"Even when one is a noble prince or a beggar, has the vast heavens ever shown mercy to anyone?"
"Before the whip falls, the debt is already determined; there is no escape from the cycle of cause and effect."
"Although Xu Qing had strong opinions about the dog-beating stick being engraved with runes in the dream, he had to admit that appropriate runes engraved in the right places indeed increased attack speed."
"In terms of quality, the current complete form of the dog-beating stick is only of human grade superior quality, but it is, like the Rice Bowl, the Fate Stone, and the Good and Evil Mirror, a 'future-type' Dharma Artifact with infinite growth potential."
"A spirit-whipping whip can strike all the ghosts under heaven."
"The dog-beating stick has a new name and a new function—beating ghosts."
"The spirit-whipping whip can ignore the physical defense of the living and strike directly at the soul, naturally restraining ghostly entities."
"Such Dharma Artifacts that directly act on the soul itself are rare in the world, and the damage they cause to the target surpasses any physical impact, penetrating deeply into the soul with extreme pain beyond any earthly torture!"
"Xu Qing's mind sank into the Blood Lake Realm, where the ancient golden whip showcasing the eighteen images of Yama was spinning and floating on the west side of the blood lake, continuously absorbing incense offerings."
"Given time, the spirit-whipping golden whip, once well-fed, could perhaps make the most stubborn and evil spirits in the world suffer unbearable pain, losing all ability to resist..."
"However, this spirit-whipping whip is not a fail-safe miracle artifact."
"Entities like zombies, whose physical form and true spirit are one, or special beings like the Sea God and Shiyue, who are immune to all worldly soul-capturing arts, would not be affected by the spirit-whipping whip."
"Xu Qing has, by a stroke of luck, managed to ignore the limitations of the spirit-whipping whip."
"If it were anyone else, not to mention wielding the whip against foes, even whether they could resist the whip's backlash would be questionable."
...
"Outside the gate tower, Xu Qing squatted by the corpse, studying his stick."
"Inside the gate tower, Daoist Zhang was arguing with Monk Xinyuan."
"'Master, you received kindness, which allowed you to cultivate in the Capital City, avoiding great tribulations. Shouldn't you do something to show your appreciation?'"
"'Appreciation? Appreciation for what?'"
"Monk Xinyuan spun around in front of Zhang Ping and retorted, 'What do you see me as?'"
"'A monk.'"
"'Exactly!' Monk Xinyuan said thick-skinnedly, 'I am a monk, a monk who relies on alms for a meal, so cultivation naturally also relies on alms!'"
"'Daoist Zhang is capable, and Daoist Xu has extensive resources. Now all that is asked is to help a poor monk a little, why ask a poor monk for anything in return?'"
"Zhang Ping hadn't expected the elderly monk in front of him to be so shameless, but he wasn't easily fooled either!"
"'Master, as a Daoist, I believe in civility before military action. Back when I roamed the world for sixty years, cleansing and purifying the jianghu, I met unreasonable people. Can you guess how I dealt with them?'"
"Zhang Ping blocked Monk Xinyuan's path, smiling warmly like a spring breeze. 'I chopped their heads off and hung them on the city walls. Not only that, I wrote four characters on the gate tower, which four characters do you think they were?'"
"'Amitabha.'"
"..."
"Zhang Ping laughed heartily, gripping Monk Xinyuan's arm, his face suddenly turning stern. 'I do not recite Buddhist scriptures. Those four characters are not 'Amitabha' but 'Acting in Accordance with Heaven!'"
"'I have done nothing against my conscience, so how could your heavenly actions apply to me?'"
"Hearing this, Zhang Ping sneered, 'You reside in the Jin Sect, not working, not giving back, yet you shamelessly steal the power of heaven and earth that Daoist Xu has worked so hard to earn. It seems innocent, but it is truly despicable!'"
...
"Before them stood a Daoist and a monk, one mad, the other crazy."
"Now, the faking mad monk met the truly insane killer and found himself at a loss for words!"
"'I will not argue with you. I cannot afford to offend you, but can I not avoid you?'"
"Monk Xinyuan seized the opportunity, intending to use escape magic to flee the Capital City."
"However, before his spell took effect, he saw yet another figure appear before him."
"'Master, please stay!'"
"Xu Qing blocked Monk Xinyuan's path and asked, 'Master, are you trying to flee before the battle even begins?'"
...
"Seeing Monk Xinyuan's expression turn bitter, Xu Qing continued, 'Monks are compassionate. I suppose the Master wouldn't want to see all beings continue in suffering, would you?'"
"'It's not that I don't want to help, it's just...'"
"Monk Xinyuan's face changed multiple times until he finally bit his teeth and confessed, 'I am not like you two unencumbered Daoists. You think I am a wandering monk, yet I am a disciple before the Buddha, a reincarnated respected one.'"
"'If I were to follow your wishes, I would indeed invite great calamity upon myself!'"
"Xu Qing said softly, 'Does the Zen Master think it is more important to deal with matters before Buddha or to seek welfare for all beings?'"
...
"Monk Xinyuan remained silent."
"Xu Qing looked at Monk Xinyuan for a moment, then suddenly stepped aside."
"Monk Xinyuan's eyes lit up, and he stepped forward to leave the gate tower."
"Yet, just as he was about to leave, he heard a devilish whisper behind him."
"'So be it. Since the old monk refuses to enter the calamity, I shall find the young monk.'"
"Beside him, Zhang Ping said with malicious delight, 'Do you mean the Zen Master of Gajue Temple?''"
"Xu Qing nodded with a smile, 'If the old won't come, then we can only settle with the young ones, right? If Daoist Zhang hadn't agreed to join me, perhaps accompanying me today would have been the Celestial Master from the Celestial Master's Mansion.'"
"..."
Are you human?
Could this be something a human would say?
Zhang Pingsheng could no longer muster a laugh; outside the gatehouse, a monk named Xinyuan took a step forward, then silently withdrew it.
He finally understood that today's events did not stem from Zhang Pingsheng, and the words about benevolence spoken by the Taoist with the ox-nose should not be fully trusted.
Truly inhuman has always been Xu Qing alone!
"Master, why have you returned?"
Xu Qing looked curious.
"This humble monk has thought it through; as long as it is for the welfare of all beings, even if condemned by Buddha himself, what harm is there?"
Monk Xinyuan had a face full of great benevolence.
Xu Qing smiled and said nothing more.
He wasn't surprised that Monk Xinyuan agreed to help.
Or rather, even if Xu Qing hadn't mentioned Chen Liu'Er, this Mad Monk would have sooner or later come finding him on his own.
After all, a rebellious monk who can claim irony like 'wine and meat pass through the intestines, but Buddha remains in the heart' could never be a docile character!
A monk, a Taoist, and a funeral director—that is the remaining active force in the mundane world poised to resist the Yinyuemen leader.
And this force continues to grow stronger!
...
In Zhongzhou, beneath Mount Funiu.
Xu Qing was accompanied by a monk and a Taoist, and beside him was a little girl dressed in lotus fairy clothes, looking extremely adorable.
Along the way, Monk Xinyuan repeatedly asked Xu Qing about Shiyue's background. After all, this little girl's attire was very reminiscent of a celestial being he once remembered.
Xu Qing didn't hide anything; some connections must be spoken of to exert deterrent power. Now that he sought to rally a multitude into the tribulations, he naturally had to present a formidable background!
Below Mount Funiu, Xu Qing found Ascendant Fuluan busily refining a Dharma Artifact.
Upon meeting, this Immortal nearly kneeled before Xu Qing.
"Brother Dao, I was merely jesting; the holy water was obtained from healthy children, absolutely without any impurity. Why such a grand display, Dao Brother?"
Ascendant Fuluan thought Xu Qing had come to settle the past debt about child urine.
Xu Qing had almost forgotten this matter, but upon mention, his face instantly darkened.
Nearby, Shiyue curiously asked, "What holy water?"
"Mind your own business, it's adult matters."
Xu Qing looked at the Immortal before him, expressionless, "I've come to you not for that. However, if you refuse what's next, I wouldn't mind settling some old scores with you..."
"..."
How could Ascendant Fuluan dare utter a refusal? The debt he owed to Xu Qing and the Demon Exorcism True Monarch couldn't be repaid just by hosting a capital ritual. Reckoning those accounts would make selling himself insufficient.
Upon hearing that Xu Qing intended to unite the secular active forces to confront the leader of Yinyuemen and resist a great tribulation, Ascendant Fuluan had no objections!
Yinyuemen sought to seize mundane spiritual essence, polluting the human world, and deserved condemnation from everyone. Besides, clearing Yinyuemen's leader holds immense benefits for opening the celestial path.
Ascendant Fuluan has practiced for over two thousand years, all for the sake of ascending to immortality!
Now, Xu Qing is willing to lead the charge and... lead more into tribulation, a truly great fortune for him!
"Surely Dao Brother hasn't forgotten, early on at Jin Sect confronting Ghost Law, I chose this path. Now with Ghost Law removed, how could I retreat?"
Xu Qing nodded with satisfaction, and then introduced the monk and Taoist beside him to Ascendant Fuluan.
"Daoist Zhang, Master Xinyuan..."
Ascendant Fuluan greeted them cheerfully.
However, Zhang Pingsheng and Monk Xinyuan couldn't shake the feeling that this Immortal's gaze upon them was somewhat peculiar.
As someone who's been here before, Ascendant Fuluan had anticipated the fate awaiting them in Xu Qing's hands.
"No time like the present. I understand that Land True Immortal Xie Qiongke's sanctuary is atop Zhongzhou's Yuntai Mountain. Over the years, Zhongzhou's spiritual essence has been abundant, and Xie Qiongke has greatly benefited! Since we're here, we should visit Yuntai Mountain and pay our respects to this Daoist friend."
Zhang Pingsheng and company exchanged a smile, aware they had boarded a pirate ship and eagerly hoped to pull others aboard too!
————
"Surely Dao Brother hasn't forgotten, early on at Jin Sect confronting Ghost Law, I chose this path. Now with Ghost Law removed, how could I retreat?"
Xu Qing nodded with satisfaction, and then introduced the monk and Taoist beside him to Ascendant Fuluan.
"Daoist Zhang, Master Xinyuan..."
Ascendant Fuluan greeted them cheerfully.
However, Zhang Pingsheng and Monk Xinyuan couldn't shake the feeling that this Immortal's gaze upon them was somewhat peculiar.
As someone who's been here before, Ascendant Fuluan had anticipated the fate awaiting them in Xu Qing's hands.
"No time like the present. I understand that Land True Immortal Xie Qiongke's sanctuary is atop Zhongzhou's Yuntai Mountain. Over the years, Zhongzhou's spiritual essence has been abundant, and Xie Qiongke has greatly benefited! Since we're here, we should visit Yuntai Mountain and pay our respects to this Daoist friend."
Zhang Pingsheng and company exchanged a smile, aware they had boarded a pirate ship and eagerly hoped to pull others aboard too!