Pure Yang!

Chapter 418 The Elixir Ceremony! The Conflict Between Blessed Land and Incense Offerings
The brightly lit carriage became dimly lit, and the young man slowly stood up, his figure suddenly becoming tall and imposing, like a shadow looming over him...

The surrounding passengers instantly became a backdrop, like ghosts in a swamp, frozen there forever, without cheers, laughter, or even any emotion or sorrow.

"The external landscape of the primordial spirit!?"

Wan Renshan's expression suddenly changed, and he abruptly stood up. He looked at Zhang Wuming with a deep look of astonishment in his eyes.

In an instant, this young man pulled him and his junior sister into the outer realm of their primordial spirits.

Such skill must belong to a master.

“Who…who are you? This is already within Xijiang Province. We are disciples of [Gezao Mountain].

Zhong Ningyan also realized Zhang Wuming's strength, so she introduced herself, hoping to intimidate him.

"Gezao Mountain!?"

In the corner, Zhang Fan's heart stirred, and he revealed a strange expression.

Gezao Mountain is the ancestral home of the Lingbao School of Taoism. It was once one of the "Three Mountains of Talismans" and was on par with the Shangqing School of Maoshan and the Longhu Zhengyi School, almost monopolizing the right to confer talismans at the Taoist altar.

The so-called "ordination" is the process by which a Taoist inherits a lineage of magic and gains the qualification to summon deities and perform magic. Those who have not received ordination will have their magic ineffective and will instead suffer divine retribution.

To put it bluntly, only those who have received ordination can be considered true Taoists, and only then can they cultivate and perform magic.

This demonstrates the immense authority and high status of the Three Mountains of Talismans in the history of Taoism.

However, later on, all the talismans of the Three Mountains were returned to the Dragon and Tiger.

Longhu Mountain unified the Taoist sects in the south, and the Zhengyi sect became the dominant force from then on.

Only the Quanzhen School in the north, represented by the White Crane Temple, was able to rival it, thus forming a pattern of two major schools: the Zhengyi School in the south and the Quanzhen School in the north.

Of the talismans from the Three Mountains, only the Shangqing sect of Maoshan still stands tall in the Taoist community, with its incense burning brightly and its traditions continuing unbroken.

Gezao Mountain gradually declined during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and it was only after the founding of the People's Republic of China that it gradually restored its Taoist tradition.

"So they are disciples of Gezao Mountain!?" Zhang Fan suddenly realized.

No wonder these two spoke of the Zhang family of Longhu Mountain with such contempt and resentment.

In Xijiang Province, only Longhu Mountain and Sanqing Mountain can surpass Gezao Mountain, especially Longhu Mountain. Back then, all the talismans of the three mountains were transferred to Longhu Mountain, which became the turning point in the decline of Gezao Mountain.

"Disciples of Gezao Mountain, it seems they are destined to meet again," Zhang Wuming chuckled.

The Zhang family of Longhu Mountain has a history of fighting against the Wuwei Sect and many other sects of Taoism, and has never been defeated.

In the past, during the struggle for the Three Mountains Talismans, Gezao Mountain was also a major enemy.

Now, times have changed, and when the disciples of the two sects meet again, the people are no longer the same.

hum...

Suddenly, Zhang Wuming took a step forward, and his primordial spirit was no longer the same. It was like a mountain pressing down, extremely heavy, and the waves it stirred up were like a boulder sinking into a lake, stirring up thousands of waves.

"Um!?"

Zhang Fan sensed the unusual fluctuations and couldn't help but reveal a strange expression.

As a disciple of the Northern Zhang, Zhang Wuming has never been "conferred a deity and erected a statue," so he is not considered a top-tier figure within the Northern Zhang. However, outside of the Northern Zhang, he is still a rising star among young people, far surpassing ordinary masters.

However, after leaving the Ten Thousand Mountains, Zhang Wuming seemed to have improved a lot, and the speed of his progress made Zhang Fan look at him with new respect.

Rumble…

Wan Renshan's expression changed drastically as he sensed an unprecedented danger. He slapped his forehead, and a red light rose from the top of his head, as if a patch of rosy clouds had emerged.

"Clouds rise and crimson clouds appear, a red light shines overhead. The Patriarch bestows the talisman, and demons are tamed by its power!"

Wan Renshan let out a soft shout, and three feet above his head, a surge of red light appeared, like a blazing fire. Countless flame patterns, like dragons and snakes in the wind, meandered and transformed into a strange talisman, shining through the void and rushing towards Zhang Wuming.

"Great Fire Burns the Divine Talisman!"

The fire cannot destroy a person, but it is used to extinguish the primordial spirit.

The terrifying talisman was like a ball of fire, each flame pattern a component of the talisman. The small area instantly became like a scorching inferno, trapping Zhang Wuming's primordial spirit within it.

"Do whatever you want."

Zhang Wuming chuckled lightly. Suddenly, his primordial spirit trembled violently. His originally heavy primordial spirit seemed to dissolve, becoming incomparably vast and profound.

Immediately afterwards, the [Great Fire Burning God Talisman] completely merged into Zhang Wuming's primordial spirit.

His primordial spirit, like a terrifying talisman, completely swallowed and merged with the talisman... becoming one and the same.

"Hmm? What kind of magic is this?" Zhang Fan's eyes lit up.

After he successfully merged with the divine, his memories returned. When he was a child, both Zhang Lingzong and Li Linglong taught him a lot, especially the Taoist methods of the Zhang family of Longhu Mountain, which he was quite familiar with.

Clearly, the spell Zhang Wuming used did not originate from the Zhang family of Dragon Tiger.

"you……"

Wan Renshan's expression changed drastically. He simply couldn't believe that his most prized talisman technique, which was specifically designed to counter the primordial spirit, had actually been forcibly devoured by the opponent using their primordial spirit!

Such methods are simply appalling.

"Put on your socks before your shoes, act like a grandson before a grandfather... You dare to flaunt your petty skills in public?"

Zhang Wuming let out a cold laugh.

Suddenly, crimson light filled the land, and a scorching hot wind blew.

Wan Renshan's pupils suddenly contracted, and he saw a completely crimson expanse before him.

Rumble…

The next moment, the sound of the high-speed train echoed through the long carriage again, the original darkness faded, and the carriage returned to brightness.

The passengers around were either resting or chatting... it seemed that no one was aware of what had just happened.

At the foot of Wanren Mountain, Zhong Ningyan remained seated, but their eyes were empty, as if frozen in time, motionless.

In the distance, Zhang Wuming stood in his seat as if he hadn't moved. He turned his gaze slightly and landed on Zhang Fan. A kind smile appeared on his lips. He then left his seat and walked over.

"haven't seen you for a long time."

Zhang Wuming sat down next to Zhang Fan without a second thought.

"Impressive skills. It hasn't been long since we parted ways in the Ten Thousand Mountains, yet you've improved considerably," Zhang Fan said meaningfully.

"You're joking, you're exaggerating even more," Zhang Wuming grinned.

"Tsk tsk, Bei Zhang really doesn't know how to cherish talent," Zhang Fan sighed.

Zhang Wuming was never deified or had his image erected, so he was naturally not valued in the Northern Zhang and his status was only at the bottom. However, his temperament, talent and shrewdness were top-notch.

"What did you do to them?" Zhang Fan asked.

He could sense that Wan Renshan and Zhong Ningyan's primordial spirits were strange, seemingly present yet absent, as if they had been erased, yet also as if they were still there.

"Don't worry, I'm not dead. I'm not the kind of psychopath who kills people at the drop of a hat," Zhang Wuming chuckled.

"It's just a minor punishment to serve as a warning."

Zhang Wuming's mind wasn't on the two men. He looked at Zhang Fan and changed the subject: "What are you doing in Xijiang Province?"

There is a very special relationship between Zhang Wuming and Zhang Fan.

The two belonged to the Zhang family in the north and south respectively, and from their standpoints, they should be like oil and water.

During their time in the Ten Thousand Mountains, Zhang Wuming almost died at Zhang Fan's hands, but this led to their acquaintance and friendship.

Zhang Wuming killed a disciple of the Northern Zhang clan, and this incriminating evidence was firmly in Zhang Fan's hands, which could be considered as his pledge of allegiance.

Later, he followed Zhang Fan and Li Miaoyin deep into the Ten Thousand Mountains to search for the True Dragon Horn, and they formed a life-or-death bond.

Although the two lived in the north and south respectively, their bond and connection with each other were extremely deep.

"Murder," Zhang Fan said calmly.

He had nothing to hide from Zhang Wuming.

“Yu Xuanji!?” Zhang Wuming blurted out.

"You are indeed very clever. Bei Zhang was really blind," Zhang Fan exclaimed.

"Is it hard to guess?" Zhang Wuming chuckled. In the battle of the Ten Thousand Mountains, Yu Xuanji was the only one who escaped. Now that Zhang Fan has appeared in Xijiang, if he is going to kill someone, then there is no one else to think of but Yu Xuanji.

"You've come all the way to Xijiang to kill the successor of Sanqing Mountain. That might be a bit difficult," Zhang Wuming said in a deep voice.

"It's all up to human effort. What are you doing here?" Zhang Fan asked casually.

"Meeting."

"Meeting? What kind of meeting?"

"The Dan Yuan Dharma Assembly!" Zhang Wuming said solemnly.

"The Dan Yuan Dharma Assembly!?" Zhang Fan was stunned for a moment.

He was somewhat familiar with the name; it referred to a local Taoist sect that gathered together to discuss and preach the Tao.

"They call it discussing the Dao and the Tao, but it's really just a contest of who has the bigger fist and who gets to divide up the blessed lands and incense offerings," Zhang Wuming chuckled.

"A blessed land with incense offerings!?" Zhang Fan couldn't help but ask.

He had never participated in the Danyuan Dharma Assembly; he had only heard of it.

"What a sect or school values ​​most is its blessed land and its incense offerings," Zhang Wuming said in a deep voice.

A blessed land is said to possess the mysteries of heaven and earth, the spiritual essence of mountains and seas, profound creation, and extraordinary fortune.

Ordinary people are greatly affected by their environment.

In nightclubs, one tends to let loose.

In a temple, you will find peace.

I get nervous in the exam room.

In the workplace, one can become irritable.

……

Those who cultivate the Tao distance themselves from worldly affairs and retreat to deep mountains. When the world is quiet, their body and mind also become calm, their primordial spirit is revived, and they attain the wonders of cultivation.

So-called blessed lands make it easier for practitioners to enter a state of "constant stillness," allowing the magnetic field frequency to gradually align with nature and the universe.

Humanity and nature are united, and they tend to assimilate.

This is the wonderful use of a blessed land.

When one's own body aligns with heaven and earth, and all things and oneself become one, then one attains the boundless universe and the supreme purity of Yang.

For this reason, throughout history, all great practitioners of Daoist alchemy have gone into deep mountains and marshes to find a blessed place to cultivate.

The ten most famous Taoist mountains in the world are the most blessed places, and from ancient times to the present, they have nurtured countless masters of pure yang and immortals on earth.

Besides these famous Taoist mountains, there are many other blessed places hidden among the mountains and seas of the world. Some blessed places occupy an entire mountain, while others are only a small cave.

"The Dan Yuan Dharma Assembly is all about vying for blessed lands. Whoever has the biggest fist gets to occupy the most blessed lands," Zhang Wuming said calmly.

Blessed lands are of great use to ordinary people.

On a smaller scale, it can dispel feelings of boredom and bring joy to the mind and body. Things that are usually hard to understand can be easily resolved when you are in a blessed place.

Therefore, when some people are having a rough time in life and feeling down, they hope to travel to the deep mountains and return to nature, and they might just stumble upon a blessed place.

On a grander scale, it can also dispel bad luck, eliminate difficulties, cure all diseases, and keep disasters and epidemics away.

Some people who are seriously ill can recover after recuperating in a blessed place for a year or two.

Of course, such good fortune and destiny are rare and hard to come by.

“Xijiang Province has numerous mountains and countless blessed lands, large and small, numbering no less than a thousand. From ancient times to the present, it has always been a battleground for the Taoist sects,” Zhang Wuming said solemnly.

"Although the Zhang family has been out of Xijiang Province for many years, they have still secretly cultivated a lot of people."

The Zhang family ancestors had an ancestral rule that no descendant of the Zhang family should ever set foot on their ancestral homeland.

This is a rule set by Zhang Taixu, the last Celestial Master.

The great calamity of the Taoist sect caused the incense offerings of Longhu Mountain to cease, and the mountain gates to be tightly closed.

This place is a major disaster for the Zhang family, and is taboo for them.

"Then why did you come?" Zhang Fan couldn't help but ask.

"Without being conferred a divine title and having a statue erected, one cannot be considered a member of the Zhang family," Zhang Wuming said helplessly.

It seems like a joke, but it reveals a deep sadness.

In Bei Zhang's eyes, someone like him was not worthy of the surname Zhang, and therefore could not be considered to have violated ancestral teachings.

Moreover, in the competition for the blessed land, the people from the Northern Zhang clan were all people with different surnames whom they had cultivated over the years.

“I understand. This time, you are in charge of the overall situation. If you achieve great success, it will be a matter of course. If you fail, it will have nothing to do with Bei Zhang,” Zhang Fan said, suddenly realizing.

They're really putting on an act while actually doing something, treating Zhang Wuming like a beast of burden.

"Then the incense..." Zhang Fan asked again.

“The land of Xijiang has been a thriving center of religious activity since ancient times, with countless people practicing faith there… Putting aside everything else, do you know how much money believers contribute to incense offerings each year?” Zhang Wuming suddenly changed the subject.

Spiritual practice cannot be separated from money. The greater one's supernatural powers, the more wealth one needs, unless one truly achieves enlightenment and transcends all things.

Putting all that aside...

There is an incredible power hidden within incense, a power that originates from the purest thoughts of a lifetime.

Thoughts are the most incredible power in the world.

When a single thought arises, all worldly ties cease.

A single thought can bring about rebirth, creating a new world.

Even this material world may have arisen from thought.

If a person can control their thoughts, they can do whatever they want and have their wishes fulfilled.

Unfortunately, this is a paradox. Once the mind has a thought, a desire will arise, and how can it be controlled?

To act without conscious intention—that is true control of one's thoughts.

Even so, if one can obtain incense offerings, it will enhance the fortune of the sect's lineage and bring blessings from creation.

Besides, the continuation of the family line is of even greater importance to the Zhang family.

Because, in this world today, apart from the [Divine Demon Holy Embryo] which can use incense as medicine, only immortals can consume incense offerings.

Whether gods and immortals truly exist in the world remains unknown.

However, the Zhang family has...

By bestowing divine titles and erecting statues, people can enjoy incense offerings in the human world.

This is why the Zhang family of Longhu and the Wuwu Sect fought fiercely for incense offerings, and in history, there were even several incidents of mountains being destroyed and temples being demolished.

“The continuation of the family line is even more important to the Zhang family,” Zhang Wuming said solemnly.

"I am here in Xijiang on behalf of the Northern Zhang to consolidate our forces and participate in the Danyuan Dharma Assembly."

After he finished speaking, Zhang Fan and Zhang Wuming suddenly fell silent.

"I have an idea."

"I have an idea, too."

Suddenly, the two spoke at the same time.

“Perhaps we can use this Dan Yuan Dharma Assembly to help you kill Yu Xuanji,” Zhang Wuming whispered.

“Perhaps we can take advantage of this Dan Yuan Dharma Assembly to create a large… blessed land, take all the incense offerings, carve out a territory, and become a king of the land,” Zhang Fan said solemnly.

"Good fellow Daoist, this is exactly what I wanted!"

"Good brother, that's only right!"

The two looked at each other and burst into laughter!
(End of this chapter)