Chapter Eleven: Heaven and Earth Bestow Spiritual Merit, Sweet Rain Joyfully Falls to Relieve Calamity

Half a month passed, and a grand procession arrived in Xi’an County, bearing the imperial edict to confer a mountain deity. Alongside them came Li Dongyang, Grand Academician of the Imperial Cabinet, representing the emperor himself. Also present were officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works, the chief eunuch Li Guang from the Directorate of Ceremonies, the noble representative Duke Chengguo Zhu Fu, the Chief Astrologer from the Imperial Observatory, the chief disciple of the Daoist leader from Dragon and Tiger Mountain, and a retinue of Daoist officials.

Dustless had thought the conferral would amount to no more than an imperial edict, a simple formality. He had not expected the affair to be so troublesome. Li Dongyang represented the emperor, an offense to him was intolerable. The Directorate of Ceremonies could not be slighted. Dragon and Tiger Mountain led the Daoist sects—his own superior. The Ministry of Rites governed his credentials. The Imperial Observatory was not to be provoked; the nobility, never offended… Dustless’s mind swam.

Fortunately, everyone had traveled far and was exhausted, so they retired early. Contrary to expectation, Li Dongyang, despite his years, was full of vigor. When the others departed, Li Dongyang summoned Dustless to the study of his quarters.

“Greetings, Grand Academician,” Dustless bowed to Li Dongyang.

“Do you know why I have called you here?” Li Dongyang, seated behind his desk, made no gesture to invite Dustless to sit, and asked with casual indifference.

“I know. Our paths diverge, and we cannot work together,” Dustless replied, his heart stirred with anger at Li Dongyang’s arrogance.

“Hah, indeed we walk different roads. Your Daoist teachings concern self-cultivation, while ours, disciples of the sages, speak of benefiting all under heaven. I have heard of your affairs. Liu Jin returned to the capital and spoke of you as if you were a deity. According to the ministries, the grand officials of the Cabinet intended to make you an example, to resolve the cause of corruption in the court,” Li Dongyang said, raising his teacup and sipping slowly. After a pause, he continued, “It was I who protected you. Do you know why?”

Dustless did not follow his reasoning, but asked directly, “What crime have I committed?”

“Feigning spirits, deceiving the ignorant, harboring ulterior motives, corrupting hearts—is that enough?” Li Dongyang’s words were slow and measured, but every phrase pierced like a blade.

“It was merely because I tarnished the name of a so-called upright official. If you wish to accuse me, it is only because you are all civil officials,” Dustless retorted bluntly.

“Young man, your temper is fierce; one ought to cultivate oneself,” Li Dongyang feigned a sigh, chastising Dustless for his lack of manners.

Dustless laughed, “If we are to argue, I should address you as ‘old man.’ Born in the fifteenth year of Yongle, I wonder when you were born, Grand Academician?”

“Nonsense!” Li Dongyang was furious. He had intended to subdue Dustless’s arrogance, to make him less troublesome, but did not expect the youth to be so brazen, utterly irreverent.

“Whether nonsense or not, it matters little. The edict has come; I seek merit in this affair, while you desire calamity’s end so you may continue to exploit the people. Our paths differ, but we may yet complete this task. You are a high official, I am but a humble Daoist. As for accusations, I am an outsider; you cannot so easily kill me. If you refuse to let the matter rest, besides my temple, I have nothing. Though dull-witted, I possess some arts beyond the ordinary.” With that, he gestured, and a wooden sword appeared in midair, spinning and humming.

“Though this is but a wooden sword, it may travel a thousand miles in an instant, slaying foes afar. Surely, you Cabinet officials enjoy wealth and honor, fine estates, beautiful wives and concubines, children and grandchildren aplenty?” Dustless threatened.

“Scholars possess righteousness within, witnessed by Heaven and Earth. For the sake of principle, what fear is there in death?” Li Dongyang’s expression did not change.

Dustless laughed inwardly, thinking, “Scholars… itching scalps, cold water. In the capital, who among those who shaved their heads and changed their robes was not a scholar?” He said aloud, “That Censor Mao must be well-read too. Yet reading the sages’ books has no bearing on character; those who are greedy remain greedy, those who exploit the people continue to do so. The pen is in your hands; you decide who is good and who is bad as you please.”

At this point, the two had torn away all pretense. Dustless was thoroughly disgusted with the so-called scholars of Ming; for having outmaneuvered a corrupt censor, he was now seen as an enemy by all the officials.

“I know you do not want me to enter the capital, and I have no such desire. When the ritual is complete, I will wander the world. You all have wives and children; do not try your schemes on me. However clever your tricks, I will break them all.” With a slight tremor of the peachwood sword, a hole appeared, half an inch deep, in Li Dongyang’s desk. Dustless withdrew his sword and said, “Today, we have not met. When this affair is finished, we shall go our separate ways.”

“I take my leave,” Dustless said, unwilling to linger, and departed, leaving Li Dongyang trembling with rage, his face livid.

The imperial conferral of a deity followed its prescribed rites. The Ministry of Rites oversaw the ceremony, the Ministry of Works constructed the altar and temple. The rest were there to witness. Dustless led officials from the Works and Rites ministries to inspect the valley where the drought demon resided, then withdrew from further involvement, spending his days in meditation. Occasionally encountering Grand Academician Li, he found the elder’s expression grim, but not hostile, which puzzled him. In these days, Duke Chengguo, Li Guang, and others visited in turn. Dustless received them courteously—he could not afford to offend the whole world. Upon departure, he offered talismans for protection or cast divinations, so the interactions were amicable.

The Ministry of Works acted swiftly, erecting a high platform and a small temple atop the mountain near the drought demon’s valley, and preparing to build a spiritual tower to suppress evil in all directions.

On the ninth day, an auspicious day for all undertakings, Dustless, the officials, local gentry, scholars, and a host of guards and soldiers, proceeded to the mountain’s foot in grand procession. Dustless handed over a diagram to the Works officials, directing them to arrange the flags of the celestial star array as prepared, then burned incense and offered it to Heaven. The imperial edict was read aloud at the mountain’s front and placed upon the altar at the foot. Daoists from Dragon and Tiger Mountain wrote and burned the ceremonial petition to Heaven, and all officials, regardless of rank, offered great rites to the Supreme Sovereign.

As night fell, Dustless donned a robe adorned with the eight trigrams, a purple-gold Daoist crown, and held the peachwood sword. Step by step, he ascended to the summit, while the others remained below, forbidden to climb.

As midnight approached—the hour when yin and yang converge, and the stars shine brightest—Dustless took the talisman given by Xuanxuzi and placed it upon the altar. He thrust the sword into the center of the conferral platform and bowed thrice toward the Polaris, petitioning the Supreme Sovereign. Then he bowed thrice to the earth, petitioning the Lady of the Soil. When midnight arrived, he traced the seven stars with his steps, drew blood from his finger with the sword, and used his own essence to communicate with the spirits, declaring loudly, “Heaven and earth are sentient, all things follow order; mountains and rivers have law and clarity. I invoke the Three Pure Ones, to confer a deity on behalf of Heaven!” His voice thundered, echoing through heaven and earth like celestial thunder. All around, the night sky seemed to resound with immortal music. A circle of rainbow light appeared above the moon.

Seeing Heaven and Earth respond, Dustless wasted no time. He pointed his sword toward the valley and declared, “The drought demon has appeared, causing suffering among the people. I follow the Way of Heaven, resolve karmic bonds, and confer upon you the mountain, making you its guardian deity. Dispel calamity and misfortune, and do not betray Heaven’s grace.” When he finished, radiant light surged from the valley. The drought demon emerged in the valley’s center, walking step by step toward the platform. With each step, its evil aura diminished, its fangs and claws receding. By the time it stood before Dustless, it was no longer monstrous, but appeared as a common elder.

The drought demon knelt before Dustless and bowed three times. Dustless placed the sword upon its head and proclaimed, “By Heaven’s command, I confer upon you divine status. Uphold the Way of Heaven, protect all living beings, walk the path of spirits, do not betray Heaven’s grace. Should you violate this oath, thunder will strike you down.” The drought demon replied, “I will obey.” Dustless nodded, “Follow Heaven’s way, act on behalf of Heaven; I appoint you as the guardian of Zhongnan Mountain.” The drought demon was surprised—he thought he would be made guardian of this nameless hill, but instead was granted Zhongnan Mountain. Great joy filled him.

At that moment, a beam of light pierced the night sky and shone upon the platform. The drought demon, bathed in the light, slowly rose into the air, golden radiance enveloping him. In his hand appeared a divine seal; his attire transformed into the robes of a deity. The sight was visible for a hundred miles.

Everyone below had already prostrated themselves, awed by the divine miracle, though each harbored different thoughts. Dragon and Tiger Mountain felt bitterness—the conferral of deities and celestial talismans belonged to the Celestial Master, yet it was performed by another, establishing a new Daoist leader alongside themselves. Li Dongyang was conflicted; the drought’s end was good, but Dustless, proven by this miracle, could no longer be subdued, and the officials could only seek his favor. Chief Eunuch Li Guang was overjoyed, already planning how to report to the emperor, empress, and crown prince.

Leaving aside the thoughts of those at the mountain’s foot, Dustless had succeeded in the conferral. Gazing at the divine signs in the sky, his heart was deeply satisfied. His merit was complete, and he could now continue his pursuit of the Dao. The golden light in the heavens gradually dispersed, the divine image faded. The drought demon, having achieved his transformation, now departed for the divine path to fulfill his duties.

Dustless sheathed his wooden sword and was about to descend when he sensed something, gazing up at the heavens. The stars above began to revolve, and he found himself amidst their celestial dance, watching stars ignite and extinguish, the cosmos in transformation, the traces of the Great Dao laid bare before him. He sat upright, absorbed in wonder, oblivious to everything else, not knowing that his form was merging with the night, dissolving into the air.

Those below, seeing the ceremony complete, were about to ascend for a look when suddenly a cool wind swept through the dry air, the stars disappeared, the moon hid, thunder sounded, and a torrential rain poured down, soaking everyone to the skin.

That night, all seventeen counties of the three prefectures in Shaanxi were blessed with heavy rain. The disaster victims rejoiced, and the name of Immortal Master Dustless spread throughout the land, pointing to the divine.