Shushan Earthly Immortal

Chapter 455 Righteous Path and Demonic Path, East Wind and West Wind

Inside the Chiyou Cave, in the stilted building.

Cheng Xinzhan held the ox-horn cup in his hand, taking sips from time to time, while constantly asking about the changes in Miao territory over the years and the situation of the strongholds set up by the Southern School in Miao territory.

The other three responded, but it was clear from their expressions that they were somewhat distracted.

Cheng Xinzhan knew why, of course, but despite his repeated insistence that there was no need to worry, he still couldn't get the three to focus, so he had no choice but to give up.

Just as the newly poured wine in front of him began to simmer and gurgle, a flash of light appeared beside Cheng Xinzhan, and an apricot-yellow Buddhist scripture leaped out from under the floor.

Cheng Xinzhan caught the book and shook it by the spine.

"Clang."

With a thud, a woman fell from the Book of Earth and landed on the ground. Her eyes were closed, her face was ashen, her lips were pale, and blood stained her mouth and chin. A crimson-gold ancient sword in the style of the pre-Qin period pierced through her chest, a horrifying sight. However, the woman's life force was still intact, and she was clearly still alive.

"Silkworm Girl?!"

The old chieftain, He Hong, and Bai suddenly stood up and exclaimed in surprise.

The three of them looked carefully for a long time. After confirming that it was the Silkworm Girl herself, and not someone who had been mistakenly captured, or some kind of scapegoat or substitute, the three of them turned their heads at the same time and turned their gazes to Cheng Xinzhan, who was sitting still.

With a single sword strike, he covered three thousand miles, capturing a powerful demon from four realms.

The new wine is just boiling.

Even becoming a True Immortal of the Fifth Realm wouldn't be this easy, would it?! Isn't this a bit too outrageous and unbelievable?!

“From what the three of you just said, the love potion on this demon is quite useful to the Miao people, right? Then please take it yourselves. I will give the love potion to Chiyou Cave, and I will take the silkworm girl with me. This demon has taken over Jiuyi Mountain and violated the Three Xiang Great Precepts. I will hand him over to the Three Xiang Taoist sect for punishment.”

Cheng Xinzhan said.

The three were stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then overjoyed.

The old village chief's face was creased with wrinkles from his smile, but he still spoke with a hint of awkwardness.
"It is entirely thanks to your efforts that this demon was captured alive. It would be inappropriate for us to obtain the Gu without any success, would it?"

Cheng Xinzhan smiled upon hearing this and said,
"Old chieftain, please don't stand on ceremony with me. Gu worms are useless to me. Judging from what Chiyou Cave has done to the Miao people, it is most suitable for you to take charge of the love worms. Besides, exorcising demons is not a matter for one person or one family, so there is no need to be so clear about it."

After much hesitation, the old chieftain couldn't bring himself to refuse again; he simply bowed deeply in respect.
"We at Chiyou Cave will forever remember the great kindness and virtue of Mr. Guangfa."

Hong and Bai also bowed respectfully.

Cheng Xinzhan just smiled and said,

"If Chiyou Cave remembers my kindness, then every time I come, there will be plenty of drinks."

"sure!"

The old chieftain said repeatedly, his face beaming with joy, and then he continued...

"Please wait a moment, sir. The love potion needs to be nurtured by a woman. I will take the demon down and transfer the potion to the villagers. It will be done before dawn."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded and said,

"Don't rush, just make sure nothing goes wrong."

The old chieftain agreed, and then the three of them left together, leaving Cheng Xinzhan alone to cook and drink by himself.

As dawn broke, after news of the previous night's events had spread throughout the Miao region, the three returned carrying the silkworm-raising woman, along with a girl of about fifteen or sixteen. Seeing the old chieftain's joyful expression, Cheng Xinzhan knew they had already produced the silkworms, but he still asked, as if to join in the fun.
"Success?"

The old chieftain nodded with a smile, then pointed at the girl and said,
"The love potion is selective, and we've been busy for a long time. Fortunately, the village has seized this opportunity. This child is named Duolan. She has good aptitude, and most importantly, she has a very good compatibility with the love potion. The transfer of the potion went smoothly, the love potion was not damaged, and the child has not shown any discomfort. Duolan, quickly thank the master."

Upon hearing this, the girl immediately knelt down and was about to kowtow.

Cheng Xinzhan quickly raised his hand and used his magic to lift the girl up, speaking gently.
"There's no need for such a grand ceremony. Once you've obtained the spirit gu, just do your best from now on. There's no need to feel any burden because of it."

The girl was a little nervous and didn't know what to say, so she looked up at the old village chief.

The old chieftain was originally beaming with joy because he knew that Duolan was the most talented cultivator among her peers in the village. This time, she obtained the Love Gu by chance and was very likely to reach the fourth realm. In this way, the village's lineage would be orderly, and there would be no need to worry for at least five hundred years.

However, upon hearing Cheng Xinzhan's words, the old chieftain's smile vanished. He knew that Master Guangfa's words weren't just for Duolan's ears, but also for his own, urging him not to impose any responsibility on Duolan because of the Gu worm. As the one who bestowed the Gu, Master Guangfa was clearly qualified and carried considerable weight in saying this. At this moment, a feeling of respect welled up in the old chieftain's heart. Indeed, for ease of oral expression, people simply called him Master Guangfa, and over time, they overlooked the words "Renhui" (仁惠) preceding "Guangfa."

He was benevolent and widely followed the law; his name truly reflected his character.

"I will obey your instructions."

The old village chief solemnly bowed in response.

"I will obey your instructions."

So the girl followed suit and repeated the greeting.

Cheng Xinzhan nodded with a smile.

Having met and established a good relationship, the old chieftain then let the young woman go ahead.

Then, the old village chief took out two pouches and said,

"Sir, these were looted from the demon. This bag is full of Gu worms, and this bag contains magical treasures, spellbooks, and cultivation materials."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded and accepted the gifts. He had no use for the Gu poison himself, but he could give it to the Sanxiang and Wuling branches of the Haoran Alliance. There were quite a few people refining Gu poison in those two places, and Gu worms were a valuable asset in combat. As for the Silkworm Maiden's magic weapons, technique manuals, and materials, they were probably of little use to him, but he could take them back to the sect. After all, he was currently serving as both the sect leader and vice sect leader, and he also had the mission of replenishing the treasure trove.

After putting away the half-dead silkworm girl and the two sachets, Cheng Xinzhan asked...

"I want to merge with the Dao in Miao territory. In your opinion, where is the most suitable place for me to merge with the Dao if we want to curb the Southern Demons and protect the Miao territory?" Once again, he was sure to make a shocking statement.

The three, who had just returned to their seats, were somewhat bewildered by this question. Weren't the places of cultivation chosen according to one's own path? Shouldn't they be carefully selected after much deliberation and consideration? Why are they asking us? Does this mean we can just choose any place we want?
"I dare not comment on your attainment of enlightenment."

The old chieftain said carefully.

Cheng Xinzhan waved his hand upon hearing this.

"It's alright. Just tell me your opinion as a suggestion. In the end, I will make the decision myself."

The three men looked at each other, remaining silent for a long while. Finally, the old chieftain spoke up, asking,
"It is still unknown which kind of Taoist practice Master Guangfa cultivates. In our Miao region, the central area of ​​Guizhu Prefecture is characterized by high mountains and deep waters, with a strategic location and abundant moisture, resulting in frequent cloud and mist that never dissipates, which is what is known as 'the sea of ​​clouds encircling the mountain.' The Immortal Cave was opened up here."

"Sizhou Prefecture in southeastern Guizhou is known as 'the offspring of the Winged Chariot,' a place of dazzling stars, where the Qinglong Cave was built. Xinggu County in southwestern Guizhou is full of waterfalls and rapids, with rivers flowing through gorges and rainbows appearing among the caves, which is what is known as 'colorful ribbons dancing in the sky.' The Bailing Valley of the Silkworm Goddess is located here."

"Tongren Prefecture is located in eastern Guizhou, with high mountains and light clouds, and bright sunshine, which is what is meant by 'bright sky and beautiful sun.' Nanping Prefecture in southern Guizhou is rainy, but the rainfall usually stops at night. The night sky is exceptionally clear after being washed by the rain, so the moonlight is also exceptionally bright, which is what is meant by 'the bright moon after the night clears.'"

"Furthermore, Anshun Prefecture is prone to miasma, Zunyi Prefecture to rosy clouds, Liangfeng County to wind, Bijie Prefecture to fog, and Renhuai Prefecture to haze. Hey, sir, you see, if you really count them carefully, each region of our Miao region does indeed have its own unique characteristics. I just wonder which celestial phenomenon you prefer?"

Having surveyed the celestial phenomena of his hometown, the old village chief spoke with considerable pride. After giving a brief introduction, he looked at Cheng Xinzhan, awaiting his reply.

Cheng Xinzhan listened attentively to the old chieftain's introduction, occasionally taking a sip of wine. Drinking while enjoying the scenery had always been his favorite pastime. Although he hadn't seen it with his own eyes yet, he could still imagine the beautiful scenery of the Miao region based on the old chieftain's description.

At this moment, upon hearing the old village chief's question, he shook his head regretfully and said,

"The celestial phenomena in Miao territory are magnificent, and just hearing about them fills me with longing. But it is a pity that I can only become an earth immortal by merging with the earth's energy, and I have no chance to witness the celestial phenomena."

Upon hearing Cheng Xinzhan's words, the three people from the Miao village were greatly shocked, and the old village chief was even more abrupt in speaking frankly.

"How could this be! Sir, have you suffered some kind of hidden injury?"

Cheng Xinzhan smiled and shook his head, replying,

"No, Chieftain, you are overthinking it. It is indeed true that my heart is set on becoming an Earth Immortal."

"what!"

The old chieftain looked completely bewildered, clearly unable to accept it. For a moment, he even stammered, muttering...
"But, but, how could someone like you, such an extraordinary person, aspire to become an immortal?"

After he finished speaking, the old chieftain realized what he had said, his face showing panic, and he hurriedly offered explanations.

"No, that's not what I meant. Of course, a terrestrial immortal is good, they are immortals..."

He hurriedly explained.

Cheng Xinzhan smiled and waved his hand, indicating that it was alright, and then said,
Everyone has their own ambitions.

"Yes Yes."

The old chieftain responded repeatedly, but hesitated to say something, showing a conflicted expression.

"Chief, please speak frankly. Perhaps I was a Miao person in my past life. Once I entered the Miao village, I felt right at home. Now that I am about to become a Daoist in Miao territory, what is there between us that we cannot say to each other?"

Cheng Xinzhan said this.

The old chieftain was somewhat moved by what he heard, and so he stopped hesitating and spoke frankly.
"Sir, if you were to harmonize with the energy of the Miao region and become a celestial being, this would be an immense blessing for our Miao people, and our Miao village would certainly welcome and support you wholeheartedly. However, however, someone of your stature shouldn't remain confined to the mortal realm. How free and unrestrained the heavens are, how many opportunities await! The thirty-three heavens are so vast! You are a dragon, a crane; you should be a celestial being!"

"Furthermore, Golden Immortals in the mortal realm have long since disappeared, becoming legends among the younger generation, and Earth Immortals are the ultimate attainment. Someone like you will reach the Dao in less than a hundred years. With your talent and extraordinary appearance, you should be thinking about the path of the Golden Immortal. I'm afraid no one in the mortal realm can answer this; perhaps only in the heavens can you find the answer!"

The old village chief spoke earnestly, and every word he uttered was precious.

Cheng Xinzhan listened attentively, and after a brief silence, he turned to look at the clouds outside the window, a smile on his face, and said softly,

"The heavens are vast, and there is much to be done. However, my cultivation has indeed progressed too quickly. I am about to become an immortal, but there are still many beautiful places in the mortal world that I have not yet set foot in, and many beautiful sights that I have not yet seen. Just in the Miao region alone, there are the sun, moon, stars, clouds, rainbows, and mists that the chieftain described, each one different. If I were to ascend and leave now, wouldn't I be reluctant to leave this beautiful mortal world?"

"But it is precisely in this beautiful world, the place where I was born and raised, that demons always cause trouble and try to destroy this beauty. This is something I cannot tolerate, something that I cannot rest easy about, and something that I cannot stand idly by."

"Throughout history, some have said that the righteous path is one foot taller than the righteous path, while others have said that the righteous path is one foot taller than the righteous path, and there has never been a definitive conclusion. In my opinion, the struggle between the righteous path and the demonic path is like the east and west winds; it is either the west wind prevailing over the east wind, or the east wind prevailing over the west wind."

"The demonic path is like the west wind, characterized by its fierceness. The demonic path is born to cause destruction. What is a demon? It is someone who harms others for personal gain, kills for their own benefit, and betrays the world but not a single person. In short: the demonic path seeks externally. Therefore, the west wind is strong and urgent, blowing without stopping for a moment."

"The righteous path is like the east wind, characterized by its gentle warmth. It should be said that the righteous path is powerful, inclining towards goodness and benevolence, and is the mainstream of heaven and earth, so it should be able to overcome the demonic path. However, most forces of the righteous path focus on cultivating the mind, cultivating oneself, cultivating life, and cultivating nature. In other words, the righteous path is sought within. Therefore, the east wind is strong but gentle, blowing slowly."

"Judging from the wind force, the two are evenly matched."

"Looking back, there have been times when the West Wind completely overwhelmed the East Wind. This was because the righteous path was facing a generational gap, lacking anyone to raise the banner and lift the cauldron, while the demonic path produced great demons and true demon lords who dominated the world. However, it is not easy for the demonic path to become an immortal. The nine tribulations and three calamities are all meant to kill people, so these great demons and true demon lords find it difficult to become immortals. Over time, they grow old and weak, and thus the West Wind weakens, allowing the East Wind to seize the opportunity."

"More often than not, the East Wind completely overwhelms the West Wind because those with great supernatural powers and magical abilities have emerged in the righteous path. However, these individuals with great supernatural powers and magical abilities often cultivate both body and mind, and follow the will of Heaven, so they can safely pass through the Nine Tribulations and Three Calamities. After passing through them, they naturally attain immortality and leave the East Wind. Thus, the East Wind weakens, allowing the West Wind to seize the opportunity."

"This has always been the case throughout history, and it has been repeated time and time again."

"It's a vicious cycle, perhaps it's fate. The evil path is immoral, so it's hard to last; the righteous path is righteous, so it's hard to remain in this world. Thus, the east wind and the west wind come and go, neither can prevail forever."

"These two winds keep blowing, keeping the world in turmoil, preventing the flowers and grasses and the common people from living in peace."

"My idea is very simple: from now on, the West Wind cannot suppress the East Wind, and the East Wind must suppress the West Wind. In order to realize this long-cherished wish of mine, I cannot separate myself from the East Wind. I will always suppress the West Wind so that they can no longer gain momentum."

"Celestial beings are wonderful in every way, but they cannot remain in this world for long, so they are not meant for this humble Taoist."

"As for the path to becoming a Golden Immortal, well, both Heavenly Immortals and Earthly Immortals can seek it. In my humble opinion, it is related to humans, to gold, and to heaven and earth, but it has little to do with whether one is in heaven or on earth."

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(End of this chapter)