Chapter 162: Heaven Mandate Immortal Work
Back in those distant years, the Everlasting Immortal Fairy’s immortal name resonated throughout the world. As one of the five ancient immortals, everyone was aware of her existence. The ancient forebears and demon clans would often build altars with precious items and valuable artifacts as offerings to worship the Everlasting Immortal Fairy, seeking her compassion and blessings. Some tribes even regarded her as their totem, a goddess that protected the tribe, and they would organize grand ritual ceremonies yearly. For some time, she was basked in unmatched splendor.
Unfortunately, ever since her resurrection, times had changed. She became destitute, and only a dimwitted creed worshiped her, yet they didn’t even know her name and gender. With no refuge other than within Lu Yang, she had to endure both Yun Zhi’s intimidation and Lu Yang’s occasional sarcasm.
Life is really too miserable for me. Even Transcendent Tribulation cultivators deserve better treatment than this.
Now, someone has finally opened their heavenly eye and recognized my status, and they are even praying for me to accept such a gigantic flying vessel as an offering.
Look at these gemstones embedded in the vessel’s walls! Look at this colossal frame! This is how one should treat an immortal!
Inside his mental space, Lu Yang cast a sidelong glance at the Everlasting Immortal Fairy. He thought to himself, You seem to be pretty happy with your time as sect leader the past two days. A Foundation Establishment cultivator defeating a Divine Transfiguration cultivator in a split second? There has never been such a feat in history. Any genius would feel ashamed in the face of such battle achievements. It’s not an exaggeration to say that you have made history.
“Showing up is enough, yet you even brought along such a big gift.” The Everlasting Immortal Fairy beamed as she replied in ancient language, extending her hand toward Qiu Jin’an for the magical treasure to control the flying vessel.
“What are you doing?” Qiu Jin’an looked at “Lu Yang,” who was smiling goofily. He was a little stumped, not understanding what was just said. All he knew was that one sentence in ancient language.
He sized Lu Yang up. Who is this person? His cultivation isn’t high, yet he seems to be a central figure based on where he is standing. In fact, he’s standing in the sect leader’s position.
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Most importantly...he seems a bit effeminate?
“Didn’t you just say ‘O Great Immortal, please accept your servant’s most humble offering?’ Is the offering not the flying vessel?” The Everlasting Immortal Fairy was also a little stumped. You’re going back on your words just for something like this? Do you still want to be the vice creed leader?
This time, the Everlasting Immortal Fairy had spoken in the common language. Qiu Jin’an’s eyelids were twitching non-stop as he finally understood the meaning of that sentence in ancient language. I didn’t expect to encounter a cultivator well-versed in the ancient tongue.
He eyed the Everlasting Immortal Fairy suspiciously. “Do you really understand the ancient civilization?”
The Everlasting Immortal Fairy pondered for a bit and replied bluntly, “Better than you do.”
Qiu Jin’an found it laughable despite his anger. “Young one, don’t think that you understand the ancient civilization just because you have read a book or two. Let me test you!
“Do you know the concept of the ‘Heavenly Court’ system from ancient times? The Heavenly Court divided immortals into several ranks. Do you know what ranks there were?”
Recently, when Qiu Jin’an was exploring an ancient ruin, he accidentally came across an ancient text written by an immortal. It detailed the grandeur of the ancient era, and the “Heavenly Court” was mentioned as one of the main points.
“Are you talking about Human Immortal, Earthly Immortal, Heavenly Immortal, Supreme Golden Immortal, and Genesis Immortal? Or are you talking about Human Immortal, Earthly Immortal, Immortal King, Immortal Lord, and Immortal Emperor? The first set was fabricated by the Heaven Mandate Immortal, while the latter was fabricated by the Qilin Immortal.
“What I fabricated back then was Tier-One Immortal, Tier-Two Immortal, Tier-Three Immortal, Tier-Four Immortal, and Tier-Five Immortal.” The Everlasting Immortal Fairy scratched her head. We made up quite a few versions back then. I’m not sure which one Qiu Jin’an found.
Qiu Jin’an was incensed. “Stop spouting nonsense! This is the work of an immortal! How could you say that it was fabricated?!”
The Everlasting Immortal Fairy was bewildered, but realization soon dawned upon her. “Is there a rule stating that immortals must speak the truth? Oh, I know! You must have seen the version by the Heaven Mandate Immortal. His version was the most comprehensive and could easily hoodwink people.
“I’m telling you, the Heaven Mandate Immortal’s words cannot be trusted. He is full of lies. Before he became an immortal, he would often lie to me, and I beat him like he was my grandson.”
Qiu Jin’an was stunned, thinking that the Everlasting Immortal Fairy was just babbling nonsense. But the ancient text I found did belong to the Heaven Mandate Immortal. “You have seen that book?”
The Everlasting Immortal Fairy nodded. “Of course! Apart from the Heaven Mandate Immortal, does it also mention the Hawking Immortal?”
Lu Yang wondered, Why does it sound like Stephen Hawking? Am I imagining things?
“If you don’t believe me, take that book out. I’ll tell you how to discern if it’s real.”
Qiu Jin’an pulled out the ancient text skeptically. Its name sounded very grandiose—Imprisoning Heaven.
He pointed at the cover. “Look, it’s clearly written here. ‘Heaven Mandate Immortal Work.’ It’s written by the Heaven Mandate Immortal.”
The Everlasting Immortal Fairy shook her head. “Didn’t you notice the small gap between ‘Mandate’ and ‘Immortal?’”
“What about it?”
“You’ve read it wrongly. You read it as ‘Heaven Mandate Immortal Work,’ but it should be read as ‘Heaven Mandate, Immortal Work,’ so this is a book by a person called ‘Heaven Mandate,’ not the Heaven Mandate Immortal.”
The elders of the Dao-Seeking Sect couldn’t hold back their laughter at Qiu Jin’an’s embarrassment.
“Hahahaha, Qiu Jin’an, I’ve told you long ago. Don’t brag all the time with your level of skill.” The elders tried to stifle their laughter, while Shangguan Yu, who was standing behind Qiu Jin’an, laughed out loud, completely disregarding his stormy face.
Shangguan Yu addressed the members of the Dao-Seeking Sect in an apologetic tone. “I’m sorry. You know what Jin’an is like. He is thick-skinned and never admits that he is wrong. It’s because he didn’t understand the original meaning in the ancient language that such a misunderstanding happened. Apologies, everyone. Please accept these gifts.”
The disciples of the Five-Elements Sect began unloading the magical treasures, ores and minerals, pills, and cultivation techniques from the vessel. Any one of these could be the highlight of an auction.
The most precious of them all was the specialty of the Five-Elements Sect, the Five-Elements Ores. They were distinguished by their colors, each corresponding to one of the five elements. Every one of them represented the pinnacle of each element, and they were highly coveted raw materials for artifact-refining masters.
At the sight of the Five-Elements Ores, Fifth Elder Zhou Xin’s eyes gleamed, like the green eyes of a wolf spotting its prey at night.
When the Five Great Immortal Sects paid each other a visit, they would always bring some gifts.
For instance, the Moon Laurel Celestial Palace would often bring the moon laurel branches and moon essence as gifts.
The Hanging Monastery would prepare Buddhist scriptures and consecrated Buddhist treasures.
The Prison Suppression Sect would offer the demons and monsters they had tamed.
As for the Dao-Seeking Sect, they were a bit special, or rather, more casual, especially when the Taciturn Daoist Priest was still around.
They once gifted the Moon Laurel Celestial Palace a top-notch physique refinement technique. When mastered, one would achieve muscles like steel, bones like iron, and skin as tough as molten iron that it couldn’t even be pinched, allowing them to sweep through all obstacles in their path.
The Moon Laurel Celestial Palace was so furious that they wanted to beat them up. How could you let a female cultivator cultivate something like this?!
On another occasion, the Dao-Seeking Sect sent the Hanging Monastery the long-lost Mouth-Shut Chan Meditation[1] cultivation technique, which the Taciturn Daoist Priest claimed to have cultivated with excellent results.
At the time, the abbot had chuckled, thinking to himself, If you bastard can master it, why would you still be called ‘Taciturn?’
With the Taciturn Daoist Priest insisting that it was authentic, the abbot of the Hanging Monastery decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and practiced it once.
Then, he found that his breath would stink like garlic every time he spoke, and the people around him would beg him to shut his mouth.
The Taciturn Daoist Priest’s explanation was: “Isn’t the Mouth-Shut Chan Meditation about others asking you to keep your mouth shut?”
The abbot was so enraged that he transformed into Acalanatha, the Immovable Vidyaraja,[2] to subdue the “evil creature” that was the Taciturn Daoist Priest.
1. Chan Buddhism is where Zen Buddhism originated from, and the same Chinese character is used, though the Japanese version has one extra stroke or dot. ☜
2. Acalanatha embodies compassion while being firm and immovable. He is portrayed as fierce, purging evil when the need arises. ☜