The light of the sword is like the moon reflecting on Kyushu

Chapter 2023 One Step to Heaven, One Step to Hell

Chang Zijing really wanted to go up the mountain with Feng Jiuxiao, but no one accompanied her. Even if she was bold, she couldn't bring herself to do it!

Feng Jiuxiao and Sang Jie did not climb up the mountain along the narrow path.

The entire mountain is made of granite. In the "New Book of Tang - Biography of Tubo", the mountains in southeastern Qinghai are collectively referred to as "Dajishi Mountain", including Amne Machin and Nyangboyeze, and have developed typical glacial landforms such as horns and arêtes.

The jagged granite peaks resemble silver halberds forged by the gods, with the main peak's 1,700-foot snow-capped crown forming a near-divine array with countless other peaks of similar height.

Glacier fissures refract a sapphire-like halo, and the ice body stretching for dozens of miles gleams coldly under the blazing sun. Meltwater from the ice tongue plunges into a valley hundreds of meters deep, the roar startling snow chickens hiding in the rock crevices.

The higher they went, the wider the view became. There was a lake that looked like a piece of glass held up by the peaks, reflecting the sharp ridges and prayer flags. Feng Jiuxiao pointed to the lake and asked, "What lake is that?"

Sanjay said, "Fairy Lake!"

"Fairy Lake? Why is it called Fairy Lake?"

There are three interpretations. The first is that it symbolizes a mother and child, representing the lake's gentleness and nourishment. Because the lake water is clear and blue, reflecting the snow-capped mountains, it is like a mirror of a celestial fairy, hence the name Fairy Lake.

The second explanation is that this lake is the bathing pool of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava). Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche, the founder of the Nyingma school, bathed in this lake, and the lake water therefore possesses the divine power to purify karmic obstacles.

The third legend says this is the abode of the Dakinis, and that there is a crystal palace at the bottom of the lake.

Feng Jiuxiao asked, "Who is the Mother of Emptiness?"

Sangye said, “Dakini is the ultimate female symbol of wisdom, compassion and energy in our Tibetan Buddhism. In your Han Chinese direct translation, it means a flying woman in the sky.”

Feng Jiuxiao said, "I understand! I feel that this mountain range is continuous and boundless, there must be more than one lake, right?"

"And there's also Lake Devil and Lake Wencuo!"

"Why is it called Demoness Lake? Is there a demones living in the lake?"

"That's right! Legend has it that a Rakshasa woman once caused trouble here, but was later subdued by Padmasambhava with his vajra and turned into a lake. The black reefs at the bottom of the lake are said to be the transformation of her bones."

"What about Wencuo Lake? What does that mean?"

"Wencuo means treasure bottle, symbolizing good fortune and abundance. Because the lake is shaped like a treasure bottle and the water changes color from white to blue to green under different lighting conditions, it is also called the Three-Colored Lake."

When the two reached a fork in the road, Sanjay pointed to the right and said, "This way!"

As the mountain wind grew colder, ice crystals began to appear on both sides of the road.

Suddenly, three figures appeared ahead, frowning and staring intently at the mountainside, seemingly searching for something. They spotted Feng Jiuxiao and his companion, but only glanced at them before ignoring them. With so many people on the mountain, who had time to notice who came and went?

Feng Jiuxiao asked, "How much further?"

Sanjay glanced around and said, "You'll see it around the corner; it shouldn't be far."

The three martial arts masters from the Central Plains who were bending over and staring at the ground suddenly stopped at the same time and looked at Feng Jiuxiao!
The three men's expressions suddenly changed, and they looked at each other in bewilderment!

One of the men, with a full beard, lowered his voice and asked, "Don't you two think it looks like them?" The other two nodded in unison, "Yes! Not only does it look like them, it's exactly like them!"

"Holy crap, what's he doing here?"

"Does he also want a piece of the pie?"

"If he makes a move, will we still have a chance?"

"Brother, look at the person next to him. He seems to be a Tibetan. Judging from his words and actions, he clearly doesn't know any martial arts. If he wanted to steal the treasure, he wouldn't bring a burden along!"

"Hmm, that makes sense! But wait a minute, look, there are eight more people following him over there. They're acting suspiciously; it looks like they're stalking him!"

"That's right! You've got guts, daring to follow him!"

"Never mind them. Since he didn't come up the mountain to cause us trouble, let's just go about our business!"

Seeing that Feng Jiuxiao had gone up the mountain, the Eight Immortals of Thieves naturally couldn't miss the opportunity, so they tied up the reins and secretly followed her.

Pang Shiwu and the others naturally noticed the eight people's actions, but they all closed their eyes to rest. What waves could eight ants possibly make?
After turning around the bend in the mountain valley, the temple complex came into view immediately.

On the seemingly endless mountainside, groups of treasure hunters could be seen bending over, intently watching the ground beneath their feet!
Sangjie said, "So many Han people, I don't know what they've come up to this mountain for. There aren't many snow lotuses on this mountain, and they're not easy to find. Snow lotuses are only easy to find on cliffs and steep slopes. Although the mountain here is steep, it's not a sheer cliff."

Feng Jiuxiao said, "They came for that man-eating beast!"

Sangye was taken aback. "They came all this way just to rid our herders of this menace? We must thank them, Tashi Delek!"

Feng Jiuxiao said, "They don't have any good intentions! They're after the treasures on that beast!"

Sanjay was puzzled: "That monster eats people and livestock, it's cruel and tyrannical, how could it possibly have any treasures on it?"

"You may not have seen the monster in person, but survivors have. According to their descriptions, a crimson leopard with five tails and a single horn is most likely a ferocious beast! The ferocious beast possesses many treasures! First and foremost is its single horn! Its horn is called the Evil-Slaying Horn! It resembles white jade, with a blood-red tip, and is harder than iron! Legend has it that if crafted into a Taoist artifact, it can pierce the body of demons, causing their souls to scatter! In addition, the horn can foresee disasters; it will tremble spontaneously before danger to warn its owner, making it a supreme treasure for warding off evil and bringing good fortune! Of course, the most practical use is in medicine; ground into powder and mixed with cinnabar, it can cure all poisons! There is also a legend circulating in our Central Plains that the Tang Dynasty Taoist Ye Fashan once used the ferocious horn to craft the 'Celestial Master Seal,' which suppressed the fox demon rebellion in Chang'an!"

Sangye has been religious since childhood. In his mind, there are gods above. He believes in the existence of Tara and Padmasambhava. Therefore, he believes that it is entirely possible that the Celestial Masters of the Central Plains suppressed the demon fox rebellion!

"What other treasures does it possess?"

"The ferocious beast has five tails, each a different color: blue, red, white, black, and yellow, corresponding to the five elements! It is said that the five-colored tails can be forged into the Five Elements Whip to control the five elements: the red tail summons fire, the blue tail generates wind, the white tail condenses frost, the black tail attracts thunder, and the yellow tail shakes the earth! Legend has it that taking the three inches of the tail tip, burning it to ashes, and consuming it can extend one's life by twenty years! No matter what serious illness one suffers from, it can cure all diseases and allow one to live for twenty more years! However, there is a drawback: one will suffer a backlash from the ferocious spirit! Of course, it can also be made into the 'Ferocious Fur,' which is impervious to water and fire and difficult to be harmed by swords!"

"I don't know much about manipulating the five elements, but being able to extend one's lifespan by twenty years is absolutely enough to drive the world crazy!"

"Yes, who doesn't want to live to be a hundred?"

"Any more?"

"Yes! The third treasure is the Crimson Eye of the Ferocious Beast, also known as Blood Glaze! Because the eyes of the Ferocious Beast are like red gemstones, displaying blood-red patterns under light. It is said that the wearer can see through illusions such as demonic transformations and ghostly mazes, and see through illusions. In addition, if a warrior holds it under his tongue, it can terrify the enemy when charging! Legend has it that Shi Siming tried this method during the An Lushan Rebellion, but later went mad, perhaps suffering a backlash! Blood Glaze is an excellent material for Taoist alchemy, ranking among the top ten rare treasures! When combined with a luminous pearl, it can be refined into the 'Blood Soul Pill,' which can increase internal strength several times over. This is precisely the main purpose for these martial arts masters to come here! Of course, there is a risk of going into qi deviation when consuming the Blood Soul Pill! With good luck, one can step into heaven; with bad luck, one can step into hell!"

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