Starting with Taoist priests from Maoshan to cultivate immortality

"Finally completed the first [Catch Demons and Exterminate Evil] mission."

"The reward is actually a cultivation technique, how generous!" Jiang Yu smiled and murmured to himself.

After traversing this world for half a year, he became a junior Taoist priest of the Maoshan Sect.

Unfortunately, his aptitude was limited, and his cultivation progressed slowly.

He had no hope for the path of cultivation, but the "Heavenly Mandate Treasure Talisman," a cheat that he awakened three days ago, changed everything.

Three tasks will be released daily, in order of difficulty: [Catch Demons and Exterminate Evil], [Worldly Affairs], and [Do One Good Deed a Day]. Completing these tasks will reward you with cultivation resources, Dao power, and merit.

This rekindled his previously extinguished flame of immortality.

However, Jiang Yu was not in a hurry to do the mission because his master had gone mad.

Master Tan Jinyuan was originally a failed scholar who later obtained a precious book by chance, learned Maoshan Taoist arts, and founded Qingfeng Temple.

He rescued Jiang Yu from being eaten by wild beasts while he was out, discovered that Jiang Yu possessed spiritual roots, and took him as his disciple.

His master treated him very well, teaching him diligently and imparting Taoist arts to him on a daily basis.

There was only one strange thing: he often muttered that he could hear the voice of the Great Dao and that he would soon condense his core.

On the day the elixir is completed, I will also help Jiang Yu rebuild his spiritual root and establish his foundation for immortality.

Jiang Yu knew that his master was only at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, two major realms away from Core Formation.

Three days ago, on a stormy night with thunder and lightning.

A tiny, three-inch-long figure shaped like a demon fell out of the master's ear.

Just as he was about to reach out and grab it, a thunderous roar echoed through the sky.

In the blink of an eye, the little man disappeared.

The master was terrified, went mad, and shouted barefoot:

"I've succeeded, Daoist Master!"

Then, he ran wildly down the mountain.

Jiang Yu spent a lot of money to hire villagers from the surrounding area to search for the virus.

They searched several mountains but could not find their master.

Jiang Yu only went down the mountain to take on small businesses for warding off evil spirits and praying for blessings when the temple ran out of money.

The client, Mr. Li, was a long-time client of the master.

But Jiang Yu was extremely cautious, because this was also the destination of the [Catch Demons and Exterminate Evil] mission.

Jiang Yu set up an altar, intending to use the ritual to ward off evil spirits during the house-protecting ceremony.

Halfway through the setup, the still-charming mistress of the wealthy man stared at his tall, slender figure with shining eyes, and even invited him to write a few more exorcism talismans in the bedroom.

Although he was handsome and dashing, with looks comparable to Pan An, he was a man of principle.

Until the master's wife casually said, "Add another fifty taels as payment."

Jiang Yu immediately ordered him to lead the way; he couldn't possibly abandon the money for the sake of principles.

As he drew the talisman, the master's wife's laughter grew increasingly unrestrained. Jiang Yu flicked his wrist, deliberately dropping the pen on the ground, and reached out to grasp the master's wife's slender foot.

The feet are where the yin and yang energies meet, and some evil spirits with low cultivation levels can easily reveal their weaknesses.

Three minutes later, Jiang Yu made a judgment: the yin energy in this foot was coiled up.

After confirming that the wealthy man's wife was the evil spirit, Jiang Yu led her to the bed and was about to use his Taoist magic to exorcise the demon when the wealthy man, Li, entered with his men.

……

……

After the painted-skin demon was defeated, Master Li stepped forward, cupped his hands in thanks, and said:

"Thankfully, the Taoist priest vanquished the evil spirits, restoring peace to my Li family!"

"This is the duty of a cultivator," Jiang Yu waved his hand, his breathing slightly deeper.

"I have used up a lot of my magical power today, and I need to return to the Taoist temple to recuperate as soon as possible."

He was practically saying "Check out and leave" out loud.

Master Li understood the implied meaning, and pulled out three fifty-tael silver notes from his sleeve, a smile playing on his lips.

"This is the agreed-upon triple pay!"

Jiang Yu had anticipated this, and spoke calmly:

You mean five times the pay?

Upon hearing this number, Master Li's breath hitched, and he scratched his head with a sheepish grin:

"Perhaps I misspoke in my haste. The Taoist priest is a reclusive master; please forgive me!"

"Can."

Jiang Yu nodded, picked up the silver note with two fingers, and walked towards the door.

Master Li was overjoyed: "That saves me money!"

As Jiang Yu reached the door, he paused, then gently tapped the doorway with his other hand towards the inside of the house.

"Let this mess remain in the bedroom to keep Master Li company!"

Master Li looked down and saw the painted skin ghost's flesh and blood writhing on the ground like a puddle of mud, with a ghostly face appearing on it.

"Taoist Master, please wait! I did indeed remember incorrectly!"

Master Li moved with ease and stepped forward to stop Jiang Yu.

He then pulled out several silver notes from his sleeve.

Just as he was about to count out another hundred taels, Jiang Yu snatched it away.

"Fifty taels too much!" Master Li instinctively raised his hand to stop him, but seeing Jiang Yu's ambiguous smile, he touched his nose.

"Take the extra money as tea money for Master Jiang."

At this moment, seeing that there was no more movement inside, the servants rushed back in, carrying brand-new sticks:

"Sir, we've come to save you! We were just getting our weapons, not trying to save our lives."

For the sake of their own livelihood, they disregarded the pain and put on a show of loyal protection.

Master Li's cheek twitched:

"Great! Each of you will be fined a month's wages to calm my nerves."

With the silver notes in hand, Jiang Yu was in a good mood and raised his hand to advise:

"They are all ordinary people, so it's normal for them to be afraid of evil spirits."

Master Li's eyes darted around:

"I originally intended to compensate the Taoist priest with this money, but since you've said so, then forget it."

"That's certainly true." Jiang Yu's expression changed instantly as he looked at the wounds on the servants' bodies:

"You've been infected with corpse poison. If you don't get treatment soon, your lives are in danger."

Upon hearing this, the servants all knelt on the ground:

"Please, Taoist priest, save me!"

……

The courtyard of the Li family residence.

An altar was set up, and a pile of firewood half the height of a person was erected on top of it. The remaining flesh and blood of the painted-skin demon were thrown on top of the firewood.

Jiang Yu stood before the altar, holding a peach wood sword. He picked up a talisman, wrapped it around the incense, and chanted a spell aloud:

"When the sky is clear and the earth is at peace, the soul naturally becomes clear. When impurities dissipate, true nature becomes spiritual."

The talisman burst into flames with a 'boom' and he tossed it toward the woodpile.

As the flesh burned, a surge of resentment rose from the flames and then dissipated.

Nearby, servants burned by the corpse fluid lay on the ground, biting white cloths in their mouths, while another group of servants, holding long sticks, beat them hard on the buttocks.

With each fall, it emitted a wailing sound.

After ten strokes of the rod, Master Li stepped forward:

"Master, the strikes have been completed as you requested."

"Very good!" Jiang Yu nodded, dissolved the ashes from the burned talisman into water, and said:

"Eat three bowls a day for three days, and the corpse poison in your body will disappear."

Master Li asked in confusion:

"Then why were they punished with the cane?"

Jiang Yu's lips curled slightly:

"Naturally, it's for the sake of a pleasant mood, so that the souls of the dead can find peace... Let me clarify, I am not petty or seeking revenge."

Everyone: "..."

Jiang Yu continued his rituals, performing sage-telling, writing incantations, and drawing talismans. Only after completing the entire process did he take his leave.

At the moment of parting, Master Li grasped Jiang Yu's hand:

"Master, what if my wife's elder brother comes to seek revenge?"

He wrote a letter before and will visit in about two weeks; he might also be an evil spirit.

Jiang Yu smiled slightly:

"It's alright, this humble Taoist will return again to vanquish the demons!"

Master Li said anxiously:

"But my wife has eight brothers!"

"Eight?" Jiang Yu's expression froze. He had anticipated the revenge of the Painted Skin Ghost, but he hadn't expected such a large number.

If they come looking for revenge in a group, he's finished.

Jiang Yu pondered: After returning to the Taoist temple, he must quickly improve his cultivation to prepare for the impending calamity.

He slowly withdrew his hand:

"Master Li, let's just forget about each other and go our separate ways!"

Master Li's gaze was fervent:

"Don't worry, if Madam's elder brother comes to our door, I'll just say: This matter has absolutely nothing to do with Master Jiang Yu of Qingfeng Temple!"

Jiang Yu's lips twitched:

"You're being way too moral!"

Master Li:

"Same to you!"

……

After leaving the Li residence, Jiang Yu went to a restaurant and ate and drank his fill.

Pack a roast chicken, a bag of steamed buns, and a pot of sake.

A line of small text appeared on the copper coin to the right of the eye:

"【Do a good deed every day】: Give the bald-headed beggar outside Wangchun Tower a full meal."