"A waist token?"
The Daoist froze for a moment, then hurriedly hitched up his robe and snatched the wooden token from his waist.
He bent over and held it aloft in both hands, trembling as he said, "If you've taken a liking to it, Immortal Master, please—please take it."
Elder Tao raised a hand and drew the token over.
He turned it over and over, then asked, "This is a token of the Ming Zhen Dao Alliance. How did you come by it?"
The old Daoist remained bent over, holding his hands up. He answered carefully and humbly, "This old Daoist... no, this junior—I, this junior, obtained it while traveling through Li Province more than ten years ago."
"Back then, I happened to come across a young man running a stall, so I traded him some gold for it..."
Elder Tao chuckled and said offhandedly, "The Ming Zhen Dao Alliance is a major power, after all. Anyone who possesses one of these tokens must know a thing or two about cultivation, and would surely understand its worth. Was he really running a stall? If so, his elders must have given him an earful when he got home."
The old Daoist gave an awkward laugh, not daring to answer.
He could only smile along.
Qi WuHuo had already caught the meaning behind those words.
More than ten years ago, this Daoist had likely seen a young man in Li Province with little cultivation carrying the token. Greed had stirred, and he had robbed and murdered the young man. Then, fearing the victim's elders would come looking for him, he had fled all the way to Zhong Province.
Qi WuHuo looked at the Fortunate Earth Deity and asked, "Elder Tao, do you recognize this token?"
The old man nodded. "I've seen it a few times."
He placed the token on the table and stroked his beard. "Daoist Master Qi should know that cultivation follows the Three Thousand Great Daos. Even the orthodox Daoist schools, with their ancient lineages, are divided into many branches, each with its own inheritance scattered throughout the world. Cultivation also requires many resources, and sometimes a single local lineage cannot gather them all in a short time."
"Moreover, everyone has different talents and experiences. Even lineages that originate from the same scriptures and Daoist texts often gradually develop distinct traditions. If they can exchange ideas, it benefits their understanding of the Dao and their cultivation. For these reasons, loosely organized groups gradually arose outside the lineages and sects."
"Over time, these groups began gathering texts and cultivating a core, becoming another kind of power."
"The Ming Zhen Dao Alliance is one of them."
"Their guiding principle is 'See the truth and dispel delusion, to seek the Great Dao.' In cultivation, they believe that 'the spirit can reach the heavens and command wind and thunder.'"
"They have considerable insight into cultivating the Primordial Spirit."
"The Ming Zhen Dao Alliance..." Qi WuHuo murmured.
He picked up the token. It was surprisingly heavy, neither quite wood nor anything else, its color dark and muted. At its center was a talisman formed from a cloud pattern, like a thunder serpent illuminating the gloom. It held a spiritual charm of its own. It was exactly like the pattern on a banner he had once seen amid the Demon Kingdom's rifts, only smaller. On the token, the clouds swirled; on the banner, the pattern had been larger and seemed to contain the very force of thunder.
He remembered that cloud-pattern talisman clearly.
He also remembered the gentleman who had turned his back, waved casually, and walked into the Marketplace.
Elder Tao stroked his beard, puzzled. "Daoist Master Qi, why are you so interested in this?"
Qi WuHuo set down the Ming Zhen Dao Alliance token.
He recounted what had happened years ago. The expressions of the Fortunate Earth Deities slowly grew grave.
They exchanged glances. Luo Yizhen, the Earth God, said, "We heard about the disaster that struck Jin Province back then."
"But it happened too far away. Earth deities cannot leave their domains, or they cannot draw upon the Earth Vein Qi, and their strength is inevitably diminished."
"So we know very little."
"We're afraid we can't be of much help. Still, this matter should have nothing to do with the Ming Zhen Dao Alliance."
Luo Yizhen explained, "Though the Ming Zhen Dao Alliance isn't what people would call an orthodox sect, neither is it one of those evil cults."
"Most of the time, they pursue profit and cultivation. They have little interest in slaughter or refining souls, though every group inevitably has a few scum and degenerates. As for this matter, all I can say is that the Ming Zhen Dao Alliance wouldn't have been the one to set it in motion. Most likely, they were there because of some interest of their own."
"Powers like the Ming Zhen Dao Alliance generally keep records of the events they've been involved in."
"Daoist Master Qi, if this matter truly concerns you..."
"You could investigate it further someday."
Shen Earth Deity, dressed in brown, set down his wine cup and suddenly sneered. "The Ming Zhen Dao Alliance has no degenerates? You can't say that for certain. Take the Daoist here, for instance."
Everyone turned to look at the old Daoist.
The latter couldn't help cursing inwardly.
Why had they brought him up again?!
The Fierce Tiger Mountain God beckoned. The Jade Book bearing his name rose and flew into his hand. He ran his fingers over it, then suddenly asked, "Tantai Guochu. What was he to you?"
A glimmer of delight appeared in the old Daoist's eyes. He bowed low. "This junior's name is Tantai Xuan. Sword Immortal Ziyu Tantai Guochu was my grandfather."
The Fierce Tiger murmured, "...A friend's descendant."
He beckoned again, and a long sword flew from the Black Iron Sword Box into his palm. Holding it in his right hand, he swept his left fingers along the blade. The sword rang out, and a trace of reminiscence flickered in his expression. Just as a glimmer of hope rose in Tantai Xuan's eyes, the Fierce Tiger Mountain God said flatly, "What a pity. What a pity."
Tantai Xuan sensed killing intent. His scalp prickled, and he nearly felt his soul leave his body.
The Fierce Tiger said, "In the end, you stole the lifespans of the living to prolong your own. You walked an evil path."
"You deserve to die."
Tantai Xuan's body jerked violently. Facing death, he thought of the Mountain God's regard for Qi WuHuo and clutched at his last thread of hope. He dropped to his knees and shouted, "Immortal Master Qi! Immortal Master Qi! I'm with the Ming Zhen Dao Alliance. I know its leaders. They must have records of the great disaster in Jin Province five years ago. Spare my life, spare my life! Let me atone for my crimes! I'll make amends!"
"I can be useful! I'm useful!"
The Fierce Tiger frowned and instinctively glanced at Qi WuHuo.
Elder Tao and the other two Fortunate Earth Deities did the same.
Qi WuHuo looked at the old Daoist kneeling before him, shuffling forward on his knees. The latter bowed low and said, "I never harmed an innocent person. They were all greedy people. I paid them gold for their lives... I know I used evil methods. I only wanted to stay alive. Even if I have to die, there's no need to kill me this very moment. I can help you find out what happened back then. My life is worthless; it can't compare to your great cause."
"Wouldn't it be a terrible waste if killing a worthless little man like me got in the way of your great cause?"
"The gentlemen of old said that those who truly wield power see neither black nor white—only whether someone is useful."
"You're a gentleman. You should understand the principle of 'mingling with the light and dust.'"
"I've lived for over a hundred years. I'll never reach the realm of a True Person. I only want to live a little longer."
"If you don't trust me, I'm willing to hand over part of my Primordial Spirit for you to control. I would never betray you. I can already ride the wind and wield magical arts. In any ordinary prefectural city, I could establish a lineage of my own. I'm willing to serve you as a slave."
Tantai Xuan's argument was airtight.
The blue-robed youth leaned forward as if to help him up. A fawning smile returned to Tantai Xuan's aged face, then a flash of cold light passed.
The dagger he carried plunged straight through Tantai Xuan's throat. Its blade was a foot long, entering from the front and emerging at the back of his neck.
The aged Daoist's eyes flew wide.
He seemed unable to believe someone could refuse a servant skilled in magical arts and Daoist spells. He froze for a moment, then began to tremble with pain. Blood gurgled from his throat. His vitality was so strong, however, that he did not die at once.
He glared furiously, but all he saw were the blue-robed youth's deep, tranquil eyes, utterly undisturbed.
Qi WuHuo did not answer.
It was as though Tantai Xuan's words were beneath rebuttal.
He only drove the dagger deeper.
Tantai Xuan's struggles weakened. His voice turned indistinct. "You'll regret killing me!"
Qi WuHuo pulled out the dagger.
"I won't," he replied.
Tantai Xuan's eyes went vacant. He clutched his throat and collapsed.
His legs twitched a few times, then went still.
Blood stained Qi WuHuo's blue robe. It was his first time killing someone in reality, and it was unlike the dream. He steadied himself, then clasped his hands toward the Mountain God. "I'm sorry I killed your friend's descendant."
The Mountain God shook his head. "I was going to kill him anyway."
Elder Tao and the other two earth deities exchanged glances, then smiled and said they had business to attend to and would take their leave early.
But they hurried straight out and, more than ten miles away, seized the remnant of Tantai Xuan's soul. They cleansed and ground it away with Killing Intent from the most turbid depths of the earth's veins. The kindest-looking Elder Tao said, "Good character. He's a fine young man. He just lacks experience and doesn't know that cultivators of the Ming Zhen Dao Alliance can escape as souls."
"Though this remnant is only a spark of spirit and has no memories, we still need to grind him to dust completely."
Shen Earth Deity praised him. "Evil Cultivators like that are better off dead for good."
The three Fortunate Earth Deities performed the Taoist ritual right there.
They reported it to the Nine Heavens above and the underworld below.
They ground away even the last trace of the Daoist's Killing Intent and resentment.
With the blessings of three Fortunate Earth Deities, it went without saying that he could never reincarnate. He could not even become a vengeful ghost.
After killing the old Daoist Tantai, Qi WuHuo thought of what had happened five years ago and sat lost in thought for a long time.
But as he was taking his leave, the Mountain God suddenly said, "There's something I'd like to ask your opinion on, WuHuo."
Qi WuHuo asked what it was.
The Fierce Tiger smiled. "I may break through before long."
"Then I'll travel the world."
"When that time comes, would you be willing to inherit this Mountain God's position?"
Before you continue