Chapter 4: A Mountain's Serene Daoist Temple
“Click.”
With a soft sound, Jiang Sheng sheathed his sword.
The dark clouds had completely dispersed, the moon was bright, and stars were sparse. Jiang Sheng said, “The tiger demon has been eliminated. You two may rest in this mountain god temple tonight and descend the mountain early tomorrow.”
The old man, startled awake from this divine, picturesque scene, quickly asked, “Daoist Priest, where are you going?”
“This place has clear mountains and beautiful waters, and is full of vitality. It is an excellent location. This humble Daoist intends to establish a Daoist temple here as a place to reside,” Jiang Sheng said, lifting the three-zhang-long corpse of the tiger demon, and soared towards the mountain peak.
The old man, with his young grandson, watched Jiang Sheng effortlessly carry the mountain-like tiger demon corpse and fly away, unable to help but exclaim, “Truly a Divine Being!”
“Grandson, you must study hard and learn to read. If you ever have the chance to become a Disciple of the Daoist Priest and learn even a third of his abilities, your grandfather would ask for nothing more.”
The next morning, the red sun had just risen.
A faint mist had already risen between the mountains and forests early on, and the mountain peak was even more shrouded in clouds and mist, obscuring one's vision.
Jiang Sheng sat cross-legged on a smooth stone slab, watching the great sun slowly rise above the sea of clouds. The morning glow illuminated the mist, rays of light streamed forth, and birds chirped.
It was time for morning lessons.
Cultivators of the Righteous Path of Xuanmen often gathered morning glow in the morning and moonlight in the evening.
The day's plan begins in the morning; the Heaven And Earth Spiritual Essence contained in the morning glow and purple Qi is the most gentle and the easiest Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to absorb.
Jiang Sheng absorbed the morning glow and purple Qi, circulated his Sunday, transforming strands of morning glow and purple Qi into pure spiritual power within his Dantian. This lesson lasted for three-quarters of an hour before it was completed.
Slowly exhaling a breath of turbid Qi, Jiang Sheng finished his cultivation and stood up. The great sun cast down thousands of rays of light. Standing on the mountain peak, Jiang Sheng, surrounded by clouds and mist, looked like a Divine Being standing among the clouds under the golden light: “It’s time to build a Daoist temple.”
Any Disciple of the Dao Sect who successfully achieved Foundation Establishment would build a Daoist temple outside as his Daoist temple.
On the one hand, it was convenient to share the Sect's burdens outside, and on the other hand, it was to allow the Disciples to cultivate themselves, temper their Dao Heart, and prepare for the Golden Core Dao.
Most of the Dao Sect's Disciples were dispersed in this manner, whether they were at the Foundation Establishment or Purple Mansion stage, and Jiang Sheng was no exception.
“Qingping Mountain, spanning twelve hundred li, has clear mountains and beautiful waters, teeming with birds and beasts, full of vitality, and with hidden Spiritual Veins. What a good place!”
“No wonder that tiger demon occupied this place and wouldn't leave. Cultivating here, reaching the Purple Mansion realm is not a difficult task,” Jiang Sheng said softly, turning and walking down.
From the mountain peak to the halfway point, for a Cultivator like Jiang Sheng, who had already forged his Foundation Establishment, it was nothing more than riding the wind down, incredibly easy.
However, when Jiang Sheng reached the halfway point, he found that it had become incredibly lively.
The original mountain god temple had been torn down by a group of young men. Now, many people were busily laying bricks and tiles, seemingly building something.
The old man from yesterday was saying something next to a wealthy middle-aged man dressed in brocade robes. When he saw Jiang Sheng, he quickly said, “The Daoist Priest is here, the Daoist Priest is here!”
The middle-aged man in brocade robes turned his head upon hearing this and saw that the newcomer was about twenty years old.
His face was like jade, his eyes like stars, dressed in a green Daoist robe, with a Daoist topknot, and his posture was as straight as a celestial crane.
He was truly handsome and had an extraordinary temperament!
With a glance, he knew that this Daoist Priest was certainly no Mortal!
So, the middle-aged man immediately stepped forward and bowed: “Tian Guofu, on behalf of the thousands of households of Qingping Town, thanks the Daoist Priest!”
Jiang Sheng frowned slightly, about to retreat, when he heard Tian Guofu say, “Daoist Priest, you may not know, but that evil tiger occupied Qingping Mountain, and before it became a demon, it harmed countless lives in our Qingping Town! We also invited Cultivators, but they all ended up dying in the mouth of that evil tiger.”
“Daoist Priest, by eliminating that evil tiger, you could say that you avenged the thousands of households of Qingping Town. The entire town, from top to bottom, is endlessly grateful to the Daoist Priest!”
“Hearing that the Daoist Priest intends to establish a Daoist temple here, I, Tian, as the mayor of Qingping Town, have rallied all the town's people to voluntarily build a Daoist temple for the Daoist Priest as a small token of our gratitude.”
Jiang Sheng glanced at the old man, then at the sincere Tian Guofu in front of him, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded: “Then, I will trouble Mayor Tian.”
“No trouble, no trouble at all. It's good to be able to share the Daoist Priest's worries,” Tian Guofu said very sincerely, his expression even bordering on humble.
For a town mayor to be so humble, even before knowing his background and identity, Jiang Sheng was certain that this was not just because he possessed cultivation, but also because Tian Guofu had another request!
Jiang Sheng's expression was calm as he spoke unhurriedly: “To be honest with Mayor Tian, last night, this humble Daoist slew that tiger demon simply because it occupied this Qingping Mountain, seizing the Daoist temple that this humble Daoist had long since chosen, and not because it devoured many human lives. Does Mayor Tian know this?”
Tian Guofu was stunned for a moment, then laughed: “No matter what, the Daoist Priest has eliminated a menace for Qingping Town. Since ancient times, actions are judged, not intentions. The Daoist Priest's act of eliminating demons and guarding the Dao naturally accumulates Karma, so why speak of the reasons?”
Jiang Sheng looked at Tian Guofu, and Tian Guofu also looked at Jiang Sheng. The two seemed to be in a standoff, yet also seemed to be probing something.
After a long while, Jiang Sheng finally broke the silent atmosphere and laughed: “Mayor Tian is indeed an interesting person. This humble Daoist's surname is Jiang, given name Sheng, and I am from Penglai.”
Tian Guofu looked at Jiang Sheng in surprise: “So Daoist Priest Jiang is a high-ranking practitioner from Penglai!”
Jiang Sheng gestured, and Tian Guofu naturally followed Jiang Sheng's steps. The two chatted as they walked towards a section of the mountain forest.
Morning dew still hung on the trees in the forest, and occasionally a gentle breeze blew, bringing the fresh mountain air to their faces.
Jiang Sheng casually asked, “Does Mayor Tian know about Penglai?”
Tian Guofu explained, “I have naturally heard of it, or rather, who in Qi Kingdom hasn't heard of Penglai?”
“They all say that Penglai is located in the East Sea, it is the Xuanmen Righteous Path, a land of Daoist immortals; where Divine Beings ride clouds and mist, moving mountains and severing rivers! I have long admired it.”
Jiang Sheng nodded, acknowledging Tian Guofu's words: “Then, how did Mayor Tian come to believe that this humble Daoist is truly a Penglai Cultivator, and not some swindler? Just because that old man said this humble Daoist slew the evil tiger, Mayor Tian believed it?”
Tian Guofu chuckled: “I am not a person without discernment. How could Daoist Priest Jiang's divine charm be possessed by those swindling wandering Daoist priests?”
“Furthermore, the traces in front of the mountain god temple cannot be faked, and the fact that the evil tiger truly died cannot be faked. If Daoist Priest Jiang truly were a swindler, I would accept it.”
“Heh!”
Jiang Sheng couldn't help but laugh: “This humble Daoist was not wrong, Mayor Tian, you truly are an interesting person. Just now, you were so humble, actively expressing gratitude and building a Daoist temple for this humble Daoist. Is it not that you have something to ask for?”
Tian Guofu smiled even more sincerely: “Nothing escapes the Daoist Priest's Dharma Eye.”
“Daoist Priest may not know, but the reason Qingping Town is called by this name is not only because of Qingping Mountain but also because of Taiping River. With both mountains and water, there is the vitality for the thousands of households in Qingping Town.”
As he spoke, Tian Guofu's face showed fatigue and complexity: “However, there is an evil tiger in Qingping Mountain, and Taiping River is not peaceful either.”
Sirs, continued reading is very important for new books. It is the key to whether there will be recommendations and whether it can continue. Sirs, simply flipping to the last page every day is the greatest support for Linyuan. Thank you, sirs.