Chapter: 5460

Long Ziqi looked at Hong Changqing with a mixture of surprise and shame. She asked: "Teacher, what's going on here?"

Hong Changqing sighed deeply and then recounted his initial intentions for coming to Jinling and the subsequent manipulations he had employed against Long Ziqi, revealing everything to her.

He let out a sigh and said helplessly: "Ziqi, since I've got this far, why don't I just tell you the truth? That elixir was created with malice aforethought, and it's not something to be used to blame others... It was meant to be an enticement, and I thought for sure I'd win easily. But who would have thought that his granddaughter would turn out to be so close to Master Ye?"

Hong Changqing covered his face with one hand, looking miserable as he said: "I had initially intended to come to Jinling and manipulate matters to my advantage... I thought that since Master Shi was a renowned doctor and didn't lack funds, he wouldn't sell his medical hall. So I decided to lure him into making a bet with me..."

"And besides," Hong Changqing continued, "I figured that if I used money to make a bet with him, he wouldn't pay attention to me. So I took out the elixir and thought it would be a great enticement... But who would have thought that things would turn out this way?"

Ziqi couldn't help but scold: "Teacher! Since the elixir is our True Dao Sect's treasured artifact, you absolutely cannot take it out!"

Hong Changqing spread his arms wide, looking crestfallen as he said: "I originally thought that since I had set my trap, I was sure to win easily. Taking out the elixir would just be a way to lure him in and wouldn't result in me losing. But who would have thought that his granddaughter would turn out to be so close to Master Ye? This situation has gotten completely out of my control..."

Ziqi couldn't help but open her mouth: "Teacher, you're really disappointing."

Hong Changqing looked ashamed, but still insisted: "Ziqi, this matter is indeed a one-time mistake that I've made. But let me say this, when the ox is gone, the grass is not always greener. If I hadn't stirred up trouble, I wouldn't have been able to get close to Master Ye so quickly! And Master Ye has also treated me kindly, allowing me to stay by his side and serve him."

Ziqi furrowed her brow: "Teacher, you're the True Dao Sect's leader. Even if Master Ye is powerful, you shouldn't let your position as leader go to your head because of it?"

Hong Changqing waved his hand dismissively, speaking seriously: "You don't understand. The ancients said that one can hear the Way and die for it. For the sake of hearing the Way, I'm willing to die. What's a mere position like the True Dao Sect leader worth?"

"Then, Hong Changqing said with a serious face: 'Ziqi, I'll tell you something in confidence. We've developed the True Dao for many years, but there are only a few masters who can truly enter the mysterious realm. Do you know why?'"

"Ziqi thought for a moment and said: 'Perhaps it's because we're not qualified or don't meet the conditions to become high-level practitioners...'"

"What nonsense!" Hong Changqing snorted coldly, saying: "I used to think like that too, but after I had the good fortune of meeting Master Ye, I realized that our True Dao has only mastered one-twenty-seventh of the entire 'True and Profound Unified Dao' heart method. It's just like we're only teaching kindergarten-level material in the martial arts world! What do you expect to achieve with this kind of material?'"

"What?!" Ziqi was utterly astonished, her eyes wide with surprise, and asked: "Master, is this true? Isn't it said that most sects don't have complete martial arts heart methods?"

"Bah!" Hong Changqing ridiculed: "We're just like the frogs in a well, looking up at the sky and thinking it's round and clear-cut. In reality, it's just one tiny fraction of the vast universe, insignificant even if you count the number of stars.'"

Ziqi was stunned for half a moment before asking: "Master, is this also what Master Ye told you?"

"Yes!" Hong Changqing said seriously: "Master Ye didn't say it explicitly, but his intention was clear. He must have had the complete 'True and Profound Unified Dao' heart method, originally intending to let me obtain the second chapter of the 'True and Profound Unified Dao', but I got sidetracked by my own impure motivations..."

Hong Changqing's expression turned extremely remorseful: "I'm not hiding anything from you, Ziqi. As for me now, I've regretted so much that it's made my gut ache. Before you came, I didn't know how many times I'd slapped myself in the face, and unfortunately, a big mistake has been made, so all I can do is try to make up for it..."

Ziqi's heart was racing with excitement: "Master... if we could obtain the contents of 'True and Profound Unified Dao' afterwards, our True Dao would take a giant leap forward! Who knows, maybe one day, True Dao could cultivate a batch of high-level practitioners, even transcendent ones!"

Hong Changqing smiled mockingly: "Ziqi, you think Master Ye can just hand over the contents that easily? Will he give them to me?"

"Hong Changqing quickly interrupted: 'Enough, enough! You don't need to say anything else. As the master, I know what you're thinking about, but I'm also making it clear that from now on, I've passed on my position as the leader of True Dao to you, so I'm no longer a part of True Dao from this point forward. I won't do something like eating inside and outside. This is not something I'll do!'"

"Ziqi said: 'Master, the treasures of True Dao's sect are all gone because of you! You're saying you're no longer a part of True Dao now? That's too much isn't it?'"

"Hong Changqing said with utmost sincerity: 'From now on, you can say I'm a sinner who has committed a crime that will be remembered for eternity. However, you cannot say I'm still a part of True Dao. You can understand me as having caused significant losses to the company, even making it on the brink of bankruptcy. Although I have indeed wronged this company, I've already left my position.'"

"Ziqi stared at Hong Changqing in shock, her mouth hanging open: 'Master! True Dao has nurtured you for so many years, and now you're just forgetting about your roots?'" JrNovels.com