True Person Qinghui... she, she ascended to immortality!
Right before the eyes of everyone in the capital.
Accompanied by the grand and spectacular celestial phenona that day, no matter how unbelievable, True Person Qinghui attaining the Dao and ascending had already beco the consensus of all present.
Thunderclaps passed, spiritual rain fell, a celestial ladder appeared...
So said they glimpsed the majestic and ethereal immortal palaces, others swore with high-flown talk that they saw mighty heavenly soldiers clad in full armor, and there were those who claid to have personally witnessed the Thunder God and Lightning Mother welcoming the True Person to the upper realm.
Along with folk ballads being continuously sung among the people, so even spoke of the immortal title the True Person received after becoming an immortal.
In short, opinions varied widely, but no one could fully describe the shock brought by that day.
Farrs in the fields eagerly put down their hoes, officials who witnessed this phenonon all set aside their tasks, and everyone involuntarily widened their eyes. There were also clever individuals who, recalling the opportunity left behind when the True Person entered the Dao years ago, hurriedly ordered horses to be harnessed and quickened their pace, rushing towards Xuanzhen Temple.
And at that ti, the area around Xuanzhen Temple was already packed with people.
The facts proved that clever people could always seize opportunities a step earlier, and this continuous half-hour-long spiritual rain was undoubtedly the most wonderful gift among them.
Even after everyone left, they were still excited, feeling it was not enough. Those who missed out due to a slow reaction were filled with even deeper regret.
For a ti, not only Xuanzhen Temple, but all the major taverns and small inns throughout the capital were packed to the brim. Storytellers everywhere, wielding their long clappers, were practically dancing with excitent, full of passion and fervor.
Starting from the capital, Daoist temples sprang up like bamboo shoots after rain all over the country. Recalling how the True Person earlier entered the Dao through painting, with literary grace and elegance, the common people spontaneously revered her as the Painting Sage. From that year onward, she received the incense offerings and worship of thousands of disciples.
For several whole months, even during the scorching sumr, this craze sweeping the entire capital showed no sign of fading.
However, what truly drove the common people wild was still to co. On the day the True Person ascended, the plants and trees around Xuanzhen Temple grew wildly, naturally benefiting the nearby fields and villages.
Early in the third month, the early rice had just been planted, and it was not yet harvest ti, but now they had already reaped a considerable yield.
So with bigger ambitions even took advantage of others' inattention to quietly take so away.
Yet the pleasant surprise ca later. Even though most were bought at high prices by high officials and even the current emperor, who would have thought that a year later, the experienced farrs would be astonished to discover that, perhaps blessed by the immortal's lingering grace, the yield from these seeds had actually increased by more than double.
"This... this is the immortal's grace!"
"Thank you for the immortal's gift!"
"Thank the Sage for his rcy!"
In this era, immortals were originally revered, especially since a mortal had established a path and beco a sage. Now, it even involved their own interests.
Thus, the Sage temples, originally with flourishing incense offerings everywhere, beca even more popular and bustling.
Inside Xuanzhen Temple, the paintings left behind by An Ning earlier were revered as sage relics. The junior disciples like Lingshu who remained all stood tall and straight. While diligently guarding the temple every day, they were also not the least bit weak towards those who ca to pay respects and make requests.
What a joke! So what if they were high officials and nobles? They were still disciples who had served an immortal!
Of course, the facts were indeed so. Due to the majesty of the already ascended Immortal Venerable, no matter how many desires there were, Xuanzhen Temple remained a pure land.
Apart from the visibly boosted confidence, the young Daoist disciples still happily read poetry and painted every day, occasionally even sparring in skill with the talented scholars and ladies who ca by.
Now, the literary path flourished greatly. With the precedent of the True Person attaining the Dao, everyone in the world took pride in literary talent. Families with even a little background, or those with so spare money, would be laughed to death if they didn't send their daughters to learn to read and write.
What? Girls shouldn't be too prominent? Where did that outdated idea co from? Hah, isn't this disrespectful to the immortal?
Publishing poems under the na of a father, brother, or husband? Hmph, let's ask who doesn't know that before the Sage ascended, she most despised those who plagiarized, encroached on others' achievents, and were rely famous in na.
In short, as An Ning's reputation as the Painting Sage grew stronger, for a ti, talented and graceful young girls and married won beca the most dazzling stars at major banquets in the capital.
At the Xie residence, Tutor Xie, now over sixty and having regained her health and vitality, picked up her brush again. Accompanied by Tutor Yang, she traveled to various places over the next few decades, leaving behind countless beautiful paintings passed down and recited by later generations.
Perhaps because her mind was broad and open, Third Miss Xie, who had been quite famous from a young age, actually improved her painting skills even further in her old age.
If earlier there were still people secretly coveting or even contemplating the legacy left by the True Person, then now...
Earlier, although the True Person had attained the Dao, she was ultimately still within the human category. But a properly attained immortal, an Immortal Venerable revered by all the people, was already separated by a chasm. Who would dare offend her?
Aren't they afraid of bringing disaster upon their descendants, or even having to be oxen or horses for others in the next life? Or taking a trip to the Avīci Hell after death?
Because of this taboo, even many years after An Ning's departure, Tutor Xie's family was still revered.
As for the Old Xiao Family group in Stone Village, Sifang County, they did want to raise the banner of being the immortal's nephews and grandnephews. Unfortunately, back then, who didn't know the True Person had made a clear statent?
She had completely severed all karma with the Old Xiao Family.
Especially seeing that Old Man Xiao passed away, and even the True Person's birth parents, the couple Xiao Lao Er, died earlier, the Sage still in the mortal world never showed up, let alone left any legacy.
According to villagers, it was said that before that couple died, they kept muttering sothing about "Second Ya"!
Compared to Lady Yang, who regained her vitality overnight, who still didn't understand the key point here? They couldn't help but follow the trend and curse a couple of tis: blind and unable to recognize a true immortal, missing the opportunity for the whole family to attain the Dao.
Similar to Tutor Xie was Siya.
Inside the Wang mansion, Xiao Ling, now already over fifty but still full of vitality and unable to stay idle for a mont, was happily hosting a flower-viewing banquet.
Always the center of the crowd, surrounded by all sorts of flattery and amusent from the younger generation, with a group of old friends by her side, and occasionally receiving another round of rewards and honors from the old emperor in the palace, her life couldn't be more wonderful.
Only when occasionally idle would she eagerly look up at the sky, imagining what her sister was doing up there right now.
But speaking of the annoying old emperor, if there was anyone unhappy at this mont, it would be Emperor Xuanwu in the palace.
And of course, the bunch of resentful sons below who had grumbled countless tis about the old man being biased and wishing he would hurry up and die to make room for them.
Back when An Ning ascended, she did leave behind an "immortal elixir." However, the immortal attendant who delivered the ssage also said:
"This dicine is best used at the brink of death. Additionally, the True Person has said: the heavenly dao maintains balance. A monarch's fate is destined to be difficult to change. If Your Majesty truly wishes for longevity, you must first learn to let go."
But... stroking the elixir in his hand, and then looking at the bunch of "unfilial sons" below, no matter how much he wanted immortality, how could Emperor Xuanwu dare to abdicate imdiately?
If he really did that, he was afraid he wouldn't even be able to keep the elixir in his hand.
Besides, over all these years, he had alternately suppressed his own sons for this throne, exhausting his mind and energy. He had already sacrificed too much.
Thinking of his eldest son (big brother), who mysteriously disappeared without a trace after the Sage ascended.
Regarding the whereabouts of this eldest son (big brother), everyone including Emperor Xuanwu had harbored suspicions.
It was said that attained immortals could appoint generals...
As for attaining the Dao himself, everyone subconsciously rejected that speculation. In their hearts, they increasingly complained that their Imperial Father was unfair. Clearly, when Imperial Father had the intention to send soone back then, there were so many competitors, but he insisted on...
Sigh, that biased old man.
Similarly, on the dragon throne, the aged emperor gritted his teeth in hatred, secretly cursing that unlucky son for being so inconsiderate.
If only he could visit the immortal palace once in this lifeti, what would the dignity of an emperor matter!
Clearly, he had also had the opportunity earlier! If only he had known...
It's truly... hateful...
Unfortunately, these things, the master and disciple pair who were freely enjoying themselves at the edge of the snowy mountains at that ti, were destined to be completely unaware.
Ahem, of course, even if they knew, they wouldn't care.
Leaving only the old emperor to occasionally gaze dazedly at the sky, fantasizing that the unlucky son, following the Sage in the heavens, must surely be enjoying endless supplies of divine wine and ambrosia!
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