Emperor Zhaode looked at a portrait on the table; the portrait only showed a person's back.
The artist's skill was profound; with just a few strokes, he sketched the image of a peerless, otherworldly immortal.
“Exactly the same.” Emperor Zhaode’s fingers trembled; his heart was surging with excitement, and he could hardly contain himself.
After a while, the basic qualities of a qualified emperor finally calmed Emperor Zhaode down.
"Someone come here," Emperor Zhaode said.
"May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace." An old eunuch with a pale face and no beard walked in and bowed as he spoke.
"Rise, no need for formalities." Emperor Zhaode said calmly, "Eunuch Xu, how's the matter I asked you to handle?"
"Your Majesty, I have taken care of it," said Eunuch Xu.
Emperor Zhaode nodded slightly and said, "Bring him in so I can see him."
Eunuch Xu replied "Yes" and turned to leave.
A little while later, he led in a person whose face was covered.
Just as the two were about to bow, Emperor Zhaode waved his hand and said, "Take off your veil and let me see."
The masked person immediately removed the mask, revealing a face that was very similar to that of Wu Tian, the Imperial Advisor who had already been killed by Lin Yi.
"Good." Emperor Zhaode nodded in satisfaction.
The news that Wu Tian, who is revered as the "National Preceptor," is actually a great demon in disguise must not be spread, otherwise the consequences will be unimaginable.
Emperor Zhaode racked his brains to come up with this solution in order to clean up this mess.
If it's truly the path I chose, I'll walk it to the end, even if I have to crawl on my knees.
Ten days later, the Imperial Preceptor "Wu Tian" and the banished immortal Lin Yi unexpectedly met at the Baiyun Temple in the capital.
The two discussed Taoism and Buddhism. Master Wu Tian was impressed by the banished immortal and said, "Buddha is the Tao." He wished to become a disciple of the banished immortal in order to attain enlightenment.
In the marketplace, gossip always travels the fastest.
Ever since Lin Yi showed off at Baiyun Temple, the legend of the "banished immortal" has spread far and wide.
As the saying goes, "three men make a tiger," and Lin Yi gradually gained supernatural abilities such as having three heads and six arms, and being able to summon wind and rain. His fame spread far and wide, and everyone from civil and military officials to ordinary people knew him.
Emperor Zhaode naturally summoned Lin Yi to the palace.
After a brief exchange, the Emperor was greatly pleased and personally bestowed upon him the title "Qingwei Tongxuan Zhenren" (Pure and Subtle Mysterious True Man), placing him in the ranks of the two Taoist institutions. He then bestowed upon him a host of empty titles, and finally appointed Qingxuan Zhenren to lead the study of Taoist texts, correct various rituals and ceremonies, proofread alchemical texts and spiritual chapters, and revise and annotate commentaries.
During this period, opposition parties naturally emerged, with the most vehemently speaking being Fu Tianchou, the Minister of War.
This old man disregarded life and death, possessed a strong sense of righteousness, and was full of passion. In his eyes, both the former Master Wu Tian and the current Immortal Lin Yi were wicked people who brought disaster to the country and the people, and were birds of a feather.
Of course, Lin Yi was too lazy to deal with these matters; Emperor Zhaode would naturally handle them for him.
At Baiyun Temple, a middle-aged Taoist priest who looked like a hermit was accompanying Lin Yi on a tour.
The middle-aged Taoist priest was named Wang Changyue. He was not only the abbot of Baiyun Temple, but also the current leader of the Quanzhen School.
The Quanzhen School suffered a devastating defeat in the conflict between Buddhism and Taoism during the Yuan Dynasty, incurring heavy losses and severely weakening its vitality.
After the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, it still hasn't emerged from its slump because it lacked the support of the rulers.
Wang Changyue looked at the young Taoist beside him, pondering the future of the Quanzhen Sect.
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Chapter Sixteen: Tibetan Tantric Buddhism, Immortal Manifestations
A religious sect cannot survive or develop without the support of the imperial court.
Without the support of the ruler, laws are difficult to establish.
This applies to Buddhism as well as Taoism.
Unless one day religion can supersede imperial power, that's a different story.
Original Taoism once made efforts in this regard. Zhang Daoling destroyed mountains and temples, exterminated the six ancient ghosts, and established the Three Heavens Righteous Law. He falsely claimed that Laozi established the Zhengyi Alliance and re-ordered the three realms of gods, ghosts, and humans, displaying an audacious ambition.
The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao even proclaimed the slogan "The Azure Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise!" He wanted to overthrow the heavens, revolt, unify the universe, and establish a Taoist kingdom on earth. Countless Taoists died on the battlefield for their dream, sacrificing themselves generously—how many heroes emerged in that era!
But later, the Taoist became "quiet and inactive," and how much helplessness and bloodshed he endured was built upon the countless lives lost.
Blood has grown cold, the Way has declined, the sword is broken, and the Taoists who still dreamed are all dead.
From the Tang and Song dynasties onward, Taoism was transformed using Buddhist principles and constrained by Confucian ethics, reaching its zenith during the Yuan dynasty, with the Quanzhen School being a prime example.
Wang Chongyang said: "There are five levels of immortals. The first is those who do not observe precepts, do not abstain from alcohol and meat, do not kill, do not think of doing good, and are like ghost immortals. The second is those who cultivate their true qi and live long lives, and are earth immortals. The third is those who love war and are sword immortals. The fourth is those who meditate and cultivate themselves, and are immortals. The fifth is those who are filial to their teachers and parents, practice the six perfections and myriad practices, expedite the salvation of all sentient beings, abstain from the ten evils, do not kill, do not eat alcohol and meat, do not steal, have the same intention as Heaven, are upright and selfless, and are called heavenly immortals."
The requirements for immortals in this classification are no different from those in the secular world—uprightness, caring for one's parents, and saving all living beings.
This was a complete fusion of Confucian and Buddhist order, thus achieving a smaller order within a larger one. Furthermore, due to the ignorance of the Hu people's regime, they lavishly bestowed titles upon emperors, leading to their great prosperity.
After great prosperity comes great decline.
Led by Wang Changyue, Lin Yi arrived at the ruins of Changchun Palace, located west of Baiyun Temple.
Changchun Palace, also known as Taiji Palace, was originally named after Qiu Chuji, the Changchun Zhenren, who was appointed by Genghis Khan to reside in Taiji Palace and oversee Taoism throughout the country during the early Yuan Dynasty. Unfortunately, it was later destroyed by war.
This place bears full witness to the rise and fall of the Quanzhen School.
Lin Yi silently gazed at the ruins.