At the Xuan Emperor Hall in the Southern Cliff Palace of Mount Wudang. This place is known as the site where Zhenwu the Great ascended, and it is a vital location among all the palaces on Mount Wudang.
At this time, all the sect leaders, patriarchs, and high-ranking Daoist priests from across Wudang have gathered here, having been cultivating the "Jiu Jing Pin Da Ling Shi Jing" for three days. Ji Xiang's requirement was for them to teach it to the ordinary disciples of their respective families after they had finished learning it.
Incense smoke rose, clouds and mist swirled, and the sounds of scripture testing were incessant.
Some were absent-minded, believing that the appearance of that human-faced ghost fog was not a significant matter. Throughout history, there have been hundreds of unseen demons and monsters. Many of them were only rampant for a time, and some were even eliminated within three to five years in the long river of time, leaving behind no ripples or records.
"The youths of the Imperial Dao are overly cautious. These ghosts formed by the gathering of mountain and wild resentment, at most, contain some essence of miasma. Although they can melt souls, there is nothing to fear. Among past ghosts, I have heard of those that relied on souls for sustenance, and they were ultimately easily exterminated by cultivators from various regions."
Some spoke thus, lacking interest in cultivating the "Jiu Jing Pin Da Ling Shi Jing" and instead showing more interest in the "Wu Ya Tian Shu." They couldn't help but chat with others, saying that if the mountain sect trials could truly be established, with the help of the "Wu Ya Tian Shu," the problem of spiritual roots could be solved. Then, in the future, the sects would not compete based on whose disciples had better cultivation talent, but rather on whose disciples had better moral character.
They might have to search for good seedlings for cultivation among the pedantic scholars of Confucianism.
At this moment, a Wudang disciple guarding the second mountain gate returned to inform them. He hurried over and stopped outside the Xuan Emperor Hall, shouting loudly. Soon, Ji Xiang emerged from within and inquired about the matter.
"Dao Master, there are several monsters lingering outside the mountain gate, bringing an old mortal. They say there is a sleeping sickness in Xiangyang City. Those monsters claim that Mount Wudang recently dispatched cultivators to patrol the nearby mountains and told the surrounding monsters that if any strange events occurred nearby, they should report to Mount Wudang."
"They also have entry tokens."
Ji Xiang's gaze flickered, and his expression immediately became solemn: "Please escort those monsters here."
The disciple returned, and shortly thereafter, the seven or eight monsters and the old doctor Li Jianyuan from the mountain gate were brought in. The monsters held their breath. Upon seeing the dozens of great cultivators gathered before the Xuan Emperor Hall, exuding an imposing aura, their hearts trembled. They lowered their heads and walked, enduring the powerful gazes that scrutinized them, and arrived before the Xuan Emperor Hall.
Old Doctor Li Jianyuan was escorted by the monsters. Among the sect leaders and patriarchs present, someone's eyes lit up, and they suddenly exclaimed, "Isn't this Li's second son!"
Li Jianyuan looked at the old sect leader, peered closely, and as memories flooded back, he was greatly surprised. He quickly bowed, "Master Wang!"
"It's been a long time!"
The old sect leader nodded, "I only returned to Wudang not long ago. I didn't expect you to return to Xiangyang as well. Is your father in good health?"
Li Jianyuan shook his head, "My father passed away from illness two years ago! However, the 'Ben Cao Gang Mu' has been successfully published in Ying Tian Prefecture after three years. I returned here in June and spent two years busy with the publication of the medicinal book, neglecting my medical skills. Now that my father's dying wish has been fulfilled, I am resuming my medical practice."
"Master Wang, is Mr. Qing Qiu not here?"
The old sect leader said, "My master has been traveling for many months and has not yet returned."
The two exchanged pleasantries briefly. At this moment, on the Xuan Emperor Hall, Ji Xiang had already heard their conversation and guessed the old man's identity, feeling surprised. He walked down the corridor from the Xuan Emperor Hall. Upon seeing Ji Xiang approach, the old Sect Leader Wang stopped speaking and moved to the side of the main path.
"Are you the son of the divine physician Li Shizhen, old sir?"
Li Jianyuan looked at Ji Xiang's attire and felt surprised. He had lived for over fifty years and had never seen a Daoist priest wearing black.
This black attire resembled the robes worn during sacrifices to deities and should not be worn as everyday clothing. Was some ritual to worship the gods being performed here just now?
Although he was puzzled, it was not something he should ask about, so he quickly replied, "Indeed, it is I."
"I have come to Mount Wudang with an important matter to request..."
He recounted the events that had transpired in Xiangyang City in recent days. As a doctor, his description was more detailed. After Ji Xiang listened, he said to the surrounding sect leaders, "Some people were not interested in promoting the 'Jiu Jing Pin Da Ling Shi Jing' and were unwilling to cultivate it. Now that ghosts and spirits have truly appeared, who can go and subdue them?"
At this moment, it was like Hua Xiong provocatively challenging them, and Yuan Shao's subordinates could not produce any great generals. After all, Guan Yu was not a common occurrence everywhere; those under him like Yu She and Pan Feng were the norm.
If they went out and subdued the ghosts and spirits, they would naturally gain great prestige. If they failed, they would endanger themselves.
The sect leaders who had spoken dismissively earlier silently retreated behind the crowd.
In fact, none of the cultivators had yet achieved great success. They originally thought they could learn slowly later, but they did not expect the strange events to come so quickly and fiercely, leaving them somewhat embarrassed. Seeing all the cultivators remain silent, old Doctor Li Jianyuan almost knelt to Ji Xiang.
"For every day delayed, the people of Xiangyang City face one more day of mortal danger! I am useless and cannot cure this disease. I implore all of you, in consideration of the daily offerings from the common people, to descend the mountain and save them!"
With the words spoken to this extent, even if their skills were not yet proficient, they had to try. Immediately, several people stepped forward, helped the old doctor up with Ji Xiang, and expressed their willingness to go and try.
"We are also willing to go! Wudang is established here. If we cannot even protect the surrounding towns, we will not be able to recruit disciples here in the future."
"Although we possess the art of saving lives, we have not achieved great results due to our previous negligence. This is truly our fault."
More than a dozen people came forward, willing to try. Ji Xiang said to Li Jianyuan, "This sleeping sickness, as you diagnosed, is indeed related to the soul. However, its root cause is not the imbalance of the five organs in terms of pharmacology, but rather a transformation originating from the root of the soul, akin to a curse."
"This indeed cannot be resolved by medicine and drugs."
Ji Xiang felt it was necessary to revisit the grave site in Taiping Ancient Town. How many days had it been? Even Xiangyang City, so far from Taiping Town, had encountered problems. Would the surrounding villages and market towns also be experiencing a large number of sleeping sickness cases?
With a large-scale corruption of souls, it would be difficult for just over a dozen cultivators with insufficient training to resolve such a disaster in a short period.
The current options were two.
First, using the true meanings of the Three Teachings as a crucible, sacrifice more scriptures to upgrade the "Jiu Jing Pin Da Ling Shi Jing" and make it stronger. Although the difficulty of cultivation would slightly increase, the effects would be better.
Second, still based on the true meanings of the Three Teachings, sacrifice other high-level scriptures to create another immortal scripture that mortals could use to counteract this soul transformation method.
"I still have some Shangqing scriptures, it seems I must use them now."
Ji Xiang planned to sacrifice the scriptures he obtained from the Shangqing Sect. Although it pained him, with such large-scale soul replacement, who knew what serious problems would arise if it were not resolved? For all intents and purposes, for the righteousness of the Dao of Heaven, and for the duty of Wudang disciples, he should offer assistance. This was not the time to cherish his reputation. Although he was a Heavenly Demon, if even a large number of cultivators did not care about the lives of mortals, and the Heavenly Demon did not act, then no one in the world would act.
At this moment, Zhang Sanfeng suddenly appeared from somewhere. He opened his mouth and shouted loudly!
"This matter is easy to handle! Heh heh, A Xiang, Master will guide you!"
This sudden shout startled all the cultivators.
Immediately, someone expressed dissatisfaction. They did not know Zhang Sanfeng's true identity and addressed him as Zhang Dayuan:
"Zhang Dayuan! This is a time of urgent and important matters. As a master, instead of setting an example for your disciple, you are shouting so boisterously, lacking the immortal demeanor of a cultivator!"
"Unseemly!"
Zhang Sanfeng, disheveled, chuckled and cursed, "The Royal Daoist Academy belongs to Mount Wudang, to Taihe Mountain, to the Forbidden City, to the Xuan Emperor Hall, but not to you individuals or your sects! What business is my dishevelment of yours? Since when do Daoists need to be as concerned with propriety as Confucian scholars?"
"Naturally, it is effortless. Cultivation is of one's own nature, not of your fine clothes!"
As Zhang Sanfeng walked past, he casually pulled at several luxuriously dressed sect leaders, soiling their beautiful clothes. This caused the faces of those sect leaders to darken, but they dared not quarrel with this fellow Zhang Dayuan.
The Abbot of Tongwei Temple, Lei Taiyun, was quite formidable. Although he was not present now, if he returned and knew they had opposed Zhang Dayuan, he would undoubtedly bring out the Five Thunder Talismans and paste them on the doors of various families.
A few years ago, during the New Year, Lei Taiyun had drawn Five Thunder Talismans on the couplets in front of several houses. On New Year's Day, with heavenly lightning and earthly flashes, combined with peach wood talismans, they had a powerful effect of instantly killing not only ghosts but also people.
The sects that were disciplined were not just one. From then on, Lei Taiyun's Five Thunder Couplets were known throughout Mount Wudang.
"What advice does Master have?"
Ji Xiang humbly asked for guidance. Zhang Sanfeng stroked his beard and then whispered into his ear.
"You fool, there is a powerful scripture right before your eyes! And it's unique in the world! You can ask this Li family physician to help you with the original manuscript of 'Ben Cao Gang Mu'."
Ji Xiang was greatly shocked and felt somewhat conflicted, "Master, although I am shameless, I cannot do such a thing."
"It is only right and proper to snatch scriptures from the White Lotus Sect, but snatching 'Ben Cao Gang Mu' goes against my righteous principles as a Heavenly Demon."
Zhang Sanfeng cursed, "Nonsense! Who told you to snatch it? This is called borrowing, understand?"
Ji Xiang: "Once borrowed, it cannot be returned! Even though 'Ben Cao Gang Mu' has been published, the original manuscript is very precious."
Zhang Sanfeng shook his head vigorously, "Why are you being so foolish at this moment! Li Shizhen was a renowned divine physician. Although his original manuscript is precious, if it can save the lives of millions of people, he would be overjoyed even if you tore up the original manuscript and burned it to ashes!"
"Therefore, you foolish Heavenly Demon disciple, you only know the preciousness of scriptures and classics. You are a demon lord from the heavens, how could you understand the unwavering resolve of doctors in healing and saving people in the mortal world? The physician's heart is benevolent! In the face of life and death, you do not understand benevolence and righteousness. If you do not understand benevolence and righteousness, and only use the preciousness of items and their loss as a standard for whether to do something or not, then you are no different from those wolves with dog hearts and lungs in the mountains and rivers."
"As a Heavenly Demon, you should understand even more that with such a mindset, you cannot conduct demonic trials on others."
Ji Xiang was silent, as if struck by a sudden enlightenment, and apologized, "Master's teachings are correct."
Zhang Sanfeng patted Ji Xiang and then whispered, "Remember that righteousness and benevolence are inseparable. Moreover, you don't need to worry, there are three copies of the original manuscript of 'Ben Cao Gang Mu'! Each copy is unique!"
"The 'Ben Cao Gang Mu' that Li Shizhen sent to the capital, hoping for its publication, was a fourth complete version written after combining these three drafts... a printed copy!"
"Wait for me, I will get some scriptures from Tongwei Temple for you... However, our Hidden Immortal Sect's true techniques are all passed down orally. There are not many powerful scriptures in written form."
As Zhang Sanfeng spoke, he turned and left, disappearing into a cloud of mist.
Ji Xiang was stunned, and then immediately conveyed his request to Li Jianyuan. As expected, the old doctor did not hesitate:
"If only using three original manuscripts can save thousands of people, this is a great thing! If any other price needs to be paid, even all the heirloom medical books of my entire family, please feel free to ask."
Ji Xiang: "Are thousands of years of scriptures and classics being lost in an instant not regrettable?"
Li Jianyuan said eagerly, "They are just some yellow paper and rotten grass, how can they be compared to human lives! Medical skills are used to save people, and books are merely carriers that record these life-saving techniques. If they are left unused, what difference is there between them and waste paper?"
"Please, Immortal, descend the mountain and accompany me back to my humble abode to retrieve the books."
"Good, rest assured, I will do my utmost."
The sea of clouds descended upon Mount Wudang, and many cultivators proceeded to Xiangyang City first, while Ji Xiang followed Li Jianyuan to retrieve the three original manuscripts of "Ben Cao Gang Mu." The manuscripts were thick and layered. After all, at this time, writing used ink rather than printers. On a single sheet of paper, within a fixed format, the number of clear characters that could be written with a brush was limited.
The three original manuscripts emanated an astonishing power of aspiration, which even mortals could feel. Li Jianyuan stated that these three manuscripts were all written with the painstaking effort of Li Shizhen. When he organized them himself, he could feel as if his father's spirit and energy were poured into these three manuscripts. Being in the same environment for a long time could make his aging body feel more relaxed.
Concurrently, Li Jianyuan contributed more medical books, including some written by himself.
Ji Xiang was also generous, contributing several precious Shangqing scriptures.
There is only one Dao in the world, and sages have only one heart.
As the true meanings of the Three Teachings circulated, Ji Xiang placed his hand on one stack of the original "Ben Cao Gang Mu" manuscripts. Following this, the text from other medical books rapidly disappeared. A great aspiration converged, and in an instant, the entire room erupted with magnificent immortal light!
At this moment, the Inner Scene Divine Tablet fluctuated, as if sensing the vast transmitted aspirations.
The true meanings of the Three Teachings circulation was complete!
The state of this scripture's emergence was even more formidable than the "Jiu Jing Pin Da Ling Shi Jing"!
Golden radiance and pale green accompanying light, as if turning into gold and divine jade, transformed from formless light into substance, appearing to have the texture of real gold and jade!
"Grade Five Immortal Scripture, High Grade!"
Ji Xiang looked at the transformed manuscript, greatly shocked.
Sacrificing those heretical scriptures from the White Lotus Sect required thirty copies, plus their separately annotated ancient scriptures, totaling fifty scriptures, to create a Grade Six scripture. Yet, these truly possessing great aspirations, life-preserving classics that could be passed down through generations, only a few copies, and they were medical books, not cultivation scriptures, managed to create a Grade Five High-Grade immortal scripture!
As for the few Shangqing scriptures he provided, and the Tongwei scriptures brought by Zhang Sanfeng, although very precious, they could not possibly create a Grade Five immortal scripture combined. Those few were just add-ons.
The current situation... It should be known that the "Dao Ji Jing," "Tian Xia Dong Shen Jing," and "Wu Ya Tian Shu" in his possession were also only Grade Five immortal scriptures!
Moreover, much of the content of this immortal scripture was upgraded from ordinary medical skills, which surprised Ji Xiang greatly. This was the first time he had seen a large amount of additional content spontaneously generated within the immortal scriptures he had fabricated.
Regarding this soul transformation, the method provided in this immortal scripture was different from the "Jiu Jing Pin Da Ling Shi Jing." Compared to the latter's simple and crude approach, this immortal scripture provided a slow and harmonious healing method, and its essence lay in this.
If the "Jiu Jing Pin Da Ling Shi Jing" was like violent surgical amputation, then this immortal scripture was like a guide for nurturing and internal treatment.
In the healing methods described within it, after consuming the medicinal soup brewed from the listed herbs, combined with a curse-breaking talisman written with specific characters, it would serve as a guide to solidify the transformed and corrupted souls. Subsequently, the person's own soul would re-ingest that solidified soul. Those who were sleeping would wake up quickly, but there would be a period of weakness of about one to two months.
"Fifteen Sections of Emergency First Aid for Mortals"
"Mortals can also learn it, and it can resolve all poisons and harms below the level of immortals!"