In just a few days, the quiet little town of Jiao Lake went through a crazy makeover as it got flooded with a bunch of extraordinary folks. Not only were all the inns packed to the brim, but even some regular fishermen opened up their humble homes to take in the sudden wave of visitors looking for a place to crash. Most of these newcomers were Taoist practitioners, each with their own vibe and agenda.
In the world of spiritual cultivation, chasing the Tao is a big deal, and it's split into two main paths: the noble Tao of immortals and the mysterious Tao of demons. Those who follow the immortal path usually look polished and put-together, rocking carefully arranged outfits that show off their disciplined lifestyle. On the flip side, demonic path practitioners often show up in wild, unconventional outfits, totally chill about breaking societal norms and not sweating the small stuff.
This little town, which had probably never seen such a mix of quirky characters before, suddenly found itself in the middle of something huge. The friendly folks of Jiaohu, known for their killer hospitality, welcomed these unusual guests with open arms. Even though they didn't know much about the visitors' backgrounds, the townspeople went all out with their traditional hospitality, making sure everyone felt right at home.
The bustling market in Jiaohu Town is all about fresh fish, juicy shrimp, and other local goodies. Around this lively marketplace, you'll find rows of cozy inns and buzzing taverns that are the heart of the town, serving as both business spots and hangout joints for locals and visitors alike.
So there's this wide bluestone road running from south to north, right? On the south side, you've got these lively taverns with golden lanterns lighting up the place when evening rolls around. The north side? Totally different vibe - it's all open-air shops, each one buzzing with activity and selling all sorts of cool stuff. And guess what? Lu Chen's little fish stand is smack dab in the middle of all this action.
Now, here's the thing about Lu Chen's family - they don't have any grown men around, so they don't really go fishing in the lake. Instead, they got creative and cleared out a spot by the lake, brought in some water, and built a dam to keep it all in. In this man-made pond, they've been raising these special golden carp. Over time, they've really nailed the whole fish farming thing, and their golden carp have become kinda famous in the area.
On both sides of the bluestone road, there are these raised roadbeds where people can hang out and watch the world go by. Lu Chen, all excited, is squatting on one of these roadbeds, his eyes wide open as he checks out the people passing by. He's deep in thought, trying to figure out what makes a good teacher - a decision that's gonna shape his future.
So, on that fateful day, Lu Chen, his buddy, and the Azure Dragon chased after this old Taoist priest and Ye Qing for miles, but no luck. They came back feeling pretty bummed out. The Azure Dragon's crew, feeling played and disillusioned, gave up on the whole divine artifact thing and took off one by one, leaving behind a sense of disappointment and unfulfilled dreams.
When the Blue Dragon came back to say thanks for the medicine and saw the crazy powers of the immortal stuff, he was totally blown away. After making sure his mom took the meds, he rushed back and, by chance, bumped into Lu Chen, who ended up crashing at his place.
Meanwhile, the Azure Dragon had been hanging out with all sorts of martial arts folks, picking up some basics about Dao stuff. But man, Lu Chen's endless questions were way beyond what the dragon knew.
Man, it was embarrassing for the dragon to be stumped by a kid's curiosity. So, he started hitting up bars and tea shops, listening in for any useful tidbits. Luckily, Jiaohu Town was packed with Taoists at the time, and many of them were real chatterboxes. In just a few days, the Azure Dragon had leveled up his knowledge big time.
In this world, tons of people are into all kinds of paths, like immortals and demons. These two have been at each other's throats forever. At first, both sides had their strengths, and their fights were pretty even.
But Taoist immortals are usually the good guys, doing lots of good deeds in their daily lives, which has won them the trust of regular folks. On the flip side, Taoist demons are seen as sneaky and underhanded, so people tend to look down on them. Over time, the number of Taoist immortals has been growing, while the demons have been on the decline.
In today's cultivation world, there's a huge gap between the two main paths: the demonic and the immortal. Out of the top ten masters everyone looks up to, only two are from the demonic side, while the other eight big shots are all from the immortal crew. This lead also shows in the ten most sacred cultivation spots (Note 1), where the immortal path pretty much has the whole place to itself.
Way back, the Immortal and Demon Paths came up with this cool tradition. The Wangwu Mountain Cave, the ultimate spot for cultivation, was ruled by this unspoken rule: it'd go to the top dog of the Immortal and Demon Conclave, this big meet-up that happens every ten years. This setup kept the cave neutral, switching sides every decade without sticking to any one group.
The Immortal and Demon Assembly, this huge event every ten years, has seen a clear trend over the last twelve times. The Demon Sect keeps losing, while the Xuanxin Sect, the top Immortal Sect, has held onto the Wangwu Mountain Cave tight. So now, only the Tenth Caves of Kuangcang Mountain are still run by the Jiu Tian Xuqu Sect of the Demon Sect. The other thirty-six smaller Caves of Heaven? The lesser Demon Sects haven't managed to grab even one.
Even with this uneven playing field, there are plenty of other sacred mountains and cool spots outside the immortal areas. These have become the main places for most demonic path folks to cultivate. But this separation has had a downside: they're more cut off from the human world, so people don't know or understand them as much. Whether you're into magic or immortality, the key is the same - you gotta have a real and steady heart. Forced cultivation? Big no-no. This long break from human society has made it tough for demonic path practitioners, especially when it comes to getting new disciples. So, the talent in the demonic path is getting thinner, which is pretty worrying and kinda sad.
So, here's the deal with the ancient Taoist peeps. Back in the day, they had this super detailed ranking system for those who were all about chasing the Tao. We're talking nine levels, from the top dog First Upper Immortal down to the rookie Ninth Immortal. Each rank had its own fancy title, like the Second Immortal, Third Supreme True Man, and so on.
But here's the kicker - as time went on, folks realized that the top four ranks (First Immortal, Second Immortal, True Man, and Spirit Immortal) were basically too awesome for this world. So, they got booted from the human realm rankings. Fast forward, and the later generations came up with a new system based on how much these guys had leveled up before they ascended. Now we've got the First Earth Immortal, Second Loose Immortal, Third Spiritual Person, and Fourth Taoist. And get this - when an Earth Immortal makes it big, they become a Celestial Immortal. But here's the thing - celestial rankings are way above our pay grade. They're decided by the heavens themselves. The rest? Well, let's just say they're keeping it mysterious.
Oh, and fun fact - the demon world totally copied this system. In our world, they've got first-class earth demons, second-class spirit demons, third-class demon enchantresses, and fourth-class spirit monsters. And above the earth demons? That's where the big bad heaven demons hang out, flexing their serious power.
Besides humans, there's a whole bunch of creatures that used to be animals but have transformed and are now working hard to cultivate the Heavenly Dao for enlightenment. We call 'em monsters, and after thousands of years of cultivation, they've got some serious power. But since they're not human, the two major religions don't give 'em any recognition. Lately, there's been a lot of clashes between these groups. Plus, Buddhist and Taoist teachings from other places are starting to spread here, though they're still not that big of a deal right now. Even so, many Taoist experts are trying out new methods. Whether they're Taoists or spiritual monsters, they're all stuck at the lowest fourth level of cultivation. Most regular cultivators might never even get a peek at the higher levels in their whole lives. This mostly depends on their spiritual nature, but luck's also a big factor.
When a monk gets his hands on a magic treasure, it's like a shortcut to cultivation – he can get twice the results with half the effort by tapping into the treasure's spiritual energy. And if he scores a magic implement, it's like giving a tiger wings – it'll seriously boost his skills.
The world's full of treasures, but what we've found so far is just a tiny fraction – like one in ten thousand. The rarer the treasure, the more spiritual and hard to get it becomes.
Out of the hundreds of thousands of cultivators worldwide, those with divine artifacts are super rare -we're talking one in ten thousand. And those with magic treasures? Even rarer – maybe one in a thousand.
Most folks have to make do with cultivating their own magic treasures. While these homemade treasures are pretty cool and clever, they don't really help much with cultivation progress.
Jiaohu Lake's Fish-Clear Cave, known as one of the world's top 72 sacred spots, is a big deal in cultivation history. Back in the day, this is where Sun Zhongmou, a legendary immortal dude, scored the ancient ingot knife - a super powerful divine artifact that helped him build his legacy.
The Xianzong Sect, once a major player in the Xian Dao scene, used to be packed with thousands of followers. But things went south when the ancient Dingdao sword pulled a disappearing act decades ago, and the sect's been on a downward spiral ever since.
After Sun Zhongmou kicked it to immortality, his three top students went at it for the sect leader spot. After a long and messy fight, the oldest one came out on top, while the other two got booted from Yucheng Cave. This whole drama split the sect into three groups, making it way weaker than it used to be.
Usually, a sacred spot only gives up one divine artifact. With the artifact already found and the sects not being what they used to be, Yu Cheng Cave has kinda faded into the background of the cultivation world.
But here's the twist - a few months back, the boss of Qingyun Hall was going through the list of Taoist treasures and suddenly added this legendary artifact that nobody had ever heard of, ranking it in the top three.
Not long after, word got out that this treasure, called the Searcher of Immortals Mirror, was gonna show up near Jiao Lake.
Even though nobody knew exactly what it did, the Qingyun Hermit's rep was so solid that just calling it a divine artifact and putting it in the top three was enough to get everyone hyped. The cultivation world went nuts, and all sorts of people started flocking to Jiaohu Town, waiting to see what this divine artifact was all about.
Lu Chen and Cang Long heard this bombshell, and their hearts just sank. They realized chasing that magic treasure was a total waste of time. So, they gave up on that pipe dream and decided to find a master who could show them the ropes in cultivation.
Canglong was dead serious about the immortal path. His dedication was so deep it could move mountains. But Lu Chen? He's been a little troublemaker since he was a kid. He only wanted to cultivate for the bragging rights, dreaming of coming back to Jiaohu Town as the big boss. Sure, he wanted to learn some skills, but he hated hard work. Even before finding a master, he was already looking for sects that were easy-going and promised fame without the grind.
Tang saw this and thought, "This guy's heart is really not in the right place..."
"Hey, Blue Dragon, what do you think of that old guy?" After staring for a while, Lu Chen suddenly jumped up, all excited, and asked.
Blue Dragon, who was busy helping Lu Chen's mom sell fish, looked up and frowned: "Dao'er, you can't be talking about that beggar, right?"
"So what? His raggedy clothes show he's above petty stuff. He probably won't be strict with his disciples. Look at him, even though he's old, his face is glowing, his spirit's high, and he walks like a celestial being. That crooked hat? Must be the signature look of some powerful sect. If you say he's not a master, who would believe you?"
Lately, Lu Chen had been hearing all sorts of wild stories that totally blew his mind. When the Azure Dragon dropped that unexpected bombshell, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
The Blue Dragon just gave a wry smile, his voice a mix of amusement and frustration. "That old dude looks like he's about to keel over, his legs so shaky they can barely hold up his skinny frame. He's practically skin and bones, which is why his footsteps are so light. His face is all red, probably from an asthma attack. And that tilted hat? Probably got knocked around in the crowd. Honestly, he's just another run-of-the-mill scam artist." Having dealt with tons of these fakes while trying to find medicine for his sick mom, the Blue Dragon had become a pro at spotting frauds.
Even with this explanation, Lu Chen wasn't buying it. He pushed through the crowd with determination.
"Master..." Before he could finish, the old man's eyes lit up with recognition. Despite his frail appearance, he grabbed Lu Chen's arm with surprising speed, muttering excitedly, "Could it be? After all these years, is my destined disciple finally here?"
The old man's face lit up with joy as he started his inspection. He gently patted Lu Chen's head and said with awe, "Your forehead has the celestial bone, a rare mark that lets you absorb the essence of the sun and moon." Then, he squeezed Lu Chen's palm and added, "Your hand, though soft, has a hidden strength. The talismans you make will have the power to ward off evil spirits." Finally, he placed a hand on Lu Chen's shoulder, tears streaming down his face, and declared, "Your qi is pure and untainted, truly exceptional talent! The heavens have blessed us! Our Xuanxin Sect has finally found its rightful successor!"
Lu Chen's heart was bursting with joy when he heard "Xuanxin Sect." Even though he only caught bits of what the old Taoist was saying, the way the guy was talking about it made him feel like he was on cloud nine. Grinning from ear to ear, he couldn't help but pull at the old man's sleeve, leading him back to the stall.
When they got there, Lu Chen leaned in close to the Blue Dragon, his voice all excited. "Master, didn't I tell ya? This guy's the real deal. Look at him – he's from the Xuanxin Sect! No way he's a fraud like you thought. And get this-he says I've got mad talent! Ha ha!" He laughed, clearly feeling pretty pleased with himself.
Meanwhile, the old guy just stood there, a sly smile on his face as he stroked his beard, keeping his cool.
The Blue Dragon, being a sharp martial artist, had heard every word. But he was totally confused. The Xuanxin Sect was supposed to be the top dog in immortal cultivation, with a super strict selection process. Every year, tons of wannabes would show up, but only a handful would make the cut. Yet, the old man's reaction made it seem like he'd never seen anyone like Lu Chen before. Could Lu Chen really be that special?
As the top sect in the Immortal Way, the Xuanxin Sect was all about class and style. Even their newbies, when they stepped out, were always dressed to the nines, moving with a grace that set them apart from the average Joe.
Fan, dressed in rags that looked like they'd seen better days, how could he possibly pull off the whole "prestigious sect master" vibe? He looked so out of place that it made you question everything. But hey, in a big sect like Xuanxin, there's always gonna be a few oddballs who break the mold. So, even though he had his doubts, he couldn't completely rule it out. Seeing Lu Chen all fired up, he didn't have the heart to bring the kid down. With a mix of confusion and "whatever," he stood up and gave a respectful bow, still scratching his head over the whole thing.
The old man chatted with Lu Chen's mom, throwing in some warm and fuzzy compliments. Even though Lu Chen had been a handful since he was a kid, any mom would be thrilled to hear her son getting praised. The old man, with his smooth talk and subtle hints, kept reminding everyone of his high status. Before you knew it, Lu Chen's mom was treating him like royalty. She quickly packed up her market stall, grabbed some dishes to go with his wine, and invited him over to her place.
After stuffing his face and downing a few cups of wine, the old man leaned back, let out a big burp, and closed his eyes, basking in the afterglow. Suddenly, he sat up straight, looking all serious. He stroked his scraggly beard, his face glowing with satisfaction. His sharp little eyes scanned the table, noting the leftovers. With a soft sigh, he turned to Lu Chen's mom and dropped the big question: "Madam Zhou, how would you feel about letting him come with me to the mountain to learn some top-tier immortal arts?" Lu Chen's mom, a local woman who shared her husband's last name, thought it over with a mix of hope and worry.
You know, everyone in the world is dying to get into the cultivation game, but let's be real, only one in a million actually makes it. So when Lu Chen's mom saw her kid had a shot, she was over the moon! She went all out, whipping up the fanciest dishes and making sure they had the comfiest digs, just to keep 'em happy.
So when the old dude asked me like that, how could I say no? I was like, "If you're cool with taking my kid on this immortality journey, I'll totally set up a shrine at home and make daily offerings to you. But, you know, my kid's a bit of a handful—always curious and a bit of a troublemaker. I'm worried he might not be able to handle the strict rules of cultivation."
The old man just laughed and said, "Don't sweat it, Mrs. Zhou. Our Xuanxin Sect knows how to handle kids like him. This little guy's got a natural talent for immortality, and with the right guidance, he's gonna be a star cultivator."
Lu Chen's mom was even more stoked when she heard that and was about to say yes, but then Cang Long tugged her sleeve under the table, giving her some subtle hints to hold her horses.
Lu Chen's mom knew Cang Long was a straight shooter and knew his stuff. Even though she wasn't sure what he was thinking, she hesitated for a sec, sensing there might be more to it. Cang Long got up and made an excuse, saying he wanted Lu Chen's mom to check on the fish soup in the kitchen, and pulled her out of the room so they could chat in private.
Note 1: The Top 10 Taoist Caves You Gotta Check Out
First up, Wangwu Mountain Cave – it's got killer views and some serious spiritual vibes. Next, Weiyu Mountain Cave, super chill with ancient temples that'll blow your mind. Then there's Xicheng Mountain Cave, famous for its crazy rock formations and perfect meditation spots. Xixuan Mountain Cave is a must-see for history buffs, packed with Taoist relics. Qingcheng Mountain Cave? Oh, that's the real deal – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and where Taoism kinda started. Chicheng Mountain Cave has this mystical vibe and some wild legends. Luofu Mountain Cave is the spot for natural remedies, with healing springs and medicinal herbs. Jucu Mountain Cave is super secluded, with intense spiritual energy. Linwu Mountain Cave has ancient scriptures and meditation rooms that are totally legit. Last but not least, Kuocang Mountain Cave – the views are insane, and it's said to be connected to celestial beings.
Note 2: How Do Immortals Get Ranked?
So, here's the deal with immortal rankings – it's all about "rank and merit," a big deal in Taoist philosophy. Basically, they look at how much you've cultivated, your contributions, and your inner virtue. The better you are, the higher you rank. It's pretty straightforward – merit equals rank. If you're really into this stuff, check out Meng Anpai's "The Central Pivot of Taoist Doctrine." It breaks it all down in detail and gives you the full scoop on how the celestial hierarchy works.
Note 3: The Ranks of Immortals
So, here's the deal with immortals - people have been trying to figure out their pecking order for ages, and different schools of thought have come up with their own takes. Basically, we can break it down into a few main types, each showing how folks view spiritual growth.
The Immortal Records, this super important Daoist text, lays it all out with nine levels of immortals. It starts with the big cheese - the Supreme Immortal (the ultimate spiritual boss), then goes down to the Secondary Immortal, the Greatly Exalted True Immortal, the Soaring Heaven True Immortal, the Spirit Immortal, the True Immortal, the Spirit Person, the Soaring Immortal, and finally the basic Immortal. It's like a spiritual ladder, showing how you can level up.
Now, in the Inner Chapters of the Book of Master Baopu, they've got a different spin - they split immortals into three groups based on where they hang out: celestial immortals (heaven dwellers), terrestrial immortals (earthbound), and those who work their way to immortality through some serious physical changes (though these guys aren't quite as high up as the celestial crew).
Wang Chongyang, the big shot who started the Quanzhen School, and some other Neidan folks came up with their own five-tier system: celestial, terrestrial, human, divine, and ghost immortals. The ultimate goal here? To make it to the Great Luo Heaven, the celestial pad of the Primordial Lord, and become a Great Luo Golden Immortal - that's the top of the spiritual food chain.
In this book, I've tried to make all this complex stuff easier to get for modern readers. But hey, I'm hoping you'll jump in and help make this classification system even better. Your two cents could really help us get a clearer picture of how immortals stack up. So, don't be shy - your input is totally welcome!