Chapter 88 He Reasoned Things out on the Mountain

Before the temple owner climbed up the mountain, on the Cloud Terrace, Ge Hong and Zhang Shouqing had made an agreement on the issue that the gifted Dao cultivator had been attacked, but neither of them left the old pine on the terrace.

Ge Hong looked much more relieved than before. Although Yuwu Mountain suffered great losses on this issue, in fact, what Ge Hong got afterward was more than several precious magic tools.

Under the old pine, Zhang Shouqing looked calm. He looked up at the old tree above his head in silence.

After talking about this deal, Ge Hong was cozy. Looking at this Taoist in yellow and purple from Chenxie Mountain, he asked about something with a smile. “Which stage is the temple owner at?”

Zhang Shouqing asked in reply with a smile, “Host Ge, which stage do you think the temple owner can reach?”

Ge Hong pondered for a while and then responded, trying to sound him out, “It’s said on the mountain that the temple owner has stayed in the Sky Building for many years where there are three thousand books about Taoism kept inside in order to read those books. After reading, he can finish the last step and then reach the peak, becoming a sage, like Sage Chen. However, as the outsiders, now we don’t know how many books he has read, and we have no idea if he has reached the last step or it is still early.”

Zhang Shouqing didn’t answer this question and just talked about what happened that day when he entered the Sky Building for the first time to see the temple owner. He spoke simply and didn’t talk a lot. However, in his brief words, Ge Hong could imagine what the temple owner was like in the Sky Building. After listening, Ge Hong smacked his tongue in the end. “The temple owner cultivates in the Sky Building so leisurely, so he must be confident to take the last step. But why doesn’t he do it?”

Zhang Shouqing shook his head while smiling. “How can I know what the temple owner is thinking about? However, no matter whether he would take the last step or not, nobody can query something.”

Ge Hong looked serious and asked, “Zhang, so whom would Chenxie Mountain send to solve this problem?”

Zhang Shouqing chuckled. “Since I came here, I will naturally solve it.”

Ge Hong smiled bitterly. “Zhang, you are dressed in a yellow and purple robe, so you must be in a high position on Chenxie Mountain. Nevertheless, when you are on Yuwu Mountain, you are doing something dangerous in spite of your identity. The masters on this mountain are not gentle. There is a big problem in the Tranquilization Pavilion. Zhang, you can’t stop them anyway.”

Zhang Shouqing lowered his head and had a look at the unfolded book on the stone table, saying peacefully, “The people on Chenxie Mountain have certainly considered this. I came here, so I naturally have a perfect plan. Host Ge, since you are willing to make a deal with Chenxie Mountain, just figure out what you can take out. In fact, you don’t need to worry about other things. Anyway, it’s set in stone. What other choices do you have except to walk till the end?”

Ge Hong’s expression didn’t change. When he decided to make a deal with Zhang Shouqing, or Chenxie Mountain behind Zhang Shouqing, he had thought about many consequences. The worst result was that he would lose his position as the host and be driven away from the mountain after his cultivation base was ruined. Then he would be one of the common people in society for a lifetime. However, if it was like this, Yuwu Mountain would be harmed greatly, yet Ge Hong could get back what should belong to him in the past. Such a result was what he wanted most except to pursue the doctrines.

Anyway, he didn’t want to continue to stay on Yuwu Mountain in this way.

Zhang Shouqing turned his head and suddenly laughed. “In fact, not only me, but somebody should also climb up this mountain.”

Ge Hong was stunned. Before he asked who it was, he suddenly felt that Yuwu Mountain trembled, which made him frown. Yuwu Mountain was the place where Sage Chen attained enlightenment. Who dared to do that at ordinary times? Even if somebody wanted to, he might not be able to do anything. After all, as one of the most famous mountains in Liangxi, this mountain was so solid, which was beyond imagination. The people on Chenxie Mountain thought that it was the number one of the Taoist sect, and they didn’t even set an array to protect the mountain, yet an array to protect Yuwu Mountain had been set indeed. Although it was not set by Sage Chen in person, he had suggested it those years, and the array was quite powerful. But why was the whole mountain shaky now?

Next second, not only him, but all people on Yuwu Mountain also heard a voice clearly spread all over the mountain.

“I am Liang Yi. I won’t reason with anybody today. I just want to destroy the Tranquilization Pavilion on Yuwu Mountain.”

Zhang Shouqing stood up and looked down emotionally, murmuring, “Temple owner, welcome.”

Ge Hong was out of wits and nobody knew what was on his mind.

Even though the arrogant voice was not low, there was no fierceness in the words. Instead, the tone was impassive, like a person telling something simple. It was not hurried, and anybody who heard that didn’t think that the speaker was unreasonable.

The young Taoist went down the mountain and hadn’t gone far away. After he parted with the middle-aged man, he suddenly heard such a voice on Yuwu Mountain. Soon he found that it was that middle-aged man’s voice. The young Taoist was stunned for a moment and then didn’t think more about these words. However, after he heard the words “Liang Yi”, his expression changed.

Which Dao cultivator in Liangxi didn’t know this temple owner’s name?

He looked at Yuwu Mountain and asked in confusion, “The owner of the Liangxi Dao Temple on Chenxie Mountain will destroy the Tranquilization Pavilion on our mountain?”

The young Taoist couldn’t figure out anyway why the temple owner who seldom went down Chenxie Mountain would declare that he would destroy the Tranquilization Pavilion on Yuwu Mountain. The wise men from Yuwu Mountain in the history were worshiped in the Tranquilization Pavilion, and even Sage Chen’s wooden statue was inside.

The young Taoist didn’t think more and then turned back to the mountaintop.

The old Taoist in grey and his fellow apprentices returned to the Tranquilization Pavilion and gathered again after leaving, staying with Yang Changsheng who hadn’t left. The old Taoist in grey asked in a rage, “Isn’t Liang Yi afraid that Sage Chen would get mad?”

Yang Changsheng was nervous and felt the vital energy the temple owner released openly before he walked here. He sighed and didn’t say more. Everybody knew that the gifted Dao cultivator was a treasure on Chenxie Mountain, yet nobody had expected that the temple owner on Chenxie Mountain would start a fight because of this gifted Dao cultivator. It was fine that he would start a fight, but he would destroy the Tranquilization Pavilion on Yuwu Mountain. What kind of place was the Tranquilization Pavilion? The wise men from this mountain in the history and even Sage Chen’s wooden statue were worshiped in the pavilion, which stood for Yuwu Mountain’s dignity. If it was destroyed as the temple owner said, it meant that Yuwu Mountain was slapped in the face. It was a humiliation, like the ancestor’s grave being dug.

Yang Changsheng couldn’t restrain his anger and cursed, “Liang Yi, this old man, he has gone too far!”

The other old Taoists looked at one another speechlessly. When they discussed assassinating the gifted Dao cultivator, they had figured out a perfect plan that day. Not to mention anything else, the people on Yuwu Mountain made efforts in keeping it secret. They had told somebody to bring the Telltale Umbrella down the mountain and even considered the worst result as they might fail in assassinating because they were afraid that the people on Chenxie Mountain would come here after that. Then if the people on Chenxie Mountain insisted on starting a fight regardless of anything else, perhaps the people on Yuwu Mountain couldn’t stop them. Now the temple owner must not have any evidence, but why did he come here?

Since the temple owner was said to almost become a sage in the human world, if he took actions, who could stop him except the sages? Would the people on Yuwu Mountain depend on Chao Qingqiu to solve this crisis?

Even if that Sword Immortal had a conflict with the people on Chenxie Mountain, he wouldn’t unsheathe his sword because of Yuwu Mountain.

Nobody knew if the temple owner was stopped by the great array on the mountain path. Anyway he didn’t show up in front of the Tranquilization Pavilion, yet some of the words he had said came to the pavilion.

“I, Liang Yi came here today. You don’t need to take it as a provocation from Chenxie Mountain. I am just a middle-aged man who came to cause trouble because my disciple was bullied. Today if you are capable and make me unable to destroy the Tranquilization Pavilion, I won’t mention this matter anymore. Meanwhile, if you can’t stop me, I will do more than destroying that pavilion. I don’t like to ask for an explanation. I have read books in the Sky Building for almost one hundred years. Theoretically, I should be much better-tempered than before, yet I don’t know why I am still like this now. You old Taoists bullied my disciple, so I would come to send all of you to see Sage Chen. In fact, it makes sense. If you think it is wrong, don’t speak in a hurry. Just check if you can stop me.

“A group of old men who are thousands of years old together have so many intentions. Do you think that I don’t know what is happening outside since I don’t come out of the Sky Building and leave Chenxie Mountain? Fine. Anyway, you are unwilling to reason things out, and I don’t want to talk anymore. Just have a fight.”

…

Each word of the temple owner came into all disciples’ ears on Yuwu Mountain. More than that, some disciples saw the temple owner walking upstairs slowly on the mountain path. At the same time, the people on Yuwu Mountain stayed silent surprisingly, as if they were in the wrong. In fact, except the old Taoists of the highest rank in seniority and the host Ge Hong, none of the other disciples knew anything about assassinating the gifted Dao cultivator. So judging from the temple owner’s words, the disciples on the mountain couldn’t think of anything else except concluding that this matter had something to do with the gifted Dao cultivator.

The temple owner who was dressed plainly walked on the mountain path. Every step he took made the great array which protected the mountain have slight cracks. In fact, if he hadn’t come here with his soul out of his body this time but had brought magic tools with him, with his character, he would have attacked. Why would he need to walk so cautiously on the array’s slight panel points step by step to make it collapse gradually? The three thousand books about Daoism in the Sky Building could make him not only cultivate his mind of Taoism. As a matter of fact, there were so many things in the Sky Building, and ordinary people couldn’t imagine anyway.

Some books about arrays had been read by the temple owner long ago.

In fact, it was scarcely too much to say that the temple owner was the top expert in arrays in the human world now.

After a long silence in the Tranquilization Pavilion, Yang Changsheng finally stood up. He waved his Taoist’s robe and sneered. “I will see if Liang Yi is really invincible in the world unless the sages show up as they say.”

The old Taoist in grey kept quiet and just stood up, too. His fellow apprentices behind him also got up and planned to see the temple owner who was famous in the world since long ago.

After walking out of the Tranquilization Pavilion, Yang Changsheng directly came to an open space at the summit and looked at the temple owner standing on the mountain path, saying calmly, “Liang Yi, since you are the head of the Taoist sect and the temple owner of Chenxie Mountain, you should be broad-minded. How can you come here and act like a rascal, declaring that you will destroy the Tranquilization Pavilion on our mountain?”

The temple owner standing on the mountain path looked at the summit and stated with a smile, “Yang Changsheng, you have forgotten that when the host on Yuwu Mountain would be replaced that year, you went to Chenxie Mountain with the old host and shamelessly wanted to visit the Sky Building. When you talked about Chenxie Mountain that day, you didn’t grit your teeth but spoke highly of us. Although my master allowed you to visit the building, your talent was too bad and you could only walk to the third floor. After you got out of the building, you didn’t say anything. However, as soon as you came back to Yuwu Mountain, you said privately that the people on Chenxie Mountain were not kind and set forbidden rules in the Sky Building, yet both of us know if there are forbidden rules, and even the old host knew that. Why did he choose a disciple of the third generation, Ge Hong instead of you in the end? Wasn’t it because he considered that aspect?”

Yang Changsheng’s face darkened. He looked at the temple owner who was of the same rank in seniority as him. They didn’t have the same destiny, which was proper to describe the temple owner and Yang Changsheng. Both of them were outstanding on their mountains those years. The people on Chenxie Mountain pinned their hopes on the temple owner, and Yang Changsheng was regarded as the future of Yuwu Mountain. When they went down their mountains to travel around, their elders tried to keep it secret as they were afraid that the two would be assassinated. They said that, but in fact, they suffered a lot of hardships after leaving the mountain. When they came back to their mountains, they both entered the Dawning Stage. However, after they returned to the mountains, the temple owner made progress in his cultivation steadily and had entered the Sky Building for several times, which was greatly helpful to him. Soon he surpassed Yang Changsheng. Seeing that, the people on Yuwu Mountain didn’t scruple to exchange a high-ranked magic tool for a chance to enter the Sky Building for Yang Changsheng. The people on Chenxie Mountain were generous and didn’t refuse. Yang Changsheng finally had a chance to enter the Sky Building, yet he didn’t make it as smoothly as the temple owner did. After he went to the third floor, he couldn’t move on. It was safe to say that at that time, he was defeated in the fight against the temple owner who was of the same generation. Later, the temple owner entered the Revelation Stage and Ascending Stage much more smoothly than Yang Changsheng. Till now, the temple owner was the top one below the sages in the Taoist sect, while Yang Changsheng didn’t even get the position as the host of Yuwu Mountain. At the mention of the temple owner’s old stories, Yang Changsheng just served as a contrast.

In fact, these years, Yang Changsheng always thought that if it weren’t for the temple owner, he wouldn’t have an unsteady mind of Taoism or collapse after one setback.

Yang Changsheng with white hair looked at the temple owner who still appeared young, saying indifferently, “You came out of your body today. Do you really think that you are Liang Yi who is invincible in the world unless the sages come out?”

The temple owner looked at the mountaintop and giggled. “Have a try.”

Yang Changsheng stayed silent impassively and just reached out a hand. He was determined to kill the temple owner from Chenxie Mountain here and just consider anything in the future. Now he would vent his anger which he had restrained for many years.

Even though the wind rose and the clouds began to gather after Yang Changsheng reached out his hand, the temple owner on the mountain path didn’t care but stepped on a bluestone with one foot at last.

Then all people on the mountain clearly heard the sound of falling apart from the mountain, like a mirror being broken.

The great array protecting the mountain was broken so easily.

The temple owner finally felt relieved.

He looked up and reached out his hands, with his sleeves bringing the wind. He was so unrestrained.

He walked on the mountain path and expressed in a low voice, “There are endless reasons, yet I don’t want to reason with you today.”

The temple owner started to walk to the mountaintop. In the beginning, he walked step by step slowly. However, every time he took a step, it seemed that there were roars between the heaven and the earth in the old Taoists’ hearts on the mountain, which made them feel uncomfortable.

Nevertheless, the disciples on the mountain who were at low stages didn’t have any feelings.

Then as a gust of strong wind blew over, the temple owner reached the mountaintop after one step and stretched out his hand, breaking the horsetail whisk the old Taoist in grey grabbed in his hand who was behind Yang Changsheng.

A lot of cyan light spread far away, which was the sign of spirit, but now the old Taoist in grey was pounded by the temple owner once more, and his clothes next to the skin were tattered. The old Taoist in grey spat blood and looked pale, so he couldn’t afford to care about the cyan light.

Then the temple owner casually looked at the fellow apprentices next to the old Taoist in grey. He didn’t do anything and then turned around, smiling at Yang Changsheng. “I came out of my body this time just to see if you can defeat me in this condition.”

The temple owner was powerful at a high stage, and in fact, he was also good at talking.

On the Cloud Terrace, the host Ge Hong heard that and now knew that the temple owner had come to the summit. Although he wasn’t the temple owner’s target, his face was pale. He turned to Zhang Shouqing. “Zhang, it turns out that the deal is that the temple owner would take actions in person?”

Zhang Shouqing laughed. “Since the temple owner took actions, the deal has been made. However, if the Tranquilization Pavilion is to be really destroyed later, I will act on my own and leave some of those magic tools. The temple owner has been reading books in the Sky Building these years and his only disciple is Shengge. He even left Chenxie Mountain because of Shengge, and we can’t stop him.”

Ge Hong’s expression changed slightly, but he didn’t speak a word. Since he had made a choice for something, he couldn’t say anything. Moreover, the more powerful the temple owner was, the more helpful it was to him.

At last, Ge Hong still praised in a low voice, “All people said that the temple owner will become a sage soon, and it is true. Otherwise, why is he so mighty?”

Zhang Shouqing smiled quietly. The temple owner with the real temperament was much more important than anything else.

When the wind rose and the clouds gathered on Yuwu Mountain which was thousands of miles away from Chenxie Mountain, although the people on Chenxie Mountain didn’t know anything, all of them could see that the temple owner was standing at the window on high and turning the pages of a book in the Sky Building today. He turned the pages slowly but without a stop.