Longevity Candle

Chapter 53 I Have a Land of Forgetfulness (Seeking monthly votes and to continue reading)

Li Qingping secretly investigated and found that, just as the old man had said, these people had controlled the medicinal herbs and wanted to spread the plague.

He drew his sword, and the Seven Star Sword unleashed a devastating attack that darkened the sky and caused rivers of blood to flow.

He took all the medicinal herbs, boiled them into a soup, and distributed it to everyone in the city.

He felt no pleasure, only a burning anger that he could not vent.

How long will the world remain in chaos?

Born in a chaotic world, without the blessing of a sage, one would likely end up like these plague-stricken commoners, huddled in a corner, groaning in anguish.

The old man reappeared beside him, and Li Qingping said, "Are you dissatisfied?"

"Why do you say that?" the old man asked.

"Does the freedom from worry and illness that you bring, along with the killing, contradict your cultivation?" Li Qingping asked.

“I’ve thought about it before, but now it seems that’s not the case.”

The old man said calmly, "I used to look down on your older sister, but I am very satisfied with her now that she is content. She is dedicated to protecting Peach Blossom Village. It's a pity that she doesn't have the talent for immortality, otherwise I would have chosen her to become an immortal master."

"You're choosing a guardian?" Li Qingping asked in surprise.

"Yes and no." The old man shook his head: "I don't know either. I'm choosing a kind of immortal master. Your sister is someone I'm referring to."

"You said before that I was affected by the dragon's energy and that my elder sister protected me very well. What did you mean?" Li Qingping asked.

“The Jingwei bird told me that the dragon’s energy is the condensation of the will of all people, and it protects and pities all people.”

But it lacks true will; it can only influence subtly.

The old man said, “This influence is very weak, but your older sister has borne everything. You only need to be born in the peaceful Peach Blossom Village and have never seen the real chaos of the world, so the influence is amplified.”

Li Qingping lowered his head, feeling somewhat ashamed, for he had indeed lived under Yao Yao's protection.

"Looking at the history of the Qian Kingdom, the founding emperor was decisive and ruthless, a ruler of a chaotic era. He had a heart of compassion, but also a heart of murder."

The old man said, "Therefore, do not be influenced by the dragon's energy. Follow your heart and master the dragon's energy."

"master?"

"The dragon's energy originates from the people, and emperors are born in response to the fate of the people. However, emperors are living beings with intelligence and are rulers, so they should control the dragon's energy."

The old man said, "Of course, I'm just guessing. I don't know what the final result will be."

"Thank you. I hope my life can be of benefit to you," Li Qingping said.

"I'll be watching you." The old man turned and left.

After the plague was cured, Li Qingping distributed their wealth and selected several virtuous people to manage the city.

The plague broke out in other cities, and the landlords and gentry had already taken action.

He wanted to seek treatment, but was stopped by the young Taoist priest at the temple.

"This is the territory of the Deer Immortal; we will handle the plague," the young immortal master said politely.

When a plague struck the heavens, spirits from the mountains and seas, and even immortal masters and Taoist priests performed good deeds.

No immortal masters or Taoists went to that city before, probably because they were kept out by the old elves.

"Okay," Li Qingping replied.

He wouldn't stop them from doing good deeds as long as the plague could be eradicated.

Seeing him leave, the young immortal master breathed a sigh of relief. Li Qingping was really too strange. He clearly had the talent for immortality, but he cultivated martial arts.

If no one had guided him onto the path of immortality, it would be understandable, but the fact that he possessed numerous elven magical powers made it all rather perplexing to him.

If all these spirits wanted to lead him to the path of immortality, then the Deer Immortal alone would not dare to be an enemy of these spirits.

Li Qingping traveled to several cities and found that none of them needed his treatment for the plague.

He then returned to his old profession, working as a traveling physician, and would occasionally return to his former city to visit.

Six months later, a piece of news arrived, and Li Qingping was struck dumb.

Those temples actually did the same things as those landlords and gentry.

Those who believe will not be affected by the plague.

Those with wavering faith, or those who have no faith at all, can only contract the plague and suffer in silence.

The dead were left outside the city and buried in a haphazardly dug pit. Those who tried to flee the city were stopped by the believers.

Li Qingping sat on the city wall, looking at the sword box, for a long time.

He rode his sword and arrived at the city.

The sword of merit slashed towards the immortal master and Taoist.

The immortal masters and Taoists disdained him; they had already done a lot of good deeds and were not afraid of him at all.

However, they dared not kill him, since Li Qingping possessed a great deal of magical power.

He returned in a sorry state. The world had changed; one could no longer suppress immortal masters and Taoists with just some merit.

Unless, after a period of time, until they have transformed all their merits into magical power.

Seeing Li Qingping's defeat, the old elf reappeared.

"I'm sorry you had to see this." Li Qingping sat on the city wall, his expression sorrowful. "I suddenly miss my sister. What has she been through all these years?"

“Your elder sister was luckier than you. Back then, the immortal masters and Taoists had just entered the mortal world and had not yet performed any good deeds,” the old elf said.

He made a special trip to inquire, and found that at that time, immortal masters and Taoists could only avoid Yaoyao.

"Don't they claim to be elves, kind and compassionate, with pity for all living beings?" Li Qingping asked.

"These are the spirits that seek rewards; they are different from the spirits you have encountered."

The old elf said, "They have something in mind, so naturally they are persistent in pursuing it."

"Now that I've become a Daoist master, can I fight against them?" Li Qingping asked.

"No, they have been cultivating for many years. Even if you have exceptional talent, it is impossible for you to catch up in an instant."

The old elf shook his head and said, "Moreover, I have inquired and found that to become a celestial master, one must detach oneself from the mortal world and can only come out to enjoy incense offerings and seek merit in these final years."

“I understand,” Li Qingping replied solemnly.

Spirits of mountains and seas, immortal masters and Taoist priests, they seek food and incense, and strive for merit; this is their obsession.

No wonder Jiang Zhu isn't attached to anything; living like that is quite disgusting.

"You no longer have the advantage. Will you return to Peach Blossom Village, or come back to the West with me?" the old elf asked.

Looking at the people in the city, Li Qingping said, "I wish to follow you in cultivating martial arts."

“I am not skilled in martial arts,” the old elf said, shaking his head.

“I want to understand the path of immortality, but his methods alone are not enough,” Li Qingping said. “I can use my mortal body to spread faith and gather incense offerings for you.”

“I have my own source of incense offerings. This place is chaotic, so it’s best not to spread this. I can explain the Dao of Immortality to you.”

The old elf said, "But you must promise me one thing: once you give up the dragon energy, you must return to the West with me and cannot choose the one from Peach Blossom Village."

"Aren't you afraid that I will regret it?"

"If you are of poor character, that person will not keep you."

"Okay, I agree," Li Qingping said. "How should I address you?"

“I have no name. Jingwei calls me Tianshenu, and my people call me Shuzu.” The old elf said, “You can call me Tianshenu too.”

"Why?" Li Qingping asked, puzzled. "Tianshenu is an insult, a peasant."

“I am a tree, originally from the soil, and I think being a country bumpkin is quite good,” said the old elf.

Li Qingping didn't dwell on it: "Since you're not angry, then I'll call you that. When will you teach me the methods of immortality?"

“Now you can.” The old elf pointed a finger at his brow, his body transforming into a sapling hidden in his sleeve: “From now on I will be on you, watching your actions, listening to your words, and seeing what you see.”

A new method appeared in Li Qingping's mind, a cultivation technique that could make one forget their worries.

"I have a land of forgetfulness, where there is peace and health, no illness or disaster, no worries..." The old elf's voice rang out leisurely.

"That place must be wonderful," Li Qingping said with anticipation.

“Once you’ve truly made up your mind, you can live there forever,” the old elf said.

Li Qingping remained silent, sitting cross-legged to comprehend the old spirit's cultivation method.

(End of this chapter)