The faces of everyone in the hall changed, and the envoy shouted, "What are you doing?"

Zhang Qinglu smiled faintly, put his natal soul lamp on the tray, walked up to the envoy and raised it respectfully, and said, "Please accept it from the envoy." ”

Cheng Jun looked at Zhang Qinglu's back, admired it a little in his heart, and said secretly: That's right.

Zhang Qinglu's method of dealing with it should be the best when he can't change the result of offering the natal soul lamp. At least the attitude is clear - since he has been controlled by others, the surname Suo will sacrifice his natal soul lamp, and use his own soul as a guarantee to advance and retreat together. It shows his determination to withstand the pressure of the Shangqing Palace for his subordinates. This calming effect should not be underestimated, at least it will not have too much impact on his own layout and the morale of his subordinates.

In fact, he can also light the natal soul lamp at the beginning, which can be regarded as a leading example, and it also has the effect of stabilizing people's hearts. But in this way, there will inevitably be a state of persecution, if he orders first, others will have to order if they don't order. If he is behind, he seems to have lost the initiative, but this gesture has the meaning that he will shelter his own people no matter what, which is a signal to reassure others. If his subordinates were all simple-minded guys, they might not understand this obscure meaning, but with the keen minds of Cheng Jun and the three of them, they could naturally see it clearly.

Of course, the best choice for this is that he, as the master of Zixiao Palace, is the best for his subordinates in such a situation. As himself, it was not good at all, not only did he lose his natal soul lamp, but the impression he left in front of that envoy must have been very bad. Just look at whether the envoy has a seizure on the spot, or whether he will save some face for the Zixiao Palace Master...... The envoy's expression froze slightly, and he sneered, and said, "Very good—very good." After all, he still reached out and took the plate, but when he took it, a faint light flashed in his hands, and the plate pressed down slightly, and with a pop, the tray at the bottom, which I don't know whether it was gold or jade, suddenly collapsed, leaving only four natal soul lamps floating in the air.

Seeing this, Cheng Jun smiled bitterly in his heart, this is also right, looking at the temper of the envoy, he can easily suppress people with power, and it is not able to leave face.

Zhang Qinglu's face turned pale, he let go of his hand, took a few steps back, and said, "Congratulations to the envoy." ”

The envoy flicked his sleeves, put the four natal soul lamps into his sleeves together, and suddenly sneered: "Palace Master, today is already June 10th, June 15th, you attend the ceremony, don't be late." I advise you to do it yourself. ”

Zhang Qinglu saluted again and said, "Inherit the auspicious words of the envoy." ”

After the envoy left, Zhang Qinglu slowly raised his head, stood in the hall, looked at the faint lights, and did not speak for a long time. Tang Shichu wanted to say something, Cheng Jun stepped forward and said, "Two fellow Daoists, let's take a step ahead." ”

Tang Shichu was stunned for a moment, turned his head to look at Zhang Qinglu, Zhang Qinglu nodded slightly, and said nothing. The three of them said together: "I'll retire." ”

As soon as the three of them withdrew, Zhang Qinglu's face turned pale, covered his face with his sleeves, and spat out a mouthful of blood.

The three of them went out and slowly walked back from the main hall to the side hall where they lived.

After being silent for a while, Ying Yue said in a deep voice: "Zhang Zhenren seems to have suffered a lot of internal injuries just now. That...... The envoy's methods are vicious, and his words are even more vicious, what are the five days, I think I can calculate that these five days are not enough time for real people to recover and recuperate. He must have deliberately made the real person look bad at the ceremony. ”

Tang Shichu paused slightly, and said, "Will it affect the progress of the ceremony?"

Cheng Jun said slowly: "That's impossible, because Zhang Zhenren is also the preferred candidate of the Shangqing Palace." If the ceremony of Zixiao Palace is delayed, then this matter will not only slap Zixiao Palace in the face, but will definitely stab it up to Shangqing Palace. There are still some people in the Shangqing Palace who support the real person, and the envoy will also fall when the time comes. It is estimated that he made a measured move. It must be between making Zhang Zhenren uncomfortable to the point that he can't support it. ”

Ying Yue sighed softly and said, "Shangqing Palace, it's really domineering. There was a lot of fear in her tone, and the trace of resentment and shame was very hidden.

Tang Shichu said lightly: "They are so domineering, that is also ordinary, after all, compared to Zixiao Palace and Shangqing Palace, one is in the sky and the other is on the ground." Any one of them over there is a random envoy who comes down, and he is already cultivating like that. Zixiao Palace couldn't find anyone who could compete with him. He wants to run amok, who can stop him?" the anger in his tone could not be heard without noticing.

Ying Yue said quietly: "Yes, even the palace master is so helpless. Zixiao Palace is just a pawn in a corner of the northern country to Shangqing Palace. We are pawns of small strokes. The only thing that can be comforted is that such a small pawn, even if he took the natal soul lamp, maybe he would have forgotten it in the corner long ago. If this is the case, then it is the blessing of the Dao Ancestor. ”

Tang Shichu said: "Actually, Zhang Zhenren shouldn't be so risky. The Shangqing Palace is powerful and unstoppable, and the Zixiao Palace will not be able to leave the palm of their hands for thousands of years. We are weak, and the envoy is like a rootless duckweed outside, not only must we always worry about the undercover matter being exposed, but also beware of the constraints of the Shangqing Palace behind our backs. In such a situation, the only person who can shelter us is a real person, and although he makes such a decision, although it is good for us, isn't it too mean to himself? There are no eggs under the nest, if the real person sees the responsibility and the Shangqing Palace, how can we protect ourselves? I don't know how the real person thinks about it. ”

Ying Yue said: "Then do you still need to ask? The real person has already thought about it and made a decision." This is called the difference between inside and outside. ”

Tang Shichu turned his head to look at her, and Ying Yue said, "You said that in the hearts of real people, who is more important between us and the Shangqing Palace?"

Tang Shichu almost blurted out: "How can we compare with the Shangqing Palace?" suddenly his heart moved, and said, "You said we are more important?"

Ying Yue said: "There is a difference between inside and outside." If you let us weigh him with the envoy, we will definitely fly him to the edge of the sky, but if we talk about intimacy and distance, the Shangqing Palace is indeed on the edge of the sky. If it weren't for this ceremony, Zixiao Palace would only be able to welcome an envoy once in a few years? This envoy said that he was coming here today and would leave tomorrow, even if he won his favor, what was the use? What he really valued was those of us who could be seen day and night and conspired with great things. Therefore, this is the difference between the attitude of the real person, for us he cares, and for the envoy of the Shangqing Palace, as long as he is not excited, he can't be controlled. This is the foothold chosen by Zhang Zhenren. You're underestimating real people. ”

Tang Shichu sighed: "Let you say, many things turn out to be too clear, and it's not interesting." ”

Ying Yue said softly: "What I mean is that you don't think that the real person is a reckless person. He just sees it better than anyone else. But his courage is not available to others, even if you know the severity, do you dare to risk yourself to protect your subordinates?" Speaking of this, she saw that there was no one on the other side, she was slightly stunned, turned her head, and saw Cheng Jun a few feet behind, standing in place, stunned, and couldn't help but wonder: "Cheng Daoyou, what's wrong with you?"

Cheng Jun heard Yingyue's words just now, and unconsciously stopped, with an indescribable strange feeling in his heart.

Something seems to have gone wrong?

After thinking about it a few times, he took out some clues from his memory, quickly analyzed them a few times, smiled unconsciously, and heard Ying Yue call himself, and replied: "It's nothing, I think what Daoyou said is too good." Many things turn out to be too clear, and it's not interesting. ”

Walking slowly, Cheng Jun turned his head sideways to look back at the relationship between the Burning Soul Hall and Zhang Qinglu's Shangqing Palace, was it so bad that this was not at all the same as what he knew in his previous life.

Forget it, it's useless to think about it, just don't think about it.

Zhang Qinglu knelt in the main hall, the lights on the stage were brilliant, and the candles were shining. In the light of the fire, his face, which was paler than usual, did not show weakness, but was gentle and calm.

A person walked out of the apse slowly, stared at Zhang Qinglu's straight back, and snorted coldly: "It's big, and your heart is big, so you dare to make trouble with me." Are you still a three-year-old?"

Zhang Qinglu endured a mouthful of blood and said slowly: "The child doesn't dare." ”

The man said coldly, "Are you dissatisfied with me?"

Zhang Qinglu said respectfully: "The child has no such intention. It was I who embarrassed you in public, and it was indeed right for my father-in-law to punish me. I know my mistake. ”

The man's expression was solemn, and he said, "Hmph, if it weren't for you, other people would dare to be so presumptuous in front of me, how could I just punish the big commandment so little? What about the others? Are you dissatisfied with the Dao Palace's natal soul lamp system?"

Zhang Qinglu's voice was still very respectful, and he said: "The natal soul lamp is a good thing, and the Dao Palace has used it to stabilize the foundation for eight thousand years. Besides, the child himself is also using these means, and many of the natal soul lamps in the Soul Burning Hall are lit by my subordinates. ”

The man snorted and said, "That's fine." But what are you doing when you come here and kneel down?

Zhang Qinglu said: "How dare the child threaten his father-in-law? The child is just afraid of his own mistake in his heart, so he does not dare to plead before atoning for his sins. I beg you to give me their natal soul lamps. ”

The man was silent for a while, and then said, "That's it, since you admit your mistake, you and I are father and son...... Their natal soul lamps are not a big deal, so you can take them if you want. Dao Gong didn't know how many of them were at all, and it was nothing more than that. With a flick of his sleeve, four natal soul lamps flew out together.

Zhang Qinglu turned around and took it, carefully examined the four lamps, his eyes drooped slightly, and suddenly reached out to wipe them, and the four natal soul lamps went out together.

The man was stunned, then he was furious, strode over, stretched out his hand and grabbed Zhang Qinglu's collar, and was about to punish him fiercely, seeing that his expression was calm, he finally took a breath and sneered: "Okay, you dare to play these little tricks with me? Your so-called sincere attitude just now is it just to deceive a few lamps in my hand? You had better explain it to me clearly, otherwise I will teach your father a lesson for you today." ”

Zhang Qinglu's expression did not move, and said: "What my father-in-law said is, you just don't ask me, and I have to say some things." So please allow me to finish speaking, after you finish speaking, you can punish me, take me back to the Shangqing Palace, or choose another palace master, I am willing. ”

When the man heard this, his expression calmed down a little more, let go of Zhang Qinglu, and said, "Very good." When the child grows up, it is time to reason with the elders. If I don't let you speak, I'm afraid you will think that you are very reasonable, but others will not allow you to speak. Say whatever you want, and I'll listen. ”

Zhang Qinglu bowed respectfully and said, "The child doesn't dare to teach his father-in-law a lesson." It's just that, as you said, today's matter is a trivial matter, and the four natal soul lamps are insignificant. The child turned off the lights just now, not to deceive you, but to think that the Shangqing Palace should not go on like this. ”

The man sneered, "How do you go down?"

Zhang Qinglu said word by word: "Ignoring the hearts of his subordinates, blindly being simple and rude, so that people's hearts are scattered and detached." ”

The man was stunned, couldn't help but look up to the sky and laughed, and said, "What a centrifugal detachment." I heard these four words from the mouth of a monk. When I was in the Shangqing Palace, I said that I would personally raise you, and your father's old thing did not entrust you to the innocent old man, and I said that the old thing misled people's children. Look at what you've learned so far. is full of mortal minds, full of Confucian dogma, and has been infected by some righteousness in the rivers and lakes, making him look like such a ghost. What a waste of your talents. ”

Zhang Qinglu said lightly: "My father-in-law has taught me since I was a child, and my children have always respected you. But now these words have no beginning and no end, and I am afraid that they will not be able to convince the child. As far as the matter of today is concerned, no matter what you say or do, if you say the four words of the natal soul lamp, the relationship between me and my subordinates has been torn apart by the invisible chasm. They are controlled, both by you and by me, and they have been subjected to others, so that they are cautious and have a ghostly heart, and must analyze their identities from a more utilitarian standpoint. No matter how much I do, I will only be analyzed by them and broken down into two words. In this way, all I will ever gain is a superficially respectful but unfaithful subordinate, but what I have lost is a few companions who may share great things in the future. ”

The man sneered: "You calculating petty profits, although you are the first to speak, but after all, it is extremely boring. Let me tell you what the Great Dao is, the Great Dao is the Heavenly Dao, and the only thing that we monks want to pursue is the Heavenly Dao. After all, everything else is a trivial matter, what we have to do is to deal with it in the fastest and most effective way, why do mortals come up with a set of theories that play with people's hearts? That's a spell that they can't control, we are blessed monks, and we are the superior among monks, we just need to control others in the safest way, let them obediently shut up, and do things for us. As for what they think, it's none of your business. ”

Zhang Qinglu said softly: "What my father-in-law said is true. The child knew this truth, so he did not relax the means of controlling his subordinates. But people are different, some people just need them to be obedient, and some people deserve more trust and tenderness. If we are indiscriminately disposed of in this way, once the chain of control is broken, where can we rely on? I was born in the Shangqing Palace since I was a child, and all I think about is the future and glory of the Shangqing Palace. Naturally, even if the hearts of the people in the Shangqing Palace are really scattered, my share will not be affected, and if it is a normal time, I will never say a word. But now it's different. ”

The man: "What's the difference now?"

Zhang Qinglu said: "Now the wind and rain are coming. Shangqing Palace has to do big things, and the world will be chaotic. At this time, it is the time to gather talents and gather people's hearts, don't you think that the Shangqing Palace should change?"

The man snorted and said, "What about the big things? You say that the means of control are unreliable? That's because you have seen too little, and your cultivation level is too low, and you can't imagine that kind of realm at all." How did the 8,000-year-old foundation come about? It was built by the old man Gaozu himself, in a way that you disdain. Do you think that if you reach the cultivation level of Gao Zu, do you still care about those people's hearts?"

Zhang Qinglu gritted his teeth and said: "I haven't had the pleasure of visiting Gaozu and his old man, maybe he has really reached the realm of treating everything in the world as ants? He sighed and said, "Do you remember the jade tablet written by Taizu in the Shangqing Palace?"

The man was silent. Zhang Qinglu slowed down his voice and said, "Don't you remember, I only entered the inner palace once, but that time, I remember it clearly." On it are the four big characters of 'one heart and one mind'. At the beginning, both my master and my father told me that Gaozu once said that outside the main hall, we must firmly grasp it, and inside the main hall, we need to be of one heart and one mind. ”

The man snorted coldly.

Zhang Qinglu was finally a little excited, and said: "Gaozu is far-sighted, and he should be the great road. The rising star of my Dao Palace, but for thousands of years, I can compete with the ancient Dao Tong on the opposite side, but because we can achieve the four words of one heart and one mind, and the upper and lower are one. Even if the strength is insufficient, being able to clench into a fist and hit people is the real way to win. ”

After taking a breath, Zhang Qinglu gritted his teeth and said: "Now that the Dao Palace is determined to start a war with that side, the general trend is irreversible, Qinglu is the first to bear the brunt, even if he is broken, he will not be afraid." But the power over there is so huge, the Dao Palace is pressed on all fronts, and we still dare not say that we will win, of course we must make good use of the most essence and the best power, which is the way to unite people's hearts!"

He spoke faster and faster, his originally pale face flushed with a hint of redness, and said, "In the face of an unfathomable and powerful enemy, the top and bottom have the same desire, and they may not be able to win, let alone disregard the people's hearts and cut off their arms? I have always worked hard in this direction to prepare for the Shangqing Palace in Zixiao Palace. Those who can return to the heart must return to the heart, and only those who cannot return to the heart will use control methods to calm them down. We can't count on those who are controlled, we can only make them a bunch of trembling puppets, and we must always be on guard against the broken string of the puppets in our hands. What really needs to be relied on is the strength that can be used to unite the most, that is, talents, the power of the elite's already capable materials. At this time, you told me that you don't care about people's hearts, unless you give up the plan of the Dao Palace, you can't agree!"

The man looked straight at Zhang Qinglu, whose face was crimson, and suddenly sighed, and said, "Those old guys in the Dao Palace really like you are a little ghost who is full of cranky thoughts. It's a pity, it's a pity that you're a good seedling......" said coldly, "I don't debate these naïve questions with you. You kneel here and give me a good idea. If you think clearly, get up and prepare for your ceremony, and if you can't think clearly, kneel until the fifteenth day. He brushed his sleeves away.

Zhang Qinglu didn't turn around, once his excitement was suddenly interrupted, only a pool of stagnant water remained, and he said in a deep voice: "Zhang Qinglu obeys orders." ”

(To be continued)