Shushan Earthly Immortal

Chapter 451 Calm and Composed, Making Guests Feel at Home

Cheng Xinzhan was 99% certain that Xi Xinghuai was making things up, but he didn't intend to expose him. Xi Xinghuai's statement was actually an admission of guilt and a sign that he had already learned about the news from Qinglong Cave.

Moreover, since they've already brought up the ancestral master Cao Xianren and fabricated such a prophetic statement that's almost a compliment, there's no need for us to undermine them.

“I did not come to fulfill a prophecy, but rather to ask for a favor. However, what I ask for is the same as what Master Xi asks for: to revitalize the Immortal Cave and send people out of the mountains to exorcise demons. Since our demands are the same, then it is easier to talk. Please, Master Xi, lift the ban and come out of the mountains to drive out the demons and purify the Miao region.”

Cheng Xinzhan said this.

Xi Xinghuai's expression remained very respectful as he replied,

"What Mr. Guangfa sought on the mountain perfectly aligns with what everyone in our Immortal Cave seeks, which confirms the prophecy of our Patriarch! There is naturally no problem with Immortal Cave being unsealed and people leaving the mountain. Please, Mr. Guangfa, take over as the leader. At your command, everyone in our Immortal Cave will obey!"

As he spoke, Xi Xinghuai picked up the white jade cloud-patterned tablet he carried with both hands and handed it to Cheng Xinzhan.

Seeing this, Cheng Xinzhan narrowed his eyes slightly and carefully observed Xi Xinghuai's expression.

Although the scepter's radiance was subtly concealed, Cheng Xinzhan's current discerning eye could naturally discern its extraordinary nature. The cloud patterns on the scepter were layered and ever-changing, their magical restraints extremely powerful; perhaps it truly was a relic left behind by an immortal. Was he really willing to part with it? What was this old Taoist priest trying to do? Was it a genuine prophecy, or did he intend to make the charade real?

"Master Xi, there's no need for that. It's enough to have things explained clearly now."

Cheng Xinzhan refused to accept the offer and hinted to Xi Xinghuai that the play had ended there. He was willing to believe his prophecy and assume that the closure of the Immortal Cave was due to an ancestral decree, thus giving the Immortal Cave enough face and substance.

"Yes, Master Guangfa said it very clearly, and I also said it very clearly. You are absolutely the one the patriarch foretold! You are destined to take over the throne and revitalize our Immortal Cave. I am ashamed and ashamed. I have been teaching for hundreds of years, and I have watched the sect decline and have no successor. I am anxious day and night, but I do not know what to do. I have to think carefully about every step I take, for fear of making a mistake and burying the patriarch's reputation."

"Now that you are in charge of the sect, the huge weight on my heart has finally been lifted. With you teaching and revitalizing the sect, we will surely cultivate outstanding younger generations. At that time, Xinghuai can die in peace. Please take charge of the sect!"

Xi Xinghuai handed the tablet in his hand forward again.

Cheng Xinzhan understood.

This person is trying to emulate the story of the Left Master of Doumu Pavilion, worried that the Immortal Cave will have no successor, leading to the extinction of the four realms and the decline of the sect. So, he used the guise of a prophecy to invite me to become the sect leader, promising to return the lineage to me once a suitable junior has risen in the sect. If I don't return it then, he will surely die with regrets.

That's quite a clever plan.

"Master Xi, to be honest, I have many responsibilities and am truly unable to take on more sect duties, so there is no need for me to preside over the sect. If Immortal Cao's prophecy is true, and Immortal Cave can wholeheartedly eliminate demons and protect the land, I can guarantee that Immortal Cave will surely be revived."

After thinking it over, Cheng Xinzhan gave Xi Xinghuai a promise after all.

Xi Xinghuai's expression relaxed for a moment, but he quickly showed a troubled look again.
"But, but the patriarch said..."

"Okay, that's it."

Cheng Xinzhan interrupted him, then picked up the teacup on the table, took a small sip, and then stood up, saying...
"All the sects of Miao territory must follow orders when they come out of the mountains to exorcise demons. When the time is right, I will have someone contact you."

“This, this… yes, I will obey the decree.”

Xi Xinghuai stood up as well. Seeing that Cheng Xinzhan was determined to decline, he didn't say anything more and could only reluctantly agree.

Seeing that Cheng Xinzhan was about to leave, he quickly added,
"Sir, you are the master of all laws, and your words are as precious as gold. Even if you no longer teach, we hope that you can leave a few words to guide future generations."

As he spoke, he took out a pen and ink, clearly not satisfied with just words, wanting Cheng Xinzhan to leave his handwriting.

This old Taoist.

Cheng Xinzhan felt slightly helpless. Was he afraid that he would break his promise?

However, this old Taoist priest was quite clever. Although he asked for a lot, he spoke in such a humble and flattering way that it was hard for anyone to be offended.

After thinking for a moment, Cheng Xinzhan took the pen.

He observed that dusk was falling, and the autumn wind was howling fiercely. Yet, atop this towering, perilous peak, the pine trees remained vigorous and unwavering, undisturbed by the autumn wind. Though the white clouds were being blown about by the strong wind, they did not lose their shape, exuding an air of grandeur.

The scenery of the Immortal Cave was magnificent, but when he thought about the behavior of the high-ranking cultivators there during this demonic tide, he realized they were far from the demeanor of grandmasters. They were not as proud and upright as the pine tree, nor as measured and composed as the clouds. Since this sect leader insisted that he leave his mark, he would leave something "sharp" to provoke the spirit of the Immortal Cave.

He already had the words in his mind, picked up his pen, and wrote a seven-character quatrain on the paper, which read:
"As dusk settles, I gaze upon the sturdy pine, which remains serene amidst the swirling clouds."

A natural fairy cave, with breathtaking scenery hidden on the perilous peak.

His poem, written in cursive script, resembles a raging storm, seemingly chaotic, yet each character possesses a strong spirit, as firm as a pine tree or a rock. In particular, the last two characters, "险峰" (dangerous peak), are written with heavy ink, their force penetrating the paper and striking the eye.

He left his signature and stamped his seal, which was considered a promise and explanation to Xi Xinghuai, and then he left on the wind.

Xi Xinghuai looked down at the calligraphy in his hand, his gaze lingering on the two characters "险峰" (dangerous peak) for a long time.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The Miao region is mountainous, and the mountains are dotted with caves, so many sects on the mountains are named after caves. Among them, three are the most famous, all of which are powerful sects with long histories and orderly lineages, and are known as the Three Caves of Miao Region: Qinglong Cave, Xianren Cave, and Chiyou Cave.

The first two families were Taoist sects, but the last one was neither Taoist nor Buddhist; it was a heterodox sect. This family lived deep in the mountains of the Miao region, acting with extreme discretion and rarely showing themselves. Even most of the local Miao people did not know their exact location. Those who occasionally ventured out to experience the world were invariably individuals of exceptional talent.

Moreover, this family practices neither Taoism nor Buddhism, but only the secret witchcraft and weaponry of the Miao people, holding an exceptionally high position in their hearts. It can be said that Qinglong Cave and Xianren Cave are lineages passed down by Taoist priests from the East after they settled in Miao territory, while Chiyou Cave existed since the time of the Miao people. Rather than describing Chiyou Cave as a cultivation force, it's more accurate to describe it as a mysterious ancient Miao tribe passed down through generations.

There are five major righteous factions in Miao territory: the Three Caves, Fuxia Lake, and Fanjing Mountain. Fuxia Lake has already agreed to stay, and Fanjing Mountain is a Buddhist site, so it's not advisable for individuals to visit it. Now, only Chiyou Cave remains.

Cheng Xinzhan placed Chiyou Cave last because he wasn't entirely confident he could persuade it.

Chiyou Cave was originally a secluded place of cultivation and a place of Miao heritage, so Cheng Xinzhan had no reason to persuade them to come out of seclusion. However, he could not refuse to come, because Chiyou Cave held a special position and could be considered a spiritual totem for the Miao people. If the important task of eliminating demons in Miao territory did not have the support and participation of Chiyou Cave, the progress would definitely be compromised.

As dusk settled, Cheng Xinzhan arrived at the upper reaches of the Wujiang River.

In western Guizhou, on the north bank of the Sancha River, the mountains rise and fall, creating a labyrinthine landscape. Insects, snakes, tigers, and leopards often roam the area, making it a dangerous place rarely visited by humans.

Cheng Xinzhan learned from Hong Changbao that the approximate location of Chiyou Cave was here, but he didn't know any more details. Now, if he wanted to visit it, he would have to go into the mountains and search for it slowly.

The Taoist priest was strolling in the mountains when, after a short while, he suddenly heard the sound of wind ahead, which parted the weeds to reveal a path. A magnificent tiger, taller than a man, emerged. On its back sat a robust and strong young Miao man. He carried a huge ox-horn bow on his back, and a brightly colored bird perched on his right shoulder. Judging from his aura, he possessed the cultivation of a Golden Core cultivator.

"May I ask if you are Mr. Guangfa?"

The young man dismounted from the tiger and bowed to Cheng Xinzhan.

Cheng Xinzhan nodded and returned the gesture with Miao etiquette.

The young man's eyes lit up, and he asked repeatedly, "Mr. Guangfa, are you also familiar with Miao customs?"

Cheng Xinzhan smiled and nodded, replying,

"I lived in a Miao village for a period of time before."

"I see."

The young man suddenly realized, and then said,

"The clan chief sent me to welcome you into the mountains, please follow me."

"Thank you for your trouble."

Cheng Xinzhan wasn't surprised. He had visited Qinglong Cave and Xianren Cave before, and these three places must have been exchanging information regularly. Chiyou Cave couldn't possibly be unaware of this. This was good, saving him the trouble of searching again. Moreover, judging from the young man's attitude, Chiyou Cave didn't seem to mind his sudden visit, which was a positive sign.

The young man no longer rode the tiger, but led the way on foot. He was lively and talkative, chatting with Cheng Xinzhan the whole way.
"My name is Gan Zhenjia."

"Hello."

"I've heard of your illustrious reputation!"

"They're all just empty titles."

"You've already reached the fourth realm!"

"by chance."

"I've also heard that you own a lion, which is quite formidable. Didn't you bring it with you this time?"

"Here it is."

Cheng Xinzhan patted the leopard pouch at his waist and said,
"The Miao region is too humid, with sticky moisture, so it doesn't want to come out."

"..."

"..."

The two chatted along the way, with Gan Zhenjia asking questions and Cheng Xinzhan answering. As they gradually became more familiar with each other, Cheng Xinzhan also asked a question.
"The Miao region is now occupied by demons. You have excellent martial arts skills. What are your thoughts on this?"

Upon hearing this, Gan Zhenjia's face showed resentment and bitterness.
"The demonic dragon is incredibly powerful, able to summon wind and rain, stir up waves and stop thunder. We can't defeat it, and there's nothing we can do. If we anger it, the Miao people will hardly survive."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded, then asked,
"If we don't provoke them, are the Miao people doing well now?"

The young man answered,
“Any dragon that has sworn an oath, no matter how bad it is, will eventually live.”

Are you mainly worried about the celestial phenomena?

"Yes."

Gan Zhenjia nodded.

"The Miao people rely on the heavens and earth for sustenance, and all their spiritual practices and agricultural activities depend on the celestial phenomena. If the celestial phenomena are unfavorable, the Miao people will lose their Miao medicine and Miao insects, and then they can no longer be called Miao people. Moreover, the land in Miao territory is shady, and if there are continuous rains and dense clouds, and the sun is not seen for a long time, the dead in the ground will turn into corpses. In fact, since the demon dragon ravaged the land, we have sent messages to all the villages, telling them not to bury the dead in the ground, but to practice hanging coffin burial."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded in agreement. Indeed, celestial phenomena had a profound impact on the Miao people. He had heard the old village chief mention this before when he was in Lixi Village. According to Miao tradition, the dead are placed in caves within the village, as the Miao believe this allows the soul of the deceased to reunite with their ancestors and relatives. Hanging coffin burial is a practice adopted only when zombie resurrection is frequent. The dead are placed in coffins and suspended from cliffs. This way, the body doesn't come into contact with the soil, making it less likely for the corpse to resurrect. Even if it does resurrect and breaks the coffin, it will simply fall off the cliff. Newly awakened zombies have little magical power; upon falling off the cliff, they will simply dismember and die, unable to harm anyone. These are all survival experiences accumulated by the Miao people over a long period in the Miao region.

"Can you send messages directly to each village?"

Cheng Xinzhan has grasped a crucial piece of information.

Gan Zhenjia nodded, but did not explain further.

Cheng Xinzhan didn't press the matter further, but instead changed the subject.
"If the problem of the celestial phenomena is resolved, are you willing to enter the mortal world to vanquish the demons?"

The young man's eyes answered his thoughts, but he said aloud,
"We must listen to the clan chief."

Cheng Xinzhan smiled and nodded.

After crossing several mountains and rivers, and walking for about ten miles through the fog, and then passing through a long underground cave with many branching paths, Gan Zhenjia led Cheng Xinzhan to a deep valley surrounded by mountains and shrouded in mist.

It was already late, and torches were lit in the deep valley, twinkling in the thin mist, creating a beautiful sight.

As soon as Cheng Xinzhan entered, he felt a strange sense of familiarity. After thinking about it carefully, he remembered that the terrain of Yinling Miao Village in Wuling Xiangxi was somewhat similar to this place. However, the village in front of him was much larger, with layers upon layers of magical restrictions above and below, and the aura of many powerful figures.

Gan Zhenjia led Cheng Xinzhan up the mountain to the stilted house, greeting the villagers along the way. Even in a village of this size, there were still roosters, white dogs, terraced fields cultivated on the hillside, and all sorts of colorful insects kept in pots and pans.

This gave Cheng Xinzhan a sense of disorientation, as if he had returned to that village many years ago.

Soon after, we arrived at our destination.

"Sir, please."

Gan Zhenjia led Cheng Xinzhan to a room, opened the door, and invited Cheng Xinzhan inside.

Cheng Xinzhan stepped in.

The hearth in the middle of the house was burning brightly, making the room warm and bright. A metal kettle hung above the hearth, presumably for brewing wine, which smelled very sweet.

Three people sat around the hearth: a lean, wiry, dark-faced old man in the center to the north; a burly man in a red robe to the east; and a young man in white to the west. An empty seat to the south, facing the entrance, was clearly reserved for a guest.

Before the host could even call him, Cheng Xinzhan's lips curled into a smile. He walked to an empty seat, sat down around the fire pit, cupped his hands in greeting to the three of them, and said,

"Old Chieftain, Mr. Red Crown, Young Master White Dragon."

He greeted everyone familiarly, as if he had always been a member of this village.

Seeing this, the other three by the fire looked at each other, and then burst into enthusiastic and hearty laughter.

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(End of this chapter)