Chapter 028 Twelve Witch Ancestors

"Old Ancestor, please forgive me for being so stupid. It's only now that I suddenly realize that all of this is because of my stubbornness. I really feel ashamed of my ancestors. I..."

"Hey, you don't need to blame yourself. Everyone will make mistakes. What's more, this is a mistake in itself. You can still see your original intention at the wrong starting point, which is already considered good." The old man said, "How many of us Thousands of years of practice may not necessarily reveal the true meaning."

"Ancestor, please forgive me for being abrupt, but who are you..." I asked doubtfully.

The old man smiled and said, "Under the throne of King Yu, there is a high priest named Ran Xu who is in charge of sacrifices. However, among the Chinese, the highest masters of witchcraft in the world are us, called the Twelve Witches. Ancestor, to put it simply, we are the ancestors of wizards."

I was taken aback and said in surprise, "Twelve Witch Ancestors, in that case, Ran Xu is still your disciple?"

The old man waved his hand, "No, no, we are delving into witchcraft, and he, Ran Xu, is the one who actually uses witchcraft. We are regarded as the supreme authority and myth by the people in the world, and he, Ran Xu, is the one who actually uses witchcraft." The man who pretends to have divine power and controls the entire world."

"Ancestor, do you have any festivals with Ran Xu? Why is he outside alone?"

The old man gave it a try and compared with several other people around him. They were all dressed in white robes. Although they seemed to be different in age, no matter how you calculated it, in the face of thousands of years, the difference of decades was insignificant. Although I also feel puzzled, what kind of relationship do these twelve witch ancestors have with Ran Xu? Although he vaguely felt that there was still a story hidden here, at this moment, his thirst for knowledge about the secrets of the Twelve Witch Ancestors had completely occupied most of his thoughts, and he had no time to think carefully about what else was there.

"Boy, who do you think I am? To tell you the truth, I am Di Jiang." The old man said with a proud smile.

However, his seemingly ordinary words really shocked me. The name of the Dijiang River is a name found only in legends. The Western Mountain Classic, the second volume of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, says, "Three hundred and fifty miles to the west is the Tianshan Mountain. There are many gold and jade, some are green and real yellow, and the Yingshui flows out. , and the southwest flow flows into Tang Valley. There is a sacred bird, which is shaped like a yellow sac, red like red fire, with six legs and four wings, and has no face. It knows singing and dancing, and is actually the Emperor River."

"Let me introduce you, this is Jumang." Di Jiang gestured to a shaman ancestor with a double bun on his head, "He is the legendary Wood God in later generations, also known as the Spring God, who is in charge of the germination and growth of trees. "

According to legend, Jumang is a descendant of Shaohao, with a great reputation, and is named Fu Xichen. The sun rises from Fusang every morning. The sacred tree Fusang belongs to Jumangguan, and the area where the sun rises also belongs to Jumang. Jumang was extremely important in ancient times and was part of the annual spring festival. Its original appearance was that of a bird, with a bird body and a human face, riding on two dragons, but later it had no influence at all. However, people can see it in sacrificial ceremonies and New Year pictures: it turns into a shepherd boy riding a bull in spring, with a double bun on his head and a willow whip in his hand, also known as Mang boy.

"Lü's Spring and Autumn Period - Meng Chun", "His emperor Taibai Gao, his divine sentence is Mang." Gao You's note, "Taibai Gao, Fuxi's family, was given the title of King Mu De in the world. He died in the east and became the emperor of Mu De. Jumang, a descendant of the Shaobai Gao family, is called Chong, the emperor of Zuo Mude, and died as the god of wood officials." "Book of Rites·Yue Ling", "His emperor Dabai Gao, his god Jumang." Zheng Xuan noted , "Jumang, the son of the Shaobai Gao family, is called Zhong, and is a minister of Mu Guan." Zhu Xi notes, "Dabai Gao Fuxi is the king of Mu De. Ju Mang, the son of the Shao Bai Gao family, is called Zhong, and is a minister of the Mu Guan. . The Holy Spirit succeeds Heaven and establishes the Supreme Being. He first performs meritorious deeds on the people, so the King later worships him in the spring."

Ju Mang looked me over and said, "You have gained the power that the world covets. You must know that this power does not come out of thin air. You must use it carefully."

I wanted to nod vigorously to show that I paid attention to his warning, but I didn't know that neither my arms nor my legs could work hard no matter how hard I tried to hold them up. I didn't know what was going on with my body. I was so anxious that I was sweating all over my body. I felt panicked for no reason, and my mind was thinking wildly.

"Yes, yes...I..." While I was anxious, a wizard with long earlobes stepped forward and said, "I am Liao Shou (Note 2), also They are the so-called Gods of Autumn. We are in charge of the rotation of the four seasons and the transformation of the universe. In the eyes of future generations, we are like gods, but in fact, we are just a few ordinary bad old men."

The names of the twelve shaman ancestors are recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas and Huainanzi. However, although these gods and monsters are recorded in Chinese mythology, there is no such statement in Chinese history, making it impossible to verify. This sentence from Lu Shou was like an important reminder, warning me.

I suddenly woke up and understood what he meant without elaborating. I was about to ask a question when suddenly a shout came from far away, but I knew that this space was "isolated" and a forbidden area for the living. Apart from me, I'm afraid no other person has been here. Even if it's me, I don't know whether I belong to the living or the dead.

Maybe it's just a dead person with the consciousness of a previous life.

"Sister Qi?" The voice penetrated into my eardrums, causing me to immediately fall into panic and helplessness in the boundless darkness. If Si Weiqi also walked in, what if I couldn't get out...

"However, you need to go through three tests to get here, and finally you need Ran Xu's permission to enter. Could it be that Sister Qi has passed all the tests, so wouldn't she become immortal like me?" Thinking of this The spirit was also lifted.

These thoughts flashed through my mind, but my body did not stop due to these chaotic thoughts. I hurried towards the direction of the sound, but soon realized that the sound did not seem to come from the same direction. , and like a gust of wind, the wind coming from a distance is farther than the distance.

"It seems your friend has arrived." said a wizard with a "fire spirit" (note 5) in his mouth.

"Let me introduce you. This is what the world calls Zhulong."

"Zhu Jiuyin?" I exclaimed.

"Exactly."

"Your friends are worried about you."

"Ancestor, where is she? Is she in danger?" I asked anxiously.

"Don't worry. Although this is a forbidden land for the living, it is not a hell. Everyone who comes here is a chosen one. Both of you are lucky. Anyone who is willing to let Ran Xu let two people go in a row must be a certain person." A very remarkable person.”

I originally wanted to show off complacently, but then I thought about who the people in front of me were. No matter how outstanding Si Weiqi was, what would it do to them in their eyes, so I restrained myself and said modestly, " In front of all the ancestors, she can only be regarded as a very good junior, and she has not embarrassed our Yuling."

At this time, I saw the people gathered outside making a way out. I followed my line of sight and saw a person walking out of the crowd. He only glanced at it and then laughed, but did not speak.

"Sister Qi?" I felt uneasy and hesitant. My hands were tightly clenched into fists, and my palms were covered with sweat.

"Lin Kun?" Si Weiqi saw me not far away and was also extremely confused.

"Sister Qi!" I called.

"Lin Kun, are you okay?"

After confirming that it was me, Si Weiqi rushed over in a hurry. I looked at her nervous look and said with a smile, "Even when I encounter more dangerous situations, I have never seen you so nervous. Don't worry, I'm fine." of!"

"Is it really okay?"

My words of comfort made Si Weiqi somewhat relieved, but the tension was still there.

"Well, since you have reunited, we won't talk in circles." The man who spoke was Qiang Liang. He had the head of a tiger and the body of a man, holding two yellow snakes in his hands. The "Book of Mountains and Seas" described him as, " In the wilderness, there is a mountain called the Arctic Sky Cabinet, and the sea water flows to the north. There is also a god who holds a snake in his mouth and manipulates it. He has the shape of a tiger's head and a human body, with four hooves as long as elbows. His name is Qiang Liang."

This "strong man" recorded in "The Classic of Mountains and Seas" is also vaguely visible in ancient Indian mythology. There are three leaders among the older generation of gods that are most respected by the Indians, one of whom is named "Waragon". It is very close to "Qiang Liang" in pronunciation and age. They are both the two oldest gods, and they both live on both sides of the Bering Strait. There should be some kind of origin between these two names.

"Lin Kun, they are..." Si Weiqi didn't know who these people were, so she was naturally wary.

"Sister Qi, speaking of which, these people are all our ancestors, serious ancestors!" I smiled and said, "Have you heard of the Twelve Witch Ancestors?"

"Witch Ancestor?" There was obvious surprise on Si Weiqi's face. When she was about to salute, she was stopped by Shebishi (Note 6).

I have already met this Shebi corpse once. I met the Shebi female corpse in the tomb. Although I was lucky enough to escape, the experience is still like a ray of light on my back, which is scary.

"No need. Although Ran Xu lets you in, you can't stay here for long. Time is precious. Let's keep the story short." Shebishi gestured to the other wizard beside him, "A few of us stay here, except Besides keeping King Yu’s secret, the more important thing is——”

"What's more important?" When Si Weiqi and I heard this, our hairs stood on end and our spirits were lifted.

"Tianwu, can you tell me?" Shebishi said to the wizard next to him.

Tian Wu is the Shui Bo in ancient Han myths and legends. He has the face of a human and the body of a tiger, which is closely related to the hunting life of the Wu people. The Wu people made a living by hunting, and "the tiger is the king of a hundred arms." Therefore, the Wu people worshiped a tiger-like animal. This ancient animal may have become rare and extinct in the pre-Qin period. "The Book of Mountains and Seas" records, "Lu Wu has eight heads and eight faces, a tiger's body, eight legs and eight tails, a green-yellow color, spits out clouds and mist, and controls water." What it means is that Tian Wu is a Shui Bo in ancient times. A description of its appearance is that of a monster-like deity. In the Valley of the Chaoyang, the god is called Tianwu, who is Shuibo. Between the two rivers in the north of "Shang Gong Xia Chong" and "Shang Gong Xia Chong". It is a beast, with eight heads and a human face, eight legs and eight tails, all green and yellow.

"You can just go ahead and ask me to tell you, but you two have to listen clearly." Tian Wu paused and continued, "The reason why we can't escape here is that we don't want to be born secretly, and we don't want to be known to future generations. In addition to begging for mercy, we actually anticipate that catastrophes in future generations are inevitable. Human nature has broken out of the cage and has been tainted by the world. The overthrow of the country is a small matter, but the genocide is a big deal. So, in fact, we people They are just a few seeds. When that day comes, they will continue life and multiply."

"But, you also saw it." The person who took over the words was Yanzi (note 7), the god of the West in Han mythology. "There are only two women among the twelve of us. If we want to take on the mission of reproduction, is very difficult."

"Even the tribesmen outside, including men, women, old and young, would probably have a hard time doing it." Another wizard added.

"Xuan Ming (Note 8) is right, it is difficult for Yanzi and I to do it alone, so we must leave new seeds outside." The speaker was Houtu Emperor Dizhi (Note 9), Also known as the Houtu Empress. It originates from the worship of land and women in the nature worship of matriarchal society. The full name is Chengtian Imitating Houde Guangda Hou Tuhuang Dijie. She is the fourth heavenly emperor among the Taoist gods "Four Yus and Six Yus". She controls yin and yang and nourishes all things, so she is called the mother of the earth.

After listening to what they said, I couldn't help but feel happy, and said softly to Si Weiqi, "Sister Qi, listen, they are trying to match us up! This important mission of passing on the family line falls on you and me."

Si Weiqi immediately glared at me fiercely and cursed, "You are not ashamed, be careful I tear your mouth to pieces and see if you still dare to talk nonsense!"

1. Hundun: Hundun, the image of Hundun is the divine bird that knows singing and dancing. The writing methods of "niao" and "yan" in traditional Chinese are similar. There may be errors in the translation, but they all make sense. Obviously, "hundun" here refers to the sun. That is to say, the original meaning is: as flat and round as the sun, without ears, eyes, mouth or nose, but it knows how to sing and dance.

2. Liaoshou: The God of Autumn, with a snake in his left ear and riding two dragons. It is the auxiliary god of Shaohao, the White Emperor. Some people say that Pingshou is the son of White Emperor. It is also said that it is the name of the Western god in ancient legends, Si Qiu. "Huainanzi Tianwen Xun" records that "Pu Shou Min Qu Chi is in charge of autumn..." In other words, it is mainly in charge of the autumn harvest, so there is an archway of "Pu Shou Mansion" in front of Wanghe Tower. Shaohao and Liaoshou were both blood relatives and monarchs, so two archways appeared in Xiyue Temple at the same time. "The Classic of Mountains and Seas" also says, "The harvest lives in Mishan." There are many beautiful jade in the south of this mountain and many realgar in the north. From the mountain, you can see where the sun sets in the west, and the light gas at that time is also round. The god who controls the setting of the sun is called Hongguang, and it is said that this is the harvest.

3. Gonggong: God of water. He has the body of a python head, rides on a black dragon, and wraps around a green snake. He is good at controlling the power of the wild water, and is known as the water god, controlling floods. It is recorded in the ancient Chinese book "The Classic of Mountains and Seas" that Gonggong and Zhuanxu failed in their struggle for the throne and angrily crashed into Mount Tianzhu.

Together with Huandou, Sanmiao, and Gun, they were known as the "Four Evils" and were exiled to Youzhou by Yao. "Shang Shu Shun Dian", "Liu Gonggong was in Youzhou, Fang Huan was traveling in Chongshan, three seedlings were fleeing in Sanwei, Gun was killed in Yushan, the four crimes were punished by the world." "Shan Hai Jing Hai Nei Jing", "The wife of Emperor Yan, the son of Chishui, listened to the Wo and gave birth to the Yanju, the Yanju gave birth to the knots, the knots gave birth to the play implements, the play implements gave birth to Zhurong, the Zhurong descended to the river, and Gonggong was born." Also in "Tianwen Xun", "In the past, the Gonggong competed with Zhuanxu to be the emperor, and in anger he touched the mountains of Buzhou. The pillars of heaven were broken, but the earth remained intact. The sky tilted to the northwest, so the sun, moon and stars moved away; the earth was not satisfied with the southeast, so the water flowed and the dust returned."

4. Zhu Rong: His real name is Chong Li. He is an ancient Chinese mythological figure, also known as Red Emperor. Later generations revered him as the God of Fire. He was one of the five emperors among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors in ancient times. Some people say that Zhu Rong was one of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors in ancient times. According to the Book of Mountains and Seas, Zhu Rong’s residence is the end of the south, and it was Zhu Rong who passed down fire and taught humans how to use fire. Another saying is that Zhu Rong was Sun Chongli of Emperor Zhuanxu, an official of the Huozheng clan of the Gaoxin clan, and the Yellow Emperor gave him the surname "Zhurong clan". The Zhurong clan is the clan of the Western Emperor, and the Zhurong clan is the Xihuang clan. The Zhu Rong clan is an ancient clan. Rong is a firefly, shining like a star, bright in the dark night; Zhu is a sacrifice, offering sacrifices to fire, offering sacrifices to light, and offering sacrifices to the Emperor of Heaven.

5. Zhu Jiuyin: A human face with a dragon body, holding the "fire spirit" in its mouth. (The sky is not enough in the northwest, and there is no news of yin and yang, so there is a dragon holding the "fire spirit" to illuminate the Tianmen. "Chu Ci Tianwen", "If the northwest is opened, how can the air flow? If the sun is not shining, how can the candle dragon shine? ?" Also in "Dazhao", "There is Hanshan Mountain in the north, and the Zhulong will forgive you." "Huainanzi Terrain Training", "The Zhulong is in the north of Yanmen, hidden by the Weiyu Mountain, and the sun cannot be seen, and its god has a dragon face. The body has no feet." "The Great Wilderness Northern Classic", "The sky is not enough in the northwest, and there is no news of yin and yang, so there is a dragon carrying fire essence to illuminate the gate of heaven."

6. Shebi Corpse, "Haiwai Dong Jing" records, "The kingdom of Shebi Corpse is in the north, with a beast body, a human face, big ears, and two green snakes. One is the corpse of Ganyu, located in the north of the adults." Or "Shebi", a half-human, half-animal monster. "The Classic of Mountains and Seas: The Eastern Classic of the Great Wilderness" says it is a god, with a human head and a beast's body, and two green snakes on its big ears. Its name is More luxurious than a corpse. "The Classic of Mountains and Seas: Overseas Eastern Classic" confirms this description and mentions that the corpse of Shebi may be the corpse of Ganyu. By making good use of poison, he can also change the weather, so he is still the god of weather. Underground archeology shows that Shebishi Kingdom is likely to be in Lianyun District. The archaeological culture in this area is represented by the Longshan Culture Tenghualuo site. The Tenghualuo site is located in the south of Xizhuchao Village, Zhongyun Office, Lianyungang City, on the alluvial plain of the valleys of Nanyuntai Mountain and Beiyuntai Mountain, with an altitude of 6 to 7 meters. It is a Longshan cultural site dating back 4500-4000 years.

7. Yanzi: In present-day Yanzhou, there is a mountain named Xishan 30 miles west of this city. Probably because the state of Yan was nearby, Xishan was also called Kuangshan and Yanshan. It was the place where the sun entered in mythology. There is a god named Yanzi on it. "The Classic of Mountains and Seas: Dahuang Xi Jing" says, "In the west sea, there is a god with a human face and a bird's body. There are two green snakes in Er and two red snakes. It is called Yanzi." The West Sea is the ancient one. Ohnozawa is located to the west of Mt. The Yellow Emperor appointed Yanzi as the God of the West Sea, known as the Chinese grandmother, and the ancestor of the surname "Feng". Ancient clan name, "Emperor Suiren Naz clan".

8. Xuan Ming: In the Han mythology system, Xuan Ming is considered to have a human face and the body of a bird, with a green snake hanging on each ear and two green snakes on its feet (it is also said that its mount is a two-headed dragon), which is very impressive. For weirdness. It is said that Yu's strong wind can spread the plague, leaving no grass growing wherever it goes. "Zuo Zhuan·Eighteenth Year of Zhaogong", "The fire comes from Xuan Ming and returns to Lu." "Si Xuan Fu" by Zhang Heng of the Han Dynasty, "The former Changli sent people to blow their feathers, and the water was used to balance Xuan Ming."

9. Mother of the Earth: Chengtian follows the example of the Queen Earth Emperor. Chengtian followed Houtu's example and was only the fourth god among the "Four Imperial Gods" of Taoism, referred to as "Houtu" and commonly known as "Houtu Empress". Matched with the Jade Emperor who presides over the heaven, she is the female deity who dominates the earth, mountains and rivers.