Qingyun sat cross-legged on the mat, engrossed in reading a Taoist scripture, his mind wholly immersed in its profound mysteries, unable to tear himself away.
At that moment, a soft call came from outside: "Qingyun!"
The familiar, melodious voice jolted him awake. When Qingyun recognized it as his Senior Sister's voice, a surge of delight welled up in his heart. He hadn't expected her to seek him out. Ever since he began his Taoist training, Qingxuan had not come to the lakeside to lecture him as she once did.
"Senior Sister." Qingyun hurriedly stood and stepped into the outer room, where his eyes fell upon a graceful figure standing beside the willow tree, gazing at him with a gentle smile.
Qingxuan's eyes lowered to the scripture in his hand, and she let out a soft exclamation: "Why aren't you reading the *Treatise on the Primordial Elements*?"
Her words puzzled not only Qingxuan but Qingyun as well. Curious, he asked, "Senior Sister, what's the *Treatise on the Primordial Elements*?"
She seemed taken aback by his question, her expression tinged with surprise as she replied, "Didn't Master Uncle instruct you to start with the *Treatise on the Primordial Elements* to familiarize yourself with the inner structures of the various elements?"
Qingyun shook his head, but then he suddenly recalled his master's past instructions. His face stiffened momentarily before he answered with a hint of embarrassment, "Master once tasked me with reading ten thousand volumes of Taoist texts in the library, but back then, I was too focused on the *Kunwu Technique*. I didn't get around to many of the scriptures."
His Senior Sister nodded in understanding. Then, in a casual tone, she offered guidance: "In that case, I'd suggest you start with the *Treatise on the Primordial Elements*, followed by the *Theory of Dual Forms*, *True Illumination of the Spirit*, *Framework of Techniques*, *True Explanation of Sound Elements*, *Study of Talismans*…"
Hearing this long list, the young man hurriedly committed the titles to memory. But then his Senior Sister clapped her hands and said with a smile, "However, I have all these books. You don't need to search the library—I can give them to you directly."
"Senior Sister?" Qingyun froze at her words, a bit confused.
"Ahem, Master took half the disciples from the temple to attend a grand gathering at Ningyuan. Being alone here has been rather dull, so I thought I'd invite you to visit Golden Radiance City with me," Qingxuan said with a light cough, her gaze drifting to the courtyard wall.
Qingyun understood. So, his Senior Sister had been bored lately and wanted company for a trip to Golden Radiance City.
But why hadn't Master Uncle taken her along to this gathering? Qingyun couldn't figure it out. Still, since she was already here, asking further would only stir unnecessary thoughts, so he kept his questions to himself.
Without overthinking it, he nodded decisively. "Please wait a moment, Senior Sister."
With that, Qingyun turned back to his inner chamber to pack.
Once ready, he and Qingxuan used the temple's wind tunnel to arrive just outside Golden Radiance City.
The young woman seemed a little concerned about interrupting Qingyun's scripture study. She said to him, "I noticed you've been burying yourself in diligent practice since starting your training, so I thought I'd take you to Golden Radiance City for a break. But since your heart is so eager for the Dao, I'll give you a brief explanation of the *Treatise on the Primordial Elements*."
In truth, Qingyun didn't feel interrupted at all. On the contrary, he was quietly thrilled by her visit. Having not seen her for days, he had been constantly thinking of her—perhaps even longing for her—so much so that he forced himself to study the scriptures relentlessly. Yet often, despite hours of reading, not a single word sank in. Only by calming his mind could he truly delve into the texts.
Today, the Senior Sister he'd been yearning for had suddenly come to him. The boy was overjoyed inside, yet shy and nervous, unsure what to say to someone he hadn't seen in so long. He wanted to speak but feared bringing up a topic she might not enjoy; he stayed silent, worried she'd think him dull and uninteresting.
Qingyun's heart was a tangle of emotions, his mind plagued with distress. Thankfully, Qingxuan took the lead, broaching the familiar subject of Taoist scriptures, and he nodded eagerly in agreement.
Seeing his earnest response, Qingxuan mistook it for an ardent pursuit of the Dao and felt a pang of guilt for her impulsive interruption. Determined to make amends, she resolved to explain the teachings to him with utmost seriousness.
Their Taoist robes were unmistakable, and Qingxuan deliberately hung her temple token at her waist. The city gate guards didn't question them and let them pass without delay.
After crossing the gate, Qingxuan began explaining the *Treatise on the Primordial Elements* to Qingyun. "First, I'll recite it once for you. Listen carefully, Junior Brother. 'One horizontal, one dot, one diagonal, two hooks, two verticals, two horizontals, man and child enter eight, outer frame, cover, ice radical, table frame, open box, knife, power, spoon, box, hidden box, ten, divination, seal, cliff, private, hand, mouth, enclosure, earth, scholar, winter radical, slow radical, evening, great, woman, child, roof, inch, small, lame, corpse, sprout, mountain, river, work, self, cloth, dry, thread, wide, movement, hands, arrow, bow, snout, hair, step…'"
"Senior Sister, Senior Sister!" Qingyun's head spun from the rapid recitation, and he couldn't help but interrupt her.
"What's wrong?" Qingxuan asked, blinking at him.
"I don't know those characters…" Qingyun mumbled, his voice barely audible.
"Oh, I forgot! These are sound-element forms. Just hearing them won't help," Qingxuan realized, chastising herself for assuming too much.
"Shadow elements?" Qingyun caught a familiar term, puzzled.
Qingxuan smiled and clarified, "No, *sound* elements. Now that you've begun your training and can roughly control the elements, it's time to start studying talisman arts too. These sound elements are the incantations used to activate talismans. As the *Talisman Scripture* says: 'Talismans are form; incantations are sound.' That's the principle."
"But why does the *Treatise on the Primordial Elements* discuss sound-element forms?" Qingyun asked, astonished.
His Senior Sister leaned closer, her tone mysterious. "Because the forms of sound elements, when reversed, trace the paths of the shadow elements within the primordial."
"It's that coincidental?"
"Yes. It's said that when incantation practice reaches its peak, one achieves 'great sound without voice, great form without shape.' At that point, neither talismans nor chants are needed—you can wield the Dao directly." Qingxuan's eyes sparkled with admiration, clearly longing for that realm.
As they walked, Qingxuan earnestly explained the properties of sound elements and the basics of the *Talisman Scripture* to Qingyun.
Unbeknownst to them, a mist began to rise around them. By the time Qingxuan noticed something amiss, they were already enveloped in thick fog. The pedestrians, residents, and vendors they'd passed had vanished without a trace, leaving the two of them alone on an empty street lined with deserted stalls.
"Senior Sister, what's this?" Qingyun hesitated, unsure of what they'd stumbled into.
A chill ran down Qingxuan's spine. She swiftly pulled Qingyun behind her, her face a mix of shock and disbelief as she stammered, "No… impossible! How could we encounter the *Immortal's Guidance* in Golden Radiance City?!"
Hearing the word "immortal," Qingyun—well-versed in scriptures by now—felt a shiver down his back. He knew anything tied to that word spelled trouble. Nervously, he asked, "Senior Sister, you mean—this has to do with immortals?"
Qingxuan started to turn and explain, but as her gaze swept the street, her eyes widened in an instant, as if she'd seen something terrifying. Qingyun noticed her body tense and followed her line of sight.
In the dense mist, a black silhouette flickered faintly. As their attention fixed on it, the sound of footsteps grew clearer, each step echoing in time with their pounding hearts, tightening their chests with dread.
---
Between the mountain valleys, countless dark figures scrambled up the sides of the airship. Hanging from the massive hull were grotesque, rotting corpse puppets, their faces twisted in ferocity.
Chiyan stood aloft, gripping a broadsword. In an instant, her form expanded and contracted, exuding an immense pressure that struck the Toad Immortal and the Miasma Immortal like a physical force. The air around them faltered, as if all of it were spiraling toward this Taoist.
"Tch, this scruffy Taoist isn't easy to deal with, Baldy! Can those corpse puppets actually take down that ship or not? Give me a straight answer, or the little ones below won't last long against this stinking priest!" the Toad Immortal shouted at the Miasma Immortal, its expression tinged with unease.
Though they'd brought an entire peak's worth of immortals, aside from the two upper immortals, the rest were mindless mid- and lower-tier beings, roughly equal to the temple disciples. The airship, however, gave the disciples a significant edge. Were it not for the Miasma Immortal's skill in refining corpse puppets, they'd have no choice but to throw their underlings' lives at the enemy—a thought that pained the Toad Immortal to even consider.
"Quit panicking! The higher-ups only told us to delay this scruffy Taoist, not fight her to the death," the Miasma Immortal retorted. Despite their full sentience, the two immortals bickered like children, brazenly revealing their plan right in front of Chiyan.
Hearing that their goal was merely to stall her, Chiyan pieced it together. Her thoughts sharpened as she realized Ningyuan might already be under attack, the situation likely dire. She resolved to end this quickly, taking down these two less-than-committed foes with full force.
She sent a mental message to Qingshu: "Yushu, I'm going all out to repel these two upper immortals. I won't be able to focus elsewhere for now. Do your best to protect the airship. If it gets overwhelmed, break through and escape."
Qingshu, guarding the ship, could only nod hastily, too pressed to reply verbally. Still, he knew Chiyan would catch his gesture.
With a sweep of his fan, he scattered jade discs that spun through the air, slicing into the corpse puppets with the clang of metal on metal. The impacts merely knocked them back, leaving them unscathed. The puppets lost their footing, tumbling down the hull with guttural roars, only to claw their pus-ridden hands back onto the ship, tirelessly climbing again.
The other Five Elements Temple disciples unleashed their own techniques—flames, ice spears, lightning, and massive stones erupted from the airship, battering the nigh-indestructible puppets off the sides.
Though they couldn't harm these upper-immortal-crafted and enhanced puppets, they kept knocking them down, delaying their assault on the ship's protective array and keeping them at bay.
At that moment, Chiyan raised her broadsword and shot toward the Miasma Immortal like a blazing meteor. The Toad Immortal, knowing the Miasma Immortal's link to the puppets was vital, leaped between them in a flash. Its throat puffed up like a balloon in an instant.
The Toad Immortal sneered inwardly: *This scruffy, stinking Taoist has never faced us before. She has no idea my strength lies in this one strike. Few cultivators can withstand my tongue whip without breaking apart. Even if she dodges, my world-class venom will seep in at the slightest touch, clinging like maggots to bone—inescapable. She'll either die or lose half her strength.*
But things didn't unfold as it expected. Chiyan didn't dodge the whip or get shrouded in poison mist. With a thunderous shout, she gathered sound elements, forcing the toxic fog to roll back skyward like a reversed tide. The whip-like tongue, already launched, was seized in her grip, held fast. At the other end stood the Toad Immortal, its face frozen in terror.
Chiyan's expression was icy as she yanked hard, roaring, "Come here!"
原始中文文本
青雲盤坐榻上,正在閱讀道經,心神也沉溺於經書奧妙的內容裡,不可自拔.
此時,室外傳來一聲輕喚:「青雲!」
熟悉悅耳的嗓音頓時將他驚醒過來.待青雲聽清楚是師姊的聲音後,心中不禁湧上一陣驚喜.他沒有想到師姐會來找自己,自從青雲入道後,青璇便沒有再到湖邊向他講道.
「師姐.」青雲連忙起身走到外室,一眼便看見柳樹旁那道窈窕身影,正眉目含笑地望向他.
青璇目光低垂,看向他手中的道經,輕咦了一聲:「怎麼不是在看『列元論』?」
這句話一出口,就不只青璇疑惑了.青雲好奇道:「師姐,什麼是『列元論』?」
她似乎沒想到青雲會這麼問,面容帶著一絲驚訝說:「掌門師叔沒有讓你先看列元論,熟悉各種元的內在結構嗎?」
青雲搖了搖頭,卻突然想起了師父曾經的叮囑,臉上不禁一僵,隨後有些羞赧地答道:「師父曾命青雲在藏書閣閱萬卷道書,但師弟那時只顧著看昆吾訣,很多道經都沒來得及看.」
師姐點了點頭,表示明白.接著,她口氣隨意地指點:「那師姐會建議你先看『列元論』,然後再看『二象論』,『靈照真解』,『術架構』,『音子真解』,『符咒學』⋯⋯」
少年聽見這一長串,連忙努力將這些書名都記在心中.卻見師姐說完書名後,一拍手笑說:「不過,這些書師姐都有,師弟不必去藏書閣找,我可以直接送你.」
「師姐?」聽見這話,青雲微愣,有些不明所以.
「咳咳,師父帶走觀內半數弟子,說是要前往寧原參與盛會.那師姊一人在觀內就有些無趣,想找師弟一起去金煌城玩玩.」青璇咳了兩聲,眼神游移開來,看向院牆.
少年聽明白了.原來是師姐近日無聊,想找人一起去金煌城玩.
可是這盛會,為何師伯沒帶上師姐?青雲想不通,不過師姐既然已經在此,多問只是徒擾心緒,因此他並沒有將疑惑說出口.
沒再多想,他乾脆地點頭答應:「請師姐稍等片刻.」
說完,青雲轉身回內室收拾.
待他收拾完畢,便和青璇再度使用觀內風道,抵達了金煌城外.
少女似乎對打擾了青雲讀道經有些在意.她向青雲說道:「師姐是看師弟入道後一直悶頭苦修,所以才想找你去金煌城逛逛.不過,未免你向道之心急切,師姐就把這『列元論』簡單和你說說.」
其實,青雲並不覺得被打擾,反倒對於師姊來訪有些竊喜.多日未見,他心中一直對師姊有些掛念,甚至可以說是朝思暮想,於是只能不停強迫自己研讀道經.只是往往看了許久,都未能將道經上的一字一句看進眼裡,總需寧心靜氣,才能夠浸淫其中.
今日,心心念念的師姐突然來找,少年是心底歡喜,卻又羞澀情怯,不知道該和多日未見的師姊聊些什麼.想開口,怕貿然提起的話題讓對方不喜,不說話,又怕對方嫌棄他是個悶葫蘆.
青雲心中萬分複雜,腦袋裡也是異常苦惱.此時,青璇主動開口,又是彼此熟悉的「道經」話題,他自然連連點頭.
青璇見他的態度如此鄭重,以為少年是求道心切,不禁對自己的任性打擾感到一絲歉意.於是,她便決定拿出十二萬分的精神,認真替青雲講道.
兩人的道袍明顯,青璇又刻意將道牌掛在腰間,城門守軍並未多攔,直接就放他們入城.
過了城門,青璇便開始向青雲說起列元論:「師姐先背誦一次列元論,師弟聽好了.『一丨丶丿,乙亅二亠,人儿入八,冂冖冫几,凵刀力勹,匕匚匸十,卜卩厂厶,又口囗土,士夂夊夕,大女子宀,寸小尢尸,屮山川工,己巾干么,广廴廾弋,弓彐彡彳⋯⋯』」
「師姐,師姐!」青雲被師姐這一連串的背誦脹昏了頭,忍不住出聲叫住對方.
「怎麼了?」青璇眨著雙眸反問.
「師弟不知道那些字⋯⋯」青雲聲如蚊蚋地回答.
「哎呀,師姐忘了.這是音子道形,只聽音是沒有用的.」青璇反應過來,也知道自己太想當然了.
「陰子?」青雲聽見熟悉的名詞,有些疑惑.
青璇笑著解釋:「是聲音的音.師弟如今入道,雖然對元已能粗略控制,但另外一方面,符咒學也得開始研習了.這音子便是驅動符時用的咒,符咒經上有云:『符為形,咒為音.』便是如此.」
「可是,這列元論內為何是談論音子道形?」青雲詫異地問.
師姐微微湊進,神秘地說道:「因為,音子道形反過來便是元內陰子的軌跡.」
「竟然如此巧合?」
「是,據說咒修行至深處,便可『大音希聲,大象無形』,屆時無須符與咒,直接就能施展道術.」青璇妙目中泛起一陣神采,似乎非常嚮往這個境界.
兩人走著,青璇認真地向青雲剖析音子的特性,以及符咒經的基礎.
不知不覺間,周圍逐漸漫起一陣霧氣,當青璇察覺異狀時,他們已經身陷濃霧.而周遭的行人,居民與小販也在兩人沒察覺時,消失得無影無蹤.兩人孤零零地站著,身旁只有空蕩蕩的街道與攤位.
「師姊,這是?」青雲有些遲疑,不知道是遇上了什麼狀況.
青璇背脊泛起一股涼意,迅速伸手將青雲拉到身後,臉上露出震驚與無法置信交織的神色,驚惶道:「不,不可能,怎麼會在金煌城遇上仙人指路!」
聽到「仙」,已經讀過許多道經的青雲頓時也是後背一涼,他知道和這個字扯上就沒好事,有些緊張地問師姊:「師姊,你是說──這和仙有關係?」
青璇想轉過身和他解釋,目光掃過街道時,雙眼在剎那間瞪大,像是看見了什麼令她感到恐懼的事物.青雲發覺師姊身體一僵,也順著她視線的方向看去.
只見一道黑色身影在濃霧中若隱若現,隨著兩人注意到祂,耳邊彷彿也聽到那逐漸清晰腳步聲,一步一步踩在他們的心跳上,讓兩人的內心不自覺地揪緊.
山谷之間,密密麻麻的黑影正試圖爬上空帆.在巨大的船身上,吊掛著許多面色猙獰,渾身腐爛的屍傀.
赤煙立於空中,手上提著大刀,身形在片刻間一脹一縮,蛤蟆仙與瘴癘仙立刻從她身上感受到一股巨大的壓力,身周一滯,彷彿所有空氣都在旋向這名道人.
「這,這雜毛道士可不好對付,癩頭仙!那些屍傀究竟能不能對付得了那艘大船?你給我個準,否則下面的娃兒們可經不起那臭道士幾下.」蛤蟆仙朝瘴癘仙大喊,神色間有些不安.
雖然帶出一峰的仙,但除了兩位上仙以外,其餘都是沒有靈智的中仙與下仙,與道觀弟子在伯仲之間,而空帆卻讓道觀弟子有很大的優勢.如果不是瘴癘仙善煉屍人傀,祂們只能讓底下的仙用命去頂,屆時將會損失許多手下,這讓蛤蟆仙一想到就忍不住心疼.
「緊張個屁,上面只讓我們拖延這雜毛道士的行程,可沒有讓咱和她死戰.」兩仙雖有完整靈智,卻仍如幼童一般,竟然直接在赤煙面前說出祂們的目的.
赤煙聽見對方只是為了拖延時間,恍然大悟的同時,思緒也隨之一緊,明白寧原可能已經受到攻擊,甚至形勢不容樂觀,當下便決定要全力出手,在最短的時間內,拿下這兩名戰意並不高昂的對手.
她向青書傳音道:「玉書,姑姑要用全力逼退這兩名上仙,暫時顧不得其他,你便盡量護住空帆.若是不支,便直接突圍.」
青書正在守船,只能匆忙頷首,並沒有多餘的時間來回答赤煙,但他也清楚赤煙肯定能夠看清楚自己的動作.
他揮扇間撒出許多玉盤,旋轉著削過屍傀身軀,與之發出金鐵交擊聲,僅僅將其震退,卻是毫髮無傷.屍傀站立不穩,滑落船舷,在空中發出一聲嘶吼後,佈滿膿瘡的手爪再度攀住船身,不知疲倦與疼痛地繼續向上.
其餘五行觀弟子也紛紛施展擅長的道術,從風帆上不時噴出火焰,冰槍,雷電,巨岩,將這些堅硬無比的屍傀震落.
雖然他們無法傷害到這些由上仙煉製並加持的屍傀,卻能將它們不停震落船舷,拖延它們攻船的時間,使屍傀無法近身攻擊風帆的防護陣法.
此時,赤煙也舉起大刀,疾若流星般朝瘴癘仙飛馳.蛤蟆仙知道瘴癘仙和屍傀相關,不能有失,連忙一個縱躍出現在赤煙與瘴癘仙之間,喉間也在剎那如同吹氣一般鼓起.
蛤蟆仙心底冷笑,祂心想:這雜毛臭道士沒見過自己和瘴癘仙,肯定不知道自己的實力全在這一口之中.那根瞬息即至的舌頭一出,能不被抽斷身軀的修士寥寥無幾.即使閃過舌鞭,還有蛤蟆仙自帶的世間奇毒,只需稍有接觸,便會尋隙進入體內,如蛆附骨,再難根除,對手就算不死也得損失不少戰力.
只是,情況卻沒有如祂所想的發展.赤煙沒有試圖閃過這鞭,也沒有被籠罩在毒霧裡.她一聲暴喝,聚攏音子讓毒霧如湖海倒流般捲向天際.而那根射出的舌鞭早已被赤煙攥在手裡,牢牢把持,舌頭的另一端則是滿臉恐懼的蛤蟆仙.
赤煙面容冷峻,手上用力一扯,大喝道:「過來!」