Chapter 39: The Three Treasures of Guang Cheng

  Mù Xīn was full of hope that Qīng Yán would say something he wanted to know, but what Qīng Yán said disappointed him.

  "Dao Chang, do you know what's going on with the copper mirror in my house?" Of course, he couldn't tell him about the Hu Tian Jian, but Qing Yan was full of expectation that Mu Xin would give him the information he wanted to know.

  Although Mu Xin was disappointed himself, he couldn't let his third disciple be disappointed again. Moreover, he was now a man of the Way and had seen much, so he cleared his throat and said, "Is that copper mirror going to speak?"

  Qingyan nodded busily, and indeed he had asked the right person. Muxin Daochang was truly knowledgeable and insightful.

  Qingyan's expression made Muxin very satisfied, and he couldn't help but touch his own nose. In fact, Muxin had never been quite satisfied with his eagle-like nose, which easily gave people the impression of being sinister and cunning. He remembered that when his master accepted him as his eldest disciple, he had hesitated for a long time because of his appearance. Fortunately, true gold is not afraid of fire refining, and his master was wise in judging people, so Muxin became the head disciple without any danger. Many years have passed since then, and this nose is still here, but his master has disappeared without a trace, even missing the last "Jiazi Year Gathering". Could it be that he had achieved enlightenment and ascended to heaven? Muxin's thoughts wandered as he reminisced about his master, and he remained silent for a long time.

  Qingyan waited eagerly for Muxin to speak, but he seemed to have lost his train of thought. Looking at Muxin's distracted expression, Qingyan couldn't help but call out "Daozhang, Daozhang!"

  Mushin was awakened by Qingyan, shaking his head secretly "Really getting old and having wild thoughts!" Looking at Qingyan's anxious appearance, he said "Don't worry, let me think about where to start" After a pause, he continued "That bronze mirror is not an ordinary object, it has a name called 'Huang Tian Jian', one of the few divine artifacts passed down from ancient times!"

  Qingyan naturally knew about the Haotian Mirror, but he still pretended to be ignorant and said, "Haotian Mirror? The name itself sounds very impressive! Daozhang, is it really that powerful?"

  "It's really powerful!" Mu Xin said on the side, but his tone was somewhat regretful. "What's the use of being powerful if you're still sealed away? Now it's even being used as a dressing mirror!" Zhao Wuji had also said these exact words when he first discovered the Huatian Mirror.

  Qingyan was really curious why the Taiji bag and the Huatian mirror would be sealed by people, so he asked "Daozhang, how powerful is the Huatian mirror?"

  "Huang Tian Jian was forged by the ancient great god Fuxi, who took a piece of strange iron from the divine axe that Pangu used to open up the sky and earth. After more than 100 years of refining, Huang Tian Jian was finally formed. Once it was put into use, its power was boundless. Legend has it that the light emitted by this mirror could reach the nine heavens above and penetrate the nine lands below, shattering everything in its path, leaving no stone unturned, and striking fear into the hearts of all gods and ghosts. Fuxi did not expect Huang Tian Jian's power to be so great, and he feared that if it fell into the wrong hands after his ascension, no one would be able to control it. At that time, he placed a seal on Huang Tian Jian, greatly reducing its power. From then on, Huang Tian Jian could only borrow external forces for its own use, and the divine light that shook heaven and earth was never seen again. However, even with this reduction in power, Huang Tian Jian's might was still astonishing. It could borrow any force from the universe, such as the true fire of the sun, the primordial yin energy, or the true qi cultivated by various practitioners. The most terrifying thing about Huang Tian Jian was that after it borrowed and transformed these forces, the power released would be more than ten times its original strength. Think about it, if you had Huang Tian Jian in your hands now, with your current abilities, and infused it with your true qi, the power emitted by it would be at least on par with the ninth level of the Taiqing mixed yuan boundary. What do you think that would be like?"

  (Fuxi is said to have had a human head and snake body, and married his sister Nüwa, giving birth to children and becoming the ancestors of humanity. He is also said to be the true founder of Taoism, and was reportedly an outstanding leader of the ancient Huaxia tribe. Fuxi created the eight trigrams based on the principles of yin-yang changes in heaven and earth, using eight simple yet profound symbols to summarize all things between heaven and earth. I'm just borrowing the name for now, don't take it seriously!)

  Qingyan's tongue was sticking out, his mouth almost unable to close, and after a long while he said, "If that were in the hands of my fellow Qingxu, wouldn't it directly reach the state of Wuji?"

  "Indeed! The Huatian Mirror has been lost in the world since Fuxi's great godhood was established. Each of its appearances has caused a huge stir, and I don't know how many cultivators have died for it. The temptation of the Huatian Mirror is really too great!"

  Qingyan heard this and spoke up for Haotian Mirror, saying "I think it's those people who are in the wrong. It's just a bronze mirror, what can it do? If you want to blame someone, blame Fuxi God for creating it. Back then, Fuxi God should have taken it to heaven or destroyed it directly. Then there wouldn't be any trouble! Daozhang, don't you think so?"

  Mù Xīn was stunned by his words, thinking to himself "This kid is really insightful!" Indeed, what bad things could Huáng Tiān Jiàn do if people didn't treat him poorly? He said "Qīng Yán! You're so young yet you have such a perspective, it's truly not simple!"

  Qing Yan was a bit embarrassed by what he said, and his face turned red as he said "I just say whatever comes to mind, besides it's the truth anyway!"

  "If everyone in the world had a heart as innocent as yours, there wouldn't be so much trouble, Qingyan! Some principles are understood by all, but no one is willing to put them into practice. The Huatian Mirror, this divine artifact, who doesn't want to possess it for themselves? Who doesn't want to be the number one in the world? Especially those with extremely ambitious wild hearts, who will stop at nothing to dominate the world and get their hands on it. And the righteous cannot let it fall into the hands of these people with ulterior motives, so every time it appears, it will be a great battle between good and evil, the source of the struggle for dominance."

  Qingyan was thrilled to hear this, such a magnificent divine artifact was actually in his house. Although times have changed and the Huàntiān Jiàn is no longer as glorious as it once was, it's still an antique after all. Being able to use it as a mirror is also a happy and comfortable thing. Mu Xin finished speaking. Qingyan wasn't satisfied yet, so he asked again "Daozhang, since the Huàntiān Jiàn is so powerful, how did it end up in this state?"

  Mù Xīn looked at his excitement, although he was talking dry mouth and tongue, but had to continue saying "Hào Tiān Jiàn is indeed formidable, however, the heaven and earth, all things are born and restrained by each other, one thing suppresses another, like a drop of water on tofu. There is a treasure that is its nemesis!"

  "This isn't a joke, is it?! Qingyan said with an entreating tone "Daozhang, please say it quickly! What's the nemesis of the Huantian Mirror?"

  Mu Xin was very satisfied with his own means, and smiled slightly, continuing to say "The last time the Huatian Mirror appeared was after Huangdi defeated Chiyou and unified China. The Huatian Mirror reappeared in the sky. As soon as it appeared, the world that had been peaceful for a long time suddenly fell into chaos, and demons took advantage of the situation to rise up, causing the Tao to disappear and the demons to prosper. However, the Huatian Mirror fell into the hands of the demonic path, and even Huangdi was unable to cope with it. He was the master of the world, the first person of the righteous path, and in order to calm down the disaster, he finally had no choice but to go to Mount Kongtong again to seek help from Guang Chengzi!"

  Qingyan heard this and exclaimed, "Ah!" Isn't the Cangyan Mountain just here? I remember hearing about the legend of the Yellow Emperor asking about the Tao from the ancient immortal Guang Chengzi. Who would have thought that he himself was already in the legendary Cangyan Mountain?

  The Wooden Heart looked at Qingyan for a moment, and didn't say much. He continued, "Guang Chengzi has been cultivating the Tao for many years. The Yellow Emperor once asked him about the Tao, and Guang Chengzi told him: 'The emotions of the Supreme Tao are profound and obscure. Without seeing or hearing, one must hold onto the spirit and quiet the mind. The body will naturally become upright, and the heart will be pure and clear. Without exhausting the body, without disturbing the essence, one can achieve longevity. Be cautious of internal distractions, and know that excessive knowledge leads to defeat. I have guarded this principle, and used it to cultivate harmony, so for 1,200 years, my body has not declined.' Those who obtain my Tao will become emperors, while those who lose it will become commoners. I am about to leave you, enter the boundless expanse, roam the infinite wilderness, shine with the sun and moon, and coexist with heaven and earth. While all people will eventually die, I alone will remain.' After finishing speaking, he transmitted the 'Natural Classic' to the Yellow Emperor. The Yellow Emperor cultivated it and benefited greatly from it. Later, when the Yellow Emperor went to Mount Kongtong for the second time to ask Guang Chengzi about the method of breaking the Hu Tian Mirror, Guang Chengzi was silent for a long time. The Yellow Emperor thought that even this immortal had no solution, but then he heard Guang Chengzi say, 'Your Majesty must agree to one condition, and I will transmit the method of defeating the Hu Tian Mirror.' The Yellow Emperor agreed, thinking that Guang Chengzi had a way to defeat the mirror. Guang Chengzi said, 'I have something that can subdue the Hu Tian Mirror, but my condition is that after Your Majesty retrieves it, you must return two objects to Mount Kongtong together with the mirror.' Guang Chengzi's tone was extremely serious. The Yellow Emperor heard this and felt unwilling, thinking that he, as the emperor, was being doubted by Guang Chengzi about returning borrowed items. He said, 'Once I have pacified this disaster, I will definitely return the two objects, without delay!' Guang Chengzi only said, 'I hope it is as you say.' After finishing speaking, he handed over the treasure that could subdue the Hu Tian Mirror to the Yellow Emperor, along with a divine sword. The Yellow Emperor obtained these two objects and quickly pacified the disaster."

  Qingyan saw that he had said half of what he wanted to say, but the other half was left unsaid, so he said, "Daozhang, you've been talking for half a day and still haven't mentioned the name of that treasure! And what about the two treasures that Huangdi gave to Guangchengzi?"

  Mù Xīn said, "Let me rest for a while first, telling stories is also exhausting!"

  Qingyan couldn't help but think to himself, "He's been a cultivator for so many years, how can he still be so fond of keeping people in suspense!" But there was nothing he could do about it, so he had no choice but to wait patiently for him to slowly recover his energy.

  Mushin had been nursing his divine energy for a long time, and Qingyan was already anxious to the point of scratching his ears and cheeks. He cleared his throat again, ready to start speaking.

  Qingyan saw that he had made a move, and hurriedly sat up straight, with an air of listening to a great man expounding the scriptures. Then he heard Muxin say, "The treasure passed down by Guangchengzi to Huangdi to control the Huantian Mirror is called the Taiji Bag!" As soon as the words were spoken, seeing Qingyan's surprised look, he couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Qingyan, do you know about the Taiji Bag?"

  Qingyan naturally knew about the Taiji Bag, which was in his bosom. When Muxin asked, he hastily replied, "I don't know! I'm just surprised that this treasure is called something as strange as Taiji Bag! Is it a pocket?"

  Mushin also felt that Qingyan couldn't possibly know something so distant, and said "It's a pocket, but an extremely large one! It's called Taiji, which means it has the ability to contain heaven and earth. The Huatian Mirror is powerful, but it was still put away by the Taiji pouch, and Huangdi calmed the great chaos in this way!"

  Qingyan almost took out the Taiji Bag from his bosom to take a closer look, but with Muxin Daozhang still by his side, he restrained himself. He thought for a moment and then asked, "Daozhang, did Huangdi return the Taiji Bag and the Haotian Mirror to Guangchengzi after his victory?" This question was actually quite silly, as Huangdi was the first of the Five Emperors and the common ancestor of the Huaxia people - how could he not keep his word?

  Unexpectedly, Mu Xin shook his head and said, "Huang Di did not return the two divine artifacts. After that, Huang Di never came to Kunlun Mountain again. The Taiji Bag and the Haotian Mirror were personally retrieved by Guang Chengzi!"

  Qingyan was shocked, and Muxin's words were euphemistic, but he could understand them clearly. It was obvious that Huangdi had defaulted on his debt and refused to repay it, so Guangchengzi had to go and demand payment. Fortunately, Huangdi still acknowledged his debt and knew he was in the wrong, so he didn't let Guangchengzi make a wasted trip. What's this! The great ancestor of the Chinese people actually did something like this, it's too ridiculous!

  Mushin looked shocked, his jaw almost dropping. He sighed and said, "It's no wonder! Thinking about it, it's quite normal. The Yellow Emperor was human, not a god, and the Taiji Bag and Huangtian Mirror were both extraordinary divine instruments. Who wouldn't be tempted? The Yellow Emperor was no exception, he also wanted to possess them.

  Guang Chengzi had anticipated this outcome and said to the Yellow Emperor when retrieving the two divine instruments: "Your Majesty's merits are high and your virtues are thick, the world admires you, and all under heaven submit to you. These two objects are of no use to Your Majesty, and would only disturb your heart. Let me take them away instead!" The Yellow Emperor heard this and said, "Very well," without saying more.

  After Guang Chengzi retrieved the two divine instruments, he sighed and said that human desires are endless, even someone as virtuous as the Yellow Emperor couldn't escape. He then used his great divine power to seal the Taiji Bag and Huangtian Mirror, after which the Taiji Bag could only be used to hold things, and the Huangtian Mirror became an ordinary copper mirror, at most able to reflect people's words.

  Guang Chengzi's intentions were not shallow, but human desires are greater than heaven. The world was without these two divine instruments, yet there were still times of unrest! These Taiji Bag, Huangtian Mirror, and the Xuanyuan Sword given by Guang Chengzi to the Yellow Emperor, because they all had some connection to Guang Chengzi, were collectively known as the Guang Cheng Three Treasures. As for the Xuanyuan Sword, although its power was great, it was inferior compared to the other two objects.

  Mushin finished speaking and let out a long sigh, seemingly moved by Guang Chengzi's efforts.

  Qingyan heard that such a divine instrument had fallen to this state, and he couldn't help but feel a little sad. Thinking again about Guang Chengzi's painstaking efforts, his heart was filled with mixed emotions, not a pleasant feeling at all.

  The wooden heart finished speaking, and there was no mood left. After getting up, he said to Qingyan "Alright! The story is over, I'm going back to the White Cloud Temple!" Thinking that he had come all this way, but didn't get any information, instead told a half-day story, it's really unreasonable! He waved his sleeve and didn't let Qingyan send him off, and left floating away.

  Qingyan still had a lot of questions to ask, but Muxin said goodbye and left without waiting for her reaction. Before she knew it, Muxin was already gone. She could only gloomily return to her own room.

  Returning to the house, Qing Yan saw the Huāntiān Jiàn standing quietly there. His heart moved, and he took out the Taiji Pouch from his bosom. He came before the Huāntiān Jiàn, first looking at the Taiji Pouch, then glancing at the Huāntiān Jiàn. In his mind, he thought, "Peerless divine artifact! Alas! Could it really be just these two things? It can't be fake, right?"

  Just thinking of this, the Taiji bag in his hand shook slightly, and the Haotian Mirror beside him also moved slightly. Qingyan's eyes suddenly opened wide, could it be that the peerless divine artifact is about to reveal its spirit?