The Great Way to Truth, Starting from Jiazi Laodao

Chapter 94: Raising a dragon, riding a deer down the mountain

Boom!

A sudden thunderclap suddenly appeared out of nowhere, exploding Fuyun Mountain.

Xuanming, who was sipping tea and reading a book, stood up, disappeared in the Sutra Library in one step, and appeared in Xixin Peak in another step.

This peak stands alone among the other peaks, towering upwards with its sharp edges. It has places like the Cliff of Repentance, so the name of the peak also means to turn over a new leaf and mend one's past mistakes. The Law Enforcement Hall is located on it and has always been under the jurisdiction of Junior Brother Xuanyu.

This vision originated from him.

In other words, Xuanyu needs to break through and advance.

Xuanming was not surprised that his junior fellow apprentice had surpassed Xuantong and Xuanyin and was about to become an immortal.

Because this junior brother is not like Xuantong and Xuanyin. He is thoughtful about many things and looks at problems relatively simply and straightforwardly. He has a clear distinction between right and wrong in his worldview, and his heart of Taoism is purer and clearer.

Also, because Xuanyu was upright and in charge of the punishment of the Truth-Seeking Temple, the Taoism he practiced had more in common with the Legalists. Last time he discussed Taoism with Hai Fengming, apart from the two immortals Xuanming and Xuanxu, he benefited the most.

If Xuan Su had not seen the threshold of Qi training long ago, Xuan Yu would probably be the third real person in Qiuzhen Temple. Now, after a year and a half, he finally took that step. Xuan Ming was really happy for this junior brother.

When Xuanxu and others arrived, they saw Senior Brother Xuanming holding a whisk in one hand and stroking his long snow-white beard with the other hand. He was looking at the place where the lightning fell with a smile, calm and leisurely. Only ten feet away, they could see Xuan Yu sitting cross-legged in the dazzling lightning, exuding an aura of majesty without anger.

"Brother!"

"Everyone is here, take a good look, my Qiuzhen Temple will have another real person."

"It's all thanks to my senior brother."

They already knew that their senior brother had killed another Qi-cultivating dragon snake and even added a spiritual vein to the Qiuzhen Temple. After all, the spiritual power of Fuyun Mountain was changing with each passing day, and they were not blind. After asking their senior brother, they would understand the whole story.

If he had not refined the Yin-Yang Mirror and killed the dragon snake, the Qiuzhen Temple would not have been able to obtain or keep so much good fortune.

Everyone expressed their sincere gratitude.

Waving his hand carelessly, Xuanming said nonchalantly: "No need to say thank you, I just provided an opportunity, whether you can seize it depends on your own efforts. Opportunities are given to those who are prepared. When the accumulation is enough, the opportunity comes and you will be able to seize it. Otherwise, no matter how hard I try, it will be in vain."

The others said no more and stared at Xuan Yu silently to protect him. Xuan Yang, Xuan Kong, Xuan Yin and Xuan Tong were envious but not jealous. Firstly, they had a good relationship with each other and secondly, they believed that they would be able to become immortals in the future.

They have confidence in their senior brothers.

They also have confidence in themselves.

I believe that with their combined efforts, they can create the grand occasion of Eight True Men.

---

Xuanming was happy to see his fellow disciples' confidence grow. He then looked at Xuanyu and waited patiently. Xuanyin took the opportunity to ask about cultivation issues, and he answered them all he knew. Seeing this, Xuantong and others were also not polite.

Xuan Ming simply sat on the ground and waited while answering questions and resolving doubts for his fellow disciples. When inspirations from heaven and earth came pouring in, Xuan Yu successfully broke through the realm. A powerful pressure flashed by, and everyone benefited greatly.

As footsteps sounded, Xuanming stood up first and bowed his head to congratulate: "Congratulations, Junior Brother, on achieving the status of a True Immortal."

Xuanxu and the others also bowed one after another. A faint smile appeared on Xuanyu's serious face: "Thank you all for your protection."

Knowing that Xuanyu wanted to consolidate his realm, everyone didn't stay long. Xuanming left first, and the other Taoists also left one after another.

Standing on Xixin Peak with his hands behind his back, looking out at the vast mountains and layers of sea of clouds, Xuanyu is in high spirits.

Qiuzhen Temple will be promoted to a major sect next year, and many people will come here in the future to seek membership in the sect. The number of fourth-generation disciples will continue to increase, and even fifth-generation disciples will appear. As a law enforcement elder, he must defend the bottom line for Qiuzhen Temple.

"The disciple is better than the master, I just hope that the master's school will produce more talents and fewer unworthy people."

Without staying outside for long, Xuan Yu returned to his residence to meditate.

---

In the autumn, the grains are fragrant, the fish are fat and the crabs are strong.

The lush green of Floating Cloud Mountain adds a few touches of autumn yellow and frosty red.

In addition to practicing in the mountains and cultivating his mind at the foot of the mountain, Xuanming recently developed a new hobby: fishing.

In his spare time, he cut bamboo into a pole, condensed it into silk thread with his magic power, sat cross-legged on a bamboo raft, drifted with the current, and fished silently. He used his magic power to condense the hook into a piece of water grass leaf, and saw which one would bite, and he would catch the one who was willing to take the bait.

Sometimes, I can catch several fish in half a day, not only fish, but also shrimps, crabs and turtles; sometimes, I can catch nothing for several days.

He fishes at will, at his own will and at fate's request. If he catches something, it means he has fate with the fish. How deep or shallow the fate is depends on Xuanming's mood. If he is happy, it means the fate is deep, so he will give him some inspiration. If he is not happy, it means the fate is shallow, so he will put the fish back.

What he fishes for is fate, state of mind, nature and truth. Fishing makes one relax, calm the mind and spirit, and it is easier to blend with water, communicate with nature, and have the opportunity to enter the wonderful realm of harmony between man and nature. Therefore, the beautiful scene of "sitting and sleeping in a boat flowing by the water, a small path in the deep clouds" often appears on Floating Cloud Mountain.

Sometimes, Xuanming would only fish for one fish and one turtle. In the past, when he was discussing Taoism with Hai Fengming, there were aquatic creatures that were blessed. These two were the best among them, and they were able to awaken their spirits and wisdom and embark on the path of cultivation. When Xuanming first went boating and fishing, they appeared, swimming and playing around him. After a long time, after getting to know each other, they would appear every time he went fishing. They were considered to be the spiritual beasts born and bred in Fuyun Mountain.

Occasionally, Xuanming would feed them some red spiritual powder, which was the red crystal he had obtained from the first dragon snake in the past. By interrogating the second dragon snake, he already knew what it was: dragon blood stone.

The Jiaolong is not a real dragon and can still shed its skin. These crystals are contaminated with the breath and blood of the Jiaolong. They have the effect of purifying the blood of aquatic creatures. The dragon blood stones collected by the Jiao snake are of high quality and are used to purify its own blood. Now the remaining part has been bought by Xuanming. In fact, the second Jiao snake also has some, but in smaller quantities.

Xuanming fed them the powder, also wanting to see if he could raise Qiuzhen Temple's own dragon species. It doesn't matter how deep the water is, as long as there is a dragon, it will be magical. If it can be done, Fuyun Mountain will be more prosperous.

At the same time, Xuanming also understood what that skin was. It was the skin shed by the dragon when it advanced to the Holy Embryo Realm. The dragon has thick skin and flesh, and its skin is indestructible. It is the main material for refining top-level spiritual weapons or the auxiliary material for refining magic weapons.

Xuanming collected his thoughts and concentrated on boating and fishing. Gradually he forgot about himself and the world and entered a peculiar state. His spiritual sense merged with Fuyun Mountain. He felt the breath of every flower, grass, water and stone in the mountain, as if the landscape had become one with him and he had gained insight into many subtle and profound principles.

A golden carp and a black turtle surfaced, full of inspiration and spirit, chasing the bamboo raft and breathing in and out. Behind them, thousands of carps followed and thousands of turtles swam competitively, like the moon surrounded by many stars.

The sound of cranes was heard, and seven cranes with a red-feathered bird that looked like a chicken and a crane slowly flew into the air and circled around the bamboo raft. A black swallow flapped its wings and landed on the shell of a turtle.

The sound of deer calls was heard, and a majestic white deer with nimble limbs leaped across the mountains and forests, came to the river, paused for a moment, and after accumulating enough strength, it walked forward on the river as if it were familiar with the route.

With every step he took, the majestic antlers on his head shone brightly, attracting bees and butterflies; green light flickered under his feet, and the water plants on the riverbed suddenly grew wildly, breaking out of the water and carrying him forward.

After a few leaps, the spirit deer gathered its strength and landed lightly on the bamboo raft. The raft sank slightly and then floated up again. The spirit deer Changshou lay gently at Xuanming's feet, closed his eyes silently, sniffed lightly, carefully felt the mystery, and slowly began to snore.

As he breathed, a strange aura gradually spread over his body. As he integrated into this mysterious aura, the aura of the whole deer gradually increased, his sleeping posture became more unrestrained, and his expression became more comfortable. In the past few years, as long as the master was around, he would improve his strength in this way.

---

The white dew wrinkles the red dates, and the westerly wind blows the old lotus.

It is late autumn, the mountains and forests are red and yellow, the scenery is gorgeous, and an invitation is sent to Fuyun Mountain.

Going to Cangdao Peak, in the Daoist Temple, after reading the invitation, Xuanming touched the forehead of the white deer resting beside him and twitched the corner of his mouth slightly: "You have been with me for three years, and you have grown up."

Linglu Changshou looked up at the master, tilted his head, and was full of confusion: So what?

Seeing that the master kept silent, the spirit deer turned his little head, and if he couldn't figure it out, he just stopped thinking about it. He shook his head and continued to sleep, sniffing the soothing scent of the master, and soon fell into a deep sleep.

He moved his feet gently to prevent the fellow from drooling on his shoes. Xuanming put away the invitation, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and looked into the distance. Through his spiritual sense, he looked at the scenery along the way, and thought to himself: "It's time to go further to see."

Of course, before he becomes invincible under the cultivation of God, he will not go too far, and Fengyang County City is his limit.

Three days later, after collecting the purple air from the morning sun, an old Taoist priest riding a deer walked out of the red, yellow and green Floating Cloud Mountain. The deer was majestic and as big as a donkey, with prominent horns, bright eyes, strong and powerful limbs, and smooth and white fur like snow. There was a pair of yin and yang patterns on the left and right sides that were symmetrical, as if they were made by nature and lifelike.

On the side of the deer sits a white-haired Taoist priest, holding a whisk in his hand and carrying a long sword on his back. He closes his eyes and relaxes, with his wide sleeves fluttering in the wind. Above his head a black bird (swallow) flaps its wings, leading the way for the spirit deer.

The spirit deer is in high spirits, and the old Taoist has an immortal air.

After going down the mountain, the old Taoist opened his eyes and walked along the small path. Looking at the villagers who were busy planting winter wheat in the fields, a smile appeared on his face.

Occasionally, villagers passed by and ignored the old Taoist priest riding the deer, as if they could not see them. Listening to the rural dialect and slang that came into his ears from the busy farmers' casual chat, Xuanming's smile became even brighter.

Although he has walked this road many times, he is still happy. Perhaps it is because of the simple and honest wishes of the farmers, perhaps it is because of their attitude of working hard for life, or perhaps it is because they are easily satisfied, or perhaps it is because the Taoist's long-awaited mood occasionally flashes through them like a comet.

There is a different answer every time.

There are different gains every time.

Maybe there will never be a real answer or maybe every discovery is an answer.

Changshou poked his head out, having never been down the mountain before, he was curious about everything outside. The sound of deer hooves fell, silent but with sound.

Silence is for others.

The sound is to the earth.

Wherever you go, you will leave traces. Perhaps others or other things don’t know it, but the earth definitely knows it.

Every time you fall, it is a time of listening.

Every time it falls, there is also a sense of joy.

Turning from the small path onto the wide official road, the delighted spiritual deer Changshou began to run wildly, as fast as the wind, in high spirits, and making joyful deer calls.

For passers-by, it is like a gust of wind blowing by, and they may be blinded by dust, or hold on to their clothes, or curse, or look at the official road in the direction of the wind and find that there are still flowers and grass on the road that have not withered, and they can't help but smile knowingly for the tenacity and beauty of life.

Thousands of people have thousands of hearts, and thousands of hearts have thousands of faces, all of which are revealed when the wind blows.

Riding on a deer, with his white hair flying, Xuanming felt his heart getting younger. He was as energetic as a spirit deer and as free and easy as the wind. He relaxed his mind, put aside all distractions, and enjoyed the simple happiness of a long life.

(End of this chapter)