Zhang Shisan suddenly sprang into the air, stabilizing himself above the sea where wooden fragments swirled. With both hands forming mystic seals, he shouted, “Taiping refining, divine union within Zhang; Celestial Origin’s four pillars, Five Sacred Mountains hidden and stored! Execute!”
As he slowly pressed his hands downward, the sea beneath him abruptly began to surge and churn. Massive waves surged forth with deafening roars, rippling outward ceaselessly.
Zhang Shisan’s expression grew solemn, tinged with confusion. Slowly bringing his hands together in a circular motion, he commanded, “Rise!”
Under the immense pressure of Zhang Shisan’s spiritual energy, the sea beneath him gradually parted, revealing a deep hollow. His hands moved as if lifting something extremely heavy, inch by inch raising it upwards.
Mei Qing had already summoned his spirit crane, sitting astride it calmly while extending his spiritual awareness to lock onto the depths of the sea below Zhang Shisan. Both had changed expressions earlier when their spiritual senses detected something strange hidden deep beneath the ocean. Now, seeing Zhang Shisan struggling, Mei Qing couldn’t help but feel surprised. With Zhang Shisan’s cultivation level, ordinary objects would be easily snatched up with a flick of his sleeve. What could possibly be so burdensome?
In truth, Zhang Shisan wasn’t exerting his full strength. Aside from parting the sea and retrieving the object, he was mainly focusing on his surroundings. He knew their group was too conspicuous. Now that he was attempting to seize an object from afar, it was likely that any hidden enemies would choose this moment to strike. Thus, Zhang Shisan feigned effort, partly to lure any adversaries into making a move.
However, the result was unexpected. He deliberately delayed for a moment, nearing the object’s emergence, yet there was still no sign of movement around.
Was there truly no one here? Then where had Xu Fu and Zhang Liusun gone? Puzzled, Zhang Shisan stopped pretending. With a swirl of his sleeves, the sea suddenly parted, and a dark object shot up from the depths.
As soon as the object breached the surface, Zhang Shisan extended his sleeve, snatching it up before releasing his technique. The sea below, suddenly freed from restraint, violently surged back, splashing high waves that continued to churn.
Examining the retrieved object, Zhang Shisan’s small eyes widened, and he remained speechless for a long while.
“Master? What’s wrong?” Seeing Zhang Shisan’s strange expression, Mei Qing rode his spirit crane over to ask.
Zhang Shisan examined the object in his hands, chuckled, and with a flick of his sleeve, tossed it toward Mei Qing.
Mei Qing noticed the object was about the size of a pillow and didn’t think much of it. He reached out casually, only to feel an immense weight pulling him down, dragging both him and his spirit crane toward the sea.
Mentally cursing his carelessness, Mei Qing realized he should have been more cautious, having noticed Zhang Shisan’s earlier strain. Fortunately, his recent cultivation had progressed rapidly. Reacting instantly, he circulated his spiritual energy throughout his body. His spirit crane simultaneously spread its wings wide, several zhang in span, flapping furiously to create a violent gust across the sea, barely stabilizing their descent.
“What kind of object is this? So heavy!” Mei Qing exclaimed in astonishment after steadying himself.
Examining the object closely, Mei Qing was stunned.
It was a dark, heavy stone, seemingly ordinary on the surface with no distinguishing features. Yet, its weight was extraordinary—easily over a thousand jin.
Examining it from all angles, a sudden realization struck Mei Qing, and he exclaimed in disbelief, “Could it be…?”
Suddenly, Zhang Shisan leaped into the air, stabilizing his stance above the sea where wooden debris swirled. With his hands forming intricate seals, he shouted, “Taiqing Refinement, the Spirit Expands Within; The Four Pillars of Heaven, the Five Peaks Lie Hidden! Execute!”
As Zhang Shisan slowly pressed his hands downward, the seawater beneath him began to churn violently. Enormous waves surged in all directions, accompanied by the thunderous roar of the tide.
Zhang Shisan’s expression was grave, tinged with a hint of confusion. His hands gradually moved towards each other, slowly converging as he commanded, “Rise!”
Under the immense pressure of Zhang Shisan’s true essence, the seawater beneath him gradually parted, revealing a deep cavity. Zhang Shisan’s hands seemed to be lifting something extremely heavy, inch by inch.
Mei Qing had already released his spirit crane, sitting calmly on its back, extending his spiritual senses to lock onto the seawater beneath Zhang Shisan. Earlier, both of them had simultaneously sensed something unusual deep beneath the ocean. Now, seeing Zhang Shisan’s laborious movements, Mei Qing couldn’t help but feel astonished. Given Zhang Shisan’s cultivation level, ordinary objects would have been effortlessly lifted with a mere flick of his sleeve. What could possibly make Zhang Shisan exert so much effort?
In truth, Zhang Shisan wasn’t using his full strength. While he was indeed parting the seawater to retrieve the object, the majority of his attention was focused on his surroundings. He knew that their group was too conspicuous, and if anyone were lying in ambush, they would surely attack now. Thus, Zhang Shisan’s apparent struggle was also a ploy to lure out any potential enemies.
However, the outcome was unexpected. Zhang Shisan deliberately delayed for a moment, but as the object was about to emerge, there was still no sign of any disturbance.
Could it be that there was truly no one here? Where had Xu Fu and Zhang Liusun gone? Zhang Shisan was somewhat surprised. No longer pretending, he flicked his sleeves, and the seawater suddenly parted. A dark object shot up from the depths.
As soon as the object emerged, Zhang Shisan extended his long sleeve, swiftly capturing it and then retracting his spell. The seawater beneath him, now free from suppression, crashed back down with a loud splash, sending waves high into the air.
Looking at the object retrieved from the seabed, Zhang Shisan’s small eyes widened in shock, and he remained silent for a long while.
“Master? What’s going on?” Seeing Zhang Shisan’s strange expression, Mei Qing urged his spirit crane closer to ask.
Zhang Shisan examined the object in his hands, then chuckled. With a flick of his sleeve, he tossed it towards Mei Qing.
Mei Qing, seeing that the object was no larger than a pillow, didn’t think much of it and reached out to catch it. However, he was immediately overwhelmed by a weight as heavy as a mountain, causing both him and his spirit crane to plummet towards the sea.
Realizing his mistake, Mei Qing cursed himself for his carelessness. He had noticed Zhang Shisan’s earlier struggle, yet he had still been so careless. Fortunately, his recent rigorous training had paid off. Reacting swiftly, he circulated his true essence, stabilizing his body. The spirit crane beneath him flapped its wings, which extended several feet, creating a gust of wind that barely managed to keep them afloat.
“What is this thing? It’s incredibly heavy!” Mei Qing exclaimed in astonishment once he had steadied himself.
Upon closer inspection, Mei Qing was shocked to find that the object was a pitch-black stone.
The stone was entirely black, seemingly ordinary with no special markings on its surface. However, its weight was extraordinary, easily exceeding a thousand pounds.
Mei Qing examined it from all angles, then suddenly had a realization and exclaimed, “Could it be… is this…”
Zhang Shisan sighed deeply and said, “Indeed. This is the last remnant of the sacred mountain, Jieshi.”
Mei Qing and the others could hardly believe it. They looked around at the vast expanse of sea and sky, the endless blue horizon. Recalling the legends of the sacred mountain, which had been sealed away in this unknown location for millennia, only to be destroyed, leaving behind this mere fragment, filled them with profound sorrow.
After a long moment of contemplation, Mei Qing sighed and, with a wave of his hand, stored the fragment of Jieshi in his dimensional space. Shaking his head, he said, “Since there’s nothing else here, let’s leave.”
Zhang Shisan chuckled, “The affairs of the past, who can truly understand them? The ancients said that even wood changes with time. Today, we see that even the sacred mountain Jieshi has met such a fate. Haha, but so it is, so it is!”
“I still can’t understand,” Mei Qing said to Bi Zhen. “The sacred mountain Jieshi was so immense. How could only this small fragment remain? And where have Xu Fu and Zhang Liusun gone? That day, I was clearly ensnared by Zhang Liusun. I thought I was doomed, yet somehow I appeared outside, unharmed, and was rescued by you. These mysteries are truly unsettling.”
“If you can’t understand, then don’t dwell on it,” Bi Zhen said, playing with the monkey on her shoulder. “You promised to tell me the story of ‘Journey to the West,’ where there’s also a monkey. But ever since we returned, you’ve just been lost in thought, not keeping your word.”
“Ah, ‘Journey to the West,’ that’s a long story. It all begins with the goddess Nüwa refining stones to mend the heavens…” Seeing Bi Zhen feigning anger, Mei Qing quickly raised his hands in surrender and began recounting the tale from memory.
“A monkey born from a stone?” Bi Zhen asked, puzzled by the origin of the Monkey King.
“Yes, born from a stone,” Mei Qing replied with a smile. “That’s why he possesses such great powers, bestowed by heaven and earth.”
“No wonder you’ve been staring at that stone these past few days. Were you waiting for a monkey to pop out?” Bi Zhen teased. “But my Wukong is much better, soft and cuddly, not like that hard stone monkey.” Wukong, perched on Bi Zhen’s shoulder, nodded vigorously, its long white fur brushing against her ear, making her giggle.
“By the way, there’s something I need to discuss with you,” Bi Zhen said after laughing for a while, suddenly looking worried.
“What is it? Tell me,” Mei Qing asked, puzzled by her sudden change in mood.
“Well, I sneaked out this time. When we return, my father will surely be furious. I was hoping my grandmother could help plead my case, but when she came, she said…”
“What did she say?”
“She said she wants to meet you. If she approves of you, then she’ll help us.”
“Ah…”
“Master, master, save me…”
“Silly disciple, what brings you to seek my help now?”
“Master, we’re about to return to the capital. You remember what you promised when I became your disciple, right?”
“Became my disciple? Promised what? No such thing. Absolutely not.”
“Don’t be like that, master. Are you really going to let me die?”
“Death isn’t so scary. Don’t worry, I’ll find a way for you to reincarnate…”
Mei Qing gritted his teeth. Back then, this cheap master had been eager to take him as a disciple, promising all sorts of things. Now, with the competition absent, Zhang Shisan conveniently forgot all his promises.
“You’re ruthless!” Mei Qing muttered. “When your disciple gets beaten to death, where will you hide your face?”
“Silly disciple, with your current cultivation, unless you’re planning to marry the daughter of Buddha, no one can kill you,” the unscrupulous master replied, unfazed.
Mei Qing realized his mistake. He was no longer the novice who had left the capital. Now, having condensed his Nascent Soul and reached the Qi Refining stage, he was considered a true cultivator, a formidable figure in the cultivation world.
Even if he were to face Lu Bing directly, Mei Qing was confident he wouldn’t suffer any major losses.
With this in mind, Mei Qing felt a bit more confident. He coughed and whispered to Bi Zhen, “Zhen, is your grandmother very powerful?”
“My grandmother?” Bi Zhen thought for a moment. “She’s very kind to me.”
“No, I mean, is she also a cultivator? How does her cultivation compare to your father’s?” Mei Qing asked cautiously.
“Ah… that…” Bi Zhen pondered. “I heard that when my father was courting my mother, he was terrified of my grandmother. Once, he somehow angered her, and she nearly beat him to death. It was only because my mother intervened that he survived.” Mei Qing shivered at the thought.
Bi Zhen, clearly lacking in respect and affection for her father, continued cheerfully, “As long as my grandmother likes you, everything will be fine. If my father dares to cause trouble, I’ll just have my grandmother beat him until he agrees!”
“But…” Mei Qing asked timidly, “what if… your grandmother doesn’t like me? Will she beat me to death too?”
Bi Zhen frowned, “My grandmother can be a bit temperamental… Don’t worry, if she tries to hit you, I’ll protect you.”
Regardless of Mei Qing’s concerns, the day of their return to the capital finally arrived.
Bidding farewell to Shi Mengzhu, Zhang Shisan, Mei Qing, Bi Zhen, and Hou Shen set off on their journey back to the capital.
This time, Zhang Shisan didn’t have Mei Qing use any spells. Instead, they hired a large carriage and traveled slowly. Along the way, Zhang Shisan took the opportunity to thoroughly explain the major sects, key figures, and the taboos and customs of the cultivation world to Mei Qing.
Although Zhang Shisan’s words were earnest, Mei Qing couldn’t shake a sense of foreboding. Sure enough, as the carriage passed through Tongzhou and approached the capital, Zhang Shisan said, “Silly boy, I’ve taught you all I can. I need to return to our sect now. We’ll go our separate ways here.”
“What? Master, you can’t be serious. I was counting on you to back me up,” Mei Qing said, on the verge of tears.
“Don’t worry, if you get beaten to death, I’ll avenge you,” Zhang Shisan chuckled, grabbing his wine gourd and walking off without looking back. As he left, he added, “Oh, and one more thing. A few days ago, I received a message from the bald monk. It seems your origins might be connected to the Pai Sect. If you have time, you might want to look into it.”
Mei Qing opened his mouth to ask more, but Zhang Shisan had already disappeared into a grove of trees. Pondering his master’s cryptic words and worried about the uncertain outcome of meeting Bi Zhen’s grandmother, Mei Qing gently grasped Bi Zhen’s hand and let out a silent sigh.
(End of Volume Two)
Mei Qing and others were stunned, gazing around at the endless sea and sky. Reflecting on the legendary sacred mountain hidden in this unknown place, destroyed for reasons unknown, leaving only this half-fragment, they couldn’t help but feel profound sorrow.
Suddenly, Zhang Shisan leaped into the air, stabilizing his stance above the sea where wooden debris swirled. With his hands forming intricate seals, he shouted, “Supreme Purity Refinement, Divine Expansion Within; Four Heavenly Pillars, Five Sacred Mountains Subdued! Execute!”
As Zhang Shisan slowly pressed his hands downward, the seawater beneath him began to churn violently. Massive waves surged with a thunderous roar, the sea in constant turmoil.
Zhang Shisan’s expression was grave, tinged with a hint of confusion. His hands gradually moved towards the center, slowly converging as he commanded, “Rise!”
Under the immense pressure of Zhang Shisan’s spiritual energy, the seawater beneath him parted, revealing a deep cavity. Zhang Shisan’s hands moved as if lifting something extraordinarily heavy, inch by inch.
Mei Qing had already summoned his spirit crane, sitting calmly on its back, extending his spiritual senses to lock onto the seawater beneath Zhang Shisan. Moments ago, both of them had simultaneously sensed something unusual deep beneath the ocean. Seeing Zhang Shisan’s laborious actions, Mei Qing couldn’t help but feel astonished. Given Zhang Shisan’s cultivation level, ordinary objects would typically be effortlessly lifted with a flick of his sleeve. What could possibly make Zhang Shisan exert such effort?
In truth, Zhang Shisan wasn’t using his full strength. While he was expelling the seawater to retrieve the object, most of his attention was focused on his surroundings. Aware that their group was a conspicuous target, he deliberately acted strained, hoping to lure out any potential ambushers.
However, the outcome was unexpected. Despite Zhang Shisan’s deliberate delay, as the object was about to emerge, there was still no sign of movement from the surroundings.
Could it be that there was truly no one here? Where had Xu Fu and Zhang Liusun gone? Zhang Shisan, slightly surprised, ceased his act. With a sweep of his sleeves, the seawater abruptly parted, and a dark object shot up from the depths.
As soon as the object surfaced, Zhang Shisan extended his sleeve, swiftly capturing it before retracting his spell. The seawater, now free from suppression, crashed back with a loud splash, waves surging high.
Examining the object retrieved from the seabed, Zhang Shisan’s small eyes widened in shock, and he remained silent for a long while.
“Master, what’s going on?” Mei Qing, noticing Zhang Shisan’s strange expression, urged his spirit crane closer to inquire.
Zhang Shisan glanced at the object in his hands, chuckled, and with a flick of his sleeve, tossed it towards Mei Qing.
Mei Qing, seeing the object was no larger than a pillow, didn’t think much of it and reached out to catch it. However, he was immediately overwhelmed by a weight as heavy as a mountain, causing both him and his spirit crane to plummet towards the sea.
Realizing his mistake, Mei Qing cursed his carelessness. He had noticed Zhang Shisan’s strain earlier, yet he had still been so negligent. Fortunately, his recent rigorous training had paid off. Reacting swiftly, he channeled his spiritual energy, stabilizing himself. The spirit crane beneath him spread its wings, spanning several meters, and with a few powerful flaps, it managed to halt their descent amidst the turbulent waves.
“What is this thing? It’s incredibly heavy!” Mei Qing exclaimed in astonishment after stabilizing himself.
Upon closer inspection, Mei Qing was shocked to find that the object was a pitch-black stone.
The stone was entirely black, seemingly ordinary with no distinctive marks on its surface. However, its weight was extraordinary, easily exceeding a thousand pounds.
Mei Qing examined it closely, and suddenly, a thought struck him. He exclaimed, “Could it be… is this…”
Zhang Shisan sighed deeply and said, “Indeed. This is the last remnant of the Sacred Mountain Jieshi.”
Mei Qing and the others were in disbelief. They looked around, the vast sea and sky blending into one, the azure expanse stretching endlessly. Reflecting on the ancient legends of the Sacred Mountain, which had been sealed in this unknown location, only to be destroyed, leaving behind this fragment, was truly lamentable.
After a long contemplation, Mei Qing sighed, stored the fragment of Jieshi in his dimensional space, and said, “Since there’s nothing else here, let’s leave.”
Zhang Shisan chuckled, “The affairs of the past, who can truly understand? The ancients said even wood changes, and today, the Sacred Mountain Jieshi is no exception. Heh, such is life, such is life!”
“I still can’t comprehend it,” Mei Qing said to Bi Zhen. “The Sacred Mountain Jieshi was so immense, how could only this small fragment remain? Xu Fu and Zhang Liusun have also vanished. That day, I was clearly ensnared by Zhang Liusun, and I thought I was doomed. Yet, I appeared unscathed outside, rescued by you. These mysteries are truly unsettling.”
“If you can’t understand it, then don’t dwell on it,” Bi Zhen said, teasing the monkey on her shoulder. “You promised to tell me the story of ‘Journey to the West,’ where there’s also a monkey. But you’ve been lost in thought, not keeping your word.”
“The story of ‘Journey to the West’ is quite lengthy. It begins with the tale of Nüwa mending the heavens with stones…” Seeing Bi Zhen feigning anger, Mei Qing quickly raised his hands in surrender and began recounting the story from memory.
“Born from a stone?” Bi Zhen, hearing the origin of the Monkey King, was puzzled.
“Yes, born from a stone,” Mei Qing laughed. “That’s why he possesses such immense power, bestowed by heaven and earth.”
“No wonder you’ve been staring at that stone lately, waiting for a monkey to pop out,” Bi Zhen teased. “But my Wukong is much better, soft and cuddly, far superior to that hard stone monkey.” Wukong, perched on Bi Zhen’s shoulder, nodded vigorously, its long white fur brushing against her earlobe, making her giggle.
“By the way, there’s something I need to discuss with you,” Bi Zhen said after laughing for a while, suddenly looking worried.
“What is it?” Mei Qing, seeing Bi Zhen’s sudden change in demeanor, was puzzled and asked quickly.
“I sneaked out this time, and when I return, my father will likely be furious. I want my grandmother to intercede, but when she came, she said…”
“What did she say?”
“She said she wants to meet you. If she approves, she’ll help us.”
“Ah…”
“Master, master, save me…”
“Silly disciple, what brings you to seek my help now?”
“Master, we’re about to return to the capital. You remember what you promised when I became your disciple, right?”
“Became my disciple? Promised what? No such thing. Absolutely not.”
“Don’t do this, master. Are you going to let me die…”
“Death isn’t scary. Don’t worry, I’ll find a way for you to reincarnate…”
Mei Qing gritted his teeth. Back then, this cheap master had eagerly taken him as a disciple, promising all sorts of conditions. Now, with the competition absent, Zhang Shisan conveniently forgot all about those promises.
“You’re ruthless!” Mei Qing said through clenched teeth. “When your disciple gets beaten to death, where will you hide your face?”
“Silly disciple, with your current cultivation, unless you’re planning to marry the daughter of the Buddha, it’s unlikely you’ll be killed,” the unscrupulous master said, unfazed.
Mei Qing realized he had indeed made a mistake. He was no longer the novice who had just left the capital. Now, having formed his nascent soul and reached the Qi Refining stage, he was considered a true cultivator, a formidable figure in the cultivation world.
Even if he were to face Lu Bing directly, Mei Qing, though not confident of winning, was certain he wouldn’t suffer any major losses.
Thinking this, Mei Qing felt a bit more confident. He coughed and whispered to Bi Zhen, “Zhen’er, is your grandmother very powerful?”
“My grandmother?” Bi Zhen thought for a moment. “She’s very kind to me.”
“No, I mean, is she also a cultivator? How does her cultivation compare to your father’s?” Mei Qing asked cautiously.
“Ah… that…” Bi Zhen pondered. “I heard that when my father was courting my mother, he was terrified of my grandmother. Once, he somehow angered her, and she nearly beat him to death. It was only because my mother intervened that he survived.” Mei Qing shivered at the thought.
Bi Zhen, clearly lacking in respect and affection for Lu Bing, continued cheerfully, “As long as my grandmother likes you, everything will be fine. If my father dares to cause trouble, I’ll have my grandmother beat him into submission!”
“But…” Mei Qing asked hesitantly, “What if… your grandmother doesn’t like me? Will she beat me half to death too?”
Bi Zhen, also worried, said, “My grandmother can be quite temperamental… Don’t worry, if she tries to beat you, I’ll protect you.”
Regardless of Mei Qing’s concerns, the day of their return to the capital finally arrived.
Bidding farewell to Shi Mengzhu, Zhang Shisan, Mei Qing, Bi Zhen, and Hou Shen set off on their journey back to the capital.
This time, Zhang Shisan didn’t have Mei Qing use any spells. Instead, they hired a large carriage and traveled slowly. Along the way, Zhang Shisan took the opportunity to thoroughly explain the major sects, key figures, and the taboos and customs of the cultivation world to Mei Qing.
Although Zhang Shisan’s words were earnest, Mei Qing couldn’t shake a sense of foreboding. Sure enough, as the carriage passed through Tongzhou and approached the capital, Zhang Shisan said, “Silly boy, I’ve taught you all I can. I need to return to our sect. We’ll part ways here.”
“What? Master, you can’t be serious. I was counting on you to back me up,” Mei Qing said, on the verge of tears.
“Don’t worry, if you get beaten to death, I’ll avenge you,” Zhang Shisan chuckled, grabbing his wine gourd and heading off without looking back. As he walked away, he added, “Oh, and one more thing. Monk Ku sent a message a few days ago, saying your origins might be connected to the Pai Sect. If you have time, you might want to look into it.”
Before Mei Qing could ask more, Zhang Shisan disappeared behind a grove of trees. Pondering his master’s cryptic words and worried about the impending meeting with Bi Zhen’s grandmother, Mei Qing gently held Bi Zhen’s hand and let out a silent sigh.
(End of Volume Two)
Suddenly, Zhang Shisan leaped into the air, stabilizing himself above the sea where wooden debris was swirling. With both hands forming intricate seals, he shouted, “Taiqing Refinement, Spirit Expands Within; Four Guardians of Heaven, Five Sacred Mountains Subdued! Execute!”
As Zhang Shisan slowly pressed his hands downward, the seawater beneath him began to churn violently. Massive waves surged in all directions, accompanied by the thunderous roar of the tide.
Zhang Shisan’s expression was grave yet puzzled. His hands gradually moved towards each other, slowly converging as he commanded, “Rise!”
Under the immense pressure of Zhang Shisan’s spiritual energy, the seawater beneath him parted, revealing a deep cavity. Zhang Shisan’s hands seemed to lift something extremely heavy, inch by inch.
Mei Qing had already released his spirit crane, sitting calmly on its back, extending his spiritual senses to lock onto the seawater beneath Zhang Shisan. Moments ago, both of them had simultaneously sensed something unusual deep beneath the ocean. Seeing Zhang Shisan’s laborious actions, Mei Qing couldn’t help but feel surprised. Given Zhang Shisan’s cultivation level, ordinary objects would have been effortlessly lifted with a mere wave of his sleeve. What could possibly make Zhang Shisan exert such effort?
In truth, Zhang Shisan wasn’t using his full strength. While he was focused on parting the seawater and retrieving the object, most of his attention was on his surroundings. Knowing that their group was too conspicuous, he deliberately acted as if he was struggling, hoping to lure out any potential ambushers.
However, the outcome was unexpected. Despite Zhang Shisan’s deliberate delay, as the object was about to emerge, there was still no sign of any disturbance.
Could there really be no one here? Where had Xu Fu and Zhang Liusun gone? Zhang Shisan was slightly puzzled but decided to drop the act. With a swift motion of his sleeves, the seawater split apart, and a dark object shot up from the depths.
As soon as the object surfaced, Zhang Shisan extended his long sleeve, swiftly wrapping it around the object and then retracting his spell. The seawater, no longer suppressed, crashed back down with a loud splash, sending waves high into the air.
Looking at the object retrieved from the seabed, Zhang Shisan’s small eyes widened in surprise, and he remained silent for a while.
“Master, what’s going on?” Mei Qing, noticing Zhang Shisan’s strange expression, urged his spirit crane closer to ask.
Zhang Shisan examined the object in his hands, chuckled, and then tossed it towards Mei Qing.
Mei Qing, seeing that the object was no larger than a pillow, didn’t think much of it and reached out to catch it. However, he was immediately overwhelmed by its immense weight, causing both him and his spirit crane to plummet towards the sea.
Realizing his mistake, Mei Qing cursed himself for being careless. Fortunately, his recent rigorous training had paid off. Instantly, he circulated his spiritual energy, stabilizing himself, while the spirit crane beneath him spread its wings, spanning several meters, and flapped vigorously, creating a gust of wind that barely managed to keep them afloat.
“What is this thing? It’s incredibly heavy!” Mei Qing exclaimed in astonishment after stabilizing himself.
Upon closer inspection, Mei Qing was shocked to see that the object was a pitch-black stone.
The stone was entirely black, seemingly ordinary with no special markings. However, its weight was extraordinary, easily exceeding a thousand pounds.
Mei Qing examined it closely, suddenly having a realization and exclaimed, “Could it be… is this…”
Zhang Shisan sighed deeply and said, “Indeed. This is the last remnant of the Sacred Mountain Jieshi.”
Mei Qing and the others were in disbelief. Looking around, the sea and sky merged into a vast expanse of blue. Recalling the legends of the Sacred Mountain, which had been sealed in this unknown location for millennia, only to be destroyed, leaving behind this small fragment, was truly lamentable.
After a long moment of contemplation, Mei Qing sighed, stored the fragment of Jieshi in his dimensional space, and said, “Since there’s nothing else here, let’s leave.”
Zhang Shisan chuckled, “The affairs of the past, who can truly understand? As the ancients said, even wood is like this. Today, we see that the Sacred Mountain Jieshi is no exception. Haha, it’s just as it is, just as it is!”
“I still can’t figure it out,” Mei Qing said to Bi Zhen. “The Sacred Mountain Jieshi was so massive, how could only this small piece remain? And where have Xu Fu and Zhang Liusun gone? That day, I was clearly tricked by Zhang Liusun, and I thought I was doomed. Why did I end up outside, unharmed, and rescued by you? These questions are truly perplexing.”
“If you can’t figure it out, don’t dwell on it,” Bi Zhen said, playing with the monkey on her shoulder. “You promised to tell me the story of ‘Journey to the West,’ which also has a monkey in it. But you’ve just been spacing out, not keeping your word.”
“The story of ‘Journey to the West’ is a long one. It starts with the tale of Nüwa mending the heavens with stones…” Seeing Bi Zhen pretending to be angry, Mei Qing quickly raised his hands in surrender and began recounting the story from his memory.
“A monkey born from a stone?” Bi Zhen asked, puzzled by the origin of the Monkey King.
“Yes, born from a stone,” Mei Qing replied with a smile. “That’s why he possesses such great powers, bestowed by heaven and earth.”
“No wonder you’ve been staring at that stone these past few days, waiting for a monkey to pop out,” Bi Zhen teased. “But my Wukong is much better, soft and cuddly, unlike that hard stone monkey.” Wukong, perched on Bi Zhen’s shoulder, nodded vigorously, rubbing its long white fur against her earlobe, making her giggle.
“By the way, there’s something I need to discuss with you,” Bi Zhen said after laughing for a while, suddenly looking worried.
“What is it? Tell me,” Mei Qing asked, confused by her sudden change in mood.
“I sneaked out this time, and when I return, my father will probably be furious. I want my grandmother to help me plead my case, but she said…”
“What did she say?”
“She said she wants to meet you. If she approves, she’ll help us.”
“Ah…”
“Master, master, save me…”
“Silly disciple, what’s wrong now?”
“Master, we’re about to return to the capital. You remember what you promised when I became your disciple, right?”
“Promised? What promise? I don’t recall any such thing. Absolutely not.”
“Don’t do this, master. Are you just going to let me die?”
“Death isn’t so scary. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you reincarnate properly…”
Mei Qing gritted his teeth. Back then, this opportunistic master had eagerly taken him as a disciple, promising all sorts of things. Now, with no competition from Master Ku, Zhang Shisan conveniently forgot all about those promises.
“You’re ruthless!” Mei Qing said through clenched teeth. “When your disciple gets beaten to death, where will you hide your face?”
“Silly disciple, with your current cultivation level, the only way you’d get killed is if you tried to marry the daughter of Buddha himself,” the unscrupulous master said without a hint of concern.
Mei Qing realized his mistake. He was no longer the novice who had just left the capital. Now, with his cultivation level at the Nascent Soul stage, he was considered a formidable figure in the cultivation world.
Even if he were to face Lu Bing directly, Mei Qing was confident he wouldn’t suffer any significant losses.
With this in mind, Mei Qing felt a bit more confident. He coughed lightly and whispered to Bi Zhen, “Zhen, is your grandmother very powerful?”
“My grandmother? She’s very kind to me,” Bi Zhen replied.
“No, I mean, is she also a cultivator? How does her cultivation level compare to your father’s?” Mei Qing asked cautiously.
“Well… I heard that when my father was pursuing my mother, he was terrified of my grandmother. Once, he somehow angered her, and she nearly beat him to death. It was only because my mother intervened that he was spared,” Bi Zhen said.
Mei Qing couldn’t help but shiver at the thought.
Bi Zhen, clearly lacking much respect or affection for her father, continued cheerfully, “If my grandmother likes you, everything will be fine. If my father dares to cause trouble, I’ll just have my grandmother beat him into submission!”
“But…” Mei Qing asked hesitantly, “what if… your grandmother doesn’t like me? Would she beat me to death too?”
Bi Zhen looked worried, “My grandmother can be quite temperamental… Don’t worry, if she tries to hit you, I’ll protect you.”
Regardless of Mei Qing’s concerns, the day of their return to the capital finally arrived.
After bidding farewell to Shi Mengzhu, Zhang Shisan, Mei Qing, Bi Zhen, and Hou Shen set off on their journey back to the capital.
This time, instead of having Mei Qing use his spells, Zhang Shisan hired a large carriage for a leisurely return trip. Along the way, Zhang Shisan took the opportunity to thoroughly explain the major sects, key figures, and the taboos and customs of the cultivation world to Mei Qing.
Despite Zhang Shisan’s earnest teachings, Mei Qing couldn’t shake a sense of foreboding. Sure enough, as the carriage passed through Tongzhou and approached the capital, Zhang Shisan said, “Silly boy, I’ve taught you all I can. I need to return to our sect. We’ll part ways here.”
“What? Master, you can’t be serious. I was counting on you to back me up,” Mei Qing said, on the verge of tears.
“Don’t worry, if you get beaten to death, I’ll avenge you,” Zhang Shisan chuckled, grabbing his wine gourd and heading off without looking back. He added, “Oh, and one more thing. Master Ku sent a message a few days ago, saying that your background might be connected to the Pai Sect. If you have time, you might want to look into it.”
Before Mei Qing could ask more, Zhang Shisan had already disappeared into a grove of trees. Pondering his master’s cryptic words and worrying about the uncertain meeting with Bi Zhen’s grandmother, Mei Qing gently held Bi Zhen’s hand and let out a silent sigh.
(End of Volume Two)
Suddenly, Zhang Shisan leaped into the air, stabilizing himself above the churning waves. With his hands forming intricate seals, he chanted, “The Supreme Purity refines and pours, the divine converges within; the Four Heavenly Pillars stand firm, the Five Sacred Mountains lie hidden! By decree, act!”
As Zhang Shisan slowly pressed his hands downward, the seawater beneath him began to roil violently. Huge waves surged with a deafening roar, churning endlessly in all directions.
Zhang Shisan’s expression was grave, yet tinged with confusion. His hands gradually moved toward each other, slowly converging as he commanded, “Rise!”
Under the immense pressure of Zhang Shisan’s spiritual energy, the seawater beneath him began to part, revealing a deep hollow. Zhang Shisan’s hands moved as if lifting something extraordinarily heavy, inch by inch.
Mei Qing had already summoned his spirit crane, sitting calmly on its back while extending his spiritual senses to lock onto the area beneath Zhang Shisan. Moments earlier, both of them had sensed something strange deep below the ocean’s surface. Now, seeing Zhang Shisan’s laborious movements, Mei Qing couldn’t help but feel astonished. Given Zhang Shisan’s cultivation level, ordinary objects would have been effortlessly lifted with a mere wave of his sleeve. What could possibly make Zhang Shisan exert himself so much?
In truth, Zhang Shisan wasn’t using his full strength. While he was focused on parting the seawater and retrieving the object, most of his attention was on his surroundings. He knew their group was too conspicuous, and if anyone were lying in ambush, this would be the perfect moment to strike. Thus, Zhang Shisan’s apparent struggle was partly a ruse to lure out any potential attackers.
However, the outcome was unexpected. Zhang Shisan deliberately delayed for a moment, but as the object was about to emerge, there was still no sign of any disturbance.
Could there really be no one here? Where had Xu Fu and Zhang Liusun gone? Zhang Shisan was puzzled but decided to drop the act. With a flick of his sleeves, the seawater abruptly parted, and a dark, massive object shot up from the depths.
As soon as the object emerged, Zhang Shisan extended his sleeve, swiftly wrapping it around the object and then retracting his spell. The seawater, no longer restrained, crashed back with a thunderous roar, sending waves high into the air.
Zhang Shisan examined the object he had retrieved from the ocean floor, his small eyes widening in shock. For a long moment, he was speechless.
“Master, what is it?” Mei Qing, noticing Zhang Shisan’s strange expression, urged his spirit crane closer to ask.
Zhang Shisan glanced at the object in his hands, chuckled, and then tossed it toward Mei Qing.
Mei Qing, thinking the object was no larger than a pillow, reached out casually to catch it. But the moment his hand touched it, he felt an overwhelming weight pulling him and his spirit crane downward toward the sea.
Realizing his mistake, Mei Qing cursed himself for his carelessness. He had noticed Zhang Shisan’s earlier struggle but had still underestimated the object’s weight. Fortunately, his recent rigorous training had paid off. Instantly, he channeled his spiritual energy, stabilizing himself and his crane. The crane’s wings, now spanning several meters, flapped vigorously, creating a tempest that barely kept them afloat.
“What is this thing? It’s incredibly heavy!” Mei Qing exclaimed, finally steadying himself.
Upon closer inspection, Mei Qing was stunned. The object in his hand was a pitch-black stone, unremarkable in appearance but astonishingly heavy, weighing at least a thousand pounds.
Mei Qing examined the stone from all angles, then suddenly had a realization. “Could this be…?”
Zhang Shisan sighed deeply. “Indeed. This is the last remnant of the Divine Mountain Jieshi.”
Mei Qing and the others could hardly believe it. They looked around at the vast expanse of sea and sky, recalling the legends of the Divine Mountain that had been sealed away in this unknown place, only to be destroyed, leaving behind this single fragment.
After a long moment of contemplation, Mei Qing sighed and stored the fragment in his spatial pouch. “Since there’s nothing else here, let’s move on.”
Zhang Shisan chuckled. “The mysteries of the past are beyond our understanding. The ancients said that even trees change with time, and now we see that even the Divine Mountain Jieshi has fallen. But such is the way of things.”
“I still can’t figure it out,” Mei Qing said to Bi Zhen. “The Divine Mountain Jieshi was so massive. How could it have been reduced to this small piece? And where have Xu Fu and Zhang Liusun gone? That day, I was clearly ensnared by Zhang Liusun’s scheme. I thought I was doomed, yet I emerged unscathed and was rescued by you. There are so many unanswered questions.”
“Don’t dwell on it,” Bi Zhen said, teasing the monkey on her shoulder. “You promised to tell me the story of *Journey to the West*, the one with the monkey. But you’ve been so distracted, you haven’t kept your word.”
“Ah, *Journey to the West*,” Mei Qing said, raising his hands in mock surrender. “That’s a long story. It all began when Nüwa used stones to mend the heavens…”
“Born from a stone?” Bi Zhen asked, puzzled by the origin of the Monkey King.
“Yes, born from a stone,” Mei Qing replied with a smile. “That’s why he was endowed with such extraordinary powers.”
“No wonder you’ve been staring at that stone lately,” Bi Zhen teased. “Are you waiting for a monkey to pop out? My Wukong is much better—soft and cuddly, not like that hard stone monkey.” Wukong, perched on Bi Zhen’s shoulder, nodded vigorously, rubbing his long white fur against her ear, making her giggle.
“By the way, there’s something I need to discuss with you,” Bi Zhen said after a while, her expression turning serious.
“What is it?” Mei Qing asked, noticing her sudden change in mood.
“I snuck out this time, and when I return, my father is going to be furious. I was hoping my grandmother could help smooth things over, but she said…”
“What did she say?”
“She said she wants to meet you. If she approves, she’ll help us.”
“Ah…”
“Master, master, save me!”
“Foolish disciple, what brings you to seek my help now?”
“Master, we’re about to return to the capital. You remember what you promised when I became your disciple, right?”
“Promised? What promise? I don’t recall any such thing. Absolutely not.”
“Don’t do this! Are you just going to let me die?”
“Death isn’t so terrible. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you reincarnate properly…”
Mei Qing gritted his teeth. Back when this cheap master had eagerly taken him as a disciple, he had promised anything. But now, with no competition from Master Ku, Zhang Shisan was quick to forget those promises.
“You’re ruthless!” Mei Qing spat. “When your disciple gets beaten to death, where will your face be?”
“Foolish disciple, with your current cultivation, the only way you’d get killed is if you tried to marry the daughter of the Buddha himself,” the shameless master replied, unfazed.
Mei Qing realized his mistake. He was no longer the novice who had left the capital. Now, with his cultivation at the Nascent Soul stage, he was considered a true master in the cultivation world, a formidable figure.
Even if he were to face Lu Bing directly, Mei Qing was confident he wouldn’t suffer any major losses.
Feeling a bit more confident, Mei Qing coughed and whispered to Bi Zhen, “Zhen’er, how powerful is your grandmother?”
“My grandmother?” Bi Zhen thought for a moment. “She’s very kind to me.”
“No, I mean, is she a cultivator? How does her cultivation compare to your father’s?” Mei Qing asked cautiously.
“Oh, that…” Bi Zhen pondered. “I heard that when my father was courting my mother, he was terrified of my grandmother. Once, he somehow angered her, and she nearly beat him to death. It was only because my mother intervened that he survived.” Mei Qing shuddered at the thought.
Bi Zhen, clearly lacking much respect or affection for her father, continued cheerfully, “If my grandmother likes you, everything will be fine. If my father dares to cause trouble, I’ll just have my grandmother beat him into submission!”
“But…” Mei Qing asked nervously, “what if… your grandmother doesn’t like me? Will she beat me half to death too?”
Bi Zhen frowned. “My grandmother can be a bit temperamental… But don’t worry, if she tries to hit you, I’ll protect you.”
Regardless of Mei Qing’s concerns, the day of their return to the capital finally arrived.
After bidding farewell to Shi Mengzhu, Zhang Shisan, Mei Qing, Bi Zhen, and Hou Shen set off on their journey back to the capital.
This time, instead of having Mei Qing use his spells, Zhang Shisan hired a carriage for a leisurely trip. Along the way, Zhang Shisan took the opportunity to thoroughly explain the major sects, key figures, and the taboos and customs of the cultivation world to Mei Qing.
Despite Zhang Shisan’s earnest teachings, Mei Qing couldn’t shake a sense of foreboding. Sure enough, as the carriage passed through Tongzhou and approached the capital, Zhang Shisan said, “Foolish boy, I’ve taught you all I can. I need to return to our sect. We’ll part ways here.”
“What? Master, you can’t be serious. I was counting on you to back me up,” Mei Qing said, on the verge of tears.
“Don’t worry, if you get killed, I’ll avenge you,” Zhang Shisan said with a chuckle, grabbing his wine gourd and heading down a side path without looking back. “Oh, and one more thing—Master Ku sent word that your origins might be connected to the Pai Sect. If you have time, you might want to look into it.”
Before Mei Qing could ask more, Zhang Shisan disappeared into a grove of trees. Pondering his master’s cryptic words and anxious about meeting Bi Zhen’s grandmother, Mei Qing gently took Bi Zhen’s hand and let out a silent sigh.
(End of Volume Two)
“If you can’t understand, then don’t think about it,” Bi Zhen replied while playing with the monkey on her shoulder. “You promised to tell me the story of Journey to the West, mentioning another monkey. Ever since we returned, you’ve just been daydreaming and haven’t kept your word.”
“Well, the story of Journey to the West is quite long. It starts with the goddess Nuwa forging stones to mend the heavens…” Seeing Bi Zhen feign anger, Mei Qing quickly raised his hands in surrender and began recounting the tale from memory.
“A monkey born from a stone?” Bi Zhen questioned, puzzled by the monkey’s origin.
“Yes, born from a stone,” Mei Qing smiled. “That’s why it possesses great power, capable of extraordinary feats.”
“No wonder you’ve been staring at that stone lately—waiting for a monkey to pop out?” Bi Zhen laughed. “Still, my Wukong is better, soft and cuddly, much better than that hard stone monkey.” The monkey on Bi Zhen’s shoulder nodded repeatedly, rubbing its long white fur against her ear, making Bi Zhen laugh joyfully.
“By the way, there’s something I need to discuss with you,” Bi Zhen said after laughing for a while, suddenly looking troubled.
“What is it? Tell me,” Mei Qing, seeing her sudden seriousness, asked curiously.
“Well, I snuck out this time, and when I return, Father will probably be furious. I want Grandma to plead for me, but she said…”
“What did she say?”
“She said she wants to meet you first. Only if she approves will she help us.”
“Ah…”
“Master, Master, help…”
“What’s wrong now, you foolish apprentice?”
“This time, we’re returning to the capital. You remember the promise you made when I became your apprentice, right?”
“Promise? What promise? There was no such thing. Definitely not.”
“No way! Are you really going to let me die?”
“Why fear death? Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to help you reincarnate…”
Mei Qing gritted his teeth. Back then, his opportunistic master had eagerly taken him as a disciple, promising anything. Now, with Master Ku absent and no competition, Zhang Shisan had the upper hand and conveniently forgot all previous promises.
“You win!” Mei Qing muttered bitterly. “Just wait until your apprentice gets beaten to death. Where will your face go then!”
“My foolish apprentice, if you get killed now, you must be marrying the daughter of Buddha himself,” the unscrupulous master replied indifferently.
Mei Qing then realized his mistake. He was no longer the novice he once was upon leaving the capital. Now, having formed his Yuan Ying and reached the peak of the Foundation Building stage, he was considered an expert in the cultivation world.
Even facing Lu Bing directly, Mei Qing wasn’t sure of victory but was confident he wouldn’t suffer greatly.
Thinking this, Mei Qing felt his spine straighten. He coughed slightly and quietly asked Bi Zhen, “Zhen’er, how formidable is your grandma?”
“My grandma?” Bi Zhen thought. “She’s very kind to me.”
“No, I mean, your grandma is also a cultivator, right? How does her cultivation compare to your father’s?” Mei Qing asked cautiously.
“Ah… Well…” Bi Zhen thought. “I heard that when Father pursued my mother, he was so frightened upon meeting Grandma that he acted like a little chick. Once, he unknowingly angered her, and Grandma nearly beat him half to death. Only my mother’s intervention saved him.”
Mei Qing couldn’t help but shiver at the thought.
Bi Zhen, clearly lacking respect for Lu Bing, continued cheerfully, “As long as Grandma likes you, things will be fine. If Father dares to cause trouble, I’ll have Grandma beat him until he agrees!”
“But…,” Mei Qing asked hesitantly, “what if, just in case… your grandma doesn’t like me? Would she beat me half to death too?”
Bi Zhen looked troubled and said, “Grandma can be a bit temperamental… Don’t worry, if Grandma tries to hit you, I’ll protect you.”
Regardless of Mei Qing’s concerns, the day to return to the capital finally arrived.
Saying farewell to Shi Mengzhu, Zhang Shisan, Mei Qing, Bi Zhen, and Hou Shen set off on their return journey.
This time, Zhang Shisan didn’t ask Mei Qing to use any techniques but hired a large carriage to travel slowly back. Along the way, Zhang Shisan seized the opportunity to thoroughly explain the major sects in the cultivation world, key figures, taboos, and customs.
Although Zhang Shisan spoke earnestly, Mei Qing had a lingering sense of foreboding. Indeed, as the carriage approached Tongzhou and neared the capital, Zhang Shisan said, “Foolish kid, I’ve taught you all I can. I still need to return to our sect. We’ll part ways here.”
“What? Master, you can’t be serious. I was counting on you to back me up,” Mei Qing lamented.
“Don’t worry, when you get beaten to death, I’ll come avenge you,” Zhang Shisan chuckled, lifting his wine gourd without looking back as he continued down the forked path. “Oh, and one more thing—Master Ku sent word a few days ago. It seems your origins are connected to the Boatmen Sect. If you have time, keep an eye out.”
Before Mei Qing could ask further, Zhang Shisan had already disappeared around a grove of trees. Pondering his master’s cryptic parting words and worrying about meeting Bi Zhen’s grandma, Mei Qing gently grasped Bi Zhen’s small hand and sighed silently.
(Volume Two ends)
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage