The Tiangang magic is not easy to learn, not easy to master.
Most of the immortals in the Immortal Hall have only mastered one or two divine techniques, and they are all specially selected based on their master's unique vision and according to their own abilities.
Only in this way can the immortals' cultivation become twice as effective with half the effort.
Take the Qishan Clan's technique of holding mountains and surpassing seas, the wondrous art of transformation, and the ability to stand without a shadow; or the flying body technique of the Chasing Mourning Horse; Huang Xiaoliu's Vertical Earth Golden Light, the Stone to Gold magic; or the Red-Tailed Monkey Immortal's wish fulfillment and dragon-subduing divine techniques.
Even Xuan Yu has learned the divine techniques of spirit wandering, penetrating walls to see through, nine-breath energy cultivation, and the art of returning the wind to reverse fire...
According to Xuan Yu's account, this wall-penetrating sight is the most formidable mouse-catching magic in the world.
No matter what kind of mouse, hiding in any area, he can use this technique to penetrate all obstacles and see the hiding places of all the mice.
If the Primordial Master knew that a cat considered his Tiangang techniques as mouse-catching magic, who knows what the master would think?
"What divine technique does Xu Immortal Family have?"
"Me? Is it even a question? Of course, it's the corpse collecting divine technique!"
"Wow! Xu Immortal Family is amazing."
Xuan Yu was genuinely impressed.
In the eyes of the cat, the divine techniques in this world, apart from its mouse-catching technique and Xu Immortal Family's corpse-collecting technique, seem to have no other that is more formidable!
...
Underground Street, at the Funeral Shop.
During the few days of Immortal Hall's team-building, the shops on Funeral Street were all replaced by the Funeral House. Now Xu Qing, returning with a group of immortals, found that there was a group of uninvited guests on his funeral street.
Originally, the streets lined with wreaths and paper horses, and other funeral goods, were now adorned with many high-standing signs that read 'Silence, Avoid'.
Behind the signs was a complete set of grand official processions, an eight-carried palanquin with a silver-topped black cover, accompanied by banners, parasols, fans, luggage carts, and servants and maids in waiting.
Xu Qing wondered what kind of commotion this was now?
"May I ask, is the Great Sage Immortal Master here in person?"
At the entrance of the Funeral Shop, Xu Qing was directing Li Tiezhu, Guan Dazhuang, and others to move the procession and remove the obstructive signs and sedan chairs from Funeral Street.
Before the work was finished, a person looking like a clerk, with three to five household servants, came up to Xu Qing to pay respects.
Great Sage Immortal Master? Who, me?
Xu Qing frowned. Who got this title? It's not a good omen at all!
"You've got the wrong person. I'm not some Immortal Master, I'm just a corpse collector. Do you want to arrange a funeral, or do you want to book future services? I'm in a good mood today, place an order, and I'll throw in a complete set of funeral goods for free."
"..."
The clerk awkwardly laughed, "Immortal Master jests. We are the procession envoys dispatched by the Ministry of Rites, sent here to serve the Immortal Master."
"To serve? Where to? Carry the eight-carried palanquin to help with a funeral?"
The clerk hastily waved his hands to explain, "No, no. Our ceremonial procession is just for the Immortal Master's use, whether you wish to enter the capital or travel, just inform us, and we will arrange the journey for the Immortal Master."
"Such a good deal? I don't have to pay you a salary?"
"No, no, our stipends are all issued by the Ministry of Rites."
Xu Qing thought aloud, "Well, I'm not an official, nor do I hold a title; it feels inappropriate to travel under official banners. How about this, let's change the flags into elegiac couplets, replace the 'Silence, Avoid' official signs with 'Welcome, Farewell', and your red officer uniforms... why not change them to plain white? That's the color I like, clean and simple."
"No need for gongs and drums; they're too noisy and disturb the public. I think replacing them with wooden clappers would be great!"
"..."
The clerk's face alternated between pale and dark upon hearing these words.
Can this day ever have a proper conversation?
"What's the point if nothing can be changed? If you can't change it, why are you even debating with me? Go, take your things and people, and head back to where you came from! This is a small business, I don't have the time to waste with you all!"
Li Tiezhu and Guan Dazhuang said nothing, just silently swept the various pomp and circumstance out.
The clerk was at a loss for whether to stay or leave.
The accompanying advisor saw this and hurried forward to say:
"Immortal Master, please don't be hasty. This procession is a task personally assigned by Your Majesty to us. Though His Majesty didn't clearly state it, there likely is a profound meaning behind it, so please consider carefully, Immortal Master."
Profound meaning, what profound meaning?
Isn't it just a creditor coming to collect a debt!
Xu Qing, with ill humor, drove out those idle people from Underground Street. How could he not see through Zhu Huai'an's plans?
Ever since the incident at White Cloud Cave, Zhu Huai'an felt that the matter of asking him to take office was a sure thing, which is why he sent the procession, originally meant for high officials, ahead of time to invite him to take office.
Xu Qing shook his head helplessly.
To truthfully speak, he had saved Zhu Huai'an's life and helped him more than once, enough to repay that twenty years' worth of national fortune favor.
But Zhu Huai'an didn't see it that way, or perhaps the emperor's thought process differs from that of ordinary people. In Emperor Zhu's eyes, that twenty years of national fortune was weightier than the sky.
Moreover, the matter involves a monarch's reputation. Xu Qing being revered as a sage Immortal Master by the emperor was known to all officials who participated in the White Cloud Cave battle. Now, with the emperor humbling himself to invite you again, if you refuse, where does that put the emperor's face?
That's also why Xu Qing didn't enjoy interacting with the current Zhu Huai'an. Because the perspectives of their considerations have changed, their interactions naturally cannot be as casual as before.
"Does Xu Immortal Family truly intend to become an official?"
Xu Qing looked at the deliberately calm Xuan Yu, smilingly said, "What, does Xuan Yu also wish to become an official cat?"
Throughout history, there have been instances in the palace of establishing a cat's room, grading cats based on appearance and favor, with the most favored being appointed as cat stewards, enjoying their own stipends.