Free Web NovelChapter 326: Chapter 325: Acknowledging the White Spirit Mountain Master as an Elder Sister
The Eight Great Taoist Spells of the Taoist Sect each have their own special purposes.
The one they used most often was the Golden Light Divine Curse. For both offense and defense, it was second to none.
The least used, however, was the Incense Blessing Divine Curse, which was routinely recited during Taoist rituals and ceremonies.
Although Taoist Ming Yu knew that this Divine Curse was meant to focus one’s mind, revere the gods, and contact the ancestors of the Upper Realm, he had tried it once in his youth and failed to make any contact at all.
When they performed the Incense Blessing Divine Curse during the recent New Year’s Grand Ceremony, they had felt the Incense and Candle Telekinesis vanish. They had assumed it was simply dissipating naturally after reaching the heavens. But now, with Celestial True Monarch’s confirmation, it turned out to be a genuine method for contacting the Upper Realm!
Gu Zhao’s heart pounded in his chest. "Does this mean... our prayers can actually be heard by the Three Pristine Ancestors?"
Taoist Yi Hong’s breathing grew ragged, and even his telepathic voice carried a hint of eager anticipation. "Perhaps?"
"Calm down, calm down," Taoist Yan Song chimed in. "Let’s focus on the matter at hand."
Gu Zhao smiled faintly and looked at Celestial True Monarch. "Your perception is truly remarkable, True Monarch."
Celestial True Monarch took a deep breath. The White Spirit Mountain Master couldn’t resist taking another bite of her cold tomato salad, and even Ancestor Mie Yang’s breathing grew shallow.
"It seems you know a great deal about the Spirit Realm, True Monarch?" Gu Zhao asked.
Celestial True Monarch offered a respectful salute. "My ancestor possesses the bloodline of the Golden Crow, and our heritage originates from the Spirit Realm."
Upon hearing this, the hearts of Gu Zhao and the three elder Taoists all skipped a beat.
’The Golden Crow!’
It was a paramount Divine Bird from myth and legend, recorded in texts like the Classic of Mountains and Seas, the Huainanzi, and the Xuanzhong Records. It was always depicted alongside either the sun, which symbolizes life and fire, or with supreme deities like the Queen Mother of the West.
"The three-legged Golden Crow?" Gu Zhao asked for confirmation.
"The three-legged Golden Crow?" Celestial True Monarch seemed momentarily confused.
Gu Zhao, "..."
Celestial True Monarch, "..."
AHEM, AHEM!
Seeing Celestial True Monarch’s somewhat bewildered expression, Gu Zhao cleared his throat. "I was just repeating something I’d heard—that the crow in the sun is said to have three legs. It might not be accurate."
Celestial True Monarch’s eyes flickered, and he smiled faintly. "The Golden Crow passed down its bloodline in this realm. Anyone who possesses this bloodline and cultivates the Golden Crow Dharma Gate has a chance to ascend to the Spirit Realm, provided they have sufficient talent."
Ancestor Mie Yang suddenly spoke up. "But I’ve heard that the Spirit Realm Upper Gods are all of the Demon Race. Their power is passed down through bloodlines; Mage Cultivation Techniques have never been handed down from there."
Gu Zhao looked toward Ancestor Mie Yang. The Ancestor’s eyes held a hint of inquiry, and also a deeply concealed trace of... hope?
Gu Zhao’s mind raced as well. He picked up a piece of smacked cucumber salad with his chopsticks and popped it into his mouth, the cool, crisp taste refreshing his thoughts.
’Why would there be hope in Ancestor Mie Yang’s eyes?’
’The Spirit Realm Upper Gods all belong to the Demon Race and pass on their power through bloodlines?’
’Could it be...’
Gu Zhao set down his chopsticks. "The Spirit Realm Upper Gods pass down their techniques through bloodlines, but our patron deity does so through Dream Transmission. The Magic follows the natural way of the Celestial Dao. It is a path not only for Mages; even Spirit Monarchs and Ghost Gods can cultivate it and achieve Ascension."
"What?"
Celestial True Monarch was startled, while a look of profound shock flashed through Ancestor Mie Yang’s eyes.
"How is that possible?" Ancestor Mie Yang narrowed his eyes, his voice filled with doubt. "When a living being dies and becomes a ghost, its body lacks the Yang energy of life. Even if it absorbs Incense and Candle Telekinesis to undergo Divinity Transformation, its foundation remains incomplete. It can only become an ’ancestor’ in the mortal world. How could it possibly achieve Ascension?"
Gu Zhao understood immediately. ’So it’s true, the Ghost Gods of this world can’t ascend.’
A smile touched Taoist Ming Yu’s eyes. "When a person dies and becomes a ghost, they may lack the Yang energy of life, but they can refine Pure Yin Qi, cultivate a spark of Pure Yang, or even directly refine their Divine Soul through meditation. These are all valid paths to Ascension. Why would it be impossible?"
Ancestor Mie Yang fell into deep thought, but the pale-faced young man behind him, Lu Yu, couldn’t help but ask, "How does one refine Pure Yin Qi?"
Taoist Ming Yu shot him a look, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "If you wish to condense Pure Yin Qi, your Divine Soul must be spiritually clear and pure. If the Divine Soul itself is impure, how could it possibly condense Pure Yin Qi?"
Lu Yu didn’t understand the implication, but Wan Ping, who stood beside him, couldn’t stop his expression from changing drastically. A burst of Yin Qi erupted from his body, and within it, one could faintly hear the wails and roars of living souls.
Gu Zhao’s head snapped up, and the three elder Taoists also set down their chopsticks.
The White Spirit Mountain Master reminded him softly, "Ancestor Mie Yang, this is where Daluo Palace receives its guests."
Ancestor Mie Yang turned around. Wan Ping immediately lowered his head. "Upon hearing such absurd claims from Daluo Palace, this disciple failed to restrain himself for a moment. I ask for the Ancestor’s punishment."
"Get out," Ancestor Mie Yang said coolly.
"Yes!" With his head bowed in submission, Wan Ping gave a cupped-fist salute to everyone in the room, then rose and slowly exited.
Ancestor Mie Yang turned to Gu Zhao. "My disciple is ill-mannered. I hope the Palace Master will be magnanimous."
"You are too kind, Ancestor Mie Yang," Gu Zhao replied with a salute of his own.
"Is this, then, the reason why Daluo Palace travels about, doing good and eradicating evil?" Ancestor Mie Yang asked again.
"To not mistake desire for evil, and for one’s true nature to be inclined toward goodness and empathy—is this not the foundation of being human?" Gu Zhao retorted.
Ancestor Mie Yang fell silent once more, but a smile spread across the White Spirit Mountain Master’s face. "A fine ’foundation of being human’ indeed. I raise my cup to you, Palace Master."
Gu Zhao raised his cup in return. "You flatter me, Bai Mountain Master. Qingshuang told me that you have protected the common people for hundreds of years, ensuring their peace. Your own merit is immeasurable."
The White Spirit Mountain Master smiled faintly. "Qingshuang is quite fortunate to have earned the Palace Master’s favor."
Gu Zhao chuckled in response. "To have won Qingshuang’s heart is my honor."
The White Spirit Mountain Master was taken aback. She saw Gu Zhao’s sincere expression and the irrepressible smile in the eyes of Li Qingshuang, who was beside him. A flicker of surprise, then a touch of admiration, passed through her own eyes. Finally regaining her composure, she said with a warm laugh, "With Qingshuang between us, ’Palace Master’ and ’Mountain Master’ sound a bit too formal. I am a few years your senior. If you wouldn’t mind, you may call me ’big sister’."
Gu Zhao’s eyebrow rose, and he accepted without a moment’s hesitation. "Gu Zhao greets you, Big Sister!"
The White Spirit Mountain Master nodded with a smile. "Bai Fei greets you, Little Brother."
The two of them had actually become sworn siblings right there at the banquet!
Celestial True Monarch gave Bai Fei a long, deep look. On the surface, it seemed she was moved by Gu Zhao’s deep affection. After all, Gu Zhao’s status, position, and power were all clearly superior to Li Qingshuang’s, yet he still elevated her with his words. But the True Monarch refused to believe that Bai Fei would be willing to become his sworn sister for that reason alone.
Clearly, the terrifying power of Daluo Palace and Gu Zhao’s supreme potential were the fundamental reasons.
Likewise, at a time when Gu Zhao was not yet strong enough to handle every potential crisis, Bai Fei could serve as a powerful backer for Daluo Palace... one among others!
And so, Celestial True Monarch also laughed. "Daluo Palace is establishing a temple in He Yan Mansion, and Chaoyang Island is just off the coast of the neighboring Du Chuan Prefecture. We’ll be neighbors from now on. We should visit each other often."
Gu Zhao raised his cup in a toast. "That is precisely what I was hoping for, though I wouldn’t have dared to ask."
Celestial True Monarch laughed heartily. Although he still had questions, it wasn’t appropriate to delve into further details during their first meeting.
Ancestor Mie Yang glanced at Bai Fei, then at Celestial True Monarch. Suppressing a certain thought in his heart, he raised his cup and said, "I have observed that Daluo Palace’s various Dharma Gates are quite unique, and that you even have techniques for cultivating Yin Qi. Perhaps we can discuss our respective methods in the future."
Gu Zhao and the three elder Taoists exchanged a smile and raised their cups as well. "We’d be delighted!"
