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

Chapter 457 A Three-Way Scheme, Exile to Chishui

Venus was afraid that Nüba would be corrupted by Xu Qing and his group, so the old angel gave her a word of advice before leaving.

"This old man has a word to offer to the Heavenly Maiden, and I hope she will consider it carefully."

Seeing that the Star Lord before her was sincere, Nüba immediately said seriously, "Star Lord, please speak."

"The phoenix may have lost its feathers, but its divinity remains. The celestial maiden may not be in the heavenly palace today, but she is still the celestial maiden."

Jin Xing glanced at Xu Qing and said meaningfully, "Since you are a phoenix, you should not associate with ordinary birds, otherwise you will eventually lose your divinity and never be able to return to your purity."

Nuba frowned and asked in return, "What is divinity? Does every god necessarily possess divinity?"

As she spoke, Nüba unconsciously looked at Xu Qing, and her gaze visibly softened.

"In my opinion, gods do not necessarily have divinity, and mortals may also have the potential to become gods or immortals."

Even a corpse immortal is still an immortal.

Jin Xing opened her mouth, then shook her head and sighed, but the worry in her heart just wouldn't go away.

This celestial maiden looks like she's been completely corrupted by Xu Qing.

Now we can only hope that the other party can distinguish between what is important and what is not, and will not do anything rebellious.

As for that Master Xu
Without the help of the celestial maiden, it seems unlikely that great things could be accomplished.

In Venus's eyes, there is no second person like the Great Sage, who is born by seizing the creation of heaven and earth, in countless eons.

Although the Great Luo Sect Master has a great reputation, if he hadn't won the heart of the Heavenly Maiden, he might not have been able to defeat the Lord of War and the Head of the Sinful God Sect.

Xu Qing now seems more like the mortal being sought by the monkey, or someone destined for tribulation.

The search for those destined to face calamity is not unusual. Venus alone knows of quite a few, such as Yama, the King of Hell, and Tai'ao and Menglao, who openly sought and cultivated such individuals, but all ended in failure.

Furthermore, the Wondrous Dao True Lord, the Great God of the Sea Assembly, the Sandalwood Merit Buddha of the West, and the Dragon-Subduing Arhat, have all been making arrangements in the human world, either openly or secretly, in order to find the possible variables, just like in the past great kalpas.

Venus shook her head.

These immortals and gods had good intentions at first, but their current tribulations are very different from those they have faced in the past.

The appearance of the Dharma Corpse in the world is an unprecedented calamity, and this calamity happens to coincide with the last calamity of the cycle of formation, existence, decay, and emptiness.

With two calamities combined, even gods and Buddhas were helpless; only demons and monsters rose up in the fray.

In such a situation, let alone the person destined to face the calamity, even if the Heavenly Emperor, Buddha, or even a saint appeared in the world, they would not dare to say they could turn the tide.

"For now, all we can do is hope that the Celestial Venerable's plan will be successfully implemented."

Venus sighed softly, seemingly filled with worry about the predetermined future.

In the golden palace, civil and military officials gather in the treasure hall.

The Great Celestial Venerable surveyed his ministers and asked, "I have ordered an investigation into Xu Xuan's background and origins. Do any of you have any leads?"

Before the palace, Thousand-Mile Eyes and Wind-Following Ears stepped out one after the other and said, "Your Majesty, please allow me to report that Xu Xuan is from Jinmen Township in the lower realm. His origins are unknown, and he seems to have appeared out of nowhere. Now he has established the Great Luo Sect, made many like-minded people, and has begun to spread his teachings to all people, and is highly respected by the world."

The Heavenly Emperor snorted coldly and said, "You may be able to hide his background from him, but you can't hide it from me!"

"The so-called Xu Xuan is just an alias. His original surname was Xu, and his given name was Qing."

"Xu Qingming is ostensibly the leader of a sect, but in reality he is a corpse driver from Jinmen Township in the lower realm, who runs a business of funeral services."

The Heavenly Emperor, with his extraordinary abilities, somehow discovered Xu Qing's hidden identity.

"The Dao cannot be easily passed on. I don't know which ignorant people he learned some immortal techniques from, but he dared to invite Heaven and Earth as witnesses to establish a great sect and call himself the sect leader."

The gods and immortals all thought that the person the Heavenly Emperor was referring to as ignorant was the former stable boy, but Yuan Gong, standing in the ranks, felt uneasy.

This is because Xu Qing possessed many supernatural abilities, and he had made a contribution to them as well.

Inside the palace, the Heavenly Emperor, who had just spoken of Xu Qing's teacher's illogical remarks, felt a sudden jolt in his heart.

It seems that some hidden cause and effect has been unknowingly involved.

However, when He investigated further, the strange feeling suddenly vanished without a trace.

It was as if the feeling he had just experienced was merely his illusion.

Meanwhile, as the Heavenly Emperor opened the box containing Xu Qing's secrets, Venus, who had gone to the mortal realm to investigate the damage to the Heavenly Road, also returned.

Upon hearing that Xu Qing had accompanied the celestial maiden and was on friendly terms with the monkey, the Heavenly Emperor immediately frowned.

Birds of a feather flock together.

What kind of person could be so easy to get along with a monkey?
Inside the hall, Venus continued, “Your Majesty, Xu Xuan, who walks upright between heaven and earth, eats dew and clouds, and cultivates immortality with a dead body, can be said to have a good character. Furthermore, he is also well-regarded among the people. This time, he violated the laws of heaven, which is an unforgivable crime, but he has also made a contribution by eliminating the ringleader Kong Ren.”

"In my opinion, Your Majesty would be better to issue an imperial edict of amnesty, summon him to the celestial realm, and assign him a demanding job. This would allow him to make amends for his past mistakes and also wear down his excess energy, guiding him onto the right path."

"This also demonstrates the grace of the Heavenly Venerable's teachings."

"No!" The Heavenly Emperor almost instinctively refused upon hearing this.

It's no wonder the Heavenly Emperor reacted so strongly. The scene of Venus advising on the amnesty last time is still fresh in his mind. And Xu Qing is getting so close to that plague-ridden monkey. Who can guarantee that the other party won't try to sabotage him again?

Furthermore, besides their remarkable abilities, the monkeys of yesteryear could at least contribute to the development of the Three Realms.

But He hasn't made any new plans yet, and Xu Qing wasn't even in His considerations, so why would He bother to bring a disobedient person into the ranks of immortals?
The Heavenly Emperor said in a deep voice, "This matter should not be mentioned again. As for Xu Xuan, let's not even talk about the fact that his merits and demerits cannot be offset, but even if we really compare them, his demerits outweigh his merits."

"By imperial decree, Xu Xuan of the mortal realm is untamed and has caused the collapse of the Heavenly Road and the Three Rivers to overflow the Heavenly Gate. According to the law, he shall be executed!"

"However, considering that he executed the ringleader Kong Ren and showed some remorse, he can be spared death."

"Though he may be spared the death penalty, he cannot escape punishment. I hereby order him to be exiled north of the Red River, to be imprisoned forever in this desolate land, and to not leave even a step without permission. If he disobeys the imperial decree, he will be executed for both his past and present crimes!"

When Venus heard the Heavenly Emperor issue the decree, she felt relieved.

His advice to the Heavenly Emperor was not actually to elevate Xu Xuan to the ranks of immortals, but rather to use this as a pretext to help the still-good-natured Master Xu escape a calamity.

At the same time, it was also to relieve the Heavenly Emperor's worries and troubles, so that he wouldn't issue a decree to execute someone and then have some monkey interfere. In that case, not only would the execution be necessary, but the Heavenly Emperor would also lose face.

The lower realm, outside the Zhuoshui Taoist temple.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was also plotting against Xu Qing.

"Ksitigarbha, why have you summoned me out?"

Ksitigarbha looked at the Dharma Corpse that had detached from his body and said in a calm tone, "This humble monk invited you out so that you could lend a hand and kill that Great Luo Sect Master here, thus fulfilling the Dharma Lord's decree."

The Ksitigarbha Dharma Corpse asked in surprise, "A mere mortal cultivator, no matter how high his cultivation, can't surpass Nüba. Why would you need to ask me for help?"

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, with a face devoid of sorrow or joy, said: “What you say is true. Nüba and Xu Xuan have a very deep friendship. With her around, this humble monk is unable to subdue this demon.”

"Nüba is a powerful being; even if the Buddha himself were to come, he could not subdue her. Do you think you can snatch food from a tiger's mouth by asking me to help you?"

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, with unwavering wisdom, said, "Those who rely on the heavens for fortune will surely fall into a trap in broad daylight!" "Xu Xuan's reliance on the celestial maiden is indeed due to divine favor. This humble monk only needs to lure the celestial maiden away, and then you can go and slay this demon, and you will surely succeed!"

Ksitigarbha Dharma Corpse frowned and said, "That woman was so protective of her husband. You think you can lure her away from the mountain? She might not fall for it. Besides, Xu Xuan has the ability to kill the Lord of War. He must have some strange abilities. If I can't succeed in a short time, it will be difficult to take action later."

"Furthermore, why are you so determined to eliminate Xu Xuan? He's nothing but a smug little man who relies on the Heavenly Maiden and has that monkey as his backer."

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva solemnly said, "A few days ago, Di Ting learned that the Heavenly Maiden will soon take Xu Xuan to the burial place of the Corpse Ancestor Ying Gou to retrieve the treasure of the Dao-proving Kui Ba."

"Even when Xu Xuan was no threat, he still managed to ruin the Dharma Master's grand plan. If he were to attain the Dao Fruit of the Kui Ba, besides the Dharma Master, who among us could truly subdue him?"

"Kuiba?"

The corpse of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's expression turned solemn, and he instantly looked directly at the statue.

“You don’t need to worry so much. He may not be able to attain the Dao of Kuiba.” Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva suddenly laughed. “You should know that the word ‘knowing’ is the most harmful. You and I only need to follow Xu Xuan and the Heavenly Maiden into the place where Ying Gou was buried. At that time, I will pretend to snatch the treasure that is the Dao of Kuiba. The Heavenly Maiden will definitely do her best to stop us in order to protect Xu Xuan.”

"When this humble monk has exhausted the celestial maiden's ability to distract him, you should seize the treasure and, incidentally, completely annihilate that corpse demon Xu Xuan!"

The Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, with a strange expression, said, "If you and I truly kill Xu Xuan, the Heavenly Maiden will likely fight to the death."

"There is no need to worry. After this matter is over, you and I will return to the underworld. Even if the celestial maiden harbors great resentment, she will never dare to go looking for trouble with the Dharma Master."

Zhuoshui Dojo.

Xu Qing waited another ten days, but instead of receiving the so-called reward from Venus, he received a decree of exile from the God of Justice.

"Exiled to the Red River?"

Xu Qing was somewhat taken aback. How could a zombie who had not yet attained the Dao of Kuiba be banished to Chishui, this prison?

Beside her, Nüba raised an eyebrow slightly, her expression remaining largely unchanged, even showing a hint of...delight?

In this desolate and barren land, a fellow inmate has suddenly appeared, and one of them is a junior whom the inmate admires. Isn't that something to be thankful for?

However, the thought of enduring countless years of loneliness on the way to Chishui made Nüba feel somewhat annoyed.

She shouldn't have felt joy because of her own selfish desires.

Nuwa's brows furrowed and relaxed intermittently, her heart filled with both guilt towards Xu Qing and anticipation for her future life in Chishui.

Xu Qing was unaware of what Nüba was thinking; he had only one thought in mind—

Even dogs wouldn't go to jail!

The monkey, imprisoned for five hundred years, found even wild peaches sweeter than peaches from the heavens, and a single word from a shepherd could make him happy all day.

If he went to Chishui, there would be no other entertainment besides Nüba.

Not to mention catching foxes and cats, and listening to the female ghost master and his apprentice sing songs to amuse him!

"Xu Xuan, what else do you have to say?"

The God of Justice stood high above, his face radiating majesty.

"I have nothing more to say."

Xu Qing remained expressionless, allowing the deity before him to issue his decree.

The God of Justice glanced at the celestial maiden's wedding dress, as if recalling something. He frowned for a moment, but ultimately couldn't help but offer a word of advice:

"From now on, you and the Heavenly Maiden will have achieved your goal of marriage, and no one within the Red River will dare to interfere. However, I must make this clear: fortune and misfortune are intertwined. You and the Heavenly Maiden must not leave the Red River without permission again, or you may not escape the punishment of the Heavenly Law!"

The words of the God of Justice seemed to make no mistake, but to Nüba, something just didn't feel right.

Or rather, ever since Di Ting and Jin Xing appeared, she felt something was off.
Nuwa frowned, her doubts lingering in her mind.

Xu Qing was already used to it, and he couldn't be bothered to refute it.

Some things are easier to explain than to clarify.

He's pretending to be stupid now, and Nüba hasn't pressed him for details, has she?
Nuwa, who is severely out of touch with worldly affairs, might not even notice anything unusual.
Xu Qing was unaware of the ghostly gaze of the woman behind him. He was too busy winking at the God of Justice, trying to make some shady deal with him.

However, at this moment, the Manifestation of the Holy True Lord, who was a celestial being, did not give Xu Qing any chance to negotiate.

"Since there are no objections, let's set off for Chishui immediately and not linger here!"

After saying this, the Manifestation of the Wondrous Way True Lord turned back to the heavenly generals accompanying him and said, "The Heavenly Road has been opened, and the waters of the Three Paths River are overflowing into the Underworld River, which may harm the innocent. As the Lord of the Upper Realm, I should set an example by patrolling the river."

"I'll trouble you all with the matter of escorting him."

Seeing the God of Justice turn and leave, Xu Qing had no choice but to accept it.

The owners of the Two Saints Temple were the kind of people who kept strangers at bay, far less approachable than the owner of the Little Water Curtain Cave.

As a commoner who had never received the Heavenly Blessing, it seems understandable that Xu Qing was not noticed by the gods.

Ten days later, north of the Chishui River.

Just as the heavenly general in charge of escorting the prisoner returned to report, Xu Qing encountered a familiar figure beside the Chishui River, where the Sanzu River flowed.

It was the judicial god who had previously shown him extreme dislike.

Why would a god come to Chishui instead of seeking refuge elsewhere?

The young man with three eyes chuckled and said, "Today I am not the God of Justice. I am just a wandering cultivator passing by, who has come to return a treasure to a fellow Daoist from the past."

Xu Qing suddenly realized that this Manifestation Saint True Lord was imitating him by using a disguise so that he could handle both official and private matters without neglecting either.

"Please wait a moment, Heavenly Maiden, allow me to catch up with this old friend."

Xu Qing followed the Manifestation Saint True Lord to the side, and the two looked at the river, surrounded by the sound of the rushing waters of the Three Poisons River.

"You say you were entrusted by the Goddess of Life Protection, a disciple of Nuwa, to come here to ask for a treasure that protects the Dao?"

Xu Qing nodded: "The God of Life Protection and I are both from Tianjin, but He is a pure and upright god and it is inconvenient for Him to go deep into the Yin River. Only I can find the True Lord."

"Words alone are not enough; do you have any proof?"

Xu Qing smiled slightly, then took out the Red Phoenix Embroidered Ball from the Landscape Painting and said, "When I came here, the God of Life Protection gave me a token. This is the treasure of the goddess's enlightenment. May the True Lord have a look at it."

Seeing that Xu Qing seemed about to hand over the red phoenix embroidered ball, the True Lord of Manifestation's expression immediately changed.

"do not move!"

"Didn't the God of Life Protection warn you that this magical artifact must never be touched by others?"

Xu Qing blinked and said, "I only let the True Lord take a look, I didn't let the True Lord play with it, why is the True Lord so afraid?"

The Manifestation Saint True Lord did not believe Xu Qing's words at all.

He had initially doubted the idea that the celestial maiden had such worldly desires, but now that he saw the embroidered ball, he was completely convinced!

This hothead probably hit the celestial maiden with his embroidered ball; otherwise, why would a celestial maiden dress up for a mortal corpse-driver?
(End of this chapter)