If Xue Tong truly understands everything as he claimed, then he must know about the matter of this token.

This is a feasible path.

'I can give it a try,' Zhang Rongfang decided inwardly.

'If it really doesn't work, then I can only avoid it, or forcibly lose the token.'

As for how to lose it, he didn't think much about it.

If it really came to that point, he would have to knock out the person and throw the token far away.

Of course, that's a last resort.

For Ran Xinyue to be dispatched to verify this matter, her strength must be exceedingly formidable.

If a fight were to break out, and he couldn't control his hand...

At that time, he wouldn't believe that someone as shrewd as Yue Shi wouldn't have a backup plan on this person.

Immediately, Zhang Rongfang stopped overthinking, got up and changed his clothes, and pushed the door open.

The evening wind blew by.

In the blink of an eye, he disappeared from where he stood.

Inside the Red Flame Gorge.

The stream flowed gently, and Zhang Rongfang stood by the stream, holding a wish bell in his hand.

The moonlight fell from the sky into a line, just enveloping him and the stream.

Just like last time.

He sat cross-legged, placing the wish bell to the side.

Then he closed his eyes and began the basic meditative visualization.

Listening to the heartbeat.

Forgetting everything around him.

Soon, the sound of water and wind around him intertwined to form a vague noise.

"You're back?"

Xue Tong's voice came intermittently.

"Senior, I've encountered a problem. Could you please help me resolve my confusion," Zhang Rongfang said solemnly.

"Speak."

"I would like to know, how can the Daoist Token of the Great Dao Teaching measure the cultivation level of its bearer? Is there a method to conceal or mislead it?" Zhang Rongfang's biggest worry was this cultivation assessment issue.

"Daoist Token? I don't recall any token that can measure cultivation levels," Xue Tong replied, puzzled. "Perhaps it's something developed later on. Therefore, I can't give you an answer."

"However..." suddenly his tone shifted. "I do know of another method that can test cultivation levels at any time. If it is used in the same way, it's indeed possible to achieve it."

"Please, enlighten me, Senior!" Zhang Rongfang said seriously.

"In this world, the only ones who can conveniently and eagerly measure cultivation levels are divine beings. Their spiritual lines can accurately measure cultivation levels within a distance of one foot.

After all, the level of cultivation determines the limits they can reach upon descent," Xue Tong answered calmly.

"Spiritual lines of divine beings!?" Zhang Rongfang's heart skipped a beat.

"Correct, apart from this, I don't know of any other method to measure cultivation levels remotely. After all, ordinary people don't have this capability or need.

People only need to care about their own cultivation progress. The only ones concerned about others' progress are the divine beings," Xue Tong responded.

"So... inside that token..."

"It's possible. You must be careful. Once it's discovered that your cultivation reaches the required standard and you refuse to worship the god associated with the token,

the spiritual line might immediately attack and pierce you, forcibly transforming you. The spiritual line of divine beings is extraordinary," Xue Tong continued.

"Transform?"

"Forced transformation will turn you into a divine helmet. Such beings are most numerous in the Spirit Court, and there are many in the three major sects as well. Many who worship gods at the end of their lifespan also become divine helmets, stored in the dark," Xue Tong sighed. "With just one command, they can move out at full speed. This is the power that the religious sects can directly control, so... you should understand what worshiping gods implies and what the divine sect means."

"Divine helmet..." Zhang Rongfang shuddered inwardly.

With so many people worshiping gods each year, if they were all accumulated, how many would there be??

"You needn't fear the divine helmet; it's too far removed to concern you now. First, find a way to deal with the Daoist Token you mentioned.

If I'm not mistaken, you're trying to hide your cultivation level, aren't you?" Xue Tong had already inferred Zhang Rongfang's intention from his inquiry.

"Exactly! Please, guide me, Senior," Zhang Rongfang returned to his senses.

"I'll teach you a technique called the Toad Seal Skill, which can conceal cultivation levels temporarily and adjust the natural release of Essence Qi. But remember, this method is unsuitable for prolonged use, so you must activate it before contacting the token. The contact time should not exceed a hundred breaths," Xue Tong instructed seriously.

"Thank you, Senior!" Zhang Rongfang was overjoyed at this.

This is precisely what he wanted, despite its short duration; as long as it could manage the situation at hand, it sufficed.

As one taught and one learned, the area around the stream gradually grew more tranquil.

What surprised Xue Tong immensely was that Zhang Rongfang memorized the Toad Seal Skill effortlessly after hearing it just once and swiftly grasped it.

Though it was a minor technique, it required a high degree of control over Essence Qi.

Yet Zhang Rongfang entered smoothly without any delays.

After more than ten minutes, Xue Tong confirmed that Zhang Rongfang had fully mastered it, and said with a complicated tone, "Your talent is extraordinarily rare. Coupled with the physique coveted by divine beings, remember, if you ever need to worship a god, try to delay it and choose the strongest one."

"Worship... Senior... Is worshiping gods the only path in this world?" Zhang Rongfang asked softly.

"...." Xue Tong did not answer.

He remained silent for a long time.

As Zhang Rongfang repeatedly committed the Toad Seal Skill to memory, a sense of confusion gradually rose in his heart.

If a threat is hidden within the token, then what of Yue Shi, who insisted on him carrying it?

For the first time, he suddenly felt as though nothing in this world was true.

Divine beings, religion, Spirit Court, Yue Shi, his sister, and himself.

Unbeknownst to him, he had already been swept into these mysterious whirlpools, unable to extricate himself.

Worshiping a god meant becoming a slave to the divine.

Refusing meant becoming persecuted and oppressed.

In this world, where chaos was already evident, if the side Yue Shi represented was also false—

Where should he go?

By the stream, Zhang Rongfang stood up and sighed deeply.

He suddenly began to understand the emotions felt by those Righteous Alliance leaders who faced death with such resolve.

This world, from top to bottom, is enveloped in darkness, with no glimpse of light.

It's so oppressive it makes one despair.

*

*

*

November 22.

The Great Dao Teaching, in cooperation with the Snow Rainbow Pavilion military leader, besieged the Black Ten Sect's main altar, and bombarded the Divine Dao Altar with heavy artillery when the Spirit General had not yet appeared.

They successfully surrounded and killed three Holy Envoys and Grandmasters, along with the altar leader and vice leader, with thousands more dead or injured.

On the 24th, the Great Dao Teaching forced the Celestial Lock Teaching to cede the Gu Province diocesan district, resulting in a clash. The highest command chain of Celestial Lock Teaching—Moguduya, lost badly to Jin Yuyan after gambling on three moves and retreated to let go of one provincial territory.

26th.

The Great Dao Teaching proposed restructuring the number of Ming Sect members, establishing a basic framework centered on the Five Religions.

Other small to medium religious sects could be labeled as secret sects.

Many sects formed the Great Brightness Religious Alliance to oppose the proposal by the Great Dao Teaching.

Wushan Prefecture.

Zhang Rongfang was rapidly swinging the stone lock on the training ground to stretch and exercise his muscles.

The news these days was making him feel increasingly urgent.

Yue Shi's intentions were becoming more obvious, and his ambition was immense. He was attempting to create a Five Religions Circle with the Dao as its leader.

He suppressed the Zhenyi Sect and the Western Sect, reprimanded the Black Ten Sect and Celestial Lock Teaching, then forcibly pulled them in to deal with all other small and medium-sized sects together.

Zhang Rongfang wasn't interested in these matters. He only wanted to find a safe place to live his comfortable life.

But as it stands, as a Daoist of the Great Dao Teaching, he was destined to be increasingly caught in the whirlwind of the storm.

Alas.

With a sigh.

He gently put down the two-ton stone lock in his hand.

He was just an ordinary, simple person who didn't want to be dragged into the schemes of gods and immortals or the chaos of worldly conflicts.

"Master." A subordinate greeted respectfully at the entrance of the training ground. "A woman claiming to be Ran Xinyue showed the Identity Token of the Great Capital Celestial Sincerity Palace and asked to see you."

Finally, she arrived.

Zhang Rongfang's heart skipped a beat.

"Arrange for her to wait in the lounge first; I'll change my clothes and come."

The Toad Seal Skill could only last for a hundred breaths' time; he had to calculate the timing, approach her, then adeptly take the token to eliminate suspicion, and quickly stash the token away securely.

"Yes." The subordinate saluted and then turned to leave.

Zhang Rongfang took a deep breath and headed toward the doorway.

"Are you Zhang Ying, the Daoist?" Suddenly, a shadow leapt over the left wall of the training ground and landed firmly.

It was a black-haired woman with a white veil covering her face.

The woman's eyes were clear, and she held a black metal token in her hand, quickly closing in on Zhang Rongfang without saying a word.

"It seems so. Whether it's truly you, a simple test will reveal!"

Her movements were swift, and Zhang Rongfang hadn't even had the chance to speak.

Let alone activate the Toad Seal Skill. From activation to achieving the disguise effect, he needed at least ten breaths. But now... the opponent didn't give him those ten breaths!

With a quick glance, Zhang Rongfang had already guessed, the woman was indeed Ran Xinyue from the Great Capital, the emissary sent by Yue Shi to verify his identity.

Yet at this moment, 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

He hadn't anticipated a surprise attack from her.

The token brought a slight breeze as it rapidly approached his body.

Seeing it was only a foot away, it could easily gauge his cultivation level!

"Presumptuous!!!"

Suddenly, Zhang Rongfang roared in anger.

"This is the territory of the Great Dao Teaching at Songhe Temple! Who are you, daring to trespass in such a critical place!"

In his urgency, he quickly retreated.

There was a meter gap between him and the token, but crossing that one meter was impossible.

Ran Xinyue let out a light "Hmm," being one of Yue Dewen's four great aides, just like Ming Yuan, Ding Rui, and others, she had a God-worshipping Grandmaster's cultivation.

With such cultivation and physical abilities, it was surprising that a Daoist with a Super Grade External Medicine could evade her so.

This was quite extraordinary.

At once, she pressed down her breath, and the Limit-Breaking Skill "Heavy Mountain" suddenly burst forth, instantly accelerating her form.

Puff.

The token instantaneously closed the distance and pressed on Zhang Rongfang's shoulder.

"You!!" Zhang Rongfang's expression changed.

But in his heart, he sighed in relief.

Fortunately, at the last moment, he managed to activate the Toad Seal Skill.

"Huh? This is my Identity Token!?" His expression of shock and anger quickly transformed into one of surprise and doubt.

Then he accepted the token and looked at her.

"How did my token end up in your hands?" He curiously asked.

This rapid change of expression, the swiftness and naturalness of the transition, even Zhang Rongfang himself felt secretly proud inside.

"...." Ran Xinyue scrutinized the token and then carefully examined Zhang Rongfang's face.

The token didn't react.

The expression on the face was also quite genuine.

Indeed, it was not someone impersonating him.

She instantly felt relieved.

"It was my rashness. I am Ran Xinyue, also known as Mingchong. By seniority, you should call me Martial Aunt."

Seeing the suspicion on Zhang Rongfang's face, she continued, "This time, I came because you didn't carry your token with you, causing concern to the Sect Leader. Do you realize, if this token leaves your person, you might encounter some rather troublesome situations?"