The author of the book "The Book of the Dead"

Chapter 258 The True Meaning of Taiyi, The Kingdom of Zhulong.

A large mountain floats on the river.

The mountain was clearly some kind of creature. Its huge snake head did not look fierce, nor did it have the pungent smell of other great demons. Instead, it looked somewhat divine.

Thirty thousand grass-root gods surrounded the riverbank, vowing to kill all the invading enemies.

"Good! It's been so many years since any demons have come to our Guanjiang Estuary. This time, we must make an example of them," said the general who looked like an ape.

When the three eyes met, both sides were somewhat surprised.

It turned out to be an old friend from back then.

"Xuanwu, what are you doing here? And you can talk now?"

“I’m older than you, of course I can talk,” Xuanwu said speechlessly. “But you, Li Erlang, what are you doing hiding in this place?”

The three-eyed general was actually Li Shimin.

"It's a long story..." Li Shimin said with a wry smile.

He possessed the bloodline of the Three-Eyed Man, and during the spiritual energy revival, he opened his Heavenly Eye. He also found the lineage of ancient immortals overseas and broke through to the Innate Golden Core realm in one fell swoop.

"The reason I am here is... because I have nothing to do." Li Shimin had been wandering for hundreds of years. This world was too big and his cultivation was too shallow, so he simply found a place to use as his training ground and settled down there to focus on his cultivation.

"Li Shimin is a product of past karma. From now on, you can call me Erlang or Miaodao Zhenjun."

Li Shimin no longer yearned for his imperial days, viewing them as a part of his life's trials.

Only by abandoning the past can we be reborn.

Xuanwu was still floating on the river. Li Erlang quickly said:

"Fellow Daoist Xuanwu, please come inside and rest."

Having said that, Li Erlang looked at the grass-headed god who had been stunned for a long time and shouted:

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and pay your respects to the Xuanwu God!"

"Greetings, God Xuanwu!"

The grass-root gods bowed down.

Xuanwu was smug and enjoyed the worship of the crowd. In the end, he was still a child at heart. The grass god's actions gave Xuanwu a great deal of face.

Li Erlang shook his head and smiled, then ordered his men to bring him fruits and wine before waving away the gods.

Seeing Xuanwu lying on the ground, feasting heartily, Li Erlang asked, "Fellow Daoist Xuanwu, why did you come out alone this time? Where are the others?"

"My master sent Xiaotian and me out to explore the world, but Xiaotian went to other places."

Xuanwu gave a general overview of the development of Taoism.

Upon learning of Liang Yue's birth, Li Erlang was already mentally prepared for it.

After all, Xuanwu never leaves the ancestral master. Now that Xuanwu has appeared, it proves that the ancestral master must have emerged.

"To be ranked among the immortals... to be registered in the immortal register... what a bold move!" Li Erlang finished his wine in one gulp. "Let's go back! I, too, will become an official in the Daoist sect of the Three Realms."

The Daoist sect of the Three Realms, the ancestral home of cultivators.

Li Erlang longs to return to the time when he was the General of Tian Ce.

Perhaps those were the happiest days.

Once you become emperor, you're bound by constraints everywhere and have no say in anything.

During the time of the Heavenly Strategy General, there were only exhilarating battles.

They conquered the world on horseback back then, and they might just conquer it again on horseback today.

Xuanwu laughed happily after hearing this, "Alright, alright, you can go back now, I'll take care of this place."

Xuanwu is new to this place and has no foundation. This place is located at the mouth of the river, occupying a key position on the river. The environment is also good, and there are obedient grass god. If Li Erlang leaves, he can take over smoothly.

"The Grass God is unruly by nature; you probably won't be able to control him."

"Hmph, at worst we'll just kill them. We'll subdue them sooner or later." Xuanwu's tone suddenly became more mature.

Killing doesn't solve problems, but it can eliminate the people who caused them. This was the master's teaching to himself. Xuanwu was usually careless, but he could be relied on in crucial moments.

"Alright, alright, I'm relieved. I'll return to the Daoist sect and take three thousand grass-root gods with me. The remaining twenty-seven thousand are all yours."

The Grass God was not a powerful demon, but under Li Erlang's tutelage, it became a force with immense influence.

The Grass-Headed God does not eat human blood or beast flesh, but only the blood and qi of demons. He possesses great supernatural powers, is fearless of death, and can continuously grow stronger, which is the foundation upon which he has established himself in this area.

Li Erlang was initially reluctant, but since Xuanwu wanted it, it wouldn't hurt to leave it to Xuanwu, since this place was too dangerous.

Demons and monsters can appear at any time in Beiju Luzhou.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Erlang."

Xuanwu is eager to try.

Li Erlang laughed and said, "Don't rush, it's not the right time yet. I will set off immediately after the new year's first month."

"Why does it have to be the new moon of the new year?" Xuanwu asked, puzzled.

The new moon is when the moon is not visible, which is also the first day of the new year.

"Something incredible will happen then. I will introduce you to Li Chunfeng and Li Bai then."

Li Shimin, Li Chunfeng, and Li Bai are also known as the Three Lis in Taoism. They lived in the same era, practiced the same techniques, and were inseparable most of the time.

Xuanwu had some doubts before, wondering why he couldn't see Li Chunfeng and the others.

"The first month of the new year..."

"Exactly..."

Li Erlang smiled without saying a word, keeping everyone in suspense.

The other side of the sea.

With Qingfeng, a highly skilled person, guarding the waters, the crew felt much more confident, and the dragon boat sailed at full speed.

Of course, most of the affairs on the road were handled by the other cultivators themselves, and no one else dared to trouble this great god with trivial matters.

On the boat, Liang Yue closed his eyes and sat cross-legged, sensing the changes in his thoughts and the transformation of his spirit.

When one cultivates to a certain level, even thousands of years of arduous practice cannot compare to a moment of sudden enlightenment.

At this level, discussing years of spiritual practice and comparing ages is basically useless.

In the face of the long passage of time, all people are on the same path, and time will eventually bring everyone closer to equality.

A forty-year-old father and a twenty-year-old son have no problem in the face of common human ethics, and their generational difference can be seen from their appearance. What also distinguishes them is their experience, status, and physical condition.

However, a father who is a thousand years old and a son who is nine hundred and eighty years old are mostly the same in terms of vision and experience, and the son may even be slightly stronger.

At this point, the framework of kinship in the human world was basically useless to the two of them, and they went from being father and son to being like-minded.

Therefore, when Liang Yue met Emperor Yao and other ancient human ancestors, he treated them with normal etiquette, rather than with the attitude of descendants worshipping their ancestors.

Qingfeng was still like a child, standing on the edge of the deck enjoying the breeze, his gaze frequently drifting towards this spot.

For some reason, he always felt that this person was somewhat special.

He is clearly an ordinary person, but he gives people an extraordinary impression.

"This must be the wisdom root that Master spoke of."

Fangcun Mountain doesn't place much importance on aptitude; aptitude is only secondary. Only those with excellent character and conduct can catch the eye of Patriarch Bodhi.

In recent years, only a handful of people have entered the gates of Fangcun Mountain.

Without exception, all of these people were at the Golden Core stage.

After watching for a while, Qingfeng seemed to have made up his mind and walked over to Liang Yue's side.

"Young man, may I speak to you in private?"

"What brings you here, Taoist priest?"

Liang Yue opened his eyes and asked, puzzled.

"Take a step to speak."

The two went to a corner, and Qingfeng's fair face shone brightly. She said, "Brother Liang, you have a talent for cultivation. I am the fifth disciple of Patriarch Bodhi. I can introduce you to my sect."

To avoid Liang Yue refusing, Qingfeng Tongzi briefly explained the status of Bodhi Patriarch.

“My master’s Taoist skills are profound and his virtue is highly respected. He is famous throughout the Eastern Divine Continent. No cultivator is unaware of him and no one is immune to his kindness.”

Having said that, Qingfeng Tongzi waited quietly for Liang Yue's reply, seemingly unconcerned about being rejected.

People all yearn for immortality. Countless high-ranking officials and nobles are willing to give up all their possessions for the so-called immortality, even if they are swindled out of all their wealth by fraudsters, they still cannot enter the door.

He didn't believe there were truly people in the world who refused to live forever.

"I refuse."

"Alright, I'll introduce you right away... Hmm?" Qingfeng Boy realized what he meant, "Does Your Excellency not wish for immortality?"

"Do not want to."

"Why? The world is full of wonders. A mortal's lifespan is only a hundred years. If one has no chance to see the world or experience unprecedented grandeur in this life, don't you think it's a pity?"

"Why seek immortality? What if I don't want to see these so-called magnificent sights? Daoist Qingfeng, what is your purpose in seeking immortality? Just to see the scenery? What will you do after you've seen all the magnificent sights in the world?"

Why do you cultivate the Tao?

Liang Yue countered with a question.

This question immediately stumped Qingfeng, who had never considered the meaning of immortality.
He seemed to have never considered this question; he only wanted to live a long life. Qingfeng muttered to himself, ignoring Liang Yue, and went off to meditate.

Several more months passed.

The ship docked at Beiju Luzhou.

The Northern Continent of Lu is vast and boundless, with a harsh climate.

In some places, hurricanes rage year-round, while nearby, the weather is calm and sunny. In other places, lightning flashes wildly, as if some unknown beasts are undergoing tribulation.

"Gentlemen, we have arrived at Beiju Luzhou. Although Beiju Luzhou is full of demons, it is not lacking in places where humans gather. Please keep this map safe. If you wish to board the ship and leave, please come here on the fifteenth of each month."

The dragon boat lowered everyone down, and the dragon roared angrily before diving underwater and disappearing.

Everyone went their separate ways, while the ordinary merchants searched for materials around the dock, not daring to venture too far.

Qingfeng was still in a daze.

Liang Yue came to his side and said, "Together."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Liang Yue, ignoring Qingfeng's surprise, placed his hands on Qingfeng's shoulders.

Wow!
Above the clouds, Qingfeng stared at Liang Yue in astonishment, now fully understanding that this man was the true master.

Qingfeng felt so ashamed of his arrogance over the past year that he wished he could disappear into the ground.

He dared to show off his limited skills in front of a master.

"Ahem... Senior, where are we going?" Qingfeng quickly changed the subject.

"Go where you belong."

The breeze pointed in a certain direction.

The two remained silent on the way.

Qingfeng finally couldn't help but ask, "May I ask who you are, senior?"

"Liang Yue is the Lingbao Patriarch mentioned by Chen Tuan."

"Master Lingbao... Master Lingbao..."

The breeze murmured to itself.

This holy being knows the Master's true name, so what he says must be true and not false.

Isn't the master's grandmaster also one's ancestor?
He actually wanted to take the ancestor as his disciple?
Qingfeng was completely stunned and didn't know what to say.

The golden light flew at an extremely fast speed, covering 30,000 miles in an instant.

In less than half an hour, they arrived at the area indicated by the breeze.

"Hmm?" Upon arriving at this place, Liang Yue immediately sensed a familiar aura.

The golden rays that pierced the sky fell upon the sacred mountain at the mouth of the river.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!"

The golden light descended, instantly provoking a fierce reaction from the Grass God.

Qingfeng Tongzi brandished his flying sword, preparing to meet the enemy.

"Wait a minute!" Liang Yue stopped Qingfeng Tongzi. "Where is Xuanwu?"

The sound echoed throughout the entire Guanjiang Estuary.

"Owner!!"

Thunderclouds rose into the sky, and Xuanwu (Black Tortoise) rushed over.

Li Erlang followed closely behind.

"Li Shimin has met the Lingbao Patriarch."

"So it was you." Liang Yue immediately realized.

Li Erlang, the Three-Eyed General, and the Grass-Headed God of Guanjiang Estuary.

Fate, seemingly preordained, appears to have strung together all the myths.

"This is Qingfeng Tongzi, a successor of Chen Tuan. You should know him."

After everyone took their seats in the hall, Liang Yue introduced Qingfeng to them.

"Greetings to Senior Xuanwu and Senior Erlang Shen!"

A gentle breeze bows in greeting.

The group chatted about things that had happened over the years.

The life of a monk is mostly monotonous, with little new happening for hundreds of years.

Li Erlang suddenly thought of something and said:
"Master, tonight is the new moon, the Gate of Taiyi will open, and we will be able to see Emperor Shun and Li Chunfeng and others."

"The Gate of Taiyi..."

Liang Yue was momentarily dazed.

Who is Taiyi?
Taiyi is the master of the Chu pantheon, and Taiyi in the Taiyi Corpse Guardian Method is the name of this god.

"Is Taiyi related to the Spirit Silkworm?" Liang Yue wondered.

Was he about to uncover the most important secret about himself?
Thinking about this, Liang Yue felt inexplicably uneasy.

Is this an ancient conspiracy, or is it just my incredible luck?
Should we investigate this further?
Liang Yue hesitated for some reason.

"Of course we'll go in."

This is the ultimate secret of thousands of years of reincarnation, and the key to all perfection.

If I don't go in, I'll regret it for the rest of my life.

Liang Yue snapped out of his daze, and the others looked at him, still in a daze.

"Why don't Chunfeng and the others come out?"

"They are to stay and suppress the monsters."

Time passes gradually.

Night falls, and the stars are arrayed.

The dazzling Milky Way revolves endlessly, like a river chariot traveling and filled with vital energy.

Liang Yue gazed at the night sky, his mind a jumble of thoughts.

The ancient path of cultivation must have originated from the sages gazing at the starry sky.

Everything has a beginning and an end, and everything has a source.

The ultimate source of the world is "Taiyi" (the Great One).

What is Taiyi?

Modern theory explains that Taiyi is the singularity of the Big Bang. Using cultivation theory, this Taiyi is the "cause" of all cause and effect.

With the One, all things are born from cause and effect.

Liang Yue looked at the spirit silkworm on his shoulder. Apart from reincarnation, this thing had almost no use now.

"Perhaps there will be new changes."

There was no moon in the sky, and a cold wind howled.

Li Erlang leaned closer and said, "Master, please look..."

Wow!
As the clouds parted, the Big Dipper shone down its starlight, thousands of feet above the ground, converging into a dazzling sphere of light.

The rolling mountains resemble a giant dragon, carrying a precious pearl that has fallen from the sky.

"This is the strange phenomenon of 'the Gate of Taiyi, the Dragon Holding a Candle.' The place where Li Chunfeng and others are located is also known as the Kingdom of the Candle."

"This door will only be open for three breaths."

Having said that, Li Erlang took the lead.

"Xuanwu and Qingfeng, stay and guard the mouth of the Guanjiang River."

Liang Yue left those words behind and vanished just before the sphere of light disintegrated.

Everything returned to calm.

Everyone may come out before sunrise; otherwise, they will have to wait until next year.

Wow!
Liang Yue felt a sudden dizziness, then regained his footing.

Opening my eyes, I saw a forest of jade trees, towering thousands of feet tall. The jade trees, as white as marble, were so large that at least dozens of people would need to encircle them.

The sky was a deep crimson, like blood.

The arrival of the two seemed to stir up some kind of cosmic energy.

The wind rises and the clouds surge; lightning snakes dance wildly.

"Who is this?"

The dark clouds parted, revealing a pair of double purple pupils.

Two pairs of double pupils stare at each other.

Liang Yue proclaimed loudly, "I am Liang Yue, the Sixth Heavenly Emperor of the Human Race, the Daoist Lingbao!!"

(End of this chapter)