readsfreenovel Chapter 177 Encounter with 3 Wudang People, Zuo Ruotong Arrives at the Door
Chapter 177 Encounter with 3 Wudang People, Zuo Ruotong Arrives at the Door
The old Celestial Master Zhang Jingqing sat cross-legged on the futon, his tiger-like eyes glaring, a hint of embarrassment in them. "Fellow Daoist Zuo, how am I supposed to respond to this?"
He had just calculated that a guest was coming, but Zuo Ruotong was not the guest he wanted to see, because the other party's status was slightly different from that of the leaders of these Xuanmen sects.
The Sanyi Sect is revered as the leader of the Xuanmen (Taoist sects) because of the existence of Zuo Ruotong, the "Great Ying Immortal".
Because of the ethereal appearance of the Reverse Rebirth Triple Technique, people even believed that Zuo Ruotong was the number one person in the Xuanmen sect.
Although Zhang Jingqing's cultivation level was no less than Zuo Ruotong's, his appearance was somewhat rough. In the end, people are judged by their looks.
Zhang Jingqing and the other Xuanmen sect leaders didn't care about these empty titles, because being the number one in the Xuanmen sect wasn't easy.
Zuo Ruotong earned the top spot through her own strength and character, and also shouldered the responsibility of being number one, which naturally earned their admiration.
Moreover, the so-called leader of the Xuanmen sect of the Sanyi Sect is nothing but a mirage in the eyes of these sect leaders who are bound by heavenly restrictions.
It was all just an illusion!
But things are different now. The arrival of Lü Qian, this man of great dreams, is like a ripple on a calm lake, making this illusory dream turbulent.
Longhu Mountain, Maoshan Mountain, Putuo Temple, Wutai Mountain, Qingcheng Mountain, Emei Mountain, the Three Demon Sects...
These orthodox Taoist sect leaders, relying on their connections, obtained some information and then took to the field with their heirloom magical artifacts.
The so-called leader of the Xuanmen sect, Sanyimen, could only guess at what secrets might be hidden by relying on the information transmitted by Xiaozhan.
The true and false sects are easily distinguishable to a discerning eye.
The leaders of the various sects could not say a word about this, because they were bound by the Heaven-Reaching Restriction left by their patriarch.
However, it would be quite dishonest to remain silent and watch as Zuo Ruotong, this "true immortal," becomes trapped in the "fake Xuanmen" and cannot extricate himself.
It's something I can't say, but it's awkward not to say it.
After much deliberation, the best course of action now is to remain in seclusion and not seek further information.
"Jinzhong, I perused some ancient texts last night and gained some insights. I will be in seclusion for seven days and will not see any visitors."
Zhang Jingqing summoned her disciple and instructed Tian Jinzhong, "Remember, do not see anyone!"
He emphasized this solemnly, but hesitated for a moment after speaking, and then changed his tone, saying, "If the Left Sect Leader of the Sanyi Sect comes, just tell him that there is no need to be so stubborn about right and wrong."
"The path is walked by people, and until the end is reached, who can say whether it is smooth or not?"
"Alright, go ahead."
After saying that, he turned around and sat facing the wall, looking like he was really going into seclusion.
"yes!"
The disciples were puzzled by the Celestial Master's ambiguous and mysterious words, but upon hearing Zuo Ruotong's name, they all felt that there was some profound truth in them, so they stopped worrying about it and left Zhang Jingqing's room.
"Squeak—"
As the sound of the wooden door turning faded, Zhang Jingqing slowly opened her eyes again in the dimly lit room, spitting out a resentful spit.
"These little brats, is appearance really that important? Am I not handsome or dignified enough?"
"These people, indulging in vanity and obsessed with appearances, humph!"
"That's enough, Master Zuo, this is all I can say. I hope your Dao heart can withstand it and that you won't ultimately shatter during your life of cultivation."
The old master Zhang Jingqing shook his head, turned around and pulled out several books without covers from under the bed, and quietly began to read them by the light coming through the window.
"This isn't big enough, this one's too over-the-top, oh, this one's not bad..."
In the quiet room, the rustling sound of pages turning echoed, along with the old master's low chuckles.
……
Two days later, on a small road from Wudang to the Qinling Mountains
The three members of Wudang walked along the road, covered in mud and grime. Zhou Sheng was covered in mud and grime, Hong Yin had disheveled hair, and only Zhou Meng, who was carrying a blue cloth bundle, was still clean and tidy.
"Zhou the Monkey, you're so unreliable, I'm starting to suspect you'll screw me over."
Hong Yin, pulling at her tattered Taoist robe, angrily cursed at Zhou Sheng beside her, "You led me into a ditch and made me get bitten by a pack of dogs... Hmm, why aren't you moving anymore?"
With his head down, he bumped into Zhou Sheng, who was standing still in front of him. Hong Yin looked up and saw Zhou Sheng staring blankly at the other end of the road, muttering to himself.
"Wow, riding a white tiger, this guy is amazing!"
"Wow...wow, it really is a golden-eyed white tiger."
Hong Yin turned her head in the direction of his gaze and saw a young Taoist priest walking towards them, carrying a wooden sword on his back, a whisk draped over his arm, and riding a white tiger. The priest looked to be about the same age as them.
"May I ask, brother, is your name Lü Qian?"
Zhou Meng, who was walking behind, carefully observed for a moment. When Lü Qian came closer, he asked, "The three of us are Wudang disciples, coming down the mountain to deliver ordination certificates."
"The novice is none other than Lü Qian."
Riding on the white tiger, Lü Qian looked at the three people and, comparing his impressions with those from later years, recognized their identities.
He smiled and nodded, then drove the white tiger toward the three of them. "Greetings, fellow Daoists."
Unexpectedly, this dream of wealth and power has unexpectedly increased my seniority.
Before he could even feel happy for a moment, Zhou Sheng walked up, his tattered sleeves swaying. "Not fellow Daoist, but Master."
"The three of us are a generation older than you; this was arranged by your grandmaster."
……
Fujian is not far from Longhu Mountain, and with Zuo Ruotong and his companion Si Chong being highly skilled, they drove the Nisheng and headed straight for the Celestial Master's Mansion.
Two days later at noon, two people dressed in white robes and exuding an ethereal aura arrived at the gate of the Celestial Master's Mansion.
Zuo Ruotong looked at the plaque of the Celestial Master's Mansion, his heart trembling slightly. He shook his head and suppressed some of his guesses.
He was known as the "Great Immortal of Great Abundance," praising not only his immortal appearance and profound cultivation, but also his sage-like character.
Zuo Ruotong, who was known as an "immortal" and had the heart of a saint, remained clear-headed and was not misled by the empty reputation of the Xuanmen sect. Through his deep thinking along the way, he naturally discovered some clues.
Sect Leader of the Xuanmen Sect, am I, Sanyi, truly a member of the Xuanmen Sect?
Xuanmen is a term used to refer to Taoist sects that possess a path to heaven.
The Taoist and Buddhist sects that are now in power are truly relics left behind by immortals, the remains of those who ascended to heaven.
With these questions in mind, Zuo Ruotong still walked towards the gate of the Celestial Master's Mansion, regardless of the outcome, he still had to face it.
"Wait a moment, visitor. Are you perhaps the Left Gatekeeper of the Trinity Gate?"
Tian Jinzhong, who was waiting by the gate of the Celestial Master's Mansion, saw the two people looking ethereal and otherworldly, and then saw that the leader, Zuo Ruotong, was radiant and surrounded by white aura. He immediately stepped forward to stop them.
"Young friend, I am Zuo Ruotong of the Sanyi Sect. I have come here to find the Celestial Master. May I ask if you could guide me?"
Looking at the still somewhat immature Tian Jinzhong in front of her, Zuo Ruotong did not adopt the demeanor of a sect leader. Instead, she calmly asked Tian Jinzhong a question.
"My master previously announced a seven-day retreat, and this is only the third day. Moreover, my master also said that he would not see anyone during these seven days."
Looking at Zuo Ruotong, who seemed to have stepped out of a painting, Tian Jinzhong said with slight excitement, as if he had met his idol, "Moreover, my master left you a message before he went into seclusion."
"Oh, I wonder if you could pass on this message, young friend?"
Zuo Ruotong smiled and nodded, but for some reason, his unease grew stronger.
Tian Jinxue, mimicking Zhang Jingqing's tone, said with a serious face, "My master said, why be so stubborn about right and wrong, truth and falsehood? The path is walked by people, and until the end, who can say whether it makes sense or not?"
"Ha, truth and falsehood, reality and illusion, in the end, isn't it all just a mirage, a fleeting illusion?"
After hearing this, Zuo Ruotong did not lose his composure, remaining as calm and collected as ever, though the white aura emanating from his body surged and churned for a moment.
He stood in front of the Celestial Master's Mansion and spoke loudly through the open gate, "Thank you for your advice, Celestial Master. I have now come to my senses, but it is not too late."
After saying that, he turned around and fully activated the Reverse Life Triple Realm. His aura became increasingly majestic, and the ethereal white energy became even more illusory.
"The gathering of three flowers at the top is an illusion, and the soaring clouds beneath one's feet are not real either."
"Si Chong, you return to Sanyi Gate on your own. I'm going to Qin to fight for a chance for Sanyi."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a white shooting star streaked across the front of the Celestial Master's Mansion. The shooting star exuded a hazy aura as it darted and weaved along the mountain path, speeding away into the distance.