Chapter Sixty-Three: Inviting the Eight Immortals

Master Liu set up an incense altar in the center of the living room, lighting candles, offering incense, and burning talismans. He chanted, “Summoning the celestial talismans from the upper realm, summoning the earth immortals from the middle realm… hurry, come and attach yourselves to my sieve.” He prayed for the Eight Immortals to appear.

After three repetitions, a sudden gale swept through, flinging open the windows and doors. Seeing this, Master Liu hastened his chanting and burned another talisman. Mist swirled through the room, and a beautiful, graceful immortal woman appeared, holding a lotus pod in her hand, peeling and eating the seeds. Noticing the crowd, she paused, set aside the lotus seed just about to enter her mouth, cleared her throat, and said, “May I ask why you have summoned me here?”

Master Liu, seeing the immortal lady, immediately knelt upon the mat in reverence. Gu Zha pulled Qingfeng and Qin Xiaomo down to kneel as well. Jiang Wei rose, bowed to the immortal lady, and said, “Forgive us for not welcoming you sooner, Immortal Lady.”

“Greetings to you all. What difficulty compels your request?” she asked.

“Recently, I was tasked to descend to the mortal realm to subdue a monstrous beast. Someone interfered, causing the immortal seal to be damaged, and the Qiongqi escaped once more. Fearing it may harm others again, we ask for your aid, Immortal Lady. With the art of moving mountains, please temporarily shift Mount Kunlun here, so we may trap Qiongqi within, guarded by the Kai Ming beast. I shall return to the upper realm to retrieve the immortal seal and come back.” Jiang Wei bowed again.

The immortal lady hesitated, saying, “The Kai Ming beast guards Mount Kunlun and seldom allows other beasts to enter. Surely you know that Mount Kunlun is the Celestial Emperor’s city on earth, and countless immortals reside there. It will not be easy.”

“Mount Kunlun connects to the heavenly realm through nine gates, guarded by many divine beasts and protected by barriers. The Kai Ming beast is exceptionally fierce and vigilant, which is why I thought of that place. I have already petitioned the Tian Ming beast for help, and the High Immortal has agreed. We hope you will assist us, Immortal Lady.”

The immortal lady considered further, then said, “You must have heard of the Eight Immortals moving Mount Tai during the battle at the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace.”

“Indeed,” Jiang Wei replied, clasping his hands in salute.

“I alone cannot keep Kunlun shifted for long.”

“Immortal Lady, we only need a quarter of an hour to lure Qiongqi in,” Master Liu said quickly, hearing her willingness to act.

She was not one to dally. “Very well. Later, find a spacious place, set up an altar, and I will appear when the time comes.”

“Thank you, Immortal Lady!” Amidst their gratitude, she vanished into the mist.

“Do you think Qiongqi will come tonight? It’s already almost midnight. What did Immortal Lady mean by ‘later’?” Qin Xiaomo asked after she left, voicing her concerns.

“She meant tonight, of course. Qiongqi pays no heed to day or night. Whether it comes or not, we must subdue it to prevent future harm,” Jiang Wei said, already devising a plan.

“Where should we set up the formation?” Qingfeng asked Master Liu.

“We’ll go to the mountaintop near the community where fireflies are bred,” Master Liu replied, thinking that only that place was remote enough.

Once preparations were made, Master Liu set another barrier inside the house to ensure Jidou’s safety, then led everyone up the mountain with their materials. All were practitioners, so their ascent was swifter than ordinary people’s; soon enough, they reached the summit.

It was their first time atop this mountain, and the scene differed from their expectations. The area was broad, as if leveled like a block of tofu, covered in low wild grass, but not a single tree grew there, as if it had been deliberately cleared.

“We’ll begin the formation after the hour of the Ox passes tonight,” Master Liu declared, and everyone fell silent, busying themselves with their tasks.

Qin Xiaomo suddenly felt redundant, uncertain what to do, and went to ask Master Liu, “Master Liu, I…”

“I know what you want to ask. That fierce beast is here for you, so you will be of great use tonight.” He smiled at her, a smile that boded no good.

“Don’t worry, we’ll do everything to keep you safe. Let me teach you the Shoe Escape technique, a last resort for saving your life—never to be used unless absolutely necessary.” Master Liu took yellow paper, cut it into two-inch pieces, drew a Thunder Talisman in cinnabar, burned it facing north until it became ash, had Qin Xiaomo swallow the saliva produced in her mouth, then take three breaths…

After completing the ritual, Master Liu handed her a pair of pebble-sized stone shoes. “If you’re in danger, throw these shoes down, walk eastward three steps, and neither ghosts nor gods will see you. Do you understand the spell?”

“Yes, I do.” Qin Xiaomo clutched the stone shoes tightly.

Soon, the altar and formation were ready. Master Liu checked his pocket watch and, seeing there was still time, sat down on the spot. “Let’s all rest for now. There will be much to do soon. Miss Qin, come here, I have something to discuss with you.”

“Go ahead, Master Liu,” Qin Xiaomo said, sitting beside him.

“Tonight, we’ll use the beast-luring technique to draw it near, and an immortal will guide it into Kunlun. But… if we fail, we may need your help…” Master Liu hesitated, but Qin Xiaomo understood.

“Alright!” “No!” Qin Xiaomo and Jiang Wei spoke simultaneously.

“We must not let the young lady risk herself. If nothing happens, it’s fine, but if anything does, it will be dire. It’s out of the question!” Jiang Wei insisted.

“I understand, thank you, Jiang Wei. I’m afraid too, but my life is no more precious than yours. You’re willing to risk your lives to protect those below the mountain—why shouldn’t I? Besides, I trust you all. Master Liu just gave me the Shoe Escape spell for protection, and with so many of you watching over me, I’m not afraid of anything.” Qin Xiaomo never considered herself heroic, but she knew if she backed down now, she’d never have the courage to face them again.

Master Liu was grateful for her trust; he said nothing, only patted her shoulder gently.

After a while, Master Liu glanced at his watch and said, “The hour of the Ox has passed. Let’s begin the formation and summon the Immortal Lady.”

They lit candles, offered incense, burned talismans, and chanted, “Summoning the celestial talismans from the upper realm, summoning the earth immortals from the middle realm… hurry, come and attach yourselves to my sieve.” Praying for the Eight Immortals, a fierce wind swept through, and the Immortal Lady appeared from the mist.

“You may summon the beast now.” She held a fire gourd and walked to the small altar Gu Zha had prepared, where incense coils and candles were arranged.

As soon as she finished speaking, Master Liu burned yellow paper stained with Qiongqi’s blood, mixed the ashes with cinnabar to draw talismans, burned six divine talismans and seven paths, formed the Big Dipper seal, and recited the spirit-summoning incantation.

Soon, the distant growl of Qiongqi could be heard.

“If I move Kunlun, you must quickly lure it inside. If fog starts to rise, the spell will fail,” the Immortal Lady warned, preparing her magic.

“Very well! Immortal Lady, please begin,” Jiang Wei said, rolling up his sleeves and readying his horsetail whisk to trap the beast.

Everyone nodded, bracing themselves. Qin Xiaomo stood not far from Master Liu, ready to follow his instructions.

The sound of Qiongqi’s breathing drew nearer, its growl more savage. Had Qin Xiaomo not witnessed it before, she would surely have been paralyzed with terror.