Zheng Yin spoke up at this moment, introducing his companions. He pointed at an old turtle and said, "True Master, this is Senior Zhao Gongda, skilled in governing political affairs. If our covert plans succeed, the stability of Qiantang Province will rely on Senior Zhao."
After finishing, another whisker pointed toward a golden crab of an alien species and said, "True Master, this is Meng Daoist. He has methods that could sway many cultivation forces both inside and outside Qiantang Province to our side. Though it's not a decisive force, once we gain the upper hand, we can avoid infighting and fend off external invasions, allowing all people to rest and recuperate in the least amount of time."
As his voice fell, a third whisker pointed toward a green dragon emitting a fierce and aggressive aura, and he said, "True Master, this is Guo Daoist. He has secretly formed a Martial God Army. Although they can't deal with the Three Arhats, cleaning up those demon monks scattered throughout Qiantang Province afterward would not be difficult."
After the introductions, Zheng Yin, transformed into a catfish, turned his body and swam directly to Tao Qian's side.
Bubbling, with excitement in his voice, he said:
"Three Daoist friends!"
"The name of True Master Tao of the Spirit Treasure Sect, I presume you have all heard of it."
"I won't hide it from you, my original plan was just to eliminate Cheng Arhat, this cancer, during this assembly. Although I have received some favor from the 'Heavenly Track,' I am also aware of my limitations. This curse killing technique, destined to only operate in the shadows, can only patch up the order to some extent and does not greatly help the situations or livelihoods of the people."
"It was not until I recently met True Master Tao."
"I originally thought, though the True Master has repeatedly done good deeds and has even initiated major events like the Demon City Incident, the Yang Sui Uprising, and the New Moon Rebellion, there were rumors that the True Master came to this world to overcome his cultivation tribulation, and these many deeds weren't for the weak lives of the mortal populace but for his own cultivation challenges."
"Although that's also commendable, such a person could not truly become a leader for Zheng Yin, nor fit to fall into the mundane world, and will eventually leave... To wholehearted support such an individual might end in vain."
"However, just a few days ago, during a question and answer session with the True Master, a mysterious connection arose within me."
"I'm not sure how to express it, why not share this feeling with the three of you while we are gathered today."
As he spoke, not only the three individuals but also Tao Qian were perplexed.
However, they quickly saw Zheng Yin's three tentacles all began to glow, sharing a certain perception.
Moments later, the eyes of Zhao Gongda, Meng Shoudao, and Guo Huchen simultaneously showed surprise, and they looked at Tao Qian, bowing together, beginning to speak.
First was Zhao Gongda, who almost made Tao Qian believe his greatest secret had been revealed with his first sentence.
"Odd, very odd. True Master Tao, such an exalted person of Heaven's Pride, willing to save the world and its people, should normally stand on the ground of Gods and Buddhas, merely pitying and aiding the mortals; however, the Heavenly Track perception passed by Zheng Yin bizarrely indicates that the True Master stands above the stance of the ant-like mortals, truly puzzling."
"Indeed, it's mysterious. Any cultivator, no matter how destitute before cultivation and more wretched than ants, would change their stance once they obtain extraordinary power. The few of us are oddities, freakish even; I thought Zheng Yin's stance was the most bizarre and extreme among us, yet True Master Tao's is even more radical. You should be aware that you are a Spirit Treasure True Inheritor, and rumors even suggest you will be the future Sect Master of the Spirit Treasure Sect."
"The first talent of Daoism, a future Sect Master of the largest sect, harboring deep desires to change the rules of this world, seeking to help tens of billions considered as mere spiritual materials and provisions to stand up. Truly preposterous, True Master Tao, if Lingbao Tianzun knew of your intentions, you might not sit upon that esteemed position in the future."
"But with such an explanation, those inexplicable madness-induced actions of True Master Tao in the past seem reasonable."
"Only a madman would shatter treasures like the 'Mountain and River Map,' just to dissolve the parasitic alchemists that have drained the mortals for thousands of years."
"True Master, do not hesitate, this bow you truly deserve, truly do."
...
As these people spoke, Tao Qian gradually felt relieved.
Clearly, Zheng Yin and his companions had not discerned Tao Qian's biggest secret, merely vaguely sensed his innate stance because of "Heavenly Track" and the Human Dao Fortune.
Normally, such a thing is overlooked.
After all, conventionally, once cultivation begins, an individual immediately transforms from Human Clan into another life form, changing stances naturally.
Even while doing good deeds!
Even while saving the world and the nation!
No matter the great deeds or how many people are saved, the stance remains that of Gods, Buddhas, Immortals, or Demons.
Should there be an issue concerning fundamental change, good and evil could reverse in an instant.
Even Yuan Gong and Duobao would incline likewise, indisputably.
Tao Qian, the Great Master, was truly an anomaly.
No wonder these people, even though it was their first encounter, bowed respectfully just like Zheng Yin.
However, they did not realize that this incident also caused Tao Qian to be momentarily startled, and he thought subconsciously in his heart,
"If I were a mortal of this realm, a mere scholar turned cultivator, my stance would gradually change as well."
"Yet, I am not, and if I were to assimilate gradually and transform into such, I would eventually forget who I was and where I came from..."
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Tao Qian's expression moved, showing a hint of surprise.
Due to the current stirrings of his heart and soul, Tao Qian, despite being a whole major realm away, sensed in advance the tribulations that awaited him in the future.
Not too many, and not too clear, just a few fragments.
But there was no doubt they were the tribulations of Daoist Transformation.
Sensing these, Tao Qian felt joy instead of fear, because both Yuan Gong and Duobao had said: the ability to perceive one's tribulations offered a potential step towards Daoist Transformation, and the earlier one sensed them, the greater the possibility of overcoming these tribulations.
Most cultivators only start to perceive their tribulations after stepping into the Ultimate Happiness Realm and then make preparations.
Those who could sense them in the Cavernous Mystery were almost guaranteed to step onto the path of Daoist Transformation.
Tao Qian did not dwell on this fortunate matter for long, knowing time was pressing. After exchanging pleasantries, he immediately began discussing the details of significant matters with Zheng Yin, Zhao Gongda, Meng Shoudao, and Guo Huchen.
With thousands of names provided by Tao Qian, combined with these four who were extraordinary individuals,
they soon established many key strategies in a short period of time.
During this conversation, Tao Qian secretly thought in his heart,
"These four, whether in cultivation or backing, are far less than the National Salvation Congress and Ancestor Dragon Society."
"Yet, the provincial governance strategies they have agreed upon are extremely meticulous and more pragmatic. Without any accidents, as long as the Demon Buddha Temple is eradicated, Qiantang Province will regain good order in a short time, possibly even better than the previous governance under the Zhu Dynasty when the Ancestor God Forbidden Techniques were still collapsing."
As Tao Qian reflected, Zheng Yin and the others were even more satisfied.
At this point, they should have parted ways and proceeded as planned.
However, at this moment, Zheng Yin seemed to sense something and suddenly blurted out,
"True Master, fellow Daoists."
"The one in charge of the Han Mountain Army, Li Ren, has just accepted my invite to join us, but he has one condition."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone looked over.
Yet Zheng Yin suddenly turned to Tao Qian, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, and then continued,
"It turns out Li Ren had pledged himself to the Devil Concubine Yuan Mingzhen, who is also a hero in her own rights. I didn't expect Yuan Mingzhen to have the capabilities to subdue him."
"He initially wanted to reject me, but not long ago, the Great Freedom Temple and Vajra Temple jointly headed to the old site of Han Mountain Temple, wanting to collaborate with Yuan Mingzhen to demand her to surrender her fortune, Spring and Autumn Chariot, and other secrets to help elevate the Great Abyss Zen Master to the throne."
"The Free Temple also aims to establish an Earthly Buddha Country, only they consider themselves more upright than the Demon Buddha Temple."
"Although Li Ren is somewhat a Buddhist practitioner, his aspirations and ideals are not of this nature, therefore, he chose to support us."
"And he brought a piece of information about Yuan Mingzhen, who seems to have no power to resist, but actually holds an extremely powerful trump card."
"Li Ren said: behind Yuan Mingzhen, there is support from the head of the female fairies of the Spirit Treasure Sect, Yunhua Immortal."