A shout sounded at the ferry, and several large boats slowly started to move, leaving the ferry and floating towards the river.
These boats were carrying Li Xiuyuan, Fu Tianchou and his party, preparing to go upstream to the capital.
As soon as the ship moved, there was a huge black shadow lurking underwater, controlling the water flow and secretly controlling the ship's hull, so that the ships could move forward slowly, neither too fast nor too slow, in an effort to reach the capital in ninety days.
Li Xiuyuan was in an empty cabin at the moment. He had already given instructions on the journey. If anyone asked about him, he would say that he had something to do and left temporarily, and would catch up in another boat later.
He came to the window, took out a folded yellow paper crane from the Ghost King's bag, and threw it forward.
The paper crane was blown away by the river wind, but when it was three feet away from him, the paper crane suddenly flapped its wings and suddenly came to life. Then it circled on the river and then quickly flew towards the east-west direction.
The speed was no less than that of a flying bird, and it suddenly turned into a black dot in the distance.
"The speed is fast enough." Li Xiuyuan's eyes moved, he took a step forward, but his figure immediately disappeared into the cabin.
When he appeared again, he was already on the river bank.
"Take me for a ride and catch up with the paper crane in front of you." Li Xiuyuan said, and he took out an ancient calligraphy and painting.
A ray of white light flew out, landed on the ground and transformed into a handsome dragon colt.
After getting on the horse, the divine horse neighed like a dragon, with four hooves stepping on the wind, and jumped up as if it was about to soar into the sky. It carried Li Xiuyuan and chased the paper crane at an unimaginable speed.
Although the paper crane is fast, every time it flies far away, it will wait for Li Xiuyuan to catch up, and then continue to fly forward after catching up.
The dragon horse is not an ordinary horse. It has the speed to ride the wind, and can walk on water without sinking. It can easily climb mountains and steep peaks as if it were on flat ground. However, Li Xiuyuan usually uses it as an ordinary horse, making the dragon horse
It's just that Ju's ability cannot be shown.
"I don't know where the master's school is, I hope it's not too far away." Li Xiuyuan thought to himself.
He was seeking the Dharma, not the Tao.
He has his own way, but what he lacks is the method to protect it.
Therefore, the purpose of this trip is to return to the master's school to learn some magic so that he can deal with matters in the capital.
Even the Centipede Spirit didn't dare to say that he could subdue all the ghosts, gods and demons in the capital, so Li Xiuyuan naturally couldn't be completely sure.
The most powerful thing about demons is not their Taoism, but their ability to confuse people.
Let’s not look at Hua Gu’s White Lotus Sect, which has tens of thousands of followers. Looking at the Maitreya Sect King Ze, the toad spirit has not seen how profound his teachings are for thousands of years. He is also a self-made sect and confuses the people.
Just a few evil spirits united together to rebel. It was only because of Li Xiuyuan's timely quelling the rebellion and some mistakes in the enemy's decision-making that he won this battle. Otherwise, if these evil spirits were allowed to cause chaos, half of the country in the south of the Yangtze River would be destroyed.
It's in danger.
This is the most terrifying place for evil spirits.
Although the evil spirits in the capital will not induce people to rebel, they can be very terrifying when used in other places.
Because there is still an imperial power there.
Even Li Xiuyuan had to be shackled by the imperial power.
"Huhu~!"
The strong wind howled in my ears, and the paper crane became faster and faster, flying faster and faster.
Li Xiuyuan felt that he had traveled at least a few hundred miles, but he didn't know why he hadn't reached the place where the master's gate was.
Suddenly.
At this moment, the paper crane suddenly slowed down and flew towards an inconspicuous town at the foot of a mountain.
"Where is the town? Shouldn't we go to the teacher's gate?" Li Xiuyuan frowned.
This town is called Changshou Town.
Because many of the elderly people in the town live long lives, it got its name.
And because this town is hidden under the mountains and in a remote place, ordinary people have never heard of it, so it is not known to outsiders.
The small town is like a paradise. Regardless of the turbulence of the external situation and the suffering of the people, it is not affected in the slightest. Even the officials sent here are deeply infected by the folk customs of this place and have stayed for a long time.
Connected with the outside world, yet independent from the world.
The most famous thing about Changshou Town is not the longevity of the local people, but the mountain.
This mountain is called Xianren Mountain.
People who go into the mountains occasionally see immortals sitting on the top of the peak that mortals cannot climb, breathing in the rays of light and the purple energy of the rising sun. Others see immortals playing chess on the cliffs of a hundred feet in the mountains, and even
Occasionally, an expert in a Taoist robe would come down the mountain to administer medicine to save people.
A young scholar who went to the mountains to seek enlightenment once said that there is a temple in the mountains where gods and masters live. If you are destined to worship under the temple, you can learn magic and gain immortality.
But some people out of curiosity went into the mountain to look for the Taoist temple, but they couldn't find it at all. They only saw heavy fog locking the mountain. After entering the mountain, they turned around and returned to the same place.
However, the news that there are gods living here spread like wildfire.
Every year, many literati and tourists come to visit Xian and seek Taoism.
Some people go to the mountains to worship immortal masters and come down a few years later, wearing Taoist robes and able to cast spells. Some people are unable to seek Taoism, or return with regrets, or are unwilling to leave, and settle here in the hope that one day an opportunity will come their way.
In the prosperous times, there were only a few people seeking Taoism. However, in the Song Dynasty, the court was mediocre and the dawn was miserable. There were more and more people visiting immortals and seeking Taoism. Some people who could not survive hoped to take this opportunity to find a place to stay.
It's like entering a temple and becoming a monk.
But I heard that monks are not allowed to have sex with women and cannot pass on the family line, but those who practice Taoism cannot help it.
Therefore, the people are more willing to practice Taoism. In the future, when the magic is completed, it will be good to earn wealth and return home in fine clothes.
Today, Changshou Town is as peaceful as usual. People are working hard and vendors are doing business. There are not many people in the town, but it is full of vitality.
"Bata~!"
However, just this afternoon, a yellow paper crane suddenly flew from a distance, circled in the sky over Changshou Town, then became stiff and motionless, and fell from the sky.
The paper crane fell to the ground and could no longer fly. It seemed that the magic had been exhausted, or the mission was completed.
"Tap~!"
The horse's hooves landed on the old smooth bluestone road, making a crisp sound, and a dragon colt rode the wind and landed in front of Changshou Town.
Sitting on the dragon colt is a young prince, wearing brocade clothes and a sword hanging from his waist. He has a tall and straight figure, sword-shaped eyebrows and bright eyes. He looks forward to a breathtaking majesty.
He looks like a prince in the mortal world and a god in the sky. He does not have the temperament and eyes that an ordinary man should have.
"This is the master's gate? It doesn't look like it. It couldn't be that my master's spell failed and he pointed out a random path." Li Xiuyuan frowned and looked up.
But I saw the words "Changshou Town" hanging on the antique archway in front of me.
The handwriting is ethereal and lively, with a strong aura of dust.
"" Li Xiuyuan's mouth twitched slightly when he saw this word.
The handwriting is very good, but he recognizes this character as it was written by his master. There is no mistake. His master has the worst habit of writing, that is, he likes to add a tadpole at the end, which looks like a stamp.
Same, very easy to recognize.
"Since my master left a message here, the master will not be able to escape here." He suddenly paid attention to the mountain behind Changshou Town.
The clouds and mist are shrouded, and there is golden light floating, revealing an unusual atmosphere.
If there is a mountain gate, it must be in the mountain.
"Go and have a look in the mountains." Li Xiuyuan thought to himself. He got off his horse, walked through the town on foot, and then rode up the mountain.
It was one of his habits to dismount first when entering the city, unless it was an emergency.
Because the horse's temperament is unpredictable and easy to hurt people, although Longju can't do it, he is accustomed to it.
When he was passing by a tea shop, a voice suddenly came from him: "Brother in front of you, seeing that you are so tired and tired, you must have come here to seek immortality and ask questions. It's getting late now."
, If you go into the mountains at this time, you may encounter venomous snakes and beasts. It’s inappropriate. It’s inappropriate. Why not rest for a day?
, will you go up the mountain with us tomorrow to seek enlightenment?"
"Huh?" Li Xiuyuan glanced at him.
But he saw a young Taoist in Taoist robes in the tea shop, holding a fly whisk and saying hello to him.
"Is this Taoist priest talking to me?" Li Xiuyuan asked in return.
"Haha, I am not a Taoist priest. My name is Cheng Le. I am a scholar from Wen County. Because I was tired of the intrigues among the world, I came here with my friend Zhou Cai just to ask for immortality." This one is called Cheng Le.
The Taoist in question was actually not a Taoist, but a scholar.
After he finished speaking, a man next to him also stood up and saluted, looking like a scholar.
"It turns out it's Brother Cheng and Brother Zhou. I'm Li Xiuyuan, a scholar from Guobei County. He came here to learn magic under the guidance of an expert." Li Xiuyuan also reported his family name.
Cheng Le said with a smile: "Sure enough, I saw it when I met Brother Li before. Brother Li is eager to go up the mountain to visit the immortals. What else is it if he doesn't ask for immortals? Meeting him means being destined. It's cold outside, why don't you come in and have a drink?
Hot tea to warm you up?"
Li Xiuyuan thought for a moment and felt that it was indeed getting late. Night fell quickly in winter, so it would not be too late to go up the mountain tomorrow morning. He would rest in this county today.
"Then I'd rather be respectful than obey." He bowed and walked into the tea shop.
"Haha, it seems that Brother Li is also a cheerful and free-spirited person, not that tacky. You and I are like-minded people, so we shouldn't be so outspoken. If we worship at the mountain gate tomorrow, maybe we will still be brothers in the same sect." Cheng Le.
smiled.
Li Xiuyuan nodded and replied: "That's the truth."
He felt that this scholar in Taoist robes was a nice person, very straightforward and friendly to others. This personality was indeed very suitable for seeking immortality.
The most important thing for a Taoist cultivator is to have a broad-minded mind and not to be too obsessed, otherwise it will be easy to suffer disaster and death.
"Since Brother Cheng is a scholar and has great fame, why do you dress up like a Taoist?" Li Xiuyuan asked after sitting down.
Cheng Le smiled and said: "Before coming here, I put on my Taoist robe and took a fly whisk. If I can't succeed in seeking immortality, I will live in seclusion here for the rest of my life. It's not bad."
Li Xiuyuan nodded, sensing Cheng Le's determination to seek immortality.
He is a person who has truly seen through the mortal world, is tired of the fighting in the world, and hopes to escape into the mountain gate.
"Brother Li is from Guobei County? When I passed by before, I stayed at Lanruo Temple outside Guobei County for a few nights. How is the abbot there, Master Kong?" Cheng Le asked curiously.
Li Xiuyuan shook his head and said: "Master Lokong has passed away and Lanruo Temple has been abandoned. It has now been converted into another temple."
Cheng Le was surprised and said: "Why is this? Isn't Lanruo Temple a good temple? Why did it fall into ruin after only a few years of work?"
"Brother Cheng, who has been to Lanruo Temple, should know that there is a thousand-year-old banyan tree on the mountain behind Lanruo Temple." Li Xiuyuan said in a suppressed voice.
"I know, I know, many pilgrims hang marriage plaques on the sacred tree to pray. Xiaosheng has also gone to see it." Cheng Le nodded repeatedly.
Li Xiuyuan shook his head slightly and said: "The thousand-year-old banyan tree turned into a spirit and turned into a tree demon to cause trouble in Lanruo Temple. Master Liaokong sat in the back mountain and left a golden body to suppress the tree demon, but he failed and hundreds of people died."
"What? This happened." He was shocked.
Recalling the scene when he stayed at Lanruo Temple a few years ago, he didn't expect that in the past few years, a thousand-year-old tree spirit would appear in Lanruo Temple and kill hundreds of people.
"Monsters harm people, what happened?" Zhou Cai next to him was surprised and couldn't help but ask.
Li Xiuyuan sighed: "I am a local scholar, so I can't ignore it. I brought a few people with me, bought enough kerosene, and burned the back mountain with a fire. The tree demon was burned to death, and he didn't forget it before he died.
He cursed me so much that I feel a little scared when I think about it, it was indeed very dangerous at the time."
"Well done, Brother Li burned the fire well. That damn tree demon is harmful to people's lives. If I had known this, I should have burned the banyan tree a few years ago. Who knew that the sacred tree would turn into a tree demon and harm people.
Cheng Le said excitedly, admiring Li Xiuyuan's move.
Zhou Cai also nodded repeatedly, thinking that this was a very good move. If it were him, he would set fire to the mountain and burn the tree demon to death.
"Humph, that's nonsense."
Suddenly, a cold snort rang out, and a young Taoist wearing a Taoist robe walked in with a cold face: "A thousand-year-old tree demon has become a spirit. The Taoism has been at least a thousand years. Such spirits are already comparable to gods.
It's easy to call the wind and rain, fly into the sky and escape from the earth. How can you be just a mere one?
A scholar can be burned to death by a fire. A man who talks lies and wants to seek immortality? I would like to advise you to go back and forth from where you are. Don't even think about going into the mountains to seek enlightenment."
Seeing this Taoist, Cheng Le and Zhou Cai were startled. They stood up in a hurry, bowed and saluted, and said, "Wan Sheng has met Taoist Master Ling Fengzi."
Ling Fengzi?
Li Xiuyuan's name sounded like a Taoist priest. Could it be that this man was a Taoist priest on the mountain?
"What the Taoist said is wrong. I didn't lie. It was indeed me who set the tree spirit on fire. Why does the Taoist think I'm talking nonsense?" Li Xiuyuan frowned slightly.
"Only you?"
Ling Fengzi looked at Li Xiuyuan and said with a bit of ridicule: "Even a hanged ghost can kill you, how can you deal with a thousand-year-old monster?"
"Hasn't Taoist Master heard that evil cannot prevail against good? When I do justice, I will have the help of heaven. That tree demon has harmed countless people, his luck has declined, and his merits have been exhausted. He will die under my fire.
It's not impossible." Li Xiuyuan said.
"Don't forget that if I swallow a golden elixir, my fate is up to me. The thousand-year-old demon is not inferior to the golden elixir expert. Even God cannot kill him. Fortune and luck are just deceptions for you who don't know the truth.
Man, you are a scholar who is full of lies, and you are still saying that the tree demon died in
In your hands, today the poor Taoist wants you to reveal your flaws, reveal the truth, and let others see how you deceive others." After Ling Fengzi finished speaking, he took out a talisman from the Taoist robe.
He held it in his hand and muttered something, then shouted, and the talisman flew out and ran towards Li Xiuyuan.