"Bao Sheng, the guardian of human procreation, protector of mothers and babies, worshipped by all, his merits are boundless..."
In the Zhonghuang Temple, the Goddess regarded Xu Qing with deep meaning in her eyes and said, "Yet, what is the root of procreation?"
The root of procreation...
It couldn't merely be the union of yin and yang, or the harmony of man and woman?
Unable to find an answer, Xu Qing clasped his hands together respectfully and said, "Master, your disciple is slow-witted, I beseech you to enlighten me."
The Goddess smiled gently and said, "Its root lies in destiny. Without the threads woven by the matchmaker, without auspicious unions, how could there be fruitful and everlasting descendants, protected and nurtured? This is the foundation of procreation for all living beings, yet how can your duties be considered complete?"
"Today, as I accept you as a disciple, I shall grant you the authority over destiny, you must remember this."
"..."
Xu Qing had not anticipated that his responsibilities towards matchmaking, which he had long been troubled by and unable to escape, would manifest at this moment.
Yet, upon reflection, everything seemed to make sense.
Over the years, many have come to the Bao Sheng Temple seeking matchmaking advice. Though Xu Qing was not skilled in this area, the twelve elderly midwives in the temple were quite enthusiastic about bringing people together.
Even the temple's activities had undergone significant changes.
Nonetheless, Xu Qing had never actively sought to take on the role of a matchmaking deity himself.
It was not that he was unwilling to accept offerings for matchmaking, but rather he was not skilled in this area, fearing unwanted karmic consequences that might hinder the Bao Sheng Temple's growth.
After all, as the old saying goes: Avoid being the go-between, the guarantor, or the matchmaker for three generations of good fortune.
There are too many instances where newlyweds are sent into rooms, and the matchmaker is thrown over the wall!
Xu Qing did not possess the affinity for the matchmaking cultivation of the Tu Shan clan, unable to perceive the subtle ties of destiny.
But now, with the great deity of the Zhonghuang Temple who created the authority over matchmaking, the situation was entirely different!
With the pioneering guidance of the ancestral goddess, surely he could learn?
In the Goddess's palace, Xu Qing let go of all concerns, calming his heart to listen attentively to her teachings.
Those who receive individual teachings from the Goddess, since the creation of heaven and earth to now, might not even reach a handful, so he must treat this earnestly!
Unknown how much time passed, perhaps an instant, or an eternity, Xu Qing finally emerged from the state of listening to the teachings.
Reflecting on the wonders of matchmaking, he suddenly thought of Yizhen Daozhang far away in Jin Sect.
"Master, your disciple has heard that the Tu Shan clan also once wielded authority over matchmaking in the world..."
The Goddess nodded and said, "The Tu Shan clan were once personally appointed by me as the gods of matchmaking, and they were appointed by the Zhonghuang Temple as emissaries to walk the mortal world. I once taught Tu Shan the secret technique of weaving threads and sealed their clan as officiators of matchmaking."
"Regrettably..."
The Goddess shook her head and sighed, "The Tu Shan clan ultimately could not escape this calamity."
Xu Qing too sighed.
During the teaching period, he had gleaned some secrets from the Goddess's occasional words.
For instance, the Primordial Ancestor, the various Venerable Gods, and even the Goddess seemingly for some reasons, their true forms are not in the three realms, unable to descend personally to interfere in worldly matters.
The Primordial Ancestor he previously met was nothing more than a mere avatar.
After mentioning the duty of matchmaking, the Goddess suddenly spoke sternly, "Today you wield this power, but you must keep in mind—"
"Matchmaking is not about forcing unions or chaotic pairings. It is for those with pre-destined connections to clear away the fog of past and present lives, to guide them and reduce obstacles, nothing more. You must not, for the sake of offerings, abuse your authority and cause disorder in matchmaking!"
Seeing Xu Qing nod, the Goddess continued, "Besides forging beautiful unions, the god of matchmaking also carries the responsibility of unraveling connections. There are many couples in the world who are misjoined by karmic errors from past lives. You must use discerning eyes to sever the malicious red threads of connection, to resolve mistaken unions, for this too is merit."
With those words, the Goddess suddenly produced a large red embroidered ball from her sleeve and tossed it to Xu Qing.
"This is my treasured artifact of matchmaking, the 'Red Luan Embroidered Ball', I hope you use it well."
The ball emitted enchanting fragrance, as Xu Qing received it with both hands, it seemed as though he was being entwined by countless red threads, his vision filled with the beautiful imagery of phoenix flights and paired bird nests.
The Goddess said with a smile, "The strength of this treasure is closely linked to your magical power and the prosperity of matchmaking offerings in the world. When this treasure is at its peak, it can preside over matchmaking across the three realms, containing supreme power of cause and effect."
"This ball is a tool of matchmaking, but also a weapon of harm. If you use this ball in magical duels, those struck will immediately fall into worldly dust, bound by emotional threads, suffering the trials of love, you must be cautious!"
Hmm? Is there such a usage?
Xu Qing finally understood why the Goddess repeatedly warned him, this ball may not cause high direct damage, but the emotional trauma inflicted on a person might require a lifetime to heal.
For some reason, an image of Celestial Emperor suddenly emerged in Xu Qing's mind, if he were to be falsely accused as a rebel one day, perhaps he would wield this ball and arrange marriages for every Immortal tasked to capture him from the heavens.
Everyone knows, when the heavenly beings fall in love, they violate divine laws, if the gods trying to capture him ended up violating those laws...
The more Xu Qing thought about it, the more he imagined possibilities.
On the throne, the Goddess looked at the obedient and understanding young man below, secretly nodded.
Radiant peach blossoms, dignified manners...
He surely does not bring disgrace to her Zhonghuang Temple.
"There is one more thing you must remember."
With patience, the Goddess said, "When you practice cultivation in daily life, pay attention to the whereabouts of the destiny stone. Years ago, I mined divine stone as the foundation, infusing the power of my bloodline and creation to forge a destiny stone. This stone can illuminate the destinies of humans, gods, ghosts, and demons through past, present, and future."
If you can find this divine stone, your task of weaving threads and unraveling knots for others will surely become much more fluent."
Xu Qing's mind stirred, he asked, "Master, the divine stone you speak of, is it perhaps the 'Three Lives Stone' on the Nine Netherworld's Yin Mountain, able to reveal the three lifetimes of cause and effect?"