These two men had a wide circle of friends and especially enjoyed making friends with cultivators from all over the world.
"Let's go together. After the Third Holy Mother manifests her power in the temple, she will open the gates of the Snow Reflection Palace. I wonder what gifts you fellow Daoists have prepared?" Han Zhongli asked with a smile. As he spoke, he took out a Daoist scripture with the three large characters "Ode to the Elixir of Immortality" written on it in cursive script.
"Isn't this the alchemy manual you compiled? Even the Third Holy Mother wouldn't need your cultivation method!" Tieguai Li asked in confusion.
Han Zhongli laughed heartily and explained, "You and I both know that the Third Holy Mother is fond of poetry and literature. What I gave her was not the elixir formula, but the calligraphy inside—the calligraphy of the Sage of Calligraphy, Wang Xizhi!"
Wang Xizhi, the Sage of Calligraphy, became a saint through calligraphy and lived in seclusion in the Thirty-Three Heavens. Finding him is no easy task.
"Oh, you actually invited him to write this; that's a fine gift. I, Tieguai Li, am not very skilled, but I am good at alchemy, so I can only offer a bottle of pills. The gift doesn't need to be expensive; the thought is what counts!"
Zhang Guo smiled wryly and said, "Since you two immortals say so, I am relieved. I will only offer a fisherman's drum song as a token of my gratitude."
Jiang Liu naturally took out a collection of poems as well, and said, "A collection of poems!"
The poetry collection was inscribed with the two characters "drinking water," written in a mediocre, even ugly, style. Compared to the "Ode to the Elixir of Immortality" that Han Zhongli presented, written by the calligraphy master Wang Xizhi himself, it was worlds apart.
Jiang Liu had carefully prepared the contents of the poetry collection. All eighteen poems were famous works that had been passed down through the ages. Of course, he might not have read any of the less famous ones.
"Like drinking water, only the person drinking knows whether it's hot or cold! A good name..."
As soon as Tieguai Li finished speaking, the sea of clouds in the sky suddenly dispersed. Han Zhongli shook the banana leaf fan in his hand and said, "Xueying Palace is open. Let's go!"
Above the sea of clouds and the fairy mountains, a misty fairy palace appeared, vast in scale, with palaces stretching as far as the eye could see, like a palace from heaven fallen to earth.
Inside the celestial palace, the maid named Lingzhi said, "Princess, I told you! There would be a surprise! Look, isn't this a surprise?"
The Holy Mother of the Three Kingdoms ignored her and instead murmured, "The people of today do not see the moon of ancient times, yet the moon of today once shone on the people of ancient times. The people of ancient times and the people of today are like flowing water, all alike gazing at the bright moon! Alas! If the fairy Chang'e read this poem, she would surely be very pleased."
"Princess, what does this poem mean? It's certainly catchy and easy to recite..."
The Third Holy Mother gazed at the changing clouds outside the palace, then glared at her maid and said, "I told you to read more, but you've been slacking off. This poem reflects the poet's reflection on the eternal moon and the fleeting nature of human life. He cannot change this law, therefore he should cherish every moment of this life and grasp eternity in the instant. Although it implicitly suggests enjoying life while one can, the overall tone is still positive and uplifting, showcasing the poet's broad-minded and contented spirit. Such insight is rare even for ordinary people. However… those words are quite interesting!"
Lingzhi covered her mouth and chuckled, "If it weren't for that word, the princess wouldn't have noticed the poem. It's clear that the word 'ugly' is quite useful!"
"Who said those characters were ugly? To break free from the constraints of calligraphy and create a unique style—that's the mark of a master. And you speak so harshly of him! Go back and copy the Book of Songs three times!"
Lingzhi pouted and pleaded, "Princess, please... or rather, give me the time I spent copying, and I'll find him. His name is Jiang Liu! Jiang Liu? Princess, I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before!"
Upon hearing this, the Third Holy Mother frowned immediately, her jade-like face filled with doubt. She said, "Now that you mention it, I do remember him. Could this person be the Tripitaka Master? His nickname isn't Jiang Liuer..."
"That's possible!"
“He should be in Chang’an! Let’s go see him. I heard he is the reincarnation of the Buddhist monk Jin Chanzi…” The Third Holy Mother said excitedly, and then prepared to leave Xueying Palace.
“My princess, there’s no need to rush! The cultivators who will be discussing the Dao will arrive soon. It wouldn’t be unreasonable for us to leave now. You can leave after the literary gathering. I will stay here!”
"Alright then! We'll wait a little longer."
At this moment, dozens of beams of light appeared in the sea of clouds outside Xueying Palace, all of them being Qi Refiners at the Earth Immortal level. Outside Xueying Palace, there were also dozens of people standing, these were cultivators who had not yet reached the Earth Immortal level.
Chapter 180 Crisis Arrives
The gates of Xueying Palace swung open, and Earth Immortals poured in from the clouds. Jiang Liu naturally couldn't recognize them all. Before his possession, Jiang Liu had never even left Qianlong Mountain. Among the Earth Immortal cultivators in the world, he was perhaps the least knowledgeable.
Fortunately, Zhang Guo whispered to him from the side, and he remembered everything.
These immortals came from all corners of the country, from all corners of the land, and represented Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, but generally did not go beyond the territory of the Tang Dynasty. Most of them were unknown to Jiang Liu, but there were also some who were very well-known.
For example, the man in the blue Taoist robe, chatting amiably with Tieguai Li, was Ge Hong, also known as "Baopuzi," a master alchemist. The ninth-grade "Cloud Light Stone Flying Pill" of the Dan Ding Stream, which Jiang Liu had previously obtained from Xie Hong, was passed down to Xie An by this man. Judging from his peak Qi Refining and Spirit Transformation cultivation, one could tell that his ancestor, Ge Xuan, the Celestial Master, must have been a celestial being.
Then came Tao Hongjing, the "Prime Minister of the Mountains," and Sun Simiao, the "Medicine King." Their strengths varied, but they were all Earth Immortals. Sun Simiao was accompanied by a newly transformed rabbit spirit with snow-white fur, holding a jade pestle and carrying a large medical bag.
These people were gathered together, but they weren't talking about alchemy or healing techniques. Jiang Liu couldn't get a word in edgewise and felt somewhat ashamed of himself. Apart from his ability to subdue demons, he really didn't have anything else to offer.
At this moment, an old man with white hair, white eyebrows, and a white beard walked out from the clouds, bowed to the group, and said, "Greetings, fellow Daoists. I am Yu Ji, a Daoist from Langya. I have been in seclusion and have come to seek the Dao after hearing about the Three Holy Mothers Daoist Assembly."
Ge Hong exclaimed "Oh my!" and bowed, saying, "So it's Daoist Yu Ji! It's truly a joyous occasion that you've attained immortality!"
Yu Ji looked at Ge Hong, turned aside, and dared not accept the bow, saying, "But I am a nephew of Master Ge, and the accomplished should be given priority. This old Daoist cannot accept this bow. If it weren't for Master Ge bestowing upon me a pill that extended my lifespan by two hundred years, it would have been truly difficult for me to enter the realm of Earthly Immortals! Forgive my poor eyesight, but who are these gentlemen?"
"Come, let me introduce you, Daoist Master," Ge Hong said. "This is Daoist Li Xuan, also known as Tieguai Li, who attained Dao during the pre-Qin period. This is Zhongli Quan, a great general of the Eastern Han Dynasty. This is Tao Hongjing. This is Sun Simiao, a great physician of our time. This is Daoist Jiang Liu..."
The group stood in front of Xueying Palace for a while longer before more people arrived.
"Huh! It's her!" Jiang Liu looked at the person who had arrived, slightly surprised, but recognized her.
This woman is none other than Li Fu, whom I met in Jinling City. She is the daughter of Li Jing and Zhang Chuchen, two of the Three Heroes of the Wind and Dust, and the younger sister of General Li Jian.
The man who brought her was middle-aged, tall and slender, with a particularly elegant three-stranded beard, making him a handsome gentleman.
“It’s the great master of the Book of Changes, Yuan Tiangang…” Zhang Guo said softly.
So it was him! Jiang Liu instantly understood. In his memory, this person had performed the Tui Bei Tu with Li Chunfeng, predicting the rise and fall of the Tang Dynasty for ten thousand years. He was a great master of astronomy.
Jiang Liu then became a familiar face to the public.
"Miss Li Fu, what a pleasant surprise to meet you here again!" Jiang Liu exclaimed with a smile, then pointed at Zhang Guo and said, "This is Fellow Daoist Zhang Guo from Zhongtiao Mountain!"
"Greetings, Daoist Master!" Li Fu looked at Jiang Liu in astonishment, his eyes filled with disbelief. Only half a year had passed since their parting in Jinling City, and he had already become an Earth Immortal…
Earth Immortals, when can one become an immortal?
Just then, the clouds and winds changed, and two real dragons leaped up from the Yellow River.
In an instant, the two dragons arrived outside the palace gates, landing gracefully and transforming into two figures. One was square-faced with a red beard, slightly older, clad in a dragon robe, exuding an air of authority. The other had a youthful face with two dragon horns on his forehead, a somewhat immature appearance, and wore a white robe. His extraordinary bearing overshadowed all the disciples and juniors brought by these Earth Immortals. His cultivation was equally formidable, roughly equivalent to the Huai River Dragon Prince killed by Jiang Liu.
As soon as these two appeared, the Earth Immortals all bowed and addressed them as "Dragon Lord." As one of the four heads of the Water Conservancy Department of the Heavenly Court in the Tang Dynasty, his power was naturally immense. The status that power brought was not to be underestimated. Facing these Earth Immortals, the Dragon Lord only returned the greetings to a few of them. Ge Hong was one, after all, he had the huge "Lingbao Sect" behind him. The current Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain was another... Even Tieguai Li, he merely nodded and passed by.
Jiang Liu witnessed the Dragon King's actions. The Jinghe Dragon King only had two more years to live. Once he fell, his sons and grandsons would scatter like monkeys falling from a tree. Those who should be sent to the Dragon Execution Platform would be sent to the Dragon Execution Platform, and those who should be suppressed would be suppressed.
Jiang Liu had never understood why the Heavenly Court had executed the Jing River Dragon King when he watched Journey to the West. It could be said that the killing of the Jing River Dragon King was the catalyst for the pilgrimage. After his death, the Jing River Dragon King felt that his death was entirely Li Shimin's fault, and he caused trouble every day, eventually scaring Li Shimin to death. His soul entered the underworld, where he saw the 18 rebel kings and 64 bandits he had killed when he was conquering the country, all waiting for him to settle accounts in the underworld.
Perhaps having been traumatized in the underworld, Li Shimin, after being resurrected by Judge Cui, held a grand water and land ceremony to pray for the souls of the dead. Thus, Tang Sanzang convened the water and land ceremony, Guanyin entered Chang'an, and the journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures began.
Is there a conflict between Buddhism and Taoism involved?
Jiang Liu couldn't see that he hadn't reached that level yet! As for the claim that Journey to the West was a great calamity for heaven and earth, he didn't agree with it either; at most, it was just a great calamity for the monsters along the way.
The Tang Emperor's order for Tang Sanzang to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures could not possibly have been solely for the purpose of praying for the souls of the dead. According to Jiang Liu's understanding, Taoism currently holds absolute power in the Tang Dynasty, and perhaps the Emperor desired a check and balance. As for the Jade Emperor, he might be trying to break free from Taoist control, thus engaging in a transactional exchange with Buddhism.
Even gods and immortals cannot escape the struggle for power!
Although the gates of Xueying Palace were open, no one dared to enter without an introduction.
The dragon prince looked around, and his gaze settled on Li Fu. Dragons are lustful by nature, and Li Fu was the only woman among this group of cultivators. A single red flower amidst a sea of green naturally attracted him.
"Ao Min, son of the Dragon King of the Xiaolong River, greets the young lady!"
Before Li Fu could reply, the dragon prince's gaze instantly passed over her and landed on Jiang Liu. His eyes first showed some doubt, then sharp as a sword, and then murderous intent.
He had only intended to observe the people surrounding the beautiful woman, but unexpectedly discovered Jiang Liu, the one who killed the dragon prince of the Huai River. The dragon kings of the Huai River and the He River were both sons of the Jing River dragon king; they were essentially cousins. The Huai River dragon king had obtained the memory of Jiang Liu killing his dragon prince, something all four river dragon kings had naturally seen.
"Father, the person who killed Jingdi is here!"
The dragon prince could also tell that Jiang Liu was a celestial being, so he dared not make a move and immediately shouted.
In an instant, the Dragon King turned his gaze, narrowed his eyes, and in a flash, he was in front of Jiang Liu.
"It really is you, hehe... I'll take you first!" With that, he reached out to grab Jiang Liu.
In Jiang Liu's eyes, the hand that grabbed him was like a giant hand as big as a mountain, like Stephen Chow's Buddha's Palm. He wanted to escape, but found that the air around his body was condensed, making it extremely difficult for him to move even a finger.
Imprisonment!
The Dragon King's aura was like a volcanic eruption, making Jiang Liu's heart leap into his throat.
When such a terrifying hand grabbed him, Jiang Liu could almost see his entire head being crushed like an egg!
Moreover, he knew that even if the Dragon King wanted to capture him alive, falling into the hands of the Huai River Dragon King would be worse than death.
"Oh dear!"
Sensing the approaching crisis, Jiang Liu finally unleashed his full potential!
Chapter 181 Come and bite me!
At the critical moment, Jiang Liu's body jolted, and the space behind him seemed to shatter like glass. The pressure suddenly decreased, and his body was forced back half a foot, narrowly avoiding the dangerous claw.
This was his signature move, the "Zhen" technique, combined with the "Power of One Province" bestowed by the Nine Provinces Cauldron. He unleashed it with his body, and although it lacked the power of a fist, it still managed to break the Dragon King's restraints. With this strike, Jiang Liu had weathered countless storms, and now he had finally escaped death.
However, the River Dragon King was, after all, at the peak of the Qi Refining and Spirit Transformation stage, and his methods and supernatural powers were far beyond Jiang Liu's capabilities. Moreover, he held an important position, controlling the Yellow River system, and the supernatural power that had just imprisoned Jiang Liu was a power bestowed upon him by the Heavenly Dao. Although Jiang Liu escaped a calamity, things did not go as he wished. Just when he thought he had dodged the attack, a sudden change occurred!
"Click click click..."
Countless ice crystals condensed around his body. When the Dragon King used this water-based supernatural power, he was even more adept at it, and its power was boundless.
"You mere early-stage Qi Refining and Spirit Transformation cultivator, freeze him!"
The Dragon King's red beard twitched. Jiang Liu had just escaped his claw and was somewhat surprised, but he remained calm and composed.
"The blazing sun... burns the heavens..."
Jiang Liu roared, and at the critical moment, he became like the sun at its zenith, emitting dazzling light and heat to fight against the endless ice.
Han Zhongli waved his banana leaf fan, creating a gust of wind that swept Zhang Guo and Li Fu back. He asked in surprise, "What a powerful fire magic! It can actually withstand the Dragon King's ice seal... Zhang Guo, where did you meet him?"
Zhang Guo also snapped out of his brief daze and said urgently, "Fellow Daoist Zhongli, you still have time to ask this? Quickly persuade him, wouldn't it be better to sit down and talk about it?"
Han Zhongli shook the banana leaf fan in his hand and said helplessly, "I can't help it! With my strength, I can't get involved..."
Tieguai Li also shook his head and said, "I'm good at alchemy, but fighting is not my forte!"
Of the Eight Immortals of Shangdong, only three have emerged so far, and their strength is still on the rise and has not yet reached its peak. Even if we wanted to manage them, we couldn't!
“Master…” Li Fu looked at his master Yuan Tiangang, but kept his words to himself. There was no need to expect a fortune teller to fight!
Yuan Tiangang counted on his fingers, fully aware of his disciple's thoughts, and said with a light smile, "Don't worry! The Third Holy Mother won't ignore this, but... it seems this Dao Discussion Conference might be canceled..."
The Dragon King looked at the river flowing with endless flames in front of him, snorted coldly, narrowed his eyes, and then swung his claw at it.
Jiang Liu dodged again with a swift movement.
Boom! Air burst out from the gap between the fingers that were tightly clenched, as if a large bomb had been crushed.
In an instant, the strong wind shot out like flying swords!
The power of a single claw or squeeze is so fierce and powerful!
"Dragon King, don't push your luck!"