APTnovel Chapter 252 Wudang Mountain, Somersaulting Clouds, Even the Void is Not Empty
Chapter 252 Wudang Mountain, Somersaulting Clouds, Even the Void is Not Empty
Wudang Mountain
At dawn, the thin mist and mountain haze, like ribbons, drift among the towering peaks and ridges, transforming into rolling waves of clouds that linger and flow across the sky. The towering mountain peaks seem to become reefs and rocks in a sea of clouds, adorned with pure white mist.
At this moment, as dawn broke, a line of unusual color suddenly appeared in the clouds on the eastern horizon, which quickly turned into five colors. A bright red sun slowly rose from the sea of clouds, and its color, as vivid as purple-gold and crimson blood, gradually turned into a dazzling gilded hue.
The golden sun rises from the sea of clouds, and colorful rays of light spread across the undulating clouds. The originally dim and dark sea of clouds is suddenly bright and clear, like a golden fairyland.
The rosy glow of the rising sun slowly spread from the east, sweeping over the mountains and temples of Wudang, dispelling the lingering darkness of night in the mountains and fields.
For a moment, the scenery of the entire Wudang Mountain resembled the interplay of Yin and Yang, with countless wonders of creation revealed between the two polarities.
As the sun rose higher, it broke the momentary cycle of yin and yang, and the magnificent morning sun dispelled the night in the mountains, leading up the steps of Tianzhu Peak.
On the mountain steps, a middle-aged Taoist priest dressed in a white robe and martial arts uniform stepped up the steps. Each step he took was very steady, unhurried, just like his long and continuous breath.
The sunlight as it ascended the steps of Tianzhu Peak seemed to be influenced by the Taoist priest, following his footsteps and rhythm, climbing step by step, never passing him.
"Shh..."
The sound of footsteps rubbing against the stone steps echoed in the silent mountains, breaking the tranquility of the journey. The clamor of all things gradually arose, and another kind of yin-yang energy, in harmony and rotation, also emerged at this moment.
"Stillness is the foundation of movement; reversal is the essence of the Way."
The middle-aged Taoist listened to the sounds of all things growing in the mountains, a thousand thoughts flashing through his eyes, and gradually a glimmer of inspiration bloomed from them.
Although the mountain steps were long and the middle-aged Taoist's steps were slow, he gradually made his way to the top of Tianzhu Peak.
"clatter!"
As the Taoist stepped onto the last step, a wisp of Tai Chi energy emanated from his body, drawing upon the surrounding mountain winds to create a flowing and intertwined aura that stirred his hair and robes.
"He is a sage within and a king without!"
Just as the energy was growing so strong that it was about to stir up the dust on the ground, the middle-aged Taoist slowly exhaled. As soon as he finished speaking, the flowing energy naturally dissipated and merged back into the mountain wind.
As the wind subsided and the dust settled, the brilliant morning sun, lagging behind, passed over the Taoist priest, and in an instant, its bright and magnificent light bathed the entire summit of Tianzhu Peak.
In the next instant, it was as if another golden sun rose on the top of Tianzhu Peak. The clear golden light was like a sharp sword, cutting through the clouds and mist in the universe and carving an immortal and vast sword mark in the golden and green sea of clouds that looked like a fairyland.
The vast sea of clouds seemed to vanish into nothingness under the all-encompassing golden light of the sun, making everything within that golden light appear even clearer and more dazzling.
It was a bright and pure golden palace, standing atop Tianzhu Peak, with golden pillars, golden tiles, and golden beams, every part of it shining brightly.
Two golden cranes stand below the golden hall, their bodies gleaming as if newly made. One stands on the left and the other on the right, heads held high and feet raised, lifelike, guarding the dazzling and clear golden hall above.
As the clouds and rosy dawn faded and the sun rose, the scene, which resembled a golden fairyland, did not dissipate but instead became even more extraordinary and ethereal.
At this moment, Tianzhu Peak seemed to detach itself from the vast天地 (heaven and earth) and become its own center, with the golden palace in the center surrounded by the eight directions and six directions. Faint and elusive energy flowed from all sides and gathered into a wind and clouds.
These winds and clouds, weaving through the brilliant and clear golden light, seemed to have been forged through countless trials, becoming pure and natural, transforming into wisps of clear and ethereal Yang energy, which were absorbed and exhaled by the golden palace, and then expelled as turbid air.
As the clear and bright air evolved with the turbid air, the once crystal-clear Golden Palace gained a subtle, almost imperceptible dimness.
A moment later, the energy at the top of Tianzhu Peak suddenly changed. The light of the Golden Palace dimmed slightly, like a furnace that had stopped burning. The swirling clouds that had gathered around gradually dissipated, and the alternation between pure and turbid energy also gradually disappeared.
When everything returned to calm, the tightly closed doors of the Golden Hall slowly opened, and a short, venerable old Taoist priest walked out.
The old Taoist priest jumped over the threshold of the Golden Hall. In an instant, his once rosy face with white hair and youthful appearance became withered, and his eyes dimmed slightly, but the spirit and energy contained within them did not diminish, as if they had been hidden away.
"Haha, Yunlong, your skills have improved quite a bit."
"Master, please don't make fun of your grand-disciple. It's just that I've had a slight realization."
The middle-aged Taoist was none other than Master Yunlong. He bowed respectfully to the old Taoist above, who was none other than Zhou Meng, the head of Wudang Sect, and said with a slightly excited tone, "Congratulations on your emergence from seclusion, Master. The Golden Summit has also regained its former power."
"No, the golden roof is not complete; it is still incomplete."
However, Zhou Meng turned his back and looked at the magnificent and dazzling golden palace in front of him, sighed, "The blessings left by the ancestors and the efforts of our predecessors are ultimately not something that we, the later generations, can easily make up for."
After he finished speaking, he looked down at his palms. As he turned his palms over, his once firm skin became dry and wrinkled.
As the passage of time was altered, Zhou Meng reverted to his previous role as a centenarian high-ranking Taoist priest, bearing no resemblance to the otherworldly demeanor he displayed in the Golden Hall.
"The Yang energy cleanses and refines the physical body and spirit; what a wonderful creation! What a pity."
It was hard to tell whether Zhou Meng was lamenting the incompleteness of the Golden Palace or the chaos of the mortal world. He shook his head and stopped worrying.
"Forget it, let the professionals handle the professional matters... Oh? Here it comes."
He suddenly looked up, staring intently at the distant horizon, a strange smile playing on his lips.
"You little rascal, pretending to be ignorant when you know the truth, trying to play the seniority game with me..."
In the distance, a white crane emerged from the misty clouds and, with a flap of its wings, arrived within the area of Wudang Mountain.
"唳~~"
The clear, melodious cry of a crane pierced through the clouds and echoed through the mountains of Wudang. The next moment, the cries of cranes rose and fell, responding from all directions in the mountains.
"唳~~"
"唳~~"
One by one, white cranes flew out from among the mountains, rivers, and forests, dancing and soaring into the sky, their wings momentarily obscuring half of the sky above Wudang Mountain.
On Tianzhu Peak, several orderly flocks of cranes took off one after another, converging on the white crane in the distance.
"Lu Qian is back?"
Upon seeing this, Daoist Yunlong immediately recalled the image of that unruly disciple. His face first lit up with joy, then turned into a hint of anger.
His slight anger completely masked his great joy.
"Hmph, so at least you know how to come back. Why didn't you just go home!"
"Hehehe, since that's the case, then this old Taoist will help you chase him away."
A thoughtful look flashed in Zhou Meng's eyes, then a playful glint appeared. "Let him go home and get some things first, then he can come and apologize to you."
As soon as he finished speaking, he pushed off with both legs, somersaulted, and a circle of Tai Chi energy lifted him straight up.
After completing the somersault, Zhou Meng was about to fall from the void, but he calmly continued to kick, his feet moving as if on flat ground. The Tai Chi power evolved and transformed, propelling him to another somersault.
"Master, you can't fly... Wow, you really can fly."
Master Yunlong stared wide-eyed in shock at Zhou Meng, who had somersaulted three times in mid-air and landed on the back of a white crane, muttering to himself.
"Yes, use the opponent's strength against them, even emptiness is not empty."