Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 958 The Power of Incense on the Eve of the Dao Discussion
The back of Zhuoguang Mountain.

Tao Feng changed into his ceremonial robes and wore his crown and belt properly. He then entered a deep and secluded grotto alone.

Upon entering, one is immediately enveloped in pitch blackness, so dark that one cannot distinguish one's own fingers. Only the sound of footsteps echoes faintly, lingering and reverberating for a long time.

About a quarter of an hour later, a faint light appeared ahead, and he had emerged from the other end of the cave.

Before you is a narrow stone staircase carved into the mountainside, with a roaring waterfall cascading down beside you. Over the years, the rushing water has polished the stone path until it is smooth and slippery, with all its sharp edges gone.

As you descend these winding stone steps, you gradually enter the depths of the mountain valley.

After another half hour, the scenery before him suddenly blurred and changed, as if he had stepped into another world. When he came to his senses, he found himself in a deep valley.

The valley is quiet and secluded, with only the sound of babbling water, like the gentle plucking of a zither, melodious and pleasant.

Across a precipice, one can see a magnificent cave entrance, hundreds of feet high, carved into the opposite mountain wall. From within the cave entrance, clouds and mist occasionally emerge, rising and swirling upwards.

This is the foundation of Fusheng Temple—Daxing Fuling Cave.

This is the fundamental Taoist site left by the founder of the temple. For thousands of years, the true masters of the temple have cultivated and attained enlightenment here.

However, since hundreds of years ago, this place has no longer been a place where people can enter and exit at will. Without the personal decree of the abbot, even pillars of the temple like Yan Rongmu and Fu Danian could not enter.

Yan and Fu had asked Tao Feng about the reasons for the ban more than once, but he was unable to explain the reasons at the time. Therefore, to this day, the two of them still know nothing about the inside story.

Tao Feng, however, was fully aware that he was changing himself.

The reason this place is sealed off is because a senior elder in the temple had already fled into the depths of this cave before Tao Fengbian took over the Fusheng Temple, to avoid calamity and seek to prolong his life.

Even now, his seclusion has not yet been completed, nor has he emerged from it...

Tao Fengbian looked up and saw a black bear as big as an elephant lying on a flat rock in front of him.

The enormous beast's body rose and fell slightly with its breath, and its snores were deep. He immediately bowed and said, "Fellow Daoist, this humble Daoist wishes to pay respects to Uncle-Master Tang. Please inform him."

After a long while, the black bear lazily lifted its eyelids a crack. Seeing that it was Tao Fengbian, it ignored him, turned over, and fell into a deep sleep again.

Tao Feng shook his head helplessly, and without urging him on, sat down cross-legged on the spot.

Although this beast was guarding the gate, it did so not voluntarily. It was captured by the Tang Uncle he mentioned and forced to make an oath.

Because of his resentment, he would deliberately make things difficult for anyone who came to see him, and Tao Fengbian had long been used to this.

The black bear slept for four hours before stretching its limbs and slowly standing up. It swayed its mountain-like body, stared at Tao Fengbian with its huge, bronze-bell-like eyes, and growled, "The True Lord summons you in."

The sound was deafening, causing rocks and pebbles to fall from the cave ceiling.

Tao Feng opened his eyes, stood up, bowed, and then, with clouds rising beneath his feet, flew deep into the cave.

This place is a labyrinth of caves, as dense as a honeycomb; without knowing the way, it would be extremely difficult to find the right path.

After passing through several holes, we finally reached the end.

On the mountain wall, there was a white jade statue, several feet tall, deeply embedded. It was a Taoist priest with a large head, and the features were lifelike. In front of the jade statue was a double dragon-headed incense burner, and the whole body was bathed in a misty haze.

Tao Feng walked to the jade statue, lit a tall incense stick, and inserted it into the burner.

After a short while, he bowed and said, "Uncle Tang, next month I will lead the crowd to the Three Immortals Valley to fight against the Two Elements Temple. After this battle, we can determine who will be the true successor of our patriarch."

The jade statue's eyes suddenly came to life, emitting two clear beams of light. Immediately, a loud voice emanated from within the jade statue: "Go ahead with peace of mind. I am here to guard the mountain gate, so you can be assured of safety."

Upon hearing this, Tao Feng's lowered gaze suddenly darkened, and he thought to himself, "At this critical moment of life and death for the temple, my uncle still refuses to come out of seclusion..."

This elder was named Tang Shangyuan, and he was of the same generation as Qi Yunsu of the Liangyi Temple.

Back then, his time came earlier than Qi Yunsu's. However, at that time, Fusheng Temple was facing a shortage of successors and had not yet chosen a new abbot. If he were to pass away, Fusheng Temple would inevitably fall apart under Qi Yunsu's machinations.

Therefore, he had no choice but to prolong his life by secretly carving out this jade statue, connecting it to the spiritual veins of Daxing Fuling Cave, and using the power of most of the incense offerings from Fusheng Temple to nourish it from time to time, thus extending his lifespan.

This method worked, and he actually managed to hold on until Tao Fengbian inherited the Daoist lineage, while also receiving news of Qi Yunsu's seclusion and death.

If he had voluntarily given up the life-prolonging magic at that time and reincarnated, he would have been the greatest contributor to Fusheng Temple in its thousand-year history!
But... if given a choice, who would be willing to give up their spiritual practice in this life to gamble on the uncertain afterlife?

Therefore, the jade statue was not only not destroyed, but became even more refined. In exchange for monopolizing the Daxing Fuling Cave and sharing most of the incense offerings from the Fusheng Temple, they gained a Taoist cultivator who was "old but not dead"...

Why has Fusheng Temple failed to survive for hundreds of years?
There may be a reason for this...

Tao Fengbian had tried more than once to persuade the other party to follow the will of Heaven, but considering the other party's merits and the limitations of seniority, he could only turn a blind eye in the end.

It wasn't until Qi Yunsu emerged from seclusion and ordered the Daoist nun surnamed Song to "deliver" the challenge that he suddenly realized that perhaps it wasn't all bad that Uncle Tang had survived until now.

However, when he was full of hope and wanted to ask his Uncle Tang to come out of the mountains, he was flatly refused, only to be told that he was limited by the method of prolonging life and could not fight magic personally...

The final outcome was also obvious: at the Daoist gathering, no one from Fusheng Temple could compare with Qi Yunsu, leading to a crushing defeat.

Now, at this critical juncture of life and death, it is unexpected that Uncle Tang still has no intention of leaving the mountain...

Tao Feng's mind raced, and he bowed respectfully, carefully choosing his words: "Nephew, if you dare ask, Uncle, is it...?"

Tang Shangyuan seemed oblivious to the turmoil in his heart and answered irrelevantly, "Don't worry, this is a grotto-heaven created by the patriarch himself, and outsiders have no way of seeing it."

The worry between Tao Fengbian's brows did not dissipate; on the contrary, it deepened.

He hesitated for a moment, then suddenly bowed deeply, his words earnest: "I humbly request my uncle to come out of seclusion and preside over this debate on the Dao!"

The biggest hidden worry for Fusheng Temple right now is that no one can rival Qi Yunsu. If they lose in the debate, it will lead to the collapse of the entire situation and a complete defeat.

However, if a senior martial uncle were to step forward and shoulder this immense pressure, they would have a great deal of room to maneuver.

Inside the jade statue, Tang Shangyuan remained silent for a long time, finally letting out a deep sigh that echoed: "It's not that I'm unwilling, but extending my life by several hundred years is already defying the heavens, and it's extremely difficult."

"Besides... I am not as advanced as Qi Yunsu. Even if I go out of seclusion, how much stronger can I be than you? It would be a futile effort and a waste of energy."

In his anxiety, Tao Feng's voice became somewhat agitated: "But as long as my master's true form appears, it will surely deter Qi Yunsu and prevent him from making any rash moves..."

However, no matter how he pleaded and pleaded, the several-foot-tall jade statue remained silent, and not a single word was uttered.

Tao Feng felt a heavy weight in his heart and sighed deeply, his voice filled with despair: "Could it be... that there is truly no way out?"

Deep within the jade statue, Tang Shangyuan seemed to be weighing something. After a long silence, his voice, with an unusual slowness, finally rang out: "There is still one way."

Tao Feng's spirits lifted, and he took a few quick steps forward, his eyes blazing with hope: "Uncle-Master, please speak plainly. As long as it is within my power, I will do my utmost, even if it means my own destruction!"

Tang Shangyuan's voice was calm and even, yet each word fell like a heavy hammer: "If you really have such determination... then by the abbot's decree, move the 'Hun Yuan Zhen Yun Cong' and pour all the incense and faith power accumulated in the temple into my Dharma body. In this way, perhaps your wish can be fulfilled..." "Fulfill my wish?" Tao Fengbian was stunned upon hearing this, and his heart skipped a beat.

He subconsciously raised his head, his gaze sharp as lightning, and stared intently at the jade statue face that he had once known so intimately.

At this moment, the aura emanating from beneath that lustrous jade stone gave him a chilling, unfamiliar, and icy feeling.

He frowned deeply and remained silent for a long time. Then he slowly raised his head, his voice so low it almost blended into the quiet air of the cave: "This matter... is of great importance. Nephew, you still need to discuss it with your two junior brothers before you can make a decision."

The power of incense offerings is the foundation for honoring the ancestral master's golden body and maintaining the fortune and prosperity of the Fusheng Taoist lineage.

If the foundation of this temple were poured entirely into one person... would Fusheng Temple still be the original Fusheng lineage?
The thought pierced his heart like an ice pick, chilling him to the bone.

Inside the jade statue, Tang Shangyuan's voice remained devoid of any emotion, only indifference: "Since you have made up your mind, go ahead and do it. Just remember: if you lose this debate, everything will be over, and the entire lineage will collapse in the blink of an eye."

Tao Feng felt a heavy weight in his heart. He bowed deeply to the warm yet cold jade statue, his movements carrying an indescribable sense of solemnity.

After the ceremony, he silently turned around and slowly stepped out of the cave.

The footsteps faded into the distance, until they disappeared completely.

The cave returned to deathly silence. The black bear, which had been lying at the entrance like a stone sculpture, suddenly spoke in a human voice, its tone filled with undisguised sarcasm: "Tang Shangyuan, what you just said was nothing but deceit and blatant lies!"

Having followed the other party for a long time, it has gained a keen understanding of their situation.

Tang Shangyuan has long since lost his mind to the vast incense offerings, and is now lost in the dream of forging a divine body from incense.

The survival of the orthodox tradition? To him, it was nothing more than an excuse to seize power.

Deep within the jade statue, Tang Shangyuan's voice was calm and even, yet it carried a hint of cold calculation: "If it weren't for this, why would he have offered up all the foundation for establishing the temple?"

A low, piercing laugh rolled down the black bear's throat: "Hmph! If you obtain that massive amount of incense offerings, it'll be nothing more than a hundred years of lingering existence. Do you expect me to guard your wretched sect for another hundred years?"

"Ah……"

A cold, detached laugh echoed from within the jade statue, carrying an air of superior indifference. "How do you know... I am doomed? Let me be frank: I have already glimpsed the opportunity to ascend to godhood. When I succeed, in recognition of your hard work guarding the gate, granting you a position as a divine servant will not be difficult. So why... are you in such a hurry to leave?"

Upon hearing this, the black bear exhaled a cloud of foul air from its nostrils, its eyes filled with disdain and contempt.

It was too lazy to waste any more words on this person who was deeply possessed by demons. With a twist of its massive body, it curled up with its back to the jade statue. In just a few breaths, a deafening snoring sound filled the entire cave, as if it were the loudest mockery of that arrogant statement.

Tang Shangyuan remained silent, but deep within the jade, a faint, flickering light seemed to be silently plotting something sinister.

After a long while, the faint light finally dimmed completely, and the last trace of spiritual energy around the jade statue dissipated, turning it into a cold, lifeless object.

……

Tao Feng stepped out of the cold cave deep within the mountain, his heart heavy as if weighed down by a thousand pounds.

He stood alone beside the wet, slippery stone steps where the waterfall roared. The mountain wind was biting, making his Taoist robe flutter, but it could not dispel the tangible coldness between his brows.
In fact, he had anticipated the outcome of this trip, but he was somewhat unwilling to face it, which is one of the reasons why he delayed his visit until now.

Tang Shangyuan was, after all, a senior disciple of his sect who had made contributions, so even though he had some plans in mind, he didn't want to break ties with him.

But looking at it today... it's time to resolve both the "internal troubles" and the "external threats" at the same time.

However, before that, he needed to explain the existence of his martial uncle to his two junior brothers...

Thinking of this, Tao Feng stopped and flew back to the main hall of the mountain gate, whereupon he summoned Yan and Fu.

Before long, Yan Rongmu and Fu Danian arrived together. They saw Tao Fengbian standing with his back to the temple gate, hands behind his back, under the portrait of the patriarch. His back view revealed a rare desolation.

The two exchanged a glance, both sensing that something was amiss.

"Senior brother, what is the matter that you summoned me in such a hurry?"

Yan Rongmu spoke first, his voice steady, but his gaze inquiring.

Tao Feng slowly turned around, his face expressionless, but deep in his eyes lurked a turbulent undercurrent.

He glanced at his two junior brothers, who had been by his side for hundreds of years, and slowly recounted the story of Uncle Tang.

Upon hearing that there was still an elder remaining in the temple, Yan and Fu were dumbfounded and remained speechless for a long time.

"Uncle Tang... I thought... I thought he had long... long ago passed away!"

Fu Danian uttered the words "died" with difficulty, as if uttering these two words would be disrespectful to the deceased elder, but the truth was too shocking, causing him to speak without thinking.

Yan Rongmu's body also trembled slightly. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down, but his eyes flashed with a sharp light, showing that his heart was also in turmoil.

After the initial shock, there was a deathly silence; the only sound in the hall was the slightly heavy breathing of the three people.

Tao Fengbian then recounted the conversation in the cave, especially Tang Shangyuan's demand for "all the incense and faith power" in order to "perhaps fulfill his wish," without any embellishment.

"Absurd! This is outrageous!"

Fu Danian, being the most direct, was the first to erupt, his hair and beard bristling as he angrily shouted, "The power of incense and faith is the lifeblood of our Taoist tradition, used to worship our ancestors and maintain our fortune. He... he actually wants to devour it all? How is this any different from undermining the very foundation of my Fusheng Temple?"

He no longer showed much respect for his senior apprentice, feeling that this action was tantamount to cutting off his own lifeline and a betrayal.

Yan Rongmu fell silent, his brows furrowed, clearly weighing the pros and cons rapidly.

"Senior brother,"

His voice was slightly hoarse: "Uncle Tang... he really said that if he received the incense offerings, he could subdue Qi Yunsu? Is this the only way?"

"His words may come true."

Tao Fengbian remained calm as he repeated the vague promise, “However, his Dharma body is limited by the secret method of prolonging life, and his true body cannot leave the cave to fight. Even if he appears, he admits that he may not be much stronger than us. His intention may only be to use his power to intimidate people and make Qi Yunsu hesitate to act.”

"Hmph! Hesitant to act for fear of harming the innocent?"

Fu Danian sneered repeatedly, his eyes full of disdain: "What 'power' can an old man who survives by absorbing the vital energy of the Dao lineage have? What kind of person is Qi Yunsu? How could he be intimidated by an empty shell? This is like drinking poison to quench thirst!"

"With the incense gone, the ancestral master's golden statue will be lost, and the Taoist lineage's fortune will immediately decline. Even if we win this battle, my Fusheng Temple will be dead in name only, becoming a tool for others to benefit. I, Fu Danian, absolutely do not agree with this!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Rongmu frowned, while Tao Fengbian's eyes gleamed faintly...

……

(End of this chapter)