Chapter 417: Fish Dragon Diving and Leaping

As soon as Duan Rong finished speaking, Ge Rusong stood up with an icy expression and walked straight out of the hall.

Many of those reclusive Sect Elders also rose and walked out. Some left with cold, arrogant expressions, while others smiled and congratulated Zhu He before turning to leave.

One Sect Elder, with skin like a crane and a white beard, flashed a look of disgust between his brows as he passed by Duan Rong, whispering, "To know how to curry favor at such a young age—truly a man of fame and fortune!"

Although his voice was not loud, the few people walking nearby heard it, and they all cast meaningful glances at Duan Rong.

Duan Rong naturally heard it clearly.

But he did not even turn his head, merely sneering in his heart.

Having lived two lifetimes, he had seen plenty of people who feigned high-mindedness.

A man of fame and fortune?! Even immortals have to compete for a stick of incense! Besides, you are not an immortal yet.

Although two-thirds of the people in the hall left in an instant, nearly one-third remained, and Yang Sixuan and Lin Youjian did not leave either.

After choosing a master, one still had to perform the true apprenticeship ceremony according to Ancient Rites.

Some of those who stayed, like Lin Youjian, felt that since they were already there, they might as well watch the excitement. Others, like Yang Sixuan, felt that since they had come, why not do Zhu He a favor?

Next, under the arrangements of the old Attendant, the Longyu Hall was rearranged.

Zhu He sat smiling on a high chair, accepting Duan Rong's kowtows and tea; above his head hung a plaque suspended on the southern side of Longyu Hall, with the four large characters "Fish Dragon Diving and Leaping" written in a vigorous and powerful hand.

The tedious rituals in the hall lasted for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense before finally concluding.

Zhu He took Duan Rong's hand and said very enthusiastically, "Disciple, your master is very happy today."

Zhu He smiled, but suddenly turned his head to look at the plaque hanging high behind him, saying, "Your master feels that although the meaning of these four characters, 'Fish Dragon Diving and Leaping', is quite good, they are not quite suitable for you. How about four other characters instead!"

Duan Rong's heart stirred; Zhu He's tone at this moment sounded like an old pedant showing off his learning, but he still smiled and took the bait, saying, "I wonder which four characters you mean, Master?"

Zhu He said, "Disciple, do you know the judgment of the nine-five line of the Qian hexagram?"

Duan Rong had read the Daoist Canon thoroughly and naturally knew, but he just smiled and remained silent, not answering.

Zhu He smiled and said, "In the judgment of the nine-five line of the Qian hexagram, are the four characters 'Flying Dragon in the Sky' not more suitable?"

Looking at Zhu He's profound and subtle gaze, Duan Rong's heart suddenly trembled; just a moment ago he thought Zhu He was showing off his learning, but now he was alerted and suddenly understood what Zhu He was talking about.

The judgment of the nine-five line of the Qian hexagram does not only contain the four characters "Flying Dragon in the Sky". After "Flying Dragon in the Sky", there are four more characters: "Advantageous to See the Great Man"!

Zhu He appeared to be using the four characters "Flying Dragon in the Sky" to praise Duan Rong's outstanding talent, but in reality, the words spoken were not the point; what was left unsaid behind them was more important. What Zhu He truly wanted to say was "Advantageous to See the Great Man"!

This "Great Man" was, in fact, himself!

This old man's cultivation is too deep!

At this first meeting, someone who did not understand the hidden meaning would think he was just showing off his learning. But Duan Rong, at this moment, saw at least four layers of meaning.

These four characters, "Flying Dragon in the Sky", had two layers of meaning. The first layer is that you can be a "Flying Dragon in the Sky", which is praising Duan Rong's outstanding talent as a talent worth molding. The second layer is that I can make you a "Flying Dragon in the Sky", meaning that since you have taken me as your master, you will not lack any resources you need for cultivation, and I will also guide you in your practice.

The unsaid part, "Advantageous to See the Great Man", also had two layers of meaning. The first layer is that as long as you are loyal to the sect, you will naturally be able to become a "Flying Dragon in the Sky". The second layer is that even when you fly high, do not forget your master's cultivation; without the "Great Man", how could there be a "Flying Dragon in the Sky"?

Within this short, seemingly casual sentence of four layers of meaning, there was discipline, grace, encouragement, and warning.

Moreover, there was another layer of deep meaning; this was actually a test. Zhu He was seeing if Duan Rong could understand his meaning. This was testing his temperament and his experience in human affairs.

Duan Rong's gaze suddenly deepened, and he immediately cupped his hands and said, "How would this disciple dare? Duan Rong will never forget Master's grace!"

The atmosphere, which had been relaxed and joyful, suddenly became solemn when Duan Rong spoke such weighty words, which startled the old Attendant on the side.

He thought Duan Rong had been tormented by the tedious Ancient Rites for too long and his brain had become muddled, causing him to suddenly say such an inexplicable thing without rhyme or reason.

Seeing Duan Rong like this, Zhu He immediately gripped his fist and laughed, "Haha. Good disciple. Truly a good disciple! Come, go back with your master!"

Duan Rong's reaction clearly showed that he had understood the meaning in his words.

Cultivation talent is certainly important, but if there are deficiencies in temperament and human affairs, one often stumbles at the most critical junctures. This is why Inner Sect Disciples must undergo three years of secular task training.

Duan Rong followed Zhu He out of the hall, and only then did he wipe the cold sweat from his forehead; just a moment ago, he had almost failed to react.

Although this was not his first time dealing with Zhu He, and he had long known the depth of this old man's schemes, he realized he had still underestimated his master's mind.

This old man's cultivation is truly too deep! The moment they met, he gave him an invisible blow of authority!

Right amidst the laughter and chatter of the crowd, the master and disciple had completed an interaction, or rather, Zhu He had completed a test and examination of him.

This kind of confrontation or probing was actually no different from the clash of swords. This was a master testing the depth of his newly accepted disciple.

Although Duan Rong muttered in his heart that this master did not seem very kind, giving him such a surprise the moment they met, on the other hand, he felt that with such schemes, the chances of winning the struggle for Sect Master were likely very high.

As Duan Rong stepped over the threshold of Longyu Hall, his heart was truly a mix of worry and joy.

The old Attendant sent all the Elders out of Longyu Hall, then let out a long sigh of relief and walked slowly toward the back hall.

The old Attendant walked into the back hall and saw the other three who had come with Duan Rong still standing there.

The front hall had been so lively just now, and they had heard the commotion from here. Knowing that Duan Rong had taken Master Zhu He as his master, the three of them were filled with envy!

The old Attendant walked in, coughed, and said, "You three, come in with me."

The old Attendant led the three behind a screen and pulled back the curtain in front of the shrine on the south wall. Inside the shrine hung a portrait of an old Daoist with the bearing of an immortal.

The old Attendant lit three sticks of incense, inserted them into the incense burner in front of the shrine, then stood upright to the side of the shrine and looked at the three, saying, "Kneel down."

The three then knelt before the shrine.

The old Attendant then recited a long string of high-sounding words, the gist of which was how profound the foundation of the Taiyi Sect was, and that since they had entered the sect, they should cultivate diligently to be worthy of the ancestors' grace.

In short, he said a whole lot of nothing, then told the three they could rise, that from today on they were Inner Sect Disciples, and gave each of them a post, telling them to take it to the Separate Courtyard at the foot of Cuiwei Peak and hand it over to the History Supervisor there.

Afterward, the three were urged by the old Attendant to leave Longyu Hall.

After a busy day, his bones were almost falling apart; now that everyone had been dismissed, the old Attendant immediately slumped into a grand armchair, calling for a few young Attendants to serve him tea and water, and to pound his back and knead his legs.

When no one was around, he was the local emperor in this Longyu Hall; it was just a pity for those young Attendants, who had finally served the Elders and Sect Elders and still had to wait on this old fellow.

The three held their posts, rounded a corner of the building, and saw from afar a group of Elders and Sect Elders saying goodbye to Zhu He at the steps.

The three immediately stopped in their tracks. One of them said, let's wait here for a while, and when those great men have gone far away, we will go over. The other two agreed, so they returned to the corner of the building, revealing only half their bodies, watching from afar.

After those Elders and Sect Elders said goodbye to Zhu He, they transformed into streaks of black light, like meteors, suddenly streaking across the azure sky and heading toward various places in the vast mountains.

At this moment, only Zhu He and Duan Rong remained at the steps.

Zhu He said, "Disciple, stand firm. Master will give you a ride."

Duan Rong's eyes flashed, and he tugged at the heavy ceremonial robes on his body, saying, "Master, the History Supervisor at the Separate Courtyard below the mountain instructed that after I finish, I should go to the Separate Courtyard to return the robes to them."

Zhu He smiled slightly and said, "No need to pay them any mind. You come back with me, take off the robes, and they will naturally go and retrieve them themselves. Don't forget, your master is the Department Head of the Inner History Department. Since you have already entered my tutelage, some of the affairs of the Inner History Department will be handed over to you to manage in the future. You still pay attention to those History Supervisors? Are you really giving them too much face?!"

After Zhu He finished speaking, he suddenly put his hands behind his back, his figure elegant, and rose up by Wind Riding. Duan Rong was at his side and felt the same sensation, as if his body were being supported by something invisible, and he rose up leisurely.

The two of them then proceeded to travel by Wind Riding under the dark blue sky!

Zhu He could naturally, like other Elders, turn into a black streak of light and flash past, but since he was bringing Duan Rong along, he did not want to startle Duan Rong, so he slowed his speed.

Looking at it this way, this master still knew how to cherish his Disciple.

Behind Zhu He, Duan Rong felt as if he were drifting in a dream; he was in mid-air, and the vast mountains were like bonsai landscapes beneath his feet. Although Zhu He had slowed his speed, it was still much faster than the speed he usually displayed. Yet, on Duan Rong's face, he did not feel a single gust of wind surging, and even his hair hung down naturally. And yet, in the mountains below, there were clearly strong winds howling. Although he was following Zhu He by Wind Riding and felt not a single breath of wind blowing, the natural sound of the mountain winds howling in the mountains below could be heard very clearly, as if it were right beside his ears.

"Law Power?! Dongming Realm!?"

This was the first time Duan Rong had felt Law Power so vividly, and he felt the unfathomable nature of so-called powerful beings; his eyes flickered with the light of deep contemplation.

Zhu He brought Duan Rong and landed on a peak that stood abruptly and toweringly.

This mountain peak was completely different from the low-lying peaks where Taiyi Pavilion and the Elder Council were located, such as Cuiwei Peak; this peak's body was steep and pierced straight into the clouds, and the summit was wreathed in white clouds, hence it was named Yunfu Peak.

The two of them landed gracefully in front of a pavilion somewhere within the mountain body.

Zhu He first led Duan Rong into a room, where Duan Rong took off the heavy ceremonial robes and placed them on a side table there, then followed Zhu He, walked along a veranda for a distance, and turned into another room.

This room was not very large, and the layout was quite simple; one could see a prominent screen depicting a magnificent landscape, in front of which a grand armchair was placed quite casually, and beside it, somewhat incongruously, was a square tea table, with two rows of grand armchairs and side tables below.

When Duan Rong followed Zhu He inside, three people were already sitting on the two rows of grand armchairs in the room, two men and one woman.

When Zhu He walked in, the three of them immediately stood up, though their gazes instantly focused on Duan Rong.

Zhu He walked straight to the screen, sat down casually, pressed his hand toward the three of them, and said, "All of you, sit." Then he turned his head to look at Duan Rong and said, "You sit too."

Duan Rong then took a seat on one of the chairs further back.

Zhu He looked at Duan Rong and said, "These are your master's other disciples, who entered the sect earlier; they are your Senior Brother and Senior Sister. This is Senior Sister Fan Hongjiao, this is Second Senior Brother Wu Shidao, and this is Third Senior Brother Lu Geng."

As Zhu He spoke, he paused, looked at Wu Shidao, and asked, "Where is that kid Wang Yue? Why hasn't he come?"

Wu Shidao said, "He went to Shenyun Prefecture."

Only then did Zhu He's eyes shift, as if he had remembered something, and he continued looking at Duan Rong, saying, "There is also a little Disciple named Wang Yue who isn't here today; wait until he returns, and you can meet him. Sigh, that's not right; since you have arrived, that kid is no longer the little Disciple; you are the little Disciple, and you must call him Fourth Senior Brother."

Zhu He smiled slightly, looked at Fan Hongjiao, Wu Shidao, and Lu Geng, and said, "This is the disciple I have newly taken in, named Duan Rong. You all get to know each other."

When Duan Rong entered, he had already guessed the identities of the three of them. Based on the order in which they were sitting, he could basically tell the sequence of their entry into the sect.

Fan Hongjiao sat in the first seat at the head of the row and was also the only woman in the room; she had star-like eyes and light eyebrows, a graceful waist, and her chest in particular was high and surging.

Wu Shidao had a scholarly temperament, but his eyes were deep and his expression calm and composed; for some reason, it suddenly made Duan Rong think of those strategists from Yingchuan.

Third Senior Brother Lu Geng had a burly build and gave people the impression of being rough and unrefined; he was also the only one of the three who looked at him with a cheerful smile.

Seeing Zhu He introduce him, Duan Rong immediately stood up, bowed to the three of them one by one, and said, "Hello, Senior Sister! Hello, Second Senior Brother! Hello, Third Senior Brother!"

Fan Hongjiao smiled slightly, revealing a dimple on her face, and said, "What a well-behaved little Disciple!"

Seeing Fan Hongjiao act this way, Wu Shidao and Lu Geng exchanged a glance.

Zhu He suddenly flicked his sleeve over the tea table at his side, and two Porcelain Bottles appeared on the tea table.

Zhu He said, "Duan Rong, I haven't prepared anything decent. These two bottles are Bone Marrow Gray Matter from the spine of an Origin Beast. They should be of some benefit to your cultivation. Consider it a greeting gift from your master."

"Bone Marrow Gray Matter from an Origin Beast's spine?!"

Upon hearing this, Fan Hongjiao, Wu Shidao, and Lu Geng all had their expressions change.

This is what he calls not having prepared anything decent?!

Master is too doting on the little Disciple; as soon as he enters the sect, he gets two bottles of Bone Marrow Gray Matter.

Bone Marrow Gray Matter from an Origin Beast's spine is extremely rare.

Only high-tier Origin Beasts have the possibility of having Bone Marrow Gray Matter within their spines, and it is also extremely difficult to extract.

How can this thing be called having "some benefit"? It is clearly of great benefit!

After this Bone Marrow Gray Matter from an Origin Beast's spine is absorbed by the human body, it can slowly improve the body's affinity for the Origin Qi of heaven and earth; this kind of change can be said to be a fundamental enhancement to one's cultivation.

(End of this chapter)