Shushan Earthly Immortal

Chapter 427 The Purple Emperor's Chariot, Awaiting Cry from Mountains and Seas (5.5K words presented, please support with monthly votes~)

Early spring of the 477th year of the Ming Dynasty.

Cheng Xinzhan rode the lion back to Cloud Ladder Mountain and landed at the top of the Heavenly Ladder.

The Cloud Ladder Mountain is characterized by its towering peaks and precipitous terrain. It is named Cloud Ladder Mountain because it is often shrouded in clouds and mist. Originally, like the Red Furnace Islands, it was a gathering place for small sects and independent cultivators. Later, it was occupied by the Southern Sect, then reclaimed by the righteous path. After changing hands six times, it was in a state of ruin and devastation. Finally, it was recovered by Cheng Xinzhan and restored to its former glory.

The highest peak of Yunti Mountain is called Tianti Peak, a flat-topped mountain that is not large in area but is steep on all sides, with only one temple on top. The mountain has changed hands several times, and the temple has also changed hands and names many times.

After Cheng Xinzhan drove away the evil devils, he recaptured Yunti Mountain, took up residence at the top of Tianti Mountain, renamed the palace "Chengxin Palace", and it was here that he enlightened Shiyu Jun.

"The teacher of scriptures."

Zuo Feizi, who was guarding Yunti Mountain, was meditating on the stone steps in front of Chengxin Hall. When he saw Cheng Xinzhan return, he immediately stepped forward and bowed.

Cheng Xinzhan nodded and said directly,
“I will be going into seclusion here. You go and guard the Cloud Path halfway up the mountain. No one is allowed to climb to the top before I emerge from seclusion.”

"Yes."

Without a word, Zuo Feizi bowed and immediately transformed into a ball of green light, leaving the mountain peak and heading towards the cloud-filled area halfway up the mountain.

After Zifei left, Cheng Xinzhan summoned his magic handkerchief, which merged with the clouds surrounding the mountaintop. Next, he summoned his magic umbrella, which transformed into a blue cloud canopy, hanging above the Heavenly Ladder. Then, he summoned all five elemental magic swords he kept in his Five Palaces, planting them into the earth according to the five elements: East Wood, South Fire, West Metal, North Water, and Central Earth. The Earth sword, "Lu Duan Tai'a," was planted before the steps of the main hall.

He stepped onto the steps and gave the instructions.

"You stay here and keep watch; this time, don't doze off."

The lion nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation, and lay down on the steps, guarding behind the earthen sword.

Cheng Xinzhan climbed the steps and arrived at the entrance of the main hall. However, he did not go in. Instead, he sat cross-legged on the stone bricks in front of the threshold, summoned the Dragon Rope, and placed it beside him.

At this moment, he looked into the distance, and before him lay the vast and boundless blue waves of the South China Sea.

And so the Taoist priest spent three days observing the sea, watching the tides rise and fall, the fleeting nature of life, and the changing of the stars, calming his mind and spirit before closing his eyes and entering a meditative state.

After undergoing seven transformations—"Flesh Sprout," "Dragon Bow," "Lotus Pod," "Lotus Root Essence," "Sure Fruit," "Ginseng Treasure," and "Immortal Bud"—he spent half a year cultivating at the bottom of Lihu Lake on Wutong Mountain, completing his eighth transformation. Traveling between Qilu, Dianwen, Yuzhang, and Yuyang, in search of his true form, he pondered the sprouting of life, refined the Dragon Rope, observed the lotus pond, refined the elixir, learned supernatural powers, and traced the immortal tree. After six years, he finally completed all the cultivation of the embryonic stage.

After eight transformations, the embryonic destiny within his Crimson Palace can finally be called a true "embryo of destiny." Let us see:
On the cloud bed, a fairy flower was about to bloom. The flower was apricot-yellow, as if carved from warm jade. Upon closer inspection, the petals of this fairy flower were painted with famous mountains, rivers, lakes and seas, as well as poems, songs, essays and travelogues, like a jade flower of the earth.

The fairy flower resembled a swaddling cloth, encasing a fetus. The fetus was fair and tender, exquisitely crafted, with all four limbs and facial features, appearing to be about a year old. At this point, the fetus's appearance had already developed distinct features, and Cheng Xinzhan looked at the fetus with a feeling that was both strange and familiar.

He was certain he had never seen this fetus before, but a deep-seated familiarity made him recognize it at a glance—it must be him when he was little. His memories from that time were already hazy, so this was the first time Cheng Xinzhan had seen what he looked like as a child, and seeing it from an outsider's perspective felt very strange.

From the moment the essence and energy intertwine to give birth to the nascent immortal seed, until it clearly develops into the embryo of life, the entire developmental process of a Daoist human embryo is complete. During this process, Cheng Xinzhan witnessed this missing part of his own memory from an observer's perspective, thus understanding the origin and growth of his Daoist human form. He came to comprehend concepts such as the union of essence and energy, the connection between bone and flesh, the opening of the pulse from the heart, the opening of the orifices from heaven, the interaction of qi and celestial bodies, and the return of form to its innate state. Because of this, he gained a clearer and more thorough understanding of the mysteries of the human Daoist embryo, and his understanding of his own physical life essence reached a new level.

This is the significance of the "Nascent Soul" realm, and the fundamental reason why the "Nascent Soul" realm is also called the "Dao Embryo" realm.

The next step after the embryonic development is the infusion of the primordial spirit, which combines essence, qi, and spirit, endowing the embryonic development with spirituality, making it a true spiritual embryo, and allowing it to step into the four realms.

However, there was one more thing he needed to do before that.

Get enlightened.

The last of the 365 acupoints in the body.

Since forming his core, he has been juggling cultivation at the third and fourth realms with demon-slaying, while continuing to open up blocked acupoints. Today, he has finally reached the final stage.

The last acupoint he left was between the Purple Palace and the Crimson Palace, located on the path of divine illumination. Once this acupoint was opened, his whole body would be complete, and he could directly form a fetus through divine illumination.

This acupoint is called "Purple Palace," located on the line connecting Purple Palace and Crimson Palace, one inch and six-tenths of an inch above Crimson Palace. Here, the Qi and blood of the Ren Meridian transform into warm, moist vapor that covers the chest cavity, just as the Purple Palace protects the heart and lungs, hence the name. Opening this acupoint has miraculous effects such as regulating Qi, relieving stuffiness, clearing the lungs and relieving irritability, and preventing Qi from flowing backward, blood stasis, and phlegm accumulation.

This acupoint belongs to Yin and belongs to the Water element. Cheng Xinzhan then used the power of the Gui Water in the Water Mansion to slowly open the acupoint.

The more acupoints one opens, the more experience one gains, and the more skillful one becomes, naturally taking less time. Although Cheng Xinzhan was quite cautious about opening this last acupoint to avoid being too hasty, he still completed the opening in just three days.

"Crash-"

In the inner world, the sound of water could be heard.

The Zigong acupoint was illuminated, and a dark place in the chest cavity, outside the heart and lungs, suddenly shone with a pure purple light, with ripples of light, as if it were a Ziwei star hanging high in the inner world.

"call--"

At the same time, not only the inner world, but also the outside world changed as Cheng Xinzhan's acupoints were fully opened.

All the pores on his body opened at once, and a stream of turbid air was expelled from his body, turning into a strong wind that blew in all directions, causing the clouds to churn. That wasn't all; his physical body also shone brightly, with all 365 acupoints emitting light at the same time, in shades of red, white, yellow, black, blue, gold, and turquoise, a dazzling and mesmerizing display that shone in all directions.

Immediately afterwards, the sky darkened abruptly, plunging the area within a radius of three hundred li (approximately 150 kilometers) of Yunti Mountain into complete darkness, encompassing most of the Lingdingyang and the South China Sea coast. However, this darkness lasted only a short while. Soon, the night sky brightened again, with stars appearing one by one, shining brightly. In no time, countless stars twinkled, their light surging, illuminating the ground once more.

The starlight was hazy and twinkling, like sunlight filtering through leaves in the wind—not dazzling, but radiant and gentle, reflecting the light emanating from Cheng Xinzhan's physical body.

Among them, the most eye-catching was the Ziwei Star in the very center of the starry sky, directly above Cheng Xinzhan's head, shining brightly. The light of this single star overshadowed all the other stars, as if an emperor were traveling. With the Ziwei Star in the sky, the Huagai (a type of canopy) above, the Azure Dragon on either side, and the White Lion on the steps, along with the high peak overlooking the sea and surrounded by white clouds, Cheng Xinzhan, sitting atop the mountain, appeared as if he were a Daoist lord descended to earth.

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.

Yuyang, Meilin Mountain.

Meilin Mountain and Yunti Mountain face each other across the Lingdingyang Sea. Looking at the rising sun and twinkling stars in the west, Xu Shiren exclaimed in surprise...

"The Purple Star Chariot?"

Xu Shiren looked extremely surprised, finding this utterly illogical. Yunti Mountain was easily identifiable, right in the center of that bright, starry sky. But who lived on Yunti Mountain?
Yesterday Feizi?
impossible.

How could a demon from that desolate, barbaric land possibly attract the favor of the Purple Star? Even if he stole the heavens and broke through to the fifth realm, he couldn't possibly cause such a phenomenon. This isn't just related to realm; it's more about perfection, precious appearance, Dharma intent, destiny, and so on.

The saying goes, "When the Purple Star shines upon the Great Horn, the Imperial Chariot is in its proper place." The "Purple Star Chariot Astral Sign" is an extraordinary phenomenon for emperors, rarely seen throughout history. Those who possess this sign are invariably noble individuals with a physical body possessing a precious appearance and a perfect spiritual realm. Such people often dominate their entire lives in spiritual cultivation, either innovating or carrying on the tradition. If born into a Taoist sect, they would be leading figures who wield great power and revitalize the sect.

The Four Celestial Masters—Zixu Yuanjun, Ge Hong Xianweng, Xujing Zhenjun, Kaihua Zhenjun, and Guanghui Zhenjun—these renowned names all share this destiny.

It now appears that there is another one in the Taoist community.

The only person who could have caused the strange phenomena on Yunti Mountain was him: Master Wanfa of the Wanfa School, and the revered Renhui Guangfa Master of the Eastern Taoist School.

But Xu Shiren still had questions. Master Guangfa had only emerged from seclusion three days ago, saying he had decided to achieve the Divine Illumination Embryo. But even if he chose a dangerous place like Cloud Ladder Mountain, how could he have broken through to the next level in just three days? Most importantly, even if he had broken through, why had he not heard any music?

But if it weren't for entering the fourth realm, how could it have caused such a commotion?
Xu Shiren was completely baffled.

However, he didn't dwell on it for too long. He thought that whether he had already broken through or was in the process of breaking through, Mr. Guangfa must be at a very important and critical moment. In a place like Yunti Mountain, he couldn't be left without someone to protect him.

Xu Shiren then telepathically communicated with Zou Shizheng, entrusting him with the responsibility of protecting the Three Mountains defense line. Immediately afterward, he transformed into a streak of light, crossed the Lingdingyang, and flew towards Yunti Mountain.

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.

Yuyang, Yinhu Mountain.

Zou Shizheng received Xu Shiren's reply and also saw the strange phenomenon on Cloud Ladder Mountain. He also had the thought of protecting the Dharma in his heart, but he also knew that the newly built defense line of the three mountains could not be lost. If all the cultivators from the four realms left, the demons of the South Sea would surely invade, so he had no choice but to remain seated, but his eyes were always fixed on the direction of Cloud Ladder Mountain.

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.

Yuyang, Feixia Mountain.

Unlike Zou Shizheng, Dong Shouren's first thought upon seeing the Purple Star appear on Cloud Ladder Mountain was that his master's breakthrough in cultivation had triggered this extraordinary phenomenon. The Purple Star Emperor's Destiny—in the contemporary Daoist sect, besides his own master, who else could possess such a destiny? Although he didn't quite understand why his master, who had been refining elixirs and comprehending the true form of enlightenment on Flying Cloud Mountain just two years prior, was about to enter the fourth level of cultivation, this didn't prevent him from immediately leaving Flying Cloud Mountain to go to Cloud Ladder Mountain to protect the Dharma.

As for guarding Feixia Mountain and the Beijiang defense line, that matter will definitely have to wait until my own master breaks through to the next realm. No one can find fault with my choice.

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.

Langshan Mountain in Hunan Province.

Shi Tongxuan looked at the starry night in the south, first with surprise and doubt, then with sudden joy, and then with burning anxiety.

Why would he choose to break through to that realm?
It is common knowledge that Master Guangfa successively recaptured Yunti Mountain and Wutong Mountain in Yuyang, and drove away the two demons from the fourth realm, Eguizi and Hu Hailong. Shi Tongxuan naturally knew that his master was in Yuyang and used Yunti Mountain as a temporary Taoist temple.

This guy truly lives up to his reputation as a long-time partner of Dong Shouren. The first reaction of the former deputy leaders of the Chunyang and Yuanyin Halls upon seeing the Ziwei phenomenon on Yunti Mountain was exactly the same: this could only be their own master!

He sent a telepathic message to Vice Sect Leader Hua Yaosong, ordering him to guard the mountain gate and monitor the Southern Wilderness, while he himself transformed into a streak of Yin-Yang Mystic Light and sped south.

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.

Yuyang, Yunti Mountain, at the top of the Heavenly Ladder, in front of Chengxin Hall.

Since beginning his cultivation by visualizing the Pleiades star deity opening his heart, Cheng Xinzhan has practiced Taoism for over fifty years, and today he has finally achieved enlightenment and attained the opportunity to access the life essence. Cheng Xinzhan felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his heart, his spirit relaxed, and his whole body felt comfortable.

However, he was somewhat surprised that such a phenomenon would occur simply from opening up all the acupoints in his body. He raised his hand to the sky, bent his arm, and the starry night sky transformed into a veil of gauze, drifting down and landing in his hand.

He collected the protective aura and refined it in an instant. He already possessed the "Weak Water Cleansing Star Aura" gifted by the sect and the "Mayfly Star Sea Aura" gifted by the Master of Fashan; this was the third Star Aura he had acquired. How rare were these Star Auras! It seemed he might have a connection to the Path of Stars, and he could spend more time on it in the future.

He thought so.

That's a story for later, of course. After refining the Qi and Sha, Cheng Xinzhan continued to observe himself and experience the changes brought about by the complete opening of the acupoints throughout his body.

Because of his fellow practitioners of the Inner Alchemy, Spirit Preservation, and Pure Yang Dao, and because he had achieved perfection in all realms, his complete opening of the body's acupoints was somewhat different from others. Perhaps it was precisely because of this that he triggered the Ziwei Phenomenon on the eve of his breakthrough.

First, his physical body emitted a precious light, and he simultaneously reached the three Dharma Body realms of "Purple Glazed Body" in the Inner Alchemy, "Yellow Court Dao Embryo" in the Preservation of Spirit, and "Pure Yang Golden Body" in the Pure Yang Dao. He was flawless, without flaws, without dust or filth, and without impurities or evil.

Secondly, the Yang spirit, Yin spirit, and all the inner landscape spirits were overjoyed and spontaneously recited scriptures. The "Purpose," "Secret Instructions," "Taiyang," "Taiyin," "Thunder Script," "Ghost Script," and various divine pronouncements resonated and echoed each other, like celestial music. The golden elixir blossomed in golden splendor, the life embryo slept soundly with a smile, and all the magical treasures shone with divine light, joining in the grand event.

As for the fragrance generated by the surging of essence and blood, the gushing flow of qi like a river, and the radiance of the primordial spirit shining with the three lights, there is no need to elaborate further.

To put it bluntly, given his current physical condition, if anyone were to try to curse him, only an immortal descending to earth could succeed.

Cheng Xinzhan smiled slightly and decided to strike while the iron was hot, immediately starting the Divine Illumination.

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.

He likes to plan ahead and be farsighted, so many years ago, he had already devised his own unique method of divine illumination and made preparations.

Based on the characteristics of his primordial spirit and the Great Dao he cultivated, he established a divine illumination method for himself called "Three Lights in One Sky," borrowing the name from a Daoist ritual.

The three luminaries are the sun, the moon, and the stars.

The three spirits are Shuangling, Youjing, and Taiguang.

Cheng Xinzhan divided the soul and spirit into yin and yang, with the yang soul and yin spirit being the primordial spirit that is born after undergoing tribulations.

The three luminaries are the source of light, dispelling the darkness of eternal night, and are therefore Yang; the three luminaries hang high in the sky, situated in the pure air, compared to the earth and the turbid, and are therefore Yang; the three luminaries rise and set, the stars shift and the constellations move, their changes never ceasing, and are therefore Yang.

Nourishing the three spirits with the three lights is in accordance with the principles of heaven and earth, and the great way of yin and yang.

Yin and Yang are infinitely divisible. Among the three luminaries, the sun is the yang, the moon is the yin, and the stars are the taihe. Within the yang aspect, there are also changes of yin and yang. The shuangling primordial spirit governs clarity and wisdom, corresponding to the yang and taihe qi; the youjing primordial spirit governs the physical body and controls desires, corresponding to the yin and taihe qi; and the taiguang primordial spirit guards the danyuan and strengthens the life force, corresponding to the taihe qi.

Nourishing the three spirits with the three luminaries is in accordance with the interaction between heaven and man and follows the natural way.

For many years, Cheng Xinzhan has offered morning sacrifices to the primordial spirit and nightly wandered in the realm of ethereal light, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and the essence of the sun and moon. Furthermore, he has been continuously nourished and cleansed by the sun, moon, and stars. To this day, the three spirits sit upright in the Purple Palace, emitting their own three lights, illuminating the inner landscape and opening up all the orifices.

At this moment, he gathered his thoughts, restrained his divine light, and made final preparations.

After a hundred breaths, he relaxed his mind and body and focused his inner vision on the Crimson Palace.

Then, golden, silver, and purple divine light emanated from the three primordial spirits and slowly descended from the Purple Palace Tower.

The three gods were like a spring, their divine light like water, cascading like a waterfall, seemingly slow but actually rapid.

The three lights, like a silver river pouring down, directly pass over the acupoints on the face, pour into the "Chengjiang" point, build a magpie bridge, connect heaven and earth, and pass through the "Twelve-Story Tower" in sequence, entering the body from the brain.

The divine light traversed the narrow "Twelve-Story Tower," its speed increasing with each passing moment, as if the throat itself were accelerating it. Once inside, the light, propelled by its accelerated momentum, leaped into the "Heavenly Piercing Point" and entered the Ren Meridian. Passing through the chest cavity's gateway, the divine light encountered no further obstruction, flowing straight down, passing the "Canopy," traversing the "Jade Hall," crossing the "Purple Palace," and finally reaching the Crimson Palace.

This is Cheng Xinzhan's divine illumination route: short and direct, fast and steady.

This is naturally not something that can be achieved simply by wishing to; it actually relies on the multiple life-storing supernatural powers he cultivated during the process of opening his acupoints. The "Chengjiang" acupoint supernatural power—"All Rivers Flow into the Sea"—can store qi and spirit within a small space, thus enabling it to receive divine light; the "Twelve-Story Tower" supernatural power—"Hidden Dragon Leaps Tiger"—can promote the descent of heart fire and the ascent of kidney water, specifically used to regulate the upper and lower body, thus accelerating the passage of divine light. As for the Ren meridian descending, it is the route through which the rain and qi entered the Yellow Court when Cheng Xinzhan formed his elixir. It was opened by the Taiyin Emperor riding a tiger and, after years of being washed by spiritual energy, it has long been exceptionally open and unobstructed.

It is precisely because of past accumulations that the divine illumination is exceptionally smooth today.

The three lights shone into the Crimson Palace without any loss, pouring down entirely upon the embryonic life force. The embryonic life force, fast asleep, slightly twitched its eyelids, as if it had sensed something, like basking in the warm sunshine. A slight smile appeared on its lips, showing considerable enjoyment.

Cheng Xinzhan had been cultivating Taoism for over sixty years. The essence of his heart and kidneys, the energy of the golden elixir, and the light of his primordial spirit—the three treasures of the human body—began to merge and communicate at this point in time.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, a strange sound rang out. It was extremely loud, yet clear and melodious, like a drop of dew falling into a calm mountain lake at dawn, its crisp, melodious "tinkling" sound brimming with vitality. It also sounded like a refined scholar playing a zither in the mountains, its clear, resonant sound lingering on. However, whether it resembled water or zither music, the sound seemed amplified by the mountains after echoing through them, becoming as loud as thunder rolling across the peaks.

But in reality, it was neither the sound of water nor the sound of a zither, but the voice of the embryonic soul.

Just now, the embryo's chest and abdomen suddenly twitched.

"Boom!"

Another sound rang out, the sound emanating from the fetus's chest cavity, spreading out of the Crimson Palace, out of the physical body, out of the Pure Heart Hall, out of the Heavenly Ladder Peak, and out of the Cloud Ladder Mountain.

"Boom!"

Another sound rang out, seemingly originating from the foot of Yunti Mountain, like the heartbeat of the earth, resounding like a grand bell, echoing across both banks of the Lingdingyang Sea. Further on, the sound traveled beyond Yuyang, beyond the South China Sea, beyond the southwest, and beyond Jiangnan…

"Boom! Boom!"

"Boom! Boom!"

The fetal heartbeats began to become continuous.

At the same time, in all the places where Cheng Xinzhan had left his footprints, drawn scenes on the ground book, or written records, including Yuzhang, Kuaiji, Qingzhou, Jinling, Qilu, Sanxiang, Miaojiang, Dianwen, Xikang, Wuling, the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and the Yellow Sea, the sounds of fetal sounds echoed from the ground.

It shook the entire land.

As the saying goes:
The zither's heart dances three times, its sound resounding through the heavens.

The vast universe breathes in and out together; mountains and rivers have boundaries, but the law is boundless.

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(End of this chapter)