Nine Uncle knew that Shenxiao Sect could use lightning spells, but no one told him that Shenxiao Sect would also say, "The Heaven is dead, and the Yellow Heaven shall rise!" when using lightning spells?!
So, you wouldn't happen to be a spy sent by the Taiping Dao to the Shenxiao Sect, would you?
Three years and then another three years, and you've already become the Sect Master?
"So… so strong!!? I knew that lightning strike that day must have been him!"
Awei's eyes widened, his mouth agape in an exaggerated manner. In those small eyes, besides fear, there was also a hint of longing.
He originally thought that becoming the Security Team leader, carrying a small pistol, and lording it over Ren Family Town was already a very good life. If he could marry Ren Tingting, that would be even better.
But now, compared to a cultivator, what was his life worth?!
The other person casually summoned a lightning bolt, and the zombie instantly turned to ashes.
Under that massive lightning strike, Ren Old Master didn't even struggle and was directly struck dead.
Behind Bai Ye, a golden halo suddenly appeared, and then strands of merit power were absorbed into it.
One type came from eliminating the zombie, and the other came from saving others. According to the original fate, Wencai and Nine Uncle would both be infected with corpse poison, Ren Master would die, and innocent people would be bitten to death by the zombie. All of these were changed when Bai Ye eliminated Ren Old Master, and these naturally counted as Bai Ye's merit. Although it was pitifully small, it was better than nothing.
At this moment, Bai Ye didn't have much time to pay attention to this. He was currently immersed in the changes that merit brought him.
Perhaps it was because it was the first time he had received the baptism of merit.
Bai Ye directly advanced from the middle stage of Foundation Establishment to the late stage!
No wonder everyone loves merit. Who wouldn't love this stuff?
The manifestation of merit, that golden flash, filled everyone present with longing.
He was only one step away from the peak of Foundation Establishment. After this, he would be able to advance to Human Master, which would mean he had truly stepped into the threshold of cultivation.
Nine Uncle, upon seeing the Halo of Merit, looked at Bai Ye with great shock. He could actually materialize merit?
He shouldn't have guessed wrong, right?
With this thought, Nine Uncle raised his hand somewhat uncertainly and pointed to the Halo of Merit behind Bai Ye, asking, "Daoist friend, this is?!"
"Just merit. Daoist brother, you should be counted among the hidden virtues, right?"
Bai Ye did not hide anything. Others could not snatch merit, especially cultivators. When they knew that the other party was a person of profound blessings, they would be unwilling to provoke them, because the karma might not be something they could bear.
However, Bai Ye felt that Nine Uncle was different from him. He needed merit to improve his strength in the later stages, while Nine Uncle's merit directly transformed into hidden virtue, making it convenient for him to take up a position in the Underworld after death.
"Indeed, it's just a bit surprising that your merit can materialize, and that such a cultivation method still exists in this era! It's truly beyond imagination!"
Nine Uncle didn't dwell on it too much. He was just surprised by Bai Ye's ability earlier. In fact, he also knew that he had accumulated hidden virtues from eliminating the zombie this time, but he just didn't know how much while he was alive.
"By the way, Daoist friend, are you really from the Taiping Dao?"
"No, I'm from the Shenxiao Sect!"
Shenxiao Sect.
Nine Uncle pouted, muttering inwardly, so you were just shouting for fun. If your superiors saw this scene today, when you go up, they'd probably hang you up and beat you!
However, he didn't intend to expose Bai Ye. After all, no matter what, this was Shenxiao Sect's own business. What did it have to do with his Maoshan Sect?
"Daozhang, has my father's problem been resolved?"
Ren Master recovered from his shock. Although he saw his father had been struck by lightning and turned into ashes on the ground, the image of the zombie was still etched in Ren Master's mind.
So he had to confirm it, otherwise he probably wouldn't be able to sleep well in the future.
"Ren Master, your father's problem has been resolved. You can collect these ashes and rebury them. Don't worry, it's impossible for him to turn into a zombie again."
Looking at Ren Master's trembling appearance, Nine Uncle shook his head helplessly, then picked up the teacup beside him, preparing to take a sip.
The next second, Ren Master, still not reassured, continued to ask, "Then will he turn into a ghost?"
He had hired a Daoist to kill his own father. If his father turned into a ghost to seek revenge, wouldn't he suffer a second blow?
"Pfft!" Nine Uncle had just taken a sip of the excellent tea Bai Ye had given him, and the next second he spat it all out: "Cough cough, Ren Master, rest assured, a zombie cannot turn into a ghost!"
He's already a zombie, how could he become a ghost?
"That's good, that's good."
Ren Master didn't pay attention to Nine Uncle's rudeness at this moment, as long as his father didn't come to find him, it was fine.
"Awei, quickly let the Security Team outside come in, collect my father's ashes, and then prepare to leave!"
Ren Master said, then looked at Nine Uncle apologetically, "Sorry, Nine Uncle, I should have listened to you this morning."
If Bai Ye hadn't come to him this morning, his father might have bitten him to death.
At that time, Ren Master was still very much against cremation.
Now it's good, cremation was saved, and a lightning bolt directly obliterated his father.
"No matter, as long as Ren Master doesn't blame us, it's fine."
Nine Uncle waved his hand, not caring, as in this era, fewer people believed in ghosts and spirits.
Nine Uncle felt it was already very good that there were no casualties.
"Then we'll leave first, Daozhang. Tomorrow, I will personally come to thank you!"
Ren Fa was somewhat exhausted from today's events and wanted to go back and rest.
"Father, are we just leaving like this?"
Ren Tingting tugged at Ren Fa's sleeve. She was a bit scared, the scene just now was still in her mind. It was midnight now, what if they encountered another zombie on the way?!
"Then this..."
Ren Fa also realized this. He had only wanted to go back and rest, but he had forgotten that there really were demons, ghosts, and monsters in this world.
"Why don't you stay at Yi Village for the night?"
"Good, good, good!"
Ren Master hadn't even agreed yet when Wencai jumped up first. If Ren Fa chose to stay here, wouldn't Ren Tingting also stay here?
"Then we'll impose."
"Nine Uncle, Bai Taoist, I also want to stay here. Don't worry, whatever you say from now on, that's what it is. With me, Awei, here, whoever dares to bully you, I'll be the first to disagree!"
Awei fully displayed the characteristics of a sycophant. He definitely couldn't leave, and at the same time, Awei also had his own little plan.
"Daoist friend, how about we continue our discussion tonight?"
This place certainly couldn't accommodate so many people for rest, so Nine Uncle also decided not to rest tonight. Moreover, after seeing Bai Ye's abilities, he also had the idea of discussing Dao with Bai Ye again.
"Good."
"Master, Bai Taoist, can I listen?"
After this incident, Qiusheng seemed to have matured a bit.
That heavenly lightning strike just now caused a ripple in Qiusheng's heart. He suddenly felt that his previous idea of just drifting through life was indeed a waste of time. He wanted to cultivate well and become a Daoist like Bai Ye!
"Daoist friend?"
"You may!"
Bai Ye was a bit surprised. Could that mischievous disciple from the movie mature so quickly?
Could it just be a moment of passion?
Bai Ye didn't care, it was just a discussion of Dao.
"Tingting, you go listen too."
Ren Fa pushed Ren Tingting. Although he was extremely reluctant, Ren Fa had made up his mind.
He didn't want to tie Ren Tingting down because of himself.
After witnessing the power of a Daoist, he also understood that if Ren Tingting followed him, she would only be a merchant's daughter her entire life, at most marrying a warlord and becoming a concubine. If it were worse, in this chaotic world, the fate of beautiful women... Ren Fa didn't even dare to imagine.
But following Bai Ye, at least the other party would be able to protect Ren Tingting.
Moreover, after this zombie incident, Ren Fa also understood that it was most likely his father who was tricked by the Feng Shui Master, which was why he turned into a zombie. The Daoist's methods of revenge made Ren Fa's heart chill.
First, let the Ren Family suffer for twenty years, then let his father turn into a zombie and bite the whole family to death, wiping out the Ren Family, and all of them were killed by Ren Old Master. This also made people feel somewhat horrified.
"Father, I..."
"I know what you want to say. Father is not old yet. Bai Taoist said before that you are suitable for cultivation, so I feel more at ease with you following Bai Taoist!" Ren Fa grabbed Ren Tingting's hand, then turned his head and looked at Bai Ye seriously, saying, "Bai Taoist, I accept on behalf of Tingting. Please take her up the mountain!"
"No, I don't agree. I won't accept it."
Bai Ye waved his hand. He didn't need Ren Master's consent; he needed Ren Tingting to be willing herself.
If she was forced to go up the mountain, then it would be better not to join the Shenxiao Sect at all.
"Bai Taoist, can I still go down the mountain later?"
Ren Tingting bit her lip. If she couldn't go down the mountain for the rest of her life, even if she knew this might be one of her few opportunities, she would still give it up, because she wouldn't just abandon her father like that.
"Of course you can. I'm not asking you to go into seclusion. I'll occasionally go down the mountain too."
Listening to Bai Ye's explanation, Ren Tingting was completely relieved.
She then stepped forward, preparing to bow to Bai Ye, but the next second, Bai Ye pulled her back.
"Don't perform the apprenticeship ceremony here. Wait until we return to the Shenxiao Sect and do it in front of the ancestors."
Becoming a disciple is not as simple as just kneeling down and saying "Master."
All sects require disciples to be taken in front of the ancestral tablets of the sect, and the ancestors must be informed. Otherwise, if one privately takes a disciple, Ren Tingting would not be recognized by the Shenxiao Sect.
"Alright, don't make such a fuss. Those who want to stay, stay. Those who want to rest, go rest!"
Saying that, Bai Ye ignored the others. His exchange with Nine Uncle this time also made Bai Ye understand some of the merits of Maoshan Sect.
Both sides were quite interested in each other's respective Dao.
Actually, what Bai Ye was most curious about was Nine Uncle's true strength.
He definitely had the strength of a Human Master, but he seemed to struggle a bit when dealing with Ren Old Master, which seemed a bit off.
But thinking about it, it seemed easy to deal with him at first, and it only became very difficult after Ren Old Master underwent a transformation later on.
After their discussion, the two also shifted the topic to other matters.
"Daoist friend, there's also a monster and a female ghost around here. Do you want to deal with them all?"
The female ghost Dong Xiaoyu and that Masira were both ready-made merit.
"There are still monsters around us?"
He had been in Ren Family Town for many years and truly didn't know there were monsters and ghosts nearby.
How long had Bai Ye just arrived, and he already knew the situation around here like the back of his hand?
"Yes, a large Masira spirit, right behind the mountain, and a female ghost named Dong Xiaoyu. Just help her pass on!"
"Alright, then I'll go with you tomorrow, Daoist friend!"
Nine Uncle nodded, also wanting to see the spirit and female ghost Bai Ye mentioned.
Awei, seeing an opportunity to curry favor, quickly stood up and said, "I'll go with you! Our Security Team can help search!"
He was so eager, naturally, to make Bai Ye look at him in a new light. If he could be accepted as a disciple later.
Then wouldn't he and Ren Tingting become senior and junior siblings? At worst, senior sister and junior brother would also be fine!
"Cough, Nine Uncle, I have a question. Since this zombie was cultivated by that Feng Shui Master, will he come back to reclaim it?"
The Feng Shui Master, a character who didn't appear in the movie, but since he had such a good burial ground to cultivate Ren Weiyong into a zombie, he naturally wouldn't just abandon it.
Either he's dead, or he hasn't had time to reclaim it before Nine Uncle dealt with it. But no matter which, the Feng Shui Master is always a hidden danger. From the moment he plotted against Ren Old Master twenty years ago, he had already fallen into evil ways.
"No way? That Feng Shui Master isn't dead yet?"
Ren Master originally wanted to rest, but he decided to stay and listen to what Bai Ye and Nine Uncle were discussing. Unexpectedly, he heard this news.
"It's unknown if he's dead, but since he cultivated Ren Old Master, it's also possible that he has fallen into evil ways. Most people in evil ways prolong their lives, so no one can be sure!"
If there was anyone who was most unwilling to die, it would naturally be those in the evil path.
And after the good burial ground was seized, the Feng Shui Master might have truly embarked on another path from that moment on, but this was also the cause created by Ren Old Master!
"Don't panic, it's just a guess."
"Daoist friend, I think this indeed needs attention. Perhaps you haven't been down the mountain for long, so you're not very clear, but we at Maoshan and Longhu Mountain have already noticed the existence of some evil cults. They are very dangerous..."
Nine Uncle looked at Bai Ye with a serious expression.
Besides Ren Master, there were only Qiusheng, Wencai, Awei, and Ren Tingting, a total of five people present.
The rest of the Security Team had all gone to rest.
Nine Uncle pondered for a moment and did not conceal anything. Although Awei had no integrity, his nature was not bad. Ren Master might be the direct victim of revenge, and Ren Tingting was Bai Ye's disciple, so Nine Uncle decided to reveal some information about this matter.
Those evil cults have already formed a climate. Hundreds of years ago, the conflict between Dao and Demon ended with the victory of Daoism and the large-scale cleansing of the demonic path. However, here, the demonic path seems to have revived, and in this chaotic era, the demonic path seems even more rampant, not even bothering to hide anymore.
Perhaps the world was too chaotic, or for other reasons, Nine Uncle wasn't too clear. In short, at this time, Bai Ye actually needed to strive for himself even more. Bai Ye's strength was very strong!
Perhaps, another conflict between Dao and Demon was about to begin.