Controlling the Five Thunders and the Two Worlds

Chapter 183 True Martial Zhang Qingyuan

Gu Zhao did not intend to do that.

Buddhism emphasizes the law of cause and effect, while Taoism emphasizes the natural way.

I did come to Zhenwu Mountain to find someone, but if I find them, that's my destiny; if I don't, there's no need to force it.

The three of them had lunch on the Golden Summit, took a group photo in Taihe Palace, and instead of returning the same way, they took a cable car down to Qiongtan Temple. After visiting the temple, they continued their journey down the mountain by car.

……

“We didn’t get off here last time we came,” Xiao Ya said, looking at the small Taoist temple in front of her.

"This place is more like a village than a tourist attraction." Jiang Shishi looked around and saw houses, rice paddies, a village committee office, and a village primary school.

Although the buildings are all new and modern, they look more like a rural village than a tourist attraction.

Of course, there is indeed a Taoist temple here, the Eight Immortals Temple.

"We'll go into every temple we see and pay our respects to every shrine we visit," Gu Zhao said with a smile. "We're already here."

The three of them first went to the Eight Immortals Temple to pay their respects, and then went out for a stroll. They learned that this place was the base for planting Taoist tea at Zhenwu Mountain, and the scenic area had set up a shuttle bus station here so that tourists could buy tea here.

Moreover, the place offers a one-stop service for buying tea, and visitors can even go to the fields to experience the fun of tea picking.

only……

"Is it winter now?" Gu Zhao asked.

"We have greenhouse facilities," the sales assistant said with a smile. "You can even pick the fruit in winter."

Gu Zhao: ⊙_⊙

Just then, several tea farmers carrying farm tools walked by, chatting and laughing, seemingly wanting to get to work in the fields.

"Ok?"

The Five Thunder Token trembled slightly in Gu Zhao's mind. His eyes flickered, and he turned around to look in the direction indicated by the signal.

One of the bearded old men, though traveling with them and carrying a hoe, was dressed in a blue-gray short robe, leggings, cloth shoes, and a hairpin in his hair, befitting a traditional Taoist priest.

Gu Zhao looked at the old Taoist priest, who also noticed Gu Zhao's gaze.

Gu Zhao smiled and nodded, and the old Taoist priest also nodded in response.

"Is the Taoist priest the abbot of the Eight Immortals Temple?" Gu Zhao suddenly asked.

"No." The old Taoist shook his head and was about to leave with the others.

"May I ask your Taoist name, Master?" Gu Zhao asked again. "Are you a disciple of the Sanfeng School?"

Although the old Taoist was somewhat curious, he still politely cupped his hands and said, "Zhang Qingyuan of the Sanfeng Sect."

Gu Zhao raised an eyebrow; indeed, they belonged to the Qing generation.

Without keeping him in suspense, he circulated the true qi of the Dao within his body, and Daoist charm swirled around him. He bowed and said, "Gu Zhao from Lingnan greets Daoist Qingyuan."

Sensing the true qi circulating in Gu Zhao, Zhang Qingyuan immediately understood why the young man had called him over. Moreover, the other party was surrounded by a strong Daoist aura, clearly indicating that his cultivation was above his own.

Because he didn't sense his extraordinary abilities, but the other man sensed that he had also developed internal energy.

"Fellow Daoist." Zhang Qingyuan put down his hoe and smiled a simple and honest smile, just like an old farmer in the fields. If it weren't for the clear guidance of the Five Thunder Token, no one would have guessed that he was also a Daoist Quanzhen.

"Master Qingyuan is highly accomplished in Taoism, yet he still works in the fields, truly embodying the Tao of following nature," Gu Zhao praised.

Zhang Qingyuan shook his head, "I've done farm work my whole life, and I don't know how to do anything else."

"Oh?" Gu Zhao asked curiously, "Zhenwu Mountain is now thriving and growing. Hasn't Master Qingwei invited you to come out of the mountain to teach disciples?"

“Senior Brother Zhong has profound internal strength, and his disciples are all very capable. There’s no need for me.” Zhang Qingyuan’s eyes showed admiration, then he added, “Besides, life is so good now. Even if you painstakingly cultivate your internal strength, it’s really not that useful.” Gu Zhao suddenly realized, “So you’ve never taken on any disciples?”

Zhang Qingyuan shook his head. "No."

Gu Zhao understood. "You've been living in seclusion in this village for decades?"

Zhang Qingyuan nodded. "It's quite nice here."

Gu Zhao asked subconsciously, "Does Daoist Qingwei know that you have cultivated internal energy true qi?"

Zhang Qingyuan was taken aback by Gu Zhao's question. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I don't know."

Gu Zhao blinked, momentarily speechless.

Perhaps because they rarely interact with tourists, the tea farmers nearby immediately stood up for Gu Zhao when they saw him chatting with Zhang Qingyuan.

"Old Master Zhang has a very high seniority in Zhenwu Mountain. Even the junior Taoists in Baxian Palace have to call him 'Uncle-Master'."

"You know Master Zhong, right? He's been received by the boss, and he'll come to visit Master Zhang during the New Year."

"Old Master Zhang also knows Zhenwu martial arts. He practices his boxing every morning, and the sound he makes is so loud that you young people can't even do it."

Gu Zhao nodded repeatedly, "I believe you."

Compared to the Zhengyi School's practice of cultivating spirit and refining qi through meditation, the Quanzhen School shifted from external alchemy to internal alchemy, combining movement and stillness. The Sanfeng School, on the other hand, progressed from martial arts to the path of tranquility. Once empowered by internal energy, they became even more formidable in an era of scarce spiritual energy.

"What classic texts does the Taoist priest study, and what martial arts does he practice?" Gu Zhao asked.

"My master passed on to me the 'Three Heavens Enlightenment Skill' and the Longmen School's internal alchemy method." Master Qingyuan smiled shyly. "As for martial arts... everything else is minor. I'm only fairly proficient in Tai Chi Chuan and sword."

Gu Zhao's eyes flickered. "I also know a couple of Tai Chi moves, but I'm not very proficient. Could I ask you for some pointers?"

It has to be said that Tai Chi is now almost a standard practice in Taoist circles.

Qingcheng Mountain is also famous for Tai Chi Chuan and Tai Chi Sword, but only in recent decades, and it is not as famous as Zhenwu Mountain. Therefore, although Daoist Yansong and Daoist Yanling know them, they are not proficient.

Gu Zhao was the same, so his statement that he was not proficient was indeed true.

“Alright,” Master Qingyuan chuckled.

Master Qingyuan was delighted to have met a fellow practitioner, but he still cautiously cautioned, "I have never actually fought in a real battle; I just practiced the routines on my own."

Gu Zhao nodded and smiled, "If you were to actually fight, you could kill someone with a single punch."

"No, no, it's not that serious." Master Qingyuan quickly waved his hand and then said, "Let's go to my house, there's room in the backyard."

“Okay!” Gu Zhao readily agreed.

So the Taoist priest Qingyuan bid farewell to the tea farmers and took Gu Zhao and the two women home.

The tea farmers didn't care. Although they knew that Master Qingyuan was powerful, they didn't know the truth about his internal energy. Moreover, they had seen it for decades and it wasn't anything new to them, so they had no interest in watching the spectacle and left on their own.

The group arrived at Master Qingyuan's house. Master Qingyuan put down his hoe, went to the backyard, and stood facing Gu Zhao.

Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi stood to the side, their eyes fixed intently on the two of them.

"Go Gu Zhao!" Jiang Shishi whispered encouragement.

Xiao Ya tugged at Jiang Shishi's sleeve, "Master Zhang is in his forties, keep your voice down."

"It's nothing, it's nothing." Master Qingyuan chuckled sheepishly, waving his hands repeatedly before turning to Gu Zhao and extending his hands. "Shall we lend a hand first?"

Gu Zhao nodded. "Okay!"

(End of this chapter)