If a cultivator wants to cultivate the true path and transcend the mundane, they must possess four types of fortune, and this holds true even for zombies.
What are the four fortunes?
First is the law, second is companionship, third is wealth, and fourth is land.
The law is the ascending staircase, the bridge over the river.
It refers to the teachings passed down by true masters, the verification of classic texts, encompassing various cultivation techniques.
Without true skills, it is like a blind man walking at night, liable to stray into deviant paths at any moment.
Thus, the law is the most critical aspect of cultivation and the foundation of attaining the true path.
Xu Qing had many mentors; early on, Liu Youdao helped him enter the path of cultivation, later the master of the Two Saints Temple passed on the teachings, the Nine Heavens Profound Lady bestowed her legacy, then the Primordial Patriarch and the Central Emperor Goddess imparted true skills and divine techniques...
Aside from these mentors, the countless corpses absolved by the Sutra of Salvation were also his good friends and teachers on his cultivation journey.
Companionship refers to those who protect and uphold the path, avoiding misfortunes.
It means fellow disciples or companions or protectors.
If cultivation is pursued in solitude, it becomes challenging to attain the true path.
Moreover, during isolated training or wandering, without the support of fellow practitioners, one can easily fall into a state of isolation with no way forward or backward.
An old saying goes: "The words of those united in heart are fragrant like orchids. With a few united hearted people, supporting each other mutually can achieve enlightenment in life and death," which is exactly this principle.
Xu Qing founded the three sect foundations, made many allies, and had many fellow cultivators and friends mentoring him during and after his life; otherwise, he wouldn't have had the Goddess give him a treasure to prove the Way, nor would he have had the Holy Buddha and the Great Ocean Deity personally protect him.
As for wealth, it is the support for living, referring to the resources necessary for maintaining life, purchasing alchemical furnaces, and cultivation materials.
Without riches, one struggles to survive, much less cultivate the path.
One must know that even just to learn martial arts from a master requires saving money for the tuition fee.
Let alone those pursuing the Immortal path in an age of calamity.
Thus, wealth is the source of life support and the foundation of cultivation.
From the beginning of absolving Liu Youdao, Xu Qing has been a master in the art of fortune and feng shui, with funeral expertise maxed out, excelling in amassing wealth.
Above ground with the living, and below with the deceased, there is always a way to fortune.
With these three fortunes ready, only the 'land' is left.
Land, as it's said, is the reliance.
In the path of Dao, it is a peaceful and serene, feng shui appropriate blessed ground or cave heavens. In Buddhism, it could be a small temple in the deep mountains or a grand temple immersed in the world.
Initially, Xu Qing rooted himself in Underground Street of the Jin Sect, managing a small funeral shop, eventually controlling the entire street.
Later, Xu Qing established a dojo on Ziyun Mountain, having a basic cultivation place.
But these are far from being considered blessed lands suitable for cultivation, nor are they sufficient to achieve the path of Dao and witness the great Dao.
Moreover, what the righteous cultivators deem blessed lands are not considered treasures for zombies.
Fortunately, wealth, companionship, law, and land often complement each other. After being valued by the Goddess, Xu Qing obtained the Red Water, a treasure land suitable for the Drought Fiend to prove the Dao.
The 'Union of Immortals and Buddhas' states: "If the law lacks wealth, sufficient resources are not available for daily use; if companions lack land, true skills cannot be achieved. Those aspiring to the Dao should first accumulate the four resources and adjust the four fortunes, after which they can hope for longevity."
Now, with all four fortunes prepared, like the four wheels of a cart, it is time for Xu Qing to advance with full effort.
"In a troubled world where demons are flourishing and the path declines, with my four fortunes in abundance and under the cosmic convergence of heaven, earth, and mankind, if I do not seize this moment, there might never be another chance like today."
If heaven offers and is not taken, folly is incurred.
Corpse monsters' cultivation is not favored by heaven and earth; Xu Qing accumulated virtues through good deeds over long years to gain today's fortune.
If he seizes this one-in-a-millennium opportunity, there will be many restless individuals within and outside the three realms, but if he misses this chance, it will be his turn to have sleepless nights!
To ensure peaceful sleeps in the future, Xu Qing, with full momentum, refined the Azure Gold Qi and overcame the three critical disasters, he then took the red lotus fire seed obtained during the Kitchen God's absolving for further refining.
The Drought Fiend possesses the power to incite calamities and initiate murderous tribulations. From ancient times to now, there has been only one Drought Fiend. Although the Goddess is no longer present, many people might be relieved, but Xu Qing clearly does not intend to let these people be at ease.
The female fiend was, after all, born from an orthodox background, slightly followed celestial laws and etiquette in her actions, or she wouldn't have been exiled to Red Water for so many years.
Xu Qing, on the other hand, born from the wilds, doesn't know what celestial laws and etiquettes are.
In his eyes, so-called celestial laws and etiquettes are postnatal tools, not innately formed.
And those using the tools are a mix of people, gods, and ghosts with varying motives.
If tools are useful and remain untainted over time, Xu Qing would willingly cooperate.
But if tools are worn out, and celestial laws are opaque, he doesn't mind discarding them, reclaiming the right of judgment in his own hands.
One must know, all rules made by the world aren't the supreme authority; at the end of the rules, what's most representative of law is often the sword in one's hand.
Beneath Red Water, the inferno rages like a prison.
Xu Qing's long hair danced wildly like a madman.
Beneath him, the red lotus karmic fire burned everything; within three to five days, Xu Qing's once-green hair all turned grey and lifeless.
When the already cracked skin began to burn, when flesh turned to fuel, Xu Qing felt the searing heat transmitted by the red lotus fire seed to his bones. Not only did he not feel pain, but he even felt a peculiar sense of satisfaction.
Zombies' pain perception is dull, and he had not experienced such clear sensory stimulation for a long time.
When the red lotus was planted into his body, turning into a skeletal form, Xu Qing, exhaling fiery breaths from his orifices, appeared like a judge climbing from volcanic hell.
At one moment, Xu Qing suddenly opened his mouth wide, raising his head to howl.
The Corpse Roar Skill, once requiring deliberate activation, now became a key to unlocking evolution, fully merging into Xu Qing's instincts.