Chapter 61: Taoist Heaven and Earths Visit to Wuzhuang Taoist Temple (Part I)
When Zhenyuanzi took Hong Yun’s Nine Nine Spirit-killing Gourd from Minghe, he appeared astonished with just one glance and returned to his Ashram immediately. He closed down the entire Ashram upon his arrival. What had made Zhenyuanzi so cautious?
He walked into the closed door meditation room and sealed it with his limit. Then, he took out the Nine Nine Spirit-killing Gourd and said, in a vigilant tone, "Fellow Taoist Minghe, come out please." Was Minghe hiding in Hong Yun’s red gourd? What for?
A green light flashed and it was Minghe’s Good Separation, Heaven and Earth Taoist. He smiled and said, "I’m Heaven and Earth Taoist, Good Separation of Ancestor Minghe. Nice to meet you, I do not want you to be nervous. If I wanted to kill someone, there would be no one able to prevent me." Following his voice was a vigor, quickly gone.
Yet, it shocked Zhenyuanzi. He never thought that Minghe’s Good Separation also got high cultivation, the Peak Level of Sage-to-be. No one would believe it.
In Untainted Land, separation was to add to Your veneration’s cultivation. Yet, normally, separation wouldn’t get higher cultivation than Your veneration does. What’s more, once three separations were destroyed, it would take great effort and cost to repair. Thus, it would influence Your veneration’s cultivation. If their separations were not be repaired, it would damage Your veneration’s Foundation. Therefore, no one would use their three separations to fight with same-rank rivals.
Unlike them, Minghe’s Good Separation, Heaven and Earth Taoist, got the same cultivation as Minghe himself did. What’s more, Zhenyuanzi sensed the power of divine law in the flashed vigor. [Since he was named Heaven and Earth Taoist, he likely mastered the Law of Heaven and Earth, which was used by Minghe to eye on Hong Meng Immortal Qi and sage-to -be Individual Cultivators just now.]
So how powerful will his Evil Separation be? Minghe has hidden his strength well. If he wanted to kill me, he wouldn’t hide in the red gourd or make himself discoverable. What do his words mean?
After thinking it through, Zhenyuanzi began to relax and asked, "Fellow Taoist of Heaven and Earth, what did you mean by ’Hongyun is not dead, go back quickly’? Could it be ..." So, that was why Zhenyuanzi had hurried to return to the Wuzhuang Taoist Temple.
Heaven and Earth Taoist smiled and waved his sleeves. Then, a figure appeared and was lying on the seat. Zhenyuanzi was astonished and shouted, "Hongyun. I thought you were dead. Fellow Taoist, thank you for saving Hongyun. "
Heaven and Earth Taoist waved his hands and said, "You’re welcome. Though Hongyun committed self exploding, a piece of his soul was left in the Nine Nine Spirit-killing Gourd. I was just doing you a favor that costs me nothing. But, Fellow Taoist Hongyun’s remaining soul is very weak. Though I am nourishing it with the Three Light Holy Water, to get him out of danger, it will take a long time for him to recover."
Hongyun’s remaining soul would probably disappear if there was any attack. Zhenyuanzi had an excited look on his face when he said, "Thank you for your help. Otherwise, Hongyun would have definitely died if Nine Nine Spirit-killing Gourd had been stolen by Kunpeng."
Heaven and Earth Taoist replied, "I hear that your Fellow Taoists have a Highest Grade primordial spirit root, called Ginseng Tree, which is one of the primordial Five Sacred Roots, of the East Wood. You can put the remaining pieces of Hongyun into the root to get nourishment, so he will recover soon."
On hearing that, Zhenyuanzi said, "Thank you very much for reminding me. I will go and get it now. Just a moment." He then took Hongyun and disappeared. A few minutes later, Zhenyuanzi came back with a plate full of baby-shaped fruit. There were about nine Ginsengs.
Zhenyuanzi sent the Ginsengs to Minghe and said, "Here is some fruit from the Ginseng Tree. A present to you, for saving Hongyun." Though Minghe had gotten the Hong Meng Immortal Qi, after all, he had taken it from Kunpeng, not by robbing Hongyun. And, most importantly, he saved Hongyun. Therefore, Zhenyuanzi felt very grateful.
"I accept it. I’ve heard about the Ginseng fruit. They are really unusual," said Heaven and Earth Taoist. Again he waved his sleeves and the fruit vanished. He didn’t take the time to taste them since he had pressing things to do.
Since Heaven and Earth Taoist did not taste them, Zhenyuanzi knew Minghe must have sent him here for some other reason. Or, he would not be hiding in the Nine Nine Spirit-killing Gourd, to avoid being recognized by others.
Zhenyuanzi said, "You are not here just for Hongyun. Since Fellow Taoist Minghe saved Hongyun, be free to tell me what it is you need. I’ll do as much as I can."
Heaven and Earth Taoist smiled and thought Zhenyuanzi was so smart. Of course, Minghe would not waste time just for sending Hongyun’s remaining soul back. Then he said, "You are really intelligent, indeed my veneration has something to consult with you."
"What is it?" Zhenyuanzi asked. He thought that Minghe must have something important to share, or he would not be so cautious. Heaven and Earth Taoist said, "The first thing --- Can I borrow your Book of the Nether World? "
Zhenyuanzi was skeptical. He wasn’t afraid of being robbed, but this was his Eternal Spiritual Treasure. Why was Minghe so interested in it? Yet, without giving it another thought, Zhenyuanzi took out his Book of the Nether World and gave it over to Heaven and Earth Taoist.
Taking the Book of the Nether World, Heaven and Earth Taoist started to enlighten it all at once. Meanwhile, Minghe, in the blood sea, received Heaven and Earth Taoist’s Spiritual thoughts and was enlightening the book’s contents at the same time, by the Law of Spiritual Beings.
Minghe was curious about it. Among the Three Books of Heaven, Earth, and Mortal, The Heaven Book was Investiture of the Gods, which was to entitle the Gods of the Heavenly Court and it was the supreme treasure of the Heavenly Court. The Book of Life and Death was the supreme treasure of The Nether World, which was in charge of the Creatures’ lives and deaths----all of those under the Sages-to-be level would be recorded in it.
What about the Book of the Nether World? Together, with the Investiture of the Gods and the Book of Life and Death, they made up the Three Books of Heaven, Earth, and Mortal, which had surprising magical power. Therefore, Minghe sent Heaven and Earth Taoist to find out its secret. Perhaps Zhenyuanzi could be his ally, if all was as he presumed.
Zhenyuanzi didn’t stop them. After a short while, Heaven and Earth Taoist opened his eyes with a smile on his face. He gave back the book to Zhenyuanzi and said, "Fellow Taoist Zhenyuanzi, you should enlighten this book carefully. It is really an extraordinary resource. Perhaps you’ll find your way of actualizing in it."
Zhenyuanzi was amazed, he had had this book for a very long time, and it was his Eternal Spiritual Treasure, yet he still hadn’t found out his way of actualizing. Even though he knew about its great defense strength, by calling up the power of leyline, he had still not found his way. Heaven and Earth Taoist just read the book once and was able to completely enlighten it, revealing some secrets, based on his look.
Just as Zhenyuanzi was about to ask, the Heaven and Earth Taoist said, "I know what you want to ask me, but the secrets of heaven cannot be released. You need to figure out your own way. I cannot help." Hearing that, Zhenyuanzi calmed down. That was right! He needed to figure out the best path for himself. Others’ opinions might not be the truth.
Minghe himself, far away from here in the Blood Sea, was smiling. Just as he had presumed, the Book of the Nether World held a shocking secret, the same as the Investiture of the Gods and the Book of Life and Death. When properly used, a competitive force would rise, which would be able to rival the Heavenly Court and the Nether World. However, you win some, you lose some. So, Zhenyuanzi would not be a Carefree Immortal anymore.