Chapter 429: The Rise and Fall of the World A few people brewed tea and roasted fire, chatting about the rise and fall of the world. “It is said that although the gods under Emperor Zixu and Tianweng still abide by the rules and do not descend to the mortal world in person, they have gradually begun to drive some believers who also practice spiritual magic and conquered monsters, and even the mounts and guardian spirit beasts of the gods to the mortal world to participate in this great struggle.” Taoist Qingxuan shook his head and said to Lin Jue, “I don’t know how long this rule can be kept.” "How did Tianweng win at the end of the previous dynasty?" Lin Jue asked. “Fellow Daoist, you have seen the demeanor of Lord Fuchi, and you would like to ask how they defeated Lord Fuchi, right?” Taoist Qingxuan smiled. "The one who understands me is my brother." "Indeed, I heard that Lord Fuchi is a god and immortal, and his body is holy. He is the pinnacle of martial gods and has been undefeated for two thousand years. Although there has been no news of him becoming a powerful being, the gods have their own strengths. If they fight, I'm afraid that the powerful emperors in the sky will not be able to defeat him head-on. In terms of the ability to lead troops to conquer, the emperors should be far inferior to him." Taoist Qingxuan said, "But this matter is said to be not as simple as it seems." "how to say?" "For example, when Tianweng came to power, he was also the one who 'got the Way'. He had help from many parties, including other powerful people and other powerful and virtuous people. But now, haha, since Tianweng has gradually lost the support of the people, he has 'lost the Way', so naturally there is less help." Taoist Qingxuan said: “For example, the Emperor may not be able to defeat or even kill the Lord of Fuchi head-on, but they all have great magical powers and most likely have the ability to deal with him.

"For example, two thousand years ago, when Fu Chi Shenjun had not yet achieved enlightenment, he was a disciple of an ancient immortal in the mountains. He listened to his teachings and received his favor. Later, this ancient immortal gradually cultivated and became Zixu Emperor, one of the five great emperors in heaven. He then became his disciple and served him. During the last earth-shaking event, Zixu Emperor thought that the time was not right, so he became a supporter of Tian Weng. Since then, he has been one of Tian Weng's attendants, standing on Tian Weng's left and right in major Taoist temples, sharing the same incense. “The overall situation is constantly changing.” "I see." Lin Jue listened to Taoist Qing Xuan's words, looked at his expression, and understood something in his heart - In the past, when asked such questions about the gods in heaven, Taoist Qingxuan could not answer and had to ask Taoist Jiang to answer. But now he can talk to him very casually. The troubled times are indeed opportunities for the talisman sect. It seems that as the Taoist priests from Xuantian Temple in Qiyun Mountain came to the capital to work hard and run their business, while the divine light on Taoist Priest Jiang became increasingly stronger, Taoist Priest Qingxuan's status in the southern pantheon also became increasingly higher. Perhaps after today, Taoist Qingxuan will also become a god. "Ugh……" Taoist Qingxuan sighed and shook his head: "After Caohai Pass was breached, the army moved south, and the court was afraid that it would be difficult to hold on." "But winter is coming." "How long can it be extended?" Taoist Qingxuan said, "From this year to next year? Even if it takes three to five years, it is not far away. Anyway, the court is already conscripting men at a rapid pace, so this year will probably be a difficult time." "Maybe……" "I still envy you. If you can achieve enlightenment, you will be free and immortal. From then on, the world will be changed and dynasties will change. In your eyes, it's just winter and spring, summer and autumn." “That’s not the case.” White smoke and water vapor rose from around me. Gurgling sounds continued to be heard. The rise and fall of the world's major events all rolled with this pot of tea, and during the casual chat among a few people, they talked about everything. "I haven't thanked Fellow Daoist Lin yet for hiring someone to build the steps leading up the mountain for our Zhenjian Palace." Taoist Qingxuan stood up and said.

"Brother Daoist, you know this is just a way to help the people. If I have to thank you, I should thank you two Daoists for giving me a step up the mountain to build." Lin Jue said with a smile, "Besides, when Daoist Jiang Daoist obtained the fragments of the Eastern Queen Mother's body from Baosheng Zhenjun, did you let me thank you?" "Haha!" Taoist Qingxuan laughed, "Goodbye." "Fellow Daoist, goodbye." Taoist Master Jiang also said lightly. "Come and have tea more often when you have time." Lin Jue returned the greetings to them. "Daoyou, come and visit our Zhenjian Palace when you are free. The snow scenery outside the city is more beautiful than inside the city." Daoist Master Jiang said, "There are plum blossoms in winter, and apricot blossoms after the plum blossoms fade." "I still remember the snow in April." Taoist Qingxuan and Taoist Jiang left. Lin Jue stood alone in the yard, which was filled with severe cold. Perhaps another world cold snap is coming soon. But he didn't feel much in his heart. This was not because as his cultivation and abilities grew, he gradually developed an indifferent attitude towards world affairs, thinking that even if a war came, it would not hurt him, so he just ignored it. Nor was it because he felt that he was a Taoist of the Spiritual School and should be free and easy, and that such matters were the concern of the Talisman School, so he just ignored them. It was a more complicated reason. Taoist Qingxuan is right about one thing, the changing of the world and the coming of dynasties are sometimes like the laws of nature, the changing of the seasons, there are always prosperity and decline, green and yellow, and each change brings new atmosphere and growth. Judging from the current imperial court, changing the world may not necessarily be a bad thing, but it may not necessarily be a good thing for the imperial court to maintain its rule. What's a pity is the tragedy in the middle. And he was indeed a Taoist from the Lingfa School, and what he really wanted was to be free and at ease. Such major world events were indeed more closely related to the Fulu School. This was neither a monster harming people nor a foreign invasion. It was just that the court was disliked by people, and some people who disliked it had been planning for many years to replace it. Lin Jue really could not find the reason or position for himself to intervene. The only reason I wanted it to come later was that I wanted to finish refining the golden elixir in more peace and security in the capital. If the chaotic world had already arrived by then... That’s pretty good! Anyway, I have to make the elixir in the capital. If the northern and southern armies have already broken into the capital by then, and I happen to be stationed in the capital, I can protect more people in the capital. Lin Jue continued to carve the bean soldiers. Within a few days, the news that the Northern Grassland Customs had been breached spread throughout the capital. The extreme coldness of the river water began to become known to everyone. Lin Jue then felt the atmosphere of the troubled times—— The people in the capital began to panic. The powerful began to make plans, some began to waver, some began to bet, and some bet on both sides. Ordinary people and wealthy families also began to hoard rice, flour, grain and oil, and began to dig places in their homes to hide silver and money. People from the government began to conscript soldiers from all over the country. On the contrary, the road construction outside the city has never stopped. Anyway, they are all lower-class people who don't have enough food to eat. They have never lived a life like a human being. They shouldn't have survived this winter. Now they have food and clothes, which is already a blessing, so naturally they don't think about those things. There are even more people working on road repairs. Wan Xinrong came to tell Lin Jue that there were rumors in the capital that a road had been built for Master Lin, and if the northern army came, Master Lin would protect them.

There are actually quite a few people who believe it. At the same time, the South is much more gentle, but its methods are no less fierce than the North. The south, mainly Huizhou, plus several states in the south of the Yangtze River, were all prosperous areas. They had gradually escaped the control of the imperial court and quietly fell into the hands of the descendants of King Yue. I also heard that many clever goblins and ghosts in the capital, as well as foxes living in people's homes, had already made plans to leave the capital and seek other peaceful places. When some of them left, it might be because they had some friendship with the people at home and neighbors, or they might not have any friendship at all, but just knew each other in their hearts but did not disturb each other. They also felt that they had a tacit understanding, which was another kind of pleasant way of getting along and taking care of each other. Therefore, these goblins, ghosts and foxes specially went to say goodbye to people, and some even told the approximate time of their return. These stories were spreading like wildfire in the capital, and were quite mysterious, making it difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood. Wasn't this only adding to the storm? The northern offensive did not stop until the weather gradually turned cold. The two sides once again entered a standoff. It was snowing in the yard. In the heavy snow, there was a silhouette dancing. "In the past few days, I heard that there are many demons and ghosts in the capital. The foxes that have stayed in people's homes have all left. You two are still staying in the capital. Aren't you afraid that when chaos comes, there will be burning, killing and looting. The court or the northern and southern armies will set fire to this place and burn you to ashes?" Lin Jue spoke to the snow sculpture. Two voices were faintly heard: "We want to leave, but we have taken root here and can only stay in this courtyard. We can't leave at will. If the fire really burns here, we will have to burn down along with the capital." "Master Lin lives here, so what do we have to fear?" Lin Jue seldom heard them talk. He smiled slightly and said nothing much. The carving knife in his hand did not stop. The fragments of the Queen Mother of the East's body were very hard, but after many days, the statue in his hand was only a few cuts away. The tiny flying sword, the tip of the sword lightly taps. It was falling on the statue's eyes. "Squeak..." The tip of the sword moved, drawing lines, making a sour sound, and some wood powder fell off and mixed with the snow. The lines slowly outline an eye. After one, there comes another. After a few cuts, both eyes were gone. Lin Jue's carving skills were far from perfect, and even inferior to those of his third senior brother. But once he carved out the eyes, the originally lifeless statue immediately became lively. In a trance, even the entire statue changed, becoming more vivid and lifelike, as if it was made by a master and was about to come alive. Lin Juezhen felt that it seemed to be moving. But what he felt even more deeply was that when he lowered his head and looked at the statue, he clearly felt that the statue seemed to be looking at him as well.

That look has some of the charm of the Queen Mother of the East. “It’s alive!!” There came a voice from the fox nearby. The fox was originally sitting and licking its paws, but had somehow found itself sitting upright. It was attracted by the strange and mysterious aura emanating from the statue in his hand and looked over at him seriously. Lin Jue did not hesitate. He took out a bean and threw it out, and it turned into a battle-hardened warrior with armor piercing the sand. "Good man! Please find another place to live!" The remaining soul of one of the soldiers flew away and instantly drilled into the new wood carving. In an instant, the wood carving seemed to turn its eyes. (End of this chapter)