I was forced to cultivate immortality when I just wanted to lie down

Chapter 154 Planning and Implementation

Waiting for rain with a hoe is not as good as digging a hole in the riverbank.

The calamity of being struck by lightning five hundred years ago is imminent, not to mention the double calamities of Yin Fire and Bi Wind waiting afterward. If they can escape, all will be well; if not, they will surely suffer the fate of having their flesh and blood scattered and their bodies left without a trace.

In Xu Qing's eyes, rather than waiting for disaster to come, it is better to make moves early. As long as you make enough moves, even if you are a terrible player, you will eventually make a series of moves that will illuminate the way forward.

Xuan Yu had never traveled far from home, and his knowledge of the sources of incense offerings was limited to controlling rat infestations or resolving trivial matters.

For it, demolishing the temple that sends off children and dealing with the tiger problem were bigger issues than fish weighing over a hundred pounds.

As for solving the problem of hunger and thirst among the people and obtaining a title in the human world, that was something Xuan Yu wouldn't even dare to dream of. It was almost no different from daydreaming and praying for small fish to fall from the sky.

Indeed, in this day and age, evil spirits are rampant and bandits are everywhere. Ordinary people have to be prepared to risk their lives if they want to travel within the territory of Dayong, let alone cross oceans to unknown territories thousands or even hundreds of thousands of miles away.

Sea routes are even more dangerous than land routes.

The road ahead is long, and as the patriarch of the Cat Fairy Hall, Xu Qing naturally needs to plan ahead and prepare for the future. As for whether Black Crow can reach the other shore and retrieve the Seed of Hope...
It's up to the crow to decide. The black crow is already quite old. If it doesn't take a chance, its cultivation level will remain stagnant. But if it's willing to risk it, not only will the Cat Immortal Hall and all the people benefit, but the black crow will also break through its cultivation limits and advance further because of these merits.

The crow clearly knew this as well, and its voice was somewhat hoarse as it said, "The sea is not like the mountains, forests, or land; there are far too many dangers there. Legend has it that there are even dragons in the sea."

"For this old man to think he can fly across is nothing short of wishful thinking. Even if he were to be lucky enough to reach the shore, how can I guarantee that his return journey will be smooth?"

Xu Qing laughed heartily, “The path of cultivation is like rowing against the current. Having a path is always better than having no path at all. This is the path I’ve chosen for you, Master Gua, so you can continue on it. As for how to choose, it’s up to you, Master Gua.”

"I am already old, why don't you choose other immortals and instead come to find me?"

"When Lord Gua helped me demolish the Temple of Fertility and helped me deliver babies, I knew that Lord Gua was a principled and chivalrous deity."

"Furthermore, birds have the ability to fly, so crossing oceans would be much easier for them."

Xu Qing chose the black crow not only because of its character and ability to fly, but also because the crow had nowhere else to go.

At this moment, if there is a guiding light, even if it is just a dying flame, it may inspire the enemy's determination to fight with their backs against the wall.

Only when those whose paths have been cut off encounter hope again are they less likely to give up halfway.

The black crow spread its wings and looked around: "I have cultivated for over a hundred years and have been to many rivers and mountains, but I have never crossed the ocean."

"I am honored by Fellow Daoist Xu's high regard for me today. However, if I fail to return from this trip, I fear I will be unable to repay Fellow Daoist Xu's kindness in the future."

Only when the road ends do we realize how smooth the Shu Road is; only when we feel deep gratitude do we realize how thick the autumn clouds are.

The black crow had reached the end of its path, and it was Xu Qing who devised this new path of cultivation for it. Regardless of whether it could successfully continue on this path, the kindness of this guidance alone was something it could never repay.

Xu Qing shook his head slightly and said, "No need to repay. This matter is actually beneficial to me as well. If my Cat Immortal Hall can receive a share of incense offerings in the future, then I should be the one thanking Lord Crow."

After giving Black Crow time to make his final arrangements, Xu Qing went to Yuehua Mountain alone.

Mount Yuehua sounded like a secluded paradise, but when Xu Qing actually arrived, he found that it was filled with poisonous miasma and fog, and did not resemble a blessed land at all.

As Xu Qing walked through the damp, soft woodland, many snakes gathered along the way. Sometimes, even when Xu Qing was walking peacefully, a long, colorful snake would suddenly dangle from a tree branch in front of him.

Fortunately, as a zombie, he was not afraid of these things. Even if a snake bit him, it could not bite through his skin. Even if a snake with good teeth scratched his skin, he was not afraid at all.

I've never heard of any zombie being poisoned to death; there's no record of it in the zombie legends!

The only mention is in one sentence: "The corpse is the embodiment of evil spirits, immune to all poisons. Even when plagues rage, the corpse's poison remains intact."

If a zombie were truly poisoned, it would probably be like taking a sip of wine; at most, it would be slightly tipsy, and might even cause a burp, which could perhaps aid digestion.
When Xu Qing walked out of the forest and arrived at the Hundred Herbs Cave of Yuehua Mountain, he had several small snakes in his sleeves and around his neck.

Snakes are attracted to yin energy, and Xu Qing's body happened to be cool and yin, so instead of biting him, they treated him like a hot commodity.

Standing outside the Hundred Herbs Cave, Little Willow Fairy went in to report.

The little flower snake slithered into the cave and happened to see the White Fairy cultivating herself deep inside the cave.

The fist-sized demon core shimmered with light. Only after seeing the little flower snake did the giant white python open its mouth and swallow the demon core.

"Aunt Bai, a kind person has come to visit. He says he is the head of the Cat Fairy Hall."

Although the little snake is small, that's only in comparison to the white python in front of it. If viewed alone, even this little snake is as thick as a thigh.

“I already know about this. Go and find some fruits and food to entertain the guest. I will go and meet him after I change my clothes.”

Outside the Hundred Herbs Cave, Xu Qing sat on a stone slab, a flower snake in front of him with a clay pot in its mouth, pouring tea into the teacup in front of him.

Xu Qing watched as the tea flowed over the snake's teeth and into the teacup, thinking to himself how lucky he was to be a zombie. If it were anyone else, one sip of that tea would surely have sent them sprawling to their deaths.
"What kind of tea is this?" Xu Qing smelled the teacup. As a zombie, he rarely drank tea, but the tea in front of him seemed unusual.

"These are morning dews collected by the little willow fairies from the flowers and plants in the mountains. We have heard that human cultivators also consume this stuff, so we have brought these things as our hospitality. We hope our guests will not find them offensive."

Xu Qing took a small sip and asked with a strange expression, "How did they collect the dew?"

The little snake seemed unaware of the seriousness of the situation, and it said matter-of-factly, "Of course it was brought back by its mouth."

"."

Are you sure this isn't your saliva?
Seeing Xu Qing put down the teacup, the little flower snake said somewhat embarrassedly, "We usually eat frogs and rats, and we don't usually drink red sorghum water like other immortals. We can't eat that stuff."

"After thinking it over, the only things I can offer to my guests are these flower dews and wild fruits."

Xu Qing grinned, thinking that it would be better to treat him to wild game.

As the two creatures, one stiff and one snake, were talking, a young village girl dressed in a coarse white dress came out of the hole shortly afterward.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, it's been a long time."

Hearing the familiar voice, Xu Qing asked in surprise, "Are you Bai Xiangu?"

The woman in the coarse white dress smiled demurely, then gracefully approached the stone slab and sat down opposite Xu Qing.

"Speaking of which, I haven't yet thanked you for punishing the demons and eliminating the scum of the immortals for us."

"No need for that. I am also the head of the Cat Fairy Hall, and these things are nothing to me." Watching Bai Xiangu naturally pick up the teacup and sip the 'saliva' inside, Xu Qing felt that her otherworldly and ethereal image instantly crumbled.

Xu Qing had something on his mind, so after exchanging pleasantries with Bai Xiangu for a while, he got straight to the point and inquired about how to avoid the calamity.

“I saw Fellow Daoist Xuanyu of the Cat Immortal Hall last time. It seems that it is still some time away from the calamity.”

“It’s getting late. Xuan Yu has over four hundred years of cultivation. We can’t wait until the last minute to make plans. To be honest, the reason I came to visit you is to ask for your advice on tribulation.”

After a moment of contemplation, Bai Xiangu said, "When a demon has five hundred years of cultivation, it will develop a demon core. Once the core is formed, its lifespan can increase to a thousand years. This is an extraordinary path, and it has always been intolerable to Heaven and Earth."

"If you want to preserve your Dao Fruit, you must resist the calamities that come from the heavens."

"The calamity I experienced over the past five hundred years is called the Thunder Calamity. When I experienced this calamity, it was during a time of yin thunder from the sky. Although the process was dangerous, yin thunder is actually a good thing for demons. In addition, with the incense offerings to resist it, I was able to preserve my five hundred years of arduous cultivation."

Xu Qing pondered for a moment and said, "If it's not Yin Lightning, how should we get through it?"

Bai Xiangu frowned: "If it's not Yin lightning, then it can only be Yang lightning or divine lightning."

"Yang lightning is naturally able to subdue demons. If one encounters Yang lightning, then one is destined to be unrelated to the path of immortality. However, you humans all like Yang lightning and dislike Yin lightning, which is different from us."

"As for divine thunder, there are many kinds of this thunder. I have only heard that this is the thunder of heavenly punishment, which is mainly for killing. Anyone who triggers this thunder is a bloodthirsty demon. A thousand years ago, a demon in Xiangyin died under divine thunder."

"Xiangyin?" Xu Qing frowned and asked, "Does Fellow Daoist Bai know what kind of demon that is?"

"It is said to be a zombie. Such a creature is born like a wild beast. Even if it cultivates for five hundred years, it still eats raw meat and drinks blood, so it is naturally not favored by the heavens."

"."

Xu Qing silently took a sip of snake saliva to calm his nerves. Faced with the divine lightning strike from the sky, the snake saliva in front of him didn't seem like something he couldn't swallow.

"Fellow Daoist Bai, if we follow your logic, then whether it's a human or a demon, when facing a lightning calamity, wouldn't it all depend on luck? If you encounter lightning with a compatible element, it's easier to survive; if it's not compatible, then it's certain death?"

Bai Xiangu nodded: "Cultivating immortality is also cultivating destiny. Just like humans are born easily to become immortals, but demons must learn human form and understand human language. To understand human language, one must first learn bird language. To learn bird language, one must learn all the bird languages ​​of the four seas and nine provinces. Only after becoming omnipotent can one understand human voice and take human form."

Finally, Bai Xiangu looked at Xu Qing with some envy: "Someone like Fellow Daoist Xu is a born immortal. Humans have five hundred years less toil than other beings, and if one is a noble scholar, then one has three hundred years less toil."

"It's a pity that everyone knows the immortals are good, but few are willing to let go of worldly desires and devote themselves to cultivating the Tao."

Xu Qing clicked his tongue as he listened. Others who underwent tribulation had to choose between two options: yang lightning or yin lightning.

He, on the other hand, had to choose two out of three options, and there was only one correct answer.

Are they even letting the zombies live?!
Seeing that Xu Qing's expression was not good, Bai Xiangu smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Xu is really concerned about Immortal Xuanyu. However, you don't need to worry too much. Fellow Daoist Xuanyu still has some time before the calamity. During this time, as long as the Cat Immortal Hall accumulates more incense offerings, even if the situation is not good, the power of incense offerings can offset some of the damage."

Xu Qing sighed and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Fellow Daoist Bai, but this is the only way for now."

Watching Xu Qing leave, the snake with over a hundred years of cultivation slithered to Bai Xiangu's side and spat out a red letter: "Senior Xuan Yu has four hundred years of cultivation, but who knows how many more years it will take him to face the tribulation of cultivation? Sect Leader Xu is human, and he may not live to see that time. I wonder what he has to worry about."

The White Fairy chuckled and shook her head: "You don't understand. Humans don't live as long as demons, but humans always like to think about things a long way ahead. Back in my day..."

At this point, Bai Xiangu suddenly stopped talking.

After a long silence, the White Fairy sighed softly, then transformed into a pale giant python and swam back to her cave.

In the following days, in addition to helping Sun Erzhuang obtain the deed for the funeral clothing shop, Xu Qing also spent a lot of effort drawing many talismans.

In addition to talismans, Xu Qing also prepared a lot of pills and even bought a compass. All these things were prepared for the Black Crow who was about to embark on a long journey.

Late June, at Linhe Wharf.

Xu Qing and Xuan Yu came to see Black Crow off.

"This is a Power Pill, which can be taken when you feel weak; this is a Qingyuan Pill, a miraculous medicine for healing injuries; this is a Detoxifying Pill and a Cooling Powder."

"The black talisman pouch contains fire-avoidance talismans, the white one contains illusion talismans, the red one contains ice-repelling talismans, and the yellow one contains peace talismans."

"If you encounter danger, Crow, don't be stingy. You must know that these things only have value if you are alive."

Black Crow never expected Xu Qing to prepare so many things for him; he had never fought such a rich battle before!

"Xu Wa Zi"

Looking at the speechless expression on Black Crow's face, Xu Qing laughed and said, "It's better to travel with caution than to travel poorly. Lord Crow is the head immortal of my Cat Immortal Hall, so I certainly can't let Lord Crow go unprepared."

Master Gua took a deep breath and said, "Thank you for the leader's trust. I will take on this job as the head of the gang!"

"When will Master Gua be back?" Xuan Yu asked.

"If it weren't for these things given by the leader, I might not have been able to return for a year or two. Right now, it would be at most half a year, or at least two or three months, before I could return."

In the context of the shamanic profession, "da ma lou po" refers to the immortals returning to the mountain; "luo ma xue po" refers to the immortals descending the mountain.

Although the old crow was old, it was still full of ambition.

"You are going on a long and arduous journey, so please take good care of yourself, Lord Crow."

The black crow nodded upon hearing this, and then flapped its wings and flew into the sky.

After circling the stiff cat and the black crow for a while, it let out a hoarse cry, as if bidding farewell to its home.

Xu Qing stood on the pier extending into the river, gazing at the sky, and bowed slightly to the black crows circling overhead.

Beside him, Xuan Yu followed suit, standing up and bowing his head towards the sky like a child making a gesture of respect.

Xu Qing only returned home after the black dot in the sky had completely disappeared into the distance.

Behind him, Xuan Yu followed closely, occasionally turning his head to look at the sky behind the pier.

(End of this chapter)