The gods began by supporting Guo Jing to become emperor

Chapter 280 I am Su Ming, and I am here to meet the old Heavenly Master!
Then, Song Que said solemnly, "At this moment, I think it is better to stay still than to move. After preparing for war, our Song clan can sweep across the south and rule the north from the south. What do you think, sir?"

Su Ming secretly admired in his heart that Song Que did not get carried away by the current situation. The Song clan was able to take over Shu by taking the initiative and catching the enemy by surprise. Lingnan, Guangnan and other places were connected with Bashu.

If they continue to fight northwards, they will definitely arouse hostility from the heroes and may even be attacked by them. A man's reputation is like the shadow of a tree. Everyone knows how powerful Song Que is, and no one will doubt his ability to lead troops.

"Brother Song is an expert in military strategy and is well aware of the changing situation. In this case, I will give you nine words."

Song Que's expression became serious, "Please give me some advice, sir."

"Build high walls, store up food, and slowly become king!" This is the only way for Zhu Yuanzhang to expand his power in later generations. It can be applied to almost any feudal dynasty, and naturally it also applies to the current Song clan.

After a moment of silence, Song Que nodded, "Sir, I understand what you mean."

Su Ming also showed a narrow smile on his face, "With Brother Song in charge of the Song Clan, I can travel far away without any worries."

"Sir, you want to go north? Guanzhong or Jiangnan?"

"Neither. Killing Ning Daoqi is not an easy task. I want to unite the power of the northern and southern Taoist sects to fight against Buddhism. The Li family and Buddhism will be defeated. This good show has already begun. This is the best opportunity."

Song Que is well aware of the heavy responsibility that Su Ming shoulders. The Song clan must have someone in charge, otherwise the situation cannot be stabilized. And no one in the Song clan can replace his position. But the war in the north is in full swing. It would be a pity for the Song clan to sit idly by. Only Su Ming can fish in troubled waters and take advantage of the fire.

"Take care, sir!"

"Brother Song, see you later!"

A few days later, Su Ming left and disappeared.

As soon as he left, Kou Zhong came to find Xu Ziling, wanting to spar with him, "Xiaoling, your master isn't here. We haven't fought for a long time. How about a sparring match?"

Xu Ziling was wearing a loose Taoist robe, sitting on a cushion, holding a Taoist scripture and reading it carefully. He just shook his head when he heard it, "No, Master said that my martial arts are not yet complete, so it is inconvenient for me to fight and leak my vitality. I just changed my sword practice and I am not familiar with it yet. Let's have a good fight when I am better!"

More than a month passed, and Xu Ziling underwent a transformation, as if he was reborn. The immaturity and impetuousness between his brows were gradually worn away by the scriptures, and his temperament became more and more tranquil, like a deep pool.

In comparison, Kou Zhong's fierce spirit was gone, and his face was covered with scars. More importantly, as soon as he walked in, Xu Ziling smelled blood, and he knew that Kou Zhong had killed many people in the past few days.

The Ten Bloody Battle Styles are martial arts for use on the battlefield, and are most suitable for fighting to support fighting. Kou Zhong originally served as a captain in the army, and now he has been rapidly promoted to a lieutenant general in the army, commanding a team of a thousand men.

After the war in Shu was over, Song Que did not end his military operations. Instead, he sent Kou Zhong to various places in Bashu to eliminate banditry. There were always many casualties under his sword, and these heads also made his sword sharper.

Xu Ziling's eyes flashed with worry. He asked Kou Zhong to sit down and picked up the teapot to pour tea for him. "Mr. Zhong, when you have time in the future, come and listen to me read the Taoist scriptures. These Taoist scriptures are profound and I want to carefully study every word. Think about it, when we eavesdropped in the private school, we only heard a few words. That's how we got to know mother later. You still need to read more."

Speaking of studying, Kou Zhong complained to Xu Ziling, "Xiaoling, don't mention it. Do you know how I have been doing these days? Every day, besides practicing with swords, I read military books."

"My master has a pile of military books as high as a small mountain, from Taigong's Art of War, Wei Liaozi, to Sun Tzu's Art of War, Huaiyin Hou's Art of War, in addition to these military books, there are also the war experiences of generals from past dynasties. My master asked me to study them one by one, and I almost vomited after reading them all."

Xu Ziling's handsome face showed a thoughtful expression. He reached out and punched Kou Zhong's shoulder. "Mr. Zhong, in my opinion, the clan leader not only wants to teach you sword skills, but also wants you to inherit his military skills. In the future, you will be famous in the martial arts world."

Hearing this, Kou Zhong laughed out loud, "Xiao Ling, don't worry, when I become famous in the future, we will marry a beautiful wife. Not to mention someone who is prettier than mother, but at least prettier than Sister Zhen."

Among the two dragons, Kou Zhong has always been sensitive and eager to stand out and gain respect and praise from others, and joining the army is the fastest way to do so.

Xu Ziling also understood the pressure that Kou Zhong was carrying. As the direct disciple of the world's number one swordsman, the pressure he faced was much greater than his own. Even in the Song clan, there were many people who disliked him and felt that he was not qualified to be Song Que's apprentice.

But the more this happened, the more Kou Zhong wanted to prove himself.

The good brothers who used to talk about everything are now silent and speechless. They have worshipped two different masters and embarked on completely different paths, which are the paths they chose themselves and they are willing to take.

Afterwards, Xu Ziling sat on the futon and read, while Kou Zhong sat beside him and listened to him. After an unknown amount of time, Kou Zhong got up to say goodbye. Xu Ziling sent him out the door and looked at the direction he left. Xu Ziling just sighed and said nothing.

……

After leaving Shu, Su Ming did not go north, but walked eastward, passing along the river.

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Taoist Zhang Daoling once refined elixirs here. Legend has it that "when the elixir was made, dragons and tigers appeared, and Longhu Mountain got its name from this. After Zhang Daoling unified Taoism, his descendants moved from Shu to Longhu Mountain and settled there. Longhu Mountain then became the "ancestral home of the Heavenly Master" and was revered by emperors of all dynasties, enjoying a high reputation.

Compared to Taoism in the north which was affected by changes of political power, the Tianshi Temple in Longhu Mountain was located in a remote corner in the south and has gone through wars but its tradition remains intact.

One day, Su Ming came to the foot of Mount Longhu. He was dressed in green and went up the mountain like an ordinary pilgrim. However, the pilgrims on the mountain path pretended not to see him and ignored him.

He stepped on the bluestone steps. There were lush trees on both sides of the mountain path. Compared with the steep Huashan Mountain, Longhu Mountain had beautiful scenery but no steep mountains. The Tianshi Mansion located here was surrounded by mountains and rivers, with a grand scale and extraordinary momentum.

And in Su Ming's perception, the essence of heaven and earth within a radius of hundreds of miles all converged towards this mountain range. Wisps of earth energy passed through the mountains, yin and yang rotated, piercing through the clouds and mist. On the tall peaks, a mountain like a coiled dragon stood tall with its head raised; on the long mountain, a mountain like a tiger stood tall.

When the dragon and the tiger face off, there will be bright clouds and mist, as if the red clouds are reflecting each other.

There are Longshan and Hushan. Legend has it that Zhang Daoling, the first generation of heavenly master in the Eastern Han Dynasty, came here to make elixirs and practice Taoism. A blue dragon and a white tiger appeared on the cauldron. When the elixir was ready, the dragon and the tiger appeared, so the name was changed to Longhu Mountain. Some say that the two peaks face each other, shaped like a dragon and a tiger, hence the name. Longshan and Hushan stand opposite each other.

The Feng Shui here is quite ingenious, and it matches the mysterious intersection of dragon and tiger. In the whole world, only Wudang Mountain, which has not yet risen, can compare with it. Wudang Mountain has two mountains, the tortoise and the snake, and the black tortoise has two yin and yang bodies. Zhang Sanfeng also realized the way of Tai Chi because of this. In the Tianshi Mansion, there are camphor trees in the forest, with shade blocking the sun, birds perching on the treetops, and the environment is quiet. There are sparse pilgrims here to burn incense and fulfill their vows. There are many exotic flowers and trees planted in the courtyard, which are exquisite and beautiful, and complement the nature.

Just as Su Ming stopped to watch, a voice suddenly came from the side, "Daoyou, my master wants to see you."

He turned around and saw a middle-aged Taoist priest with a bun and a gray Taoist robe looking at him quietly. Su Ming smiled faintly, "Taoist priest from Tianshi Mansion, I have heard of your great name for a long time, please lead the way."

"please!"

The Taoist looked calm and serene, with a tranquil and natural aura flowing around him, as if he had merged into one with the mountains here.

Soon, they arrived at Longhu Mountain behind the Tianshi Temple. The Taoist came to the foot of the mountain and turned to Su Ming and said, "Daoyou, Tianshi is waiting on the mountain. Please go up the mountain."

"Good work."

Su Ming bowed and took a step forward slowly. When he reappeared, he was already several feet away. The mountain was not high, but it was quite charming. The spirit of the world and the mountains seemed to overflow. Walking in the mountain, the essence of heaven and earth was constantly merging into his body. If an ordinary person could live here for a long time, not to mention that all diseases would be cured, at least they could prolong their life and relieve fatigue.

Half a quarter of an hour later, he met the real owner.

On the top of the mountain, an old figure was sitting cross-legged under a tree. He was wearing a Yin-Yang Taoist robe, his hair and beard were all white, and he had a Bagua crown on his head. He had an immortal look, kind eyes, rosy skin on his face, almost no wrinkles, and an elegant temperament, giving him the air of a master.

Sensing Su Ming's arrival, the old Taoist priest opened his eyes. A wise light flashed in his old eyes, and he said inexplicably, "You are here."

"I am Su Ming, and I am here to meet the old Heavenly Master!"

The old Taoist stared at Su Ming for a while, then sighed, "On the path of seeking the Tao, the one who has achieved it comes first. Daoist friend Su is so young, yet he has already reached such a state. This old Taoist is ashamed. I have lived for decades, but I still haven't been able to see through that level."

Su Ming's martial arts were very sensitive to the Qi. The old Heavenly Master was at the Grand Master Great Perfection level, and was only one step away from being a Grand Master. However, this step was like a natural chasm, and it would be difficult for him to cross it in his lifetime. And because of the Dark Sea Returning Origin Power, his appearance had always remained in his twenties. In addition, he had returned to his innate state and was full of vitality, and he looked no different from a young man in his twenties.

"Old Heavenly Master, you are joking. Although my realm is a level higher, you still saw through my tracks." Having said this, he paused and asked, "May I ask how the old Heavenly Master knew I was coming?"

The old Taoist priest smiled and said, "My sect has always pursued the wonderful state of unity between heaven and man. I grew up in Longhu Mountain since I was young, practiced in the mountains, married and had children, and my heart has long been in harmony with the spirit of these mountains and rivers."

“Fellow Daoist, you can conceal your spirit and energy and deceive ordinary people, but you cannot conceal it from the earth beneath your feet, from the world. The way of the Grandmaster is in your heart, and you are essentially different from ordinary people. It is not me who discovered you, but Longhu Mountain “saw” you.

Hearing this, Su Ming was greatly shocked. Is it really so mysterious?
However, considering the "immortal" nature of Cihang Jingzhai and its harmony with heaven and earth, it makes sense that the old Heavenly Master of Longhu Mountain is also integrated with Longhu Mountain.

Then, the old Heavenly Master asked again, "Daoyou, are you here for the Heavenly Master's Mansion?"

Needless to say, the Taoists from Qingyang Temple and Qingcheng Mountain must have passed the letter to the people from Longhu Mountain, so it was normal for the old Taoist priest to know his purpose.

Su Ming admitted it straightforwardly, "Yes, I want to integrate Taoism and stir up a dispute between Buddhism and Taoism. Tianshi Mansion is the ancestral home of Taoism in the south and one of the leaders of Taoism. How can I miss such a grand event?"

Since you directly invited him to go up the mountain, it shows goodwill and there is no need to hide it.

The old Taoist priest stroked his beard and smiled. "You are so courageous. It is a blessing for our sect to have you step forward. However, the dispute between Buddhism and Taoism is about the inheritance of faith. It is a life-and-death struggle. Do you understand?"

"Of course I understand. It's nothing more than the rise of Taoism and the decline of Buddhism. If no one is willing to do this, then I, Su Ming, will do it. The Buddhist sect is willing to be the lackeys of the barbarians. Its sins are too numerous to list. It's time to pay for some of them."

The old Taoist raised his eyebrows, as if he heard the murderous intent in his words, "Do you think this can be accomplished with the power of the Song clan alone?"

Su Ming came to the old Taoist priest and sat cross-legged. "If we rely on the power of the Song clan alone, it will be impossible to succeed. However, the Song clan not only has Song Que, but also this poor Taoist. More importantly, the two young men who learned the secret of longevity also worshipped us as their teachers."

"For thousands of years, no one has ever learned the secret of longevity, but two illiterate teenagers have learned it. This can only be said to be a sign of good fortune and the rise of Taoism. What do you think, old Heavenly Master?"

The old Taoist priest did not answer, but only asked, "Are their talents really so terrifying?"

"These two people, one is called Kou Zhong, the other is called Xu Ziling. I accepted Xu Ziling as my disciple. He is a quiet person by nature. Taoist scriptures are obscure and difficult to understand, but he can understand them at a glance, and can even draw inferences from one example to understand the true meaning."

“Not long ago, I personally cleansed his bones and strengthened his foundation. Within twenty years, he will surely be the new generation of Taoist grandmaster.” In the original novel, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling did not receive any systematic education. They learned a lot from the East and the West, and they realized the moon in the well by themselves, laying the foundation for becoming a grandmaster.

The He Shi Bi was used to cut the tendons and cleanse the marrow, only to strengthen their original spirit and make up for the deficiency. In a sense, it could be regarded as forcing growth. The two of them got this great opportunity, and in just a few years they went from being a small gangster who knew no martial arts to the realm of a grandmaster, but it seems that they failed to break the void. It has to be said that it is a pity.

For ordinary people, such an opportunity is enough to ascend to heaven in one step and change their destiny, but the pursuit of warriors is endless. In this world, breaking the void is their ultimate pursuit.

"The Secret of Immortality..." After hearing this, the old Taoist priest also sighed, "Hundreds of years ago, I got this Taoist manual by chance in Longhu Mountain. Unfortunately, there are no disciples in the mountain who can practice it. We have tried various methods, but we can't get started."

"I didn't expect that the successor of the Changsheng Jue would appear at this time. Perhaps, this is really a sign of the prosperity of our Taoist sect."

Su Ming thought about it and said with a smile, "If the old master doesn't believe it, I can send a message to ask Xu Ziling to come to Longhu Mountain to live for some time. Then, the old master will know it at a glance."

Each of the four great books has a successor, but no one has mastered the Secret of Immortality. He doesn't believe that the Taoists are not interested in the Secret of Immortality. It happens that there are many Taoist scriptures in Longhu Mountain for Xu Ziling to read. For him, it is a two-birds-with-one-stone approach.

For the sake of the great cause of Taoism, I have to let my disciple suffer a little!

(End of this chapter)