place where the dragon vein converged on the peak, then leveled the rocks and began to construct the altar.

Cheng Xinzhan possessed a considerable lineage of altar rituals, including the "Yin-Yang Altar" from Meiji Mountain used for reviving the dead, the "Xian Shen Altar" from Juqu Mountain used for praying to gods and summoning spirits, the "Qing Hua Altar" from Taiyi used for deliverance and warding off calamities, and various ritual altars from Gezao Mountain. However, the first altar ritual he learned, and the one that sparked his interest in altar rituals, was the "Five Thunder Altar" from the Five Thunder Academy of Yingyuan Prefecture on Shuji Mountain.

His mentor in altar rituals was Fu Shouzhen, and Cheng Xinzhan was considered Fu Shouzhen's successor in this art. Because the divine presence was diminished in the world, altar rituals became much more difficult. Furthermore, altar rituals themselves incorporated various practices such as rituals, walking the steps, praying to the gods, incantations, and talismans, covering a very wide range of topics. Ordinary people simply lacked the talent and energy for it. Practicing thunder magic was already difficult, let alone the "Five Thunder Altar," known as the origin of all altars. Therefore, at that time, no one in the Thunder Palace was willing to learn this method, and it was almost on the verge of extinction. It was only when Cheng Xinzhan expressed interest in altar rituals while on duty at the Thunder Palace that he was taken in and carefully taught by Fu Shouzhen.

Fu Shouzhen truly regarded Cheng Xinzhan as his successor. Not only in altar techniques, but also in the Five Thunder Techniques that Cheng Xinzhan learned, it was all taught by Fu Shouzhen. At that time, Daoist Jianxian of the Thunder Mansion brought Cheng Xinzhan into the sect, and he had just shown his talent when Fu Shouzhen took him away and personally trained him in the Five Thunder Academy. Even the mountain master Zhao Wuji could not interfere.

That is why, when Cheng Xinzhan encountered danger during his two tribulations, Fu Shouzhen was the first to arrive.

At this moment, Cheng Xinzhan was about to attack Mu Longzhang, so he used the "Five Thunder Altar".

"Five Thunder Altar" is a very grand name. What he is going to use today is only one of them, namely the "Heavenly Gang De-Imitation Altar" in the "Dragon Thunder Altar". It is specifically used to kill fake dragons with dragon shapes such as vines, pine trees, carved beams, pillar decorations, murals, and jade artifacts. It is the most suitable way to deal with the wooden dragon incarnation of the Dragon Bathing Staff.

He took the lead in using local materials at the summit, cutting out square boulders that were nine feet nine inches long, six feet six inches wide, and three feet three inches thick. He stacked them neatly, forming a nine-layered base that was nearly three feet high. This was the first layer of the entire altar, and also the foundation of the altar.

When placing the boulders, he left thirty-six large holes at the base, then took out thirty-six black, lightning-struck peach wood stakes and placed them inside. These lightning-struck peach wood stakes were also made from local materials. A few days ago, Wuliang Mountain was undergoing a large-scale construction project, and a lot of these yang woods, which were regarded as ominous by demonic cultivators, were dug out from the mountain gullies. Zhu Jianmo gave some to Cheng Xinzhan and He Jiyuan.

This level is Cheng Xinzhan's ritual position. He will perform ritual steps and chant incantations on the wooden stake.

At the altar, the four wooden stakes in the very center were longer than the other thirty-two. Cheng Xinzhan took out the altar table, and its four legs stood firmly on the four peach wood stakes in the center. This small altar table represented the third layer of the altar. Cheng Xinzhan was building a very simple three-tiered altar, where the sacrificial altar and the straw effigy altar were combined into one.

Then he placed the incense burner and candlesticks on it one by one.

This is the set of ritual implements he used when he prayed for rain at Longhu Mountain.

Of course, some of the ritual implements have also been innovated and replaced. For example, the ritual water he used to use was a bowl filled with ordinary water, which he then dripped with his own blood to transform it into ritual water. Now, of course, he no longer uses that. He took out five jade cauldrons, each containing water from one of the five lakes, each extremely heavy. The ritual soil was also not simple; he carried it in a cloth bag, which contained the evil soil transformed from the "Five Grains Abundant Harvest Evil Spirit."

Such sacred water and soil can be considered the finest offerings.

He then placed the Shangqing Register on the main seat behind the incense burner, candlesticks, water and soil offerings, and then placed the inner deity Marshal Deng into it—this was more spiritual and ingenious than any painting.

Immediately afterward, he took out a talisman brush and paper and began to write and draw. In no time, the image of the Dragon Staff appeared on the paper, lifelike and vivid. Beside it were words that read:

"The Poison Dragon Venerable's Dragon-Bathing Staff: A False Dragon Body".

He blew on the ink to dry it, then placed the talisman on the front edge of the altar, leaving only the head of the portrait on the table, the rest hanging outside and fluttering in the wind. It looked as if Marshal Deng had stepped on the Dragon Staff.

However, this left most of the talisman hanging outside, and it would slip off if he let go. At this point, he took out a small seal and placed it on the forehead of the portrait, thus securing the talisman.

If you look closely, you can still see some light, very little, dark green vine bark and sap residue at the bottom corner of this small seal.

This is the unharmed mark that hit the forehead of the incarnation of the Dragon Staff a few days ago.

This seal smashed a large, shiny bump on the forehead of the Dragon Staff, breaking the skin and leaving a little bit of skin and blood on the bottom of the seal. After leaving the body, this skin and blood naturally turned into vine skin and vine sap.

Don't underestimate this little bit of skin and blood. Combined with the talisman and the seal left on the incarnation of the Dragon Staff, the resulting energy pull is extremely powerful. Basically, it can prevent the hand from being injured if the leg is broken by a curse, and prevent the right eye from being damaged if the left eye is blinded by a curse.

In this way, with the tiered positions of the altar, the offerings and sacrifices, and the straw figures in place, it can be said that the rudimentary form of the altar has already been formed.

Of course, such an altar is still too simple. There is still a lot to be done, such as engraving talismans, adding ritual implements, announcing to the four directions, purifying the altar and inviting the gods, performing the ritual of walking the Big Dipper, issuing commands and casting spells, and so on. The ceremony is still going on.

But in fact, from the moment Cheng Xinzhan struck the Mulong Staff with the Wuyang Seal and took the skin, the fate of the wooden dragon incarnation on the Mulong Staff was already sealed.

Taoist priests who exorcise demons and protect the righteous path do not only use knives and fists; they can kill people silently from thousands of miles away.

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(End of this chapter)