I changed the world.

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As a sacred site of the Xuanmen (Taoist) sect with a long history, Dan Ding Mountain has always been home to a large number of Taoist practitioners. In addition to the many Taoist practitioners with ordination certificates who are under the jurisdiction of the Celestial Master's Mansion, there are also a large number of "reclusive cultivators". These people are also called "wild Taoist practitioners" by the true disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion, which is somewhat mocking.

Among these wandering Taoist priests, there were indeed many followers of the Xuanmen sect who hoped to emulate the sages of the past and achieve immortality. However, due to various barriers preventing them from entering Danding Mountain for cultivation, they built huts and lived near Danding Mountain. There were also some who came because of emotional problems, social pressure, or simply wanted to "lie down" in a secluded place. In short, they were a mixed bag, including all sorts of people.

Most of these hermits rely on the charity of the local people for a living, and some collect mountain products to exchange for daily necessities. Their lives are very austere, so every year many people whose dreams are shattered or who cannot endure the hardship leave this place.

Of course, even though these people did not have ordination certificates, the Celestial Master's Mansion never showed any intention of expelling them. During major festivals of the Xuanmen (Taoist sect), they would also distribute some food and gifts to the hermits in the mountains, which can be considered as fulfilling their responsibilities as leaders of the Xuanmen.

Strictly speaking, the Eagle's Beak Cliff that Guan Zeping is heading to is located on the southern slope of Danding Mountain. It borders the Tiandu Mountain range further south, and the transportation conditions are not well developed. It has always been a relatively poor area in the surrounding area.

Because the mountain road was rugged and difficult to travel, Guan Zeping had not come here to investigate before. However, he had not made any progress in the past month. A few days ago, he heard that an old Taoist priest had been living in a hermitage on the mountain for a long time, so he decided to come and take a look.

This morning, he and three disciples visited local villagers in Huangjia Village at the foot of the mountain. According to the villagers, there are indeed hermits living in the mountains, but they rarely come down.

Some local Taoist believers sometimes leave food and salt on the mountain path to support the hermits in the mountains. The surrounding mountain people all know what this is about. These mountain people around Danding Mountain are almost all devout Taoist believers, and no one except the hermits would dare to pick them up.

According to some elderly people, this old Taoist priest had lived on the mountain since they were young, but no one knew exactly how old he was. Locals mostly called him "Old Immortal." This was considered a rather mysterious event by the villagers in the nearby villages.

After learning this information, and following the directions of the village elders, Guan Zeping and his group walked to the northern mountainous area of ​​Eagle Beak Cliff, where the hermits might be living in seclusion.

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Chapter 500 Seeking Immortals II

The mountain path north of Eagle Beak Cliff is not easy to walk. According to some villagers, it requires traversing a rather treacherous mountain road. Because it is too difficult to walk, the local villagers rarely go there on weekdays.

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The mountain path is narrow, and since this is not a tourist area, many places are not paved with stone steps. The path is entirely dirt. Fortunately, it hasn't rained in the last few days, otherwise the muddy path would have deterred everyone from proceeding.

Even so, one of the disciples almost twisted his ankle and fell down looking rather disheveled.

After finally getting over a mountain, it was already past 2 p.m. The Taoist priests, who had been climbing all morning, were feeling quite shaky in their legs. So Guan Zeping simply led everyone to sit down on the rocks by the mountain path to rest for a while before continuing.

This place is located on a mountain ridge, surrounded by clouds and mist. In the distance, you can see a large expanse of lush green forests, and the cool air is refreshing.

Sitting on a green rock, Guan Zeping rubbed his knees, while his disciples drank water or went to relieve themselves in the bushes further away.

Just then, a song faintly drifted from afar. The song was ethereal yet soared high into the clouds, giving people a wonderful feeling of being both near and far.

"...Beyond the autumn mountains, wild grasses grow in abundance, monuments have become desolate tombs, and towering pillars lie covered in green moss..."

"...The stone horse in front of the grave is worn out from sharpening knives...I'd rather use my spare money to buy wine...and return from the mountain path..."

Guan Zeping subconsciously pricked up his ears, and after hearing it clearly, he thought to himself that the lyrics were quite good. He stood up and looked around.

Then he noticed that on the mountain path ahead, a figure wearing a tattered Taoist robe was carrying a basket on his back and walking slowly forward.

The sunlight was rather dazzling, so Guan Zeping squinted and shaded his eyes with his hand, which allowed him to see more clearly. He saw that the Taoist priest's basket was a common local bamboo basket, quite large, and filled to the brim with what appeared to be firewood or similar items. Branches extended out from the basket, completely obscuring the back of the priest's head, making it look heavy. However, the priest walked along the mountain path without showing any sign of burden, proceeding at a leisurely pace.

The Taoist priest sang as he walked, seemingly not very fast, but in just a few breaths, he had already gone far away, and it looked like he would be turning a corner and disappearing into the distance...

Suddenly, Guan Zeping seemed to realize something, and with a thought, he waved his hand and shouted, "Fellow travelers ahead, wait a moment! Wait a moment!!!"

However, the Taoist priest in front seemed not to hear him and continued to walk forward at a leisurely pace, showing no sign of stopping.

"Drunken dragon sleeps...twilight descends...unfettered wandering among the pines...fireflies warm the withered grass along the steps..."

Seeing this, Guan Zeping patted his disciple who hadn't yet reacted, pointed ahead, and shouted repeatedly, "Fellow practitioners ahead, please wait! Wait for me!!!"

The disciples finally realized what was happening and, shouting and yelling, started running forward...

The Taoist priest ahead seemed oblivious, continuing to walk forward...

Strangely enough, the group went from walking briskly to jogging, but instead of closing the distance with the Taoist priest, the distance between them actually widened.

By this point, even the most oblivious person would realize something was wrong; they had clearly encountered a "master"!

So, the group increased their speed from a light jog to a full sprint. To increase their speed, some of the heavy luggage they were carrying was thrown off. One disciple even waved his arms as he ran, trying to slow down the expert in front of him.

Even so, the distance between the two sides showed no signs of closing. After only two or three minutes, Guan Pingze could no longer keep up. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of his throat, and his mouth was agape like a fish out of water. His pace gradually slowed down.

Seeing this, the disciple beside him also slowed down, wanting to reach out to help him, but Guan Pingze pushed him away. Clutching his waist, he ran forward, panting and pointing ahead, shouting, "Quick...quick, chase after them!! Don't...don't lose them..."

The mountain path here is not easy to walk. This is not a tourist area like the main peak of Danding Mountain, and the mountain path has not been properly repaired. Fortunately, it is not a rainy day, otherwise the slippery mountain path would be even more difficult to pass. Even so, Guan Pingze and others need to be careful of the loose rocks and weeds under their feet, so as not to accidentally twist their ankles and make the chase miserable.

Compared to their stumbling and staggering appearance, the Taoist priest in front was dressed in flowing robes, showing no signs of strain or even acceleration. However, strangely enough, despite appearing slow, the group was unable to close the distance.

Guan Pingze was clearly the least physically fit among the group, and he was quickly left behind. With his constant urging, the disciples couldn't stop to wait for him, so they chased further and further away, turning a mountain path and disappearing into the distance...

Guan Pingze couldn't stop either, so he ran and walked for a while longer. Then he saw several disciples ahead standing there motionless, seemingly giving up the chase. He immediately became angry and, before he could catch his breath, shouted, "Why...why aren't you chasing us anymore? What are you...what are you standing there for..."

“Uncle-Master, we really can’t keep up. Look…” Upon hearing this, a disciple who was usually close to Guan Pingze quickly stepped aside and pointed ahead, indicating that Guan Pingze should take a look himself.

As Guan Pingze panted heavily, he looked ahead and then froze in shock.

There was really no way to catch up. The mountain road ahead forked into two paths. One path meandered down the mountain to the left, while the other path was not really a mountain road, but stretched forward along the ridgeline. This ridgeline was extremely steep, with cliffs hundreds of meters high on both sides, making one dizzy just looking at it.

The group was currently on a ridge, but it was relatively wide and flat. The ridge ahead narrowed dramatically to about a hand's width, with some sections offering no foothold whatsoever. It was a steep, inverted "V" shaped ridge that stretched into the distance, shrouded in mist, its length unknown...

Guan Zeping could still clearly see, in the distance, on that narrow mountain ridge, a figure carrying a basket on his back was gradually disappearing into the distance. The surrounding mountain winds swirled the clouds and mist, but could not shake that not-so-tall figure; he remained as graceful as ever, without the slightest hesitation, steadily moving forward, like an immortal walking among the clouds…

The figure quickly disappeared into the mountain mist, only the song could still be faintly heard...

"The sparse fences along the path are lush and green, the night is thick with the chill of winter... Who knows that the wind rustles through the bamboo... startling the wild geese flying south..."

Chapter 501 Seeking Immortals III

"Even birds cannot cross the Immortal's Ferry..."

Guan Pingze looked at the steep mountain ridge in front of him, took a deep breath, and subconsciously uttered a place name that he had learned from the villagers when he asked for directions in the village at the foot of the mountain not long ago.

According to the villagers, although this steep ridge connects to the opposite mountain peak, it is actually too dangerous to traverse. To reach the opposite "Zhebi Peak," one has to take a very long detour.

Guan Pingze cautiously took a few steps forward, then immediately retreated. Looking at the steep cliffs on both sides, he felt his calves go weak. Even if he were given a full set of climbing equipment, let alone any auxiliary equipment, he wouldn't dare to try.

Recalling how that extraordinary person had walked so effortlessly past them as if on flat ground, it was simply unbelievable. Keep in mind that at that altitude, the surrounding mountain winds were quite strong; walking along that ridge was akin to walking a tightrope high in the air…

"Uncle-Master, what should we do next?" After a long silence, a disciple asked in a low voice.

"I'll take a detour. Since I've encountered such a master, I should at least go and see him..." Guan Zeping pursed his lips, stamped his foot, and turned to walk towards the stone steps on the other side...

***

Nestled in the middle of Danding Mountain, backed by Guqin Peak and bordering Gulu Creek to the east, lies a cluster of ancient Xuanmen buildings, constructed in the style of a royal palace. The complex is grand in scale and imposing in its imposing presence. Within the palace grounds, camphor trees form a dense grove, their shade blocking out the sun, and birds perch atop the trees, creating a truly secluded and tranquil environment.

At the entrance to the building stands a huge white marble archway, with four large, elegant characters inscribed in the center: “Tianxia Xuanzong” (天下玄宗).

Today is Thursday, not a regular day off, but even so, a large number of pilgrims can be seen carrying backpacks or incense and candles as they walk through the archway and up the mountain path. The majority of these pilgrims are elderly, and they usually carry a cloth bag containing simple drinking water, dry food, and incense and candles, coming in groups to offer incense and pray for blessings.

At this moment, a group of nearly ten Westerners with high noses and deep-set eyes stood beneath the archway. These Westerners were dressed in various styles; besides several in suits and ties, several wore black robes and black hats, and another wore a red robe and red hat. Anyone with even a slight understanding of Western religious systems could tell that their attire was typical of Orthodox Christian priests. The one in red appeared to be a cardinal, a very high-ranking clergyman.

These people were a religious delegation from Bergoperi, the city of prophets in the western continent. This was part of a cultural exchange and visit program between East and West that was recently agreed upon by the three kingdoms of Rune, Grande, and Holstein and the Zhao Empire.

Although Western countries generally adhere to the Church of Revelation, the number of sectarian groups within these countries is complex.

For example, the Runes are followers of the Holy Revelation Church, also known as the State Church of Rune. This church was established in 1525 by a series of laws passed by the Rune Parliament that confirmed the complete independence of the State Church of Rune from Bergopelli.

The bishops and priests of the Order of the Holy Prayer declared at a synod that the papal bishops, like other bishops, had no right to interfere in the internal affairs of Rune. In 1531, the Act of Doctrine established the independent status of the Church of Rune, which was not subordinate to the Bergopelli Papacy, and it was established as the State Church of Rune, with the Rune royal family replacing the Pope of the Land of the Prophet as the supreme head of the State Church.

After abolishing papal jurisdiction and restoring royal sovereignty, the king retained control over the church's legislative, administrative, and judicial affairs. This was the achievement of the Rune Reformation. For a considerable period thereafter, the Rune state church was not recognized by Bergopelli's papacy.

By the 20th century, Rune had become the most powerful country in the West, and under the influence of the Protestant movement, the Vatican finally recognized the status of the Order of the Holy Prayer.

Unlike Rune, which is relatively independent in religion, Grande, also a major Western country, adheres to the traditionalist sect of the Church of the Holy Revelation. Historically, Grande was one of the earliest regions to adhere to the traditionalist sect of the Church of the Holy Revelation. Even before the establishment of the Papacy, during the Western Church period, around the 3rd century AD, a diocese was established. Historically, several popes were even from Grande.

Holstein, while traditionally a Protestant-based region, is also the birthplace of the modern Reformation. It has a significant Protestant population, roughly equal to the Orthodox Protestant population.

The emergence of Protestantism stemmed from the religious reformation in the West during the 16th century. Its core idea was to "restore the original teachings of Micah, emphasizing that people can understand and interpret God's will directly through the Word of God without the instruction of priests or even the papacy." Protestants even believed that the clergy, acting out of self-interest, failed to accurately convey Micah's original intentions, thus deviating from the purity of religion. Therefore, they called themselves "Original Orthodox," meaning "the original and correct meaning of Protestantism."

Undoubtedly, the widespread dissemination of this ideology directly impacted the foundations of the Papacy, leading to large-scale religious wars in the West for a considerable period afterward. To assert its orthodox status, the Papacy in Bergopelli sometimes referred to itself as the "Orthodox Church," meaning "orthodox faith."

In fact, whether it is the Church of the Holy Prayer, the original orthodox, or the orthodox faith, their essence all originates from the Church of the Holy Revelation, and they all acknowledge His Holiness the Pope Bergoglippo's position as the leader of the Church of the Holy Revelation. The only difference is that the former two are more respectful, but not reverent.

With the Age of Exploration, the discovery of the New World, the Renaissance, the Reformation, and even the establishment of modern states, the power of religion was far less than in the Middle Ages. However, even so, in Western countries, the Church of Awakening, especially Bergoglippi's papacy, still had considerable influence.

"Simon, what does it say?" Cardinal Wells was standing under the archway, looking up at the inscription.

"Your Excellency, what this means is roughly that this is the holy land of the leaders of the Xuanmen sects worldwide, roughly equivalent to our land of prophets," a young priest in black explained from the side.

“That’s also why we’re here…” Bishop Wells squinted for a moment, then nodded and said to the priests beside him, “Eastern religions possess some mysterious powers and secrets, which is something we hope to understand…”

Chapter 502 Seeking Immortals Part 4

Though he spoke calmly, Bishop Wells' eyes were filled with seriousness. As a high-ranking member of the Vatican, he was naturally aware of certain situations that were "occurring".

In fact, so far this year, the number of officials and delegations from all levels of Western countries visiting Bergopelli, the site of the Prophet's birthplace, has increased several times over compared to previous years. Donations and contributions from various financial groups, nobles, and even royalty have also more than doubled from last year's levels. This situation is undoubtedly a pleasant surprise for the Vatican, whose political influence has been declining in recent years. It even gives people the illusion that the Vatican is returning to its medieval glory, and many clergy members have recently been in a cheerful mood.

However, as a high-ranking official close to the Apostolic Nuncio, Cardinal Wells knew perfectly well that these delegations, visiting officials, and donations were not made on a whim.

These visitors, whether openly or covertly, were all trying to find out the Vatican's opinion on some of the "special events" that had recently occurred in various places. It must be said that, after watching some so-called "internal videos" that were not to be released to the public, even Wells had to admit that these events did indeed have supernatural elements and could not be explained by simply applying a "scientific conclusion".

As "servants of the Holy Lord," the Vatican is naturally pleased to see such an event occur.

In fact, the Vatican has consistently, intentionally or unintentionally, funded media outlets and public opinion that spread or promote pseudoscience and mysticism. They have even fabricated numerous unsubstantiated claims of evidence, such as "witness accounts of supernatural phenomena," evidence of the existence of God, the inconsistency of evolution, and the assertion that creationism is the only truth… Such articles have circulated widely. This has led some self-proclaimed "progressives" to openly question whether the Vatican is the mastermind behind today's greatest anti-intellectualism. Of course, this is no longer the Middle Ages, and the Vatican cannot arrest and burn such statements; they can only pretend not to hear them.

Even so, the Vatican cannot stop the growing trend of young people turning away from religion, a fact that worries everyone from top to bottom. Now, with so much new "ammunition" to support the "existence of the Holy Lord," those in the know are overjoyed.

However, amidst the encouragement, a bigger problem arose. These visitors were not simply there for the Vatican to "appreciate" these videos. Their real demand was for the Vatican to disclose its long-sealed secret archives and further reveal the "secrets" it had kept hidden for millennia to the world.

In particular, countries have shown extraordinary interest in the true explanation of these unusual events and how to deal with them.