"If these beings who have attained the Dao and become 'Divine Spirits' were to re-enter the world, I fear it would not be months before a great Immortal-Demon War would erupt, the earth would crumble, the sun and moon would lose their light, and we would return to a time of darkness and ignorance."
"At that time, the situation of the Human Clan would not be any better than it is now."
After Zhao Gongda had spoken, Li Ren immediately fell silent.
He wanted to argue but could not utter a single word.
It was then that Tao Qian added, dampening spirits further,
"Daoist Transformations and Tribulation Immortals exist mostly in the Outer Realm Abyss, not returning so easily."
"As for the Ten Thousand Immortals of the Penglai Sea?"
"The majority of all living beings in their cultivation seek only their own liberation, and the Spirit Treasure Sect is no exception."
"All of us here are exceptions, even if I were to stand forth and declare an alliance with Yuann Daoist to seize the world, we might secure some covert support from the Spirit Treasure Sect, but full participation in the war is absolutely impossible."
"In this respect, the Primordial Sect comes off a bit cheaper, as they seem to want to use the fortune of saving the world to re-establish an Immortal Sect... but they are currently busy with movements in the south and cannot spare attention for the Northern Land."
"Li Daoist, your method is not really that extraordinary."
"The Immortal Dynasty and other methods, I've considered them all."
"Even methods that have never existed in this world, I have thought of a few."
"Alas, there is no hope in sight for the time being."
"However, I, Tao Qian, have never felt that this is a matter that can be resolved in a short time; the future is long, and I am prepared and willing to seek..."
At this point, Tao Qian had a premonition.
This time, it was a fleeting premonition of crisis.
Strangely enough, it made him think of Uncle Qin Jiao.
"It's different for me, I don't cultivate using the Human Dao Destiny, I don't manipulate destiny, so there is no chance of it backfiring on me."
"The Alchemists have been uprooted by me, as long as I persist a bit longer and remove this malignant tumor, even if I still cannot find a proper system of salvation and governance, I can at least give the people at the bottom of the world a chance to breathe."
"It won't take too long, I am just a step away from the Ultimate Happiness Realm, and in a short time, I will be able to return to the Penglai Sea to contemplate and prepare for the Daoist Transformation Tribulation."
Tao Qian consoled himself, feeling a sense of urgency.
No longer engaging in futile discussions with Li Ren, who tried to match him with Yuann Mingzhen, Tao Qian suddenly asked, recalling something,
"You said that Yuann Mingzhen Daoist has the support of my Aunt Yunhua behind her?"
"Is this true? What proof do you have? Have you met my aunt, or is it something Yuann Daoist said herself?"
Previously, when he heard this, Tao Qian was skeptical, even considering that Yuann Mingzhen might be a split persona of Senior Sister Lingji.
But having now met this "Li Ren," he sensed something was amiss.
Though a passionate and straightforward person, Li Ren seemed not very bright.
And here, there was another issue that could not be avoided.
That was Xie Lingzhu, who accompanied Yuann Mingzhen; although she was the older sister of Xie Lingji, she greatly disliked Aunt Yunhua.
If the two were to meet, Xie Lingzhu would not hesitate to act, regardless of seniority.
Sure enough, upon asking, he received the expected response.
Li Ren scratched his shiny head with his tentacle and replied,
"That is not the case."
"However, Yuann Mingzhen Daoist has said that she possesses a set of extremely powerful flags, acquired recently from the foremost female fairy of the Spirit Treasure Sect, Yunhua Immortal."
"Just by deploying them, a [Mixed Element Nine Real Creation Immortal Array] can be formed in an instant, that even powerful beings from the Ultimate Happiness Realm could suffer heavy injuries within, or even perish with one misstep."
"To give away such an Immortal Array so readily to her, doesn't it clearly show an attitude of support?"
After these words were spoken, even Zheng Yin, Zhao Gongda and others could see.
Li Ren, though passionate, was indeed unreliable.
That conclusion!
It wasn't a grave mistake, but it couldn't quite be considered correct either.
Upon hearing this, Tao Qian thought to himself,
"The Secret Technique of Creation was indeed meant for Aunt Yunhua, and since Yuann Mingzhen had acquired it recently, this does indeed prove that she has met my aunt."
"However, given my aunt's temperament, if she had truly confirmed that Yuann Mingzhen was a split soul of my senior sister, she wouldn't have kept it hidden at all. She absolutely adored my senior sister. If anyone dared to provoke my senior sister, she would set up that terrifying array even our master fears, and she wouldn't hesitate to call her friends, rallying the other aunts."
"I wouldn't be able to call upon the help of Ten Thousand Immortals with my own reputation, but with my aunt, the scene would have been quite different."
"By then, not to mention those three bald thieves from the Demon Buddha Temple, but anyone within Qiantang Province who wished to trouble my senior sister's split soul, without exception, would not even leave one bird alive; they would all perish without a trace."
"The absence of such a display adequately proves that Yuann Mingzhen is not a split soul of my senior sister, or at least most likely not."
"However, there must be some connection; otherwise, merely on account of Xie Lingzhu, my aunt wouldn't have offered that set of flags."
With these thoughts, Tao Qian suddenly felt enlightened.
At the same time, he found himself somewhat speechless about Li Ren, and straightforwardly declared,
"Let's not speak of the arranged marriage again, I already have a daoist couple."
"However, if Yuann Mingzhen Daoist wishes to join us, that's possible. From this book 'Governance Scripture,' we can tell that Yuann Daoist possesses extraordinary wisdom, compassion for the common people, and the aspiration to save the world."
"If it's convenient, why not invite her to meet us."
"Good!"
"You know, Tao Qian, you and a few others think I'm wild in my dreams, haphazardly arranging pairings."
"No matter, as soon as you and Yuann Mingzhen Daoist meet each other, you will hit it off at once, and upon a second meeting, fall head over heels - a match made in heaven... But it's inconvenient right now; Master Shenxiu and Zen Master Da Yu from the Great Freedom Temple are both fiercely vying for her attention, speaking of righteousness, yet they're also trying to coax her into handing over the fortune of her Dharma lineage and the Spring and Autumn Chariot."
"But tonight, there will be a Dharma assembly at the Demon Buddha Temple. As a condition for their protection, Zen Master Da Yu wants Xie Lingzhu Daoist to participate in the first debate."
"The Zen Master said: the Beautiful Corpse from the Demon Buddha Temple practices multiple techniques and is well-versed in both Orthodox and Heterodox Buddhist scriptures. If it's just debating scripture, even Master Shenxiu would most likely not be an opponent. However, Xie Lingzhu is different. She and the Beautiful Corpse have both practiced at the Guanyin Temple, and even have a not-so-superficial acquaintance."
"The Zen Master taught Xie Lingzhu a secret technique that she can employ during the scripture debate to make the Beautiful Corpse admit defeat voluntarily."
"While they're debating, Tao Qian, you need only cast some Sublime Dharma to remove yourself from the situation, and I can arrange a meeting with Yuann Mingzhen for you."
"Believe me, Tao Qian, Yuann Daoist must be your..."
"Dang dang dang!"
Li Ren was getting excited in his talk when suddenly the sound of bells came from the surface of the water.
At the same time, divine phenomena of Buddha started appearing throughout the entire province, with heavenly flowers falling and Earth Bursting Golden Lotuses emerging everywhere.
The ears were filled with the immensely pleasant chanting of Buddhist hymns and the whole city was engulfed in Golden Light and fragrant mist.
"The Dharma assembly is about to start, let's leave it at that for now. Everyone, act according to the situation."
"Send us back."
Having said this, Tao Qian finished, and Zheng Yin immediately took action.
Amid the flashing radiance, this odd meeting in the Buddha's Golden Soup came to a premature end.
When Tao Qian opened his eyes again, he found himself back within the quiet room of the Zen monastery.
In his eyes, the first thing to be reflected was the beautiful face of Yunrong.
Although he hadn't agreed to anything, even to a single word of assent, Tao Qian inexplicably felt strange because of all the nonsense Li Ren had spouted.
Thinking of this, Tao Qian immediately took out his Golden Radiance Token.
Although he had already guessed the majority of it, whether Aunt Yunhua was indeed in Qiantang Province and whether Yuann Mingzhen was actually a split soul of Senior Sister Lingji still needed verification.
No sooner had he wondered than the Golden Radiance Token started trembling, and the teasing voice of his nominal master came through,
"Hahaha… My dear disciple, have you been smitten by spring, so concerned about finding your Senior Sister Lingji? Or are you still pondering over what your Aunt Yunhua mentioned, about setting you two up once you find Xie Lingji?"
"Eh, if I remember correctly, don't you already have a wife?"
"I must tell you, that girl Yunrong is an excellent one; don't you let her down."
"If you mess things up, don't even say you are a disciple of Duobao. Her master, Grandma Taizhen, is very fierce. I cannot defeat her, so to avoid getting involved, I will have to expel you from the sect if it comes to that."