Qinglan Temple is a grand temple renowned throughout Qing State, built halfway up a mountainside with a tranquil environment. It is designed with the ambiance of welcoming immortals and becoming gods, and has stood for over forty years now. With its majestic architecture and long history, it belongs to the Zhengyi Sect and venerates the Grandmaster Zhang Daoling as its founder. The well-established culture has led to a thriving incense and countless believers.
Within Qinglan Temple, there is an abundance of scriptures, and it is said that a few precious elixir recipes bestowed by Heavenly Master Zhang to the first temple master after his ascension are still preserved.
Therefore, the Longevity Elixirs produced by Qinglan Temple are extremely famous and hard to come by. Many prestigious families are willing to pay high prices for these elixirs to keep their elderly in good health. Unfortunately, the ingredients for Longevity Elixirs are rare, and successful alchemy is difficult, so they seldom appear on the market.
As rarity breeds value, the scarcity of the Lifespan Extension Pill makes it even more famous and mysterious. Those who possess it take great pride, and if one were to gift it, it would certainly be considered a treasure incomparable to ordinary jewels and antiques.
Qin Liuxi believes that to become famous, one must have a legendary story. Qinglan Temple has built its reputation and attracted believers with the legendary story of Heavenly Master Zhang giving the recipe to the first temple master.
Regardless of whether the legend is true or false, Qinglan Temple’s promotion has been extremely successful. Just look at their majestic palaces and the imposing mountain gate, all exuding an air of wealth.
Qin Liuxi felt a pang of envy.
Qingping Temple won’t have the Golden Ancestor Master statue for a few more days, and its mountain gate is modest. With several halls recently renovated, they barely look decent after ten years of welcoming devotees.
Compared with the imposing Qinglan Temple, Qingping Temple looks like a poor modest household.
Qin Liuxi is somewhat unconvinced, believing that she could eventually make Qingping Temple the number one grand temple in the world.
At this moment, she has completely forgotten about her recent quarrel with Qing Yuan, accusing him of causing her trouble.
Qin Liuxi looked at the Eight Diagram painted on the screen wall at the mountain gate and secretly calculated in her heart.
Although it was already dark, the moonlight tonight was exceptionally good. The surrounding clouds and mist made Qinglan Temple appear mysterious. Qin Liuxi walked past the screen wall, intending to knock on the door and enter the temple.
Suddenly, a cry of alarm came from behind.
Qin Liuxi stopped in her tracks and turned to look at the beauty she had temporarily forgotten, only to see Si Lengyue seemingly blocked by an invisible barrier as she attempted to step inside.
"Eh, you are a living soul, why can’t you enter?" Qin Liuxi was surprised and glanced towards the main hall, her eyes slightly squinting, thoughtfully muttering, "This Qinglan Temple does have something special."
Si Lengyue also frowned.
"Have you heard your family summoning your soul?" Qin Liuxi asked her.
Si Lengyue shook her head.
Qin Liuxi continued, "How long has it been since your soul departure? It’s not good to be away from your physical body for too long. Apart from potentially damaging your soul body, if luck has it, you might even be possessed by other Wandering Ghosts, which would indeed be troublesome. Why don’t you go back and find your body?"
"I have forgotten where I was before I woke up," Si Lengyue replied with a frown, "The moment I opened my eyes, I was on that road, but I can’t recall anything before that."
Qin Liuxi stepped forward, took her hand and felt her pulse, saying, "Entering the Yin Road takes a toll on the soul, especially for a woman. Although your Magic Artifact protects you from being devoured, it is already cracked and didn’t fully protect you, causing you to be affected by the yin energy temporarily. You should return to your Physical Body quickly."
"But I..." Si Lengyue started.
Si Lengyue was taken aback.
Qin Liuxi took the Jade Bottle hanging from her body and said, "It’s no use waiting here. You cannot remember where your home is, and staying soul departed for too long is not good. My artifact nurtures souls; if you trust me, go inside and rest first." She pointed to the Daoist Temple and added, "If the temple master of Qinglan Temple is in, I’ll ask him to find a way to send you back."
Si Lengyue glanced at the Eight Diagrams on the temple gate and said, "It seems I have been here before."
"That’s even better; perhaps some Daoist friends here will recognize you. Come on in." Qin Liuxi’s bottle mouth faced her.
Si Lengyue hesitated for a moment, then walked towards the bottle. It seemed there was a suction force inside that pulled her in, which quite startled her.
Inside the bottle was another world, a quiet little room engraved with many runes, and outside was a small courtyard with pleasing flowers and plants, with mist rising from the artificial mountains and flowing water.
It was an illusory wonderland.
Si Lengyue felt somewhat intrigued by this novelty. From outside, Qin Liuxi’s voice came through: "Stay put with peace of mind."
Qin Liuxi patted the Jade Gourd and ascended the steps.
While she was entering Qinglan Temple, at a wealthy and opulent residence within Qingzhou Prefecture City, the Qinglan Temple Master—who Qin Liuxi had mentioned—was scolding a woman who was eating and drinking voraciously.
"Sin Barrier, leave this young lady’s body at once! I will spare your life!" he shouted.
The woman’s eyes bulged, and her mouth opened wide as flesh and blood flew out of it. Her voice was rough and sharp as she retorted, "Nosy Taoist, you meddle too much! I’ve been dead for over a hundred years, and I finally took over a fine Physical Body. You think I’ll just leave because you say so? Would that not be utterly disgraceful?"
If Qin Liuxi were here, she would surely recognize this woman as Si Lengyue, whom she had just taken into the Soul Nourishing Jade Vase.
Yet, the ’Si Lengyue’ before their eyes bore no resemblance to the cool and reserved one Qin had met; she had become possessed by a Wild Ghost.
"How did you manage to possess her? Clearly, she had a Magic Artifact protecting her body," the Qinglan Temple Master questioned sternly.
’Si Lengyue’ let out a sharp laugh and pulled out a string from her neck, saying, "Are you talking about this?"
With one yank of her hand, the string broke, and the Jade Talisman was shattered into two pieces by the force, falling to the ground.
The Magic Artifact was destroyed.
The Qinglan Temple Master’s pupils contracted, his expression growing even colder.
"The poor girl, falling unconscious in that pavilion, must have struck the Jade Talisman against the stone table and cracked it. A line broke through the rune, which gave me this splendid opportunity. Giggling, whoever gave the girl this second-rate item must not know much about artifacts if they’re this easily broken!"
’Si Lengyue’ laughed heartily, looking at the Qinglan Temple Master whose face had turned livid with a mix of rage and embarrassment, which prompted her to taunt further, "What, was this second-rate artifact provided by you, smelly Taoist? Tsk tsk tsk, what an old God Stick you are, how much Silver did you swindle from her? If you’re giving something, at least give something decent. Only a second-rate item could fool those who don’t know any better!"
He, the fifth generation Qinglan Temple Master, how could he be humiliated by this Wild Ghost?
The Qinglan Temple Master trembled with anger.
Master Chi Yuan, who had come to enjoy the spectacle, glanced at the questioning stare of Si Lengyue’s crying father floating over and couldn’t help shaking his head. He coughed and said, "Yiyang, brother, why bother talking to her? This Sin Barrier won’t listen to reason; drive her away so she turns to ashes and smoke."
Their first priority was surely to save face now, didn’t they see the Si Family’s gaze as sharp as a knife?
Upon hearing Master Chi Yuan’s words, ’Si Lengyue’ flew into a rage: "You thieving old Taoist, you’re the one seeking death!"
"You shriveled old ghost bitch, and how would my seeking death bother you?" Master Chi Yuan sneered with a sly smile, taunting, "Go on, hit me!"
Let’s see if my rebellious disciple won’t beat you to death!