Please call me Huanxian

Chapter 239: Planning in Advance, the Expert is Seldom Seen

The desert sunrise is unusually gorgeous, with the sun shining obliquely and the sand dunes becoming hot at an alarming speed.

Liu Xianfeng shouted and urged: "Friend Xu, stop dawdling, get the water up."

After getting Xu Yuanchang's smile and nod of agreement, she couldn't wait to remove the thin oilcloth covering a sand pit, picked up the half-pot of settled water, flicked her finger, and a line of cool water drew an arc in the air and poured into her mouth.

"It doesn't taste good. It smells like oilcloth mixed with dirt. Fellow Daoist Xu, you are lying again."

Liu Xianfeng handed the kettle to Zeng Shanlang.

"Didn't you find that the water condensed from the sand pit using traditional methods has a richer spiritual energy than ordinary clear water?"

Xu Yuanchang smiled mischievously, stretched out his hand to draw a line of water, tasted it, and found it was not bad. He said to Zeng Shanlang, "It's a very simple method. Have you learned it?"

Zeng Shanlang nodded happily, this method was very suitable for him.

If I have the opportunity to come here to practice again in the future, I can replenish clean water on the spot in addition to the water I brought with me, so that I can persist longer.

As for the slight strange smell, he didn't care. What he cared about was the little spiritual energy contained in the condensed water.

I don't know how the director did it?
Although he learned it, he knew the results but not the reasons.

After pouring half a pot of clear water containing spiritual energy into the soil in the bamboo box, Xu Yuanchang continued to trek westward with the bamboo box on his back. He taught Zeng Shanlang how to use a compass to identify the direction, use the method of marking the shadow of a standing stick to calculate the approximate time, and so on.

As we walked towards noon, a figure occasionally flew across the sky from east to west, as fast as an afterimage, and disappeared in the distance in an instant.

Xu Yuanchang was silent in his heart. Monks from the Fifth Floor rushed to Xiyuan one after another, which confirmed that what Rabbit said about the big event was about to happen.

A catastrophe is about to happen, and the monks will be caught up in it, and no one can stay out of it.

Only by speeding up the pace of practice can one perhaps have a chance of survival; those who escape may suffer a more miserable death.

We trekked until about the beginning of the afternoon when the mirage of the Battle of Stone Castle appeared again in the southwest sky.

Xu Yuanchang called out to Liu Xianfeng, put the bamboo box behind him on the top of the sand dune, and removed the green cloth covering it. He took out the photo-recording stone and pointed it at the sky for the mirage. Even if he couldn't capture the entire grand and brutal battle scene, he tried his best to record the battle scene of the black-armored warriors, and record the rest tomorrow.

It’s a pity that the image stone on hand is not high enough to preserve the tragic reality.

After receiving instructions from the Taoist priest, Zeng Shanlang quickly put down the bamboo box and focused his attention on the battle in the sky.

Even though he had seen it once yesterday, he quickly became immersed in it. He clenched his fists, bent his body slightly, and swayed slightly left and right, as if he was about to jump into the battlefield and fight the monster.

He watched with such concentration that soon sweat appeared on his forehead.

Liu Xianfeng leaned out from the branches and leaves of the small red willow in the bamboo box, her eyes wide open with shock at the long and tragic battle in the air. She listened to fellow Daoist Xu briefly describing the time when the battle took place, which were all things that could be documented in books.

She hurriedly looked around and finally found a group of demons represented by giant earth apes in a corner of the chaotic battlefield. They were fighting with monsters and shadows, with blood and flesh flying everywhere, and it was extremely tragic.

She did not see any trace of the spirit clan, perhaps they were outside the invisible battlefield.

Xu Yuanchang also did not find the scene where the illusionist was fighting the monster.

The cultivators who are able to fight in the front are all outstanding ones with strong physique and outstanding combat power, such as physical cultivators, sword cultivators and magic cultivators who also practice body tempering. They have enormous killing power and are brave and willing to sacrifice their own lives.

Half an hour later, the sun set and the mirage in the sky quietly disappeared.

Zeng Shanlang had already been sitting cross-legged on the sand, lost in deep thought, his energy and blood overflowing, with a thin aura surrounding him.

Xu Yuanchang talked in a low voice with the little Liu Xianfeng on his shoulder, admiring the magnificent beauty of the setting sun over the desert and enjoying the rare tranquility and peace. He didn't know how he would be able to make a living in the future, and the more he saw, the less he would see.

After thinking all night, he had some heavy thoughts about his future.

With low strength, one is helpless and has to go with the flow.

When the time comes, he will be in a vast and cruel battlefield, and perhaps the aftermath will fall on his head and take away a large group of people like him.

His thoughts would not show on his face easily, so he would just live like this with Liu Xianfeng without any care.

Don't waste the happiness and beautiful scenery at this moment.

Xu Yuanchang suddenly turned his head and saw a middle-aged Taoist priest in a black Taoist robe walking towards him from the sand dunes in the north. He was only about thirty feet away, which was a very close distance.

Liu Xianfeng was so frightened that she flew up with a "whoosh", becoming invisible in the air, ready to cooperate with the young master in a sneak attack and poisoning.

"This subordinate greets Vice Palace Master Meng!"

Xu Yuanchang signaled Liu Xianfeng not to act rashly, and he clasped his fists and saluted.

The person who came was Meng Shanhe, one of the deputy hall masters of the Sitian Hall of the Daning Dynasty. Xu Yuanchang had managed to get several portraits of them and looked at them. Although it was the first time they met, he recognized Deputy Hall Master Meng at a glance because of his clear appearance and narrow eyes.

He was also the only one among the six deputy hall masters who took care of him.

There are only five deputy hall masters left in the Daning Dynasty now. The grass on Deputy Hall Master Jiang Yan’s grave should be taller than the person.

"No need to be polite, just walk around and talk with me, and don't disturb the young man's practice."

Meng Shanhe stopped, smiled gently, and raised his hand, very satisfied with Xu Yuanchang's alertness and sharpness.

He did not deliberately conceal his breath. If he had walked within twenty feet and still hadn't discovered it, he would have been disappointed.

Xu Yuanchang replied with a "yes", whispered a few words to Liu Xianfeng, followed the footsteps of Deputy Palace Master Meng, and walked down the gentle sand dunes. The two of them walked normally, leaving two lines of shallow footprints behind them.

"I happened to fly over your heads at noon, and I was in a hurry to get to Xiyuan, so it was inconvenient for me to miss you and meet you."

Meng Shanhe had no airs or dignity at all. After a simple chat, he asked, "Can you recognize the origin of the afterimages and mirages in the past two days?"

"It seems to be the 'Battle of Stone Castle' recorded in the classics, but I'm not sure."

"You read it right. It was the decisive battle twelve thousand years ago that concerned all the creatures in the Thousand Square World. The mirage is a warning that the storm will rise from the tip of the green reed, and the world is about to change drastically again."

Meng Shanhe sighed as the two of them walked into the dark sand dune valley that was not illuminated by the setting sun. He said, "This stage is going to be difficult. I wonder how many thousand-year-old sects will sink into the mortal world and their incense will be cut off. There will also be lucky low-level cultivators who will rise from humble beginnings and soar into the sky, which is invaluable."

He didn't point it out directly, but the hint in his words was obvious.

Xu Yuanchang remained respectful and listened to Deputy Palace Master Meng's sigh, but he did not agree with any words.

The two men walked out of the darkness to the high place in the sunset, facing the west where the sand dunes undulated like waves.

"I came to you this time to invite you to join Dengxian Temple."

Meng Shanhe didn't beat around the bush and stated his purpose, as if he was talking about something very ordinary. He stopped and said, "Don't rush to agree just because of the huge difference in power or strength. Listen to me talk about the cause and effect first, and then think carefully before you reply." Xu Yuanchang also stopped and said, "Please go ahead!"

It is an extraordinary honor to be invited to join Dengxian Temple by Deputy Palace Master Meng, who is at the fifth floor.

Xu Yuanchang roughly guessed the reason why the other party was so polite.

Meng Shanhe showed a trace of reminiscence on his face, and said: "More than a hundred years ago, I was stuck in the bottleneck of the peak of the golden elixir. I searched for decades and tried every possible way, but I couldn't find a good way to break through. I had no choice but to travel around. In the autumn, I passed by Luojing Town in Qingping County. The Luojing wine in that place is quite famous in the countryside.

"On the street near the ancient well, I happened to meet Taoist Gu who was setting up a stall to tell fortunes. I saw a faint aura of cultivation on Taoist Gu, and I felt that it was not easy to be a casual cultivator, so I sat down and invited Taoist Gu to drink.

"After drinking a pot of authentic Luojing wine, Taoist Gu insisted that I draw a lot, saying it was a gift for those who are destined to be together.

"The hexagram I got at that time said, 'The wind blows through the world, no matter how high or low you go; seize the opportunity and rely on chance encounters.' The Taoist priest interpreted it and told me to 'go northwest, don't look back, and things will be harmonious within three years.' I didn't pay attention to the drunken nonsense of the wandering cultivator. I thought that I had nowhere to go anyway, so I wandered to the northwest.

"After walking and stopping for a while, I arrived at a broken and barren mountain in the Wuxian Mountain Region in winter. I accidentally found that what I was standing on was a broken stele half-buried in mud and rocks. I don't know when it was left. There were a few worm-written fragments on it. It was severely weathered. Three of the characters were recognizable, called 'Feng Sheng Tian'. I realized that Taoist Gu was a master, so I built a hut in the barren mountain and lived there. Sure enough, in less than three years, I suddenly broke through and advanced.

"Later, I went to Qingping County and traveled all over the countryside and towns, but I couldn't find Taoist Gu anymore. I mobilized the sect's manpower and secretly searched for Taoist Gu in Dadingzhou for sixty years, but Taoist Gu disappeared without a trace. I also became the most leisurely deputy hall master in Sitian Hall, and I spent most of my time traveling outside."

Xu Yuanchang finally understood how Deputy Palace Master Meng gained the reputation of being an idle and unrestrained person.

The rabbit that had lost its temper yesterday came out of its den at some point and explained calmly, "That broken and barren mountain was once called 'Fengsheng Mountain'. It was the lower courtyard of the temple of the wind god Xun Er. On the stone pillars, there is an inscription in worm script that reads 'Fengsheng Tianxia Ren Gao Di'. Even though it has been dilapidated for thousands of years, the inscription still has some divine power. Old man Yanshan really took great pains for you and made arrangements for you in advance, fearing that you would die in this catastrophe."

Meng Shanhe looked at Xu Yuanchang and asked, "Can you find Master Gu?"

He had seen the dark red bamboo stick in the shape of a command arrow without any inscription and recognized it as belonging to the ancient Taoist priest. From that time on, he began to pay attention to Xu Yuanchang, a young demon catcher in Qingping County.

His original idea was to find Master Gu through Master Xu Yuanchang.

That's why he specifically instructed Yu Fengwu, who was in charge of the patrol guard, to let Xu Yuanchang be tempered in the Fairy Cave and to ensure Xu Yuanchang's safety. He could use the formation equipment to stop Wei Yu at the critical moment.

Xu Yuanchang replied, "Master Gu asked the thugs in Jietian City to pass on a bamboo stick token and told me that 'famous mountains and rivers, we will meet again if we are destined'. I have not been able to see Master Gu again in all these years."

Meng Shanhe stared at him and asked, "The Sandy Snake Demon Soul that you used to fight against Wei Yu's attack was not made by ordinary means, right?"

Xu Yuanchang smiled bitterly in his heart. After all, some flaws could not be hidden from those who were paying attention to him. He said vaguely: "It was other friends who helped me." There was no way he could say Zeng Wanglou.

Meng Shanhe was a little disappointed when he heard this, but he didn't pursue the matter further.

If we can find Taoist Priest Gu, this time when we face the disaster crisis caused by the opening of the gate to the dark world, fewer people will die, and our chances of winning will be greatly increased.

He searched the human territories in Juzhou, Hezhou and Laizhou successively, but there was no fifth-floor or sixth-floor master who could match Taoist Gu, so he was somewhat suspicious, maybe Taoist Gu was a master from the upper realm?

Three thousand years ago, despite the help of the masters from the upper realm, they still paid a heavy price to overcome the difficulty of opening the gate to the dark world.

It’s a pity that the master is nowhere to be found.

He had no choice but to settle for the next best thing and said, "Master Xu Yuan, can you join Deng Xian Temple? With a sect you can rely on and an identity that is convenient for you to act, you will have less trouble being plotted against in the future."

He used the word "join" instead of "recruit", which is a huge difference between the two.

Xu Yuanchang didn't hesitate at all and said, "I am willing. Thank you, Senior Meng, for taking me in."

Troubled times are about to come, and he must find a strong sect to support him, otherwise it will be too difficult.

Meng Shanhe smiled and took out a yellow jade token. He wiped it with his finger, leaving a faint glow on the back, leaving the name of Xu Yuanzhang. He said, "I'll temporarily inconvenience you to serve as the elder of Dengxian Temple, with the same status as Wu Zhe and Fang Renchen. You will be in Baihua Valley in Qingping County, named as the 'separate courtyard' of Dengxian Temple, as your place of retreat. You can go to Dengxian Temple anytime you want, just treat it as your own home."

Xu Yuanchang took the jade token with both hands and did not politely refuse the other party's kindness.

Raising his status to the level of a fourth-floor elder, Xu Yuanchang would probably be shocked. He clasped his fists and saluted: "Yes, I will obey Uncle Meng's order."

Some things don't need to be pointed out, the two of them know each other tacitly.

Meng Shanhe smiled and said, "When you have finished your hard work, I have something important to tell you. If you need any cultivation resources in the future, just ask Wu Zhe and the others. I am not being polite. As long as I can get them, I will do my best to get them for you."

After saying a few more words, Meng Shanhe flew away to the west.

The sky is filled with fading clouds and dusk is about to fall.

Xu Yuanchang walked back and showed the yellow jade elder card to Liu Xianfeng, and recounted what had just happened. Outsiders had no way of hearing the conversation between him and Uncle Meng.

Liu Xianfeng was extremely surprised. As she floated in the air, her status rose and became different.

Having a powerful sect to rely on has always been her dream.

What's more, Fellow Daoist Xu was personally invited by Deputy Hall Master Meng, and was granted the status of elder right after joining. What an honor!
The days when we were like rootless duckweed and allowed the children of wealthy families to bully us will be gone forever.

As it was getting dark, Zeng Shanlang woke up from his meditation.

After two days of observation and understanding, he vaguely grasped the fighting spirit. He consulted and talked with the Taoist priest for a while, and received the Taoist priest's affirmation, who told him to follow his heart to explore bit by bit, without being impatient and taking steady steps.

Zeng Shanlang was greatly encouraged and full of confidence.

They set off the next day. From time to time, groups of monks flew across the sky, all heading towards Xiyuan.

Liu Xianfeng curiously transmitted his voice: "Sir, so many fourth- and fifth-floor masters are gathering in Xiyuan. Is something big happening?"

She was not clear about the warning significance of the afterimage mirage of the "Battle of Stone Castle".

Xu Yuanchang was not in a position to reveal any details for the time being, and echoed a few guesses.

At noon, two figures fell from the sky. They were Wu Zhe and Fang Renchen, two fourth-floor monks from Dengxianguan.

Xu Yuanchang smiled and clasped his fists and saluted: "Hello, Senior Brother Wu, Hello, Senior Brother Fang."

Wu Zhe raised his conspicuous white eyebrows and smiled as he helped Xu Yuanchang up. He and Junior Brother Fang had already received a message from their uncle-master and were quite surprised that Junior Brother Xu, who had just joined, had been promoted to the status of elder as an exception.

Does this mean that you want to accept Junior Brother Xu as your last disciple and train him as the next abbot of Dengxian Temple?
"Congratulations, Junior Brother Xu. When you have completed your hard work, I will find time to hold a ceremony for you to celebrate and announce it to the entire Daning Dynasty."

"Congratulations, I'll leave it to you two brothers to make the arrangements, but in this extraordinary period, it's better to keep things simple rather than complicated."

Xu Yuanchang gave a vague reminder.

After talking for a while, Wu Zhe and Fang Renchen could not stay long, so they said goodbye and flew away.

……

(End of this chapter)