An education of earnest advice is ultimately not as good as seeing for oneself

Zhongzhou, at the mountain gate of the Tianyan Sect.

The little novice monk of Daoxuan Temple rubbed his bald head and looked at the magnificently imposing mountain gate of the Tianyan Sect, unable to hide the shock in his eyes.

The world always said that the Eighteen Immortal Sects stood in a league of their own above the rest of the world. Just looking at this mountain gate, wreathed in immortal mist and surging with spiritual energy, made one deeply agree with that statement.

Most of the Buddhist sects in the world were born out of the Great Thunderclap Temple of Zhongzhou, indirectly governed by it.

After all, when it came to profound Buddhist dharma, the Great Thunderclap Temple was filled with Buddhist Sons, and countless geniuses cultivated bitterly within its walls.

Naturally, Buddhist temples established later could hardly escape the influence of the Great Thunderclap Temple.

But not all Buddhist sects were like this.

Zhongzhou's Daoxuan Temple was not born from the Great Thunderclap Temple, nor was it directly governed by it.

The reason was simple: if one traced back the founding of Daoxuan Temple, its history wasn't much shorter than that of the Great Thunderclap Temple.

Although they both cultivated Hinayana Buddhism, Hinayana Buddhism also had completely different philosophies. Coupled with its early establishment, it managed to break free from the Great Thunderclap Temple's influence.

It was considered unique in Zhongzhou. Although it had freedom, it also lost the direct protection of the Great Thunderclap Temple.

Of course, if they really had to use it, they could. After all, not everyone knew that Daoxuan Temple and the Great Thunderclap Temple had no direct connection.

When traveling outside, they could still use the name of the Great Thunderclap Temple to bluff those who didn't know the truth.

Also, due to the lack of direct support from the Great Thunderclap Temple, other than having a well-built temple and fairly abundant spiritual veins, Daoxuan Temple was quite poor and pure.

The Abbot of Daoxuan Temple only had a cultivation base at the Soul Formation Realm. Perhaps because Daoxuan Temple wasn't actually that large and its influence wasn't significant, the Great Thunderclap Temple had always maintained a hands-off attitude toward them.

The little novice monk rubbed his head, looking at the magnificent mountain gate and the Tianyan Sect cultivator dressed in the sect's disciple uniform, whose cultivation was unfathomably deep. His expression was restrained as he looked over carefully.

After all, standing before such a behemoth, he couldn't help but feel a bit of trepidation in his heart.

The little novice monk watched as Qian Qing, who had been knocking on the mountain gate for half a year looking for some monk named Yuan Kong, stepped forward to report to the cold-faced Tianyan Sect cultivator.

The Abbot of Daoxuan Temple stood slightly in front of Qian Qing, a somewhat fawning smile on his face.

After all, bluffing ordinary people was possible, but to bluff the Tianyan Sect, which was also one of the Eighteen Immortal Sects, even bringing out the Great Thunderclap Temple to borrow its prestige probably wouldn't be enough.

"Yuan Kong?" The Tianyan Sect disciple frowned. After thinking for a moment, he nodded lightly and said, "There is such a person. He was able to come to the Tianyan Sect on his own, but your name, Qian Qing, has never been reported. If you have a token of proof, I might be able to report it for you."

Hearing this, Qian Qing fumbled around her body for a long time before finally taking out an unadorned, worn-out wooden fish from her luggage bag and saying:

"This was made by Yuan Kong himself. Can it serve as a token?"

Let alone the Tianyan Sect cultivator, even the little novice monk felt second-hand embarrassment just looking at it.

This broken wooden fish had no inner spiritual light whatsoever, nor did it have any divine sense lingering on it. It was just a broken wooden fish.

Even if this thing was really carved by Yuan Kong himself, it couldn't prove anything now. After all, who was to say Qian Qing didn't carve it herself for fun when she was bored?

No one would recognize such a thing if it was presented.

The Tianyan Sect disciple looked down at the wooden fish for a moment, then looked up at Qian Qing, saying in an even tone:

"You are a martial artist, not a cultivator. I will assume you are ignorant of these matters and won't hold it against you. If this is all you have, please leave."

Qian Qing tightly gripped the wooden fish in her hand. After taking a deep breath, she put the wooden fish away and said:

"I know Chu Xingchen. He should also be from the Tianyan Sect. He can verify my identity, and it was he who told Yuan Kong he could come find him at the Tianyan Sect."

Hearing this, the little novice monk standing to the side could hardly maintain his calm expression.

Chu Xingchen?!

Where did Qian Qing hear this name to dare report it so blindly? And she specifically picked an impossibly big name to report. However, it was also normal; if a martial artist were to know anyone, they could only know the most famous ones today.

As for whether Qian Qing really knew him, the little novice monk could figure out with his toes that it was fake.

If Qian Qing knew Chu Xingchen, why would she need to go to Daoxuan Temple for help?

Moreover, leaving aside whether such a big shot would come out to recognize someone—if he didn't come out, it would be fine, but if he did come out and got angry at someone randomly using his name, they would really be in for a world of trouble.

What level of figure was Chu Xingchen?

Even the Honored Buddha Runan of the Great Thunderclap Temple had to treat him as an equal. In the past, he was a figure who clashed with the entire Buddhist faction in the Western Bovine Continent.

A sneeze from such a big shot could tear Daoxuan Temple apart until not a single piece of wood remained.

The Abbot of Daoxuan Temple's expression was no longer so calm. He hastily tugged at the bundle Qian Qing was carrying on her back and said in a soft tone:

"If you don't know him, you don't know him. You can't just claim to know certain figures recklessly. Why not let this Daoist friend from the Tianyan Sect leave your name, and when Yuan Kong comes, he can report back?"

The Tianyan Sect disciple withdrew his gaze and slightly cupped his hands in a salute.

Seeing this, the Abbot of Daoxuan Temple breathed a slight sigh of relief and hastily returned the salute.

Qian Qing pursed her lips slightly and looked at the Abbot of Daoxuan Temple, saying:

"Thank you, Abbot, for bringing me here. The rest is my personal business. You may go back first now, Abbot."

"Don't do anything foolish!" The Abbot frowned, advising earnestly. "There must be a balance of tension and relaxation in all things. Blindly pressing hard will only backfire. If there is no fate today, quietly wait for the future, lest you completely lose your chance."

The little novice monk also nodded repeatedly, saying, "Exactly, exactly. Today we'll just count on this Tianyan Sect senior being magnanimous enough not to hold it against us."

Qian Qing's lips were pressed tightly together. She had seen things clearly along the way.

A series of confusing formations were set up at the mountain gate of the Tianyan Sect. According to the little novice monk, if one didn't have Foundation Establishment cultivation, they probably wouldn't be able to reach the Tianyan Sect's mountain gate in a lifetime; they could only wander around near the exit and then leave.

She was a martial artist. Even if all her cultivation were converted, it wouldn't reach the Foundation Establishment realm.

But if she left, she would truly lose all initiative.

Yuan Kong had left without hesitation; naturally, he wouldn't come to see her again.

From time to time, streaks of rainbow light flew past the Tianyan Sect's mountain gate and disappeared inside, urging people on like shooting stars.

Qian Qing cupped her hands again and said, "Senior, I really do know Chu Xingchen. He is handsome, wears white clothes, and speaks humorously. If you have time, could you please pass on a message? If what I say is false, I will bear all the consequences alone."

As her voice fell.

Two streaks of rainbow light that had originally flown into the Tianyan Sect flew back out.

Then, two figures landed.

The Tianyan Sect disciple looked over and immediately cupped his hands, saying:

"Martial Aunt Chen, Martial Aunt Lin."

Qian Qing looked over and saw that both newcomers were women. One had an outstandingly beautiful face and wore a white dress, while the other had a face full of righteousness and an aura of noble spirit.

Chen Baiqing nodded lightly, then raised her eyes to look at Qian Qing, asking softly:

"You know Chu Xingchen?"

"I really do know him. I've drank wine with him."

"Are you here to find Chu Xingchen?"

"I am here to find Yuan Kong."

Chen Baiqing looked Qian Qing up and down a couple of times:

"A pure martial artist?"

"Yes..." Qian Qing pursed her lips.

Inevitably, this exceptionally beautiful cultivator would surely say that the difference between immortals and mortals was like an uncrossable chasm, and what point was there in meeting, and so on.

But how could anyone willingly walk away when things were left unclear and without closure?!

Chen Baiqing thought for a brief moment before speaking.

"Yuan Kong is currently not at the Tianyan Sect. If you insist on entering, you may follow me."

Hearing this, Qian Qing was momentarily stunned, a look of disbelief crossing his face.

Chen Baiqing calmly withdrew her gaze.

Just by taking a brief look at the situation, Chen Baiqing already had a pretty good idea of what was going on.

He was merely a mortal martial artist who had no idea what the world of cultivators was truly like.

Repeating the same words over and over again was ultimately useless.

He had to see it for himself to truly understand the reality of it all.

This could also serve to settle the trouble her master had stirred up.