Chapter 1497: Yunxiao

Yunxiao: "Indeed, there is such a risk."

Zhang Taixuan: "No, you've forgotten the chat group. The Dao of that realm has already signed a covenant with the chat group, agreeing to drive Hongjun away within a thousand years. At that time, the promised rewards will be fulfilled."

Su Xiao: "With the chat group as guarantee? Then it should be fine."

Yunxiao: "In that case, I can rest easier. By the way, I seized a spiritual treasure—let me gift it to the Dao Jun. 【Red Packet】 is my thanks for saving my life."

Su Xiao: "The Measure of Heaven? Wait—it's a top-grade primordial merit spiritual treasure. You're giving this to repay a life-saving debt?"

Su Xiao: "Wait, wasn't the information about the Investiture of the Gods posted by Brother Taixuan?"

Hu Yifei: "What good is posting the Investiture of the Gods information? Without actual cultivation methods, you can't become a Hunyuan, and you have no power to resist."

Hu Yifei: "So I think Yunxiao Immortal didn't misidentify who to thank."

Su Xiao: "Aaaah, aren't cultivation methods bought?"

Yunxiao: "Su Young Lady underestimates the method of becoming a Sage. The Dao Jun merely gave a token gesture—how could I be so ignorant?"

【Ding, Zhang Taixuan claimed the red packet.】

Su Xiao: "How envious. Could this be her dowry?"

Yunxiao: "... Think whatever you like."

Su Xiao: "You admitted it! No more 010! Yunxiao Immortal, snap out of it! Don't give in so easily!"

Lara: "Isn't this good? I think it's great. Brother Taixuan is so handsome and powerful—he's the perfect husband material."

Su Xiao: "... Another one's fallen?!"

Komugi: "I'm dying laughing!"

Yunxiao: "By the way, I noticed some of my Jie Sect brethren in the Heavenly Court are acting strange—obsessed with power. Is this Hongjun's doing?"

Zhang Taixuan: "You could say yes. You could say no."

Yunxiao: "What do you mean?"

Zhang Taixuan: "Do you know who in this world is the most detached and desireless?"

Yunxiao: "I don't know."

Su Xiao: "A Monk?"

Komugi: "Obviously not. Monks are human—how could they possibly be desireless?"

Zhang Taixuan: "Those who haven't yet seized power are the most detached and desireless. Most people, before gaining power, believe they can resist all temptations—they seem far superior to corrupt officials. Only when they gain power do they truly see themselves. Beauties, fame, wealth—each of these trials eliminates nine hundred and ninety-nine out of a thousand. Among a thousand, perhaps not one remains untouched by power."

Su Xiao: "That's true. Many people believe they're good before gaining power. Once they become officials, they realize—how could anyone resist such temptation?"

Zhang Taixuan: "The Jie Sect immortals' situation can be called being clouded by calamity-qi, or simply newly wielding power and being tempted by it. This isn't necessarily bad."

Yunxiao: "Not bad?"

Zhang Taixuan: "How can you speak of letting go if you've never possessed? Their former detachment was merely because they never faced temptation. Now, these temptations of power may serve as trials before success—or poison before madness. How they choose depends entirely on their inner nature."

Zhang Taixuan: "For now, there's no immediate danger—let them endure this trial of fame and profit. Even if they fail, don't you three Hunyuan still exist? When the time comes, let them reincarnate and cultivate anew. Isn't that precisely what a sect is for? Disciples may endure countless trials to attain the Great Dao. Ordinary cultivators have no such chance."

Yunxiao: "That's true."

Su Xiao: "What about cultivators without sects? They'd be crying. Can't we impose limits? Everywhere you go, it's favors and obligations—cultivation is just social maneuvering!"

Zhang Taixuan: "How do you limit it? I don't believe you treat strangers the same as your parents, or friends the same as ordinary people. It's impossible. People naturally have closeness and distance."

Hu Yifei: "Indeed, Su Xiao, your idea is unreasonable. Even if we were stronger, we could only ensure slightly fairer heavenly laws. Eradicating social obligations is neither humane nor possible. After all, rules are enforced by people!"

Komugi: "Exactly. Impossible. Totally impossible."

Xiao Yan: "As long as there are people, relationships exist. Even those foreign lands everyone praises? They're no different. Doctors' children become doctors, lawyers' children become lawyers—recommendation letters? All built on networks of relationships."

Su Xiao: "I actually believed that as a child. How naive."

Komugi: "It's normal. Children have little experience and are easily swayed by scholars. In truth, where is the moon ever rounder? It's all the same!"

Su Xiao: "Right. By the way, Yunxiao Sister said you fought Guangchengzi and Rendeng—didn't Yuanshi Tianzun show up?"

Yunxiao: "Why would my uncle appear? It was just a fight, minor injuries. If he showed up, it'd be laughable—every other Saint would mock him."

Su Xiao: "Isn't he partial to his disciples? Guangchengzi got hurt—doesn't he care?"

Zhang Taixuan: "Care? Are you joking? Yuanshi is partial only to preserve his own face and protect his tools. Do you speak of care to a Saint who embodies Heaven's Dao?"

Su Xiao: "Tools?"

Yunxiao: "Now that the Dao Jun says it, it makes sense. Su Young Lady, don't you think the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect have excellent origins but weak cultivation?"

Su Xiao: "The Chan Sect's Golden Immortals are stronger than me, of course. But compared to the Jie Sect, they're vastly inferior."

Yunxiao: "Correct. With such excellent origins, why are their cultivation bases so weak? What do you think is the reason?"

Su Xiao: "They don't work hard? Or did Yuanshi Tianzun hoard the methods?"

Hu Yifei: "Your reasoning is absurd."

Su Xiao: "What other reason could there be? The Jie Sect has so many strong cultivators, while the Chan Sect carefully selected theirs—and still they're weak. Only these two explanations make sense."

Yunxiao: "The truth is different. The reason is that the Twelve Golden Immortals absorbed countless calamities for my uncle—they're entangled in karmic debts, so their cultivation progresses slowly."

Su Xiao: "Absorb calamities? What calamities does Yuanshi have? He's a Saint!"

Zhang Taixuan: "When Yuanshi became a Saint, he declared he would expound the Dao and embody Heaven's will. When Hongjun needs something done, doesn't Yuanshi have to act?"

Zhang Taixuan: "For example, when Hongjun wanted to weaken humanity, the Chan Sect sent Guangchengzi to be the emperor's tutor. That's a massive karmic debt."