Ran Deng returned to camp in a disheveled state, sitting down angrily. The members of the Chan Sect couldn't say anything; they knew Ran Deng was highly skilled, yet he had still been defeated by Zhao Gongming. There was nothing they could do. Guang Chengzi said, "Zhao Gongming's treasure is too powerful; none of us are a match for him. How can we survive this ordeal?" The other members of the Chan Sect were also deeply worried, but they were at a loss for what to do. Seeing that Zhao Gongming had won again, Grand Tutor Wen, taking advantage of the high morale, launched a surprise attack on the Xiqi army, killing several hundred. Xiqi retreated to their city, and Grand Tutor Wen, unable to break through, returned to his camp.
That night, the members of the Chan Sect were discussing how to defeat Zhao Gongming when suddenly a flash of fire streaked across the sky above the Xiqi army camp. The members of the Chan Sect were also surprised. Upon looking, they saw a Taoist standing in mid-air. Ran Deng, who was skilled in fire magic, saw the real flames on the man's body and said, "Master, step forward and ask, 'Fellow Daoist, which famous mountain are you from? Where is your cave dwelling?'"
The man said, "This humble Taoist wanders the Five Sacred Mountains and frolics across the four seas; I am but a wild man. I have a song to attest to this: First came Hongjun, then Heaven, and before that, Daoist Lu Ya. This humble Taoist is a guest of Kunlun, with an old residence south of the stone bridge. I cultivated and attained the Dao in the primordial chaos, only then did I understand the principles of immortality and the natural order. Do not boast of the purple-gold elixir in the furnace, but know that jade liquid is burned in the fire. Riding a blue phoenix and a white crane, I do not seek the peaches of immortality or the elixir of life, nor do I go to Xuandu to worship Laozi, nor do I make promises at the Jade Void Gate. I roam freely among the Three Mountains and Five Sacred Mountains, enjoying the islands and Penglai at will. Everyone calls me a celestial eccentric, for my heart is filled with its own emotions. Even the recluse Lu Ya has come here, and Xiqi is about to subdue Zhao Gongming."
"I am a recluse from West Kunlun, surnamed Lu, named Ya. Because Zhao Gongming protected the false and destroyed the true, he descended the mountain with the Yin-Yang Twin Pearls, injuring many of you fellow Daoists. He only knows the infinite possibilities of magic, but how could he know the even more profound mysteries within? Therefore, I have come to confront him. I will ensure that he cannot use the Yin-Yang Twin Pearls, and he will naturally give up." On that day, the Daoist sat silently.
The next day, Zhao Gongming rode a tiger and shouted in front of the tent, "Randeng, since you have such wonderful methods, why did you escape yesterday? Come quickly and settle the score!"
Nezha announced the arrival of the Taoist priest. Lu Ya said, "This humble Taoist will go himself." The Taoist priest descended from the tent and went straight to the front of the army. Zhao Gongming suddenly saw a short Taoist priest, wearing a fish-tail crown, a bright red robe, and with an unusual appearance and long beard, coming towards him singing: "Deep in the misty clouds, I seek the profound truth, sitting on the sandbank to wash away the illusions of the world. All seven emotions and six desires are worn away, and fame and fortune are left to the flowing water. I am carefree and at ease. I seek an old man to fish with, and a poet to compose verses with. Joy... this is a different world altogether."
Zhao Gongming, not recognizing him, asked, "Who is this Daoist who has come?" Lu Ya replied, "I have a name, but you do not recognize me. I am neither an immortal nor a saint; listen to my story. The song goes: My nature is like floating clouds, my will like the wind, drifting across the four seas without ceasing. I gaze at the bright moon in the East Sea, or ride a dragon in the South Sea. I ride all the tigers and leopards of the Three Mountains, and the blue phoenixes of the Five Sacred Mountains follow at my feet. I am neither rich nor noble, nor wear official hats, and I am nameless even in the Jade Void Palace. Under the peach tree in the Xuandu Temple, I drink three cups and wander as I please. I delight in inviting my friends to play chess, and sit idly on the mountain rocks listening to the deer's cry. I idly recite poems that startle heaven and earth, and in stillness, I play the zither to delight my nature. Those who do not recognize my high reputation waste their efforts; I have come here to bid farewell to Gongming."
"I am Lu Ya, a recluse from West Kunlun."
Zhao Gongming was furious: "You evil sorcerer! How dare you speak so rudely! You've gone too far!" He then laughed, "Don't think I don't know you. You're just a feathered beast, what right do you have to speak like this!" Ignoring Lu Ya's anger, he spurred his tiger and came to attack. Lu Ya was also enraged. During the Kunlun Daoist discussion that day, although everyone else didn't remember Lu Ya, Zhao Gongming was the only one who remembered him, even mentioning his original form. How could he not be angry? He drew his sword and went to confront him. Before they had exchanged a few blows, Gongming released the Yin-Yang Pearl into the air. Lu Ya saw this and shouted, "Well done!" He transformed into a long rainbow and disappeared. Gongming, seeing Lu Ya gone, remained furious. Seeing Ran Deng and the others sitting proudly on the reed hut, Gongming gritted his teeth and returned. Meanwhile, Lu Ya's return was not for a battle with Gongming, but merely to observe Gongming's demeanor.
A thousand years of cultivation have flowed away with the water, and all that remains is the Seven Arrows Book on the Nailhead.
Now, Lu Ya returned and met with his fellow Daoists. Randeng asked, "How did the matter of meeting Gongming go?" Lu Ya replied, "I have my own way of handling this; please, Ziya, handle it yourself." Ziya bowed. Lu Ya opened the flower basket, took out a book, and wrote clearly on it. It contained talismans and incantations: "...Use this method to set up a camp at Qishan; build a platform within the camp. Make a straw effigy; write the three characters 'Zhao Gongming' on its body, place a lamp on its head, and a lamp at its feet. Perform the ritual steps, write the talisman, form the seal, and burn it. Bow three times a day. On the twenty-first day, I will come to assist you at noon, and Gongming will naturally perish."
Ziya received the order and went to Qishan, secretly dispatching three thousand men, and also ordering Nangong Shi and Wu Ji to settle them. Ziya later followed the army to Qishan. Nangong Shi built a command platform, made all the arrangements, and made a straw effigy according to the prescribed method. Ziya, with his hair disheveled and sword in hand, performed the Dipper dance, wrote talismans and formed seals, and prayed for three to five days in a row. Zhao Gongming's heart was burning with desire, and his mind was like an oil slick. He was at his wit's end, pacing back and forth between the tents, scratching his ears and cheeks. He also saw that Zhao Gongming was confused and unaware of military affairs, just sleeping, and he could hear Zhao Gongming breathing heavily. It is said that "immortals do not sleep," meaning they are free from the six senses. How could he be sleeping for twenty-one days? Wen Zhong was greatly alarmed. How could he not know that Zhao Gongming had been secretly plotted against? He was very worried, so he set up an incense table, lit incense himself, and searched for the Eight Trigrams. In a short while, the divination result appeared, and Grand Tutor Wen exclaimed in alarm, "The sorcerer Lu Ya has written the Seven Arrows of Nailhead, intending to kill Brother Zhao in Xiqi Mountain. What should we do about this?" Suddenly, at noon, Zhao Gongming awoke. Wen Zhong was greatly surprised and exclaimed with joy, "Gongming is safe!"
But Zhao Gongming opened his eyes and stared at the Xiqi army camp, his eyes wide with rage, and shouted, "Lu Ya, that traitor, has killed me!" After saying this, he collapsed by the bedside and died. Only then did Wen Zhong realize that Gongming's condition was not improved at all, but was clearly just a final burst of energy before death. Immediately, Wen Zhong cried out in great sorrow, "Fellow Daoist, you came down the mountain to help me out of righteousness, but I caused you to lose your life. Wen Zhong is deeply ashamed before you."
Now, Shen Gongbao, who was disliked in the Chan Sect, followed Jiang Ziya down the mountain after he left. However, he disliked Jiang Ziya's defection to Xiqi. Due to the difference in their status, Shen Gongbao went to Chaoge and took on the minor position of Grand Preceptor. He was the one who led Zhao Gongming to come here. Now that Zhao Gongming was dead, Shen Gongbao couldn't help but worry. He said to Wen Zhong, "Fellow Daoist, please rest assured. Fellow Daoist Gongming's death was truly a frame-up by villains. You were not at fault. I heard that Fellow Daoist Gongming had three sworn sisters named the Three Immortal Maidens of Sanxiao, who live on the Three Immortal Islands overseas and possess great magical powers. Why don't I take Gongming's belongings and go there to ask the three of them to come and avenge Fellow Daoist Gongming?"
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