Fortune or misfortune.
These factors complemented each other, helping Xiu Niang avoid the influence of karmic merits on spirits. If any link had gone wrong, Xiu Niang wouldn't be where she is today.
Upon hearing this, Shiyue became cheerful again.
"What Divine Techniques have you learned over the years?"
Xu Qing asked with a chuckle.
Shiyue remembered the Sect Leader's initial advice, and she counted on her fingers excitedly: "I've learned Three Heads and Six Arms, Samadhi True Fire, as well as the Body Fixation Technique and Invisibility Technique. I only haven't mastered the Transformation Skill."
The Transformation Skill is divided into different levels of difficulty, with those able to evade the three disasters and five calamities being the hardest to learn and master, and also the most time-consuming.
Five years is ultimately a bit too short.
But Xu Qing does know the Transformation Skill!
The Primordial Patriarch had taught him the entire Celestial Spirit Axe Technique, and once he brought Shiyue back, he'd have plenty of time to teach this Transformation Skill to his daughter.
Upon hearing the Sect Leader was going to teach her the Transformation Skill, Shiyue happily said, "I'm not in a hurry to learn it; I want to go back to the temple and see if He Xin Ruyi is doing their tasks well."
"Shiyue also wants to teach all the Divine Techniques she learned to the Sect Leader!"
Xu Qing felt greatly comforted; his daughter was so filial, making all his years of nurturing worthwhile...
On the way from the Demon Pill Temple, Shiyue, who had been in seclusion for many years, was like a bird freed from a cage, chattering away nonstop.
When he heard that Shiyue initially turned her body to lotus roots, making her stiff and unable to move like normal people, Xu Qing felt an unexplainable familiarity.
When he further learned that the lotus root transformation also had neither soul nor spirit, wouldn't age or have a lifespan, Xu Qing finally understood where that sense of familiarity came from!
It dawned on him. Was he the mundane version of a Zombie, and the lotus root transformation the plant version of a Zombie...
So where's the promised Plants vs Zombies?
How did they end up getting together!
Apart from the body transformation techniques and various Divine Techniques, Xu Qing didn't forget to care about Shiyue's character development.
For cultivators, both character and destiny are indispensable.
Others might not know the Demon Pill Temple Master, but Xu Qing had long heard of him—rebellious by nature, dealing with things by either killing others or himself, a typical vagabond, hot-headed.
Xu Qing feared he might lead Shiyue astray.
"Did he really never say anything outrageous to you?"
Shiyue pondered seriously for a moment and replied, "Master said we're not to fear facing situations because losing one's life is minor, but losing face for the sect is great."
"Master said if we kill others, it's their calamity, so don't worry. Master also said if facing something we can't beat, just report his name."
"..."
Xu Qing felt a headache. Were those things legitimate immortals and gods would say? Labeling them as bandits seems even more unjust to bandits.
"Don't listen to your Master's nonsense. Indeed, if he kills gods and Buddhas, it's truly their calamity, part of their destined fate. But you're different; if you follow blindly without thinking, eventually you'll be turned into a pot of lotus soup, and then your Master will kill your killer to avenge you."
"Beyond that, there's no other possibility!"
Xu Qing understood clearly: for Shiyue to maintain this fate, the only solution was 'toward the sect, don't seek outside trouble.'
Facing the sect means uniting against common enemies, and when trouble arises, one need not fear.
Not seeking outside trouble means not attracting misfortune oneself, and not causing trouble for the sect.
This is the long-term path.
"The Sect Leader has always treated you as his own daughter and would never harm you. You must remember my words—while the Demon Pill Temple Master is a great opportunity for you, he's also a potential calamity. You must always remember this."
Xu Qing spoke earnestly, and luckily Shiyue, having been with him for a long time, often received teachings from him, Xiu Niang, Lu Xiu, and other immortal disciples, and she was by far more stable than her impetuous master.
Shiyue earnestly nodded, firmly remembering the Sect Leader's advice in her heart.
Meanwhile, as Xu Qing was educating his child and hurrying back, he unexpectedly saw a fiery stream of light flying straight towards him after only a few hundred miles!
His reaction was quick, but the master of the Fire Wheel was faster!
When a youth appeared in front of him wearing the same lotus fairy garb and possessing a lotus-root body transformation, Xu Qing realized it was too late to escape.
More accurately, from the moment the other noticed him, there was no need to dodge.
"What a coincidence, Great Immortal, are you heading the same way?"
Trying to slip away, Xu Qing reluctantly turned back and showed a polite yet awkward smile.
"..."
Hai Hui Great God stared at Xu Qing intently. If it weren't for the fact that the other was the person his senior brother chose to travel in the mortal world, he might have wanted to raise his Flaming Spear and poke dozens of holes in him.
"I wondered where so many demons and monsters came from to learn from me, and it turns out you were the one causing trouble in secret."
Upon hearing these words, Xu Qing immediately disagreed!
"Great Immortal, you've misunderstood. This junior noticed that the Great Immortal wishes to recruit disciples, yet there are no suitable candidates in the East Sea. Thus, I have been assisting the Great Immortal in finding seedlings of exceptional talent and character..."
"As for whether the Great Immortal fancies them or not, that entirely depends on your own discretion."
Xu Qing smiled and said, "I once studied the arts at the Temple of the Two Saints, and am thus rather akin to you, Great Immortal. How could I not stand by my own family?"
"You must have misunderstood, Great Immortal!"
The Sea Confluence Divine nodded at Xu Qing for a moment but suddenly thought of the plaque of the Demon Pill Temple.
Could it be that he, a dignified Sea Confluence Divine, could be deceived by a junior, even one who is the disciple of his senior brother?
"Your words are not bad. Shiyue is indeed the disciple I favor. If it were any other little monkeys or little fish, I really wouldn't care for them!"
The Sea Confluence Divine's gaze fell on the young Shiyue, who was bowing to him, and his entire demeanor became benevolent.
Not accepting disciples, one would not know the feeling of a master.
Now that he has accepted a disciple, he finally understands the Master's desire in those years to bestow this and that, fearing his treasures were not enough.
"Going forward, you do not need to bow to me; our school does not practice such formalities!"
The Sea Confluence Divine took out an embroidered ball used for combat. This colorful ball looked light and delicate, akin to a young girl's toy, but inside it contained sixteen lieutenants and five thousand ghost soldiers of the plague formation.
Besides the embroidered ball that can ward off enemies, subdue demons, and release spirits, the Sea Confluence Divine also handed over a gold brick to Shiyue.
"This gold brick was a protective treasure I used in my early years. After crossing the Cyan Dragon Pass, I never used it again. Now, it can serve as your protective artifact."
"And this leopard skin pouch has storage capabilities..."
In his hurry, as the Sea Confluence Divine approached the Heaven Mending Ruins, he felt uneasy, like he had forgotten something.
Upon careful thought, he realized he had forgotten to give his newly accepted disciple a treasure.
Beside him, Xu Qing watched with envy.
Among the celestial deities, in terms of the abundance of treasures, the Sea Confluence Divine undoubtedly ranks among the best.
"The Great Immortal truly loves his disciples as he loves himself; it's truly enviable."
The Sea Confluence Divine raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but ask, "Didn't my senior brother give you a treasure?"
"..."
"My senior brother is as stingy as ever. Here's a parasol for you, so you don't embarrass us when you're out."
"..."
Xu Qing caught the golden parasol casually tossed by the young man and asked, "What kind of treasure is this?"
"The Golden Light Parasol. When opened, it can protect its master on its own and can fend off poisonous miasmas. If thrown out during a confrontation, it can release golden flames to scorch enemies. It can barely be considered a treasure that serves both offense and defense."
"But as you are cultivating in the mortal world, rarely encountering formidable adversaries, this Golden Light Parasol is enough to ensure your safety."
Understanding the marvelous use of the parasol, Xu Qing hurriedly thanked the other party.
"I cannot stay for long; you two must cultivate diligently, and do not bring shame to our sect. I shall take my leave!"
Standing in place, Xu Qing looked at the parasol in his hand, speechless for a long time.
...
Within the Three Qin Pass, in the Middle Emperor Temple.
The Sea Confluence Divine returned in haste, and the Three-Eyed Divine Being, who had been waiting for a long time in the temple, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"The Heaven Mending Passage is extremely unstable. If you had come any later, you might not have been able to return."
The young man chuckled and said, "If I can't return, so be it. As long as heaven itself isn't falling, nothing else is a major issue!"
The Three-Eyed Divine Being shook his head and suddenly asked, "You've been away for five years; did you find a mortal to walk the world?"
"Not really walking the world, just a disciple I took in. That little girl has some talent, perfectly suited for my teachings, so I taught her a bit longer."
"Oh right, I also encountered my senior brother's worldly disciple."
"Oh? How is he now?"
The young man blinked his eyes and blurted out, "He looked like a poor scholar, not even possessing a decent weapon or treasure. When he saw me gifting treasures to my disciple, he nearly drooled."
"Finding him rather shabby, I gave him a Golden Light Parasol."
"..."
The Three-Eyed Divine Being was silent for a moment, then finally spoke:
"I forgot about this detail, but treasures are external objects. As long as he cultivates the Celestial Spirit Axe Technique well, it's stronger than anything else."