Wedding Invitation: Zhu Bailin

  Yue Qing and Xu Fei's daughter took the initiative to reform the Wutai faction, opening up the mountain gate and widely recruiting disciples. They referred to the Mao Shan faction model, recruited 300 registered disciples, responsible for sweeping the pavilions, raising rare birds, sewing clothes, cooking rice, etc., and the Wutai faction paid wages every month. At the same time, they taught some introductory exercises for cultivating Qi. If someone had good qualifications and character, after observing them for three months, if their moral character was also acceptable, they would be directly promoted to upper court disciples. Those who were not suitable for practicing immortality, if they had a sincere heart towards the Tao, and worked hard for three years, could also become lower court disciples.

  Upper court disciples were taught by Yang Li, who transmitted the orthodox Taoist methods of the Wudang Sect, from the Five Elements Spirit Chapter to the Taiyi Mysterious Merit. If they practiced step by step with sincerity, achieving a divine position would be no problem at all. Lower court disciples were in charge of Ling Qi, teaching them how to cultivate their energy and physique, knife and sword techniques, as well as painting talismans and making medicinal concoctions. Those who were diligent could ride swords and fly through the sky, entering and exiting the heavenly realm with ease. Even the least skilled ones could catch ghosts and drive out demons, ward off evil spirits, and become a master of yin-yang. Disciples from both courts studied Taoism within the Huanglong Temple.

  Liu Quan was in charge of the Seven Star Palace, responsible for managing all internal affairs; Deng Baigu took charge of the Xiantian Pavilion, where Yue Qing asked everyone to put unused elixirs and treasures. He also organized various spells learned by everyone and placed them on the top floor as a reward for meritorious disciples. As long as they made contributions to the Wutai Sect, they could enter the Xiantian Pavilion to choose a prize. Most of the famous Tiangang Dizha swords were placed here, and the disciples took pride in getting one, thinking that only by taking the sword could they be considered true Wutai Sect disciples.

  Xu Fei Niang was in the Huang Ji Palace, holding the Tai Yi yin-yang sword, responsible for punishing those who violated the sect's rules. Of course, only direct disciples had the qualifications to make her take action, while others were handled by Liu Quan. Disciples like Yang Li and Tao Jun all adhered to their duties, diligently cultivating themselves in a competitive manner, and no one violated the sect's rules. Therefore, apart from her daily four-hour training sessions, she either gathered herbs to refine elixirs or refined the Tian Mo Zhān Xiān sword. The year before Tai Yi Hunyuan Zushi passed away, he transmitted the method of refining the Tian Mo Zhān Xiān sword to her. This sword was the first magic sword of the Wutai Sect and also the treasured artifact that suppressed the Northern Demon Sect in the past. Although she now had the Tai Yi yin-yang sword, she still stubbornly insisted on refining the Tian Mo Zhān Xiān sword, waiting for the third Sword Duel to use it to sweep away Emei! Yue Qing repeatedly advised Xu Fei Niang with a bitter tone, but she refused to change her mind. Fortunately, now that they had the Long Que Huan to protect their primordial spirit, they didn't have to worry about being possessed by the foreign Tian Mo and going crazy.

  Yu Qing is in the Taiyi Palace, his task is to comprehend the Tongxuan Zhenjing, every now and then he descends to the Huangji Palace to lecture on the scriptures and Taoist teachings that he has comprehended. He looks like the most leisurely, but actually bears the greatest pressure, because apart from the Wutai Sect, he also has to manage the four demon groups of Qingshuiyu far away in the distance.

  According to Yue Qing's plan, after the split of Wutai Sect, it can be said that they were severely damaged. Emei Sect would never allow them to rise peacefully. As long as seven or eight elder-level masters came, they could drive Yue Qing and his followers out of Wutai Mountain. Even if they weren't killed, they would become a laughing stock. Although Yue Qing had built up many good relationships over the years, as soon as he sent out a flying sword to transmit the book, the Mao Shan and Lao Shan sects would come to their aid. However, others couldn't stay in Wutai Mountain permanently, while Emei Sect could strike at any time. Therefore, Yue Qing let Qingsuo Gorge expand rapidly, gathering many side doors and loose cultivators, forming the Four Departments of Demon Crowds. Since Qingsuo Mountain was located on the border of Sichuan and Yunnan, it was almost under the nose of Emei Sect, making them deeply wary.

  Yue Qing accepted Deng Ba as his disciple, and at that time, he used his methods to make them have a fierce fight with the Emei School. Wei Fengniang killed Yuan Jue Chan Master with her White Light Sword, and also cut off two legs of Zui Dao Ren. Wan Shi Da Shi was also killed by Long Fei's Jiuzi Mu Yinhun Sword. The heads of the two were sent to Shang Heyang for refining the Baigulock Heart Hammer.

  E' Mei School's elder fell again, the most infuriating thing is that their heads and Yuanshen were taken to refine into a magic treasure, which is far more humiliating than Yue Qing beheading Xu Yuantong and Wu Yuantong back then. Therefore, E'Mei School is gathering allies and planning to wipe out Qingluo Gorge with all its might, having no time to come looking for trouble from Wutai School, thus winning a precious breathing space.

  Yue Qing remotely controlled the Azure Vortex Gorge from the Taiyi Palace, while the four divisions of demonic troops practiced their magic attacks day and night, rehearsing their magic formations, and preparing for battle with all their might. They also formed an alliance with the Eastern and Western demonic sects to jointly resist Emei. At the same time, they sent someone to Ci Yun Temple to persuade Fa Yuan, causing Ci Yun Temple to unite with Huashan Sect, gathering dozens of sword immortals in Chengdu. The atmosphere in Sichuan and Yunnan was tense, with swords drawn and bows stretched, a great battle about to erupt at any moment.

  The Emei faction wants to attack Qinglong Gorge, but first they must eliminate the nearby Ci Yun Temple. Yue Qing's plan is that if they can't stop the Emei faction at Ci Yun Temple, then they must stop them at Qinglong Gorge. If they still can't stop the Emei faction at Qinglong Gorge, then they will have to stop them at Zi Yun Palace. If they still can't stop the Emei faction at Zi Yun Palace, then their only option is to make a last stand and fight to the death against the Emei faction on their home turf of Wutai Mountain!

  On this day, a young Taoist held a letter and paid homage to the mountain, claiming to be Zhu Bailin, a disciple of Wu Li, the leader of the Collapsing Mountain Sect. He said that since the Collapsing Mountain Sect was about to open its headquarters, he had come to Mount Wutai to deliver an invitation on behalf of his master. Liu Quan asked him to speak in the Seven Star Hall and at the same time sent Shi Shengfei to the Taiyi Palace to ask for instructions from Yue Qing. Not long after, he came back with a message: "Both Master Uncle and my Master are practicing in the Huangji Palace, let me take Zhu Master to meet them."

  Zhu Bailin followed Shi Sheng along the mountain road to Huang Ji Palace and was led by two upper court disciples on duty to a side hall.

  Yue Qing and Xu Fei were drinking tea and chatting when they saw Shi Sheng bring in a young man, about 17 or 18 years old. He was handsome with beautiful eyes, even more so than Yang Li. However, he lacked a bit of masculinity. Wearing a purple robe, he knelt at the entrance of the great hall and kowtowed: "Disciple Zhu Bailin, paying respects to two uncles."

  Yue Qing let him get up: "No need to be polite, I and your master are old friends of the same way, our two factions are even more connected by the same breath. Sit in that chair, have a sip of our Wutai faction's good tea, and then I have something to ask you."

  Zhu Bailin had heard before coming that the Wutai Sect was the only super sect in the world that could rival the Emei Sect, but because Taizhen's ancestor lost twice in a sword fight, he was defeated and his reputation was tarnished. In recent years, Yue Qing rectified the rules of the sect, expelling many disciples who did not follow the rules, and reopened the ancestral furnace to smelt the treasure left by the ancestors, thus revitalizing the sect's vitality. Zhu Bailin's master had always praised Yue Qing, whether it was his character, moral integrity or his mastery of Taoist magic, all were admirable. Wu Li was a straightforward person, he never hid the fact that the Three Yangs One Qi Sword in his hand was a gift from Yue Qing, and this was well-known among the disciples of the Lushan Sect. Therefore, Zhu Bailin was very curious about Yue Qing, sitting there, wanting to steal glances at him from time to time, but feeling that Yue Qing sat there with an aura as majestic as Mount Tai, his presence was awe-inspiring, and although he didn't have the same sharp and piercing aura as his own master, it still made people dare not act rashly.

  Yue Qing waited until he had drunk half a cup of tea before speaking up and asking, "Are you Zhu Bailin? I sense that the aura on your body is quite different from Wu Shixiong's, but are you here to apprentice with him?"

  Zhu Bailin bowed and said, "I was originally cultivating on Nanhai Nu Jing Island, but it's a side door and small way, it's hard to achieve the right result. It wasn't until a few years ago that my brother introduced me, and I entered Master's sect."

  "Your brother...... which one again?"

  "The elder brother of the disciple was originally a loose immortal from Donghai Yu Jing Island, named Xiao Yao."

  "Zhu Xiangyao?" Yue Qing furrowed her brow, "How did he become a disciple of Congshan again?"

  Although Zhu Bailin didn't know why his uncle-in-law was so interested in the two brothers, he still answered truthfully: "In those years, Wing Taoist incited the East Sea to flood the coastal areas, drowning many innocent people. My brother happened to encounter it and used his magic to protect the people of 72 counties along the coast, which made him an enemy of Wing Taoist. He was beaten up by Wing Taoist and was about to be captured by his demonic creatures to be taken back to Da Peng Gorge for evil rituals. Luckily, he was rescued by our master after she killed hundreds of water demons." After finishing his story, seeing that Yue Qing still wanted to hear more, Zhu Bailin continued: "I and my brother had a falling out over a woman over 100 years ago and haven't spoken since then. Two years ago, some old friends came to Angry Whale Island inviting me to join the Green Snail Palace. I didn't want to be bound by their rules, so I declined on impulse. Unexpectedly, those people suddenly turned against me, taking advantage of my cultivation level. They were about to take me back to the palace when my brother arrived out of nowhere and chased them away. He told them the story of what happened in the past and brought me to Mount Cang to become a disciple."

  Yue Qing looked at him and suddenly asked: "You brothers turned against each other back then, was it because of the jade girl Cui Ying under the Holy Lady's seat?"

  Zhu Bailin was shocked and lost his color: "How did you know?"

  Yue Qing waved his hand: "Forget it, since your master doesn't mind the trouble, I shouldn't interfere either."