Chapter 477: Chapter 306: The Lively Temple Fair, Gathering of Heroes, Showcasing Talents, Winds Converging (Part 3)

The mountain path winds, paved with bluestone slabs. The accumulated snow has been cleared. Due to the many people around, there’s a strong human presence, making the cold less noticeable. With a bit more depth, small vendors selling rice dumplings, clear water, salted vegetables, and other foods begin to appear on both sides.

Reaching the mountainside, one suddenly sees a flat piece of land, called the "Supreme Platform," indicating that from here onward, the territory belongs to the "Flying Dragon Temple."

In the center stands a furnace, the fire within blazing vigorously. People neatly and orderly throw paper yuanbao into it. The fire burns fiercely, never extinguishing, driving away the cold from the surrounding higher-altitude area with its heat.

Li Xian noticed it was already noon, feeling a bit hungry, he sought out a vendor to buy a hot rice dumpling and ate it under a tree to satiate his hunger. Only now was the temple fair becoming crowded and lively. Suddenly, the sound of drums and gongs erupted, drawing the crowd to a certain place. Li Xian jumped onto a branch, following the sound, and saw someone performing a ritual on the Supreme Platform.

The person wore a Taoist robe, wielded a wooden sword, stepped a celestial rhythm with his feet, and chanted incantations. The muttering was inaudible. The surrounding people formed a circle, watching attentively. Li Xian observed from afar, gradually realizing that this person was no mere performer. It was a set of martial arts; the mumbling, occasional intense sword dances, and stomping all concealed the ’Ethereal Immortal Sound’ skill. The onlookers, oblivious to the truth, were already influenced by the martial arts.

The crowd continued upward, reaching the first temple, "Temple of Master Zang." Inside was an enshrined stone statue, over ten feet tall, with glaring eyes, a flowing beard, and wielding a link iron mace, embodying righteousness and the duty to scold evil. In front of the statue stood an incense burner. Smoke swirled, enveloping the deity statue.

The crowd surged forward, scrambling to place incense, displaying utmost piety. After inserting the incense into the burner, they heaved a sigh of relief, knelt, and kowtowed, chanting many prayers, mostly hoping ’Master Zang would show his spirit’ to punish injustices. Suddenly, a few trembled, showing signs of fear, and cried out, "Spare us, Master Zang, spare us..." confessing past sins before stiffening and fainting.

The onlookers were even more devout, kneeling and kowtowing, praising Master Zang for championing justice and punishing evildoers. Li Xian frowned slightly, having discerned the crux of the matter.

It turned out... whether Master Zang’s spirit showed was yet unknown. The key lay in the ritual. The ritual was, in fact, martial arts affecting people’s spirits. When offering incense, those with weaker minds might perceive Master Zang’s apparition, angrily questioning them. Those with poor character would confess all their guilty deeds.

Since ancient times, it was hard for anyone to be flawless; who in the world had no guilty conscience?

Li Xian mused to himself, "The people, ignorant for so long, genuinely believe there’s a deity here. No wonder they’re so devout, for this single temple earns abundant wealth and a good reputation without harm. Unfortunately, it’s at the people’s expense, spending quite some silver. These people, raised like this since childhood, are hard for me to awaken. Best not to cause more trouble." Without using lightweight skill, weaving through the crowd, he took out three incense sticks, placing them in the burner.

His face was devout, but his mind drifted elsewhere. Behind the Temple of Master Zang was a narrow path through lush woods, surprisingly vibrant and teeming with vitality. A stream trickled down from above.

Starting from the Supreme Platform, there were thirteen temples upward. Each temple enshrined a deity statue: the "Temple of Master Zang," "Temple of Wealth and Prosperity," "Temple of Progeny," "Temple of Maidens"... All bustling with incense and fervor. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Among them, the "Temple of Maidens" was the fifth, admitting only women. They must offer worship with the blood from their index finger.

The higher one ascended, the more divine the temples appeared. Reaching the seventh temple, the "Temple of the Serpent God," a brown giant python, about eight feet long with a body the size of a disc, coiled beside the statue. Its head was prominent, with four small limbs on its belly, unusually mystical.

As the incense smoke permeated, it exhaled mist-like breath. Its vertical pupils seemed intelligent, wise, and the serpent’s body exuded a meditative aura, draped in a cassock. Li Xian was deeply astonished, muttering to himself, "If I hadn’t practiced martial arts and hadn’t broadened my horizons, I too might worship like ordinary people when encountering such extraordinary sights."

He offered incense as usual, bowed, and continued upward. After passing two more temples, a narrow mountain path lay ahead. One side was a ten-thousand-foot cliff, and the path allowed only two to pass. Though not difficult to traverse, it required overcoming inner fear.

At the path’s entrance, someone dressed as a monk said, "Everyone, this path poses a risk of falling off the cliff, so if you’re afraid of the height, please take the left path. There, the ’Temple of the Three Saints’ accommodates offering incense to the Three Saints, with mats for seating. Wait until the bell rings, and you’ll see the miraculous incense scenery, sharing in the blessing."

Most people took the left path, reaching the "Temple of the Three Saints." The temple was quite large, with a broad view overlooking the mountain’s summit pavilions. The Flying Dragon Temple comprised thirteen temples but enshrined only twelve deity statues.

The first nine temples were easily accessible via the mountain path, allowing ordinary people to worship. The tenth temple, the "Temple of the Three Saints," housed plaques of the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth temples’ deities.

Since the latter three deity statues were at higher locations, the path grew increasingly rugged. Average people, frail and weak, were prone to falling off the cliffs. Continuing on posed the risk of a fall.

Hence, the "Temple of the Three Saints" was set up here, housing the three deity plaques. People could offer incense here, avoiding the risk of falling and the arduous path, yet still worship sincerely.

For the truly devout, however, they could continue ascending to directly view the original deity statues. People divided into two paths, six out of ten went to the "Temple of the Three Saints," while four continued up the mountain.