Chapter 65: The Three Fragments of the Golden Mountain
Long Zhu didn't react much.
Separation from life and death is a common occurrence in the human world, not to mention that this happened more than a hundred years ago.
To her, the difference between forty years and a hundred years between life and death is the same as rounding off in mathematics: no more, no less, there is no difference.
But if she associated the word "extinction" with the white crane, she subconsciously felt that the already "sentimental" face would reveal a frosty and sad color, which was still a bit sad.
The fish soup was bubbling, and Long Zhu had no time to think about it. He picked up the bowl and drank it all in one gulp.
After she finished eating, she belatedly looked around and asked, "Why aren't Wang Fengxu and the others here?"
"Oh, we've been talking for so long that we forgot what we were talking about," the old woman laughed, slapping her thigh again. "The performance has started at the dojo in the back mountain. Do you want to stay and drink the soup, or go and stir the soup?"
The sun emerged in the east, like a red-hot egg. At the highest point of Qingcheng Temple, the golden tiles of the Sanqing Hall were steamed by the scorching sun, casting a hazy shadow. To glance at it casually, one might have thought someone had achieved enlightenment, the Three Flowers converging at the top of their head, and was about to ascend to immortality.
The ringing of bells and the striking of chimes split the hazy mountain mist, causing the rocks to tremble, and the lingering sound remains.
This grand event of the Zhu League has finally begun.
-
In ancient times, the back mountain had a very domineering name, called Xuanjin Mountain.
The mountain is steep and difficult to navigate, and the vegetation and weeds that cover the ground appear to be hanging in mid-air. To climb, one must cling to the cracks in the rocks like a gecko, moving slowly to avoid falling. The mountain's unique geographical location means that at sunrise and sunset, the summit is bathed in a brilliant golden glow. From afar, it looks like a golden mountain suspended in mid-air, hence the name.
At this moment, countless tiny particles are moving among the lush green mountain walls. Upon closer inspection, they turn out to be "climbers".
Ying Zhiwei was also in this group of people. She was carrying a backpack with only the radio in it. The mountain path was narrow, and she had to stop and go frequently. Soon, it felt like she was queuing with strangers.
"Finally, the address you'll be given on the post is right here." The young man in front stopped and crumpled up a piece of paper in his hand. "Tsk, last time the dojo was built on water, what's this time? It's so boring."
The girl with long brown curly hair next to him took his arm and said, "Brother, I'm tired. How long will it take? Are Dad and the others already waiting for us at the dojo?"
Ying Siqian lifted the toe of his shiny shoe and tested it on the cliff face. He sneered, "Of course. Every year they torture youngsters like us."
"Brother, it seems like there are fewer people." Ying Simeng looked around and whispered in the man's ear: "Did they find the entrance? How about we follow them secretly?"
"The invitation says that the entrance to the dojo is not guaranteed every year," Ying Zhiwei stood behind the two of them and calmly reminded them, "Other people's ways may not be suitable for us."
Ying Simeng rolled his eyes at her, snorted softly, and didn't respond.
Fluttering——
Suddenly, there was a sound from the treetop over there. A giant bird flew over with a man in its beak, half-fallen, and covered with leaves.
"Hahaha! Found the way! I'll go first!" It turned out to be a weapon refiner, who probably found the entrance from above.
The crowd, whose bodies were covered with pine needles, cursed and swore. In a moment, a flying claw shot out and entangled the tibia and toes of the mechanical bird. The giant bird fell down and then flapped up angrily, carrying the owner of the flying claw off the ground.
"Damn it! You're cheating!" The weapon refiner spat at the man.
"What cheating! I rely on my strength!" The owner of the flying claw retorted unwillingly.
The two argued endlessly and soon disappeared into the mountains.
In such a short period of time, people disappeared quietly one after another.
There were Zen disciples who used their staffs to pry open the mountain walls, some who sent ghosts to explore the way, and some who flew up on their swords, stopping and walking - flying a sword was a delicate job that consumed spiritual energy, and it was not like Aladdin's magic carpet that could stay in the air for a long time, so in this era, people would not fly swords if they could take a car - except for a very small number of sword practitioners.
As people entered the Taoist temple one after another, they realized that there was a hidden world in the mountain wall.
A vast chessboard sat in the center, dotted with black and white pieces the size of small stone pillars, resembling an unsolved endgame. The surroundings were vast and deep, with beams of light falling from three diagonal caves, overlapping the chessboard, reminiscent of stage spotlights. Natural rocks of varying heights surrounded the area, offering seating and reclining positions, like naturally carved grandstands. Five empty spaces in the center undoubtedly served as the locations of the Five Mountains of the Zhu League.
"Wang Lanlan!" Meng Caiyun waved joyfully in one direction: "Here! Here!"
She changed into a Taoist robe and tied her hair into a bun, but still had a strand of hair hanging down on both sides of her temples, tied with Tai Chi beads. She also had a whisk, a wooden sword, a pair of scissors, and a Three Purities Bell.
Wang Fengxu brought Wang Tianfu over: "So soon? Didn't we set out together?"
Wang Tianfu shook the mud off his Hunyuan scarf and said with a bitter face, "Uncle Master, is your Earth-Drilling Talisman expired? I choked on a big mouthful of sand."
"Hehe," Meng Caiyun smiled and bent down to touch Wang Tianfu's head: "Xiao Fuzi, you are really overcoming the tribulation by following him."
Wang Fengxu snorted twice, thinking she was farting.
"sister."
A paper figure as thin as a cicada's wing emerged from the crevice of the mountain wall and was captured in the palm of the hand of the young man hiding behind it like a magic trick.
Meng Caiyun turned around and immediately laughed: "A Zhao? You came here alone?"
Meng Zhao pushed his glasses and immediately felt a headache: "No..."
Before he could finish his words, another paper figure squeezed in. After the wrinkles unfolded, a light-haired girl groaned and crawled out in a panic: "Meng Zhao! What's wrong with your paper figure? It's squeezing my kidneys!"
Meng Zhao ignored him and pointed, "My colleague, Bai Heng."
"I've met her before, we're all acquaintances." Meng Caiyun reached out and pulled Bai Heng to her feet, brushing the dust off her shoulders. "Little Bai, next time you can't get in, ask me. My cousin is always rough with his blows, especially with girls."
Meng Zhao hesitated to speak.
Bai Heng lifted her hair, and the mess of nails on her face shone brightly. "Thank you, Sister Meng. We're colleagues, so I won't blame him."
After saying that, she spread out her ten fingers and excitedly boasted, "I got my nails extended a week in advance, and they're in my brother's cheering color, to boost morale."
All ten of her fingernails were inlaid with diamonds, and paired with her colorful clothes, she single-handedly raised the subculture trend of the entire Qingcheng Mountain.
Anyway, it doesn't look like he's here to fight.
Bai Heng: "Why would a programmer like me fight a bunch of roughnecks? My grandfather said that it's enough to just pass the first round. It's just a formality."
Meng Zhao shrugged and smiled.
Bai Heng: "Are you scolding me?"
Meng Zhao: "Speak some sense."
Meng Caiyun: "...Forget it, haha."
When almost everyone had arrived, stone platforms rose up from the four corners of the chessboard table. On each of them stood a Taoist priest from Qingcheng Temple holding a tube of lots. Before the competition, the order was determined by drawing lots as usual.
"Master's wife is here," Wang Fengxu nudged Wang Tianfu's head with his elbow, "Over there!"
Sitting in the center seat, Wang Suqing, dressed in a patchwork Taoist robe, her hair carefully tied up, smiled, her demeanor calm and composed. She wasn't the tallest of the four, perhaps even a bit thin, but a glance would reveal she was the anchor of the group.
"I didn't expect that an old woman like me would be the one to give a speech this year. I feel unworthy of this honor, hahaha!" She stood with her hands behind her back, her sleeves fluttering, and she didn't seem to feel "ashamed" at all.
Wang Suqing cleared his throat: "My fellow Taoists—"
This sound contained spiritual power, and was as loud as gold and jade, echoing clearly between the mountain walls.
"——The hundreds of Xuanmen schools originated in ancient times and have flourished to this day. Back then, the ancestors of the Celestial Master split the river with a sword, and the alchemy furnace illuminated the moon. They all attained enlightenment in this mountain."
"Now, thousands of years have passed. Among us cultivators, are there any who still remember what 'Tao' is?"
"I know some people in the Zhu League have been hiding their abilities for their entire lives, treating their ancestors' abilities like vases, fearing that others will know their hidden abilities."
"Hahahahaha, how ridiculous! Who knew that if you hide yourself for a day, you'll be looked down upon a day? What's the fun in being complacent?"
"Today, the winner advances and the loser retreats. Let's see who can stay on this stage to the end!"
There was a roar of high-spirited cheers from the audience.
"Everyone, please look at the chessboard!" Another person stood up and gestured to the crowd, "The chessboard above is a chess game."
Hearing this voice, Wang Fengxu poked Meng Caiyun with his arm again and said, "Is it Old Meng who's going to announce the show again this year?"
The person sitting on the stage was Meng Chengyin.
The Five Mountains of Zhu Meng are Wang Suqing, Monk Wu Liao, Bai Jingze, Meng Chengyin, and Master Song. Meng Chengyin is the youngest among them, so he should be the one to make the announcement.
"In this competition," Meng Chengyin said slowly, "two people will fight, representing the Black and White Clouds respectively. The winner within one stick of incense will be the winner. If one player goes out of bounds, becomes unconscious, is seriously injured, or concedes defeat, he or she will be considered out."
This game is quite unique, with black and white pieces locked in a desperate struggle, each unable to decide the outcome. Yet, cleverly, each player can shift the tide of the game in their favor by manipulating a few of their own pieces. In other words, a clever opponent can outmaneuver the opponent, or even outright defeat them.
"Now let's start the drawing of lots."
Everyone lined up and drew a bamboo stick with green words engraved on it.
"Wuchen...what are you?"
"Hey, I drew the number Jiazi, so I won't be the first one to come up, right?"
“It feels like the order is messed up too.”
"Hey, that Wuchen one, can you switch with me?"
"Why?"
"Then it's my zodiac year."
"If you don't do it, there's no benefit!"
"Please be kind and give you some forum coins."
"That's okay..."
The scene was noisy and people were talking about all kinds of things. Some people took the signs and immediately took out their phones to take photos and check in, and then posted them on their Moments.
"What's going on over there?" Meng Caiyun looked over at the other side, holding his bamboo stick. "The Lan family?"
Wang Fengxu thought of something and turned his head to look over. There were actually a few familiar faces.
Fang Ya from Changfeng Temple was holding a bamboo stick in his hand, standing coldly in front of Lan Qianhuang, while the young man behind Lan Qianhuang remained silent, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him.
Wang Tianfu was surprised: "That's... Nanhuai?"
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