"First, when I was a young man leaving home, I failed to live up to Mr. Xu's high expectations. Although my heart was set on the martial path, I had no time to focus on cultivation, resulting in my inability to witness the scenery above the Celestial Person today and my inability to see Mr. Xu."
"Secondly, the monarch entrusted an orphan to me. The late emperor showed me favor, and afterward, both of his progeny, Monarchs Hongcheng and Changming, treated me generously as well. All three monarchs without exception entrusted the Zhu family descendants and the realm of Dayan to me. However, the current Holy Emperor is not a diligent ruler, and there are those with ulterior motives stirring within the realm of Dayan."
"Moreover, foreigners and barbarians frequently come and go, necessitating caution. In this time of internal strife and external threats, I am unable to complete the monarch's entrusted duties due to exhausting my life's fate, which is my second regret."
Wang Liang continued, "Another regret is my inability to repay the kindness of the mentor. Even when seeing the mentor, I dare not acknowledge him, but instead address him as a junior descendant of the mentor, truly leaving me disgraced."
Upon hearing this, Xu Qing clearly understood that Wang Liang had guessed his identity!
This did not surprise Xu Qing, as Wang Liang was the last mortal in Dayan to have seen Xu Qing's youthful appearance.
Even when Feng Xiaosheng saw Xu Qing back then, Xu Qing was already entering middle age.
"In this world, is there any method to achieve both? You wish to be loyal to the monarch and serve the nation, yet you also desire to cultivate yourself. Wanting this and that, you still speak of dissatisfaction!"
Xu Qing watched coldly until he saw Wang Liang bowing and prostrating on the ground, burying his face into the earth, before he finally stopped speaking.
The Wang Liang before him could be said to be Xu Qing's only remaining acquaintance in the mortal world who still was trapped in the mundane dust.
Now Wang Liang's fate has ended, and those acquaintances from the past who did not take up cultivation have all turned into smoke, existing only in Xu Qing's memories.
"Liang was born thanks to the mentor, and today, regardless of the myriad forms of dissatisfaction, the greatest is being unable to repay the mentor."
"Today, Liang's physical body no longer exists, only a remnant soul remains. If given another life, Liang would willingly become a pawn to be driven, serving as a form of repayment."
Xu Qing laughed and said, "I do not need pawns, nor do I require your repayment. Back then I advised you merely as an offhand act, like seeing a bird tangled in a net by the roadside and helping set it free."
"However..."
Xu Qing shook his head and eventually retrieved a drop of Three Lives Stone dew from his palm.
"But today, I will once more release your binds. However, remember that this time, it is not for your sake, but for your sister's.
My sister?
Wang Liang furrowed his brows, not yet comprehending, as Xu Qing flicked the dew onto his forehead.
That dew touched the soul body, just like raindrops falling into water, instantly dissolving.
The next moment, Wang Liang heard Xu Qing reciting the Sutra of Transmigration, while a warm... cool large hand covered his head.
Zombies caressed my crown, chilled to the core.
Yet that chilling touch existed only for a moment, transforming into tranquility, making Wang Liang momentarily feel as if he had returned to the time when the mentor was teaching him skills.
The soul body dissipated, and Underground Street once again returned to silence.
If someone were to come here at this moment, they would surely find themselves as if standing amidst a cemetery pine forest, extraordinarily serene.
Xu Qing looked at Wang Liang's offerings.
They were all cultivation techniques of earth grade, along with some military strategy and tactics, the Book of Military Affairs.
These things cannot be said to be useless to Xu Qing, only that they offer no help whatsoever!
...
The next morning, Duke Zhen's mansion was draped in mourning.
The current Emperor Zhu Qian issued an edict granting a grand national burial, and on the day of the funeral, the Emperor himself recited sutras to transmigrate Duke Zhen's soul.
The proficiency in Buddhist exorcism ceremonies was clearly not something a non-monk would achieve.
People claim that Your Majesty is considerate of his ministers, a truly benevolent and wise ruler, indeed moving.
This recognition thoroughly ignited Zhu Qian's interest in Buddhist studies, causing the dragon hovering above the Capital City to become more Buddhist-like.
Meanwhile, outside the Capital City.
A large-headed youth, unable to satisfy desires and unable to showcase talents, finally chose to leave Dayan, this sorrowful place.
"In the great wilderness, the dragon is still dormant, while the deer of the Central Plains grow fat!"
"Though I have failed now, there will come a day when I will return!"
In the sky above the Capital City, the great dragon is still chanting the sutras.
...
Jiangnan Road.
After Xie Qiongke returned, Xu Qing traveled thousands of miles, bringing with him the Altar Master of the four altars of the Daluo Sect, arriving at Henglu Mountain.
He intended to visit another Primordial Spirit True Man, Ge Hongwen.
Ge Hongwen is elusive and rarely seen, ordinary people do not know his whereabouts, even Zhuang Tongsheng among these Primordial Spirit True Men does not know where Ge Hongwen practices on the immortal mountain.
But ever since stepping into the Jiangnan region, their Sect Leader seemed to be like a spirit-charmed compass, unerringly leading them straight to the Songyun Temple at Henglu Mountain.
Little did they know, Xu Qing had already learned of the location from the rotating lantern of the Named Disciple Yang Chunfu when he was just a small Corpse Driver.
Meeting True Master Ge, Xu Qing offered a deep bow and spoke with familiar rhetoric:
"Brother Ge, greetings! Nowadays, the world is shrouded in darkness, and calamity reigns. Demons in the Yin River steal worldly spiritual energy and harm mankind, which is certainly not the blessing of pure cultivation."
"It is commonly said that a single tree cannot support the collapsing mansion. We cultivators, all sharing the righteous spirit of heaven and earth, must stand united and support each other to struggle for a sliver of hope in the grand catastrophe..."
Xu Qing reasoned logically and moved emotionally, yet Ge Daochang in front remained unresponsive.
Until he heard about Xu Qing's eradication of the Ghost Law, Corpse Demon, Witch Qi, and other demons involving worldly harm, restoring peace to three provinces, Ge Hongwen immediately agreed.
"In the face of calamity, how can one remain detached and alone? Since you have such a grand wish, inviting a poor Taoist to collaborate in this magnificent endeavor for the wellbeing of all, it is both a glorious act for the common good and a precious chance on the Taoist path to seek that elusive immortal fate! My disciples also should seize this chance for experience, joining the great path together! I am willing to join the sect and enter the Daluo Sect!"
After that, Xu Qing, together with the Primordial Spirit True Man Zhang Ping Sheng, went to the Lotus Cave at Jade Pool Mountain to find Zhuang Tongsheng, yet the disciples there sensed that he had gone traveling.
Xu Qing wondered, "In such troubled times outside, why would your master choose this moment to go traveling?"
The disciple replied, "Master's mind was troubled by outside demons, making him restless. He attempted divination results but was struck by lightning instead. Master fears he is haunted by unprecedentedly terrifying demons and might be implicated by unrelated persons, swept into unnecessary disputes, so he plans to hide away for some time until calm prevails."
Xu Qing came to recruit them; how could he let the chance slip by? If Zhuang Tongsheng hadn't evaded him it might have been okay, but now that he has, Xu Qing got serious.
He presents a mysterious case and gives an unanticipated response.
Right then, Xu Qing displayed the divine techniques of the Heavenly Constitution, preaching to Zhuang Tongsheng's disciples.
After a burst of eloquent persuasion, the disciples were overcome with passion, instantly packing their bags to join the Daluo Sect, following Xu Qing to cleanse demonic influence, correct yin and yang, and become the person of destiny!
The Ascendant Fuluan cheerfully assisted Zhuang Tongsheng's two disciples with the initiation ceremony. On the side, Zhang Ping Sheng offered a mischievous suggestion, saying, "Follow the Sect Leader and the uncles well, learn everything you can, and once accomplished, return to change your mountain gate to a branch of the Daluo Sect; I believe your master will be proud to learn of this in the future."
The two disciples were already excited and truly agreed, intending to attract their whole sect into Xu Qing's sect.
After resolving the Lotus Cave issue at Jade Pool Mountain, Xu Qing led Zhang Ping Sheng and others to Hengzhou Tiao Mountain, finding Gu Yuanrang, who was unwilling to join the calamity.
Gu Yuanrang faced them coldly, refusing under any circumstance to join the Daluo Sect.
Seeing the soft approach won't work, Xu Qing began using scare tactics, saying that the last person who didn't join now has grass growing a yard high on their grave.
The Ascendant Fuluan sung the stern voice, agreeing, "It's true, the Sect Leader's adopted daughter is a disciple of the Sea Meeting Great God. What kind of person is the Sea Meeting Great God and his disciples? They are people who can commit killing with impunity, and even if you accidentally die, it's just your deadly calamity arriving; who among the Gods and Buddhas would care for you then?"
Zhang Ping Sheng sung the sinister tune, saying, "You know the Celestial Master's Mansion, right? The original Celestial Master Lu died because he was disobedient."
Gu Yuanrang exclaimed in shock, "Aren't you the true disciple of the Celestial Master's Mansion?"
Zhang Ping Sheng looked helpless, saying, "Indeed, but in order to survive, I still joined the Daluo Sect. You need not resist, Celestial Master Lu deserved his fate. Under the great calamity, only stealing worldly spiritual energy without considering defense against disaster, being a parasite, he died, well he died. After joining the Daluo Sect, I've greatly changed; our sect is truly the best sect, not only with reputation and foundation but also every Daoist inside is capable and speaks well, discussing Tao from time to time is helpful for our cultivation."
Wait, I haven't agreed, how come it's our sect already?
But Gu Yuanrang understood, the issue was not whether he agreed or not, but whether he wanted to live.
Thus, after such a mix of persuasion and warning, along with a stick and some sweet jujubes, Gu Yuanrang eventually joined the Daluo Sect begrudgingly.