Chapter 240: These Daoist Priests All Have Quite A Temper!
Daoist Priest Chen and the others were all surprised. Now the effect of Daoist Priest Xuan Shi’s recitation of the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 was no worse than the Chen Family Head’s recitation, and far stronger than their recitation of the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 on Wudang.
Finally, Daoist Priest Xuan Shi’s recitation came to a halt, his face full of astonishment.
Back in his own Daoist temple, he had clearly recited it, but it simply did not work. Now, however, it was effective.
The other Daoist priests were itching to try, and one of them could not help starting to recite.
In the next moment, that peculiar feeling appeared once again.
After this Daoist priest finished reciting, another Daoist priest immediately followed with a recitation, and the peculiar effect appeared once more.
Fortunately, for today’s 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 exchange, the side hall’s doors had already been closed, or this continuous recitation of the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 might have attracted a great many tourists.
Next came the time for these Daoist priests to take turns reciting the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》. One after another they could not resist wanting to verify whether they could succeed.
Chen Han, Xiao Yu, and Chen Lin happily listened quietly at the side.
After all, listening to the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 was also a kind of enjoyment.
These Daoist priests were essentially letting them enjoy it.
When those Daoist priests had all tried reciting the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 once, most of the day had already passed.
At this point, every Daoist priest’s face carried disbelief, and their curiosity was even stronger.
“Chen Family Head, why is it like this? Is it really related to feng shui?” one Daoist priest could not help asking.
Chen Han had long prepared this answer: “The musical notes of this 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 are somewhat special. When a person recites it, they generate a special qi, which is what is commonly called the magnetic field in modern terms.”
“And natural geography and terrain formations also generate a special qi. Our Daoist ancestors who understood feng shui would choose such geography and terrain to build palace temples, using feng shui studies to make use of this natural geography and terrain, constructing feng shui arrays.”
“In that way, the qi produced by the geography and terrain can be used to resonate with the special qi produced by reciting the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》.”
“In modern wording, it relies on the environmental magnetic field to eliminate the negative magnetic field in the human body, achieving a state of undistracted mind. Are there not already people nowadays researching electromagnetic radiation technology to eliminate the human body’s negative magnetic field?”
“Although that technology is still in the conceptual stage, those experts have no idea that thousands of years ago our Daoist predecessors had already mastered this technology.”
Naturally, this last line he added on purpose. No one really knew what the Daoist sect was like thousands of years ago, and the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 was something given by the game system.
But heard by these Daoist priests, it would undoubtedly stir a sense of pride and empathy.
You could tell from the expressions on their faces.
Daoist Priest Chen could not help saying at this moment, “No wonder it did not work over at the Golden Summit. Damn it!”
Everyone heard the killing intent in this Daoist priest’s words.
They also understood why. If the Thunder Fire Refining Golden Summit feng shui formation had not been destroyed, then the effect of the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 at Wudang would probably be no worse than on the Chen side, right?
The fact that Wudang had originally been able to learn it showed that their feng shui formation had remained very well preserved.
Chen Han then said, “The 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 depends on the special secondary magnetic field of the geography and terrain. As long as there is special geography and terrain, it can take effect. For our Chen clan, it is actually just a small place, but because our ancestors discovered special geography and terrain and made use of it, the effect of the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 came about.”
“Wudang is the same. It is just a pity that the Thunder Fire Refining Golden Summit was destroyed, and the effect became much weaker. Actually, in all your places, such as Longhu Mountain and Baiyun Temple, you are located in famous great mountains and surely all have natural geography and terrain.”
“For example, Longhu Mountain has the grand feng shui pattern of complete Four Symbols and powerful dragon vein movements. It is the greatest among the Daoist sect, and such a magnificent pattern is not something our tiny Chen clan village family can compare to, and Wudang surely cannot compare either.”
“So, even if the feng shui pattern has been damaged, the natural geography and terrain must still have remaining parts that can be used.”
These words instantly made the surrounding Daoist priests feel even more empathy for Daoist Priest Chen’s earlier killing intent, because the places where their Daoist temples were located had indeed all been damaged.
Longhu Mountain was the most miserable, having once been destroyed.
Even though it was later restored, much of it was no longer the same. Later, experts and professors engaged in relic protection came to give a series of guidance and maintenance on Longhu Mountain, and many things were built and changed again.
Some experts and professors truly had ability and, for things they did not understand, would humbly seek advice. Some, however, simply wielded their credentials like a token of authority, assuming they were always right and not allowing others to refute them.
For example, there was that incident when Puyi was told he “did not understand history.” It was not that they had hung the wrong portrait of Puyi’s father there, but when Puyi personally pointed it out, he was instead told he did not understand history.
The professor in charge was even a history professor at a higher institution. The key point was that even after Puyi pointed out that they had hung the wrong portrait of his father, it was useless; it still remained wrong for many years.
Only after newspapers reported it was it finally replaced.
Was it that the professor in charge did not know about this matter and did not understand it? No. He wanted to maintain his own authority and could not allow others to think he had blundered.
Just like now, changing “plugging one’s ears while stealing a bell” into “plugging one’s ears while stealing a bell clock” and other such absurd things.
Maybe in a few years, anyone writing online or commenting using the original idiom “plugging one’s ears while stealing a bell” might be called uneducated by the new generation, saying, “You don’t even understand ‘plugging one’s ears while stealing a bell clock’, and you still say ‘plugging one’s ears while stealing a bell.’”
This is utterly messed up.
So, when experts and professors who do not cultivate the Dao and do not understand the Dao come to direct and maintain Daoist buildings, it is easy to imagine what might happen.
A moment later, the Daoist priests calmed their hearts. Then, one after another, they took out their mobile phones and hurried to contact their own Daoist temples.
This news had to be sent back first and then verified.
Seeing this, Chen Han also understood that these Daoist priests no longer had the mind to continue exchanging ideas, so he suggested, “Daoist priests, why don’t you first verify the situation at your own places today? We can continue our exchange tomorrow.”
He still had tasks aimed at these Daoist priests, and he needed to shock and move them so that they would sincerely admire him. Only then could he receive rewards.
Telling them about the geography and terrain today had not completed the task, which meant it was not enough. Since these Daoist priests would come again tomorrow, he would have to think of other methods.
Chen Han’s suggestion was supported by Daoist Priest Chen and the others. They really had no mood for more. After seeing Chen Han leave, they too took their leave.
Only each of their faces looked somewhat heavy and a bit dejected.
After all, if what the Chen Family Head said was true, there should have been excellent feng shui formations at their own Daoist temples.
Since they occupied famous mountains and holy lands, their geography and terrain would undoubtedly be stronger than the Chen clan’s. The Chen clan was in the countryside, surrounded by unremarkable, commonplace little hills.
If those formations had not been destroyed, then even if reciting the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 there might not surpass the Chen clan, it certainly would not be inferior.
Since the geography and terrain and feng shui formations had been proven to exist, they might be able to research other functions based on them; perhaps some ancient Daoist legends were also related to this.
They blamed those damned experts, those developers, and those warlords.
Chen Kai had been waiting outside in charge of picking up and dropping off these Daoist priests, and he clearly sensed that something was off about their emotions.
A group of Daoist priests came out with solemn faces, naturally attracting the attention of tourists. Especially once they exited the Chen Clan Main Entrance, those who came to join the fun without tickets had gathered there, holding up their phones to film and wondering what had happened.
So soon, related videos gained popularity online.
《What is wrong with these Daoist priests? They all seem unhappy!》
《Did these Daoist priests lose the Dao discussion to the Chen Family Head?》
《…》
On the bus back to Linhe County, Chen Kai could not resist his curiosity and wanted to ask, “Daoist priests, how was today’s Dao discussion with the Chen Family Head? It seems you already know the origin of the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》?”
Hearing this, all the Daoist priests exchanged glances.
Daoist Priest Chen immediately said with a smiling tone, “Mr. Chen, we only gathered for a casual chat with the Chen Family Head. We did not discuss anything about the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》.”
Daoist Priest Xuan Shi also said, “Yes, yes, it was merely a mutual visit between Daoist sects.”
The other Daoist priests all nodded in agreement.
Now that they knew the reason, they did not want outsiders to know what lay behind it, so as to avoid more experts and professors coming to “guide” them.
They could imagine that if those experts and professors learned that the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 was related to feng shui formations, they would definitely be tempted.
These people do not care whether they actually understand feng shui. As long as they believe they can use their scientific knowledge to figure out feng shui, they will confidently think they understand it.
As for whether their tinkering would cause damage, they do not care. It is not their property anyway.
If, after confirming that their own Daoist temples still had remaining geography and terrain that could be used, they then invited these people to come and guide them, even the remaining traces might be destroyed.
The key was that once this point was verified, the feng shui theories would be confirmed. Perhaps by relying on the remaining geography and terrain, there would be a chance to restore them through their own research.
If they let those experts and professors interfere, then there would be absolutely no chance.
Fortunately, times had changed. It was no longer an era when those experts and professors could meddle whenever they wished. Even so, preventing those people from coming to disgust them was still necessary.
Chen Kai was a bit confused. Weren’t these Daoist priests talking nonsense?
If you did not come to exchange the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》, then what did you come here for?
However, he could also see that these Daoist priests had suddenly become very guarded toward outsiders, so he did not continue to press.
When Daoist Priest Chen and the others returned to the reception in Linhe County, Daoist sects across the country had more or less received the latest news.
On Wudang, the sect leader had already taken a few people to the Thunder Fire Refining Golden Summit. After hearing the message sent back by Junior Brother Chen, they now felt heartache when looking at the Golden Summit.
Now that they knew the principle of the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》, killing intent rose in their hearts, but unfortunately they did not live in that era, and what had happened could not be changed.
If the Golden Summit had not been destroyed, perhaps Wudang would now be the most powerful existence in the entire Daoist sect.
From Junior Brother Chen’s message, it was not hard to infer that the reason Wudang had been able to learn the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 was that this was where the feng shui formation was best preserved.
Of course, the Chen clan’s formation was certainly preserved even more completely. But that was just a small place, a village chief’s family, with nothing in the surrounding area that looked like any particular geography and terrain.
Yet even so, because their feng shui formation remained intact, the effect of the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 was far stronger than Wudang’s.
Therefore, if Wudang’s feng shui formation had remained intact, it would surely have far surpassed the Chen clan’s. Standing atop the Golden Summit and looking out over the great river and famous mountains, all within sight, it should have been a true human fairyland.
The sect leader did not hesitate and ordered, “Have people go to the books and bring out all the classics related to feng shui. From now on, we will focus fully on studying feng shui studies to see whether there is a way to figure it out.”
The others nodded.
Many of their classics had been passed down for hundreds of years. Now that they knew this feng shui pattern truly existed, their failure to learn it before must have been because their methods were wrong. If they relearned and tried new methods, maybe they would find a way.
After all, Patriarch Sanfeng had spent ten years observing the geography and terrain for this Thunder Fire Refining Golden Summit.
Longhu Mountain.
After sending people to the Chen clan, the Celestial Master and several old mages had all been waiting for news from the Chen side.
They were still waiting under that big tree, their self-reflection not yet finished.
The hurried figure of a Daoist practitioner approaching caught their attention. Seeing this, they guessed that there must be news from the Chen clan.
So, when that Daoist arrived, the Celestial Master directly asked, “Is this news from the Chen clan?”
The Daoist quickly explained, “Yes. Senior brother has sent a message back, saying that the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 is essentially recited by using special musical notes to stir one’s own magnetic field, then connecting it with the magnetic field of the geography and terrain to achieve the effect. Senior brother and the others all had results when they recited the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 at the Chen clan.”
“And the Chen Family Head said that the locations occupied by our Daoist holy lands should be where the geography and terrain are greatest and most outstanding. These are famous mountains and holy lands, and our ancestors must have deliberately chosen the sites using feng shui studies.”
“He also used Wudang as an example, suggesting that the feng shui formations our predecessors set up were destroyed. Now that feng shui formations have been lost, they may be impossible to repair.”
The Celestial Master and the several mages all showed looks of shock upon hearing this.
They had not expected the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 to be related to this. If that was so, then it all made sense. Their place had indeed suffered severe damage and had been rebuilt several times.
The key blow was that last statement: now that true feng shui has been lost, feng shui formations cannot be restored.
Indeed, no one now truly knew how to construct feng shui formations. The feng shui they did for devotees at Longhu Mountain was just superficial, more like geographic pattern analysis. In truth, they themselves did not know whether it was right or wrong.
For example, how to judge whether a mountain is a dragon or a snake in the “dragon and snake encircling” pattern? They just looked at two mountains and two rivers and said so, or a big mountain with two long narrow hills beside it and said so.
The Daoist continued to report, “However, the Chen Family Head also said that even if the geography and terrain of our famous mountains and holy lands have been damaged, there should still be remaining parts that can be used.”
On hearing this, the Celestial Master did not hesitate and immediately ordered, “Quickly, have someone bring the Longhu Mountain Feng Shui Map. Inform everyone to gather at the great hall.”
Then he hurried to the great hall with several mages. Given this, he refused to believe there were no remaining feng shui formations on Longhu Mountain that could be used.
Soon everyone at Longhu Mountain began to move. Each mage led some disciples in charge of exploring one area, which naturally attracted the attention of tourists.
It seemed something big was happening, as all the Daoist priests at Longhu Mountain were on the move.
The Celestial Master personally led a group of disciples exploring an area, searching according to the Longhu Mountain Feng Shui Map, and they actually made a discovery.
It was a centuries-old pine tree, surrounded by three pavilions, with a great river behind it, and extremely beautiful scenery.
Reciting the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 there actually worked.
When the chanting stopped, the Celestial Master could not help his excitement. “It’s real. It really is like this. It works here.”
And shortly afterward, several mages also reported in the group that they had found places too. Along the edges of Longhu Mountain, in scattered spots, they all found places where reciting the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 was effective.
He looked at the locations. All were areas where damage had been relatively light, or where the buildings had not been changed much.
Thus, everything was confirmed.
Thinking of this, he remembered something and immediately ordered, “Spread the word: cancel the reception for that history professor’s visit. And from now on, Longhu Mountain will decline to receive all kinds of experts and professors in history, cultural relics, and ancient buildings.”
What a joke. The Daoist priests were already full of resentment, and this visiting professor wanted to talk about Daoist ancient buildings. That would be rubbing salt in the wound; they might not be able to hold back.
Longhu Mountain suddenly canceling the visit left that professor dumbfounded. He had been building up publicity for a long time for this.
And Longhu Mountain directly announcing that it would not receive history, cultural relics, or ancient building experts and professors attracted a lot of attention online.
What had suddenly happened?
What happened next left those following the story stunned. Not only Longhu Mountain, but also Wudang, Baiyun Temple, Taiqing Palace, Zixiao Palace, Qingcheng Mountain, Zhongnan Mountain, and other Daoist holy lands all issued similar announcements.
Almost every Daoist site whose name people knew had made such statements.
What had happened in the Daoist world? It was like they had collectively thrown a huge tantrum, and as for whom that tantrum was aimed at, did anyone even need to ask?
Many people even wondered whether this had something to do with the Dao discussion with the Chen clan.
After all, it seemed that the first round of Dao discussion between those Daoist priests and the Chen Family Head had already ended.
It was hard not to connect all of this together.
In any case, with such huge online attention, the matter immediately drew great heat and even went straight onto the trending topics.
Many related experts and professors came out to speak, “saying they felt wronged.”
A certain university professor’s post drew especially high attention and won much approval: “As a professor of ancient architecture, I do not understand why I have been singled out by Daoist priests. Take Wudang for example. Back then my teacher led a team that helped Wudang solve the lightning protection issue, and that measure is now a benchmark in the ancient building industry, a great achievement…”
This professor placed himself on the moral high ground, even bringing up past favors and even tagging Daoist Priest Chen.
Daoist Priest Chen did not respond to this professor. Over in Linhe County, however, someone filmed Daoist Priest Chen at the reception, splitting several bricks with his bare hands, with anger on his face.
Naturally, Chen Han also saw what was happening online. He knew that these Daoist holy lands would surely be checking whether there were remaining geography and terrain features at their own sites, like Wudang, that could be used.
He just had not expected these Daoist priests to have such strong tempers.
What shocked him even more was that a game prompt suddenly appeared in his mind. He had been thinking about how to shock these Daoist priests tomorrow and make them sincerely respectful. Now, had the method not presented itself?
