162: Chapter 66: The Arrival of the Fortune Immortal [Seeking Initial Subscription!]_2 162: Chapter 66: The Arrival of the Fortune Immortal [Seeking Initial Subscription!]_2 The other two beasts were a monstrous fish with the head of a fish and the body of a snake, and a mighty eagle with a wingspan of a hundred zhang.
The tiger, the fish, and the eagle fiercely attacked the protective great formation while twelve Wanyun Sect Heavenly Immortals outside the formation exhausted every trick in their arsenal to fend off parts of the beasts’ assaults.
Within the formation, there were dozens of Wanyun Sect cultivators stationed in the mundane world, disciples yet to ascend to immortality, gathered in small groups at the critical nodes of the formation, striving with all their might to maintain its operation.
From the inside and the outside, they temporarily held off the demon attack.
As for the city’s populace, there was no need to say more; they were all in utter chaos, crowding towards the south side where there were no beasts.
Li Ping’an, sensing something, looked towards the south and felt another shock to his Dao heart.
To the south by a hundred li, a tumultuous demonic aura surged toward the heavens, a dark cloud sealing the sky above that grand and magnificent city, within which appeared the writhing of a flood dragon, with several white-haired elders on top of the cloud being besieged by a group of beasts.
That place was the Royal City of the Immortal Dynasty!
Li Ping’an stepped forward half a step and then immediately hesitated.
As just a first-stage Merge True disciple, could he really make a difference in the battle?
Li Ping’an’s Dao heart rapidly calculated whether he could actually affect the outcome with the total amount of Immortal-grade confusing drugs he carried and the massive weight of the three giant beasts.
His father was right;
The Spirit Explosion Technique he could now unleash was powerful enough to sweep through anyone below the Immortal level, but it posed no significant threat to any being above the Elemental Immortal realm.
He had just begun to prepare to study magic artifact formations specialized for combating great demons when this whole mess had flared up.
Li Ping’an glanced at Yun Zhongzi.
What profound reason did this senior have for bringing him here?
Was it just to let him witness the battle below?
A flash of inspiration crossed his mind, and Li Ping’an immediately grasped it.
He promptly bowed and said, “Senior!
Please lend your aid to the Human Race here!”
Yun Zhongzi turned around, smiling as he asked, “And why should I help?”
Li Ping’an frowned in contemplation, his thoughts racing as he quickly responded,
“I am aware that you are not of the Human Race and view such conflict as an Immortal would a mortal soldier’s war.
“If, in the name of the lives of the city’s people, I invoked the so-called greater good to implore you to save them, it would certainly displease you.
“However, as a member of the Human Race, seeing a Daoist master here, if I did not ask for aid, my Dao heart would be restless!
“Thus, my request is a personal one!”
Yun Zhongzi stroked his beard and asked again, “If I were to save the people of this city, what benefit would I receive?”
I will petition my sect, in the name of Wanyun Sect, to issue a decree to the Immortal Dynasty, commanding that each and every household worships you!”
Having achieved The Great Dao, what use have I for such offerings?”
Yun Zhongzi shook his head with a smile and asked,
“The strife of the Hundred Clans has continued for countless years, with death and enmity intertwining deeply between them.
This city’s great formation won’t be broken any time soon.
“But tell me, if you save this city today, and another city tomorrow, with the endless years of conflict between the clans, how will you save every city?”
Li Ping’an earnestly replied, “I have never considered saving every city.
Human efforts are ultimately limited, to seek a clear conscience is enough; why impose such an enormous mission upon myself?
However, having seen the plight today and standing beside you, if I neither plead nor act, I cannot justify it to my Dao heart.”
Yun Zhongzi then asked, “The other day, you spoke of ‘action through inaction’.
Why can you not remain uninvolved now?
Are you aware that nearby hide Heavenly Immortals from other human sects, but they merely watch, unwilling to entangle themselves in this karma?”
“With all due respect!”
Li Ping’an performed a Daoist salute, now understanding why Yun Zhongzi, the blessed immortal, would ask him such questions.
It was likely some sort of test.
“If the environment around me and all within it follow their natural course, being part of this environment, I can remain disengaged and uninvolved without forcibly interfering with the operation of natural laws.
“Just as in this city, on ordinary days, mortals experience birth, aging, sickness, and death, yet the human population here remains stable, and in that scenario, inaction is appropriate.
“However, like at this moment, should the environment I am in become disturbed, influenced by such forceful impact, with three great demons arriving with the intent to annihilate the mortal population of the city, my inaction is already breached.
Thus, I should smooth the ripples, exterminate the demons, and restore inaction.
“A state of tranquil inaction is the realm I pursue, not the standard by which I act!”
Yun Zhongzi’s eyes creased in a smile as he appraised Li Ping’an, then said with a laugh,
“I won’t hide it from you; I’ve actually been in your Wanyun Sect for a long time, just looking for an opportunity to gauge whether you have the qualifications to inherit my artifact refining legacy.
“Today’s incident gives you just such an opportunity to engage in magical combat with these demons.
“If you pass this test of mine, I will teach you the methods of nurturing Immortal Treasures, the techniques of Spiritual Treasure refinement, and the lost ancient secret techniques of artifact refining.”
Li Ping’an asked softly, “Can I use one of those secret techniques in exchange for your direct intervention to eradicate the demons here?”
“That is not possible.”
Yun Zhongzi said with a smile, proactively explaining,
“After the end of the ancient era, the Leader of the Chan Teachings decreed that disciples shall no longer interfere with the conflicts of the Hundred Clans.
“Now that the Human Race has become dominant, if I were to act directly, it would be as if the Chan Teachings themselves had entered the fray.
This matter has significant implications and could easily provoke even more frenzied retaliation against your Human Race by the Hundred Clans.”
Li Ping’an sighed quietly, “I understand…
Thank you, senior, for bringing me here.
May I request to be sent inside the great formation so I can stand shoulder to shoulder with my fellow Wanyun Sect disciples in battle.”
“Ping’an, your Dao heart tells me that you are not just speaking pleasantries.”