"It's good that you're alright. Peace is a blessing!"
Having learned about the recent situation of his wife, son, and daughter-in-law from Feng Bingwen, the old man held Feng Bingwen's hand and couldn't help but sigh repeatedly.
The influx of refugees from all over the country made the old man realize that the territory of Dagan was extremely unsettled. The evil spirits and monsters that had only appeared in stories were now appearing in large numbers.
They dared to attack a human settlement in broad daylight. Fortunately, the gods, who were previously only known through legends and stories, have revealed themselves.
Not to mention distant places, just take the nearby city of Qingshan. The City God enshrined in the town of Qingshan once manifested his power. Thanks to the existence of the deity, although many people are now displaced, they are still restrained and dare not indulge their evil thoughts or act recklessly. They try their best to suppress them.
After all, every righteous god, regardless of the place, has a history of punishing evil and rewarding merit. Moreover, many great gods hold power in the underworld. While alive, they may not be able to do anything about it, but once they die, no matter who they are, they must go to the underworld to be punished for the sins they committed in their lifetime. Even the emperor, who is high above, cannot avoid it.
In the face of sudden disaster, the order of the mortal world is teetering on the brink of collapse, but the gods who appear in the eyes of mortals construct an invisible net of order and law in the hearts of refugees, even though they have not issued any special decrees.
"Yes, seeing that you are all safe and sound makes me feel much more at ease!"
Hearing the old man's sigh, Feng Bingwen couldn't help but agree. After leaving the mountain gate, he hurried along the way, doing his best without daring to stop for a moment. After understanding the general situation, he then used his bloodline connection to search for his many relatives.
What truly moved him was his grandfather and his increasingly warm-hearted father.
The old man, who governed a region and guarded its borders, was now faced with this great disaster that affected tens of thousands of miles. Even if he wanted to, he was powerless and could only rely on some cultivators and martial artists who cooperated with the government to barely keep things afloat.
In chaotic times, it is natural for some people to harbor evil intentions, and since the old man holds a high position, it is inevitable that some local cultivation families will have designs on him.
However, after Feng Bingwen made the trip, all the potential threats that might have endangered the old man's life and fortune were completely eliminated.
At this moment, Feng Bingwen would not reason with anyone, not even a high-ranking disciple of the Xuanzhen Dao Sect. He even had a reasoned argument: "I have calculated that you will bring bloodshed to my elders in the future. I cannot let you live today, so I will kill you!"
Even if such actions were to spread and be heard by members of one's own sect or fellow practitioners of the Xuanzong sect, at most someone would sigh that he was too bloodthirsty, but no one would pursue the matter or demote him to the demonic path.
Using one's supernatural powers to protect one's blood relatives and clansmen is a principle that is valid no matter where in the Nine Provinces of the human race it is applied.
As for his father, whether it was due to good fortune or something else, he also stumbled onto the path of cultivation. However, given his age and aptitude, in Feng Bingwen's eyesight, he probably wouldn't achieve much.
However, his father was also self-aware. He did not initially aim to become an immortal, but rather to accumulate merit and great deeds. His goal was to attain the divine path.
Those who accumulate merit and fame during their lifetime can take advantage of this opportunity to ascend to the divine path after a hundred years, and from then on become local deities, protecting the region.
Feng Bingwen naturally wouldn't interfere with such a choice, because for someone with mediocre talent, this is the only chance to achieve immortality, as the path of divine cultivation doesn't require talent or comprehension.
With enough incense offerings, even a pig could become Marshal Tianpeng. Besides, his father wasn't even worse than a pig.
At this moment, the Great Gan Dynasty is suddenly in chaos. If Feng Bingwen's father, Feng Zichuan, can shelter enough disaster victims and ensure that they survive this calamity, then for this achievement, he could even be made a god while still alive.
It is not impossible to achieve this, and one could even vie for the position of the Mountain and Water God. Although it is not as glorious as earthly gods like the City God, and the accumulation of incense offerings is much slower, the position of the Mountain and Water God is more stable and will not change for hundreds or thousands of years.
Such a grand scheme naturally involves many tribulations; the process of becoming a god is not easy. For a mortal to ascend to godhood in one step requires an extremely high price.
Therefore, Feng Bingwen left behind a celestial artifact to protect his father from disasters and calamities. The Mountain-Moving Cauldron is a celestial artifact that can mobilize the earth's energy. It is somewhat unsuitable for Feng Bingwen now, but for his father, it is a true celestial artifact.
Regardless of whether he can rise to the top in one step, under the influence of ghosts and demons, he can at least protect the safety of the people in the area. Even if the situation is more difficult, he can ensure his own life is safe, and his mother is naturally among them.
After arranging everything, Feng Bingwen returned to Fengjia Town.
The reason for choosing it last is mainly because Fengjia Town is just an ordinary and remote town. Without his influence, it would just be an unremarkable little village.
Even though it has developed now, there are no places of outstanding natural beauty and spiritual energy around it. As for evil creatures like ghosts that are born from special environments, they will naturally flock to places rich in spiritual energy or where living beings gather, and they will look down on remote and impoverished areas.
And as Feng Bingwen had predicted, when he returned, he saw the geese whose essence he had forcibly removed by his experimental infiltration with immortal spiritual energy devouring an attacking swarm of insects as if they were snacks.
This performance pleased Feng Bingwen greatly. It was all worth the effort he had put in when he first embarked on his path of cultivation. Now, he could not only protect his grandmother but also safeguard the region.
Of course, more importantly, Feng Bingwen, who had received the method of becoming a deity from his father, also vaguely sensed that his grandmother seemed to have the potential to become a god.
After all, the old woman was originally a kind and simple countrywoman. Even after gaining wealth and status, she did not lose her original heart, and she remained steadfast even after raising a flock of geese.
Now that a natural disaster has struck, refugees from all directions have flocked to the area. The old man, true to his nature, has stepped in to protect them. Although there are some ungrateful people who, instead of being grateful for the old man's kindness, try to turn against him, the old man's geese and the spirits in the Feng family mansion that have awakened their intelligence are not just for show.
The old man did not do it intentionally, but unintentionally he also embarked on the path to becoming a god. However, the tribulations of becoming a god were all blocked because of Feng Bingwen's previous influence.
Seeing this, Feng Bingwen didn't point it out. But looking at his father's painstaking efforts, which were almost on par with his grandmother's achievements, he felt somewhat amused and exasperated.
I wonder what his father's expression will be when he returns and sees the golden light of merit emanating from his mother, a light that surpasses even his own.
To be honest, Feng Bingwen was somewhat looking forward to seeing the expression on his father's face.
"You came back specifically for this purpose."
Although the old man didn't ask directly, he vaguely guessed the identity of his grandson.
"Yes, I was so restless that I came home specifically to check on things!"
"Just do your own thing, why do you care what we do? Why are you worrying about me like this? This old woman still has some skills, and petty thieves can't even get close to me!"
As the old man spoke, a smile appeared on his face, revealing a few shallow wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.
She raised a specially bred flock of geese and has profited handsomely from it over the years. In fact, any egg laid by any of these geese, once it's laid, is a priceless treasure.
However, these spirit goose eggs, which drive countless martial artists to madness, are basically an essential part of the old man's diet. After eating them for several years, even without any special cultivation, the old man's body has become completely detached from the mundane world.
"I always have to come back to visit; otherwise, how can I feel at ease?"
"Good boy!"
The old man held onto Feng Bingwen's hand tightly.
"Now that you're back, when do you plan to go back?"
"I'll go back after I've wiped out these evil spirits!"
Feng Bingwen replied with a smile that he no longer needed to hide things like he did when he was a child.
"If you want to leave, why can't you stay?"
Feng Bingwen could clearly feel the hand gripping his wrist tighten its hold.
"Grandma, many people are suffering outside, and many have even lost their lives!"
"What does this have to do with you? You're just a little kid who's only been cultivating for a few years. What right do you have to interfere? Just stay with me and don't go anywhere!"
Upon hearing Feng Bingwen's words, the old woman, who had previously been kind and gentle, and had even given up her own house and granary, immediately changed her expression, appearing extremely mean and selfish.
"Even if the sky falls, the City Emperor will hold it up. Why are you getting involved, little guy? Stop reading those stories about slaying demons and monsters. Cultivators should sever their ties with worldly affairs and avoid getting entangled in worldly matters."
"That magistrate in the county town isn't even as tall as me!"
Feng Bingwen only thought these words to himself and naturally did not say them aloud.
He knew the old man was worried about his safety. When ordinary people heard about immortals slaying demons and monsters, they would naturally praise them. But if his own family knew that their blood relative was going to fight those ferocious demons, they would naturally be very worried and would not want him to go.
"Okay, okay, I'll listen to Grandma."
Feng Bingwen naturally understood the old man's feelings, so he smiled and tried to comfort him, but unfortunately, he had already used the same tactic.
"Don't just agree with me verbally while secretly planning to run away and take advantage of this old man's failing eyesight, trying to deceive me with magic!"
"..."
Looking at his grandmother, who had suddenly become shrewd, Feng Bingwen opened his mouth, speechless.
That was exactly what he planned to do. He would first quietly appease the old man, and then leave behind a magical avatar. With his current level of cultivation, even physical contact would not reveal anything unusual to him.
But now that the old man had spoken, it would be unacceptable to continue deceiving him.
"I knew I was right, you little rascal, you really wanted to sneak out behind my back!"
Anger flashed across the old man's face.
"There are some things I have to do!"
Feng Bingwen sighed. The opportunity to achieve enlightenment was right before his eyes. After confirming the safety of his relatives, he was unwilling to delay any longer.
"I can't do without you"
"It's not that I can't do it, it's that I absolutely have to do it!"
Feng Bingwen replied in this way.
As the ancients said, "If one hears the Way in the morning, one can die content in the evening." Although he did not have such awareness, he was willing to take some risks, given that the Heavenly Book was his guarantee.
If one doesn't even have this much courage, then what's the point of cultivating Taoism or seeking immortality?
"Since you've already made up your mind, then this old man won't stop you. Go!"
The old man loosened his grip on Feng Bingwen's wrist, sighed, and waved his hand.
"grandmother!"
Feng Bingwen was somewhat surprised.
"If you really want to go, do you think this old man can stop you? You're so capable, I can't control you even if I wanted to!"
The old man smiled.
"I'm just afraid you'll go and come back soon, safely. I have no other hope!"
"I will definitely go and come back as soon as possible. Once I've finished my work, the first thing I'll do is come back to see you!"
Feng Bingwen solemnly assured him.
"Go on, stop nagging this old man. I've wasted a lot of your time!"
"Grandma, I'll be going now!"
Having said that, Feng Bingwen immediately stopped dawdling. After bidding farewell to the old man, he transformed into a beam of mysterious light invisible to the mortal world and soared straight into the azure sky.
As the sword of light appeared, Feng Bingwen could feel a gaze directed at him from Qingshan County, but he paid it no mind. He was already grateful to have time to visit his family; he had no time to deal with the city lord.
A beam of light pierced the sky, leaving a long, lingering trail that stretched towards the source of the calamity—a deep rift valley thousands of miles deep.
His target was the ancient battlefield beneath the rift valley, even though the Divine Dao True Lord had entrusted him, the Supreme Daoist, to first clear out some of the ghosts and demons that had infiltrated various parts of Daqian.
He did agree, but he didn't agree to keep cleaning up the mess. Making him do this kind of thing, even though it was for his safety and to reduce disputes, was not a pleasant experience.
Therefore, after Feng Bingwen saw the bottomless rift in the distance, he immediately summoned the Five Elements Heavenly Wheel within his body. With the help of the power of the immortal artifact, he instantly tore through the void and, after a short traverse, reappeared above the rift.
"Fellow Daoist, please wait!"
Anxious cries rang out, but Feng Bingwen ignored them. Holding the Five Elements Heavenly Wheel in his hand, he transformed it into a five-colored immortal light, instantly opening a passage from the gushing blood and evil energy to the depths of the ancient battlefield. He then plunged into it and disappeared.
"Sigh, another cultivator has gone in, and his cultivation level isn't bad either!"
"This is their own choice; they are responsible for their own lives!"
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