Chapter Four: The Mountain's Serenity as a Sanctuary for the Way

“Click.”

With a soft sound, Jiang Sheng sheathed his sword.

The dark clouds dispersed completely, revealing a bright moon and sparse stars. Jiang Sheng said, “The tiger demon has been eliminated. You two shall rest here tonight at the Mountain God Temple and descend the mountain early tomorrow.”

The old man, awakened from this immortal-like realm, hurriedly asked, “Taoist, where will you go now?”

“This place boasts clear mountains and pure waters, teeming with vitality—a truly fine location. I intend to establish a Taoist temple here as a place of refuge,” Jiang Sheng replied as he lifted the three-zhang-long corpse of the tiger demon and leapt toward the mountaintop.

The old man, watching Jiang Sheng effortlessly carry the tiger demon’s massive body—like a small mountain—into the sky, could not help but marvel, “Truly a celestial being!”

“Grandson, you must study diligently and learn to read. If one day you have the chance to become the disciple of this Taoist and learn even a fraction of his skills, your grandfather would not dare to ask for more.”

At dawn the next day, the red sun rose.

A faint mist already hovered among the forest, while the mountaintop was shrouded in swirling clouds, obscuring all sight.

Jiang Sheng sat cross-legged on a smooth stone slab, gazing at the great sun slowly ascending above the sea of clouds. Morning glow bathed the mist in radiant hues, streaks of light piercing through, accompanied by the chirping of birds.

It was time for morning cultivation.

Practitioners of orthodox Taoism often gathered the morning glow and evening moonlight in their practice.

The morning is the foundation of the day; the purple aura contained within the dawn’s first light is the gentlest and easiest to absorb spiritual energy from the heavens and earth.

Jiang Sheng absorbed the morning purple aura, circulating it through his meridians, transforming the strands of light into the purest spiritual power within his dantian. This exercise lasted for three quarters of an hour before completion.

Exhaling slowly, Jiang Sheng concluded his cultivation and rose. The sun’s rays scattered thousands of beams of light. Standing atop the mountain, surrounded by mist yet illuminated by golden light, Jiang Sheng appeared as a divine figure standing among the clouds.

“It’s time to build a temple.”

All disciples who successfully establish their foundation in the Taoist sect build a temple outside as their own place of practice.

On one hand, it helps the sect by extending its reach; on the other, it allows disciples to cultivate independently, sharpening their resolve in preparation for the Golden Core stage.

Most disciples of the Taoist sect are scattered this way, whether at the Foundation Establishment or Purple Mansion stage, and Jiang Sheng was no exception.

“Qingping Mountain stretches over twelve hundred li, with clear waters and lush mountains, teeming with birds and beasts, brimming with life. Its spiritual veins quietly pulse—truly an excellent place!”

“Little wonder the tiger demon lingered here and would not leave. At this place, reaching the Purple Mansion stage would not be difficult,” Jiang Sheng murmured, turning to descend.

From the peak to mid-mountain, for a cultivator like Jiang Sheng who had already established his foundation, it was nothing more than riding the wind, effortless and swift.

Yet upon reaching mid-mountain, Jiang Sheng discovered the place had become lively.

The original Mountain God Temple had been torn down by a group of able-bodied men, who were now bustling about, building walls and laying tiles, seemingly erecting something new.

Yesterday, the old man had been speaking to a wealthy middle-aged man dressed in brocade robes. Seeing Jiang Sheng arrive, he quickly exclaimed, “The Taoist is here! The Taoist has arrived!”

The man in brocade turned to look. The newcomer appeared about twenty years old, with a face like a polished jade, eyes sparkling like stars, clad in a blue Taoist robe, his hair tied in a Taoist topknot. His posture was upright and elegant like a crane.

Truly, he possessed a majestic and handsome bearing, extraordinary in presence!

At a glance, it was clear this Taoist was no ordinary man.

The middle-aged man immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply. “I am Tian Guofu, representing the thousand households of Qingping Town, to thank the Taoist!”

Jiang Sheng frowned slightly, about to step back, when Tian Guofu continued, “Taoist, you may not know, but that vicious tiger demon had made Qingping Mountain its lair and before its cultivation was complete, it had already claimed countless lives in our town! We have invited cultivators before, but all perished at the hands of that demon.”

“Besides that tiger demon, Taoist, you have avenged all the families of Qingping Town. The entire town is immensely grateful to you!”

“I have heard you intend to establish a temple here. As the town chief of Qingping, I have rallied the townspeople to build a temple for you, as a token of our gratitude.”

Jiang Sheng glanced at the old man and then at the sincere Tian Guofu. After a moment of silence, he nodded. “Then, I shall trouble Chief Tian.”

“Not at all, not at all. It is an honor to help relieve your burdens,” Tian Guofu said earnestly, even humbly.

A town chief who behaved so humbly before a stranger he did not understand—Jiang Sheng could tell this was not just because of his cultivation, but that Tian Guofu had other motives.

Jiang Sheng’s expression remained calm as he spoke slowly, “To be honest, Chief Tian, last night I slew that tiger demon simply because it occupied Qingping Mountain, stealing the place I had intended to establish my temple. It is not because it devoured many lives. Are you aware of that?”

Tian Guofu paused, then smiled. “No matter the cause, Taoist, you have rid Qingping Town of a great evil. As the saying goes, one judges by actions, not intentions. Your merit in exorcising demons and protecting the Way is undeniable. What else matters?”

Jiang Sheng and Tian Guofu looked at each other, as if in a silent contest, or perhaps probing each other’s true intentions.

After a long moment, Jiang Sheng broke the silence with a smile. “Chief Tian, you are indeed an interesting man. You were so humble earlier, actively offering thanks and building a temple on my behalf. Surely you have a request?”

Tian Guofu smiled even more sincerely. “Nothing escapes the Taoist’s divine insight.”

“You may not know, but Qingping Town is named not only for Qingping Mountain but also for the Taiping River. With mountain and water comes the vitality of our thousand households.”

His face grew weary and complex as he continued, “But with the tiger demon gone from Qingping Mountain, the Taiping River is far from peaceful...”