Tao and Heaven

Chapter 210 Qingcang is about to die
Three years of the Xia Dynasty.

The world has completely settled down, and with the help of Linggu, it has already shown signs of prosperity.

The palace was finally repaired, and the collapsed walls and palaces were swept away, replaced by empty spaces. Because in Jiang Fugui's opinion, most of the palaces were useless wastes, and a large amount of money was needed to repair them every year.

The cost of rebuilding a palace could build a highway of several hundred miles and dozens of water conservancy projects. In addition, tens of thousands of taels of silver would be invested in repairs every year. The entire palace would cost at least several million taels of silver a year according to its original size.

And this is just the most basic cost price, and it will cost more if you calculate it specifically.

The Jiang family, who were enjoying a high position, were quite dissatisfied with this. The Empress had already made a fuss more than once about renovating the palace. The ministers under her also advised the Emperor to build a few palaces.

There is a side hall, a small bridge and flowing water, and a pavilion with a stove for warming wine.

Jiang Fugui and Gu Wen were drinking, and the former kept complaining: "That woman is just too ignorant of the daily necessities of life. If she keeps complaining, I'll depose her in a few days. And Jucai, after so many years, he hasn't learned any worldly ways. As a prince, he can meet and befriend some ministers in private."

"Only his father, I, have no idea about this position. If it were someone else, he would have died countless times already."

Gu Wen said calmly: "The world is just a makeshift team. You think everyone is like a dragon, but in fact most people are insects. Not everyone is proficient in everything. Jucai can be a general, but he is obviously not suitable to be a monarch."

"Fugui, have you ever thought about practicing?"

Gu Wen suddenly asked, looking at his old friend's head full of white hair.

Jiang Fugui has reached the age of knowing his destiny, and due to the ancient living environment, he looks like he is sixty years old.

"Yes, I would if I could. Who wouldn't want to live longer?"

He nodded without hesitation, but there was not much desire in his eyes.

"If you can... be rich and noble, you can see things more clearly than many people." Gu Wen praised him, then poured him a cup and said, "Practicing requires cutting off the mundane world. You will be abandoned in power and status, and even your wife and children."

"Drink this drink, and you'll fake your own death and get away with it in a year."

When practicing in the outer world or in the mountains, most people need to cut off the mortal world. In the words of Master Qingcang, cutting off the mortal world is not only conducive to practice, but also prevents disciples from relying on their influence in the sect to hinder the operation of secular power.

No matter how bad those noble families are, they are better than an old farmer who used to grow crops suddenly becoming the city lord because of a genius disciple.

Gu Wen agreed with this statement.

Jiang Fugui needed to cut off his mortal world because he wanted to leave the immortal land. He couldn't send dozens or hundreds of Jiang family members away, and he wouldn't do that.

"..."

Hearing this, Jiang Fugui fell silent.

Gu Wen said, "Weren't you still complaining non-stop just now? This is a good opportunity to get away, practice, and enjoy a few hundred years of leisure time."

"..."

"You're not going to talk? In that case, I'll make the decision for you. Drink it."

Gu Wen picked up the wine glass and handed it to Jiang Fugui's mouth. His trembling lips slowly opened, and the liquid containing a trace of spiritual energy slid into his throat.

Jiang Fugui is just an ordinary person. He wants to gain the benefits of spiritual practice, but he cannot let go of his family.

When he was in a dilemma, he needed someone to give him a push. Gu Wen was not as pretentious as him and directly chose the answer he wanted.

Except for Jiang Fugui, the rest of the Jiang family died, as they were not his children.

After drinking the warm wine, Jiang Fugui calmed down a lot. The two continued to warm the wine and make tea, and tacitly did not talk about the previous topic anymore.

For the next year, Jiang Fugui never said a word, as if nothing had ever happened.

In the fourth year of Daxia, Jiang Fugui died quietly in his sleep, and according to his will, his temple name was Taizong.

Because he was not the first person to sit on the throne, nor was he the founder of Daxia.

Later, Jiang Jucai ascended the throne, and the palace began to be renovated, gradually becoming magnificent.

Only the remote Imperial Garden is still a piece of farmland.

That night.

He Huanxun came in a graceful manner dressed in white, followed by a dozen women of different looks, all of whom were extremely beautiful.

"Brother Gu, long time no see, long time no see!"

He Huan clung to Gu Wen very enthusiastically, and his attitude made the girls very curious, wondering who this immortal was.

Gu Wen smiled and said, "We just got together a few years ago. How are the others doing now?"

"Murong Xue is still looking for an opportunity to build her own Taoist weapon, Lu Chan is missing, and He Qing went straight into the Fire Cloud Cave. They are all separated."

He Huan finally sighed, looking a little lonely.

Although they didn't spend much time together, it was easiest for a group of young people to develop feelings when they went through life and death together.

"All good things must come to an end. We'll see you again in the future."

Gu Wen was also quite emotional. Seven or eight years had passed in the blink of an eye, but to him it seemed like yesterday.

They fought with He Huan for the Dragon Bridge, fought with them for the Luo River, and joined forces to kill the True Lord, but now they are all gone in the blink of an eye.

If we say that the relationship is not deep, then He Huan helped Gu Wen in time of need, so they have a deeper friendship. But just like the classmates in the previous life from elementary school to university graduation, the relationship is not deep but the memory is still deep.

"But you have so many wives and concubines, all of them are so beautiful, so don't act like an empty-nester."

Gu Wen changed the subject and joked. He Huan waved his hands repeatedly. Without saying anything, he whispered into her ear: "Don't mention it. They fight me every day. Their looks are acquired through the use of elixirs. If they didn't have the unspoken rule of superiority and inferiority based on their looks, I wouldn't have done any beautification for them. They are naturally beautiful, so why add rouge and powder?"

Gu Wen's eyes gleamed with intelligence. With his current level of cultivation, he could see through the bone structure at a glance. Most of them were indeed born with ordinary looks.

Monks are generally handsome, but beauties are still popular, and their bone structure is a major reason for this.

Back to the point, He Huan glanced at the silent middle-aged man in hemp clothes beside Gu Wen and said, "Is this the one you want me to take away? He doesn't look like he has any talent for cultivation."

"No problem, I will ask Yuqing Sect to provide bone-cutting and marrow-cleansing. You don't have to expect too much, but it's not a problem to take the medicine and get a golden elixir."

"You are so heroic, worthy of being called Jade Purity Heavenly Venerable."

He Huan gave a thumbs up, and Gu Wen asked, "What about you? Are you going to take all these away?"

"I will only take one with me. The others don't have the qualifications to practice cultivation. For mortals, the outer world is no better than this place where immortals can be cultivated. I will leave an avatar here to see them off to the end of their lives. It will be enough for them to live a peaceful life."

"When do you plan to go out, Brother Gu?"

"Nine-nine perfection."

"Brother Gu should be the hero!"

Jiujiu Yuanman means becoming an immortal, and all immortals must have achieved Jiujiu Yuanman. But there has never been a record of a mortal reaching Jiujiu Yuanman in one step.

Once Gu Wen succeeds, his reputation will probably be no less than that of Immortal Qingcang.

When he thought of this, He Huan couldn't help but get excited.

Because of his friendship with Gu Wen, it is enough for him to walk sideways in the cultivation world in the future, and this is also his greatest gain in the land of immortality.

Dao foundation, Dao soldiers, and magic medicine are not as important as the friendship with Gu Wen. Ever since Gu Wen became the top of the human and earth lists, the people in the sect have been obedient to him. He is more useful than those great masters.

Because everyone is certain that Gu Wen can become an immortal, and he has an immortal friend who is less than a hundred years old.

The two men stayed in the hospital and drank for half the night until the early morning, when purple clouds came from the east and shone on the stone table in the courtyard.

He Huan came back to his senses, stood up and said, "Brother Gu, we will meet in the cultivation world later."

After watching He Huan and Jiang Fugui go away, Gu Wen returned to his house to meditate and practice.
-
In a blink of an eye, another year had passed. The Qi Hai Xian Tai was ten thousand feet wide, and the nine-level Taoist foundation was completed.

【Three Thousand Years of Heavenly Marrow】

【Four Thousand Years of Imperial Juice】

[Nine Nines are perfect, with mountains as the foundation and roads as steps, ascending to the immortal path]

Gu Wen slowly opened his eyes, and slightly pulled out the immortal sword placed on the sword rack in the middle of the room, emitting a cold light that filled the entire room.

An old voice came and said, "You are a few years faster than I thought. Maybe it will be complete in another ten years."

Gu Wen asked: "Can Jiujiu Perfection surpass Jianmu?"

The Immortal Sword replied: "It's difficult. Even if you are the incarnation of Jianmu, it will be difficult for you to win. That sage weapon is unbreakable for you and me. What's more, there are the twelve clones of the Demon Ancestor. They are now determined to consume Qingcang to death."

"What if I reach the ninth level of the Dao foundation and the ninth level of the immortal method?"

"No, you can't gamble on that chance. You are more important than Qingcang."

The Immortal Sword's voice slowed down, and he continued, "Qing Cang is not forced to do this. If she is willing to give up her semi-saint body and cut herself off to become a mortal, she can still become an immortal after cultivating for thousands of years. But she decided to die and die for the continuation of the human race. You must respect her choice."

"Besides, what if you can win? Jianmu has another rule, and in the end you will only get yourself involved." Gu Wen was speechless and closed his eyes again.

Now he is not lacking in natural marrow at all, but what he lacks is time. Comprehending many skills does not mean that he has mastered them.

But now, in order to increase strength, the opposite method is most appropriate.

[The three sword forms of Buddha, Dao and Demon, a hundred feet is the entry level, a thousand feet is the perfection]

[Spending three thousand years of imperial juice, the three swords of Buddha, Dao and Demon are perfected]
-
During the five years of the Xia Dynasty, the imperial court sent elixirs every six months, but Gu Wen had to go there personally to get the spiritual spring.

He seemed to have become the Daojun Emperor of the past. Every year, one-third of the national treasury expenditure was used to transport spiritual medicine to Gu Wen. However, Gu Wen did not exhaust the people's strength, and with the existence of the Five Spirits Valley, Daxia did not become miserable.

Gu Wen came out of his trance and just opened his eyes when he heard knocking sounds coming from the courtyard. He went out and saw that the outside had changed a lot. There was a "workshop" a hundred steps away from the door.

In the open-plan house, countless copper blocks are suspended, and upon closer inspection, they appear to be words.

Gu Wen approached and saw the woman in white with her hands soaked in ink, doing something stroke by stroke. There were several black marks on her face but she didn't even wipe them off.

When she saw Gu Wen coming, she lightly flicked her finger in the air, and countless bronze characters made way for a path.

Gu Wen asked, "Master, what are you doing?"

Qing Cang replied: "My disciple mentioned movable type printing and woodblock printing to me before. I tried them one by one. In general, woodblock printing is more practical."

She took out a copper plate that contained spiritual energy, injected her magic power into it, and waves appeared on the surface of the plate, which eventually turned into a poem.

"Chunjiang Flower Moon Night"

This was the song that Gu Wen had read to Yu Hua before, and it was also her favorite.

"This magic weapon is a living woodblock print. It can change its form by injecting magic power."

"In the end, we still have to let the monks come?"

"Those who are capable should be given more work. Monks and mortals are all human beings, and they are a more excellent labor force."

Qing Cang corrected him seriously, "Disciple, our clan is not a bloodline inheritance. Most of the great cultivators come from ordinary farmers, because farmers are the largest group. The reason why cultivators are unwilling to serve the people is entirely a system and ideological problem. If people are not taught, they are demons."

“Books are the foundation of education. If you leave a seed for a teacher, it may bloom all over the mountains and rivers of the human race a thousand years later.”

Gu Wen said: "You have considered so much for the human race, but has anyone considered it for you?"

"Yes, isn't your disciple worried about your master?"

Qing Cang rubbed Gu Wen's head with his ink-covered hands. The disgusting words and ink made him step back in disgust, but his cultivation was insufficient and he couldn't break free at all.

Go back to the room to practice and enter into meditation.

[Spending three thousand years of heavenly marrow to comprehend the immortal body]

------------

In the eighth year of the Xia Dynasty, a magical spring gushed out from the ground of Bianjing, and the emperor's juice was obtained for five thousand years.

Jiang Jucai worked hard to govern the country and ushered in a prosperous era. The city of Bianliang was brightly lit day and night and was known as the city that never sleeps.

Qing Cang worked almost day and night for three years, refining millions of printed magic weapons. When the work was completed, the piled up copper mountain was taller than the walls of the imperial palace.

Afterwards, he handed it over to Wukong, asking him to take it out of the immortal land and send it to the human territory, and then the Three Pure Ones Taoist Sect would distribute it to many cities in the world.

Gu Wen said: "Master, I'm afraid these things will accumulate dust."

Printing magic is very useful for civilization, but it is useless for monks. Monks transmit information using jade slips, which are equivalent to hard drives and can store text, photos, and even insights into skills.

Qingcang smiled and said, "It's alright. I just hope that if future generations want to practice enlightenment, there will be a way to go. I left the Five Spirits Valley, but I don't expect them to feed the mortals once they get it."

Returning to the house to practice, Gu Wen looked inward at his Qi Sea. The immortal mountain required to complete the ninth level of the Dao foundation was already formed, and the only thing left was the stairs.

[Spending five hundred years of heavenly marrow, the Xuan Yue sword step was perfected, and the sword step supernatural power was achieved]

[Spending five hundred years of heavenly marrow, the Mysterious Spirit Body Protection Method is perfected, the Black Tortoise Magical Power]

[Spending five hundred years of Heavenly Marrow, the Jade Skill was perfected, the internal breath became like a tortoise, and the exhalation breath became like a dragon]

[Three methods of practice, body training, body protection, and healing are all perfect]
-
The beginning of the twelfth year of Daxia.

Qing Cang suddenly had an idea and asked Gu Wen, "My disciple, the people in power have always been monks or their representatives. Do you think that when the people's wisdom is fully awakened, can we let the people choose a person in power?"

Hearing this, Gu Wen didn't know whether to laugh or cry and said, "Master, you are thinking too far ahead. Why don't you say that everything should be shared and distributed according to need?"

"My disciple has a good ambition, but it is less realistic than being my teacher. You are better off being my teacher."

Qing Cang came over and started to laugh at Gu Wen, who was a little unconvinced and started to argue with him.

One of the sentences is "If the people do not know, they are foolish. If we want to implement a system similar to elections, we must have a channel for the people to know what is going on in the world."

These words aroused all kinds of associations in Qing Cang's mind, and she turned around and started fiddling with things again.

In the same year, Yun Miao transformed himself and came down to earth to look for Gu Wen.

The two sat opposite each other, and Yun Miao got straight to the point and said, "I came to you to discuss the future division of the Three Pure Ones."

“Why do we need to divide it?”

Gu Wen was a little confused, and Yun Miao explained: "In the future, Sanqing Mountain will no longer exist, and one spiritual vein cannot support so many cultivators. Grandmaster Qingcang asked us to separate."

"The Three Pure Ones Sect will finally release three high-grade spiritual veins, which are expected to land in Bihuazhou, Xuanhuangzhou, and Yunyinzhou respectively. Yuqing Sect has made great contributions due to its hard work, so I will let you choose first."

"May I ask where is the best place?"

"Xuanhuangzhou."

"Then I choose Xuanhuangzhou."

"I will help you propose in the Jade Emperor Palace. After you become an immortal, if you can rebuild Sanqing Mountain, perhaps the Dao Sect can reappear."

After Yun Miao left, Yun Qing, the old Heavenly Master of Yuqing Sect, came to discuss the separation of the family with him.

How should Yuqing Sect operate in the future, how to select disciples, how to govern nearby cities, etc. Gu Wen had never touched these things, so he taught them to Yunqing.

The immortal is about to pass away, and the Three Pure Ones will separate.

It was autumn, and the trees in the courtyard were shedding their leaves, creating an indescribable sense of desolation.

Gu Wen returned to his room to practice. He was still one step away from perfection, so he was not in a hurry. He turned around and picked up the Sun Method to practice again.

【It took nine hundred years of Tiansui to complete the Sun Technique.】

[Taiyin Taiyin is the two yin and yang, giving birth to all things, yin and yang are united]
-
In the thirteenth year of Daxia, the Five Spirits Valley began to sow seeds in the world of cultivation.

Inside and outside the immortal land, the human race ushered in one bumper year after another, as if the harvest would never stop in the human territory.

Gu Wen was still practicing, oblivious to what was happening outside.

In the fourteenth year of Daxia, the complete set of movable and woodblock printing developed by Qingcang was widely used in Daxia, the printing of celestial magic weapons began to appear in some cities, and the prices of books and reading materials gradually dropped and became popular.

Although education is still not affordable for ordinary people, some farmers grit their teeth and still send their children to school.

The social atmosphere was enlightened, the court administration was strict, and the country seemed to be in a prosperous and peaceful era.

The fifteenth year of Daxia.

Qing Cang found another small item, a spiritual communication device, which could transmit thoughts a hundred miles away. This item also existed in the cultivation world, but the item in Qing Cang's hand was extremely cheap, so cheap that it could be purchased with gold and silver.

"How can a mortal use this kind of communication?"

Gu Wen's words inspired Qing Cang to study day and night for several months and come up with new ideas.

The size of the spiritual communicator suddenly increased by more than ten times. It was a large board half a meter high, separated into upper and lower parts. The upper part contained the actual communication content, and the lower part contained handwritten text.

It is very simple, but with this prototype, future generations will have a route if they want to develop it.

Afterwards, Qingcang began to get involved in medical treatment. He asked Dao Zong to collect scattered medical books from all over the world, find a number of medical masters, and compile them into a medical book.

This took another three years and the book was named "Medical Theory for the Common People".

The eighteenth year of Daxia.

Qing Cang hasn't closed his eyes for six thousand days and nights, and because of his constant research and learning, his spiritual thoughts always cover the human territory. Even she is exhausted.

But she was still thinking, thinking all the time, what else could she do for the people? What else could this great power leave for the human race? What difficulties would the human race encounter in the future?
Gu Wen could only watch from the sidelines, seeing a man who could be called a great man gradually approaching death. Sometimes he would think sinisterly that he might regret it in the end.

Then he took him and Yu Hua away. The world is so big, where can't they go?
(End of this chapter)