Later that day, in the Capital City, a eunuch arrived at Sky Void Temple from the palace with a group of guards.
The Daoist at the entrance perked up at the sight of visitors from the Imperial Palace, then hurried to lead the eunuch toward the guest quarters where Qi Zhongbin was staying.
It was nearing evening, and the number of worshippers in Sky Void Temple had dwindled considerably. The palace eunuch's attire was also particularly conspicuous. The few worshippers and Daoists who saw him were all startled, while those who knew the old Celestial Master was staying at the temple had a rough idea of what was happening.
Some Daoists went to notify the Abbott, True Person Xuanyou, while others followed at a distance.
"Please, sir. The guest quarters ahead are where the old Celestial Master is staying."
The guest-receiving Daoist stopped outside the guest quarters and extended a hand in invitation. The palace eunuch hastily nodded.
"Good! Thank you for your trouble!"
With that, the eunuch entered the guest quarters alongside the Daoist. Qi Zhongbin was sitting cross-legged outside the door, his eyes lightly closed, seemingly deep in quiet meditation.
Now that the eunuch actually saw the old Celestial Master with his immortal air and Daoist bearing, excitement and nervousness stirred in his heart. He could not help glancing at the guest-receiving Daoist as he whispered.
"Daoist, is the old Celestial Master meditating? Would I disturb him if I went over? Might I anger him?"
This was no laughing matter. This was the Great Yong Celestial Master invested during Emperor Lingzong's reign. He had to be at least a hundred and ten years old, and might even be over a hundred and twenty.
He was practically a living immortal. Even a palace eunuch who delivered imperial decrees and