Chapter 0937 Testing All Living Beings
The imperial capital was in a state of division. People were arguing fiercely at home, on the streets, in shops, in government offices, and in military camps. The two sides were usually relatives, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. But now they were arguing over one thing. This thing was not a small matter. It was like a bolt from the blue, ringing over the imperial capital early in the morning.
First, the imperial court issued an imperial decree, listing the crimes of Xin Youtao, the chief talisman master of the Dragon Bin Society, and Pei Shurong, the commander of the monks. There were as many as ten of them. In short, the two were extremely evil and everyone in the world could kill them.
After the imperial decree was announced, the pot exploded immediately. Xin Youtao, the talisman master, and Pei Shurong were different from Mu Xingqiu, who was sent to the Demon Cave by the ancestor half a year ago. Their reputations spread and accumulated for many years. Even children who had just learned to speak knew that they were the pillars of the court and the heroes of the dynasty. They had saved mankind from major crises many times.
Then the news came from the Daotong Tower, officially announcing that all the Taoists who had not returned to the Daotong were traitors, including Xin Youtao and Pei Shurong.
This news did not cause much response outside the tower. No matter how much mortals revered the ancestors and the Daotong, their daily lives were still more connected with the government. The Empress Dowager Ci and Xin Youtao were relatives, and this time they turned against each other was really unexpected.
The division of the imperial capital will last for a long time and gradually spread to all parts of the country. Shen Hao returned to the city at noon. The debate in the city had just begun not long ago. It was in full swing, but there were no obvious signs of division. At that time, the most concerned issue was whether Master Xin and Master Pei left without saying goodbye or had explained the situation to the Empress Dowager Ci.
Shen Hao first went to the palace, and after finding out that Xun Hou had not been implicated for the time being, he immediately flew back to the Daotong Tower.
There was also a dispute in the tower. No matter what the high-level Taoists thought in their hearts, they would not show it. The low-level Taoists were not so calm. The halls of the first floor of the tower were crowded with confused young Taoists, asking each other who issued the "rebellion order"? Did the ancestor really know?
In the crowd, a Taoist priest was particularly eye-catching. He came from Hongshan and his name was Gan Zhiwei. He returned to the Taoist tradition five months ago and had just recast his inner elixir with the help of the ancestor seven days ago. Surprisingly, he was just a Taoist priest who ate clouds before. In the years since he left the Taoist tradition and spit out the inner elixir, his realm has reached the sixth level of Xingluo, which is faster than the fellow disciples who stayed in Hongshan.
Not only him, the realm of the twenty or so returning Taoist priests who called themselves beast masters was very high, half of them were Xingluo, and the rest were Yanyan.
But everyone felt that they had taken advantage. They cultivated the inner elixir to a very high level through unorthodox methods, but it was actually empty and could not be compared with the inner elixir of the orthodox Taoism. However, the ancestor did not ask about the difference and still gave them the inner elixir of the same level. It was too tolerant.
In any case, Gan Zhiwei is now a Taoist priest of Hongshan Xingluo, but his state of mind is not like that at all. At this time, he was passionately and generously speaking to many Taoist priests, insisting that the "Order of Apostasy" could not have been issued by the ancestor, and it must have been Zuo Liuying who forged the order.
Shen Hao stood at the door and listened for a while. A Taoist priest nearby whispered: "His brother Gan Zhiquan refused to return to the orthodox Taoism, so he was so excited." Another Taoist priest whispered even more: "Hasn't the benefit of the beast-raising Taoist priests been enough?"
This was the response Gan Zhiwei received. Most Taoist priests felt that the "Order of Apostasy" was a bit excessive, but it was not a big mistake. There was really no need for the returning Taoist priests to be so indignant. They had already gained enough benefits.
Shen Hao walked up to the upper floors and met Bai Qing, a Taoist priest from Luanjing Mountain, on the third floor of the tower. The two of them had a normal relationship and cut off their relationship. At this time, their relationship was just that of ordinary acquaintances. They politely greeted each other and no one said anything. As he continued to walk upward, Shen Hao felt a little disappointed and hoped to say a few more words to Bai Qing, but he did not look back. He regarded this emotion as a manifestation of his unstable Taoist heart and suppressed it silently.
There are many small rooms on the fifth floor of the tower for Taoist priests of various disciplines to practice magic. They are usually closed, but today they are open. There are also Taoist priests talking to each other in groups of three or five. It is quieter than the first floor of the tower. Only their lips move, and it is difficult to hear what they are saying.
Shen Hao did not stay here either. His problem was something that these Taoist priests could not solve.
On the seventh floor of the tower, Shen Hao knocked on the door of Grandmaster Pangshan.
The Grandmaster's room is not much different from that of an ordinary Taoist priest, except that there are a few more magic tools on display. Of course, each one is very powerful and is beyond the reach of ordinary Taoist priests.
Yang Yannian was meditating and practicing. The door opened automatically, and Shen Hao stepped into the room and stood at the door waiting. The meditation of Taoist Fu Yuemang could last for several months. Shen Hao didn't know if he could wait until the master opened his eyes.
About half an hour later, Yang Yannian woke up and stared at the visitor with deep eyes. He seemed to know why he came, but he didn't speak for a long time.
Shen Hao felt that something had changed in the master. He soon realized that the person sitting in front of him was no longer the Yang Yannian who had doubted the master half a year ago.
Yang Yannian could practice again, and he could feel the progress every day and every hour. He believed that as long as he seized this opportunity, he would definitely be able to reach the realm of Fu Rimang. Time was precious. He was willing to open his eyes to receive Shen Hao because he owed him an explanation.
"Taoists sometimes feel confused, that's because we haven't stood high enough. Shen Hao, I gave you wrong information, forget it. Zuo Liuying is right, from now on there will only be the Taoist tradition and no Nine Mountains. The ancestors are testing all living beings, and only those who pass can reach the peak. The higher the realm, the harder it is to pass the test. Zuo Liuying is the first to pass, and we must catch up."
Shen Hao could no longer control the disappointment in his heart and sighed, "Is this still Taoism? The duty of a Taoist priest is to kill demons and protect all living beings. When did it become a test of all living beings? I have always believed in Taoism, even if Taoism as a whole retires. "
"Then you should continue to believe in Taoism. Shen Hao, demons are like water and fire, and so are mediocrity. The Patriarch is saving all living beings from bigger and deeper water and fire."
"Is it just constant practice? The strong are stronger, while the weak are left behind and left to fend for themselves?"
Yang Yannian's eyes were slightly stern, "This is what Taoism has always done, and you are no exception."
Shen Hao could not refute. Indeed, between saving many mortal lives and killing a demon, he would definitely choose the latter. In Yelin Town, he could even treat his former relatives with a dispensable indifference.
"The Patriarch is too powerful." Shen Hao finally discovered the reason, "A mortal can abandon a few relatives, a general can abandon an army or a city, an emperor can abandon half of a country and millions of subjects, a Taoism can abandon one or two Taoisms and... Most human beings must keep some in their hands, because everyone needs the so-called weak. We despise them and look down on them, but we cannot lose them completely. "
Yang Yannian finally understood that this disciple could not be saved, "So the only way to protect yourself is to practice so that you can be close to the strength of the ancestor. If Zuo Liuying does this, everyone will do the same in the future, so this is the test of the ancestor."
Shen Hao gave the Grandmaster the Taoist gift, and when he raised his head, the door was already closed.
Shen Hao also tried to think about it. This was his last effort, hoping to catch up with the Taoist tradition. He felt that the powerful spells filling the tower were purer and richer than those outside the tower, which would definitely be of great benefit to improving the inner elixir. , just for a short while, the speed of the inner alchemy has quietly accelerated.
"If one day the Patriarch takes back the spell..." Shen Hao said softly.
"That will be a matter of time." Another voice replied.
Shen Hao turned around and saw Yashan Grandmaster Shen Zangqi standing a dozen steps away. The masters were all seizing their time to practice, but he was the only one still wandering outside.
"What is the purpose of the Patriarch doing this?" Shen Hao asked, not caring who the other party was.
"Isn't this obvious? It is a kind of test. Only those who believe in and are loyal to the ancestor can have peace of mind and benefit from practice. On the other hand, those whose practice is stagnant or even unable to meditate..."
"They are doubters and betrayers." Shen Hao sighed again, "So the Apostasy Order is just the beginning. In the future, more and more Taoist priests will be declared traitors. Why don't you practice?"
"Because of Zuo Liuying. I can trust the founder, but I don't trust Zuo Liuying. Yashan has too many grievances with him and I can't let go."
Shen Hao was surprised that a master who had served the Yuemang realm could not let go of some grudges, "You are risking your own life and the future of Asan."
"Since you're taking risks, the bigger the better. I'm going to take Yashan Taoist priests to Wangshan to find the Patriarch. I can do what Zuo Liuying can do, and the Patriarch will need me. 'If you can get in, you can come out', hey , Zuo Liuying is really a genius, he actually used this method to relieve the calamity of his heart, and turned from an opponent directly into a loyalist. I admire him, but I will never believe him. I welcome Taoist priests outside Yashan to follow me. How about walking together?"
Shen Hao shook his head, "We are not the same people."
Shen Zangqi wants to be another Zuo Liuying, but Shen Hao certainly won't join.
Grandmaster Yashan laughed, turned around and disappeared.
Shen Hao looked at the surrounding doors. He originally wanted to get help from the masters, and maybe he could compete with Zuo Liuying, but now his hope was completely shattered. What to do next? He will never join Shen Zangqi's team, nor does he want to flee. Unlike Xin Youtao and Xiao Qingtao, he is an orthodox Taoist priest at all times.
"Am I the only one left who still remembers what the Taoism was like in the past?" Shen Hao walked towards the eighth floor. He didn't need to wait until dark. He thought, he could accept the punishment now. Mu Xingqiu dared to challenge the ancestor. He can voluntarily enter the Demon Drawing Cave.
Standing outside the white door, looking at the motionless Zuo Liuying inside, Shen Hao's two slender eyes showed the fierce light they only had when he was a child. He raised the shape-finding mirror in his hand and smashed it hard.