The old Taoist with white hair and beard and gentle brows smiled and picked up a piece and put it down, then said gently:

"Don't you already know about this, fellow Daoist? Why do you need to ask again?"

The middle-aged Taoist, whose face was so majestic that it made people feel intimidated, said calmly, "I'm just curious. Brother Dao has always followed the Way of Inaction. He only pointed out the direction for his disciples and let them go without interfering. How come you are so free today that you even sent a ray of your spirit to visit me in Daluo Heaven?"

The old Taoist replied gently, "He made a breakthrough today. As a teacher, I can't always be by his side to give him instructions."

"But when there is a breakthrough, I always have to go back and see this child."

The middle-aged Taoist gave birth to a son and said calmly, "What realm should I break through?"

"Innate Qi."

"How did you break it?"

“Action and inaction.”

So the middle-aged Taoist nodded slightly: "Good."

"But if that's all, Brother Dao may not go to see him."

"What path do you follow, disciple?"

The middle-aged Taoist's tone was calm but without any hesitation, and he was quite straightforward.

The old Taoist was already used to his temperament. He smiled gently, picked up the chess piece and made a move, and replied, "I found that this child had a calamity aura, so I went to check on him, worried that he had been tricked into a disaster. Later I found out that he had taken the initiative to face the disaster, and the path he took can only be said to be that of my disciple..."

"Teach according to the situation, save people through hardships, and be the teacher of the emperor."

"The way to establish oneself is to conceal the saint and reveal the ordinary."

The middle-aged Taoist priest was about to play chess, but when he heard this, his movements paused slightly, his brows relaxed, and his tone softened:

"Take the initiative to respond to the calamity?"

"The highest good."

He seemed to admire the fact that the young Taoist was willing to take the difficult path, and said, "In that case, Brother Dao should go and take a look. Although Brother Dao has few disciples, those who have been able to enter the sect have their own persistence and are worthy of the title of juniors of you and me."

"Only Shangqing."

"I accept disciples at random, and I don't know how many causes and effects are involved. Most of them are just at the level of human immortals. They rely on the reputation of spiritual treasures to cheat people everywhere. Some time ago, I heard that some of them were taken by the North Pole Exorcism Institute. Their souls were cut off on the spot, their Taoism was reduced, and they were sent to reincarnation, and they will be inhuman for hundreds of lifetimes... However, even some of my disciples have gone astray and are not worthy of the title of Three Pure Ones disciples. I can't say anything about them."

"My disciples were also captured by the Heavenly Court."

"After all the crimes have been counted, they will be executed according to their crimes and sent to the North Pole Exorcism Institute to be beheaded."

The gentle old Taoist said: "According to the laws of heaven, he should not have committed such a serious crime."

There was also fluctuation in the middle-aged Taoist's eyes.

In the end, he just looked indifferent and said, "Yes."

"But since he has taken the chance that 'I am Yuqing's disciple, and the crime is not my fault' and has lost the idea of ​​equality for all living beings, he is no longer qualified to be my disciple. My disciples are to be role models for the cultivators of the world, not to be relied upon to do whatever they want."

"Since you have the idea that [I am one of the Twelve Jade Purity Saints] and that you have the support of your master, you should be punished more severely."

"Why? Other people's disciples should be killed for their crimes, but the disciples of the Three Pure Ones should not be killed?"

“An unintentional mistake is called a mistake.”

"Wilful mistakes are called evil."

"Since it is evil, it should be punished."

"Even if you know the law and still break it, your crime is one level higher; if you rely on us and act recklessly, your crime is one level higher. Even if you are my disciple, your crime will not be pardoned. You will be pushed out of the Nantian Gate, cut into pieces with a thousand knives, the three flowers on your head will be chopped off, the five energies in your chest will be cut off, your soul will be shattered, and you will never be able to reincarnate."

Tai Shang sighed.

Jade Pure Yuanshi Tianzun has indifferent eyes. He moves the sun and the moon. The Tao is constant and has no personal feelings.

He represents the impartial, selfless and ruthless side of Heaven, and therefore he is the most incompatible with Shangqing Lingbao. One is the most rule-abiding, and the other is the most casual. Whenever the two meet, they will confront each other. Taoist Yuqing made a move, and there was still no expression on his face. He brought the topic back and said slowly:

"Xuan Wei is a good person who has the magnanimity to take the initiative to face the disaster. When his three flowers gather at the top of his head and his five qi converge to the origin, I will give him a welcome gift."

"If you want me to write a jade talisman for him personally, that's fine."

It is the Jade Purity Talisman.

Almost no one among the Shangqing disciples has been recognized by Yuqing.

He could say this even though his face was expressionless and without a trace of smile.

In fact, it is already high praise.

After the Three Realms were established and the Heavenly Court and the Underworld were ready, the Three Pure Ones no longer interfered with the affairs of all living beings. After a leisurely game of chess was finished, it was a draw. Taoist Yuqing asked, "However, the one playing chess with me now is only one of your eighty-one transformations, right?" He raised his head, and the old man in front of him had disappeared without a trace, and he could not see him again. The middle-aged Taoist thought for a moment and said calmly,

"Where is your true body now?"

"No trace of him is seen inside or outside the Three Realms."

"But is it still because of what happened that year?"

The middle-aged Taoist sighed slightly, as if he remembered something, and threw the chess piece down casually. The chessboard and chess pieces had all disappeared. He was still just meditating in Xuandu Yujing, with his left hand holding up and his right hand holding up, to indicate that the heaven and earth had not yet taken shape and the chaos had not yet begun. He lowered his eyes and his breath was calm. The scenes of playing chess just now were just what happened in the world created by his dreams and thoughts.

The Three Pure Ones have withdrawn from the world, and within and outside the Three Realms, there are changes in cause and effect.

He just lowered his eyes slightly, but a ray of divine thought still emerged.

In the Shangqing Library.

The Taoist in black was dozing off, but he raised his eyes slightly, sighed, and said, "As expected, he's here..."

But there was no sound in front of him, and the Qi between heaven and earth gathered and turned into a middle-aged Taoist.

It seems to have no beginning and no end and be there forever.

There is no coming and no going.

The Taoist in black said calmly: "... It's rare, rare, the Supreme has seen the world, and you are also sitting in Daluo Heaven."

"Inside and outside the Three Realms, each has its own order. It's rare to see you come out. I wonder why you came here to look for me, fellow Taoist?"

Taoist Yuqing glanced at him and said calmly:

"Change back first."

Shangqing Daojun sat on the Taiji diagram, lowered his eyes and replied:

"No form is no form, why should you be so rigid, fellow Taoist?"

"That's right."

Taoist Yuqing said calmly:

"But you don't have to use my appearance when you do evil things."

"Change back."

The face of Shangqing Daojun, who was originally a handsome middle-aged Taoist, froze.

He had already made plans.

Even if he was discovered by his disciples, he could still pretend to be Yuqing and get away with it. But now he could only sigh. He didn't know how, but he had transformed into a young Taoist priest about 27 or 28 years old, with a handsome face and ancient eyes. He was not sitting cross-legged on the Tai Chi diagram, but leaning on it, with one hand supporting his chin, one leg crossed, and one leg on the ground. He looked nothing like a Taoist priest at all.

"So, Yuqing, why did you come to see me?"

"As you can see, I am very busy."

Jade Purity Great Celestial Venerable said: "The matter of Medicine Master's reincarnation before."

Shangqing Daojun said: "You should know that Medicine Master's passing away was not caused by me."

Yuqing nodded: "Yes."

Shang Qing was startled, and then said:

"Then why are you looking for me? Go find the culprit who caused Medicine Master to pass away."

Yuqing Tianzun said calmly: "But I calculated that you have the highest seniority in this matter."

"It's my destiny to come to you."

"Shangqing Lingbao, a great Dao Lord, you won't throw all your responsibilities to the juniors, right?"

"Why, don't you even have the magnanimity to take some responsibility for the younger generation?"

Shangqing Daojun: "..."

???

…

At this moment in the Shangqing Library, Qingyang Miaodao Tianjun was flipping through the classics, slowly reading the Taoist methods of this spiritual treasure. Looking outside from the Shangqing Library, one could only see that everything was peaceful, the clouds were calm, spreading over thousands of miles, without a trace of dark clouds. The sky was bright and the sea of ​​clouds made people feel happy when they saw it.

As one of the three Shangqing masters who is in charge of the classics, the old celestial monarch could not help but stroke his beard and exclaimed:

"Good times."

He lowered his eyes to read the Taoist scriptures. The text was already very mysterious. At this moment, the good weather and the sea of ​​clouds added three more points of flavor. He was flipping through an article and drinking tea when his spirit suddenly gave him a warning, which made him come out of such an infinitely comfortable state of mind. He felt as if his whole body was being pricked by needles. He lowered his eyes and saw that ripples had already appeared in the cup of spiritual tea.

The old Lord's eyes widened slightly.

This is……

Only above him.

Shang Qing sat up, frowned, and said calmly: "The Buddhist sect attacked my disciple, I just slashed back with a sword, what's wrong with that?"

Yuqing said calmly: "It's over."

Shangqing Daojun raised his eyes and said, "Daoyou, please speak."

Yuqing said calmly: "The way of heaven is constant, it has its own rules, there are gains and losses."

"Everything is relative, that is common sense."

"If you want to achieve the highest and the most supreme, you must go through the most difficult and painful experiences."

"Since you and I have already been given an opportunity that is rare for ordinary people as a disciple, then it is fair that you should accept the most difficult trial. Medicine Master Liuli, this is just a disaster for the juniors on the road. Why should Shangqing make a fuss?"

Shangqing said lazily: "If there is a calamity, it is nothing."

Yuqing replied: "It is both a calamity and a fate. It is only valuable if the disciple can personally save it."

"If you accept someone as your disciple and expect everything to go smoothly, and the master has to take care of all dangers and hardships, what kind of disciple is that? What kind of Taoism is that? What kind of Taoism is that? What kind of mind and nature are you practicing? What you see is a heart that relies on the prestige of the master, and what you see is a weak and helpless nature? You are nothing but trash!"

Lord Shangqing's eyes, which tended to be gentle yet sharp, narrowed slightly and he pressed his right hand on the table.

There is no light all over the body.

Even when the stream of light approached, it seemed to be caught in a vortex, and then was destroyed and dissipated.

Then this area turned into a dark and terrifying area without any light, like the final point of all things, and Shangqing Daojun sat in it. On the other side, seventy-two lights flowed and changed, covering the Jade Purity Great Heavenly Venerable, like a point of ancestral qi at the beginning of all things, vast and majestic, evolving all things, with a peaceful tone:

"My disciples should be role models for all the sects."

"If not, then you don't need to join us."

"The purpose of cultivation is to cultivate [me], so if you want to become my disciple, you should also have the bearing of [no one but me]."

"If everything goes smoothly and the master leads the way, then wouldn't it be meaningless for me to be a disciple? I have no growth and can't support the leader. With your help, even the dumbest person can accomplish the most difficult feat in the world. But that is the prestige of your Shangqing Lingbao. What about your disciples?!"

"You help the disciple, but you also ruin him."

"Practicing Taoism is to cultivate oneself, and tribulations are nothing more than a whetstone. Only in this way can a practitioner see his true nature and improve his cultivation."

"How will they cope with what you have done?"

What Jade Pure Yuanshi Tianzun wants is [uniqueness].

He believed that each of his disciples was so outstanding that they should practice the most difficult methods and accomplish the most impossible deeds in the world. Only then could they become role models for the great way of the world and be admired by all those who practice Taoism. They would take this as their goal and move forward step by step.

Disciples are accepted as disciples only when they have proven their uniqueness.

He was convinced that everyone could have such qualifications, and they could see their true nature and know that there was always a career to be achieved. In this world, in heaven and on earth, in the three thousand worlds, only [I] could do it, and no one else could do it. Having such a clear mind surpassed all other qualifications in Yuqing's eyes.

One gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things.

Just with this one word "I" (I) can a person stand out from all the others.

If you lose the word "I", you will fall into the dust of the world.

Shang Qing lowered his eyes and said calmly: "This is just your own choice."

"Yuqing, don't give such a heavy responsibility to your disciple. Your expectations are too heavy."

"You speak in a high-sounding manner, and you are a role model for all the Daoists. Are you looking for a disciple, or are you looking for an object to carry your great wish?"

"When I teach my disciples, it is the three words of following one's heart. When there is a destiny, we will be master and disciple. When there is no destiny, we will part ways."

"Disciples do not need to worry about me, and I will not put the responsibility on you."

"There are three thousand great ways, why should I be obsessed?"

Jade Purity Great Celestial Venerable said calmly: "Be my disciple and a role model for all the sects."

“I already knew this before I entered the sect.”

"The weight of the four characters of Daozu's sect is not something to be trifled with."

"I want this fate."

"It is a heavy responsibility to bear."

Shangqing was lazy but serious. He supported his chin with one hand and responded calmly:

"My disciple only needs to be my disciple himself."

"Why do you need to carry my Tao?"

"Yuqing, you are too rigid."

"Shangqing, you are particularly arrogant."

Outside the Shangqing Library, Qingyang Miaodao Tianjun was hesitant at first, and suddenly felt something was wrong. He had been here reading various Taoist scriptures left by his teacher, but for some reason, his heart suddenly became extremely uneasy. He looked at the cup of spiritual tea, but it had already shattered and disappeared. The old Tianjun suddenly stood up, walked out step by step, and looked from afar, and saw that the originally peaceful sky suddenly darkened.

The boundless gale swept across the entire thirty-six heavens, and the faint collision of wind and thunder caused the seventy-two golden steps to shake.

The wind and thunder roared violently, and the sound was like a roar, causing waves in the Jade Purity Divine Thunder Palace.

On top of the Lingxiao Palace, the immortal officials were standing unsteadily.

In the paradise of the West, the Arhat Bodhisattva fell off the lotus platform.

In Xuandu Temple, the great master lost his alchemy furnace; beside the South China Sea, Guanyin lost her mount.

The thirty-sixth heaven was filled with black fog, and a thousand-mile eye could not see through it at all.

In the thirteen Buddha lands, it is difficult to see the Tathagata, and the Buddha's light cannot be dispersed at all.

Qingyang Miaodao Tianjun raised his head, his face full of confusion.

“This, this is…”

The Shangqing Library was shaking, and suddenly there was a rustling sound, and the books scattered. A little head popped out. It had a beautiful face and was in a daze. There were words on the jade slip printed on its left cheek. Its eyes were blank and it was shaking as if it had not woken up yet. However, when it saw this situation, its eyes lit up.

"oh oh!"

Yunqin stood up.

Then he sat down again, slowly took out the osmanthus cake from his sleeve, held it in both hands and put it into his mouth, his eyes bright.

But he said——

“What a strong wind!”

He then said with regret: "What a pity, Wuhuo is not here, otherwise he would definitely say something like 'The stars wash my feet'!"

"Well, if it were me, I wouldn't be any worse than him..."

“Just, just…”

“It’s dark and windy!”

The girl was finally defeated, but she didn't think anything of it. As she was looking outside curiously, she suddenly realized that Qingyang Miaodao Tianjun, who had been sitting at the entrance of the second floor for some time, had gone out. It seemed that she could go up to the second floor. The girl blinked her eyes, threw the osmanthus cake into her mouth, swallowed it, and clapped her hands.

Then he took out a scroll from his sleeve and held out [Daojun Wuhuo's Reply to Dajun Dadao's Letter].

Walk towards the second floor of Shangqing Library.

"Dangdangdang, Fairy Xuanwu Suyunqin is coming."

"No doubt, no doubt."

"The sesame cakes must be prepared."