A heretical cultivator in Bureau 749, I'm the fiercest at pulling out tendons and skinning peop

The Great Han, or rather the 749 General Bureau, does indeed allocate a portion of its resources each year to various sects and families that have contributed to the Great Han during times of crisis.

This is both a matter of custom and a matter of courtesy.

Among them, the Taoist sect received the most, accounting for almost half.

Why?

Back then, during that great upheaval that swept across the world and almost caused the land to sink, the Taoist sect truly risked everything, even their life savings!

Apart from leaving a few teenagers to guard the mountain gate and continue the incense offerings, everyone on the mountain who could wield a sword and draw talismans went down the mountain!

Nine and a half of the ten pavilions were destroyed! Countless people died in battle, and their blood almost stained half of the land!

This tremendous achievement and sacrifice cannot be erased by anyone.

Therefore, the Taoist sect can obtain its annual quota with a clear conscience, leaving other sects with nothing to say.

Buddhism also has its merits, but it is never as resolute or thorough as Taoism.

And the Taoist sect did not disappoint this kindness.

Every few years, a few true core disciples are sent down the mountain to join Bureau 749 and serve the country, both to repay a debt of gratitude and to protect the Dao.

The drunken Taoist priest took a big gulp of wine, then happily nibbled on a spirit peach. He glanced sideways at the old monk's troubled face and chuckled:

"Didn't I tell you before, you old bald monk? Your Grand Hall has some pretty shiny golden Buddha statues. Melt them down! Melt them down! Trade the gold for peaches with Bureau 749, wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"Worship Buddha, worship Buddha, what isn't Buddha? Why must you worship a golden Buddha? If you have Buddha in your heart, even worshipping a stone is Buddha."

"Look at those three lords in our Sanqing Hall. Their Dharma bodies are so worn that you can hardly recognize them anymore, but they still receive incense offerings, don't they? And we haven't seen any lightning strikes down on us one day, have we?"

The old monk snorted coldly and retorted sarcastically, "What kind of accomplishment can you achieve by worshipping a bunch of clay and wooden statues every day?"

Upon hearing this, the drunken old Taoist priest was not angry at all. Instead, he grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, and mysteriously lowered his voice:

"Hey, you know what? Just yesterday, our old statue of the Supreme Taoist Ancestor, which had peeling paint, suddenly cracked open on its forehead."

"Guess what? Something strange was peeking out from inside the crack. The headmaster secretly watched for half the night and came back saying... there seems to be a little secret realm inside! Tsk tsk, do you think you could get something like this even if you worshipped it your whole life?"

"You!" The old monk was struck dumb, pointing at the drunken Taoist priest, his finger trembling even more violently. His face flushed red and then turned pale. Finally, he flicked his sleeve heavily, "Hmph! Sophistry! Utter sophistry!"

After saying that, he turned and left. But before leaving, he "casually" swept his wide sleeves, and the largest and reddest spirit peaches on the nearby branches disappeared again.

He had just finished collecting alms and hadn't even had time to hide the peaches properly when he heard Old Zhang's voice, which sounded like a half-smile, coming from above the peach grove:

"Hey, hey, that's going too far! What, you're eating and taking things? Do you really think my Peach Garden is a buffet?"

The old monk blushed, his body stiffened, and he realized, "Oh no, I've been discovered!"

I was just about to say something, like, "This peach is destined for this humble monk," or something similar.

But when he glanced around, he realized that Old Zhang wasn't even looking in his direction.

Following Old Zhang's gaze—

Deep within the peach grove.

Ji Zuodao, that scoundrel, has somehow become completely dissatisfied with simply picking the fruits of others' labor.

He somehow got his hands on a shovel.

They rolled up their sleeves and, with great effort, began digging around the largest and most lush Five Elements Spirit Peach Tree!

Look at that posture, that focused expression, that determination to dig up even the tree roots...

This bastard is planning to uproot the entire peach tree, pack it up, and carry it back to Jinghai!

The old monk stared blankly at Ji Zuodao, then looked down at the few peaches he had secretly taken, still warm from Ji Zuodao's body, hidden in his sleeve.

A complex and indescribable emotion welled up inside me.

Feeling ashamed? A little.

Envious? More than that.

In the end, it all turned into deep helplessness.

He let out a long, deep sigh, a sigh barely audible in the bustling peach grove, yet it seemed to express a thousand unspoken words:

"well……"

"I can't compare, I can't compare to anything..."

"Even with this shamelessness, he can't compare to the people in 749..."

He shook his head, turned around, and this time he was really leaving, his back view exuding a desolate air of someone who had seen through the vanities of the world.

But those wide sleeves seemed to have sagged down even more quietly...

Hmm, there should be another peach inside.

I probably touched it casually when I sighed just now.

An hour passed in the blink of an eye.

Just as everyone was fighting over the peaches, their eyes red and necks bulging, they suddenly felt their feet slip and sink!

"What the heck?!"

"What's going on?!"

"Holy crap! It's going to fall!!"

Before the exclamation had even faded, the lush, ethereal peach blossom forest in the clouds, like a snowdrift under the blazing sun, or a mirage blown away by the wind, vanished in a flash, becoming transparent and illusory, before finally disappearing completely.

Immediately afterwards, everyone lost their footing and plummeted downwards!

But it didn't actually fall.

My body had only fallen a few feet when I was supported by a gentle yet irresistible force.

Then, steadily and firmly, it landed back on the broad, sturdy back of the Kunpeng.

"call--!"

"My god, that scared the hell out of me!"

"That's it? I haven't had enough!"

Once the young investigators calmed down, their faces lit up with smiles, as if they had been coated in honey. They were incredibly satisfied and smug!

How could I not be pleased!

Each person looked inward and saw their inner world bursting with vibrant colors and bustling activity!

The five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—are like five mischievous little dragons.

Although it is still a bit raw, it has already formed a small loop, flowing freely in the meridians.

Although it is still a long way from the legendary realm of "continuous rotation and self-contained world", this is already an extraordinary opportunity and great fortune!

Let's not think about the future for now. Right now, if they use the Five Elements Techniques again, the power will at least double!

This trip to the Cloud Peach Blossom Forest was absolutely worth it! We made a killing!

Of course.

If we're talking about who earned the most, ate the most, and had the most outrageous haul on this trip...

Do you need to ask?

It has to be that bizarre combination of the three big shots from the Jinghai branch, a dog, and a little zombie girl!

The scenery in the Jinghai area is completely different from other places.

They lay sprawled haphazardly on the back of the Kunpeng.

Their bellies were swollen high, as if they were ten months pregnant. Their faces were flushed, they were covered in sweat, and they were panting heavily, not even having the strength to stand up.

Qiqi was fine; her little belly was slightly bulging, and she sat there obediently rubbing it, her big eyes squinting into crescents with satisfaction.

Dog Lord...

Dog lay there sprawled out, belly up, occasionally twitching and letting out a "uh" burp, expelling a small wisp of sparks or ice shards mixed with the five elements' spiritual light.

Especially Ji Zuodao.

Good heavens, this guy's pores are bursting open, and wisps of colorful Five Elements spiritual light are gushing out like a leaky rainbow chimney!

Even those close to him could feel the intense fluctuations of the five elements' spiritual energy in the air.

Liu Ming covered his nose, moved aside in disgust, and mumbled a complaint:

"Brother Ji, could you tone it down a bit? That fart of yours... I reckon it was a chain reaction of farts imbued with the power of the Five Elements! It was too smelly! No, it was too pungent!"

Ji Zuodao rolled his eyes and retorted weakly:

"Get lost! I'm... hiccup! Indigestion! The power of the Five Elements is too strong and overflowing! What do you know?!"