Outside the courtyard, the disciple on duty trembled.
A three-inch jade tablet flew out of his palm with a flash of spirit light.
He quickly bowed, turned around, and ran toward the temple master's residence.
The temple master had instructed him not to neglect any instructions from his senior.
A moment later, the bell in Jing Yang Temple rang.
...
In the Hall of Primal Dawn, Wang Qingyang was seated at the head of the table. There were five other Daoists of different ages and shapes sitting along the table. They were all wearing Eight Trigrams robes that were bright yellow.
Seven or eight Daoists in their 40s or 50s were also sitting solemnly in the green wooden chairs on both sides.
The hall was brightly lit with six Spirit Transformation Realm grandmasters and ten first-class Spirit Condensation Realm experts.
There were also more than 20 second-class Spirit Sensing Realm martial artists standing at the back.
This was the strength of Jing Yang Temple, which dominated Daoism in the state of Zhao.
Across the five states, the number of forces that had so many grandmasters and first-class experts could be counted on one hand.
Wang Qingyang swept his gaze over them, and his expression was calm as he said, "I have gathered everyone here to discuss a few matters today."
His eyes fell on Yuanqing.
Yuanqing was in charge of foreign affairs in Jing Yang Temple. He stood up and looked around. "The Gathering of Immortals has been going on for more than a month. At this point, Jing Yang Temple has basically identified all of the banished cultivators in the state of Zhao."
The Gathering of Immortals meant an opportunity to meet a banished immortal!
There was a glimmer of light in everyone's eyes.
To ordinary warriors, the immortal cultivators who came from the cultivation world might be powerful and have extraordinary means.
However, how could they compare their cultivation and knowledge with that of the ordinary martial artists?
In their eyes, cultivators were not that mysterious.
This was because most of them practiced immortal cultivation too.
The so-called immortals were nothing more than banished mortals now.
Yuanqing took out a piece of paper and looked at everyone in the hall. "Jing Yang Temple is the guardian of Daoism. It has the responsibility of stabilizing the world and supervising the banished immortal cultivators.
"Today, I will assign the task of supervision. Everyone will set off tomorrow to assist the Daoist sects in maintaining the order of cultivation."
As he spoke, he unfolded the paper and began to read out the mission arrangements.
"Zhuo Xu, there are three banished immortal cultivators in Yongning Prefecture, and they are currently living in seclusion. Go to them."
A tall and muscular Daoist in green robes stood up and bowed. "I will carry out your orders."
Then, he bowed to Wang Qingyang.
"Be careful, don't be impatient." Wang Qingyang nodded.
The Daoist named Zhuo Xu nodded and cupped his hands before he left the hall.
This opportunity to meet three banished immortal cultivators was huge.
After all, he was the temple master's personal disciple.
Yuanqing's voice echoed again as everyone looked at him with fervent gazes.
"Zhuo Yi, there are two banished immortal cultivators in Jinchuan Prefecture. One of them has already joined the Jinchuan Sword Sect. You can decide how to deal with him yourself.
"Zhuo Yun, the Daming Manor Sect has already contacted two banished cultivators at the Daming Manor. They are willing to join the sect. You can check on them."
"Zhuo Jin, Zhuo Su, two of the four banished cultivators in Qingzhou Prefecture have committed acts of massacring commoners. The two of you will have to handle this."
...
After he assigned the missions, the disciples in the hall bowed and left.
Some of them left with happy expressions, while others left with solemn expressions.
Each mission had a different difficulty level, so everyone's mood was naturally different.
A moment later, the hall was almost empty.
Yuanqing put away the paper in his hand and looked at the remaining four Spirit Condensation Realm cultivators.
"Zhuo Yuan, Zhuo Qing, Zhuo Wu, and Zhuo Bian, your cultivations are the strongest among your peers."
The four Daoists quickly stood up.
Yuanqing glanced at Wang Qingyang and saw him nod. He then continued, "The four of you will go to the other four states and look for opportunities."
The four of them exchanged glances and bowed.
"Everyone, bring a spirit stone and two talismans to protect yourself," Wang Qingyang added.
"Thank you, Temple Master." The four of them were delighted, and they quickly bowed.
At their level, just burying their heads in cultivation was no longer enough.
They could only find an opportunity to improve by challenging themselves.
It was naturally dangerous to go to the other four states, but they could act more unscrupulously there.
As long as they returned safely from this experiential learning, they would have a great chance of advancing.
A spirit stone was worth two thousand taels of gold, and talismans could only be found in large sects in the mortal world.
The temple master's reward was significant, as he was extremely optimistic about their future.
Wang Qingyang, Yuanqing, and the other five were the only ones left after the four disciples departed.
Every one of them was a martial arts grandmaster, an expert in the mortal world.
Yuanqing cupped his hands at Wang Qingyang and sat back down.
Wang Qingyang then looked at the others in the hall.
There was Yuanqing, who oversaw the Foreign Affairs Hall, Qing Xun, who was in charge of collecting intelligence, Qing Ji and Qing Li, who were in charge of the disciples' cultivation, and Qing Yu.
Although Qing Yu did not care about the temple, she was a junior sister of the same generation with a special status.
In the end, Wang Qingyang nodded at Yuanhe, who guarded the Demon Subduing Pavilion.
Yuanhe was already in the advanced stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm. His combat strength was second only to Wang Qingyang, but he was willing to sacrifice himself for Jing Yang Temple by guarding the Demon Subduing Pavilion.
"Firstly, we're sending our disciples out for the Gathering of Immortals, to give them opportunities."
Wang Qingyang's expression was solemn as he said in a deep voice, "Secondly, Jing Yang Temple might be in danger, and it would be in more danger if I stayed here."
This was a great crisis!
Apart from Yuanqing and Qing Xun, who was in charge of intelligence, everyone else had a change of expression.
As the guardian of the Daoist sects in the state of Zhao, Jing Yang Temple's legacy could be traced back to at least 5,000 years ago.
Jing Yang Temple had experienced many hardships in the past 5,000 years.
However, not many of them could be labeled as a major crisis.
"Is it a demon?" Yuanhe turned his head.
Wang Qingyang nodded.
Only a strange and powerful demon would be considered a great crisis for Jing Yang Temple.
Wang Qingyang raised his hand, and a pale red scale appeared on his palm.
"This demon might be related to the one that the great grandmaster suppressed 100 years ago."
There was a demon in the Demon Subduing Pavilion.
"Senior Brother, are you saying that this demon will come to Jing Yang Temple and visit the Demon Subduing Pavilion?" Qing Yu asked. She appeared to be in her 40s, and she was wearing green Daoist robes.
Wang Qingyang nodded.
Yuanqing turned around and told him what had happened during Qing Wu and Luo Chen's investigation.
Qing Xun recounted the ambush on the pleasure boat two days ago as well.
They had to guard against this demon who killed immortal cultivators without restraint.
"Speaking of which, there are already two banished immortal cultivators in Jing Yang Temple. Mr. Zhu may be out of touch, but Grandmaster Zhang Li…" Wang Qingyang placed a jade medallion on the table, and it shone with spirit light.
Back then, Wang Qingyang had taken Zhang Li in because he had presented him with this medallion.
According to Jing Yang Temple's ancient records, this identity token belonged to guardian disciples in the cultivation world.
Even though Zhang Li and Zhu Yunshan were both immortal cultivators, the one who possessed this medallion was different.
"He usually stays in seclusion and devotes himself to cultivation. He's completely different from other banished immortal cultivators.
"He has a pure heart and little desire for anything except tea and certain materials.
"He is generous and treats spirit stones like they're nothing.
"Today, he casually gave Zhao Ji, the son of Prince Yu, a peerless sword. It looks like he has intentions of befriending the imperial family, but he rejected the eldest princess, Zhao Ciyu." Wang Qingyang shook his head and quietly said to himself, "What are you doing? You're unpredictable."
It was unfathomable.
The hall was silent.
If he were an ordinary immortal cultivator, the grandmasters would not have to take him seriously.
However, this person's actions were out of the ordinary.
"Senior Brother, it is recorded in the ancient records that there would be elder disciples among the banished immortal cultivators. They would be responsible for missions from the cultivation world..." Yuanhe said in a low voice.
This guardian disciple would be hidden among the others, and he would carry out the sect's mission.
Most of them would go to mortal factions that had the legacies of sects from the cultivation world.
These people had a secret way of returning to the cultivation world after 100 years, provided that they completed their mission.
There were very few disciples like this. Usually, such a disciple would only appear once every 300 years.
After all, the mortal world was really insignificant to the cultivation world.
Not many people were willing to travel to the mortal world and waste 100 years.
In terms of cultivation, these elder disciples might not be much stronger than the other guardian disciples, but they would have some treasures from their cultivation sects.
"No." Wang Qingyang shook his head and softly said, "According to the secret teachings of the temple, the current guardian elder is in an immortal sect called the Spirit-controlling Sect."
Jing Yang Temple was a legacy of the Crimson Bright Sect. There were also records of the cultivation world within its legacy.
Unfortunately, only the temple master had access to this secret knowledge.
Zhang Li was not a guardian elder?
Everyone was a little disappointed.
However, Zhang Li had the jade medallion of their sect, so even if he was not a guardian elder, they still had to respect him.
"Eldest Princess Zhao Ciyu's visit today made Grandmaster Zhang unhappy. He asked the disciple on duty to pass on the message that he doesn't want to be disturbed again."
Wang Qingyang pressed his palm on a jade tablet on the table and appeared helpless.
"I have already helped this grandmaster block more than 10 waves of visitors so far."
If his hands were not tied, would Wang Qingyang have welcomed him into Jing Yang Temple?
"Junior Sister Qing Yu, you are from the imperial family. You should step in and deal with this," Yuanhe said.
"Alright, I'll pay Ciyu a visit." Qing Yu nodded.
"Senior Brother, if that grandmaster really wants some peace and quiet, he can come to the Demon Subduing Pavilion." Yuanhe looked at Wang Qingyang and said lightly. "The demon and I are the only ones there."