931 To Ask About Dao From Toads and Ask for Dao From the People (2/2)
'The true teachings of the Dao Sect aren't within the celestial heavens.'
Qin Mu looked at some youths who were dressed flamboyantly and thought to himself, 'No wonder Dao Ancestor doesn't come back to the Dao Sect frequently.'
At this very moment, a Daoist ran over hurriedly and said something to the celestial heavens' Dao Master in a low voice.
The Dao Master of the celestial heavens nodded his head gently and smiled. ”Celestial Venerable, everyone, Dao Ancestor has come out of seclusion. Upon hearing that Celestial Venerable is here, he has ordered me to invite everyone over. Please follow me.”
Qin Mu was overjoyed, and he followed after him with the rest.
Yun Chuxiu smiled. ”Celestial Venerable Mu went to visit the various Celestial Venerables, but none of them dared to meet him. Dao Ancestor is quite brave, seeing that he actually dares to meet Celestial Venerable Mu.”
The Dao Master of the celestial heavens quickly smiled in an apologetic manner. ”Dao Ancestor is just the Dao Ancestor of our Dao Sect, how would he dare to be compared to the other Celestial Venerables? Celestial Venerable has come to pay a visit, Dao Ancestor wouldn't dare to refuse the meeting.”
They came to the main hall of the Dao Sect. This main hall was positioned where the Numinous Sky Hall should be in the Jade Pure Celestial Palace, but it wasn't built according to the architecture of the Numinous Sky Hall.
In contrast, this main hall was unexpectedly shabby looking. It was a Daoist temple that was built out of a straw hut and had a radius of six to seven yards around it. It was also not guarded by divine beasts. Qin Mu saw that there were two toads at each corner, on the left and right sides of the stone steps by the door.
The two toads seemed to have some intelligence. Upon hearing the sound of footsteps, their eyes bulged out of their heads, and they slowly opened their eyelids to glance at them as they croaked.
Following this, the two toads retracted their eyes back into their heads, covering them up tightly and flatly.
Yan'er leaped off of Qin Mu's shoulder and used her beak to knock on the head of one of the toads.
The toad slowly bulged out its eyes again and asked in a leisurely manner, ”What is it?”
”It can speak!”
Yan'er got a shock, and she jumped two steps back before asking vigilantly, ”Are you monsters?”
The toad rolled its eyes and replied with displeasure, ”Can't you speak too?”
”I'm not the same. I'm a half-god, while you're a toad!”
Yan'er hopped forwards and laughed. ”If you are of a mortal species, then you shouldn't be able to speak. Unless, of course, you have cultivated to become a demon.”
The toad replied, ”I am Dao and not a toad, so naturally, I can speak.”
Yan'er was incredibly shocked. The dragon qilin pushed his huge head forwards and asked curiously, ”You are Dao? Who told you that?”
”The old Daoist told me.”
The toad wore a serious expression and continued, ”He said that Dao was toads and that he wanted to seek Dao and required our help. Thus, he brought us over here to guard his door. You won't understand, retreat.”
Yan'er and the dragon qilin squinted at each other.
Qin Mu followed the celestial heavens' Dao Master into the small rundown-looking temple. The Dao Master turned around and smiled apologetically to Yun Jianli, Qi Jiuyi, and the others. ”Dao Ancestor will only see the Celestial Venerable, please hold your steps.”
Yun Jianli and Qi Jiuyi quickly replied, ”It's fine. Dao Master, please go ahead.”
They were all aware that although this Dao Master of the celestial heavens' Dao Sect looked like a subservient and mindless old Daoist, he actually had immeasurable abilities and was an existence that was only inferior to Dao Ancestor within the Dao Sect.
However, Yun Chuxiu was a little unhappy, as she wanted to enter and listen to Dao Ancestor and Qin Mu's conversation. Yet, the celestial heavens' Dao Master guarded the door with a smile on his face. It was evident that he didn't intend to let anyone else other than Qin Mu inside.
'This sloppy Daoist is acting all mysterious and sneaky, what exactly is he up to?' Yun Chuxiu snorted coldly.
Qin Mu walked into the straw hut and saw a sloppy-looking old Daoist sitting by a green lamp. Upon seeing him, the old Daoist stood up and smiled. ”Celestial Venerable Mu, it's been a long time since we last met.”
Qin Mu smiled. ”It's been a long time.”
The old Daoist took off his wooden hairpin to pick at the lamp wick as he smiled. ”There are ears everywhere, Celestial Venerable, let's have our conversation in the lamp.”
A flower made of light with blinding radiance burst out of the green lamp. When the light reverted to its original state, the old Daoist and Qin Mu had already vanished without a trace!
When Qin Mu's vision was restored, he realized that they had already arrived within a heavens that was within the wick. The entrance to the heavens was a flame in the shape of a candle flame. This flame was thousands of yards tall, and it was incredibly astonishing.
Dao Ancestor was right beside him, and he said leisurely, ”The outburst of the Eternal Peace Calamity, the interception of the reforms of Eternal Peace, and Celestial Venerable Mu coming to the celestial heavens. When I heard about all of this, I hurried back here, intending to help out so as to repay the enlightenment you once gave me. I didn't expect that Celestial Venerable would have such great abilities and would actually be able to resolve the danger around you so easily. It's just that the actions of Celestial Venerable have caused disruptions to the peace of the heavens. Celestial Venerable, you have caused chaos within the celestial heavens. Are you aware of how many people and how many gods and devils in the celestial heavens will die because of your actions?”
Qin Mu laughed coldly. ”Dao Ancestor is benevolent. Do you know how many people died during the calamity of Eternal Peace? Less than one in ten survived! Billions of human lives became ash and smoke just like that! Has Dao Ancestor ever felt any sympathy for them?”
Dao Ancestor sighed. ”I was also helpless to do anything during the outburst of the calamity of Eternal Peace.”
Qin Mu replied, ”The Dao Sect advocates inaction, however, with the affairs of the world today, inaction will result in deaths! You were unable to save the lives of this world, yet you still wish to criticize me for creating chaos in the celestial heavens and causing the deaths of some disciples of a few Celestial Venerables?”
”I wouldn't dare.”
Dao Ancestor said, ”It's just that flowers, grass, trees, and wood are all lives…”
”Foolish! Hypocrite!”
Qin Mu shook his head. ”Dao Ancestor, you helped the celestial heavens research the ancient gods' Great Dao divine arts. Do you know how many are dead because of you? You are also guilty in regard to the innumerous deaths during the Eternal Peace Calamity. Are these human lives inferior to the flowers, grass, trees, and wood that you speak of? I have merely caused trouble for the Lang Xuan Divine Palace and the Ancestral King Palace, and you're already holding me accountable. Who will hold you accountable? You say that the Dao is a toad, but toads don't understand Dao, people do! Not only do people understand Dao, but they can also create Dao.”
”Dao Ancestor, you are blinded in your pursuit of Dao! You wish to achieve Dao, but it cannot be done through studying and asking about Dao. Instead, you have to create a Dao that belongs to you! One who can create Dao, only then is it the real Dao!”
He yelled out, ”To ask for Dao from Dao, you might as well ask for Dao from the people!”
Dao Ancestor felt a tremble in his head, and he replied solemnly, ”Back then, I was enlightened by Celestial Venerable, and today, I have once again been enlightened by Celestial Venerable. I have benefited from your advice.”