Supreme Golden Palace

Chapter 244 Golden Light (Part 1)

A night of silence,
The next day, at the first light of dawn...
Lu Shang awoke from his meditation, his eyes opening and closing, his gaze clear and bright.

"Golden light shines down across the ground, what a magnificent golden light! It truly radiates brilliant golden light, bringing forth clear and vivid images. Its wonders are inexhaustible."

Lu Shang raised his hand, and a wisp of golden light condensed at his fingertips. He stared at the golden light for a moment and said in a low voice, "I wonder what kind of experience it is to attain the so-called highest achievement, which is neither bright above nor dark below, without form or image. Could it really be close to the Dao and exist forever?"

The golden light that shines across the earth ranks among the thirty-six righteous methods of the Heavenly Gang and is known as the number one divine movement method in Jambudvipa. Naturally, it is not just a simple escape technique.

According to Zhang Ziyang's Golden Talisman, after reaching the state of Great Perfection, one becomes a formless void, constantly in motion, still yet constantly moving, moving yet constantly tranquil, neither color nor sound, neither emptiness nor reality, and indescribable.

At that time, form and light merge into one, with endless changes, unpredictable appearance and disappearance. It can separate forms and transform scenery, and the four elements flow in harmony. It possesses great supernatural powers and boundless magical abilities. In Taoism, it is a Taiyi Celestial Immortal; in Buddhism, it is an Equal Enlightenment Bodhisattva.

With such supernatural powers, one is a first-rate sage both within and outside the Three Realms.

After studying it for a night, Lü Shang entered the gate and glimpsed a little bit of its essence. He felt that this Heavenly Gang Orthodox Method was profound and mysterious, seemingly without end, and was a great supernatural power that could be cultivated forever.

"This is merely the Golden Light that travels across the land, yet it is already so subtle and profound. How wondrous must the Creation Manipulation Technique, known as the First Orthodox Method of the Heavenly Gang, be?"

Just as Lü Shang was pondering this, Xiao Ji, a general outside the tent, came to report.

"My lord, Liu Chong, the Prefect of Qin Prefecture, has sent an official to invite you to a banquet at his residence."

"Liu Chong,"

The golden light at Lü Shang's fingertips vanished abruptly. He looked up at the outside of the tent and said, "Understood, prepare clothes."

"Yes,"

As soon as he finished speaking, the curtain was lifted slightly, and two guards entered carrying clothes.

Lu Shang stood up, and his guards gently unfolded his brocade robe. He raised his hand and slipped it into his sleeve, changing into a black brocade robe with a plain jade belt around his waist.

"Alright," Lü Shang said, stepping out of the tent after he had dressed properly.

"My lord,"

When Xiao Ji saw Lü Shang come out of the tent, he quickly bowed and clasped his hands in greeting.

After leaving the tent, Lü Shang asked, "Where are Liu Chong's officials?"

General Xiao Ji replied, "We are waiting outside the camp."

"Let's go,"

Upon hearing this, Lü Shang nodded, his black brocade robe swaying with his steps.

Outside the camp gate stood two officers in blue robes, followed by a magnificent carriage and dozens of attendants.

Upon seeing Lü Shang, he quickly bowed and greeted him. The leader, holding a letter, said, "This humble official, Wang You, has come on the orders of Lord Sima to respectfully welcome Your Excellency."

"My master has prepared a simple feast at his residence, awaiting your arrival, Your Excellency."

After accepting the invitation, Lü Shang nodded slightly and said, "Thank you both."

Having said that, he strode toward his carriage. Wang You hurriedly stepped forward to lead the way, with another subordinate official following closely behind.

The carriage slowly made its way to the prefectural capital, and more and more pedestrians lined the streets, accompanied by the sounds of vendors hawking their wares.

Lu Shang sat upright in the carriage, his gaze fixed on the important northwestern town through the window.

Although Diezhou City was not large, it was filled with a somber atmosphere due to the recent Qiang rebellion.

Armored soldiers passed by from time to time on both sides of the street, their armor gleaming coldly in the morning light.

"Lord Lü,"

After the carriage arrived at the prefectural capital, Wang You went to announce his arrival, and a moment later, Liu Chong, dressed in official robes, quickly came out to greet him.

Upon hearing this, Lü Shang alighted from his carriage, bowed to Liu Chong in return, and said, "Commander Liu,"

The two exchanged a few pleasantries outside the mansion before entering side by side. They passed through the front courtyard, around the screen wall, and arrived at an exquisite garden.

The garden is lush with vegetation and winding paths. A pavilion stands by the water, where a banquet has been set up.

"Lord Lü, please,"

Liu Chong invited Lü Shang to sit down, personally poured him wine, and said with a smile, "My lord has led troops into Qin to quell the rebellion. As the Sima of the Qin Prefecture General's Office, I should naturally do my best to be a good host."

Lü Shang took the wine cup, took a small sip, and said, "Sima Liu, you're too kind."

Liu Chong put down the wine pot, pondered for a moment, and said, "Lord Lü, although the Qiang rebellion has been quelled, the situation in the Northwest is still not optimistic."

"The Tuyuhun cavalry are lurking in the north, the Qiang people are causing trouble in the west, the imperial army is concentrated in the southeast, and the chaos in the northwest can only be resolved by ourselves."

"I wonder, what are your thoughts on the current chaotic situation in the Northwest, Lord Lü?"

"How else can we view the current situation?"

Lü Shang's eyes flickered slightly as he said, "The unrest in the Northwest has become a chronic problem that cannot be cured overnight."

"Although you and I command troops, the imperial court will not allow large-scale warfare in the Northwest. Even if troops are to be mobilized, it will only be after the imperial court has finished fighting in the Southeast and eliminated Chen Shubao."

"Before this, there was unrest in the Northwest. We could quell the unrest, but we could not initiate military action."

As Lü Shang spoke, he lightly tapped his wine cup on the table, making a clear sound, and said, "I'm afraid that Commander Liu's banquet today is not just for discussing the current situation, is it?"

Liu Chong paused slightly in his wine cup, then smiled and said, "Lord Lü's insight is truly remarkable; I am ashamed."

Then, he turned to the side and gave Wang You, who was standing outside the pavilion, a wink.

Wang You understood and quietly withdrew with his officials, clearing away the winding paths around the pavilion.

After a short while, only the two of them remained sitting facing each other in the garden, with the water gently lapping against the pavilion pillars and the occasional chirping of birds.

After everyone had left, Liu Chongcai said in a low voice, "To be honest, I have indeed invited you to this banquet."

"The Northwest has been plagued by constant warfare. Adding to this, the high mountains and treacherous roads, along with the deep forests and overgrown vegetation, lurk demons and monsters, causing frequent misfortunes."

"Yesterday evening, someone from the west of the city reported to the authorities that they had discovered demonic activity,"

Lu Shang frowned slightly and said, "A demon?"

"It is indeed a bewitching demon,"

Liu Chong lowered his voice, his expression grave, and said, "A family in the west of the city, the entire family died suddenly, bleeding from all seven orifices, their deaths were extremely gruesome."

Lu Shang's eyes narrowed, and he asked, "Did anyone see what happened?"

Liu Chong shook his head and said, "It happened late at night. The neighbors only heard a few screams, and then there was no more sound. By the time they reported it to the authorities at dawn, the yard was full of corpses."

Lu Shang pondered for a moment and then asked, "Why do you believe it is the work of demons and monsters, rather than human intervention?"

Liu Chong's face was grim. He said, "If it were done by someone, there would always be traces left. But the doors and windows of that courtyard were intact, there were no signs of a struggle on the ground, and the deceased had no external injuries. I'm afraid it really was the work of a demon."

“If this were in Qin Prefecture, I wouldn’t need to trouble Governor Lü. Qin Prefecture also has Zhaoxuan Temple. I, Liu, can invite the eminent monks of Zhaoxuan Temple to exorcise this demon,”

"However, this is Diezhou, and the eminent monks of Zhaoxuan Temple are far away in Qinzhou, making it difficult to invite them in the short term,"

Liu Chong said in a deep voice, "Diezhou is a remote place where Buddhism is not prevalent and the people mostly believe in witchcraft. If there are really demons causing trouble, and we cannot suppress them immediately, it may lead to great chaos."

Although called a temple, Zhaoxuan Temple was actually the highest-ranking government office in charge of Buddhist affairs, directly under the jurisdiction of the Court of State Ceremonies.

Its significance lies not only in managing monks and nuns, translating scriptures and building temples, but also in suppressing demons and evil spirits and bringing peace to people's hearts.

In the major prefectures of the Sui Dynasty, Zhaoxuan Temple had branches with resident eminent monks who used Buddhist teachings to resolve local evil spirits.

(End of this chapter)