Pure Yang!

Chapter 421 Mortal Realm (5k-word long chapter)

Two days later.

Eighty li south of Hongzhou City lies Chixia Mountain.

The distant sound of bells echoes from deep in the mountains, while wisps of fragrant incense rise through a narrow sliver of sky.

Walking along the mountain path, Zhang Fan could see the blazing incense smoke rising from the deep mountains, where a Taoist temple was hidden.

"The Chixia Temple is just ahead."

Zhang Wuming was traveling light, carrying only a blue backpack and dressed in sportswear. He didn't look like a cultivator; he looked more like a hiker.

"Today we are going to visit Master Xiang Nantian of Chixia Temple," Zhang Wuming said softly.

Among the experts that the Zhang family supported and placed in Xijiang Province, the seven most outstanding were the Zhai chiefs.

Among these seven people, Xiang Nantian, the abbot of Chixia Temple, was the most powerful and the most senior.

"Within the Xijiang region, apart from those famous mountains and major sects, including all loosely affiliated Taoist temples, Chixia Temple ranks among the top three in terms of incense offerings."

Zhang Wuming looked at Zhang Fan and whispered.

"After recovering all the Taoist temples, large and small, in Xijiang Province, the incense offerings that have been gathered together are quite considerable."

"You should know that in this world, apart from the Zhang family's method of bestowing gods, the only thing that can enjoy incense offerings in a mortal body is the Divine Demon Holy Embryo."

The method of bestowing gods is very different from the divine and demonic embryo.

The former, only by performing this method, can a mortal body be elevated to godhood, thus receiving offerings and being sacrificed by heretics.

The latter, through the refining of the innate primordial spirit, possesses a domineering mortal body and directly absorbs incense offerings to cultivate immortality through his own body.

“I really need this right now,” Zhang Fan whispered.

The incense smoke that ordinary people see is the rising and swirling smoke.

However, in the eyes of cultivators, the spiritual power of incense can be seen and understood, and it contains the purest thoughts.

Ordinary cultivators cannot enjoy this, but even so, incense can enhance the fortune of a sect and, in the unseen realm, increase the probability of producing talented individuals.

Of course, because the purest thoughts are hidden within incense, that is also a great tribulation in cultivation.

Therefore, even the Zhang family of Longhu Mountain, whose incense was flourishing and could be called the best in the world, could not escape the sudden downturn of their fortunes and the calamity they encountered.

The principles of the world are so mysterious; within a great destiny, there is bound to be a great calamity.

No matter how powerful you are, no matter how great your abilities are, you will still be punished by the heavens and fall to the mortal realm.

In addition, incense can also be used to refine and enhance magical artifacts.

Therefore, the magical treasures of each sect and school need to be offered incense.

On the day the Black Gold Ancient Seal was reforged, it absorbed the residual incense and spiritual energy from other magic weapon fragments.

This is why, throughout history, the struggle for the orthodox lineage has been about the continuation of the lineage, the fortune of the people, the fate of life and death, and the chance to achieve immortality.

Of course, for Zhang Fan, incense has an even greater purpose.

Offering food and incense is the beginning of thoughts of absorbing spiritual nourishment.

That is the key to cultivating the [Divine Demon Holy Embryo].

Now that he has cultivated to the ninth level of the Great Master realm, he naturally wants to go further and step into the realm of [Zhaishou].

The key to Taoist cultivation is the cultivation of both body and mind.

The secret of sexual cultivation lies in the primordial spirit.

The essence of life cultivation lies in internal alchemy.

Gathering herbs within the body and circulating them throughout the body, refining the essence into true yang, and nourishing the primordial spirit—this is the beginning of cultivating both body and spirit.

When true yang condenses into an elixir, it signifies the great achievement of life cultivation, also known as the "Zhaishou" realm.

After nine cycles of internal alchemy, a golden elixir is formed, which nourishes the primordial spirit and ultimately manifests as a Dharma form, reaching the realm of the "Master".

The nine transformations of the Dharma form, the unity of heaven and man, constitute the realm of the "Celestial Master".

Going a step further, the primordial spirit is stripped of its yin impurities and enters the golden elixir, where it is nurtured and sublimated, reaching the state of pure yang at its purest form. That is the true realm of pure yang without limit.

Now, Zhang Fan has accumulated enough foundation. He only needs an opportunity and a predestined connection to comprehend the mysteries of the Abbot's realm and achieve the final breakthrough in his cultivation.

"It's almost here, I feel like it's almost here," Zhang Fan thought to himself.

"Have you looked at the list I gave you?"

Zhang Wuming's voice pulled Zhang Fan back to reality.

“I know you are eager to kill Yu Xuanji, but this matter cannot be rushed. After all, this is Xijiang Province.”

"The Dan Yuan Dharma Assembly is your only chance."

“What we’re doing now is something that concerns our future, so you should at least treat it as a serious undertaking,” Zhang Wuming said earnestly.

"I was just lost in thought..." Zhang Fan rolled his eyes.

"Of course I looked at the list you gave me."

The so-called list is nothing more than information about those seven masters at the Zhaitou realm.

Besides Xiang Nantian, the abbot of Chixia Temple whom we need to visit today, Xu Changshou, the abbot of Jingtu Temple, is chronically ill and his health is deteriorating year by year. He rarely appears in public and is therefore not worth considering.

Right now, Zhang Fan and Zhang Wuming only need to deal with the five powerful leaders of the Great Hall:
Abbot of Jinguang Temple, Lingdu.

Abbot of Feiyun Temple, Xiao Xiaole.

The Master of Self-Existence constantly exhausts himself.

The abbot of Wangyou Temple, Pei, could not rise.

A cheerful and optimistic person finds no joy in flowers.

“These five people are very ambitious. They have been operating in Xijiang for many years and have become too powerful to control.”

Before Zhang Wuming came to Xijiang, he had already roughly understood the situation here. With the information he obtained from Pang Qingyun, he had a clear understanding of the place.

“The method you suggested is very risky. With my current cultivation level, at best it will only result in a draw,” Zhang Fan said solemnly.

The gap between a Great Master and a Head of the Fast is an insurmountable chasm, let alone dealing with five powerful Heads of the Fast at the same time.

Even with Zhang Fan's abilities, he was still a little apprehensive.

“You’re right. At most, it’s a draw, a dilemma. That’s why I’ve come to visit the Master of Chixia Temple today.”

"If he can give us a push from behind, a draw would be a victory."

Zhang Wuming seemed to have planned everything perfectly.

“This Xijiang Province is where our great fortune and prosperity will flourish for us brothers.” A special light shone in Zhang Wuming’s eyes.

His talents were completely wasted in Beizhang, so he had to keep a low profile and not show his brilliance to others.

Leaving Beizhang and returning to his homeland in Xijiang was like a dragon returning to the sea or a tiger entering the deep mountains for him.

"Cheer up, brother."

As they talked, the two arrived at Chixia Temple.

As expected, it is a Taoist temple hidden deep in the mountains, known even in the deepest clouds. Worshippers come and go in an endless stream at the entrance, the wisps of incense smoke like a canopy, and the spirit banners swaying like the wind.

“This place is much more lively than Qingyun Temple,” Zhang Fan couldn’t help but say.

For the past two days, he has been staying at Qingyun Temple, where transportation is much more convenient than here, but it is far less bustling and vibrant.

"I've heard that the Chixia Temple is very efficacious, especially for those seeking marriage. If it's a doomed relationship, come here to offer incense, and you'll definitely break up within six months," Zhang Wuming said with a light laugh.

"Many girls are afraid of being cheated on, so they bring their boyfriends to offer incense, and it always works."

"Over time, his reputation spread on pornographic websites."

"That's interesting," Zhang Fan said in a deep voice.

Speaking of which, since the old demon deleted his account, he hasn't browsed Xiaohuangshu (a Chinese adult novel platform) for a long time. Recently, he has been browsing the Xiaodao (another Chinese adult novel platform) app the most.

"If you two would like to request incense, please do so over there."

Just then, a young Taoist boy came up and gave directions.

“We’re not here to burn incense and worship the gods,” Zhang Wuming said with a light laugh.

“If you want to worship gods, my friend is a great god.”

As he spoke, Zhang Wuming pointed at Zhang Fan.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fan couldn't help but show a strange expression.

The young Taoist priest opened his mouth and looked at Zhang Wuming with a strange expression. Taoist temples are solemn places, places revered by gods and immortals. No ordinary mortal would dare to be so disrespectful.

Such a tone is bigger than the sky.

"Don't talk nonsense," the young Taoist boy said, his eyes wide with astonishment.

"I have come to see the Abbot of Chixia Temple," Zhang Wuming said solemnly.

“My master does not receive guests.” The young Taoist boy paused for a moment, then shook his head.

At the first stage of fasting, the inner elixir is formed and the life cultivation is greatly accomplished. In ancient times, such a person would be considered a master of alchemy, capable of establishing a sect and recruiting many disciples.

"It's arranged. Go and inform them that someone has arrived from the north," Zhang Wuming said calmly.

These past two days, he had already sent a visiting card through Pang Qingyun, and only after receiving permission did he pay his respects.

The young Taoist hesitated for a moment, then turned and went to the inner courtyard of the back mountain.

A moment later, a slightly older Taoist priest, who was about forty years old, came out, followed by the young Taoist boy from before.

Zhang Fan glanced at the Taoist priest and saw that he was under fifty years old and at the high level of cultivation. To reach this level at such a young age was quite promising.

"This humble Taoist priest, Haoran, greets the two distinguished guests." The Taoist priest approached and bowed respectfully.

Zhang Fan and Zhang Wuming exchanged a glance and returned the greeting.

Before he arrived, Pang Qingyun mentioned that this Master Haoran was Xiang Nantian's only disciple. In recent years, Xiang Nantian had kept to himself and the affairs of Chixia Temple, big and small, had all been handled by Master Haoran.

"You two, follow me."

Master Haoran gestured for them to enter, then led Zhang Fan and Zhang Wuming to the inner courtyard of the back mountain. Upon arriving at a quiet room, a young Taoist boy served them tea.

"Please have some tea here for a moment, my master will be here shortly."

As he spoke, Daoist Haoran withdrew.

"It's quite simple here."

Zhang Fan glanced around. In the quiet room, besides the table and chairs, there was only a futon and an incense burner; there wasn't even air conditioning.

The furnishings are extremely simple.

“A great cultivator abandons all material desires and discards all thoughts; this is true skill,” Zhang Wuming said solemnly.

Ordinary people are far from the Tao, so they are most affected by the external environment and internal desires.

The higher a cultivator's level, the less they are affected by the external environment, to the point that neither the cold of winter nor the heat of summer, nor the alternation of hot and cold, can affect them in the slightest.

A master like Xiang Nantian, having already achieved inner alchemy, can naturally remain unaffected by heat or cold.

Even in the sweltering summer heat, when running under the blazing sun, one can maintain a constant body temperature and steady breathing without a drop of sweat or feeling any intense heat. Touching the surface of one's body can even feel a slight coolness.

"Um!?"

Just then, Zhang Fan noticed that although the room's furnishings were haphazard, there was a painting hanging on the south wall.

This was also the only painting in the room, depicting a Taoist priest with a thick beard, holding a wooden sword, riding a striped tiger. Ghostly shadows flickered beneath the sword, and the tiger's mouth was eerie and terrifying.

The yellowed scroll looked quite old, and there were two lines of poetry inscribed in the corner:

"On the fifth day of the fifth month at noon, the Celestial Master rides a tiger made of mugwort. With a sword of calamus, he slays a hundred evils, and swallows a ghostly poison from the tiger's mouth." Zhang Fan recited softly.

At that moment, he was somewhat dazed.

When he was a child, Zhang Lingzong taught him to recite this Dragon Boat Festival folk song.

According to legend, on the Dragon Boat Festival in May, all the demons in the world gather at Longhu Mountain. Laozi then dispatched Zhang Tianshi to guard Longhu Mountain, riding a divine tiger made of mugwort leaves and forging a precious sword from calamus to subdue the demons.

"On the fifth day of the fifth month at noon, the Celestial Master rode a tiger..."

Zhang Fan murmured to himself, and when he saw the signature, his brow twitched.

"Born that way!?"

Zhang Fan's gaze sharpened, and he couldn't help but look at Zhang Wuming.

“Not all of the experts Zhang family planted in Xijiang were from the Northern Zhang clan,” Zhang Wuming said softly as he walked up to the painting.

"More than 30 years ago, when the Southern Zhang were still in power, Xiang Nantian was a promising talent that the Southern Zhang supported and valued. However, at that time, he had just entered the sect and his cultivation was not yet complete. He was just a minor figure, so he was not implicated."

"Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, thirty years would have passed, and he would have become a force to be reckoned with, the leader of the rogue cultivators in the Xijiang region?" Zhang Wuming exclaimed.

dong... dong... dong...

Just then, footsteps came from outside the door.

Zhang Fan turned around and saw an old man walk in. He had a tortoise-like back and a crane-like posture, and his steps were brisk. His eyes were focused and imposing, reflecting a brilliance that was beyond his years. Most importantly, the skin on the old man's exposed arms was smooth and white, without a single hair.

"Subduing the White Tiger!?" Zhang Fan's gaze narrowed slightly.

He knew that once a man cultivated his inner elixir and achieved great success in his life cultivation, he could reach the realm of "subduing the white tiger," where all the body hair would fall off, locking in all the blood and qi, concealing the genitals, preventing the essence from leaking out, and transforming it into qi to return to the brain, achieving near-perfect perfection.

Such a state, if it were a woman, would be called "slaying the red dragon," with menstruation ceasing, the Ren water rising upwards, reversing the innate state, like an infant.

"He really is a master!" Zhang Fan thought with a chill.

Even though they are both at the first level of the fasting realm, there are still differences between them. The aura of the person in front of him is even more unfathomable than that of Zhang Esha, who died under the black iron plate that day.

"Junior Zhang Wuming greets senior."

Zhang Wuming quickly stepped forward and bowed.

"nameless……"

Xiang Nantian's gaze swept over them, his indifferent eyes revealing neither joy nor anger.

"He was never deified or given a statue; he was just a pitiful person without a name or surname."

Xiang Nantian's words were ruthless, yet extremely realistic.

"sit down."

Before Zhang Wuming could respond, Xiang Nantian casually said.

"Pang Qingyun has already told you why you're here," Xiang Nantian said bluntly.

“The Zhang family has been away from this land for too long. With each new emperor comes a new court, and things are not what they used to be.”

Xiang Nantian was quite frank: "Bei Zhang probably didn't expect to succeed in sending a nobody like you back to reorganize the situation."

Zhang Wuming has never been deified or had a statue erected in his honor, so he can't be considered a proper member of the Zhang family. Sending such a person back seems too casual and hasty.

"People's hearts are easily scattered and hard to unite. You can't get things done," Xiang Nantian said directly.

"Senior, your painting is quite good."

Suddenly, Zhang Wuming changed the subject and looked at the yellowed painting on the wall.

Xiang Nantian was taken aback, not expecting Zhang Wuming to start talking about the painting on the wall instead of getting down to business.

“That year, during the Dragon Boat Festival, I traveled all the way to Jiangnan… and that person gave me this painting.” A look of reminiscence appeared in Xiang Nantian’s eyes.

In front of the disciples of the Northern Zhang, he could only keep that person's name hidden deep in his heart.

Even so, this master of the Zhai Shou realm revealed an unusual emotion in his eyes.

That year, he spent the Dragon Boat Festival in Jiangnan, where he ate savory rice dumplings with meat filling, took a bath with mugwort leaves, and also received this painting.

That person...that person had high expectations for him.

“Zhang Tiansheng!?” Zhang Wuming suddenly said.

Rumble…

As soon as these words were spoken, a terrifying aura surged into the sky, and the entire room trembled.

"You brat, how dare you mention his name? He hasn't even been deified or had his statue erected yet, and you dare to bring up old grievances in front of me?"

The sound of Xiang Nantian echoed in my ears like rolling thunder.

"senior……"

Just then, Zhang Fan suddenly called out.

Xiang Nantian's gaze swept across the room, and only then did he truly notice Zhang Fan.

“Senior, my friend also has the surname Zhang, but he comes from a different lineage.” Zhang Wuming said, each word carefully enunciated under immense pressure.

Upon hearing this, Xiang Nantian's expression changed drastically, and the surrounding pressure instantly dissipated.

He stared intently at Zhang Fan, his eyes filled with undisguised astonishment.

"Junior Zhang Fan greets Senior." Zhang Fan formally bowed.

"Zhang Fan... Fan..."

Xiang Nantian was in a daze, his thoughts seemingly drifting back to that Dragon Boat Festival night many years ago.

The realgar wine was intoxicating. Xiang Nantian held the ancient painting, and he could vaguely see that tall and imposing figure still wielding his brush, writing the character "凡" (fan, meaning ordinary/common)...

"Xiao Xiang, this character is incredibly profound, the most profound character in the world..."

The drunken murmurs echoed in my ears, and then I saw the man raise his hand and turn the word "mortal" in front of him into ashes.

"If I have a grandson in the future, I will name him this."

……

All the past events vanished before his eyes, gradually merging with Zhang Fan's figure.

“Descendants of the deceased…descendants of the deceased…” Xiang Nantian murmured softly.

He glanced at Zhang Fan, then at the painting on the wall, and suddenly fell silent.

"Even if I were willing to help you, you still wouldn't get ahead."

After pondering for a long time, Xiang Nantian suddenly said, "The waters of the West River are too deep. Even integrating the local rogue cultivators is beyond the capabilities of you two little guys."

"As long as you're on our side, we don't need to worry about anything else," Zhang Wuming breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew that this trip had not been in vain.

“Young man, your ambitions are sky-high.” Xiang Nantian looked at Zhang Wuming, then at Zhang Fan, and couldn’t help but feel a sense of disorientation.

At this moment, it was as if he had returned to many years ago.

“Alright, if you can truly subdue the others, I will do my utmost to help you unify the scattered cultivators of Xijiang and assist you in ascending the Dharma Tower and reaching the high platform,” Xiang Nantian promised.

"With your words of reassurance, senior," Zhang Wuming said with a light laugh.

“People’s hearts are easily scattered. These people have been scattered for so many years. If you want to unify and integrate them, you need a name,” Xiang Nantian suddenly said.

Only by holding the flag high can we unite people's hearts.

"Are you going to raise the banner of Bei Zhang?!"

“That would be too much of a commotion. The Northern Zhang sent me here because they didn’t want any unnecessary trouble or to attract attention. At least on the surface, they didn’t want the world to think that the Zhang family was coming back,” Zhang Wuming said, shaking his head.

He certainly wouldn't raise the banner of Bei Zhang, otherwise, once he's fully grown, it would be easy for him to sever ties and break away!
"By reforming the old and establishing the new, perhaps we can set up a new school and gather a large following!" Zhang Fan suggested.

"good idea!!"

These people were cultivated by the old forces, but they are meant to shine in the new forces.

In this new era, they should have a new banner and a new name.

"What's it called?" Xiang Nantian asked.

"Just call..."

Zhang Wuming's heart stirred, and he suddenly looked up at Zhang Fan.

"The Mortal Gate!!"

(End of this chapter)