Many children, many blessings; the twelve ancestral witches forced marriages throughout the primordi

In the end, Cihang Daoren could not resist the temptation of delicious food.

Or rather, under Lin Xuan's threatening gaze that seemed to say, "If you don't eat, I'll have Lin Long feed you," she chose to compromise.

After eating a shrimp dumpling, Cihang's eyes widened instantly.

fresh!

So fresh!

She had lived in the Kunlun Mountains for tens of thousands of years, eating either cold, hard fasting pills or bland spiritual fruits. She had never tasted such a delicacy, so full of the warmth of everyday life, yet brimming with immense spiritual power.

"Is it good?" Lin Xuan asked with a smile.

Cihang nodded subconsciously, then realized what she meant and quickly put on a stern face: "It's...it's acceptable."

"That's acceptable." Lin Xuan waved his hand. "Bring hot pot! We'll teach this disciple of the Chan Sect a lesson right here today."

Soon, the huge bronze pot was put back on the table.

Lin Yang skillfully ran to the bottom of the pot and spat out a mouthful of True Sun Fire.

"Control the heat, don't burn the pot!" Lin Xuan instructed.

"Okay, Dad!"

As the broth boiled, all sorts of top-quality ingredients were served.

Dragon liver and phoenix marrow are standard fare, along with slices of innate spirit beast meat cut as thin as cicada wings, and even a few freshly picked ten-thousand-year-old spiritual herbs, which can be used as vegetables in hot pot.

Cihang was dumbfounded.

Is this the legendary barbaric and backward Wu tribe?

This standard of living is a hundred times more luxurious than that of the Jade Void Palace!

"Here, don't be shy." Lin Xuan poured her a cup of Enlightenment Tea. "Try this. It's freshly picked from my Enlightenment Tea tree."

Cihang picked up the teacup, took a sip, and felt his mind become clear. His Dao heart, which had been somewhat chaotic due to being kidnapped, was instantly calmed down.

"Enlightenment Tea?!" Cihang exclaimed in surprise, "You just drink this divine substance like water?"

"What else? Worship it?" Lin Xuan shrugged. "Things are for people to use, and tea is for people to drink. If you don't even understand this principle, what have you learned in the Chan Sect?"

Cihang was speechless.

In the Chan Sect, the hierarchy is strict. Only the master and a few senior brothers can enjoy the good things. Although she is also one of the Twelve Golden Immortals, she is ranked low and usually can't even see such good things.

"Eat some meat." Lin Xuan placed a large chopstick of meat on her plate. "Let's talk while we eat. Tell me, why did the Primordial Celestial Venerable order you to poison her?"

Cihang's hand holding the chopsticks froze.

The warmth that had just begun to rise vanished instantly, replaced by a cold reality.

"Master said... The Great Shang Dynasty is immoral and its fate is sealed." Cihang lowered his head, his voice hoarse. "Only by causing suffering to the people can we shake the foundation of the Great Shang Dynasty and comply with the will of Heaven."

"Following the will of Heaven?" Lin Xuan sneered, putting down his chopsticks. "What is the will of Heaven? Is it the will of Heaven just a word from the Primordial Celestial Venerable? Or is it the will of Heaven to watch those innocent people die tragically?"

"I..." Cihang wanted to refute, but couldn't find the words.

"What did you see in Chaoge City?" Lin Xuan stared into her eyes. "Did you see the tyranny of the Shang Dynasty? Did you see the people suffering?"

Cihang recalled the old man who sold candied hawthorns and the old woman who gave her water.

She shook her head.

"No," she answered honestly. "What I see... is peace and prosperity, is flourishing."

"Then that settles it?" Lin Xuan spread his hands. "A country where people live in peace and prosperity, yet the Primordial Celestial Venerable says it is without virtue and wants to destroy it. In your opinion, who is truly without virtue?"

This question struck Cihang's heart like a heavy hammer.

"But... Master said it's all for the greater good," Cihang struggled, "for the Investiture of the Gods, for clearing away the calamity from the world..."

"What utter nonsense about the bigger picture!" Lin Xuan cursed directly. "For the sake of this so-called bigger picture, innocent mortals can be sacrificed? Whose bigger picture is this? Is it the bigger picture of you saints, or the bigger picture of all living beings?"

Cihang was stunned.

She had never thought about the problem from this perspective.

In the teachings of Chanjiao, all beings below the sage are like ants. The lives of ants are meant to help the sage achieve his Way.

But Lin Xuan's words were like a sharp knife, tearing away this veil of hypocrisy.

"Cihang, what is the purpose of cultivating the Tao?" Lin Xuan's voice suddenly softened. "Is it to be high above, looking down upon all living beings? Or is it to help the world, save people, and protect the region?"

"I..." Cihang's eyes reddened. "I initially joined the sect because I saw the suffering in the world and wanted to learn skills to save all living beings."

"And now?" Lin Xuan pointed at her. "You're carrying poison, going to kill an entire city's inhabitants. Is this your idea of ​​saving all living beings?"

Cihang's chopsticks fell onto the table with a "clatter".

She covered her face and finally couldn't hold back her tears.

"I don't know... I really don't know..."

She cried her heart out, as if she wanted to cry out all the grievances and confusion that she had suppressed in her heart over the years.

Lin Xuan didn't say anything, he just watched her cry quietly.

Princess Iron Fan, who was standing nearby, felt a little sorry for him and handed him a handkerchief.

"Wipe it off," Iron Fan said softly. "You won't look good with a smudged face from crying."

Cihang took the handkerchief and cried even harder.

She had always thought that the witches were demons and barbarians.

But now, this so-called "demon" is reasoning with her, feeding her meat, and handing her a handkerchief.

But her beloved master forced her to kill.

What's wrong with this world?

After a long while, Cihang stopped crying.

She looked up, her eyes red and swollen, but her gaze held a clarity she had never shown before.

"Lin Xuan..." she looked at the young Ancestral Witch, "If... if I don't return to the Chan Sect, what will happen to me?"

Lin Xuan smiled.

He picked up his chopsticks again, took a perfectly cooked slice of meat from the pot, and put it into Cihang's bowl.

"If you don't want to go back, then you don't have to," Lin Xuan said casually. "Here, you'll be provided with food and lodging. As long as you don't want to leave, even if the Primordial Celestial Venerable came, he couldn't take you away."

"Really?" Cihang was somewhat incredulous.

"I, Lin Xuan, never lie." Lin Xuan pointed to the people in the room. "Look at them, weren't they all taken back by me? Aren't they all doing quite well now?"

The Queen Mother of the West, Nuwa, and others who were eating meat looked up and gave Lin Xuan a disapproving look, but no one refuted them.

Seeing this scene, Cihang's heart, which had been frozen solid, finally melted completely.

"Okay." She took a deep breath, picked up her chopsticks, and put the piece of meat into her mouth.

"I'm not going back."

At this moment, the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect were missing one of Cihang Daoren.

Inside the Pangu Palace, a young woman seeking the truth has joined the ranks of those who come to know.