Taoist priests in the supernatural world

Chapter 153 The Eastern King's Immortal Invitation, The Painted Skin Attends the Feast

Wow!

Huang Bai opened his Dharma eyes.

On its forehead, two vertical eyes slowly opened, one black and one white, with a ghostly light flowing around them, appearing both eerie and somewhat sacred that could not be looked at directly.

He stood in front of the bronze mirror and carefully examined his current appearance.

The person in the mirror has long black hair, handsome features, and after two third eyes appeared on their forehead, their entire demeanor is completely different.

After looking at it for a while, Huang Bai suddenly said, "It looks a bit like a monster."

The Kingdom of the Queen Mother of the West was full of strange beasts and divine beings.

Perhaps this is the shortcoming of the Queen Mother of the West's Immortal Scripture.

Huang Bai cultivates the Lu Wu Enlightenment Method from the west Wang Mu Immortal Scripture.

According to his deduction, the fourth elixir transformation resulted in multiple eyes, and the fifth elixir transformation resulted in multiple heads and multiple arms.

These unusual phenomena perfectly match our previous speculations.

However, Huang Bai did not expect that when it was actually revealed, its appearance would be so strange.

He raised his hand and touched his forehead, specifically his two vertical eyes, feeling a slight twitching under his eyelids with his fingertips.

"However, this is just an anomaly that occurs during the cultivation process. Once the fourth Rejuvenation Pill is completed, the anomaly should disappear or be reintegrated."

Huang Bai looked at himself in the bronze mirror, and his expression quickly returned to calm.

This is not the final anomaly, but rather the strategy he employs.

First alienate, then restore.

The concept of "returning to the elixir" within external alchemy guides the cultivation of supernatural powers.

Huang Bai stood up, and both of his Heavenly Eyes were activated simultaneously.

The first is the eye for observing the mind.

One is the eye that reveals demons.

In an instant, a faint light seemed to flash in the bronze mirror.

Whether it's a person's true nature or a demon's disguise, nothing can escape one's own eyes.

Huang Bai's lips twitched slightly as he said, "Indeed, the demon in disguise has nowhere to hide."

In the following period, Huang Bai began to study the art of painting skin immortality.

Because of the scriptures left behind by the three demons, his research was not too difficult.

Painting a skin doesn't necessarily mean painting a human skin.

However, human skin naturally has complete meridians, and flesh, tendons, and bones all have veins, so it is relatively simple to draw.

If other carriers are used, the difficulty lies in how to simulate the meridians and flesh.

Huang Bai flipped through the classics.

"This skin contains talismans. If it were replaced with yellow paper and origami magic was added, it might work."

He gradually found his direction.

Time passed slowly.

In the days that followed, Huang Bai devoted himself to studying the art of origami.

During the day, he studied the painted skin books and dissected the patterns and intricacies within them.

As night deepened, he used yellow paper as a cover to try to re-weave the talismans and illusions together.

A cool breeze was blowing at night.

The bright moon casts its clear light, making the stone steps and pavilions in Zhongnan Mountain seem as if they are covered with a thin layer of silver gauze.

The distant mountains and forests were silent, with only the occasional chirping of insects that quickly disappeared into the night.

Inside the pavilion, Huang Bai stood before the table.

A sheet of yellow paper shaped like a human figure was laid flat on the table.

The yellow paper was much thicker and heavier than ordinary talisman paper, with a dark yellow sheen and densely covered with celestial script and cloud seal characters.

The cloud-shaped characters meander like clouds and resemble water ripples and thunder patterns, symbolizing the ability to control wind and rain.

This is a divine power that Huang Bai extracted from the White Dragon.

Huang Bai stared for a moment, then suddenly spoke: "White Sparrow!"

Boo!

A clear cry pierced the night.

A white figure flew from the depths of the forest, passed through the moonlight, and landed lightly outside the pavilion.

"Your Highness!"

The white sparrow's voice was high-pitched, and after landing, it lowered its head as if to pay its respects.

Huang Bai took out a Seven Treasures Jade Powder Pill from his sleeve.

As soon as the pill was produced, a delicate fragrance spread.

The white sparrow took just one sniff, and its eyes became lively, and its feathers trembled slightly.

Huang Bai said, "Take this pill."

"yes!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Bai Que opened her mouth and swallowed the pill.

The medicine entered its stomach, and its medicinal power instantly flowed throughout its limbs and bones.

A faint white light enveloped its body, and the white sparrow's feathers stood on end.

Huang Bai pointed.

A drop of blood was forced from the fingertip, slowly hovering in mid-air. It was reddish-golden, with a warm luster, as if it were not blood, but a tiny precious pill.

The drop of blood fell onto the white sparrow.

This is the art of enlightenment.

The blood and essence of Huang Bai are comparable to the flesh of Tang Sanzang, enough to make the white sparrow transform.

As time goes by, the white sparrow's feathers gradually fall off.

White feathers fell to the ground, and then new feathers grew from the skin.

The new feathers are no longer pure white, but a jade-like color.

Its shape also gradually changed.

The skeleton stretches, the wings fold, the beak disappears, and the claws transform into slender hands and feet.

A moment later, a tall, beautiful woman wearing blue feathers stood in the same spot.

Her eyes and brows held the liveliness of a bird, and her pupils were clear. Upon seeing Huang Bai, she immediately bowed down in worship.

"The sparrow greets the prince!"

Huang Bai glanced at her and said, "From now on, you can be called Qingniao (Bluebird)."

The woman was taken aback for a moment, then joy appeared in her eyes.

"The bluebird remembers the name bestowed upon it by the king."

Huang Bai picked up the talisman skin from the table and casually tossed it to Qingniao.

"Try it on."

"Yes."

The bluebird took the talisman skin with both hands, its movements still somewhat awkward.

She draped the talisman over her body.

The next moment, the human-shaped yellow paper seemed to come alive and clung tightly to her skin. The cloud-like characters on the paper slowly lit up and merged into her body in an instant.

The bluebird's appearance changed accordingly.

The woman who was originally draped in blue feathers transformed into another woman in palace attire in the blink of an eye.

Wow!

The bluebird raised its finger and tentatively touched the court.

A bluish whirlwind swept through the courtyard.

The fallen leaves were swirled into the air, circled the pavilion a few times, and then drifted gently down.

Qingniao raised an eyebrow, her tone revealing undisguised surprise.

"Huh? I've learned the art of wind control."

Huang Bai looked at the talismanic skin on her body and said, "This is the Immortal Art of Skin Painting. It uses yellow paper as the skin, removing the bloody cruelty of human skin. It is the true Great Dao."

He paused slightly, then said, "In the future, demons that have not yet taken human form will also be able to do so through this method."

Huang Bai then passed on the art of skin-painting to Qingniao and asked her to recruit some alchemists and servants on the mountain.

Since Zhongnan Mountain is to establish a kingdom of immortals, it cannot be just him alone.

Alchemy, messenger delivery, cleaning, and guarding all need to be done by someone.

Eight years have passed in the blink of an eye.

The streets of Chang'an were bustling with activity, filled with the noise of carriages and horses.

Merchants from the Western Regions led camels laden with spices, gems, and glassware.

Merchants from various prefectures and kingdoms, carrying loads of cloth, salt, iron, medicine, and furs, gathered in the streets of Chang'an.

The taverns along the street were bustling with noise, and children were chasing and playing at the alley entrance.

After Liu Ju ruled for eight years, the country gradually became peaceful.

With favorable weather, people's livelihoods have recovered, and the people live and work in peace and contentment.

While I wouldn't say it's like this everywhere, it's a far cry from the days when the world was in ruins.

Various forms of commerce also sprang up among the people.

Boo!

A clear cry came from the sky.

A bluebird swept across the sky.

An ordinary person glanced up and thought it was just a bird flying extremely fast.

Only a true master of magic would know that this was a messenger from the Eastern King Duke's court.

Whoever is received by the messenger of the Eastern King Duke signifies that their abilities have passed the Eastern King Duke's test.

They are qualified to join the Immortal Kingdom of Zhongnan Mountain and receive training from the Eastern King.

One day, perhaps I will be among the immortals.

The bluebird circled once above Chang'an City before landing in a courtyard.

Upon landing, she had already transformed into the appearance of a palace maid.

The bluebird's sleeves hung down, its expression was aloof, and its voice was melodious and pleasant.

"The alchemist Wang Bao requests to receive the Zhongnan Immortal's Instructions."

No sooner had the words been spoken than a series of hurried footsteps echoed from the inner courtyard.

An elderly man with white hair came running quickly.

He ran so fast that he didn't even have time to put on his shoes properly, and his clothes were a little disheveled.

He paid no attention to any of that; his face was full of excitement.

"I am Wang Bao. Thank you for delivering the message, Immortal Messenger."

Wang Bao extended both hands and respectfully accepted the Zhongnan Immortal Scroll.

The moment he held the invitation, he sensed its extraordinary nature.

This thing is neither gold, jade, nor stone; it has a warm and smooth texture and carries a faint, pure fragrance.

Wang Bao's hands trembled slightly.

He had waited far too long for this day.

"Immortal Envoy, please wait. I have not yet prepared a banquet to entertain you."

The bluebird glanced at him and said, "No need, I still have the immortal invitation to deliver."

With that, she flicked her sleeve, her figure transforming into a green shadow, and instantly soared into the sky.

Huang Bai raised a flock of bluebirds.

These bluebirds are specifically responsible for delivering messages; seeing a bluebird is equivalent to seeing the Eastern King Duke.

After the bluebird left, the manor's butler immediately stepped forward to congratulate him.

"Congratulations, Master! Congratulations! You have been received by the Eastern King Duke and will soon be ennobled among the immortals."

Wang Bao stroked his beard and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Haha, instruct the servants to purchase supplies, the whole manor will celebrate tonight."

After saying that, the smile on his face suddenly stopped.

Wang Bao suddenly realized what was happening.

He turned to look at the butler, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

"Wait, how do you know this is the Eastern King Duke...?"

Before he could finish speaking, the butler had already stepped forward.

His movements were faster than an ordinary person's.

A hand pierced directly into Wang Bao's heart.

puff!

Wang Bao's body stiffened, and before the excitement in his eyes had completely faded, he died on the spot.

The butler slowly withdrew his hand, his face expressionless.

The next moment, his expression began to fluctuate.

His facial features melted like wax and then twisted again.

Soon, a faceless person, completely white with no facial features, appeared in the courtyard.

The faceless man snatched the invitation and flicked his finger.

A wisp of crimson fire landed on Wang Bao's corpse.

The body burst into flames instantly, turning into a pile of ashes in the blink of an eye.

At the same time, the faceless man's facial features and body began to writhe.

The skin and flesh churned, and the bones cracked softly.

A moment later, he transformed into the appearance of Wang Bao.

"Huang Bai, I'd like to see who you really are."

He looked down at the invitation.

The invitation card had eight large characters written on it.

The Ascension Ceremony will be held on the fifteenth of August.

The next day, the Faceless Man boarded a carriage and set off for Zhongnan Mountain.

As they traveled along the official road, the wheels rolled over the road, raising fine dust.

On the way, he encountered many Taoist priests who were also heading to Zhongnan Mountain.

Some rode donkeys, some traveled by cart, some carried medicine pouches, and some held alchemy furnaces in their arms.

These people, some excited and others feigning composure, were all heading towards the Eastern King Duke's Ascension Ceremony.

Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, one sees a red cloth spread out on the ground, leading directly to the mountain gate.

The tables and desks were arranged in the shape of the Bagua (Eight Trigrams).

In the center stands a cauldron for alchemy.

The alchemy furnace was tall and simple, with cloud patterns carved all over its body. Even before the fire was lit, a faint fragrance of elixir wafted out.

The sorcerers gradually took their seats and began to converse in hushed tones.

The Faceless Man also came to his seat and sat down.

He looked at everyone coldly, his expression completely unmoved.

"mob."

He was filled with disdain.

His name is Li Shaojun.

He was the first alchemist whom Emperor Wu of Han trusted.

The term "shrine stove" in alchemy was popularized by Li Shaojun.

He directly contributed to the trend of seeking immortality and alchemy during the Han Dynasty.

He himself was also a master of disguise.

After absorbing enough of the nation's fortune, he faked his death and fled, living in seclusion ever since.

It wasn't until a few days ago, when he mastered the "formless and shapeless, ever-changing" divine skin, that he reappeared in the world.

After being born, Li Shaojun was shocked to find that the world had changed.

His own men were killed by the so-called Eastern King Huang Bai.

So Li Shaojun decided to leave the mountain and meet this so-called Huang Bai in person.

"The Taiyi Journey Map should be in this person's hands. Capture this person, and we can open the Heavenly Gate and ascend to the Immortal Realm."

As Li Shaojun thought this, a glint of light appeared in his eyes.

Wow!

Just then, colorful clouds suddenly drifted in from the vast blue sky.

As soon as the clouds appeared, they attracted everyone's attention.

All the sorcerers looked up.

Colorful clouds spread across the sky, like brocade and silk, or like the ribbons of celestial beings.

A mountain breeze blows, clouds surge and rosy hues roll, and a faint, clear light shines down.

A moment later, the clouds dispersed.

A figure emerged from the clouds.

He was a Taoist priest with black hair, a golden crown, and wearing colorful fairy robes.

The Taoist priest stood on the void, his robes fluttering in the wind, but what was most striking was the pair of heavenly eyes on his forehead.

One of the heavenly eyes has a black background and a white pupil.

The other third eye has a white background and a black pupil.

Once the eyes are opened, it's as if yin and yang are reversed, and the human heart and appearance are fully revealed within.

Everyone was startled and stood up in unison.

"Greetings to the Eastern King Duke!"

The sound gathered at the foot of the mountain, startling the birds in the forest.

A fleeting, almost imperceptible look of shock crossed Li Shaojun's eyes amidst the crowd.

"What a magnificent body of immortal blood and cinnabar."

Instead of panicking, he felt an overwhelming surge of greed.

"A peerless elixir, a peerless elixir indeed!"

In Li Shaojun's eyes, Huang Bai was no longer a human being.

It was not a pill, but an extremely precious one.

If you eat it, you can probably save yourself hundreds of years of arduous cultivation.

Li Shaojun lowered his eyes, concealing the greed in them.

"Wait a little longer, find an opportunity, and kill this person."

He was most confident in his ability to transform.

Under the cover of the divine skin, no one in the world can see through his true form.

Soon, Huang Bai landed in front of the alchemy furnace.

With a flick of his sleeve, a faint flame appeared on the alchemy furnace.

The sorcerers immediately held their breath and dared not make the slightest sound.

Huang Bai began to teach the three schools of thought: lead-mercury, sulfur-mercury, and gold sand.

Over the past eight years, people have gradually come to describe the art of ancestral worship and stove-making as the art of alchemy and divination.

They even used "huangbai shu" as a euphemism for alchemy.

Huang Bai's superb alchemy skills had already won over many alchemists.

For these alchemists who only knew how to superficially consume rare flowers and herbs, every word he spoke was like opening a door they had never seen before.

"Tsk tsk, the prince's alchemy methods are almost divine."

"Today's lecture has been more rewarding than I have in my entire life."

"The three schools of lead-mercury, sulfur-mercury, and gold sand actually have such secrets."

"No wonder so many people die from alchemy; the problem lies in the root of the matter."

The alchemists listened with rapt attention and benefited greatly from the lecture.

At this moment, Huang Bai suddenly looked at the crowd and said, "Next, I'd like to invite a few people to come up and observe. Who would like to?"

Under the influence of the Demon-Revealing Eye, Huang Bai has already seen something interesting.

That's why he said that on purpose.

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately stood up.

"Your Highness, I am willing!"

"I'm willing too!"

"Please, Your Highness, have mercy!"

Everyone rushed to participate, afraid of missing this opportunity.

Huang Bai remained calm and casually pointed to a few people.

The Taoist priest who was chosen was immediately overjoyed.

Those who weren't chosen looked disappointed.

Several people took turns going forward to inspect the alchemy furnace.

One of them was Li Shaojun.

"A good opportunity."

Li Shaojun's face was filled with excitement, and his movements showed no sign of weakness.

He approached the alchemy furnace step by step, and also approached Huang Bai step by step.

On the surface, he appeared as an overwhelmed old Taoist priest, cautious and careful, lest he anger the Eastern King.

But deep down, the killing intent was gradually building up.

He suppressed his excitement and got closer and closer to Huang Bai.

Ten zhang... three zhang... one zhang.

If he gets any closer, he can suddenly strike and tear apart this immortal body.

At this moment, a sudden change occurred.

boom!

A bolt of lightning struck him down without warning.

Li Shaojun's pupils suddenly contracted, and an extreme sense of danger surged in his heart.

"not good!"

(Please vote with monthly tickets. There will be another chapter later. Sigh, I've been killed by cold dishes again. It seems Hainan is not suitable for eating cold dishes.)