Shushan Earthly Immortal

Chapter 414 Lotus Cave Heaven, Evil Altar of Curses (5.7K words, please support with double monthly votes~)

There are many famous lines and poems about Mount Luofu, but Cheng Xinzhan has two favorites.

Of all the poems written on mountains, none is more imbued with a celestial aura than Lü Zu's "A Gift to a Taoist Priest of Luofu," which reads:

Who among the Taoist priests of Luofu is this? They wear grass clothes and eat wood, disregarding kings and nobles.

The cycle of the sixty years in the world is beyond our control; the universe within the pot is free for all to roam.

As the moon rises over the river, I count the remaining pieces of chess; a long howl echoes across the autumn sea and sky.

After drinking, I turned back to talk about the way home, pointing to the white clouds on the horizon.

In this poem, Cheng Xinzhan's favorite couplet is the second one, with the line "The cycle of sixty years in the world is beyond our control" which perfectly captures the elegance of immortals and represents the longevity that countless cultivators in the world dream of.

Among the poems written at the foot of the mountain, the one with the most down-to-earth feel is Su Shi's "Eating Lychees in Huizhou," which reads:

Springtime reigns all year round at the foot of Mount Luofu, with oranges and bayberries ripening in succession.

I would eat three hundred lychees a day and not mind being a Lingnan native forever.

This poem is concise and easy to understand, yet its emotions are extremely strong. The last line, "I would gladly be a Lingnan native forever," is more sincere and heartfelt than any other praise, and it also fully demonstrates the abundance and beauty of Luofu Mountain in Lingnan.

In the warm spring sunshine, Cheng Xinzhan left Yinping Mountain and rode a lion eastward. Before long, he arrived at Luofu Mountain in Huizhou.

Mount Luofu is the thirty-fourth blessed land of Taoism, and the Lotus Cave Heaven in the mountain is ranked as the seventh cave heaven. It is known as the "First Mountain in Lingnan" and the "Ancestor of the Baiyue Mountains". It is the source of Lingnan Taoism and the leader of the Yuyang Taoist School.

As for where this Daoist sect originated, that's a rather interesting story.

A poem was written in response:

The miraculous feat was once attributed to Ge Zhichuan, and the alchemy furnace still exists today.

Who says the three islands in the blue sea are a different world, a hidden paradise of the Ming Dynasty?

This lineage of Luofu Mountain is precisely the lineage of Master Ge Hong!

In his early years, Master Ge Hong began practicing Taoism through external alchemy, collecting herbs and refining elixirs in the Lingnan region. He also established alchemy workshops and cauldrons on Mount Luofu, practicing medicine, writing books, and spreading his teachings. This led to the development of the Southern School of Taoist alchemy and the Elbow-Back School of medicine. Later, Master Ge Hong's Taoist alchemy progressed from external to internal, transcending the mundane and expanding in scope. He gradually mastered the knowledge of various schools of thought, reaching a state of "encompassing the mysteries of the Nine Truths and elucidating the subtleties of the Eight Sceneries, unmatched in the Taoist tradition." During his travels, he settled in Sanqing Mountain in Yuzhang, founded the Wanfa School, and became its founding patriarch. He was "summoned to heaven" on Sanqing Mountain.

Therefore, in essence, Mount Luofu and Mount Sanqing are essentially one family, sharing the same origin in their teachings. However, Mount Luofu established its sect before Mount Sanqing, and its teachings are primarily based on alchemy and medicine, while Mount Sanqing's doctrine emphasizes the mutual understanding of all methods, aiming to carry on the legacy and usher in a new era. Thus, there is no hierarchical relationship between the two. This is somewhat similar to Cheng Xinzhan establishing the Zhenyi Sect on Huolong Island in the East China Sea and later rebuilding the Wuliang Sect on Wuliang Mountain in Yunnan. Although the lineage originated from the same person, they practiced different methods and adhered to different doctrines.

However, despite this, Sanqing Mountain and Luofu Mountain are both located in the east, both worship the Three Pure Ones and Ge Xian, and are close neighbors separated only by Meiling Ridge. Therefore, they have always had an excellent relationship. In particular, Danxia Mountain and Rhododendron Valley in Sanqing Mountain have very close ties with Luofu Mountain. Precisely because of this, when Luofu Mountain was in crisis, Sanqing Mountain specially dispatched its Vice Master Dong Shouren to the outskirts of the mountain to help Luofu Mountain stabilize the situation.

It was precisely because of this bond that Ji Hehe wrote a letter requesting Luofu Mountain to release Cheng Xinzhan, an outsider, to cultivate in the Lotus Cave Heaven. Therefore, Master Zou agreed without hesitation after seeing the letter.

When Cheng Xinzhan arrived at the sacred mountain, he saw clouds and mist swirling around it. To the south, there was a bright red light, like a crimson glow lingering. He knew that was where the mountain gate was, so he rode his lion and landed there.

Luofu Mountain must have received advance notice from Zou Shizheng, because when Cheng Xinzhan arrived, there were already people waiting at the mountain gate.

Cheng Xinzhan stepped forward, dismounted from the lion dance, made a hand seal, and nodded.

"Thank you for waiting, Taoist priest."

A middle-aged Taoist priest came to greet Cheng Xinzhan. He returned the greeting and said...

“Sir, you are too kind. Please call me Master Ren. My surname is Xu. I am the deputy instructor in the mountains. I have been ordered by the headmaster to lead you into the cave.”

Cheng Xinzhan smelled the medicinal fragrance emanating from the Taoist priest, which he found quite similar to the scent emanating from his fellow Taoist brother, Ji Hu, and naturally felt a sense of goodwill towards him. Furthermore, he observed that the man's aura was upright and peaceful, his magical power abundant, his tribulation intent restrained, and his complexion ruddy and his vital energy plentiful, suggesting he had reached the stage of "upper purification and conception." Therefore, he smiled and said...

"Your sect is very polite, Master Xu. It seems that your sect will soon have another Grand Master of the Fourth Realm."

Mount Luofu is the ancestral home of Emperor Shizong of Yuyang. Its four realms have never been interrupted, and there have even been occasional instances of multiple immortals emerging from the four realms simultaneously. It seems that this generation will once again witness its former glory. However, Mount Luofu produces fewer immortals, and the interruption of the five realms is quite severe, making it far inferior to Mount Sanqing, which was built by the immortal in his later years.

Xu Shiren looked ashamed upon hearing this.

"Thank you for your kind words, sir. However, I am enjoying peace and tranquility in the mountains while my senior brother is out there fighting enemies. I am truly ashamed of myself."

Cheng Xinzhan waved his hand and advised,

"Master Xu, you are mistaken. The inchworm bends to stretch; the dragon and snake hibernate to survive. Master Xu, do not be impatient. Just wait patiently for the transformation. When the time is right, it will be the opportunity to kill the enemy and vanquish the demon."

Xu Shiren's expression softened considerably upon hearing this, then he stepped aside to lead Cheng Xinzhan into the mountain, and said,

“Sir, your words are invaluable; I have learned much from them. Please enter the mountain.”

"please."

Xu Shiren led Cheng Xinzhan deeper into Mount Luofu. The scenic wonders along the way were, needless to say, breathtaking views.
Dragons and snakes emerge from their caves, idly inviting the rain; rhinoceroses and elephants sleep among the flowers, unconcerned about people.

My favorite place is where Ge Weng sought medicine, where spring fills the mountains with dew-covered seedlings and misty blossoms.

"The sect leader said that the matter is urgent, so does that mean we should go straight into the cave?"

Xu Shiren asked questions as he walked.

Cheng Xinzhan then answered,
"It's best to enter the cave as quickly as possible, but since we're already in the mountains, we should still pay our respects to the ancestor before entering the cave."

“What you say is true, sir. But we happen to be going the same way, so it won’t take much time. Please.”

So, Xu Shiren led Cheng Xinzhan to a sacred mountain and arrived at a temple, which was Chongxu Temple, where the Ancestral Hall of Luofu Mountain was located.

"The Three Pure Gardens of Dianwu, the Seven Grottoes of Zhuming."

Cheng Xinzhan silently read the couplet on the gate and thought to himself how interesting it was that this couplet actually contained the names of two countries and two surnames from ancient and modern times.

"Sir, let's leave the Lion King outside the palace for now."

Xu Shiren said.

Cheng Xinzhan naturally nodded in agreement.
"It should."

He instructed the lion to rest there and not to wander off.

The lion lazily agreed.

"please."

Xu Shiren seemed to have given prior notice, leading Cheng Xinzhan into the Taoist temple. At this time, the temple was empty, with only incense smoke rising and the statues of gods solemn.

Cheng Xinzhan first paid homage to the Three Pure Ones, and then to the Ancestor Ge.

The statue of the deity in Ge Xian Temple here is different from that in Sanqing Mountain. It is not a kind-faced old Taoist priest, but a middle-aged hermit carrying a medicine basket.

After paying their respects to the patriarch, Xu Shiren led Cheng Xinzhan directly to the back garden behind the palace complex, where there was a vast mountain lake. Although it was still early spring, the lake was already covered with lotus flowers, each as large as a washbasin and as white as snow.

A lake breeze swept by, causing the white lotuses to sway, their movements as clear and resonant as the sound of jade being polished together.
There is a fake rock standing by the lake with three characters carved on it:

White Lotus Lake.

I don’t know exactly how big the lake is, because white mist is floating on it and you can’t see the other side. At the edge of the field of vision, about a hundred paces away, the white lotus blends into the white mist and becomes one color.

"Shouldn't the sect leader have given you a token for entering and leaving the grotto-heaven?"

Xu Shiren asked.

Cheng Xinzhan nodded and took out the lotus-shaped jade pendant.

"Alright, sir, please follow me."

Xu Shiren said, and then led the way into the lotus pond.

He stepped off the shore and into the lotus pond. Just as he was about to fall, a white lotus moved closer and steadily lifted him up.

Xu Shiren didn't look at his feet, but just kept walking in, and lotus flowers swayed, forming a lotus bridge for him.

Cheng Xinzhan realized that the entrance to the so-called Lotus Cave Heaven was actually in this lotus lake, hidden in the mist above it. So, he took the jade pendant and followed closely behind, stepping into the lake as well. Again, the lotus flowers beneath his feet swayed and caught him.

After a hundred paces, the two entered the mist. Once there, they quickly lost their bearings, surrounded by a vast expanse of white. Cheng Xinzhan didn't even consider using his divine eye; aside from whether he could see through it, that would be too impolite. He didn't memorize the direction or the number of steps either, simply keeping his head down and following behind Xu Shiren.

After walking about two or three hundred steps, there was still no change. Cheng Xinzhan thought to himself that this lotus pond was truly vast. In addition, he also noticed that fish were gradually appearing in the lotus lake beneath his feet. They were long, white carp with tails that resembled flames and fans, like dragon tails.

As they walked, the fog gradually thinned, and a colorful world slowly unfolded before Cheng Xinzhan. Thereupon, they saw:
The earth was riddled with holes and pits, seemingly an endless expanse of rock, densely covered with countless pits. Some of these pits were over a hundred feet in diameter, while others were only the size of a washbasin, easily stepped over in a single stride. Some were square, some round, and some were strangely shaped, resembling gourds or morning glory leaves, and so on. It was impossible to find two that were exactly alike.

The depth of the pits is unknown, and there is only a narrow embankment between them, just wide enough for one person to walk on. The pits are filled with water almost level with the embankment.

The water in these pools is crystal clear, yet each reflects a different brilliance. The reason for this lies in the lotus flowers planted in these stone pools.

A dazzling array of colors and postures.

The lotus flowers in this pond are as green as emerald feathers, while the lotus blossoms in that pool are as yellow as beeswax; in the distance, crimson clouds float, and nearby, moon-white silk ripples. There are also cinnabar, rouge, coral, amber, and other colors, some gathered into brocade clusters, others scattered like starlight.

Not only are the colors different, but the shapes of these lotus flowers are also all different.

Some flowers bloom in three layers, sparse and open; some bloom in nine layers, densely piled up. Some petals are thick and fleshy, like solidified jade, like a woman's delicate hand; some petals are thin and light, like cicada wings and ice silk, translucent and revealing. Some are as large as cartwheels, standing tall like canopies; some are as small as cups, like stars in the sky. Some stems are straight, like a lone pine standing on a cliff; some branches are leaning, like a drunken immortal reclining on a couch. Some leaves have smooth edges, round like a full moon; some leaves have lobed edges, flowing like drifting clouds. Some are buds, shy and hesitant to bloom; some are in full bloom, bright and beautiful.

There are also those with vibrant colors, those with twin blossoms, and those that are half-withered and half-alive...

They are all different and vying for attention.

These colorful lotus flowers radiate a shimmering glow, reflected in the water and turning the water itself into a kaleidoscope of colors, where light and shadow intertwine, creating shimmering reflections. Where green and yellow blend, azure clouds emerge; where purple and white intertwine, crimson petals bloom. Orange and vermilion meet to create a fiery display; indigo tinges the water to give rise to a deep, dark ink. A thousand colors weave together in the misty vapor, transforming into a vast, crimson curtain. At first glance, it is merely crimson; upon closer inspection, it resembles cinnabar and sandalwood, subtly tinged with gold; and if one looks closely, then all the myriad colors emerge.

A gentle breeze passes by, and the lotus leaves sway lightly, their iridescent colors sliding like flowing mercury, rustling as if they could make a sound.

"Master, we have arrived."

Xu Shiren said.

Cheng Xinzhan came to his senses. At this moment, when he looked again, he could no longer see the unified crimson color; he could only see a variety of complex and colorful hues.

It's truly amazing.

This is why Lotus Cave Heaven is also known as Zhu Ming Cave Heaven.

He looked around and realized that he and Master Xu were standing on a pond of white lotus flowers. The pond was only fifty paces in circumference, and the lotus flowers were all as large as bathtubs, with thick, smooth petals, green stems, and golden buds, exactly the same as the lotus flowers in the White Lotus Lake of Chongxu Temple. But now, looking again, there was no White Lotus Lake or Chongxu Temple. He was now in the very center of the colorful lotus pond, unable to see the boundaries of this lotus paradise, and had no idea how he had gotten here.

"Your sect's method of connecting this grotto heaven to the blessed land is truly mysterious and leaves no trace. This lotus grotto heaven is so magnificent that it truly deserves to be called the number one lotus place in the world."

Cheng Xinzhan exclaimed in admiration.

"Haha, sir, you flatter me."

Xu Shiren replied with a smile, but his hearty laughter and cheerful expression showed that he was extremely pleased with Cheng Xinzhan's praise.

“There are some people in seclusion in the cave, and there are some places that cannot be visited due to restrictions. As long as you do not break the restrictions, you can go to any other place and enjoy the lotus flowers everywhere. When you are ready to leave, please return to this White Lotus Pond and tap the sect leader's jade pendant. I will then come to fetch you.”

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xinzhan clasped his hands in thanks and said,
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Master Xu."

“We are brothers, there’s no need for such formalities. Please make yourself at home, sir, I won’t bother you any longer.”

"Okay, thank you."

Xu Shiren took his leave, and Cheng Xinzhan watched him step over several lotus flowers before his figure suddenly disappeared after a few turns. Cheng Xinzhan could guess that if she continued to step over the lotus flowers in this manner when she wanted to leave, she would definitely not be able to get out.

Seeing Xu Shiren leave, Cheng Xinzhan didn't go anywhere. He just sat down on the spot, gazing at the white lotus flowers nearby, and visualizing the full lotus pods in his mind.

Half a day later, he got up and left, and went to another lotus pond.

Two days later, he got up again and went to the Purple Lotus Pond.

Five days, ten days, twenty days...

As he walked and sat down repeatedly, the "Dragon Bow" life embryo in the Crimson Palace was also quietly undergoing changes.

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.

Three months later.

South China Sea, Penghu Island, Zhibo Cave.

In this dark cave, a high altar has already been built.

This altar has eighteen layers and is entirely made of human skulls. Crimson flames dance within these skulls, and blood light shines through the eye holes, making it look extremely sinister and eerie.

On the top level, there was another head, but this head was not a skull; it was a freshly severed head, blood still dripping from the neck. The head was disheveled, teeth clenched, cheeks puffed out, eyes wide open, staring intently at something before it.

Opposite this human head, there is something that looks eerie at first glance.

It was a dark, palm-sized object, its outline resembling a human figure. On such an evil altar, it was easy to guess that it was a straw doll used for curses. But upon closer inspection, it became clear that it was neither carved from dark wood nor made of yellow straw, but rather formed from a bundle of dark hair!

The hairy figure was still oozing black water, which was extremely eerie. Just one glance at it made people feel nauseous and uncomfortable.

A note was stuck to the black, hairy man's body, with these few small words written on it:

"Cheng Xinzhan, a native of Yuzhang, is a master of the Ten Thousand Dharmas of Sanqing Mountain."

"Will this work?"

There were two other people before the altar. One was dressed in a green robe, with a handsome face and an imposing presence. The other was dressed in a black robe, with a burly build, a blue face covered in scales, but still habitually hunched over.

The one who asked the question was the man in the green robe.

Having regained a physical body, and moreover, the tall and robust body of the Water-Splitting Ape he had longed for day and night, the Evil Demon was extremely satisfied. Hearing the Green-Robed Ancestor's question, he hurriedly answered...

"It will definitely work!"

The Green-Robed Ancestor frowned and said,
“You only have a name now, how powerful can it be? I remember when Cao Jin cast a spell on him, he still needed to get a few strands of his hair before he was confident in building the altar.”

The Green-Robed Ancestor regretted his words; his curse that time had backfired spectacularly. The young Taoist was not only unharmed but had also helped him pass the tribulation lightning sooner. He regretted not casting the curse and instead saving his hair for a more crucial moment, like now.

However, at that time, I really didn't expect that the Taoist priest would grow up so quickly.

Upon hearing this, the evil devil replied...

“Great Sage, you may not know this, but it’s not just a name. Back then, when I, Old Ghost, was escaping, I used my flying head barb that I had raised for many years to bite him. That Taoist priest chanted a spell on my flying head barb, and he chanted three spells in a row before he was able to stop my flying head barb and burn it.”

At this point, a look of heartache appeared on the devil's face. That flying barbarian had been with him for a long time, made many contributions, and influenced countless battles. He never expected that he would lose to a little Taoist priest.

"so what?"

"The old man in green robes asked."

The devil chuckled and replied.

“Great Sage, when he chanted the incantation for my flying head barb, it was essentially the same as him speaking to my flying head barb. When my flying head barb went to bite him, it seemed like I was yelling and shouting randomly, but in reality, I was calling out to him. He responded with the incantation, which was a response. This call and response connected the threads of fate. If you have to blame someone, blame yourself for not being careful enough!”
"Furthermore, Great Sage, Cao Jin is still only at the third realm, and his sorcery skills are only half-baked. He has only learned one or two moves. How can he compare to my sorcery?"

The man in the green robe listened, his brows relaxing slightly. He nodded and said,
"Alright, let's give it a try and see how powerful your black magic really is. I hope it's as you say and won't disappoint me."

"Rest assured, Great Sage!"

The devil readily agreed.

Immediately, the Green-Robed Ancestor walked a little further away, stood aside, and quietly watched the evil devil cast his spell.

The evil devil took out a broom-like object, raised it with one hand while making hand seals with the other, and began to dance around the altar of human heads, muttering incantations and appearing mad.

The entire eerie ritual lasted for half an hour, until finally, the evil demon, holding a broom, pointed at the human head at the top of the altar and shouted,

"go with!"

Then, the head flew up, about to bite the hairy man who was right in front of it.

However, at such a short distance, just as the human head was about to bite the hairy man, it inexplicably stopped. The human head looked left and right, seemingly oblivious to the hairy man so close at hand.

The Green-Robed Ancestor and the Evil Demon were both staring intently, and the entire Pingbo Cave was silent.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths, ten breaths...

"what is this?"

The old man in green robes frowned and asked a question.

The devil's face turned extremely ugly, his features contorted in a grimace, unsure how to respond.

"say!"

The Green-Robed Ancestor knew something was wrong just by looking at the evil devil's expression.

The devil trembled with fear, stammered for a long time, and then hesitantly said...
"Fei Tou Man couldn't find him."

The green-robed patriarch's face darkened, and he said angrily,
"This is the so-called black magic you boasted about? You can't even find the person?"

Seeing the expression on the Green-Robed Ancestor's face, the evil devil hurriedly explained.

“Great Sage, this is definitely not a problem with the sorcery. Judging from the Flying Head Barbarian’s reaction, it seems that the Taoist priest found a place to hide. It was that place that concealed the secrets of heaven and prevented the sorcery.”

"Hiding?"

The man in the green robe was skeptical.

The evil devil nodded hastily. The Taoist priest had responded to Flying Head Barbarian's words, thus becoming connected with him. It was impossible for him to hide it so well on his own. There was only one possibility: he had used the power of heaven and earth, and it was someone else who had intervened.

"So he figured out you were going to make a move and deliberately hid?"

"I ask the one in the green robe."

The devil was also undecided, and when he heard the green-robed man ask this question, he vaguely replied,

"It's probably just a coincidence, right? Maybe he's in seclusion?"

Looking at the evil devil's appearance and then at the sinister altar, the green-robed man decided to trust him one more time and said,

"You don't need to do anything else, just stay here and keep casting spells. He can hide for a while, but he can't hide forever. I want him to surrender as soon as he comes out! Xia Xun is coming too, then I'll see if he can still concentrate on his seclusion!"

"As ordered!"

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(End of this chapter)