From a Zhengyi Taoist Child to a Master of All Laws

Chapter 601: Who will wake up first from the big dream?

"The Azure Lotus takes root in the Jianmu tree, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, undergoing a three-year rebirth, and then all its mysterious substances are injected into Fellow Daoist Li's body, like provisions, nurturing a brand new Dao Foundation Yang Spirit!"

"This is about eliminating the dross and retaining the essence, and it is also about reincarnation and nirvana. It uses the old and broken as nourishment to grow new seeds of the Dao!"

Zhang Daoling found it unbelievable. As the Ancestral Celestial Master, he had experienced countless things over the thousands of years, both on Earth and in the Realm of Ultimate Truth, but he had never heard of such a strange event.

"Perhaps Li Zhenjun is a cultivator who has practiced two root methods simultaneously throughout history. The two root methods, one yin and one yang, are in harmony with the secrets of the Great Dao. The three years of life and death reversal have brought a sliver of life to Li Zhenjun!"

Zhao Ziyao was so excited that she trembled all over. Although she had not cultivated the root method, she was very familiar with Li Yang's food qi method and felt that this was the foundation.

"However, why do I feel that Li Zhenjun's cultivation level is a bit... strange?"

Song Ling and Li Mengyuan exchanged a glance and asked in confusion. In their perception, although Li Yang's body was absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, his cultivation level was pitifully low, almost like that of an ordinary person.

Zhang Daoling shook his head and sighed, "That's natural. Three years ago, Fellow Daoist Li spread his Dao at Lao Jun Pavilion on Qingcheng Mountain, causing a five-colored canopy to stretch for thousands of miles. It even increased the concentration of spiritual energy in the entire Qingcheng Mountain by several times. The old one has already disappeared, so the one that has awakened is naturally not the Fellow Daoist Li of the past."

"However, this is a good thing. Back then, Fellow Daoist Li's attainment of Earth Immortal status was achieved through a shortcut, and his Dao foundation actually had hidden dangers and was extremely unstable. Today, he has experienced a fall in Nirvana, and although the newborn is weak, he has the potential to become even stronger!"

Zhang Daoling's expression was solemn, even revealing a hint of envy.

He could see that although Li Yang's aura was weak at this moment, his flesh and bones contained an astonishing vitality, his blood energy was like a sea, and his physical body was more solid than before.

Li Yang's physical body had always been his weakness, which is why he was on the verge of death when refining Yan Jin's Earth Immortal Dao Fruit. Now, after three years of being nurtured and cleansed by mysterious substances, it seems that this weakness has been made up for, and his flesh, meridians and bones are more resilient and full of vitality!

At the same time, as if disturbed by the conversation of the group, Li Yang slowly sat up from the coffin, sat cross-legged, but his eyes were unfocused, a hazy gray, like a chaotic mess.

He tilted his head, pretending to think, his eyes vacant, but his body began to unconsciously circulate his internal energy.

Zhao Ziyao, Song Ling, and the others subconsciously held their breath, afraid that their movements would disturb Li Yang's awakening.

Li Yang's eyes remained empty and unfocused, but his meridians and acupoints were emitting a radiant light, as if they were operating on their own.

"Li Zhenjun?"

After a long while, Zhao Ziyao called out cautiously, but received no response.

"True Lord, do you still remember us?"

Song Ling and Li Mengyuan spoke up, looking at Li Yang with the same anticipation.

"Fellow Daoist, it's time to wake up!"

Finally, Zhang Daoling spoke, his voice like the Daoist chant, resounding in Li Yang's ears like a great bell.

"Um."

Li Yang finally uttered the first sound.

"who am I?"

Li Yang's empty eyes finally began to focus, gradually regaining their focus, as if he were waking up from a long dream, filled with confusion, staring blankly at his hands.

He seemed to be thinking seriously, and his aura fluctuated chaotically.

Zhang Daoling felt a chill run down his spine. The old Li Yang had been buried, and his Yang God Dao Foundation had been annihilated. Now, nurtured by the Root Method and the Jianmu Green Lotus, would he still be the same Li Zhenjun from before?
"You are Li Yang! You are the Abbot of Baiyun Temple on Baiyun Mountain! You are a true lord among men, who once protected this world with only one sword and one man!"

Zhao Ziyao's voice trembled, equally afraid of that possibility, as she softly called out to Li Yang.

"Li Yang? Baiyun Mountain? The True Lord of the Mortal World?"

In the withered grave, the young Taoist priest looked puzzled, then slowly stood up.

He walked out of the lonely grave, looked around at the continuous high mountains, bent down to touch the exposed rocks on the ground, and then looked up at the clouds rolling in the sky, his brows furrowing into a deep frown.

"Li Yang?"

Baiyun Mountain.

"A true lord among men..."

He mumbled to himself, and after a long while, his swaying body finally straightened up, his brows furrowed as he tried to process the fleeting thoughts that flashed through his mind.

Zhang Daoling, Zhao Ziyao, and the other two surrounded him, very worried, but dared not approach, unaware of Li Yang's condition.

After a long while, Li Yang suddenly took a step forward, and a large amount of clouds and mist suddenly gathered on the summit of Baiyun Mountain, entering his mouth and nose with each breath.

Just like the Qingcheng Mountain when Li Yang dispersed his power, even larger in scale, a five-colored canopy with a diameter of one thousand meters gradually appeared in the sky above the entire Baiyun Mountain. The red sun and cold moon shone on the clouds and mist, reflecting endless rosy and colorful light.

It was dusk, and the red sun and the cold moon hung in the bluish sky like two enormous crystal mirrors, surrounded by a halo of light and color.

As Li Yang took a step forward, the sunlight and moonlight rippled and expanded along with the five-colored canopy above Baiyun Mountain. The sky gradually changed from a pale white to a magnificent sunset. The five-colored canopy, thousands of meters high, reflected the sunlight and moonlight and instantly transformed into a sky full of golden clouds!

In an instant, the sky and clouds of Baiyun Mountain were illuminated by a magical glow, and the sun and moon rose from the waves, their rays shining brightly across the sky. The scene was truly magnificent and unparalleled. Villagers and residents within a radius of hundreds of kilometers of Baiyun Mountain looked up and were all dizzy and trembling, yet they had no idea what was happening.

These golden clouds were gathering in the vast sky, and as Li Yang took another step, they plummeted down, completely engulfing the entire Baiyun Mountain.

"Has Li Zhenjun been awakened?"

Barely able to see, Zhao Ziyao sensed Li Yang's presence and asked in confusion.

In her perception, Li Yang's aura was rapidly increasing, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

"No, it's already at the Innate Realm!"

Zhang Daoling spoke, sensing that a familiar, smooth spiritual energy fluctuation had appeared on Li Yang's body.

The boundless golden glow rapidly shrank as Li Yang walked, disappearing into his mouth and nose. In an instant, the concentration of spiritual energy in the entire Baiyun Mountain plummeted.

As Li Yang took his third step, a radiant light emanated from between his brows, and his figure rose gracefully, having already broken through to the Dao of Seeds.

In the fourth step, he raised his hand, and the Nanming Sword, with its sharp edge gleaming, suddenly shot into the sky and landed in his hand.

By the fifth step, Li Yang was already a thousand meters above Baiyun Mountain. The golden glow that filled the sky had completely dissipated, as if the shocking phenomenon just now was merely a mirage in the world. His aura had also just reached the peak of the Dao of Seeds.

"Who will wake up first from the dream? I know it myself."

Li Yang spoke calmly, standing between heaven and earth with his sword in hand.

The vitality in his eyes grew stronger, from intense to profound, then to peaceful, gradually returning to normal. He observed the world around him.

It was now dusk, the sky was dim, cold with a hint of blue, and the red sun, like an ice wheel, floated in the sky.

White smoke rose from the small village at the foot of the mountain, and villagers and tourists were scattered in twos and threes among the mountains.

Deep in the clouds atop the front mountain stands the Baiyun Taoist Temple, overgrown with weeds, its plaque faded and its original color obscured.

Zhao Ziyao, Song Ling, and Li Mengyuan saw this scene from afar on the back mountain and were so excited they almost jumped for joy.

They knew that the White Cloud True Lord, whom the world had been longing for, had finally returned at this moment!
Zhang Daoling smiled and stroked his beard, then took a step forward and walked through the void to Li Yang's side.

"Fellow Daoist, how have you been?"

"Long time no see," Li Yang said with a smile, expressing goodwill towards the Celestial Master.

"It's a pity that you've fallen from the Earth Immortal realm. Three years of Nirvana isn't enough for you to cultivate a new Earth Immortal Dao Fruit, or even reach the Human Immortal realm." Zhang Daoling's eyes showed regret, feeling sorry for Li Yang.

"No problem."

Li Yang shook his head, looking carefree, not disappointed that he only had the cultivation of the Seed Dao left.

"It feels so good to be alive." He stretched out his left hand, gently clenched it, and felt the vibrant life force.

"Where are you going next?" Zhang Daoling asked, inquiring about Li Yang's plans after his resurrection.

"Although I have been in Nirvana for the past three years, I can still perceive many things in the outside world." Li Yang said calmly, then looked to the east.

"I want to go for a stroll in the eastern sea and visit the fairy mountains on the sea."

"Would you like me, the old Taoist priest, to accompany you?"

Li Yang shook his head: "It's alright. Master Zhang has worked hard for the past three years. He should take good care of himself. However, please do not reveal my awakening to the outside world."

"That's natural."

Zhang Daoling stroked his beard and nodded kindly.

The rumors were indeed true. Although this Fellow Daoist Li was carefree in his actions, he was extremely petty and protective of his own. His three true disciples were bullied by the powerful and hunted down all over the world. This True Lord Li was indeed going to get revenge.

The two understood each other without saying a word. Li Yang nodded slightly, then raised his sword and darted through the sea of ​​clouds, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

"Is Li Zhenjun going to cause trouble for Fangzhang Mountain?"

Although Zhao Ziyao was a cultivator of the Dao, her escape speed was far inferior to Zhang Daoling's. She arrived late and, seeing the sword light heading east, instantly understood Li Yang's intention and was immediately filled with worry.

"The True Lord has just been revived and still thinks he's the same Earth Immortal he used to be! How dare he venture into Fangzhang Mountain alone!"

Zhao Ziyao jumped up in shock and fear, and immediately stepped on Cheng Ying Sword to chase after Li Yang.

However, Zhang Daoling reached out and stopped her.
"Don't worry, cultivation level is one thing, but it's not the same as combat strength."

"This True Lord Li is number one in the mortal realm, number one in earth immortals, and number one in cultivating the Dao."

Zhao Ziyao scratched her head, not understanding what Zhang Daoling meant. She could only pray silently that Li Yang would not have any trouble on this trip.
-
The fleeting golden glow over Baiyun Mountain in Sichuan quickly caused a sensation in the media, but because not many people took photos, it soon faded into obscurity in today's information-saturated society.

As the sun sets and the moon rises high, and the stars illuminate the night sky, Li Yang, wielding the Nanming Sword, has already arrived above the Bohai Sea.

"Where is the abbot's paradise? The returning sails point to the distant blue clouds..."

Li Yang whispered, "Fangzhang Mountain, as one of the three most revered mountains in the sea in Taoist legends, has left behind many legends in China's five-thousand-year history."

“Since the reigns of King Wei, King Xuan, and King Zhao of Yan, people have been sent to sea to seek the three sacred mountains of Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou. It is said that they are located in the Bohai Sea, not far from where people live. When they are about to arrive, the wind will carry their ships away. It is said that some people have reached them, and all the immortals and the elixir of immortality are there.”

Today, traces of Penglai and Fangzhang, two of the three sacred mountains in the sea, have been found, indicating that the legend of the three sacred mountains in the sea is not entirely unfounded. However, many emperors in ancient times searched for them at sea without success, suggesting that these three sacred mountains have always been in a state of seclusion.
However, Li Yang had more to think about. According to the research of Chinese historical records and the corroboration of Zhang Daoling, when the First Emperor unified the six kingdoms, the fortune was at its peak, which was another point of spiritual energy revival after the ancient severing of the connection between heaven and earth.

At this juncture, why was the First Emperor so eager to find the Three Mountains at Sea? Was it simply because he wanted immortality, or was there another reason?

As it stands, the Qin Dynasty only lasted two generations, and the subsequent Hegemon Xiang Yu seemed to have the shadow of the Ultimate Realm behind him. It was not until Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang rose to power that Xiang Yu clearly intended to split the unified Qin Dynasty into many vassal states once again.

"Could it be that the First Emperor realized something when he was alive? He wanted to close the gate to Penglai Island and seek the assistance of the other abbots and the two mountains of Yingzhou to prolong the dynasty and resist the invasion of the Realm of Ultimate Truth at that time?"

Li Yang murmured, his mind racing with thoughts.

"However, was it that they couldn't find it, or that the abbot and Yingzhou at the time were afraid of the Realm of Ultimate Truth and thus hid and dared not show themselves?"

Li Yang sneered, his face revealing murderous intent. Judging from the behavior of this Fangzhang Mountain after his emergence, he was not as transcendent and sacred as the Taoist legends suggested. On the contrary, he was despicable and arrogant, relying on his status as one of the Three Mountains of the Sea. When he saw him on the verge of death on Qingcheng Mountain, he even tried to force him to hand over the inheritance of the root method.

"After my death, they set their sights on my disciple, bullying the weak with their superior strength. What a blessed land of immortals, what a Fangzhang Mountain!"

Li Yang, his eyes filled with a chilling aura, flew across the sea with his sword, searching for traces of Fangzhang Mountain.

Fangzhang Mountain is shrouded in mystery, much like Penglai Island, making it difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion. For thousands of years, apart from Daomu Ling, no one has ever been known to have set foot on the island.

However, because Fangzhang Mountain has been frequently making high-profile appearances in recent years, some clues have been revealed, and it is no longer so mysterious and hard to find in Li Yang's mind.

Sensing the changes in spiritual energy in the Bohai Sea, Li Yang covered the area with his divine sense, focusing on areas with higher concentrations of spiritual energy.

Because of the frequent comings and goings of Jiang Huan and the other two immortals, the gateway to Fangzhang Mountain is bound to leak spiritual energy, and its concentration of spiritual energy will be abnormally higher than that of other sea areas.

Li Yang's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he moved with incredible speed. After spending half an hour touring the entire Bohai Sea, he quickly located several areas with abnormal spiritual energy concentrations.

After further elimination and denial, Li Yang's figure stopped in the air above a sea area in the Bohai Sea.

"That's right. Jiang Huan first appeared near this sea area. Shimaki Ling recalled that in ancient times, when he traveled from the river to the sea, he also passed through this sea area!"

The search for Fangzhang Mountain was not only to seek justice for the disciples who were being hunted down, but more importantly, Li Yang had many things to do after his resurrection, and he needed to verify some questions on this secluded immortal mountain in the sea that had been hidden for countless years.

Having determined the location, Li Yang remained motionless, disappearing into the clouds and awaiting further developments.

He planned to wait and ambush the rabbit at the entrance of Fangzhang Mountain.

Sure enough, at the height of the moonlight in the early morning, Li Yang sensed three extremely powerful auras sweeping across the sea and flying towards them!

(End of this chapter)