Wang Sheng's Decline

No, no, no, this demon is still a bit short of the Jiazi cycle in terms of cultivation, but it's not far off.

It looks like with three to five years of cultivation, it will be able to condense a physical form and become a fierce ghost that wreaks havoc in the area!

"Master of Fu Luan Temple, although this child is a fierce ghost, his nature is pure and kind. It's a pity he's still young and cannot shoulder great responsibilities. Take him by your side and teach him well, lest he go astray. If your teachings bear fruit, he may become a Fu Luan Ghost Immortal in the future!"

Fu Luan's old Daoist priest trembled inwardly upon hearing this.

If he were to teach a Jiazi great demon, he feared it might eat him if it got displeased.

However, as the Ancestral Master said, if the teachings were successful, Fu Luan would gain another Jiazi Ghost Immortal to guard it, and the Dao lineage would surely prosper!

He knew this was an opportunity gifted to Fu Luan by the Ancestral Master!

"This disciple respectfully obeys the Ancestral Master's decree!"

Fu Luan's old Daoist priest quickly bowed and accepted the order.

He secretly gritted his teeth, thinking, "This old Daoist's bones are frail, and I don't have many years left. It's already a blessing from heaven to have taught Xuan Yun alone!

If I can teach another Jiazi Ghost Immortal, my life will have been worth it.

In the future, if I shed my mortal coil and become a Ghost Immortal, I might even have to rely on this Ghost Immortal for care."

"This is the Law of Escaping Two Sceneries. It can refine the sun soul and nourish the moon's essence. You should study it carefully. In a hundred years, you might not be unable to become a Fu Luan Ghost Immortal!"

Mo Chuan said, taking out a Daoist scripture and handing it over.

This was the Sun Moon Dao from the Three Scenery Daoist Magic, which perfectly suited Fu Luan's old Daoist priest's current situation.

Fu Luan's old Daoist priest trembled all over. He quickly patted his sleeves to show he was dusting them off before kowtowing and accepting it with both hands.

"This disciple, Chang Qing, thanks the Ancestral Master for bestowing this Dharma!"

Mo Chuan nodded and looked at the bewildered Qian family child:

"I believe the lesson today is enough to make you remember! From now on, you will follow the Master of Fu Luan Temple to cultivate. Treat him as you would treat me. If I find out you are still unruly, I won't just reduce your Jiazi cultivation, so you'd best behave yourself!"

The Qian family child, having learned about cultivation from the Lampwick Monk, replied in terror, "I understand, sir."

The Master of Fu Luan Temple, standing by, heard the words "reduce your Jiazi cultivation" and his expression remained calm, but his heart was churning like a stormy sea!

So this child was originally a Jiazi great demon, whose cultivation had been cut down by the Ancestral Master?

"May I ask the Ancestral Master, does the immortal child have a Daoist name?"

Fu Luan's old Daoist priest asked hurriedly as the Ancestral Master was about to leave.

"Hmm, that hasn't been decided yet."

Mo Chuan pondered for a moment and said, "Raising fish in stagnant water will never catch them; feeding deer in deep mountains only prolongs life. You, you shall be called Wang Sheng!"

Wang Sheng, meaning reincarnation, and also the dying!

Fu Luan's old Daoist priest did not understand Mo Chuan's deeper meaning. He only felt that the Ancestral Master's poem contained great compassion. Touched, his gaze towards Wang Sheng softened, no longer seeing him as the terrifying Jiazi great demon.

"Wang Sheng, you will cultivate well here. Do not cause trouble or pester others. I will come to see you when I have time!"

"Yes, sir!"

The Qian family child, Wang Sheng, replied quickly.

The "Xuan Yun the Daoist Boy" nodded, his whole body trembling. His deep eyes, like the sun breaking through the clouds, returned to clarity and innocence.

He looked at Wang Sheng standing before him with surprise: "Master, is he a Jiazi grea—"

Fu Luan's old Daoist priest frowned: "Ahem! Speak carefully! From now on, this is your junior uncle. You must treat him with respect and not be negligent!"

Xuan Yun the Daoist Boy looked at the bewildered Wang Sheng with a look of astonishment. The two boys, one tall and one short, suddenly looked at each other, their eyes wide.

"Phew... finally, one small problem is solved!"

Mo Chuan, using the incense offerings as a mirror, watched Wang Sheng interacting with the Fu Luan master and disciple, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Wang Sheng was different from the Lampwick Monk.

Being raised in the Sacrificial Dao Furnace, not only was he easily led astray by the Lampwick Monk, but he was also more likely to bankrupt me.

—The appetite of a Jiazi great demon is not to be trifled with.

And yet, there was no place for him to use his abilities.

He couldn't just throw this little ancestor, who only consumed and never produced, down the drain, could he?

After all, he was still a child, and Mo Chuan couldn't bear to do it.

After much thought, only Fu Luan Temple was a suitable place for adoption, and it fit the Fu Luan Dao lineage, so they wouldn't neglect him.

However, if Fu Luan Temple were to adopt him, his cultivation would definitely have to be reduced.

After all, if he made a mistake, Fu Luan Temple might not be able to control him in a short time, and then it would be over.

Even worse, if Mo Chuan himself couldn't control him, it would be even more awkward.

He couldn't possibly perform Bingjie and emerge as a Yin Spirit again, could he?

Therefore, the only way to perfectly solve this problem is to reduce its cultivation.

"Mmm!"

Wang Sheng's mind stirred as a strand of pure incense offering wafted towards him.

Following the incense, he saw:

In a secluded hall, the young Jiazi great demon, Huang Buyu, was offering incense and praying.

He prostrated himself like a devout believer, holding three sticks of incense with a solemn expression, his lips moving in a constant murmur.

'As expected of a Jiazi great demon, the incense offerings are so pure!'

Wang Sheng sighed briefly, then used the incense as a conduit to manifest himself.

"Disciple Huang Buyu pays respects to Mister Mo!"

Huang Buyu's eyes flickered, and as he looked up, he saw Immortal Mo quietly emerge from the faint wisps of smoke.

Having learned from the previous experience, he instinctively focused his senses to pinpoint the Immortal's location.

Unfortunately, this time he heard nothing. Immortal Mo seemed to be in a tranquil environment.

"Rise. Have you found any results from your investigation?" Wang Sheng asked.

"Reporting to Immortal, I have thoroughly searched Steward Zhang's study in Jinghe County, as well as his entire mansion. I found nothing unusual. I beg for your forgiveness, Mister."

Huang Buyu quickly and respectfully replied, though his heart stirred with unspoken thoughts.

While investigating Steward Zhang's study, he had naturally learned of Steward Zhang's ten taels of immortal fate.

If he wasn't mistaken, Daoist Master Mingchen was likely an incarnation of Immortal Mo, playing in the mortal world.

Daoist Master Mingchen's willingness to ward off disaster for Steward Zhang was probably driven by that very opportunity.

Unfortunately, Steward Zhang, with his lack of foresight, had traded away his immortal fate for ten taels of silver.

Otherwise, considering that opportunity, Immortal Mo might not have hesitated to offer compensation.

Of course, for Steward Zhang, this might already be the best outcome.

Immortal fate! Immortal fate! The fate to become an immortal, is it truly so easily obtained?

Especially for Steward Zhang, a mortal whose body had been hollowed out by lust?

"Don't be so formal. I am merely checking for any omissions. What crime have you committed?"

Wang Sheng shook his head, not surprised by this outcome.

If any more Daoist magic were to be found in Steward Zhang's mansion, he would have started to wonder if it was the legacy of some immortal!

With this thought, he was contemplating whether to instruct Huang Buyu to investigate the background of the Great Five-Armored Demon, Lu Fengbei?

Unexpectedly, the Sacrificial Dao Furnace, which hadn't captured any new incense offerings for a long time, suddenly trembled slightly.

A strand of incense wafted over.

Wang Sheng followed the scent.

He saw a simple altar in a farmhouse courtyard, with a few fruits and offerings.

A person wearing a blue cloth cap and a Daoist robe was solemnly offering incense and praying.

Beside him lay a row of... corpses, their foreheads marked with yellow paper.

"The local earth god is most efficacious, reaching heaven and earth, entering the underworld. Yin beings are setting off on their journey, and all spirits escort the coffin!"

"Rise!"

The Mountain-Opening Incantation was uttered!

In a fleeting glimpse, Wang Sheng saw the corpses lying on the ground leap up, stepping into the twilight glow, hopping out of the courtyard and heading towards the deep mountain path.