Supreme Golden Palace

Chapter 150 Little Penglai

Just as Zhongli Quan and Su Xuanlang were talking, a gentle breeze suddenly blew through the wooden lattice window, carrying a few locust leaves across the table.

Zhongli Quan's expression changed. He reached out to explore, and when he opened his hand, a peach charm appeared in his palm. He gently twirled the charm with his fingers, and pale golden patterns appeared faintly on its surface.

Upon seeing this, Su Xuanlang raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is it a communication talisman from Taiyuan Palace?"

A faint light flickered at Zhongli Quan's fingertips, and the patterns on the peach charm suddenly became clear. He said, "This is an urgent message from my senior brother."

Su Xuanlang frowned and said softly, "Is it Mr. Manqian, Dongfang Shuo?"

Zhongli Quan nodded and said, "It is indeed Senior Brother Manqian."

The Mr. Manqian, Dongfang Shuo, whom Su Xuanlang mentioned, was born during the reign of Emperor Wen of the Former Han Dynasty. It is said that he was the reincarnation of Chonghua Star Lord, the Wood Virtue Star of the East. He entered officialdom during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Former Han Dynasty and rose to the position of Grand Master of the Palace. He was known as the Sage of Wisdom among the people and was a descendant of Dongfang Shuo. There is a saying that he was a great hermit living in the court.

Su Xuanlang was born during the Western Jin Dynasty and had heard of the deeds of this wise sage.

Dongfang Shuo stole the peaches of immortality three times, thereby refining his primordial essence, shedding his original body, achieving great merit, and ascending to the ranks of immortals. If the monkey is the most famous thief in the world, then Dongfang Shuo is the most famous petty thief within the sixty-year cycle of the Chinese calendar.

“Senior Brother Manqian said that the immortals of the Ten Continents and Three Islands, and the gods of the sea and mountains, will hold a small Penglai gathering. At that time, my master will attend the Dharma assembly with the three immortals of Penglai and the nine elders of Yingzhou, and preach the Hunyuan Dao Fruit to all the immortals.”

“My senior brother Manqian couldn’t bear to see me miss the grand event, so she sent me an urgent message, telling me to return to the abbot’s palace, Taiyuan Palace, immediately to attend the Little Penglai Dharma Assembly.”

What Zhongli Quan didn't say was that this Little Penglai Dharma Assembly was prepared for the Primordial Assembly fifty years later.

Fifty years later, the Primordial Celestial Venerable preached the Primordial Dao Fruit at the Mi Luo Palace in the Upper Pure Heaven, and all the immortals of the Upper Eight Caves rushed to the Primordial Assembly to listen to the lecture.

The reason why the Great Emperor Donghua held a small Penglai meeting beforehand was to review his own learning and learn something new by revisiting the old.

"The Little Penglai Gathering? The Primordial Dao Fruit?"

Su Xuanlang's eyes lit up. The Primordial Dao Fruit was a profound truth that only a great supernatural being of the Celestial Immortal level could comprehend.

The Great Dao of Celestial Immortals, also known as the Primordial Chaos and the Great Celestial Immortal!
Su Xuanlang had once heard Da Maojun mention that after attaining the Heavenly Immortal realm, the only way to advance further in one's cultivation was to participate in the Hunyuan Dao Fruit practice. Once the Hunyuan Dao Fruit was perfected, one would reach the Great Luo Heavenly Immortal realm of the Hunyuan Unity Qi, an eternally indestructible state.

The fact that the Great Emperor Donghua was going to preach the Primordial Dao Fruit at the Little Penglai Assembly was indeed a momentous occasion for the scattered immortals of the Ten Continents and Three Islands, as well as the immortals of the Sea and Mountains.

He looked at the peach talisman glowing with spiritual light in Zhongli Quan's palm and said, "So, fellow Daoist, you are going back to Abbot Taiyuan Palace?"

Zhongli Quan flicked his finger, and the peach charm turned into a stream of light and disappeared into his sleeve. He said, "I originally intended to travel around Daxing with you for a few more days, but I didn't expect the grand event to be approaching."

When the Taoist raised his eyes, a clear smile appeared in his eyes. He said, "However, would Fellow Daoist Su be willing to go to the Abbot's Taiyuan Palace with me? The Cloud Mist Tea from my Abbot's Immortal Island is three times more refined in taste than this wild tea from the mortal world."

"To be able to taste the abbot's immortal tea and smell the aroma of Primordial Dao Fruit, how could one not accept such a wonderful thing?"

Su Xuanlang replied, "Fellow Daoist, please allow me to return to Mount Luofu and bring some rare and precious plants as a gift. I have three Nine-Leaf Ganoderma lucidum plants, which would be wonderful to pair with the Cloud and Mist Tea from Taiyuan Palace."

Zhongli Quan clapped his hands with delight and said, "Nine-leaf Ganoderma lucidum paired with Cloud Mist Tea, excellent!"

Before he finished speaking, his fingers had already formed a hand seal, and a stream of light appeared in his sleeve, transforming into a blue phoenix bamboo raft that flew through the window.

clang!
The bamboo raft stretched to about ten feet long as soon as it touched the ground, and the vines that entwined its body instantly blossomed into tiny, shimmering white flowers. Su Xuanlang laughed heartily at the sight, flicked his sleeve to put away the alchemy furnace on the table, and stepped onto the bamboo raft side by side with Zhongli Quan.

The bamboo raft soared into the air, carrying wisps of locust blossom fragrance. The two felt the wind whispering in their ears, while the clouds churned beneath their feet like waves.

"rise,"

Zhongli Quan flicked his finger, and cloud light rose from the edge of the bamboo raft, blocking the gale at a distance of several feet.

He raised his hand and gently brushed aside the wisteria branches, and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Su, please look." Su Xuanlang looked down and saw a corner of the Daxing City gate flash through the gap in the clouds, and then it turned into a bean-sized spot of light.

When I opened my eyes again, the green peaks of Mount Luofu were already in sight.

------

Just as Zhongli Quan and Su Xuanlang left Daxing, Lü Shang, who was drinking with Wei Cheng and the other two at the Wei residence, glanced thoughtfully at the sky.

Seeing that Lü Shang's expression was unusual, Wei Cheng asked, "Is there something wrong with the official seal?"

When Lü Shang withdrew his gaze from the sky, a strange and obscure look appeared on his face. He smiled and shook his head, saying, "It was just a feeling I had upon seeing the clouds gathering and dispersing unpredictably."

After a few more rounds of drinks, Wei Cheng asked his servants to add more grape wine.

As dusk settled over the vermilion pillars, the group became somewhat tipsy.

The group helped themselves up from the stone table. Wei Cheng said, "The Prime Minister is already showing signs of drunkenness. Why don't we stay at my humble abode for the night and return home tomorrow?"

Lü Shang, steadying himself with the jade pendant at his waist, brushed his sleeve against the crooked wine cup on the table and said with a smile, "I've already bothered you all day, how could I trouble you any further?"

"Someone is coming,"

Seeing that he was determined, Wei Cheng clapped his hands and summoned his servant.

The lanterns under the eaves lit up one by one. In the warm yellow light, a servant in a blue robe led Zidian Hanshuang to wait in front of the moon gate.

Wei Cheng, Xin Yongfeng, and Shang Silang escorted Lü Shang to the door. Lü Shang stopped, turned around, and said with a relaxed smile, "No need to see me off any further."

He said to Shang Silang and Xin Yongfeng, "You should also go home soon. Since the emperor intends to give you important positions, you must be careful with your words and actions in the future."

“You have suddenly gained power, and there will surely be many jealous people who are waiting for you to make mistakes. Remember, the more successful you are, the more you must know when to advance and retreat.”

Wei Cheng and the other two bowed and said, "We will remember Zheng Yin's teachings."

"So, I'm leaving."

Lü Shang mounted his horse, Zidian Hanshuang, and with a long neigh, his iron hooves pounded the bluestone pavement, sending sparks flying.

Watching Lü Shang depart, Wei Cheng and the other two exchanged smiles. Xin Yongfeng spoke first, saying, "It's getting late, and I should head home now."

Xin Yongfeng cupped his hands in farewell to Wei Cheng and Shang Silang, then turned and stepped into the alleyway illuminated by lanterns.

Shang Silang watched his retreating figure grow smaller and smaller, then turned to Wei Cheng and said, "Curfew is approaching, and I dare not break the curfew. I shall take my leave now."

Wei Cheng smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Go back quickly, don't keep your family worried."

He watched their figures disappear into the flickering light of the lanterns, his robe sleeves brushing against the door, and he sighed softly.

The moon gate creaked shut, and soon after, the sound of the watchman's drum and the clapper at the beginning of the Xu hour came from the west corner tower, startling the birds perched on the eaves.

Lu Shang rode his Purple Lightning Frost mount, slowly making his way along Vermilion Bird Avenue. A gentle breeze rustled the copper bells on the eaves, tinkling softly as it brushed against his slightly tipsy face.

After passing through two neighborhoods, he unknowingly arrived at a vermilion gatehouse. He pulled on the reins.
Lü Shang ran his fingers along the black tassels wrapped around the reins, his gaze fixed on the gilded plaque hanging above the gate.

The three large, white-inked characters of "Yuwen Mansion" gleamed coldly in the lantern light, while the Yazi beast heads guarding the eaves of the house slightly raised their heads.

(End of this chapter)