Xu Qing engaged the Qi Observation Skill to examine the Skinny Daoist, only to find that this man had a clear and righteous aura, a cultivator firmly on the path of virtue who did not go astray into evil.
In a world where the path of demons flourishes while the Dao disappears, a cultivator who can resist the temptation to switch to evil practices and remains calmly steadfast in purity is rarer than a rooster that lays eggs.
Upon further inspection of the Skinny Daoist's cultivation, it appeared to be around a century, just reaching the third realm of the Xuan Sect, the level of Punishing Soul.
If, however, the other were willing to consort with evil and switch to sinister ways, he might not be far inferior to the likes of Xie Qiongke, a Primordial Spirit True Man.
"Dare I ask the fellow Daoist's title?"
"I am called Qingwei Zi, a wanderer. May I ask where you noble Daoists' immortal mountain stands?"
Xu Qing smiled freely and said, "We are cultivators of the Great Luo Sect, and the vast world is the cultivation venue for our sect!"
"I see in you, fellow Daoist, the spirit of one determined to aid the world. Why not follow us to continue practicing good deeds in Yaozhou and purify the filth?"
Qingwei Zi scrutinized Xu Qing and his companions: two daoists, a monk, a young man, and a girl; could they come from the same sect?
Setting aside these thoughts, the people before him did not appear to be the ordained kind with cultivation, at least in Qingwei Zi's eyes. Xu Qing and the others seemed like ordinary people with no cultivation.
"The good path is hard to follow. This humble Daoist has walked it for over thirty years. I urge you all to heed my advice: the sickness of Yaozhou lies elsewhere, not in appearance. Even if we exhaust our heart power, it would be like climbing a tree to catch fish, utterly in vain!"
Having said this, the Skinny Daoist cupped his hands toward Xu Qing and his companions and was about to leave.
Xu Qing thought for a moment, then suddenly called out to stop the Skinny Daoist and handed him an item: "If you go to the Jin Sect, you may use this Member Iron Token to approach any Funeral House. Whether you choose to stay or to seek Daoist rituals, there will be someone to receive you."
Qingwei Zi took the Iron Token, pondering endlessly, and said, "The Jin Sect is a reclusive place of tranquility, a rare refuge. Why is it that you, esteemed Daoists, being people of the Jin Sect, do not cultivate there in peace but instead come to this wicked land to be sullied?"
Xu Qing did not answer but rather counter-questioned: "What brought you to Yaozhou in the first place?"
Seeing the Skinny Daoist furrow his brow, Xu Qing smiled and said, "Our purpose here is no different from when you first came to Yaozhou."
"It's quite a coincidence that just as you feel the urge to retreat, we arrived here right after. The fate entwined here is indeed mysterious."
Having said this, Xu Qing turned his head and led Zhang Pingsheng and others deeper into Yaozhou.
At that spot, the Skinny Daoist was silent for a moment, then suddenly turned back to follow Xu Qing, retracing his steps.
"Aren't you going to the Jin Sect to retreat from the world? Why are you coming back?"
"Though this humble Daoist entered the world, I have yet to understand it clearly, so how can I speak of retreating from it?"
Among the group, the oldest-looking Skinny Daoist smiled and said, "Moreover, I can't rest easy seeing you young ones risking yourselves."
"..."
The Ascendant Fuluan, who had lived for over two thousand years, glanced at Qingwei Zi but remained silent.
Instead, Monk Xinyuan, who had been chanting sutras, suddenly spoke up, "Daoist Priest truly has the heart of a Bodhisattva. In the future, this monk junior will rely on the Daoist Priest's protection."
"No problem!"
The Skinny Daoist, carrying the Seven-Star Sword, carelessly agreed.
Shiyue, walking next to Xu Qing, also chimed in, "And me too! Daoist Priest's magical power is profound. If we encounter a three-headed six-armed demon in the future, you mustn't run away and leave me behind!"
"That won't happen! Even if a nine-headed eighteen-armed demon comes, they'd still have to see if my Seven-Star Sword agrees!"
At this time, a group with at least a millennium's cultivation, even Shiyue, who was a cycle older than Qingwei Zi, all acted as if they had painted themselves green, pretending to be fresh cucumbers.
Qingwei Zi, a sixty-year-old novice Daoist, seemed like a small stray dog among a pack of wolves, not only taking on the guiding role but also willingly assuming the responsibility of taking care of the juniors.
However, after accompanying Xu Qing and the others for two months, Qingwei Zi slowly realized something felt off.
How could this young Xu's handling of the corpses be so proficient? Even burying ten thousand bodies wouldn't seem so practiced.
Moreover, not only was he adept at collecting bodies, but he was also skilled in earth burials, water burials, fire burials, and even cliff burials!
Could this be the accumulated experience of a young man in his twenties?
Also, Zhang Pingsheng and Xie Qiongke, those two middle-aged Daoists, had such miraculous methods in exorcising evil and healing that even Qingwei Zi, no matter how hard he stared, could not discern how they solved people's problems.
If those two's skills were not astounding enough, then what about Ascendant Fuluan, who could always perform divinations with unfailing accuracy, make Buddhist lights appear when aiding the departed, and the Monk Xinyuan?
Qing Weizi attempted to probe the truth subtly, yet every member of the Da Luo Sect before him pretended to be oblivious.
With no choice left, Qing Weizi had to ask Shiyue, who seemed the most obedient and sensible.
The little girl around five or six years old spoke with a childish voice, "What is the Daoist speaking about? Shiyue doesn't know!"
Qing Weizi shook his head, temporarily suppressing the doubts in his heart.
Regardless, the Da Luo Sect members before him were at least sincerely mending this broken world.
In the third year of Tiande, Xu Qing, who had nearly traversed the whole of Yaozhou, finally stopped in the Fen River basin.
After a year of accumulation, the incense offerings to the Da Luo Sect had surpassed the number of millions. Although it still couldn't compare to the deeply rooted Bao Sheng Temple and Cat Immortal Hall, across the entire Dayan, Da Luo Sect's incense offerings still ranked among the top.
This year, the greatest contributor to the Da Luo Sect was unexpectedly not the sect's members, but the skinny Daoist Qing Weizi whom Xu Qing encountered upon entering Yaozhou.
That Daoist in his thirty years in Yaozhou accumulated immense prestige. Wherever Xu Qing and others went, they received considerable attention due to having Qing Weizi, a 'leading elder,' in their group.
Yaozhou's people trusted Qing Weizi and thereby were willing to accept Xu Qing's Da Luo Sect.
Xu Qing had to admit, though Qing Weizi's Daoist skills were mediocre, his ability to navigate the mundane world and interact with all sorts of people surpassed even the two-thousand-year-old Ascendant Fuluan.
"We have been acquainted for quite some time, Daoist friend. Are you interested in joining our Da Luo Sect for a significant undertaking?"
Significant undertaking?
By the Fen River, Qing Weizi furrowed his brows and almost blurted out, "Are you planning a rebellion?"
Qing Weizi immediately began to persuade Xu Qing and the others, explaining that the world was already rife with hardships and couldn't withstand further turmoil. Moreover, the Dayan Emperor was a rare wise leader; such thoughts couldn't be entertained.
"..."
Xu Qing quickly interrupted, "The significant undertaking I mentioned is not rebellion."
"It is to purge the Yin River demon aura, correct the balance of yin and yang, and restore clarity to the entire world!"
Qing Weizi's eyes widened, finding it hard to believe his ears. He confirmed, "When you say purging demon aura, do you mean to eradicate the Yin River demons causing calamities in Yaozhou?"
"Indeed! Not only that, the Da Luo Sect's founding principle is to strive for the mandate of heaven, accomplish what immortals and gods dare not do. For instance, completely overturn this Five Filthy Evil Worlds to restore the world to peace!"
Maybe we should talk about rebellion after all...
Qing Weizi finally realized where the peculiar sense stemming from Da Luo Sect came from.
This bunch of people is even crazier than him!
"Daoist friend, don't jest; those land immortals hiding from the world, Primordial Spirit True Men have yet to show themselves for salvation. How can you and I alone withstand the great calamity?"
Xu Qing laughed heartily, while Zhang Pingsheng and others also smiled subtly.
Qing Weizi's face reddened, slightly irate saying, "I spoke sincerely, yet you did not appreciate it. Why mock me?"
Xu Qing ceased his laughter, and in the next moment, he took out a new array disk from the Cat Immortal Hall, soaring into the air, and began setting up a new grand array over the Fen River!
Zhang Pingsheng wouldn't remain idle. When Xu Qing needed to build dikes and alter the landscape, he unleashed his full aura, demonstrating mountain-moving divine techniques before everyone.
Monk Xinyuan, alert-eyed, also spared no effort preparing for the forthcoming significant undertaking.
Qing Weizi gaped, unable to comprehend how the Primordial Spirit True Men he mentioned were actually there.
"Xie Qiongke, are you also…"
Before Qing Weizi could finish his sentence, Xie Qiongke soared into the sky to assist the Sect Leader in arranging the purification grand array.
With low Daoist skills, Qing Weizi stood by the river, watching helplessly, unable to lend a hand.
At one point, his gaze fell upon Shiyue nearby; this little girl couldn't possibly be acting, could she?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
If a little girl's Daoist skills surpass his, he might as well renounce worldly affairs and return home to farm!