Lady Bao Sheng did not utter a word.
Beside her, Xu Qing advised, "Since you wish to seek a position, you should disclose your origins, the skills you possess, and what benefits you can bring to Bao Sheng Temple. If you intend to hide anything, Lady Bao Sheng may not pay attention to you."
Having said that, Xu Qing turned around and left the Incense Hall, leaving the woman in yellow alone to respond before the hall.
When there was no one else left inside, the woman in yellow showed a troubled expression; she truly did not want to reveal her own origins.
But thinking about how difficult it is to find blessed land, having roamed famous mountains for many years with her source nearly exhausted, if she couldn't find a place to stay in this troubled world, she would likely have to sink into slumber during this era of great peril.
Weighing the pros and cons, the woman in yellow finally divulged the truth: "Lady Bao Sheng, the humble servant is of Qishan origin, born from the harmony of heaven and earth..."
Outside the Incense Hall, in the quiet room.
Xu Qing's thoughts immersed in the Blood Lake Dharma Realm, saw the woman in yellow kneeling before the hall and heard her narrate her origins...
Before the turbid age, during the initial peace, within the Qishan Blessed Land, there was a mass of bright yellow energy conceived by the communion of heaven and earth.
This energy, nourished by the clear air of the blessed land, not only did not disperse but appeared increasingly miraculous over time.
As the years flew by, spanning approximately several hundred, suddenly sounds of a spiritual bird rang clearly in Qishan.
As the sound fell, red light surged from the mountain, and five-colored clouds billowed from the valley.
Mountain residents watching this saw a divine bird with vibrant feathers and a rainbow trailing from its tail soaring. Everywhere it went, dead wood revived, dry springs roared, and towering cliff stones gave a sound of gold and jade.
Moments later, as the glow cleared and the clouds dissipated, the mountain residents wanted to investigate the cause, only to see a woman in yellow standing atop a precarious cliff.
The woman's eyes contained mountain light, her steps bore clear air.
Upon kowtowing to the ground, the mountain residents realized this woman was transformed by the phoenix's cry, and the earth's energy was nurtured into a mountain spirit!
Later, when the Zhou dynasty arose, the mountain residents recalled the old tales of Qishan and named the woman in yellow as Lady Qishan.
The Qishan clan, transformed by the earth's breath, would naturally choose renowned great mountains as their dwelling places.
If the mountain air was clear and tranquil, the woman would be joyful to stay; if the incense in the mountains prospered, she would grow increasingly graceful.
Aside from her origins, the experience of the Qishan clan also caught Xu Qing's attention.
The Qishan clan had been the mountain spirit of Qingqiu Mountain, the priestess of Taodu Mountain, the mountain god of Yaoyao Mountain, the Mao woman of Danxue Mountain...
These mountains are all Immortal Mountain Blessed Lands, and the Qishan clan harnessed mountain energy to sustain their form, offering protection over a region.
Yet the world deteriorated, the Five Filthy Evil Worlds intensified, the mountain energy grew erratic, and human nature became corrupted. What were once clear springs turned murky; though the incense remained, the devout hearts vanished; human energy became restless, and greed thrived. At this time, Lady Bao Sheng turned back into a mass of bright yellow energy, drifting away to find another blessed land or immortal mountain.
Yet as the world deteriorated, and the mountains transformed, when the Qishan clan was first born, Qishan's energy was still pure and bright, but by the time of the great calamity, the holy mountain's core veins were chaotic, suffused with turbid air.
To avoid the impact of the turbid age, the Qishan clan journeyed endlessly, seeking a sanctuary during this era of great calamity.
But unexpectedly, not long after the ancient Qingqiu Mountain, it fell to wasteland because of calamity; in the Shu Region, Taodu Mountain was overrun with malevolence, with the Peach Ancestor turning to withered wood.
Elsewhere, Yaoyao Mountain became entrenched with the Demon Dao, Danxue Mountain's evil air surged, and Beizhao Mountain suffered repeated military calamities, with relentless slaughter year after year...
All these resulted from the Five Filthy Evil Worlds, breeding demons and human disasters, and though the Qishan clan was gifted by heaven and earth with an independent form, she still could not reside long.
This is the destiny ordained by heaven, and good fortune does not last.
The Qishan clan was originally resigned, believing she could not escape fate.
Yet, just when the path ahead seemed bleak and no destination in sight, the Qishan clan, sensitive to mountain energy, discovered that outside Linjiang County, in the Jinmen Prefecture, there was an excellent place where the turbid air receded and clear air rose.
This truly took her by surprise!
Upon closer inspection, she discovered a temple on the mountain, where incense thrived in purity and prosperity, making the Qishan clan momentarily feel as though she had arrived before the era of great calamity.
Although she had not yet encountered the true form of Bao Sheng Temple's deity, the Qishan clan could fully imagine that Lady Bao Sheng must be a divine figure of great virtue and majesty.
"Lady Bao Sheng, I beseech, as a mountain spirit, it is not for illicit worship but actually seeking a place to reside. All I seek is a nook to settle, a meager portion of merit."
"If the lady accepts me, I shall make this mountain my bones, the springs my blood, and the trees my veins. Let heaven and earth bear witness, should I neglect my duty, I am willing to suffer divine punishment!"
Looking at the petitioning Qishan clan before him, Xu Qing did not completely believe her words.
If what the Qishan clan claimed was entirely true, she would not have left Qishan or other places like Taodu Mountain to come here.
What she sought was merely to evade the invasion of turbid air and seek sanctuary under this clear atmosphere, nothing more.
But, having found such a suitable place to reside, the Qishan clan would certainly wholeheartedly protect this area if she could stay.
This, to Xu Qing, was all benefit and no harm.
"Qishan clan, your intentions are understandable, and your request aligns with the natural order of heaven. The clear air here is plentiful, and for you to wish to reside is no difficult matter."
In the Incense Hall, Lady Bao Sheng's statue opened its eyes, her voice ethereal yet supremely authoritative:
"However, since you claim to make the mountains, waters, grasses, and trees your body, you should hold to these words. I can grant you authority, as long as this mountain remains under my protection, your body will be transformed by this mountain's essence, and your fate will be tied to its fortunes."
"You must do all in your power to protect the forests and trees here, maintain this region's tranquility, and allow no slackness at all..."
Upon hearing of sharing in weal and woe with Ziyun Mountain, the Qishan clan clearly hesitated, but ultimately she gritted her teeth and agreed.
"I, the Qishan clan, solemnly obey the lady's decree."
As her words fell, the Qishan clan bowed again, then her form gradually became ethereal, transforming into a mass of bright yellow energy.
This energy seemed sentient, winding like smoke, swiftly nested among Ziyun's peaks.
...
In the Bao Sheng Temple's sutra hall, Sister Jin and midwife Liu were reciting the Blood Lake Treasure Repentance Sutra as usual.
Behind them, a white snake as thick as a bowl's rim was quietly resting in front of a brazier.
However, just at this serene moment, Ziyun Mountain suddenly began to rumble slightly, almost causing the dozing Bai Xiaoxian to overturn the fire basin!
Has the earth dragon turned over?
Bai Xiaoxian reacted quickly, spewing a breath of cloud demon wind to whisk the two ladies out of Bao Sheng Temple.
Once outside the temple, they saw Xu Qing, dressed in azure and white, standing with hands behind his back, gazing into the distance.
"Sect Leader..."
Xu Qing raised a hand to interrupt Bai Xiaoxian's question, continuing to observe the mountain's transformation.
At this time, an imperceptible bright yellow energy circulated along Ziyun Mountain's ridges.
When the whole mountain was enveloped in the bright yellow aura, the clear air that wandered chaotically within the mountain immediately aligned with the seasonal order, each returning to its proper place.
It was winter month, and the rime ice and snow accumulated on the branches throughout the mountain were flushed away, falling in a flurry.
Meanwhile, hundreds of birds flew through the woods, animals responded, not in panic, but sensing the birth of spirit in the mountain, all competing to celebrate.
Seeing this, Xu Qing smiled and said, "Lady Bao Sheng has newly conferred the title of mountain god, from now on this mountain can also be referred to as a blessed land, truly a matter of continuous blessing."
The so-called continuous blessing refers to accumulated virtue and merit, leaving shelter and shade for future generations.
By saying this, Xu Qing implied that although the newly appointed mountain god had shallow roots, over the years, they would undoubtedly bring continuous blessing to this mountain.