Free Web NovelChapter 533: Chapter 2: A Gathering of Heroes in the Daoist Temple
The Deserted Mountain Daoist Temple.
Zhang Jiao, Zhang Liang, and Zhang Bao sat to the side of the Daoist Temple. After each saluted the Old Temple Master, they began to talk calmly amongst themselves.
"This world... is about to fall into chaos."
Zhang Jiao sighed softly, "These past few years, we’ve traveled through ninety-seven cities, and all we’ve seen are starving people..."
Beside him, Zhang Bao said in a low voice, "Big Brother, an age of chaos is imminent but not yet upon us. I’ve heard that a Great Daoist on Dragon Tiger Mountain has established the Celestial Master Dao. What if we go learn their Dharma?"
He paused, then let out a slow breath. "Big Brother, you were born with inherent knowledge. In just a few short decades, you’ve already approached a state of near-immortality. I hear that Zhang Daoling of the Celestial Master Dao has an impressive background. Perhaps..."
The Old Temple Master raised his eyelids slightly. ’Senior Brother Zhang, is it...’
’I wonder where Ao Xianzhi is. I should probably take a trip to the North Sea to check.’
With a subtle shift in his thoughts, the Old Temple Master altered the disposition of the heavens, communed with Heaven, and swept his senses across the Great Heaven and Earth to search for Ao Xianzhi’s location. Using the hand of Heaven itself, he sent her a sign.
While he was silently channeling his Great Divine Techniques, Zhang Jiao shook his head and spoke calmly, "Never mind. I have awakened my Innate Wisdom. Since the Spring and Autumn Period, I have lived through several thousand lifetimes. I have a premonition that in this life, I may be able to attain true fruition. I don’t need to rely on others."
His voice was very low, not intending for the old master of this deserted temple to hear. ’The Old Temple Master is just an ordinary person, after all. There’s no need to involve him.’
At this, Zhang Bao’s and Zhang Liang’s eyes lit up. The latter excitedly rubbed his hands together. "Big Brother, if you attain true fruition and become one of the legendary Immortals, Second Brother and I will rise with you! Do you know where the opportunity lies?"
"It lies with a person."
Zhang Jiao said placidly, "That person’s name is Lu Xuan."
"Hm??"
Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang were stunned for a moment, then spoke in unison, "Lu Zi??"
Their voices were suddenly loud. The Old Temple Master, not far away, seemed to hear them and glanced over, but he paid it no mind and lowered his head again, continuing to silently recite the Daoist Scriptures.
Zhang Jiao shook his head, unable to suppress a smile. "How could that be possible? It’s surely just a coincidence, someone with the same name... That said, the original Lu Zi was no ordinary person. His origins were certainly immense."
"Big Brother, what do you mean?" The two brothers were a little confused, not quite following.
Zhang Jiao explained patiently, "The truth is, I’m different from you two. I was first born thousands of lifetimes ago, during the Spring and Autumn Years. An old senior created my soul and spirit from a wisp of tea-scented air."
The two brothers’ eyes went wide. ’Creating a soul and spirit from a wisp of tea-scented air??’
’Even the legendary Celestial Venerables and Buddhas, who live as long as the heavens, couldn’t do that, could they??’
Zhang Jiao continued, "I don’t know who that old senior was, but my birth was the result of him demonstrating the Dharma for a disciple of his named Lu Xuan. I still remember that old senior telling me that my foundation was shallow and too illusory, that I must experience Reincarnation to seek truth. And if by fate I were to meet that disciple of his, I should offer him some assistance."
Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang looked at each other, and the former couldn’t help but ask, "Big Brother, during the Spring and Autumn Years... could it really be..."
"Impossible."
Zhang Jiao shook his head and said firmly, "In the year of my birth, the Zhou Dynasty was already in its final days, nearing collapse. It was at most a hundred years after Lu Zi’s invasion of Qi. And at that time, that little kid named Lu Xuan hadn’t even set foot on the path of cultivation!"
Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang were relieved and dismissed the absurd idea. They knew the story of Lu Zi Invading Qi. A single man had defeated a city and casually slain Duke Huan of Qi, who was known as a hegemon of that era. That was by no means something a person who had cultivated for only a hundred years could accomplish.
Not far away, the Old Temple Master smiled faintly, as if reminiscing. ’Speaking of which, how long had I been cultivating when I invaded Qi?’
’A year?’
’Half a year?’
’I think it was less than half a year.’
Zhang Liang then asked, "It’s been seventy thousand years since the Spring and Autumn Period, hasn’t it? After seventy thousand years, if that child from back then were still alive, he’d probably be a powerful Old Immortal by now. Big Brother, if your opportunity truly lies with him, how are we supposed to find him?"
"I have my ways."
Zhang Jiao said with a smile, "Over these years, I have traveled through a hundred cities, saved countless people, and accumulated an immeasurable amount of Virtue. I intend to offer all this Virtue to Huang Lu and ask the two ancient sages to show me the way."
Huang Lu referred to two ancient sages of the Daoist School: one was the Yellow Emperor, one of the Three Emperors, and the other was Lu Zi from the Spring and Autumn Period. Daoism has long had concepts such as the "Learning of Huang Lu" and the "Arts of Huang Lu."
Zhang Bao was invigorated, his eyes shining, and he lowered his voice. "There’s no time to lose. Why don’t we..."
Before he could finish, the three shabby-looking Daoists all glanced to the side, frowning slightly.
Another visitor had arrived.
"Old Zhuge, let me tell you, my trip was incredibly dangerous!"
A milky, childlike voice rang out, "I really saw ghosts!"
"You went to the Underworld. Of course you saw ghosts."
"Aiya, not that kind of ghost! I saw my own mom! Luckily, I reacted fast, did a super-speed slide-and-grovel, and then when she wasn’t looking, I bolted! That’s how I didn’t get caught!"
The sound of conversation grew closer.
A middle-aged man walked in slowly, holding a little girl who looked about three years old, with a boy of about ten following beside them.
The little girl lay nestled in the middle-aged man’s arms, still chattering away. "I was so scared my soul nearly flew out of my body! My mom was just standing there, glaring, looking exactly like a tigress. She was even scarier than the evil ghosts in the Eighteen Hells!"
The Old Temple Master’s eyes narrowed dangerously. He silently copied that snippet of time.
’I’ll show this to Xiaoyan later.’
Lying in Zhuge Kongming’s arms, Little Lu Nian suddenly shivered for no reason. She lifted her little head and looked around warily, glancing at the three shabby Daoists to the side of the temple, and then at the Old Temple Master sitting in the very center. She was a little suspicious, feeling that something was off. She tried to perceive the threads of Cause and Effect, but came up with nothing.
