Chapter 553: Cultivate Not the Heavenly Heart, but the Human Heart

Chapter 553: Repair the human heart, not the heavenly heart.

The Great Master of Longhu Mountain, Zhang Chongyuan, issued an unexpected decree summoning Zhang Qingyu back to the mountain in an emergency.

Upon receiving the order, Zhang Qingyu wasted no time and immediately set off for Guixi County, where the gates of Longhu Mountain were located.

As he traveled, Zhang Qingyu had already deduced the reason behind the decree.

The only purpose of summoning him back to the mountain at this time was to hold him accountable.

Guangxin Prefecture governs five counties. Currently, except for Guixi and Yiyang, the Taoist temples in the other three counties have been attacked by Li Jun and his men.

Although the damage was insignificant to Longhu Mountain, these three attacks were a direct blow to Zhang Chongyuan's reputation.

Despite temporarily setting aside the important task of assisting Master Zhang in uniting the Tao, personally going out to command, coordinating with the various bureaus of the Master's Mansion, deploying the elite forces of the Nine Departments of Longhu, and receiving assistance from two 'Xi' generation masters with deep backgrounds, we still ended up in this miserable situation where we were being led by the nose. Zhang Chongyuan's reputation was truly tarnished.

From a broader perspective, Guangxin Prefecture is currently in a critical period of transition from 'civil officials' to 'Taoist officials'. The successive attacks on Taoist temples in various counties have resulted in heavy casualties, and the local believers are in a state of panic.

Although there is currently no obvious instability, the situation has undoubtedly reached a critical point. If the last county, Yiyang, outside the gates of Longhu Mountain is also attacked, it will be a severe blow to the prestige and rule of Longhu Mountain.

Therefore, Zhang Qingyu expected Zhang Chongyuan to come to him, and the timing of the decree was even later than he had anticipated.

According to Zhang Qingyu's own estimate, Zhang Chongyuan should have confronted him and demanded accountability when Yongfeng was attacked.

However, although the decree came a few days late, it still arrived.

"Now, it's time for me to give the sect an explanation."

Zhang Qingyu thought to himself.

Longhu Mountain Master's Mansion, Inspection Office.

As soon as Zhang Qingyu entered the hall, a projection of the map of Guangxin Prefecture appeared in the air above the hall, showing city walls, buildings, mountains, rivers, and vegetation in detail.

Among them, Shangrao, Yushan, and Yongfeng counties were covered by a red light, and a palm-sized image next to it showed the destroyed state of the local Taoist temples, with surviving Taoist officials leading the Yellow Turban warriors to rebuild as quickly as possible.

The severity of the situation was obvious to all.

"Report to the Great Master, the reconstruction work of the three counties' Taoist temples has now fully begun. Forty-two priests from the Talisman Bureau, led by a thousand low-level Yellow Turban warriors, have been dispatched to various locations and should be able to complete the reconstruction within three days."

Below the projection, Zhang Qingli, the supervisor of the Talisman Bureau, wore a wide-sleeved purple robe with a round collar, looking no older than twenty, but his forehead was marked with three deep wrinkles, indicating that he had been thinking too much.

"The progress of Yongfeng and Shangrao can be temporarily delayed, but the reconstruction of Yushan Taoist Temple must be completed by tomorrow."

A hollow and grand voice floated down from above.

Zhang Chongyuan sat cross-legged on a purple gold mat, surrounded by swirling mist, making it impossible to see his face.

Why specifically focus on the reconstruction of Yushan County?

The reason is simple: the various yellow grain dreams produced in Yushan County are one of the important sources of income for Longhu Mountain.

"I will follow the Great Master's instructions. However, the three days I mentioned earlier refer only to the reconstruction of the ground buildings."

Zhang Qingli frowned and said bluntly: "This time, Yushan County suffered severe damage, especially the 'Tianlong' thunderbolt, which shattered the 'Zhen Tan Mu', the core of the yellow grain host located deep underground in the Taoist temple. A large number of sold yellow grain dreams have lost their host support and can no longer be connected. Many dreams under construction have also collapsed and disintegrated, sinking into the underworld."

"The Heavenly Lord wants results, not to hear you talk about problems here."

Zhang Chongyuan's voice carried a faint anger.

"The result is that Yushan County will need some time to restore its previous production. The specific duration depends on the repair progress of the 'Zhen Tan Mu'."

"This matter cannot be delayed. Dispatch a new core from the Master's Mansion."

"The yellow grain host beneath the Yushan Taoist Temple is a rare top-tier auxiliary Taoist device of the third rank, and the total number owned by Longhu Mountain does not exceed one hand's worth. Currently, the other few are being mobilized by 'Master Zhang' to assist in the union of the Tao in the Ancestral Hall, with only one left in the Wanfa Zongtan."

"Let's take this one."

Zhang Qingli said calmly: "The yellow grain host in the Wanfa Zongtan is used to ensure the stability of the Longhu Cave Heaven and maintain the channel for the disciples of the mountain gate to resolve their vows. I do not recommend moving it."

The conversation between the two on the steps left Zhang Qingyu, standing at the door of the hall, ignored.

"So, according to you, we can only watch as Yushan County comes to a halt?!"

"For now, that's the case. The damage is already unavoidable, and all the Talisman Bureau can do is do its best to repair the damaged 'Zhen Tan Mu'."

The hall fell silent for a moment, but suddenly a muffled 'thud' sound came from in front of the door.

Zhang Qingli heard the sound and turned around to look, seeing that the supervisor of the Xuan Tan Hall, Zhang Qingyu, was kneeling on the ground with a guilty expression and a pale face.

The young Taoist priest subtly pursed his lips, turned around, and bowed to the figure on the steps.

"Great Master, time is limited, so I will take my leave first."

"Go down, you've been working hard for the Talisman Bureau during this time." Zhang Chongyuan's voice carried a rare softness.

"I will follow the Master's instructions."

Zhang Qingli straightened his body and walked towards the door.

As he passed by Zhang Qingyu, the kneeling supervisor of the Xuan Tan Hall whispered: "Qingli, junior brother."

Boom!

A huge bell sound suddenly rang out, causing Zhang Qingyu's body to tremble, and he couldn't help but close his mouth tightly.

"Did you hear everything that Qingli said just now?"

A voice of indifference, completely opposite to before, echoed in Zhang Qingyu's ears.

"It is my fault for not doing my job well. Please punish me, Heavenly Lord."

Zhang Qingyu let out a cry of sorrow and hit his head on the ground.

"Zhang Qingyu, I ask you again, do you know who died and lost their Tao in Yushan?" Zhang Chongyuan demanded.

"I know, it was the old Heavenly Master Zhang Xishou."

"When I first entered the Tao, Master Xishou was already one of the supervisors of this Master's Mansion and had made countless contributions to Longhu Mountain. Even after being seriously injured in the 'World Divided into Military' and suffering from the five declines of heaven and man, he still resolutely gave up his retirement and longevity, returning his authority to the sect, sealing his own Tao foundation, and willingly becoming the sect's foundation."

Swirling mist rose up on the high steps, and a purple robe fluttered down.

Zhang Chongyuan lowered his head and stared at the kneeling Zhang Qingyu, his voice filled with anger: "Such a meritorious old Heavenly Master has now been unjustly killed in Yushan County because of your mistake. What crime should you be charged with?"

"I deserve to fall into 'Fengdu' and endure the suffering of the wheel of reincarnation through the thousand-world knife mountain and fire sea."

Zhang Qingyu suddenly raised his head and trembled as he said: "But the strategy of dividing troops to guard was decided by Master Xishou himself. I had advised him, but... I am incompetent."

Zhang Qingyu wanted to say more but ultimately took responsibility for the crime himself.

But just as he finished speaking, his peripheral vision caught a spherical talisman floating in the air.

Zhang Qingyu knew in his heart that this moment of his conversation with Zhang Chongyuan was being transmitted to the Longhu Cave Heaven.

There were probably countless people in the mountains watching.

In fact, the order to divide troops to guard was issued by the Great Master Zhang Chongyuan himself.

Both the standing and kneeling figures knew this well at the time.

But now that three counties have been defeated separately, someone must take responsibility.

Without a doubt, the deceased and lost Taoist Zhang Xishou is the best choice.

Zhang Chongyuan suddenly sighed and softened his tone: "Actually, this matter cannot be blamed solely on you. I, the Heavenly Lord, underestimated the cunning and treacherous nature of those demons. The main responsibility lies with me."

"It is my fault. I only ask the Heavenly Lord to give me another chance. This time, I will definitely exterminate the demons on the spot. If I fail, I am willing to scatter my Tao!"

Bang.

In the solemn vow of the unyielding path, a faint whisper slipped through the silence.

A celestial eye suspended in the void, its gaze slowly converging.

“What is the true purpose of the County of Yue?”

Zhang Chongxuan steadied himself, lifting his feet with a sudden, deliberate step. His golden eyes narrowed, and he turned to speak softly, “Li Hui has mastered the inner power, fully obscuring his breath. Even the celestial orbits of stars cannot lock onto him.”

Zhang Qinghua rose from the ground, his voice barely above a whisper. “The Sage of the Immortal Sage has granted me the ability to unleash ‘Wolflike Fury,’ but he has vowed to sacrifice himself, dragging Li Hui into the vicinity of the Yue Mountain Palace.”

The Heavenly Master returned above the Jinsheng Gang, his silence lingering only a moment before he spoke, “How could he have failed?”

“He was sealed away for too long. His power has decayed so severely that even the celestial mind cannot pierce it. And now, without the ‘Southern Heavenly Flame’ to guide him, he is doomed to fall into Li Hui’s grasp.”

Li Hui.

Zhang Chongxuan bit his lip, his gaze sharpening with resolve. “A warning, then.

The Heavenly Sage’s time to be tested has arrived.”

Zhang Qinghua nodded, his tone measured. “Indeed. The fate of this mission rests in your hands.”

He gestured toward the Sixteen-Star Ranking Hall. “Let me entrust you with a position among the celestial ranks—this is a price worth paying.”

As the scene unfolded, the sky darkened with anticipation, and the weight of destiny pressed upon them both.