Chapter 136: Secluded Cultivation in Mount Zhongnan, Part 2

At the foot of Mount Zhongnan, He Zhixing and the three others had bought several large backpacks before setting out. He Zhixing carried two, while the other three each bore one. Each of them carried a portion of the exquisite blood coral, with He Zhixing having the most strapped to her pack. After getting off the vehicle, they began their ascent.

It was said that Mount Zhongnan had long been a haven for hermits and recluses. Their visit was not a mere pretense; they genuinely wanted to see what the sacred grounds were like—those places where Taoists and Buddhists from different eras had gathered to cultivate and practice in seclusion.

They climbed along the mountain paths, passing various scenic spots and stunning vistas. Along the way, they saw simple huts and thatched cottages where Taoist priests, lay practitioners, and masters resided. Most adventurers who sought out these hermits were driven by curiosity. Apart from admiring the natural beauty, they often visited these secluded abodes. The residents, whether monks, nuns, Taoists, or lay devotees, led simple and peaceful lives, carving out small dwellings, cultivating vegetable gardens, and living detached from worldly distractions.

Many visitors were met with closed doors and silence; those with higher cultivation wished not to be disturbed frequently. Some even posted signs forbidding tourists from entering, fearing disruption.

As He Zhixing and her companions climbed, they encountered many such hermitages. At each stop, He Zhixing would first dispatch a small wooden figurine of a beautiful maiden to probe inside. This allowed her to sense the cultivator’s level of skill and whether they had truly attained immortality. She also examined the surroundings for peculiarities or inscriptions left behind by the hermits. On encountering valuable insights, she would study them, reserving visits only for those with higher cultivation.

Their method of visitation was not to simply knock and request entry as ordinary people would. Instead, they greeted with Taoist or Buddhist titles, showing respect and signaling shared spiritual kinship.

At the Five Li Temple in the Grand Canyon, during a visit to Master Hailian, they unexpectedly encountered the venerable monk Master Jinyun—the foster father of Jiang Ni—whom they had met previously in Y City. Jiang Ni was so overjoyed she was momentarily speechless.

At that moment, both Master Hailian and Master Jinyun sat meditating inside a mountain cave, each occupying a spot. Upon hearing their arrival, they opened their eyes and saw Jiang Ni and He Zhixing. Master Jinyun chanted a Buddhist phrase: “Amitabha, benefactors, we meet again.”

Master Hailian, too, opened his eyes and repeated the chant. He bore the distinguished aura of an immortal adept—long gray-white beard, drooping brows, bald head with a long braid tied at the back. He wore ancient-style cloth with traditional fasteners, purple-red casual trousers, and sandals. His nose was prominent, and his eyes shone brightly.

The encounter was extraordinary, especially for Jiang Ni, who was overwhelmed with joy at seeing her foster father. Though now living as a layperson with long hair, she would forever cherish his guidance and the teachings he had imparted on her cultivation path.

The meeting felt almost surreal. Afterward, the group, led by Masters Jinyun and Hailian, journeyed together beyond the cave to visit other secluded practitioners throughout Mount Zhongnan.

Master Jinyun soon noticed a group of seven people discreetly trailing behind them. He called out a Buddhist greeting: “Amitabha, all arrivals are destined by fate. The seven benefactors behind need not hide any longer. Join us on the climb...”

The Korean monk Park Tingzhen and the one-armed elder master, recognizing the high level of cultivation of these venerable monks, emerged openly from their concealment. They all followed together up the mountain path.

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End of this chapter. A preview of the next: Master Jinyun will lead the group in visiting various secluded hermitages around Mount Zhongnan, sharing insights and exchanging teachings on martial arts. During a visit with the Taoist recluse Dao Ren on the western peak, while playing the flute, the wooden figurine unexpectedly senses a great spiritual energy beneath a towering cliff—an immortal’s abandoned cave! The Taiyi Immortal Talisman...!