She carried the food box, unaware of what had happened or what was being cooked in the pot. Moreover, he had never seen his master so fascinated by anything other than the principles of divination.
He sniffed, and a strange fragrance entered his nostrils. It smelled of food, but it was more than just food. It was indescribably comforting, as if every pore on his body had been cleansed, and his mind was instantly cleared.
Since the wine hasn't been touched, there's naturally no need to bring out the food.
Seeing that it was almost cooked, Jiang Liu smiled and said, "Come on, let's have a taste first."
On Guanxing Peak, the air was filled with the aroma of food.
A small stone table, with a bowl of rice in front of each person, neither quite porridge nor quite rice.
Once cooked, "Dragon Tooth Rice" turns into a viscous liquid, with pearl-like grains of rice floating in it. Its fragrance cleanses the pores of the whole body and penetrates deep into the bone marrow.
"Such a divine creature, to be able to eat it is an honor beyond measure!"
Everyone straightened their posture, performing all the proper etiquette, before picking up their bowls and taking a bite.
The difference was immediately apparent after taking a bite of rice. It melted in the mouth, sweet and delicious, even more potent than the medicinal effects of a 700-year-old ginseng. After swallowing, a wave of heat spread throughout the body.
Once inside the stomach and intestines, it is completely free of impurities, transforming into a faint fragrance that nourishes the digestive system and relieves its fatigue.
After being ingested, it doesn't require digestion at all; it transforms into the purest vital energy, which merges with the blood and bone marrow, slowly improving a person's constitution.
The people sitting here, Yuan Tiangang, Tieguai Li, and Han Zhongli, have all cultivated to such a high level that they are all Earth Immortals. They have a very clear understanding of the human internal organs. After eating this, no impurities are produced in their intestines, which means that they do not need to urinate or defecate.
Even Zhang Guo and Li Fu, who had not yet become immortals, knew that this seemingly ordinary bowl of rice was anything but ordinary.
This is truly a divine delicacy, the food of immortals.
“I plan to promote the cultivation of this spiritual root and make a contribution to the prosperity of humanity,” Jiang Liu said, immediately shocking everyone.
Those who obtain this spiritual root will inevitably keep it hidden and never show it to others if they have selfish motives.
Yuan Tiangang immediately stood up, bowed to Jiang Liu, and said, "Fellow Daoist, your virtue is a blessing to humanity!"
Tieguai Li and the others also bowed. In their hearts, Jiang Liu's image had now become much more impressive. Previously, Jiang Liu was quite powerful, and the Eight Immortals were known for making many friends, but these were merely acquaintances, not true confidants. Now, however, they felt a surge of respect for him.
Jiang Liu helped everyone up one by one and said, "This spiritual root has the effect of foundation building. It is not very useful for earth immortals, but it is a sacred object for mortals. If used for many years, everyone can refine qi and cultivate immortality. In this way, our human race can stand firm between heaven and earth and not fear demons. Such a treasure cannot be protected by me alone, nor can it be protected by all of us together."
If we can't hold it, someone else will. Jiang Liu is forcing them to reveal their true strength. If the back mountain is strong enough, Jiang Liu will naturally offer it up without hesitation.
In any world, having a powerful backer is crucial. No matter how strong you are, without a powerful backer, you'll still be bullied. Look at the demons in Journey to the West; those with connections and powerful backers—none of them died. The wild demons all perished under the monkey's staff; not one of them survived.
"What you say makes sense, fellow Daoist. Although this item is a treasure for humanity, it cannot be easily revealed to the world." Tieguai Li nodded in agreement, then clasped his hands and addressed the sky, saying, "I am a disciple of the Taiqing Sect, enlightened by the Ten Thousand Saints Grand Master Xuandu, cultivating both internal and external alchemy. Zhongli Quan and Zhang Guo are the same. The Taiqing Saint founded the Human Religion and is its leader. Now that the Saint is not in the world, the Human Religion is being managed by Grand Master Xuandu. Fellow Daoist has such great courage, and we are willing to lend a hand, going to the Thirty-Three Heavens, Xuandu Purple Mansion, Daluo Mountain, and Bajing Palace to seek an audience with Grand Master Xuandu and ask for some consideration for this sacred object of humanity. However, our human race also has Saints. Although I am a disciple of the Taiqing Sect, I am first and foremost human. The promotion of this spiritual root still requires Yuan Tiangang's efforts. I will seek an audience with Grand Master Xuandu, but the Fire Cloud Palace is the fundamental solution."
Although Zhang Guo had been practicing Taoism for many years, he was unaware of his own origins. Only now, after hearing what Tieguai Li said, did he realize that he was a successor of the Grand Master Xuandu.
Grand Master Xuandu! Fire Cloud Palace!
Jiang Liu exclaimed inwardly, "Damn it! I knew you were extraordinary, but I never guessed that one of you was a disciple of Laozi and the other was a descendant of the Three Saints of Huoyun Palace! No wonder the Eight Immortals were able to rise from mortals to the level of the Upper Cave Eight Immortals in just a few hundred years. No wonder Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng wanted to deduce the changes in humanity over three thousand years."
Yuan Tiangang solemnly said, "My junior brother Li Chunfeng and I are descendants of Emperor Fuxi. Our purpose in entering the world is to calculate the changes in human affairs and plan for the prosperity of our human race."
“Nephew, if you want to calculate the ways of humanity and reveal the secrets of heaven, you will surely die and your path will be extinguished!” The old Taoist priest Yuan Shoucheng said with a worried expression.
"Compared to the prosperity of the human race, what does it matter if my junior brother and I are sacrificed? Even if our souls are scattered, I will still make calculations. However, there is no rush now. This thing is the foundation of the human race's prosperity. I will now lead you into the Fire Cloud Palace."
Tieguai Li also said, "Then I will go to the Eight Views Palace!"
"This is too rushed!" Jiang Liu said.
"Things should not be delayed, for delay will only lead to chaos."
Chapter 261 Fire Cloud Palace
"Things should not be delayed, for delay will only lead to chaos."
Yuan Tiangang spoke very solemnly. He was a master of the I Ching and could predict the changes in human society over the past three thousand years. Jiang Liu immediately nodded and prepared to go to Huoyun Palace.
The Fire Cloud Palace, located in the Thirty-Three Heavens, is the residence of the Three Sovereigns.
Although Jiang Liu had already become an Earth Immortal, he had never set foot in the Celestial Realm. This was the first time he had followed behind Yuan Tiangang, constantly looking around, but he soon began to experience some aesthetic fatigue.
The endless sea of clouds, after seeing it so many times, becomes nothing special. In truth, this is still the mortal realm. To enter the Thirty-Three Heavens, one must first pass through the Southern Heavenly Gate.
The South Heavenly Gate is the entrance between the human realm and the immortal realm. Below it lies the Southern Continent, which is the territory of the Great Tang Dynasty in the East.
The celestial realm and the mortal realm do not share a single entrance; there are four proper entrances, one of which is the Southern Heavenly Gate. To the west lies the Western Heavenly Gate, below which lies the Western Sea, belonging to the Western Continent of Niuhe. There, monsters roam freely, the land is desolate, and everyone is devoted to Buddhism.
To the north lies the Northern Heavenly Gate, below which lies the Northern Sea, belonging to the Northern Continent of Luzhou, a place rife with demons, monsters, and witches, a chaotic and untamed place.
To the east lies the Eastern Heavenly Gate, below which lies the East Sea, belonging to the Eastern Divine Continent. It is dotted with numerous immortal islands, among which the Ten Continents and Three Islands are the most famous, all being the dwelling places of wandering immortals.
The path Yuan Tiangang led Jiang Liu through was naturally the South Heavenly Gate.
The famous Nantianmen (South Heaven Gate).
Upon first ascending to the mortal realm, I entered the Heavenly Gate. Thousands of golden rays rolled like crimson rainbows, and a thousand auspicious wisps spewed forth purple mist. There before me stood the Southern Heavenly Gate, its blue depths gleaming, crafted from crystal; its light shimmering, adorned with precious jade.
Looking up, the Heavenly Gate was probably several feet high, and Jiang Liu stood below, looking extremely small.
Looking up at the vastness of the universe and down at the wonders of all things, one gets this feeling.
On either side of the South Heavenly Gate stood two teams of golden-armored deities, each wielding a halberd, whip, knife, or sword, exuding an awe-inspiring majesty.
Upon seeing someone approaching, they immediately shouted to stop them.
"I am Yuan Tiangang. I have been ordered by the Holy Emperor of the Fire Cloud Palace to pay my respects." After saying this, he took out a token, which should belong to the Holy Emperor of the Fire Cloud Palace.
Just then, a man emerged from the South Heavenly Gate. He was over two zhang tall, with a face like a live crab and a beard like copper threads. He held a green-edged sword with talismans on it, bearing four characters in the center: Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind.
Jiang Liu recognized him immediately; he was Mo Liqing, the Heavenly King of Growth, one of the four generals of the Demon Clan.
"So it's Yuan Tiangang from the lower realm. Your junior brother Li Chunfeng hasn't returned from the Fire Cloud Palace yet, and you're going there again. The Three Sovereigns of the Fire Cloud Palace are supposed to be in seclusion and not concern themselves with worldly affairs. Why are you so frequently requesting an audience? I need to report to the Jade Emperor. You'll have to wait here!"
As he spoke, he turned to go inside.
Just then, Tieguai Li arrived riding on a cloud and called out loudly, "King Zengzhang, wait!"
As soon as Mo Liqing hesitated, Tieguai Li and Han Zhongli entangled with him.
"So you're a disciple of the Taiqing Sect. Greetings!"
Taking advantage of this obstruction, Yuan Tiangang led Jiang Liu through the South Heavenly Gate and left. By the time Mo Liqing came to his senses, they had already disappeared without a trace.
Once you enter the South Heavenly Gate, you have truly arrived in the celestial realm, residing within the Thirty-Three Heavens.
In the endless distance, amidst the sea of clouds, a vast and ethereal celestial palace appeared, its halls and pavilions stretching as far as the eye could see.
Without stopping, it travels through the sea of clouds. The surrounding scenery is ever-changing, with no two places alike.
They flew for three full days, encountering several waves of heavenly soldiers and many immortals along the way.
Gradually, the scenery changed. The sea of clouds seemed to be ablaze with fire, a fiery red expanse. Breaking through the red clouds, one could see verdant cliffs surrounding the area, embraced by streams, a serene and wondrous landscape unfolding before one's eyes.
A towering peak rises abruptly from the ground in the center, its color a deep blue, entwined with clouds and vines, and a jade waterfall roars from its summit, hanging upside down in an unbelievable way.
A handsome man stood beneath the waterfall, his robes fluttering, watching Yuan Tiangang descend from the clouds, and said, "Senior brother, why have you come as well?"
"This matter will be explained later. Has the Holy Emperor gone into seclusion?"
"Not yet. If you arrive a day later, you will not be able to see the Holy Emperor." This person was none other than Li Chunfeng. He looked at Jiang Liu with a curious expression.
"Brother Jiang, come with me to pay our respects to the Holy Emperor." After saying that, he led Jiang Liu to the top of the mountain.
Near the summit, there is an ancient cave. At the deepest part of the cave is a stone chamber, dry and clean, with no furnishings whatsoever. Even auspicious energy does not approach it; it can be described as simple.
But the three people sitting in the stone chamber were no ordinary people.
Among them, one had two horns on his head; to his left, one had leaves covering his shoulders and tiger and leopard skins around his waist; to his right, one wore imperial robes. These three were none other than the Heavenly Emperor Fuxi, the Earthly Emperor Shennong, and the Human Emperor Xuanyuan.
Yuan Tiangang immediately bowed, and Jiang Liu, upon seeing the Holy Emperor, immediately took out the Dragon Tooth Rice, raised it high, and said: "Holy Emperor, I, Jiang Liu, by chance obtained this spiritual root. I dare not keep it to myself, and wish to promote it to the world, so that all human beings may be able to eat this grain, cultivate and attain the Dao, and be free from the harassment of demons."
May everyone in the world be like a dragon, may everyone in the world be like a virtuous person. This is the grand aspiration of Hong Yi, the protagonist of "Yang Shen".
The central Emperor Fuxi calculated with his fingers without speaking. Meanwhile, Shennong, holding the Earth Yellow, raised his hand and summoned the Dragon Tooth Rice. With a flick of his wrist, he laughed, "The state, the state! Today we finally see the true grain. What is the origin of this thing? Can Your Majesty fathom it?"
Emperor Fuxi shook his head, then took out another Bagua diagram, and continued to calculate. He then said, "It appeared out of thin air, cannot be calculated, and has no cause or effect!"
At this moment, Emperor Xuanyuan opened his eyes and stared at Jiang Liu for a long while, making Jiang Liu's hair stand on end. Then he said, "In that case, humanity should flourish!"
Shennong planted the Dragon Tooth Rice upside down in the ground, and it grew at a speed visible to the naked eye, forming nine sword-shaped grains. Looking at Jiang Liu, he smiled and said, "This thing should be a sacred object for the human race, but it is not yet time for it to be popularized in the mortal world. The Nine Provinces are not yet settled. If this thing falls into the mortal world, it will surely cause a great calamity. The Buddhist sect intends to spread its teachings, so it should wait until the pilgrim obtains the true scriptures and returns to the Tang Dynasty, and the Nine Provinces are stable before it is released into the world."
Jiang Liu said respectfully, "Since this item has been offered, the decision is entirely up to the Holy Emperor. I only wish that the human race will no longer become food for demons, and that all humankind under heaven will be free from the threat of demons."
The Holy Emperor Xuanyuan said, "This has been our long-cherished wish. Go now. In less than sixty years, everyone in the Nine Provinces will be able to eat from this valley, and there will be no more demons causing trouble. By offering this treasure, you will have performed a great service."
Instantly, Jiang Liu felt a mysterious aura surge into his body.
He was utterly shocked: What is this? This...this is merit! It is actually the power of merit.
Before Jiang Liu could recover, Emperor Fuxi put away the Bagua in his hand and said, "You are facing a calamity, but this merit will protect you and reduce the calamity. However, the calamity is not yet over, so you should be careful. Moreover, your destiny is chaotic, and even I cannot calculate it. With this merit protecting you, the senior experts will not make things difficult for you. Fortune and misfortune are intertwined, and this is also your opportunity!"
Shennong gathered the grains, then took out a gourd and said, "Since you are facing a calamity, I will give you seven pills to heal your wounds and detoxify you."
Jiang Liu took the gourd, and then in a flash, he was out of the stone chamber.
Upon closer inspection, we found ourselves already outside the South Heavenly Gate.
Chapter 262 The Effect of Merit
The Holy Emperor's methods are indeed unfathomable.
In the blink of an eye, Jiang Liu, Yuan Tiangang, and Li Chunfeng returned to Zhongnan Mountain.
"What did the Holy Emperor say to you? What should we do with that thing?" Yuan Tiangang asked.
Jiang Liu looked puzzled and said, "Weren't you guys just here? I didn't hear you clearly."
Yuan Tiangang gave a wry smile and said, "I only felt that after bowing once, everything went blurry before my eyes, and I was here."
"Oh!" Jiang Liu nodded. This is the method of a saint! Although the three saint emperors of the Fire Cloud Palace only have the title of saint, Emperor Fuxi, before being reincarnated as a human, was also a primordial demon god born from chaos!
"The Holy Emperor has made arrangements; spiritual roots are unlikely to emerge anytime soon." Jiang Liu also hoped that Dragon Tooth Rice could quickly spread throughout the world, leading to a golden age of cultivation. However, he knew it was impossible for a single grain of Dragon Tooth Rice to elevate humanity to the status of rulers of heaven and earth. This substance was very useful for low-level cultivators, and even for Earth Immortals.
However, the rise and fall of a race depends on its advanced martial power; saints are the foundation. Even if saints don't appear now, one still needs the cultivation of a quasi-saint to be unafraid of calamities. And the human race does not possess advanced martial power.
The Three Saints of Huoyun Palace are merely saints in name only.
The protagonists of heaven and earth, the rise and fall of a race. How difficult it is to stand eternally between heaven and earth. The dragon and phoenix races were once so powerful, now they can only cower in a corner. The witches ruled the earth, the demons ruled the heavens; the witches were destroyed, and although the demons are still large, they have never regained their former glory.