The Path to Immortality Begins with the Life-Extending Lamp

Chapter 128 The Imperial Decree for the Prefect
The path of immortality originated beyond the mundane world, gradually flourishing with the pursuit of longevity and immortality, and reaching its peak during the era of the Six Heavens and Ghosts.

So-called cultivation is nothing more than the four realms of Qi cultivation, Purple Mansion Dao Foundation, Yin Spirit Transformation into Emptiness, and Yang Spirit Residing in the World.

The first two realms of the Immortal Path are nothing special, but from the third realm onwards, when the Yin Spirit emerges, it becomes different from the human path, ghosts, and gods, and is a path never before seen.

The people of the Northern Kingdom revere Heaven and their ancestors, and are of the same lineage as the gods of the mountains, rivers, and earth. They cultivate a "divine wheel" behind their heads in the divine palace.

Ghosts and gods cultivate their spirit and nature; humans cultivate their life and destiny!

The immortal path of the immortals, regardless of whether it is talismanic, elixir-making, qi cultivation, or alchemy, only cultivates the "primordial spirit".

The emergence of the Yin spirit marks the beginning of the manifestation of the primordial spirit.

The so-called primordial spirit is a spark of innate spiritual light, resembling the true self or the self that calls itself. The innate and acquired energies merge into one, and thus the spirit transcends the physical body...

The third realm of immortality - the Yin Spirit - transcends form and transcends spirit. The primordial spirit is like me and also like a world transformed by the Dao. With a single thought, the Yin Spirit can travel hundreds of miles in an instant. A single word can cause changes in celestial phenomena, and a single breath can overturn the sea and turn the sky upside down.

Just like the sky right now.

The Taibai sword light, stretching two hundred thousand miles from the west, with its hundred-foot-long edge cutting through the blue sky and white sun, crossed mountains and valleys from the land of Bashan and Chuqiu, splitting the seven thousand-foot-long sea of ​​clouds in two with a single sword, and went straight into the Jiangnan region of the southern country!
Above the sea of ​​clouds, Taibai's sharp edge was imposing. Just as it reached the edge of the western mountains of Guihua Prefecture, a ray of immortal light suddenly descended, freezing the sky for a hundred miles and blocking its path.

"what happened?"

The celestial light of ascension stabilized the flowing sea of ​​clouds and halted the movement of the sword light. Amidst the chaotic interplay of metal energy in the clouds, a man with black hair reaching his shoulders frowned and landed. He lightly touched the clouds with his toes, and the metal energy from all directions converged, instantly manifesting as a Geng metal sword beneath his feet.

He looked at the woman beside him with some confusion; she was a person whose Taoist name was "Yinghuo".

"..."

"How did the mark of Jidu end up in Jiangnan? Wasn't it just sent overseas not long ago?"

Yinghuo ignored him, a hint of doubt in her eyes. She simply flipped her right hand and examined a jade plate in her palm.

The eleven celestial luminaries are currently carrying out missions in various regions of the capital. In the Southern Kingdom, only the East Sea has two luminaries: one is the water luminary "Chenxing," and the other is the newly added moon luminary "Taiyin."

In the Jiangnan region, the coordinates of three luminaries are flashing. The fire luminary "Yinghuo" and the gold luminary "Taibai" need no further explanation. A hundred miles below them, the mark of the killing luminary "Ketu" is truly prominent...

"The future Jidu is right here, and it seems to have already entered the Purple Mansion Realm? Jidu Ziyao has already met the conditions for lighting up!"

With a flick of her finger, Yinghuo displayed the information she had gathered about the ghostly man Li Qing on the celestial jade plate.

"Yinghuo, aren't you being a bit too self-important? You haven't even reached the Foundation Establishment stage of the Purple Mansion yet, what use would you be if you joined the organization?"

"Just like that little imp who plays with string puppets, always messing up when there's an important task?"

This sword immortal was extremely aloof, and showed some disdain upon hearing Jidu's identity.

"Immortal Sects, Ghost Sects... the cultivation world in the Southern Kingdom is always different. Improving one's cultivation level is not difficult, but one's innate destiny cannot be sought. You'll understand once you see him." The woman held the compass in her hand, her face beaming with a smile. She immediately took the initiative to lead him to see the future Jidu!
The sword light, which was originally heading east, paused, as it was forcefully fixed by the ethereal light, and turned to fall into the mansion below...

What is below?

Jiangnan Road, Osmanthus Mansion.

Guihua Mansion is located in the north corner of the east side, which is the Danshufang.

Legend has it that south of Tiandu there lived an ancient scholar skilled in writing talismans and incantations, who could exorcise and command ghosts and spirits, and was also able to cure all diseases, whip hundreds of ghosts, and command the local deities…

The Yin family of this Danshu Workshop has a lineage that has been versed in the secrets of Danshu talismans since their ancestors. They used talismans to enter the Daoist path, which became popular in the prefectures and counties and circulated throughout the prefectures and roads, earning them a great reputation!

Li Qing then chose a fine horse from the manor and rode it from Huaxuanfang to Danshufang, enjoying the scenery along the way. He did not bring any servants with him this time, but just like when he was a child, he pulled the reins, rode the white horse, and retraced the route of his childhood.

Upon entering the Danshufang, one finds a continuous cluster of mansions, all with upturned eaves, green bricks, and red tiles. Unlike the many gardens and residences in Jiangnan, this place is dominated by pavilions, and one can often see octagonal pagodas with upturned eaves. The bases of these pavilions and pagodas are adorned with cinnabar and seal script.

The neighborhood draws fresh water from the Beijiang River to open a pool, and amidst the antique buildings, towering plants thrive in lush greenery.

This is a Buddhist academy and also a place for spiritual practice!
This applies to the aristocratic families, manors, and Taoist temples of Jiangnan Road.

Unlike other prefectures that occupy the blessings of Ling Mountain and open their gates wide, this place, influenced by the ancient aristocratic culture, has its disciples and retainers serving as a link between various places of cultivation and the hundreds of counties in the prefectures.

By combining the Taoist temple with the mansion's academy, and widely distributing disciples to serve in the government, one will naturally have resources to support oneself and all kinds of power to control!
It is both engaged in and detached from the world; if we were to truly categorize it as left or right, then it would be the difference between the otherworldly path of immortals and the mortal path of immortals…

Take the Yin family of Danshu, for example. They were originally a long-established great family of the Purple Mansion and a school of Danshu scholars. They only relied on this Danshu workshop as their base, and on the surface, they were not as grand as the Taoist families of various prefectures.

But when Li Qing crossed the three vermilion gates and rode into the Yin residence, she was still amazed by its beauty.

The courtyard was spacious, with steps made of green stone on all four sides. The left and right sides were wide enough to be about ten feet apart. Bronze tripods and pillars stood tall on both sides. The inscriptions on the tripods were in the Phoenix Seal script, and the red characters on the walls were painted. Disciples came and went, and scholars paid homage to each other. It was not like a manor house in Jiangnan, but more like an ancient academy, with a grand and imposing gate!

As soon as he entered, he entrusted his steed to the side of the imperial stables. Immediately, two young boys from the Yin residence greeted him, calling him "Young Master," and led Li Qing into the main hall.

"Is there any scholar studying under the old Prefect at the Yin residence?"

Li Qing flicked the whip and handed it to the groom beside him, then asked the two boys who were leading the way, somewhat puzzled.

There seemed to be many people coming and going in the mansion. Many horses from the south and north, as well as finely bred horses, were parked in the Imperial Horse Garden. Many of these horses had various clan emblems engraved on their bodies.

Upon hearing this, the two boys exchanged a glance and replied with a smile, "To be honest, my ancestor has received numerous talismans and is renowned for his ability to subdue demons and ghosts. He is a guest of honor in all the four prefectures and sixteen states of Jiangnan! Countless people come here to study and seek enlightenment."

"But this is not the place. The people gathered here to discuss learning and hold banquets are all disciples of the founders, alchemists and talisman masters... they are disciples who belong exclusively to our immortal path." As he introduced this to Li Qing, he led him into the main hall, and the two boys also looked proud.

At the foot of the Osmanthus Tree, the Danshu Pavilion stands, and the ten-mile-long pagoda exudes a vibrant aura.

The Dan Shu Yin family is a lineage of talismans and magic that stands alongside many unorthodox sects. Although it is unique in that it gathers schools of thought without establishing a sect, its influence is in no way inferior to that of a single immortal sect!
Li Qing followed the two into the main hall. Upon entering, she saw a handsome old man with a blue collar and purple robe sitting at the head of the table. A pot of green tea had already been brewed in the incense burner, and it was cooked to perfection. It seemed that he was indeed waiting for Li Qing.

After the two boys led the person in, they bowed and took their leave.

"Second son of the Li family, come, don't be shy, sit down."

This Prefect Yin was different from the other academy heads in Lin Yuan and the elders of the immortal sects in the outer sea. He seemed to be just an elder of the prefecture. Before Li Qing could even bow, he patted the chair next to him and invited him to sit down.

He then personally poured a pot of tea for Li Qing, and the old official gestured again that he should not be polite.

"Two years ago, it was said in Tiannan Temple that you had disappeared. My uncle and that White Bone Daoist even fought over it. It was truly a great pity for me. I thought you had been harmed by that Lingnan Ghost Daoist."

"It's good that nothing's wrong, it's good that nothing's wrong!"

The old Taoist priest shook his head and sighed deeply. Back then, he had even been angry with Ancestor Yin because of this.

I, out of a sense of friendship, introduced a fine young man to your Tiannan Temple, and you've just made him disappear without a trace, neither alive nor dead?

As a result, Chen Jin, the abbot of Nanguan Temple, suffered quite a bit of resentment from this old clerk.

Fortunately, Li Qing suddenly returned, and in fact, he returned as a cultivator at the Purple Mansion Foundation stage, which brought him a great surprise!
The Prefectural Governor first impeached the "ghost mother" and sent Li Qing to Tiannan Temple with a red letter of invitation. He also chose a woman to marry Li Yong. Perhaps there was an element of "selecting a son-in-law after the imperial examination" involved.

But in front of Li Qing, he was undoubtedly an elder.

"I heard you've been wandering the seas off Yingzhou these past few days? Was your journey pleasant?" The old Taoist priest took a sip of hot tea and then asked Li Qing.

The experiences Li Qing recounted to his family were likely also told to Prefect Yin by his sister-in-law, but he didn't care about such trivial details.

"I did broaden my horizons a bit along the way, but there weren't too many ups and downs." Li Qing shook her head, recalling her trip to the outer seas. There were no thrilling moments, just some sightseeing in foreign lands, nothing worth mentioning.

"It is a good thing to be able to travel the world when you are young and naive and your heart is not yet settled, and to see more different scenery."

"Remember the differences between the ends of the earth, and carefully consider and compare things when you encounter them, so that you will not fall into a cage!"

The old man rolled up his elegant sleeves, and his words were quite profound.

Li Qing could roughly understand what he meant, so he nodded in agreement. Being confined to one place for too long is like looking at the moon from the bottom of a well, trapped in a cage. Even if the Daoist Lord gives advice or the sage speaks, it is not as reliable as traveling around and discerning things with one's own eyes.

If he returns to Lin Yuan Mountain, he probably won't have many more opportunities like this!
The two sat facing each other in the hall, chatting away, mostly about trivial matters. Although Li Qing had only met Prefect Yin twice, he was still quite close to his savior.

"When will you return to the mountain? Hmm... how is the erosion by that ghostly aura from the Netherworld Book progressing?"

During their casual conversation, the old driver began to inquire about Li Qing's background.

This should have been a sensitive point, but now Li Qing has nothing left to hide. The Ghost Mother and he are essentially bound by honor and disgrace, enough to deal with any covetousness or consideration.

"The ghost contract and the underworld book are no longer a problem. You shall stay in the manor for a while before returning to the mountain gate."

"I have come here to express my gratitude to the old man for saving my life in the past!"

Li Qing pushed back the chair behind him, stood up, and bowed to the old prefect. This was his sole purpose for coming here.

The latter, also seated in the main seat, accepted the greeting with composure.

He truly deserved that bow.

"it is good!"

"In the end, you still worship the One Yuan Qi Dao - Tiannan Temple. Since that's the case, then go back and cultivate diligently!"

"Now, there have been some changes in Lin Yuan Mountain. The abbot Chen Jin is one lineage, following the Huang-Lao philosophy of non-action, and is a direct descendant of your ancestor's third generation; the head of Bai Long Academy is another lineage, and this lineage strongly advocates keeping you here. The remaining Purple Mansions have supported the newly promoted Ding Shan Daoist as their leader..."

Most notably, the Imperial Guard Academy, one of the inner courtyards, moved out of Lin Yuan Mountain and into the "Yinfen Blessed Land" of the Western Wilderness.

This means that the spirit of Tiannan Temple began to branch out from the direct lineage of Master Yin, and it also began to change towards a true sectarian tradition!

"You're overthinking it, sir. What's the harm in it?"

Li Qing chuckled lightly, then flicked his sleeve. During his trip to the outer seas, he had witnessed firsthand the manifestation of the results of sect rivalries, such as the Taiyi Dao Step-Lingxu and the Ninth Elder of the Seven Star Pavilion...

That's nothing!
"It can't be any worse than when I first entered the Daoist path, can it?"

When the old Prefect heard Li Qing's words, he thought that Li Qing was a young man who had achieved success at a young age and was arrogant and unruly.

However, when you hear the sentence again: Anyway, it won't be worse than before, right?
Immediately, the old driver got goosebumps.

Yes! He is Gui Lang, he is Li Qing. They have come a long way from a difficult journey to where they are today. No one could have had a worse start than him!

Li Qing! He really is different from before...

(End of this chapter)