"..."
Indeed! With so many true immortals stationed at the Daluo Sect, why would they need to come to Jade Pool Mountain to poach?
"Then how do you explain deceiving disciples of our sect by telling them they are People of Celestial Destiny?"
This time, the Ascendant Fuluan, who had been quietly playing chess, finally spoke: "Dare I ask, Daoist friend, what is divine mandate?"
Without waiting for an answer, the Ascendant Fuluan continued, "A divine mandate is when heaven assigns great responsibility to a person! Opportunities to ascend to immortality and achieve the Dao are also called divine mandate! Furthermore, resolving calamity, benefiting the populace, and acting in accordance with heaven are also aspects of divine mandate!"
"Daoist friend, do you believe your disciples are devoid of destiny towards immortality, or lack a heart committed to righteous pursuit, or do you simply think your disciples are ineffectual and undeserving of the term divine mandate?"
"..."
Zhuang Tongsheng felt something was amiss but couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Puzzled, he mused, "Does joining the Daluo Sect equate with obtaining a divine mandate?"
Zhang Pingsheng and a few others exchanged glances, stroking their beards with a smile.
Their inscrutable expressions made Zhuang Tongsheng even more perplexed.
At that moment, Xinyuan timely recited a Buddhist chant and said, "Daoist friend, having traveled far and wide for years, are you aware of the changes in Jingjin, Zhongzhou, Yaozhou, Hengzhou, and Jiangnan?"
Zhuang Tongsheng's heart stirred slightly.
Subsequently, Xinyuan began recounting the deeds of the Daluo Sect, such as their charitable acts across the land and the correction of yin and yang.
Simultaneously, Monk Xinyuan did not forget to subtly and indirectly convey the Sect Leader's profound and unfathomable background, and that the Daluo Sect was born to confront calamity, possessing divine mandate, with twelve celestial positions ordained by heaven, among other hints.
Instantly, Zhuang Tongsheng's eyes became clearer, and in a fleeting moment, numerous thoughts surfaced in his mind, such as the Saint's layout, the emergence of celestial opportunity, and the establishment of divine mandate.
No wonder Ge Hongwen, who had been cultivating quietly, suddenly joined the Daluo Sect. No wonder these real immortals suddenly achieved consensus to resist disaster...
Recall the head of the Yin River Gate, a stubborn disease persisting for a thousand years, being wiped out in half its numbers quickly; all these signs seem to confirm one thing—
The divine mandate is in place!
Could it be that the rise of demons and decline of the Dao has peaked and begun to warm again?
Zhuang Tongsheng's eyes widened, and his breath unexpectedly quickened.
This is a palpable celestial opportunity!
Within the hall, Ge Hongwen noticed the change in Zhuang Tongsheng's demeanor and immediately spoke, "Now that the misunderstanding is cleared, Daoist friend should hurry and leave, lest you delay our fulfillment of the divine mandate."
Monk Xinyuan cheerfully added, "Indeed, if Daoist friend Zhuang worries his disciples are growing fond of our sect, I can visit the mountain gate when I have time to persuade them not to believe in the Daluo Sect, saving our sect's fortune from being needlessly divided..."
Seeing everyone about to issue an expulsion order, Zhuang Tongsheng refused to comply.
He had traveled so far for so many years, all for the sake of finding his own chance at ascending to immortality. Now that the Great Dao is close at hand, how could he easily give it up for the sake of face?
"Esteemed Daoists, we are amidst the Five Filthy Evil Worlds, calamities are upon us, we should join forces and rely on one another, so we may secure a chance for survival in the great calamity..."
In the hall, the statue of the Great Luo Sect Leader seemed to open its eyes.
Far away on Underground Street, Xu Qing's expression turned peculiar.
Why is this sudden temple-visiting priest stealing his lines?
Zhuang Tongsheng shamelessly continued, "My disciples also greatly respect our sect, Daoist Ge and Daoist Zhang are old acquaintances with me, in this time of crisis, I should face hardship together with the esteemed Daoists and resist the great calamity."
"Daoist friends, do you agree with this approach?"
Ge Hongwen raised an eyebrow, remaining calm as he said, "What exactly are you trying to say, Daoist Zhuang?"
"Ahem..." Zhuang Tongsheng's face turned red, but to catch the opportunity of immortality, he set aside his pride and clasped his hands, "To be frank with esteemed Daoists, I wish to join our sect, firstly to subdue demons and benefit the populace, and secondly to cut off calamity and jointly open the heavenly path!"
Ge Hongwen said expressionlessly, "Our Daluo Sect is not something one can enter just because they wish to."
"To enter our sect, one must be exceptionally talented, possess extraordinary insight, uphold righteous thoughts, aspire to cleanse the universe and correct yin and yang, and have world-saving merits, so they may hope to achieve fulfillment and join our sect."
"Does Daoist Zhuang consider himself to possess these qualities?"
Zhuang Tongsheng showed hesitation, disbelievingly asking, "Does Daoist Ge have world-saving merits to join the Daluo Sect?"
Ge Hongwen smiled without speaking.
Beside him, Gu Yuanrang laughed and said, "Not long ago, our Sect Leader personally took action to eliminate the scourge of the Huahe, which had plagued Jiangnan. At that time, the array was presided over by Daoist Ge, benefiting many living souls!"
Ge Hongwen spoke calmly, "I merely presided over an array formation, which is incomparable to the Sect Leader's venture into danger to slay demons, and devoid of any real risk. Moreover, such a minor task, did not Master Gu casually handle it back then?"
"It truly counts as nothing..."
Gu Yuanrang made no mention of the time when he presided over the large array and nearly collapsed in weakness.
Ge Hongwen continued, "Yet, though this matter is small, the merit of benefitting others is indeed not small at all."
"I'm somewhat acquainted with Daoist Zhuang, and if I don't give him a chance, it might seem I'm indifferent. How about this, if Daoist Zhuang can preside over a single array, we shall recommend him to the Sect Leader for acceptance into the sect. Perhaps he could secure an altar master's position; what does he think?"
Child student Zhuang was agreeable, and he even thanked Daoist Ge for showing him the way.
Daoist Ge stroked his beard and nodded, but inwardly he was amused.
It was not because he was happy to lead Zhuang into trouble, but because he was glad to see the Great Luo Sect growing stronger.
This point is absolutely undeniable!
Daoist Ge thought.
Evidently, the normally calm-hearted Daoist Ge, who never forces situations irrationally, inadvertently picked up some of the "wind of corruption" of the Great Luo Sect.
...
In the first year of Yongning, on the twentieth day of the third month.
Yuzhang, Gan River basin.
Gan River is the largest river within Yuzhang, known as the mother river of Ganzhou since ancient times.
A poem once said:
Three hundred li of Gan Rock, winding through a thousand ranges.
The boiling sound is ever grand, the waves endlessly babbling.
The Gan River roared violently, no less imposing than the waters of Jinggu. After Xu Qing arrived here, he first thought of Ascendant Fuluan, who nearly lost half his life when presiding over an array at Jinggu.
Xu Qing looked at Zhang Pingsheng; Ganzhou was where Zhang had his second sect, and the Celestial Master's Mansion of the Right Path originated here.
"The array here needs Master Zhang's utmost efforts..."
With a gentle laugh, Zhang Pingsheng clasped his hands and said, "The Sect Leader need not say these words; I already detected Daoist Fuluan's damage in the foundation when he presided over the array. Such matters may be concealed for a time, but not throughout decades of companionship."
"Sect Leader should not forget I have a deep hatred against the Corpse Body Buddha in Ganzhou, and despite this mission possibly being a one-way trip, I am without regret!"
Xu Qing stayed silent for a while, ultimately said nothing, and merely patted Zhang Pingsheng on the shoulder.
Zhang Pingsheng's master died at the Yin River, and his master returned to Yuzhang alone for revenge, ultimately killed by the Corpse Body Buddha with the 'Corpse-Slaying Sword', becoming a monster vessel.
Twenty years later, Zhang's senior brother also left without notice, going to Yuzhang to follow their master.
At that time, the Celestial Master's Mansion had only Zhang Pingsheng left, who, as the last Celestial Master, had to temporarily set aside sect hatred to ensure the succession of the sect, choosing to wait in seclusion at Taiping Temple.
Xu Qing did not know how Zhang Pingsheng lived through these years, but he knew he must feel bad deep down.
In the past, Zhang would not easily agree to Xu's offer, but since he took Zhang Shufang as a student and passed down the Celestial Master's Mansion's legacy, the seal of his generation of Celestial Masters has been completely lifted!
"Sect Leader, that Corpse Body Buddha is also known as the Two-faced Buddha; this Demon Buddha rejoices at encountering corpses, one face virtuous, the other evil, and most skilled in body possession."
"When my master was still inexperienced, he went to the Yin River with zeal to avenge my grandmaster, yet that Demon Buddha presented itself as virtuous to the world. After defeating my master, he let him return to the mundane world and encouraged improvement."
"Later, my master said the Corpse Body Buddha enjoys collecting good human corpses, and the higher one's cultivation before death, the more cheerful it becomes. It was for this reason that my master was released not as an act of kindness, but as 'nurturing a corpse'!"
Xu Qing noticed Zhang Pingsheng's aversion to the Corpse Body Buddha and couldn't refrain from asking, "As a mortician, I also collect corpses and arrange final rites for people..."
Zhang Pingsheng shook his head, saying, "That's different! Sect Leader collects bodies for proper burial, ensuring peace in the grave, not for the enjoyment of corpse collection."
"May I ask, Sect Leader, have you ever committed murder for the sake of collecting bodies in funeral affairs?"
Xu Qing stayed silent for a moment, then said, "Does it count if I kill evil people?"
Zhang Pingsheng felt rather helpless; the Sect Leader was fine in every aspect except that his obsession with the deceased was overly profound.