FVN #379 - Wuzhuang Temple
#379 - Wuzhuang Temple
Chapter 376: Wuzhuang Temple
Zhang Chen heard this and looked at the little fatty hanging on the tree branch, swaying constantly in the mountain wind, seemingly about to fall at any moment. Thoughts flashed through his mind.
Xu Erniu, who had been with Zhang Chen for several months, naturally understood him. Seeing Zhang Chen's expression, she knew his compassionate heart was stirring, so she said:
"Zhang Chen, you can't save him! This cliff is steep, and a slight carelessness could lead to being smashed to pieces. How can the two of us have the ability to save him? We should wait until we climb the mountain and ask the Taoist priests in the temple for help."
The little fatty wailed upon hearing this: "This place is at least half a day's journey from the mountain. How can I wait? By then, I might already be smashed into mincemeat. Big brother and big sister, if you can save my life, I will repay you in the future. Please, both of you, lend a hand…"
The little fatty was now crying bitterly, tears streaming down his face, snot and tears running down, smearing his face.
Zhang Chen glanced at Xu Erniu, then looked at the ten-meter-high cliff. What he was thinking about was the test of immortals accepting disciples. Regardless of whether this kind of thing was true or not, he would rather kill by mistake than let it go. What if it really was a test?
It's just that with this ten-meter distance, he couldn't use his supernatural powers and spells. How should he rescue him?
Zhang Chen pondered slightly and already had a solution. He took off his belt, then tore off Xu Erniu's belt. After measuring them, it was still a little short, so he tore off his pants, twisted them into a rope, and after stretching them, the little fatty weighed no more than fifty pounds. His belt and Xu Erniu's belt were both woven from fine silk, so he wasn't afraid of them being torn apart.
So, Zhang Chen lowered the rope and shouted to the little fatty: "Kid, grab on tight. We won't be responsible if you fall."
The little fatty hurriedly grabbed the lowered rope upon hearing this. The other party was quite clever, directly tying it to his belt, and then firmly grasping the rope with both hands.
Zhang Chen couldn't pull the other party up by himself. After all, he was just a child, so he tied the belt to a rock and wedged it into the crevice of the mountain path, signaling Xu Erniu to hold it down with him.
"Little fatty, we don't dare to pull you up. If a mountain wind comes, we will be pulled down by you too. You grab the rope and use your legs to climb up yourself." Zhang Chen shouted towards the cliff below.
That little fatty was obviously not an ordinary person and seemed to have a foundation in martial arts. In just a few movements, he climbed up the rope like a nimble monkey, and then said to Zhang Chen: "Little brother, thank you for saving my life. I will repay you in the future."
Zhang Chen looked at the teenager in front of him, who was a head taller than him, and was a little speechless: Calling him big brother under the cliff, and little brother on the cliff, truly a vivid portrayal of snobbery.
"My name is Zou Wenlong, may I know little brother's name?" Zou Wenlong asked while sizing up Zhang Chen and Xu Erniu's attire.
"My name is Zhang Chen, this is my little sister Xu Fu," Zhang Chen said.
"So it's younger brother Zhang and little sister Xu Fu. Since you saved me, then follow me from now on. I'll protect you in the Taoist temple." Zou Wenlong's voice was full of assurances.
Zhang Chen looked at the other party's tattered clothes, as well as his worn-out hands and feet, ignored him, and led Xu Erniu to continue climbing the mountain.
Seeing this, Zou Wenlong followed behind the two. Although his soles were bloody, he remained expressionless, chattering: "There is still half a day's journey from here to Wuzhuang Temple. I wonder if you two have any dry food on you?"
Xu Erniu glared at the other party. She had been mingling outside since she was a child and was most sensitive to the warmth and coldness of human relationships. The other party's attitude before and after being rescued was completely different, which made her very unhappy. She was about to say something when Zhang Chen stopped her: "There is still some jerky here, eat it and hurry up the mountain."
After saying that, Zhang Chen led Xu Erniu to continue on their way. Zou Wenlong followed behind the two, gnawing on the jerky while chattering and probing the origins of the two, trying to take them as his underlings. Unfortunately, neither Zhang Chen nor Xu Erniu bothered to pay attention to him, only focusing on climbing the mountain.
Zhang Chen didn't know the origin of this little fatty, secretly put away the Wind-Fixing Pill, and climbed the steps in the mountain wind.
Sure enough, after climbing for another half a day, the three finally reached the top of the mountain, and they could vaguely see the gate of Wuzhuang Temple.
The gate of Wuzhuang Temple was tightly closed. Its appearance was somewhat similar to the Wuzhuang Temple filmed in Journey to the West. There were couplets on both sides of the Wuzhuang Temple:
Upper scroll: Immortal abode of longevity and immortality.
Lower scroll: Taoist family as long-lived as heaven.
Zhang Chen looked at the two couplets, his eyes full of disbelief, and said in shock: "How could this be?"
These couplets are actually the same as the couplets in his memory: "Could this Wuzhuang Temple have something to do with the Wuzhuang Temple in Journey to the West? This second heaven of the spiritual world is truly incredible, how could there be such a strange thing?"
Before even reaching the gate, Zou Wenlong directly bypassed the two, rushed to the gate, stretched out his hand and 'bang bang' vigorously knocked on the gate: "Open the door! Open the door!"
Zhang Chen looked at the door being knocked so loudly that it was crackling, and only felt his eyelids twitching. He quickly pulled Xu Erniu to stand further away, lest Zou Wenlong anger the Taoists in the temple and implicate the two of them.
At this moment, the gate of the Taoist temple opened, and a child's voice came, filled with annoyance: "Which plague-stricken bastard is disturbing my peace…"
While speaking, he opened the door. After seeing Zou Wenlong, and then looking at the other party's embarrassed appearance, he said with disbelief: "Is it Junior Brother? Why are you in such a mess?"
The little fatty said with a helpless face: "Don't mention it, I went down the mountain to visit relatives and suffered a calculation on the way back."
Zou Wenlong pushed open the door and walked straight in, ignoring Zhang Chen and Xu Erniu, as if he had forgotten them.
The Taoist child looked at Zhang Chen and Xu Erniu: "What are you two here for?"
"I'm here to find my father!" Xu Erniu quickly said.
"Your father? Which one in the Taoist temple is your father? I haven't heard of any senior brother getting married down the mountain?" The Taoist child was stunned upon hearing this.
"My father's name is Xu Ze. My mother said that my father is cultivating in Qingcheng Mountain," Xu Erniu said.
The little Taoist scratched his head upon hearing this, looked at the two of them, who looked travel-worn, and said to them: "You wait here, I'll go and inform you."
The little Taoist turned and left to inform the temple master. After hearing the name Xu Ze, the temple master's expression changed, and then he said to the little Taoist: "Go and invite them in."
Before long, the little Taoist opened the door and welcomed the two in. They saw that the Taoist temple was antique and fragrant, and there was a faint mist lingering, which looked quite like a scene of immortals.
Along the way, there were disciples repairing flowers and plants, and there were also disciples chanting scriptures under the trees. The Taoist temple was lively with people coming and going.
Zhang Chen and Xu Erniu followed the two all the way to a secluded house in the backyard. After the young Taoist reported, the two entered the house and saw a young man with white hair and beard but a rosy complexion sitting upright on a futon.
“This is the Longevity Ancestor, the master of the Wuzhuang Temple.” The young Taoist introduced.
Zhang Chen and Xu Erniu heard this and hurriedly knelt down: “Greetings, Master.”
The Taoist glanced at the two and asked, “Which of you is a descendant of Xu Ze?”
Xu Erniu respectfully said: “I am.”
The Taoist stroked his beard, looked Xu Erniu up and down, and then gently招手: “Come forward.”
Xu Erniu nimbly crawled over. The Taoist stroked Xu Erniu's head, and after a moment, he said: “That's right.”
Then he turned his gaze to Zhang Chen: “And who are you?”
“Disciple heard that there are immortals on Qingcheng Mountain, and I admire the immortal methods in my heart, so I came to learn from a teacher.” Zhang Chen kowtowed.
Golden light flowed in the Taoist's eyes, and after scanning Zhang Chen, he nodded: “Since you can come here, it is fate. You will be a Taoist child first. If you can enter the sect in the future, I will promote you to an entry-level disciple.”
Hearing this, Zhang Chen hurriedly kowtowed: “Thank you, Ancestor.”
Longevity Ancestor nodded and said to the Taoist boy beside him: “Hong Wan, take him to live there.”
Hong Wan, that is, the Taoist boy, led Zhang Chen out of the Taoist temple. Then Hong Wan said to Zhang Chen: “What is your name?”
“Junior Zhang Chen.” Zhang Chen hurriedly said.
“Just call me Hong Wan.” Hong Wan said with a smile: “You are just a Taoist child now and have no Taoist name. When you understand the scriptures and enter the Tao, we will be considered peers.”
Zhang Chen was stunned when he heard this. Hong Wan led Zhang Chen to collect his clothes, and then led him to the dormitory. The dormitory was a large common sleeping area for dozens of people. After Zhang Chen packed his luggage, Hong Wan said: “Now that you have entered the mountain gate, the mountain gate does not support idlers. You still need to receive assignments and send you to be a boy in the medicine garden, responsible for planting herbs every day.”
Zhang Chen agreed.
Hong Wan said: “All disciples of my Wuzhuang Temple have their own duties before entering the sect, and they must not be lazy for a day. The ancestor preaches every morning at sunrise and stops at noon. In the afternoon, the disciples work, and in the evening, they study their homework. By the way, can you read?”
“Junior can read.” Zhang Chen hurriedly said.
Hong Wan nodded: “There is a library in the Taoist temple. If you can read, you can feel free to study the books in it…”
Hong Wan explained a lot of things, and then led Zhang Chen to recognize the medicine field he was responsible for, as well as the Sutra Collection Pavilion and the kitchen. Then Zhang Chen settled down in the Taoist temple.
As for the little fat man Zou Wenlong, he never appeared again.
Zhang Chen sat in the dormitory. In the evening, the Taoist children returned, and everyone asked about Zhang Chen and introduced themselves. Then Zhang Chen lived in the mountains.
The first morning
The Longevity Ancestor personally preached, and hundreds of Taoist disciples sat on both sides of the courtyard. The ancestor sitting in the middle was the one who preached, and he was talking about the cycle of heaven and earth. Zhang Chen listened with relish.
The practice of Wuzhuang Temple is different from that in the novels. All the disciples come to the ancestor to listen to the lecture.
After eating lunch at noon, Zhang Chen went to the medicine field to manage the herbs, and then went to the Sutra Collection Pavilion to find books.
He did not forget that his main purpose in coming to Wuzhuang Temple was to find the fusion technique of innate yin and yang and innate five elements.
On the second day of preaching, Zhang Chen saw Xu Erniu. At this time, Xu Erniu was dressed as a female Taoist and sat beside the Longevity Ancestor. She was actually being personally taught by the ancestor.
As for the little fat man Zou Wenlong, he was also sitting upright in the crowd, listening solemnly.
After the preaching was over, everyone dispersed. After Zhang Chen managed the medicine field, he came to the Sutra Collection Pavilion to absorb various knowledge. If he wanted to understand Wuzhuang Temple and this world, he had to start with books.
At this time, Zhang Chen was engrossed in reading a book called “Ode to the Ancestor”. After putting down the book after a long time, he said thoughtfully: “Eighty thousand years ago, the immortal path was opened, and the Longevity Ancestor obtained a heavenly book, which described the path of earth immortals. So he settled in Qingcheng Mountain and founded the Wuzhuang Temple Taoist tradition. Then the Wuzhuang Temple grew stronger and continued to preach to the world.”
This is the origin of Wuzhuang Temple, but where this heavenly book came from, it only says that the immortal path was opened.
Zhang Chen pondered the classics, and various thoughts flashed in his mind: “I don’t know the specific cultivation methods of Wuzhuang Temple, but I don’t know what the mystery of this path of earth immortals is? Is it related to the ancestor of earth immortals that I have heard of?”
However, Zhang Chen felt that the Wuzhuang Temple in Qingcheng Mountain and the Wuzhuang Temple in Journey to the West probably only had the same name, because there were neither Qingfeng nor Mingyue Taoist boys here, nor had he heard the senior brothers mention the ginseng fruit tree.
“Zhang Chen, I finally found you.” Just as Zhang Chen was thinking, Xu Erniu came over, looking at Zhang Chen with a happy face.
“You have a good fortune, you are actually following the ancestor and getting personal guidance from the ancestor.” Zhang Chen said with a smile.
“Immortal friend Zhang, you also have a good fortune. You actually entered the immortal gate and became an immortal.” Xu Erniu joked with a smile.
The two talked for a while, recounting their experiences in coming to the Taoist temple. Then Xu Erniu complained: “When will I be able to see my father? The ancestor said that my father is in seclusion and I will have to wait until my father comes out of seclusion before I can meet him.”
“Don’t worry, now that you have come to the Taoist temple, are you afraid that there will be no day to meet?” Zhang Chen said.
Xu Erniu smiled when she heard this, feeling that it made sense.
Then they parted and returned to their houses to rest.
Next was the monotonous repetition of days, planting herbs, listening to Taoism, and reading books.
A month passed, and Zhang Chen read many books in the Sutra Collection Pavilion, but there were no cultivation methods, only mysterious and abstruse principles.
He wanted to find the trace of the Emperor's Daughter, but he did not discuss it with the disciples in the Taoist temple.
“I don’t know where the Great自在天 Demon has run to. This guy has disappeared since we separated.” Zhang Chen felt that if the Great自在天 Demon could help him, he might be able to browse the books more quickly and find a solution.
On this day, the ancestor preached again, talking about the methods of cultivation and the verification of the realm of cultivation.
Zhang Chen listened to the cultivation methods, thoughtfully pondering: “This method is really strange.”
The cultivation method of Wuzhuang Temple requires finding a leyline, and then using the leyline as the foundation to build a cave world, so that the cave world is immortal, and the cultivator is immortal.
“I don’t know what the difference is between this cultivation method and the cultivation method of Wuzhuang Temple in the Primordial World, but this cultivation method of Wuzhuang Temple is not suitable for me!” Zhang Chen thought to himself after listening to the Tao: “I don’t know if Wuzhuang Temple has any other methods.”