Shushan Earthly Immortal

Chapter 447 Planting Trees to Drive Away the Wind, Catching Them All in One Wrap

After the grand sacrificial ceremony included the "Five Elements Gathering at the Origin," the "Nine Peaks Welcoming the Gods," and the "Three Offerings," the atmosphere reached its peak with the almost warlike sacrificial address delivered by the Hengshan Sect Leader.

Then, Deng Qingyang sowed the five grains as he descended from the altar. After he returned to the ground, the altar behind him shone brightly again, then rapidly shrank within the light, transforming into a large seal with a golden cauldron as its knob, which Deng Qingyang held in his hands.

Carrying the large seal, Deng Qingyang led the sacrificial procession further inside, into the main hall, where they paid homage to the statue of Emperor Shun and respectfully placed the large seal with the knob of a tripod on the incense table before the statue. Afterwards, the procession circled the statue of Shun and paid their respects to the two consorts in turn, offering sacrifices.

Then, the procession passed through the main hall and continued forward to the Hall of Heroes in the Imperial Temple Garden. The procession took fire from the hearth on the sacred path and lit the eternal lamp in the Hall of Heroes. Subsequently, representatives of various sects of the Sanxiang Daoist sects completed their oath in the Hall of Heroes, witnessed by the Sanxiang Grand Master of the Haoran Alliance, and formally established the "Jiuyi Society," with its headquarters located on Mount Jiuyi.

In their oath, everyone clearly stated that they would "protect their homeland together and avenge their humiliation."

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.

The next morning, the Jiuyi Society held its first meeting after its establishment at the Hanxu Hall on Mount Jiuyi.

The issue was whether to attack the Miao region first or the Southern Wilderness first, and specifically, which region to attack.

Haoran Alliance Sanxiang Manager and Cheng Xinzhan were invited to join the association.

Some say we should attack the Miao region first, because after abandoning Mount Jiuyi, the Silkworm Goddess returned to her old home in Miao territory. This demon has occupied Mount Jiuyi for over forty years, leading the Heavenly Silkworm Sect to commit countless atrocities in southern Hunan; she must pay for her blood debts.

Some argue that the Southern Wilderness should be attacked first, because even though the Silkworm Fairy is a powerful cultivator of the Fourth Realm, she is ultimately just a pawn in the hands of the Green-Robed Ancestor. The true culprit behind the devastation of the Three Xiang regions is the Green-Robed Ancestor. Even if they invade Miao territory and kill the Silkworm Fairy, they cannot truly avenge themselves. Perhaps the Green-Robed Ancestor doesn't even care about the Silkworm Fairy's life or death.

Furthermore, the campaign to conquer the southern wilderness in the southwest could be coordinated with the Daoist sect in Yuyang. The situation in Yuyang is currently very favorable; the defense line along the three rivers is impregnable, and they have already launched their counter-offensive earlier than those in the three Hunan regions.

Of course, the Southern Wilderness is the Green Robe Ancestor's lair, so fighting there will definitely not be easy. But it is precisely because of this that fighting will cause the Green Robe Ancestor great distress. When fighting, we can start by attacking the tributaries of the West River. We can learn from the Yuyang Daoist sect's experience in suppressing water and place water-suppressing and dragon-blocking artifacts into the tributaries of the West River, gradually eroding the Green Robe Ancestor's Dao-aligning water flow, thereby weakening his strength. This will also coordinate with the Yuyang Daoist sect, forcing the Southern faction to be constantly on the move.

This person's argument was reasonable and well-founded, but some still objected. They argued that the Southern Wilderness was, after all, the stronghold of the Southern School, teeming with experts and difficult to conquer, while Miao territory was relatively undefended and easier to attack. Furthermore, the Silkworm Fairy was severely injured in the Nine Peaks Mountains. If they didn't strike while the iron was hot and instead rushed to attack the Southern Wilderness first, it would be difficult to achieve results quickly, and the Silkworm Fairy would be able to recover and heal her injuries. Wouldn't that mean they would gain nothing from both sides? As for the Southern Wilderness, it would be better to capture the Heavenly Silkworm Fairy to boost morale and prestige before making further moves.

Both viewpoints have their supporters, and both are well-reasoned, making it difficult to decide in a short time.

"Master, what are your thoughts?"

Deng Qingyang asked.

Everyone at the meeting turned to look at Mr. Guangfa, whose status was exceptionally high.

Seeing that everyone was looking at her, Cheng Xinzhan didn't mince words and directly shared her thoughts.
"Personally, I still think it's better to go to the Miao region first."

Upon hearing this, those who had previously supported attacking Miao territory in the hall showed joy, while those who supported attacking the Southern Wilderness inevitably revealed disappointment. However, they dared not directly refute Cheng Xinzhan's words and remained silent.

"Let me explain why, and this is just my personal opinion, it won't affect the Jiuyi Association's decision-making."

Cheng Xinzhan said, and explained,
"The fellow Daoists who just mentioned wanting to attack the Southern Wilderness have good ideas and sufficient reasons, and what they said makes a lot of sense. One point they made was that we could unite with the Yuyang Daoist sect to jointly eliminate demons, which I think is excellent."

After he said this, the expressions of those who supported attacking the Southern Wilderness softened considerably.

"but."

Cheng Xinzhan changed the subject and asked in return,

"The Yuyang Daoist sect is a force we should unite with, but isn't there one in Miao territory?"

Everyone was taken aback. What Taoist sect was left in Miao territory? Wasn't it all under the control of the Demonic Sect? The Azure Dragon Cave and the Immortal Cave had long been sealed off, and hadn't seen the world for many years. The Buddhist Fanjing Mountain was the same. Even the Chiyou Cave, which had been passed down in Miao territory since ancient Miao times, had become secluded. What was there left to unite against?
Fuxia Lake alone shouldn't be worth mentioning, right?
Judging from their expressions, Cheng Xinzhan could roughly guess what they were thinking, so he smiled and said...

"Since they can seal off the mountain, they can naturally also come out. The situation was one thing back then, but now, decades later, it's a different story. We should unite all forces that can be united, strengthen ourselves, weaken our opponents, and in the end, we will naturally achieve victory."

"Furthermore, let's not forget that Yunnan now also has the strength of our Taoist sect. Doumu Pavilion is aligned with the Eastern Way, and my Wujiu Xuanzai is stationed in Doumu Pavilion. The Lushan Sect of Fujian has taken root in Ailao Mountain, and Wuliang Mountain has also returned to the righteous path. Moreover, the Wuling area has been quite cleaned up thanks to the joint suppression by Zhenwu Temple, Wudang Mountain, and our Hunan Taoist sect. It is incomparable to what it was decades ago."

"If we advance into Miao territory, we will have the support of Hunan and Wuling from behind, the righteous comrades in Miao territory rising up to fight back in the middle, and the comrades in Yunnan and Wenzhou in front to coordinate and cooperate. Wouldn't that be a sure thing? Now that we have won a great victory at Yuyang and recovered Hunan, once we awaken the righteous forces in Miao territory, these four places can be linked together to form an encirclement of the Southern Wilderness, forcing them to be able to attend to one side but not the other, and to lose one side if they are able to attend to another."

Cheng Xinzhan looked at everyone and said confidently,

"The Demonic Sect's plundering of land is like a whirlwind sweeping across the land. It may seem powerful and invincible for a time, but once the storm passes, it will eventually dissipate. Our approach to acquiring land, however, is like planting trees and creating forests. We take steady steps, reclaiming land, managing it, and bringing benefits to it. This is the way to ensure long-term success."

"We will take back the land that Green Robe devoured back then, exactly as it was. Not only that, we will also take this opportunity to eradicate the old demonic sects in the four regions, especially in Miao and Yunnan. Some demonic sects in places like western Hunan and southern Yunnan have already been eliminated, but many remain. Demonic sects are rampant in eastern Yunnan, western Yunnan, and the entire Miao region. There are also some powerful demons and possessors who have emerged in recent years, such as Silkworm Girl, Elephant Dragon, Owl Dragon, and Demon Dragon. Oh, and there's also the newly emerged Haha Ancestor."

"Taking advantage of this demonic tide, all these monsters and demons have surfaced, which is a good thing for us. We can use this opportunity to wipe them out in one fell swoop. Now, the area west of Hunan and the north bank of the Yangtze River have been sealed off by the Xuanmen. If we sweep through Miao territory and Yunnan, these demons will either head north to attack the Xuanmen's defenses or flee south to the Southern Wilderness for protection. We won't bother with the former, but if it's the latter, that would be even better. Just think about it, what would happen if we planted forests around the Southern Wilderness and forced the raging winds into one place?"

"Naturally, it will run rampant and cause chaos, leaving a scene of utter devastation!"

Deng Qingyang responded by slapping his thigh.

Joy spread across everyone's faces, and their gazes toward Cheng Xinzhan became increasingly different. He truly lived up to the title of Master Sanshan; his vision was truly exceptional. The Jiuyi Society naturally originated from Hunan, but this man had his sights set on the entire Southwest, his pronouncements outlining plans to connect the four regions, encircle the Southern Wilderness, and drive away the demons as easily as chasing chickens, causing them to lose their composure.

Anyone can talk big, but considering his past experiences, there's nothing he hasn't accomplished, which makes him very convincing.

Cheng Xinzhan smiled and nodded, saying,

"Let's wait and see if this living dragon can control his demons."

"But it's the scripture teacher."

Perhaps only Shi Tongxuan, the leader of the Langshan Cult, dared to directly question Cheng Xinzhan at the scene. He said,

"Seclusion is not an easy decision, especially when forced into seclusion under the coercion of the Demonic Sect. Several decades is not a short time, but it is not a long time either. Everyone has seen the actions of those families in Miao territory. At this moment, can they really bring themselves to choose to re-emerge?"

Shi Tongxuan's words were brief, but everyone present was shrewd and understood his meaning.

Master Shi's first point was that it hadn't been that long ago, the various sects of Miao territory had succumbed to the Green Robe's tyranny, daring not to resist and forced to close their mountains for self-preservation—something everyone had witnessed. Now, seeing the situation change, they were jumping out again, which would be a laughingstock; they might not want it. History is replete with examples of this; they generally waited for the demonic tide to subside, then a century later, in some ordinary, peaceful year, before quietly reopening their mountains under the guise of accepting disciples. By then, the people within the mountains had changed, and those outside had gradually forgotten the demonic tide, so they wouldn't be so critical. Master Shi's words also had a second meaning, which was also the real reason why the various sects of Miao territory might not be willing to emerge again—a point also readily apparent in history.

History shows that evil never triumphs over good. Every time a demonic tide rises, it may be powerful for a time, but in the end, it is always brought down by the righteous path. The only difference is the time frame; some demonic tides can be quelled within sixty years, while others can drag on for hundreds of years. If the various sects of Miao territory are persuaded to emerge from seclusion at this time, and if the suppression of the Southern School does not proceed as smoothly as Master Guangfa has described, leading to the fall of the Miao sects once again, then these sects will be utterly unable to survive.

Unless they surrender to the demonic sect, the demonic path will never forgive them; not sealing their mountains means certain death. If they choose to seal their mountains again, not only will the demonic path exact revenge, but the righteous path will also despise them. Unless they choose the path of martyrdom, everything else is wrong; they will not only please neither side, but their reputation will plummet, bringing shame upon their ancestors. Historically, many sects have repeatedly opened and closed their mountains during demonic upheavals, ultimately losing all their reputation and being relegated to the status of unorthodox sects.

Furthermore, if these sects themselves were opportunistic and indecisive, leading to this predicament, then they have no one to blame but themselves. However, if someone actively persuaded them to emerge from the demonic tide, yet they couldn't withstand the overwhelming force and suffered a tragic end, then that person who offered the advice must bear responsibility. Not only will they incur the resentment of these sects, but it will also be a significant blow to their own prestige.

It is precisely for all these reasons that sects that choose to live in seclusion during the demonic tide generally remain in seclusion until the tide ends. No one will try to persuade these sects to return to the world, because even without them, evil will not prevail over good; it's just that the cost will be higher and the process longer. As for the cost of these sects' seclusion, both those inside and outside the mountains are well aware of it. They can forget about their sect's assets outside the mountains; for hundreds of years before and after the seclusion ends, they will have to find disciples only what others have left, and their disciples will be at a disadvantage when traveling.

Clearly, Shi Tongxuan's words also conveyed a third meaning, which was what he truly wanted to say:

He did not want to persuade the sects in Miao territory to come out of seclusion. Without them, the extermination of demons would be successful. And the person who proposed this idea—his most beloved grand-disciple—would not have to risk any reputation for it.

After listening to the patriarch's words, Cheng Xinzhan remained silent for a moment, then, unusually, displayed a confident and unrestrained demeanor in public, saying,

"I guarantee they will come out of seclusion, and I guarantee they won't regret it."

Upon hearing this, Shi Tongxuan showed no surprise or anger; instead, a smile appeared in his eyes. He nodded, cupped his hands, and said...
"In that case, Langshan will obey Mr. Guangfa's orders."

Seeing this, the leaders of the other sects in the Jiuyi Society quickly exchanged glances and whispers, and then they all said...

"Hengshan will obey Mr. Guangfa's orders."

"The Dongting Water Pavilion will obey Mr. Guangfa's orders."

"Su Xianling obeys Mr. Guangfa's orders."

"..."

There's nothing to say about that. Mr. Guangfa's suggestion is the safest and least deadly method for Sanxiang. It can eliminate the Silkworm Girl first and then besiege the Demon Dragon. Moreover, Mr. Guangfa is willing to personally take the lead and guarantee it. Why not do it?

"The Haoran Alliance Sanxiang Branch will obey Mr. Guangfa's orders."

Inside the hall, the steward of the Haoran Alliance responded loudly. Within the Haoran Alliance, Mr. Guangfa's position was unshakeable. Whatever decision he made, everyone would absolutely support and follow him.

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 days later.

Miao region, Fuxia Lake.

The crimson firs, stretching along both banks of the great lake, rise in vast swathes through the river mist, some reaching fifty or sixty feet in height. These firs glow with a faint blood-red light, resembling soaring crimson dragons in the hazy lake mist. At the same time, the firs, in turn, illuminate the misty lake, turning it a deep red, as if the crimson clouds of the world have fallen onto the lake's surface, refusing to leave.

The cedar forest stretches as far as the eye can see, and the mist has no end in sight.

"Is this still Fuxia Lake? Shouldn't it be called Fuxia River? Are you trying to dye the entire Wujiang River red?"

Cheng Xinzhan said with a smile.

"Hahaha—Master is joking. This is less than two hundred li. If we call it a river, it would be at least five hundred li, right?"

Hong Changbao accompanied Cheng Xinzhan, showing him around Fuxia Lake. When he heard Cheng Xinzhan say this, he laughed and replied.

Cheng Xinzhan could easily detect the smugness in Hong Changbao's tone, and continued to praise him.
"It's only been a few years, and you've already turned Fuxia Lake into the place that Ji Shu and I envisioned back then."

Hong Changbao then said,
"Master, this is only above; the underwater world is even more vast and mysterious. Shall I take you down to see it?"

Cheng Xinzhan nodded and said, "Okay."

"Over the years, you have persevered in protecting this foundation amidst the surrounding demons of Miao territory. Not only have you not been swallowed up, but you have also made Fuxia Lake bigger and stronger, becoming a banner of the unorthodox sects in the southwest. It is not easy, not easy at all."

Upon hearing this, Hong Changbao immediately suppressed his smile and replied solemnly,

"Without you, without the Haoran Alliance continuously sending supplies down the Wujiang River, there would be no Fuxia Lake as we know it today."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xinzhan waved his hand and simply said,

"You've said too much; Heaven helps those who help themselves."

At the same time, he sighed inwardly. After decades, the man who used to be as fierce as a tiger was now skin and bones, and his face showed obvious signs of aging. Although he had only recently entered the fourth realm, he looked like he was on the verge of death. However, his eyes were getting brighter and brighter, making him look like a hungry wolf in the wilderness at first glance. He wondered how much hardship he had suffered and how much he had worried about over the years.

After letting out a sigh, he asked again,

"Has Yizhou come back to visit?"

Upon hearing this, Hong Changbao grinned again, a very happy smile.
“I’ve been here before. My master said that the mountains and rivers here are incredibly beautiful, even more beautiful than Redwood Ridge.”

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xinzhan suddenly stopped and said,
"Do you still want to go back to Redwood Ridge?"

Hong Changbao also stopped, looked at Cheng Xinzhan, his eyes gleaming.

"I think about it, not for a single moment."

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(End of this chapter)