The Great Way to Truth, Starting from Jiazi Laodao

Chapter 115: Thunder strikes the golden elixir, and the Fire Rat King is horrified
I go out with a smile, and the wind blows falling flowers for thousands of miles.

The white-haired Taoist was travelling on a deer. Just as he left Heyan County, a hot wind blew over from the Chiyao Mountain a thousand miles away, blowing off the flowers on the trees. It seemed like a welcome, but also like a coincidence.

Running out of the territory of Heyan County, with every step, Xuanming and Linglu became more ordinary. After nine steps, they returned to being simple, one with an unremarkable appearance and ordinary temperament, while the other changed drastically and turned back into a donkey.

Together with the black swallow that had transformed into the size of a palm, the man, the donkey and the bird set out on the road again, observing, practicing and realizing the Tao together.

He traveled through mountains and forests, sailed on rivers, and stayed in farmers' homes. He once slept drunkenly in a cold river, using the sky and the earth as his bed and the snow as his quilt, and slept soundly all night. He once watched the stars in Rehe and sat quietly all night, feeling refreshed. No matter whether it was the wilderness, the county town, or the village, it was all the same to Xuanming. If he had a Peach Blossom Spring in his heart, then everywhere would be between water and clouds.
He maintained his previous pace. Although he had a clear goal, he did not rush forward. Instead, he walked and stopped, unhurriedly, imprinting the scenery, human feelings, nature and humanity in his heart.

I also stayed in Tianhe County for more than a month, changing various identities, enjoying the world, and recording every bit of my daily life.

When he arrived at Chiyao Mountain, it was already March. The spring thunder roared, all things were awakened, the grass and trees grew, and the spring flowers bloomed.

Chiyao Mountain is a famous mountain in Tianhe County. It is three thousand feet high and stretches for three thousand miles. It is a thousand-year-old volcano. The volcanic ash makes the soil of the mountain fertile and rich in spiritual soil. The vegetation is lush and the resources are abundant halfway up the mountain. The vegetation gradually becomes sparse halfway up the mountain, and when it reaches the top, the mountain is covered with white hair.

This place is a place for warriors in Tianhe County to explore and hunt for treasures, and it is also one of the paradises for the monster clan. Xuanming stood at the foot of the mountain, looked up at the towering mountain, took a deep breath, and then started from the foot of the mountain and climbed up step by step.

Every step is down to earth, no magic is needed.

Every step is taken to heart, and the mountain gradually rises.

He is very familiar with how to practice and realize the truth.

Xuanming walked these three thousand feet for a day and a night, stopping from time to time to pick spiritual objects, appreciate the beautiful scenery, tidy up his feet, or simply to rest.

The next day, when the sun rose, the morning breeze blew, lifting the wide sleeves of his Taoist robe and letting his white hair flutter in the wind. He finally reached the top of the mountain. The main peak of Chiyao Mountain was surrounded by glaciers and snow-capped hills. In the middle was a hundred-mile-long lake. The water was emerald green, clear and transparent. The mountain breeze blew, the green waves swayed, and the moving shadows were graceful.

This is a volcanic lake formed by the collapse of the crater after the volcanic eruption. It is known as the Lingchi Chengjing. The water in the lake is warm. Xuanming raised his hand and threw out a bamboo leaf that he had broken off on the way up the mountain.

Green light flickered, and bamboo leaves fell into the water and turned into a small boat. It ordered Linglu and Xuanyan to play and practice nearby. Xuanming stepped onto the bamboo boat and entered the lake. The boat moved without wind and sailed on the lake.

The clear water casts shadows of blue sky and white clouds. Standing in the center of the lake, the water and the sky merge into one. Xuanming feels even more deeply moved. For a moment he doesn't know whether he is in the sky or in the water. His heart is pure and he forgets himself completely.

Birds fly across the screen, and a boat moves in the mirror. He lies on the boat, leisurely sipping wine from the gourd. The sun is warm, the wind is gentle, and the waves are swaying. The people on the boat are drunk and sleeping soundly. I don't know if it is the wine that intoxicates them, the scenery, or both.

On the bamboo boat, the white-haired old Taoist was snoring softly, sleeping like an ordinary person. Spiritual gourds were scattered casually on the ground, and spiritual wine was pouring out of the gourds into the lake, attracting many fish and shrimps to compete for the food. They swam around the boat, presenting a scene of thousands of carp heading towards the boat.

In the evening, when the setting sun melted gold, Xuanming woke up slowly, stretched, yawned lazily, and rested his energy. It was time for him to get down to business.

Thinking of this, Xuanming put away the magic gourd, Ye Zhou glowed, and dived into the lake like a swimming fish, rushing towards the bottom of the lake.

---

He dived hundreds of feet and then hundreds of feet. After three hundred feet, he touched the bottom of the lake. The heat gradually deepened. With the help of his magic power, Ye Zhou made a concerted effort and passed through a gap.

After passing through a hundred-foot-long crevice in the rock, the view in front of them suddenly opened up, and an extremely vast underground karst space came into view. The leaf boat under his feet could not bear the weight and was suddenly burned to ashes. Xuanming stood in the air, looking down at the underground sea of fire.

Red volcanic rocks were spread all around, and the underground magma was boiling hot, surging like a tide, with flames and hot winds emitting from time to time. Even Xuanming, who was immune to cold and heat, could still feel the heat.

boom!
Hundreds of flames came towards me.

Many fire beasts, which had been ready to go for a long time, emerged from the magma. They were of different sizes, some were a hundred feet long, and some were only ten feet long. They were red all over, with a bunch of long, flame-like hair on their backs, sparks on their tails, black eyes, and sharp nails.

Xuanming made a hand gesture and a Yin-Yang Tai Chi diagram appeared under his feet. Black and white flowed, and Yin and Yang fish swam around, blocking the flames coming from all directions. He lowered his eyes to look around at the hundreds of fire beasts surrounding him, his eyes moved slightly, and he recognized their identity.

The Records of Great Mysterious Beasts records: There was a rat in the fire, with fur more than two feet long...

This kind of fire rat likes to live in underground magma, feeds on fire, lives near fire, and gathers in groups. Sometimes it appears on the surface, and also appears at night, emitting luminous light. Its fur is woven into cloth, which is called fire cloth. If it is used, it is like dirt, which can be burned with fire and it will be clean. Wearing a fire rat fur coat will not be afraid of flames, and it will enhance the ability to collect the purple air of the morning sun and practice fire-related Taoism.

This kind of rat is mostly found in southern volcanoes, but I didn’t expect that it could also survive in Chiyao Mountain.

With thoughts swirling in his mind, Xuan Ming did not act immediately. It was because he came uninvited and was an uninvited guest.

Looking at a golden elixir fire rat that was about 150 feet in size, Xuanming said amiably, "It is indeed wrong for me to come here rashly. I just want to travel around Chiyao Mountain and borrow the earth fire to refine treasures. I have no ill intentions. If possible, I am willing to pay the rent and lease the earth fire. I hope you can stop as soon as possible."

The Golden Core Fire Rat Demon transformed into a shirtless red-haired man. After hesitating for a moment, he said coldly: "Anyone who enters the fire veins without permission will be killed! Our clan does not like outsiders, and we do not welcome humans. If you retreat, we will naturally live in peace. If you insist on your own way, don't blame us for killing you and leaving you here forever." As soon as he finished speaking, the underground magma suddenly surged, and the flow rate slightly accelerated. The fire spirits in the space gradually grew stronger, and all gathered in one direction. Feeling this, Xuanming was surprised, and looked at the Fire Rat Demon whose expression changed slightly. He realized that he had come at the wrong time.

After thinking for a while, Xuanming said: "Since the nobles are temporarily inconvenient, I will withdraw for the time being. I will come again in half a month. I hope that by then, the nobles can give me a convenience and we can have a good relationship with each other."

He turned around and tried to leave, but was blocked by a beautiful figure.

"Fellow Taoist, wait!"

This is a woman with long hair, wearing a red dress, and beautiful appearance. She is another golden elixir demon of the Fire Rat Clan.

"In half a month, my king will personally invite you to the Earth Fire Realm to refine treasures, and is willing to send you Xuan-level fire-attributed spiritual materials to help you. I just hope that you can hand over the dream lady imprisoned in the spiritual gourd to us. From now on, everyone in my Fire Rat Clan will treat you as a distinguished guest."

Xuanming was stunned.

He knew that Meng Po and the Fire Rat King had a grudge. Meng Po had told him this before she fell asleep to heal her wounds. However, he did not expect that the Fire Rat King could sense Meng Po's breath through the spirit gourd.

"Meng Po has turned over a new leaf and has been led onto the right path by the old Taoist priest. Please forgive me for not being able to obey your orders."

Before he could finish his words, the red-clothed witch flew into a rage. Holding a foot-long fiery red cicada-wing knife, she suddenly attacked and slashed at Xuanming's face. The flames were blazing, the knife was as sharp as fire, and murderous intent was overflowing.

"In that case, then die!"

The man in red also reacted quickly. He opened his mouth and spit out a pair of three-foot fire knives. Holding both knives, he cooperated with the banshee and slashed towards Xuanming, one hitting directly in the face and the other at the waist.

Other fire rats, big and small, also attacked with all their might.

What's even more terrifying is that the Fire Rat King shows up. The three-hundred-foot-long fire rat has smooth fur and suddenly transforms into a slim banshee with a beautiful face, a graceful figure, and a fluttering red dress. There is also a bit of heroic spirit between her brows, and her temperament is bold and heroic.

The moment she flew out from the depths of the magma, she stretched out her palms. Her white hands shone brightly. Rolling magma gushed out and poured into her palms. When she pushed her hands, a sea of fire appeared. It was similar to magma but not the same, and it was filled with special laws and was even more explosive and hot.

This is the prototype of the Fire Rat King's Dao realm. Like Meng Po, she has seen the existence of the threshold to spiritual practice.

---

The attack was horrific.

The void was burning, the space was slightly distorted, and the entire magma cave was filled with strong murderous intent and terrible flames.

Xuan Ming did not dare to be careless. His face was solemn. He tapped his toes lightly. The Tai Chi diagram under his feet shook and suddenly shrank to three feet around him. Its power was even stronger. The Tai Chi diagram turned from virtual to real, and the attacks of the Fire Rat Clan's Golden Core Monster and ordinary fire rats were all blocked by the power of Liang Yi and wiped out completely.

He swung the peach wood sword lightly, and the wooden sword turned into two, two turned into four, and the thousand-foot sword light turned into the Azure Dragon, Vermillion Bird, White Tiger and Black Tortoise, forming the Four Symbols Sword Formation to block the Fire Rat King's attack.

This formation originated from the Bagua Sword Formation. It reflects the stars, follows the four seasons, and is derived from the four symbols. It has the power to destroy mountains and cut off rivers, and the power to suppress space.

Even though he was unable to destroy the Fire Rat King's domain and was at a disadvantage, he could block it for a while, so it wasn't a big problem.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Xuanming freed his hand, pointed down thunder from the sky, and attacked with the powerful Five Thunder Method. With the index finger raised and dropped, he killed the fire rat monsters with ease.

With one finger, a bolt of lightning killed the female demon; with another finger, a bolt of lightning pierced the male demon's brow. The rest of the fire rat demons suffered heavy casualties, and only a few escaped.

At the same time, the Four Symbols Sword Formation was broken, and the peach wood sword flew back, making an unwilling buzzing sound. After calming the peach wood sword, Xuanming moved both hands at the same time.

With one hand spread out, the five elements of gold, wood, water, fire and earth condensed in the five fingers, the yin and yang in the palm of the hand collided, and five thunders roared. With the other hand, he waved the whisk and displayed the Tiangang magical power. He passed through the hundred-foot-long crevice in the stone and relied on his tremendous magic power to borrow the lake water above his head and forcibly call the wind and rain.

This is because the Fire Rat tribe is afraid of water, and uses water to overcome fire.

"You old bull nose, you killed my general and my son. I will not let you go. Come and kill me!"

The Fire Rat King was both shocked and angry. She guessed that the man's strength was definitely not as simple as it seemed on the surface. He must be hiding his strength. She did not dare to be careless, so she sent her confidant to lobby. It would be best if they could turn hostility into friendship. If not, she would mobilize the whole clan to kill the enemy with lightning speed.

Unexpectedly, the strength of the person who came was far beyond expectations. Two Jindan died as soon as they fought. Even she might not be able to match him.

(End of this chapter)