Chapter 137: Greed for Immortality

Gu Ning’an and Daoist Qingyuan each found a cushion to sit on and began discussing Daoism.

It seemed as though they had completely forgotten that the purpose of their journey was to find the Bat God.

After a conversation, Gu Ning’an learned a lot about Daoism in this world.

In this realm, Daoism shared similarities with the one from his past life, but there were also distinct differences.

For example, the Three Pure Ones, revered in the Daoism of his previous life, did not exist in this world. However, there were still explanations of the Three Pure Qi of Heaven and Earth in Daoist doctrine here. Likewise, the Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching), written by Laozi, was treated as a classic by all Daoists in this world, just as it had been in the past.

Overall, Daoism in this world had many branches, with vastly differing beliefs. Some temples had their own Daoist ancestors, while others did not, focusing instead on personal cultivation.

Thus, the Sanwu Daoist Temple, which venerated the Sanwu Daoist, was unique and had no other branches.

Daoist Qingyuan, excited by the conversation, asked in return, “Mr. Gu, your skills are extraordinary, especially the way you used your illusion technique to completely deceive me.”

“I wonder, what school did you come from? Do you have any lineage?”

Gu Ning’an smiled. “I don’t have a master. I’m just a wandering practitioner who learned from a random book.”

“Ah… I see.” Daoist Qingyuan thought that Gu Ning’an didn’t want to talk about it, so he didn’t press further. He shifted the topic. “It seems we can’t find the Bat God right now. Would you like to stay and have a vegetarian meal before you leave?”

“Can’t find it?” Gu Ning’an pointed at the statue of the “Sanwu Daoist” on the side and smiled. “Isn’t it right here?”

Upon hearing this, Daoist Qingyuan’s brow furrowed into a tight knot. “Mr. Gu, if you don’t approve of my temple’s lineage, feel free to say so. But please don’t tarnish the name of our founding ancestor…”

“Calm down,” Gu Ning’an said, raising a hand. With his right hand forming a sword gesture, he wrote the word “Appear” in mid-air!

Whir!

The faint golden “Appear” word turned into a thin thread, which then drilled into the Sanwu Daoist statue!

Upon seeing this, Daoist Qingyuan’s eyes nearly burst in anger. He jumped up, grasping his peachwood sword, and was ready to strike at Gu Ning’an!

Clink! Clink!

Thick, foul-smelling black water began to seep from the copper statue of the Sanwu Daoist, quickly enveloping the entire statue!

“This… this… this!” Daoist Qingyuan, holding the peachwood sword, trembled in disbelief. He quickly performed a hand seal and shouted, “The three prime forces of Heaven, and the sixfold embrace of Earth! Let the three powers of Heaven, Earth, and Man transform into thunder and fire!…”

His hand movements were fast enough to spark a few embers, but there was no spiritual energy to be felt around him!

Daoist Qingyuan couldn’t believe his eyes. “Where is the formation? Why isn’t the formation working?!”

Gu Ning’an did not respond. He patiently waited for the black water to drip down from the copper statue, slowly collecting on the ground and forming a dark shape.

The shadow began to take form. It was clear that it had two wings on its back, with faint golden patterns on the wings.

This was the appearance of a golden-winged bat, which was not too strange.

But what was bizarre was that, once the Bat God fully took form, it looked like a winged human!

“The Bat God can turn into a human form?” Daoist Qingyuan asked again.

Gu Ning’an paused for a moment and said, “Daoist Qingyuan, you’d better prepare yourself… Perhaps it’s your master…”

“Impossible!”

“Impossible… right…?”

His two replies showed the turmoil in Daoist Qingyuan’s heart.

A long sigh escaped his lips, and the Bat God slowly turned around. The elderly face that appeared before Daoist Qingyuan’s eyes was unmistakably familiar.

“Master… Master… Master!” Daoist Qingyuan stammered. “How… how could it be your face…”

“No! This is all an illusion! Fake!”

“All of it is fake!”

In a state of near-madness, Daoist Qingyuan gripped his peachwood sword tightly and looked toward Gu Ning’an, gritting his teeth: “Mr. Gu, this is your illusion technique, isn’t it? You must be playing the same joke on me as before, right?”

“Qingyuan… as a cultivator, you should clarify your mind and stabilize your spirit, remaining unshaken in the face of events. That’s the first lesson I taught you… and yet you still haven’t understood it?” The Bat God’s voice was aged and weary, like that of a dying old man.

“Master… no, you’re not my master!” Qingyuan Daoist rushed forward, pointing his sword directly at the Bat God’s face. “My master is a Daoist. He couldn’t possibly look like a vile god like you!”

The bound Bat God couldn’t move, and as the peachwood sword drew closer to his face, there was not a hint of fear in his red-and-yellow eyes. “Strike. Eliminate demons and defend the Dao—that’s the ancestral teaching of the Sanwu Temple.”

“Ah!” Daoist Qingyuan closed his eyes and thrust forward with all his might. But just as the blade was about to pierce the Bat God’s face, his grip loosened, and the sword fell to the ground.

Seeing this, the Bat God let out a long sigh. “Still no progress…”

“Was it for immortality?” Gu Ning’an’s sudden question caught the Bat God’s attention.

The Bat God remained silent for a long time before finally admitting, “Yes, but not entirely.”

“Since I began cultivating, I’ve eliminated over 3,000 evils and saved countless lives.”

“Yet, even the villagers at the foot of this mountain rarely come to offer incense and prayers.”

“Perhaps, in their eyes, a Daoist like me who has spiritual powers is duty-bound to help them!”

“If I help, it’s taken for granted; if I don’t, it’s seen as wrong!”

“When I passed away in the mortal world, Qingyuan went down the mountain to invite those villagers to see me off, yet none of them were willing…”

“But ironically, after I became the Bat God, just by granting them small favors, they revere me greatly and even offer daily tributes, providing me with incense to cultivate.”

“Since that’s the case, I became the Bat God they envisioned, using the incense and wishes they offer to cultivate, treating it as repayment for the kindness I once gave them.”

“Mr. Gu, do you think I was wrong?”

Gu Ning’an replied, “Wrong? Right and wrong are determined by one’s own heart. You have your standards, and I have mine.”

“I can’t say if you’re right or wrong, because our standards differ.”

“If you believe you’re not wrong, then you’re not wrong… but I believe your actions violate the natural order, and thus you should be punished.”

Hearing this, the Bat God fell silent for a long time before laughing. “Mr. Gu, you are indeed a strange man…”

“Today, my skills are inferior, and I’ve fallen into your hands. I’d like to negotiate for a chance at survival. Could you listen to my offer?”

Gu Ning’an smiled. “Let’s hear it.”

“To my knowledge, even those who cultivate immortal techniques eventually face the moment when their lifespan is exhausted and they dissipate into the world.”

“However, the divine path through incense can avoid this…”

“If you’re willing, I can collaborate with you. From now on, we’ll share the incense offerings I receive, with you taking 70%.”

Gu Ning’an raised his hand. “Enough. If you’re trying to bait me with immortality, you’ll find it holds no interest for me at all.”

“Moreover, even following the divine path through incense doesn’t guarantee infinite lifespan… even legitimate City Gods have a limit to their lifespans, let alone a wild god like you.”

The Bat God frowned. “Mr. Gu, your words are overly self-righteous… are you truly not tempted by immortality?”