As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 399 Meeting the Immortal

"Too much bloodlust, harming both others and oneself?"

Upon hearing this, Mingchen raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but glance a few more times at the hysterical-looking soldier.

He turned to the general who had led the group in and asked, "General Liu, what's going on?"

Liu Changli shuddered, while Mingchen's expression remained unchanged.

However, he could sense that the official, whose status was second only to the Emperor Qian, was not in a good mood. He quickly bowed and said, "Reporting to Your Excellency, recently someone in the camp has suddenly fallen ill. He is delirious and has no sense of reason. He can only mutter these few words to himself."

He pointed to one of the soldiers and said, "At first it was just Zhang Hu alone."

"I thought he was mentally disturbed, ill, or a spy from the enemy army. Fearing that he might disrupt the morale of the troops, I detained him."

"Who knew that after being detained, Li Li also fell ill, with symptoms exactly the same as Zhang Hu's."

"This humble general has imprisoned him again."

"After Li Li, there was Sun Zhengye..."

He cautiously bowed to Mingchen and reported, "This humble general believes there is something fishy about this matter, so I have dared to report to you, sir, and ask for your decision."

Upon hearing this, Mingchen nodded slightly, stood up, and went to the group of soldiers who were having an attack, quietly observing them.

Their pupils were unfocused and dilated.

Even someone as prominent as Mingchen, upon arriving before them, did not kneel in reverence or fear, but instead remained in a daze, muttering to himself.

Mingchen stood in front of a man, looked down at him, and asked, "What is your purpose?"

He knew that these people's strange behavior was obviously something fishy going on.

The person behind it all was simply trying to send him a message through these lowly soldiers.

Whether they are friend or foe is still hard to say.

Ling Yu held extraordinary significance for Ming Chen. The fact that the other party had accurately used this name to lure him into a trap was a testament to Ming Chen's foresight. Even if the other party had ulterior motives, Ming Chen still fell right into the trap.

The other side clearly wanted to use these soldiers to convey some information to them.

The soldier stood there, stunned, muttering to himself, "Too much bloodlust, it hurts others and hurts oneself..."

However, when he heard Mingchen's question, he trembled all over.

He looked up at Mingchen and changed his words: "There is an immortal on Qinglonggang. I have a gift to offer."

"There is an immortal on Qinglonggang, who will present me with gifts."

"There is an immortal on Qinglonggang, who will present me with gifts."

"Ah!"

Upon hearing this, Mingchen chuckled and said mockingly, "The Immortal Elder would not treat my soldiers like that."

The soldier's attitude remained unchanged; he simply continued to say the same things.

After repeating this nine times, the group's eyes rolled back, and they collapsed to the ground, falling into a coma.

The two generals looked up at Mingchen: "Lord Ming, this..."

After a while.

"Forehead……"

A soldier awoke, looking at the unfamiliar tent before him with a puzzled expression. But when he saw Mingchen's face, he trembled and immediately knelt on the ground: "Ming... Lord Ming, this... this humble servant..."

His face flushed red, he stammered, and his eyes were filled with humility and fear.

The other soldiers reacted in the same way.

They seem to have finally returned to normal.

Mingchen then turned to Liu Changli and said, "General Liu, please take these soldiers down to rest."

Liu Changli was taken aback for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay~"

After the others left, Zheng Yong approached, his brow furrowed: "Since you had a gift to give, why didn't you deliver it in person?"

There are many forces in this world that are beyond the comprehension of ordinary people, as well as gods, demons, monsters, and ghosts. Individual strength is insignificant under the influence of such infinite power.

Zheng Yong witnessed firsthand the phoenix descending upon Xingtai Pass, cultivators battling it out, and many powers beyond his comprehension.

Zheng Yong was somewhat worried and said to Ming Chen with concern, "Lord Ming, I'm afraid there might be a trap!"

"It's just about saving face."

Upon hearing this, Mingchen smiled and gently patted his shoulder: "Coming in person to deliver it would be beneath your status and make you lose face."

"The higher the position, the more important face is than life."

He had been waiting all this time.

He believed someone would come looking for him.

Because he has already broken all the original rules, if this continues, the human world will become his own stage, and he can rewrite and set all the rules.

This is clearly not acceptable.

Now, this person seems to have appeared.

Zheng Yong was stunned and couldn't understand it.

Mingchen didn't explain further to him, but simply stood up and prepared to leave.

Zheng Yong said with some worry, "Lord Ming, let me lead a thousand men to protect you..."

He witnessed firsthand that day what terrifying consequences would ensue if Mingchen were to 'die'.

He was also very clear about the significance of this pillar to the entire Qian Yuan dynasty.

Mingchen is Qianyuan's hope.

There is no room for the slightest mistake.

General Ling is currently unconscious, and he must ensure Mingchen's safety.

Mingchen simply waved his hand and laughed, "A thousand men can't protect my safety."

Zheng Yong was about to say something more, but Ming Chen stopped him with a look.

"Zheng Yong, I'll leave this to you for now. If you can't handle it, go ask General Ling; she's already awake."

"Don't tell her what happened here for now."

Seeing that Mingchen couldn't dissuade him, Zheng Yong had no choice but to lower his head and agree, watching the other's departing figure with some worry.

"Young master! You promised to come with me wherever you go!"

Mingchen had just stepped out of the tent when a red shadow flashed by and landed precisely on his shoulder.

The most familiar voice rang in my ears.

Soaring high.

Fuyao never wants to experience that feeling of despair again.

Wherever Mingchen goes, she will go with him.

Mingchen didn't refuse, but just smiled and said, "Okay, okay~"

"Then let's go together."

The little bird nuzzled Mingchen's face affectionately, "Hehe~"

"Did you sense anything unusual about those soldiers just now?"

"what?"

"No."

Birds are so careless; their sensory abilities are never very strong.

Mingchen asked casually, not expecting anything from her.

Suddenly a gust of wind arose, and a red shadow swept past.

The little bird and Mingchen had already disappeared from the spot.

……

As summer transitions into autumn, the weather is no longer so hot.

Qinglonggang is a hill located north of the destroyed Libu Pass.

The altitude is not high, and the hill is not large, so it is not suitable for setting up an ambush.

When Long Lian transformed into a dragon, it didn't affect this area.

The lush green trees and vibrant life created a beautiful scene. The little bird was very fast, and in the blink of an eye, it brought Mingchen to their destination.

"It was right here that we exchanged General Liu!"

Mingchen stepped into the small hill, a gentle breeze blowing against his face, and he couldn't help but sigh, "I wonder if General Liu, who went his separate ways, missed me~"

This joke would probably sound like hell to a certain deceased general.

Time flies, and everything has changed.

Back then, after tricking Libu Pass, it was here that they made an agreement with Bei Lie to exchange Liu Xifeng for Zheng Yong.

According to intelligence, Liu Xifeng has been beheaded as a traitor.

The Northern Lie court also engaged in some debate and purges.

Since partisan strife has been involved, whether Liu Xifeng truly surrendered or not is no longer very important.

Liu Xifeng is a traitor; this is only the version of events among the frontline troops.

As the rumors spread further and further north, they began to change.

By using various opinions to speculate on the true facts and confuse the public, Mingchen has already achieved his goal.

Compared to the serious atmosphere in the military, Mingchen actually preferred the tranquil mountains and fields.

Even setting aside the agreement with that unknown person, it would be good if Fuyao and I simply went sightseeing.

"Young master, he won't miss you."

Unlike me, I think about you every single moment~

The little bird winked at Mingchen and said some cheesy, corny pickup lines.

"Yeah~"

Mingchen looked at it with great interest: "Our Fuyao is so good at talking!"

"That is... my feelings for you, young master. Heaven and earth can bear witness to that!"

"Well, what do you want?"

"Hehe...Young master, I heard that you crossed the sea and subdued a giant shrimp demon, could you...?"

"No."

"Young Master~~"

The man and the bird chatted and laughed, and soon they reached the top of the mountain.

A gentle breeze blew across the mountaintop, and the autumn air was crisp and refreshing.

They walked to the end, but didn't see a single person, let alone the 'immortal' the hysterical soldier had mentioned.

The mountaintop was empty except for a bare stone platform and a solitary welcoming pine tree.

Mingchen looked around and said loudly, "I have come at the invitation of the Immortal Elder. May I ask where the Immortal Elder is? Would you be so kind as to show yourself?"

"I am very busy, and if I cannot see you, I will take my leave now..."

The other party wanted to save face, so Mingchen came to see them in person, which was enough to give them face.

If the other party still acts aloof, then let it go.

As soon as he finished speaking, a gust of wind suddenly rose, and the welcoming pine tree swayed in the wind.

"Don't rush...don't rush..."

Before anyone arrives, the sound comes first.

The distant voice reached her ears, and Fuyao, who had been chatting and laughing with Mingchen with a relaxed expression, now became somewhat solemn.

The fallen leaves swayed in the breeze, twisting and turning, obscuring one's view in the hazy mist.

In the blink of an eye, auspicious light flashed across the sky, accompanied by auspicious clouds.

Looking back, a figure suddenly appeared on the mountaintop.

Upon closer inspection, one could see an elderly man with white eyebrows and a white beard, dressed in a black Taoist robe with the Bagua symbol, holding a whisk in his hand, standing quietly under the welcoming pine tree.

His long beard and eyebrows swayed gently in the wind, his appearance was gentle, and his eyes were full of compassion as he looked at Mingchen and Fuyao. He exuded a natural and gentle aura that made people want to get close to him.

The old man lowered his eyes to look at Mingchen, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate flesh and see into people's hearts: "This old Taoist greets the layman."

The higher you climb, the more you need to remain calm and composed.

Never be all about fighting and killing, or being overly competitive.

Once some words are spoken or some fists are thrown, there's no going back.

If the leaders of two opposing forces meet and start arguing and throwing bricks at each other, then in the end only one can survive, or neither of them can survive.

Those in positions of power are amicable when they meet, and no matter how much they resent the other party, they will not break off relations.

The bloody battles mostly take place behind the scenes, among the pieces below.

While the other person was looking at Mingchen, Mingchen was also looking at him.

Mingchen cupped his hands in greeting and said, "I, Ming, greet the Immortal Elder. May I ask how you are addressed?"

Unlike the young monk who had been humble and secretive when he appeared earlier, the old man smiled generously at Mingchen and said, "You are too kind, layman. My name is Xuanyuan."

With a flick of the whisk in his hand, a gentle breeze stirred, causing the sleeves of his Taoist robe to flutter.

A crystal-clear jade table and a pair of jade stools appeared on the stone platform at the top of the mountain.

He waved to Mingchen and said, "Please."

The two sat down, and Xuan Yuan waved his hand, conjuring up teacups and a teapot, and personally poured tea for Ming Chen.

A gentle breeze blows, carrying the fragrant aroma of tea.

Mingchen accepted the teacup with both hands and asked the old man directly, "Some soldiers in my army have spread rumors that my wife is ill and there is no cure. An immortal is here and wishes to offer me a gift. I have come here today to inquire about the reason."

The old man stroked his beard and said in a calm voice, "All living beings are born with spirits, and humans are the leaders of all spirits. Killing steals spirits, and those who steal many spirits gain evil. Evil spirits are extremely fierce, sharp and unstoppable. However, those who gain evil spirits must bear the resentment of the spirits. The more you kill, the more evil spirits you gain, and the heavier the resentment becomes."

The old man sipped his tea and pointed to his chest: "Surrounded by vengeful spirits, endless and relentless, they eventually cause the spirit to collapse and the soul to be tainted."

Spiritual practice is the cultivation of the mind.

Old Tree had told Mingchen this many times.

Upon hearing the old man's words, Mingchen frowned repeatedly.

"General Ling possesses exceptional talent, unwavering resolve, and extraordinary intelligence; he has a path to greatness. However, his bloodlust is too strong, and his killing intent is difficult to suppress. If it is not alleviated, I fear..."

The old man turned his head to look in the direction of Xingtai Pass, shook his head, and sighed softly: "All our efforts have been in vain, and Heaven and Earth will not tolerate this."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Mingchen remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic. He simply looked at the old man opposite him and asked, "So, what advice do you have, Immortal Elder?"

The other party said it all, and Mingchen couldn't possibly believe them just because they said Ling Yu was in bad shape. Nor could he panic and lose his composure just because of a few words from them, and ask for their help.

After all, this guy had told Mingchen through the soldiers that there was a gift to present. Mingchen wasn't there to listen to this guy pretend to be profound and spout a long string of riddles to fool people.

Mingchen killed quite a few people, but he didn't feel any resentment.

The old man made no attempt to hide anything and simply waved his hand gently.

"Ding ding~"

A clear, ringing bell rang out.

The sound seemed to penetrate deep into my mind, making me feel clear-headed and peaceful.

The old man opened his palm, and a small bell tied with a red string swayed gently between his fingers, making a series of crisp sounds.

“I once had a friend who also walked the path of killing and violence. However, this path was difficult and rugged. In the end, he could not control himself, collapsed and destroyed himself, leaving behind this thing.”

"I am offering this to you, so please give it to General Ling. If you can gain some enlightenment, then my friend's long journey will not have been in vain."

Don't accept things from strangers.

This is a very simple principle that my mother taught me from a young age.

“You are too kind, Immortal. I thank you on behalf of my wife.”

Mingchen smiled, his eyes narrowed.

Since it concerned Ling Yu's safety, Ming Chen didn't want to pretend to refuse and directly reached out to take it.

However... although he said that, he secretly cried out in his heart, "Brother, lend me the power."

(End of this chapter)