Longzang

Chapter 5 Human Affairs, Immortal Affairs (Part 2)

In the blink of an eye, the knights were far away, disappearing at the end of the road, leaving Zhang Sheng unable to retaliate even if he wanted to. This unexpected turn of events completely ruined Zhang Sheng's mood, so he focused on his journey, remaining silent along the way. Several days later, he finally arrived at the county seat of Luyuan Prefecture.

As a native of Yongzhou, Wei Yuan was naturally well-versed in the geography and history of Yongzhou. Luyuan Prefecture had been established for five hundred years, and currently had about 100,000 registered households, with another 50,000 to 60,000 unregistered households, totaling 500,000 people, making it a large city.

Upon arriving at the city, Wei Yuan saw that the city wall was low, built of yellow earth mixed with stone blocks, less than two zhang high. The wall surface was peeling, revealing the masonry inside. The parapet and the city tower also showed signs of disrepair over the years.

Upon entering the city, they found it filled with mud-walled, thatched-roof houses, exuding an air of decay. Most of the pedestrians were ragged, pale-faced, with vacant eyes and slow movements, looking even worse off than the servants of the Wei household. The roads were muddy and riddled with potholes, the muddy water teeming with filth. Had the two not been riding mules, they would have undoubtedly stepped into the mud and filth.

Zhang Sheng didn't walk in a hurry, leading Wei Yuan slowly through the city. After passing the south city and heading west, the situation gradually improved.

Walk a little further, and you'll see a large mansion right in front of you!
This grand mansion occupied an entire neighborhood, surrounded by a ten-foot-high vermilion wall, making it impossible to see inside. In the center was a vermilion gate, which was tightly closed at the moment. At the entrance were two huge stone toad sculptures, each flanked by a stout servant, who glared menacingly at passersby.

Above the main gate hangs a plaque that reads "Xu Residence." The gatehouse is ornately decorated and lavishly decorated. This single gate alone could buy the entire Wei family mansion.

Zhang Sheng led Wei Yuan out of the city through the west gate. Before they had gone far, a verdant fairy mountain appeared before them.

This mountain isn't large; its shape suggests it's part of a long, continuous mountain range. But now, it's entirely verdant, covered in lush greenery, with rising clouds making it appear and disappear like a sacred mountain. Between two peaks, a waterfall can be faintly seen, cascading down like a ribbon. Below lies a clear lake, with a small island in its center, dotted with jade trees in full bloom.

A river flows in front of the mountain, its waters clear and smooth as jade, winding around the mountain before joining the surging Tong River. Strangely, the upper part of the Tong River is a yellow, turbid stream, but upon entering the area of ​​the sacred mountain, it suddenly becomes a clear stream. Then, after leaving the sacred mountain, it becomes a yellow, turbid stream again, continuing northeastward.

Nestled amidst mountains, waters, clouds, and mist, numerous pavilions and towers appear and disappear, truly a paradise on earth!
A small, pale yellow bird flew over, circled above their heads a few times, and landed on Zhang Sheng's shoulder. Zhang Sheng then said to Wei Yuan, "Now we can save some energy."

Ding Luo continued forward, but with each step, the surrounding scenery receded, and in the blink of an eye, the two arrived at the Tong River. Here, the Tong River flowed gently forward like a piece of jade. Ding Luo, seemingly unaware that a great river lay ahead, walked directly into it. With a single step, the two had already plunged ten zhang (approximately 33 meters) into the water!

Ding Luo stepped steadily on the water without splashing a ripple, continuing forward, crossing the vast Tonghe River in a few steps, and arriving at the foot of the fairy mountain. The journey that would normally take a whole day was completed in just a quarter of an hour.

After crossing the Tong River, a celestial gate appeared out of thin air before Wei Yuan's eyes. While still on the water, Wei Yuan saw a gentle grassy slope on the opposite bank, but once he crossed the river and stepped onto solid ground, the scenery suddenly changed.

The immortal gate stood twenty zhang tall, supported by two massive red jade pillars. The pillars were crystal clear, carved with mountains, rivers, birds, and mythical beasts. Above them was a white jade plaque bearing the three large characters 'Red Tide Sect,' each character measuring two zhang in diameter!
Such a magnificent sight left Xiao Weiyuan, who had never left Ye County, dumbfounded. He looked up at the Immortal Gate, then suddenly turned back. At this moment, across the Tong River, one could still vaguely see the city of Luyuan Prefecture. Looking at it now, Luyuan Prefecture appeared even more low and dilapidated, its rammed earth walls only showing its barrenness and desolation. The people in the city were listless and lethargic, spending their days with mud and filth, seeking only to fill their stomachs.

Separated by a river, we are now in two different worlds.

At this moment, a young cultivator emerged from the immortal sect, exuding a pure and refined aura, with an air of otherworldly grace.

The cultivator arrived in front of Zhang Sheng and Wei Yuan in one step. His eyes were like lightning. He first looked Zhang Sheng up and down, and then a smile gradually appeared on his face. He said happily, "It really is Junior Brother Zhang! The last time we met was ten years ago."

Zhang Sheng, also filled with emotion, dismounted from the mule and sighed, "So it's Senior Brother Sun Yu. I'm ashamed; ten years have passed, and I've still accomplished nothing." "Not at all! I've long heard that Junior Brother Zhang has taken on a highly accomplished disciple; it truly makes us envious!"

Zhang Sheng laughed and said, "Actually, it's fate. I was just lucky!"

Sun Yu had already sized up Wei Yuan, and after looking at him carefully for a while, he said, "Indeed extraordinary!"

He glanced at the mule the two had brought and smiled, "Junior Brother Zhang has returned to simplicity; he must have made great progress these past few years."

Zhang Sheng sighed, "My Dao power is sealed, and I can't leave Yongzhou. I can only use ordinary things to get around. But these years, I've been single-minded and have gained some insights."

Sun Yu's eyes lit up, and he said, "Then I must ask you for your guidance later! Master already knows that Junior Brother's Dao power has been sealed. He calculated the secrets of heaven and specially asked me to bring a dose of Li Quan San. After taking it, you can recover by meditating for three days."

Zhang Sheng first bowed to the north and said, "Thank you, True Person Ningxi." Then he pointed to the Immortal Sect and asked with a smile, "It's just a unified examination for a remote county, with only about ten people. Why make such a big fuss? Does the Crimson Tide Sect intend to advance to a blessed land?"

Before Sun Yu could answer, a cloud suddenly lit up the sky, and two nine-colored black deer pulled a magnificent jade boat down from the sky, landing in front of the immortal gate.

The two nine-colored black deer were each three zhang tall, their bodies surrounded by nine-colored rays of light, and they rode on clouds. The white jade boat was even taller than five zhang and thirty zhang long, making it even taller than the city gate of Luyuan City! A huge character "Yan" was engraved on the boat, shimmering with light.

As soon as Bai Yuzhou landed, he went straight into the immortal gate, not even glancing at Zhang Sheng, treating the two black deer pulling the carriage as if they were invisible.

Zhang Sheng looked at the white jade boat disappearing into the immortal gate, then at the three-foot-tall mule beside him, and his expression turned grim.

Sun Yu quickly laughed and said, "Junior brother, don't mind him! Those people from Donghai always like to show off. Even when they come to take an exam, they make a big fuss. It's so extravagant!"

Zhang Sheng asked in surprise, "The Yan family from Donghai are here to take the exam?"

“Well, there are quite a few candidates from Feng Yuanjun this year… Junior brother, please calm down.”

Zhang Sheng didn't say much, and pulled Wei Yuan into the immortal gate. The moment they passed through the gate, the world before their eyes changed completely.

On a vast red jade plaza, herds of mounts and boats and carriages filled the air. The celestial energy emanating from various precious vehicles and auspicious beasts swirled and intertwined in the sky, so dense that it transformed into clusters of rosy light, rising and falling endlessly.

The white jade boat in the East China Sea was struggling to move, trying to find a place to dock.

(End of this chapter)