The brushstrokes of his fingertips bloomed slowly and solidified in the scroll. Bai Liming pursed his lips, and his eyebrows were full of concentration. It was as if at this moment, everything about him was in this scroll, from shallow to deep, delicately sketched, like a "Bai Liming"
"Picture of Ge Struggle" appears vividly on the paper.
He picked up his pen again and wrote on the left side of the scroll: "In the spring of the 109th year of the 47th ancestor of the Dao Sect, Baili Ming composed."
In the blink of an eye, it has been nearly three years since I started learning painting. In these three years, my painting skills have become more and more proficient, and I have used this brush to let my brother understand all things.
Time flies, and I am about to turn twelve. I received a letter from Kaiyang Palace today, and I am scheduled to go to Kaiyang on the fifth day of May this year to take the entrance exam.
The opening of each palace of Taiyimen to recruit disciples is scheduled on the fifth day of May every year. Anyone who is interested in the program and is over 12 years old and under 15 years old can sign up. The test is divided into two levels.
At the first level, hold the talisman given by the Taoist gate and pass by a bronze mirror. The name of this mirror is: "Dazhen Mirror." The mirror hangs high. If you have the qualifications to practice, that is, someone with Taoist roots, walk under the bronze mirror and see the talisman.
It will emit a faint white light, so that you can enter the next level of assessment. In this level alone, nine out of ten people will be eliminated.
The assessment format of the next level is different for each palace. The second level of Kaiyang Palace is "Duyun Bridge". During the assessment, a pontoon bridge is built from the shore of Kaiyang Lake, which is about fifty miles long and leads directly to the destination -
—Longmen Island. This island is located more than ten miles east of the main island of Kaiyang. It is a place for outer sect disciples to practice. It means "carp jumps over the dragon's gate" and starts the path of spiritual practice.
When you step onto the "Cloud Crossing Bridge", you will encounter various fantasy challenges along the way. Some may be violent storms or snowstorms, torturing your body and destroying your will;
The mind. This level tests not only the endurance of the person, but also the perseverance and perseverance of the Taoist heart. Only those who insist on not letting go can persevere until the end.
These are what his father told him. Although the examination method is the same every year, everyone knows that those who take the examination in advance will also exercise their physical strength, endurance, and mentality. But when they actually get to the pontoon, it seems that there are
A pair of invisible eyes can see through all the secrets deep in a person's heart. When you are hungry, cold, haggard, isolated, and almost desperate, all kinds of temptations come quietly and hit your heart. Therefore, only ten out of ten people can persevere to the end.
One or two.
Back in the room, Bai Liming was still thinking about his father's words. His thoughts about the cultivation of the Great Dao were so intense that he filled his mind with a splash of ink and painted a picture of "Hundred Gems Struggle to Flood" to clarify his mind.
…
At night, Bai Liming was shaking his head and telling his younger brother a poem: "The man came riding a bamboo horse and went around the bed to make green plums. Living together in Changqianli, the two little ones guessed..."
"Brother, are we childhood sweethearts?"
"That's not the case for us. This means that a boy and a girl have known each other since childhood and have been close to each other." Bai Liming laughed and explained to his younger brother.
"Oh, what's the difference between men and women?" Bai Liping asked curiously.
"Well, girls like to cry, wear skirts, tie their hair in braids, etc. You will know when you grow up." Bai Liming was a little perfunctory.
"Then I also become a crybaby, wear skirts, and tie my hair in pigtails. Then I am a girl. Aren't we childhood sweethearts?"
"Is this..." Bai Liming looked around and whispered furtively: "Girls don't seem to have chicks."
"Then how do they pee?"
"Ahem, you'll know this when you grow up. I have something important to tell you." Bailiming coughed twice and changed the subject with an awkward expression: "In more than a month, my brother will go there."
Take the Kaiyang Palace entrance exam, and if you successfully pass the test and enter the Taoist gate, I will only be able to see you once every six months from now on."
Looking at his younger brother's reluctant eyes, he comforted him: "Brother Ping, I am reluctant to see you again only once in six months, and I don't want you to be trapped here alone, but in order for you to recover your five senses as soon as possible.
, Brother, I have to go. Besides, since Chief Yuan of Kaiyang has arranged for me to practice Taoism, he must have deep intentions. I think I will be able to find a solution in Kaiyang, so you can get out of trouble. Don't worry, brother will work hard to practice and achieve the golden elixir as soon as possible.
, become an inner disciple so that we can meet often."
Bailiping nodded and said, "Brother, I know you are doing it for my own good, so you can go ahead with peace of mind."
Bailiming touched his brother's head lovingly, and looked at his expression of reluctance and pretending to be strong, and sighed softly in his heart...
Exiting the illusion, Bai Liming opened his eyes and saw his father sitting quietly by the bed. When he woke up, he said: "Don't talk yet, just follow me."
With full of doubts, Bai Liming followed his father to the study. After entering, his father made a silent gesture first, turned around and closed the door, took out several talismans, and pasted them on the door frame and window frame one by one.
At the threshold, he took out a bronze incense burner from the bookshelf. After lighting an incense stick, he chanted a mantra. After several talismans glowed slightly, he took a long breath, touched the sweat on his forehead, and said with a wry smile: "
Although my father has opened up the three fields, I can’t do it without condensing the golden elixir. However, after I cast several isolation notes and warning charms, I was so tired that I couldn’t stand it.”
"Father, you are so cautious. Could something big happen at home?"
Baili Xing sighed softly: "Ming'er, you have grown up and are about to take the Taoist exam. There are some things I must let you know." As he said this, he picked up a wooden box from the desk with a leaf in it.
Bai Liming asked doubtfully: "Father, this is the leaf of fairy horse grass. Is there anything strange about it?"
"When my father was young and had no hope of getting a golden elixir, he took a job at the secular affairs hall to take care of the medicinal fields and fairy horse grass. He mainly used talismans to cast spells regularly to condense spiritual energy and turn it into rain to nourish the medicinal herbs. During this period, my father
I discovered that this fairy horse grass has a special characteristic. After being cast, a light yellow line will appear on the thin stems of the leaves. It will disappear after two or three hours. Later, I found it interesting and tried other spells to see if it has this effect. I found that it does.
There is this change, but this feature is useless. I can only passively know that the spell has been cast, so I don't take it to heart."
"Ever since your brother had an abnormality when he was born, I have always felt uneasy as a father. After a few years, everything was calm, and I felt more at ease. But then when I learned that Ping'er has a star that can transform all things, I started to worry again.
I was afraid that Ping'er would be coveted by evil spirits and heretics, so I thought about it and thought of the properties of fairy horse grass. Alas, sure enough, almost every month before and after the full moon, Ping'er will be probed by magic."
"Although I have placed several warning talismans, the visitors don't know what means they use. They always come and go freely without anyone noticing. But the strange thing is that Ping'er has been in peace for the past few years. Is it because I am too much?
Sensitivity, in fact, no one is watching, it may be caused by Ping'er's starlight inducing spiritual energy."
"Father, would you like to ask Mr. Yuan for advice?"
"I have also thought about asking Chief Yuan for advice, but when I think about alarming Chief Yuan over an uncertain matter, it would be a pity to offend him and waste this only chance of contact. So I think it's better to take it easy.
, make a decision before taking action. Ming'er, you must pass this test, enter the Tao Sect and concentrate on the golden elixir with all your strength. When you have the strength, you can solve this mystery."
Hearing this, Bai Liming nodded solemnly: "Father, please rest assured, I will definitely live up to your expectations."
…
The fifth day of May is coming soon, and tomorrow Bailiming will take the Kaiyang entry test. Because Shuangma Town is right on the bank of Kaiyang Lake, there is no need to go there in advance.
At night, Bai Liming entered the fantasy world to say goodbye to his brother. Although Bai Liping was reluctant to leave his brother, he had no choice but to accept the reality.
When they parted, Bailiping said in a childish tone: "Brother, this is for you." As he spoke, he spread his palms, revealing the bright starlight in his palms.
"I spent a lot of effort to peel it off, I think you will use it." As he said that, he raised his hand, and the starlight floated into Baili Ming's forehead, quietly entered the Niwan Palace, and floated quietly.
There was no other unusual movement inside.
Thinking that this starlight can transform all things and may become a help in cultivating Taoism in the future, Baili Ming was filled with joy and said with great ambition: "Brother Xingguang has accepted it. I believe that with it, clearing the customs will be like searching for something in a bag!"