The injuries of Ascendant Fuluan have not fully healed, and the Demon Exorcism True Monarch, whose primordial spirit has returned to its place, is experiencing a serious depletion of magical power. They're evenly matched, but Xu Qing worries more about them not fighting than actually starting a fight.
Come on, just fight! Don't just argue—I'm back without bringing any local specialties for my cat. So why not put on a show of Immortals battling? It might not draw a crowd, but it would be lively, wouldn't it?
With Xu Qing stirring things up like that, the two rivals who were about to stage an all-out brawl suddenly cooled off.
Xu Qing glanced at them. Since they're not fighting anymore, it's time to get down to business!
"Brother Demon Exorcist, please return to the Bone Temple and request the help of Xuantan True Monarch..."
"Altar Master Fu Luan, go along with him, and explain the reason to the two True Monarchs on the way."
In the following days, Xu Qing traveled through Shuozhou, Bayu, Hei Luo, Cangwu, and Beizhao, until he finished refining the last corpse at the sect entrance. Only then did he explain the beginning and end of the celestial path opening to the eleven altar masters and two True Monarchs.
However, Xu Qing cut out the details about enraging Kong Ren, simply stating that the Sinful Gods were wreaking havoc and unleashed the ferocious beasts of the three realms. As a righteous person acting in accordance with divine orders, he, along with the Heavenly Maiden, exterminated the Sinful Gods.
Right now, Immortals and gods from the upper realm are about to descend to judge the merits and faults...
"Though exterminating the Sinful Gods is acting in accordance with divine orders, there is a risk of overreach. Previously, our sect independently eliminated other sects along the underworld river entrance, which can be considered good for all living beings and beneficial for generations. However, in the eyes of the Immortals and gods from the upper realm, the merits and faults might be balanced, or even the faults might outweigh the merits."
Within the Daluo Sect, Xu Qing, with his back to everyone, gazed at the statues of the Sect Leader, the child god, and the eleven altar masters in the Incense Hall and said:
"Heavenly laws differ from worldly ethical and legal norms. Heavenly laws do not offset merits with faults. Rewards are given for merits, and punishment for faults. Rarely have exceptions existed since ancient times."
Xu Qing turned around, looked at the crowd, and said, "You are all disciples of our Daluo Sect and have contributed greatly to our sect. This sect will not hide your achievements. As for the faults..."
"As long as this sect exists, I will not let you shoulder any of the blame. This is both divine justice and the private goodwill of our sect."
Xu Qing gestured for Qingwei child student to bring a stick of incense, placing it in the Incense Burner with a stern expression and said:
"Today, we do not show reverence to heavenly laws. With this incense, we worship the fairness of heaven and earth. When divine beings descend, our sect will seek a path forward for all of you, ensuring those who kindle warmth for the world do not perish in wind and snow!"
Zhang Ping and others were moved upon hearing this. They did not join the Daluo Sect purely under Xu Qing's coercion, but more out of willingness to risk their futures.
Now the stakes are about to be revealed, and everyone has long been prepared.
As for whether the Sect Leader was using them, they didn't care much. But hearing Xu Qing's promise today, they felt a sense of belonging to the Daluo Sect.
With such a Sect Leader who looks after them from start to finish, how could they not be touched?
In the following days, Xu Qing, besides taking preventive measures and arranging affairs of the sect in advance, made sure to find time to wander through Flower and Bird Street with Xuan Yu for a day.
The place was only a few streets away, yet every visit felt like the first, so fresh and exciting!
Wow! There's a new star pet in the Flower and Bird Market today—a Persian cat from foreigners!
Xu Qing just reached out to stroke it, but before his hand got close, a young girl beside him grabbed his arm and bit it fiercely!
Why does this cat bite people?
Xuan Yu's attack may not break Xu Qing's defense, but he still withdrew his hand that wanted to pet the Persian cat.
If you don't let me touch other cats, surely I can stroke you?
Xu Qing raised his hand to touch Xuan Yu's head, but the latter nimbly dodged.
We've been partners for over a hundred years, what can't be touched?
Xu Qing felt uneasy, so he went to another stall. The Li Nu stall owner was raising a cat from Siam, which looked like it had just crawled out from the stove chimney. But compared to Xuan Yu, the mysterious cat, it's still a small fry.
Seeing Xu Immortal Family flirt with other cats again in front of it, this time Xuan Yu didn't bite.
Xu Immortal was too tough, biting too much made its teeth ache.
Xuan Yu opted for second-best and exerted its original mate pressure, scaring the Siamese and Persian kittens into trembling, not daring to flirt playfully for pets.
After all this was done, Xuan Yu kept a straight face and, right in front of the stall owner, placed Xu Qing's hand on its own head.
Seeing Xu Qing stunned and motionless, Xuan Yu rubbed itself against his hand like a comb.
The stall owner exhibiting small foreign cats was completely bewildered, thinking, "How was this child bride taught? Truly a sight to behold!"
After accompanying Xuan Yu for a day's wander, Xu Qing went to the coffin shop to play a few rounds of chess with his senior sister.
Under the peach tree, Daochang Yizhen quietly listened to Xu Qing speak. When she heard something amusing, her eyebrows would arch into crescent moons, falling into the water, becoming a small boat, stirring up waves of autumn ripples.
"Why does my senior sister nod at everything I say?"
Xu Qing spoke of a brother he recognized a few years ago, not related by blood but by brotherhood. This person was one who befriended the Five Elders.
This made it akin to being a brother of the Five Emperors worshipped at the Five Elders Temple.
Now that the Five Elders are not in the lower realm, he, as their brother, is obliged to take care of the temple.
Following this logic, the future Five Elders Temple his senior sister inherits would theoretically be half his...
Xu Qing intended it as a joke, but to his surprise, the woman before him seriously considered it for a moment before nodding in agreement.
Whenever she inherits the temple from Master Jingxu, she'll add Xu Qing's name to the temple property register!
Xu Qing was awestruck, his words not entirely unfounded, but who would truly believe being brothers with the Five Elders?
Daochang Yizhen lightly smiled upon hearing Xu Qing's query: "I might not believe what you say, Junior Brother, but I will definitely listen."
"..."
What kind of reasoning is this?
Xu Qing paused, suddenly speaking: "What if I request my senior sister to return to secular life?"
"..."
Though it was September, and the peach trees in the courtyard weren't yet blooming, Daochang Yizhen's face seemed to blossom with peach flowers.
Seeing the woman seriously consider nodding, Xu Qing hurriedly interrupted: "Don't mind me, Senior Sister. I'm just joking. You are the one I admire most, Daoist!"
As soon as he spoke, the peach blossoms in the courtyard appeared even more vivid.
The more Xu Qing chatted, the more he felt the atmosphere off, until his senior sister handed him the newly forged Illusory Heaven Great Array, relieving him.
His senior sister was clearly different from Xuan Yu; Xuan Yu had a critical mind but candid behavior, whereas the senior sister couldn't bear to speak a harsh word against him.
Unwilling to endure shooting pins and needles anymore, Xu Qing sought refuge at Shuimen Bridge Villa, listening to the female ghost and her mentor sing tunes and calming his mind.
There must be reciprocation in affairs; once he had his fill of opera, Xu Qing transformed into a storyteller, regaling Liu Su'e and Xiu Niang with tales of the underworld river and the upper realm.
After wrapping up these visits, Xu Qing returned to the Daluo Sect and discovered that the eleven altar masters had long been waiting for him.
"What is going on with you all?"
Before him, twelve altar masters held various items, Zhang Ping's tray supporting the Tai Chi Lotus Crown, Ascendant Fuluan's tray stacked with an Infinite Dao Robe embroidered with star patterns and cloud motifs.
Ge Hongwen held a pair of Seven Stars Cloud Shoes, while Master Jingxu's tray carried a whisk of three thousand yellow-haired and silver threads.
Recognizing the familiar energy wave from the whisk, Xu Qing instinctively glanced at the Yong immediately behind the altar masters.
The young woman riding the Yong looked at Xu Qing with resentment, unaware of what she'd sacrificed.
Xie Qiongke and Zhuang Tongsheng jointly escorted Xu Qing to the altar position in the Incense Hall, bowing and saying:
"The Sect Leader will soon meet with angels from the upper realm. We must prepare a dignified ceremonial robe that represents our Daluo Sect, to underscore our sect's solemnity."
Xu Qing's mouth hung open, about to reply, when the two spoke in unison:
"Please, Sect Leader, dress properly!"