Starting Cultivation During a Trip-Chapter 129 - 100: Lifebound Yuan Chen, Starward Worship! The Eerie Zhang Fan
The Thirteen Zodiacs, the Rooster.
Zhang Fan’s Primordial Spirit was slightly moved; the Wuwei Sect, the Thirteen Zodiacs, they seemed like shadows concealed within mist, eerie and unpredictable, their methods strange and ever-changing.
Since descending from Zhenwu Mountain, Zhang Fan had encountered the [Hai Pig] Wang Tao, and [Wu Ma] Wuqilu.
The former was gluttonous, trifling with the He Family at his whim, offering live sacrifices to the Fierce Fang of the Dragon Vein at Taoyuan Square, plotting to taste the Holy Grade Dragon Saliva of the Daoist Sect.
As for [Wu Ma] Wuqilu, he manipulated human hearts and controlled life and death, desiring to refine the Human Refining Talisman and become an Immortal.
These people were both geniuses and madmen, each walking their own path—even Bai Buran felt deep dread toward them.
"Rooster!"
Zhang Fan’s Primordial Spirit dissected the information available from the shifting lights before him. It had to be said, the methods of the Thirteen Zodiacs were truly formidable. Whether it was Wang Xuanqing’s Primordial Spirit Fragment or Wang Xuanmiao’s memories, all that concerned the Rooster was but a hazy silhouette, utterly indecipherable.
In other words, even if they were truly exposed, not a trace of the Rooster’s whereabouts or secrets would be revealed.
"What cunning! Truly as crafty as a chicken."
Zhang Fan’s Primordial Spirit sifted through the endless play of light and shadow, searching for useful clues.
"The Beidou Refining God is the Wang Family’s secret art, how did you learn of it?"
In memory, Wang Xuanqing was utterly wary before the mysterious figure ahead.
"Among all Daoist Skills beneath heaven, the Star Fighting Skill is but one lineage, concealing the Technique of Becoming an Immortal. Naturally, I know," that mysterious figure replied.
The Star Fighting Skill is an extremely vital branch of Daoist Magic.
In ancient myth, the Celestial Court housed eight divisions. Among them, the Dou Division was responsible for regulating the Circulation of the heavens and orchestrating the motions of all the stars across the Three Realms. All star deities belonged to the Dou Division, making it the most populous of the eight—innumerable as grains of sand in the Ganges.
Figures such as the Emperor Ziwei of the North Pole, the Five Dipper Star Monarchs, Nine Luminaries Star Officials, the Twenty-Eight Constellations, Thirty-Six Celestial Spirits, Seventy-two Earthly Fiends... virtually all the renowned Immortals we know resided within this division.
It was even once said by an enlightened one: To seek the Longevity Technique, one must explore the secrets of stars; only by comprehending the heavenly stars can one grasp the fate of one’s life, penetrate life and death, and obtain the Dao to become Immortal.
There were also those who claimed that all who could become Immortal upon this earth were predetermined—each one a Star Monarch incarnated from the heavens.
Within the flickering gloom, that mysterious form began a story for Wang Xuanqing and Wang Xuanmiao.
At the end of the Western Jin, chaos reigned. On Dragon Tiger Mountain there was a little Daoist, who, coveting the Celestial Master Taoist Skill, had his eyes blinded and was expelled from the sect.
That little Daoist, cast adrift, discovered an abandoned Daoist Temple amidst barren hills.
At that time, his Primordial Spirit had already awakened. Though sightless, he could still perceive all things.
Within the ruined temple stood a singular Divine Statue, shrouded in yellow robes and riding a yellow cloud, facing north, its body inscribed with stellar texts.
The local villagers said, this observatory was named Beidou Temple, and within, it was the Beidou Star Monarch enshrined.
This Daoist Temple was reputedly a residence of the Beidou Star Monarch in the Mortal World. In bygone years, incense offerings flourished; some claimed to have witnessed the Beidou Star Monarch descend here. That night the stars shone resplendent, bursting forth from the temple’s very apex—the tale became legend, marvelous beyond imagining.
Yet in those troubled times, when the Five Barbarians ravaged China and corpses littered the wilds, mortals no longer believed in Ghost Gods. Reverence gave way to dread; incense burned out, and the temple fell to ruin, step by step.
"Hmm!?"
Seeing this, Zhang Fan grew perplexed. The Rooster seemed as much a charlatan as a mystic—why tell the Wang siblings such a story?
Thinking on, Zhang Fan continued to listen.
"The locals also said the Beidou Star Monarch possessed a Magical Robe, upon which mortal names were inscribed, dictating their fate—life, death, fortune, and disaster. Yet, it was lost to the Mortal World..."
"Whosoever could recover the Magical Robe would become Immortal, and live forever."
"The little Daoist, rootless and homeless, thus took shelter within that dilapidated temple, rekindling the incense."
"That very night, the little Daoist dreamed—a most peculiar dream..."
"Within the dream: endless darkness, and it seemed someone was calling his name. Following the voice, he found at last a faint glimmer ahead."
"Approaching, he saw a bronze candleholder, its feeble flame flickering firmly."
"Suddenly, from beyond the candelabrum came the clinking of chains. From the darkness, a chill wind swept in, as though breathing."
"Only then did the little Daoist perceive: behind that faint candle flame, a tall figure sat, shrouded and indistinct, yet seemingly longing for escape."
"Perhaps fueled by the illusory nature of dreams, the little Daoist gathered his courage and asked, Who are you? Why are you here?"
"The figure sighed, was silent for a long time, and finally said, I stole from the Beidou Star Monarch—and so was imprisoned here. Unless the bronze candle burns out, I shall never be released."
"In the dream, the little Daoist, emboldened, asked what precisely was stolen from the Beidou Star Monarch, to earn such a tribulation?"
"In darkness, the tall figure was long before he spoke: It was the Magical Robe of the Beidou Star Monarch. And it’s hidden here, within the Daoist Temple..."
"With this, the dream broke. The little Daoist awoke in shock, and was beset by illness for a full month before he recovered."
"Thereafter, the little Daoist did indeed dig up a box beneath the forsaken temple..."
"What was inside?"
In the trembling dance of light, the mysterious figure’s voice seemed to possess an unshakable allure. Here, even Wang Xuanmiao could not help but ask aloud.
"Within that box, he beheld a sky full of stars, saw life and death, fortune and doom..." the mysterious figure replied.
