Chapter 285: Chapter 285: Entering with an Initial Show of Power
Sanjiang Dao.
Located slightly north of eastern Great Jing, three major rivers run through its vast terrain, presenting a multitude of spectacular sights.
Jizhou.
Situated to the south of Sanjiang Dao, north of the East Celestial River and south of the Yi River, its landscape boasts beautiful mountains and rivers, and it is blessed with outstanding people.
White Cloud Mountain.
Located among the continuous mountains outside the Jizhou Prefecture, it stands as the chief of surrounding peaks, overlooking Jizhou Prefecture to the west and offering a distant view of the East Celestial River to the north.
White Cloud Temple.
A major Daoist sect, it is settled halfway up White Cloud Mountain. Though the mountain gate is not large and the halls are not vast, it exudes a serene and elegant charm, airy and leisurely.
...
With about ten days to go until the New Year, White Cloud Mountain is already clad in silver, with heavy snowflakes falling from the sky, turning the world pure white.
On a small mountain path branching off from the main road, farmers and wealthy merchants alike continue to brave the snow to ascend the mountain and offer their blessings.
On this particular day, a middle-aged Daoist, accompanied by a young Daoist and a fair-faced scholar, arrived at the foot of White Cloud Mountain.
"We’re here!" Daoist Mingzhang looked up at White Cloud Mountain, smiling, feeling a sense of coming home.
Yuan Jing explained to Lu Zheng behind him, "The Daoist Temple at the front of White Cloud Temple primarily hosts pilgrims from all directions, dealing with worldly affairs. In the back mountain, there are some thatched huts and caves which serve as secluded cultivation places for elders of the temple."
Lu Zheng nodded, indicating his understanding.
Most cultivators do not practice Avoiding Grain, so expenses for food, clothing, and the maintenance of the temple require spending money. Moreover, alchemy, medicine, and guardian Dao artifacts don’t just fall from the sky.
Although these are not the foundations of immortality cultivation, the path to longevity is difficult, and most people find it hard to achieve eternal life. Therefore, having a smoother, more comfortable cultivation journey is generally not refused; at least, that’s how it is for White Cloud Temple.
The three of them utilized their Divine Movement Technique, quickly surpassing the people on the road, who, upon seeing Daoist Mingzhang, graciously stepped aside to let him and his companions pass first.
"Greetings, Daoist!"
"Salutations, Daoist!"
"And there’s a handsome scholar!"
"This scholar is swift; could he also be one of the Abnormal People?"
"Maybe he’s here to be accepted into White Cloud Temple by the True Man?"
"He’s quite fortunate if that’s the case!"
The trio continued along, greeting the people on the road as they walked.
Lu Zheng quietly asked Yuan Jing, "Does everyone know Master?"
Yuan Jing shook his head, "No, but as pilgrims of the temple, it makes sense to greet each other."
Lu Zheng blinked and nodded, "Yes, indeed, that makes sense."
"Uncle Mingzhang!"
"Brother Yuan Jing!"
"Yuan Ping! Yuan Ruo!" Daoist Mingzhang looked at the two young Daoists at the mountain gate.
The two looked towards Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng bowed, "Outer Disciple Yuan Zheng, greetings to the two senior brothers."
"Greetings, junior brother!"
The two young Daoists were curious, wondering why an Outer Disciple was being brought back to White Cloud Temple for the New Year.
Daoist Mingzhang led Yuan Jing and Lu Zheng past the mountain gate and continued upwards, soon arriving in the middle of the mountain at White Cloud Temple.
With green tiles and white walls, amid trees and mountains, thick white snow covered the green pines and cypresses. Although the chilling wind was fierce, it couldn’t suppress the transcendental atmosphere of the temple.
Along the way, some Daoists were sweeping the snow, some attending to guests, some chanting scriptures, and others were engaged in work.
Daoist Mingzhang led Yuan Jing and Lu Zheng to the rear courtyard, quickly distancing themselves from the disturbances of the front yard, reaching a secluded hall.
"Brother Mingjing!"
"Greetings, Uncle!"
"Junior Ming Zhang!" An elderly Daoist with greying hair rose from the meditation cushion, looking at Daoist Mingzhang and Yuan Jing, then towards Lu Zheng, "Is this the Lu Zheng you mentioned in your letter?"
"Exactly." Daoist Mingzhang nodded, his tone calm, "This child has a decent disposition and good talent. Having cultivated for over a year now, he barely achieved a hundred years of Dao Practice and managed to learn the Body-Freezing Curse.
I thought, since he has an aspiring heart for Dao though being an outer disciple, I would bring him back to participate in the temple’s New Year Dharma Assembly and also record him into the Dao register."
Daoist Mingjing: ???
"What did you say? One year of cultivation, a hundred years of Dao Practice, and a Body-Freezing Curse?"
Daoist Mingzhang waved dismissively, "It’s nothing to worry about; it’s not important. Yuan Zheng, this is your Uncle Mingjing, who handles clerical matters in the temple."
"Greetings, Uncle!" Lu Zheng bowed.
"Good, good!" Daoist Mingjing looked at Lu Zheng in surprise, "You learned the Body-Freezing Curse? How did you learn it? Ming Zhang doesn’t know it, does he?"
"Ahem!" Daoist Mingzhang cleared his throat twice.
Lu Zheng earnestly said, "All thanks to Master’s guidance."
Daoist Mingjing raised an eyebrow, looking at Daoist Mingzhang, "You said he has a good disposition?"
"Ahem!"
Daoist Mingzhang cleared his throat again, "Though I haven’t mastered the Body-Freezing Curse, my understanding of it is not inferior."
Daoist Mingjing pursed his lips, just about to speak when a voice sounded in the hall, "Oh, he knows the Body-Freezing Curse? Let me see it."
"Freeze!"
With that word, Lu Zheng felt his whole body stiffen, unable to move even his pupils, though his thoughts remained active.
What the heck! Now he understood what it felt like to be struck by the Body-Freezing Curse!
Furiously mobilizing his true energy within, he tried to break through according to his understanding of the Body-Freezing Curse, yet its confinement was like a steel cage, absolutely immovable... huh, a slight twitch?
"Oh? You truly know the Body-Freezing Curse."
As the voice landed, a Daoist with a youthful face and bright eyes appeared in the hall.
"Greetings, Master Qing Song!" Daoist Mingzhang and Daoist Mingjing bowed in unison.
"Greetings, Master Qing Song!" Yuan Jing quickly followed with a bow.
Good gracious! Master’s Uncle!
"No need for formalities, no need for formalities." Qing Song gestured with a wave, then uttered "Release," and Lu Zheng felt a lightness wash over him, freed from the spell.
"Greetings, Master Qing Song!" Lu Zheng respectfully bowed.
"You seem to possess much more than a hundred years of Dao Practice, nearing two hundred perhaps; have you really only been cultivating for a year?" Qing Song asked.
"A year and a half!" Lu Zheng replied honestly.
"Not bad, a good seedling for cultivation, just a bit slower than I was back then," Qing Song nodded approvingly.
Lu Zheng, "..."
"Seeing you for the first time and directly casting a spell on you, here’s a pinecone for you, consider it a meeting gift." With a flip of Qing Song’s palm, a walnut-sized pinecone appeared, translucent and verdant.
"Thank you, Master Qing Song!" Lu Zheng’s slightly anxious heart quickly calmed down.
"Alright, I’m off," Qing Song handed the pinecone to Lu Zheng, then waved, and immediately a white cloud materialized under his feet, gently lifting him as he floated out of the hall and towards the back mountain.
Cloud Riding and Mist Driving!
Watching Qing Song fly off, the others finally straightened themselves.
Daoist Mingjing looked at Lu Zheng with eyes full of envy, then nodded with a smile, "Alright then, let’s get your Dao record entered."