Chapter Four: Countless Peaks Rising Majestically Toward the Heavens

“What is your name?”

“Cheng Yunqi. Cheng, as in the courtesy name of Bo Fu; Yunqi, as in drifting clouds and mist.”

Su Kong nodded and said, “From now on, you will be my registered disciple. If you can uphold the Daoist heart and abide by the sect’s rules, one day when you open the Heart Palace, you will be granted a Daoist name, recorded in the residence register, and become a formal disciple.”

Yunqi did not understand what the Heart Palace or residence register meant, but he still nodded and agreed.

“You are listed under my name. If outsiders ask, you must be able to explain your lineage. Let me enlighten you: Mount Sanqing was founded by Patriarch Ge Hong during the Eastern Jin, and has now stood for over six thousand years, passing through more than forty generations.

My Mingzhi Mountain is one of the eight branches of the Lotus Blessed Land on Mount Sanqing. The first mountain master’s surname was Zhan, his secular name Bi Yun, and his Daoist name Shi Ming, a fourth-generation disciple. I am Su Kong, twenty-fifth generation, and from Shi Ming Patriarch onward, it has passed twenty-one generations. If you enter the sect, you will be of the Heart generation, the twenty-sixth generation of Mount Sanqing disciples.”

Yunqi listened attentively, committing every detail to memory.

“According to the mountain’s rules, registered disciples all reside in the Myriad Scepter Peaks. You may attend lectures at other peaks in the first ten days of each month. The sixteenth, twenty-second, and twenty-eighth are days for Daoist discussions; when you arrive at Myriad Scepter Peak, remember to collect a schedule. Additionally, from the ninth to the fifteenth of each month, you must come to Mingzhi Mountain to check-in and practice Daoism with me.

Within our sect, anyone teaching a course or expounding the Dao, you address as ‘Learning Master.’ When you open the Heart Palace and are entered in Mingzhi Mountain’s register, you may then call me ‘Master.’ Do you understand?”

Yunqi answered in the affirmative.

“Today is the eleventh; ordinarily, tomorrow is a teaching day. But since you are newly arrived and your earth soul has just returned from wandering, you need not come this month; rest well. Besides, you must read these books: ‘Universal History of Ten Thousand Years,’ ‘Yuzhang Immortal Chronicles,’ ‘Records of Sanqing,’ ‘Twelve Classics of Internal Alchemy,’ ‘Daoist Body and Fate,’ ‘Lingmingzi’s Treatise on Yin-Yang and Five Elements,’ ‘Spiritual Pivot Classic.’ Oh, and also ‘Daoist Prohibitions,’ ‘Sanqing Law and Precepts,’ ‘Daoist Ritual Regulations.’”

Yunqi memorized them all, and Master Su Kong, feeling he had said enough, instructed Yunqi to wait for Daoist Ji Hu to escort him, while he returned to his cave dwelling.

Unseen by Yunqi, as Su Kong turned away, his face relaxed, and he exhaled deeply.

Yunqi was unaware that from the moment he met Daoist Ji Hu, every move he made had been laid bare under Su Kong’s Mirror of Flowers and Water technique. He was the first to cross the precipice, calm upon the cloud chariot, unshaken before Lord Kui Mountain, and the first to step forward for evaluation at Mingzhi Mountain.

Nor could Yunqi have guessed that he was the third in five thousand years since Mingzhi Mountain’s founding to return his soul within two hours and choose to attach himself to a bamboo staff.

Yunqi simply stood alone, gazing at the surrounding mountains, layer upon layer, lush and verdant. He felt the mountains distant, the sky vast, the spirit clear and bright.

Soon, Daoist Ji Hu returned.

“Congratulations, young layman. Henceforth you step onto the immortal mountain; in days to come, you shall witness longevity and unending blessings.”

Daoist Ji Hu greeted him with a smile.

“I must thank you, Immortal Elder, for guiding me,” Yunqi replied.

Ji Hu waved his hands repeatedly, “Now that you have entered the sect, you must not use ‘Immortal Elder’ so freely. Just call me ‘Daoist Brother.’ Moreover, you are registered under Master Su Kong’s name; when you formally enter the sect, your seniority will far surpass mine, and I’ll have to call you ‘Little Daoist Lord’ then!”

Yunqi, not knowing how seniority was calculated on the mountain, simply smiled along.

“Master Su Kong took a registered disciple on his second recruitment; truly a cause for celebration.”

Yunqi asked, “Has the Learning Master recruited before?”

“Yes, but I was not yet in the sect then, only heard about it. Twenty-eight years ago, forty or fifty people came to Mingzhi Mountain for Master’s evaluation, but none were accepted.”

Ji Hu continued, “I’m sure Master Su Kong has given you instructions. Now, come with me to Myriad Scepter Peak.”

Yunqi followed naturally.

Ji Hu summoned two white clouds; both stepped onto them. Seeing Ji Hu’s friendly demeanor, Yunqi ventured to ask,

“Daoist Brother, when will I learn to ride the clouds and mist?”

Ji Hu laughed, “Cloud riding is not difficult. Once you have ‘eaten qi,’ it’s just a matter of drawing a talisman, or opening the Cloud Residence or Water Palace; you can summon clouds and rain. If all else fails, you can buy it.”

The Daoist was indeed friendly, and Yunqi grew bolder. “May I ask, what is ‘eating qi’? What is the Cloud Residence, and what is the Water Palace? Earlier, the Learning Master said I must open the Heart Palace—what is that?”

Ji Hu’s smile remained warm. “The Cloud Residence is the throat center; the Water Palace, also called Kidney Palace, refers to the kidneys; the Heart Palace, also called Fire Palace, refers to the heart. These are the foundations of cultivation. Once you arrive, borrow a few books and you’ll understand.”

“Alright.”

The two rode their white clouds eastward along the Eastern Heavenly Path. Feeling the wind rush past, Yunqi frowned,

“Daoist Brother, Myriad Scepter Peaks are separated from Mingzhi Mountain by the entire Eastern Screen Mountain. If I live at Myriad Scepter Mountain and rely on walking to Mingzhi Mountain, it might take days and nights to arrive.”

Ji Hu laughed heartily, “Indeed, indeed. The Lotus Blessed Land is farthest from Little Myriad Mountain. If registered under the eight branches, daily travel is arduous. In earlier times, most registered disciples built huts at the foot of the blessed mountains, returning to Little Myriad Mountain only when the monthly lessons ended—ha ha.”

Yunqi sighed with relief, “That’s good. If it’s just at the mountain’s foot, it shouldn’t take too much time.”

Ji Hu laughed again, “But living down the mountain is never as convenient as at Little Myriad Mountain. Later, people devised many clever methods, some still used today.”

“I would like to hear them.”

“First, rent or buy a cloud chariot. The sect gathers Yin Mountain clouds, making walking cloud carriages available even for mortals; you may buy or rent. Second, rent cattle or cranes—the Azure Ox Palace and Yellow Crane Cave have oxen and cranes for hire.”

“How are the prices calculated?”

“Cloud chariots vary. Buying one costs anywhere from ten taels of silver to hundreds or thousands; renting is a few bits of silver per month. Azure oxen and yellow cranes also rent for a few bits per month, but their fodder is your own responsibility.”

Yunqi asked, “Is it that the world beyond uses silver as currency, just like the mundane realm?”

Ji Hu smiled, “Brother, you have it backwards. It’s the mountain folk who first used gold, silver, and copper as money; later, the mortal world followed suit. But there are great differences—the gold and silver of the mundane world are lifeless, while mountain gold and silver are rare and have wondrous uses. No need to ask further; read ‘Universal Geography,’ ‘Discourse on Elemental Metals,’ and ‘Idle Talks on the Origin of the Three-Treasure Furnace’—these three books, from shallow to deep, are sufficient for you.”

Yunqi nodded, thinking that newly entering the immortal mountain was like a newborn—ignorant of everything, and he could only learn from books.

As they spoke, Myriad Scepter Peak appeared before them: dense stone peaks rising like a thousand scepters toward the sky, dangerously steep. Yet, if one focused on the green pines and mist among the rocks, the peaks resembled bamboo shoots clustering after rain, full of vitality.

Closer still, breaking through the clouds, they saw countless pavilions clinging to the stone cliffs—blue, yellow, ochre, purple, all colors mingling. Bridges connected the peaks in mid-air; people came and went like shuttles, bustling with life.

They landed on an eastern summit of the peaks, where a wooden path stretched from the cliff into the clouds, like a pier on the edge of a great lake.

“Hey, Xu Huai, you’re back! Oh, is this a new junior brother?”

No sooner had they landed than a passerby spotted them and greeted them.

“Yes, I took an order from the Office of General Affairs, escorting Master Su Kong’s new recruit from outside the mountain—earning some silver. This is Master Su Kong’s registered disciple, Cheng Yunqi. Yunqi, this is Deng Wanchun; he entered the sect a few years after me, registered under Sword Mountain. His magic is abundant, opening the Palace is but a matter of time—he might leave the mountain in a few days.”

Deng Wanchun was not tall, but had thick brows and bright eyes—a friendly face. Yunqi bowed, “Greetings, Daoist Brother Deng.”

Deng Wanchun returned the salute, “So you’re Mingzhi Mountain’s new Daoist Lord. If you have any questions, come find me at Watercolor Street, Institute of Ji You.”

Yunqi replied, “You jest, Daoist Brother. Just call me Yunqi.”

Deng looked at Ji Hu, “Xu Huai, it seems Master Jian Ci gave you the right courtesy name. You’re composed and confident now, your voice is much stronger—gone are the days when you could barely utter two words in three days.”

Ji Hu blushed, “Must you bring up the past?”

Deng Wanchun laughed, “I won’t keep you from your business. When I open the Palace, I’ll invite you for a drink.”

With that, he departed.

Ji Hu smiled and agreed, then continued leading Yunqi into the mountain.

The scenery inside the mountain differed somewhat from Yunqi’s expectations—strange rocks, ancient cypresses, sea of clouds and pine waves were to be expected, but among them, the houses and courtyards were crowded together. Walking along the mountain road, the right side held houses jutting out over the cliff, the left side was caves carved into the rock, houses in rows, caves in clusters—like a celestial market.

“I’ll take you first to the Office of Management to choose a lodging and collect some supplies.”

They wound through the mountain paths, meeting many of Ji Hu’s acquaintances who greeted them with smiles. Upon hearing that Cheng Yunqi was Mingzhi Mountain’s registered disciple, they all called him ‘Little Daoist Lord,’ which embarrassed Yunqi.

They arrived at a vermilion-gated cave dwelling. Above the gate hung a plaque: ‘Office of Management, Myriad Scepter Peak, Zone Three.’ Inside was a cavernous space, walls full of niches, each holding various items, and directly opposite the entrance was a wooden desk with an elderly Daoist napping behind it.

“Daoist Yao!”

Ji Hu’s booming voice woke the old Daoist, who laughed, “Xu Huai, the silent gourd is back.”

“Daoist Yao, is there still a vacant room in Bing Kun’s courtyard?”

“Vacant, vacant—it’s the one you had back then. No one else has tolerated Bing Kun’s snoring since you.”

Ji Hu grinned and turned to Yunqi, “Yunqi, do you mind snoring?”

Cheng Yunqi shook his head; he didn’t care about such things.

“Then I recommend Lantern Street, Institute of Bing Chen—it was my residence when I was registered. The courtyard has only two rooms; my closest friend lives in the west room, the east room is vacant. How does that sound?”

“Thank you for arranging it, Daoist Brother.”

Yunqi thanked him at once, knowing Ji Hu was arranging for a friend to guide him.

Ji Hu laughed, “Daoist Yao, this is Mingzhi Mountain’s new generation registered disciple, named Cheng Yunqi. Please assign him to Bing Kun’s courtyard.”

“Oh? Mingzhi Mountain?” The old Daoist gave Yunqi a deep look. “Mingzhi Mountain’s disciple selection is always mysterious; rarely have I heard of one who hasn’t opened the Palace. Looks like Myriad Scepter Mountain has gained another Little Daoist Lord.”

The old Daoist took a white jade waist token with a green tassel from a drawer and placed it on the desk.

“Little Daoist Lord, state your name.”

“Daoist Elder, I am Cheng Yunqi—Cheng as in Bo Fu, Yunqi as in mountain mist.”

“Hold out your hand.”

Yunqi complied.

The old Daoist traced Yunqi’s fingertip, drew a drop of blood, used it as ink, his finger as brush, writing a few talismanic characters in midair, then pressed a seal into the jade token.

Yunqi saw that inside the pale jade, a few blood-red talismanic marks had appeared.

Ji Hu explained, “This is Cloud Script, spelling out your name. From now on, this waist jade is your credential in the sect; keep it safe.”

Yunqi nodded, taking the token.

“Right, now go to Left Seven Cave to collect standard attire for registered disciples—inner clothes, outer robe, hairpin, socks, shoes, scarf, one of each. Next, go to Right Six Cave for two sets of casual wear, choose as you like. When you take them, press your waist jade to the cave entrance.”

Yunqi agreed, carrying the jade token to the stone wall. The wall was covered in two-foot-square openings, each glowing with mysterious light. The entrance was covered with a membrane that shimmered like oil on water.

Through the membrane, he could see inside—hats, robes, hairpins, and beyond daily clothing, most were bottles, jars, and talisman paper.

Yunqi soon found the wall marked Left Seven, chose a nearby opening, pressed his jade token to it, and the membrane dissolved. He took out a bundle of items: a sky-blue Daoist robe, a stack of white inner clothes, a blackwood Daoist hairpin, straw-yellow hemp shoes, and a white long scarf.

Repeating the process, he went to Right Six wall, where the clothing styles were much more varied. He quickly chose two sets:

A silver-embroidered outer robe with black star speckles, a pure white inner set, a dark wandering scarf, and cloud-pattern cloth shoes;

A lake-blue plain outer robe, pale peach inner set, a purple straight scarf, and cloud-pattern cloth shoes.

Yunqi finished collecting his items, bid farewell to the old Daoist, and followed Ji Hu out.