Chapter 134: Taixu Temple 1 |
Green Mountain Village is located to the east of the Taixu Mountain Range and has been dependent on fanning since its first inhabitants.
The village lies at the foot of the mountains, with wave-like terraced fields cascading down the slopes.
The terraces give way to a forest of lush trees further uphill.
Passing through that forest and navigating over five more mountains, one comes across a squarely constructed temple.
This temple is known as “Taixu Temple,” situated by the mountain and near the water.
Whenever something comes up, many villagers from all over the Taixu Mountain Range flock here to offer incense.
Chen Mobai had obtained his turtle shell in this temple, and he had always wanted to return to investigate whether there were more hidden secrets behind this fortunate opportunity.
Early in the morning, he and his mother climbed mountains and crossed ridges, bringing tributes to the Taixu Temple.
But they found that white lanterns were hung under the eaves of this temple. “Who has passed away?”
“I’ll go ask.”
Chen Mobai picked up his bag, calm and composed, and started to knock on the door while his mother took a rest.
Soon, a junior cultivator opened the door.
“Greetings two donors, our firework elder passed away and became immortal last night. These days we are performing a ceremony and are not open for business, we apologize.”
The junior monk showed his regret after listening to them.
“The dead should be respected.”
Chen Mobai nodded, expressing understanding and was about to leave with Tang Panchui and come back another day.
“Since we’ve come all this way, crossing over five mountains, let’s offer some incense.”
Tang Panchui made an casual suggestion.
The junior cultivator hesitated for a moment, and after consulting the abbot, actually let them in.
This Taixu Temple is neither big nor small.
It is square, encircling an open courtyard in the middle.
In the middle of the courtyard is a three-meter-long bronze urn filled with ashes of burned incense.
Directly opposite the entrance is the main hall of the Taixu Temple, inside which is a Taixu True God statue of unknown origin. It is carried by a giant stone turtle. With a jade ruler in its left hand, the Tai Chi Eight Diagrams on its chest and brilliant galaxies on its sleeves, its face is dignified.
Chen Mobai looked at the open right hand of the statue. Originally there was a turtle shell there, but now it was empty.
“Donors, please stop here.”
After guiding them in, the junior monk pointed towards the white lanterns in the rear hall, indicating that it was the place of mourning and they shouldn’t go there.
“Thank you.”
Chen Mobai thanked him, and then donated 1888 Good Deed Points by scanning the QR code at the door with his phone.
He’s quite affluent now.
He had twenty thousand Good Deed Points, converted from Shen Juanxiu’s Ling Sha in his card. Also he had thirty thousand Good Deed Points from the bets on Qing Women, but since her card could only transfer 2,000 per day, Chen Mobai told her not to transfer it to him yet.
Recently, he had enough Qi-replenishing Spirit Water for the next three months. Chen Mobai asked Qing Women to use these Good Deed Points to buy medicinal ingredients and auxiliary materials to refine a different type of pill. Because all Spiritual Water pills have an expiration date and the ones just made have better effects when consumed.
As for what pill to refine, Chen Mobai didn’t know, so he let Qing Women choose the medicinal materials and practice on her own.
Qing Women considered it and chose the Rank-i High Quality “Fire Clearing Pill” after weighing the two factors.
When there’s enough Qi-replenishing Spirit Water, prioritizing the enhancement of Divine Sense is the best option.
After all, to succeed in Foundation Establishment, you need to excel in psyche, qi, and spirit. Shortcomings in any of these aspects would spell failure. Among these elements, enhancing one’s divine sense is the most difficult.
Yet, in Red Sandstone City, there is the advantage of making local use of resources to refine the “Fire Clearing Pill,” whose main ingredient is the paulownia flower and fruit of the Jade Wood Tree.
Chen Mobai applauded her choice.
However, among Rank-1 elixirs, this elixir is exceedingly precious. Refining one furnace of this elixir would cost 20,000 Good Deed Points.
While Chen Mobai, who had just accrued a small amount of Good Deed Points, was pained by the cost, he reasoned that the Good Deed Points in Qing Nu’s account were all gained from bets. If they could be converted into his power or used to enhance Qing Nu’s level of alchemy, it would be well worth it.
Moreover, if they could successfully refine the Fire Clearing Pill, the Immortal Gate’s official price for it was 5,000 Good Deed Points per pill.
A furnace could yield up to ten pills. With the spiritual extract provided by
Chen Mobai, Qing Nu could quickly earn back their investment if she successfully refined the pills.
Multitasking.
Chen Mobai was thinking about Qing Nu while his hands were busy finishing lighting the incense. He also placed the offerings he brought from his bag one by one on the table before the idol.
On the other side, the abbot of the temple came out from the back and began to chat with Tang Panchui.
“Is that so? I couldn’t have imagined that among our Taixu Mountain People, a true dragon from the Four Great Daoist Academies could arise.”
Upon hearing from Tang Panchui that Chen Mobai had been admitted to the Dance Tool Dao Academy, the abbot couldn’t help but reveal a shocked expression, also accompanied by a sense of pride.
“We are indeed indebted to the incense here. We came here today to fulfill a vow. But since the temple is busy, we won’t bother you anymore.” Seeing that Chen Mobai had put all the offerings like melons, fruits, and jujubes on the table, and that the incense had been lit, Tang Panchui smiled and said goodbye to the abbot.
“Would it be possible for you to leave a group photo?”
The abbot was an old man with grey hair. He remembered Tang Panchui and Chen Mobai because over the years, there had only been issues with the mother and son during the incense offerings.
He shamelessly asked Chen Mobai to take a photo with him, planning to use it later to promote the Taixu Temple. Chen Mobai didn’t refuse.
After the photo, Chen Mobai hesitated and finally decided not to ask about the turtle shell.
“Both of you, it’s already noon. Please stay and have some vegetarian meals before leaving.”
The abbot looked at the photo on his phone with satisfaction and had a junior cultivator guide the mother and son to have a vegetarian meal. He needed to go to the memorial hall to recite scriptures.
“Thank you, abbot.”
Under the guidance of the junior cultivator, they headed to the eastern side-room, which was the cafeteria.
The three of them chatted while eating.
“Do you know when this Taixu Temple was built?”
“It is said to have a long history. Anyway, when our ancestors settled in the
Taixu Mountain Range, this temple was already here.”
“I sense that the spiritual energy in this temple is not bad.”
“Yes, there is a Rank-2 Spirit Vein in the Taixu Mountain Range. Although it has been subdued and collected by the Immortal Gate, if we apply to use it the spiritual energy transferred through the pipe from source to us will have less loss because of the proximity. So even though we only purchased intermediate grade Rank-t spiritual energy, it is actually very close to high-grade Rank-1.” Chen Mobai listened to the junior cultivator’s explanation and measured the spiritual energy value with his phone. After he finished, Chen quietly nodded in agreement.
“Junior brother, the trash collecting Earth Master will be here soon. Quickly pack up Elder Liu Yanpei’s relics. These things cannot be cremated in the temple, let them take it away.”
At this moment, an older cultivator called to the junior from the doorway. The latter immediately put down his chopsticks.
Please continue eating. I will go pack up Elder Liu’s relics.”
“Wait a minute, is the elder who passed away in your temple today named Liu Yanpei?”
Chen Mobai’s eyes widened, and he abruptly stopped the junior cultivator who was about to leave.
“Yes, do you know Elder Liu?”
“It seems that when I was young and came to the temple to burn incense, I saw him. He even gave me a candy to eat.”
Chen Mobai gave an excuse, causing the junior cultivator to look confused.
Elder Liu was a loner and never received worshippers..”