Ancient Cultivation Stories: Liu Shang Flyer To the Sky

He had no interest in society, so one day Liu Shang took a boat to Shangqiang Mountain to be on his own.

There, if people sold firewood or medicine in front of his house, Liu Shang would buy them at a good price. One day, a woodcutter, with a small container of medicinal herb called Baishu in his hand, sold him firewood. Liu Shang also bought the firewood, and the herb from him, even though the herb was expensive and he already had a large collection of herbs.

That day, he took a leisurely walk in the countryside. While leaning on his cane, he overheard some people talking in the forest; “A God has already bestowed Liu Shang, from Zhongshan, with a magical herb called Baishu. This may be because he has accumulated De (merit : virtue) and the God has been touched by his determination to cultivate the Tao”.

Liu Shang looked around carefully, but didn’t see anyone. He ran back home, took out the medicine and ate it. After a month, his teeth were tougher, he had more hair and his face regained its’ youth. While walking, he became lighter and faster, he could even catch up with a running horse and wouldn’t feel tired when climbing to the peak of a mountain. Even if the peak of the mountain reached to the sky! After another month, he could see everything in the world and could predict things better than any fortune telling. He then went to continue his cultivation in Shangqiang Mountain in a rocky cave.

In the early years of Xiantong, an owner of a liquor store had seen an old man cutting firewood. The man seemed different from everyday people, so he treated him with magnificent gifts. After a month, the old man came to the liquor store and said, “I am Liu Shang from Shangqiang Mountain. I have drawn ink paintings for quite some time. I would like to draw a picture for you today to thank you for your kindness towards me.” Liu Shang asked the liquor storeowner to prepare a white silk cloth for him to draw on, and arranged a date to draw the picture.

On the pre-arranged day, Liu Shang arrived at the store. He held the brush and thought for some time. Then he drew many mountains and rivers, with skill that was unmatched. When he finished, he told the storeowner, “We are going to part in 10 day. I cannot visit you anymore.”

After 10 days, there were no clouds in the sky and the wind was blowing with the fragrance of dale.

However, the clouds suddenly turned auspicious. A wood cutter then saw someone, riding on an object, flying towards the south in the sky.