Xu Qing smiled and said, "These are the words of the predecessors, as well as my own insights. I shall speak of them today, and you, my friend, shall listen. If there are any errors, consider them a joke..."
"A person is fabricated into a demon... Divine spirits turn malevolent, human hearts become deluded into demons, and incline towards deviation as heretical paths..." Zhang Pingsheng furrowed his brows, and once the thought was complete, he felt a lightness in his heart, as if he had broken through some barrier.
His heart surged, and he immediately bowed to Xu Qing in gratitude, saying, "Your words are like a thunderbolt. In the past, due to my ancestor Celestial Master subduing demons, I assumed all demons were of the same ilk, but I did not realize my own prejudice blinded me."
"That monkey spirit and crow monster who controlled the waters were truly sincere; while those like Celestial Master Lu, despite their human appearance, are sanctimonious, hiding a ghostly heart."
"People like us who cultivate the Dao, if we do not eliminate falsehood and live in truth, discussing the Dao with our hearts, we are bound to be taken over by inner demons."
At this point, Zhang Pingsheng suddenly straightened his posture, took a deep breath, and said, "If demons and monsters possess a loyal heart, they are comrades; if humans harbor darkness, they must be exterminated too!"
"Beyond distinguishing humans from demons, we cultivators must also use our hearts as a mirror, constantly polishing it. If not polished for one day, it becomes coarse; ten days, it falls into delusion; if not polished continuously, one will end up like Celestial Master Lu, falling into an unescapable abyss..."
Xu Qing looked at Zhang Pingsheng with a stern expression, and his evaluation of the man rose even further.
This direct descendant of the Celestial Master's Mansion is indeed extraordinary; in a world of great calamity, his mindset alone surpasses millions.
...
Jinmen Prefecture, Linjiang County.
When Xu Qing returned riding a horse with the White Gentleman and Red-Tailed Monkey after subduing demons, the first to greet him were not the pretentious cat or the fox he had befriended, but two ugly birds, each as tall as a person and running like a thunderbolt.
Welcoming and seeing off, the two clumsy birds regarded Xu Qing as family; in their eyes, the master of the house, Elder Master Xu, was the true provider of sustenance. Even the Golden Simurgh seemed superfluous in Xu Qing's presence!
Xu Qing casually pulled out a handful of precious pills without looking and scattered them like corn kernels, allowing the two clumsy birds to peck at them.
Were it not for dignity, the Red-Tailed Monkey and White Gentleman would have mimicked those birds, wagging their tails to beg for food from the Sect Leader...
The likelihood was they would be kicked away by the Sect Leader.
"These two birds have eaten so many pills, they must have cultivated for over ten years, yet why can't they fly?"
Xu Qing turned to White Gentleman and said, "You're a bird too, why don't you teach them? After all, they should be the Immortal Cranes of our sect, running around every day like this looks strange..."
Xu Qing still believed that the birds merely had degraded flying capabilities, not that they couldn't truly take off. Perhaps one day they'd figure it out and soar into the sky?
White Gentleman didn't take it seriously at the time; in its eyes, the Sect Leader merely wanted it to teach two birds to fly. Even with ten years of cultivation, even a five or six-year spirit-conscious chicken, duck, or goose could fly.
Moreover, the Sect Leader called these birds Immortal Cranes; White Gentleman had never seen a crane that couldn't fly!
For the next three months, Xu Qing behaved as though nothing was amiss, organizing funerals during the day and cultivating in seclusion at night.
During this time, Xu Qing didn't forget to teach the South Pole Longevity Scripture to Grandpa Gua, Gu Zixu, Sun Erzhuang, and Liu Su'e.
These immortals came forth because their temperament and foundation were more compatible with the South Pole Longevity Scripture, whereas Lu Xiu, Li Tiezhu, and Guan Dazhuang, due to their martial cultivation, conflicted with the stillness pursued by the South Pole Longevity Scripture and were not suitable for that method.
Adapting his teachings accordingly to the strengths of these immortals, Xu Qing indeed took on the demeanor of a Sect Leader.
...
On the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, when malt returns to spring.
Xu Qing, along with Xuan Yu, approached outside Luojing City, at the foot of Jingshi Mountain.
The Celestial Master's Mansion was located there.
There was a reason Xu Qing chose the fourteenth of the first lunar month to make his challenge.
All Daoist sects have fast days and restricted outing days, such as Long Fast Month and the Three Prime Fast Days. The fifteenth days of the first, seventh, and tenth lunar months are the Three Prime Fast Days.
Besides the Three Prime Fast Days, there are also restricted outing days: the fourteenth of each first lunar month is the 'Supreme No-Exit Day,' and the thirtieth day of the seventh lunar month is the 'Ghost Gate Closing Day.'
On these days, disciples within the temple do not venture out, no pilgrims enter, providing Xu Qing a perfect opportunity to exploit the absence.
To avoid harming innocents, Xu Qing specifically instructed Xuan Yu: if anyone has more than one shadow, eliminate them without hesitation. If there's only one shadow, inform them that the First Dao is cleansing its sect, and anyone aiding evildoers will be considered a traitor!
The reason Xu Qing acted under the name of the First Dao was firstly to uphold the Celestial Master's Mansion that Zhang Pingsheng defended, and secondly to give Emperor Zhu an excuse, implying that it was internal strife within the Celestial Master's Mansion, unrelated to the Great Yan or outsiders!
"Today is closed for meditation. If you wish to offer incense, please come another day."
At the gate of the mountain, a Daoist guarding the entrance stepped forward to block them.
Xuan Yu glanced at the person, seeing only one shadow.
"The First Dao is cleansing its sect, unrelated individuals, step aside!"
This cat remembered Xu Qing's words, and upon seeing there were no extra shadows, it immediately became arrogant with human backing.
The gatekeeper Daoist laughed out loud upon seeing the petite girl with a long sword taller than her.
"Where's this little girl coming from? The Celestial Master's Taoist field is not for you to offend!"
The gatekeeper Daoist urged, "You two better leave quickly! Don't think you can linger here because I'm polite; if Brother Ni arrives, neither of you will leave unscathed!"
Xu Qing stood aside, letting Xuan Yu handle it. Just when he thought the cat would lose its temper, he saw Xuan Yu pat its head. In the next moment, the Dream-Catching Worm hidden in her bun launched the sleepy bug in its mouth, resembling a pea, at the opponent.
Once in contact, the gatekeeper Daoist immediately collapsed onto the ground, snoringly.
After accomplishing the feat, the sleepy bug swiftly returned, landing between the six tiny hands of the Dream-Catching Worm raised high.
Xu Qing, sharp-eyed, noticed a fine, almost imperceptible transparent silk thread on the sleepy bug.
When did this Dream-Catching Worm learn to spin silk?
Compared to the silk-spinning skill, Xu Qing was more surprised by Xuan Yu truly training these two insects into a combo move.
The sleepy bug could induce slumber, while the Dream-Catching Worm could devour dreams, memories, and even souls, reducing people to Walking Corpses.
At this moment, having a Corpse Driver to collect corpses would be perfect...
"..."
Suddenly, Xu Qing fell silent.
Did the cat consider him part of the combo too?
Fortunately, the Dream-Catching Worm never acted on its own. After putting the gatekeeper Daoist to sleep, Xuan Yu confidently advanced towards the mountain gate.
However, every twenty or thirty steps, the little girl would stop in her tracks, waiting for the person behind.
Spring fatigue and autumn drowsiness, there were many people sleeping alongside the mountain path.
Upon reaching the scenic pavilion, Xu Qing finally saw a Daoist with a double shadow.
Upon seeing the young man and girl forcing their way through the mountain gate, the Daoist not only remained unangered but laughed.
"Brother Xun instructed me to guard the mountain gate, and I've been worried no one would accompany me. You two have come at the perfect time. Since you're here, stay and entertain me!"
As the Daoist spoke, he lunged at Xu Qing like a lustful ghost.
"..."
Xu Qing hadn't made a move, but Xuan Yu had already unleashed a sword of energy, slicing the Daoist and the pavilion in half.
"..."
Xu Qing's gaze was profound. Great! He'd have to sew the corpses.
When the corpses were sewn, the procession of memories appeared.
The Daoist and those psychological twisted individuals of the Celestial Master's Mansion were no different from filial sons who murdered their own fathers. The only difference was this Daoist killed his own flesh and blood.
All because the child cried incessantly, agitating his mind, leading him to kill in cold blood, a true case of mania.
Besides easy anger and killing, Xu Qing, through the memories, saw the Daoist indiscriminately indulging in meat and fish, men and women alike—an absolute lust-driven ghost!
No wonder he looked at me with green eyes...
Xu Qing disgustedly wiped his hands; for the first time, he found himself repulsed by a corpse.
Passing through the scenic pavilion, they reached the core of the Celestial Master's Mansion.
Xu Qing, surveying the place, saw people with two or three shadows everywhere, some faint, some vivid.
Where had the Celestial Master's Mansion found so many mentally unstable individuals...