Devouring Evil Martial Arts, Eliminating Demons from All Heavens

Chapter 366 Two Dynasties, Two Jiazi (60 Years)

Stone Boy heard his master's breathing becoming lighter and lighter, and knew that his master was about to fall asleep.

Although the master possessed profound internal strength, he was crippled in all four limbs, lacked energy, and was more prone to sleepiness than ordinary people.

But he felt very light, as if he were alert even in his dreams and easily startled awake.

"I want it to be gentler."

Stone Boy only thought about it in his heart without speaking, and he made his breathing longer and his steps more steady.

The path up the mountain is overgrown with weeds, the surface is uneven, and there are many loose stones hidden among them. You could easily twist your ankle if you're not careful.

The young Taoist focused his mind and gazed ahead, his steps becoming lighter and lighter. When he encountered a rock, it was as if he simply pressed the ball of his foot against the edge of the rock and stepped over it.

The trampled weeds gradually stood up again after he walked past.

With the weight of a person on his back, he would not only have trampled the grass, but would have crushed the grass blades into the soil and rocks.

Now they're just bending the grass by trampling it, without breaking its veins.

"Young Taoist priest, you are clear-headed and spirited, full of energy and determination. You are very diligent."

When Stone Boy heard someone speaking to him, he turned around and saw a young man chasing after him.

This man had striking eyebrows and bright eyes, and although his attire was somewhat eccentric, he possessed a refreshing demeanor.

The young Taoist noticed that when the person stepped on the grass, the grass only bent slightly at the tip, and the person's feet did not touch the ground at all. The person's lightness skill was truly remarkable.

When the old Taoist priest woke up, he also saw this scene, and his expression tightened slightly.

"Young hero, you flatter me. You are the one who truly possesses extraordinary skills."

The old Taoist priest smiled and said, "Please forgive me for being disabled and unable to perform the proper greeting. My clumsy disciple is not skilled in martial arts and is not good with words. He has been impolite."

"I didn't accept the compliment; I mean it sincerely."

Chu Tianshu smiled and said, "The young Taoist's steps and breathing are so peaceful and gentle, they have the most authentic Taoist charm."

"The skill level may only be the basics, but being able to develop this kind of charm is truly delightful."

“I am a hermit from the mountains, and I have been practicing in seclusion for a long time. I just came out and met two fellow practitioners. I couldn’t help but come over and want to make friends.”

The old Taoist priest's eyes twitched slightly, but he really couldn't recall which school of thought Chu Tianshu's clothes were made of or how they were tailored.

But it's definitely not the style of an enemy.

"So you're a fellow Daoist."

The old Taoist priest smiled and said, "I am Lu Yuande, and this is my disciple Shi Zhonghuo, whose real name is Shi Tou. He is not from a prestigious family. May I ask your name, fellow Taoist?"

Chu Tianshu straightened his posture, cupped his hands and said, "I am Chu Tianshu, a physician from the Ghost Gate lineage. Greetings, senior."

"I dare not accept such praise. Only those who are accomplished can take the lead, and only in teaching can there be a distinction between senior and junior."

Lu Yuande, unable to move his limbs, could only shake his head slightly and humbly decline, "I am but an old man, and dare not call myself a senior. I am honored that you do not mind calling me a fellow Daoist."

Chu Tianshu smiled sheepishly.

"As a junior, I certainly need to learn from my seniors."

"My ancestors once practiced medicine and helped people in the outside world, but after several generations of seclusion, only I have completed the entire secret manual, allowing me to go down the mountain to gain experience, make a name for myself and accumulate virtue."

"However, the people in the mountain village are unaware of the general situation of the world. After leaving the mountains, they are completely at a loss. They would like to ask the seniors for guidance."

Lu Yuande thought for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Before you went into hiding in your sect, you must have known about the restoration of the Han dynasty under Emperor Guangwu, and heard of the illustrious reputation of Emperors Ming and Zhang?"

Chu Tianshu nodded.

Lu Yuande asked, "Do you also know about the Wei and Jin dynasties?"

Chu Tianshu, observing the old Taoist's expression, noticed that when the old Taoist spoke of the Wei and Jin dynasties, his eyes seemed to hold a deep emotion, perhaps because it was not too far removed from the present.

"I've heard of Cao Wei, but I don't know much about Jin."

Lu Yuande smiled and said, "The Jin Dynasty is not far from now, so let's start from the Jin Dynasty and briefly talk about it."

The Sima family usurped the Cao Wei regime and established the Jin Dynasty. However, the War of the Eight Princes and the Five Barbarian Invasions soon followed, leading to the southward migration of the elite and the restoration of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

At that time, there was General Zu Ti, whose army was disciplined and who encouraged agriculture and sericulture. He was deeply loved by the people and led his troops to victory after victory. He was determined to launch a northern expedition, but he was held back by his own court and died in frustration.

He left behind the story of "rising to dance at the crowing of the rooster" for future generations, but unfortunately, his heroic spirit of rowing against the current and forging ahead in the middle of the river has ultimately become an empty dream.

The Eastern Jin Dynasty was later plagued by internal strife and powerful external enemies, and endured many hardships.

Until Liu Yu rose to fame.

This man led troops to eliminate powerful separatist enemies such as Huan Chu, Lu Xun, and Sima Xiuzhi, bringing about a unified situation in the south that had not been seen in a century.

Externally, it destroyed the Southern Yan and Later Qin states, decisively defeated the Northern Wei cavalry, recovered large tracts of land in Huaibei and Guanzhong, and restored the two capitals of Luoyang and Chang'an.

Thanks to his great military achievements, Liu Yu was able to take control of the military and political power of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and was appointed as the Chancellor, Governor of Yangzhou, and King of Song.

Finally, he replaced the Jin dynasty and established himself as emperor.

Although Liu Yu showed signs of being a wise ruler, he died of illness after only two years as emperor.

The Liu family of the Southern Dynasties ruled for forty years. The minister Dai Faxing was at the height of his power and held overall control of the court.

There was even a rumor circulating among the people that "Faxing is the true emperor, while the emperor is a fake emperor!"
Up to this point, the history of the Northern and Southern Dynasties is largely similar to what Chu Tianshu knew in his hometown.

However, in the history of his hometown, Dai Faxing was quickly overthrown by the new emperor, who exiled him and ordered him to commit suicide. The emperor even sent people to seize his coffin and burn his body before he felt at ease.

And in this world.

The emperor held a banquet for his officials at night and set a trap in the palace to have Dai Faxing killed. At the critical moment of life and death, Dai Faxing let out a long howl to the moon and attained enlightenment in one fell swoop.

In this mortal world, whether one practices martial arts, cultivates Taoism, studies Buddhism, or chants mantras, all those who use their own power are considered ordinary people.

Those who "attain the Dao" clearly see the principles of Heaven and Earth and can borrow the immense power of Heaven and Earth.

For two or three thousand years, no enlightened being has appeared in this world; only distant and indistinguishable legends remain.

Dai Faxing's entry into the Daoist realm exceeded everyone's expectations. He suppressed the poison of the imperial wine in his body in one fell swoop and killed all the assassins on the spot.

The emperor appointed Dai Faxing as his "adopted father" and had all the court officials who did not submit to the Dai family killed or demoted.

It seems that the Dai family has completely seized control of the Southern Dynasty.

However, Dai Faxing, who was at the height of his power at that time, was betrayed and killed by his confidants twenty-four years later.

The three powerful families of Xiao, Hou, and Chen supported the young emperor and controlled the south.

At this moment, people realized that the number of enlightened beings who had disappeared for two or three thousand years was now far more than a handful.

Southern Dynasties, Northern Dynasties, aristocratic families, armies, religious sects, bandits, wandering knights, sea people... those who consider themselves enlightened and extraordinary still walk among the mortals in the end.

Because of their existence, some conflicts become more intense, violent, and shocking, while others are forcibly suppressed and resolved in unbelievable ways.

Now, in the south, everyone reveres the Liu family emperor, yet imperial decrees rarely leave the capital.

The mountains and rivers of the north all pay homage to Emperor Yuan, but imperial edicts and documents require the approval of the Imperial Preceptor.

Starting from the year Dai Faxing "attained enlightenment," the Northern and Southern Dynasties have stood facing each other across the Yellow River for more than 120 years.

Over the course of more than a century, the territories of both sides have remained largely unchanged, and the border lines have hardly shifted.

As a result, some unclaimed lands emerged on the border, which were both fraught with instability and remarkably prosperous.

Denglaishanji is one of them.

It is also the most famous, most prosperous, and most mixed place among them.

Lu Yuande and his apprentice wanted to go to Denglaishan Market to make a living.

"Denglaishan Market?"

Chu Tianshu read it aloud once and said softly, "This name is a bit strange."

"Then you can also call yourself by another name, Paradise on Earth."

Lu Yuande turned his head to look at the distant mountains and began to recount the origins of this earthly paradise.

"This place is located on the coast of the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea. During the pre-Qin period, it belonged to the State of Qi."

"Emperor Wu of Han came here to climb the mountain and build a platform to look out at the Penglai fairy mountain in the sea. Since the Eastern Han Dynasty, many fleets have set sail from here to trade silk and porcelain and transport overseas products back."

"After the two dynasties of the North and South stood side by side, they tried several times to occupy this territory for themselves, but they never succeeded. In order to make a living, the people on the border often had private dealings with each other."

He smiled as he said this.

One can almost picture the scene: the princes and dukes of the two dynasties, all dignified and aloof, standing on high ground, glaring at each other with hostility.

The local people on the border secretly barter, hunt in groups, and even bring their teenagers to some of the established markets.

"It's a real pity that such a great outlet to the sea is left vacant. Some fleets with powerful backers have continued to do business at sea and have revitalized the area."

“From a desolate wasteland ravaged by war, it gradually attracted people and eventually formed a vast and prosperous place that stretches for hundreds of miles and is dozens of miles wide.”

"At that time, there were some splendid articles that called this place a fairyland on earth, a paradise on earth, praising the government for its inaction, which made the people rich and prosperous. Neither dynasty came to invade. The rulers were benevolent and virtuous, with the style of ancient times."

Upon hearing this, Chu Tianshu couldn't help but chuckle.

Lu Yuande glanced at him and smiled.

"Although you are young and have lived in the deep mountains for a long time, you seem to be wise, experienced and worldly-wise."

Chu Tianshu's heart stirred.

I didn't expect that just by smiling, the other party could tell that I was an experienced person.

If you observe other people's micro-expressions every day, then of course others will observe you too.

He thought this to himself, but his smile became even more relaxed as he offered a casual explanation.

"I am not familiar with the current state of the world, but I have read many history books and can only speculate based on them."

Lu Yuande nodded and said slowly, "The reason this place is spared from the invasion of large armies is not because of some benevolent inaction or ancient customs."

"On the contrary, it is precisely because too many people are involved here that no large army will come to plunder."

Stone Boy, who had been focused on walking the whole way, couldn't help but speak up, saying succinctly, "I don't understand."

"The reasons for this are complex."

Lu Yuande pondered for a moment.

"To put it simply, in those early years, the caravans that dared to go to sea could not sell their goods in desolate lands after they returned; they still had to transport their goods back to the prosperous lands of the Northern and Southern Dynasties."

"But this means they have to pay taxes at the border, and the taxes are getting higher every year."

“The soldiers are exploited first, then the city defenders in various places exploit them, and in the end, even the princes, ministers, and religious masters of the two dynasties can only eat scraps.”

The stone boy nodded.

He wasn't very well-read, but he knew that important people wouldn't want to eat leftovers.

"Once this place prospers, the fleet's cargo will be directly connected with buyers from all over the world here. A portion of the gold, silver, pearls, and rare treasures obtained will be offered as tribute on the spot, and their weight and volume will be much smaller than the cargo itself."

Lu Yuande continued, "Those great masters and noble families only need to send a few trusted confidants and a few carriages to be transported back to their hometowns, and the city guards dare not investigate them strictly."

"This kind of caravan is also more flexible. If there is a robbery or something, the skilled guards accompanying them can easily keep an eye on it and protect the treasure as they leave."

As a result, by bypassing the customs taxes, the troops guarding the cities in various places naturally received less and less food, and the imperial treasury became increasingly empty.

However, the private coffers of religious sects and powerful clans have become increasingly bulging, making it easier to raise and train troops and to win over and build momentum.

Moreover, since it is an extremely bustling no-owner area, many transactions that are not suitable for public disclosure can also be carried out here.

"Therefore, daring to plunder this place is tantamount to coveting the purse strings of hundreds of powerful forces and making enemies of all the great families in the world. Who would dare to commit such an outrageous act?"

Lu Yuande seemed somewhat disheartened at this point in his speech.

"But when have the conflicts between these forces ever truly ended? As long as they have their hands in here, the conflicts will manifest themselves here as well."

“To scholars from afar, this place is a paradise on earth, but the local people will not be fooled by the appearance of prosperity.”

"They know best what kind of place this is..."

A paradise on earth?

No.

This is just a big marketplace where everyone wants to climb, everyone looks towards Penglai, and everyone wants to occupy the mountain!

"A paradise on earth."

Unlike the old Taoist priest, Chu Tianshu did not show any regret. Instead, he laughed with great interest.

"The phrase 'paradise on earth' is four words, but don't overlook the first two."

"This place may not sound like a fairyland, but it certainly has the feel of modern life."

"I like going to places like this to see and explore."

(End of this chapter)