Fairyland Sunshine

Chapter 97: Old Friends and Changes

Feng Dynasty was also known as Dafeng and Tianfeng, which meant the most superior country in the heaven and the central country.

Its territory is vast with few mountains, vast plains, many rivers, and abundant resources, which can support countless people. Therefore, since ancient times, whether it is the Great Zhou, the Great Yuan, or the Great Feng, they have all regarded this fertile land under their rule as the center of the earth.

This was also the understanding of Xu Heng when he was studying, until he realized how big the world is and how vast the oceans are.

……

Two or three months had passed since Xu Heng left the Great Snow Mountain.

At first, he would use the art of escape to travel faster, and he could cover tens of thousands of miles in ten days or half a month. It could indeed be described as lightning fast, but this boring way of traveling was indeed tiring even if his magic power could support it, and it also went against his original intention of leaving the mountains to travel.

So later he switched to using the cloud method and traveled leisurely.

Along the way, he did not forget to collect the sun and the moon, which is "condensation", and maintaining the operation of the cloud method is also a kind of "refining", so even while he was on the road, his progress in cultivation did not stop.

In his spare time, he would look at the vast sky and earth, the majestic mountains and rivers, and then flip through several Taoist classics he had copied. Although he had read them countless times, he always felt that he had new insights.

So even though the second half took several times longer than the previous one, he still felt it was more rewarding.

However, as Xu Heng went south, especially after crossing the Beiyin Mountains, the population on earth had gradually increased, and from time to time he would pass over some small countries and cities, which was shocking, so Xu Heng gradually reduced his studies.

After all, when he was refining yin and yang in the clouds, the strange phenomenon of the gathering of golden light and moonlight was too obvious.

And on this day, when a majestic pass appeared under the clouds, Xu Heng knew that he had arrived at the territory of Feng Dynasty.

This Jubei Pass was built by the previous dynasty. Xu Heng had learned many articles praising this pass, including the poems handed down by the lay Buddhist who had been to Taiguang Mountain.

Xu Heng couldn't help but look down, and found that this mighty pass that seemed like cast iron was only the size of a palm from the sky. The caravans and travelers entering and leaving the pass were like ants, moving slowly and in an orderly manner...

He suddenly understood the difference between immortals and mortals. Perhaps this was one of the gains from his travels away from the mountains.

"Forget it, we have been leisurely for a long time, let's not delay any longer." Xu Heng retracted his gaze, smiled softly, and slowly raised the cloud head until it was difficult to see, then he switched to fire escape and rushed away.

Under the sunlight, Xu Heng did not seem to have escaped very far. In fact, in just an hour or two, he had left countless rivers and mountains behind him. He looked down and a familiar city appeared in his sight.

Yingzhou!

Perhaps it was because he had just felt emotional not long ago, but Xu Heng felt no emotion when he returned to the old place. He was just looking forward to seeing old friends.

He used an invisibility spell for the first time in a long time, flew down from the clouds, and arrived in Yingzhou city quietly. He walked around the Ji family villa where he had lived before, but found that no one was there. He had to leave it there for the time being and find the entrance to Yingzhoufang.

As soon as he entered the market, Xu Heng was slightly surprised. The last time he came here was seven or eight years ago. At that time, Yingzhou Market was bustling with people coming and going. But now it was deserted. Looking at the main road, there were not many people. The shops on both sides were not only deserted, but most of them were closed.

In this situation, Xu Heng had no idea where to find out. After thinking for a while, he went straight to Changsun Laodao's shop.

Fortunately, Zhangsun Laodao's shop was not only still open, but the sign had not been changed. Seeing this, Xu Heng's face relaxed, he straightened his robe slightly, stepped into the shop, and when he saw that no one was there, he flicked his fingers slightly, ringing the copper bell hanging in the shop through the air.

"Who is it?" A familiar and somewhat unexpected voice came from the store. Xu Heng couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. Sure enough, a young man soon appeared from the back of the hall, still saying, "The furnace has not been opened this month. The pills on sale in the store are all on the sign..." Halfway through his words, the young man looked up and was startled when he saw Xu Heng's appearance. Then, a mixture of disbelief and surprise rose on his face, and he shouted, "Brother Xu... is that you?"

Xu Heng smiled slightly and said, "Brother Ji, why do you ask this? Has Xu changed a lot?"

"It's really you!" Ji Tingsheng clapped his hands, strode forward and hugged Xu Heng, then laughed and said, "Brother Xu himself didn't realize that you have changed a lot. I thought I was dazzled. I can't believe that I can see a second brother Xu with such an extraordinary appearance in Yingzhou."

Xu Heng smiled and said, "Brother Ji has changed a lot. If I'm not mistaken, you have also cultivated into Xuan Guang, right?"

Ji Tingsheng was surprised and said, "I didn't show my mysterious light, but Brother Xu could see it? That's right, you have been in the mountains for eight years, you must have cultivated a superior Taoism..."

At this point, he smiled, and no one knew what emotion was in his smile. He changed the subject and said, "Okay, Brother Xu, please come with me to the back hall. I will write to the alchemist and ask him to come back to the store..."

Xu Heng followed Ji Tingsheng into the back hall and listened to him carefully. It turned out that after Ji Tingsheng cultivated his magical powers, he began to learn alchemy from Taoist Master Changsun. Many of the pills sold in this store now were made by him.

"What a pity." Ji Tingsheng led Xu Heng to sit down, made two or three cups of tea, and sighed: "Yingzhoufang is no longer as good as before, and the business in the store is not as good as before..."

"Oh?" Xu Heng asked after hearing this: "When I arrived at the market just now, I also saw that it was very deserted. Why is it like this?"

Ji Tingsheng sighed and was about to answer, but was interrupted by the sudden sound of footsteps. The two looked outside and soon saw an old Taoist entering the hall.

"Ting Sheng, why are you calling me back in such a hurry? Could it be that..." The old Taoist said halfway, his eyes suddenly fixed, and when he saw Xu Heng's face clearly, he said happily: "Junior Brother Xu!"

Xu Heng's eyes also showed a hint of surprise. After not seeing him for eight years, the old Taoist actually looked a bit gloomy. Although he felt a little depressed, he did not show it. He just raised his hand and bowed, "Senior Brother Changsun."

"I never thought that I would see you again." The Taoist priest Changsun said with a smile, "I heard that you were accepted by a master and went to the immortal mountain to practice. Why did you come back to the mortal world?"

Even Ji Tingsheng didn't know Qiao Cheng's true origins, so Taoist Changsun naturally wouldn't know which sect or fairy mountain Xu Heng went to.

Xu Heng had no intention of mentioning it, and just said: "This time, I went down the mountain to travel in search of evil spirits and gathering energy."

"Looking for evil spirits and gathering energy?" Elder Changsun said happily, "It turns out that Junior Brother has already achieved great magical power. He has indeed obtained the superior Taoist method."

Ji Tingsheng was listening nearby, but he couldn't help feeling a little dazed.

It has been eight years since we last met. Although I have cultivated Xuan Guang, I am still struggling to accumulate knowledge. However, Xu Heng has already mastered his magical powers and left the mountain to look for evil. Not to mention that their foundations and methods may be very different... Have you ever thought about the gap between them?

Taoist Changsun didn't notice Ji Tingsheng's strange expression. He chatted with Xu Heng and sat down. Then he asked him, "Tingsheng, where did you and your junior brother talk about just now?"

Ji Tingsheng said subconsciously: "We were just talking about the market town..."

At this point, he seemed to react, calmed down, and said to Xu Heng: "Brother Xu, you don't know that not long after you left, Yingzhou had a big change."

"Master Yin Zi opened the ancient Taoist canon and killed thousands of practitioners, including the owner of Yingzhou Market..."

(End of this chapter)