During the Qianlong period, on the Lotus Mountain in the Kunyu Mountains of Laizhou Prefecture, Shandong Province, there stood a small Taoist temple with strong incense - Jingyue Temple. Why is this small Taoist temple, which covers an area of only a dozen acres, able to attract so many good men and women to come to worship incense? It is rumored that there is a spiritual well hidden in the Taoist temple, which can illuminate people's past and present lives, and has the miraculous effect of dissipating the bad karma of many lifetimes. However, the unearthing of an ancient monument has cast a shadow over this mysterious legend.
The ancient monument records the origin of Jingyue Temple and a bizarre history. At that time, this area was hit by a monstrous tsunami, and the people suffered countless casualties. A Fire Lotus Daoist exerted his magic power and summoned an ancient divine beast to retreat into the sea, saving countless living beings. In order to reward the great merits of the Fire Lotus Dao people, the imperial court built the Jingyue Temple here. But the god has a fierce temperament, and the Fire Lotus Dao people have to suppress it with their bodies and close themselves in the Jingyue Cave. So, where did the sacred wells in the Taoist temple come from? What will be the end of the Fire Lotus Daoist? What is the truth of this bizarre incident?
1. The mysterious legend of the Kunyu Mountains
Laizhou Mansion is located in the eastern part of the Shandong Peninsula, backed by the sea and surrounded by mountains. One of the most majestic is the Kunyu Mountains, which meander and stretch for hundreds of miles. Since ancient times, this mountain has been shrouded in mist, verdant forests, and pleasant scenery. The local people have lived in this fertile land for generations, living in peace and contentment.
However, there is a mysterious legend hidden in the Kunyu Mountains. Legend has it that in the depths of Lotus Mountain, there is a natural cave called "Jingyue Cave", where a master once lived. This master's magic power is boundless, and he can drive the wind and clouds, thunderstorms, and even the sun, moon and stars are eclipsed.
The people were in awe of this master, and no one dared to take a step close to Jingyue Cave. Only occasionally at night, people can see a strange light flashing at the entrance of the cave, like a bright moonlight pouring down, so this cave is named "Jingyue Cave". What's even more amazing is that whenever this strange light appears, there will be bursts of thunder in the sky above the Kunyu Mountains, as if some mysterious force is operating here.
From generation to generation, as long as you can witness this wonder, you will be blessed with the supreme blessing, and you will have a prosperous future. Therefore, every full moon night, many devout believers come to worship, hoping to see the style of Jingyue Cave. However, the entrance of the cave was sealed by many talismans, and the surrounding clouds and mist made it extremely difficult to get a glimpse of the scene in the cave.
After a long time, the legend of Jingyue Cave has been widely spread among the people and has become a great wonder of the Kunyu Mountains. Many tourists come here to witness this magical sight with their own eyes. However, there are very few people who can actually see the wonders of Jingyue, which makes this legend even more mysterious and profound.
Second, the monstrous tsunami ravaged Laizhou
In the summer of the 31st year of Qianlong, Laizhou Mansion suffered a major drought that was rare in a century. Since the vernal equinox, there has not been a drop of rain for more than three months, and the fields have dried up and the crops cannot grow. The people were so miserable that they organized rain rituals to pray for heaven's mercy.
However, on the third day after the Mid-Autumn Festival, a sudden rainstorm poured down, with strong winds, lightning and thunder. Inside and outside the city of Laizhou Prefecture, there is an ocean everywhere, and water is everywhere. It was thought that the heavy rain would be a relief from the current drought, but it was followed by an even more terrible disaster.
The torrential rain continued for three days and three nights. The water level of the moat in Laizhou capital city soared, and finally the embankment burst out, and the city was immediately flooded. Farmland and villages outside the city were also submerged, houses were washed away, and crops were lost. What's even more terrifying is that the tide of the sea also poured in, and the sea water and the river water met, forming a monstrous wave that swallowed everything.
In the city of Laizhou, the people panicked, some fled to the rooftops, some clinged to the treetops, and more people were swept into the raging waves, and life and death were uncertain. The villages outside the city were also a bleak scene, with houses washed away, crops lost and countless livestock washed away. There were cries and cries for help everywhere, and people were homeless and displaced.
At this critical moment, a master appeared, exerted his vast mana, drove the wind and thunderstorm, and finally receded the water. It is said that this master was the Fire Lotus Daoist who lived in the Moon Cave of the Lotus Mountain Well back then.
The Fire Lotus Dao people took pity on the people of the world and couldn't bear to see the people suffer this catastrophe, so they used the ancient secret method to summon an ancient divine beast - Xuan, and fought side by side with it to drive away the dragon in the sea, and finally forced the monstrous tsunami back.
This battle is thrilling, the fierce and the dragon fight, sometimes raging in the sky, sometimes churning in the sea, setting off thousands of wild waves. Finally, with the cooperation of the mana of the Fire Lotus Dao people, the dragon was repelled, and the sea water retreated, and the Laizhou Mansion was saved from destruction.
However, the war did not come without a cost. Although the Fire Lotus Dao people exerted their vast magical powers, they were also disabled and had to suppress the beast with their bodies and enclose themselves in the Jingyue Cave. In order to reward his great merits, the imperial court built the Jingyue Temple on Lotus Mountain for him to preach Taoism.
It's a pity that the Fire Lotus Daoist was not able to set foot in this Taoist temple in the end. The beast summoned by him has a fierce temperament, and makes good use of the true fire between heaven and earth to refine its body, and it is extremely powerful and not restrained at all. The Fire Lotus Dao people had to suppress it with their bodies, and they were trapped in the Jingyue Cave with the beasts, and there was no news from them since.
3. The imperial court gave land to build the Jingyue Temple
The monstrous tsunami in the 31st year of Qianlong brought countless casualties and huge losses to Laizhou Prefecture. Inside and outside the entire Laizhou capital, there are washed out houses and submerged farmlands, and the people are struggling to make a living. At this critical moment, a master appeared, exerted his vast magical power, and finally receded the flood and saved countless lives.
This master is the Fire Lotus Daoist who lived in the Moon Cave of the Lotus Mountain Well back then. Legend has it that he was a well-trained practitioner with unfathomable mana, and was even able to drive wind and clouds, thunderstorms, and manipulate the sun, moon and stars. In the face of the sudden monstrous tsunami, the Fire Lotus Dao people took pity on the world and couldn't bear to see the people suffer this catastrophe, so they used the ancient secret method to summon an ancient divine beast - Qian, and fought side by side with it to drive away the dragon in the sea, and finally forced the sea water back.
This battle is thrilling, the fierce and the dragon fight, sometimes raging in the sky, sometimes churning in the sea, setting off thousands of wild waves. Finally, with the cooperation of the mana of the Fire Lotus Dao people, the dragon was repelled, and the sea water retreated, and the Laizhou Mansion was saved from destruction.
When the imperial court heard about this, it deeply felt the great merit of the Fire Lotus Dao people. At that time, Emperor Qianlong had been on the throne for more than 30 years, and he knew the way of cultivation well, and he had always respected this kind of master. Emperor Qianlong then issued an edict to reward the people of Huolian Dao for "expelling the dragon and saving the people from fire and water with the power of supernatural powers". In order to reward his merits, the imperial court gave hundreds of hectares of fertile land in the area of Lotus Mountain, and allocated funds to build a Taoist temple for the Fire Lotus Taoist to preach Taoism and be immortal.
This Taoist temple is the later Jingyue Temple. The imperial court ordered people to carefully select a feng shui treasure land on the halfway of the lotus mountain, covering an area of more than ten acres, and the environment is elegant. The Ministry of Industry sent a large number of craftsmen and people to start the work, and in just a few months, a small but extremely exquisite Taoist temple was erected.
The architectural layout of the Taoist temple follows the Taoist principle of yin and yang and the five elements, and the mountain gate, the Tianwang Palace, and the main hall are arranged successively on the central axis, and the two sides are the arcade rooms and monks' houses. The whole complex is built along the mountain, which is scattered and extremely elegant. In particular, the main hall is the top of the mountain with heavy eaves of all-wood frame, and the eaves are warped and beautifully painted, which can be called a must.
In order to commemorate the great merits of the Fire Lotus Taoist, the imperial court also set up a stone tablet for him on the back mountain of the Taoist temple, with three big characters of "Zhenhai Tablet" written on it, which recorded in detail the thrilling battle of the year. This stele was carved by two great stonemasons for half a year, and the font is strong and powerful, and the momentum is majestic, which can be called ingenious.
It's a pity that when this Taoist temple was finally completed, there was no news from the Fire Lotus Daoist. It is said that the ancient god summoned by him has a fierce temperament, and he makes good use of the true fire between heaven and earth to refine his body, which is extremely powerful and not restrained at all. The Fire Lotus Dao people had to suppress it with their bodies, and they were trapped in the Jingyue Cave with the beasts, and they have not been heard from since.
Fourth, the mysterious origin of the shrine
Although the Fire Lotus Daoist suppressed the Divine Evil with his body, his magical powers were vast and his mana was boundless, so naturally he would not disappear. According to legend, after he closed himself in Jingyue Cave, he began to lay down many mechanisms, leaving a hidden passage.
This passage is hidden deep in the ground of Lotus Mountain, winding and winding, stretching for miles. At the entrance of the passage, the word "Jingyue" is impressively carved, which is the name of this secret place by the Fire Lotus Dao people. Along the way, the ground flickered brightly and darkly, and the surrounding cave walls faintly saw all kinds of talismans left by the Fire Lotus Dao people when they cast spells.
At the end of the passage is a wide underground cave. A little dark light flickered in the hole, illuminating the entire space in a faint light. I saw that the top of the cave was towering, shaped like a well, and there was a pillar of light in the middle from top to bottom, and it was this light that made the whole cave shine.
In the center of the cave, there is a stone bed and a stone table, on which are placed a few rolls of bamboo slips and a piece of jade. Other than that, all that was left was a dilapidated futon, which looked to be old. Around the walls of the cave are some strange-shaped rocks, as if telling a mysterious story.
It is said that this is where the Fire Lotus Daoist practiced back then. He had been practicing here for many years, and finally comprehended the ancient secret method before he could summon the ebbing tide of the gods. And those bamboo slips and jade are the experience and magic weapons he left behind.
As for the pillar of light in that well, it is said to be where the supernatural power of the Fire Lotus Daoist lies. He condensed his mana here, making it unquenchable, and becoming a psychic well. As long as someone who is destined to find this place can get a glimpse of the past and present lives from the well, and dissolve the karma of the previous life.
Later generations discovered this secret place, so they built the Jingyue Temple on the Lotus Mountain to worship the god of the Fire Lotus Daoist. As time went on, the incense became more and more prosperous, and more and more good men and women came to worship. They all hope to catch a glimpse of the shrine and get the chance to be psychic.
However, there are very few people who can actually see the shrine. This is because before the Fire Lotus Dao people passed away, they deliberately set up many mechanisms in the cave, and only those who are destined can trigger the opening mechanism. Otherwise, even if you find the cave, you can only look at the ocean and sigh, and you won't have a chance to see what is going on.
Later, a Xiucai named Sang Qinglin accidentally discovered this secret place. With his extraordinary wisdom, he finally triggered the opening mechanism and saw the miraculous well. It's a pity that it was a monstrous tsunami at that time, and although Sang Qinglin obtained the mystery of the sacred well, he was powerless to prevent the disaster.
Fifth, the revelation of the truth caused a storm
The monstrous tsunami in the 46th year of Qianlong brought countless casualties and huge losses to Laizhou Prefecture. Inside and outside the entire Laizhou capital, there are washed out houses and submerged farmlands, and the people are struggling to make a living. At this critical moment, a master appeared, exerted his vast magical power, and finally receded the flood and saved countless lives.
This master is the Fire Lotus Daoist who lived in the Moon Cave of the Lotus Mountain Well back then. Legend has it that he was a well-trained practitioner with unfathomable mana, and was even able to drive wind and clouds, thunderstorms, and manipulate the sun, moon and stars. In the face of the sudden monstrous tsunami, the Fire Lotus Dao people took pity on the world and couldn't bear to see the people suffer this catastrophe, so they used the ancient secret method to summon an ancient divine beast - Qian, and fought side by side with it to drive away the dragon in the sea, and finally forced the sea water back.
This battle is thrilling, the fierce and the dragon fight, sometimes raging in the sky, sometimes churning in the sea, setting off thousands of wild waves. Finally, with the cooperation of the mana of the Fire Lotus Dao people, the dragon was repelled, and the sea water retreated, and the Laizhou Mansion was saved from destruction.
When the imperial court heard about this, it deeply felt the great merit of the Fire Lotus Dao people. At that time, Emperor Qianlong had been on the throne for more than 30 years, and he knew the way of cultivation well, and he had always respected this kind of master. Emperor Qianlong then issued an edict to reward the people of Huolian Dao for "expelling the dragon and saving the people from fire and water with the power of supernatural powers". In order to reward his merits, the imperial court gave hundreds of hectares of fertile land in the area of Lotus Mountain, and allocated funds to build a Taoist temple for the Fire Lotus Taoist to preach Taoism and be immortal.
This Taoist temple is the later Jingyue Temple. The imperial court ordered people to carefully select a feng shui treasure land on the halfway of the lotus mountain, covering an area of more than ten acres, and the environment is elegant. The Ministry of Industry sent a large number of craftsmen and people to start the work, and in just a few months, a small but extremely exquisite Taoist temple was erected.
The architectural layout of the Taoist temple follows the Taoist principle of yin and yang and the five elements, and the mountain gate, the Tianwang Palace, and the main hall are arranged successively on the central axis, and the two sides are the arcade rooms and monks' houses. The whole complex is built along the mountain, which is scattered and extremely elegant. In particular, the main hall is the top of the mountain with heavy eaves of all-wood frame, and the eaves are warped and beautifully painted, which can be called a must.
In order to commemorate the great merits of the Fire Lotus Taoist, the imperial court also set up a stone tablet for him on the back mountain of the Taoist temple, with three big characters of "Zhenhai Tablet" written on it, which recorded in detail the thrilling battle of the year. This stele was carved by two great stonemasons for half a year, and the font is strong and powerful, and the momentum is majestic, which can be called ingenious.
It's a pity that when this Taoist temple was finally completed, there was no news from the Fire Lotus Daoist. It is said that the ancient god summoned by him has a fierce temperament, and he makes good use of the true fire between heaven and earth to refine his body, which is extremely powerful and not restrained at all. The Fire Lotus Dao people had to suppress it with their bodies, and they were trapped in the Jingyue Cave with the beasts, and they have not been heard from since.
Time flies, and in a blink of an eye, it is the fifty-first year of Qianlong. This year, Laizhou Prefecture once again suffered a heavy rainstorm that is rare once in a century, and for a time the rivers were flooded, and the sea water swelled abnormally, faintly forming a tendency to flood the land! The people were so frightened that they had already moved away from the seashore and fled to the interior with their families.
At this critical juncture, a Xiucai named Sang Qinglin accidentally discovered the secret of Jingyue Cave. With his extraordinary wisdom, he finally found the sacred well left by the Fire Lotus Dao people back then, and awakened the sleeping gods. I saw a strange-shaped monster much taller than a horse, with an unkempt beard, and a ball of flame rolling all over its body, crashed into the waves, stirring up a huge splash of water several feet high, and then at the bottom of the water, all the way to the sea with water mist steaming, and disappeared in an instant!
Under the watchful eyes of all the people, the originally unruly tide suddenly receded and retreated all the way back for dozens of miles! Countless fish, turtles, shrimps, and crabs fell on the mudflats, and the victims of the disaster were ecstatic. However, Sang Qinglin was worried, he knew that although this divine beast was infinitely powerful, it was also extremely fierce, and who would be able to subdue and suppress it in the future?