the-good-reader

[the-good-reader]

灵文灵文百事通。

***

I think ling wen deserves more love, also i am very G A Y

[the-good-reader]

C3: Scrap-Collecting Immortal’s Third Ascension to Godhood

Xie Lian [XL] had been reduced to a laughingstock of the 3 realms, with no incense, offerings, temples or believers.

The 2 retainers under him, Feng Xin [FX] and Mu Qing [MQ] had surpassed him.

If you were to ask XL to choose whether FX or MQ made him feel more awkward, he would say, “They’re all okay ah!”

However, if you asked bystanders who they wanted to see Xl fight, then everyone would make different choices- it was hard to pick which is the more interesting option.

Because of this, when there was no response from FX's side because he immediately hid and stopped talking, people were naturally disappointed.

Meanwhile, XL put himself down as he said: “I also didn’t anticipate making a commotion like this. It wasn’t deliberate, I’ve inconvenienced everyone.” MQ responded coolly, ...Oh, then that was indeed quite coincidental.

XL too thought it was coincidental.

How could the clock fall right onto MQ, while his ascension also happened to destroy FX’s palace?

This would look deliberate to bystanders.

However, XL was the type that managed to pick the sole poisoned cup among a thousand cups of wine.

He could only say, “I will try my best to compensate for everyone’s golden palaces and other losses. I also hope you may give me some time.”

XL was still genuinely pondering over where he was supposed to get those 8,880,000 merits when Ling Wen [LW] invited him to go to her Ling Wen Palace.

Ling Wen was the Heavenly Official in charge of managing Heaven’s personnel.

When mortals wished to get a step ahead in their careers, they would worship her.

Her palace was filled to the brim with official documents and scrolls, an utterly shocking scene.

When the two of them finally entered the Palace Hall, LW turned around and got straight to the point., ...Your Highness, there is a matter in which the Emperor would like to request your help. Are you willing to assist him and lend a helping hand?

In Heaven, there were many people who had the titles ZhenJun or YuanJun.

However, only one person could be called the Emperor.

XL was confused as this person would never have the need to call other people for help.

XL asks, "What matter?" ...“Recently, the North has a large number of zealous worshippers repeatedly praying for blessings. It can be assumed that they aren’t passing their days peacefully.”

These so-called zealous worshippers generally referred to three types of people:

Rich people who pay money in order to burn incense and build temples for gods.

Missionaries who would preach to bystanders.

People whose body and mind are thoroughly doused in faith and belief.

Most of these worshippers belonged to the first category, as in this world, rich people were like carps passing through rivers.

The third category had the least people; if one was truly able to get to that level of faith, they wouldn’t be far from ascending themselves.

The people LW mentioned were clearly from the first category, ...At present, the Emperor cannot attend to the North. If you are willing to take his place and make the trip, when the time comes, regardless of how much offerings these zealous worshippers make, everything will be allocated to your altar. What do you think? XL received the scroll with both hands as he said, “Many thanks.”

Emperor Jun Wu [JW] was clearly helping XL, but he had flipped it around and made it sound like he was asking XL for help.

XL realized this, but couldn't think of anything other to say than the 2 words he had said already.

LW replied, ...I’m only responsible for handling these affairs. If you want to thank someone, you should wait for the Emperor to return before personally thanking him instead. —Oh right, do you need my help borrowing any magical artefacts? XL answered, "There’s no need. Even if you give me a magical artefact, once I go down I won’t have any spiritual power, and so I won’t be able to use it.

XL has been beaten down twice, so he had lost his power.

In the Heavens, spiritual power was abundant, so he couls casually grab some to use.

If XL wanted to fight with magic in the mortal realm, he could only make do by finding someone he could borrow spiritual energy from, something extremely inconvenient.

LW pondered before saying, ...Then it would be best to borrow a few martial gods to assist you and lend a helping hand.

The current martial gods either didn’t recognize him, or they didn’t like him. Xie Lian understood that thoroughly, and so he responded, “There’s also no need for that. You won’t be able to borrow anyone.” LW seemed to have thought it seriously and only said, ...I’ll give it a try.

XL didn't oppose her words, and allowed her to try.

As a result,LW entered the spirit communication array before announcing in a bright tone, ...Everyone, the Emperor has an important task to be handled in the North and urgently need people. Which martial god Highness can lend out two martial officials from their Palace Halls to help? MQ’s floaty voice emerged, ...I’ve heard that the Emperor isn’t in the North right now, so I’m afraid you’re borrowing people for His Highness the Crown Prince, right? XL mentally thought, “Are you keeping guard at the spirit communication array all day long…?”

LW was in the same wavelength as him.

Although she was angry, she spoke with a smile, ...Xuan Zhen, why am I always seeing you in the array these two days? It seems like you’ve been stealing time to slack off and now you’re quite idle. Congratulations, congratulations. MQ replied in a light tone, ...My hand is injured, so I’m recuperating.

Every Heavenly Official there mentally thought, ...In the past, it would be nothing difficult for that hand of yours to split a mountain in half. So, what would hacking a foolish clock into pieces do to you?

LW had originally wanted to decieve 2 people, but now she was certain she wouldn't find anyone.

XL also didn’t believe anyone would come forward, and thus told her, “You see, I said you wouldn’t be able to borrow anyone.” ...If Xuan Zhen didn’t say anything, I would have indeed been able to. XL smiled, “Those words of yours had been as if you were carrying a pipa, but concealing half its face, beautifully blurring the scene to some degree. People would have thought they were going to help the Emperor with some work, so of course they would come. But when they come and realize they were going to have to work with me, I’m afraid there would be trouble. How could we work together like that? In any case, I’m used to being alone, and I’m not missing an arm or a leg, so let’s just go with this ah. Thank you for your trouble, I’ll leave now.” LW was also powerless, she cupped her hands in a salute before saying, ...Alright. I wish Your Highness’ journey goes smoothly, and may the blessings of Heaven’s Officials be upon you. “All taboos are off!”

Waving his hand, he left in a confident and carefree manner. ---

Three days later, mortal realm, the North.

By the side of a major road, there was a small teahouse.

The shopkeepers were simple folks, but goods were expensive because the scenery was good.

There were mountains and bodies of water, there were people and a city. They had everything, not much of everything—not much, but just right.

The teahouse’s tea sommelier was exceedingly idle, since he currently didn’t have any customers.

He was happily looking when, from afar, he saw a Taoist clad in white walking over.

The Taoist was covered in dust, looking as if he had been walking for a very long time. When he came closer, he walked past the small teahouse, before suddenly stopping in his tracks and slowly retracing his steps.

The Taoist tilted up his bamboo hat with his hand before raising his head. He only took one glance at the store before he started speaking with a smile.

“‘Chance Encounter’ little store, the name is interesting.”

Although this person had a tired appearance, he also had a face full of smiles, “Excuse me, may I ask if Mount Yu Jun is nearby?” The tea sommelier pointed in a direction for him, “It is in this region.”

That person breathed out, and for once he didn’t spit out his soul with that breath. In his mind, he thought, “I’ve finally arrived.”

This person was precisely Xie Lian.

He left the Immortal City that day.

XL had wanted to fall near Mount Yu Jun, but his sleeve got caught on a carefree cloud.

He tumbled around at a lofty, high altitude, and by the time he rolled down, he had no idea where he was.

After three days on foot, he finally reached his originally planned arrival location. Thus, for a short while, he felt extremely moved.

Entering the teahouse, Xie Lian picked a table beside the window before asking for some tea and snacks.

He had just got seated when he suddenly heard endless wailing and the sound of beating drums from outside the room.

He saw a group of people from all ages escorting a crimson-red bridal sedan as they walked past the teahouse.

If one looked closely, they would notice how the faces of these people all had solemn expressions—expressions of grief, anger, dread, yet the only emotion that wasn’t present was joy.

Whatever the case, it didn’t have the appearance of a wedding.

However, contrary to that thought, everyone was wearing red flowers as they played wind instruments and beat their drums.

This situation was really too strange.

That tea sommelier carried a copper teapot in his hand and raised it up high to pour some tea.

He he didn't seem to be shocked by this.

XL was just about to take out the scroll Ling Wen had given him to look over one more time, when he suddenly felt something dazzling flit by.

The moment XL raised his head, a silver butterfly flew past his eyes.

That silver butterfly was sparkly and translucent, looking pure and limpid. As it flew around in the air, it left behind bright traces.

XL couldn’t help but reach out a hand toward it.

This butterfly was extremely intelligent. Not only was it not frightened, it even temporarily stopped on his fingertips, both wings glittering and beautiful to the utmost degree.

Under the sunshine, it looked as if it was a fragment of an illusion.

After a moment, however, it flew away.

XL waved at it, something that could be considered as his goodbye.

But when he turned back, his table had two more people sitting there.

Both were teenage boys who looked around eighteen or nineteen years old.

The one on the left was taller, with facial expressions that looked quite defined and brightly handsome. Within his gaze was an arrogant and obstinate light.

The right side had very light skin. He looked delicate and pretty, yet also refined. However, his expression looked somewhat overly cold and apathetic, an appearance that made it seem as if he wasn’t too happy. In fact, the colour of the faces of both people didn’t look that great.

XL blinked his eyes before asking, “You two are?” The one on the left replied, ...Nan Feng [NF] The person on the right responded, ...Fu Yao [FY]

Xie Lian mentally thought: “It’s not like I’m asking for your names…”

At that moment, LW suddenly transmitted her voice over, ...Your Highness, there are two small martial gods from Middle Heaven who are willing to help. They’ve already gone down to look for you, so they should have arrived by now ah.

The so-called Middle Heaven was naturally relative to Upper Heaven.

The Heavenly Officials of Heaven could be simply and roughly divided into two categories: the ones that ascended, and the ones that didn’t.

The Heavenly Officials of Upper Heaven had all ascended by relying on themselves.

Being only about a hundred of them, they were each extremely precious.

But within Middle Heaven, the deities there were the ones who were brought up by “appointing them as deputy”.

Strictly speaking, their full names ought to be called “Fellow Heavenly Officials”.

However, when people called them, more often than not they would leave out that “fellow” word.

Since there was an Upper Heaven and a Middle Heaven, was there a Lower Heaven?

There wasn’t.

Actually, when XL ascended for the first time, Heaven was still divided as Upper Heaven and Lower Heaven.

But later, everyone found a problem when they introduced themselves to say, “I am from Lower Heaven’s so-and-so”, it sounded truly unpleasant.

With the ‘lower’ word existing, it made them feel especially inferior.

The only difference between them and real Heavenly Officials was merely how they lacked experiencing a Heavenly Tribulation, but who knew when that day would come.

Therefore, some people proposed to change a single word—turning introductions into ‘I am from Middle Heaven’s so-and-so’. This was much more pleasurable to hear than before.

After the change, XL hadn’t gotten used to it even after quite a while.

Xie Lian looked at these two small martial gods and thought it was unlikely they were “willing to come forward and help”.

Thus, he couldn’t help but ask, “Ling Wen ah, I think they don’t look like they came down to help me, and instead it looks more like they want to retrieve my dog head. Did you deceive them to get them to come?”

Unfortunately, it seemed that this question of his wasn’t transmitted out.

XL was incapable of doing anything else, so he first gave a smile to both the small martial gods before saying, “Was it Nan Feng and Fu Yao? To be willing to come and help me, let me thank you in advance.”

They both nodded, and appeared to have a somewhat lofty attitude.

Xie Lian had the tea sommelier bring two more cups of tea, “Which Highness’ Palace are you under?”

NF replied, ...Nan Yang Palace Hall. FY said, ...Xuan Zhen Palace Hall.” “….”

This truly made one feel frightened.

“Your Palaces’ Generals allowed you to come?” Both responded, ...My Palace’s General didn’t know I came. “Then, do you know who I am?” NF replied, ...You are His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. FY said, ...You are the correct path for the human world, you are the heart of the universe.

Xie Lian choked once, before he asked NF in an uncertain manner, “Just now, did he roll his eyes?” ...He did, let him scram.

Nan Yang’s relationship with Xuan Zhen wasn’t good, so when XL heard of that matter, he didn’t really feel surprised.

This was because, even back then, FX's and MQ’s relationship hadn’t been all that great.

Thus, even the worshippers from the Southeast and Southwest didn’t look upon each other in a positive light, while the Nan Yang Palace Hall and the Xuan Zhen Palace Hall had even more mutual hatred for each other.

FY smiled sarcastically as he stated, ...Ling Wen ZhenJun said that if you were willing, you could come. So, for what reason would I scram and leave?

The word ‘voluntary’, saying it with his expression didn’t look convincing.

XL said, “Let me confirm once. Are you two really voluntarily doing this? If you’re not, by all means, don’t force yourself ah.” Both said, ...I willingly volunteered.

Looking at those two deeply sad faces, XL mentally thought: "The words the two of you actually wanted to say were ‘I want to commit suicide’, right? “In short—” XL began, “Let’s first discuss the real work. You guys already know why we came to the North this time, so I won’t start explaining from the beginning…” Both of them interrupted him, ...I don’t know why.

XL could only take out his scroll before saying, “Then it would be best if I explain everything from the start.” ---

It was said that many years ago in Mount Yu Jun, there was a bride and a groom who loved each other very much and were about to be wed.

The bridegroom waited for the procession that delivered the bride, but even after waiting for a long time, he didn’t see the bride arrive.

He began to feel anxious, and thus began to look for the bride’s family, who informed him that his bride had long set off.

The two households reported this to the officials before they began looking in all directions.

Going from beginning to end of the procession's route, they never found her.

But even if she had been eaten by a fierce beast in the mountains, there should have been remains of an arm or a leg or what not.

How could she disappear in thin air?

Inevitablly, people harbored suspicions that the bride herself didn’t wish to marry, resulting in her colluding with the procession before escaping.

But who would have known that after a few years, another new couple married and the nightmare repeated itself - The bride disappeared again.

However, this time she didn’t leave without a trace.

On a small road, people found a foot that something hadn’t quite finished eating.

[the-good-reader]

sunny xie lian

[the-good-reader]

C2: Scrap-Collecting Immortal’s Third Ascension to Godhood

Ling Wen ZhenJun [LW] has some friendly banter with Xie Lian [XL].

She informs him that his ascension caused trouble- an old clock fell, right on a passing Heavenly Official, Heavenly Officials' palaces shook to the point that they got destroyed!

XL wants to know if he can redeem himself, and what does he need to do to do so? “That’s easy to answer. Eight million, eight hundred and eighty thousand merits.”

XL, obviously, can't afford that.

The Heavenly Officials who had ascended united together to create a spirit communication array using their divine sense.

Xl walks into other gods placing bets on how long he would last before he'd have to descend.

XL silently leaves.

XL enters another communication array where he meets the Martial God on top of whom the clock and fallen, and apologises.

That Martial God turns out to be Xuan Zhen Jun/Mu Qing [MQ], who was at one point a deputy general at XL's palace!

MQ had 7k temples and a great rep in the mortal world! ---

MQ came from a poor background, and wasn't able to work at the Huang Ji/ Imperial Taoist temple, so he worked odd jobs.

XL noticed that he was persevering a d asked the Taoist ministers to make an exception and receive him as a disciple.

After XL ascended, he appointed him as his general and took MQ along with him to the Immortal City.

However, when the Xian Le nation was wiped out and XL was demoted to descend into the mortal realm, MQ did not follow him.

Mu Qing didn’t even say a single word in defense for him. He was now free.

He found a blessed place and began to painstakingly cultivate like crazy. Not many years later, he withstood the Heavenly Tribulations and ascended himself. ---

MQ was not angry, and despite LWs advice, XL decides to stay at the communication array.

There's another thunderous roar-Nan Yang ZhenJun/Feng Xin [FX]-who demands to know who had destroyed his palace.

FX was the martial god who saw the southeast, having 8k temples.

800 years ago, he was the first general of Xian Le Crown Prince's Palace hall.

FX was Xie Lian’s Imperial loyal bodyguard; he grew up with the Crown Prince, entered the Heavens with him, was demoted with him, and was banished with him.

Unfortunately, he was unable to endure those eight hundred years with XL. In the end, they separated on bad terms and parted ways, never to see each other again.

[the-good-reader]

C1: Heaven Official’s Blessing

800 years ago, there was an ancient country called Xian Le nation in the Central Plains.

Xian Le had 4 treasures:

Delicate beauties

Thriving arts & literature

Treasures of gold and jewels

Their renowned Royal Highness the Crown Prince Xie Lian [XL]

XL had no interest in his position.

He just wanted to save the common folks. ---

When XL was 17, Xian Le held a big Offering to the Gods parade.

A martial artist, in a golden mask, performed a show to please the gods, in a platform going in laps around the city.

He performed the role of "Martial God Heavenly Emperor Jun Wu." [JW]

That year XL was selected amidst the strict selection criteria

While performing, a young child fell from the top of the city gate tower.

Just when the child was about the hit the ground, the XL caught him.

But now XL performance had been interrupted

Each lap represents a prayer for a year of the country’s peace and prosperity.

Now ministers are worried as this means incoming disaster.

They ask him to show repentance, but he disagrees, saying there's no need.

XL justifies that “Saving people isn’t something bad. How could the Heavens fault me because I did the right thing?” …And if by chance the Heavens do decide to blame you? “Then the Heavens would be the ones who are wrong. Why should the people who are right apologize to the ones who are wrong?” ---

On the south side of the Yellow River existed a bridge called the Yi Nian3 Bridge, where a famous ghost wandered for many years.

Every few years, it would ask travellers 3 questions:

Where is this?

Who am I?

What will you do now?

If answered incorrectly, the ghost would swallow them.

XL heard this and went there and encountered the ghost. (this happens in the same year - he is 17)

XL answeres the questions as such:

"This is the human realm" ...This is the abyss. (ghost) (that was the wrong answer) XL already knew that, so he anyway fights the ghost. XL wins.

XL plants a flowering tree at the foot of the bridge.

A Taoist sees him do this, and asks what he is doing (XLs famous 8 words) “Body in the abyss, but heart in paradise.”

XL Taoist smiles, and transitions into a General Diety, clad in white armour.

CP had actually encountered the Martial God Heavenly Emperor [JW] himself.

The gods were already paying attention to JW after he descended to earth on the day of the Offering to the Gods parade.

The immortals meet him at the foot of the Yi Nian Bridge and ask the emperor, ...What do you think of this Royal Highness, the Crown Prince? ...This child’s future is limitless, impossible to measure. (JWs 8 words)

That same evening, XL ascended into godhood. ---

As long as someone ascends, the Heavens would always quake once. When HRH the XL ascended, it immediately made the entire Heavens shake three times.

To achieve immortality through one’s efforts and insights was truly hard. To be reborn as a respected god was an endless, lifetime journey.

XL became even more beloved/popular with his people, and they made temples in his name.

The more believers he had, the more shrines were built, so XL lived longer and became more powerful.

Thus, in a few years, Xian Le's XL reached the peak of his power.

Until three years later, when Xian Le descended into chaos ---

The emperor became a cruel gorver, prompting a rebel army to rise.

Heaven’s Godly officials could not meddle according to their wishes.

Unless it was a result of demons and ghouls violating their bounds, what happened must be allowed to happen

But XL didn’t care about that. He told Emperor Jun, “I want to save the common people.”

JW was angry, but he only said, ...You cannot save everybody. “I can.”

And so XL descended to the human realm with no second thoughts.

Xian Le celebrated, but as ancient folk tales warned, the event of an unauthorized immortal descending to the human realm would absolutely not bear a good result.

And so the fires from the war did not die down, and instead began burning even more wildly.

The more XL strived, the more complicated the war became.

The people of Xian Le were beaten til their heads fell and their blood flowed, suffering disastrous casualties. Finally, a plague swept throughout the whole Imperial City and the rebels broke into the palace, ending the war.

The country was wiped out and people realied that XL was not as formidable or perfect as they had imagined.

The angry subjects covered in wounds rushed into the Crown Prince’s palace hall. They pushed down his Godly statue and burned his shrines.

When people said you were a god, then you were a god. If they said you were sh*t, then you were sh*t. Whatever the people said you were, that was what you became. It had always been like this.

XL couldn’t accept this fact.

What he could not accept even more was the punishment given to him: banishment; he was thrown into the human realm.

This was the first time XL experienced starvation, poverty, and the feeling of filth.

It was also the first time he did things he had never imagined himself ever doing: pilfering, robbing, violently cursing, and abandoning himself to despair.

Prestige entirely lost, self-esteem completely gone, he became as ugly as one wanted him to be.

Even the most devoted attendants were unable to accept him changing in this way, and thus they chose to leave.

Body in the abyss, but heart in paradise. These eight words were carved almost everywhere in the stone tablets and boards of Xian Le country.

Had they not been almost entirely burned away in the war, if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince were to see them again, he would be the first to rush up smash them.

Because the one who personally said the phrase had already proved that when his body was in the abyss, his heart was not in paradise.

He ascended quickly, and descended even quicker. ---

Many years passed when one day, a loud sound shook the Heavens. XL, ascended to Godhood for the second time.

Angry, he beat up and murdered everyone in all directions.

He was kicked down again.

If one said that his first ascension was something to be praised, then his second ascending could only be called a farce.

After this, everyone in Heaven turned their backs on XL.

But they were still on guard.

But XL didn't turn into a demon.

He just performed on the streets.

Alll the gods were astonished.

It became an insult to say “You gave birth to a son who is Xian Le’s Crown Prince”.

He had become a laughingstock of the realms.

His ancient country was destroyed, with not a single believer left.

Slowly, he became forgotten by the world.

To be banished once was already extraordinary shame and humiliation. To be banished twice, no one could ever climb up again. ---

After many more years, there was suddenly a day where the Heavens was once again disturbed by a loud noise

The mountains shook- this time it was stringer than before.

That famous weirdo, the laughingstock of the three realms, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince from the legends, he he he —— he f*cking ascended to godhood again!