Controlling the Five Thunders and the Two Worlds

Chapter 182 Visiting Zhenwu Mountain
"so many people!"

The three of them were speechless as they stared at the densely packed queue at the entrance of Zhenwu Mountain Scenic Area.

"We specifically chose the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, how come there are still so many people?" Xiao Ya stuck out her tongue. "Last time we came, it wasn't this crowded!"

Jiang Shishi complained, "We came during the off-season last time, not during the Chinese New Year."

Gu Zhao scratched his head, "I guessed there would be more people than usual, but I didn't expect this many. I saw in the news that Zhenwu Mountain wasn't among the most crowded scenic spots."

"Why climb a mountain in the dead of winter!" Gu Zhao exclaimed, which drew surprised looks from those around him.

"It's alright. When we climbed Huangshan last National Day, it was so crowded there wasn't even a gap," an older woman behind me chimed in. "This queue isn't that long. I reckon it'll only take half an hour to get in."

As expected, the experienced middle-aged woman who travels everywhere was the best. Half an hour later, Gu Zhao and his two companions successfully passed through the ticket check, boarded the scenic area shuttle bus, and began their mountain tour.

"Tsk tsk, no wonder Zhenwu Mountain is more famous than Qingcheng Mountain. Its ancient Taoist architectural complex alone far surpasses that of Qingcheng Mountain." Gu Zhao said as he walked along.

Xiao Ya added, "Not only is it large in scale, but most of them are genuine ancient buildings, not modern reconstructions."

At this point, Jiang Shishi laughed and said, "For example, the Taishang Laojun Pavilion on Qingcheng Mountain?"

The three laughed upon hearing this. The Taihe Palace on the Golden Summit of Zhenwu Mountain was built by imperial decree during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, while the Taishang Laojun Pavilion on the summit of Qingcheng Mountain was built in the 1990s. Not only is it new, but it is also not very big.

"That's why the entrance fee to Zhenwu Mountain is more expensive than that to Qingcheng Mountain," Xiao Ya said with a smile.

The three of them continued upwards, passing several ancient architectural ruins that were now just crumbling walls, such as Huilong Temple, Laojun Hall, and Guandi Temple.

In those days, transportation was inconvenient, and unless it was built by the royal family, most buildings were located at the foot or halfway up the mountain, and very few could be built directly to the top.

The most obvious example is Qingcheng Mountain. Both Tianshi Cave and Quanzhen Temple are actually located halfway up the mountain.

In other words, in ancient times, social classes were clearly defined. The palaces, temples, and monasteries built on the mountaintops were not actually open to ordinary people. For example, at the Zixiao Palace on Zhenwu Mountain, ordinary people could only worship and offer incense at the Shifang Hall and could not reach the Zixiao Main Hall at all.

Thinking about it, Gu Zhao's Daluo Palace has actually made a lot of progress, and ordinary worshippers can now directly visit the largest Sanqing Hall.

Of course, the incense burning on the statues of the Three Pure Ones in the Sanqing Hall is also the most abundant.

The Zhenwu Mountain area was too large, and Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi had no cultivation. After wandering around for a while, they boarded the shuttle bus and leisurely arrived at the Zixiao Palace.

In the modern Zixiao Palace, one can certainly visit the Zixiao Hall for worship.

Walk across the Golden Water Bridge, visit the Dragon and Tiger Hall, pass through the Ten Directions Hall, and enter the Purple Cloud Hall.

The peeling and mottled red walls revealing their interior, the blue bricks with their cracks filled with moss and weeds, the stone carvings with their edges smoothed, and the slightly faded brackets all reflect the profound sense of history that Zixiao Palace has accumulated over hundreds of years.

Tourists offer incense and pray, children play in the courtyard, incense smoke wafts through the palace, and koi fish frolic in the pond.

Gu Zhao led the two women around the Zixiao Palace, inside and out. Although they saw many Taoists, they did not find a single true Taoist who had cultivated internal energy.

However, Gu Zhao didn't mind and continued on to Nanyan Palace. "Wow, so many hotels!" This was the first time Gu Zhao had seen so many hotels in a scenic area, and there was a constant stream of people coming and going. "There are quite a lot of people staying here?"

“There are many retreat classes,” Jiang Shishi explained. “They stay on the mountain for a few days, practicing martial arts and chanting scriptures in the morning, attending classes and copying scriptures in the afternoon, going to bed early at night, and eating vegetarian meals every day.”

Xiao Ya silently took out her phone and showed it to Gu Zhao. Only then did Gu Zhao see that there were similar projects on many platforms. The official project was 6,000 yuan for three days and three nights.

The content is extensive, ranging from health preservation culture to dietary conditioning, from intangible cultural heritage handicrafts to Tai Chi teaching, as well as traditional Chinese culture retreats and incense and tea ceremonies, with a full schedule.

"Excellent!" Gu Zhao commented. "The content is all good, it's just a bit expensive."

“But at least this is genuine health preservation with theoretical support, which is much better than those who spend a lot of money to attend spiritual retreats in India or Siam,” Xiao Ya said with a smile. “Back then, it was the most popular way for middle-class people in big cities to go there for spiritual retreats.”

Jiang Shishi scoffed, "The poor suddenly become rich, feeling both superior and inferior. They are all spiritually empty, so they go to unleash their true nature, only to be either brainwashed or lose their virginity."

Gu Zhao shook his head, "They're all just burning money."

The group then visited Nanyan Palace, where they saw Lu Zu's sword and the dragon-head incense burner. Gu Zhao looked around but couldn't find them.

From Nanyan Palace to the Golden Summit of Zhenwu Mountain, the only way to get there is on foot.

The three walked up Crow Ridge, passed Chaotian Palace, went through the Three Heavens Gate, and finally arrived at the Golden Summit Taihe Palace.

To Gu Zhao's surprise, he also failed to find a Taoist priest with internal energy at Taihe Palace.

"What's going on? It can't be that serious, can it?"

Gu Zhao was genuinely curious. Even if Zhenwu Mountain had a strong commercial atmosphere, surely it shouldn't be devoid of any true Daoists?
Moreover, the internal energy and true qi are not a secret among the top levels of Taoism. Baiyun Temple, Baxian Palace, Qingcheng Mountain, and Longhu Tianshan all have true masters. As the current face of Taoism, Zhenwu Mountain cannot possibly know nothing, nor can it possibly be without a single true master.
Where are those who frequently appear in short videos? One has unparalleled lightness skills, one has profound internal strength, and there's also an incredibly powerful master.
"Ok?"

Thinking of this, Gu Zhao glanced around and saw only ordinary Taoist priests. A thought struck him, and he suddenly realized something.

It's normal not to see it yourself; it's abnormal luck to see it.

For example, when I first met Master Yansong, it was really good luck, because old Taoist priests who have cultivated internal energy don't work in scenic Taoist temples; they all live in seclusion in the back mountains.

Daoist Yansong is a lively person who enjoys excitement. He was watching a play and striking a chime at the Taishang Laojun Pavilion when Gu Zhao happened to run into him.

Later, Master Yihong came to visit Yunyang after he showed off his talisman skills. Yunyang was introduced to Master Yihong. Master Mingyu was visited by Yunyang when he took him to the Celestial Master's Mansion. Master Jingfeng was someone he met by chance in the village.

These old Taoist priests usually cultivate in seclusion in remote places. They do not actively circulate their magic power, and they cannot sense it themselves. If the distance is too far, their aura will not be noticeable, and the Five Thunder Token will not be able to detect it.

Unless one releases their divine sense and uses their five hundred years of profound cultivation to cover the entire Zhenwu Mountain and sweep across it with their divine sense, they might be able to find those Taoists who possess magical powers.

The efficiency is certainly very high, but it's a bit too arrogant...

(End of this chapter)