I was forced to cultivate immortality when I just wanted to lie down

Chapter 418 The Elite Route, Scarcity Marketing (Happy New Year!)

Whether it is Taoism or Buddhism, every religious sect has its own unique characteristics and doctrines.

Looking further afield, there are sects that value the quality of their disciples over the quantity, pursue the cultivation of both body and mind, and emphasize moral character and lineage; there are sects that aim to mediate and harmonize, practice non-action and non-contention, yet tend to maintain the stability of the natural order; and there are sects that teach without discrimination, advocate freedom, oppose discrimination based on birth, and believe that all things have the right to cultivate.
The Great Luo Sect, founded by Xu Qing, also has its own cultivation philosophy.

"The heavens evolve into forty-nine, the great Dao into fifty, and man escapes to one of them."

"Our Great Luo Sect emphasizes seizing the destiny of Heaven, using great perseverance and courage to do everything in our power to grasp that sliver of hope!"

At the Lüzu Taoist temple on Yuntai Mountain, Xie Qiongke, a Yuanshen Zhenren (a Taoist master of the Yuanshen lineage) who is a disciple of Zhong Lü, is entertaining Zhang Pingsheng, the Zhengyi Celestial Master.

Ever since Master Zhang's name was added to the list of those who led the Da Luo Sect by Xu Qing, Master Zhang has become the number one missionary of the Da Luo Sect.

As the saying goes, the law does not punish the masses. When the Great Luo Sect only had a few members, it was naturally impossible to escape the punishment of the Heavenly Law. However, if they recruited enough disciples and involved enough forces, they might be able to fight for a chance of survival, just as the doctrine says!
Furthermore, a large group of people can embolden us. Since we are going to undertake a great undertaking together, we should naturally bring our familiar fellow practitioners into the sect.

This is not about deceiving or exploiting acquaintances, but about helping others and helping oneself.

At least the three altar masters within the sect all think so.

"Our Great Luo Sect was born in response to the calamity, in accordance with the will of Heaven and the will of the Dao. It can be said that Heaven has blessed our sect. However, the conditions for joining our Great Luo Sect are extremely harsh. Even though I am a true disciple of the Zhengyi Sect, I was almost rejected."

At first, Xie Qiongke didn't take the Da Luo Sect seriously, but when he heard that the Da Luo Sect didn't even put Zhang Pingsheng in their eyes, his curiosity was completely piqued.

"Fellow Daoist, the Zhengyi Dao is the orthodox sect of Daoism, a renowned school that has produced true immortals. Why would you stoop to a little-known sect? And this Da Luo Sect, I have never heard of it. What virtues or abilities does it possess that make you so reverent?"

"Unknown?" Zhang Pingsheng seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world: "My sect has twelve altars. Do you know what kind of people are appointed as altar masters?"

"Without exception, they are all living Buddhas and True Immortals of the Primordial Spirit!"

At this point, Zhang Pingsheng suddenly asked, "Fellow Daoist, have you ever heard of the Great God of the Sea Assembly?"

"How could I not know him, the True God of the Upper Realm, the Marshal of the Middle Altar, and the leader of the Five Camps of Divine Generals?"

Zhang Pingsheng set up a soundproof array and said something astonishing: "The disciples of the Great God of the Sea Gathering are now following the Great Luo Sect Master to cultivate. Moreover, the Sect Master possesses the true teachings of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady and is proficient in all the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Divine Powers. The Corpse Demon of Zhongzhou and the Ghost Law of Jingjin were also personally eliminated by the Great Luo Sect Master!"

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Xie Qiongke said incredulously, "The Upper Realm has explicitly forbidden communication between Heaven and Earth. Even immortals and gods are not allowed to interfere in the affairs of the Underworld River. How could the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden and the Great God of the Sea Assembly openly defy the Heavenly Emperor's decree? Furthermore, even if an ordinary immortal were to descend, the leaders of the Underworld River Sect might not be able to be eliminated. How could the Great Luo Sect Master have managed to kill two leaders in succession?"

Zhang Pingsheng revealed a cryptic smile: "Which great calamity throughout history has been without prohibitions? But how many of those who ultimately quelled the calamity and achieved perfect merit were actually bound by conventions?"

"Fellow Daoist should know that calamities in the world are also opportunities. The prohibitions issued by the upper realm only apply to ordinary people."

"As for the sect leader, do you think someone who can gain the favor of the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden is an ordinary person?"

Xie Qiongke frowned, his long-unwavering emotions stirred by the other party's few words.

Seeing Xie Qiongke remain silent and thoughtful, Zhang Pingsheng knew there was something to be done.

He pressed his advantage, casually adding, "With the witness of Heaven and Earth, the leader established the Great Luo Sect. Many high-ranking members wanted to join, but none succeeded. Currently, only four of the twelve altar masters have been assigned to the sect."

Xie Qiongke's heart stirred slightly: "May I ask which four you are, fellow Daoist?"

"This matter is not convenient to discuss with outsiders. However, since we are fellow practitioners in person, I will not hide it from you."

Zhang Pingsheng chuckled and said, "My sect has designated four altar masters: the Chief Altar Master, the Gratitude Altar Master, the Disaster Relief Altar Master, and the Salvation Altar Master. The sect leader will preside over the Chief Altar Master, and I will preside over the Disaster Relief Altar Master. As for the other two..."

"One is a living Buddha whose realm is no less than mine, in charge of the altar for saving people. The other is Xu Sheng, a rogue cultivator who was ordered by the founding emperor two thousand years ago to travel to famous immortal mountains and cities in search of the elixir of immortality."

Xie Qiongke remained silent for a long time after hearing this.

If he hadn't heard beforehand that there were immortals and saints behind the Great Luo Sect, he would have definitely thought Zhang Pingsheng and the others were crazy.

However, it is true that a sect may have one enlightened practitioner who is insane, but it is impossible for it to have three or four insane people.

Xie Qiongke vaguely felt that he had touched upon an unprecedented opportunity. After calming himself down for a while, he still couldn't help but ask, "Fellow Daoist, did you really join the Great Luo Sect just to find a place to belong?"

Seeing Zhang Pingsheng frown, Xie Qiongke quickly added, "I am from the same lineage of the Daoist sect as you, and we are like brothers. I hope you will be so kind as to tell me this, considering our relationship."

Zhang Pingsheng pretended to ponder, and when the time was right, he finally spoke: "The world's fortunes are limited, and the number of Dao fruits and immortal positions is also fixed. Without the opportunity and good fortune, even a True Person of the Primordial Spirit, a half-immortal and half-saint, cannot guarantee that they will one day achieve perfect merit."

But today is completely different!

Zhang Pingsheng said with bright eyes, "Isn't the great calamity we are facing now also an opportunity?"

"Opportunity."

Xie Qiongke racked his brains, but in the end, he couldn't think of any opportunity other than execution.

"I am foolish and ignorant, and I would be grateful if you could enlighten me."

Zhang Pingsheng smiled slightly, then dipped his finger in the tea and wrote two words on the table: 'Destiny'.

Xie Qiongke suddenly looked up, his expression one of unprecedented excitement.

"What do you mean, fellow Daoist?"

Zhang Pingsheng pointed to the sky and made a shushing gesture.

"The word 'immortal' has attracted countless people to strive for it. However, people only know how to cultivate the Tao and refine the methods, but they do not know that to attain the position of immortal, one also needs merit and achievements."

"Without accumulating virtue over generations and without the great perseverance to move heaven and earth, no matter how long one cultivates, one will not be able to compete for those limited spots."

Xie Qiongke's mind cleared instantly.

From eliminating the Corpse Demon and rescuing Zhongzhou, to eradicating the Ghost Law and giving back to the capital and Tianjin, everything the Great Luo Sect has done has been accumulating merit.

Combined with the profound background of the Great Luo Sect Master's collusion with the immortals and gods of the upper realm, Xie Qiongke suddenly felt that he understood the meaning of the word "destiny".

If what he thinks is true, then the Great Luo Sect in front of him is very likely the opportunity for him to take the final step and escape the mortal world.

However, what Zhang Pingsheng said is only one side of the story and cannot be taken at face value.

If the Great Luo Sect doesn't have a strong background or the Heavenly Emperor's tacit approval, wouldn't he have stepped into a fire pit?
Looking at the timing of Zhang Pingsheng's sudden visit, Xie Qiongke felt that something was amiss.

However, before he could figure it out, Zhang Pingsheng, who had come to visit, stood up on his own and prepared to leave.

"Today, I was originally traveling with the leader to Yaozhou to quell the harm caused by the Yinhe witch priests and witches. If I had not been passing by your temple, I would not have stopped here."

"It is getting late, and I should not delay any longer. I will meet with you again when the calamity has passed and the tribulation has been overcome!"

Xie Qiongke was caught off guard.

How could you just leave like that?

Logically speaking, shouldn't you have extended an olive branch to me first and invited me to join the Great Luo Sect? Zhang Pingsheng looked at Xie Qiongke, who was blocking his way, with a puzzled expression.

Who said I came to invite you? I'm just telling you about the opportunity to join the Great Luo Sect, but whether you can join depends on whether you're qualified.

Zhang Pingsheng mastered the methods taught to him by Xu Qing.

According to the cult leader, people will never cherish things given away for free; only what they have worked hard for will be treasured by others.

If the Great Luo Sect is to pursue a certain path, it will certainly follow an elite route. At the very least, it must outwardly declare that only those with outstanding qualifications, virtue, and spiritual cultivation have the opportunity to join the sect.

Those who didn't join were ordinary cultivators who weren't good enough or outstanding enough to be considered elites, and therefore didn't have the qualifications to join the Great Luo Sect.

Xie Qiongke became anxious: "I am a disciple of Lu Zu, and I come from the orthodox Taoist lineage. The magic I have learned is all orthodox and supernatural. In terms of Taoist cultivation, I am no less than anyone else. How can you think I am so incompetent in your eyes?"

Zhang Pingsheng shook his head and said, "What you say is certainly true, but you only talk about cultivation and practice, but you have never mentioned what virtues you have accumulated. Our Great Luo Sect emphasizes morality. If you do not meet this requirement, you are not qualified to join our sect."

"According to what you've said, does that mean all four altar masters in the Great Luo Sect meet these conditions?"

Zhang Pingsheng smiled slightly and said, "That's for sure!"

"I once spent sixty years in the mortal world punishing evil and eliminating wickedness. During that time, I encountered demons and subdued them, and I eliminated monsters and demons until I achieved perfect merit. Only then was I able to be reincarnated and start cultivating again."

"And then there is Master Xinyuan, who traveled the world to help people everywhere. Now, Master Sanjue, who teaches people to do good with Buddhist principles, is a direct disciple of Master Xinyuan."

Feeling frustrated, Xie Qiongke immediately pressed on, "And what did Xu Sheng say? As far as I know, this man betrayed his monarch and went to seek immortality alone. What merits has he achieved?"

Zhang Pingsheng said with a smile, "Do you know who was in charge of presiding over the purification array after Gui Lu's corpse was refined, so that it could nourish the mortal world?"

"It is indeed Mr. Xu!"

"That great formation exhausted his magical power, causing damage to his foundation. Without the immortal medicine from Yaochi, it would take at least a hundred years to recover."

"Isn't this much merit enough?"

Xie Qiongke was frustrated but also very unwilling to accept defeat.

How could someone with a clean background and a renowned Yuan Shen Zhenren (Primordial Spirit True Person) not meet the entry requirements for the Da Luo Sect?

If this were to end after the great calamity, and the seniors of the upper realm found out, wouldn't it make him look like he had disgraced Lu Zu?

"According to your words, fellow Daoist, is it truly impossible for this humble Daoist to have any chance of joining the sect?"

Zhang Pingsheng pondered and asked, "Fellow Daoist, have you ever helped others and accumulated good deeds in your daily life?"

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Xie Qiongke, who lived a secluded life, couldn't think of any virtuous deeds his family had accumulated that were worthy of mention.

However, when he inadvertently glanced at the incense burner in front of the hall, he suddenly found his direction.

"My temple still has a staggering 100,000 incense offerings accumulated. Is this enough to satisfy your conscience?"

"A total of 100,000?" Zhang Pingsheng looked at Xie Qiongke with a strange expression.

"More than one hundred thousand!"

Looking at the rather proud Xie Qiongke, Zhang Pingsheng left him with the words, "Wait a moment, I'll be right back!"

"Where are you headed, fellow Daoist?"

"I went to find the young disciple of the sect leader, who is the disciple of the Great God of the Sea Assembly mentioned earlier."

Watching Zhang Pingsheng leave, Xie Qiongke finally revealed a relieved smile.

In his view, the other party must be surprised by the 100,000 incense offerings accumulated in his Taoist temple, which is obviously beyond the scope of what the other party can handle. Therefore, he must ask the Taoist boy in front of the Great Luo Sect Master to come and welcome him into the sect in person.

Before long, Xie Qiongke indeed saw Zhang Pingsheng bring a young girl to the outside of the hall.

The girl was dressed in a lotus-patterned fairy robe, with red lips and white teeth, looking exactly like the legendary Sea God.

Xie Qiongke was very pleased with himself and immediately stepped forward, intending to have a proper negotiation with him.

However, before Xie Qiongke could speak, the girl in front of him had already transformed into a three-headed, six-armed figure. At the same time, right in front of him, she casually took out a million incense sticks from the Dharma Realm.

And Shi Yue demonstrated five or six different techniques to collect incense offerings that amounted to no less than a million.

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In this day and age, can a child who has cultivated for less than a hundred years really have such immense merit from incense offerings?

Xie Qiongke, a True Person of the Primordial Spirit, felt utterly ashamed.

Right now, let alone having 100,000 incense sticks, even a million wouldn't be enough for him to join the Great Luo Sect.

At the same time, Xie Qiongke also made up his mind about one thing.

The background of this Great Luo Sect is definitely extraordinary. The signature lotus root body and the supernatural powers of the Great God of the Sea Assembly are also undeniable.

In other words, if he can join the Great Luo Sect and accumulate enough experience, he will most likely be able to fulfill the mandate of heaven, gain the appreciation of the Heavenly Emperor, and be ranked among the immortals alongside his own ancestor when the great calamity ends.

After making up his mind, Xie Qiongke insisted on going with Zhang Pingsheng to pay respects to the Great Luo Sect Master.

"I also deeply abhor the demons of the Yin River, but I am hampered by my inadequate magical abilities and cannot defeat them. Now I have come to a realization: as long as we cultivators work together with one heart and one mind, we need not fear any powerful demons!"

"I implore you, fellow Daoist, to introduce me to the leader in person. If my virtue is insufficient, I am willing to remain an outsider and enter the world to accumulate merit."

Zhang Pingsheng looked troubled. Shi Yue, who was standing to the side, spoke up at the right time: "This Taoist priest has some incense offerings in his temple, which shows that he is a virtuous person. Why don't you take him with you to Yaozhou, and then the sect leader can decide whether to keep him or not?"

"Very well! It's only because we have a past relationship that I would not make an exception this time."

Xie Qiongke immediately showed his gratitude and said, "Thank you for your help, fellow Daoist!"

Zhang Pingsheng's face flushed, but he dared not show the slightest sign of anything amiss.

This was the first follower he had recruited for the cult leader, and he couldn't afford to reveal any flaws.

Xie Qiongke's face also flushed red, but he was excited.

In this day and age, there is no hope of becoming an immortal.

Just when the path to immortality was about to be severed, a glimmer of hope suddenly appeared: the Great Luo Sect had emerged. He had no choice but to make the most of this last chance to transcend.

(End of this chapter)