Longevity Candle

Chapter 93 You, aren't you just a cicada?

In the fourth year of the chaotic era, the people under Wang Sheng's rule, unable to bear the oppression, fell apart.

The Buyun tribe, with its pack of wolves, decisively defeated the routed army and killed Wang Sheng.

The Emperor of Ningguo suddenly passed away, and a new emperor ascended the throne. How much more capable is the new emperor compared to his predecessor?
Gu Pingsheng floated back, his expression solemn, and said, "The Emperor of Ningguo has passed away, and a new emperor has taken over the throne. Moreover, I have heard that Ningguo has sent troops to the northern grasslands."

"Has Ning Guo gone mad?" Even Li Qingxuan, a person who doesn't care about worldly affairs, found it unbelievable at this moment.

The new emperor had just ascended the throne, and the court was in turmoil. Instead of thinking about stabilizing the country, he actually sent troops north.

"I heard it was a national policy set by the late Emperor of Ningguo: after the war in the south, we would move north to the grasslands."

Gu Pingsheng pondered, "If I were that late emperor, since I was focused on both countries, during the period when the north was stable, I would definitely send people to the grasslands to draw maps and increase troops. Ningguo's wealth is too great to support it. Once the south is stable, then I would enter the grasslands according to the map."

"With a map and troops, we will surely sweep across the grasslands in one fell swoop. Once the grasslands are over, the south will be nearly finished as well. Then we can enter the fray, clean up the mess, and annex both countries in one fell swoop."

“If what you say is true, then it makes sense; they are acting in accordance with national policy,” Li Qingxuan said.

Gu Pingsheng sighed softly, "This is under the ideal circumstances, when the late emperor is still alive."

"Now that the national policy has been established and Ningguo is implementing it, what undesirable situation could there be?" Hu Ling asked, puzzled.

“Power shifts, and the choice of who to wage war.” Gu Pingsheng explained, “According to what you said, the Taiping Dao tricked the grasslands back then, and they must be holding a grudge, just waiting for the war to start.”

"When Ningguo is strong, the grasslands dare not move south. But if they go deep into the grasslands, even if they have a map, they still have the advantage of terrain and popular support."

The first battle will be difficult. If we lose, the commanders chosen by the late emperor will likely be replaced. Changing generals on the eve of battle is a major taboo, and it could have far-reaching consequences, affecting the entire Ning Kingdom.

"The Ningguo court shouldn't be that stupid, right?" Hu Ling said.

"Never underestimate the human desire for power, especially in a vast and prosperous country. Who wouldn't want to rule such a dynasty?"

Gu Pingsheng sighed.

How he longed for his own country to be as powerful as Ningguo.

If Yunmeng were that strong, he was confident he could do even better than the late emperor of Ningguo.

The wealth that Ningguo has accumulated over the years is beyond astonishing.

It was the strongest military and wealthiest nation in recent dynasties, and with a brilliant and ambitious emperor, it was fully capable of conquering two countries.

Even if it cannot conquer both countries, it can still advance or retreat freely.

However, the sudden death of the Ningguo Emperor and the enthronement of a new emperor disrupted all plans.

"It's strange, since the Emperor of Ningguo had the Way of Peace, he should have practiced martial arts, so he shouldn't have died suddenly," Hu Ling said, puzzled.

“This is indeed a strange place, and I can’t figure it out either,” Gu Pingsheng said.

"Don't think about these things anymore. Now that you've entered the Path of Peaceful Rebirth, just focus on your cultivation," Li Qingxuan said.

"I don't want to think about it anymore." Gu Pingsheng shook his head, no longer looking, and together with the golden snake, received the nourishment of the Taiyin Immortal Stone.

Although I cannot cultivate now, I can nourish my soul first.

Li Qingxuan and Hu Ling continued to study the Dharma.

Four-year-old Gu Xinsheng was crawling and playing on the ground nearby.

In the fifth year of the chaotic era, Li Qingxuan was injured again, her face as pale as paper, and she failed once more.

Hu Ling, looking worried, continued her research into the Taiyin Soul Refining Technique.

The sixth year, failure... The eighth year, still failure.

In the ninth year, Li Qingxuan, who had entered the path of immortality, had a strand of white hair, and the meager magical power within her body was unable to heal her injuries.

The candlelight flickered, the green lamp emitted a unique light, and the sleeping river candle awoke.

"Uncle Jiang Zhu, you're awake?" Li Qingxuan asked in surprise.

"How many years have I been asleep?" Jiang Zhu asked.

“Nine years, a year earlier than before,” Li Qingxuan said.

"Congratulations, Spirit of the Green Lamp, on your progress in the path of immortality." Hu Ling quickly bowed.

"It should be the effect of the boundless Yin," Jiang Zhu said with a faint smile. "How is your research going?"

“The Taiyin Soul Refining Technique always fails.” Li Qingxuan looked haggard, her eyes bloodshot.

Jiang Zhu received the memories she transmitted. They wanted to use the Taiyin Soul Refining Technique to forcibly connect the soul with heaven and earth and draw upon the power of Taiyin.

"Why not try the Divine Union with Heaven and Earth?" Jiang Zhu said. "The Divine Union with Heaven and Earth allows one to sense the universe and seek the Yin energy between heaven and earth. Wouldn't that be better?"

Li Qingxuan was stunned, and Hu Ling was also stunned. They had almost forgotten about this martial art.

"I just thought of it too. The boundless Yin Heaven connects with Heaven and Earth and draws upon the power of the Yin."

"The union of spirit and heaven and earth is not a divine technique, but it can still communicate with heaven and earth, and can therefore be used as a substitute."

Jiang Zhu pondered for a moment and said, "My time was too short. If I could have stayed longer, I might have thought of this nine years ago."

“It’s not too late now,” Li Qingxuan said excitedly. “If this method succeeds, the path to peaceful rebirth will also be achieved.”

Just as Jiang Zhu was about to say something, he suddenly looked up and gazed south: "Go and fetch two jars of aged wine, the old dragon is here."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the old dragon in his green robes appeared in the courtyard.

"You arrived just in time. Are you here to keep an eye on things?" Jiang Zhu asked.

“I occasionally take a look when I wake up.” The old dragon exclaimed in surprise, “Your magical power has improved so quickly, you’re almost catching up with me.”

“Not nearly as good,” Jiang Zhu said.

He was certainly no match for the old dragon's vast magical power, but he had cultivated the Taiyin Wuliang, merged his body with heaven and earth, and called himself Wuliangtian, which created the illusion that the old dragon thought he had boundless magical power.

Although he possessed inexhaustible power, he merely borrowed the laws of heaven and earth, while the old dragon possessed genuine magical power of its own.

Li Qingxuan got up, carrying two jars of peach blossom wine.

"Come sit next door, I've asked someone to buy it," the old dragon said.

“Okay.” Jiang Zhu carried two jars of wine and followed the old dragon to the neighboring courtyard.

There is a stone table in the courtyard, where people sit facing each other.

"You ran away from Nanling, not just to visit me, were you?" Jiang Zhu asked.

The old dragon said, "The Qingjiang spirit is coming back."

"Why?" Jiang Zhu frowned. "He was perfectly fine in the South China Sea, why did he come back? Could it be that he's still greedy for incense offerings and merits?"

"I don't know, he just sent me a message saying he will return." The old dragon shook his head: "I'm afraid he's got the idea of ​​immortality."

"To follow the way of Heaven?" Jiang Zhu's expression changed slightly: "The way of Heaven is like a tomb. How can one seek immortality in a tomb?"

"It's just a guess," the old dragon said. "It's ridiculous, really. In the past, when a kingdom was in chaos, spirits from the mountains and seas and immortal masters would enter the world. But even though Yunmeng is in such a mess, no spirits or immortal masters have come out."

"The Chang family, have they given up?" Jiang Zhu asked.

"It was Yu Hua's kind glance that created the Chang family; it can't be considered support," the old dragon said calmly.

"bona fide?"

"Back then, the ancestor of the Chang family went into the mountains to find medicine to save the people of Qiuyue. He took pity on the ancestor's kind heart, so he lowered his eyes and gave him medicine, and passed on the art of controlling snakes. As a result, the Chang family prospered and its population grew. The Qiuyue Village of that time became Qiuyue City."

The old dragon sighed, "The descendants of that great philanthropist have become the clan that oppresses the people."

Jiang Zhu remained silent.

The story of the dragon slayer becoming the dragon himself is not uncommon; it is a common occurrence in the mortal world.

"This world is just a repetition of the same old story. After seeing it so many times, you lose all sense of pity."

The old dragon continued, "There is no right or wrong, good or evil. It's just about finding like-minded people to take a trip in this world."

"Then what path are you seeking?" Jiang Zhu asked calmly.

"The old dragon once longed for immortality, for the old crow to be well, and for endless merit and flourishing incense offerings."

The old dragon said, "Over the long years, I have asked for many things, but now I don't know what to ask for anymore, as if I don't want to ask for anything at all."

"Is that so?" Jiang Zhu remained noncommittal.

"Then what are you seeking? Bringing the path of immortality into the mortal realm, forcibly paving the way for immortality in the mortal world, what is it all for?" The old dragon asked, voicing the doubts in his heart.

"Me?" Jiang Zhu sighed softly, "I ask for nothing, yet I ask for everything."

"what for?"

"At first, I wanted to be a blessing spirit. Meeting someone is fate, and by bestowing a blessing, I can change their suffering life."

Perhaps it was fate that I met Li Qingping, and encountered a mortal seeker of the Dao.

"A seeker of the Dao? How can he seek the Dao if he doesn't enter the path of immortality?"

"Why is only the Immortal Path the Dao?" Jiang Zhu looked at him in surprise: "This doesn't sound like something an old elf would say."

The old dragon paused slightly: "Peace and tranquility are ultimately just a pipe dream."

"The path to immortality is but a pipe dream," Jiang Zhu said calmly. "The world is bound to unite after a long period of division, and to divide again after a long period of unity. But there are some seekers of the Dao that deserve to be remembered by the light of candlelight. Years later, when we look back on them, they will be quite interesting."

"You just haven't had enough fun in this mortal world," the old dragon said with a smile.

"Have you ever really looked closely at this mundane world?" Jiang Zhu asked in return.

"I have never looked closely. Sometimes I fall asleep and a country is gone. So short, like a cicada."

"cicada?"

"Yes, cicadas emerge from the soil and quickly end their lives. Their offspring will also continue to emerge from the soil and quickly end their lives, in an endless cycle. This mortal world is the same, which is quite meaningless."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhu nodded and said, "Indeed, it's not very interesting."

The old dragon, having slept through countless years, would never remember the name of a cicada.
Not to mention, how many cicadas did this cicada leave behind, and whether any one of them could amaze him?
He would only glance at a cicada if it flew right up to him and bumped into him, waking him up.

Li Qingping is this cicada, and so is Li Qingxuan.

“When this cicada gains enough power, they won’t be able to sleep,” the old dragon said.

“Li Qingping’s appearance has taken them out of their control,” Jiang Zhu said. “Then how can you still sleep?”

"Old Dragon, I slept very well." The old dragon sighed, "When will I wake up next? There are a few friends who would like to get to know you."

"It should be nine years later," Jiang Zhu said. "As for when I'll wake up, that depends on how long I sleep. And why didn't those friends come with you?"

"I'm recuperating," the old dragon said. "They wouldn't dare disturb me rashly, after all, you're a bolt of lightning that struck the black wolf's leg. They don't know your temperament."

“I really enjoy making friends,” Jiang Zhu explained.

The old dragon drank a jar of peach blossom wine, then got up and left. His purpose in coming here was specifically to inform him that the Qingjiang spirit was returning.

Jiang Zhu savored the peach blossoms, watching him leave, and murmured, "Aren't you, too, a cicada?"

Whether mortal or immortal, those who cannot attain immortality are ultimately trapped in the cycle of reincarnation.

When an elf dies, the heavens and earth will nurture a new elf, which is also another way of passing on the lineage.
How could the lofty spirits of mountains and seas possibly impose mortal constraints upon themselves?

Jiang Zhu drank the last sip of peach blossom wine, and a wisp of candlelight lit up, illuminating the old dragon's figure.

How many cicadas can a candlelight record?

His mind and spirit merged with heaven and earth, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon to accumulate magical power.

Li Qingxuan and Hu Ling attempted to unite their spirits with the heavens and earth, and finally touched upon a rudimentary method of cultivating wandering souls.

The moonlight descended, nourishing their souls and bodies.

Seekers from afar carefully collected divine artifacts, fallen blood, and hair.

Although it would cost them their lives, they still flew like moths to a flame, attempting to steal the power of immortality.

Six months later, a piece of news spread throughout Yunmeng.

The Buyun tribe, who worshipped the black wolf, was wiped out by the powerful and wealthy gentry of Ningguo. They slaughtered the wolves and smashed the black wolf statue.

The so-called Black Wolf Immortal ultimately failed to rescue anyone, and didn't even take away a single spark of fire.

In this chaotic land, the revelry of gluttons echoes.

Clans in various regions sensed the crisis and began to unite.

The people of Ningguo have no faith, or rather, they have faith, but not many.

Sometimes they would pray to the ethereal immortals, but when they found it useless, they would immediately start cursing and insulting the immortals' ancestors.

Gu Ping sent away souls every day on his birthday, and his heart was filled with envy for Ningguo.

If the emperors of Yunmeng throughout history had the courage to sever the path of immortality, Yunmeng would probably have done the same, right?

He even saw some people in Yunmeng kneeling and praying to the statues of gods, instead of taking up arms to protect themselves.

Does that clay statue of a god dare to come in?
They dare not, and never have dared to, directly interfere with the mundane affairs of the common people.

With a deep sigh, he returned to Peach Blossom Tavern, where he taught Gu Xinsheng and told him the story of Gu Yunshen.

Gu Yun Shen is very intelligent and well-behaved, and has already begun to learn the "Peach Blossom Qi Refining Method".

With Jiang Zhu's guidance, Li Qingxuan and Hu Ling finally perfected the "Taiping Wangsheng Jing".

Gu Xinsheng also began cultivating, and with the help of the Taiyin Immortal Stone, he quickly entered the realm of cultivation.

The golden snake's intelligence was increasing, and Hu Ling began to guide its cultivation, but the specific methods needed to be sought from the old dragon.

Gu Pingsheng went there but did not see the old dragon. Immortal Master Yuhua gave them a book on snake cultivation methods.

“I once looked down on the Chang family, and now you see the Chang family as it is,” said Immortal Master Yuhua. “Li Qingping brought the path of immortality into the mortal world, and you opened up the path to immortality in the mortal world. Have you ever considered that you are just another Chang family?”

Gu Pingsheng bowed and said, "What Immortal Master Yuhua said is very true. Mortals seek only themselves and their relatives and friends. In the end, they will become the new Chang family, and new gentry and nobles will be born in Ningguo."

Immortal Master Yuhua said calmly, "Then what's the point of all this?"

"Everyone will eventually die, so what's the point of living?" Gu Pingsheng bowed again: "What's the point of living, Immortal Master?"

Immortal Master Yuhua was stunned. Seeking immortality? Or practicing asceticism and watching the mortal world change and constantly rise and fall?
"Thank you, Immortal Master Yuhua." Gu Pingsheng, carrying the golden snake, floated back to Qiuyue City.

"This kid, he's even lecturing me now." Master Yuhua came back to her senses and couldn't help but chuckle.

(End of this chapter)