A Night Feast of a Hundred Ghosts

For billions of years, the Great Dao has cycled on; countless calamities descend upon the mortal realm.

Through mountains of blades and seas of fire, you shall pass; boundless slaughter will destroy true immortals.

Take up a three-foot sword of gleaming steel, ride forth and carve up the land.

Hear the world's three thousand paths; observe all living beings and grasp the true Zen.

With my heart set on the Dao, I seek the truth, yet the years flow by like water.

All the passion of my youth was wasted; my ambitions came to naught.

Even beauties fair as paintings turn to dry bones beneath the earth.

Even the Five-Colored Phoenix Tower lies overgrown with weeds, its treasure mountain laid to waste.

Even armies that pacify the realm are but brutes, ignorant of immortals.

Even peerless talent leaves behind only a lonely name for others to discuss.

Then a divine light rose from the underworld, and a chart of myriad ghosts burst from the earth.

The Heavenly Spirits bowed to protect my golden body; the Earthly Fiends raced about in celebration.

When the Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends are all gathered, thunder will rise from level ground and transform me into a Luo Immortal.