It was near the summer solstice, and the tides in Pengxuan Lake were surging. The waves on Longzangpu were also so rough that it was difficult for ordinary boats to sail.
Most ordinary people don't know that this is the twelve-year fruiting period of Langgan Shenke on Yingzhou Island. At this time, the earth's veins on Yingzhou Island relax and the pure Qi rises. It is an excellent opportunity for refining Qi and cultivating Zhen.
The day when Xu Guo held the Yingzhou Conference.
At times like this, the heads of various schools in Huaxu Kingdom and their outstanding disciples would gather together to perform tricks or discuss Taoism. It had both a higher and lower purpose, and it was also an occasion to communicate with each other and establish good relationships.
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At this time, Zhao Mi was seen stepping on the waves, his figure rising and falling with the tide of the lake, his clothes and sleeves fluttering lightly, his ribbon flying, not the slightest bit wet, and his demeanor and demeanor were not like ordinary people.
Different from the previous boat ride across Pengxuan Lake, during the Yingzhou Meeting, if the monks wanted to land on the island to attend the meeting, they had to show their magical powers, either riding the waves or flying in the sky. This was what all parties attending the meeting wanted to do.
Set a threshold.
"In ancient times, people who aspired to immortality, whether they were collecting sesame seeds and making great elixirs, or visiting immortals to seek magical methods, would inevitably learn the art of climbing mountains and rivers." Zhao Shu said with emotion: "The mountains and rivers are dangerous, and these difficulties are a test.
If we, our people, are lax in our pursuit of the Tao and our ambition to seek immortality, and if we are lax and fearful, and hesitate to advance, we may miss the fate of immortality and regret it for the rest of our lives."
Zhao Shu was just pretending to be a master, when a voice came from behind:
"Senior, please be slower and wait for us!"
Turning around and looking back, I saw five young monks from the Huaiying Hall walking hand in hand, their hands and feet rippling with spiritual light. However, they were standing on the surging water, each of them seemed to be stepping on a single tree, their bodies were swaying, and they could barely maintain their skills.
law takes effect.
"You usually don't work hard, but now you know how to complain?" Zhao Shu looked serious, imitating Zhang Duanjing's tone: "The technique of chasing waves and lingbo is not simply to use the inner energy to control the outer energy, but to use the momentum of the waves to push the body. If the foundation of the technique is refined,
You are pure, and you can still walk on flat ground in the face of great waves. But as a result, you are all shaky, and you are clearly lacking in training."
Those young college students did not dare to answer the question, and the stone fire beside them undulated with the waves, and they whispered: "Don't blame them too harshly. Usually, it is convenient to cross the river and wade by boat. Even if you are in an inaccessible place, you can still use it."
With the protection of the talisman, you don’t have to be distracted to feel the waves under your feet.”
Zhao Miao sighed: "The Yingzhou Conference is not a monthly magic test in the Huaiying Hall. The competition between various schools starts from the moment they land on the island. The monks of the halls who can come to the Yingzhou Club
, who would lack magic spells? But this is definitely not the essence of the Yingzhou Society!"
Shi Huoguang nodded secretly, but the student from Youguan was secretly unhappy and retorted: "Senior, you have superb cultivation and are highly valued by the king. This time, you will definitely order the next Shenke Fairy Fruit early. We are here to serve as foils.
Yes, of course I don’t understand the essence.”
Zhao Mo's eyes twitched: "If you think that the Yingzhou Conference is a place for bravery and fierce competition, you are totally wrong! In such a blessed land of immortals, every word and deed of you and me is not only watched by the elders of each family, but
In my eyes, maybe there are immortals from other worlds who really pay attention. The Shenke Immortal Fruit cannot be obtained by force, otherwise, where would it be our turn to get to the Huaiying Pavilion?"
Several students in the hall were speechless. Zhao Shu sighed when he saw this. He suddenly understood Lingxiao's dissatisfaction with him.
Even though I gave my instructions carefully, I wanted to break apart all the subtle principles and teach them to others, but the other party just couldn't understand them. I wanted to open their heads and see how much paste was inside.
What Zhao Shu said earlier angered Lingxiao, so she couldn't hide it and said nothing for the past few months. Looking back now, in Lingxiao's view, Zhao Shu probably had a short-term understanding and was stubborn and hard to change.
Zhao Shu was meditating here when suddenly a strong wind blew in the air. Looking up, he saw seven monks forming a formation and flying in the wind. They were dressed in light green and had sleeves like wings. They were obviously monks from Feilian Hall.
"Huh? Zhao Fuli?" The leading monk paused and stood in the air. He glanced at the black and yellow ribbon on Zhao Mi's waist. He slowly descended with the waiter behind him, and said with cupped hands: "Maybe I should call you.
Marquis Zhenming?"
"Yi Jiangzi?" Zhao Shui recognized the person. This person had also participated in the suppression of bandits in Xingluo County, and he was the monk from Feilian Hall who was scolded by Zhao Shui.
"That's right." Yi Jiangzi raised his hands and sleeves: "I said goodbye in a hurry last year. There are still many things I want to say to Marquis Zhenming. I never wanted to meet again here."
Zhao Shu coughed twice and said: "There will be no Marquis Zhenming at the Yingzhou Conference. You and I will treat each other as Taoist friends."
"Haha, that's fine!" Yi Jiangzi raised his head and laughed.
"Do you represent Feilian Guan in the Yingzhou Conference?" Zhao Shu asked.
Yi Jiangzi replied: "Yes, I was taught a lesson by fellow Taoist Zhao last year, and then I experienced fighting on the battlefield, and I realized that I had many shortcomings. After the war, I went back to Guanshe to retreat for more than half a year, and my cultivation improved a little. I want to thank you a lot, fellow Taoist Zhao."
.”
This made Zhao Shu feel a little embarrassed. When he was in Xingluo County, he didn't get along well with fellow monks from other monasteries. But he didn't expect that Yi Jiangzi would go through this experience. Not only did he not dwell on past grudges, but he also entered the country.
Quite a few.
"Fellow Taoist is so open-minded, but it makes me ashamed." Zhao Shu smiled helplessly.
Yi Jiangzi said: "Of all the monks who participated in the suppression of bandits in Xingluo County, your Huaiying Temple has the highest achievements. Mr. Luo is now in charge, and Zhao Daoyou is the deacon of Jinding Division. Although I am cultivating in the mountains, I still have the highest achievements.
I also learned that fellow Daoist Zhao was granted the title of Marquis of Zhenming and prospered in the court of Dongshengdu!"
Zhao Shu shook his head and waved his hands: "It's all just a false name. Nowadays, I am busy with worldly affairs and all kinds of calculations for gain and gain. On the contrary, I envy my Taoist friends for being able to cultivate in the mountains."
Yi Jiangzi rolled up his sleeves and said: "The mountains are bitterly cold, lonely and empty. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages."
"That's right, like a fish drinking water, you know whether you are warm or cold." Zhao Shu relaxed his shoulders. The massacre in Xingluo County did change many people and many things.
At this time, I saw a vague glow stretching in the mid-air in the south, spreading out a path of light, and four or five graceful female cultivators, wearing silks flying in the air, came gracefully like beautiful girls descending from the earth.
"They are Taoist fellows from Mingxia Pavilion." Yi Jiangzi saw that the monks from Mingxia Pavilion did not stop and flew straight towards Yingzhou Island, so he raised his hands and said, "Fellow Taoist Zhao, let's take a step first!"
"Fellow Taoist, please excuse me. I'll be here shortly." Zhao Shu watched as the monks from Feilian Hall formed their formation again and soared into the air on the wind and waves.
"Sure enough, it's convenient to be able to fly." After the people flew far away, Zhao Shu sighed. When he turned around, he saw the few students in the hall were still struggling to keep up. He really couldn't stand it anymore.
The surrounding water surface was as solid as flat ground, allowing everyone to stand firm and take a breather.
"Senior has such a wonderful method, why didn't he use it earlier?" asked a young student.
Zhao Shu shook his head: "If I do all the difficult things, how will you practice?"
"Others are flying across Yingzhou, but we are the only ones who walk on two legs." Someone else complained: "With our little ability, we will make a fool of ourselves when we get to Yingzhou."
"Feilian Guan is good at controlling the wind, and Mingxia Guan is good at dining with Xia, and they can form spells in formations, which are unique and mysterious. This is their respective inheritance." Zhao Shu said: "You don't have to envy them. You don't know the hard work they put in.
It’s better to work hard on your own and don’t think about comparing yourself with others all day long.”
"Senior, you are already Zhenminghou, so of course you don't need to compare with others." Someone murmured in a low voice.
As soon as these words came out, even Shi Huoguang couldn't help it. Just as he was about to speak, Zhao Shu interrupted: "The chief arranged for you to participate in the Yingzhou Conference because he saw that you are quite talented and now you have a good opportunity for immortality.
Don’t waste it.”
Several college students responded casually, but without any enthusiasm.
"Do you have any complaints?" Zhao Shu noticed something strange.
Someone from the hall said: "Senior Zhao, we all in the hall can clearly see that the leader is too partial to you. You have taken advantage of it, why don't you allow everyone to say a few words? The Huaiying Hall is like your teacher
Their private property is the same."
Zhao Shu frowned and said, "What do you mean by that? When did I treat the Huaiying Pavilion as private property?"
"Senior Zhao naturally doesn't know about it in Dongshengdu." The young student in the library said: "Most of the seniors in the library went to Jindingsi and became your subordinates, and the teaching in the library has also become a talisman sacrifice.
The Lord of Creation even forcibly assigned talisman soldiers to sacrifice in the name of homework examination."
When it came to the talisman soldiers, Zhao Shu planned to use it as a test subject so that the Huaiying Hall could monopolize the profits from the talisman sacrifices. Even if the imperial court now establishes the Jinding Division, there are more than just monks from the Huaiying Hall. But the talisman
Regarding the construction of military sacrifices, Huaiying Hall is still the main focus, so it is not surprising that it is divided.
"Now that the imperial court has established a new army, it needs to equip a large number of talisman soldiers." Zhao Shu explained: "Jinding Division is short of manpower, so there is no way to ask everyone in the hall to assist. Just survive this period."
Seeing that the other party did not answer, Zhao Shu asked: "You seem to have other ideas? There are no other people here. Just say it. I won't pursue it."
A student from the hall mustered up the courage and said: "Senior Zhao, we are not here to be coolies in the Huaiying Hall. Since ancient times, how can people who cultivate immortality and learn Taoism spend all their time making weapons and armor for ordinary people? Occasionally do their homework.
For that reason, how come it is our turn to have such lowly craftsmen working all day long?"
"Despicable?" Zhao Shu couldn't hide his anger: "Is this how you see it?"
The heads of those young masters shrank, and Zhao Shu restrained his anger: "The purpose of the talisman soldiers is to enable ordinary soldiers to fight against enemy monks and magicians. Otherwise, we can only deal with it ourselves.
You few have never witnessed the Great War of the Five Kingdoms, nor have you experienced the bandit suppression in Xingluo County, so you don’t know how dangerous the battlefield is. Once you are on the battlefield, it will be difficult for you to protect yourself with your little cultivation power!
The sacrifice of talisman soldiers not only benefits the soldiers, but also allows them to stay behind and stay away from the battlefield. What else are you dissatisfied with? Do you have to let the world support you and do nothing yourself? "
Several students in the hall did not respond and looked at each other. They were all obviously dissatisfied. Zhao Miao had no choice but to act like an elder: "If you have something to say, just say it, don't hesitate!"
"We just feel that why is it that only our Huaiying Pavilion has to be so tired and take over all kinds of complicated and trivial matters, while other pavilions can enjoy themselves freely?" Someone looked away and said: "There were several people who worked in Jindingsi before.
When the senior returned to the library, he couldn't stop complaining."
"What are you complaining about?" Zhao Shu asked, closing his eyes.
"They say that Senior Zhao, you act arbitrarily in Jinding Division. You only discuss everything with a few close associates around you. The official arrangements for all kinds of magic artifacts and spells make them breathless." The young man said: "They said something is coming.
I have been in Shengdu for several months, facing the alchemy furnace and talismans all day long. Not to mention improving my magic power, there is even a risk of deterioration."
Hearing this, Zhao Shu was initially angry but he turned to look at Shi Huoguang and asked, "You think so too?"
Shi Huoguang hesitated for a while, and finally said: "You are also dedicated to serving the imperial court, and you are a little harsh. I think everyone can understand your intentions."
"Other halls are also set up by the imperial court, why don't they be allowed to serve more?" A student from the hall said, "And shouldn't our monks be based on seeking immortality? Why should we become slaves and serve those ordinary people?
Effectiveness?"
"Who taught you these words?" Zhao Shu stared at the students with a serious expression.
"No one teaches you!" The students in the hall said to each other: "Many people in the hall have had grievances for a long time. We don't dare to tell the leader. Doesn't Senior Zhao not allow us to defend ourselves?"
Zhao Shu suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness. He did not expect that such a trend of abandoning secular affairs would also arise in Huaiying Hall, and judging from this posture, there were more than two people who agreed with it.
Now Zhao Shu could also see that the original intention of establishing the Guanshe in Huaxu Kingdom was not to support a group of Qing cultivators who did not engage in secular affairs, but precisely to cultivate practitioners of magic and magic who could serve the country.
Not surprisingly, Zhao Shui is a typical example here, and it is perfect for someone like him to serve as the deacon of Jindingsi.
However, Huaxu Guoguan's system still retains the foundation of cultivating immortality and learning Taoism. Xuanmen's Taoism originally despised secular affairs and gradually became less and less mundane. This is indeed very different from the Guan's system's pursuit of promising and useful learning.
What is even worse now is that before the scholars in Guansha have truly understood the essence of the immortal way, they have the idea of abandoning worldly affairs and even regard themselves as superior to others. This state of mind and attitude made Zhao Shuo couldn't help but think of Liang Shuo.
Judging from the words and deeds of these young monks, Zhao Shu vaguely guessed that teacher Zhang Duanjing must not be in the hall during these days.
If Zhang Duanjing had been checking his words and deeds and taking exams to practice his homework, he would not have been unaware of these situations, and he would have responded appropriately instead of letting such words and deeds go unchecked.
It is difficult for people to restrain themselves at all times, but it is very easy to be self-indulgent. Especially without the strict discipline of elders, not everyone can consciously practice diligently.
Obviously, even the Huaiying Pavilion chaired by Zhang Duanjing cannot avoid this situation. Moreover, the students in these pavilions now use Zhao Mi as a reason for being too demanding, which makes people unable to defend themselves.
"The Yingzhou Conference is just around the corner. Now the experts from all parties are gathered together. Don't mention these things. I will discuss it with the leader afterwards." Zhao Shu sighed helplessly and could only suppress the matter for the time being.