Free Web NovelChapter 323: Chapter 322: Jiangzhou’s Number 1 Beauty, the Mountain Master of White Spirit Mountain
Black Rock Mountain was no longer the dark, barren peak it had been three months prior.
Although winter had just passed, the mountain was thriving. Taoist Yan Song and Taoist Shen Hao had been clearing the Demonic Qi at its base, and their Taiyi Divine Fire and Nanming Li Fire were Taoist Family flames brimming with vitality.
In the way that fire gives birth to earth, the flames nourished the land beneath Black Rock Mountain. As a result, plants began to sprout on its slopes. In just three short months, despite the freezing cold, the entire mountain was draped in green. Paired with a dusting of fresh snow, the scenery blended into a breathtaking vista.
The Daluo Temple of Black Rock Mountain was situated at the mountain’s base. While not as grand as the Daluo Palace on Cuiluo Mountain, its three-courtyard layout wanted for nothing. It featured a Spirit Official Hall, a Four Imperial Lords Hall, a Jade Emperor Hall, and a Three Pristine Hall. The side halls housed shrines to the God of Wealth, Wenchang, the Matchmaker God, the Medicine King, the Savior, and the Thunder Ancestor. Not a single essential Immortal was missing, ensuring that the common folk would always have a deity to hear their prayers.
For the New Year’s Grand Rite, although this branch temple had no Fragrant Fire Star Soldiers yet, Taoist Yan Ling activated his Seven-Colored Jade Ruyi. The scepter vanished into the clouds, from which it cast down a seven-colored radiance, bathing the sky above the Daluo Temple in a prismatic glow that was nothing short of a miracle.
Yunyang and Bi Yingying stood at the entrance to welcome the guests. They let their Magical Power flow freely—a display that was both gentle and a clear demonstration of Daluo Palace’s might.
"This way, please!"
Yunyang and Bi Yingying turned to the side with a welcoming gesture, and the main gates of the Daluo Temple on Black Rock Mountain swung wide open.
CREAK—
As the gates opened on their own, everyone’s eyes fell upon the Divine Statue at the entrance: a red-faced, bearded figure clad in golden armor, brandishing a steel whip, and glaring furiously from three eyes.
"I hear this is the guardian deity of Daluo Palace: Wang Spirit Official."
"The name is simple, but his divine power is fearsome."
"I’ve been to Daluo Palace’s branch temples and shrines in other places. They don’t worship their own sect ancestors, but all sorts of deities. I wonder if they’re just made up or if there’s a real story behind them."
"Real or not, they were the ones who destroyed the Nether Fire Sect."
"True. Real or not, it makes no difference to us."
With the gates now open, the guests entered the temple in an orderly fashion. Those with invitations presented them, while those without announced their names. A few others, who were perhaps hesitant or simply unwilling to announce themselves, offered only a respectful bow but were still guided inside courteously by the Daluo Temple disciples.
As a sign of respect, Yunyang and Bi Yingying announced each guest’s name in turn.
"Venerable Wutou of Jingxin Lake, Shide Prefecture, has arrived!"
"Mr. Yin of Burial Cloud Valley, He Yan Mansion, has arrived!"
"Palace Master Bi of Green Water Pool, Bai Shi Prefecture, has arrived!"
"Mr. Lu of the Yongding River has arrived!"
"Purple Cloud Monarch of Wuya Ridge has arrived!"
"Sect Leader Lingke of the Flying God Sect, Yunqi Prefecture, has arrived!"
"Lady Yunxia of Caixia Mountain, Yunqi Prefecture, has arrived!"
...
Daluo Palace was clearly flourishing. For its New Year’s Grand Rite on the very first day of the year, the leaders and prominent figures of various powers had come to observe.
Gu Zhao had sent invitations to some, but others had truly come of their own accord, drawn by the palace’s growing reputation.
Just then, Yunyang looked to the sky and saw two streaks of light—one white, one cyan—streaking across the horizon. They descended a short distance away, landing not far from the Daluo Temple before approaching on foot.
Yunyang and Bi Yingying both raised an eyebrow. They recognized the figure in cyan robes: it was none other than their Palace Master’s close female confidante, Li Qingshuang!
That made the other woman’s identity easy to guess.
The woman walking just ahead of Li Qingshuang wore a Cloud Pattern Flying Snow Gauze Skirt. Though she walked at a leisurely pace, a gentle breeze seemed to whirl around her, causing her robes to billow gracefully.
Her dark hair cascaded like a waterfall, held in place by a single Jade Feather Hairpin. Her skin was as fair as snow, accented by a solitary piece of Moon White Spiritual Jade.
Her eyebrows were shaped like distant mountains, and her eyes shone like morning stars. With every shift of her gaze, she exuded both a light, ethereal grace and a gentle, dignified authority.
In the face of such a striking presence, set off by her lively eyes, her beauty—which was like that of a Celestial Palace Fairy—seemed almost secondary.
The woman walked with an unhurried grace. Beside her, even Li Qingshuang’s presence seemed to dim slightly, and Bi Yingying, who was welcoming the guests, could feel the pressure of her arrival.
But after only a few steps, her gaze shifted, turning toward two groups of people in Heiyan Town.
"Celestial True Monarch. Ancestor Mie Yang."
"So, the Bai Mountain Master has arrived." Celestial True Monarch’s eyes glinted as he chuckled. "You have always cultivated in Jiangbei, Mountain Master. It’s a rare occasion to see you south of the Wanling River."
This woman was, of course, the Mountain Master of White Spirit Mountain in Wanling Jiangbei.
The White Spirit Mountain Master gave a gentle smile and a slight nod. "The Daluo Palace Master saved one of my sisters. It is only right that I come to pay a visit and offer my thanks."
Both Celestial True Monarch and Ancestor Mie Yang focused their gazes on Li Qingshuang. The sharp look in her eyes did not soften as she bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Celestial True Monarch. Greetings, Ancestor Mie Yang."
Ancestor Mie Yang made a small gesture with his hand. "Of course. Please, rise."
Li Qingshuang felt a current of energy support her by the elbows, effortlessly bypassing her own Magical Power and lifting her to her feet with feather-light ease.
Celestial True Monarch gestured toward the Daluo Temple. "Most everyone is inside. We should go in as well. It would be impolite to miss the New Year’s rite."
"The True Monarch is right." A smile touched the corners of the White Spirit Mountain Master’s eyes. She turned slightly, took Li Qingshuang by the arm, and led the way toward the Daluo Temple.
When they reached the Daluo Temple’s main gate, Li Qingshuang presented their invitation. Yunyang accepted it with a smile, and his clear voice rang out, echoing inside and outside the temple and reaching the ears of every Cultivator present. "The Bai Mountain Master of White Spirit Mountain, Jiangyang Prefecture, has arrived!"
Then, Bi Yingying accepted the invitation from Wan Ping of Silent God Mountain. "Ancestor Mie Yang of Silent God Mountain, Xianshan Prefecture, has arrived!"
After ushering the White Spirit Mountain Master and Li Qingshuang through the gates, Yunyang took a deep breath and announced the final guest. "Celestial True Monarch of Chaoyang Island, Du Chuan Prefecture, has arrived!"
White Spirit Mountain! Silent God Mountain! Chaoyang Island!
Such were their reputations that every Fairy, Ghost God, and Mage, whether still on the path or already inside the Taoist Temple, turned to look. Their gazes were a mixture of reverence and fear as they watched the three powerful figures approach at a leisurely pace.
"Daluo Palace has some serious influence to have invited all three of them!"
"Chaoyang Island and Silent God Mountain, I can understand. But White Spirit Mountain is all the way in Jiangbei. Why are they getting involved?"
"I’d say White Spirit Mountain’s presence is perfectly normal. Given Daluo Palace’s style, it’s Silent God Mountain’s arrival that’s strange."
"Hush! Those three are not powers you can afford to gossip about."
Though some conversed using their Magical Power to transmit their voices, most remained silent out of reverence and quietly cleared a path.
The White Spirit Mountain Master, Ancestor Mie Yang, and Celestial True Monarch did not stand on ceremony. The trio proceeded at a slow pace, walking past the other guests who had entered before them until they reached the Spirit Official Hall.
Even though they were the last to enter, they were still given pride of place at the very front to observe the ceremony.
There, they saw three elderly men standing before the statue of the Immortal King Spirit Official. They wore Lotus Crowns and Fire Cloud Robes embroidered with white cranes and cloud patterns in gold and silver thread. Each held a Jade Gui, their expressions solemn.
Xu Yan’s eye twitched. Of the three elderly Daoists, he only recognized the one in the middle from the battle at Black Rock Mountain; the other two were complete strangers to him.
The three old Daoists standing in the Spirit Official Hall and presiding over the first part of the rite were Taoist Qingyuan, Taoist Jing Hong, and Taoist Jing Fa.
Seeing that all the guests had arrived and the appointed hour was at hand, the three turned in unison and stepped forward to begin the ritual.
Daluo Palace’s second New Year’s Grand Rite in this world had begun!
