Chapter 36: The Old Daoist Watching Short Dramas

Gu Zhao looked at the Daoist Priest in shock.

He never dreamed he would meet a human in the modern era who could trigger a reaction from the Five Thunder Talisman; one must know that although there is spiritual energy in the modern air, it is like water dripping from a nearly empty pipe, one drop, two drops, trickling down.

Gu Zhao had once tried to cultivate in the modern era; the speed at which he absorbed spiritual energy was simply despairing. "Could it be that there truly is someone who has succeeded in cultivating in the modern era?"

The Daoist Priest carefully sized up Gu Zhao.

His feelings were naturally different from Gu Zhao's; he only sensed on that young man opposite him the same light and ethereal intent he could feel in the heavens and earth only when he was most immersed in his morning cultivation.

The Daoist Priest knew clearly that this was the phenomenon of having cultivated internal breath and true qi, and to draw in the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth from the vague void was not something an ordinary person could do. "Does this little fellow cultivate the Dao, Buddhism, or the mundane?"

Meanwhile, Jiang Shishi and Xiao Ya were still chatting in low voices nearby.

"That Daoist Priest who was knocking the chime while binge-watching dramas a while back seemed to be in the Taishang Laojun Pavilion; could it be him?"

"I heard someone online say the sound he made was a bit loud."

"Isn't he wearing headphones now?"

"Hee hee hee..."

Apart from the person filming the video, including Jiang Shishi and Xiao Ya, many netizens had no objections; everyone just felt this Daoist Priest was inexplicably cute, following fate and acting on impulse; this was the mental state of the Daoist school.

"We burn incense and bow to the gods, not to Daoist Priests; why shouldn't people be allowed to binge-watch dramas?"

"They use the Buddhist gesture of palms pressed together; it's good enough that the Daoist Priest didn't knock on them!"

"You bow to the gods, and he helps you call the gods down; you don't focus on the gods, but end up focusing on the person?"

Let alone the netizens, even the Qingcheng Mountain Scenic Area Administration and the Taoist Association didn't take this as a big deal; the Daoist nature is easygoing, but if you look for trouble, the Daoists won't indulge you.

This feeling of self-cultivation, following one's heart and nature, and the Dao following nature is precisely why many people admire the Daoist school, but Gu Zhao estimated they couldn't guess that there truly are people who can cultivate in the modern era!

Gu Zhao suppressed the throbbing of the thunder seed in his mind and simultaneously received information transmitted by the Five Thunder Talisman.

This was the first time he had received information from the Five Thunder Talisman; it seemed as if the functions of the past were content he should have known all along, with no feedback whatsoever, and only the reaction of the thunder seed should have told him.

The information was neither text nor sound, but it simply told him in the vague void that there was a mortal before him with a pure soul, full of righteousness, and possessing talent for cultivation, who could accept the thunder seed condensed from the evil qi absorbed by the Five Thunder Talisman.

As long as he bestowed the thunder seed upon him, he could take him as a subordinate, activate his innate qi, let him ascend in one step, cultivate rapidly, and in the future, there would even be hope of becoming an immortal.

Not only that, but he could also share in a portion of the merit and gains from the other party's acts of kindness, accumulation of virtue, and demon-slaying.

Gu Zhao was dumbfounded; he never expected the Five Thunder Talisman to have the function of condensing a thunder seed and bestowing it on others. This... is it playing Romance of the Three Kingdoms? Has it truly become a game?

So he subconsciously sensed carefully, and indeed sensed the difference in the Daoist Priest; although it was very shallow and faint, there was indeed magic power within his body.

And as Gu Zhao sensed so carefully, the Daoist Priest's sensation became even deeper; he could even sense that Gu Zhao was probing him.

The next moment, just as the queue reached Gu Zhao and the others, and the three knelt side by side to bow to Taishang Laojun, the Daoist Priest suddenly stood up, which inadvertently scared Jiang Shishi and Xiao Ya.

"We didn't mean to!" Jiang Shishi raised her hands.

"We didn't mean that!" Xiao Ya subconsciously pressed her palms together and begged for mercy in a small voice.

The Daoist Priest followed their gaze, looked at the short drama "The Domineering CEO Falls in Love with Me" playing right in front of him, couldn't help but grin, and said in a Sichuan-accented Mandarin, "Actually, this short drama is quite good to watch; it's comfortable, relieves stress, and eases fatigue."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

"Exactly, exactly!"

Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi nodded repeatedly, and kind laughter came from the crowd nearby; everyone came to pray for blessings, seeking only that their wishes be fulfilled and to be happy, to ask for good fortune; if one came to get angry, wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse?

Hearing this, the Daoist Priest also laughed; although his face was full of wrinkles, his smile was especially festive. "You two bow to Laojun first; this Daoist will help you knock the chime."

A small interlude did not affect anything.

When Xiao Ya bowed again, her expression became extremely devout; she murmured a prayer for her grandfather, wishing for his health to improve.

The Daoist Priest smiled brightly, providing service much better than before; every time the three bowed their heads, the Daoist Priest knocked the chime once, while softly chanting, and threads of murmuring voices echoed within the main hall.

Seeing the three stand up, the Daoist Priest did not sit back down; he simply waved to the side, summoning a middle-aged Daoist Priest, handed the chime mallet to him, then took out his mobile phone and walked out from behind the table.

The Daoist Priest came to the side of the three with a grin, looking Gu Zhao up and down. "I see that young brother is dignified in appearance, majestic in bearing, like a jade tree in the wind, handsome and dashing; truly an irreplaceable talent."

Jiang Shishi, "..."

Xiao Ya, "..."

"Master, did you just see the short video of Gu Zhao saving someone?" Jiang Shishi said while taking out her mobile phone. "I didn't see anyone filming it in time just now; did it get on the trending search so quickly?"

Gu Zhao naturally knew why the Daoist Priest was saying this about him, so he smiled and clasped his hands. "I see that the old senior is radiant with red light, full of spirit, brimming with vitality, and has great virtue and age; you must be a generation of high masters who have achieved cultivation."

The Daoist Priest laughed heartily, then pulled Gu Zhao towards the stairs. "Come, come, come, let's go upstairs for tea; the two young ladies come too; this old Daoist will calculate your marriages for you."

Jiang Shishi and Xiao Ya exchanged a glance, each bewildered, so they subconsciously followed the Daoist Priest and Gu Zhao around the main hall towards the stairs leading to the second floor at the back.

Seeing this scene, the tourists behind them exploded into chaos.

"What's going on? Isn't the Taishang Laojun Pavilion not allowing tourists to go to the second floor?"

"Didn't you see that old Daoist Priest invited them up?"

"A little mutual flattery; if you coax the old Daoist Priest into a good mood, you can go up for tea, and even have the old Daoist Priest personally cast a fortune?"

"Sss—"

"Venerable Daoist, I see you are dignified in appearance, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, a tiger's back and a bear's waist, and a spirit that swallows Shanhe; you must be a generation of high masters of the Dao!"

"Free fortune sticks; twenty for interpreting the fortune."

"Junior Uncle!"

"Grandmaster!"

Upon reaching the second floor, all the Daoist Priests passing by bowed and greeted the old Daoist Priest; seeing this, the two women were stunned, and only then did they realize that the old Daoist Priest not only had an exceptionally high seniority here but was also highly respected; even an old Daoist of tall stature who looked to hold a high position bowed and clasped his hands to greet the old Daoist Priest, then looked at the three with considerable curiosity.

"Good, good, good!" The old Daoist Priest just waved his hand casually, then instructed a middle-aged Daoist Priest to brew tea, and then led the three to a quiet room on the third floor.

Burning incense, pouring tea, sitting in peace.

After the greetings, Gu Zhao learned that the old Daoist Priest's Daoist name was Yan Song; Daoist Priest Yan Song also learned that Gu Zhao had learned the Dao from his grandfather since childhood, and he also heard Jiang Shishi mention Gu Zhao's act of saving someone just now.

"May blessings be boundless, O Great Dao!" When Daoist Priest Yan Song looked at Gu Zhao again, it was as if he were looking at a treasure; this was simply a genius of the Dao!

Then they quickly turned the conversation to Xiao Ya, learning that Xiao Ya had been bowing and praying everywhere, seeking fortune sticks to pray for her grandfather.

"No wonder. I was just saying how devout the little Miss was when praying." Daoist Yan Song stroked his beard.

Xiao Ya said softly, "So I was also thinking of drawing a divination slip at the Supreme Lord Lao's Pavilion, and asking for a peace talisman for grandpa."

Daoist Yan Song couldn't help but be taken aback. "Asking for a divination slip, I can understand, but asking for a talisman…"

"What's wrong with asking for a talisman?" Jiang Shishi asked.

Daoist Yan Song winked at Gu Zhao and teased with a smile, "A real immortal is right beside you — why go around begging for peace talismans? Hurry up and agree to be his girlfriend, let him draw you a peace talisman and properly consecrate it. We'll count that as the betrothal gift."

Gu Zhao: (๑❛ᴗ❛๑)

Xiao Ya: (๐_๐||)