Sanjiang Dao, Jizhou, White Cloud Mountain, White Cloud Temple.
Even though this was not Lu Zheng’s first ti here, every visit, gazing all around, he could still deeply feel the essence of this famous Daoist mountain.
Looking west at Jizhou Prefecture, viewing north to East Celestial River, backed by a range of mountains, the mountain’s form was majestic, with a myriad of phenona, pine and cypress standing tall, white stones like jade.
The mountain remains green year-round, the summit is ever-covered by a sea of clouds, streams ander through the woods, waterfalls spray mist, birds roam among the trees, while pilgrims climb the mountain without interference.
A paifang stands at the foot of the mountain, a White Rock Mountain Dao path built along the mountain’s contours, stacking stones to form a path to the mountain, winding upwards, vanishing into the mountain, like a white dragon in the clouds.
From halfway up the mountain, a continuous Daoist Palace leans on the mountain and rocks, seemingly disorderly, yet naturally imbued with Dao aura, with various halls and pavilions scattered all over, hidden among the pines and cypresses, revealing flying eaves and corner turns, with green tiles and white walls.
Only at a large platform on the mountainside was an open plaza of several tens of zhang in radius cleared, with cloud-patterned Dao talismans drawn on its surface, and behind the plaza stands a tall and wide main hall.
This is precisely the landmark building of White Cloud Temple, the Cloud Talisman Platform, and the Taiqing Hall.
Lu Zheng, enveloped in Innate Cloud Qi, was at this mont hovering in the air several miles away from the west main gate of White Cloud Mountain, just able to see the entirety of White Cloud Temple atop White Cloud Mountain.
On the mountain path, an endless stream of pilgrims was climbing the mountain, while in the halls atop the platform, many pilgrims were praying for blessings. Throughout the mountain, many Daoists were receiving guests, guiding, distributing incense, interpreting divinations, granting talismans, and casting curses.
Such is the scene of a famous Daoist mountain and a human paradise.
"Junior Brother Yuan Zheng, since you’re here, why not enter the mountain?"
A voice sounded in Lu Zheng’s ear. As he turned, he saw a young Daoist clad in a blue and white Daoist robe appear beside him, with a Cloud Pattern Sword on his back and an ebony duster on his arm, standing tall, with a jade-like face, lively eyes, and a long-lasting aura.
"Senior Brother Yuan Ye?" Lu Zheng turned back, exclaiming with delight.
The newcor was indeed Daoist Yuan Ye, who was once injured near Tonglin County and then brought back to White Cloud Temple by Yuan Jing.
Back then, Yuan Ye’s cultivation was already not weak, and now he had progressed further, able to ride clouds and mist and roam the seas.
"Is Yuan Jing not here?" Yuan Ye looked at Lu Zheng and asked with a smile.
"Senior Brother Yuan Jing is now the host of the White Cloud Temple in Tonglin County. This year is his first year in office, so he has to preside over the New Year’s Dharma Assembly at the temple, and thus, he didn’t co this year." Lu Zheng replied.
"Has Junior Brother Yuan Jing beco the host?" Yuan Ye asked curiously, "What about Master Mingzhang?"
All year he had been traveling outside and was unaware that Daoist Mingzhang had been summoned back to the mountain.
Lu Zheng thought for a mont and quickly said, "The master was esteed by the grandmaster and was summoned back to the rear mountain for personal instruction. Right now, he should be in seclusion at the rear mountain."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Ye nodded deeply, "Master Mingzhang possesses extraordinary talent, though he joined late, he cultivates rapidly. Now even being summoned by the grandmaster to the rear mountain, it truly is enviable."
Lu Zheng repeatedly agreed, "Indeed, but Senior Brother, you are also incredible. Having returned this ti, might you not also enter the rear mountain?"
"I dare not," Yuan Ye waved his hand repeatedly and looked at Lu Zheng with a smile, "If Junior Brother hasn’t entered the rear mountain, how could I asure up?"
He knew Lu Zheng’s strength well. Back when he was severely injured and fled in disgrace from True Monarch Ye Gu’s avatar, Lu Zheng, on the other hand, ventured into the Netherworld and defeated True Monarch Ye Gu’s original form in a one-on-one combat.
The difference between them was not rely a single True Monarch Ye Gu.
Even though Yuan Ye had been making great strides in his Dao practice, breaking through life and death in the past two years, he still believed he couldn’t defeat True Monarch Ye Gu, let alone single-handedly taking down Ye Gu like Lu Zheng did.
However, Yuan Ye still didn’t know that Lu Zheng had t Si Lingxi, and after their first dual cultivation in October two years ago, he had nearly two thousand years of Dao practice. After a year of continued cultivation and recent seclusion dual cultivation in the Divine Fire Grotto Heaven, he had reached three thousand years of Dao practice.
One thousand years of progress per year, don’t you fear such speed?
Lu Zheng felt his progress had accelerated since eting Si Lingxi, from a linear function toward exponential growth.
Being guided by a ten-thousand-year master is indeed terrifying!
Therefore, hearing Yuan Ye’s words, Lu Zheng shook his head, expressing mild refusal, "Junior Brother has quite a few wives in Tonglin County and doesn’t want to stay long in the rear mountain."
Yuan Ye couldn’t help but laugh heartily and gestured invitingly, "Let’s go up the mountain together."
Lu Zheng also laughed, "Let’s go!"
Thus, the two rode clouds and wind, drifting towards the White Cloud Mountain Daoist Palace.
Here, close to White Cloud Mountain, it was the mont to reveal themselves before people, so the two didn’t hide their forms. Nurous incense-offering commoners along the mountain path looked up to see the two riding the clouds.
"They are the True n of White Cloud Temple!"
"It’s hard to see clearly, but there seem to be two of them!"
"They’re like immortals, how could ordinary people like us see them clearly? To even see their silhouettes from afar is already a blessing for us."
"Indeed, our luck is good today. Having seen the esteed figures of Immortal Masters, we must burn a big incense on the mountain and pray for smooth fortune next year."
"Precisely, let’s hurry up the mountain!"
While nurous commoners and pilgrims hurriedly increased their pace up the mountain, Lu Zheng and Yuan Ye had already flown into White Cloud Temple.
If it had been non-disciples of White Cloud Temple blatantly flying in like this, the elders of the rear mountain would probably have taken action, but with their own disciples, especially such promising ones, naturally, there was no issue.
Yuan Ye bid farewell to Lu Zheng and went to see his master.
Lu Zheng had heard of Yuan Ye’s master, who was just an ordinary Daoist of the Ming Generation with diocre cultivation and no hope for longevity, but having accepted Yuan Ye as a disciple was his pride in the latter half of his life.
After parting with Yuan Ye, Lu Zheng ca to Daoist Mingzhang’s small courtyard and saw that Daoist Mingzhang was already waiting there.
"Master!" Lu Zheng stepped forward and saluted.
Daoist Mingzhang gestured to greet him but did not lift Lu Zheng up.
After Lu Zheng paid his respects, Daoist Mingzhang pulled him to a seat and asked, "How is Yuan Jing doing?"
"Thanks to Master’s guidance, Senior Brother Yuan Jing manages the temple in an orderly manner." Lu Zheng replied with a smile.
"Very good, very good," Daoist Mingzhang nodded with a satisfied smile. After chatting for a bit, he rembered sothing, "The grandmaster also ntioned you, asking if you’d be returning this year. Since you’re here, you should quickly go pay a visit to the grandmaster and the Temple Master."
Lu Zheng smiled and nodded, "After seeing you, Master, I will go greetings to the Temple Master and the grandmaster."
"Go quickly, I’m staying here, we can talk more after you return." Daoist Mingzhang waved with a smile, "I know you well; you probably have to visit the back hall’s treasury too. First, you should hand over the gifts you brought for ."
Lu Zheng cheerfully handed over Wuliangye, Flower Carved Wine, two bottles of elixirs, and two bottles of spirit wine to Daoist Mingzhang before heading to the main hall to seek out Master Mingyu.
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