"Do you want to become an immortal?"
"An immortal?"
"Yes, an immortal!"
"The kind that flies around in the sky and never ages?"
"Yes, that kind. How about you give it some thought, old Zhao?"
"Think my ass!"
It was a perfectly normal thing for Xu Qing to say, but when Zhao Zhonghe heard it, it sounded completely different.
Letting him become an immortal? Why not just say I'm rebelling to become the Emperor and appoint you as my general?
Zhao Zhonghe saw Xu Qing's serious face and thought there was something important. Instead, he got this.
"Don't be so skeptical. Just look at this True Man in front of you; he's a Land Immortal who's lived for two thousand years."
Zhao Zhonghe looked at the middle-aged man with sunken eyes, pale face, and an aura full of deception, and felt even more doubtful.
"He looks like a sickly, gambling, womanizing ghost. Living another twenty years would be a stretch, let alone two thousand..."
Ascendant Fuluan's pale face turned slightly green, and this look was all thanks to Xu Qing.
If it weren't for the exhaustions from the Dutian Grand Formation, he wouldn't be clinging to an alchemy furnace for health every day.
"Believer Zhao, you may not believe me, but this Daoist Xu colleague of mine is not any less than an immortal..."
"Old Xu? An immortal?"
Zhao Zhonghe finally put aside his dismissive attitude, furrowing his brow and said solemnly, "You two must have seen through my origins, so I won't hide it anymore!"
Xu Qing and Ascendant Fuluan felt a chill in their hearts, could it be...
"To be honest, I am the Jade Emperor in mortal disguise. Bow to me, and one day I'll take you both back to heaven to share in the glory and wealth!"
"..."
Xu Qing and Ascendant Fuluan's faces instantly fell black. This utter scoundrel, even with most of their body in the grave, was still trying to take advantage of people.
The two exchanged a glance and, almost telepathically, each grabbed one of Zhao Zhonghe's arms. By the time old Zhao reacted, the three of them had left the birthday banquet and found themselves floating above the vast Baisha River.
Amidst the clouds and mist, the outline of the entire Linjiang City could be vaguely seen, leaving Zhao Zhonghe speechless for quite a while.
"Old Zhao, didn't you want to fly around? Why are you so restrained now?"
"..."
Zhao Zhonghe glanced to the side, only to see that Xu Qing, who was just moments ago a decrepit old man, had somehow returned to youth, looking exactly the same as he had decades ago!
"Old Xu, are you really an immortal?"
Xu Qing chuckled and shook his head, "I'm no immortal. If anyone here is an immortal, it should be you."
They returned to the ground, and Ascendant Fuluan cupped his hands with a smile towards Zhao Zhonghe, "I am Xu Junfang, greetings to Xuantan True Monarch."
Xu Qing explained, "Xu Junfang, also known as Ascendant Fuluan. You may not know who he is, but surely you've heard of the alchemist tasked by the First Ancestor Emperor over two thousand years ago to seek the elixir of immortality..."
"He is that alchemist."
"As for the Xuantan True Monarch that Ascendant Fuluan mentioned..."
Xu Qing smiled and recounted the past of Longhu Xuantan True Monarch, as well as matters concerning the return to the void of the Ancient Yin River Dao.
"Chief Zhao's dreams of being entangled by a thousand ghosts are mostly due to the Ghost Law of the Yin River. It's an old grudge from past lives, as well as a threat to body and Dao, which is why the chief remembers it so vividly."
Zhao Zhonghe was still somewhat bewildered and asked instinctively, "I also remember vividly a stick from forty-five years ago. Could it have been my immortal weapon when I was one?"
"..."
Xu Qing didn't engage with Zhao Zhonghe but instead took a drop of Three Lives Stone Dew from the Mountain and River Map.
This Stone Dew was no ordinary dew but a drop of water suspended within an amber-colored stone.
The water remained within, unaffected by the taint of impurity, unbound by the rules of heaven and earth, truly an exotic water transcending the six paths of reincarnation.
Xu Qing handed the Stone Dew to Zhao Zhonghe and said, "This drop of Stone Dew can awaken the chief's true spirit and revive past wisdom. Once taken, the chief will achieve the Dao in a day and no longer remain a mortal."
Zhao Zhonghe carefully held the Stone Dew, his expression changed, and finally, he let out a long sigh, "Old Xu, though I'm unclear on what the Yin River is or what catastrophe the world faces, I can feel that there is something extremely urgent waiting for me to do."
"However, you must allow me some time to settle my affairs before I seek you out again."
Xu Qing naturally agreed. Since Xuantan True Monarch lacked a physical body and cultivated the Primordial Spirit, as long as a sliver of the true spirit endures, he could step back onto the path of cultivation.
However, this also indicated that Zhao Zhonghe, wishing to cultivate again, had to let go of his cumbersome mortal form to break free of self-imposed limitations and allow his Primordial Spirit to unleash its full potential.
"Chief, the day you need to handle matters of the past, feel free to find me on Underground Street. If I'm not there, you can look for Li Tiezhu at the Paper Mache Shop to manage it for you."
Zhao Zhonghe's body had been Xu Qing's target for quite some time.
Of course, it wasn't for the little bounty on the chief; he simply wanted to realize an old dream.
...
Time paddles forward, flowing swiftly.
Two years passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, the old and new members of the Government Office gathered at the Zhao Family estate. Old Xu, who hadn't presided over a funeral in ages on Underground Street, broke tradition by donning his ceremonial robe to personally conduct the ritual for the Zhao Family patriarch.
Amidst the grand funeral procession, the Zhao Family's descendants were weeping, and several families who had received favors from Chief Zhao came voluntarily to pay their respects.
At the street corner, in an inconspicuous nook, a tiny figure the size of a palm was standing on the shoulder of Ascendant Fuluan, gazing down the street.
"After the True Monarch's transcendence, such a crowd came to pay respects. It shows that the True Monarch was a person of great virtue in this world."
Ascendant Fuluan believed one day he would ascend to the upper realm and serve as a celestial official alongside Xuantan True Monarch, hence his remarks were filled with flattery.
Xuantan True Monarch withdrew his gaze, closed his eyes, and said:
"You only know me as the constable, but you don't know I've immersed myself in the mortal world for a thousand years. Over these thousand years, I have been a merchant, a minor official, even a bandit king occupying a mountain, and a grassland outlaw..."
"These people are me, yet not me. This is the grand journey of life, like a dream or illusion, extinguishing everywhere."
"Just like a dream of Nanke, nothing but an empty realm."
Despite these words, hearing his nephew Zhao Yuan's anguished cries made Xuantan True Monarch's eyelids twitch, and he instinctively glanced towards the crowd.
The funeral procession passed by the site of the child student examination, triggering Zhao Yuan's memories.
Having turned sixty, Zhao Yuan spoke, "Back when I took the child student exams, I repeatedly failed. Though my uncle repeatedly scolded me as unfit for scholarly pursuits, he always accompanied me, supporting me for the exams..."
As he spoke, the old man grew increasingly sorrowful until a group stepped forward to console him, eventually soothing Zhao Yuan's emotions.
At the street corner, Xuantan True Monarch remained silent for a long time.
Could he confess that he had bet with someone back in the day, claiming the Zhao Family would surely produce a scholar, and that's why he supported Zhao Yuan's studies as a last resort?
Raising the coffin, proceeding with the funeral, laying to rest.
The life of Linjiang constable Zhao Zhonghe completely ended, yet the legend of Xuantan True Monarch continues.
On the Ancient Yin River Dao, a Demon Tiger emerged from the Bone Shrine, heading straight for the Yin-Yang boundary marker.
Xuantan True Monarch observed the mutant black tiger, resembling both a tiger and a leopard, with a smile finally appearing on his face.
"What are the True Monarch's plans for the future?"
Xuantan True Monarch responded with laughter: "Back in the day, Brother Zhengnan guarded my tomb here for a thousand years, and it was with Brother Xu's help that my great revenge was avenged. Now, I should guard this place, waiting for my powers to recover before making further plans."
Finally, Xuantan True Monarch added, "Brother Xu is an extraordinary talent. Should any day you require my assistance, feel free to speak, and regardless of dragons' dens or tigers' lairs, I am willing to venture forth!"
Xu Qing expressed gratitude, but before he left, he heard Xuantan True Monarch say:
"Brother Xu, where did you get that stick, how did it come to be so naturally formed?"
Xu Qing, without much thought, responded instinctively: "It's just a naturally formed dog-beating stick, perhaps a branch of some tree, not considered a treasure."
"So it's indeed your acquisition!"
Upon Xu Qing's admission, Xuantan True Monarch couldn't help but curse jokingly: "It's just a broken stick. I, a True Monarch, wouldn't lower myself to covet it, would I?"
"How about this? Temporarily lend me that stick, so I can study it for a few days. Who knows, I might uncover its origins for you."
Seeing Xu Qing's cautious expression, Xuantan True Monarch immediately laughed and said, "Would I deprive someone of their beloved item? Just kidding, Daoist Friend, take it lightly."
"..."
Xu Qing couldn't help but feel that this True Monarch's character was more 'mischievous' than when he was the constable.
...
In the fifth year of Fengjing, outside Linjiang City.
Xu Qing set up an altar and ritual on Mount Ziyun, once again employing his Immortal Seeking technique.
"All laws return to the Heavenly Dao, all immortals return to the formation. Tonight, temporarily sending off the guest of Penglai; another day, reunite with divine fate..."
Xu Qing, holding the Emperor's Sword, stepped on the Big Dipper as he initiated the Immortal Seeking technique, his consciousness soaring upward.
This time, however, with the Netherworld Emperor's Sword and the blessing of the underworld's fortune, Xu Qing's Immortal Seeking technique sensed far-reaching places.
He could vaguely perceive some secluded residences of extraordinary high cultivators, drifting along with the cosmic essence.
Sailing past mountains and towns full of smoke, when a vast ocean appeared in his mind, Xu Qing suddenly opened his eyes!
"East Sea, Nine Bay River, Demon Orb Cave Heaven?"
Xu Qing frowned slightly. In the Immortal Seeking technique's vision, that Immortal Cave at Nine Bay River hardly looked like a blessed realm; it seemed sinister, resembling a land where Demon Path Demon People would reside.
However, Xu Qing never judged based on appearance or background alone; if he did, he himself came from the Demon Path. His Cat Immortal Hall's immortals all belonged among demons.
Yet considering virtue, which of those esteemed temples and mansions, like the Celestial Master's Mansion or Cizhao Temple, could be considered truly righteous cultivators?
"Embroiderer, I will be traveling in a few days. This is a drop of stone dew, you must keep it safe for Shiyue. If she ever appears to be merging with the Dao and returning to emptiness, you must let her consume this drop of stone dew in advance."
After instructing the embroiderer, Xu Qing returned to the Funeral Shop and reminded Xuan Yu once more.
Just as plans can't keep up with changes.
Just as Xu Qing was about to set off for Nine Bay River in the East Sea, the Capital suddenly sent secret riders in the night to Jin Sect.
The Jin Sect riders had no time for further explanation, only saying that Your Majesty had a letter that Xu Qing must read personally.
Upon opening the letter and reading its contents, Xu Qing frowned and immediately decided to change his itinerary, planning to visit the Capital first, then head to the East Sea.
The letter was brief, stating that Zhu Huai'an's end was near, and he wished to see his old friend once more in his final moments.