First achieve immortality, then cultivate immortality.

"Fellow Daoist, this matter of incense offerings is an order from the Immortal Sect. I ask for your understanding, as I have no choice but to comply," Master Lingxu began with a sigh.

Xu Mu, however, stood calmly with his hands behind his back and chuckled, "Master Lingxu, we've already chatted so much, there's no need for any more pretense. If you're only here for the sake of incense offerings, then please go ahead."

You should know better than I how to control the spread of incense offerings, and you should also know that the distribution of incense offerings reflects the will of the people and cannot be controlled.

Controlling incense offerings is controlling public opinion. Controlling public opinion is like controlling floods; it's better to guide than to block. So, coming to me won't help.

Master Lingxu stroked his beard and said with a wry smile, "Fellow Daoist's realm is profound. To try and hide things from you would only make me seem presumptuous. Since that's the case... I'll get straight to the point and ask you for more guidance."

As he spoke, he bowed respectfully with his hands clasped in a sincere manner.

"Speak freely," Xu Mu gestured.

Master Lingxu pondered for a moment, then asked, "May I ask what realm you are currently at, fellow Daoist?"

"That's an impolite question," Xu Mu scoffed.

"Alright, I apologize for being presumptuous," Master Lingxu chuckled awkwardly.

"Then you must have cultivated in the immortal realm, right? If you only cultivate in the mortal world, it's very difficult to break through to the third level of Qi Refining. In my opinion, you should have a cultivation level of at least the fourth level?"

Xu Mu walked with his hands behind his back, sat down in the pavilion on the back hill, and did not answer the question.

Not denying it is tantamount to admitting it.

A pot of tea and two teacups had been prepared in advance in the pavilion. The Taoist Qingsong was very considerate, and the tea was still hot.

There are peach trees planted next to the pavilion, but unfortunately it's not the season for admiring peach blossoms now.

Master Lingxu followed him into the pavilion and sighed, "Whenever there is turmoil on the immortal sects' side, there are towering waves on the mortal realm. Countless disputes have arisen over this incense offering."

Xu Mu poured him tea and calmly said, "Most of the conflicts in the mortal dynasties stem from this. The first to be affected are the imperial court and the government, followed by your Taoist temple."

If the Taoist temple fails to quell the unrest, the conflict will spread to the common people, plunging the entire dynasty into chaos and potentially leading to a change of dynasty.

This conflict is now entering its second stage, which is your Taoist temple.

Upon hearing this, Master Lingxu was taken aback and exclaimed in amazement, "Fellow Daoist's insights are truly profound! You have explained the general trend of the world in just a few words."

"Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. It's just a superficial understanding," Xu Mu said with a faint smile.

"Then, fellow Daoist, what do you think we should do to stop this turmoil so as not to cause chaos throughout the world?" Master Lingxu solemnly cupped his hands in inquiry.

Xu Mu shook his head: "The trouble originated from the Immortal Sect, which is beyond our control. Whether or not we can stop the conflict is not up to us; it depends on how those Immortals consider it."

"In other words, the rise and fall of the mortal world depends entirely on their single thought..." Master Lingxu said with a helpless expression.

Xu Mu nodded: "The class gap is so cruel; those in the lower class can only ever be subservient to those in the upper class."

"So many people want to climb up..." Master Lingxu said softly, picking up his teacup and silently pondering what he should do.

Regardless of what he thought, Xu Mu calmly drank his tea.

After putting down his teacup, Master Lingxu said, "There are very few cultivators like you who go to the world of cultivation and then return to the mortal realm. To return to the mortal realm and remain untouched by worldly affairs, devoting yourself to seclusion in the mountains for cultivation, is even more unheard of."

"What does Fellow Daoist wish to say?" Xu Mu asked calmly.

Master Lingxu smiled and said, "I am just curious. It is said that the cultivation world is rich in spiritual energy, which allows cultivators to pursue higher realms and live for more than a hundred years. Why did you choose to live in seclusion in the mountains and forests of this mortal world?"

Many cultivators, even those with limited talent, still establish families in the cultivation world and raise their own offspring, right?

"Master, there's no need to test me. I only enjoy tranquility and won't interfere in your affairs," Xu Mu said calmly, changing his form of address.

Master Lingxu was a little embarrassed when his thoughts were exposed.

Even now, Xu Mu remains unmoved by reason, and he has no other choice.

He had heard from Qingsong Daoren that more than 20 years ago, Li Zhiyuan and Li Zhihua stayed at the Taoist temple, and the old medicine god took him, his "disciple," away for a year, probably to the world of cultivation.

I tried to start from this point, but it was still useless.

Xu Mu sneered, "No need to beat around the bush with me. The incense of this Medicine God has been spread for decades. Suddenly coming to me at this time is not a pretense to undermine the incense faith, but a pretext to do something for me, a cultivator."

Master Lingxu felt that he had already seen through everything, and that he had nowhere to hide in front of him, so he became increasingly embarrassed.

"Well... I did indeed wish to ask for your assistance, fellow cultivator. After all, there are too few cultivators in the mortal realm, and every additional person adds to our strength. I didn't expect my disciple to act so rashly and offend you..."

"Hmph! Let me make this clear: I will not take sides with anyone, but if anyone insists on disturbing my peace, then don't blame me for being impolite," Xu Mu said coldly.

Master Lingxu fell silent, seemingly still unwilling to give up.

He said softly, "Fellow Daoist's realm is profound, and your vision is higher and farther than mine. You should understand that there are many things in this world that are beyond one's control. Under such circumstances, do you really think you can remain uninvolved?"

"How I stay out of this is none of your business. You'd better be sensible and not push me," Xu Mu said calmly, looking at him.

Master Lingxu finally gave a wry smile, cupped his hands and said, "I was rash, please forgive me, fellow Daoist."

Xu Mu nodded: "I welcome you to have tea and discuss philosophy with me anytime, but if you disturb my cultivation, then forget it."

Because I understand how complicated this matter is better than you do, I will never get involved. I also hope you will be careful not to be manipulated by those people in power.

Master Lingxu shook his head with a wry smile: "If only I could be as free from desires as you, fellow Daoist..."

Seeing that he wouldn't listen to advice, Xu Mu stopped talking and just told him not to bother him.

Actually, it's a very simple matter.

The decision of who a Taoist temple primarily worships and whose incense it promotes is carried out by the Taoist priests in the mortal realm.

Essentially, it's just like the power struggles in the imperial court; whoever can command those who do things has power.

Taoist priests have their own religious beliefs or political allegiances.

This resulted in each Taoist temple having its own faction affiliation. They lived in peace under normal circumstances, but once a conflict broke out at the higher levels, they would be the first to fight.

The more Taoist temples a person controls, the more prosperous their incense offerings will be.

It was initially thought to be a covert operation, but now it's slowly escalating into a violent conflict.

This is a situation where neither side can convince the other, a fight to the death.

Xu Mu had no desire to get involved in such a mess.

Back in the sect, he could only be obsequious and afraid of being implicated, and watched helplessly as Old Yu was harmed; now that he is in the mortal realm, can't he even protect his own quiet place?

This time he will absolutely not compromise; if it's going to be a fight, then so be it!

Only admit defeat when you're truly outmatched; you'll likely win eventually anyway...

Unless the other party uses a summoning talisman before coming over, he simply won't give them the chance to use the talisman.

Or you can pull it a bit to delay until the talisman expires.

At worst, they could continue their escape and take their two sisters to another place to live out the rest of their lives in peace.

He refused to believe that he, a dignified eighth-level Qi Refining cultivator, would have to behave himself in the mortal realm.