6kv Chapter 209 Who still dares to beat Song Yan at Tianlong Temple?!
Chapter 209 Who still dares to beat Song Yan at Tianlong Temple?!
Chapter 209 Anyone else dares to beat Song Yan at Tianlong Temple?! (4200)
The scene before my eyes was in stark contrast to the tranquility, seclusion, simplicity, and restraint of Zhenlong Temple.
In the distance, a majestic and imposing mountain rises abruptly from the ground, its main peak piercing the clouds.
The mountains rise and fall in a continuous line, like a giant dragon lying in wait.
And right there on this dragon-like mountain, from the foot of the mountain to the mountainside, and then to the mountaintop shrouded in clouds and mist.
Row upon row, densely packed, almost covering the entire mountainside, are countless palaces, pavilions, and corridors built against the mountain!
It wasn't just one or two buildings, but an entire complex of buildings that seemed to blend seamlessly into the mountainside, a massive and astonishingly large group of structures!
Red walls, golden tiles, flying eaves, and brackets still reflect a solemn and luxurious luster under the pale sunlight of a winter morning.
Between the towering palaces, there are wide, winding mountain paths paved with bluestone, like the veins on a giant dragon.
These buildings are connected into an organic whole. Further away, there are suspension bridges spanning deep ravines and plank roads hanging on cliffs, extending the reach of architecture to even more precipitous and wondrous places.
The first impression of the entire Tianlong Temple is that it is...
Big!
The mountains and fields are covered with ever-changing scenery!
Although Zhenlong Temple also has a main building complex centered around the Sanqing Hall, it only covers a small area.
All areas of life and spiritual practice are closely surrounding it.
Tianlong Temple, on the other hand, is like a magnificent city built on a mountain with all the necessary functions!
Just looking at the main hall, side halls, scripture pavilions, alchemy rooms, guest rooms, and dining halls, there are probably no fewer than a hundred.
Not to mention the many more buildings hidden behind the trees and rocks, appearing and disappearing indistinctly.
To be fair, Lu Yuan wasn't exactly ignorant.
Especially during this time since I transmigrated, I often followed the old man around the country.
To be honest, Lu Yuan has been to more places than most Taoist priests.
However, as mentioned before, when Lu Yuan followed the old man around, he basically went to remote corners or mountains.
Lu Yuan had only been to Fengtian City a few times before, and this was the first time he had ever seen such a top-level spectacle.
It's truly astonishing.
Let alone comparing Zhenlong Temple to Tianlong Temple, even Baiyun Temple, which was originally located next to Fengtian City, is no match for Tianlong Temple.
What amazed Lu Yuan even more than the scale of the place was the number of pilgrims who came to visit.
Although it was late winter and the weather was freezing cold, the shady areas of the mountains were still covered with snow that had not yet melted.
But in front of the Tianlong Temple gate, there was already a large crowd and a lively atmosphere!
The spacious square was filled with all kinds of horse-drawn carriages and sedan chairs.
Pilgrims and believers dressed in various colored cotton robes and fur coats, young and old, thronged together.
They were slowly and devoutly climbing up the long, seemingly endless stone steps.
Men, women, young and old, rich and poor, most of them wore solemn or expectant expressions.
The air was filled with the rich aroma of incense, mixed with the white breath of people and the cacophony of voices.
The sheer scale of the incense offerings is astonishing!
Since the incident in Fengtian City, Zhenlong Temple has indeed seen a significant increase in the number of worshippers, and it is quite lively during festivals.
But compared to the crowds that resembled a bustling market or temple fair, the popularity of Zhenlong Temple was like a small stream compared to a vast ocean—utterly insignificant.
No wonder some fantasy novels always talk about profound themes.
I didn't really understand it before, but now I do.
Of course, Zhenlong Temple is now under expansion, and the people that Aunt Qiao'er and Aunt Qin found have arrived at Zhenlong Temple.
In a few years, Zhenlong Temple will naturally become more powerful.
But whether it can catch up with Tianlong Temple is hard to say.
The buildings covering the mountains and the sheer number of pilgrims couldn't have been accumulated in just a day or two, or even a year or two.
Lu Yuan led Tiger Sheep and Tiger Rabbit off the donkey cart, thanked Old Man Chen, and then followed the crowd toward the magnificent mountain gate.
The closer you get, the more you can appreciate the exquisite and luxurious architecture of Tianlong Temple.
The mountain gate is several meters high and is made entirely of huge white marble stones, with exquisite cloud and dragon patterns carved on it.
The three gilded characters "Tianlong Temple" on the lintel gleamed in the snow, their powerful strokes conveying a sense of force and power.
Two enormous stone statues of the Bixie (a mythical beast) stand before the gate, their eyes wide open in anger, exuding a majestic aura. The stone balls they press beneath their claws seem to emanate a faint spiritual light.
Passing through the mountain gate, the bluestone path underfoot is wide and flat, wide enough for several horse-drawn carriages to pass side by side.
The railings along the road are carved from fine bluestone, and there is a stone lantern every few steps.
Although it was not lit during the day, its simple and exquisite design is by no means an ordinary object.
Looking up, the halls and pavilions along the way, whether main halls or side halls, all had beams and pillars made of the finest logs and painted with glossy vermilion lacquer.
The roof, covered with thick glazed tiles, shimmered and shone against the backdrop of snow.
The copper bells hanging from the eaves tinkled softly in the wind, their sound clear, melodious, and far-reaching.
The window frames and door panels are carved with intricate and exquisite Taoist talismans and auspicious cloud patterns, with superb craftsmanship and lifelike detail.
The air was no longer filled with the freshness of the mountains and fields, but with a unique, solemn, and slightly oppressive atmosphere belonging to "Daguan," a mixture of fine sandalwood, paint, stone, and countless people.
Even the young Taoist priests sweeping the floor wore neatly starched and clean blue robes, made of a material far superior to the coarse cloth robes of the Zhenlong Temple.
As Lu Yuan walked and looked around, he was filled with mixed emotions.
No wonder when Uncle Crane Visited Zhenlong Temple last time, he found fault with everything and his words were full of disdain.
At the time, Lu Yuan thought that his senior brother was deliberately picking a fight and putting on airs.
Seeing the current state of Tianlong Temple with his own eyes, Lu Yuan finally understood the reason: Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable truly looked down on it.
However, despite his feelings of感慨 (gǎn kǎi, mixed feelings), Lu Yuan remained calm.
Zhenlong Temple has its advantages: it's peaceful, carefree, has fewer rules, and less conflict.
Neither the old man nor he were people who pursued luxury and extravagance.
Right now, however, we have to deal with a major undertaking that involves a wide range of issues, such as cleaning up the remaining influence of the Liu family.
Only a "super Taoist temple" like Tianlong Temple, with its profound heritage and immense power, could take the lead and maintain order, mobilizing sufficient manpower and resources.
"Let's go up."
Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze and glanced at Tiger Sheep and Tiger Rabbit, who were also awestruck by the magnificent sight but were still trying to maintain a calm facade.
Lu Yuan took a deep breath and stepped onto the seemingly endless stone steps leading to the main hall at the mountain's summit.
Tiger Rabbit followed behind Lu Yuan, blinking its big eyes as it looked around at the unprecedented bustling scene and exquisite buildings, exclaiming softly, "Daoist Master, this place is so big and beautiful—it's even more lively than the market in town!"
It's clear that these two little rascals haven't seen much of the world.
I guess they usually spend their time in remote, secluded mountain areas.
Tiger Sheep silently followed beside Lu Yuan, his gaze sweeping over the well-dressed pilgrims and the magnificent temples.
She glanced at her faded old cotton-padded jacket and patched bundle, then pursed her lips.
He lowered his head slightly, but his steps remained close.
Lu Yuan noticed the fleeting unease in Hu Yangyang's eyes, but said nothing.
Lu Yuan knew that from now on, the "new world" they would have to face and adapt to would probably be far more complex than the magnificent Taoist temple before them.
The three of them mingled among the bustling pilgrims, slowly making their way up the seemingly heaven-reaching stone steps towards the misty, majestic mountain peak.
The three of them followed the crowd, walking along the seemingly endless blue stone steps for a good half hour.
They finally reached the main hall area at the summit.
The buildings here are more magnificent, and also more solemn and majestic.
The huge square is paved with smooth, mirror-like white marble.
In the very center stands a magnificent main hall, over ten zhang high, with a double-eaved hip roof, painted in vermilion and covered with golden tiles, exuding an aura of grandeur.
Incense smoke billowed from the enormous bronze cauldron in front of the hall, rising straight into the sky.
It is surrounded by several smaller but equally exquisite and beautiful side halls, scripture pavilions, bell and drum towers, etc.
Although there were still many worshippers in the square, the order was well maintained, and everyone held their breath and dared not make a loud noise.
Only devout prayers and the faint sounds of ritual implements could be heard from inside the temple.
Lu Yuan led the silent tiger sheep and tiger rabbit across the square to a relatively secluded spot to the side of the main hall.
However, there are still Taoist priests on duty in the side hall and corridor.
This place should be where the disciples of Tianlong Temple handle affairs and receive visitors.
The two on duty were young Taoist priests, who looked to be in their early twenties. They wore neatly washed and clean blue Taoist robes, and had upright faces and clear eyes.
Although their cultivation level wasn't very high, their aura was steady, indicating that they had received good training.
They saw Lu Yuan arrive with two poorly dressed little girls, but their expressions didn't show anything unusual.
One of them stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and asked politely, "Fellow Daoist, have you come to my Tianlong Temple to offer incense?"
"Those who wish to offer incense should go to the plaza in front of the main hall. This is an internal passage, and unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter."
Lu Yuan straightened his slightly ill-fitting, worn-out cotton coat, returned the greeting to the two Taoist priests, and said in a calm tone, "Greetings, fellow Taoists."
"My name is Lu Yuan, a disciple of the Zhenlong Temple."
"I have come here today not to offer incense, but because I have important business to discuss with your esteemed monk, Brother Song Yan."
"Please inform him, fellow Daoist."
Lu Yuan did not directly say that he wanted to see Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable.
Firstly, Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable is the abbot of Tianlong Temple, holding a highly respected position, while these disciples of Tianlong Temple do not hold high positions.
It will probably take them quite a while to find the Crane-Patrolling Celestial Venerable, with all sorts of intermediaries and such.
In that case, it would be faster to just say you're looking for your senior brother Song Yan.
However, as soon as Lu Yuan finished speaking, the expressions of the two Taoist priests on duty instantly became somewhat strange.
They glanced at each other, then looked Lu Yuan up and down, especially at his obviously ill-fitting, even somewhat shabby, old cotton-padded coat.
Lu Yuan?
Zhenlong Temple?
If we're talking about the hottest topic in the area outside the Great Wall recently, it's definitely the matter of helping the old man obtain the title of Heavenly Venerable in Fengtian City.
If they only heard Lu Yuan's name, they might think it was just a coincidence.
But if you add Zhenlong Temple to the list, then it's definitely going to be amazing.
The two men looked at Lu Yuan with great curiosity, seemingly finding it strange that this was Lu Yuan from the legendary True Dragon Temple—
Why are you wearing this outfit?
Lu Yuan didn't want to waste any more breath on the two of them, so he immediately started looking for items that could prove his identity as a disciple of the True Dragon Temple.
but----
Lu Yuan was overthinking it.
The Taoist priest who had spoken earlier lost some of his polite smile, and his tone became somewhat perfunctory: "Oh, looking for Senior Brother Song?"
He dragged out the words, seemingly somewhat embarrassed.
"I'm afraid it's not a coincidence."
"Senior Brother Song—he had some trouble a few days ago, and now—well, he's not really able to see guests."
This person's attitude left Lu Yuan somewhat bewildered.
Lu Yuan didn't think that just because he did something amazing, others had to respect him or be enthusiastic towards him.
But what does this obviously cold and perfunctory attitude mean?
I won't talk about the things I did.
Everyone knows now that the old man and Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable are fellow disciples.
Lu Yuan himself was also the old man's personal disciple, and Guan Hexuntianzun called him his senior master.
It's all thanks to this relationship —
Why is this person acting like this?
Lu Yuan didn't have time to think much about it. He just frowned slightly and asked with a strange expression, "Something happened?"
"Are you injured?"
Another Taoist priest curled his lip and took over the conversation, his tone carrying an undisguised casualness.
Even—schadenfreude?
"Injuried?"
"That's not the case."
"Well—hehe, I got into a fight with someone a couple of days ago and got beaten up. My face is all swollen and my front teeth are loose."
""
"I've been hiding in my room recovering from my injuries these past few days, looking all dirty and ashamed, how could I possibly see anyone?"
As he spoke, there was even a hint of mockery on his face, as if he were talking about something trivial and amusing.
There was absolutely no respect in his tone towards Song Yan.
The two people's words left Lu Yuan completely bewildered.
What's going on here?
Song Yan is the personal disciple of Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable, and Lu Yuan can also see that Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable dotes on Song Yan.
Song Yan's position in Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable's heart is the same as his own position in the old man's heart.
Especially when in conflict with others —
Lu Yuan originally thought that Song Yan had gotten into a conflict with someone outside, and that the person didn't recognize Song Yan or know his identity.
After all, Song Yan can be incredibly shameless at times. If he offends someone when he goes out and they don't know who he is, it's normal for him to get beaten up.
But judging from the attitude of the two disciples on duty, they seemed unsurprised by Song Yan's predicament, and even somewhat—as if they were watching a joke?
This means that—
If things go wrong, I'll beat up Song Yan.
Or is he a disciple of Tianlong Temple?!
Hey!!
Who would dare to beat Song Yan at Tianlong Temple?
Isn't this as outrageous as someone daring to beat up Lu Yuan in Zhenlong Temple?!
However, now is not the time to delve into this.
If there's anything, just ask Song Yan when you meet him.
Suppressing his doubts, Lu Yuan spoke again, his tone more insistent: "Fellow Daoists, please inform Senior Brother Song that Lu Yuan of Zhenlong Temple requests an audience. Whether he sees me or not is entirely up to him."
Lu Yuan insisted on seeing the person, and although the two men verbally mocked him, they dared not refuse.
After all, everyone outside the Great Wall knows who Lu Yuan is.
Let's set aside the relationship between Lu Yuan and Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable.
Lu Yuan dared to beat up Shen Jizhou, and even beat Shen Jizhou so badly. If this angers Lu Yuan, it won't be good if he gets the blame later.
Finally, one of them said something.
"Wait."
Soon, about ten minutes later.
A familiar sight to Lu Yuan—a plump, fair-skinned, and slightly cheeky dish—hmm—
A slightly bruised and swollen figure appeared in the distance, jumping up and down to greet Lu Yuan, "Oh my god!! Junior brother!!"
When did you arrive?!
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