bookbashuk Chapter 5 A Heaven in the Mountains
Chapter 5 A Heaven in the Mountains
Under the bright moonlight, the little red sparrow didn't walk very fast. It would hop a few steps and then look back to see if Song Quyou was following.
Curious, Song Quyou rubbed his slightly sore face and followed closely behind until the little sparrow reached the top of the mountain and flew to a dilapidated teapot among the rubble.
The teapot was dusty and covered with scratches. The spout, hidden among the pebbles, was broken, and the lid was also damaged, with dense cracks and most of it missing.
By the moonlight, Song Quyou approached and, through the broken opening, could vaguely see the water glistening inside the teapot, along with a hint of emerald green.
Sensing something was wrong, Song Quyou reached out to touch it, and suddenly his vision blurred, and the world around him seemed to turn upside down, making him dizzy and uncomfortable, and he felt like he wanted to rummage through his stomach.
Once his feet touched the ground again, Song Quyou came to his senses and realized that he was no longer on the mountaintop, but he didn't know where he was.
The scenery here is serene, with soft meadows covered in tiny wildflowers. Not far away, a solitary, ancient pine stands out, its gnarled branches and emerald needles glistening. Beneath it lies a dark table with an ancient book in the center, and an incense burner in the corner emits wisps of smoke.
Song Quyou walked toward the ancient pine tree, and only when he felt a cool sensation under his feet did he realize that the ancient pine tree was surrounded by clear pool water.
Fortunately, the water wasn't deep; the deepest part only reached the calves.
Song Quyou waded through the crystal-clear pool and arrived at the ancient pine tree. After glancing at the empty but smoking bronze incense burner inside, he went straight to the ancient book on the table.
At this moment, a crimson rainbow flew over, landed on the ancient pine branches, and transformed into the shape of a vermilion mountain sparrow.
Song Quyou stepped forward, unrolled the book, and laid it flat. Instantly, a blinding white light appeared, and a blurry, illusory figure floated on the scroll. Its face was indistinguishable, and its voice was ethereal and distant, making it difficult to tell whether it was male or female.
"This ancient scroll is called the 'Heavenly Book,' which records the fundamental laws of heaven and earth. It is divided into two volumes: the Heavenly Dipper and the Earthly Fiend. The Earthly Fiend volume contains seventy-two techniques, also known as the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Techniques, while the Heavenly Dipper volume contains thirty-six techniques, also known as the Thirty-Six Heavenly Dipper Techniques. After learning them, one can understand all the mysteries of heaven and earth."
However, this book was envied by the heavens and destroyed by humans. The Heavenly Dipper Scroll was taken away, and the scroll was in the hands of thieves, never to be reproduced. The Earthly Fiend Scroll was also lost due to the struggle, with only two techniques surviving.
I brought it to the mortal realm, intending to use human power to complete the Earthly Fiends Scroll of this book. However, I was hindered by enemies and unable to spare the time. Now, I have hidden this incomplete book in this Emerald Pine Heaven. If any future generation obtains it, I hope they can complete this incomplete book and fulfill my wish.
As the white light dissipated, Song Quyou looked at the unfolded scroll, broken and fragmented, only half remaining. Large sections were blank, containing only two techniques recorded in cloud-script script written in gold ink: "Connecting to the Netherworld" and "The Heavenly Pot."
Song Quyou looked at it carefully, and for some reason, although he did not recognize the cloud seal script, he could easily understand the meaning of the book.
"Tongyou" also means being knowledgeable about ghosts and spirits, able to communicate with them, and those who cultivate to a high level can even travel in and out of the underworld with their physical bodies.
The Pot Heaven is a grotto-heaven residence opened up within the Jiezi, just like the Emerald Pine Pot Heaven here. Dozens of acres of space are hidden inside a teapot no bigger than a fist.
Song Quyou closed the book and sighed deeply. With his mortal body, he could barely learn the art of communicating with the spirits. As for the art of the Pot Heaven, the required magical power was as vast as the sea, which was beyond his current capabilities.
"What are you planning to do?"
Song Quyou turned around and looked at the ancient pine branches behind him, where he saw a girl in a colorful dress, barefoot, swaying on the tree.
"Are you the titmouse from earlier?"
The girl pouted, her round face like a steamed bun, and waved her fist in dissatisfaction, causing the silver bell on her wrist to make a pleasant, clear sound.
"What titmouse? I am the Nine-Colored Skylark, a celestial bird born of nature."
"Tell me quickly, what are you planning to do with this book?"
Song Quyou smiled faintly, picked up the book on the table and said, "Since I have received this senior's kindness, I will naturally do my best to fulfill his wish."
Upon hearing Song Quyou's words, the girl happily jumped down from the tree, "In that case, I'll help too."
Song Quyou circled the girl, scrutinizing her, and stroked his chin, saying, "It's quite suspicious that you led me here all the way. Could you please explain why?"
"There's no reason. I just want to see the complete picture of this book."
Song Quyou looked at the girl, knowing he wouldn't get any information out of her. However, seeing that she meant no harm and didn't seem like a man-eating demon, he said no more.
"My name is Song Quyou, and I do not yet know your name, young lady."
"lark."
"Miss Skylark, do you know how to leave this place?"
The lark pointed to the ancient pine tree in front of him and said, "Put your hand on it and think to yourself that you want to leave, and you will be able to leave."
Song Quyou, half-believing and half-doubting, placed his hand on the ancient pine tree and did as instructed.
……
Leaving the Emerald Pine and Jade Heaven, the sun was already high in the sky. Song Quyou put away the teapot from the pile of rubble, feeling no disappointment at missing the sunrise, only the joy of obtaining the immortal's magic.
However, today, the clouds over Luoxian Mountain are unusually thin. Standing on the mountaintop, through the gaps in the clouds, one can see the long river and dense forest below, the sound of the wind through the trees, and the rippling blue waves. One can also see the waterfall that was heard but not seen yesterday, with its white curtain hanging in the air and water splashing everywhere.
Song Quyou no longer lingered and carefully made his way down the mountain. After obtaining the power to communicate with the spirits, he witnessed fascinating things that were previously difficult to discover.
In the mountains and forests, there appeared a monster with a human head and a bird's body, a woman with grass as her hair, a three-inch-tall doll with braids, an old man with white hair riding a tortoise, and a man wearing a tiger skin with a murderous aura.
"Whose disciple are you, and what brings you to my Fallen Immortal Mountain?"
Song Quyou cupped his hands and said, "I am a disciple of Shenxiao Temple on Xuantai Peak. I came here to appreciate the scenery because I found this mountain to be very beautiful."
The man frowned, pondered for a moment, and was about to say something more, but suddenly noticed the dark figure in the grass in the distance, and immediately changed his words: "Since you are a disciple of Shenxiao Temple, then we are neighbors. I have other matters to attend to, let's chat again when we have time."
As he spoke, the man transformed into a striped tiger and disappeared into the forest.
Song Quyou was puzzled, but he didn't think much of it and successfully descended the mountain and returned to the temple.
"Junior brother is back! Hurry to the cafeteria, your fourth senior brother saved some food for you."
Song Quyou rubbed his flat stomach and said happily, "Thank you, Senior Brother."
"We are fellow disciples, there's no need for such formalities."
Song Quyou laughed heartily, nodded, and ran quickly towards the canteen. He opened the pot lid and saw the stewed wild vegetables that were mushy and overcooked.
They ate with great relish.
After a satisfying meal, Song Quyou returned to his room, placed the broken teapot he had been carrying on the desk, and went to the irrigation ditch behind the Taoist temple to wash up and hang his clothes to dry. Having nothing to wear, he found a quiet spot under a pine tree, enjoying the cool mountain breeze and the chirping of birds, and took a blissful nap.
As the saying goes: "Eat when hungry, sleep when tired, this is the true path of cultivation, profound and mysterious. People don't believe it when I tell them, yet they seek immortals outside themselves."
Song Quyou felt that this statement made a lot of sense.
After sleeping until dusk, Song Quyou, feeling refreshed, slowly opened his eyes and saw an old man with a white beard stroking his beard and looking at him.
Song Quyou hurriedly stood up, bowed respectfully, and said, "Old sir."
The old man circled around Song Quyou and said to himself, "Not bad. His body is full of clear and pure five elements, and he has also awakened his innate wisdom with such a rare item as the Crimson Sun Flowing Elixir. He has been in the mountains for three years without becoming impatient because he was not taught thunder magic, nor was he disturbed by the nonsense of spirits. He is a good seedling for cultivation."
"May I ask, sir, are you the Crimson Sky Immortal, Wang Lingtian?"
"Hahaha~," the old man nodded and laughed heartily, "It is indeed this humble Taoist priest."
Upon receiving confirmation, Song Quyou immediately bowed and said, "Disciple Song Quyou greets Master."