Taoist priests in the supernatural world

Chapter 91: One day in the cave is equivalent to a thousand years in the world.

"The Taoist Kongkong?"

Upon hearing this title, Huang Bai couldn't help but chuckle.

"That's a good name."

He calls himself the Taoist of Emptiness, which does suggest a degree of letting go.

Huang Bai took out a Yellow Heaven Talisman and handed it to Jiajing.

A faint golden light flowed over the talisman, and the runes moved slowly as if they were alive.

Jiajing accepted it with both hands, his expression solemn.

Even though he was once the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he dared not show the slightest disrespect at this moment.

Huang Bai then passed on a meditation technique to him.

This meditation technique, while not particularly profound, is perfectly suited to Jiajing's current situation.

"The master leads you through the door, but the cultivation is up to you; the rest is up to you."

"Remember, from this day forward, you must not take the Longevity Pill anymore."

"Meditate daily, and reduce thoughts and desires."

"If you can truly let go of your imperial ambitions, perhaps there is still a glimmer of hope."

The Taoist Kongkong, formerly known as the Jiajing Emperor, bowed solemnly and said, "Yes, this humble Taoist will not trouble the immortal."

After he finished speaking, he raised his head again and said seriously:

"Rest assured, Immortal, I will take good care of the matters concerning the Longevity Palace."

"From this day forward, the Heavenly Dao tablet will be enshrined in the main hall. I will also follow the instructions of the immortals to select a suitable person to cultivate as the next successor."

Huang Bai nodded.

Emperor Jiajing had many flaws.

But he has one redeeming quality: he's smart enough.

Once you know what you should do, you won't drag things out like an ordinary fool.

After arranging matters at Wanshou Palace, Huang Bai went to a secret room in a side hall.

The stone gate slowly closed.

The sounds from the outside world suddenly disappeared.

There's no need to pay any more attention to Jiajing's side.

This old fellow is too old and has been suffering from erysipelas for many years.

Even with the help of meditation, one can only prolong their life by three to five years at most.

Huang Bai has already given him a chance.

Whether or not one can seize it is none of one's business.

Ultimately, Huang Bai's transmission of the Jinggong technique was merely a way of repaying the "Golden Sand Mica Longevity Pill" formula.

The remaining consequences will be borne by Jiajing himself.

Inside the quiet room.

Huang Bai sat down cross-legged.

As he flipped his palm and took it, a golden light immediately filled the room.

A golden pill appeared in his palm.

The surface of the pill shimmered with golden light, faintly resembling the image of a white crane spreading its wings and the sun rising.

It is indeed the Golden Sand Mica Longevity Elixir.

Immediately afterwards, Huang Bai opened his mouth and spat out.

A mica inner core slowly flew out and hovered in front of him.

The inner elixir is like clouds and mist, with a clear light flowing around it, carrying a sense of lightness and etherealness.

Two pills, one gold and one white, floated in mid-air.

Their auras are different, yet they subtly share the same origin.

"These pills all come from the same source and should be able to be transformed."

Huang Bai's gaze was calm.

The inner elixir is also a elixir.

With his current alchemy skills, he could simply disassemble the original inner core and reassemble it using the same method as the Golden Sand Mica Longevity Pill.

However, since this item is related to one's own life, the entire process must be carried out with extreme care.

The slightest mistake could damage the foundation.

Thinking of this, Huang Bai took out a three-legged, two-eared cauldron from the Muchen Pearl.

The cauldron landed with a dull thud.

Then, a burst of Taiyi True Fire flew from his fingertip and landed under the cauldron.

call!

Flames rose.

Inside the quiet room, the temperature suddenly rose.

A day in the cave is equivalent to a thousand years in the world.

Spring goes and autumn comes, flowers bloom and wither.

In the Wanshou Palace, willow branches sprout and wither, and moss grows on the stone steps only to be swept away.

In the blink of an eye, three years have passed.

Squeak!

On this day, the wooden door of the secret chamber in the side hall was slowly pushed open.

A stream of golden elixir energy flowed out from the crack in the door.

Then, Huang Bai came out of the quiet room.

At this point, his unusual appearance was quite different from before his seclusion.

He still wore the bird-faced mica crown on his head, but the originally pure white mica crown had now turned into pure gold.

Its long, narrow beak extends forward, lifelike, as if a golden divine bird were perched on its head.

His golden eyes were brighter than before.

At first glance, the white crane's ethereal beauty is enhanced by a hint of the sun's golden fire.

This is precisely the sign that it has been transformed into the Golden Sand Mica Longevity Elixir.

From then on, Huang Bai would receive a significant boost in refining metal and fire elemental spells, essentially gaining a natural talent in these areas.

As soon as he stepped out, a middle-aged scholar walked towards him.

The scholar was simply dressed, with regular features, a gentle demeanor, and a faint scent of herbs emanating from him.

Upon seeing Huang Bai, he immediately straightened his clothes and bowed respectfully.

"Li Shizhen paid homage to the Immortal Huang and respectfully welcomed him out of seclusion."

"Li Shizhen? You're a disciple of the Taoist Kongkong?"

Huang Bai glanced at the man, never expecting that Jiajing would take him as a disciple.

That's not bad either.

Li Shizhen was a renowned physician who understood the properties of medicines, knew the human body, and had a heart for helping others.

Immediately, he sensed the aura of the Yellow Heaven Talisman from the other party.

"Indeed, I am honored by my master's kindness in accepting me as a disciple and temporarily managing the incense offerings at Wanshou Palace."

Huang Bai looked around.

Willow catkins drifted in the courtyard, and the saplings planted before the seclusion had now grown into large, lush trees.

However, he did not find any trace of Jiajing.

"Where is your master?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shizhen's expression darkened slightly: "Two years ago, Master's poisoning broke out. At that time, the immortal had not yet emerged from seclusion, and Master did not wish to disturb the immortal's seclusion."

He only sighed, "This calamity I have today is the consequence of my own actions, the retribution of cause and effect."

At this point, Li Shizhen sighed softly.

"Afterwards, Master left Wanshou Palace and went into the world to seek immortality."

"I see."

Yellow and white are clearly visible.

Jiajing went to find his own way to survive; if he truly had that divine destiny, perhaps he could be reborn.

If not, then I will spend the rest of my life amidst mountains and rivers.

For him, it might not be a bad ending.

Huang Bai didn't ask any more questions and turned to walk towards the Qianqing Palace.

Three years have passed.

The Longqing Emperor had essentially taken control of the court.

With Zhang Juzheng's assistance and Hai Rui's sweeping reforms in Jiangnan, the court's annual revenue had more than doubled compared to the end of the Jiajing era.

The entire Ming Dynasty seemed to be gradually awakening from a serious illness.

In the Imperial Garden.

The Longqing Emperor, dressed in casual clothes, was chatting with Zhang Juzheng.

The Longqing Emperor was much more composed than he had been three years ago.

Between his brows, there was less of the former Prince Yu's caution and more of the decisiveness of an emperor.

Zhang Juzheng stood to one side, dressed in official robes, with bright eyes and a calm expression.

"Hai Rui's pacification of Jiangnan was an achievement worthy of a cabinet position."

Emperor Longqing spoke slowly.

"With such a pillar of strength in the court, the atmosphere in officialdom will be much better."

Zhang Juzheng stroked his short beard and nodded, saying, "I think it's feasible. Hai Gangfeng is of a fierce and upright character. It would be a waste of his talents to only serve as a local official."

"After he joined the cabinet, with him overtly keeping things under control, many corrupt practices were no longer dared to go too far."

"However, Hai Rui's entry into the cabinet will inevitably offend many people."

The Longqing Emperor smiled and said, "When has he ever not offended anyone?"

"That's true."

Zhang Juzheng also chuckled.

Then, his expression turned serious, and he said:

"Your Majesty, the national treasury is now full, and it may be time to put the matter of developing Liaodong on the agenda."

Emperor Longqing pondered for a moment and said, "Let's wait for Immortal Huang to emerge from seclusion."

The voice just fell.

A calm voice suddenly sounded behind the two of them.

"We can begin."

Emperor Longqing and Zhang Juzheng turned around at the same time.

Huang Bai was already standing in the Imperial Garden at some point.

Emperor Longqing quickly stepped forward and bowed.

"Immortal Huang has emerged from seclusion."

Zhang Juzheng also bowed in greeting.

"I have met the Yellow Immortal."

Huang Bai nodded.

"Ten days later, we will march into Liaodong."

Before that, Huang Bai went to the alchemy room.

He plans to refine a batch of pills.

The Jiajing Emperor amassed a considerable collection over the years, including not only gold sand and mica longevity pills, but also several interesting little formulas.

For example, pills like the "Five-Day Thirst-Free Pill" and the "Five-Day Food-Free Pill" are simple to make and cannot be considered true elixirs, but they are extremely suitable for military campaigns.

One pill is enough to keep you from eating or thirsting for five days.

It cannot greatly increase a person's strength, but it can significantly reduce the army's logistical dependence.

In military campaigns, logistics are of paramount importance.

Food supplies, water sources, and baggage are often more crucial than weapons and armor.

With the aid of these elixirs, just two thousand elite soldiers could traverse complex terrains without hindrance.

……

Jianzhou Jurchen tribe.

The altar was built high, with wisps of incense smoke rising from it.

A shaman wearing deer antlers and a deer skin stands before the fireworks.

He was adorned with a jumble of colorful ribbons, bone ornaments, and animal teeth, and a leather drum was tied around his waist.

Boom!

dong dong!

The shaman appeared frenzied, beating a leather drum and dancing around the altar.

He chanted incoherent incantations, his voice rising and falling, like the roar of a wild beast or the whisper of a dead soul.

Below the altar.

A group of Jianzhou Jurchens, dressed in rags and with pigtail braids, knelt devoutly on the ground.

They dared not look up, as if the shaman before them was a supreme deity.

After a series of shamanic rituals, the shaman suddenly stopped.

His expression returned to calm, and he slowly raised his hand, signaling the tribal warriors to bring the offerings forward.

The so-called sacrificial offerings were not the three kinds of animals and fruits used in Han Chinese sacrifices, but living people.

Several people with their hands and feet bound were dragged to the altar.

Their mouths were stuffed with rags, so they could only make muffled noises.

The shaman picked up a strangely shaped demon sword.

The blade was jet black, and its surface was engraved with tiny runes.

puff!

The blade slit the throat of the sacrificial offering.

The sacrificial offering emitted dry, hoarse "hoarse" sounds, its body convulsing violently.

Blood was spilled all over the ground.

Then, a bizarre scene unfolded.

The blood on the ground did not spread, but turned into wisps of blood mist that slowly drifted into the air.

No one present was afraid.

Instead, they were all beaming with excitement.

Because they knew that it was the black dragon god who protected them enjoying the offerings.

The Black Dragon God will grant them power and lead them to conquer more land.

After a long while, the blood mist dissipated.

The shaman suddenly raised his hand and pointed to an eight-year-old child in the crowd.

"come over!"

The child's parents rushed forward with their child in their arms, their faces showing both excitement and fear.

The shaman bent down and stared at the child.

A strange black light flickered in his eyes: "What's your name?"

The child said timidly, "My name is Wild Boar Skin."

The shaman stretched out his blood-stained hand and pressed it on the child's head.

"From this day forward, you will receive the power bestowed by the Black Dragon God."

"You will lead the tribe to glory, and you will become the master of all."

Roar! !

The Jianzhou Jurchens all around roared in anger.

They knelt down and bowed to the child.

From this moment on, they will regard this child as their future master.

The same thing is happening in various tribes.

Under the influence of some unseen force, each tribe elected its own ruler.

In the near future, if no one stops it, bloodshed will fill the entire land.

Mountains of corpses and seas of blood will spread from the white mountains and black waters all the way to the interior of the pass.

at the same time.

The imperial army swept through Liaodong.

Li Chengliang, a famous general from Liaodong, led three thousand of his personal guards to launch a shocking massacre in Liaodong.

These three thousand men were not ordinary border troops.

They were all elite troops from Liaodong, clad in armor and armed with weapons, skilled in archery and horsemanship, and had taken pills made from yellow and white powder that prevented them from eating or thirsting for five days.

They traveled light and quickly, with almost no logistical burdens.

"kill!"

Shouts of battle broke through the camp.

Soon, a Jurchen tribe was defeated.

Flames erupted, and cries of agony spread.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the tribal chief had no choice but to lead the men, women, and children to kneel down and beg for surrender.

"We surrender!"

"We are willing to pledge our loyalty to the Ming Dynasty!"

"I'm willing to be a servant of the Ming Dynasty!"

A middle-aged general sat on horseback, his face cold and hard.

It was Li Chengliang.

He turned to look at the young Taoist priest on horseback beside him.

"Master, what should we do with them?"

Instead of answering directly, Huang Bai asked, "What do you think should be done?"

Li Chengliang remained silent for a moment.

He looked at the tribal elders and children kneeling on the ground, his eyes showing no pity whatsoever.

"These people are treacherous and cunning, and they never learn their lesson."

"Surrender today, rebel tomorrow."

"When they are in power, they burn, kill, and loot; when they lose power, they kneel and beg for mercy. My suggestion is to kill them all."

If he hadn't been afraid of being impeached by civil officials, he probably would have done it long ago.

In Li Chengliang's view, all the border wars were caused by the wishful thinking of the corrupt scholars in the court who believed they could educate everyone.

Little did they know that others learned the culture and technology of the Han people, only to turn around and use it against the Han people.

True education should involve the other party voluntarily conforming.

Chasing after others to teach them is not benevolence or righteousness; it is aiding the enemy.

After listening, Huang Bai's expression didn't change much. He waved his hand and said, "Then let's do it your way."

He never interferes with the judgments of professionals.

Li Chengliang had been stationed in Liaodong for many years and knew the true nature of these tribes.

Since he said that, it wasn't just a momentary outburst of anger, but rather the result of careful consideration.

"yes!"

Li Chengliang spurred his horse and cracked his whip, letting out a loud shout.

"Listen to my command!"

"Exterminate them all!"

Soon, the executioner's blade fell.

No one from this tribe survived.

Blood stained the frozen soil.

Three thousand soldiers continued north and arrived at the Jianzhou tribe, where they had previously worshipped the Black Dragon God.

The altar in the tribe has not yet been dismantled.

The stench of blood still lingered in the air.

"kill!"

The Ming army stormed into the tribe.

Amidst the chaos of war, the tribal chief named Wild Boar Skin died silently in the mud.

There was no place where the dragon rose to power, no destiny bestowed upon them, and no Later Jin Taizu.

He was just a dirty child who fell under the iron hooves of the chaotic soldiers without even making a ripple.

The army marched on.

At the edge of the vast, tundra, a majestic mountain gradually comes into view.

Changbai Mountain.

The mountains are majestic, with peaks stretching endlessly.

At the summit, the Heavenly Lake stands like a mirror, shrouded in clouds and mist year-round.

From a distance, it looks like an ancient mirror left behind by an immortal among the mountains.

Huang Bai stood on high ground, using the sixteen-character Feng Shui secret technique, and the terrain of the mountains was dismantled layer by layer in his eyes.

He quickly discerned the true nature of the mountain.

It really is a dragon vein.

The Heavenly Pool atop the mountain is where the essence of the dragon vein resides.

"By destroying the Heavenly Pool, we can sever this last dragon vein."

Huang Bai thought to himself.

But things are clearly not that simple.

Dark clouds covered the sky above Changbai Mountain.

Those dark clouds were not ordinary clouds, but rather the manifestation of the resentment of the dragon vein.

Judging from the density of the dark clouds, the resentment accumulated over so many years has probably already transformed into a demon.

Back then, Liu Bowen severed ninety-nine dragon veins, and the remaining resentment basically gathered here.

"This will be a fierce battle."

Huang Bai gazed in the direction of Tianchi Lake, his brows slightly furrowed.

The only solution he could think of was to first open an altar to dispel the resentment and weaken the dragon vein, and then force the demons to show themselves.

However, this idea is clearly unrealistic.

Black Dragon won't just stand by and watch itself be weakened; it will definitely retaliate.

Moreover, the resentment here is too strong, and it cannot be cleared away by a single altar; at most, it can only be temporarily suppressed.

"What if we hire help to suppress it, and I set up my own altar to fight the black dragon?"

Huang Bai pondered for a moment, and the more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.

The altar can amplify spells several times over.

The drawback of using it for combat is that if the opponent cannot defeat it, they can turn around and run away.

However, one cannot move the altar at will.

But isn't this black dragon vein right in front of us an opponent we can't escape from?

Thinking of this, Huang Bai took out all the incense sticks for seeking help from the Muchen Pearl.

There are three in total.

The incense stick has a yellowish tint and fine runes on its surface.

Each one represents an opportunity to seek help from other sectors.

Looking at the three sticks of incense for help, Huang Bai quickly came up with three candidates in his mind.

"Uncle Jiu, Qianhe, Simu."

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