Within the White Cloud Cave lies another world. When Xu Qing first glimpsed it in the elder's dream, he didn't think much of it, but upon entering the dream entrusted by the Saint Daogu, he truly realized the extraordinary nature of this cave heaven.
This cave has a world of its own, with plains stretching over thousands of acres. Looking into the distance, ancient towering trees exist eternally, and rare flowers and exotic herbs never wither. Outside the cave, it appeared small and confined, dim and sunless. But once inside, it was a paradise away from the world, a place of the immortal family!
No wonder that Baiyun Daoist had such confidence in the Saint Daogu.
If Xu Qing hadn't learned of the Saint Daogu's deeds in advance through the Sutra of Salvation, he might have been fooled at first sight.
"Young lad, are you also here to seek the immortal path?"
The elderly woman leaned on a bamboo staff with a hundred knots, speaking with a serene demeanor, much like a seasoned monk or nun who frequently meditates and worships Buddha.
Xu Qing squinted at the elderly witch in front of him, with a decidedly unfriendly gaze!
The one who guided Baiyun Daoist and taught him to use the Nine-Life Profound Cat as a medicinal guide to refine the Immortal Life Pill was an old hag. Later, the mastermind who lured Xuan Yu into Yunmeng Mountain, catching him in Baiyun Daoist's trap, was also an old hag.
Information about this Xu Qing had heard from Eunuch Liao's storytelling lamp and confirmed through Xuan Yu.
Though Xu Qing had never seen the old crone's face, it didn't stop him from directing all his hatred toward the elderly woman before him.
Suppressing the impulse to act, Xu Qing quelled his agitation and spoke with a somewhat hoarse voice, "Seven years ago, the one who drove the Baiyun demon daoist to capture the Nine-Life Profound Cat, was it you?"
The elderly woman, who called herself Saint Daogu, froze for a moment, perplexed, "I did teach him the Immortal Pill Technique, which indeed requires a Nine-Life medicine guide; I didn't expect he actually found one..."
A trace of doubt flickered in Xu Qing's eyes. Could the old witch who lured Xuan Yu be someone else?
Indeed! The old hag who deceived Xuan Yu had walked the world and lived with Xuan Yu for a time, whereas the elderly woman before him seemed confined to the White Cloud Cave, unable to leave.
Xu Qing quickly sorted his thoughts, yet even so, his impression of the elderly woman before him did not improve in the slightest.
Even if she didn't deceive Xuan Yu, this elderly woman still indirectly caused Xuan Yu to lose a life by teaching Baiyun Daoist the evil technique of alchemy!
Not to mention the infants, fresh from their mothers' wombs, used by Baiyun Daoist for great medicine.
The elderly woman completely disregarded Xu Qing's thoughts and spoke eagerly, "I am a disciple under the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, named Saint Daogu, stationed here in the White Cloud Cave waiting for someone destined. Observing your remarkable appearance and sincere heart to seek the immortal path, if you are willing to take me as a teacher, I am willing to impart the secret celestial scripture, the rituals to refine the Ghost Head Knife, and the Technique of Immortality to you."
A familiar magic knife, a familiar immortality technique.
Unfortunately, these might hold great allure for others, but for Xu Qing...
Is the magic knife mightier than his Heavenly Gang Axe? As for the immortality technique, he wouldn't spare it a glance if it were thrown on the street!
Xu Qing attempted to catch a glimpse of the stone wall behind Saint Daogu, inscribed with celestial scripture symbols, but she blocked it thoroughly.
This old hen...
"I have heard that the White Cloud Cave is where Master Yuan practiced, yet I have never heard of any Saint Daogu," Xu Qing sneered. "Old lady, you can fool others, but you cannot fool me!"
"Your first disciple, Yuan Kong, was killed by the Baiyun demon daoist. You did not stand up for your disciple but instead accepted the demon daoist as your disciple. Now, after I've killed that elder, you wish to take me as your disciple?"
Xu Qing scrutinized the elderly woman, as if suddenly understanding something.
"The method for refining the Ghost Head Knife should be your way to escape this cave heaven, right?"
Whether it was Baiyun Daoist or himself, when the old hag imparted skills through dreams, they were all about the Ghost Head Knife and the method for refining evil pills.
Those pills, once refined, were mainly used by others and did not possess the capability to unlock the White Cloud Cave's seal. Only the Ghost Head Knife, which evolves through bloodly food, was most susceptible to being set with traps.
The elderly woman's complexion changed dramatically at these words, "The Immortal Techniques I impart originate from the nine heavens' secret methods, with not a false word. You may doubt me, but do you dare question the integrity of the celestial scripture?"
"I don't know if the celestial scriptures are lacking, but I do know that the methods you've imparted are all evil and unscrupulous. If the celestial scripture recorded such things, then it wouldn't be celestial scripture!"
Xu Qing approached the old witch, his gaze falling behind her, "If you're truly the Bodhisattva's disciple, why not reveal the true celestial scripture for me to see?"
Nonetheless, the old witch refused to budge from blocking the passage outside the stone wall.
"Your heart is not sincere! I will not impart this method to you. Leave quickly, do not sully this pure place of mine!"
As soon as the elderly woman finished speaking, Xu Qing felt a force repelling him from the surroundings, and he also showed signs of waking up.
But could the old crone truly send him away so easily?
Certainly not!
As the saying goes, inviting in the deity is easy, sending them away is hard. Now the Goddess of Health was tasked with investigating the case of the Temple of Harmony; having finally tracked it to the White Cloud Cave, how could she possibly give up here!
Xu Qing decisively used the Dream Creation Skill, forcibly lulling himself back to sleep when he was about to awaken.
In the dream, the more Xu Qing chanted the incantation, the more alert he became.
The Saint Daogu saw this and was dumbfounded. Why couldn't she send this person away?
With a gust of wind carried by the bamboo staff swung forward, Xu Qing remained rooted to the rock, unmoving.
Unbelieving in the impossible, Saint Daogu lifted her cloth skirt, revealing long hairy legs, turning and pointing her backside directly at Xu Qing.