This is what an immortal should be like

Chapter 43 Even God is not immune
Wangxian Temple is actually not in Zhonghai City. Strictly speaking, it is in Gusu City, north of Zhonghai City, but the distance is not too far, about seventy or eighty kilometers.

Nowadays, Zhonghai City is considered to be a place with a high number of cars in China, but there is no excessive congestion on the spacious roads.

Leng Zhiheng was an excellent driver. He drove quickly towards Gusu without going slow. Zhuang Lin, who was sitting in the back seat, didn't even feel the bumpy ride.

The journey was nearly 80 kilometers, most of which was on city roads, but we arrived in just over an hour, which was quite fast.

By the time the car arrived at the foot of Wangxian Mountain, it was just around noon.

The development of tourism resources in this era did not seem to be very prosperous, but Wangxian Mountain was well-known locally and even in the surrounding areas. Naturally, people came to worship there all year round. Moreover, due to the funding from Liu Shihao, Wangxian Temple became even more famous in recent years.

So during the day on weekdays, there are also some pilgrims nearby preparing to climb the mountain.

Leng Zhiheng had no intention of stopping the car and drove straight up the mountain along the winding road on one side.

"This path up the mountain was donated by the boss. Originally, Wangxian Temple was quite popular, but it was just a shabby little temple on the mountain. Now it's different. It's been renovated into something really grand!"

"Really? Then Wangxian Temple was originally just a small local temple?"

"That's not the case. Wangxian Mountain is also famous for its beautiful scenery. Wangxian Temple is also quite famous. We've learned a little about it because of the owner's connections. The temple has a history of hundreds of years. After the renovation, the original ancient architecture has been preserved. There are records of it in the Gusu Museum Records from the old dynasty. It must have been there for quite a while, right?"

Zhuang Lin and Leng Zhiheng chatted casually, while their eyes kept looking out through the car window, sensing the environment both near and far.

Obviously, the so-called famous sacred mountains and beautiful waters do not have any spiritual energy. Maybe there is a thin wisp of it like floating catkins in the sky occasionally, but it will soon disappear like floating catkins.

"arrive!"

When Leng Zhiheng's words came, the car had already stopped in the parking lot on the side of the mountain. The parking lot was not small, but there were basically few cars parked here. After all, this was not Zhonghai City, and there were not so many private cars.

Zhuang Lin and Leng Zhiheng got out of the car. The latter took out a cigarette box and asked with a smile when he saw the former looking at him.

"You don't mind, do you? Want one?"

Zhuang Lin shook his head and walked towards Wangxian Temple, which was a little distance away. There was no wall here. There was a square above the parking lot, and at the inner end was a hall.

Leng Zhiheng was smoking beside the car while watching Zhuang Lin leave. He also saw the curious glances of the few pilgrims around him.

"Beep, beep"

Leng Zhiheng held a cigarette in his mouth and lifted one side of the hem of his suit. He saw a few electronic words displayed on the pager: What are you doing? Call back and explain the situation when you are free.

Leng Zhiheng took a puff of his cigarette butt while opening the car door, pulling out a heavy mobile phone, and started dialing.

"Hey! Um, we've finished shopping. No, we're not at Zhonghai, we're at Wangxian Temple. He said he'll leave after seeing this place. Wait a minute, I have to follow him."

Leng Zhiheng was on the phone when he found that Zhuang Lin had already walked away. He quickly finished speaking, put down the phone, and then quickly followed him.

At this moment, Zhuang Lin was standing in front of the largest building in Wangxian Temple. The plaque read "Wangxian Hall" in three large characters. It was obviously a newly built building, not a restored ancient building.

The pilgrims nearby were whispering to each other, and some even thought that this was also a Taoist priest whose attire was slightly different from the ordinary.

There were a few Taoists in the main hall explaining things to some pilgrims. Judging from their clothes, they should be the owners of the few cars besides Zhuang Lin and his group.

Leng Zhiheng walked over quickly, but saw Zhuang Lin standing at the door.

"Master Zhuang, why don't you go in?"

Zhuang Lin did not reply. The shadow of Tai Chi Yin and Yang was hidden in the depths of his eyes. His gaze was fixed on the statue in the hall.

It seems that the Three Pure Ones are not enshrined here, but a god that Zhuang Lin does not recognize is enshrined here. However, he looks extremely majestic as he stands there holding a token.

But in Zhuang Lin's eyes, he saw through the true nature of the statue at a glance.

It was indeed an era of depleted spiritual energy, but there seemed to be something in the statue, which made Zhuang Lin feel very strange.

Between the eyebrows of the statue's head, there is a ball of light that is subtly changing, which seems a bit like a third eye. Although most of the exterior is light gold, other colors will appear from time to time.

Over there, pilgrims were offering incense and then bowing repeatedly before the statue. Zhuang Lin squinted his eyes and could faintly see the aura wafting above their heads, gray and dim.
This breath quickly floated up with the incense, faintly connected with the light above. At this time, the halo would twist more violently.

Leng Zhiheng, who was standing by, saw that Zhuang Lin seemed to be staring at the statues and pilgrims inside, but he didn't go in or say anything. He felt it was strange but didn't disturb him. "Go ahead and stare if you want."

“It’s sad and tragic.”

Zhuang Lin finally spoke, but this sigh made Leng Zhiheng even more confused.

"Master Zhuang, what are you talking about?"

Zhuang Lin shook his head and stopped talking. The so-called gods nowadays had no spiritual energy and seemed to be able to maintain some sense of existence purely by relying on some incense and wishes, but they had been completely kidnapped by the incense.

But people often worship their own desires, so after a long time, even God will be distorted by desires.

Perhaps there is no rationality anymore, it is just an instinct to maintain one's own existence. How can we not lament, how can we not be sad?
Zhuang Lin stood at the door for a while. Although the temple door was large enough, it still attracted the attention of the Taoists and pilgrims inside.

Leng Zhiheng appeared beside Zhuang Lin. A Taoist priest inside immediately reacted and hurried to the temple gate with a look of joy. "So it's Master Leng. Is Mr. Liu here too?"

The Taoist said this and walked outside to look around, but of course he didn't see Liu Shihao.

Leng Zhiheng shook his head and sighed.

"Boss Liu has passed away. I'm here today with Mr. Zhuang. Uh, Master Zhuang. He seems to be in need. Please help if you can."

The Taoist was somewhat surprised to hear the news of Liu Shihao's death.

"Ah, Mr. Liu is such a kind man. Oh, could this be... which fellow Taoist?"

The Taoist looked at Zhuang Lin carefully. His attire was really not like that of an ordinary person. His appearance was full of ancient charm, yet natural and calm, which made people wonder if he was a Taoist with special attire.

"Me, fellow Daoist?"

Zhuang Lin smiled when he heard this.

"Hahahahahahaha. That's quite fitting, that's quite fitting!"

Zhuang Lin didn't need to put on airs in front of others, nor did he need to be overly cautious. After laughing, he looked at the Taoist priest who was a little surprised, and stated his purpose directly.

"Master, I'm here for only one thing: the formation diagram album left by Master Jingyu. Please allow me to take a look. Or, you can offer me a price for it!"

Zhuang Lin's way of speaking was not like that of an ordinary person, but when the Taoist heard his purpose, he suddenly looked embarrassed and glanced at Leng Zhiheng before speaking.

"Well, it's not convenient for you to talk standing at the door, and it's noisy outside. Why don't you please follow me inside first?"

Zhuang Lin said nothing more and followed the Taoist into the hall.

At this moment, a ray of light suddenly shone from the statue in the hall. Zhuang Lin immediately raised his head and took a glance, a gleam of light flashing in his eyes.

brush~
The light came back the same way it came and hit the statue.

"Rumble"

The statue inside the hall vibrated, causing the main hall to tremble slightly and shaking down a lot of dust.

"Ah? What's wrong?" "What happened?"

"Earthquake?" "Get out first, get out first!"

Everyone in the hall suddenly screamed and rushed out, taking Zhuang Lin and others with them.

But when I got outside, it seemed as if nothing had happened. Except for the layer of ash covering the hall, everything that had just happened seemed like an illusion.

Several other Taoists were trying to comfort the pilgrims, while the people nearby were talking about it curiously, most of them having no idea what was going on.

But someone was looking at Zhuang Lin, and it was the Taoist who had received him. In his eyes, the man suddenly glanced at the statue, and a halo flashed in his eyes, and then the statue shook the hall.

This is definitely not an illusion!
"Hey, fellow Taoist, no, Taoist priest, what is your immortal name, and where do you practice?"

The Taoist became more cautious in his words. The man in front of him was a real talent. The master had said that since the end of the Dharma, true masters have almost disappeared, and it would be difficult to see one in one's lifetime.

To put it in a more mysterious way, the people you meet might even be gods descending to earth, because it is difficult for a mere mortal to cultivate abilities visible to the naked eye in such an era.
Leng Zhiheng swallowed his saliva and also looked at Zhuang Lin. In fact, he had seen it just now, but he just comforted himself that he might have seen it wrongly or something like the reflection of the candle.

But judging from the attitude of the Taoist priest next to him, maybe he saw it too?

Zhuang Lin now carefully savored the feeling just now. It seemed that the light had no malicious intent. It was just because it seemed to carry a strong desire that caused him to misunderstand and overreact.

What is that desire?

Zhuang Lin looked at the pilgrims around him who were still frightened and talking about it, and he roughly understood what was going on.

Because there is no trace of lust in him, and he even has a hint of righteousness. In this era, such a person is a true treasure to the gods there, or it can be said that the faith of such a person is.

So you instinctively tried to make me feel special?
At the same time, Zhuang Lin also understood one thing: this god is so weak.

Just the backlash of the divine light just now has caused the halo on the statue to become unstable. This is the so-called prosperous Wangxian Temple.

But you’re right, it would be strange if it were strong, or from another perspective, it’s amazing that it can still exist!

Since leaving the Hidden Immortal Valley until now, Zhuang Lin finally has a relatively complete understanding of the cruel reality of the depletion of spiritual energy in modern times.

The thought flashed through his mind for just a moment. Zhuang Lin looked at the Taoist priest in front of him. Seeing his nervous and excited expression, he thought for a moment and bowed slightly.

"My name is Zhuang Lin, I'm just a passerby. Let's talk about the formation atlas!"

"Uh, okay, okay, Taoist priest, please follow me, please!"

The Taoist's attitude and enthusiasm were several levels higher than when he first saw Leng Zhiheng.
(End of this chapter)