Sword comes

Wei Bo chose a quiet mountain road with relatively few pilgrims. He passed by a small ancestral temple, which seemed to have quite a lot of incense. Outside the temple was an old osmanthus tree, with a trunk as thick as a bucket and extremely luxuriant branches and leaves, casting a shade over an acre. At this time, a large number of porters with sedan chairs came here to rest, some carrying water bottles and eating dry food, while others gathered to chat. Among them was an old man in his sixties, who was probably from the local area. He was talking about Chen Ping'an from Luopu Mountain, how the Niping Lane was in his early years, and how he was not welcomed when he was a child. It was only with the help of his family that the poor child was able to get through the difficult New Year of a certain year... Then someone else joked, why didn't the immortal master Chen Shanzhu return the favor? It's not too much to reward you with a bunch of immortal money. If converted into silver, you can buy any good house in the state capital, why do you come here to work as a laborer every day? The old man was unhappy and made a far-fetched explanation. Didn't the book say that people who go up the mountain don't care about the things below the mountain? What's that called? That's right, it's called cutting off the worldly affairs, we don't understand...

Wei Bo stopped to listen to the gossips of the market. Chen Lingjun glanced at this temple he had never heard of before. He saw the hall with the inscription "缱绻司" on it. The floor was paved with gold bricks and the incense was curling. In the yellow silk tent inside the hall, three statues made of mud and gold were sitting upright. They were golden and majestic. One master and two servants. In the middle was the envoy who was in charge of marriage in Beiyue. He wore a purple gold crown and a crane cloak. He held a marriage book in his hand. His eyes were clear and lifelike. On both sides were goddesses with cloud-like hairpins and beautiful eyebrows.

The main deity of the temple noticed the arrival of Lord Wei Shan. He had thought that if the Lord did not stop, he would not show up to disturb the Lord and his friends' leisurely trip. When he saw the Lord stop, he silently counted to ten in his heart, and hurriedly "walked out" from the statue. At the same time, he asked the two accompanying goddesses to "stay still". He pinched his fingers to hide his aura, and turned into a ball of colorful mist and floated out of the temple. He looked like a middle-aged scholar, holding a jade tablet in his hand, with a solemn expression. He bowed and said, "Little Lord Shang Yun greets Lord Wei Shan."

Wei Bo nodded and said, "We are just passing by, no need to be polite."

In the eyes of all the Beiyue gods and female officials, their own god always has this attitude, neither cold nor hot. He does not make people feel distant, but gives people a feeling of being close at hand yet far away.

After paying respects to Lord Wei, of course he dared not ignore the immortal Lord of the Nascent Soul Realm who had the skill to maintain his youthful appearance. Moreover, it was said that the "boy" was the first person to follow Chen Yinguan up the mountain. He turned slightly, bowed again, and said respectfully: "Little Lord Shang Yun greets Patriarch Jingqing and the fairy."

Whatever you think comes true, Chen Lingjun was grinning from ear to ear. On the way here, Uncle Chen was still thinking about a scene.

In Luopu Mountain, staying by my master's side, you can call me Jingqing or just call me by my name, I won't argue with you.

When we get outside, what should I call? What, Fellow Daoist Jingqing? Call me Grandmaster Jingqing!

The little boy in blue wiped his mouth and smiled foolishly. He was happy just thinking about such an arrogant and domineering scene.

Thinking back to the past, when I first met the master and returned to the small town, haha, it seemed like I was even instigating the master to become a local tyrant who ran rampant in the village and bullied men and women.

Seeing that the local deity, who was an envoy of the Yunyun, had such a tacit understanding with him, Chen Lingjun felt that the temple was too small.

Seeing that the fool was still standing there in a daze, Wei Bo patted the boy on the back of his head and reminded him, "Why don't you return the favor?"

Chen Lingjun shook his head, took the opportunity to smile and bowed, saying, "Nice to meet you."

The position of the Chanchansi of Piyun Mountain was only a sixth-rank official position in the Golden and Jade Genealogy of the Ministry of Rites of Dali. Shang Yun immediately bowed again and said, "I don't deserve it, Master Jingqing, I am sorry for the lowly position."

Wei Bo took them to continue walking up the mountain. Shang Yun stood there and watched them go away. He was extremely envious. He thought how great it would be if he could be slapped by Lord Wei.

Chen Lingjun asked a question that had puzzled him for a long time, "Those voices of burning incense and making wishes, praying for wealth, fortune, marriage, fame, and longevity, as well as those complaining about grievances, swearing, fulfilling vows, and thanking others, etc., can you really hear every word exactly?"

Wei Bo nodded and said, "Of course."

Chen Lingjun exclaimed, "That's too noisy. On the first and fifteenth day of every lunar month, especially on your enlightenment day, wouldn't your ears be calloused from hearing so much noise? Can you really distinguish them clearly?"

Wei Bo smiled and said, "You have to listen to everything so that you won't get confused. You also need to record everything in the book without any mistakes or omissions. If you are sincere, the sound will be louder. If you are not sincere, you can ignore it. The sound of common people making wishes is like polishing a golden body, and the pious fulfillment of wishes is like gilding the statues in the temple. In fact, this scene is similar to the Qigong practitioners who have just gone up the mountain. When the cave is first opened, the slightest movement between heaven and earth will sound like thunder. Over time, you will get used to it. The Shanshui Department and the Inspection Department of the Ministry of Rites of Dali will conduct regular inspections, proofreading and checking. This is the rule set by Cui Guoshi and included in the inspection and evaluation. If it is good, the department office will be added. If it is not good, the office will be abolished, the authority of the priests will be reduced, and the height of the statues will be lowered."

Chen Lingjun was filled with emotion and patted Wei Bo's arm, "It's not easy."

I'll be nicer to you in the future.

After careful consideration, Chen Lingjun seemed to have discovered a loophole. "You said that ordinary people can make a wish to make the statue look good, so let them make whatever wish they want to be fulfilled, regardless of whether they are sincere or not, and whether they dare to ask for a fortune by donating a few taels of silver as incense money."

Wei Bo smiled and said, "When Patriarch Jingqing enters the Beiyue main hall, he will kowtow and make a wish to reach the Ascension Realm tomorrow. Do you think it will work?"

Chen Lingjun was a little embarrassed and muttered quietly: "If it's true, kowtow is nothing. I don't want to lose face, so I will kowtow to you a few times right now."

The cultivation of the descendants of Jiaolong and water is indeed different from that of ordinary Qigong practitioners. They have many advantages, such as natural longevity, but also annoying disadvantages, such as their tough mortal body becoming a burden. Some of the hurdles in cultivation may be as fragile as thin paper and can be easily passed for Qigong practitioners, but for Jiaolongs, they are as hard as rock walls and cannot be passed even if they fight to the death and bleed.

Zhou Hu couldn't help but explain, "The land and water nurture the people, and so do the gods who receive incense. Their temperament during life will also be affected by the temples and statues they build after death. For example, a county may be rich or poor in the eyes of the court, but you have to eat as much as you can from the bowl. If ordinary people are allowed to fulfill their wishes, it will also wear down the gods of the mountains and rivers..."

Wei Bo, however, stopped Zhou Hu from revealing the secret and said with a smile, "Fellow Taoist, there is no need to discuss these matters with Patriarch Jingqing."

Zhou Hu nodded.

Chen Lingjun shook his head and said, "If you don't want to talk, then don't talk. Who wants to listen?"

It turned out that Zhou Hu had just made up her mind to stay in Luopu Mountain and live in seclusion in Huaying Peak of Tiaoyu Mountain. She told Wei Bo her new alias and Taoist name, which were Zhou Ai and Lingqu. Wei Bo knew what she meant and said that he would contact the office in Piyun Mountain to help her compile an identity and place of origin, and use a transitional official identity to be "recommended" by the Beiyue Lizhisi to enter the Luopu Mountain genealogy, so that she could be registered in the household registration of Huaihuang County Office.

Zhou Hu thought about it for a moment and felt that this was a safer approach and it would kill two birds with one stone. Not only could he have an inconspicuous official identity in the mountains and rivers and receive a salary from Piyun Mountain, he could also devote himself to practicing Taoism in Tiaoyu Mountain.

Zhou Hu was in a good mood, and for some reason he smiled and reached out to press the head of the boy in blue.

Haha, even Mr. Zheng has to call me uncle.

Chen Lingjun's face changed drastically, and he quickly moved away, his eyes wide open, staring angrily at the clumsy and frivolous woman.

You are such a frivolous woman, trying to use your beauty to seduce Mr. Chen?

I'm sorry, but I'm not a playboy like Zheng Dafeng and Chief Zhou who are willing to take advantage of others' tricks!

Zhou Hu smiled and took back her hand. Because her mind was imbued with Cen Yuanji's temperament, if it was just the great demon Zhou Hu, how could she behave so "frivolously".

Chen Lingjun was so angry that his brows were furrowed, but he couldn't get angry with a woman.

Wei Bo didn't even look at this, and just asked, "What are your plans next?"

Chen Lingjun spoke without thinking, "I have made an appointment with Zhong Diyi to go to the old chef's place to eat stinky mandarin fish tonight. The day after tomorrow, I will take him to the Tiefu River Water God Palace to broaden his horizons and have a morning drink."

Wei Bo asked, "Are you planning so far ahead?"

Chen Lingjun asked tentatively: "This statement is not a veiled sarcasm, right? Did Brother Wei say the opposite?"

Wei Bo sneered, "What do you think?"

"I'm just teasing you."

Chen Lingjun chuckled, "Of course there is a long-term plan. Xiao Mi Li and I have made an appointment. Let's pack our bags and go visit Baidi City in the Central Plains of the Divine Continent. We'll go there to see the Dragon Gate and the waterfall in the Yellow River Cave Heaven. How did the water of the Yellow River come from the sky?"

Wei Bo nodded, "It's feasible."

Chunyang Lü Yi gave Xiaomili a water palace, which the Taoist created and named "Longmen". With this talisman, Shuiyi can cross Longmen and directly enter the Yellow River Cave Heaven.

It doesn't take any effort for a fish to climb the dragon gate.

Gu Can also invited her to visit there.

With these two opportunities, it is just the right time for Xiaomili to go there.

Wei Bo suddenly asked, "Didn't you just want to go out and play, so you urged Xiao Mi Li to go out with you?"

Chen Lingjun beat his chest and stamped his feet, "I am so angry, so angry, am I the kind of person who can't figure things out?! Wei Bo, how could you say such a conscienceless and stupid thing? From now on, you and I are no longer friends, and we are no longer brothers..."

"Oh?"

Wei Bo looked calm as he spoke to himself, "I just don't know what kind of character the new water god of Tiefu River has. Is he willing to share the same hatred with his best friend..."

Chen Lingjun sat on the ground in a flash, hugged Wei Shenjun's calf, and wailed, "Brother Wei, children speak without restraint, why take your anger out on others."

Wei Bo lifted his foot and said disdainfully, "Stand up and talk. How can you be so dignified as a Yuanying?"

Chen Lingjun let go of her hand, stood up, and explained sullenly, "Xiao Mi Li feels that it is not reliable to grow taller just by eating. After thinking about it, I decided to see if we can go outside and choose a mountain stream or a small river during the drought season. I will use water magic in the sky, and she will pluck up the courage to walk on the water a few times to improve her realm. In the Beiyue territory of Wei Shanjun, where the people are friendly and beautiful, there is no such opportunity."

Wei Bo laughed and cursed, "You are such a flatterer."

Chen Lingjun continued, "After seeing the spectacular scenery over there, if you still have some spare time, let's go to the Liuxiazhou of Jing Lao Shenxian. Recently, I have collected some mountain and water reports about Liuxiazhou and Qinggong Mountain. Haha, I have a temper that I will roar when I see injustice. If I were alone, it wouldn't matter. At most, I would do my own thing. But with Xiao Mi Li, I have to be more careful. At first, I was afraid that Jing Lao Shenxian couldn't handle it. A few big men got together to drink, and they talked in a discounted way. Everyone knows it. They patted their chests on the table and said that they would take care of everything. When something happened outside the table, they would have difficulties in everything."

Wei Bo smiled and said, "You are quite self-aware."

Chen Lingjun was most annoyed by Wei Yeyou's sarcastic words, but since he was not in the mountain, he could just tolerate him for the time being.

"As a result, we collected dozens of old and outdated official reports. Guess what? It was an unexpected surprise. We found that Old Immortal Jing was too tactful and too modest at the dinner table. He said that if something went wrong, we should report his name. He has some face over there, and people on the mountain and down the mountain will do him favors. He will not care too much about us. Some grudges and small difficulties on the mountain will naturally become misunderstandings. No fight, no acquaintance... Ha, after reading the official reports, I found out that Old Immortal Jing is a tough-talking and domineering person in his hometown. He has a very high prestige and is very heroic. It seems that except for the Tianyu Cave Heaven, everyone in the whole Liuxia Continent, on the mountain and down the mountain, has to give a thumbs up to this old immortal!"