Chapter Twelve Heaven's Sorrow Below

  "Yin Feng, look at the two portraits hanging on this hall. One is my ancestor Lin Huaxuan, the founder of our sect, and the other is Qingling Zhenren, who achieved great enlightenment. After Qingling Zhenren ascended to heaven, he left behind many sacred scrolls and precious artifacts. From then on, our sect began to flourish, and we established the Zhengdao Great Sect, so we revere Qingling Zhenren as our second ancestor." Xū Huán Zhēnrén led Yin Feng to stand before the two portraits in the center of the grand hall, saying this.

  This Shang Huang Bao Dian, although it is the ancestral temple of Qing Xiu Palace and the place where the ancestors of Qing Xiu Palace have been worshipped for generations, is not grand in scale, nor does its exterior appearance stand out. However, the entire building has a simple and elegant ancient charm, with each corridor and pillar being smooth and round, giving it an air of age. In fact, this Shang Huang Bao Dian was built by Lin Hua Xuan when he founded Qing Xiu Palace, and although it has been rebuilt several times over the past thousand years, its appearance has not changed, reflecting the intention of not forgetting one's predecessors.

  The two scrolls hanging on the wall in the middle of the treasure hall, one is a middle-aged monk with a kind brow and a smile, standing upright. The other is a true man with clouds under his feet, wandering freely in the mountains and waters. The painter's brushwork conveys the spirit, and with just a few strokes, the immortal aura comes rushing forth. On both sides of the wall of the Upper Emperor's Treasure Hall, there are seven or eight golden statues, each with a bronze plaque below, inscribed with the life story of the person being sculpted. It seems that they are all true men who have achieved great accomplishments in the history of Qingyun Palace.

  Yin Feng's eyebrows slightly furrowed as he gazed at the two wall sculptures, his expression somewhat disapproving. He shook his head and looked up again at the two portraits in the center, intently observing them.

  Xu Xuan didn't urge him, but quietly waited by the side, watching as strange, puzzled, suspicious and struggling expressions appeared on Yin Feng's face. Until Yin Feng clenched his brows in unbearable pain, Xu Xuan slowly asked: "Yin Feng, have you figured anything out?"

  Yinfeng's eyebrows were like swords, with a slight curve at the ends like a crescent moon. This pair of eyebrows that seemed both strong and soft was reminiscent of a black silkworm sleeping in the first snow. At this moment, Yinfeng heard Xuanxu Zhenren ask him, and his eyebrows furrowed even tighter. He hesitated, "This Qingling Zhenren... seems to be someone I've seen before, but... but I just can't remember."

  As he spoke, he suddenly let out a loud cry, clasped his hands to his head, and in an instant his face turned deathly pale, his features contorted, and cold sweat poured down.

  The pain came quickly and left just as fast. Ye Feng shook his head, giving up the idea of searching for memories. All his memories started from the moment he reincarnated into Cang Yun. Everything before that had been completely forgotten, thoroughly and cleanly.

  Xu Xuan Zhen Ren saw it in his eyes, his long eyebrows trembled slightly, and then his face was like still water, without a ripple. He stroked his long beard and said gently: "Yin Feng, no matter what causes you had in your past life, this life you were born in Qing Xu, grew up in Qing Xu, and your Taoist practice originated from the two ancestors. The cause of the past life is the result of this life, although you don't bow to ordinary people, but when drinking water, think of its source, aren't the two ancestral masters worth your respect?"

  He pondered for a moment, then nodded and bowed to the two portraits on the wall.

  Xu Xuan True Person immediately beamed with joy, chuckling and saying: "Originally, Qing Yu Palace attaches great importance to tradition and etiquette. No matter the time or place, ancestral rituals and ceremonies must not be neglected. However, you are an exception. Since you have already paid respects to the ancestors, you can be considered a reincarnated disciple of Qing Ling True Person. From now on, within Qing Yu Palace, including myself, you do not need to kneel or pay respects to anyone. You may go anywhere in the entire palace."

  Yin Feng nodded vaguely.

  Xu Xuan True Person took out four ancient scrolls from his bosom and handed them to Yin Feng, saying: "This is the 'Shang Huang Jin Lu' left by Qing Ling True Person after ascending to immortality. Since you have a predestined relationship with Qing Ling True Person, take it and study it yourself. If you have any questions, come find me. You stay here for now, this Heavenly Thunder Tribulation is not trivial, your matter also needs to be reported to the various elder true persons, I'll go make arrangements first, and will come to fetch you later."

  Having said that, Xuanyuan Zhenren immediately left the palace and went away.

  He held the four volumes of the precious "Shang Huang Jin Lu" in his hand, but did not look at it. He stood alone in the hall, his heart surging like a tide, repeatedly thinking: "The cause of the previous life, the fruit of this life... The cause of the previous life, the fruit of this life... Cause and effect..."

  Bang!

  A crystal clear water droplet fell silently and shattered into pieces on the jade-green ground.

  The wind moaned and startled me, I lowered my head and stared at that small water droplet on the ground, for a moment, I was perplexed.

  Suddenly, another drop of water fell.

  He wiped his face with his sleeve, and it turned out that he had been crying all along.

  "Why is this? Why is this?" He was shocked in his heart, and somewhat secretly flustered.But when he wanted to think carefully, the severe pain came again on schedule. However, he endured the pain and continued to search hard in a blank mind.

  After a while, Yin Feng finally collapsed, his face as pale as gold paper, his sweat seeping through his heavy clothes, still with nothing to show for it. He gazed blankly at the eaves of the hall, letting clear tears trickle down.

  Are those past events all gone from him?

  "Sister Shī, I'm here." Under the moonlight, Huàn Yān softly called out and then pushed open the wooden door, entering this spacious yet somewhat simple main room.

  The room was simply furnished, with only a bed and a table. The walls were bare and the plaster had fallen off in some places. On the east wall hung a long sword. There was no light in the room, but by the moonlight that came through the window, one could vaguely see a slender figure standing in front of the window.

  Hearing the call, she slowly turned around, and it was Huai Su. Huai Su was in her prime years, with a beautiful face and figure that were among the best. At this time, it had been some days since Ji Ye rushed into her bathroom, and her eyebrows and eyes already had some sharp edges, adding a bit of firmness to her gentle charm. Seeing Huan Yan arrive, her face showed joy, and she welcomed her.

  Hanyan held a small food box in his hand, walked gently to the table, and placed three small dishes and a jug of strong wine on the table from the food box. He said, "Sister, these are all Hanyan's craftsmanship, try it."

  Huaisu didn't respond, grabbed the wine jug, tilted his head back and gulped it down with a gurgling sound, then let out a long sigh and exclaimed: "What a relief!"

  Yan stood silently to one side, waiting until Huai Su had finished drinking his wine. Only then did he say: "Elder sister, the annual examination is approaching and for this month and a half, I'm afraid I won't be able to come see you. You... take good care of yourself."

  Huaisu heard this and his body trembled slightly, then he said: "It's been so fast, it's already November. I didn't realize... I've been here for almost half a year now. Alas, since I started meditating in this Cold Dew Temple, none of my sisters have come to visit me. We didn't have much relationship to begin with, yet you always come to see me."

  With a faint smile, she said: "This can't be blamed on others. The two Wind Tigers guarding the Frost Dew Palace are not as partial to people as others, so naturally my sisters can't come in. I've been playing with them since childhood, that's why they let me in!"

  Han Yan hesitated for a moment, seemingly uncertain, and after a long while, he suddenly let out a light sigh and said: "Shi Jie, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should say it."

  Huai Su was taken aback, and smiled: "Hanyan, I am actually a prisoner waiting for punishment, but you have come to visit me secretly many times. With this kind of friendship, what can't be said?"

  Yan Yan sighed and said, "Actually, Master Yu Xuan's ancestor was diligent in his work for the revival of Dan Yuan Palace day and night, exhausting his mind and thoughts. He heard that Ji Ruochen had a special identity, and this time he was indeed framed by someone, so Master Yu Xuan's ancestor also had his own difficulties. Why do you have to insist on seeing him and suffer in vain here? Eldest sister, I heard that you used to be a teetotaler, but now? You're already drunk every day."

  Huai Su was silent for a moment, then gritted her teeth and said: "Sorrowful heart? At that time, what did he look like when he was framed? This is not to mention, but Ji Ruocheng was framed by someone, and it was lightly passed over with just one sentence. But who can I ask to return my lost innocence? The Master's intention was indeed for the sake of reviving Dan Yuan, and would stop at nothing. Unfortunately, I, Huai Su, am only an ordinary woman, unable to offer everything for the sake of reviving Dan Yuan. I'm afraid I won't be able to fulfill the order of Master Yu Xuan!"

  With a hint of surprise on his face, a pair of eyes like wisps of smoke gazed at Huaisu and asked, "What did Master Yu Xuanshu order you to do?"

  Huaisu remained silent, grabbed the wine jug and tilted his head to pour it into his mouth, but ended up pouring nothing. It turned out that the jug had been empty for a long time. Huaisu casually threw the wine jug out of the window, stood up straight, and stood in front of the window, staring at the frosty moonlight.

  After smoking for a while, Yingying stood up and called out: "Sister..."

  Huaisu seemed to have let out a soft sigh, and slowly undressed and untied her belt. A moment later, a jade-like body was fully exposed before Hanyan. The moonlight was like water, sprinkling on her silky skin, as if it also slowly produced a layer of light smoke. The picturesque woman was thus shrouded in a layer of gauze, making the scene even more enchanting and breathtaking.

  "Does Teacher's sister smoke? Is she pretty?"

  Hanyu was extremely surprised and said in a somewhat bewildered tone: "Of course, Shifu is extremely beautiful..."

  Huai Su gently stroked her own body, and softly sighed: "The ancient saying that beauty is a calamity is indeed true. In this world, women who are born beautiful are already guilty of a crime. You don't need to ask what the master's orders are, in short, I won't be able to do it."

  Han Yan listened, but remained silent.

  Huai Su suddenly asked: "Hanyan, I heard that you once taught together with Ji Ruochen. Do you know what stage he is at now?"

  Yan Yan replied: "Last year during the imperial examination, he had just entered the realm of Taiqing Zhen Sheng."

  Huai Su smiled bleakly and said: "Very good! Then this year I will destroy two layers of Taoist practice, and I will meet him in the annual examination."

  Yan Yun was shocked, and hastily said: "Sister, absolutely not! Another year has passed, and according to common sense, his Taoist cultivation is impossible to advance another layer. However, he was taught by the eight true immortals, and is different from ordinary disciples. If he really made progress before the annual examination, it wouldn't be a strange thing. In that case, sister, wouldn't you have wasted your efforts? Moreover..."

  Huaisu saw Hanyan hesitating and smiled bitterly: "Whatever it is, just say it."

  Yan Fang Dao said: "Ji Ruocheng's entry into the Taoist sect was delayed, and at first, his heavenly fate was not apparent. However, he has now won the top spot in the annual examination three times in a row, making rapid progress, with a strong momentum of overtaking from behind. Moreover, his Taoist methods are complex and varied, and he also has ways to restrain my palace's techniques. Eldest sister... even if you have made up your mind to die, it's not certain that you can achieve your goal. How could the true people not be suspicious when you suddenly destroy your own Taoist cultivation? This matter absolutely cannot be done!"

  Huai Su smiled wistfully and said, "I understand now. It seems that I'm no match for him even if I exhaust myself. In that case, I should wait for him to slowly catch up, and only when he has just entered the Xuan Sheng realm will I have the opportunity to strike him down with one blow?"

  "Han Yan sighed and said: "Sister... even if you really can kill him, the true people are all watching from the side, collecting souls and continuing their lives, is it a difficult thing to do?"

  She stood there in a daze, and before long, a teardrop rolled down her cheek. She didn't even notice it, but simply asked: "Then... what should I do?"

  With a sigh of smoke, she wanted to speak but stopped, after a long time, she lightly sighed and said: "This matter is against the trend, Hanyan is just an ordinary woman, what can I do, I don't know either."

  Heavy snow has been falling for days, and it's already deep into winter. In just three more days, the annual year-end examination of the Taoist sect will arrive once again.

  At this time, Ji Ruocheng had already prepared the strategy for the annual examination and the corresponding magic treasures were also ready. The dan medicine and talismans needed for the exam had been prepared half a month ago. Last year, he relied on his variable means to win first place as soon as he entered the Taiqing True Saint Realm. This year, he had secretly used the separation technique many times, but was still some distance away from breaking through to the True Saint realm. However, Ji Ruocheng's true yuan was now deep and rich, and could not be compared to last year at this time. Winning first place again this year was almost a certainty.

  Now that everything is ready, apart from meditation and self-cultivation, there is nothing else to do. During this period, he often felt restless in his heart, but since the day he divined the blood omen, Ji Ruochen put away all the divination tools in the corner of the house, letting them gather dust. Most of the materials for divining were used to supplement his own vitality. Even when practicing divination, he no longer took the theme of a fallen immortal.

  Although he didn't divine the hexagrams, he did pay attention to the concept of cause and effect and the way of reincarnation. However, after searching through the Taoist scriptures, Ji Ruochen still felt confused and unclear. It was only then that he realized that this concept of cause and effect and reincarnation was even more obscure and difficult to understand than the Three Pure Ones' true method.

  Ji Ruocheng stood in front of the window, gazing out at the heavy snowfall outside. Suddenly, a thousand thoughts flooded his mind. For some reason, he suddenly recalled the argument between the innkeeper and his wife at the Longmen Inn years ago.

  That day, business was slow, and not a single fat sheep came to the door all day. The face of the shopkeeper's wife turned black. At dinner time, the inn was filled with thick clouds and hidden thunder. Ji Ruochen was still young at that time, scared stiff, only lowering his head to eat rice, afraid of meeting the gaze of the shopkeeper's wife, lest he bring this storm upon himself.

  Fortunately, after the shopkeeper's wife scolded heaven and earth and the gods and Buddhas, her words suddenly turned to the shopkeeper. As soon as she opened her mouth, it was like several giant bronze bells ringing out at the same time, although there was a strong and clear tone, but the sound was really too loud, shaking the walls and making the bowls and plates jump wildly.

  At the moment when Ji Ru was dizzy and her eyes were blurred, she only heard her scolding the shopkeeper: "You useless thing! You were born with a bad fate, every ten years you will have a great disaster! In five years, it will be another ghost gate. I think that year, I was also beautiful and charming, there were eighty or ninety matchmakers coming to our door, how did I blindly choose you? Now we are still running this broken and shabby small shop in this desolate mountain, the only partner is a scavenger! In times of poverty and hardship, even eating becomes a problem!"

  The shopkeeper's mood wasn't good either, and after drinking a few more cups of inferior wine, his courage was boosted. With a loud slap on the table, he angrily said: "Although I've been through ten years of disaster, each time only the store is destroyed, no one has died! If this isn't great wealth and prosperity, what is it? Hmph! What about back then? Back then you were naturally charming! You shouted loudly in River East, and even the village on the west bank was almost empty!"

  The shopkeeper's wife was furious, shouting loudly: "Zhang Wancai! You have a big dog's guts! Today either you die or I live!" Before the shout had fallen, a palm as large as a fan had already brought an evil wind towards the shopkeeper's face!

  The shopkeeper's movements were extremely quick, and he grabbed a plate of buns and blocked them in front of him.

  Ji Ruocheng was extremely clever, and this scene made him see even more. He quickly hid under the table like a wisp of smoke. Under the table, he only saw the shopkeeper and his wife's four feet advancing and retreating in an orderly manner, with the sound of "ding ding dong dong" above their heads, and he didn't know how many bowls and dishes were damaged.

  At this thought, Ji Ruochen couldn't help but smile wryly. But he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine as he carefully calculated the dates in his mind. It turned out that the shopkeeper's tenth year of great calamity coincided with the day Ji Ruochen went up the mountain!

  Looking back on past events, Ji Ruochen couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. It seemed that the shopkeeper couple had ultimately been unable to escape the calamity of their store being destroyed and their lives being lost.

  Gazing up at the vast sky where snowflakes danced, listening to the howling wind, I took a deep breath, letting the chill seep into my bones and slowly spread through my chest.

  Whether good fortune or bad, what is destined will come. No matter how many divinations are made, they will all be useless in the end.

  He suddenly let out a loud whistle!

  This year's age examination, Ji Ruocheng did not use any magical tools or talismans, wearing only a green robe and wielding a wooden sword, with thirty-eight wounds on his body, he won every battle.