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

Chapter 22 The Grand Ritual of Luo Tian
As the thunderous sound of the spleen opening dissipated within his body, Qi Yun slowly exhaled a long, hot breath of turbid air from his chest.

The turbid air condensed into a thin white ribbon in the cool air, then dissipated in an instant.

After a night of turmoil, Qi Yun hadn't slept much, but at this moment, he felt not tired at all, but rather invigorated, radiating a profound and tranquil energy.

Even the gray-blue sky light filtering through the crack in the door looked exceptionally clear.

Sunlight forced its way in through the gap in the broken window frame, its gray-white tinged with a cold blue, slanting across the edge of the earthen bed, casting half of Qi Yun's body in shadow.

He sat on the bench, picked up the rough earthenware bowl, and took a sip of overnight cold water. The cold water washed over his throat, and he felt refreshed all over.

"The heart orifice has only been open for a day, and now the spleen orifice has opened as well. At this rate, the Five Organs Fist technique will probably be mastered in just a few days?"

Qi Yun thought to himself with a sense of satisfaction.

As dawn broke, the furnishings inside the house began to appear indistinct outlines.

Qi Yun looked at the bluish-gray light shining through the window paper.

The old Taoist priest has not returned yet. Could it be that he is still in the city, searching for the escaped ghost infant?
The thought had barely formed when my ear twitched.

A faint sound of footsteps was heard outside the door.

"Squeak." The door hinges made a rough sound.

Xuanji Zi rushed in, his clothes damp with dew and chilly air. The hem of his Daoist robe was covered in mud and bits of grass, and the cuffs were torn in several places, revealing the grayish lining underneath.

He looked up and saw Qi Yunduan sitting at the table, a hint of tired approval flashing in his eyes: "You're quite diligent, getting up so early."

Qi Yun quickly got up, picked up the rough earthenware pot from the table, poured a bowl of water, and handed it to him: "Master, you've worked hard. That thing..."

The old Taoist took the bowl, not minding its coldness, and gulped it down in a few mouthfuls. His Adam's apple bobbed, and water droplets dripped down his white beard.

He wiped his mouth, his brows furrowed with an unyielding sense of unease.

"It was incredibly slippery! We chased it all the way to the stinking ditch at the foot of the south city wall. The stench was overwhelming, a mixture of the filth of the living and the stench of the dead, which completely masked any ghostly aura."

They spent the entire night circling that ditch, but besides being covered in stench, they found nothing!

He slammed the earthenware bowl down on the table with a loud thud, the veins on the back of his withered hand bulging slightly. "Once this thing takes hold, it's like a disease rooted in the intestinal tract; it's difficult to remove! But this is Qingyang City, and this old Taoist priest can't afford to delay any longer!"

"What is the purpose of Master's descent from the mountain? Is it something so urgent?"

Qi Yun then asked.

Xuanjizi took a deep breath, his cloudy eyes revealing an unusual solemnity, as if he wanted to pierce through the roof of the dilapidated inn and look towards the distant sky.

"Qingwei Mountain, Luotian Grand Ritual!"

He uttered those five words with a deep, resonant tone, carrying the weight of an ancient ritual.

Qi Yun was also startled upon hearing this!
The Grand Ritual of Luo Tian? He knew about that!

The Luotian Grand Ritual is the largest, highest-ranking, and most solemn ritual for worshipping Heaven in Taoist fasting and sacrificial ceremonies.

Luotian refers to the highest and most expansive celestial realm in Taoism, namely "Da Luotian".

This ceremony is only held to pray for the country and to ward off major disasters such as natural calamities, wars, and man-made calamities.

The ceremony is extremely complex and usually takes place for 49 consecutive days, involving a large number of high-ranking priests.

It requires the construction of a large-scale, complex altar to enshrine a large number of deity tablets.

It includes numerous procedures such as chanting scriptures, repentance rituals, performing rituals, using talismans, presenting petitions, playing music, burning incense, and making offerings, each with strict regulations.

It is extremely costly and requires a large amount of human, material, and financial resources.

"The Celestial Master of this era, Master Shouyi, the leader of the Qingwei Sect, felt that the world was in turmoil, war was breaking out everywhere, and people were suffering like boiling water poured on snow. Evil spirits and demonic energy spread like wildfire."

This is a sign of disorder in the universe and a reversal of yin and yang!

Therefore, with great vows, we initiated the Grand Ritual in Luotian, gathering the elites of all Taoist sects to ascend the altar and perform rituals. We reported to the Heavenly Emperor above and to the Earth God below, praying for supreme blessings to cleanse the universe, purify the evil influences, and restore the order of Yin and Yang!

This is an immense act of merit, granting a glimmer of hope for the common people and a place for them to breathe!

His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a resounding bell, shaking the dust in the humble room.

Qi Yun felt a chill run down his spine. The four characters "Luo Tian Da Jiao" seemed to carry an invisible thunderous force, pressing down heavily.

“The Five Organs Temple is located in a remote area, and information is slow to arrive. By the time the Dharma message is received, the time is extremely fast approaching.”

The old Taoist sighed, his wrinkles deepening. "If it weren't for that, why would I have taken such a risk and used that ghostly 'shortcut' to get here?"
Entering this place by mistake is extremely dangerous; a single misstep could lead to utter ruin!

However, the Grand Ritual of Luotian is a grand event of Taoism, concerning the fate of the world. As the abbot of the Five Organs Temple, I, the old Taoist, have an inescapable responsibility. Even if it means facing mountains of knives and seas of fire, I must personally go to the altar to do my part and fulfill my duty!

His thin back stood ramrod straight, and even his tattered Taoist robe couldn't conceal his resolute spirit. Then, his straight back hunched slightly, turning into an even heavier sigh, "But this Qingyang City... alas! In the end, it has left behind a seed of disaster!"

Seeing how much he cared for the ghost infant that he had casually burned, Qi Yun felt a strange mix of emotions. He wanted to tell him the truth, but swallowed the words back.

This matter involves the Immortal Flame and is far too shocking. Revealing it now would only increase the uncertainty.

He could only comfort him by saying, "Master cares about all living beings. That ghost was seriously injured last night and may have already fled to another place. It may not dare to stay in Qingyang for long to cause trouble."

Xuanjizi waved his hand, clearly not letting it go. His gaze fell on Qi Yun, and he asked, "After all that commotion last night, you seem quite energetic this morning. Did you practice the Five Internal Organs Fist diligently?"

"Yes." Qi Yun nodded.

"Hmm!" The old Taoist priest showed a forced sense of relief. "Diligence is a good thing."

This style of boxing is the foundation for strengthening the body and cultivating vitality. It strengthens muscles and bones externally, contains the five elements internally, and harmonizes the yang energy of the internal organs. It is the orthodox method of our Taoist school for building a solid foundation.

However, don't be impatient. This fist technique may seem simple, but it actually affects the five internal organs and draws qi into the body. It is not something that can be mastered overnight.

"If you can open three acupoints in your internal organs within six months and guide Qi into your body, you will have passed the initial threshold and are worthy of further cultivation. At that time, I, the old Taoist, will formally accept you as my disciple and pass on the true teachings of the Five Organs Observation Taoist Method."

Half a year? Three orifices?
Qi Yun's heart skipped a beat. His heart and spleen were now connected, making this "threshold" seem like nothing at all.

An impulse surged up my throat, almost escaping my lips.

But seeing the old Taoist's tired yet earnest eyes, the words caught in her throat. Too fast, faster than a human, faster than a demon.

He lowered his eyes and stared at his hands resting on his knees, his fingers evenly spaced, brimming with the strength of new life.

Fine, I'll endure it for two more days. I'll just say that I've had a breakthrough, which is considered "rapid progress" and won't be too alarming.

"Disciple understands, will certainly..." Qi Yun's words were cut short.

"Clang, clang, clang—whoosh, whoosh—!"

A piercing, broken gong sound, mixed with a hoarse, off-key suona whistle, ripped through the still-chilly morning light outside the window like a rusty saw, rudely crashing into the inn!
The sound was rough and abrupt.

Both master and disciple were taken aback.

Immediately afterwards, the stair treads were pounded loudly by several feet, thumping like drums!
"boom!"

The door was suddenly pushed open with such force that it slammed against the earthen wall and bounced back, sending down a few wisps of accumulated dust.

The man in the lead was around forty years old, with a sallow face, puffy eyes, and three deep, etched lines between his brows.

He wore a slightly worn parrot-green official robe, the mandarin duck patches on the front and back of his robe were worn and faded, but the starching still made them stiff.

It was Sun Maocai, the magistrate of Qingyang County.

Two constables followed closely behind him, dressed in black robes and boots, with iron rulers at their waists, their faces also covered in the oil and sweat of staying up all night and pale with shock.

Magistrate Sun's gaze, sharp as a hook, instantly fixed on Xuanjizi. Before he could even catch his breath, he stepped forward, clasped his hands above his head, and bowed deeply to the old Taoist priest, the hem of his parrot-green robe almost brushing against the dust on the ground.

"This humble official, Sun Maocai, the magistrate of Qingyang County, pays his respects to the True Man!"
"Disturbing the imperial procession is a capital offense, a capital offense!"

His voice was urgent, trembling as he tried to suppress it.

Xuanji Zi sat upright on the bench, his eyelids slightly raised, his gaunt face revealing neither joy nor anger. He simply said indifferently, "May the Heavenly Venerable grant you boundless blessings. Why is Lord Sun acting this way?"

Magistrate Sun straightened up, the forced composure on his face instantly crumbling, replaced by anxiety and fear: "I dare not deceive you, Master! My Qingyang County... has suffered a great calamity!"

Recently, demons and ghosts have been running rampant, and they are extremely ferocious!

The elderly couple who ran the "Ping An Inn" on Shili Slope outside the city died tragically, barely recognizable as human!

People in the city have also gone missing one after another, neither alive nor dead!

The day before yesterday, a patrol team of five men, along with their fire sticks and lanterns, vanished without a trace!

All that was found in the back alley of the City God Temple was half a torn piece of soap and a puddle... a puddle of foul-smelling slime!

His throat bobbed, his voice choked, as if the stench of the viscous fluid had once again rushed into his nostrils: "This humble official... Although this humble official is paid by the emperor, he is but a mortal with flesh and bones. How can he deal with such a ferocious demon?"

The entire government office was already in a state of panic!

Fortunately, Heaven took pity on us, and the immortal chariot arrived in Qingyang at this very moment!

This is the lifeline of our entire city!

He suddenly bowed again, bending even deeper, "This humble official dares to plead with you, Immortal, with tears in his eyes!"
Considering the suffering and devastation in the city, I took action to eliminate this monster and restore peace to Qingyang!
On behalf of the elders of the entire county, I, Sun Maocai, express my gratitude to the True Man!

Upon hearing this, the old Taoist priest frowned even more deeply!

Just then, the short, stocky, and wiry bailiff behind Magistrate Sun noticed the old Taoist's hesitant expression.

"Real person, help me!"

A heart-wrenching, wailing scream rang out!
The bailiff, like a tattered sack with its tendons and bones removed, slammed his knees hard onto the ground with a thud.

He collapsed to the ground, his forehead pressed firmly against the cold earth, his body trembling violently: "That thing...that thing eats people!"
"I have an eighty-year-old mother to care for and a three-year-old child to raise. Please, have mercy! Please have compassion on us!"

Tears and snot instantly covered his face.

Another, somewhat slow-witted constable was a beat slower. Seeing his companion's reaction, he hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly, muttering, "Please, Master, save me! Please, Master, save me!"

His forehead hit the ground with a loud thud.

Inside the humble room, only the heavy, suppressed sobs of the bailiffs and the muffled thuds of foreheads hitting the ground could be heard.

Xuanji Zi remained seated, his withered fingers resting on his knees, the tips of his fingers curling slightly.

The jarring, broken gong and suona outside the window continued their intermittent howling.

His gaze swept over the two bailiffs trembling like autumn leaves on the ground, then over the parrot-green official robe of Magistrate Sun, whose back was struggling to hold on but was already swaying precariously, and finally landed on the gray-white daylight outside the window, which was murky and chaotic due to the sound of gongs.

Mount Qingwei is far beyond the clouds, and the bells and drums of the Luotian Grand Ceremony still seem to faintly echo in my ears, but before my eyes lies the bloody maw of Qingyang City, waiting to be devoured.

That unspoken sigh was ultimately suppressed deep within his heart, turning into an even deeper crease between his brows.

He nodded slowly, very slowly.

His withered knuckles curled up on his knees and then relaxed.

"Alas! Very well, I agree. It simply means I'll linger in Qingyang for a few more days!"

"The true man is compassionate! The true man is compassionate!"

(End of this chapter)