Compared to this, she really was not as free as the other person.
Master Jingxu's eyebrows contained hidden worry, for a moment she didn't know whether letting her disciple mingle with these unconventional beings was right or wrong.
...
Elsewhere, Xuan Yu had just returned to the Funeral Shop, leaping onto the coffin lid, watching Xu Qing write couplets, eagerly sharing what he had just witnessed.
"That old lady who isn't even as tall as me claimed to be some sort of manifest Primordial Spirit. Xu Immortal Family, do you know what realm Primordial Spirit is?"
"..."
Xu Qing felt a chill on the back of his neck, people from the Xuan Sect are myths in the eyes of the world, elusive rare beings, and the Primordial Spirit is a legend among legends, even to those who have practiced True Skill, something that is utterly unattainable.
No! It should be something they can't even aspire to.
In this world, where would a Primordial Spirit True Man come from?
But if there is one, then it is not a simple matter.
Xu Qing felt it was necessary to have a proper talk with Xuan Yu about Xuan Sect cultivation.
"Profound Jade Immortal Family only knows demons have three calamities. Every 500 years of cultivation brings a calamity, but they don't know that human cultivation is not about three calamities, but rather the division into six realms."
Demon cultivation isn't as ceremonial as human cultivation, breaking down each realm for understanding. In the eyes of demon tribes, might, high magical power, and deep cultivation are the only truths.
All other vague things are unimportant.
Xuan Yu first heard of the Sixth Realm Technique and thought it was the martial six realms practiced by the Transmission Hall iron pillars.
Xu Qing shook his head, patiently explaining, "Although martial arts have six realms, they have nothing to do with the six realms of the Xuan Sect. This is about cultivation realms and cannot be compared to martial arts. The former is passed on in the mundane world, while the latter hides away, unknown to ordinary people."
"And it's not something a demon without origins or lineage can know."
Xu Qing looked at Xuan Yu, blinking, saying, "Although our Cat Immortal Hall doesn't have much heritage, we do have a lot of 'corpse orders'."
Xuan Yu was perplexed, "A lot of lineages? Besides Hu Baosong and Liu Youdao, are there other lineages from the Xu Immortal Family?"
"Not at all!" Xu Qing waved his hand, laughing, "This 'corpse order' is not the same as lineage. Everything in the world can be a teacher; I just happen to know a few more people."
The Immortal Hall values connections, and Xu Qing has them, though they're mostly with the dead.
Those corpses, especially those from the Xuan Sect or the Yin Sect, are his 'dark teachers.'
Great teachers produce great students, let alone a group of great teachers.
"And with Profound Jade Immortal Family following me, it's like having countless good teachers."
Xuan Yu's eyes grew brighter upon hearing this.
Indeed, it could always trust the Xu Immortal Family.
"Weren't you curious about what level a Primordial Spirit is? I'm going to tell you now."
Xu Qing smiled, his tone always calm.
"The Xuan Sect has six realms, divided into Exorcism, General Knowledge, Punishing Soul, Decaying, Life Shaping, and Primordial Spirit."
"Exorcism, also known as Spirit Lowering. Those who can command ghosts, small arts, and deity empowerment are considered first realm cultivators.
Anyone stepping into this realm, as long as they don't act recklessly, can live out their allotted lifespan without fear of illness. The lifespan one is born with is what they die with, and if they die suddenly, there's a chance to return through borrowed bodies or linger as a ghost."
"The second realm, General Knowledge, people have nine general knowledges, and opening even one counts as stepping into the second realm. The person in this realm gains the divine technique of whichever general knowledge they open. However, no matter how many general knowledges are opened, only sixty years of lifespan are added."
"The third realm, Punishing Soul, can be divided into yang punishment and yin punishment, corresponding to a person's yang soul and yin soul. Cultivators in this realm can detain souls, refine true spirits, travel between yin and yang, and borrow three hundred years from heaven.
The fourth realm, Decaying, known as the Heaven and Earth Silver House, is about deposits and withdrawals, requiring a return of lifespan to heaven, slashing five hundred..."
Xuan Yu's pupils dilated, "Punishing Soul borrows three hundred years, why does Decaying mean slashing away five hundred?"
Xu Qing explained, "Because of interest. Human cultivation inherently takes from the transformation of heaven and earth, loathed by heaven. Many are stuck in this realm because they can't find a way to extend their lifespan to fill the deficit, and as vitality is exhausted, so too is the person."
"Cultivators entering the Decaying realm either live cautiously, treading on thin ice year by year, or transform into demonic beings, stealing lifespan, refining grand elixirs to fill the deficit. It's considered the most trying realm and the likeliest for cultivators to stray into evil paths."
"But once someone surpasses Decaying, they can withstand heaven's test and receive nourishment, not only replenishing the deficit but gaining new lifespan, determined by cultivation methods, personal aptitude, and luck."
"The fifth realm, Life Shaping. Those who reach this stage more or less learn some longevity techniques. With ample lifespan, they cultivate Xuan arts, develop divine techniques, attempting to find that thread for transcendence and becoming a Daoist. This realm corresponds to the Daoist stage of refining the spirit to return to emptiness."
Xu Qing stopped speaking after describing the first five realms.
Unable to endure, Xuan Yu impatiently asked, "What about the sixth realm?"
Xu Qing revealed a slightly wicked smile, eerily saying: "Didn't you just see the Sixth Realm? Senior Sister Yizhen's master, that palm-sized old lady from the Profound Jade Immortal Family, is a Primordial Spirit True Man."
"..."
Feeling a chill at the back of his neck, Xuan Yu weakly asked: "Is the Primordial Spirit very powerful?"
"Very powerful! So powerful that even though I've worshipped many old corpses, I still don't really understand how strong a Primordial Spirit True Man really is. I only know they are infinitely close to the legendary immortals."
"If the Heaven-Reaching Road hadn't been broken, who knows, Master Jingxu might have already left the mundane world, becoming one of those lofty immortals."
"..."
Only now did Xuan Yu realize how high the people Master Jingxu mentioned actually were.
"And what realm is the Xu Immortal Family?"
Xu Qing glanced at the expectant Xuan Cat and replied gloomily:
"I don't practice the Sixth Realm path."
"Then what does the Xu Immortal Family practice?"
"Me? I practice this broken world, stitching and mending every day, closing the door for makeup, opening the door for a funeral... Maybe one day when I can grow this business completely, my path will be perfected."
...
On the other side, in the funeral shop.
Master Jingxu was also earnestly talking with Yizhen.
"In my view as a teacher, the demonic presence in Underground Street is very heavy. Even though I don't know what method they used to obscure the flow of energy, demons and humans living together is inherently not a good thing."
Yizhen cleared his throat, whispering a reminder: "The disciple also has the bloodline of Tushanji..."
"..."
It would have been better if Master Jingxu hadn't heard that, as it immediately reminded her of Zichen being tricked away by Hu Baosong.
"At least Tushanji is a famous immortal residence. What does Underground Street count as?"
"Cats, mice, monkeys, roosters, all in chaos — how does it resemble the Xuan Sect's refined cultivation?"
"Master, the rooster is raised by our own family."
"..."
Master Jingxu was at a loss for words. But upon arriving at the funeral shop's courtyard, seeing the large peach tree there, and witnessing a woman transform into a rosy demonic aura upon encountering strangers, she immediately found new evidence.
"Without the rooster, there's still a tree demon!"
"Is this what you mean by worldly friends dedicated to justice?"
Even with her extensive experience, Master Jingxu had never seen so many demons on one street! If she hadn't confirmed this was the human world, she would have thought she was in some deep mountain forest!
Yizhen patiently explained, speaking well of Xu Qing.
"Junior Brother Xu has no proper sect and only learned the Galloping Immortal in one side path. As the sect leader of the Immortal Hall, of course he widely recruits immortals. Moreover, I see these demons are well-behaved after being instructed by him, doing good deeds each day..."
Master Jingxu was unimpressed; side paths are inherently incapable of being recognized, no matter how well done, what use is it?
"You also said it's a side path. Even if he can make those demons good to humans, how much incense can he earn? Those renowned sects, those great temples — which one doesn't have incense more flourishing than his hall?"
As she spoke, Master Jingxu pointed her index finger remotely at the peach tree.
A cluster of bright white light converged, ultimately landing on the peach tree.
Tao Sanmei cried out in surprise and hastily revealed her form.
"True one, spare me! I am a sweeping hall immortal of the Cat Immortal Hall, and have some fate connection with this Daoist. When Hu Baosong was indulged in alcohol and degenerating, it was I who secretly prompted him to awaken. If not, he wouldn't have bonded with Zichen Daoist and sired the predecessor's disciple..."
Master Jingxu originally just wanted to find a maidservant to attend to errands, not paying much attention to Tao Sanmei. But unexpectedly, Tao Sanmei rattled off many things, pouring out secrets even she didn't know, to ease relations.
So, you're the culprit who released that scoundrel Hu Baosong?
——————
Master Jingxu originally just wanted to find a maidservant to attend to errands, not paying much attention to Tao Sanmei. But unexpectedly, Tao Sanmei rattled off many things, pouring out secrets even she didn't know, to ease relations.
So, you're the culprit who released that scoundrel Hu Baosong?