Dao Cheng Gui Xian

Chapter 288 Auspicious Signs Appear in the Sky, Set Sail for the Sea

Floating clouds drift, layer upon layer of mountains rise, and the earth gleams with a jade-like luster.

Every flower, every blade of grass, even the wind that travels through the air, carries a strange yet harmonious sense of stagnation.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out that this world was entirely made of porcelain.

Everything is made of porcelain, including the people walking between buildings!

In the architectural complex of the ceramic mountain, there is a large square paved with white porcelain, where many people are sitting.

A group of people in dark robes were drawing facial features on a ceramic figurine.

The ceramic figurines, their features painted on, are either satisfied or, while pulling at the person in the black shirt, constantly expressing their dissatisfaction.

"I just asked you to make your eyes a little rounder, not to make them look like turtle eyes, right? Can't you make them both round and big?"

"I clearly wanted a small, cherry-like mouth, how can I face anyone with this drawing?"

Just then, a sharp sound rang out from the sky, and the man in black robes and the ceramic figures in the square all looked up at the sky.

One of the nine vortexes that had been hanging high in the sky suddenly collapsed.

Everyone was shocked; the Mustard Seed Ferry had been closed?
Moreover, it doesn't look like the Venerable One turned it off on his own initiative; it seems to have been destroyed by an external force.

The square suddenly erupted in commotion. Suddenly, several beams of yellow light shot out from the ceramic mountain, and several ceramic figures, their bodies entirely covered in yellow ruyi patterns, floated above the white porcelain square, shouting:
"quiet!"

These people, gazing at the vortex above, also wore solemn expressions, but seemed to be fulfilling their duty by maintaining order in the area.

Just then, a cloud of blue-and-white porcelain quietly rose from the depths of the ceramic mountain, and on the cloud, a giant dragon, also made of ceramic, surged.

The dragon's roar echoed across the sky, reverberating in all directions.

"A major change is imminent. The Porcelain Venerable Sacred Domain will adjust one of the entrances to the main world. There is no need to panic!"

Upon hearing the dragon's roar, the ceramic figure with the auspicious pattern and the crowd in the square breathed a sigh of relief.

The dragon roamed the heavens and earth, spreading its message, and upon returning to the White Porcelain Mountain, it proclaimed once more:
"The Holy Maiden Liu Qingmei enters the Holy Mountain to meet the Holy Venerable One!"

The moment it finished speaking, it unleashed a dragon's roar and then flew into a large mountain to the right of the White Porcelain Plaza.

Before long, the giant dragon carried a figure that was quite different from the porcelain figure and flew into the depths of the mountains.

The White Porcelain Square erupted in noise once again.

"Has the Holy Maiden still not transformed into a porcelain body?"

"I heard that the Holy Maiden didn't want to change her porcelain body, and the porcelain statue followed her. She's truly blessed!"

"Didn't they say the attempt to overthrow Suspended Mountain had failed? I thought she was going to fall out of favor, but she's been summoned again?"

"Hey! Porcelain Venerable has long forgiven the Holy Maiden. He said that there were unexpected changes and it was not her fault. Even the painter Yan Qiubai from the painter lineage died, and the Puppet Daoist was also seriously injured."

"Then the Holy Maiden of Fushu will probably be dissatisfied again, right?"

"Shh!"

A porcelain figure with only half its face painted quickly covered its companion's mouth. A porcelain figure with yellow auspicious patterns appearing in the sky coldly surveyed the two and snorted:
"If you dare to spout nonsense again, you'll lose your heads!"

The two were instantly terrified and dared not utter another word.

Wufangcheng South City Low Hill

As we approach mid-November, the weather gradually turns cooler, but the afternoon sun is always pleasant.

Li Wushou was enjoying a rare moment of leisure on a recliner in the courtyard of the Three Immortals Pavilion.

The recliner beneath him was made by Niu Dan's father, the top carpenter in Aishan.

Half a month ago, when the other party was cutting pig feed, they unexpectedly discovered that Li Wushou had returned and insisted on giving it to Li Wushou to rest in. Before leaving, they also took the opportunity to remove the weeds in the Three Immortals Hall.

Li Wushou initially intended to refuse, but he actually thought that it would be good for some grass to grow.

But Niu Dan's father said excitedly, "No matter where the High Priest goes in the future, we people of Nancheng will remember his kindness more than the City God. It's just weeding. If we knew the High Priest would come back, this house would have been repaired long ago."

The people of Wufang City only knew that the High Priest had risked his life to enter the Land of Misfortune to collect incense offerings for Wufang City.

Later, Mu Chenghuang made meritorious contributions and stayed in Wangxian City. Many officials in Wufang City were rewarded, but the Grand Priest was missing. The people of Nancheng were secretly worried about the Grand Priest's situation.

It was only after someone inquired with Li Erniu that they received confirmation that the High Priest was doing well and was currently staying in Wangxian City with Mu Chenghuang, which put many people in the southern city at ease.

What was said in jest was taken seriously by the listener, making Xiao Panshan, who was inviting Li Wushou to rest at the Three Immortals Pavilion in Zhengcheng, somewhat embarrassed. At this moment, he had concealed his aura and was dressed in plain clothes, so even Niu Dan's father did not recognize him.

After Niu Dan's father left, Xiao Panshan quietly explained:
"High Priest, the treatment of the people of Nancheng was restored when you went to Wangxian City, and the City God Temple also made some compensation."

He was afraid that Niu Dan's father's words would make Li Wushou misunderstand that he had not appeased the people of Nancheng.

While others were unaware of the High Priest's current power, he had a vague sense of it.

When the High Priest entered the Five Directions City, Xiao Panshan saw a golden dragon and the Heavenly God Chi Xiu among the people who saw him off. As for the remaining few old men with an air of otherworldly wisdom, he did not recognize them.

But they must all be extraordinary. Just a glance from afar gave him a feeling of trembling. They could very well be Golden Core cultivators from the Suspended Mountain.

When he returned to Wufang City, the Dragon King and the Heavenly Gods appeared together to see him off.
Even now, Xiao Panshan still feels like he's in a dream.

Li Wushou nodded slightly and smiled as he looked at the cautious Xiao Panshan.

He was well aware of the improved living standards of the people in the south of the city. You could tell from the food everyone was eating; even the cows on the hill had gotten fatter, and some families were raising pigs.

Six months ago, if the other party had been raising pigs, unless his family of three guarded them day and night, they would have ended up in the belly of the Three Immortals Restaurant sooner or later.

Li Wushou didn't want to get involved in such matters, and if he brought it up today, it might not be a good thing for Nancheng.

Therefore, he only patted Xiao Panshan on the shoulder and praised him:
"Don't I know? City God Xiao is the most mature, and City God Liu previously told me to learn more from you."

These words moved Xiao Panshan, but also filled him with fear, and he exclaimed that he dared not accept them.

The High Priest seemed to have changed; he was much taller, but his aura was no longer as imposing as before, making him seem like an ordinary person.

But it seems like nothing has changed; he's still so approachable.

After chatting for a while, Li Wushou noticed that the twenty-four minor priests had arrived at the foot of the low mountain, so he simply asked them to come up and meet him.

Li Wushou also intended to return and see everyone, so he did not suppress the connection between the bloodlines. Otherwise, with his abilities, who could have detected his return to Wufang City?

For a time, apart from the Martial God who was still fighting in the Land of Misfortune and Mu Tong who was the City God in Wangxian City, the original forces of the City God Temple gathered on the low hill.

Oh! And there's also the City God Liu, who lives far away in the Immortal Mountain!

After exchanging pleasantries for half the night, Li Wushou refused the idea of ​​returning to Zhengcheng and stayed in the original dilapidated thatched hut of the Three Immortals Pavilion.

From then on, Chef Hu would arrive at the Sanxian Restaurant before dawn every day with his food cart and personally deliver all four meals to the gate.

Such a spectacle naturally did not escape the notice of the observant people of the South City; how could they not know that the legendary High Priest had returned?
Fearing to disturb the high priest, none of them went up the mountain to bother him. It wasn't until three days later that Li Erniu's family learned that Li Wushou had returned to the low hills of Nancheng.

The family of three immediately arrived at the Sanxian Restaurant with their bags.

Tiger has grown quite a bit taller. I heard he's learning Yin Arts from Xiao Panshan, but he seems to be quite discouraged.

Li Wushou naturally knew that Hu Zi's talent was average, but he still comforted him by saying: "Your teacher Xiao Panshan's talent was also average, but he still became the City God."
Tiger grinned after hearing this, and his confidence immediately increased. He said he would definitely train hard and not let his uncle Li Wushou down. He also said that when his master Xiao Panshan died, he would try to become the City God.

Li Erniu was furious, but Li Wushou praised Hu Zi for his ambition, which made Li Hu even more proud.

As the group was talking, Tiger's mother secretly glanced at Li Wushou and then her expression changed slightly, becoming somewhat uneasy.

Upon further inquiry, it was discovered that among the large and small bags they brought, besides the snacks that Li Wushou loved to eat, there were also more than a dozen pieces of clothing that she had made, suitable for all four seasons.

But when he arrived at the Three Immortals Pavilion, he suddenly realized that Li Wushou was a head taller than he remembered, so all the clothes he was wearing were too small.

Li Wushou looked at the several large bags of clothes and was somewhat moved.

He hadn't actually exchanged many words with this woman, but she had been repaying Li Wushou's kindness to her family in her own way.

In the end, Tiger's mother insisted on taking the clothes back. After staying up for three nights, Li Erniu and Li Hu brought them to him early in the morning.

Tiger's mother didn't come; Li Erniu said she was taking care of household chores.

For Li Wushou, whose spiritual power could cover twenty miles, a mere thought was enough to tell that the other person had collapsed from exhaustion, and that the maid at home was currently preparing medicinal porridge.

This left Li Wushou, who was somewhat indifferent at heart, feeling inexplicably emotional.

After seeing off Li Erniu and his son, Li Wushou put on the black and gold robe sewn by Hu Zi's mother, which gave him a more profound and noble air.

Lying on the recliner, after pondering for a long time, Li Wushou murmured to himself:
"Being a person isn't so bad after all?"

These words, though spoken softly, struck the old beggar like a thunderclap. Now that Li Wushou's physical body was complete, it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to see through Li Wushou's thoughts.

So much so that Li Wushou's words at this moment filled him with lingering fear.

When did I become so disillusioned with being a human being?

This made the old beggar extremely uncomfortable!
Fortunately, Tiger's mother lent a helping hand, which relieved the old beggar but also made him secretly wary, realizing he had been too relaxed in his vigilance.

After half a month of such ease and comfort, Li Wushou, who had been busy for half a year, seemed to have finally achieved the carefree life he had longed for, where he had no worries about food or drink. This made him somewhat immersed in it and unable to extricate himself.

But he knew that such days wouldn't last long.

In the past few days, Chi Xiu's gaze has been fixed on the Three Immortals Pavilion several times. Li Wushou knows that the other party actually wants to tell him that the Sea Patrol Envoy has sent a message to the Suspended Mountain urging the Heavenly God to go to Zhenhai City.

With only a little over a month left until the end of the year, and considering the journey already underway, there wasn't much time left before arriving in Zhenhai City.

A great change is imminent; such a day is ultimately an illusion.

To make such a life a reality, one still needs to work hard to become an immortal!

After enjoying the afternoon sun, Li Wushou slowly stood up from the recliner, composed himself, and carefully carried the recliner back to the thatched hut in the Three Immortals Pavilion. Then, he closed the courtyard gate and disappeared into the courtyard in a flash.

Chef Hu, who came to deliver the third meal in the afternoon, looked around the courtyard gate several times but did not hear the High Priest respond. At first, he just thought that the High Priest was not at home because he had something to do.

But when dinner was served and no one was there, Chef Hu panicked. Then he looked around and saw that the recliner in the yard was gone, and the thatched hut door, which was usually wide open, was closed properly. How could he not know that the High Priest had already left?
Xiao Panshan then came in person and finally confirmed the situation.

A sigh escaped his lips, a strange melancholy settling in his heart. He wondered when he would see the High Priest again after this parting.

Just as his thoughts were churning, the voice of the gods suddenly rang in his mind.

"Take good care of everything related to Fellow Daoist Li."

Fellow Daoist Li? Xiao Panshan was slightly taken aback, then realized that this was a way of addressing the High Priest?

Although Xiao Panshan felt that the gods' instructions were somewhat superfluous, he still respectfully complied.

Even without being given instructions, he has always been more concerned about the High Priest's affairs than about other matters.

At the same time, Xiao Panshan felt a deep respect for the High Priest. Even a god had to address him as a fellow Daoist?
As expected, the High Priest was outstanding wherever he went, just like when Liu Chenghuang was casting his golden statue, he spotted the High Priest in the crowd at a glance.

After a moment of recollection, Xiao Panshan inexplicably thought of the last time that the entire Five Directions City had been rewarded, and then realized why the details were so meticulous, even down to the conferment of titles on minor officials.

And the dozen or so aristocratic cultivators from Wangxian City who came to support Wufang City this time were so cooperative that Xiao Panshan almost mistook himself for someone who could rival the Dragon King.

Looking back now, it was all thanks to the High Priest!

Even the fact that Mu Chenghuang was able to stay in Wangxian City might be due to the influence of the High Priest.

What exactly did the High Priest do in Wangxian City to earn such a prestigious reputation?

Xiao Panshan was very curious. He planned to go to Wangxian City to see Mu Chenghuang and ask him some questions after the situation around him stabilized.

Now that the eerie fog has dissipated, although the people of the Land of Misfortune have submitted, many evil spirits still roam the land. In the past few days, the Martial God has been fighting like a madman to eliminate these evil spirits and to refine the Hundred Ghosts Domain.

Those cultivators from Wangxian City had already left the Five Directions and entered the original Misty Land to seek opportunities.

Xiao Panshan wasn't very enthusiastic about this. He preferred to stay in Wufang City for a couple of peaceful days. Besides, the new City God Seal was still being refined, so he couldn't leave for the time being.

next day
Above the suspended mountain, fluffy clouds drift by.

Several black donkeys, quite intelligent, helped the boy transport the goods.

On the sea cliff, there were two boats full of black donkeys. One boat died in the duel between Li Wushou and the porcelain vase. After Li Wushou salvaged the other boat, only seven or eight donkeys remained. They are now being raised on the suspended mountain to provide some labor.

At this moment, a blue-and-white porcelain sailboat is suspended in the air, with Yun Xusan's body transformed into a cloud supporting the hull.

Li Wushou, along with Chi Xiu, bid farewell to the two patriarchs, Fu and Kong, and the Dragon King, and boarded the blue-and-white porcelain sailboat.

The drifting clouds carried the blue-and-white porcelain sailboat westward!

As the morning sun shines, the clouds in the west glow with a golden-red hue, churning endlessly.

The two patriarchs of the floating sects and the Dragon King stood in the void, watching the blue-and-white porcelain sailboat sail away. When only a black dot remained, the Dragon King couldn't help but sigh:
"There are auspicious signs in the heavens. The High Priest's journey will surely be like a dragon emerging from the abyss, soaring straight up!"

The founders of the Floating and Void lineages nodded in agreement, sharing the same sentiment.

After some reflection, the three prepared to return to their respective floating islands to continue their cultivation.

Just then, the founder of the Kongzi lineage let out a soft exclamation, and the two looked over with some confusion.

"what happened?"

The patriarch of the Kongzi lineage shook his head and replied:
"It's nothing, I think I misread it."

He was somewhat speechless. Yunxu Sanren was, after all, a Nascent Soul cultivator. How could the blue-and-white sailboat he was carrying possibly fall into the sea?

(End of this chapter)