Dao Qi Wu Zang Guan Guan: I became a Daoist Master in the 1990s

Chapter 124 Northern Emperor's Magic
Qi Yun pushed open the door and got out of the car. Looking up, he couldn't help but secretly admire it.

Before me stood a majestic mountain gate, with double eaves and bracket sets, green tiles and red roofs, exuding an awe-inspiring atmosphere.

Above the gate hangs a huge plaque with the three characters "Qingyang Palace" written in vigorous strokes, shining brightly in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Stone lions stand on both sides of the mountain gate, weathered by wind and rain, bearing the marks of time, which only make them appear more ancient and weathered.

In front of the gate are dozens of wide bluestone steps, worn smooth and shiny by the footsteps of pilgrims coming and going.

The plaza below the steps is spacious, with several towering ancient trees that stand tall and provide ample shade, their branches gnarled and twisted, casting a green glow on the ground.

As a palace and temple that became a famous scenic spot in 1983, it was already past its opening hours, and ordinary tourists had long since left, so the palace gates should have been closed.

However, at this moment, the heavy vermilion gate was wide open, and three people were standing quietly waiting on the steps in front of it.

In the center was a woman in a well-tailored dark suit, around thirty-five or thirty-six years old. She was tall and slender, with a charming face that exuded a formidable competence and heroic spirit, and sharp eyes.

To her left was a young Taoist priest, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a handsome face, calm eyes, and holding a whisk, exuding an otherworldly air.

On the right is an old Taoist priest with white hair and beard, a kind face, wearing a slightly worn Taoist robe, and gentle eyes.

Seeing Qi Yun and the others get out of the car, the woman took the lead in greeting them, her steps were composed and her smile was polite.

Master Gongyang immediately introduced Qi Yun: "Master Qi, this is Captain Liu Lan, the person in charge of the Chuancheng Branch of Bureau 749."

Qi Yun nodded, extended his hand and gently shook hands with the other person, feeling that their fingers were slender yet strong.

"Captain Liu, thank you for waiting."

Liu Lan smiled gently, her voice clear and melodious: "Abbot Qi, you are too kind."

Your presence in Chuancheng is an honor for the Chuancheng branch. It is our duty to wait for you.” She turned her gaze to Song Wan behind Qi Yun, her smile deepening.

"Xiao Wan, you've finally escaped from your old man's clutches?"

"Very well, it's a rare opportunity to serve Abbot Qi; we must seize it and work diligently."

Song Wan respectfully replied, "Yes, Captain Liu! I will do my best."

Master Gongyang continued the introduction: "Abbot, this is my second junior brother, whose Taoist name is Yuncheng." The young Taoist stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "May the Heavenly Venerable grant you boundless blessings. I am Yuncheng, and I greet Abbot Qi."

"This is my third junior brother, whose Taoist name is Yunyuan. He is also the chief steward of secular affairs in the palace, and he is in charge of the incense and money bags."

The old Taoist priest chuckled, stepped forward, bowed, and said in a humorous yet friendly tone: "This humble Taoist, Yunyuan, greets the Abbot."

"Master, you have come a long way and must be tired. Please come inside and rest."

Daoist Yunyuan was very old, but Qi Yun, as the abbot of the Five Organs Temple and a director of the Xuan Yi Alliance, was of the same generation as the master of Qingyang Palace.

This made him feel awkward in front of Qi Yun, as he could only refer to himself as a minor Taoist. However, as a Taoist, he was indifferent to fame and fortune.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the group, accompanied by Liu Lan, Xuan Cheng, and Yun Yuan, entered the Qingyang Palace.

The palace is filled with ancient trees, magnificent halls, and a rigorous layout.

They passed by the main halls, including Lingzu Hall, Hunyuan Hall, Bagua Pavilion, Sanqing Hall, and Doumu Hall.

At each place he visited, Yunyuan would recount its history, architectural features, and the deities worshipped there with great familiarity.

The golden light of the setting sun shines on the glazed tile roof, the coiled dragon stone pillars, and the mottled murals, as if gilding this temple with a sacred glow.

Bronze sheep, iron tripods, stone inscriptions, couplets... every object and scene carries the weight of time and vicissitudes.

As Qi Yun walked through the area, he learned from Daoist Yun Yuan that Qingyang Palace was divided into two sections, front and back.

The front area was where they were passing by at this moment. It was open to the public, welcoming pilgrims from all directions, with the sounds of bells and the aroma of food, and the bustling activity of cooking.

The rear area is located deep within the palace and temple complex, with a separate entrance. It is the place where the true disciples of Qingyang Palace who have received their ordination reside, practice their skills, and live in seclusion. The environment is extremely quiet and secluded, and it is not usually open to the public.

After the tour, everyone passed through a moon gate and entered the rear area.

Sure enough, the scenery suddenly changed. The hustle and bustle of the front area was gone, replaced by a secluded courtyard, shaded by pines and bamboos, with simple and clean houses. Only the faint scent of sandalwood and the rustling of the wind through the bamboo could be heard, instantly calming the mind. Dinner was served in an elegant vegetarian hall. The dishes were all light and vegetarian, without any meat, yet they were exquisitely prepared and delicious. The rice was fragrant, the vegetables were fresh and tender, the tofu was soft and smooth, and the soup was warm and comforting, offering a unique flavor.

Everyone ate in silence, creating a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.

After finishing the vegetarian meal, Liu Lan got up to take her leave. She was busy and could not stay long. She once again expressed her welcome to Qi Yun and gave Song Wan a few words of encouragement before Yun Yuan saw her off.

Afterwards, Qi Yun and Song Wan were led to a quiet and elegant guest house to settle down.

The courtyard was small, but it was kept extremely clean, and the interior was furnished with simple yet complete antique-style furniture.

After settling in briefly, Qi Yun spoke frankly to Daoist Gongyang: "Daoist Gongyang, I have long been interested in the Daoist Canon. May I go and read it now?"

Master Gongyang smiled and agreed, “Of course. Abbot, please come with me.”

After saying that, he led Qi Yun through several courtyards to a hall with a plaque that read "Scripture Repository".

Stepping inside, the scene is quite different from the rustic style of the exterior.

The interior is spacious and bright, incorporating many modern library design elements:

Rows of tall, solid wood bookshelves are neatly arranged, with soft LED light strips above them; reading tables and soft chairs are placed between the bookshelves.

It contains a large collection of modern printed, finely bound Daoist canons and research works, as well as a special area for thread-bound ancient books. There are even a few rare and unique copies preserved in the form of jade slips and silk books, which are carefully displayed in specially made temperature-controlled glass cabinets.

The Essentials of the Mysterious Capital, the Great Law of the Supreme Purity and the Spiritual Treasure, Supplement to the Seven Tablets of the Cloudy Bookcase, A Study of the Zhengyi Talismans of Longhu Mountain, and Commentary on the Golden Elixir and the Covenant of the Three Realms...

Many familiar and unfamiliar names of scriptures came into view.

"Please make yourself at home, Abbot. I will wait outside the door. If you need anything, just call me." Master Gongyang bowed and quietly withdrew to the door.

Qi Yun nodded his thanks, then his eyes flashed like lightning as he quickly scanned the rows of bookshelves.

Soon, he stopped in a section where ancient books were kept. He carefully took out a thread-bound book with yellowed paper and badly torn edges. The words on the cover were blurred and difficult to read, but the ink on the inner pages was still intact.

He gently brushed away the dust and examined it closely by the lamplight.

The text in the book is handwritten with a brush, the strokes vigorous and powerful, carrying a sense of solemnity, and recounts the past of the Northern Emperor Sect:
The lineage of the Northern Emperor originated in the Northern Sui Dynasty.

Master Ziyang, a man of high moral character and profound virtue, lived in seclusion in Magu Cave Heaven of Black Mountain Prefecture, where he cultivated himself in solitude for many years.

One day, blood began to seep from the cracks in the cave wall like a spring, winding into the shape of writing. It was the supreme secret chapter for summoning ghosts and gods and slaying demons and ghosts. Every word was crimson and eye-catching.

The sage, sensing the celestial signs, comprehended the true meaning of the Northern Emperor's ruthless and decisive nature.

He later emerged from seclusion to assist the dynasty, suppressing the rebellious army and demonic forces with swift and decisive measures. He was awarded the title of Celestial Master for his meritorious service and received great honors.

He then established his ancestral temple on Mount Magu, sculpted the Dharma body of the Northern Emperor, founded a sect, and was known as the "Northern Emperor," also called "Fengdu."

Its methods are based on the Fengdu Black Law and Yin Thunder Qi, wielding the power of Heaven and Earth to kill, using killing to stop killing, acting as Heaven's representative to carry out punishments, and in charge of impeaching ghosts and commanding gods. It is the righteous path of the Mingwei Shangqing and the standard of the Xuanmen.

It inherits the Great Demon-Slaying Technique of the Northern Emperor, and the Supreme God's Incantation is used to slay demons in the underworld, its power shaking the universe.

During the Yuan Dynasty, Emperor Wuzong issued an edict banning the practice of the Black Law, destroying the ancestral temple of Magu, and thus severing the lineage of the Dharma.

Alas! The glorious and righteous law was extinguished by the hands of barbarian rulers.

Although the laws have been lost, the techniques have not been eradicated and have spread among the people. Unfortunately, there are no imperial edicts to rely on, and no fundamental laws to continue them. They are left with only talismans and magical tricks, which are used by rural shamans to pretend to be gods and ghosts. It is truly lamentable!
I have come across this incomplete method by chance, and I am filled with sorrow and regret. I have specially recorded its fragments and attached a brief description of a talisman, a method, and an altar to preserve its meaning and enlighten future generations, so that the hard work of our ancestors will not be wasted.

Upon seeing this, Qi Yun felt a surge of excitement and couldn't wait to flip to the next page.

However, the next page, where the talisman should have been drawn, was roughly torn off, leaving only jagged edges.

The next page records the techniques for setting up the altar, but it is also mostly damaged and difficult to decipher.

Only the last page records a complete spell, named:

Nine Netherworld Thread Seal!
(End of this chapter)