Xu Qing asked in return, "What does Xuan Yu think should be done?"
"Hmm..."
This question stumped the cat, while Xu Qing calmly said, "Mundane matters should naturally be handled by mundane people. Once we've settled the disputes with the Ruyi Temple, we should leave a clue for the authorities."
Upon saying this, Xu Qing looked again at the villagers. Clearly, nothing but a one-foot-high wooden fence was restraining them, yet not a single one attempted to jump off the cart and escape.
Those fences were like the binding spell that the Daoists of Ruyi Temple had cast upon them, deeply etched into their bones.
"These villagers are not yet enlightened. Even if you or I tried explaining, it would be futile. If we were to take them away from Bailong Village, it's hard to say if they'd survive. These matters can only be left to the authorities to handle."
Xu Qing shook his head in exasperation.
Then, leading the way was Xuan Yu, followed by Xu Qing, as they scoured the village from end to end, cleansing all the wicked Daoists and some of the high-ranking villagers who had been thoroughly domesticated.
The time was late autumn, nearing early winter, and the mist-shrouded Bailong Village was stained with an eerie blood-red hue.
...
The legend says that in the Yunmeng Mountain, where the sun never shines, there is a divine dwelling called Baiyun Cave, where an immortal named Yuan Gong guards the Celestial Scripture.
After stealing the Celestial Scripture, Yuan Gong inscribed all the forbidden techniques and secrets from the scripture onto the stone walls of Baiyun Cave. When the Celestial Emperor learned of this, he punished Yuan Gong by banishing him to the mortal realm, to guard Baiyun Cave and its Celestial Scripture day and night, never to leave.
A thousand years ago, Yuan Gong atoned for his sins, achieving full merit and returning to the celestial realm. However, the Celestial Scripture in Yunmeng Mountain remained carved on the stone walls of Baiyun Cave, lingering to this day.
There are many stories about this. Some say that Baiyun Cave's entrance was sealed by a giant rock, making it indistinguishable from the surrounding mountains, impossible to discover.
Others say an old fiend, subdued by Yuan Gong, guards Baiyun Cave, and anyone seeking immortality or the Celestial Scripture's traces ends up in the belly of that fiend.
These are all baseless legends, but there is one theory that some still believe: that Baiyun Daoist from Ruyi Temple stumbled upon Baiyun Cave in his early years and obtained the secret to immortality.
The current emperor deeply believes this, otherwise, he wouldn't repeatedly send people to Ruyi Temple to request for the elixir of immortality.
It's said that Emperor Longping lived to a very old age because he took the elixirs from Ruyi Temple.
When Xu Qing arrived at Ruyi Temple, he realized what a nouveau riche spectacle was.
A Daoist temple far from any county seat, yet built more grand than those in the Capital City!
It's like a donkey dung pat with gold edges, and dirt wrapped in silk—it just doesn't fit!
Xu Qing opened his Yin Pupil, scanned with Qi Observation Skill. The overwhelming resentment and malignant air enveloped by the temple incense was indeed like donkey dung coated in egg wash, fried to look presentable. Anyone could say it was beautiful!
But if someone were to take a bite, even if it didn't burst, it would leave a foul taste in the mouth.
Xu Qing, who dealt with the dead all the time, was quite unlucky, but upon seeing the decades—or even centuries—of suppressed resentment, especially hearing the sharp and painful cries of infants hidden within, Xu Qing felt utterly unwell.
These resentful spirits were different from the Baby Spirits inside the Hundred Infant Tower in Huangping Village. Baby Spirits in the tower still had their fetal bodies as vessels, but those in Ruyi Temple did not.
This meant that the Sutra of Salvation couldn't redeem them, so Xu Qing could only rely on the incense from the Blood Lake Dharma Realm of Bao Sheng Temple to guide them.
Xu Qing sensed these Infant Spirits trapped within Ruyi Temple. To redeem them all, at least half of the incense from his Blood Lake Dharma Realm would be needed.
Yet, Xu Qing didn't hesitate for a moment.
If he didn't come to guide these children toward liberation, who else would save them?
In front of Ruyi Temple, Xu Qing hadn't yet spoken when the well-acquainted Xuan Yu promptly asked, "Same as at Xiao Ci Temple?"
"The same, but don't set the temple on fire."
Xu Qing feared scaring the children.
Having killed monks and fought through Bailong Village, Xuan Yu's body was now filled with enough demonic aura that if it reached a critical point, the five-hundred-year thunder tribulation would descend.
However, upon hearing Xu Qing's concern about frightening the children, Xuan Yu, whose eyes were filled with murderous intent, showed a rare gentle expression.
The Xu Immortal Family is indeed so compassionate.
"Aside from the villagers and commoners, don't leave any of the wicked Daoists alive. Our Cat Immortal Hall only needs the corpses!" Xu Qing added.
Xuan Yu nodded. Then, with a flash of the Treasure Sword from the box, Ruyi Temple's plaque shattered instantly.
The Daoists inside moved upon hearing the noise, and when they saw the girl holding a sword at the entrance, they all froze.
"Who are you to dare wreak havoc in our sacred Daoist grounds? Do you not know that this Temple is Baiyun Immortal Master's place..."
The sword flashed, and the Daoist's voice abruptly halted.
Sacred grounds?
Xuan Yu disdainfully shook off the blood from the Treasure Sword; as for Baiyun Immortal Master, it was seeking that wicked Daoist!
The grudge from years ago and the dignity of Xu Immortal's Bao Sheng Temple, today, it would settle all matters!
Just as Xu Immortal once said, issues that need resolving will eventually need resolution. With the thunder tribulation looming, if it didn't seek revenge now, would there be another chance when the tribulation descended?
Fear of the celestial tribulation is innate among demons, and even with a million incense to protect it, Xuan Yu still feared the imminent thunder tribulation.
Under the celestial tribulation, whether it's the immortal phoenix or the Nine-Life Profound Cat, if the tribulation isn't overcome, all fates, all divine techniques, everything would be obliterated in the thunderfire.
Xuan Yu cherished its carefree days in the Jin Sect. Xu Immortal always managed everything perfectly for it, and because of this, it feared.
Feared the helplessness when the tribulation clouds loomed overhead, just like when the old woman abandoned it, losing all reliance in panic.
But this time, it might be the one abandoning Xu Qing.
The young girl's teeth clenched tightly, her youthful face bore a killing intent starkly contrasting her appearance.
Xu Qing had never seen this side of Xuan Yu, with an endless stream of demonic aura seemingly threatening to swallow Ruyi Temple whole.
As the Protector of Bao Sheng Temple, apart from vengeance, Xuan Yu more so wanted to do things for the Bao Sheng Goddess.
Because the true form of the Bao Sheng Goddess is precisely the Xu Immortal Family!
Xu Qing didn't know what the cat was thinking, but seeing that surging malicious air, he couldn't help but worry if he was too harsh on the cat.
However, this thought only surfaced for a moment before Xu Qing repressed it.
Now that the celestial path was severed, all cultivators, whether scaleless or birth-and-egg transformed, even anomalies like Xu Qing himself, were all in the Five Filthy Evil Worlds. No one could ensure they could forever stand firm amid the treacherous tides of the red dust.
Even Xu Qing dared not guarantee it.
Zombies might be immortal, but that doesn't mean they'd always be by Xuan Yu's side, for no one knows if tomorrow or an accident comes first. All Xu Qing could do was let Xuan Yu grow up early, no matter how brutal the process might be.
In the alchemy room of the temple's rear hall, the young girl struck the alchemy furnace that once burnt her, splitting it with a sword. Just then, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned her head to see Xu Qing, put away her sword, the frost in her eyes melted away.
But then she directly heard Xu Qing saying,
"In this world, no one can be trusted, not even me."
Xu Qing didn't praise or encourage Xuan Yu, instead, he calmly said, "Even appearances can deceive. If someone took on my form, you might have lost another life."
As he spoke, Xu Qing glanced at the cauldron in front of him. After it was damaged by Xuan Yu, the grievance spirits that scattered around calmed down at once upon seeing the manifestation of the Bao Sheng Goddess descending from the Blood Lake Dharma Realm.
At the next moment, wearing a crown of five phoenixes appeared.
On the sleeves and skirts, gilded intertwined florals and woven brocades of Shoushan and Fuhai brought ultimate tranquility.
At this moment, they felt an unprecedented peace.