Chapter 48

"Let's begin!"

You Xuande briefly exchanged words with the various sect leaders and signaled Wang Zhong to start the Heaven-Dipping Ceremony.

Wang Zhong, draped in a dark red crane robe, wearing a yin-yang crown, and holding the Xuanwu sword, slowly entered the Purple Dawn Palace under the guidance of a young Taoist.

The chanting of hundreds of Taoists became even louder.

It must be said that religious scriptures have a calming effect on the mind, especially during such a significant ceremony, making the scene solemn and peaceful.

Wang Zhong's heart was as still as an ancient well. He felt a peculiar power emanating from the Golden Statue of Zhenwu, a power that shared the same origin as his, making him feel incredibly comfortable.

The Golden Statue of Zhenwu also sensed the energy from Wang Zhong and suddenly emitted a beam of golden light. The figure of Zhenwu, wearing a dragon robe and a flat heaven crown, appeared and disappeared in the golden light.

Under the influence of this power, Wang Zhong involuntarily began to walk in the Yu Step.

The Yu Step, also known as the Nine Palace Step, is said to have been created by Yu the Great, hence its name. Wang Zhong, being a descendant of the Nine Palace Sword School, was naturally very familiar with the Yu Step.

As he moved forward and backward, left and right, his footprints on the ground formed a complete Taiji diagram.

The Taiji diagram represents the initial shape of heaven and earth, possessing supreme power and having a strong resonance and enhancement effect on energy. This is why almost all Taoist descendants practice the Nine Palace Step.

"Is he in a qigong state?"

Seeing Wang Zhong's eyes tightly closed, a visitor with a background in qigong practice asked in surprise.

A qigong state refers to a state where the body and mind are highly relaxed, and consciousness is in a state of being almost but not quite present. Wang Zhong was now in such a state, with his consciousness hovering between existence and non-existence, and his body movements completed subconsciously. He looked somewhat ethereal, like a celestial being.

"This is the ancestor's spirit descending!"

A believer beside him said with a sneer.

"Is the spirit descending so quickly?"

You Xuande was also somewhat puzzled. Normally, the ancestor spirits from the upper realm would descend after three or four days of the Heaven-Dipping Ceremony. This was the first time he had seen such a situation.

Wang Zhong, in his qigong state, reached a state of no thoughts.

The Xuanwu formed by his essence, energy, and spirit roared in the air, and the Golden Statue of Zhenwu, influenced by Wang Zhong's master blood energy, could not descend.

The Golden Statue of Zhenwu circled above Wang Zhong's head, and another beam of golden light shot out from the statue, merging with the previous one, finally stabilizing above Wang Zhong's head.

Wang Zhong noticed that although the Golden Statue of Zhenwu looked lifelike, its eyes were lifeless, making it seem more like a puppet.

The Golden Statue of Zhenwu shot out another beam of golden light. After emitting three beams of divine light, the golden light on the statue became dim.

The figure of Zhenwu in the golden light became larger, and his features became clearer.

The Golden Statue of Zhenwu began to slowly descend above Wang Zhong's head.

After the Golden Statue of Zhenwu merged with Wang Zhong's head, a seed of divine power would remain in Wang Zhong's mind. In times of danger, he could use this seed to invite Zhenwu to assist him in battle.

Only then would the spirit descent ceremony be officially completed.

However, just as the Golden Statue of Zhenwu was three inches away from Wang Zhong's head, an unexpected event occurred.

The meteorological Xuanwu above Wang Zhong's head suddenly opened its mouth wide and tore the golden Zhenwu apart, swallowing it.

"This is—!"

You Xuande stood up in shock.

If he could see it, the other real people could see it too.

"Meteorological swallowing of the spirit!"

"Meteorological swallowing of the spirit!"

"Meteorological swallowing of the spirit!"

"This is something that can only be encountered in legends; I never thought I would witness it in my lifetime!"

Zhang Jintao, the youngest among the many Taoist masters, was not to be underestimated. He was a descendant of the Celestial Master's Mansion on Longhu Mountain and the direct grandson of the 63rd Celestial Master, Zhang Enpu. His knowledge and insight were far beyond the ordinary.

The Celestial Master's Mansion on Longhu Mountain has received imperial rewards throughout the dynasties, known as the Southern Zhang and Northern Kong!

However, the Celestial Master's Mansion of this dynasty was somewhat awkward. The 63rd Celestial Master, Zhang Enpu, went to Taiwan via Hong Kong and Macau.

There has been no Celestial Master on the mainland for a long time!

Out of necessity, the young Lu Jintao, not yet thirty, changed his surname to Zhang and temporarily took charge of the Celestial Master's Mansion!

"In the notes of the founder of the Orthodox Unity School, there are records of meteorological swallowing of the spirit. Celestial Master Zhang Daoling, the unkempt real person Zhang Sanfeng, the head of the Complete Perfection School Wang Chongyang, and the Pure Yang Real Person Lü Yan all experienced meteorological swallowing of the spirit during their spirit descent. The founder speculated that it is only when the meteorology and the spirit reach complete harmony that such a phenomenon can occur!"

Seeing the several real people and Taoist masters looking at him, Zhang Jintao did not keep them in suspense.

"That's right, our founder's notes also have such records!"

Reminded by Zhang Jintao, You Xuande also recalled that section of the text.

"This child has an unlimited future; the Daoist community will have another great master!"

The head of Mount Maoshan, KONGLingzi, said with a smile.

"With this child, Mount Wudang will surely flourish!"

...

Wang Zhong stood there in a daze, with many mysterious symbols appearing in his mind. The meteorological Xuanwu also underwent a significant transformation, not only increasing in momentum but also gaining a touch of divinity in its spirituality.

Wang Zhong had no time to pay attention to You Xuande and the others, nor did he have time to pay attention to the transformed Xuanwu.

His entire mind was captivated by a picture.

The Five Peaks True Shape Map!

A Daoist talisman, said to be transmitted by Laozi, with the effect of avoiding disasters and bringing blessings. There is a stele with this map in the Zhongyue Temple on Mount Song.

The Five Peaks True Shape Map that appeared in Wang Zhong's mind was not a lifeless object but a real talisman!

"Junior, the ceremony is still ongoing; don't offend the ancestors and immortals!"

Seeing Wang Zhong's dazed expression, You Xuande was anxious and whispered.

Wang Zhong, hearing You Xuande's reminder, quickly gathered his thoughts and followed the young Taoist to the altar step by step.

"Offer!"

The clear voice of the Taoist sounded.

Offerings such as three sacrificial animals, fresh fruits, and pastries were presented by the Taoists one by one.

Wang Zhong washed his hands, made a hand seal, and used sweet wine to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, ghosts, and spirits.

As the chanting of the Taoists grew louder, the spirit positions representing the myriad ghosts and spirits suddenly trembled.

The ethereal incense smoke also strangely drifted towards the altar, as if something was continuously sucking it.

"The myriad ghosts and spirits have descended, but it's unknown which spirit has a connection with the junior!"

You Xuande looked at Wang Zhong with some concern. Although all spirits are listed among the ghosts and spirits, there are still significant differences between them. There are 365 heavenly deities with boundless power, and there are also grass spirits that have become deities.

If he forms a connection with a boundless heavenly deity, Wang Zhong can not only gain the favor of the deity and receive occasional rewards but also receive protection from the deity after he enters the underworld in a hundred years.

If he forms a connection with a shallow-rooted grass spirit, not only will he not receive help, but he will also be dragged down, suffering greatly.

You Xuande's spirit connection is with Wang Lingguan of the Lingxiao Hall, who, although not a high-ranking deity, is a close attendant of the Jade Emperor. In the Heavenly Court, many people give him face, and You Xuande has benefited from this.

"It must be a heavenly deity, it must be a heavenly deity, even a broom star that everyone hates would be fine!"

You Xuande looked at the altar with some tension, repeatedly muttering in his heart.

"Even if it's not a heavenly deity, being able to form a connection with the ascended ancestors would be fine!"

You Xuande looked enviously at the leaders of Longhu Mountain and Mount Maoshan. Just as having connections in the government helps in the human world, it is the same in the heavens!

The Celestial Master Zhang and the Three Mao Real People hold high positions in the Heavenly Court, commanding a region. Their ascended disciples are often protected by them. Even their disciples below receive their blessings, making their requests for deities and connections clearly superior to those of other sects.

The Celestial Master's Order of Longhu Mountain can even truly command ghosts and spirits!

"Lower realm Zhenwu lineage, Wudang believer Wang Zhong, following the will of heaven, respectfully requests divine grace!"

Wang Zhong, holding the sword, danced as if possessed.

The spirit positions on the altar, as if receiving a signal, began to tremble more intensely. Some spirit positions even emitted faint, invisible points of light.

After dancing for a while, the points of light on the spirit positions gathered into balls.

These light balls were a thread of divinity from the upper realm spirits.

The light balls, as if stimulated, rolled continuously on the spirit positions.

Seeing that the divine light could not descend, Wang Zhong was also somewhat anxious.

Wang Zhong gathered all his essence and energy to his head, forming three faint green lotus flowers above the Baihui point.

The light balls on the spirit positions, like sharks smelling blood, emitted a sharp whistle.

Finally, one ball of light could not resist the temptation and flew from the spirit position, shooting towards the three flowers above Wang Zhong's head.

Seeing the light about to enter, the other light balls that had already flown up slowly descended, unwillingly.

Once it descends, Wang Zhong will form a connection with this deity, serving and worshiping it for life, practicing the Daoist methods of this deity, and this deity will become Wang Zhong's guardian deity, helping him in his cultivation and granting him divine powers!

Wang Zhong as the main, the deity as the guardian!

This kind of divine power is called cultivation power, which is the divine power obtained through cultivation in this life. It looks similar to the powers of demons and ghosts, but there is a fundamental difference.

The powers of demons and ghosts, or what we now call schizophrenia, are believed by Buddhists to be caused by poor health, leading to the attachment of external energies, known as possession by demons and spirits, which are called non-humans in Buddhist scriptures.

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