Lin Yi pressed further, "And then what happened?"
Xuanyou Daoist sighed and said, "When Zhu Hongwu subdued the gods of the underworld and obtained both the Yin and Yang principles in the mortal and the netherworld, and was promoted to the Dragon Court, he was secretly attacked by a demon hidden in the City of the Wrongfully Dead, and ultimately failed at the last moment."
The term "wrongful death" refers to a death that is not a natural death, but rather a death caused by suicide, disaster, war, accident, murder, or other unjust causes.
Those who die unjustly also have reincarnation, but they need to wait.
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva took pity on these ghosts who suffered this undeserved calamity, so he specially built a city for these unjustly deceased ghosts to live in before they are reincarnated.
After Zhu Hongwu severed the connection between the celestial and mortal realms, immortals and Buddhas disappeared from this world.
The Ming Dynasty's imperial court and the underworld's ghosts and gods waged endless war in the netherworld. Unbeknownst to either side, a demon was born in the City of the Unjustly Dead.
This demon was incredibly ferocious and adept at devouring its own kind. It hid in the City of the Wrongfully Dead, growing silently before finally delivering a fatal blow to Zhu Hongwu.
The Taoist Xuanyou recounted the whole story, concluding with, "After Zhu Hongwu's scheme failed, some said it was due to karma, while others said it was a conspiracy. What do you think, my friend?"
Lin Yi smiled coldly and said, "The victor is king and the loser is villain; there's no point in saying more. But as long as the Ming Dynasty still exists, some people won't dare to speak recklessly. Zhu Hongwu, as a commoner, wielded a three-foot sword and swept across the land. He drove out the Tartars and restored our land. What a hero he was! Even if some villains slander him, they are just clowns who only make people laugh."
After saying this, Lin Yi thought of the Imperial Advisor Wu Tian. It seemed that after Zhu Hongwu's plan to "transform the Dragon Court into the Heavenly Court" was thwarted, some people were already restless. But in the end, they didn't dare to take action themselves, so they found a scapegoat.
Xuanyou Daoist nodded slightly, no longer pursuing the topic, and instead asked, "May I ask what brings you to this world, my friend?"
Lin Yi flicked his finger, and the broken sword in his hand emitted a clear and melodious dragon's roar. He laughed and said, "When the end of the Dharma arrives, a sage will emerge. The way of the sage is to follow the will of Heaven and respond to the needs of the people."
The Taoist Xuanyou said, "However, Heaven and Earth are ruthless, treating all things like straw dogs."
Lin Yi said, “As the ancient sages said, ‘Heaven sees as the people see, and Heaven hears as the people hear.’ As practitioners, we should use our own hearts to understand the heart of Heaven, and use the heart of Heaven to rectify our own hearts. Only when Heaven and humanity are in harmony can we follow the right path.”
“Good,” Xuanyou Daoist nodded.
The two looked at each other and smiled.
………………
The next day, as the sun rose in the east, a young Taoist boy who looked only eight or nine years old, with rosy lips and white teeth, and a handsome, sculpted face, arrived one after the other at the foot of Qiaoshan Mountain, in front of the Xuanyuan Temple.
Seeing Lin Yi and Xuanyou Daoist sitting under the Xuanyuan Cypress, chatting and laughing, the two were relieved.
Xuanyou Daoist said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, quickly take out your Sun and Moon Universe Pot, and Fellow Daoist Changsheng, don't hide your Kunlun Spirit Tea. Today, this old Daoist will personally take care of it and make sure you have a good feast."
As he spoke, the Taoist Xuanyou waved his sleeve, and a stone table appeared under the tree.
The stone table was clearly visible and tangible, but according to Lin Yi's spiritual sense, it was completely empty.
"Fellow Daoist Xuanyou's Dao of Truth and Illusion has reached the realm of perfect harmony between inner vision and outer form, a truly commendable achievement." Zhang Tianshi, who appeared as a child, walked over, took out a uniquely shaped teapot, and placed it on the stone table.
The teapot is shaped like a pot, but its surface is uneven with bark-like engravings. The spout and handle, in particular, resemble a withered vine, which is quite strange.
Despite its unusual shape, the teapot possesses a vibrant and layered color. The entire body is a dark gold with a subtle purple sheen, exuding a radiant, understated beauty.
Xuanyou Daoist picked up the purple clay teapot on the table, looking as if he couldn't put it down.
"It's been many years since we last met. Fellow Daoist Xuanyou, you still look as dashing as ever." Kunlun Sect Master Changsheng Daoist also walked to the stone table and sat down, taking out a jade box and placing it on the stone table.
"These past years, I've been in seclusion cultivating, and there isn't even a decent amount of tea left in my cave. Life has been miserable, and I've lost all my former elegance," said Xuanyou Daoist, placing the purple clay teapot on the stone table and lifting the lid. He then took a few tea leaves from a jade box and put them inside.
Lin Yi watched silently until Xuan You Daoist drew a water-gathering talisman in mid-air, then said, "How can ordinary water be worthy of spiritual tea and a precious pot? It would be a waste of your skill."
Xuanyou Daoist waved his hand to disperse the water-gathering talisman and said, "Then please make your move, fellow Daoist."
Lin Yi extended his right hand, and the true energy of the Milky Way in his palm changed, gathering the divine essence of the sun and moon and absorbing the brilliance of the five planets to obtain the Three Lights Divine Water.
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Chapter Thirteen: Misfortune and fortune have no fixed gate; they are summoned by oneself.
"Good water, truly good water," praised the Taoist Xuanyou.
Lin Yi gestured, and the Three Lights Divine Water landed in front of Xuan You Daoist.
Xuanyou Daoist stretched out his hand, and a ball of pure white flame appeared in his palm.
This fire is no ordinary fire; it is called the Samadhi True Fire.
It belongs to the same category as the Starry True Fire that Lin Yi possesses, both being part of the Seven Great Innate True Waters.
The Zhi Xuan Pian states: "I have three true fires: the heart is the sovereign fire, also called the divine fire, and its name is Shang Mei; the kidneys are the minister fire, also called the essence fire, and its name is Zhong Mei; the bladder is the people's fire, and its name is Xia Mei."
"When gathered, it becomes fire; when dispersed, it becomes air. Rising and falling, it circulates and follows the way of the universe."
Heaven has three treasures: the sun, the moon, and the stars; man has three treasures: essence, energy, and spirit.
When the Three Lights Divine Water and the Samadhi True Fire meet, water and fire merge, and yin and yang harmonize.
Zhang Tianshi took out five cups and placed them on the stone table.
The Taoist master Xuanyou effortlessly prepared the utensils, placed the tea, brewed the tea, and poured it, all in one smooth motion. There was a wondrous harmony between humanity and nature, a tranquility that captivated the senses, making one reluctant to awaken.
The aroma of tea filled the air, transforming the dilapidated Xuanyuan Temple into a paradise on earth.
………………
As night fell, the bright moon hung high in the sky, and the stars twinkled.
The capital city, the Imperial Preceptor's residence, the back garden.
Wu Tian was absorbing the essence of the moon and breathing in the radiance of the stars.