Taoist Master Xuanhuang

"My lord, you shall make the judgment. This humble monk is ignorant and dares not offer any advice."

The sweeping monk, who hadn't yet figured out the problem, decided to proceed cautiously, thinking it was better to avoid trouble.

"You little monk, I thought so highly of you, but when I needed you, you didn't say a word. You're truly heartless." The ghost ship was blissfully troubled.

I didn't expect so many people to come at once, but I can't handle so many people.

The reason he wanted to start with 10,000 people, even if it was fewer, was precisely because of this.

Too many people are difficult to manage, or difficult to get started.

Having fewer people is not a problem. As long as we get off to a steady start, many talented individuals will naturally emerge. These individuals will become experts and managers.

It will help with the management and integration of ghost ships.

But the current number is beyond expectations, with 100,000 people arriving right away, and they are still loosely gathered together, leaving him somewhat bewildered.

"Huh? This humble monk doesn't understand what you mean, sir?" the sweeping monk said, confused.

"You... well, you really don't know." The ghost ship was about to say something when it suddenly remembered.

It was I who told Sister Meng that it was best not to speak carelessly, that it was best to keep quiet, that it was better to keep it to myself rather than to say it, and not to reveal my lack of wisdom.

So Sister Meng is an obedient person and didn't say anything to the Sweeper Monk.

"It was actually my idea to recruit you, Sister Meng. I also introduced you to Sister Meng as the leader of the Dream Cultivation. You know that, right? I am your benefactor," the Ghost Ship said selectively.

Upon hearing this, the sweeping monk suddenly realized that there was such a story behind it.

If this is true, then Lord Ghost Ship is indeed my benefactor.

"Thank you for your introduction, sir. I was unaware of it before and have been negligent. I thank you for your guidance, sir," the sweeping monk immediately said.

"Well, you know that's good, so tell me your opinion." Ghost Ship asked directly.

This was the test, and the Sweeper Monk knew his test had arrived.

This is not only about Lord Ghost Ship, but also a test from Lord Dream Gate.

I failed my previous assessment and couldn't convince the Dream Eater, so I'm worried.

I never expected to be summoned by the Ghost Ship. I thought that since Master Shi Meng was inconvenient to communicate with, he would send his little brother, Master Ghost Ship, to teach me a lesson.

It turns out that wasn't the case; it was borrowed to give him a second chance.

This is not just about advising the Ghost Ship Lord, but also about proving once again that we cannot afford to fail again.

The Gate of Time and Dreams had no such idea; it was all the Sweeping Monk's overthinking.

"Is your situation a happy problem, sir? You've recruited so many people, but they're all disorganized and lack their own rules and management?" the sweeping monk asked cautiously.

“That’s right, that’s exactly what I’m worried about. Tell me your thoughts,” the ghost ship nodded.

"My lord, since that's the case, let's strive for perfection. We'll directly filter out those who aren't suitable, increase the difficulty of the tests, and eliminate those who are just filling in or who are irrational... We'll set up some rewards, such as what will happen to the first person to comprehend the visualization diagram, what will happen to the top ten, what will happen to the top one hundred, and so on."

"Once you set out the conditions and rewards, you don't need to worry about anything else. You are the final judge, and you can decide based entirely on your own preferences. Even if someone is very talented, but you don't like them, you can increase the difficulty. I'm sure this won't be difficult for you."

The sweeping monk selectively mentioned a few things.

"Haha, little monk, you really are cunning. I knew I wasn't wrong about you. You're right. Anything else?" the ghost ship said happily.

The sweeping monk wore a wry smile. Was this a self-inflicted insult or a self-praise?

"Yes, there is, but it depends on which part you are asking, sir." The sweeping monk wanted to understand the ghost ship's idea further.

"this one?"

The ghost ship said, "Actually, I just took a closer look. Although there are many people, none of them are suitable to follow my path. Although I have set up ratings such as attraction, liking, indifference, and disgust, even those who are attracted do not meet my requirements. Therefore, I am not satisfied with these 100,000 people. No one who truly belongs to my path and is the chosen one has appeared. Do you understand?"

Once that was explained, the sweeping monk understood.

Not only did I understand, but I also made many other connections.

"My lord, those who can see the advertisements are all powerful masters. Even if they are not masters, they are family and friends of masters. Good luck is also a kind of strength. The reason why these powerful masters are powerful is that they have their own methods that suit them... Perhaps your method is also suitable, but if you want to find someone whose Dao method is completely unique to you, you cannot choose from these masters."

“You’re absolutely right,” the ghost ship said happily.

Bi Xia and Sun Tong had told him the same thing before, but he never expected that the Sweeping Monk would see through it at a glance.

"hehe!"

The sweeping monk chuckled cautiously, realizing he had made the right choice.

"So, sir, you're hesitating because even if these people are ranked first, tenth, or even in the top one hundred, they might not be your favorites?" the sweeping monk continued.

"Correct!"

“Sir, you need to make your selections,” the sweeping monk said calmly.

"Didn't you say I don't favor these kinds of people? Why do we still need to screen them?" Ghost Ship asked, confused.

“As I have said, you are the examiner. You can treat this selection as the first stage, and you can also set up a second stage, or even a third stage, until the one you are most satisfied with appears before you say it’s over. At that time, isn’t it up to you?” the sweeping monk said with a compassionate expression.

Despite its compassion, this plan is anything but compassionate.

"Huh? You can do that?!"

I still haven't been eating enough salt.

Even the smartest among all the brothers and sisters is still not as cunning as the old and shrewd one.

“Absolutely... For example, you can first select a certain number of people to serve as temporary managers, so that you can free up your hands and the subordinates you gather will not look too loose... Then your second test will come, let them find the real chosen one of the Abyss Law, let them compete, let them cover the 80% of the masses who are not the 20% of experts, until they find the chosen one, and then you can make a decision.”

It was a series of interconnected events, one link leading to another, and the ghost ship began to make sense.

"Won't they feel resentful about doing this? For example, they might feel that they are not the rightful heir and that they will eventually be replaced, so they might feel resentful and even hold a grudge?" This is what the ghost ship doesn't understand.

"No, adults, you're overthinking it. Reality will teach them a lesson."

"What do you mean?" the ghost ship asked.

"My lord, including Lord Shimeng, do you want to build your own subordinate forces to dominate the world or to prolong your own survival?" The sweeping monk pointed out the key question directly.

"Naturally, we aim to dominate the world," the ghost ship declared confidently, without mincing words.

Related to his personality and temperament, he's the kind of person who would love nothing more than chaos in the world.

Fortunately, it is a supreme treasure of Xuanhuang. If it were of a different identity, it would definitely be a tyrant who would cause chaos in the world.

"That's right. So what if they're unwilling? Can they hold on? If they can't, they won't have any luck, which means that this lineage of Abyss cultivators is not thriving and its fortune is not prosperous. Once a lineage's fortune is not prosperous, what benefit can they get? Can they be content with that? So what you're worried about won't happen." The sweeping monk added, "Besides, if they don't work hard, don't we still have this humble monk? This humble monk will take Meng Xiu and Lord Shi Meng's subordinates to teach them a lesson. They'll understand after suffering the consequences."

With that said, all doubts about the ghost ship were completely dispelled.

Even if these people are unwilling, so what? If you're so capable, then raise the banner of Abyss Cultivators.

If you can't handle it, don't blame someone who can take over.

If you're still not satisfied, then die! The subordinate cultivators of my Ghost Ship are no child's play.

"Not bad, not bad, very good, very good," the ghost ship said with satisfaction.

If all else fails, they can secretly have the dream cultivators, led by the Sweeping Monk, give the abyss cultivators a good lesson, and then see how frustrated they are.

"Besides, there's something I'm not sure if I should say," the sweeping monk said, becoming a little bolder.

"Speak freely," the ghost ship said magnanimously.

"Yes!" The sweeping monk composed himself and said, "Sir, it's like this. I observe that your subordinates are not simple. They all seem a bit unruly. Such a group might be a bit difficult to deal with."

"Haha, I'll say whatever I want, what are you worried about?" Ghost Ship said, "Just say they're all evil heretics, it's harmless to say it outright. My methods are indeed suitable for them, that's for sure. If it weren't like this, I would have doubts."

It's still a fundamental question about the nature of the law.

The Abyss Law isn't exactly a righteous path; it has a somewhat demonic feel to it.

It's not so much an external path; the true name for Abyss Law is pure demonic path, or orthodox demonic path, or evil path.

Where there is genuine cultivation, there must also be genuine demons.

The ghost ship opened the path to true demonhood.

"Ahem!" The sweeping monk was somewhat speechless.

“My sister Meng, also known as your patriarch, is the Dao of Dreams, which is like a dream… My brother Dao is the Void Blade, extreme yet relentless, unyielding… My sister Bai is similar to me, whose heart is forged from white bones… As for me, as you have seen, I follow the Dao of the Abyss, or the Dao of Cause and Effect, or you could say I am the Demonic Path.”

“We’re here to broaden and expand this cultivation world. None of the previous demons could amount to anything; they were severely suppressed by the righteous path. Sister Bai and I are planning to embark on the true path of demonic and heretical cultivation. What do you think?”

"This? This Dao Master, Dao Master..." The sweeping monk was truly stunned.

Is this something you can just say casually?

"My lord has long transcended the Three Realms and is no longer within the Five Elements. Regardless of demons or righteous cultivators, they all ultimately come from my lord and are merely my lord's disciples. Why would my lord care about these things? As the saying goes, yin cannot grow alone, and yang cannot be born alone. Don't you understand this principle?"

"I have learned a great deal; I was ignorant," the sweeping monk quickly acknowledged.

To be honest, it wasn't that the Sweeping Monk couldn't think of it, but rather that he dared not admit it.

Since being subdued by Shi Meng and embarking on the subordinate cultivator plan, the Sweeper Monk has come to understand many things.

Combined with the internal problems of the "Four Superpowers and Eight Major Groups," this is already a strong omen that a new era is about to begin.

I once thought that the end of this era would mark the beginning of the self-disintegration of super powers and large powers.

Unexpectedly, the process wasn't like this; rather, it was due to external reasons that the truth came to light.

The external reason is his own master, Master Shi Meng, and the treasures of the Dao Lords.

The Ghost Ship Lord just spoke of the character of you gentlemen, and I'm sure he wasn't just saying it casually.

This signifies that this is just the beginning. With sword cultivators and destiny cultivators now existing, abyss cultivators have also appeared, and I have already become a dream cultivator… Next, the subordinates of Lord White Bone, and the subordinates of Lord Azure Cloud Boat…

This is definitely a brand new era.

The powerful figures behind each of the cultivators are all invaluable treasures, no less than the disciples of the Dao Master, and their cultivation levels far surpass those of the Dao Master's disciples.

With such a foundation and strength, the power they have built can truly shake the four superpowers and eight major powers.

Moreover, the four superpowers and eight major powers also have internal problems.

So this is why I'm here. I, a mere little monk, am about to usher in a new era.

"Since that's the case, I understand. Let's get back to the main point. Your subordinate cultivators must be difficult to manage, the kind that are hard to manage. I've seen those impure demonic paths before. They are really hard to control. They are lawless, arrogant, ruthless, and utterly wicked... Therefore, extraordinary people should do extraordinary things. They are more like spirit beasts, believing that might makes right and that the strongest cultivation is supreme..."

"Chaos is also a kind of order. Since you, sir, intend to create chaos, then a little chaos is fine. When chaos reaches a certain point, the reversal of the Tao will occur, and a chaotic order will be born."

The completely uninhibited sweeping monk began to offer advice based on his own understanding.

Some plans, such as those mentioned earlier, were scrapped, while others were strengthened and modified.

"Hmm, not bad, not bad." The ghost ship nodded repeatedly.

Looks like we found the right person, very good.

I went through a thorough review of myself, inside and out.

"My lord, by choosing this path, you must bear the consequences of disloyalty, even the backlash. You must consider this," the sweeping monk reminded him.

The demonic path, or the true demonic path.

Don't expect any loyalty; the so-called loyalty is holding your lifeline in my hands.

Don't have any other illusions.

These subordinates of the Ghost Ship might actually rebel, for example, thinking that they are stronger than the Ghost Ship, its master, so why not kill the Ghost Ship?

The Demonic Path will definitely succeed.

"Good, good, I like this. Even if it rebels, I'll admit defeat if I can't suppress it." The ghost ship was very excited.

This is exactly what I wanted.

"Of course, that's the downside. There are also many advantages. Because the demonic path is unscrupulous, because they are extremely scheming, and because they are ruthless, they will inevitably grow stronger quickly. And once they grow stronger, your fortune will come. I think that's what you want to see."

The sweeping monk continued, "However..."

Taking the right path is always difficult, while taking the crooked or evil path can lead to rapid rise.

This has always been the case; this is what they mean by shortcuts.

However, shortcuts also represent instability; they can be as dazzling as fire when gathered, but leave no trace when scattered.

They can quickly assemble considerable strength, but because they lack rules, bottom lines, morality, and constraints, they are also more likely to fall apart.

This is what the Sweeping Monk reminded the Ghost Ship of.

...(End of chapter)