If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1014 With Sinister Intentions
Xiaoyu really didn't intentionally avoid Lao Ai.

Of course, she didn't care what he thought.

After adjusting the flow of the earth's energy through the Qinling Ancestral Dragon, she returned directly to the Hidden Chamber to continue reading ancient secrets, studying Ying Zheng's Taoist experiments, or searching for rare and unique Taoist scriptures.

Two days later, Master Guan informed her that a group of "fellow Daoists" who had come to seek connections and investigate the foundation of the Great Qin Dynasty had all arrived at the "Pine Breeze Pavilion" at the foot of Black Ice Terrace Mountain.

They didn't go directly to the Imperial Observatory.

After all, it involves using connections and doing shady things.

"This fairy maiden is the head of our Imperial Observatory's Heavenly Palace, the Flying Immortal Celestial Master."

Master Guan brought thirty-six Qi cultivators, including twenty True Immortals and even two Celestial Immortals.

He first introduced Xiaoyu, and then introduced everyone to Xiaoyu one by one, saying, "Master Yu, this True Man Hong comes from Pengxuan Cave in Mount Tai and is in charge of the Sanyang Temple."

"It's an honor to meet you," Xiaoyu greeted with a smile.

Master Hong scrutinized her with a critical eye, nodded slightly, and said, "I have long heard of your great name, Fairy. Seeing you today, I can confirm that your reputation is well-deserved."

Master Guan then pointed to the next celestial being and introduced him: "This fellow immortal is Master Hezhou of Yangtai Palace on the Yellow River, wielding the Azure Dragon Twin Swords, whose fame resounds throughout the land!"

Xiaoyu still had a smile on her face and said, "I've heard so much about you."

He thought to himself, "Two celestial beings, one from Mount Tai, the other from the Yellow River."

Was this a coincidence, or was it intentional?

Master Guan, unaware of her thoughts, continued to quickly and earnestly introduce the remaining fellow Daoists.

The Five Sacred Mountains and Four Great Rivers are the essence of China.

Many grotto-heavens were built on these famous mountains and rivers, and many Taoist sects also settled on the mountains and in the rivers.

There are as many as thirteen Qi cultivators who are directly associated with the Five Sacred Mountains.

There are also eight people practicing within the Sidu region.

Of the thirty-six Qi cultivators in total, twenty-one were suspected to be "spies" sent by her enemies.

Among the remaining Qi cultivators, there was even a True Person with the Daoist name 'Lei Junzi', who came from the Shenxiao Sect.
However, when Guan Zhenren introduced him, he emphasized that Lei Junzi Zhenren did not come from "Ziyun Daogong", but from "Shenxiao Sect Shenjian Sect".

He was a fellow disciple of Hu Zhenjun, the leader of the Shenxiao Sect, but they were not the same founder.

Lei Junzi is a sword cultivator.

So what if they are sword cultivators? So what if they are not from a Dao Palace? Aren't they all "survivors" of the Shenxiao Sect?
Xiaoyu sensed that they weren't here to seek connections today; most of these guys seemed to have ill intentions.

He's probably a spy!
They wanted to find out what was really going on with her.

"Master Guan already told me the purpose of your visit a couple of days ago."

As the saying goes, doing something for others is doing something for yourself.

It is only right for fellow practitioners to help each other.

However, I am, after all, the Celestial Master of the Great Qin Dynasty, and what you are seeking is part of the most precious heritage of the Great Qin Dynasty.

I must live up to my conscience; I cannot betray the Great Qin. What do you all think?

The Qi cultivators frowned slightly and looked at Master Guan.

Guan Zhenren's face showed surprise and panic.

—We clearly agreed on this the day before yesterday, so why are you changing your mind at the last minute?

Before he could even speak, Xiaoyu had already offered an inquiring look, explaining, "I have a Taoist technique called 'Heavenly Eye Discerns Right and Wrong'."

Fellow Daoists, do you understand?
If you have any doubts, I'm willing to demonstrate it for you so you can personally experience the emotions of the Qin Dynasty's dragon vein.

If you are favored by the Qin Dynasty's dragon vein, needless to say, I will guide you to whichever secret vault you wish to visit.

Even if you are rejected by the Qin Dynasty's dragon vein, you are not necessarily enemies of the Qin Dynasty.

But a vow must be made: as long as the Great Qin remains the legitimate ruler of China, no one can stand against the Great Qin.

Alternatively, one could stand on the opposite side of the Qin Dynasty, but refrain from doing anything to harm it.

Or, they could swear no oath at all and simply remain at the Imperial Observatory as temporary laborers for a few months.

Upon hearing this, Master Guan's doubts dissipated somewhat, but he still felt uneasy: the Great Qin Dynasty is in such a state now that any Qi cultivator who is willing to risk their life to enter the tribulation must be supporting the true Son of Heaven.

To uphold the true dragon, one must stand on the opposite side of the Qin Dynasty.

This is something that is difficult to avoid.

Everyone knows the truth, so let's just gloss over it. Why take it so seriously and make things awkward for everyone?
Lei Junzi asked, "What is labor dispatch?"

Xiao Yu smiled and said, "Does fellow Daoist understand the Celestial Masters Dao? To become a Celestial Master, one must swear an oath to Heaven, an oath to the Dao Ancestor, an oath to the Imperial Court, and an oath to the Dragon Qi of the Ying Clan."

A vow must not be broken.

The oath is completed, the contract is formed, and the restrictions are enormous.

This is why I'm shamelessly making this request to you all.

Now, you all do not need to swear an oath to the Qin Dynasty, as long as you reach a contract with me.

I am sending you to the Imperial Observatory to complete the tasks assigned by the Imperial Observatory; this is called labor dispatch.

Therefore, I am solely responsible for all your activities within the Imperial Observatory, and they have no connection whatsoever with the Qin Dynasty of the Ying Clan.

You are laborers I sent there to complete the tasks I assigned you.

I won't make things difficult for anyone; everyone should do what they are good at.

For example, you can take care of celestial birds, refine elixirs, and deal with ghosts and monsters in the underworld. Once you complete your tasks, your agreement with me will immediately end, and you can leave cleanly and without any regrets.

Of course, you can get what you want before you leave.

"It's too complicated," said Master Hong.

Xiaoyu shook her head and said, "It's not complicated at all. Your causal connections are only connected to me."

They were always separated from the Qin Dynasty by a layer, with almost no connection whatsoever.

Of course, if you think being a 'temporary worker' is too much of a waste of time, you can just swear an oath.

As I mentioned before, there are several options; the choice is yours.

After a pause, she said sincerely, "Actually, I'm doing this for your own good."

As long as you do something, no matter what you think in your heart, it will leave a trace of cause and effect.

How can you not sow good karma by benefiting from the Qin Dynasty?
If one sows good seeds but fails to reap good results, the negative energy and karmic burdens will surge, how can there be a good ending?

The Qi cultivators had different expressions and exchanged glances, but none of them raised any further objections.

Xiao Yu waited for a moment, and seeing that they were still undecided, he said, "Fellow Daoists, please think about it first. I will go and prepare tea and snacks for you."

After saying that, she flew leisurely towards the Black Ice Platform on the mountainside right in front of them.

As soon as she left, Master Guan chased after her.

“Master Yu, why didn’t you mention the ‘contract workers’ the day before yesterday? Now that we’ve met, you suddenly bring it up like this; I’m really losing face!” Master Guan sighed. Xiao Yu glanced at him. “Old Guan, do you know how many ‘Sima Ling’ are among the people you brought?”

Guan Zhenren was not used to being called "Old Guan".

However, he didn't dwell on the minor issue of titles, but asked with doubt, "Are they Sima Ling? No, they don't hold any official position in the Qin Dynasty."

“I mean, many of them are like Sima Ling of the Qin Dynasty, working in the shadows,” Xiao Yu said.

Master Guan asked in confusion, "Why does Master Yu say that?"

"I used my Heavenly Eye to distinguish between right and wrong, and almost every single one of them was a red dot representing rebellion, and it was a dark red. It's terrifying," Xiaoyu said.

"Is it really that bad?" Master Guan exclaimed in surprise.

Suddenly he realized something and asked, "This isn't Xianyang, yet we can still use our Heavenly Eye to discern right from wrong?"

"It's not Xianyang, but the Qinling Mountains. The Qinling Mountains are still lacking dragon energy?"

Look at them, how many of them come from Taoist sects around the Four Rivers and Five Sacred Mountains?

"They're probably sent by the gods to gather intelligence," Xiaoyu said.

Master Guan said, "The reason why the Four Rivers and Five Sacred Mountains are special is that when the Four Rivers and Five Sacred Mountains are combined, they constitute the Central Plains."

The essence of China lies in the Central Plains, where numerous Taoist sects and blessed lands are concentrated.

It's perfectly normal for Master Yu to encounter more than half of the ten immortals he randomly meets in the Divine Land, especially those from the Central Plains.

“But the dragon energy of the Qinling Mountains doesn’t lie,” Xiaoyu said.

"If they are truly in secret, they should investigate you and the true form of the treasure map in the room."

Apart from a few fellow Daoists, everyone else seeks something else. "I can't be a secret agent!" said Master Guan.

"Those who want to see the true form are probably not 'Sima Ling'. After all, Sima Ling's intentions cannot be known to everyone."

Xiao Yu chuckled and said, "Master Guan, do you dare to make a bet with me?"

I bet over 80% of them will stay as temporary workers.

"Even if they stay to do 'temporary labor,' it doesn't prove anything."

Master Guan looked conflicted and couldn't continue speaking.

If it were him, simply to assess the Qin Dynasty's resources, he probably wouldn't have suffered such a "great humiliation."

After all, the profound knowledge of the Qin Dynasty has already been read by many immortals.

If you inquire in the celestial realm, you might be able to find a "copy".

There is no need to be a "temporary worker".

It's humiliating to think of a true immortal being treated as a contract worker.

Although there is no causal relationship, the fact that they were "temporary workers" indicates that they are hostile to the Qin Dynasty and will deal with it in the future.

Now he's doing manual labor for Da Qin.

What is this?
Do you want the immortal's face or not?

"Among them, is there not a single one who makes the Great Qin Dragon Qi feel close?" Master Guan still wanted to salvage the situation.

“There are two or three,” Xiaoyu said with a strange expression. “Lei Junzi of the Shenxiao Sect is one of them. It’s really strange.”

Master Guan said dismissively, "Aren't you very familiar with Taiyi Dao?"
The Taiyi sect split into two factions to decide whether or not to support the Qin Dynasty.

Immortals are used to being free and unrestrained, but their ego and will are particularly strong.

I only like what I truly like; if I don't like something, I simply don't like it, and I'm unwilling to compromise myself.

They will not force themselves to distort their true nature because of sects, teachers, or friends.

Of course, since you have harmed someone else's ancestor, no matter what kind of immortal they are, their attitude towards you will be absolutely consistent—they will all regard you as an enemy.

What does treating you as an enemy have to do with the dragon aura of the Qin Dynasty?
He's close to the Qin emperor's aura, not to you.

"Since you already know, why did you bring him to see me?" Xiaoyu asked.

"If he wants to come, then I'll bring him. He's with all of you fellow Daoists, so how could I possibly refuse him alone? That would be too embarrassing!" said Master Guan.

To Xiaoyu's surprise, when she returned to Songfeng Pavilion with a teapot and a fruit platter, only thirteen Qi Refiners remained inside.

Master Hong explained, "They were simply traveling through Guanzhong and were curious about some of the things Ying Zheng did in his early years."

However, they were unwilling to waste too much time in Xianyang just to satisfy their small curiosity.

This humble Taoist is searching for the path to enlightenment.

He sighed, “I have been an immortal for thousands of years. If I don’t find my direction soon, I’m afraid I’ll be stuck as a mystical immortal for the rest of my life.”

This is not what I wish for.

For the sake of the journey, it is worthwhile to linger in Xianyang for a while.

Xiao Yu glanced at Guan Zhenren out of the corner of her eye: Look, this guy is definitely a "Sima Ling"!
"It is my good fortune, and the good fortune of Great Qin, to be able to conduct business with you, fellow Daoist!"

A genuine and enthusiastic joy appeared on her face.

"I wonder what Master Hong wants to study, and what he is good at?" she asked again.

Master Hong smiled and said, "We are currently researching the Earthly Fiend Qi. I heard that Ying Zheng's research on dragon Qi is extremely in-depth, with no less than three million books of various kinds. I wonder if we can borrow 'Earthly Fiend Dragon Vein'?"
Let's also take a look at the current state of the Qinling Mountains' dragon vein.

I can monitor the landscape map of the Nine Provinces in the Weather Bureau, and I can also help the Medicine Bureau refine elixirs.

For example, the Nine-Turn Bone-Changing Elixir—this humble Taoist priest, though unworthy, can only refine it to the seventh stage.

Xiao Yu's eyes crinkled into crescent shapes as she nodded repeatedly, "Alright, alright, fellow Daoist, you're now a 'contract worker.' We'll go to the storage room to find the books later."

"Where is Fellow Daoist Lei Junzi?" she asked, turning to the next person.

Lei Junzi said blankly, "This humble Taoist is skilled in slaying demons and monsters, and can—"

Xiao Yu waved his hand and said, "Fellow Daoist, you don't need to be a temporary worker. I'm asking, what do you plan to borrow?"

Lei Junzi paused for a moment, a thoughtful expression on his face, and said, "I'll stay in the Human Emperor's Palace and work as a demon exorcist for three months! I need to study the training methods for Dao soldiers."

A moment later, inside the Qinling Mountains, Xiaoyu used the Grand Master's Seal to open the entrance to a dark, small world.

Old Master Chestnut led Master Hong, Lei Junzi, and their group into the darkness, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Yu's expression shifted between light and dark as he asked, "Master Guan, is there any rumor circulating within the Imperial Observatory that I need the Bone-Changing Pill?"

"Does Master Yu need the Bone-Changing Pill?"

Master Guan paused for a moment, then said, "I don't know anything about this."

However, if you need the Bone-Changing Pill, go to the Spirit Medicine Department and find Alchemist Ge.

If the number is small, it shouldn't be a big deal, so why spread rumors?

(End of this chapter)