The Great Way to Truth, Starting from Jiazi Laodao

Chapter 49: The Great Way is Simple, the Ancient Oil Lamp

The sun shines brightly and the earth is like fire.

Zangdao Peak, Daoyuan.

After refining the purple energy of the morning sun, Xuan Tong and Xuan Yu bowed their heads and left together.

The little deer, which was named Changshou by Xuanming last night, stepped on all four hooves, jumped out of the yard and ran straight to Changning's residence, wanting to show off the beautiful patterns on its body to its fellow sisters.

He is now the most handsome deer.

After breakfast, Xuanming continued to sit at his desk and read the experiences of Qigong. He was very focused and wrote down whatever came to his mind. He would sometimes stop to think, sometimes to compare and argue, and sometimes to compare with Taoist scriptures.

In the afternoon, he simplified some of the Yin-Yang foundation-building chapters, and once again comprehended the experience of practicing Qi, with his mind free from external things.

At night, collect the moonlight, sleep on your side, practice sleeping skills, and regulate your spirit.

People in the mountains practice meditation in peace and quiet, ignoring worldly matters.

The people down the mountain are busy seeking revenge.

Time flies, and two days pass in a flash.

Fengyang County, Hutian Palace.

Xuanxu sat upright on the stands, watching the competition below with a smile.

Cultivating the hundred arts of immortality requires a lot of time and effort.

For example, refining elixirs and tools cannot be accomplished overnight. It takes at least several days to condense the elixir and refine the tool.

Each person chooses different skills and the length of time varies. In order to take care of the examinees, the Tiandi Academy strikes a balance between all parties and has an old precedent of adjusting the time to seven days.

Today happens to be the last day.

As the sun sets and the assessment ends, the first level of the Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation finally comes to an end and the results are out.

Although the performance of Qiuzhen Temple was not as amazing as last time, its results were equally good. Two of its ten disciples made it into the top 100, namely Changqingzi and Changanzi.

Xuan Yang is good at refining weapons. Chang Qingzi is his disciple. He has attainments in refining weapons and is ranked 90th because of this.

Chang'anzi was good at drawing talismans and ranked fifteenth. Although not as good as Yakui, his ranking was still quite high.

Upon hearing his own ranking, Chang'anzi ignored the different looks from everyone and felt even more grateful to his Uncle Xuanming in his heart.

Before his uncle entered Taoism, he often read Taoist scriptures by candlelight at night, getting up early and going to bed late, forgetting to eat and sleep. For the sake of his uncle's health, he racked his brains, but to little effect.

The situation did not improve until he catered to her interests, accompanied her in reading Buddhist scriptures and practicing calligraphy, and won her favor.

I have been practicing calligraphy for five years with full concentration.

Unconsciously, his calligraphy skills gradually improved.

The characters are interconnected and no matter how they change, they remain essentially the same. Chang'an Zi was able to apply what he had learned to other areas and his progress in the art of talismans was rapid.

Especially after he made up his mind to participate in the Daoyuan Conference, he would squeeze out time to comprehend the Dao of Talismans in addition to his practice.

The uncle also gave careful instructions and explained the true meaning of calligraphy and talismans: "Calligraphy, talismans, and painting are like different branches growing from a big tree. No matter how many leaves they grow, how many flowers they bloom, or how lush and colorful they are, they all have one root.

The truth is simple, and the complicated truth is just in the most basic horizontal and vertical strokes, the left and right strokes. "

He kept the teachings in mind and never dared to forget them.

After breaking down and then rebuilding, he had more time to improve the art of talismans. He practiced accordingly and kept writing, which enabled him to stand out.

Looking at the ranking displayed on the water mirror, Chang'anzi silently set a goal.

Argument Yaqui.

Ranked 15th among the 100 Arts of Immortal Cultivation.

As long as I can make it into the top ten in the martial arts test.

It shouldn't be difficult to rank among the top ten in the Daoyuan Conference.

---

The Dao Yuan Sheng Hui is very humane.

After the written examination, the participating disciples can rest for three days to restore their energy and adjust their state.

But they cannot leave Fengyang County, because people from the Tiandi Academy and the gods will secretly monitor them, observing the actions of the Taoists participating in the meeting and judging their virtues.

Once the rules are violated, one will be immediately disqualified and will never be able to attend the meeting again. Even the sect behind him will be implicated, held responsible for lax teaching, and banned from participating in the next Daoyuan event.

Therefore, although Chang'anzi wanted to return to Qiuzhen Temple to thank his uncle in person, he held back.

There are some rules that must be followed, not to mention the heavy responsibility. The master has done him a great favor, and Chang'anzi cannot bring trouble to the master.

On the night when the written test ended, the sky was full of a bright full moon, the whole city was ablaze with lights, the streets were dazzling, the lamp trees were shining with thousands of lights, the flowers were blooming with seven branches, there were fire dragons dancing in the sky, silver lions were shaking the earth, and there was also a magic-blessed lamp bridge built above the sky, extending in all directions, connecting the four directions, connecting the eight poles, forming a complex word "Tao".

The fire tree and the silver flowers are closed, and the iron lock of the star bridge is opened.

This is a lantern festival held by Tiandiyuan, which is specially designed for participants to relax their bodies and minds, have fun with the people, benefit the common people, and demonstrate the Taoist purpose of saving the world and the people.

Tiandiyuan will also hold a peace ceremony during these three days. A real person will come out to open the altar, preach the scriptures and pray for good weather, good harvests, and good health for the people in the coming year. They will also help the souls of the dead to be reincarnated, reflecting the Taoist spirit of compassion for the world.

This elevated the status of Taoism in the hearts of the people, consolidated faith, and gathered incense. This was also the reason why Taoism flourished in Fengyang County and was stronger than Buddhism.

After leaving Xianlin Pavilion, Changanzi walked alone to relax, while his good brother Changqingzi and Uncle Master Xuanyang went to Xiankelai.

The last time Master Uncle Xuankong came back, he was so proud and full of praise. Master Uncle Xuanyang had been itching to get started. After hesitating for several days, he decided to enjoy himself while his disciple was there.

However, the excuse was to celebrate his disciple's excellent performance in the written test, with the overall ranking in the top 100, not because he was craving for wine.

Other fellow disciples went shopping in pairs, and elders like Xuanxu also went to different places. Walking through the flower streets, Changanzi looked carefully, hoping to find some good things to bring back to honor his uncle.

Because of the methods left on him by Uncle Xuanming, Chang'anzi has a keen sense of the spiritual opportunities of heaven and earth. Although he doesn't know who is stronger between him and the real person, he should be able to defeat the cultivators in the Jingjing realm.

Insufficient than above, more than below.

Before the Daoyuan event began, he had picked up a few small items and asked Uncle Xuanxu to take a look. Although they were good and considered a small profit, he felt that it was a bit embarrassing to give them to his uncle, and they were not worthy of his status and cultivation.

Although the gift is small but the sentiment is great, Chang'anzi always wants to offer the best thing in the world to his uncle-master who has been so kind to him.

But after walking through three streets, he didn't find what he wanted. He thought he would get nothing tonight. Chang'anzi wanted to go home, and on the way back to Xianlin Pavilion, he glanced inadvertently and was attracted by a stall.

The stall was placed in a corner, with ordinary furnishings and ordinary items. The stall owner was a middle-aged man with an ordinary face. There were at least 800 stalls like this on every flower street.

Most passers-by walked straight past without even looking at the stalls; a small number of passers-by stopped briefly, took a quick glance, then lost interest and turned to other stalls or entertainment activities.

Chang'anzi walked up to the stall and, with the stall owner's warm hospitality, pretended to select items, flipping through and picking them up, asking a few questions about each item. His expression was normal, not revealing the slightest emotional fluctuation.

After looking at three items, he grabbed the one he liked.

---

This is a broken lamp, about one foot high, of ordinary style, simple shape, and old surface. It looks no different from the oil lamps commonly used in ordinary people's homes.

But in Chang'an Zi's spiritual perception, although the power of this lamp is weak, it exudes obscure mysteries, like a candle in a dark room, burning silently, or like a firefly at night, flying silently.

"Master, you have a good eye. Among all the treasures I have, this is the most precious one. It was dug out from the tomb of an ancient cultivator in the Golden Core Realm after my ancestor spent seven days and passed through numerous formations and survived nine deaths."

"Don't be fooled by its plain appearance. It is actually quite powerful. Although it is broken, it is made of special materials and is very valuable. Once lit, it can still burn day and night, clearing the mind and concentrating the spirit, and has the power to set a prairie on fire."

"If the Taoist priest knows a skilled weapon refiner, please ask him to repair this treasure. It will surely be very powerful and will not disappoint the Taoist priest."

Although he had not gone down the mountain often, Chang'an Zi was smart and had been reminded and warned repeatedly by Uncle Xuanxu and other senior masters of the sect. He also had experience in buying treasures when he first entered Fengyang County City. He knew that nine out of ten words of these stall owners were false and only one was true.

So no matter how much the stall owner boasted, he remained unmoved. It was not until the other party was thirsty that Chang Anzi said:

"This lamp has a rare power. Although its material is special, it is not rare. My sect has many instruments made of the same material. I guess its power is only that of a lamp that can burn day and night. Otherwise, if it is as terrifying as you say, how could it be left here?"

"If it weren't for an elder who likes to read Buddhist scriptures, I wouldn't be interested in this useless thing. Layman, you can tell me the price. If the price is right, I will buy it. If you think I'm being taken advantage of, then forget it."

The stall owner was not annoyed when his thoughts were exposed. He smiled flatteringly and said, "Since the Taoist priest really wants to buy it, how about ten coins?"

Dharma money is refined from gold and silver, and is endowed with special spiritual power. It is the currency circulated among cultivators.

One ounce of gold can produce only one French coin.

The stall owner is asking for too much.

Chang'anzi put down the lamp, turned around and left.

The stall owner was anxious and said quickly: "Everything can be discussed, how about eight coins?"

Seeing that Chang'anzi was still moving forward, he hurriedly said, "Six coins, no less."

Chang Anzi still didn't turn around, and the stall owner gritted his teeth and said, "Then how much do you think is appropriate?"

After a pause, Chang Anzi turned around and said, "Two francs, either trade or I leave."

The stall owner said, "Three! I'm short of money lately. I need money urgently to hire a doctor for my Taoist partner and buy elixirs. That's why I have to sell my belongings."

"If the Taoist priest is sincere in selling it, the price can be three coins, no lower."

Chang'anzi agreed.

After a moment, the money was exchanged and the goods were delivered.

Chang Anzi hid the lantern in his sleeve and prepared to leave, but the stall owner stopped him, "Master, please stay."

Seeing Changanzi's puzzled expression, the stall owner explained:

"To be honest, there are three of these lamps. I got them by accident. They look like a set. The other two have not been cleaned of dust yet. If you are interested, you may come with me to my home to take a look. If you like them, the price can be negotiated."

Chang'anzi did not reply immediately.

After thinking for a moment, he said:

"I have run out of money, please wait here, I will come to you as soon as I get the money."

The stall owner agreed.

Chang'anzi went straight to Xianlin Pavilion.

After an incense stick of time, he still hadn't returned.

Two incense sticks later, he still hadn't returned.

Three sticks of incense, one hour...

He didn't show up until the lantern market closed.

The stall owner was furious and realized that he had been tricked. He closed the stall and walked to a remote and deserted place. The stall owner changed his appearance and turned into a plump and beautiful woman. He said with murderous intent, "What a cunning little Taoist priest."

Not following the routine!

Not only was the effort in vain, but a treasure was also lost.

Although the treasure is broken, it was once a spiritual weapon.

If I had to lure him into the trap, why would I take it out?
Coming to the county town to carry out a mission is troublesome because you can't fight openly.

(End of this chapter)