Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 584 Star Pivot Chaos: Star Picking in the Stone Chamber, Enlightenment in Stillness

—In the Star-Picking Tower

"Firstly, before Qingxuan left, he met with True Person Yunfu of Yuejian Mountain in the ancient Xuandao sect. In his words, he expressed great admiration for the Lord. It seems that the alliance between the two families is unbreakable, and the Lord need not worry about it afterward."

With Qingxuan guaranteeing the existence of the name 'Taiyi,' Yuejian Mountain will not expand westward any further. The three southwestern routes will one day forever remain the realm of star-picking, untouched by anyone. This is a letter personally written to me by the True Man Yunfu; please take a look, Master.

When Master Qingxuan spoke, his tone was firm, which softened the gaze of Bai Canhong, the master of Zhaixing Tower.

He had been exchanging letters with Yuejian Mountain for so long, and even facilitated Yunfu Zhenren's ruthless scheme to harm Huquan Zhenren, who was both his teacher and brother, yet he still refused to let the cultivators of Yuejian Mountain set foot on either side of the mountain.

Even after the Yunze Witchcraft Palace was destroyed by the Fei family of Yingzhou and the Chongming Sect, and most of the Huangpi Dao had fallen into the hands of the Duke of Qin, Bai Canhong's tone remained firm, revealing his deep concerns.

This is because Yuejian Mountain is also a major sect with a profound history. It was very prosperous since the previous dynasty. Before the fall of Emperor Taizu two thousand years ago, it produced several Nascent Soul cultivators who were all subdued by several sects.

At that time, in terms of prestige, Yuejian Mountain was almost second only to Taiyi Temple, the leader of the Taoist sect. Even the former master of Zhaixing Tower had to rely on him.

Although it has suffered many setbacks in recent years, in terms of the number of disciples and the depth of its foundation, it is far superior to a sect like Wu Laoshan and a Hehuanshan that has not exerted its full strength.

This means that even though Yunfu Zhenren, a Nascent Soul cultivator, is currently in charge of the overall situation at Yuejian Mountain, Bai Canhong is still somewhat wary of him.

However, with Qingxuan Zhenren guaranteeing the existence of the word "Taiyi," Bai Canhong's thoughts became much clearer.

He was indeed comparable to a Nascent Soul stage cultivator. After Yuejian Mountain's army settled in the south of the mountain, if he had any ambitions, even Yunfu Zhenren might not have the ability to achieve them.

After seeing Bai Canhong nod almost imperceptibly, Master Qingxuan's smile deepened, and he then made a promise:
"Secondly, our abbot has invited twenty-seven loyal and righteous men from various sects, all of whom have been persecuted and harmed by Emperor Wei. Among them are many elders who are in charge of various Nascent Soul sects."

Once you, sir, raise the banner of righteousness in the southwest and utterly defeat that brat Kuang Liuting, my abbot will surely respond promptly, and countless followers will gather. Armored men will be as numerous as mountains and as vast as the sea!
Afterwards, the world will be ablaze with sparks, like a prairie fire! Once we conquer Taiyuan Capital and establish a new emperor, we'll have plenty of freedom.

What surprised Master Qingxuan was that Bai Canhong's expression did not change after hearing these seductive words.

As for the rest of the people in the hall, they had already been so shocked by Master Qingxuan's words "establish a new emperor" that they were too astonished to even begin to discuss the matter.

Bai Canhong knew that Qingxuan Zhenren's words were not entirely deceptive, but he also knew he couldn't believe them easily. If he believed nine of the truths, but was blinded by the last falsehood, he might very well sever the lineage of Daoist practitioners.

Even at this point, Bai Canhong still hadn't completely abandoned the idea of ​​switching allegiance to the Kuang family. After all, being made a target of public criticism by the Taiyi Temple might not be much better than being taken in as a lackey by the Kuang family.

This is also why Taiyi Temple is considered the leader of the Taoist sect and has a stellar reputation.

Even if we take a step back and establish a new ruler, will the one in the outer seas react? What if the current emperor were to replace him on the throne, and that wicked dragon were instead invited to sit there?
In this way, the legitimate and illegitimate sons of the Kuang family and figures like Bai Canhong seem insignificant. However, once Kuang Chexiao becomes the next Emperor Wei, he will not be as benevolent and incompetent as the current emperor.

Then he would truly be the all-powerful ruler, his words carrying the weight of the heavens! Wouldn't all his efforts to overthrow the Kuang family's direct lineage just be a case of asking for trouble?!
However, Master Qingxuan was not so naive as to believe Bai Canhong, the number one cultivator in the southwest, with just empty words and board the Taiyi Temple ship. Especially since the three southwestern sects seemed to be under the gaze of the person from the Outer Sea Dream Palace.

Before Bai Canhong could react, Master Qingxuan spoke again:

"Before leaving, my abbot repeatedly instructed me to tell Master Bai that there is no reconciliation between the legitimate and illegitimate sons of the Kuang family, and that there is no need to worry about the future."

"Oh?" Bai Canhong raised his eyebrows slightly. Although the Kuang family's brothers could talk about the infighting among themselves for a long time, even about ordinary Qi cultivation, the real secrets were unknown even to someone like Bai Canhong, far less than the Taiyi Temple Master.

Seeing Bai Canhong's reaction, Master Qingxuan didn't keep him in suspense any longer. However, when he spoke, he used a secret voice transmission that only reached Bai Canhong's ears:
"Back then, following the orders of his master, the True Lord Miaoxin of Kuling Mountain, the Great Ancestor specially obtained a section of the fourth-order Locked Dragon You Tan that had been tainted with the bloodline of the True Dragon from Kuling Mountain and transplanted it here. Not only would ordinary True Immortals find it difficult to defeat, but even the Palace Master of Lanmeng Palace would still find it difficult to enter the capital region without advancing to the True Lord level."

At this moment, Bai Canhong's expression truly changed. He didn't bother with pointless questions like "Is this really true?" but instead wore a hesitant look. However, when Master Qingxuan spoke again, it was like a heavy hammer, making it impossible for him to maintain his composure:
"Our abbot said that if Master Bai is willing to do his best for the sake of all living beings, forcing Kuang Liuting to retreat to the southwest and annihilating all the henchmen of the three immortal dynasties, then when the Nine Revolutions Star Pivot Lamp is relit after sixty years, Master Bai can be one of the three main guests of this year's Lantern Festival."

Upon hearing this, Bai Canhong's eyes immediately lit up with a series of changes, as if all the promises of being the ruler of the southwest and having all the Daoist masters submitting to him were not as tempting as the "Nine Revolutions Star Pivot Lamp" spoken by Qingxuan Zhenren.

The reason is that the Nine-Turn Star Pivot Lamp of Taiyi Temple is not as simple as being famous among the Nascent Soul True Persons of David.

This lamp is a sacred object of Taiyi Temple. The lamp base is made of two top-grade fourth-level spiritual materials, "celestial sand" and "mysterious jade", and is in the shape of a dodecahedron. Each side is dedicated to the Big Dipper and the five planetary stars.

This lamp needs to be placed on the Taiyi Temple's star-gazing platform. Every three hundred years, it will gather the power of the three luminaries and illuminate several people.

Bai Canhong's fingertips unconsciously caressed the jade cup on the table. The runes on the cup were enough to keep the tea boiling, but he was completely unaware of it. The words of Qingxuan Zhenren, "Nine Revolutions Star Pivot Lamp Host and Guest," had just struck him like a thunderclap, echoing in his mind for a long time.

Although he had lived in the southwest for a long time, he had long heard of the fame of the Star Pivot Lamp. Those who received its light were generally at the Nascent Soul stage, which could help them to comprehend the Dao.

Since the establishment of the new dynasty, Taiyi Temple has suffered a great loss of vitality. Although no new True Lords have emerged since, top-notch Nascent Soul cultivators have been born in every generation, securing its position as the leader of the Taoist sect. This lamp has undoubtedly played a crucial role in this.

Even the direct descendants of the Kuang family, who have weathered the struggles of six kings for the capital and the voyages of eight dukes, might not possess such treasures hidden in secret. The Zhaixing Tower, tucked away in a corner of the southwest...
Bai Canhong is indeed the number one cultivator in the Southwest, but he has been stuck at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm for over three hundred years. The hardships he has endured are too numerous to recount.

Unlike ordinary major sects, the Star-Picking Tower is a secluded sect. If it weren't for needing resources, why would it engage in armed conflict with the Kuang family's clan?

Even though he knew he shouldn't ask, Bai Canhong couldn't help but blurt out, "Fellow Daoist Qingxuan, is what you say true? Did the Abbot really say that?!"

Master Qingxuan, who had the upper hand, chuckled softly. At this moment, a hint of smug satisfaction appeared in his eyes. When he spoke again, his tone was still gentle, but the certainty in it was greater than before:
"Well, Master Bai, my abbot himself said so, and you still don't believe me?"

"I dare not disbelieve your words, Master. However, this matter is of great importance, so please allow me, Fellow Daoist Qingxuan, to consider it carefully before giving a reply."

“Good. I am pleased to see that the tea from Shanming Mountain is clear and refreshing. Qingxuan then greeted Master Yunfu of the Ancient Mystery Path with a warm welcome.”

"Respectfully seeing you off, fellow Daoist."

After Master Qingxuan returned the greeting with a faint smile and left gracefully, the simple council hall of Zhaixing Tower fell silent.

Bai Canhong's obsequious demeanor was impossible to conceal. Even though the people in the hall couldn't hear what the two were saying, they all knew that the former had already been swayed by the words of the Qingxuan Zhenren's persuader, and that he would soon make up his mind.

Compared to the three managers, Xiang Tianxing, who was taking action, was naturally more impatient.

Just as he was about to muster the courage to ask, he saw Bai Canhong drink the scalding hot tea in one gulp, then close his eyes and remain silent, lost in thought, leaving no one with any idea what he was thinking.

This caused Xiang Tianxing's face to darken, and he remained silent afterward.

As for the thoughts of the three managers, they are even more unpredictable. However, they have one advantage over the high-ranking cultivators of the Star-Picking Tower—no matter what, they don't have to worry about how to choose.

Meanwhile, the only sound around the Spirit Pool of the Star-Picking Tower was the soft rustling of water vapor brushing against the stone railing. The fine-scaled fish that Bai Canhong had casually promised "destiny" to had suddenly emerged from the shadows at the bottom of the water.

Its tail fin swayed gently, stirring the shimmering starlight reflections on the pool's surface, as if it too sensed the sudden tension that had quickly settled within the hall.

—————Jingnan Prefecture, Baisha County
After several fierce battles, Master Kang was closely watched by his opponents. As soon as he made a move, he was guarded by Qiu Yunsheng, a Golden Core cultivator with years of experience. So even though he was very dazzling in the battle, he was unable to take down any more Golden Core cultivators, which was a pity.

A few years ago, the Fei family patriarch Ye Ling said that all Fei family members in Yingzhou, regardless of whether they were legitimate or illegitimate, should be sent to serve in the southwest.

However, for some unknown reason, the number of Fei family members who came was still not large, which made it difficult even for Ying Shan's army to stop the advance of Liangyi Sect's troops.

This rural sect must have received some kind of bonus; the proportion of Foundation Establishment cultivators among its disciples is quite high, even surpassing that of the Sheshan Hall, which, with the strong support of the main branch, has been rebuilt and can almost be called a completely new Yingshan Army.

Fortunately, even after repeated retreats, the Fei family cultivators still had Fei Tianqin, the old ancestor with the flat hair, as a shield. Therefore, despite the series of defeats, the Yingshan army's casualties were still not high.

Among the Golden Core sects and powerful families under the jurisdiction of the Duke's Mansion, there are naturally some who are close to the others. Kang Dabao's Chongming Alliance will naturally receive more care from that old ancestor Bianmao.

After several fierce battles, the achievements were few and the casualties were not many, which suited the wishes of Master Kang.

Kang Dabao considered it lucky if he could achieve something in Huangpi Road without becoming a target of public criticism; as for anything else, he didn't have much ambition.

This is a battlefield where even Nascent Soul cultivators have to personally participate. For someone as skilled as him to have achieved this level of skill, it's already enough. If he were to attract Bai Canhong's attention and be struck by a chain, it's uncertain whether he could even save his own life.

However, what was somewhat gratifying was that the Liangyi Sect, which should have been advancing triumphantly, had inexplicably stopped.

The well-informed Wuweilou was also caught in a fierce battle. Kang Dabao had to muster up the courage to ask Fei Tianqin before he learned that it was actually people from overseas. This startled Bai Canhong of Zhaixinglou, who immediately lost his arrogance and dared not make any rash moves.

This gave the cultivators under Master Kang a rare moment of leisure to rest and recuperate.

The autumn air in Baisha County was more intense than in previous years. The dust raised by the continuous battles had been suppressed by a light rain last night, and the air was filled with the damp scent of the spirit fields and the medicinal fragrance of healing cultivators' wounds. The Chongming Alliance's temporary camp was set up next to an abandoned spirit mine outside Baisha County. The mine had been simply repaired, a few array masters had tidied it up for a while, and a geomancer had been sent to sort out the spirit veins, which then became a temporary resting place for the wounded soldiers.

Outside the mine, on the open ground, the training ground paved with bluestone gleamed coldly. The cultivators who had just retreated from Moyunze were gathered in twos and threes. Some were wiping their magical artifacts, while others were meditating cross-legged. Occasionally, there were low conversations, but the tension of wartime had disappeared.

Kang Dabao stood atop the void, gazing at the neatly arranged military tents below, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the handle of the Jade Palace Halberd.

The dark red bloodstains on the halberd blade had been wiped clean, but a trace of indelible malevolent aura remained—the only trace left by Master Huang Mijia on this spot.

Following behind Master Kang was Jin Shilun, whose armor still bore traces of the erosion left by Mo Yunze, but whose expression was more relaxed than during the battle.

"Master, the Fei family's ancestor Tianqin has sent a message that the Liangyi Sect has retreated to Huolin Valley outside the county and will not attack again in the short term. We may have several months to rest and recuperate."

Kang Dabao nodded for a moment, his gaze falling on a corner of the training ground.

Duan Anle was leading several disciples to sort out the broken magical artifacts recovered from the battlefield. Some swords had chipped blades, and some robes had holes corroded by witchcraft, but they were all carefully sorted and stacked.

The disciples, coming from humble families, were influenced by their teachers from a young age and were not accustomed to the extravagant behavior of the Fei family. Even after receiving assistance from the government, with sufficient supplies and a full range of alchemical artifacts and talismans, they still knew the importance of thrift.

This can be seen from the fact that Kang Rongquan was directing the cultivators to set up new military tents not far away.

The roof was made of Buddhist banner fabric seized from the Yunze Wuzun Temple. Although it was stained with blood and still had the afterglow of Buddhist light, it could be considered a superior residence for the various righteous followers who were recruited to exchange their lives for the path of enlightenment.

"First, settle the wounded soldiers properly." Kang Dabao's voice was gentler than during the war. "The medicines we have prepared are not of high quality. Have Yan Ge go and get a slip from Fifth Master Fei, who manages the Fei family's treasury, and apply for some superior pills."

In addition, distribute the Cleansing Sand retrieved from Mo Yunze so that cultivators can use it daily with spiritual spring water to cleanse their meridians and completely remove any remaining witchcraft poison.

Although Fei Nanfeng, Kang Dabao's uncle-in-law, has now formed a false elixir and severed his path of cultivation, he is still considered a key figure in the now much more prosperous Sheshan Hall because of his relationship with Fei Nanying and his daughter and Fei Shuhe.

Sect Leader Kang has always been pragmatic and down-to-earth, and he doesn't hold grudges. Even before he formed his core, he was very courteous, and after he did, he didn't act like a senior at all. As for settling scores later or becoming arrogant after gaining power, Fei Nanfeng and the other Fei family cultivators had never heard of such things.

After nearly a century of living together, I have actually developed some genuine feelings for this son-in-law whom I used to dislike.

Having this relationship is certainly convenient; at least for ordinary matters such as asking for medicine for injuries, Kang Dabao no longer needs to ask the elders of the Fei family for help.

Jin Shilun bowed and replied, "Yes. This disciple will take care of it immediately. However, will the Fei family be reluctant? After all, we borrowed several supplies from the Fei family when we defeated Huang Mi in battle."

Kang Dabao chuckled lightly: "Don't worry, my uncle-in-law might not speak to the elders. Besides, your master's wife will settle the debt."

Upon hearing the words "Master's wife," Jin Shilun's tense expression immediately relaxed considerably. Having grown up in the Chongming Sect since childhood, he knew best the significance of Fei Shuhe in the Fei family.

He bowed and replied, "Disciple understands," then turned and strode away, the long sword on his back swaying lightly with each step, making him appear more agile than when he arrived.

As Kang Dabao watched his retreating figure, the smile on his lips faded slightly, and his gaze returned to the camp.

Not far away, Kang Changzhao was squatting by the spiritual spring, carefully sprinkling the Pure Spirit Sand into the water. The pale blue sand grains dissolved upon contact with the water, shimmering with fine light patterns along the spring's flow, as if draping the spiritual spring in a thin veil.

He chanted incantations and made hand seals, drawing spring water that transformed into a mist that fell on the wounded soldier. His originally pale face gradually regained some color, and even his breathing movements became much smoother.

"My son is kind-hearted," Master Kang said with a faint smile, but he had no time to talk to Kang Changzhao. Instead, he turned his gaze elsewhere and then strolled over.

In the open space not far away, Jiang Qing was standing under a lush ancient tree. The long sword in his hand gleamed with a pale blue light, and the luminous sword ape squatted at his feet, occasionally flicking at the fallen leaves with its claws, looking quite leisurely.

As soon as Sect Leader Kang approached, Jiang Qingxuan sheathed her sword, turned around, and bowed to Kang Dabao, saying, "Senior Brother."

Kang Dabao looked at the sword in his hand, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, but he warned, "You've only just come out of seclusion. If you're thinking of going to find the fake core cultivator on the other side to practice your sword, you might not be able to leave if you're being watched by a Golden Core cultivator."

Jiang Qing smiled, his gaze falling on the Tongming Sword Ape: "In the Nascent Soul battlefield, how can you be so arrogant, Junior Brother? These days you've been honing your sword with the killing intent of war, and you've gained some unique insights."

"Yes, you are a sword genius who appears only once every thousand years in Yunjiao Prefecture, so you are destined for this. But don't let it interfere with your own cultivation," Kang Dabao added, giving Jiang Qing a smile. He pulled out a corner of a plain brocade box from his sleeve and said softly:
"I remember the teachings of my senior uncle and senior brother, and I won't delay. I just need to refine my alchemical treatise and reach a state of perfection before I can give it a try."

“Indeed, I have never worried about your cultivation.”

For once, a hint of joy appeared on the face of the Grand Master Kang. However, not long afterward, he summoned the heads of various households under his jurisdiction to discuss matters such as pensions and rotations.

After entrusting all matters, big and small, to Ye Zhengwen and Duan Anle for their assistance, Master Kang also had a rare opportunity to cultivate.

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.

Even amidst continuous battles, the Chongming Alliance, located on the former site of the Changning Sect, still managed to create a secluded place suitable for a Golden Core cultivator like Kang Dabao.

This place was originally the abandoned scripture chamber of the Changning Sect, but Headmaster Kang could not find any trace of his former acquaintances here. Although it lacked the ornate carvings and abundant spiritual energy of the elegant chambers of aristocratic families and sects, it had been simply organized by the array masters.

The cracks in the stone walls were filled with spiritual sand to block out noise, and the ground was covered with a layer of cloud-patterned brocade as thin as a cicada's wing. In the corner, there was a small bronze incense burner burning "tranquil incense" seized from the Yunze Witch Lord's Palace. It barely lived up to the phrase "making do with what we have" and was enough to isolate the noise of the battlefield.

Kang Dabao slowly walked into the stone chamber, raised his hand, and thrust the Jade Palace Halberd diagonally into the solid rock beside him. This magical weapon, which had once pierced Huang Mijia's golden elixir, now had a chilling gleam at its tip. The moment it touched the rock, a soft "hiss" was heard, and the hard rock was easily cut open like tofu, forming a groove that perfectly fit the halberd's body, becoming a perfectly formed weapon stand.

The halberd hung in mid-air, and a faint black aura slowly emanated from its tip, intertwining with the faint spiritual energy in the stone chamber. Gradually, it condensed into a semi-transparent light membrane, completely isolating the faint sounds of military tents and cultivators training from outside. Only the light smoke from incense burning inside slowly swirled within the light membrane.

Thanks to the good habits he developed during those hard times, Kang Dabao was able to obtain a top-quality jade futon that was nearly of the third rank.

The futon is light blue in color and is made of a mixture of thousand-year-old agarwood core and black jade sand. It feels warm and smooth to the touch, and when you sit on it, it can spontaneously draw in the surrounding spiritual energy to help cultivators quickly calm their minds.

He sat cross-legged, lightly pinched the "meditation mudra" with his fingertips, interlocked his thumb and forefinger, and naturally extended the other three fingers, slowly closing his eyes.

In an instant, scenes from the battlefields of the past few months flashed through my mind like a revolving lantern: the dark brown miasma permeating the Moyun Marsh, the blood-red Buddhist seal blooming between Huang Mijia's brows, the golden Brahma light unleashed by Fei Donggu's Thunderclap Pestle of Annihilation, and the figures of Chongming Alliance disciples clad in blood-stained robes, charging forward with swords in hand.
These images that had once troubled his mind were now gradually settling down like the receding tide as spiritual energy slowly circulated, transforming into pure nourishment for enlightenment that seeped into the depths of his dantian.

"Hoo—" Kang Dabao exhaled a breath of turbid air, his chest rising and falling slightly. As his spiritual energy circulated, the three jade pendants that had been hidden in his storage bag suddenly flew out, each returning to its place and emitting a soft spiritual light, echoing each other and forming a subtle cycle of spiritual energy.

Even though his cultivation had reached the early stage of the Golden Core realm, Kang Dabao still did not know the origin of these three jade pendants. However, over the years, he had been able to deduce the "Wooden Palace Star Lord's Halberd-Holding Military Strategy" to such a profound level.

He can perfect the "Golden Eyes of Delusion" and see through the illusions of the world; he can understand the methods recorded on the black bone one by one.

To be able to thoroughly comprehend and master high-level cultivation techniques and secret arts such as the "Secret Manual of Profound Clarity and Withering";

These three jade pendants have made a great contribution to helping people understand the "Nine Tribulations Seed of the Dao" and attain the highest grade of Golden Elixir.

Based solely on his above-average spiritual root aptitude, let alone advancing to the Golden Core stage within a century, even achieving a minor mastery of one of the cultivation techniques would be a pipe dream.

Not to mention, his current level of knowledge is not considered shabby among noble families. You should know that even Fei Nanying, the next head of the Fei family in Yingzhou, may not be able to surpass him in terms of the breadth and depth of his mastery of martial arts.

Kang Dabao currently lacks only two things: a high level of cultivation and an excellent magic weapon.

Compared to the former, the latter is barely adequate.

After all, although the Jade Palace Cleansing Halberd was not a top-grade magic weapon, it was still quite remarkable after being cleansed and tested by some Golden Core essence blood. This shows that Ancestor Tianqin had enough influence to make a weapon master like Gu Rong tailor-make it for Sect Leader Kang.

In addition, there are several third-tier magic treasures captured from the battlefield in the storage bag, which is enough to deal with ordinary battles. Moreover, magic treasures cannot be rushed and must be sought slowly with opportunities and resources.

The path of spiritual cultivation allows no room for slackness; it requires diligent practice day after day to make even the smallest progress.

At this moment, Kang Dabao temporarily put aside the life-and-death feuds and wars outside, and his consciousness was completely immersed in cultivation. The golden core in his dantian slowly rotated, and spiritual power surged through his meridians like a stream. The stagnation of spiritual power left from past battles gradually cleared under the nourishment of the jade pendant's spiritual energy and spiritual objects.

He could clearly feel that the patterns on the surface of the Golden Core were becoming clearer, and the spiritual energy was more condensed than before. Although it had not yet reached the barrier of the middle stage of the Golden Core, it had taken a solid small step forward.

However, his smooth cultivation was not long-lasting, as the sounds of fighting outside seemed to gradually become louder.

(End of this chapter)