Chapter 152: These Are the Immortal Fates for the Likes of Us

Su Ping looked at the application column for the Great Library this week.

One couldn't exactly say the five candidates were hidden dragons and crouching tigers, but they each had their own characteristics.

Three elderly scholars and two female administrators.

The cost wasn't expensive at all, only 2 Fishing Coins per month.

After thinking about it, he could change them at any time anyway.

Su Ping recruited one elderly scholar and one female administrator.

Just as he decided to recruit them, two beams of white light appeared in the Great Library in the blink of an eye.

Afterwards, an old man wearing a scholar's cap and a blue uniform, and a blonde young woman wearing a white short skirt, walked up together to introduce themselves.

The scholar was named Da Vinci Burton, who specialized in natural sciences and medicine, and was arranged by Su Ping to go to the research room to study Spirit Rice seeds.

The administrator was named Angela; she didn't have any particular specialties, but with her presence, the library could maintain a tidy and clean state, and slightly increase the efficiency of reading and studying here.

Su Ping tested it and found it was quite good.

In the future, he could set up a Dharma Array in the room to seal it off, and then disguise it as a cultivation Cave Abode for Zhou Xuan and the others to use.

After finishing all this, Su Ping then looked at the gains obtained after the great battle with the two Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The Storage Bags on these two Foundation Establishment cultivators were both high-grade, the materials used were different, the internal volume was large, and they were sturdy enough that even after experiencing a great battle, there was only a little damage on the surface.

This allowed Su Ping to smoothly obtain quite a few Spirit Stones, Spirit Pills, and rare materials from them as compensation for the ammunition used in this battle.

Then, in the Storage Bag that was suspected to belong to the Mo Family head, Su Ping found a book of brewing insights with several hundred years of annotations from the Mo Family.

As well as the seeds of Golden Spirit Lotus Rice, the main material the Mo Family used for brewing.

Su Ping learned that this Golden Spirit Lotus Rice was a type of rare Spirit Rice planted on the water's surface.

This Spirit Rice was quite delicate; it didn't have high requirements for Spirit Qi, but because it easily attracted pests, it required a large amount of manpower to carefully look after it.

In addition, every once in a while, one needed to pay attention to the state of the lotus pods exposed above the water to judge whether rainfall or cooling was needed.

Finally, the growth cycle was a bit long; it would take at least ten years to bloom and form pods.

However, once successfully planted, the Spirit Rice in the lotus pods after blooming was worth a lot in the Market, and could be called top-grade, good rice.

Whether used for eating or brewing, it was an excellent material.

Not to mention Foundation Establishment cultivators, even Golden Core Great Abilities had those who consumed this Spirit Rice or drank this Spirit Rice wine.

At the same time, the withered Golden Spirit Lotus could also be used as a precious medicinal material to replace some of the auxiliary ingredients needed for alchemy.

It was just that planting it was too troublesome, otherwise the status of the Wood Spirit Mo Family should have been able to be raised by another level!

After reading the introduction, Su Ping felt a stir in his heart and had the idea of trying it out on Water Blue Star or in the Pot Heaven.

After all, these two places didn't have the pests of the Cultivation World that could be attracted over.

As for paying attention to heat and cold, cooling and watering, and so on, that was actually simpler; one could actually do it without spells.

Regarding the growth cycle of this Spirit Rice, one could also use Abundant Spirit Water to accelerate through the early and middle stages, which were the hardest to tend to.

In addition, Su Ping also obtained a Low-Grade Spirit Artifact from the hands of that Foundation Establishment Old Ancestor: the Blazing Fire Flag!

This command flag could enhance the power of fire-type spells, and one could also usually store Spirit Fire inside it in advance for emergencies.

After returning to Water Blue Star and finding a way to wash away the Divine Sense on this command flag, he could take it for his own use.

Furthermore, Su Ping also found several Jade Slips and correspondence letters from the old Foundation Establishment cultivator.

He learned that this Wood Spirit Mo Family worshipped an evil Buddha who called himself the Great Freedom Buddha.

According to the analysis of the old Foundation Establishment cultivator, they felt that although this evil Buddha was also an evil god, he was a reasonable good evil god.

For so many years, it had always been fair trade with clearly marked prices, never raising prices on the spot or giving results that had problems.

Then, although the old Foundation Establishment cultivator said so in the Jade Slip.

Su Ping still discovered a list that specifically recorded the names and detailed information of the Mo Family members who were born after receiving the blessing of the evil Buddha's power.

Clearly, the Mo Family was not truly completely defenseless against this.

"The most powerful of these cultivators have actually all reached adulthood and, because of their good talent, became Inner Sect Disciples of an Immortal Sect?"

Su Ping was somewhat surprised looking at this list.

After coming into contact with the scene where the final Mo Family head transformed into an Evil Spirit, Su Ping was one hundred percent certain that there was a big problem with that evil Buddha.

Because of this, he felt shocked that these problematic Mo Family members had actually mixed into the Inner Sect of an Immortal Sect, and furthermore, he associated this with the thought that this Wood Spirit Mo Family was likely not the only cultivation family that worshipped the evil Buddha.

And with such means to deceive the world, I'm afraid it's not just one evil Buddha!

"How does this Cultivation World feel like it's full of loopholes!"

"Wanting to hide here and go Fishing, it's really too difficult!"

Su Ping sighed, took out the Jade Slip containing the list separately, and made multiple copies.

He prepared to continue being a good person who remained unknown and did not seek fame or profit, and throw it to the Artifact Heart Sect and other large sects to handle.

He couldn't handle evil cultivators in further places and at higher levels.

But at least he could ensure that the safety and stability of his own surroundings could last for a while longer.

If the sky fell, there were still tall people holding it up.

Looking at the Merit Stele that the Great Golden Light Temple created for the Mysterious Remains, they definitely wanted to do something for the Cultivation World.

So, having saved up enough purified Sealed Dharma Artifacts, perhaps he could go to other places with Merit Steles to exchange for another wave of merit, and by the way, support the plans of these tall people?

"In that case, in order to help the Cultivation World, perhaps I should create a few more merit fields?"

Thinking this way, Su Ping first returned to the Jiuye Mountain Market.

After handling the miscellaneous matters and hearing more relevant news.

He distributed the Jade Slips on the way to Xuangui Island to go Fishing.

Su Ping used the Memory Illusion of Fire Knight Alwin to do this.

The Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator didn't yet know that the image of this Fire Knight had already caused deep misunderstandings among the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the surrounding small and medium-sized forces.

They naturally attached the utmost importance to the evidence he provided!

It was immediately submitted to the higher-ups and drew their attention.

Not long after, the Great Abilities of the various major sects learned of the Evil Fo affair.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, they first made a trip to the Mo Family.

After seizing all the members of the Mo Family.

They conducted a comprehensive examination, with the Mo family members on the list being the top priority.

Despite testing multiple times in this manner, they did not discover any issues with the Mo family members.

If it hadn't been that red-haired sword Cultivator who provided the Jade Slip.

The Artifact Heart Sect, which was in charge of this matter, would likely have felt that they had been deceived.

The Golden Core responsible for this matter found the High Monk of the Great Golden Light Temple with doubts.

That High Monk also became interested in this, and after finishing the matters at hand, he took the Mo family members to the holy ground of the Great Golden Light Temple.

Relying on the holy artifact in the holy ground that suppresses all evils.

They activated the Subduing Demons Array specifically set up by the Great Golden Light Temple against evil gods.

Only then were the Mo family members on the list unable to withstand the stimulation and reveal their true colors!

This also left the various sects responsible for this matter in a cold sweat.

They had not expected that the methods of those evil gods could be so secretive, allowing them to be infiltrated without even knowing it!

The news was immediately spread to the major sects.

Even for Mo family members not in the Jinzi Domain, as long as they were on the list, they were immediately apprehended by their sects.

The ruthless ones dealt with them directly.

The soft-hearted ones, fearing a misunderstanding, chose to send them to the Great Golden Light Temple to verify their identities before dealing with them.

During this period, these Cultivators also discovered that those Mo family members truly seemed unaware that they had been possessed by an Evil Spirit.

They usually behaved no differently from ordinary people.

Coupled with their generally good Spirit Roots, they should have been able to become the pillars of their sects.

Now, however, they had to be suppressed because of the Evil Fo!

It is truly a twist of fate.

Coastal port.

After Su Ping finished Fishing at Xuangui Island, he stepped on Da Hei Yu and returned to this place.

Along the way, Su Ping discovered that the Overseas Islands were not peaceful.

There even appeared pirate groups specifically targeting branches that had moved overseas.

This caused many Elders of the robbed families to curse loudly; they had already run to these Overseas Islands with thin Spirit Qi, yet they were still not spared by these Robber Cultivators!

When he returned to the port, Su Ping discovered that some cultivation families were moving their foundations back from the islands.

Afterward, they seemed prepared to huddle together with other cultivation family branches, looking for a remote Market without Evil Spirits to take refuge in.

Others planned to build large ships and head directly to more distant sea areas to find habitable land.

This idea also received support from many families.

Su Ping noticed that the Yun Family members he knew also seemed to be among these groups and were performing actively.

It seems that after moving to the Overseas Islands, the Yun Family was not living very comfortably either and was also thinking of moving!

After resting briefly at the port, Su Ping then returned directly to Water Blue Star.

……

Water Blue Star, Emei Golden Summit.

Occupying a favorable location, quite magnificent temple and Taoist temple buildings were constructed here.

A portion of these buildings were open to tourists for visits and even holding events.

Another portion was reserved for the use of true Cultivators to live and practice.

And those who could manage or practice inside were all Taoist Cultivators who held important positions in the official Association.

Because of this, several weeks ago, they learned of the rumors that there were Immortals and Dragon Fish appearing on the back mountain.

And they vaguely knew that the authorities had already proven the authenticity of this rumor, thereby protecting that area.

Except for the Taoists of Qingmu Temple, everyone else, including them, could only watch but were not allowed to approach!

This made the Temple Master of the Golden Summit Taoist temple envious of the Temple Master of Qingmu Temple, and he wrote letters many times hoping to change his affiliation and become a Taoist at Qingmu Temple.

Unfortunately, the current Qingmu Temple was no longer a place where anyone who wanted to become a disciple could do so.

Even though it currently appeared that no extraordinary abilities were emerging from this place.

But as the world became increasingly accepting of the appearance of the extraordinary, coupled with the ironclad evidence from the video uploaded from Nierbo.

The importance placed on the extraordinary by all parties grew with each passing day.

This also caused the location of Qingmu Temple to receive more attention and even preferential treatment.

For that old Temple Master who was suspected of having an Immortal Fate, but whose time had not yet come, they also became increasingly respectful of his wishes.

The old Temple Master rose today as he did daily.

After finishing his morning lessons, he walked out slowly and saw that his junior brothers and disciples in the hall were already dressed neatly, waiting for him with eager faces.

Among these disciples, there were no longer those who were just making up the numbers.

Those people naturally were unwilling, but as long as they could not pass the assessment, they were all arranged to go to other nearby Taoist temples.

If they were unwilling, they could also leave on their own.

And for those who wanted to act like rascals, sorry, the current Qingmu Temple really was not afraid of rascals causing trouble.

There was no need for additional notification; security personnel who saw something wrong immediately came to persuade the other party to listen and leave calmly with the truth.

"Sigh."

The Temple Master scanned the few unfamiliar faces among the disciples.

These were all young disciples sent over by old friends of several decades whom he could not refuse.

The Temple Master had no way to decline and had no choice but to take them into the temple.

After treating them all equally, he discovered that his old friends had not lied; these young disciples were indeed seeds for Dao cultivation, not just sent here based on connections.

These seeds for cultivation were young, yet they already had their own insights into cultivation.

It made the Temple Master unable to help but think of himself in his youth; were these people only a little bit worse than he was back then?

It was no wonder those old friends were so thick-skinned and insistent on sending them over.

It was just that...

The Temple Master knew very well that the Immortal Fate they sought was not with him, but at that Deep Water Pool!

It was in the promise of that Immortal!

"Let's set off!"

Knowing what these junior brothers and disciples were thinking, the Temple Master did not intend to go against their wishes.

He directly announced the start of today's lessons at Qingmu Temple.

That was to collectively head to the edge of the water pool to sit in meditation and practice Qi Refining, and then stay until dinnertime before getting up to return to the Daoist temple.

As for lunch... they actually did not eat it.

Everyone at Qingmu Temple, regardless of age, was full of enthusiasm for going to the Deep Water Pool to cultivate.

Especially since everyone, despite their bitter cultivation, had not disconnected from society; even in the back mountains, they had long since had water, electricity, and internet.

They knew about the major events that had occurred in places like Sakura Capital and Nierbo.

Because of this, regarding the cultivation effects at the Deep Water Pool, both the Temple Master's junior brothers and those disciples felt that the blessed land lived up to its reputation.

As long as one was by the edge of the water pool, the body would naturally cool down, and the mind would immediately become tranquil.

Many insights would even pop into their minds.

The Temple Master, however, felt that it actually made little difference where one cultivated.

On the contrary, those profound insights might be a precursor to becoming possessed by the devil, and one must be alarmed!

If, after entering deep meditation, you heard Fo chanting in your ears, or saw an Immortal maiden coming to receive you in your mind...

Or if little mice appeared in your body and started running around.

Stop cultivating, hurry back and get a good sleep; if you continue to cultivate, you might really run into trouble!

The Temple Master found it difficult to refuse the longing for the Deep Water Pool felt by his disciples, including his junior brothers, but he still paid close attention to their state of cultivation.

This was also the duty of the Temple Master.

Soon, the group arrived at the Deep Water Pool.

They found a spot, sat cross-legged, and began their noon lesson.

Around the Deep Water Pool, various surveillance devices collected and transmitted everyone's expressions to the monitoring room.

On one hand, it was for protection; on the other, it was for research and backup.

In case these Daoists' cultivation methods were truly useful, it was not impossible to promote and use them after scientific research.

In the eyes of the experts, good things would never be discarded just because a scientific explanation could not be found.

The Temple Master, as usual, adjusted his breathing and then sat cross-legged on a large rock, closing his eyes to enter deep meditation.

Suddenly, the Temple Master felt a voice seemingly ringing in his ears?

This voice was somewhat familiar; it seemed to be... that truly cultivated Immortal?

The Temple Master was startled; his first thought was not that Immortal Fate had arrived!

Rather, he suspected that he himself had run into trouble due to the greed hidden deep in his heart, and that he had signs of becoming possessed by the devil!

"Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable!"

The Temple Master opened his eyes and found that there were no illusions before him.

No!

The sensation in his body seemed real and not false!

The Temple Master was well-acquainted with all kinds of illusions, but none could make him feel so realistically the cool air being inhaled at the center of his brow.

Furthermore, the warmth in his body and his increasingly better spirits should not be fake!

So, did that truly cultivated Immortal really come again?

Just as he was thinking this, the Secret Language of that true cultivator appeared in his mind again.

This time, the Temple Master naturally focused all his attention and recorded it without missing a single word.

He suddenly stood up and took out the communication device that the Vice President had forced upon him, requesting that he carry it with him.

Not long after speaking a few words.

A somewhat excited Daoist trotted up from the small path and presented a classic-style fishing rod.

The Temple Master thanked the young Daoist, then sat cross-legged on the large rock, and like that Immortal from before, cast the fishing rod to begin fishing.

Everyone did not know.

At the very moment the Temple Master cast his line.

Su Ping, who was hidden to the side, also cast his fishing rod at the same time.

After initially activating the Spirit Gathering Array.

He now activated other Dharma Arrays that had been quietly set up.

Instantly!

Golden Light suddenly emerged from the Deep Water Pool.

A seven-colored rainbow suddenly appeared in the sky!

Under the Golden Light, whether it was the cultivation disciples or the people in the monitoring room, all widened their eyes to see the illusions of Golden Lotus flowers emerging from the Deep Water Pool, continuously growing larger and then slowly blooming.

Under this illusion, cold air emerged from around the water pool.

All nearby monitoring equipment, whether thermal imaging or optical, began to malfunction and became blurry.

Even the unmanned aerial reconnaissance drones in the sky could only capture footage that looked dreamlike and illusory, but with indistinguishable details.

"This kind of visual effect reminds me of the various strange phenomena that appeared in various places a while ago."

An investigator whispered while drinking hot tea, staring at the large screen in the monitoring room.

This statement immediately drew agreement from several others.

They had all participated in the initial investigations and discovered that one characteristic for distinguishing between real and fake strange phenomena was the camera footage.

The clearer the camera footage, the more likely it was fake.

Conversely, those that looked like compressed image quality from seventy or eighty years ago turned out to be real.

"It seems these transcendents have a way to affect our monitoring equipment."

"Just like the shielding Barriers often mentioned in novels, right?"

"It should be, and there's also the illusion; who's to say that these dreamlike scenes we see aren't a type of illusion, and inside there might be another world."

"By the way, did the boss not let anyone go in?"

"No, the higher-ups feel that this might be the Immortal Fate of Qingmu Temple arriving, and going to disturb others now might instead result in enmity, which isn't worth it."

"That is true; we know far too little about these mystical Divine Dao matters, so it's better to be steady."

While the investigators were whispering and discussing.

The Daoists around the Deep Water Pool were already so excited they were about to jump up.

Although they did not see an Immortal.

But this Deep Water Pool had produced a mythological anomaly!

Does this count as water gushing with Golden Lotus?

Although looking closely, these Golden Lotus flowers actually had a bit of an unreal feeling.

But ignore these details; knowing that this is Immortal Fate is enough!

At the same time, the way they looked at the fishing Temple Master also changed.

Especially those few junior brothers.

They were even quite resentful.

The senior brother had been saying all this time that he had no Immortal Fate and did not know true techniques.

Heh, now just by fishing, he triggered an anomaly!

He must have had great Immortal Fate on him!

It's just that they didn't know if the senior brother could take them to ascend to heaven as well.

Suddenly, they heard the Temple Master, who had his eyes closed, speak:

"Disciples of Qingmu Temple, listen to my command!"

"Close your eyes and meditate, remove distracting thoughts."

"Listen to me recite the scripture, visualize yourself..."

The Temple Master kept his eyes closed and, following Su Ping's instructions, recited the introductory mantra of the simplest Health Preservation Technique.

These disciples all understood that this was the Immortal Fate they had been looking forward to, and they hurriedly sat cross-legged with their eyes closed to enter the state.

At the same time, all the disciples felt a pain in their foreheads.

While Su Ping extracted a drop of fresh blood from them.

They also felt the benefits of cultivating in an environment with Spirit Qi.

They all mistakenly thought that what just happened was a psychological illusion of having their meridians opened, and hurriedly started cultivating.

Su Ping used the Bloodline Slate to test everyone's blood.

However, he did not find any special Spirit Body existence.

But judging from the efficiency of these people absorbing Spirit Qi based on the most basic technique.

It seemed that, including the Temple Master, basically everyone had a Spirit Root of at least inferior quality.

Should one say that they are worthy of being proper Daoists who can truly cultivate the Dao with heart at Qingmu Temple?

If placed in the Cultivation World, these people together might really be able to start a small sect.

As for now, having a Spirit Root is naturally a good thing!

It just so happens that they can take care of the Golden Spirit Lotus Rice for him!

Can this also be considered another win-win situation?

Su Ping was Fishing.

With the help of the illusion of flowers falling from the sky and Golden Lotus, plus the Illusion Array.

He was not worried about being discovered.

Even if the other party discovered an invisible fisherman, so what.

How could they guarantee that it wasn't just one type of illusion?

After all, in the end, besides the extra Golden Lotus flowers in the Deep Water Pool, nothing was missing from the surroundings!

【Fishing Experience +1!】

【Obtained Large Flowing Pattern Fish x1】

【Current Fishing Level: Level 5 (950/5000)】

【Current fishing attempts for this fishing spot have been exhausted... please continue next time!】

With the final fishing attempt used up, the two Second-tier Fishing Spots had provided Su Ping with 300 experience points during this period.

At the same time, this Emei Shenshuitan fishing spot also yielded a catch in the last few attempts.

Allowing Su Ping to obtain a new Flowing Pattern Golden Dragon Fish.

However, after some thought, Su Ping chose to keep this fish in the Spirit Light Fish Pond for now.

This way, if he encountered an upgrade condition that required a rare Second-tier fish catch, he could complete it immediately.

Fishing finished, he saw that it was getting late.

Su Ping silently retreated to the side.

Then, with a thought, he stopped the operation of the Illusion Array.

Various phenomena vanished into the wind like smoke.

As the Spirit Qi also gradually dissipated, it finally shrank until only the depths of the pool still emitted Spirit Qi, which was then absorbed by the planted Golden Spirit Lotus Rice.

Unable to receive the support of Spirit Qi, the crowd had no choice but to wake up.

And they felt a deep sense of loss.

That feeling of having glimpsed the truth, of feeling oneself climbing toward a higher level at every moment, only to be kicked out just as one was getting into the swing of climbing.

It was indescribably uncomfortable.

They looked one after another toward the old Temple Master.

They saw the old Temple Master silently lift his fishing rod.

Then they discovered a small fish hanging from the fishing rod.

"This is..."

The disciples widened their eyes.

The investigators, whose monitoring screens had finally returned to normal, also widened their eyes as they looked at the small fish on the fishing rod.

One bold guess after another emerged in their hearts...

"This is no Spirit Object; it is just an ordinary fish."

Saying this, the old Temple Master took out the small fish, which was no larger than a palm, and threw it back into the Deep Water Pool in front of everyone.

As the fish went "plop" into the water and escaped.

The old Temple Master looked at the Golden Lotus that had appeared on the pool, which were much smaller than those in the illusion.

Pointing at them, he said slowly:

"Do you see? Those... are the true Spirit Objects!"

"They are our Immortal Fate!"

A bit late today, can only do one big combined chapter.