Chapter 8: Establishing the Mountain Gate, Refining the Bricks.
Hmph, still calling it a treasure, I think it's more like two pieces of junk
The two children casually agreed without much thought, as they did not take it seriously. With their lecherous master, how could they possibly have such good things? His boasting had even reached a level of skill.
Zhou Cheng was afraid that his actions had gone too far, affecting his image of being lewd, low-key, and weak. He immediately adopted a serious demeanor, restoring his lewd expression.
Zhou Cheng felt a wave of discomfort, as if the words suggested he was leading the two young ones to engage in some robbery, as if they were lying in wait. "Look at this mountain, you fools. This will be our place from now on," Zhou Cheng said, feeling quite satisfied with the transformed Qingqiu Mountain, boasting to his two disciples. "It's just okay, nothing special, merely a place to stay. Although it's a bit shabby, it's much better than sleeping outdoors and suffering from the cold and dew day and night," Zhu said playfully, shaking his head. Although Shi Zhong did not express an opinion, he clearly did not appear surprised.
"Master, this is indeed a good place. Has no one come here before? We have truly benefited from it." Zhu Yu and Shi Zhong both exclaimed, it seems that although the Master of Bargains may not possess great magical powers, he appears to have quite good luck
"Come on, Master, at worst we can serve you well in the future. Think positively; although we have lost the treasure, we have gained two even greater treasures. Besides, with your cultivation, can you really recognize a great deity?" Zhu Yu twisted her little braid and looked mischievously at her lecherous master.
Zhou Cheng sent away his two disciples, allowing them to cultivate on their own without concerning himself with their progress. After all, he had countless methods to enhance their cultivation and understanding of the Dao in the future. Letting them wander aimlessly on their path of cultivation could serve as a form of training. He casually set up a defensive formation around the thatched cottage on the mountaintop to prevent any unwelcome enlightened demons from disturbing him, and then he went about his own business.
Zhou Cheng led the two individuals to the front of the thatched cottages, pointing at several of them and said, "You two may choose any one, as for me, I will select the one by the cliff." Zhu Yu and Shi Zhong looked at the simple thatched cottages before them and said nothing further, each choosing one to settle down.
Zhou Cheng then performed a grand technique, waving his sleeve to reveal several thatched cottages atop Qingqiu Mountain. A rustic stone staircase wound its way up the mountain, flanked by ancient pines with gnarled branches. Among the branches, some newly awakened birds circled up and down, while at the foot of the pines, many rare spiritual herbs collected by Zhou Cheng during his travels in the primordial wilderness were planted. The entire mountaintop was vibrant with life yet devoid of noise. He then pointed his fingers like a sword towards the steep cliff beside the stone steps, and in an instant, the three ancient seal characters for 'Qingqiu Mountain' appeared on the cliff. These three characters were extraordinary, as Zhou Cheng utilized his divine powers, embedding a hint of the principles of the Dao within their formation. He also acted spontaneously, intending to benefit those with deep fortunes in the future of Qingqiu Mountain.
"Hmm, I won't say more. This is a jade slip for entering and exiting the mountain gate, worth two pieces. Take good care of it; if you lose it, don't come crying back to the mountain gate later." Zhou Cheng painfully took out two jade slips and handed them to the two. "Ah, such fine jade, wasted as two keys."
Zhou Cheng thought to himself that although he possessed countless magical treasures, he was not inclined to use them. After all, his principle was to seize what belonged to others whenever possible, and to utilize others' resources without touching his own stock. Since he was going to pursue a full-time career in brick-making, it seemed that to excel in his craft, he must first sharpen his tools. It was time for him to forge a good brick.
Master, what is meant by "precious energy"? Is it a magical treasure? Shi Zhong was also intrigued.
Hmph, you all think it's that simple. This place was once desolate and barren. I, your master, have spent many years here, using all my treasured artifacts and spells. It took countless years to transform it into what it is now. Was it easy for me? Boohoo, that was a life-saving gift from a great deity, along with the illustrations.
"Don't be so serious. I only have these few requests, and they are for your benefit. The cultivation methods I provide emphasize the understanding of the heavenly principles; the increase in magical power is not so rigid. In other words, if you can comprehend these great laws, it is entirely possible to immediately attain the position of a Taiyi Golden Immortal. Therefore, you should prioritize understanding the profound truths contained within the cultivation techniques, with the enhancement of magical power as a secondary focus. Otherwise, no matter how strong your magical power is, if you are unaware of the timing of the heavens, it will ultimately be in vain." Thinking of the ancestral shamans in the future, Zhou felt a wave of frustration. Truly, the way of heaven is to diminish the excess and supplement the insufficient.
Apart from the two individuals ensnared by the illusion, all sentient beings with spiritual awareness on Qingqiu Mountain became agitated. The awakened beings were perplexed, wondering what had caused such a transformation. The familiar Qingqiu Mountain of the past was no longer present; the current Qingqiu Mountain was abundant in spiritual energy, with gentle breezes and a vibrant aura of immortality, yet it was neither extravagant nor noisy. Henceforth, it became a paradise on earth, never to resemble the past again.
Oh, look at the master's memory, forgetting to give it, hehe. Zhou Cheng then transmitted to them a specialized combat technique, the "Kaitian" chapter. "But don't say I didn't remind you, this thing was picked up by me on the road. It is said that when practiced to the extreme, it possesses the power to create the heavens. It was derived from others observing Pangu's creation of the heavens and then comprehending it themselves, specifically for destruction. In future conflicts with others, if you need to strike hard, do not hesitate. Of course, if it is not necessary, you must pay attention to the force used.
Zhou Cheng took out a piece of Chaos Stone and examined it carefully. When Pangu gave him these stones, he mentioned that he counted them out of boredom. They originated from the Chaos and had been thoroughly tempered by the chaotic currents, making them exceptionally hard. He also took out the Qi of Xuanhuang from the Qian Kun Ding that Pangu had helped him collect during the creation of the world. Zhou Cheng observed that he would not even need a fraction of the total amount of Xuanhuang Qi to refine this brick-like treasure. At the beginning of the world, the Xuanhuang Qi was abundant. Although part of it was used to form the exquisite Xuanhuang Pagoda, the remaining Qi, which should have dissipated between heaven and earth, was entirely collected by Pangu into the Qian Kun Ding. It seems that the merit Qi is indeed a valuable thing.
Zhou Cheng's room is simply furnished, featuring a bamboo bed, a pine tea table, and a shrine adorned with a large Dao character. In front of the shrine lies a meditation cushion, which is where Zhou Cheng sits in meditation and contemplates the Dao of Heaven. Although he possesses profound magical powers, he has a carefree nature. Even if he were to attain sainthood in the future, he would not wish to adopt the ostentatious appearance of a charlatan, adorned with auspicious clouds and spiritual treasures. Simplicity is the essence of the Dao.
Zhou Cheng and his three disciples slowly descended the stone steps, leisurely making their way up. As they walked, the red cranes heralded good fortune, the mist and clouds were ethereal, and the spiritual energy that seemed to liquefy and envelop them provided a significant boost to Zhou Cheng's two young disciples.
One of the reasons Zhou Cheng was drawn to this place was the abundance of foxes on the mountains. In his previous life, he had seen many Buddhas and developed a special affection for foxes. Of course, foxes are often cunning, their nature fickle, and they do not easily trust others. However, once they become emotionally attached, they are truly devoted and sincere. Zhou Cheng also appreciated their intelligence. His choice of this location ultimately stemmed from a desire to care for these foxes in the future.
"Master, won't you teach us how to fight?" Shi Zhong is truly a good child; it seems he has the potential to become a PK expert
Zhou Cheng did not instruct his disciples, but directly placed a sign at the door of the thatched cottage reading "Do Not Disturb, Sleeping," set up a defensive formation, and devoted himself to refining tools.
"How embarrassing, Master is truly a miser, a stingy Master." Zhu Yu stuck out her tongue, her small hand scraping her rosy, tender face as she made a shy gesture
Zhu Yu and Shi Zhong looked at their master, who appeared calm and composed, exuding an unprecedented seriousness amidst his lewd demeanor. Witnessing Zhou Cheng bestow the magical incantation through the art of spiritual transmission, they suddenly felt that their master was far more mysterious than they had imagined, and an involuntary sense of fear arose within them. The two quickly bowed and pledged, "Disciples do not dare." However, in the blink of an eye, that lewd master seemed to have returned.
Hmph, for those who cultivate, extravagance and luxury are merely superficial appearances; only that which aligns most closely with nature approaches the Dao. This place is precisely suited as a sanctuary for those with perseverance and determination in their pursuit of the Way
In the midst of the primordial chaos, there exists a mountain located in the eastern part of the Primordial Continent, not far from the sea, merely twenty million miles away. This mountain, abundant in jade, is known as Qingqiu Mountain. The spiritual energy of Qingqiu Mountain is rich, and its scenery is ethereal, which is the primary reason why Zhou Cheng is drawn to this place. The path of the Great Dao is boundless; although there are thousands of paths, attaining even one is as difficult as climbing a mountain. Zhou Cheng's path is more aligned with nature, emphasizing the realization of personal pursuits, the enjoyment of nature, the comprehension of nature, and ultimately the understanding of the laws of creation, leading to the attainment of the Great Dao.
At this moment, the mountain gate was completed. Zhou Chengsui dispelled the illusionary formation and let out a light shout, "Hey!" Zhu Yu and Shi Zhong immediately awakened, pondering how they had been in a daze, yet they did not think too much about it. Zhu Yu directly asked, "Master, why aren't we leaving? Have we arrived at our destination?"
As Zhou Cheng approached Qingqiu Mountain, he casually cast an illusion, making the two small beings believe that he was still flying with them, while he stood alone on Qingqiu Mountain, preparing to arrange a formation. He did not want his two disciples to know how powerful he was, as this could easily lead to a sense of complacency, which would be detrimental to their future cultivation. He was also concerned that they might become arrogant and oppressive. He casually threw four innate spiritual treasures, each equally powerful but specialized in formation, into the sky. Using the treasures as a guide, Zhou Cheng immediately performed a grand technique, establishing the Pangu Great Formation. From the outside, it appeared that Qingqiu Mountain had almost vanished, and when he scanned with his divine sense, it was a realm of emptiness. Zhou Cheng seemed somewhat dissatisfied with the appearance of Qingqiu Mountain, and he subsequently threw out two innate spiritual treasures, using them as a guide to perform the Chaos Spirit Attraction Great Formation that he had comprehended during the Chaos period. Instantly, strands of scattered chaotic essence from the primordial world began to converge, benefiting all beings on Qingqiu Mountain, including his two small disciples. Countless plants and animals awakened their spiritual intelligence as a result, embarking on the path of cultivation. Following this, spiritual energy surged from a radius of billions of miles, and the power of the stars from the primordial cosmos descended like rain.