Seeing the boy in front of him with an unfriendly gaze, Xu Qing immediately clasped his hands and said, "So it is the Great Deity of the Sea Meeting in person, junior Xu Qing pays respects to the Great Immortal."
The boy's face somewhat softened, and he coldly snorted:
"You are quite fortunate, being able to find the Bao Sheng Temple's location and gain my senior brother's favor. Now you come to me, which indeed shows some destiny on you..."
At this point, the boy's tone changed: "However, since you have obtained the legacy from my senior brother, I have nothing to teach you here. If you have no business, you should leave early, so you don't hinder me from finding someone suitable."
Xu Qing hurriedly said, "Teaching one person is teaching, teaching two people is also teaching. Since the Great Immortal is looking for someone destined, and we have this connection, isn't it a bond upon bond, both close and closer?"
"Junior would like to follow the Great Deity of the Sea Meeting to learn some foundational skills and ways to protect the path, and in doing so, promote my sect's tradition..."
"You're quite greedy!"
The boy didn't hesitate at all, directly refused, saying, "The path my senior brother chooses is his path; if I am looking for someone destined, I must seek someone else, lest others say I can't find a disciple and need to rely on senior brother's fame."
"Stop talking, I don't have much time in the lower realm, no time to waste with idle talk. Withdraw the array outside the temple quickly and leave, lest I have to act to discipline you, junior!"
"..."
Xu Qing felt a bit depressed in his heart, what kind of situation is this?
The immortal destiny is clearly in front of him, yet like viewing flowers in a mirror, just watch but can't grasp, truly frustrating.
"Then junior wishes the Great Immortal to find someone destined soon and return to the upper realm..."
Seeing Xu Qing walk out of the hall with determination and swiftness, the boy raised his eyebrows and called back:
"My senior brother has a keen eye, very few can catch his attention. Since you have received the true legacy from him, you must cultivate diligently, don't be negligent!"
"When someday I accept a disciple, I might have him spar with you; don't disappoint me."
Spar?
Xu Qing's heart moved slightly; he suddenly asked, "Does the Great Deity have conditions for selecting a messenger from the mortal world? Could it be that as long as the talent is outstanding, regardless of virtue, can be accepted?"
The boy was taken aback, he wanted to leave some contingencies in the lower realm, completely a spur-of-the-moment decision mimicking his senior brother's, without really thinking about what kind of disciples to choose.
"What is your virtue and talent?"
The boy spoke straightforwardly.
Xu Qing blinked, and a corner of the Cat Immortal Hall's Dharma Realm unfolded, filling the Sea Meeting Great Deity's small temple with millions of offerings of merit.
"..."
In the end, Xu Qing also took out the Shouyang Great Axe, stacking the Celestial Spirit Axe Technique to twenty-nine levels, considering it as revealing his own aptitude.
The boy breathed a sigh of relief. Upon seeing the massive merits, he initially thought he encountered yet another monstrous talent. However, beyond his exceptional virtue, Xu Qing's foundational talent was only upper-middle, not considered extraordinarily rare.
The difference between the twenty-nine and thirty levels of the Celestial Spirit Axe Technique could be described as heaven and earth. If Xu Qing could now deduce to the thirtieth level, he would be looked upon with new eyes.
If he could deduce to the thirty-first or thirty-second level, the pressure to find excellent disciples would be tremendous.
If beyond thirty-three levels...
But how is this possible!
In the present world, when demons flourish and the proper path declines, those who uphold righteousness and cultivate true methods in the lower realm absolutely cannot achieve such a level within a hundred years.
Unless they are demons!
And only demons with exceptionally solid foundations could push the Celestial Spirit Axe Technique to such extremes!
Xu Qing, having already deduced the Celestial Spirit Axe Technique to the thirty-third level, maintained a low profile, concealing his clumsiness.
At this moment, he was merely a Sect Leader of the Immortal Hall who didn't advocate violence but cultivated virtue.
Thinking he had grasped Xu Qing's foundation, the boy frankly said, "When I accept students, it must be like my senior brother, with both aptitude and virtue. Lacking one of these cannot enter my sect!"
Xu Qing nodded, bowed, and after another salute, withdrew the array plate, mounted the Chasing Mourning horse, and headed swiftly towards Jin Sect!
The Demon Pill Temple Master had stated that anyone meeting the criteria except Xu Qing would have the chance to obtain the Demon Pill Cave Heaven's legacy.
As for virtue, who could compare to the immortals of Cat Immortal Hall and Bao Sheng Temple?
Concerning aptitude...
Xu Qing pondered for a moment, already having a few candidates in mind.
In terms of aptitude, the child attendants of gold carp, Lady Bao Sheng's attendant Shiyue, the mountain spirit of Zi Yun Mountain, Qi Shan clan, and several immortals like Xuan Yu and Chiyu Monkey from Cat Immortal Hall were considered excellent.
Being close at hand, he could send his own people to the Demon Pill Temple, find that magic child for an interview, and prioritize picking the outstanding ones. Even if not, at least one would catch the Deity's eye.
Xu Qing was not worried about this. According to the Demon Pill Temple Master's standards, except for his own temple system, in the entire mundane world, it's unlikely to find someone who meets the requirements!
Furthermore, the other party is eager to return to the upper realm, surely lacks the patience to be overly demanding.
At this juncture, dispatching the immortals to seek destiny fits perfectly!
...
The first year of Hongcheng, October.
A Profound Cat wandered to the East Sea, stumbled upon a dilapidated temple. Inside the temple, a Great Deity of the Sea Meeting was worshiped, with a statue depicting a three-headed, six-armed divine being on the altar.
Possessing vast merit and over a millennium of cultivation, the aptitude of the Profound Cat was undeniably exceptional.
However, as soon as the boy in the temple showed interest, he realized the Nine-Life Profound Cat held the Sword Pill of the Nine Heavens Profound Lady, and its swordsmanship was also that of the Lady.
How could a Great Deity of the Sea Meeting compete with the Nine Heavens Profound Lady for disciples?
"My sect only transmits teachings to humans, not other beings, you should leave!"
The boy made it clear, and Xuan Yu, looking at the boy resembling a lotus demon, couldn't resist asking, "Are you human?"
"..."
This cat's tone might not be harsh, but why does it sound so offensive?
"Although I am a lotus incarnation, previously in the West Sea, I was human though."
The boy patiently replied, "Besides, my sect does not delight in accepting non-human entities. Rather than seeking immortality here, you might as well seek the Sword Pill's owner and join her school."
"Are you referring to the Nine Heavens Profound Lady?"
Xuan Yu's eyes lit up, instinctively asking, "Who is mightier, you or the Profound Lady?"
"..."
The boy fell silent.
"I understand, thank you, Great Immortal, for the guidance."
What do you understand?
The Great Deity felt resentment, yet couldn't deny the Nine Heavens Profound Lady's exceptional rank, even the Celestial Emperor must show courtesy to her...
After finally sending away the picky Profound Cat, a few days later, a monkey carrying a dragon-suppressing stick came to his temple.
For some reason, this monkey gave him a strong sense of déjà vu, and the monkey surprisingly possessed considerable merit as well.
Truly peculiar, have the monsters of this age begun to take up Buddhism for good?
"What destiny do you seek here, monkey?"
With a grinning face, the Red-Tailed Monkey said, "Teachers are easy to find, but mentors are hard to come by, let alone Immortal Masters? Seeing this temple is extraordinary, immortals must have left traces; truth be told, I'm here to learn from a master."
The Great Deity paid no mind, instead asking, "What skills have you learned previously, under whose teaching, tell me."
The Red-Tailed Monkey scratched his head with a smile, "I haven't had a master, but once while in Central State, I followed an Upper Immortal for a time, learned some techniques..."
Initially indifferent, upon hearing the monkey mention learning the Qi Tian Stick Technique, the Great Deity's expression became peculiar.
Why does that monkey meddle in teaching another disciple as well?
But come to think of it, he can hardly teach a disciple of that monkey, besides accepting a monkey as a student, what kind of reputation would that be?
No, no way!
With a few words, the Red-Tailed Monkey was sent away, and the Great Deity continued to wait.
Half a month later, another person arrived outside the Demon Pill Temple.
That person wore a scholar's robe, exuding an air of scholarly gentleness, appearing unlike ordinary folk.
Yet when the Great Deity saw his face, his complexion changed instantly!
With a few words, the Red-Tailed Monkey was sent away, and the Great Deity continued to wait.
Half a month later, another person arrived outside the Demon Pill Temple.
That person wore a scholar's robe, exuding an air of scholarly gentleness, appearing unlike ordinary folk.
Yet when the Great Deity saw his face, his complexion changed instantly!