Zhao Shu looked at the Jieyou Jue in his hand and was speechless.
After having a deep conversation with Liang Tao all night, Zhao Shu did not immediately decide to help him. However, Liang Guoshi was still very generous and gave the Lord of Jieyou to Zhao Shu, and then asked Jiang Ru to send him back to Dongshengdu.
"What do you think?" Zhao Shu secretly chatted with Lingxiao: "Are Liang Tao's words credible?"
"What do you mean by trustworthy?" Lingxiao asked back: "I'm not Liang Tao, so how can I know whether he deliberately concealed the truth."
Zhao Shu said: "I think there is no need for him to lie to me about the Tao Kingdom in the human world. I just made a little deduction in my mind, by setting up mandalas in the spiritual caves of blessed places in the country, using the earth's veins to connect the qi, and then
It is indeed very possible to summon ghosts and gods and restrain spirits with the magic power of Taoist immortals.
In fact, the ceremonial officers of the Tianxia Dynasty were originally selected from the temple blessings of temples and sacrifices in various places. Now Liang Tao is doing the opposite, and plans to assign the successors of his disciples who practice ceremonial rituals to Jingtan offices in various places, just like
Cao Zuo, an official stationed by the imperial court in various counties and counties.
After Huaxu State established the Guanshi system, it did make a similar attempt, intending to let the Guanshi monks take up local posts. Initially, the Guanshi monks were asked to deal with local disasters, ominousness, and evil spirits. Later, they simply appointed the local civil servant, Luo Xixian.
That’s one example.”
"What you said is not a refutation, but rather a reinforcement of your opinions." Lingxiao reminded: "What Liang Tao told you is based on your knowledge, experience, and thoughts, making you convinced of his careful planning.
When it comes to insight into intentions, he is smarter than you."
Zhao Shu quickly asked: "In other words, does Liang Tao really have any ulterior conspiracy?"
"Why do you have to make such assumptions?" Lingxiao said.
Zhao Shu sighed in his heart: "I can't believe Liang Tao. What kind of Taoist country in the world, setting up Jing and establishing governance, re-establishing the spirit, these things are not like Liang Tao's sincerity. When you were in Xingluo County, you told him about him
He despises human life. I don’t think he will consider the welfare of the people. What’s more, he brought up True Lord Qingya to explain the matter. Isn’t it because he is sure that I can’t prove the whole story?”
"I don't think so." Lingxiao said: "Liang Tao has grand plans, which is not inconsistent with his contempt for human life. Rather, in his mind, the common people are just bricks and stones used to create a country in the world.
He does not regard human life as useless, but rather regards mortals as materials for future achievements, using them if they are useful and discarding them if they are useless. If Liang Tao is hiding something, it is true. Based on what I know now, I can roughly
Infer Liang Tao’s true intention.”
"What's the intention?" Zhao Shu became interested.
"Liang Tao is not satisfied with achieving immortality, he also wants to ascend to the throne of Shinto." Lingxiao said: "If you think about it carefully, Liang Tao wants you to construct rituals and rituals, but who is the person who actually performs them?"
"It can only be Liang Tao himself." Zhao Shu replied.
Lingxiao also said: "These rituals and rituals are connected with the altars in various places in Huaxu Kingdom, reaching up to the cave sky and down to the earth. When Liang Tao's practice is complete, it will also be the moment when he achieves immortality. However, at that time, Liang Tao was not only able to
Dominate the Cave Heaven Wonderland and become the supreme ghost and god of Huaxu Kingdom.
And with the wonderful connection between the cave, heaven and blessed land, he restored most of the collapsed Qingya Fairyland, even replaced the Qingya True Monarch, reset the laws of the cave, opened up palaces, and enlightened a new group of immortal officials and generals. In the future, in the kingdom of human Taoism, monks
All those who taught Lu to practice cultivation were disciples of Liang Tao's lineage, and all kinds of ghosts and spirits were also included in it.
At that time, the Dao Kingdom’s incense offerings must be led by Liang Tao. He is both an immortal and a god, and his magic power is profound and far-reaching. The Dao Kingdom on earth will become his private property and his foundation for annexing Kunlun Continent.”
"Wait a minute, he plans to take over the entire Kunlun Continent?" Zhao Shu was surprised.
Lingxiao asked back: "Don't you also think that he founded the Dao Kingdom in the human world not for the welfare of the people? Liang Tao's plans are so big that a mere Huaxu Kingdom may not be able to satisfy them. What's more, Qingya True Lord was defeated by the evil god from outside. Liang Tao
To dominate the cave heaven, you should consider your future situation. This move of the Taoist kingdom in the human world is also preparing for fierce battles in the future. In the event of a powerful enemy from heaven and beyond, the incense and faith in the human world will become an inexhaustible resource.
Mana."
Zhao Shu had mixed feelings after hearing this. The future deduced by Lingxiao is indeed in line with Zhao Shu's view of Liang Tao. This man has great desires and a high vision. He sees that the world is full of stupidity, and he does despise human life, but he
He also regards Huaxu Kingdom as the foundation for future achievements and does not allow foreign enemies to interfere.
Such a person cannot be expected to give up his hard work. Liang Tao is not even involved in the world, but he took the initiative to get involved and spared no effort to participate in it.
If you think about it carefully, with Liang Tao's almost immortal cultivation, what else can haunt his heart? Even in Zhao Shu's view, Liang Tao can lay plans for evil gods from outside the world who are unimaginably powerful.
Planning and actively preparing countermeasures, without any fear or anxiety. All the things in the past have happened, not to mention having difficulties and doing it as a last resort.
This can no longer be explained by the calmness and calmness of ordinary people, but by the vastness of the immortal realm, where everything adapts to it. But for others, good and bad fortunes are unpredictable.
"Should I agree to Liang Tao?" Zhao Shu asked in his heart.
Lingxiao asked back: "Do you think you have the qualifications to refuse?"
Zhao Shu looked at the Jieyou Jue in his hand and sighed: "It seems unlikely. Liang Tao rarely shows kindness. If I refuse again, I'm afraid he will do it directly, whether it's searching for souls with magic or torture, I guess he
I won’t skimp on torture methods.”
Lingxiao said: "Actually, I hope you agree. As for teaching by words and deeds, sometimes you may not be able to fully understand the mysteries just by listening to me. If you stay with Liang Tao, you will learn more."
"It's hard to avoid feeling uncomfortable when you're with Liang Tao." Zhao Shu sighed, then looked at Jiang Ru who was also in the carriage.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Ru asked.
"Liang...the Imperial Master seems to think highly of you?" Zhao Shu said.
Jiang Ru lowered her head: "You also saw that I just did some small things to welcome people and send them off, and convey news."
"Do you know why the Imperial Master came to me this time?" Zhao Shu asked.
Jiang Ru shook her head gently: "The chief has never made it clear to me, and I won't pry... If it's something secret, Deacon Zhao shouldn't tell me either."
Zhao Shu raised his eyebrows: "You have... changed a lot."
Jiang Ru smiled slightly: "After experiencing so many things in Xingluo County, anyone will change."
…
When Zhao Shu returned to Jindingsi, he happened to see Zhang Duanjing and Anyang Hou coming towards them.
"My nephew! Why did you leave with the girl from Chongxuan Hall again?" Marquis Anyang looked furious: "Do you know how worried we are?"
Zhao Shu bowed and apologized: "I know I was wrong."
Marquis Anyang said earnestly: "Uncle Shi understands that it must be the Liang Guoshi who sent the enchantress to seduce you. But you are not an ignorant mortal like that. You have magic to protect yourself. Don't go wild just after you get the title. You still have to be careful when walking in the capital.
It’s better to be cautious!”
"I remember." Zhao Shu lowered his head and replied.
Zhang Duanjing looked serious: "It was ignorance the first time, and it was deliberate if you did it again. You have had previous experiences, and you should know that the situation in the capital is complicated, but you have repeatedly interacted with Chongxuan Hall. What is the reason?"
Zhao Shu lowered his head and remained silent, while Marquis Anyang stamped his feet and said, "My nephew, please tell me! If there is any difficulty, we can help you deal with it. If you don't say anything, we won't be able to help you even if we want to!"
"It seems that you have no repentance." Zhang Duanjing shook his hand and threw out a ruler with talismans engraved on all sides from his sleeve: "Your grandfather asked me before he died. If you make a mistake in the future, you can rely on this
The square ruler will punish you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Duanjing folded his fingers and flicked the ruler, making a dull sound, but bursts of thunder echoed all around, making people inexplicably frightened.
Zhao Shu bowed his head, and Anyang Hou quickly stopped the two of them when he saw this: "Gong Zhang, calm down! My nephew is just young and energetic. He is usually busy with official duties in Jinding Company and has little time for fun and banquets. Later, he was almost killed by Jiuli Kingdom.
When a spy is assassinated, it is inevitable that his mood will fluctuate, and his words and deeds will be slightly out of line. As elders, we can just scold him, and the punishment cannot be too severe."
"I think he was bewitched by the witch." Zhang Duanjing raised his ruler and pointed it at Zhao Shu: "Aren't you still willing to tell the truth in front of Fangzheng ruler?"
Seeing that Zhao Shu still refused to open his mouth, Marquis Anyang asked anxiously: "Did Liang Tao force you to cast some poisonous spell? Did he do anything to you?"
Zhang Duanjing said to Anyang Hou: "Please avoid me, I will punish you."
Marquis Anyang felt helpless when he saw the talisman on the ruler shining brightly. He looked at Zhao Shu with disappointment, sighed heavily and turned around to leave the courtyard.
The master and the apprentice stood in the courtyard, relatively speechless. After a while, Zhang Duanjing raised his sleeves and performed the magic, blocking out the sound inside and outside the courtyard.
"How? Are you willing to say it now?" Zhang Duanjing retracted his ruler, and his previous intimidating aura immediately disappeared.
"Thank you, teacher, for covering up for me." Zhao Shu saluted.
"Liang Tao must have some agenda in dealing with you." Zhang Duanjing gestured to Zhao Shui to sit on a stone bench in the courtyard: "Based on your habits, if you have nothing to say, you will have many excuses and explanations when facing accusations, making it impossible to pursue. If there is anything,
If important matters are important, just keep silent."
Zhao Miao smiled and said, "Isn't this exactly what you taught me, teacher?"
"No need to gossip." Zhang Duanjing said with a serious smile: "Liang Tao has asked you to come to see you again and again. Everyone can see that he attaches great importance to you."
"Master Liang wanted me to help him organize a ritual ceremony," Zhao Shu said.
Zhang Duanjing frowned and said: "With his cultivation level and the inheritance of the Immortal Family of Chongxuan Hall, it seems that this is not necessary."
"He... I don't know where to start." Zhao Shu exhaled. Liang Tao's grand plan for the Taoist Kingdom in the world still seems unbelievable to him.
"Then let's start from the beginning." Zhang Duanjing said.
Zhao Shu nodded and roughly recounted the long conversation he had with Liang Tao throughout the night. He also mentioned that Liang Tao intended for him to inform Zhang Duanjing about the matter.
After Zhang Duanjing listened to Zhao Mi's narration, he closed his eyes and thought for a long time before asking: "What do you think?"
"Ah? What do you think?" Zhao Shu asked.
"Liang Tao came to see you personally, which shows that he attaches great importance to the affairs of the human world." Zhang Duanjing said: "I noticed that you have a trace of fairy spirit in you. I think it is a gift from him."
Zhao Shu didn't dare to hide it, so he took out the three-legged Jiu Jue from his arms: "This thing is called Jieyou Jue. It was originally a family heirloom of He Dangguan. Later it fell into the hands of the Zheng family in Jiujiang. Zheng Yulou gave it to Liang Guoshi.
.”
"All your plans and interests are known to Liang Tao," Zhang Duanjing said.
Zhao Shu asked back: "Teacher, what secrets can I hide in front of Liang Guoshi?"
When he said this, Zhao Shu was still a little lucky. Although Liang Tao had a high level of cultivation, he did not notice the existence of Lingxiao.
"But you didn't refuse Liang Tao's gift of Jieyou Jue." Zhang Duanjing asked, "You don't seem to have any objection to what he said."
Zhao Shu thought for a long time and did not answer directly. Instead, he asked: "Teacher, what did we see on the way to Dongshengdu?"
Zhang Duanjing replied: "The strong and powerful are doing whatever they want, and their relatives are annexing them. The common people are poor and weak, and they are renting out their taxes to others, so that the acres of land stretch into counties and counties, and the buildings are spread all over the city."
"Yes, along the way, I discovered that after the troops were eliminated in Shouyang, the national affairs and people's livelihood did not improve." Zhao Shu sighed: "Teacher, do you still remember the incident in Chengyang County? Wang Miaoshou colluded with evil spirits, and the reason is nothing more than that.
The Anjia properties of several veterans were usurped by local wealthy families. The reason for the rise of banditry in Xingluo County was that the local officials did not respect the people's efforts and plundered wealth.
During my time in Dongshengdu, I learned a lot of things. So I made a speech in front of the king, hoping to alleviate the people's livelihood difficulties, but the result was not what I expected...Teacher, am I too naive?"
"It's good that you have such a heart." Zhang Duanjing gave a rare compliment: "It's normal for things to be unsatisfactory in the world. But when you talk about it now, do you think Liang Tao's human country can change people's hardships?"
"I'm just not sure." Zhao Shu put his forehead with his hands: "If nothing else, if Liang Guoshi ascends and leaves, abandoning the world, Huaxu Kingdom will lose one of its pillars. No one will dare to fight again in the future.
Guaranteed to withstand powerful enemies.
The Dao Kingdom in the human world may not be able to change the country's affairs and people's livelihood. However, to create a Dao Kingdom, it does not rely on laws and regulations, nor does it change dynasties. Instead, it must lay out a ritual that covers the entire Huaxu Kingdom, in order to control all the ghosts and spirits in the country and instigate
The qi of yin and yang and the five elements.
Teacher, you also know that this is the pursuit of the official of the Tianxia Dynasty. As the saying goes - the qi of the emperor and heaven are born from the bottom, the qi of the earth is nourished above, the qi of the five elements are all combined, and the qi of the four seasons are all harmonious. If
If you can gather the power of a country through scientific rituals and laws, let alone conquer the whole world, you can at least ensure that the people of one area can live and work in peace and contentment."
"Don't forget, the person who will preside over this ritual ceremony in the future is not you, but Liang Tao." Zhang Duanjing reminded: "He uses this method to ascend to the throne, what will be the consequences?"
Zhao Mingze asked: "Teacher, are we cultivating immortals and Taoism just to finally give up the world and watch the desolation of human beings? Master Liang may not have good intentions, but once these rituals and rituals are launched, the Taoist country in the world will be separated from him.
We live together and live together."
"Use selfishness to become selfless." Zhang Duanjing looked at Zhao Shui: "But you know, this move is to entrust the people of Huaxu Kingdom to Liang Tao. If there is any mistake, the people will suffer."