Cursed Mountains and Seas

Chapter 360 The Great Immortal of the Spirit Platform, a Nestorian Cultist from Guishan (4400)

At this moment, the entire state guesthouse was plunged into an unknown state where reality and illusion intertwined, and the boundary between fantasy and reality was shattered.

clang clang clang.
Amidst the dazzling light, the majestic Buddhist bell of Mount Ling in the Western Paradise was struck forcefully by the Dharma Protectors, and countless colorful apsaras showered down flowers from the sky.

The Eastern Heavenly Court opened its gates, and immortals rode dragons, cranes, and clouds, circling the heavens. Heavenly music resounded, and golden springs gushed from the earth.

Beneath the Nine Netherworlds, fiery red spider lilies sway in the wind, and countless underworld officials and generals bow deeply before this place.
All this is to congratulate those who have ascended to godhood!

In the center of that illusory world, Flower Fruit Mountain suddenly pierced the clouds, a stubborn rock exploded with a deafening roar that could be heard for miles, and golden light shot straight into the sky, visible throughout almost the entire East Sea Kingdom.

At the same time, in the edition of *Journey to the West: The Tale of the Monkey King*, published today throughout the Confucian cultural sphere, Wu Cheng'en's joyful voice also resounded:
"My path has been completed!"

This man did not need to cultivate a large number of believers to follow him like others, nor did he need a third-rank official position granted by the imperial court, nor did he need a powerful backer.

The exquisite fragrance of ink and paper, along with the wishes of every reader, converged on the author Wu Cheng'en through each novel.

Many scholars, literati, and storytellers who were browsing in the bookstores suddenly turned their heads to look at the new books that still smelled of fresh ink.

His face was filled with unbelievable ecstasy:
"We're incredibly lucky! We've actually encountered the masterpiece that elevates a novelist to the status of a living god?!"

"I heard that the first batch of printed editions has been refined by the ascension rituals of living ghosts and gods and the power of incense and vows, and can ward off evil spirits if placed at home."

Those with exceptional comprehension may acquire the extraordinary skills and techniques within the book, and through this opportunity, it's not impossible to even become a disciple of that living deity. Hurry and grab it!

"Hey buddy, pack up all the copies of 'Journey to the West' in the store!"

Without any deliberate publicity, the extraordinary phenomenon of Wu Cheng'en's ascension to godhood alone caused a stir among all the bookstores under the Shidetang name.

The first batch of fantasy novels printed were snapped up in an instant.

Storytellers from all over the country seized the opportunity and began telling stories in teahouses and restaurants before the second batch of novels arrived.

Using ventriloquism to confuse the audience's senses, the performance of Journey to the West: The Monkey King's Tale of the Monkey King was so immersive that it was even more exciting and shocking than the movie, causing a sensation that drew huge crowds to the streets.

The fourth-grade magic talisman [Du Zhang Bi Yin Lu] within Wu Cheng'en's body also transformed into a bright red divine decree amidst the prayers of the masses!

The Earth Official bestowed upon him a unique divine title—【Lingtai Dajue Xian】.

Anyone who has read or heard his novels will naturally know this divine title and subconsciously recite it: "The Great Immortal of the Spirit Platform".

I immediately felt my mind clear and my thoughts flowed freely, as if I had accidentally obtained a masterpiece, and I couldn't wait to turn the illusory inspiration into a real work.

This is the unique power Wu Cheng'en gained after ascending to the status of a living ghost or deity—to transform the false into the real.

It can bridge the gap between the mind and reality, helping ordinary people to transform their thoughts and ideas into tangible works without any compromise.

If a Shinto official who is also a novelist silently recites this name, even if he opens three or five novels at once, he can write with a constant flow of inspiration and never get stuck on a story.

Standing in front of the state guesthouse, Wang Cheng watched the figure gradually emerge from the golden light and couldn't help but feel admiration:

"Old Wu's promotion is far more impressive than the Alchemist Leon I met back then."

This is related to the novelist's ability to blend reality and fiction. With just a little skill, he can create extraordinary visual effects. It is also related to his use of literature to convey the Dao, and his creation of a path to enlightenment through "Journey to the West".

One of the two founders of the Dao in this world should have some prestige.

It's just unknown how many people will ultimately be able to glean any essence of internal alchemy from "Journey to the West: The Tale of the Monkey King".

Of course, even if you understand it, it's all for nothing without the life-force resources outside the wall.

Wang Cheng, through Wu Cheng'en's power to "transform the fake into the real," also gained some insights.

The alchemy and true qi circulated on their own, and in an instant, based on his own [Dragon Tiger Yin Yang School], he comprehended an auxiliary method to restore injuries by harmonizing yin and yang.

Without the resources of martial arts immortals outside the wall, it can also stimulate the self-healing ability of living people to slowly heal physical and spiritual injuries.

Wang Cheng didn't expect that Lao Wu's breakthrough would bring an unexpected surprise.

"Indeed, indeed. The initial purpose of providing materials to the Lord of the State and testing the external alchemy method was to heal Master's injuries. It has been verified that external alchemy containing immortal poison is definitely no longer safe to consume."

If the east side is dark but the west side is bright, you can ask your master to try this method.

If this injury can be healed, and you join my sect with your master's wife, the path to the Golden Elixir will be within reach.

Master is only forty-two years old, the prime of his life, it would be such a waste for him to be living a life of leisure in Yuegang.

Soon, the red divine decree in mid-air fell back into the figure on the ground.

As the opening poem began, the figure stepped out of the state guesthouse, which was bathed in golden light:
"I came from the west with my staff to pay homage to the Dharma King, wishing to spread the wondrous scriptures far and wide. The golden fungus and the three auspicious signs grace the poetry world, and the precious tree with its thousand flowers and fragrant lotus stamens."

"One must strive to reach the top of a hundred-foot pole, and establish one's practice throughout the ten directions. Having cultivated a majestic and dignified body, the gates of ultimate bliss are the place of enlightenment."

After the Buddha's light subsided, a hermit monk appeared, dressed in a tattered patchwork robe and holding a staff.

With hands forming the meditation mudra, recite the verse again in a low voice:
"Stabilize the mind like a monkey and you will attain enlightenment; tether the will like a horse and you will transform into a dragon. Abstain from greed and lust, these are the eight precepts; abstain from killing and delusion, this is enlightenment."

With body and mind pure like the Tathagata, the heart's destination is the Western Paradise! Hah!

With a slight sway, his body instantly multiplied into five.

Before them stood a man with a gaunt face, a pointed mouth, and a small, less than four-foot-tall monkey-like body, yet he wore golden armor and wielded the Ruyi Jingu Bang (a magical staff).

He looked up, grinned, and exuded a terrifying aura of fighting against heaven and earth.

The second man had a filthy lotus seedpod hanging down from his mouth, ears like palm-leaf fans revealing golden eyes, fangs as sharp as steel files, and a long mouth that opened like a brazier. He held a gleaming nine-toothed rake in his hand.

The third person had a head of fiery red hair, two round eyes that shone like lamps, a face that was neither black nor blue, and a voice like thunder and drums. He held a Solo staff in his hand.

The last one is a magnificent white horse, as majestic as a dragon.

The five people stood together, exuding a fierce and unstoppable aura that shot straight into the sky, as if to tear a huge hole in the heavens.

He doesn't give the impression of being a kind and benevolent monk from Journey to the West.

Instead, Tang Sanzang, Sun Xingzhe, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujin all teamed up to perform:
"You three, search carefully for your master along the way," "Bajie, step back behind your master," "Pick up the scriptures, pick up the scriptures."
It's unclear whether it's because Wang Cheng participated in the finalization of the novel and infused his own ideas and insights into it.

It unexpectedly aligns with Wu Cheng'en's obsession: to pursue the Great Dao, to pave a new path for all living beings, to cleanse the world of evil, and to prevent the tragedy of Shen Kun from repeating itself.

This is not over yet.

A tangible aura rose up, outlining majestic and awe-inspiring phantoms of gods and Buddhas behind him, as if a single thought could break through the barrier between reality and illusion and descend to the mortal realm.

Wang Cheng, relying on the rarity and value of the commodity, immediately saw the Doubu Divine Power that Wu Cheng'en had developed based on his own power—[Dou Zhan Ling Xiao].

Besides the four travelers and their horse, they can also summon all the gods and Buddhas who protected them on their journey to the West to aid them in battle:
The Five Directions Protectors, the Four Duty Officers, the Six Ding and Six Jia, the Eighteen Guardian Deities, the Twenty-Eight Constellations, the Thunder God and Lightning Goddess, the Wind Goddess and Rain Master, Nezha, Erlang Shen, and Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King.
Old Wu alone can deliver an unforgettable and exhilarating eighty-one tribulations to his opponent! You ask why a group of gods and Buddhas would send eighty-one tribulations?
Well, then we'll have to ask those monsters with powerful backers.

Wu Cheng'en swayed, and all the gods and Buddhas returned to the world in the book, while he himself transformed back into the old man in green robes.

Although he is not a high-ranking official, he is well-versed in Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Once he reaches a certain level of mastery, he may not be inferior to Han Qinyu, the Prince of Guangze, who uses the "Three Worlds Wise King Body" to cultivate all three schools.

Upon seeing Wang Cheng, Wu Cheng'en immediately stepped forward to express his gratitude:

"If it weren't for your kindness, my brother, I would probably still be living in a daze, unable to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and I would certainly not have the good fortune I have today."

This time, I've successfully fulfilled my mission, breaking through to the upper three ranks before the treasure ship's fleet sailed to the Western Ocean.

After Wang Cheng took on the task of building the naval fleet, he discussed with Wu Cheng'en the possibility of inviting him to Southeast Asia to help.

This time, not only will the imperial court assemble a naval force, but his Four Seas Trading Company and United Fruit Company will also organize a massive fleet to accompany them, take over the territory conquered by the treasure ship fleet, and grab the biggest slice of the pie.

Having been well-fed and pampered for so long, Wu Cheng'en was worried that he would be of no use to the Donghai Kingdom, so he readily agreed without any hesitation.

Successfully breaking through to the upper three ranks greatly improves the safety of operations.

Wang Cheng didn't stand on ceremony with him:

"Brother Wu, you've worked hard."

This time, I would like to trouble you to accompany the fleets of our two companies, as well as the treasure ships of the eighth voyage to the Western Ocean.

Please pay special attention to this: Wang Fugui, the magistrate of Xuanwei, is a sworn brother of mine; I request your assistance in keeping a close watch on him.

Wu Cheng'en, of course, understood the weight of the phrase "friends for life," and his expression turned serious:
"Don't worry about my duties, my dear brother."

Wang Cheng's accumulated connections and influence over the past period have gradually borne fruit, finally giving him the qualifications to leave the beginner village and break out of the East Sea, the weakest sea.

Moreover, Wu Cheng'en's value far exceeded his own expectations.

The Francois' direct rule, which came at enormous cost, was Colonialism 1.0; the indirect rule handed over to Britannia's agents was Colonialism 2.0; and Wu Cheng'en, the novelist, was the key driving force behind Wang Cheng's vision of Colonialism 3.0 and even 4.0.

It can attract elites from various countries to bring their own provisions and plundered wealth to the embrace of the East Sea Kingdom, a "beacon of civilization," allowing them to reap the benefits without the need for military colonization.

"Old Wu, once our industrial strength rises, it won't be a dream for the whole world to speak Chinese."

Unfortunately, not all the news was good for Wang Cheng.

The outskirts of Yujing City.

In the misty rain, a small temple stands quietly in the mountains of Fangshan County.

The main body of the exterior resembles a local Buddhist site, but there are differences in the details.

The screen wall with a cross-shaped openwork, the inscribed Nestorian Stele, and the fact that there is a cross instead of gods or Buddhas in the main hall prove that this is an ancient cross temple!
Contrary to popular belief, the Church of the Holy Cross did not enter China by sea with the opening of the Great Exploration of the East and West; it had already been introduced during the Tang Dynasty.

It was originally founded by Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople in the Eastern Roman Empire, in 428 AD, and entered China via Persia and overland routes.

The biggest difference between this sect and the one in my hometown is that in order to adapt to China, it allows the worship of ancestors and advocates vegetarianism.

Nestorianism, also known as the Nestorian branch of the Holy Cross Church, was one of the "Three Foreign Religions" of the Tang Dynasty, along with Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism, which were also introduced to China at the time.

It experienced periods of rise and fall during the Tang and Song dynasties and the Yunmeng period. It reached its peak during the Yunmeng era due to the popularity among the Semu people, but has now declined to its lowest point.

This temple, located on the outskirts of the capital, was originally built during the Jin Dynasty and was initially a Buddhist temple named Chongsheng Temple.

During the Tang Dynasty, the temple was converted into a Nestorian Christian temple. During the Liao Dynasty, it was converted back into a Buddhist temple. During the Yunmeng Empire, it was rebuilt again, and Emperor Shun named it the Cross Temple, thus reviving the Nestorian tradition.

Inside the chapel, a slender figure held the rosary, a symbol of the Church of the Holy Cross, and turned it continuously while silently reciting scriptures.

His body radiated a vast inner light, permeated with golden sacred characters, representing his transcendent realm as a third-rank living deity.

Yet he resonated with a faint holy light emanating from the cross, proving that he was a devout believer.

The scribe knelt on the ground and prayed to the one God of the church:
"Lord, the world is full of hardships, and we have paid a great price for the survival of the gentry class."

Last year, we ambushed and attacked Prince Jinghai with two "divine constables". Two of our comrades died in battle, and I have just recovered from my injuries.

This year, the book club attempted to assassinate the sect leader, lost three fellow members in battle, and even their leader, Lichun, was seriously injured.

When will the Lord's salvation come?

At that time, several living ghosts and gods of the third rank, together with two third-rank "divine constables" from the Provincial Surveillance Commission who were urgently dispatched by Wang Bengu, besieged Prince Jinghai.

Even with thorough preparations and a large number of temple soldiers and ghost soldiers forming a battle array using secret military strategies, Wang Zeng was successfully killed. However, two living ghosts and gods were killed in battle, and the rest were seriously injured (Chapter 177).

This person was one of them, and the only survivor among the core members of the Guishan Book Club.

His ancestral home was in Quanzhou, and he joined the siege when he returned to his hometown to observe mourning for his parents. He was lucky enough to survive thanks to the relics left behind by the Nestorian Church.

Now that the mourning period has ended and he has returned to the capital, he needs to report to the Ministry of Personnel. After passing the review, he will wait for a new appointment, so he will temporarily stay in this cross temple.

He finished his daily prayer, stood up, and sighed softly.
"When will our Holy Cross Church flourish in China? How can we enlighten the masses to convert to our Lord?"
In my view, the most perfect thing about the Holy Cross world is that the Church is supreme, the monarch's power is limited, and there are no peasant uprisings, which are the most detested by us gentry and nobles.

People intermarried with each other, living in harmony and happiness. Many noble families have been able to continue for thousands of years and remain standing.

Ah! If only China could become like this.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name! Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!

His words carried a sense of superiority, as if he were the only one who was sober while everyone else was drunk, and an undisguised arrogance.

This also fully exposes his academic views:

"To interpret Christianity with Confucianism, to supplement the king's rule, to influence Confucianism, and to correct Buddhism," attempting to supplement or even correct the "deficiencies" of Confucianism and Buddhism with the doctrines of the Holy Cross Church.

Unfortunately, his doctrines were even more clandestine than those of the Guishan Academy. If they were exposed, they would likely be attacked by all three ranks of officials.

They could only secretly relieve their distress before God, daring not to tell anyone. They only hoped that the Franks and the East Bharata parish could invade soon and help them establish an earthly kingdom that was incomparably wonderful for gentlemen and nobles.

Whoosh!
Suddenly, two beams of light shot into the chapel, which he caught in his palms.

A document from the Ministry of Personnel appeared, announcing his new appointment after the end of his mourning period:
"The deputy envoy protecting the treasure ship fleet on its eighth voyage to the Western Ocean."

One of the tasks came from Guishan Bookstore and was the one he needed to complete next:

"Seize the opportunity to contact the Church of the Holy Cross of France, murder the Xuanwei Envoy Wang Fugui, and seize the elixir of immortality for the Guishan Bookstore!"

(End of this chapter)