After watching Meng Yongzhen's revolving lantern, Xu Qing fell into complete silence.
It turned out that the only seemingly normal Daoist he met at the foot of the mountain was, in his early years, a notorious bandit who killed countless people!
Are there any good people left in the Celestial Master's Mansion?
Xu Qing looked at the Sutra of Salvation reward: a cultivation method of planting the Dao-heart with devilish intent.
As long as one cultivates this method, they can sever emotions and desires, forget all worldly disturbances, and achieve a state of having no emotions, no desires, no sorrow, and no joy.
Similarly, those who cultivate this method will completely lose their humanity, lose the ability to discern right from wrong, and become a mere weapon of cultivation.
"Dao-heart planting with demonic intent... What's the difference from castration?"
To Xu Qing, eunuchs undergo physical castration, while this Dao-heart planting is a psychological castration that obliterates humanity.
Countless figures flashed across Xu Qing's mind, yet none were suitable for cultivating this heart method, except one he was uncertain about—an old-fashioned general buried in a coffin.
But even for that person, Xu Qing was reluctant to pass on this demonic skill.
If one's flesh is castrated, it is nothing, but if one's spirit is castrated, that is truly inhumane conduct!
Xu Qing ignored the Dao-heart planting magic. As he raised his head, ready to act, a crow suddenly landed on the incense burner outside the hall.
The crow spoke human words: "Sect Leader! Twenty li outside the mountain, there are Imperial Court troops heading this way..."
"..."
Xu Qing looked outside Jingshi Mountain and indeed saw a thick murderous aura of military formations advancing towards the Celestial Master's Mansion.
This old turtle was indeed scheming this idea.
Xu Qing instantly realized that the lurking Celestial Master Lü dreaded his possession of the Du Gong Seal, unsure of Xu Qing's cultivation status, thus devised this plan—to have the Imperial Court troops handle the problem, and simultaneously probe into Xu Qing's depths using their power...
Emperor Zhu would surely exert all efforts to stop this to ensure the full integrity of the Dayan kingdom's fate.
Unfortunately, Xu Qing couldn't wait for Chen Liu'er to replace Celestial Master Lü; since he had arrived at the Celestial Master's Mansion, he certainly wouldn't return empty-handed!
Separated by the hall, Xu Qing stood outside while Celestial Master Lü sat inside on a meditation cushion, his face showing neither sadness nor joy.
Behind the Elder Celestial Master, the towering statue of Celestial Master Zhang Daoling, the demon-subduing and path-protecting Celestial Venerable, stood, his eyes like lightning, seemingly able to deter all evil spirits.
"Our Celestial Master's Mansion has the legacy of the Ancestor Celestial Master, fulfilling heavenly mandates, carrying out humanitarian acts, yet there are always evil disciples defying the righteous path, offending the Ancestor Celestial Master's prestige."
"I've cultivated for over three hundred years, during which I supported wise rulers, advocated the true path, and rescued countless people. Haven't I accumulated merit beyond count?"
Supporting wise rulers? Wasn't that being an opportunist, betting on whoever had the upper hand? Moreover, establishing a national religion, accruing thousands of merits over the years, they dare to preach that?
"I've been indifferent to fame and fortune, avoiding worldly disputes, sheltering countless homeless individuals over the decades, never imagining there would come a day I'd be before the Ancestor Celestial Master, with my entire sect slaughtered by a wicked disciple..."
Homeless individuals? You call these disciples homeless?
Indeed! After killing their closest friends and relatives, they've turned into orphans!
Xu Qing was stunned by these truth-distorting words and was held back for quite a while. Just like saying the mushrooms from Yunnan were eaten by one person, such conscience-defying words cannot be uttered.
If this were spread, where would the hypocritical pillars of society like fraudulent schemers hang their faces?
You're the master of this business; coming out like this, aren't you surely ruining their livelihood?
Celestial Master Lü sat inside the hall guarded by the fortune dragon of the kingdom, launching a barrage of accusations against Xu Qing. His words distorted facts, calling a stag a horse, each more shameless than the last, and it seemed he was firmly convinced Xu Qing wouldn't break in, thus could only stand outside like a fool, enduring the humiliation.
Xu Qing listened, tightening his grip on the Ghost-slaying Sword in his hand. Did this old turtle truly believe he couldn't open this iron cage?
"I am the national religion's Celestial Master, blessed by the great nation's dragon fortune. Even if you have stolen my sect's altar-preserving seal, it cannot surpass the heavenly intuition! Let me...
Before Celestial Master Lü could finish speaking, he saw the young man outside the hall pulling out a yellow precious flag, with the words 'Yellow Heaven' remarkably conspicuous on it.
Xu Qing grinned: "Dayan's national religion only works within Dayan's territory, but beneath this Yellow Heaven, whether a national, sectarian, or Catholic religion, as long as they are among living beings, they must adhere to fairness!"
Upon saying this, Xu Qing threw the yellow flag from his hand, and the next moment, the flag unfurled with the wind, instantly transforming like a vast cloudy sky, covering everything!
With Yellow Heaven overshadowing, the yellow sand stirred up abruptly!
The wind was no ordinary wind; it was transformed from the Corpse Evil Demon Wind, howling like ghost cries, sweeping the earth like raging waves.
In mere moments, the entire Jingshi Mountain was covered by yellow wind and dust, directly dyeing the blue sky a dim yellow!
Tens of li away, troops from the Capital Camp and Forbidden Army soldiers were all like headless flies, completely losing their direction.
Now was exactly the moment of Heaven's concealment, the time for Yellow Heaven to establish its dominion!
The drama hall of the Celestial Master's Mansion, influenced by the national religion's fortunes, saw the fortune dragon enveloping the hall suddenly howl, retreating to the blue sky above.
And the Celestial Master Lü, feigning strength in the main hall, seemed like a beaten house-dog freed from its cage, yelping with far less gusto.
Xu Qing held the Ghost-slaying Treasure Sword, stepping slowly into the main hall.
"I am the Orthodoxy Celestial Master. You madmen, dare not be presumptuous!"
As Celestial Master Lü was horrified, he didn't stop moving; he threw out all Bell Seal Documents and Talisman of Thunder left by the Ancestor Celestial Master, and even the two shadows split off from himself each held a Three-Five Demon-slaying Sword, slashing toward Xu Qing!
At the same time, Celestial Master Lü's Primordial Spirit exited its body, employing celestial eye and fate techniques almost simultaneously. He appeared to not hold anything back when attacking, aiming to completely obliterate any potential threats!