The next morning, in front of the Tianyan Sect’s mountain gate.
Jiang Yuebai stood in the square outside the archway, stunned, with the words that Lu Ying had said to her yesterday echoing in her mind.
She was not angry, but just confused as to why Lu Ying's attitude was inconsistent.
When they first met that day, she Mingming rushed over to hug her tightly, as if relieved from a heavy burden, and asked her why she came back just now.
In just a dozen days, he blamed her for coming back, said all kinds of nasty things to her, and asked her to leave.
What happened in between
Jiang Yuebai intuitively felt that it was related to Song Pei'er. She wanted to visit Song Pei'er, but Lu Ying hysterically told her to get out.
Jiang Yuebai was in a dilemma. She wanted to help Lu Ying, but she resisted. She asked Shi Xiaowu and Guo Zhen, but they also said they didn't know the inside story.
With no other options, Jiang Yuebai could only give up for the time being and go out to complete the mission first, bury his grandfather, explore the cave to find a method to build the foundation of "Five Elements Return to Truth", and then deal with other trivial matters after returning.
Perhaps after Lu Ying calms down for a while, she will be willing to tell her that she has already asked Guo Zhen and Shi Xiaowu to take good care of Lu Ying during these days.
She also left some ninth-grade intermediate talismans that she had drawn herself, and told them that if they encountered problems that they could not solve, they should go to the Internal Affairs Hall to find Hong Tao.
"I'm sorry, I haven't been back to the sect for many years and I don't recognize the road. I'm late."
A sixth-level Qigong cultivator with white hair and a youthful face, who looked like an immortal, came on foot. He was as light as a swallow and had the posture of a martial arts master.
His cultivation level was not high. He wore a Taoist robe and held a whisk. His temperament was more immortal than that of the sect's real masters, which was very consistent with the image of an old immortal in the eyes of mortals.
"I am Zhao Wude, honored to meet Senior Sister Jiang."
He raised his whisk and bowed with one hand, respectful yet graceful.
Jiang Yuebai nodded, "There is still one person who has not arrived."
The mission this time requires two people in the late stage of Qi training to escort Zhao Wude to Yuyang County in Qingzhou. Without destroying the Wuwei Temple, they should erect another statue of the Taoist ancestor in the temple and place the Tianyan Sect's communication formation in it.
All the things were placed with Zhao Wude, and it was his job to decide how to deal with them. Jiang Yuebai and another inner disciple named Yun Shang only needed to protect them.
In fact, if there had not happened to be a demon disaster there that had not been thoroughly investigated, there would not be such a task, and Zhao Wude could handle everything by himself.
Jiang Yuebai would have been more willing to take on the task of exorcising demons, but unfortunately he was too slow.
After waiting for a while, Jiang Yuebai's ears moved slightly and he heard a noise coming from the sky. He turned around and saw a large black eagle flying in the clouds, with its gilded saddle and horse shining, which looked very majestic.
The eagle landed on the ground, and a heroic female cultivator in red jumped down from behind the eagle. She had a treasure box on her back and an expressionless face. It was Yu Qiuchi, who was the strongest cultivator in the inner sect's foundation-building period.
Zhao Wude hurriedly bowed and didn't dare to look up. Jiang Yuebai cupped his hands and said, "Greetings to Uncle Master Yu."
Yu Qiuchi adjusted the eagle's reins and glanced at Jiang Yuebai casually, without any emotion, and nodded slightly to show his greeting.
At this time, Yu Qiuchi looked past Jiang Yuebai and suddenly smiled.
"Yun Shang, are you going on a mission today?"
Yu Qiuchi restrained his arrogant aura and walked straight past Jiang Yuebai towards the mountain gate archway. Seeing this, the two guarding disciples bowed and took their leave, not daring to disturb Yu Qiuchi from talking to others.
Jiang Yuebai saw a young girl in the white clothes of an inner sect disciple standing timidly beside the archway, her beautiful peach blossom eyes lowered, she looked nervous and resistant, tightly hugging the bald little monkey in her arms.
Yu Qiuchi approached, and Yun Shang stepped back, lowering her head and not making eye contact with her.
Yu Qiuchi didn't dare to get any closer, and Jiang Yuebai actually saw cautious flattery in Yu Qiuchi.
"What mission? If it's dangerous, I'll go with you."
Yun Shang bit her lip and refused to speak. The ugly little monkey in her arms bared its teeth at Yu Qiuchi with a bad attitude.
Yun Shang rubbed the little monkey's head and whispered, "We don't get angry with hypocritical people. It's not good to make others wait. Let's go quickly."
Yun Shang avoided Yu Qiuchi like a snake or a scorpion, and walked away from him and walked towards Jiang Yuebai and Zhao Wude.
Jiang Yuebai's eyes moved slightly, and he was a little curious about the story here.
After Yun Shang came over, she only glanced at her and Zhao Wude quickly, gave her name, and then moved away, without any intention of talking.
Jiang Yuebai looked at her. She seemed very nervous, as if she was afraid that Jiang Yuebai would talk to her.
"Let's go. We can talk on the way."
Zhao Wude and Jiang Yuebai took out their flying swords. Yun Shang had several spirit beast bags hanging around her waist. She opened one of them and released the ferry geese.
Unlike the majestic Du Yan that was rented out to disciples in the sect, this one was old and hairless, and very ugly.
The three of them set off together, with Zhao Wude leading the way, Jiang Yuebai in the middle, and Yun Shang following far behind.
Jiang Yuebai just observed that Yun Shang was about the same age as her, but she was not a disciple who entered the sect at the same time as her. She must have been born in Tianyan Sect and was currently at the ninth level of Qi training.
The sect master said last time that there were five people in the inner sect who had cultivated to the seventh level of Qi training within five years, including her. He was only referring to the disciples who entered the sect at the same time as her, and did not include those disciples who were originally born in the Tianyan Sect and other older disciples.
In fact, there are many disciples in the late stage of Qi training among the outer and inner sects.
It takes about ten days to fly a sword from Tianyan Sect to Qingzhou in Yun Kingdom, and there is no teleportation array within a month.
Jiang Yuebai was a little curious and confused about this task, so he flew to Zhao Wude's side on his sword.
"Excuse me, Junior Brother Zhao, why does the Tianyan Sect have to set up a Taoist temple in the mortal world? Isn't it said that immortal cultivators cannot easily disturb the fate of mortals?"
Jiang Yuebai did not have the airs of an inner sect disciple and was very friendly. Zhao Wude felt a liking for him and started to explain slowly.
"I wonder if you have ever heard the saying, 'If you believe, it exists; if you don't believe, it doesn't exist'. The belief of living beings in Taoism is important. The reason is too profound, and I can't fully understand it. I only know that all Taoists in the world are like this, setting up Taoist temples in the mortal world to spread and consolidate the Taoist faith."
"The Taoist temples monitor the people's sentiments, which will not affect the fate of ordinary people. Only when there is a disaster that ordinary people cannot resist, the immortal sects will take action to quell the disaster. This is a merit and affects the fortune of the immortal sect. In addition, the power of the Taoist sects in the world is divided into three parts: independent cultivators, immortal sects and families."
"Free cultivators can do whatever they want without restraint. If they wantonly interfere with the life and death of mortals, they will be punished by heaven. Immortal sects have rules. They only set up Taoist temples and do not enter the court. They can only take action when mortals come to them for help. Most of the cultivation families are in charge of the mortal dynasties. They will send loyal but hopeless Qi training disciples in the family to serve as state teachers in the dynasties."
“But no matter what, whether it is the immortal sect or the family, they all want to consolidate the Taoist faith and promote the Taoist fortune. The Sixteen Zen Sects of Xiyun are flourishing, and they also act in the same way.”
Jiang Yuebai asked in confusion, "I understand, but this mission seems quite important, why did they send a disciple with no future?"
Zhao Wude smiled bitterly and said, "Sister, you don't know that mortal desires are the most difficult to resolve. If you are affected by the seven emotions and six desires, and your heart is not strong enough to seek immortality and cut off worldly ties, you will not be able to pass the test of the inner demon in the foundation building, which is equivalent to cutting off your path to immortality. Therefore, immortal cultivators are unwilling to go deep into the mortal world. Only those cultivators with no future are willing to enter the mortal world to take charge for the sake of their descendants."
"You too?" Jiang Yuebai asked.
Zhao Wude said without any grudge: "Yes, I entered the sect when I was young, but later I got into a fight with someone and damaged my foundation. I have no hope of building a foundation, but my wife and child still have a bright future. For them, I accepted the task of guarding the Taoist temple in the mortal world and earn some contribution points for them to practice in the sect."
"Parents who love their children will plan for them in the long run. Junior Brother Zhao's heart is admirable."
Zhao Wude smiled widely, "Senior sister, you are too kind. Actually, I am very happy in the mortal world. Everyone calls me the old immortal and treats me with awe. Even the high officials in the mortal world dare not act rashly in front of me. I have to say, this feeling is addictive."
"Even if I am given the opportunity to build my foundation, I can't give up this immortal life. There is no one to restrain me in the Taoist temple. As long as I don't encounter powerful monsters, I am the king. I can shock everyone with a little magic. There is no shortage of fine wine and delicious food. It's so comfortable."
Jiang Yuebai chuckled and nodded, "It's indeed comfortable."
But these days always come to an end, and we are still bound by lifespan and the laws of nature. We are not truly free and easy.
Du Yan suddenly flew to the two of them. Yun Chang held the little monkey and stammered, "Um, there's someone following us."
Jiang Yuebai smiled and said, "They should be here for me. You guys go first. Wait for me in Ningyuan City ahead for half a day."
After saying that, Jiang Yuebai turned the flying sword and sped away in another direction.
Thanks to [mackenze] for the 10,000-yuan reward. I will add one more chapter first. The 12 o'clock update remains unchanged. I think I should formulate a rule for adding more chapters. Let me think about it and write it in the book review area...
(End of this chapter)