Knife splashing

Chapter 617: News from the capital, purple air coming from the east

Jiro acts,

Never shoot without a purpose!
Holding the bronze Nuo mask, many things came to my mind.

When they first met, the other party pretended to be a wealthy man from Chengdu, followed them to Tiansheng City outside Wanzhou City, and solved the evil creature without making any noise...

The second time I met him, he was a greedy glutton...

It seems that every time we meet, Erlang changes.

He is a loner who is isolated from the crowd, and also a god walking among the human world. He eventually transforms into Yang Jian and becomes a god and leaves.

Many things that seem strange have a purpose.

Just like when he took over the Nuo mask on his own initiative, some people thought he was unreliable. But in fact, it was because he completely controlled the priesthood of Sichuan Lord that he was able to gather thousands of years of incense, re-suppress the Nine Cauldrons and resolve the disaster.

Suddenly, Li Yan remembered the night of his 30th.

They drank wine on the river bank amidst the falling snow.

We talked a lot and had a lot of conversations.

He said he was very curious about the Daluo Dharma Realm.

Erlang smiled and said, "That's not difficult. I'll go up there and see what it looks like, and then tell you secretly..."

Could it be?

Li Yan's heart moved, he held the Nuo mask and slowly put it on his face.

however,
Nothing happened.

Pinch your fingers, concentrate your mind, and call out Erlang Shen’s name…

The bronze Nuo mask never showed any strange signs.

perhaps,

Jilang hasn't settled down yet?

Li Yan had no choice but to put it away first.

These three treasures are all of great importance to each other and naturally cannot be sold at will.

Fortunately, the rest were of no use to him.

For example, the Blood Nuo Master's sword, the Black Sect Lama's cemetery robe, and Lu Sheng's Taiyi Fenguang Sword are all first-class good things.

Since they don't need it, they can be exchanged.

In addition, there is the Xuanmi Armor that Wang Daoxuan found in the Dragon Palace. He kept one to make a compass, and the remaining two will surely cause geomancers to scramble for them.

And there is the magical tea they got from the tea fairy.

Those sect elders would definitely be willing to pay a high price.

There are also some scattered spiritual materials found in the Bai family's secret cave. Although they are not as good as the Qingcheng Treasure Cellar, they are also rare items.

Speaking of which, they have quite a lot of things in their hands.

Some common law teachings are not as good as this.

I don't know what to get in exchange...

At this moment, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door, and then a Qingcheng Taoist child knocked on the door and said, "Is Young Master Li here? Uncle Lingyunzi asked me to tell you that the headmaster wants to see you."

"Okay, go right away."

Li Yan slapped his head and remembered that when he went up the mountain, Ling Yunzi said that Qingcheng Sect Master Chen Kongzi had something to discuss with him.

I was so busy that I almost forgot to keep the appointment.

Li Yan did not dare to delay and hurried out.

Led by the Taoist boy, they left Chaoyang Cave and went directly to the Patriarch Hall.

The weather has changed and it is much colder than in previous years. The mountains are still shrouded in cold fog, and the mountains are reflected in black.

Walking on the mountain path is like walking in an ink-and-wash landscape painting.

As Li Yan walked, he asked for information about the cellar opening conference.

Now, he is an honored guest in Qingcheng Mountain. The little Taoist boy did not hide anything and told everything he knew:

"The venue of the conference is Tianshi Cave, and the entrance to the treasure house is at Zhangren Peak. There is a natural karst cave there, which is also a cave acupoint. It has been reinforced by formations, and the "True Shape Map of the Five Mountains" is engraved on the cave wall. It is sealed in five cellars of "gold, wood, water, fire, and earth"..."

"On the first day, we will open the altar to offer sacrifices to the heavens, perform rituals and inspect the cellars, and then the headmaster will invite all factions to discuss matters and attend a banquet..."

"The cellar will be opened the next day to take out the treasures, and on the third day they will be sold at Shangqing Palace. I heard that there are experts who will help appraise the treasures..."

"Tomorrow's ceremony for the Heavenly Sacrifice will be held at the hour of Chen, Young Master Li, please do not miss the time..."

Listening to the little Taoist boy's story, Li Yan seemed to be lost in thought.

This set of procedures is similar to the Huashan cellar opening conference, except that the level and specifications of the treasures have been greatly improved.

What caught Li Yan's attention most was the meeting on the first day.

Humane change is no longer a secret among the Taoists.

I'm afraid we're discussing how to deal with this matter...

While he was thinking, the two of them had arrived at the wing room of the Patriarch's Hall.

Before he got close, he could hear Chen Kongzi's hearty laughter coming from inside, "Hahaha... the adults are quite humorous."

Are there any outsiders?

When Li Yan heard this, he frowned.

They arrived at Qingcheng Mountain the day before yesterday. Although it was already night, after he settled down, he visited Chen Kongzi as soon as possible.

This time, eliminating the disaster of the Nine Cauldrons also helped Qingcheng. After all, they are the orthodox sect of Xuanmen and have the responsibility to suppress the area.

If Lu Sheng succeeds, Qingcheng will lose face and be in trouble.

Chen Kongzi had expressed his gratitude at that time and said that the benefits would be given at the cellar opening ceremony. He also hinted that Qingcheng would help and support him if he encountered any problems in the future.

Before, at the foot of the mountain, he had already clearly favored him.

Logically speaking, what should be given has been given.

The sudden invitation, could it be because of this outsider?
Li Yan became alert and approached the wing room, then looked inside the open red door without making any sound.

Sure enough, there was a middle-aged man sitting inside. He wore a three-beam Jinxian crown, a scarlet wide-sleeved robe, a peacock patch on his chest, his facial features were straight, and three long strands of beard hung down to his chest, looking quite dignified.

The people of the court,

Or a third-rank official?

Li Yan felt curious.

It is not uncommon for people from the imperial court to come.

As the saying goes, "All under heaven belongs to the king." The symbol of the orthodox Xuanmen religion is to control national sacrifices and occupy blessed lands. Naturally, they also have to offer tributes and sell part of it to the court at a low price.

At the last Huashan Conference, there were also people from the imperial court who came.

But what to do with yourself?
"Little friend Li, please come in."

Chen Kongzi had naturally seen it a long time ago. After inviting him in, he smiled and said, "Let me introduce you. This is Mr. Pei Zongti, the Minister of Rites, and also the head of the Xuan Priesthood."

Li Yan's heart trembled, and he clasped his fists and said, "Greetings, Master Pei."

Xuan Priests is the government office in the imperial court that manages the Xuanmen.

Their Taoist certificates, for example, must be registered with the Xuan Priests, and all the caves, heavens, and blessed places in the world of Xuanmen must also be registered. The construction of palaces of some major religions also often needs to be approved by the Xuan Priests...

It can be said that its position in Xuanmen is extremely important.

At the opening ceremony, the minister in charge of the mysterious priests came in person, mostly because of the humanitarian reform.

In a short period of time, Li Yan had figured out a lot of things.

"No need to be polite, please take a seat, Mr. Li."

The Minister of Rites, Mr. Pei, was quite polite in his words.

After Li Yan sat down and the Taoist boy served him tea, he nodded and said, "I have heard of Young Master Li's name last year."

Li Yan knew that it was most likely Zhao Changsheng's business.

After all, the clue about this person was that he discovered that Luo Mingzi, who had a good relationship with the Chang'an Taixuan Orthodox Sect, was transferred to the capital because of this.

As expected, Lord Pei's expression became solemn. "Zhao Changsheng, this evil man, has been causing trouble everywhere since the Song Dynasty. He joined the Golden Horde Wolf Kingdom in the previous dynasty, and is now causing trouble again. Your Majesty is paying close attention to him."

"I am here this time, firstly to preside over the cellar opening ceremony, and secondly to investigate this matter on the orders of the Emperor..."

As expected, he came for the Nine Cauldrons.

Li Yan had no choice but to tell the story again.

When the Nine Cauldrons appeared, the whole world was shaken.

Apart from Shen Sanyou, he had already told Chen Kongzi about it. He did not expect that the Minister of Rites would ask in person.

Of course, he also understood. Everyone has a different background, knows different things, has different attitudes towards the matter, and perhaps has different perspectives.

Sure enough, after hearing this, Lord Pei fell into deep thought, and suddenly asked, "Did Lu Sheng ever tell me how to measure the movement of the Nine Cauldrons' earth veins?"

Li Yan shook his head and said, "I don't know, but Zhao Changsheng certainly knows. If we catch him, maybe we can find out."

"Ah."

Lord Pei nodded slightly, as if he had made up his mind. He stopped asking questions and stroked his beard and smiled, "Let's not talk about this for now. I came here to help someone pass on a letter."

As he spoke, he took out a letter from his pocket and handed it over.

After Li Yan took it, he looked at it for a few seconds and was immediately filled with joy. "Brother Yan won the first place in the imperial examination?"

This letter was sent by Yan Jiuling, and the other party had already won the top spot in the imperial examination.

"Yes."

Lord Pei also stroked his beard and smiled, "Jiuling is very knowledgeable. He won the emperor's appreciation when he first came to Beijing. He is also very motivated. He answered questions freely in the palace, and several adults in the central government also praised him."

Nine years old?

Calling so affectionately...

Li Yan's heart moved, "I wonder if you and Brother Yan..."

Lord Pei smiled and said, "Jiuling is admired by Lu Hongyuan and has become his disciple. He can be considered my nephew."

Ok!

After hearing this, Li Yan was secretly surprised.

Who is Lu Hongyuan?
The owner of Mingde Martial Arts School, the son-in-law of the Kong family in Qufu, is proficient in Xingyi, Bagua, and Tai Chi. He combines the three into one and integrates the noble spirit of Confucianism. He has become one of the ten great masters of China and one of the leaders of Confucianism...

There are too many legends about him.

This kid Yan Jiuling really made great progress as soon as he entered the capital.

He is an ordinary person, and he also became Lu Hongyuan's disciple.

Most of them were favored by Confucianism.

Lord Pei continued stroking his beard and said, "Jiuling wants to go to the newly established Qiankun Academy, and the emperor has agreed."

"He heard that you were invited by Lord Yuan from the Ministry of Industry to join Qiankun Academy, so he specifically asked me to tell him that he must go to the capital to meet with you on the day Qiankun Academy opens."

Li Yan's heart moved, and he asked, "Has the date been set?"

He knew Yan Jiuling's character well and knew he would definitely not ask him to travel thousands of miles to the capital just for a simple gathering with good friends.

With the opening of Qiankun Academy, there must be some benefits that cannot be missed.

"It's settled."

Lord Pei nodded and said, "The emperor attaches great importance to this and personally selected a date after Qingming Festival."

After Qingming...

One month left.

Li Yan thought about it for a moment, then bowed and said, "I will definitely go there."

After saying this, Lord Pei lowered his head and drank his tea in silence.

Li Yan was not a fool. He knew that the two had more to say, so he said goodbye and left immediately.

After returning to Chaoyang Cave, he told everyone about this matter.

"Capital?"

Sharifei said happily: "I have wanted to go and see it for a long time, but Brother Zhao Luzi is still missing, so we have to find him first."

"That's natural."

Li Yan nodded, a hint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes, "That Earth Dragon's heartbeat was not right when he spoke, he must be hiding something. After the cellar meeting, we will take him to Yuzhou to see who is causing trouble!"

…………

The next day, Li Yan and his companions set out while it was still dark.

Qingcheng Mountain was shrouded in mist. There were no stars or moon in the sky. The whole mountain was pitch black. Only lanterns could be seen flickering among the mountains.

When we arrived at Tianshi Cave, a little morning light was visible in the distance.

The copper nails on the vermilion lacquered gate of Tianshi Cave glowed coldly in the morning light.

The eighty-one bluestone steps were swept spotlessly clean, and the orange light mixed with the lantern and candlelight illuminated the plaque that read "Guchang Taoist Temple".

All those who came to watch the ceremony have gathered.

There were monks, Taoists, and laymen alike, a sea of ​​people, but no one spoke. They just looked solemnly at the hall in the distance.

This is the place for setting up an altar to worship the heaven, and it has been arranged long ago.

Seventy-two black prayer flags were hanging from the dome of the main hall. In the middle was a bronze Bagua incense burner, emitting the smoke of agarwood. In the corner, unburned candle wax piled up into a dark red hill on the altar...

Apparently, preparations for the sacrifice had begun last night.

Boom!Boom!Boom!
As the morning bell rings, it marks the arrival of Chenshi.

An old Taoist in a black and white robe strode out and said solemnly, "The auspicious time has arrived. Open the altar!"

Li Yan recognized him. This was the elder of Qingcheng, Zhu Qingzi. He was a strict person who followed the rules in everything. He was the person in charge of the sacrificial rituals on the mountain.

As he sang along, the sound of drums and music suddenly rang out.

Outside the main hall, a six-tiered altar had already been set up, with a golden statue of Zhang Daoling standing on the main altar. A seven-star lantern array surrounded the altar, and nine tiers of flags were arranged according to the eight trigrams, symbolizing the three elements of "heaven, earth, and man."

All the arrangements are very rigorous.

Amid the sound of drums and music, the leader of Qingcheng, Chen Kongzi, walked out of the hall.

He was dressed in a crimson gauze robe, with a lotus crown on his head and a Tianpeng ruler in his hand. He led twelve high-ranking Taoists and twenty-four Taoists to the altar.

Sprinkle water to build an altar, walk in the steps, step on the bucket, and recite the "Qingcheng Secret Blessing": "Xuanyuan Kaitai, the Five Mountains pay homage to the truth; the treasure cellar lasts for thousands of years, blessing the people..."

The process was tedious, but no one was impatient.

First, disturbing the silence of the altar is a rule. It is okay for ordinary people, but if monks make random noises, it is a slap in the face of Qingcheng Sect.

Another is the awe that people in the Xuanmen have for heaven and earth.

After the sutra chanting was over, Chen Kongzi burned the "Five-Colored Divine Talisman" and offered sacrifices to Zhang Tianshi with three vegetarian animals, magical tea, and Shu brocade.

Zhang Tianshi went to Shu to spread Taoism and was also one of the Qingcheng Patriarchs.

After the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the sky here ended, everyone moved on and headed towards Zhangren Peak in a mighty procession.

Zhangren Peak is the highest peak in Qingcheng, and it is also known as "Zhaogong Mountain". It is said to be the place where Zhao Gongming practiced, and it was also the place where Li Yan retreated and built a building at that time.

Of course, they did not go to the cave, but followed the main road and headed straight to the palace on the mountain.

An altar was also built here.

Everyone stood on the hillside and saw the surrounding steep cliffs and howling mountain peaks. When the vines at the entrance of Tiancang Cave opposite were blown by the mountain wind, the ochre-red seal engraving of "The Fifth Cave Heaven" on the stone wall was revealed.

The rituals here also take quite a long time.

When the Yang energy is at its peak at noon, the twelve high-ranking masters hold the demon-subduing swords, form a Big Dipper formation, and practice the Thunder Attraction Technique.

Under the leadership of Chen Kongzi, the sword tips all pointed towards Tiancang Cave.

"Edict!"

With a shout, purple air gushed out like a dragon from the cave opposite.

The sound of waves roared among the pines and cypresses in the mountains. The monks watching felt the strong wind blowing on their faces and heard the faint sound of metal clashing, as if it were the sound of swords left behind by immortals in the past.

The Minister of Rites, Lord Pei, was also guarding the altar. When he saw the purple air gushing out of the cave, he stepped forward, holding a piece of silk in his hand and said loudly, "The seal is intact, and the precious energy is full!"

Hearing this, many people breathed a sigh of relief.

Unlike the Huashan treasure cellar which is mostly made of metal, the Qingcheng Mountain treasure cellar imitates the true shapes of the Five Mountains and builds five large cellars for gold, wood, water, fire and earth.

After all, it has been from the Song Dynasty to the present, and there have been many wars during this period.

If things go wrong, the entire cellar will be in trouble.

If purple and green smoke come out, it means that the cellar is intact.

Of course, this is only the first step. Each academy of Taixuan Orthodox Sect will send people to confirm it to avoid being contaminated by evil spirits.

After everything was over, Chen Kongzi announced: "The auspicious time has been set. The cellar will be opened tomorrow morning. Everyone, please move to Shangqing Hall."

After hearing this, many people perked up.

Everyone knew that this conference was unusual, and the chief of the Xuan Priests came in person.

With the changes in human nature, where will Taoism go?

Maybe today we can have an explanation...

(End of this chapter)