Chapter 27

Wei Yuan turned around and saw a burly cultivator standing not far away, nine feet tall, two heads taller than an ordinary person, with a thick, short beard and a dignified appearance. The man was leading a boy who had just stepped off the immortal ship.

The cultivator's divine eyes were like lightning. As soon as Wei Yuan's gaze met his, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning, and the invisible thing within his body reacted, stirring restlessly.

A flash of surprise crossed the cultivator's eyes, and then he retracted the divine light from his gaze and said: "What you asked is an eternal puzzle. Since ancient times, few people have been able to answer it, and those who could didn't want to. If you have this heart, then remember this question and slowly seek the answer in your cultivation in the future! This is my grandson, Xiang Xiaoyu. If you don't mind, the two of you can support each other on the immortal path from now on; perhaps you can both go a little further."

The cultivator lifted the boy and placed him in front of Wei Yuan. Wei Yuan and the boy subconsciously turned their heads away, not looking at each other.

This boy was exquisitely beautiful, the very same Xiang Xiaoyu who had hacked at Wei Yuan hundreds of times to no avail before being cut in half by a spear. Wei Yuan remembered how he had finished him off with a single spear thrust, leaving him with no dignity in death. Seeing the aggrieved party now, he felt somewhat guilty.

The burly cultivator slapped Xiang Xiaoyu on the head and said: "Why don't you pay respects to your Senior Brother!"

The boy looked to the side and stubbornly said: "He might not be older than me!"

The cultivator slapped him again: "You can't beat him right now, so naturally you should call him Senior Brother!"

The boy said: "What if I can beat him in the future?"

The cultivator was stunned and said: "Then it will naturally be up to you."

Only then did the boy turn his head, his eyes fixed on Wei Yuan's chest, avoiding eye contact, and said stiffly: "Xiang Xiaoyu has met Senior Brother."

Wei Yuan hurriedly returned the salute: "Wei Yuan, I dare not accept such a title from Senior Brother Xiang Xiaoyu."

The burly cultivator said impatiently: "Enough, enough, don't be so formal. As long as you always remember the question you asked today and don't end up like your masters and ancestors, that's all that matters."

Zhang Sheng was displeased: "What is inappropriate about my master and me? I ask the senior to point it out!"

The burly cultivator laughed and said: "Don't you know what kind of reputation your Azure Heaven Hall lineage has? One by one, you are arrogant and conceited, thinking you are above the fray and not involved in factional strife, but in reality, everything you do is for yourselves. You haven't cared about worldly affairs for six years, and I can't be bothered to talk to you."

The burly cultivator picked up Xiang Xiaoyu and walked toward the distant palace. With one step, he had already vanished from where he stood.

At this moment, another girl walked over, first bowing gracefully to Zhang Sheng: "Greetings, Mr. Zhang Sheng!"

The girl was truly beautiful, her voice was pleasant, and she knew how to respect her elders. Zhang Sheng was very favorably impressed and said kindly: "The Bao family has produced talent generation after generation; this generation seems to be even better than the last."

The girl bowed again: "To receive such praise from you, sir, puts my heart at ease. It seems I was right to enter the Grand Tai Tai Chu Gong."

Zhang Sheng saw a faint glimmer of golden light floating between the girl's eyebrows and suddenly remembered something, asking in surprise: "By the way, I heard that someone of this generation of the Bao family received the inheritance of the Great Precious Flower Pure Land Dharma Form. Could it be you?"

The girl said: "The Pure Land Dharma Form is merely an external object. Since I have entered the Grand Tai Tai Chu Gong, I will not lack for excellent teachers, nor will I spare any effort. Within a hundred years, I will naturally be able to cultivate a Dharma Form no less than the Pure Land inheritance. The immortal path is long; the Dharma Form is just a stop along the way, not worth worrying about."

The Buddhist Dharma Form is passed down through generations of reincarnation, and its power is recognized as the best in the world. That the girl could say she would give it up just like that, and speak such words, showed a greatness of spirit that even Zhang Sheng found commendable.

The girl looked at Wei Yuan and said: "Since we are of the same sect and same year, I will have to rely on Senior Brother Wei for care in the future."

"That goes without saying!" Zhang Sheng immediately pulled Wei Yuan over and placed him in front of the girl, saying: "Wei Yuan, come and meet Senior Sister Bao Yun!"

Wei Yuan turned his head, not daring to look at Bao Yun. Zhang Sheng slapped him: "Where are you looking?"

Wei Yuan had no choice but to bite the bullet and salute: "Wei Yuan has met Junior Sister."

Zhang Sheng slapped him again: "No manners! Call her Senior Sister!"

Wei Yuan had to say: "Wei Yuan has met Senior Sister."

Bao Yun stared at Wei Yuan with a pair of clear, bright eyes, making him feel completely uncomfortable, before she covered her mouth and laughed: "I will have to ask Junior Brother for your guidance in the future."

The expressionless old man behind Bao Yun said: "The time is almost up; we should go in."

Zhang Sheng checked the time and also took Wei Yuan and stepped into the palace.

There were dozens of Daoist cultivators in the palace responsible for ceremonial duties. After Wei Yuan entered, he suddenly felt something strange behind him. Turning his head, he saw another immortal ship landing on the plaza, and people were coming down one after another. It seemed another group of new disciples had arrived.

A ceremonial Daoist walked over quickly and said to Zhang Sheng with a smile: "Junior Brother Zhang, it's been many years! I heard you took in a fine disciple who has your style from back then. That is truly something to be happy and proud of!"

Zhang Sheng returned the salute with a smile. The Daoist looked Wei Yuan up and down carefully and said: "This must be Wei Yuan. I heard he brought great honor to the Fenhai Zhenjun! Junior Brother Zhang, you should be familiar with the sect entry process, so I won't be long-winded. When the disciples from all provinces arrive in three days, it will be the Grand Ceremony of Worshipping the Ancestors. However, there is an extra process this year: after worshipping the ancestors, you must choose a method of study. I wonder if you will choose self-study or centralized study?"

Zhang Sheng was somewhat puzzled and asked: "What is centralized study?"

The Daoist said: "In the past, new disciples were taught by each hall individually after entering the Palace. But this year, Fenhai Zhenjun Yan Shi proposed to take out general subjects such as cultivation common knowledge, human history, and Dao foundation basics, and have them taught uniformly by people with both virtue and talent selected from within the Palace, while unique techniques are taught by each palace and hall individually. This is centralized study. This year is the first year, so new disciples can decide for themselves whether to participate."

"The Dingxin Faction is moving so fast?" Zhang Sheng frowned slightly.

The Daoist did not answer, but said: "You can decide after worshipping the ancestors. I will record your names first, and then I will take you to your residence."

The Daoist used a jade book in his hand to shine upon Wei Yuan, and Wei Yuan's appearance, place of origin, and master's lineage automatically appeared on a page. After recording the information, the Daoist took Zhang Sheng and Wei Yuan out of the palace, then rolled his sleeves, and a cloud of energy enveloped the two of them.

Wei Yuan felt the scenery before his eyes constantly changing and flickering; the speed was simply like a flying arrow, much faster than the legendary galloping horse.

After about a quarter of an hour, the Daoist stopped his Dao technique, and a quiet valley appeared before Wei Yuan's eyes. Several streams flowed through the valley, and quiet courtyards were scattered in groups of three or five.

In front of Wei Yuan were three adjacent small courtyards, surrounded by several strange trees over ten zhang tall, bearing clusters of fruit.

Wei Yuan followed the Daoist into the courtyard on the left, and the Daoist said: "This is your residence, and you will live here until you build your Dao foundation. All the supplies issued to new disciples are already inside; you can use them as you wish. Your master knows the rules of the Palace, so I won't be long-winded. The map of the mountain gate is on the desk in the room, marking the areas you can go. Junior Brother Zhang, shall I briefly explain the centralized study now?"

(End of chapter)