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

Chapter 376 Little Monkey Mountain Blessed Land, Little Water Curtain Cave (6k)

Ever since the emperor promoted the new grain and established the Xu family's achievements in revitalizing the country through agriculture, the fat, dark-skinned man from Rongshengzhai in Tianjin has become more assertive again.

Before corn and potatoes became famous, Guo Baolin denied any relationship between Xu Qing and Rong Shengzhai; now that the new grains are widely available, Guo Baolin wishes he could mention Uncle Xu's name every day!

In the past, when telling stories, Guo Baolin liked to say that he was a disciple of Master Dongyang, and that Guo Dongyang was the patriarch of their Rongshengzhai storytelling troupe.

Now, Guo Baolin has added the prefixes "Mr. Xu" and "Uncle Xu," saying that his master and Xu Qing had been friends for decades, and that Uncle Xu personally attended his master's funeral.

No one doubted this. Tianjin was neither small nor large, with a total of ten administrative centers. If the news spread back and forth, it would eventually reach the ears of the coffin-carrying office.

Xu Qing didn't take it seriously. The fat, dark-skinned man from Rongshengzhai came from a poor background and had suffered a lot of cold looks in the first half of his life. Later, Guo Dongyang saw that he had a stubborn streak, so he lent a hand and pulled the fat man who had fallen on hard times to the shore and taught him how to make a living.

However, Guo Baolin still had inner demons, fearing that one day he would be forced back to his original form and return to begging on the streets!
He used to suffer because he had no children, but now that he has a large family and business, how can he let his family suffer along with him?

Guo Baolin believed from the bottom of his heart that he was a nobody and unworthy of being called a gentleman.

Xu Qing had seen countless people, and he could tell what kind of person the fat man was from the first moment he saw him.

He even asked Guo Dongyang about this, but Guo Dongyang just smiled and said that the more people are accustomed to the coldness and warmth of human relationships, the more likely they are to pass on the storytelling profession.

The sons of other respectable families either lacked the experience of struggling at the bottom and were not experienced enough, or their edges had been smoothed out and they had long lost their stubbornness.

Only Guo Baolin, from the first moment Guo Dongyang saw him in the crowd, he felt that he was a fine steed, even though he was a bit short.
Fortunately, Guo Baolin was not an ungrateful person. He took good care of Guo Dongyang, allowing him to enjoy his old age in peace.

Nowadays, when Xu Qing hears Guo Baolin claiming to be his senior martial uncle, he simply laughs it off.

In a sense, the other party's actions were a form of publicity for Xu's Courier Service, so why should he take it to heart?
Inside Rongshengzhai, the fat, dark-skinned man continued reciting his book.

Within Huayin territory, Xu Qing led a funeral horse, followed by a red-tailed monkey carrying a stick, a fortune teller in a divination robe, and a girl in black riding on horseback, looking around.

"This is Huayin County, so Mount Taihua must be right here. I just wonder where the Temple of the Two Saints is."

Xu Qing gazed at the distant mist, where the mountain peaks resembled a forest of swords and spears, soaring straight into the clouds—truly a place of extraordinary beauty and peril.

Upon hearing this, the red-tailed monkey agreed, "Master, please wait a moment. There is a family over there. Let me go and inquire about their way before we set off."

Xu Qing readily agreed.

And so, a group of demons and monsters that looked like humans arrived at the village houses and knocked on the wooden doors.

"Who?"

“Hey passerby, sir, please open the door. I have something to say to you.”

"I'm coming!"

The old man, who lived at home, put down his work, took a few quick steps, and opened the tightly closed wooden gate.

When the old man saw the red-tailed monkey with a face full of red hair, resembling the Thunder God, he was so frightened that he lost his composure and even his seven souls seemed to have vanished!
The old man's eyes were glazed over, his legs were weak, and he was muttering trembling cries of "monster."

Seeing this, Xu Qing hurriedly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:
"Don't be afraid, old man. This man is my bodyguard. Although he looks fierce, he has a heart of gold."

The old man looked up and calmed down when he saw the young man dressed in a blue-and-white robe with a gentle smile on his face.

"Turns out it's because he's a bit ugly."

The red-tailed monkey's eyelids twitched. Who was this old man calling ugly?
When the old man learned that the red-tailed monkey was not a monster, he seemed to regain control of the situation.

He scrutinized Xu Qing and asked, "You look unfamiliar. Where are you from? Why did you bring this ugly man to my house?"

Xu Qing replied, "I am originally from Beijing or Tianjin, and I came here to study and seek the Dao. I just passed by your place and wanted to ask you if the Ersheng Temple is nearby."

"So you came from the north, that's really rare!"

The old man asked in surprise, "That temple of the Two Saints has been abandoned for a long time, and even many locals don't know about it. How could you, who have come from afar, know that there is a temple of the Two Saints here?"

Xu Qing explained, “Years ago, I had an old friend named Hong Baoya. He made a wish at the Ersheng Temple, but unfortunately, my friend's fate was tragic, and he passed away twenty years ago. At that time, I promised my friend that I would come to the Ersheng Temple to fulfill his wish. Now, more than twenty years have passed, but I never expected that both the person and the temple would be different.”

Upon hearing this, the old man held Xu Qing in even greater respect for his promise. After pointing out the way to Xu Qing, the old man asked again, "Since you have come from near the capital, you must have heard about the new emperor's plan to plant new grains. Is this true?"

Xu Qing blinked, thinking to herself that this news spread quite quickly.
"Old man, do you perhaps not want to plant new crops?"

The old man said, "What nonsense are you talking about? If his grain were truly filling, I'd be eager to plant it right now!"

"Unfortunately, Huayin is far from the capital. I'm getting old, and I'm afraid I'll never get to eat that new grain."

Beside him, the red-tailed monkey grinned and said:

"You old man, you have no eyes to recognize Mount Tai! That new grain was presented by my sect leader, and the tens of thousands of acres of cornfields in Cangshi County were all planted by my sect leader!"

The old man glanced at the red-tailed monkey and said disbelievingly, "Don't try to fool me. I have no money to give you! Ten thousand acres of fertile land? If I had ten thousand acres of land, I could stay in the fields all day and be laughing in my sleep. Why would I come all this way to ask for directions?"

"Hey, you old man!"

Just as the red-tailed monkey was about to explain in detail, Xu Qing stopped him.

“Old man, what I, your caretaker, have said is all true. These are some corn seeds and some potatoes. You can take them to plant, or consider them as a way to ask for directions.”

As they were talking, Xu Qing walked around behind the horse and, from who knows where, took two jin of seeds and a dozen potatoes, stuffing them into the old man's arms.

Wow! Could it be that I've really met a benefactor today?

The old man looked at the rare grain seeds in his hand and was about to look up to express his gratitude when he saw the funeral horse transform into a golden light, carrying a little girl, and rushing straight towards Mount Taihua.

Meanwhile, the skinny monkey, whom he had previously disliked for his ugly appearance, carried a stick and rode away on a cloud.

The female fortune teller and the young man in white also vanished into thin air.

This isn't just a benefactor, it's like meeting a deity!
Mount Taihua.

The so-called Three Mountains and Five Sacred Mountains, the Western Sacred Mountain refers to Mount Taihua.

Xu Qing rode the fog and controlled the wind, using his flying body to perform leaping techniques, overlooking the entire mountain.

In his early years, when he performed a ritual to help Hong Baoya, the leader of the Tianjin Gang, he saw a set of tadpole-like characters engraved on the cave wall in the other party's lantern.

Looking back now, those characters must have been like the thunder and cloud seal script in Baiyun Cave—celestial script.

Now that twelve years have passed, it is time to use the Immortal Seeking Technique again. In order to avoid finding known immortal opportunities, Xu Qing deliberately uses the process of elimination, intending to eliminate all the obvious immortal opportunities.

The Heavenly Book of Baiyun Cave, the Tushan Heritage of the Poplar Tomb, the Immortal Robe of the Yin Corpse Sect's Chief, the Secret Cave of the Two Saints Temple on Taihua Mountain, the Small Blessed Land Cave of Jiwa Mountain in Zhongzhou, and the Ruins of Qingqiu Kingdom.
The fates of immortals in this world are predetermined, but Xu Qing has learned of many such fates by chance along his journey.

"found it!"

Xu Qing searched around and finally found the abandoned Ersheng Temple in the direction the old man pointed out.

Behind the Ersheng Temple, nestled among towering mountains, lies a steep canyon that appears to have been cleaved open by a giant axe.

The secret cave of Taihua Mountain is located directly opposite the narrow canyon.

Following the map and the directions of the Two Saints Temple, Xu Qing arrived at the secret cave that Hong Baoya had mistakenly entered.

"Is this the second location of the Heavenly Book that Master Xu mentioned?"

Xu Qing nodded and said, "There is a secret technique left by a celestial being here. However, this celestial being is very proud and aloof. I was fortunate enough to glimpse a page of the celestial book and was taught celestial powers in a dream, but this celestial being only uttered two words from beginning to end."

"What word?"

Xu Qing avoided the topic.

"It cannot be said. You may come with me to take a look. If you can receive supernatural powers from Him, it will be your good fortune!"

The red-tailed monkey was eager to try, and Bai Qiuyu could not contain his excitement. However, when they entered the secret cave, they found that the celestial script on the cave wall had disappeared. Only on the other side of the cave wall were there ancient characters that were difficult for ordinary people to recognize.

Xu Qing stared at the ancient characters, somewhat lost in thought, and said, "Dividing rivers into land, searching mountains to subdue demons, capturing dragons and slaying serpents."

Bai Qiuyu, who was well-versed in ancient characters, was equally surprised and asked, "Is this also an Earthly Fiend Divine Power?"

Xu Qing pondered and said, "It's not the Earthly Fiend Divine Power, but a part of the inheritance left behind by that Heavenly God."

At this moment, Xu Qing understood that the Thirty-Six Axes of the Heavenly Gang was a divine power, which was the Heaven-Opening Technique that surpassed the Heavenly Rank.

Hong Baoya only learned the form, not the spirit.

Only Xu Qing became the chosen successor of the secret cave's master, which explains why the tadpole runes in the secret cave disappeared after he received the final move, the Heaven-Opening Axe, in his dream.

"Are the incense offerings at the Blood Lake, a way to accumulate merit in the human world, really that effective?"

Whether it was the Primordial Ancestor or the Heavenly God in the secret cave of the Two Saints Temple, they could clearly see that Xu Qing was an anomaly who had attained enlightenment. The Primordial Ancestor saw things even more deeply and instructed him to cultivate the three methods simultaneously, saying that he possessed the appearance of a human, a god, and a ghost.

The master of the secret cave who passed on the Heavenly Gang Axe Technique to him was clearly not as far-sighted as the patriarch, yet he still passed on the ultimate skill to him.
"Perhaps the prejudices between different people, and those so-called lineages and bloodlines, are not that important to some people."

Xu Qing pondered. If the identity of the owner of this place was indeed as he suspected, then it wouldn't be surprising that the other party would make such a choice.

Xu Qing then stayed at Mount Taihua for a few more days.

It is mainly used to comprehend the part of the inheritance on the cave wall.

The immortals had lived a life of poverty in the past, and they had all repeatedly practiced the same supernatural powers.

Like a poor child, who can play with a toy hundreds of times, not because he particularly likes it, but because it's the only toy he has.

However, Xuan Yu and the others have now discovered that their speed of comprehending supernatural powers is far behind their speed of acquiring them.

However, they were not in a hurry. Demons have a much longer lifespan than human cultivators, so they have plenty of time to digest all the supernatural powers they have acquired.

It's just a matter of a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand years.

For a monster with decent aptitude and comprehension, having supernatural powers is always better than not having them.

Seven days later, Xu Qing set off again with several immortals, this time heading to the Central Plains.

"The sect leader has found the right person; I know Zhongzhou very well!"

In his early years, the Red-tailed Monkey sought immortality and visited Taoist masters, spending more than a decade in the Central Plains, where he became quite familiar with the place.

Xu Qing was happy to relax, so he let the red-tailed monkey act as his guide and traveled along the Funiu Mountains. After about ten days, the group finally arrived at the Jiwa Mountain area.

"Can the sect leader see the large rock in the distance?"

Xu Qing looked into the distance and, sure enough, saw a large, protruding natural rock halfway up a waterfall.

The waterfall cascading down before us is split in two by a large rock, yet they converge again beneath it, a truly spectacular sight.

"There's a crevice under that big rock, and inside is the little blessed land where I learned the Qitian Staff Technique back then." Xu Qing's expression was inexplicable; the sense of déjà vu he felt about this little blessed land was far too strong.

Xuan Yu looked at the waterfall, feeling somewhat apprehensive.

Under normal circumstances, it would definitely choose to go around and would never crash into the waterfall.

This is a cat's nature. Even with considerable magical power and the water-repelling pearl given to him by Xu Xian, Xuan Yu was still reluctant to go into the water.

But upon hearing that there was also a Heavenly Book inside, Xuan Yu instantly felt that he had lost his fear of water.

Just as Xuan Yu took out the Water-Repelling Pearl and was about to follow in Xu Xianjia's footsteps through the waterfall, he discovered that Xu Xianjia was emanating a powerful water magic fluctuation.

The next moment, the thousand-foot-high waterfall parted to both sides like a curtain of water, opening a convenient door for Xuan Yu, who was the last to enter.

Bai Qiuyu, who entered the cave first, had a deep look in her eyes, as if to say, "Since you have this water-splitting ability, why didn't you use it before I came in?"
Xu Qing ignored Bai Qiuyu's gaze and looked up into the cave. He saw that it was a hidden world inside, with green pines, stone bridges, stone tables and chairs, and even a swing made of living vines. The cave was not big, but it was arranged in a very proper way, just like a home!
Xu Qing's expression grew increasingly strange. He walked to the blue stone chair in the center and saw a stone tablet behind it. On the tablet were written large, monkey-like characters that read "Little Monkey Mountain Blessed Land, Little Water Curtain Cave Heaven".

"."

Once the red-tailed monkey enters the cave, it feels as if it has returned to its own home, knowing exactly where everything in the cave is placed.

"Master, please try this wild fruit. This fruit ripens once every three years, and it is fortunate that it is ripe in autumn now."

Xu Qing couldn't help but smile as he watched the red-tailed monkey picking fruit and pouring tea and water.

This monkey is loyal and righteous, and the cave in front of him is truly worthy of being a secluded place for cultivation, a celestial abode.

However, after learning the Great Sage Equal to Heaven Staff Technique, the Red-tailed Monkey resolutely chose to leave Zhongzhou and return to Monkey Mountain. This unwavering loyalty even after embarking on cultivation is truly commendable.

"Sect Leader, the Heavenly Book is in the meditation room. However, you must be careful, as the owner of the Heavenly Book has a rather eccentric temperament. When I first entered the dream, I was thoroughly scolded by the owner of the Heavenly Book."

Xu Qingqi asked, "How did he insult you?"

The red-tailed monkey blushed, somewhat annoyed, and said, "The master of that book called me stupid as a pig, saying it took me three days to learn a stick technique. He also said I was incomplete in the five elements and too honest. If I were to become an immortal in the future, I would be made a fool of like a monkey."

"."

Xu Qing patted the red-tailed monkey on the shoulder and comforted it, "Maybe the owner of that heavenly book was also made a fool of like a monkey before, which is why he said those words to you. You don't need to take it to heart."

Furthermore, with the path to heaven now blocked, even if the celestial beings wanted to play tricks on you, they'd have to be able to come down first!

"That's true. Even if I become an immortal in the future, I'll be a free and unrestrained immortal. Only a fool would go to heaven to become some kind of celestial official."

Xu Qing's brow twitched, and she quickly distanced herself, saying, "I don't think so! Keep these thoughts to yourself, but don't tell anyone!"

The red-tailed monkey looked up in confusion. What did the sect leader mean by that? Why couldn't people speak the truth?

In the quiet room, Xu Qing burned incense and prayed.

Once all the proper etiquette had been observed and no mistakes had been noticed, he then focused his attention on the irregularly shaped tadpole-like characters moving on the cave wall.

Having gained experience from his previous reading of the Heavenly Book, he quickly found the operating rules of the Heavenly Book characters. When all the characters were guided by his thoughts and returned to their proper places, Xu Qing felt dizzy.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a dilapidated Taoist temple.

The Taoist temple was covered in cobwebs and dust that had accumulated over time. Xu Qing focused his mind and stared intently at the plaque, but could only see a distorted and swaying serpentine script. He could not make out the temple's real name no matter what he did.

Xu Qing continued walking inside. On the prayer mat in the main hall, there was a thin figure dressed in a gray cloth robe, sitting cross-legged with his back to him. Opposite that person was a Taoist statue shrouded in cobwebs, making it impossible to see its true appearance.

After a moment's thought, Xu Qing suddenly cupped his hands in a bow and said:
"This junior, Xu Qing, has no intention of disturbing your cultivation, senior. I am only here to seek immortality and the Dao, and I sincerely come to pay my respects. I hope you will kindly offer your guidance."

As soon as Xu Qing finished speaking, the thin figure that had been sitting motionless with its five hearts facing the sky finally stirred.

"Seeking immortals and visiting the Dao?"

The man whispered, then suddenly spoke, "Let me ask you, where are you from, and how did you find this place? Explain yourself clearly before you pay your respects."

Xu Qing blinked, and the incense from the Blood Lake involuntarily overflowed from his body, revealing only a small part of the immense merit incense from the Cat Immortal Hall.

He replied, “I am a person born of heaven and earth, with no relatives. I only established a temple and a shrine twenty years ago. I have only loved cultivating myself and helping others all my life. Originally, I wanted to cultivate good karma and seek merit to survive in the mortal world.”

"."

The gray-robed Taoist finally couldn't help but turn around and look at Xu Qing. When he saw the 'little luminous person' submerged in the incense and offerings of merit, the other party fell completely silent.

Why not just talk? What's the point of publicly displaying your donations and incense offerings? Are you trying to morally blackmail him?
The Taoist priest, with his pointed snout and hairy face, who didn't resemble a wise man but rather looked like a demon, suddenly sneered:

"Doing good deeds all your life may not necessarily lead to any spiritual attainment. You may be able to hide your background from others, but you can't hide it from me."

"What use is a demon, no matter how much merit you have?"

Xu Qing frowned slightly and said, "How can all matters, both internal and external, be determined with a single word?"

"In the eyes of a junior, demons may not be demons, saints may not be saints, and the people we see may not be human."

The thin Taoist priest asked curiously, "Then tell me, what is a saint, and what is a human?"

"This junior only knows that human fabrications are demons, the spirits of things are spirits, the lingering soul of a person is a ghost, the strange and unusual phenomena of heaven and earth are strange, the unjust spirits are evil, the deluded mind is a demon, and those who turn to heresy are unorthodox paths."

"As for the sacred, my realm is not high enough for me to know."

"."

The thin Taoist remained silent. After pondering this, he suddenly raised his eyebrows and glared, saying, "You are young and have many principles, but unfortunately you only know the surface and not the essence. Even if you can cultivate your mind and nature, you cannot become a saint."

Xu Qing cupped his hands and said, "This junior is ignorant and would appreciate guidance from the senior."

The thin Taoist seemed to have been waiting for this question. When Xu Qing asked, the thin Taoist suddenly beckoned him to come forward.

In the dream, Xu Qing was not afraid. He went closer and saw the hairy-faced, pointed-cheeked Taoist pull out a two-foot-long ruler from his sleeve and hit him on the forehead.

Xu Qing's face darkened. He wanted to hide but couldn't, and he felt extremely frustrated.

If he had doubts about the Taoist's identity at first, when the ruler was taken out, Xu Qing was completely certain of his guess.

The skinny Taoist put away the ruler, and then smacked his lips as if savoring the memory.

"I will tell you what is sacred."

The thin Taoist's eyes gleamed as he spoke with profound wisdom: "Those who cultivate the Tao cultivate not only their nature but also their destiny. Since you understand how to cultivate good results, you must understand that fists are the foundation of protecting the Tao!"

"Simply cultivating good deeds will not make one a saint!"

"Having fists but lacking character is nothing but a demon!"

"Only good deeds combined with a strong fist deserve to be sacred!"

Xu Qing suddenly realized that the skinny Taoist in front of him back then only had fists and no character.

He can't follow the same path as the other side.
"What are you thinking?"

The thin Taoist narrowed his eyes. For some reason, he felt that the young man's gaze was inexplicably offensive.

It felt like a mother-in-law meeting her daughter-in-law for the first time, finding fault with everything about her.
"This junior is thinking about how to make my fist big enough, hard enough, and sacred enough!"

"Please teach me, senior!"

This kid.
That's way too clever for their own good.

The thin Taoist had seen many people who cultivated good karma, and most of them were pedantic and inflexible. But people as quick-witted as Xu Qing were rare.

The thin Taoist nodded, his expression full of admiration, and asked, "What supernatural power do you wish to learn?"

"The harder the better, of course. Seniors can choose the most skilled ones to teach."

"."

This feels like I've dug a hole for myself.

The thin Taoist, who originally only wanted to teach external supernatural powers, had to change his mind and say: "I have a magic technique that can travel across dozens of continents, a magic technique that can create thousands of clones, as well as a magic technique that can freeze people, a magic technique that can make one indestructible, and a magic technique that can avoid water."

Which skill do you want to learn?

Xu Qing pondered, "I already possess the ability to travel to dozens of continents in an instant; I also know a little about the ability to create clones; the Vajra Indestructible technique is my specialty, and I am also quite proficient in the Water Avoidance Technique."

"The immobilization spell is barely usable, but while it's practical, it's clearly not durable enough."

"."

Upon hearing this, the thin Taoist priest immediately flew into a rage:

"I thought you were sincerely seeking the Way, but I never imagined you were just a big talker, a liar and a fraud!"

"Since you can do everything, why did you need to come here? Get out of here at once! If you're too slow, your ancestor will beat you into a pulp and throw you out!"

Xu Qing hurriedly explained, "How could I dare to deceive you, senior? I certainly do not lack these supernatural abilities."

After saying that, Xu Qing demonstrated his Dismemberment Technique and Divine Travel Heavenly Book supernatural power in front of the thin Taoist.

"."

The thin Taoist priest looked as if he had seen a ghost and said, "Where did you learn these supernatural abilities? No, since you can learn these supernatural abilities, you must have been taught by a famous master, so why do you need to ask me for guidance?"

Xu Qing had a flash of inspiration and said, "Senior, you may not know this, but I am both a teacher and a student. I am both a teacher and a student."

The thin Taoist priest was puzzled: "What do you mean by that?"

Xu Qing said softly, "When I was learning my skills, my master said that my journey might lead to trouble. If I caused trouble, he forbade me from revealing who my master was or where I learned my supernatural powers. If I uttered even half a word about my master's lineage, my master would skin me alive, grind my bones to dust, and banish my soul to the deepest hell, so that I would never be able to reincarnate."

"."

The thin Taoist priest's eyelids twitched, and he remained silent for a long time.

After a long silence, the thin Taoist suddenly took a deep breath. He looked at the young man who was enveloped in the fragrance of merit and incense, hanging high like the bright moon.

Finally, he spoke, "I possess a transformation technique. Once mastered, one can transform into rocks, trees, snakes, insects, tigers, and leopards. However, only those with all five elements complete can cultivate this art."

Xu Qing's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly said, "I happen to have all five elements, which makes me perfectly suited to cultivate this method!"

"."

　It's a bit late, but there's more tonight. I'll try to catch up on yesterday's OR2.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)