Chapter 232

Early the next morning, Zhang Xiao got up early.

A huge wooden barrel had already been placed in another wing room, and the water vapor was rising thickly, making it appear hazy under the yellowish light of the candle.

But it is the "fragrance soup" that Taoists must have before holding rituals, that is, fasting and bathing, and not touching meat and fish.

My parents talked about the entire ceremony in general the night before. Compared with the ceremony of passing on the ceremonial body and conferring the ceremonial body at the foot of Longhu Mountain, it was indeed much simpler.

According to Zhengyi's ritual specifications, it is necessary to go through the process of collecting land, asking for water, giving instructions, approving the ceremony, welcoming the gods, hanging the list, removing the list, chanting sutras, worshiping and repenting, giving food, calming the gods, welcoming the driver, delivering salvation, thanking the teacher and returning to the general. , send God off and more than a dozen steps.

In short, according to Zhang Chengdao’s words:

"Stand there honestly and leave the rest to the Heavenly Master."

After taking a shower, Zhang Xiao reached out and picked up the clothes on the shelf.

After all, it is a very important ceremony, and even the robes worn are different.

This is a robe, blue in color, also known as 'Deluo'.

The sleeves are wide, which means the length of the sleeves.

This was something that only those who were granted the title of Lu were qualified to wear. Then they picked up the Nine-Liang Scarf.

The nine-beam scarf is a hat with nine slits on the front that look like roof ridges.

Nine is the largest number, and it is also a yang number, representing heaven.

Therefore, wearing the Jiuliang scarf has a feeling similar to "the unity of heaven and man", and also has the idea of ​​"observing the way of heaven and carrying out the journey of heaven".

Looking at his own appearance in the mirror, Zhang Xiao couldn't help but laugh.

The almost fourteen-year-old boy is a bit taller and more open-minded. Between his brows, he has Zhang Chengdao's handsomeness and ease, as well as Li Qingshu's lightness and elegance.

"Handsome! Let's go!"

This time, there were no parents to accompany him. As Shaotian Master, Zhang Chengdao had to go early to take charge of the overall situation, and Li Qingshu naturally followed.

When Zhang Xiao walked up the mountain road and rushed all the way to the Shangqing Palace, he finally saw for the first time that Longhu Mountain was not a master of style.

But what they do is beyond the reach of ordinary people.

I saw many Taoist disciples already coming to the huge square.

Wearing ceremonial robes only worn during religious ceremonies, they stood on both sides of the Shangqing Palace according to their respective ranks.

No wonder I didn't think the Taoist level was useful before. My father's level was considered very high, but he usually met other people.

Most of them happily address them as Shaotian Master, and most of them are just like acquaintances, with no other etiquette or respect at all.

It turns out that grades are used to stand in line on important occasions!

This way you know where you stand and don't get confused.

At this time, the square was filled with a solemn feeling.

Ringing bells and drums, fragrant flowers, candles, banners and precious canopies, it is a fairy music.

The Shangqing Palace is worthy of being the main palace of Longhu Mountain, and it has the atmosphere of an immortal family. But see:

The green pines are bent and the green cypresses are gloomy. There is a gold book on the forehead of the imperial edict hanging on the door, and there are jade seal scripts on the household lists of spiritual talismans.

By the Xuhuang altar, there are faintly weeping willows and famous flowers; beside the medicine refining stove, there are green pines and old cypresses.

On the left side of the wall is the powerful warrior Tian Ding, who is accompanying True Lord Taiyi;

On the right side, a jade girl and a golden boy hold the Emperor Ziwei in their hands.

With loose hair and a sword, the true warriors of the north trample on turtles and snakes;

The jade man wears the crown, and the old man in Antarctica is lying on the dragon and the tiger.

The twenty-eight star kings are in the front row, and the thirty-two emperors and emperors are in the back row.

Water flows under the steps, and mountains surround the walled courtyard.

Cranes have red crowns, and turtles have green hair.

On the treetops there are fruit-bearing apes, and in the sedges there are white deers.

In the Hall of Sanqing, the Taoist priest who struck the Golden Bell walked empty-footed;

In front of the Four Saints Church, there are real people beating jade chimes in a ceremony.

The incense offering platform is built, and the colorful rays of sunlight shine on the blue colored glass;

Summoning generals to the altar of Yao, the shadow of the red sun shakes the red agate.

When I came early, auspicious clouds appeared outside my door. I suspected that it was the Heavenly Master who was sending Laojun off.

(Excerpted from Water Margin)

Zhang Xiao tidied his clothes and hat again, took a deep breath, and stepped into the passage specially set aside in the middle.

The Longhushan disciples on both sides focused their attention on him.

Watching him quietly walking forward step by step.

This is the only disciple who has been given the nun this year, and also the youngest disciple who has been given the nun in the Taoist sect for thousands of years!

During the big exam, the story of the instantaneous talisman appearing and the void becoming a talisman is still being circulated on Longhu Mountain.

Many disciples who did not go to watch the excitement beat their chests and felt regretful that they had not gone to watch.

Hearing someone say it and seeing it with your own eyes are two different things. What would it inspire you if you saw it live?

More people have expectations and longings. People from Taoism live longer, and many people have experienced the 38-year battle that was heartbreaking for Taoism.

If the Heavenly Master hadn't been strong enough, the Taoist sect's casualties would have increased by at least 30%.

Therefore, in the hearts of these Taoist disciples, there is only one thought - the stronger the Heavenly Master, the better!

On the wide passage, Zhang Xiao walked slowly and steadily.

In previous years, there were at least dozens of disciples walking on this passage. Even if they were uncomfortable, they would have companions to help share their attention.

But when more than 10,000 Taoist disciples all looked at him.

Zhang Xiao felt an inexplicable pressure.

These are not ordinary people. Most of them are disciples who have been ordained and have achieved success in practice. It is an exaggeration to say that their eyes are like lightning.

But the divine light in his eyes is absolutely correct.

The old Heavenly Master stood at the front, wearing a purple Taoist robe. Dad whispered last night that it was the Eight Trigrams Purple Ribbon Immortal Clothes.

One of the Taoist treasures, its specific function is unknown to anyone but the Heavenly Master.

Zhang Xiao estimated that it seemed to be somewhat similar to the Three Hallows of Death in the West. They were all legends.

In fact, someone already had it in his hand.

Hey, speaking of the West, I don't know what happened to those friends. I miss them after being away for so long.

When people are nervous, they can't help but have wild thoughts.

When he came to his senses, Zhang Xiao found that the old Taoist priest had read the petition for the ordination to the end.

"The Supreme Saint of the Supreme Dao, the essence of the two mornings, the purple smoke of the vast clouds.

The sun shines brightly, the gold reflects the flowing truth, the formation contains the beauty, and the mysterious gods are condensed.

In the beginning of the universe, yin and yang were separated, and the chaos was opened. Taichu ruled the three realms and ten directions, and all were affected by the creation. People live in the middle of the three talents and are subject to the five elements.

The nature of the wanderer is to fall into reincarnation due to greed, anger, ignorance and love. Refining the three treasures in the Pure and Quiet Gate can escape the fate of life and death. Since I was born with a true heart, I dare to ask for a crown to promote my model.

The disciple was born in the earth and was honored to be listed in the Xuanmen. Every Zhi, wash When the work of cleansing is done, there are many obstacles and sins. The wars are horrified and the mind is deeply confused. Now there is a good man (Tong) Xiao, who has a good root and aspirations to convert to the mysterious world. He wants to be a disciple and a teacher. The disciple learns from the shallow virtue and leads the good fate of the saints and the true immortals.

The memorial is submitted to pray for the wisdom of the ancestors to shine everywhere and the grace to be frequently revealed to the whole meeting. The thunder of Taiyi is universal and the merits are checked and the past is transferred.

The three origins, three grades, three officials, the emperor, the three palaces and nine palaces should be moved to the seat of the Heavenly Venerable."

This memorial is extremely obscure and difficult to understand. It is unknown whether the immortals in the [Heaven] will read it.

But Zhang Xiao thinks that most of them will not read it, because based on his experience of looking into the eyes of the [Heaven] several times.

He thinks that the [Heaven] is more like a processor without emotions and thoughts.

At this moment, the old Taoist priest's voice was suddenly heard:

"Zhang Xiao, granted the Supreme Three-Five Du Merit Scroll, killed a demon, accumulated one rank, granted the Supreme North Pole Subduing Demon Divine Mantra Secret Scroll, opened up the way of talismans, and was awarded another rank, granted the Supreme Alliance Secret Scroll.

Record - Seventh-rank Shenxiao Wulei Yiyi Xingsi, Taiji Ancestor's Divine Xiao Yufu Jiutian Interview Envoy!

Walk for Longhu Mountain, allowed to leave the mountain!"

As soon as the voice fell, the surrounding drums and music played together, the sound was loud, and the old Taoist priest lit the petition in his hand, and saw that the petition burned very quickly, almost in an instant It burned out.

Then it turned into a stream of light and rushed straight into the sky.

Zhang Xiao stood there, in addition to the excitement of finally being granted the scroll, he was still thinking about what official he had been given.

But suddenly he felt something in his heart and looked up.

It was originally a bright day, but now it was like night, and the endless night was shrouded on Longhu Mountain.

In the deep night, the stars suddenly lit up bit by bit, and in just a moment, they formed an extremely brilliant starry sky, just like the illusion he saw.

These stars seemed to have turned into expressionless men and women, with an eternal and distant feeling that transcended time and occasion.

With grandeur and mystery, they looked at the world indifferently.

Zhang Xiao suddenly felt that a star above seemed to have an inexplicable connection with him, and an inexplicable enlightenment rose in his heart.

Is that my position?

He just stood there, looking up at the sky in a daze, like a statue.

The strange phenomenon in the sky came and went quickly, and when Zhang Xiao finally pulled himself out of that mysterious and distant feeling, he found that the square had dispersed at some point.

Only Zhang Chengdao and Li Qingshu were sitting in the distance drinking tea and waiting for him.

Is that the end?

Didn't they say there were still altars, soldiers, documents and other things?

"Xiaoxiao!" Li Qingshu waved at him and raised a small teacup to signal him to come over and drink together.

Zhang Xiao walked over with a stern face, picked up the teapot and gulped down a full cup of water, then said in confusion:

"Dad, why did it end so quickly?

Why don't I have any of the things you mentioned?"

Zhang Chengdao scratched his cheek with his index finger and shook his head, obviously confused:

"I really don't know. I feel that the whole ordination ceremony is a bit weird this time. The most important thing about ordination is that you have been recognized and can go down the mountain alone to deal with some things.

But your grandfather suddenly raised the standard for ordination and said that chaos is coming.

Now the whole Taoist sect is speculating whether something is going to happen, but your grandfather won't say it."

Li Qingshu was open-minded, raised her beautiful eyebrows, and said thoughtfully:

"Xiaoxiao, your grandfather asked you to go to him alone. If you have any questions, just ask directly, don't hide them."

"Yes, I almost forgot, you go first."

Old Taoist wants to see me?

Zhang Xiao pursed his lips, took out a pill, chewed it twice and swallowed it.

He hurried to the Tianshi courtyard.

He bypassed the Shangqing Palace, passed the Jade Emperor Hall, and walked to an ordinary courtyard with a small area. This is the residence of the Tianshi.

Zhang Xiao stood at the door and was about to knock on the door, but saw the door of the courtyard creak and open by itself.

The courtyard is not big. There are some green bamboos planted in a corner, and the ground is paved with blue bricks. There is a small stone table in the courtyard. The old Tianshi is sitting at the stone table holding a colorful book and reading it with relish.

"Grandpa!"

Zhang Xiao walked over in an orderly manner and secretly glanced at the impurity. Wow, it's "Painting King"!

This comic magazine can be said to be the pioneer of Chinese comics. It seems that it has not been released yet? I don’t know where grandpa got it from. Get one for myself.

"Xiaoxiao, sit down."

Zhang Cunyi put down the magazine with a smile, not like a Taoist priest, but like an old man who was happy to see his grandson.

After Zhang Xiao sat down, Zhang Cunyi pondered for a moment and said slowly:

"Xiaoxiao, I heard from your dad that you seem to have accumulated a lot of questions over the years, and your dad doesn't know the answers to these questions, so he has never known how to explain them to you.

For those of us who practice Taoism, it is not a good thing to have too many problems.

And for so many years, grandpa has not fulfilled his responsibilities, but I would like to take this opportunity to have a good chat with you."

Zhang Xiao was silent for a while, then smiled:

"In fact, mom and dad have done well enough. No matter what, they have never cared less about me. They are competent parents.

I have nothing to complain about."

Zhang Cunyi nodded slightly, looking at Zhang Xiao with warm eyes, quietly waiting for his next words.

Sure enough, Zhang Xiao couldn't help asking:

"Grandpa, why do you insist on letting me go to the West? Isn't our Taoist sect pretty good?"

"Hahahahaha, you kid, you embarrassed grandpa with the first question, did you do it on purpose?"

Zhang Cunyi laughed for a while and pointed to his temple:

"It's a pity, I really can't answer you this question. You should have heard about the Tianshi's things from your father.

Some things are in my mind, and grandpa really can't say them, but what is coming will come back eventually, and when that day comes, you will naturally know."

Zhang Xiao sighed, and he knew it was like this. Although the names are different, grandpa's style is really similar to that of the old Tianshi in the cartoon in his previous life.

Okay, then change the question!

"Then Grandpa, why can't I learn Taoism? Even if I've been ordained, I can't learn it? Am I still considered a disciple of Longhu Mountain?"

"Yes, of course I am not. You know the Golden Light Mantra, and you use it quite well." Zhang Cunyi sighed with a smile on his gaunt face:

"The foundation of our Longhu Mountain is the Golden Light Mantra. Those spells and mantras are like buildings built on the Golden Light Mantra. In fact, they are all empty. Only the Golden Light Mantra is the foundation."

He stretched out his hand and gently touched the dew on the table, and drew a Tai Chi on the table.

"Xiaoxiao, look at this Yin-Yang fish. The Golden Light Mantra is the fish eye, and the other parts are other things of Taoism.

Our Taoism and the West are like this Yin-Yang fish. The Taoist spells and mantras, as well as the altar you want, all carry something that you may not have noticed.

That is their ritual nature.

If you learn the complete Taoism of our Taoism, Xiaoxiao, do you know what will happen?"

Zhang Xiao said softly: "I may not be able to learn magic."

So the question is back to the starting point, why must I go to the West to study.

"Yes, that's right."

Zhang Cunyi nodded, feeling somewhat relieved. Then the old Taoist priest, who was over a hundred years old, blinked at Zhang Xiao:

"Xiaoxiao, don't be discouraged. In fact, there are still things you can learn."

"Oh" How can I not be discouraged? Taoism is so cool and useful! It may not be as convenient as magic, but who among the Chinese doesn't want to learn Taoism?

Zhang Xiao lowered his head and agreed sullenly, and then he heard Zhang Cunyi's "mysterious" voice:

"Xiaoxiao, I heard that there is a transformation technique in the West that can turn into an animal. Do you want to learn the transformation technique of our Taoism?

Grandpa promises that it is definitely better than the Western one!"

Zhang Xiao raised his head suddenly, and saw his grandfather with an unfathomable expression on his face, and he gently spit out a few words at him.

It was like a few thunders exploded in his heart:

"Eight-Nine Mysterious Skills-Seventy-Two Transformations"!

I*! ! ! !

"Really, Grandpa?"

Looking at his grandson who was about to jump up, Zhang Cunyi waved his hand and motioned him to sit down:

"Hey, look at you, you're just like an anxious monkey."

Zhang Xiao suppressed his excitement. How could he not be anxious? This is the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art! The Eight-Nine Mysterious Art!

"Let me tell you first, its name is indeed the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art, but it only has the art of transformation, not the other ones, and you can probably only choose one transformation to practice at present."

Zhang Cunyi did not keep the suspense, but continued:

"It can indeed transform into 72 kinds of things, but judging from the current world, it would be difficult to cultivate 72 transformations without more than a thousand years.

I know what you want to say. You want to know why you haven't heard that your dad can do this, right?"

Zhang Xiao nodded hurriedly. If there really is such a powerful thing, there is no reason why his father can't do it.

The old Taoist priest looked at him, his expression became serious, and he slowly said:

"That's because only you can practice this."

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1. Monthly ticket 2. Recommendation ticket

I spent four or five hours looking up the things for the ordination. It's just a short 200-word thing. Don't laugh. I almost finished looking it up. I thought I could finish it today, but I still lacked a chapter.