According to the records of "Laoshan Taiqing Palace Chronicles":
Laoshan Taiqing Palace has been known as the Foremost Daoist Temple of the Eastern Sea since ancient times.
The Taiqing Palace primarily worships the Three Pure Ones, with the Sanguan Hall, Sanqing Hall, Sanhuang Hall, as well as the auxiliary Donghua Hall and Jiuku Hall.
The mountains are high and the waters beautiful, with layers of peaks, ever-changing scenery, and breathtaking beauty.
The founding patriarch, Yuxuzi, is rumored to have been from Langya Commandery during the reign of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty. His mother dreamed of the North Star's pivot entering her embrace before his birth, hence the name "Yuxu"!
At fifteen, he entered Laoshan and received the "Taiqing Danjing" from a "sea hermit." He built a hermitage under Pantao Peak to refine elixirs.
He claimed to have refined the "Nine-Revolutions Purple Gold Elixir," which, after consumption, would make one's "form and spirit both marvelous," enabling one to "ride whales across the sea and travel a thousand li in an instant."
The "Taiqing Lianxing Technique" currently passed down in Laoshan Taiqing Palace was developed over thousands of years by successive patriarchs, who consulted the essential principles of the "Taiqing Danjing" and made adjustments and evolutions.
Laoshan Taiqing Palace is a sacred Daoist site in the Eastern Sea region, with an endless stream of devout men and women. Disciples are recruited once every three years.
To join the Taiqing Palace, one must pass three tests. The first test is to transcribe the "Taiqing Law," the second is to recite classics, and the third is a test of the heart.
Those who pass all three tests are graded A or B by the examining Daoist priest based on their dossier records, reported to the Emperor, and the results are posted at the mountain gate seven days later.
Chen Ming traveled a hundred li to participate in the Taiqing Palace selection, not only to obtain the "Taiqing Lianxing Technique" but, more importantly, to find a place for his older sister and brother-in-law to settle.
The Great Gan Dynasty is now in a precarious state, with calamities arising throughout the land, demons and ghosts rampant, and the common people suffering as if in fire and water.
Heretical cults and rebel factions are like persistent weeds in various regions, and only places protected by the Daoist court still retain vitality.
Chen Ming had long made up his mind that if he could enter the Taiqing Palace, he would immediately move them to Laoshan.
Unconsciously, the sun was already high in the sky.
The stableman, Zhang Bo, had been waiting for a long time at the archway at the foot of the mountain.
"Zhang Bo, let's go back to Ink Mountain!"
Zhang Bo's face showed a difficult expression, and he hesitated, saying, "Gongzi, why don't we rest at a nearby inn for the night? If we set off now, we will definitely have to sleep in the wilderness tonight."
"What? Are you scared!"
"Hehe, if I were young, I wouldn't be afraid, but now…"
Chen Ming smiled slightly and waved his hand to interrupt him: "It's fine."
After speaking, he strode into the carriage, took out an amulet from the satchel in the corner, and handed it to Zhang Bo: "Take this."
Chen Ming's satchel contained brushes, ink, paper, and some talismans.
Zhang Bo took the talisman, his expression changing from worry to joy, and carefully put it into his bosom, "Alright!"
He felt delighted, having heard Li Detective speak of Chen Gongzi's extraordinary abilities. He thought this must be Gongzi's method.
"Gongzi, hold on tight!" Zhang Bo reminded loudly, then raised his whip and heavily struck the horse's rear.
The yellow-piebald horse whinnied in pain, then galloped away, its hooves kicking up a cloud of dust as the wheels rolled over the gravel.
...
Chen Ming's home was in Ink Mountain County, over a hundred li away from the Taiqing Palace.
His older sister, Chen Jiao, was the shopkeeper of Yubo Zhai in Ink Mountain County, and his brother-in-law, Li Xiangwen, was a constable in Ink Mountain County.
This time, Chen Ming had specifically arranged a cover with his brother-in-law, Li Xiangwen. If he didn't help him conceal his whereabouts, he would find all of Li Xiangwen's hidden private money!
How could Li Xiangwen dare to refuse?
His private money was something he had managed to hide from Chen Jiao with great difficulty. As a constable, how could he not need money for his usual social engagements?
"Xiang Wen, what do you think about using this fabric to make a long gown for my younger brother?"
Li Xiangwen came back to his senses and glanced at the satin, "It's not bad. But I remember my younger brother already has this color. Making another one might not be necessary."
Chen Jiao looked a little disappointed upon hearing this and pointed to another piece of cloud-patterned satin, "Then what about this one? What do you think?"
"This one is quite good. I like it too. Why don't you cut one for me as well?"
"Alright, I'll make them for both of you."
Chen Jiao smiled knowingly and carried the cloud-patterned satin into the backyard.
"Younger brother, you must return safely, or your sister will skin me alive!"
"Ach—"
"Gongzi, please pull up the curtain, the wind is strong at night!"
Zhang Bo held a torch high in his left hand and gripped the reins tightly with the other. In the torchlight, beads of sweat had already appeared on his forehead.
"Gongzi, it's getting dark. Shouldn't we find a place to rest?"
Chen Ming looked up and vaguely saw the outline of a temple in the distance. He pointed in that direction: "Let's go take a look there."
He paused, "Zhang Bo, why don't I take over instead?"
Zhang Bo waved his hand and grinned, "Oh, Gongzi, don't worry about it. When I was young, I used to be a Escort . This bit of road is nothing, don't worry!"
"Giddy up—"
The movement of the carriage startled a flock of birds.
Before long, the carriage drew closer and closer to the temple.
"Whoa—"
Zhang Bo pulled the reins, and through the distant dilapidated walls, he saw scattered flickers of firelight.
"This..."
"It's fine."
Zhang Bo carefully drove the carriage into the courtyard. The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, and insects chirped.
A small donkey was tied to a broken stone statue.
Seeing the carriage, the small donkey also brayed and pulled at its reins, calling out.
The people inside the hall must have heard the noise and came out with torches to check the situation.
Chen Ming, holding a peach wood sword and carrying his satchel, got out of the carriage.
He ran right into the person who came out.
Chen Ming was observing the other person, and the other person was also observing Chen Ming.
"This person is about to die—"
Chen Ming saw clearly that the scholar before him looked empty in his eyes and body, his three vital fires flickering precariously, one foot already in the gates of hell.
The scholar, dressed in a gray long gown and holding a firestick, saw that they were two living people, immediately let out a sigh of relief, his face showing joy. He gestured for them to come in, "You two must also be looking for lodging, please come in!"
The temple was not large, but it could still provide shelter from the wind and rain.
Outside the window, a cold wind howled, inside the hall, spiderwebs covered everything, and the bonfire crackled.
"I am Wang Qi from Ji County, the seventh in my family, everyone calls me Qilang!"
"Chen Ming from Ink Mountain County!"
Wang Qi looked at the peach wood sword behind the other person and cautiously asked, "Little brother, are you a Daoist priest?"
"Not yet!"
"Oh—" Qilang looked haggard and tense.
Chen Ming immediately noticed the Yin energy on him and asked, "Qilang, what are you doing here?"
Qilang hesitated, "Looking for a quiet place to study!"
"Hehe—"
Chen Ming didn't press further. Studying in a dilapidated temple meant either hiding from people or hiding from ghosts.
Night deepened, and the wind grew colder.
As they were all sleeping soundly, a gust of cold wind suddenly howled.
The horse and donkey in the courtyard were also startled awake and began to whinny and bray.
The half-burnt bonfire began to change color.
An graceful figure appeared at the broken temple gate.
Chen Ming was the first to open his eyes, primarily because he had already established his foundation, and his essence, qi, and spirit were full. As the saying goes, a full spirit does not crave sleep. As his cultivation realm deepened, he would no longer need postnatal sleep to repair his soul.
He also noticed a figure flickering outside the door, but he wasn't panicked. He had brought all his talismans with him this time, including the most powerful Five Thunder Talisman.
However, judging by the aura of the other party, which was consistent with the ghostly aura on Qilang, it seemed she had come to find him.
Chen Ming gently exhaled a wisp of white smoke. The white smoke, like fine threads, quietly drifted towards Zhang Bo, causing him to sink back into his dreams.
The spell was called Nightmare Prayer!
In the early stages of cultivation, it used illusions to confuse ordinary people. If cultivated to a profound level, it could distort senses and present a semi-real, semi-illusory nightmare realm.
Chen Ming did this because he was worried Zhang Bo might suddenly wake up. After all, Zhang Bo was old, and if he saw the beautiful female ghost, his emotions might become agitated, and his heart might not be able to take it.
"Qilang—"
"Qilang—"
The newcomer drew out her words, her voice coming from far away and gradually getting closer, mournful and resentful.
The woman's figure flickered between solid and ethereal as she passed through the temple gate. She had an graceful figure, a fair complexion, and a charming appearance, with only a very faint grey-blue line from her earlobe to her jaw.
Wang Qi vaguely opened his eyes.
He saw his beautiful wife, Yi Hong, standing before him, draped in a faded red silk scarf, looking shy.
He quickly moved backward, as if the person in front of him was not his wife, but a man-eating evil spirit.
Yi Hong looked around and said to herself, "Qilang hides so quickly. This dilapidated temple... Qilang, could it be that you want to try some new tricks?"
A hint of embarrassment flashed across Wang Qi's face, and he said sternly, "Yi Hong, why must you persecute me so!"
"You and I are of different paths, human and ghost. Why do you harm me?"
Yi Hong's expression froze. She thought her beloved had forgotten their past vows of love. She carefully scrutinized her beloved, Wang Qi, only to see his face pale, his spirit scattered, and his three vital fires flickering precariously.
Only then did she remember that interaction between humans and ghosts would diminish a person's lifespan.
"Qilang, what's so good about being alive?"
"If you were to die, wouldn't it be better for us to be a pair of wild mandarin ducks?"
Wang Qi was speechless for a moment, so angry that he couldn't utter a word. He couldn't catch his breath and fainted.
Seeing this, Yi Hong was at a loss. She hadn't expected him to be so fragile.
"Qilang! Qilang, wake up!"
Yi Hong leaned over Wang Qi and vigorously shook his body.
Chen Ming, who was watching the show, suddenly noticed a change in the opportunity codex, indicating that a task had been updated.
Chen Ming's thoughts entered his sea of consciousness to check the tasks.
opportunity codex · Page 2
『Urban Encounter』
Today's Encounter: Reincarnation
Requirement: Help the hanged ghost Yi Hong reincarnate.
Completion Status: Not Completed
Reward: Paper-Cutting Art
opportunity codex · Page 3
『Daily Good Deed』
Today's Good Deed: Sending Off the Spirit
Requirement: Send Wang Qi's corpse back to his hometown.
Completion Status: Not Completed
Reward: Willow Wreath (Can ward off snakes, insects, and Yin ghosts)