Chapter 68: Are! You! Kidding! Me?!

When Gu Qingwan's ethereal voice tinged with a hint of anticipation sounded, Lu Yuan froze completely.

He really hadn't expected Gu Qingwan to suddenly come out with such a line.

It made Lu Yuan feel rather embarrassed.

Lu Yuan's usually eloquent mouth felt somewhat clumsy at this moment.

Lu Yuan scratched his head, a wave of warmth rising to his face, and his eyes didn't know where to look.

"...I... what's so good-looking about me, just a nose and two eyes..."

Gu Qingwan didn't speak again.

She just sat there quietly, her pair of empty, lifeless eyes stubbornly "gazing" in Lu Yuan's direction.

It seemed she wanted to see Lu Yuan's appearance right now.

Just as Lu Yuan was scratching his head and ears, thinking of how to change the subject—

"Creak—"

The wooden door of the side hall was pushed open a crack.

The old man's disheveled head poked in, his small eyes blinking as he looked at Lu Yuan, then at Gu Qingwan.

"Did I come at a bad time?"

"Should I leave?"

As he spoke, the old man pretended to pull his head back.

Lu Yuan, however, quickly said:

"You came at just the right time!"

"Get in here, quick!"

In the end, the old man swayed as he walked in and looked at Lu Yuan, asking:

"Did you ask?"

"About that merit on her."

Lu Yuan shook his head, his tone also carrying a bit of helplessness.

"She said she doesn't know and doesn't feel anything."

Hearing this, the old man's brows furrowed into a knot, his face full of bewilderment.

"This is bizarre... Could it be I was really drunk that day?"

"Misjudged it?"

"Can't be..."

Lu Yuan had already stood up, stretching with a big yawn, his joints emitting a series of crisp cracking sounds.

"Drink less, you!"

Then Lu Yuan turned to Gu Qingwan, blinked, and said in a light tone:

"I'm hungry, I'm going to the dining hall to grab a bite first."

Gu Qingwan's delicate chin dipped slightly in a nod.

The next second, her crimson figure transformed into a wisp of blood mist, silently disappearing into the coffin.

The old man watching from the side curled his lips disdainfully.

Hah!

This woman, she really only listens to that little bastard Lu Yuan!

...

Lu Yuan and the old man walked one after the other, keeping each other company as they headed towards the dining hall.

"Shouldn't I really go see this martial uncle?"

"What if he takes offense?"

On the way, Lu Yuan still asked somewhat uneasily.

Hearing this, the old man acted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, waving his hand in disgust.

"Don't go!"

"Let him take offense!"

"Anyway, he loves finding fault with people the most!"

Since the old man had put it that way, Lu Yuan shrugged and said no more.

The sky had just begun to show a hint of fish-belly white, the world was a hazy gray, carrying the chill of early morning.

The dining hall was brightly lit with candles, and many Taoist priests were already lining up to get food.

As Lu Yuan and the old man just stepped into the courtyard, they ran head-on into a group of people walking out from inside.

The leader, with a dignified bearing, was none other than Celestial Master He Xun.

Before Lu Yuan could get a good look, he saw this Celestial Master He Xun slightly frown and look towards the old man, saying:

"I say, junior brother, although we cultivate following our heart's desire, one should still pay attention to attire."

"Look at you, dressed in these tattered rags, what kind of appearance is that?"

"Now that the Taoist sects from beyond the Great Wall have all gathered in Fengtian, you looking like such a ruffian, practically a beggar, is truly rather unsightly."

Only then did Lu Yuan get a clear look at Celestial Master He Xun among the crowd.

Looked carefully...

Hmm, a Celestial Master isn't much different either, two eyes and a mouth.

The old man beside him casually cupped his hands in a perfunctory salute, not saying a word.

Celestial Master He Xun now also noticed Lu Yuan.

"This is..."

As soon as Celestial Master He Xun spoke, Lu Yuan gave a slight bow and said:

"Disciple Lu Yuan, greets martial uncle..."

A flicker of interest passed through Celestial Master He Xun's eyes as he stroked his beard and smiled:

"So you are Lu Yuan, the one they call 'Little Taoist in White Robes' in Fengtian City. So young, yet quite a reputation. Not easy, not easy at all."

Lu Yuan straightened up, returned the courtesy, his demeanor composed.

"Martial uncle flatters me, it's just some empty fame."

At that moment, Song Yan stepped out from beside Celestial Master He Xun, cupping his hands towards the old man and Lu Yuan respectively.

"Martial uncle, junior brother."

Without waiting for their response, his gaze fixed intently on Lu Yuan.

"Since entering Fengtian, junior brother's title of 'Little Taoist in White Robes' has thundered in my ears. I, your senior brother, have long admired you. I wonder if I could spar with junior brother?"

Lu Yuan: "?"

Is this guy nuts?

First thing in the morning, eyes barely open, and he wants to spar?

Lu Yuan looked at him with a bewildered expression and asked:

"How long has senior brother been at the mountain gate, and what is your current rank?"

Mentioning this, Song Yan proudly puffed out his chest and said:

"I have followed master in cultivation for three years. Last year, I already underwent the Guanjin ceremony. Soon I will receive the precepts and be granted a Taoist name!"

In this world, cultivation isn't divided in detail.

There's only a general sense.

It's not as detailed as in fantasy novels.

Like some Battle King can grow wings and fly in the sky, or some Battle Ancestor can fly directly in the sky without wings.

Here, the only detailed division is the Celestial Master realm.

Those who can truly master thunder techniques are called Celestial Masters.

Before reaching Celestial Master, there aren't any detailed divisions.

However, although one's own cultivation can't be divided in detail, one can get a glimpse from a Taoist's rank within the Taoist order.

Generally speaking, a Taoist who has just entered the mountain gate is an entry-level Taoist.

After that comes Guanjin, meaning having undergone the "Guanjin" ceremony, allowing one to grow hair and wear Taoist robes. This is the mark of formal entry.

Further on is the precept-receiving Taoist. After receiving the precepts, one obtains a "Precept Certificate" and a "Taoist Name."

Before Celestial Master, these are the three formal ranks within a Taoist temple.

Things like the previously mentioned senior Taoist, half-step Celestial Master, or Great Perfection are merely colloquial terms.

This Song Yan, having reached Guanjin in just three years and about to become a precept-receiving Taoist, is absolutely a genius.

No wonder he looks so proud.

Only...

Forget that he isn't a precept-receiving Taoist yet, even if he were, so what?

For those who cultivate, receiving the precepts is only the starting point of cultivation.

Looking at Song Yan, who appears to be around twenty-one or twenty-two, if he wants to become a Celestial Master, he'll need to be at least over thirty.

He can't compare to Lu Yuan.

So, after asking, Lu Yuan exchanged a glance with the old man.

Then the old man grinned happily.

Lu Yuan grinned happily too.

The old man didn't say a word, just chuckled, clasped his hands behind his back, walked around the group in front of him, and headed into the dining hall by himself.

Lu Yuan, meanwhile, smiled and cupped his hands towards Celestial Master He Xun, who looked stunned.

"Martial uncle, we'll go in to eat first then. See you later."

With that, Lu Yuan directly brushed past a bewildered Song Yan to catch up with the old man walking ahead.

For a moment, everyone on Celestial Master He Xun's side looked stunned.

What did that mean?

Song Yan, especially, turned to look at Lu Yuan's retreating back, his face flushing red with anger.

He's so pretentious!!!

What was he laughing about?!!!

At that moment, the casual conversation between Lu Yuan and the old man up ahead drifted over lightly, clearly entering everyone's ears.

"Speaking of which, after receiving precepts, one should get a Taoist name. I'm already a Celestial Master now, how come I don't have a Taoist name?"

"Such a trivial matter. Call yourself whatever you want. Who cares about that stuff."

"Hey!! You old man, isn't it supposed to be the master who gives it?!"

"Hmm... then I'll think about it for you when I have time later..."

"I'm of the Ling generation. Can my Taoist name be Lingxiao Baodian (Heavenly Palace Hall)?"

"Good heavens! I'll kick you to death! Ancestral Masters forgive us, Ancestral Masters forgive us, the kid doesn't know any better, just spouting nonsense..."

"..."

As they talked, the two entered the dining hall.

Celestial Master He Xun's group fell silent.

Only the cold morning wind remained, swirling fallen leaves, making a "rustling" sound.

They looked at each other.

Everyone's eyes held just a few words.

WHAT! A! JOKE!

Nineteen years old?

A Celestial Master?!!!