The Path to Immortality Begins with the Life-Extending Lamp

Chapter 129 My Way Has Its Own Limits
"With such ambition, any further words would only make me seem mercenary."

The old official chuckled and shook his head. In this matter, he seemed less magnanimous than the young Taoist priest in front of him.

However, upon mentioning Li Qing's return to the mountain, the old Prefect's expression hardened, and he reminded him:
"Although I don't know why you drifted into the open sea that day, in recent days, many people have been inquiring about the story of the 'ghostly gentleman' of Osmanthus City in the past..."

"Since you wear the crown, you must bear the weight. You must be prepared!"

Li Qing possesses a rare Netherworld Contract, a forbidden document that allows one to establish a sect of ghost clans, far surpassing ordinary underworld incantations.

Being coveted? That's just the norm!

"I understand." Li Qing replied, but her expression remained unchanged.

He had long been aware of this. If he was caught off guard and rushed when he was at sea, he had no time to think about it, now that the Ghost Mother had spoken to him and the Purple Mansion was complete, Li Qing was even less afraid.

The Demon Mother of the Contract, this has always been his most relied-upon trump card. The Eternal Regret Ghost Scissors, this is another forbidden weapon he has recently acquired...

"No matter what schemes they may have, I will handle them."

Li Qing bowed slightly to the old official, thanked him for his kind reminder, and then reassured him.

"So what are your plans for your future cultivation?"

"At the summit of Lin Yuan Immortal Peak, my great-uncle's lifespan is coming to an end; he is about to pass away peacefully. Are you aware of this?"

"You have not yet formally become a disciple and received your ordination, nor have you practiced the true teachings of the temple. Have you decided which lineage you wish to follow?"

Yin Biejia lowered his eyelids slightly and looked at Li Qing's hair, which was still not crowned and was only lightly tied with a wooden hairpin and ribbon. His mouth twitched slightly.

At twenty, one is considered to have reached adulthood. This is something that has always been highly valued by both immortal sects and aristocratic families. It represents one's lineage, one's foundation, and also serves as a constraint and reminder for the long and arduous path ahead.

Those who have not received the Dharma crown have no lineage or lineage, and are merely followers of the inner circle.

Moreover, after Yin Zu's passing, there will be no more True Ancestors in the temple. In the entire Lin Yuan Mountain, the only people who have attained the perfect foundation of the Purple Mansion and are on par with the masters and peak masters of various immortal sects are the head of the White Dragon Academy and the abbot Chen Jin.

Will not taking on a master have any negative consequences?

Li Qing raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

Logically speaking, he should have become a disciple of the head of the academy, Bai Qingye, when he was in the outer sect. However, the female Taoist priest did not seem to be a patient teacher, and she never publicly accepted disciples.

Now that Li Qing has established his own Purple Mansion Dao Foundation, it is impossible for him to remain under her tutelage.

It wouldn't sound good if word got out that the teacher's spiritual attainments and supernatural powers were inferior to his disciple's.

Moreover, although Li Qing doesn't show it on his face, he has a certain arrogance in his bones. If you want him to kowtow and become your disciple, you would at least have a level of cultivation and supernatural power that can impress him, or a simple and unadorned immortal technique...

“Naturally there is an impact.”

"Tiannan Temple possesses only one great supernatural power that can control the universe, namely your family's Yin Ancestor's Hutian Technique!"

"However, great supernatural powers are not something that just anyone can cultivate. Each lineage also possesses many secret Taoist methods and minor supernatural powers, such as your abbot's Embracing Mountain Seal... and the Primordial Myriad Laws Tree of the White Dragon of the Myriad Laws."

"You will learn the teachings of whichever sect you follow!"

The old official explained carefully that he had originally wanted to take this young fellow as his disciple, but their paths were different... and he figured there was no chance for that.

Seeing that Li Qing still didn't seem to care much, he was truly annoyed. The Dharma should not be passed on lightly; even within the immortal sects, the transmission of Dharma was extremely cautious. The reason the *Southern Dipper Longevity Scripture* was made an exception for Li Qing was because the Yin Ancestor also shared the surname Yin!
None of the people recommended by the Dan Shu Yin family have yet received a "true successor" position, which is, in a sense, an insult to the Dan Shu Yin family.

Li Qing, who had not yet tamed the ghosts in Lin Yuan Mountain, was not taken seriously. However, Yin Biejia, the guide, had to overstep his bounds and make arrangements for him!

"Minor supernatural power?"

Speaking of this minor supernatural ability, Li Qing's heart suddenly trembled, as if something forgotten had suddenly surged up. She raised an eyebrow and immediately put the matter of the mountain gate to the back of her mind.

He has a "Five Peaks Great Handprint" and a "Soul-Summoning Ghost Talisman". One is a minor divine power left by the Lord of the Netherworld - Dongli Mansion, and the other is an innate ghost talisman that was peeled off from the Soul-Summoning Ghost.

He has only just begun to understand these two methods and has no need to seek any minor supernatural powers!
Moreover, Li Qing's methods of impeachment and summoning, as well as his techniques of rampant esoteric practices, are ancient arts he chose himself, and have little to do with the sect.

He only remembered that it seemed that a great opportunity would come soon.
Li Qing's expression shifted, and his previously upright posture suddenly leaned forward, moving a few inches closer to the old Prefect, sincerely seeking the answer:
"The Dragon Lord of Wuxi Prefecture once told you that Wuxi Longzhou in Qingping Prefecture will hold the 'Four Seas Peace Banquet' more than a year from now, and Dragon Lord Chu will use the Dragon Palace's great divine power - the ability to control the five thunders - as the reward for the champion of that arena."

"Because of the Ghost Mother, the Dragon Lord treated you with great courtesy in the past. I wish to attend the banquet. What do you think, Elder?"

This question truly shows that Yin Biejia is treated as an elder and superior person; otherwise, one would certainly not ask others about such a crucial matter of decision.

"The Dragon Lord Chu of Wuxi?" The old Taoist raised an eyebrow and looked at Li Qing with some disbelief.

How did you end up associating with that old dragon?
Yin Biejia frowned, but he really put in a lot of effort to consider Li Qing's situation.

Given this kid's experience, he probably wouldn't even be worthy of the attention of an ordinary Purple Mansion. If Ancestor Yin doesn't speak up, there's probably no one in Lin Yuan Mountain qualified to be his teacher!
but……

"Did Old Dragon invite you? And who will be attending the Qingping Banquet?"

The old man gently touched the teacup on the incense table, truly savoring the moment.

"Yes, more than three years ago, the Dragon Lord held a banquet to invite guests, saying that he would hold a Dragon Ascension Banquet every five years, inviting heroes from all over the world to drink and talk, and also summoning his disciples to compete and debate..."

"We'll take one supernatural power and two Taoist techniques from the Dragon Palace as prizes!"

Li Qing nodded slightly and explained the reasons in detail. The Water Dragon King was born with scales that were the Cloud Dragon Book. By imitating its divine power, he could command the Five Thunders, which was definitely a great divine power.

Moreover, Li Qing remembered clearly that the head of the academy had said that the Dragon Lord's Banquet was almost entirely attended by powerful figures from all sides below the Yin God level, and no Yin God had yet lowered himself to associate with them... If the disciples below them were to fight, Li Qing had nothing to fear.

He was extremely confident that he could obtain at least one scroll of Taoist magic, or even that great divine power of thunder magic!
"Hmm... then let's go."

"The old dragon of Wuxi is a frequent guest in Qingqiu Prefecture and a distinguished guest in Lingnan. Over the past few hundred years, its offspring have spread throughout Jinping and Qingping Prefectures, including many purple dragon spirits. It is said that the Wuxi River Dragon lineage has plundered rivers and lakes everywhere. It seems that there are indeed many good things!"

"Do you know that the Dragon Palace's First Lady is a member of the imperial clan in Jinling? With her around, the old dragon can definitely be restrained and prevented from causing trouble, so he should be safe and sound... If the Five Streams Dragon Palace is going to hold a Dragon Ascension Banquet, I'm afraid some members of the imperial clan will attend."

The old man casually stroked his chin and immediately predicted the scale of the upcoming Dragon Ascension Banquet.

This Dragon Lord is so willing to spend so much, even giving away his own innate great supernatural powers.

If possible, he would like to ask his personal attendants in the manor for an invitation to the Qingping Banquet.

"What, are there reasons not to take action against members of the royal family?" The Taoist priest tilted his head back and drank the remaining tea in his cup, then stood up abruptly, patted the wrinkles on his robes, and said nonchalantly.

This impassioned remark is truly the kind of thing a Taoist priest of this age would say.

But how could the old adjutant possibly respond? He could only manage a wry smile and shake his head.

"Alright, then you may go!"

"After advancing to the Purple Mansion level, you must carefully examine your cultivation. What is Dao cultivation? It is like a great tree, with the Daoist scriptures as the main trunk and various spells as branches. You must make these spells dependent on your Dao..."

The old Taoist priest also stood up and waved for Li Qing to leave, but at the same time, he continued to mutter instructions on the path of cultivation.

Until Li Qing bowed and took his leave, departing from the Yin residence.

The old Taoist priest suddenly exclaimed in annoyance, "I have interrupted you, young man. Do you really not like either Bai Long or Chen Jin?"

Or, how about we ask our great-uncle to accept Li Erlang as his last disciple? It's just that the generational hierarchy might not look very good.

Yin Biejia was still pondering in his mansion. He was extremely satisfied with the second son of the Li family today. In just a few years, this kid had already associated with someone like the Dragon Lord and was now aiming for the Five Thunder Divine Power.

With the protection of those wandering spirits who have roamed the world to their fullest extent, his future is utterly different from that of ordinary Taoist priests...

This trip to the Yin family of Danshu only lasted for an afternoon, but the feeling that Prefect Yin gave Li Qing was just like that of an elder of the sect!
When Li Qing left the Danshu Workshop.

The sun had already set in the west, and only a patch of orange could be seen at the edge of the sky.

Li Qing led his carriage from the Imperial Horse Garden, flipped himself onto the horse's back, pulled on the reins, and immediately galloped across the street, heading east towards the smoke and fire from the stoves in the two neighborhoods on either side.

The common people live in huts.
As Li Qing rode lightly along the main road between the neighborhoods, he saw children chasing each other and cats and dogs playing on both sides. He couldn't help but tighten the reins, restrain the white horse beneath him, and ride out of the city.

Looking at the lights of this world, a lifetime is but a hundred years, but there are always things that can touch people's hearts. There is an order of seniority, and the love between ancestors and children. These are covered by rules and regulations, and because of the continuation of bloodline and food and clothing, there are some constraints, but this does not contradict the path of immortality.

Fangzhang Immortal Continent is a gathering place for all cultivators, boasting hundreds of thousands of immortals. Isn't it just another kind of human spectacle?

He observed that the gates of immortals, the temples, and the prefectures were all just "wards," except that the people living in these wards were somewhat different...

At this moment, as he strolled along, Li Qing had a sudden realization, and simply stretched out his right hand while sitting on his horse.

In an instant, a wisp of fire energy that was faintly emanating from the doors of the ten thousand households converged towards Li Qing. This fire was not fire, but rather a wisp of smoke!
In each household, a man sat by the stove, his clothes stained with soot. He lit a tinderbox, picked up a handful of fallen leaves and wood shavings and put them into the stove. He then picked up a bamboo bellows, aimed it at the bottom of the stove, puffed out his cheeks, and blew on it several times. Immediately, sparks appeared and smoke curled up, indicating that the stove was lit.

On the other side, a woman with oily hands, wet with water, and holding a spatula, began cooking amidst the clattering of pots and pans.

Amidst the smoke, the dust, and the stench of gunpowder, the crowing of roosters and barking of dogs, accompanied by the laughter of children, what is this somewhat pungent, foul smoke? It is the fire, tamed by humankind since the dawn of slash-and-burn agriculture…

Above the sky, the wisps of smoke that should have dispersed were suddenly summoned, causing the atmosphere in the sky to change and drawing the smoke towards the northeast corner of the prefecture.

The smoke from the chimneys of 80,000 households in a prefecture flows against the natural order of smoke rising higher, yet, looking across a hundred miles, the flow of all things is orderly and reasonable.

This seems to conform to the laws of nature.

In the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn, countless wisps of smoke swirled around Li Qing's fingertips. These wisps of smoke were extraordinary, and it seemed as if a faint Daoist aura was condensed within them.

After the procession had lasted for some time, the heavy smoke and fumes finally coalesced into a complete Daoist aura, and an orange flame spontaneously appeared at Li Qing's fingertip, with wisps of black smoke rising from its end.

This is fire in the human world!
Li Qing traveled to avoid worldly affairs, and the warmth of human life naturally arose.

The heavens are vast and boundless, and countless families live in this most ordinary world. Yet, unique and precious human treasures are born here.

The crown of the Flame Path has seven birds: Phoenix, Azure Luan, Roc, Peacock, White Crane, Swan, and Owl... and five fires: Fire in the Sky, Fire in Stone, Fire in Wood, Six Ding Fire, and Fire in the Human World!

Seeking a method in the secluded immortal path, one can attain true enlightenment through a hundred years of pure cultivation. Following a technique in the mortal world, one can achieve enlightenment by mingling with the world and embracing its light.

To become an immortal, one must first be a disciple of humanity; this is a gift from Heaven!

The Taoist priest looked surprised, flicked the candle flame, and slowly walked home. The small flames were barely visible to the ordinary people in the dimly lit street, who assumed that the young master on horseback was simply taking a leisurely stroll at night with a candle!
The candlelight flickers in the wind along the straight road, and a white horse gallops home.

This scene was witnessed by two observant individuals not far away, who were quite taken aback. In every cultivation path, there was fierce competition and scheming.

How could he, with a light sigh, casually transform it?

"What a fine Taoist! Living in harmony with the world, blessed by Heaven with the true Tao, a fortunate and opportune time..."

(End of this chapter)