The Taoist Is Still Too Kindhearted

Ren Qing stood in the shadows of Wish-Fulfillment Abbey, sensing furtive strands of divine consciousness flashing past without cease.

"Boundless Heavenly Venerable."

"If the prefect has come for the Immortal Ascension Convention, what does that have to do with this Taoist?"

"Yin Immortals, True Immortals, Profound Immortals—they are merely the tip of the iceberg. The waters of this world truly run deep."

Ren Qing's strength could not be simply measured. However, his immortal arts had ultimately been comprehended from methods of ascension, and after becoming a Yin Immortal, he would still have to continue dealing with the Immortal Ascension Sect.

"Daoist Beisu's method of ascension does carry a hint of an escape art. Heh heh, oiling the soles of one's feet—if given the chance, this Taoist can indeed study it a little."

Ren Qing evaded the prying divine consciousnesses and returned to the rear courtyard of Wish-Fulfillment Abbey.

In a single night, Wish-Fulfillment Abbey had already sunk into chaos. Every Taoist priest was gripped by panic, and quite a few, seeing the situation turn unfavorable, simply took the opportunity to steal the incense money.

Several side halls had even been set ablaze by someone unknown, flames surging skyward at once.

Ren Qing returned to the courtyard, which instead had been left completely unattended.

He looked toward Su Huo's grave mound. The old man had successfully seized the slender thread of life Ren Qing had given him. His first rebirth was about to be completed, and he no longer needed to be watered with blood.

"The old man certainly has some skill, but the Rebirth Ascension Method is somewhat incomplete. He still needs to shed his skin seven times. Reaching the Yin Immortal stage will be a journey of a thousand hardships and ten thousand perils."

Ren Qing withdrew his gaze as twelve Black Rat Dao Children hurried over, carrying a coffin.

Talismanic patterns resembling blood vessels had grown across the coffin's surface, dyeing the entire thing crimson.

The yellow mud collected by the Black Rat Dao Children had been piled beside the coffin.

Ren Qing took the yellow mud and evenly smeared it along the talismanic inscriptions both inside and outside the coffin. Under normal circumstances, the yellow mud should have been replaced with yin soil from a grave mound, but as things stood, the Sha Qi contained in this yellow mud would only be denser.

"Coffin Dissolution required deep burial in a place like a battlefield or a mass grave; while this location lacked a similar environment, Wish-Fulfillment Abbey was, if anything, even worse."

"During Song Baizhou's decades as abbey master, who knows how many bones have been buried beneath the ground."

Ren Qing glanced at the sky. Even though the disturbance had already spread throughout the entire city, not a single unorthodox cultivator had come to Wish-Fulfillment Abbey.

"Mouse Divine General, transport the blood coffin back to the cave abode and settle it properly. Leave it with Frog Immortal Lord."

The cave abode had already begun its third expansion. The alchemy and artifact-refining rooms were more or less repaired, and if nothing unexpected had happened, the disciples' cultivation chambers should also have been completed by now.

The Black Rat Dao Children nodded repeatedly, carrying the blood coffin into the underground tunnel.

"To be safe, we should wait until Song Baizhou dies before carrying out Coffin Dissolution."

As Ren Qing turned and left the courtyard, he heard the sound of a human-skin cocoon cracking from the grave mound atop the slope. Su Huo was about to undergo rebirth.

He paid it no heed and instead arrived outside the main hall.

Sun Zu was kneeling before the immortal statue. Five corpses of Taoist priests, freshly dead, had appeared atop the altar, but the immortal statue had shown no reaction to the offerings from beginning to end.

Less than half of the immortal statue remained. Ren Qing could not imagine Song Baizhou having any possibility of regaining consciousness.

"Master, you were harmed by villains. Please do not mistakenly kill your disciple."

Sun Zu muttered to himself. "This disciple will go find you blood food right away. However many people it takes..."

Ren Qing sensed several strands of divine consciousness watching the main hall, so he did not enter.

He repeatedly confirmed that Sun Zu's body was already covered in talismanic inscriptions.

The talismans on the coffin were for Coffin Dissolution, while the talismans on Sun Zu came from that inner garment and were for Garment Dissolution.

"Garment Dissolution requires someone to die in this Taoist's stead once."

In terms of requirements, Garment Dissolution was actually the easiest to fulfill. Sigh, this Taoist was still too kindhearted.

"Having you serve as this scapegoat can be counted as a good deed."

Ren Qing's only concern was that Sun Zu's cultivation was still too shallow. After dying, he might not be enough to support Ren Qing's completion of Garment Dissolution. It would be best if he improved a little more.

Or should he find several more people for Garment Dissolution?

Though this Taoist was kindhearted, the path of cultivation was fraught with dangers. One had to know how to adapt.

Sun Zu rambled on for quite a while. Seeing that the immortal statue still showed no movement whatsoever, he rose and headed toward the door.

Yet after only a few steps, his expression began changing continuously.

From initial panic to hesitation, then to... greed that overflowed from his face.

Sun Zu returned to the altar and stared fixedly at the battered immortal statue, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Master, you truly are about to die."

"This disciple entered the path of ascension by eating your immortal flesh and has always remembered your grace."

Sun Zu picked up a small lump of yellow mud beside the altar and stuffed it into his mouth without hesitation.

Not long after swallowing it, a few more cracks resembling those on a dried statue appeared across his skin, signifying that he had taken another step closer to becoming a Yellow Mud Immortal.

Ecstasy filled his face. "It really works! Hahahaha!!"

"Since you cannot wake up, this disciple will help continue Wish-Fulfillment Abbey's legacy."

"By eating you, this disciple can inherit your mantle and likewise attain immortality and the Dao."

Sun Zu found a piece of white cloth and covered the immortal statue. Then, with great care, he shut the doors and windows before hurrying toward the side halls. Presumably, he was going to deal with the internal unrest.

If Wish-Fulfillment Abbey had no one capable, how could it monopolize the Immortal Statue?

Watching Sun Zu's retreating back, Ren Qing could not help clicking his tongue in wonder. "With a temperament like that, he truly is rare talent for a mental asylum."

"Sun Zu simply cannot digest Song Baizhou's remains. Sooner or later, he will suffer a backlash and die. That way, this humble Daoist can still be a little kind-hearted."

"And after being put through all this, Song Baizhou has no possibility of surviving either."

"Killing two birds with one stone. Garment Dissolution and Coffin Dissolution proceeding one after the other has saved quite a bit of trouble."

"Still..."

Ren Qing narrowed his eyes. Not having to do it himself spared him from exposure, but he likely would not be able to take the Immortal Statue's remains away. Unorthodox cultivators would surely covet them.

"There are gains and losses. This scheme has already been exceedingly perfect."

Ren Qing left two Black Rat Dao Children concealed outside Wish-Fulfillment Abbey, completely giving up on the Immortal Statue.

He then returned directly to the cave dwelling at the bottom of the well.

After so long apart, the cave dwelling now resembled the residence of a wealthy household.

A petite ornamental rockery stood at the entrance, several green plants stubbornly sprouting from its cracks. Yet deprived of sunlight for so long, their leaves had taken on a sickly yellow-green hue.

A path paved with goose-egg pebbles wound forward beneath his feet, linking the scenery together.

At its end lay a somewhat spacious stone chamber—the cultivation room of Frog Immortal Lord's disciples. A shallow pool had been carved into the room.

Its bottom was paved with smooth bluestone, and hundreds of toads lay prostrate around its edge.

Frog Immortal Lord lay in the center. Upon seeing Ren Qing, he hurriedly clasped his forelimbs in respectful greeting.

"Frog Immortal Lord, you... truly have not the slightest heart for the Dao."

Ren Qing discovered that the entire pool was filled with female toads. He then recalled that frogs did not need to be of comparable size to reproduce; this was practically Frog Immortal Lord's entire harem.

Frog Immortal Lord revealed an honest, guileless smile, fine pointed teeth now growing in his mouth.

"Mouse Divine General, escort this humble Daoist to the temporary cave dwelling for secluded cultivation."

Ren Qing lifted the coffin lid and lay down inside in one smooth motion.

More than thirty Black Rat Dao Children hoisted the coffin and disappeared into a hidden passage. After traveling for a long while, they arrived at a karst cavern deeper beneath the outskirts of Water Mouth City.

Hidden passages sprawled all around the temporary cave dwelling. At the first sign of trouble, they could relocate immediately.

They could even leave Water Mouth City in a short time.