Chapter 182: The Divine Statue

"Is it delicious?" Chen Shu asked.

"Delicious..." Teacher Shi Qian said.

"It's more delicious than what I've eaten in the past few years, or what others have given me." Deacon He pulled over a paper towel, wiped his sticky hands, and handed one to Shi Qian.

"I don't actually like eating zongzi; it's all just to cater to tradition," Chen Shu said. Especially since this world didn't have people like Qu Yuan or Wu Zixu, people only knew that they should eat zongzi on this day without knowing why. But that didn't matter; as long as there was a festival with food to eat, it would usually persist, and the initial reason became less important.

"My wife likes them very much." Deacon He wiped his hands clean and turned serious again. "I don't know if Senior Brother Shi Qian has already told you, but there are some things I should explain to you in detail again, to avoid any oversights."

"Okay."

Chen Shu assumed a posture of attentive listening.

"Senior Brother Shi Qian noticed you very early on, and we noticed you last semester. We have been watching you for half a year, and we are quite satisfied with your talent and character in all aspects. This time, upon joining the sect, you will enter the Inner Sect directly."

"The difference between the Inner Sect and the Outer Sect lies mainly in the obligations of both parties. This point is different from ancient times; in ancient times, it was entirely dependent on talent."

"Of course, modern times also look at talent."

"But it is not entirely dependent on talent anymore."

"You need good talent to be qualified to enter the Inner Sect, but some people who have the talent may choose to stay in the Outer Sect if they are unwilling. To use modern terms, it is mainly that the contract levels are different. By the way, you have to sign a contract to join the Spirit Sect. Don't be surprised; in ancient times, one often had to sign contracts as well, especially as an Outer Sect Disciple."

"The relationship between an Inner Sect Disciple and the sect is closer, and they will enjoy greater support from the sect. Correspondingly, the future contributions to the sect must also be greater."

"You are different; you won't sign a contract, and you can only enter the Inner Sect."

"At the same time, because the Spirit Sect has developed too massively in modern times, the previous Sect Master implemented another reform—the sect is no longer purely a master-disciple system, but has introduced a seniority system. In layman's terms, it means you don't necessarily need to take a master."

"Seniority is calculated by year, with fifty years being one generation."

"Those of the same generation are all fellow disciples, and those one generation higher are all uncles or aunts."

"Of course, you can still take a master. You find one yourself, and once you find one, you go to the Student Hall to register. Although there are no hard rules in this regard, generally speaking, you can only find someone one generation higher than you to be your master. Someone two generations higher is not allowed, and someone of the same generation is even more impossible."

"Mm."

Chen Shu nodded.

This was something he had already understood before.

The reason he joined the Spirit Sect also included this system.

Otherwise, he was already twenty-one; having to call a stranger 'Master' all of a sudden would inevitably be awkward at first. And for a lazy person like him, that initial bit of awkwardness was enough to make him feel extremely resistant to it.

It wasn't that he couldn't take a master, but at least there had to be a certain foundation of affection, right?

For example, Teacher Shi Qian didn't matter.

Deacon He continued: "Generally speaking, the process for an Outer Sect Disciple to enter the sect is very simple. After the review is completed, you come to the sect to pay respects to the Spirit Saint, sign the contract, and register, and that's it. The procedure for an Inner Sect Disciple is a little more complicated. Many people in the Inner Sect will rush back to witness the addition of a new member. At that time, someone will take you to recognize people. If there are too many people, just try your best to remember those seniors. At the same time, you have an additional process: you must enter the Yuding Shendian and pay respects to the various gods inside."

"That's so troublesome." Chen Shu felt a bit uncomfortable, feeling like his curse was about to flare up again. "How long will it take in total?"

"About a day," Deacon He said.

"Be patient; once it's over, you'll be free," Teacher Shi Qian urged from the side. "Others couldn't even ask for this if they wanted to."

"Okay, okay..."

"Would you like to drink something?" Deacon He said. "There is soda in the fridge, as well as high-quality Wisdom Tea, and yellow wine too. In any case, the ceremony isn't held until tomorrow."

"Soda, I'll get it myself."

"Alright, don't be a stranger."

"Okay... Psh!"

Chen Shu opened a can of soda, then leaned back, resting against the backrest. While turning his head to look at the scenery outside the window, he drank the soda, feeling extremely comfortable.

The clouds on the horizon seemed to be as high as he was.

However, the flying car was not flying very high, only about five hundred meters, and the speed was not very fast, a few hundred kilometers per hour. It was very quiet in his ears.

Lingzhou was also located in the middle of Yiguo, not far from Yujing. The straight-line distance was only a few hundred kilometers, but flying from Yujing required bypassing the Forbidden Land—it was impossible to fly over the Forbidden Land. All aircraft in the world had to bypass the Forbidden Land, so calculating it this way, it might be nearly a thousand kilometers.

It was a journey of about two or three hours.

Chen Shu continued to look at the scenery.

One cloud after another was left behind.

Eleven o'clock in the morning.

The flying car hovered outside the mountain gate of the Spirit Sect, applying for entry.

Chen Shu was able to view this, the oldest sect residence in human history.

The residence of the Spirit Sect was called Yuding Qunshan. There were many mountain peaks, none of which were very high, nor were they precipitous or steep. Each mountain peak was basically a large hill with rounded lines. Over thousands of years, dense classical buildings had been built on every peak. Looking from afar, it was a group of mountains covered by palaces. The palaces outlined the contours of the mountains, which was very spectacular.

Modern times also opened a portion to the public.

Chen Shu saw tourists on the ground in the distance, flying a Drone outside Yuding Mountain to conduct aerial photography.

"Entry approved."

The flying car moved slowly again, flying straight toward the middle, largest, and highest mountain peak, and landed on the mountain peak next to it.

There was a helipad here.

The flying car stopped steadily.

"Get off."

"Mm."

"Follow me."

Deacon He led them into a courtyard and said to Chen Shu: "This is a place to receive distinguished guests. You will stay here temporarily tonight. I have also arranged for Senior Brother Shi Qian to stay here with you, so you won't be lonely by yourself."

"Okay."

"In the afternoon, you can let Senior Brother Shi Qian take you around. If you go outside and can't get back in, just send me a message or call me."

"Thank you, Deacon He."

"You're welcome."

Chen Shu arrived at a room.

The courtyard was a very quaint one, yet the room was extremely modern, with modern bedding, a carpet, bedside lamp, air conditioning, television, toilet, and shower—it had everything, a bit like some homestays located inside an ancient city.

Deacon He left.

Chen Shu lay on the bed and started playing with his Mobile Phone.

Right now, the Ancient Cultivation Group was discussing the zongzi he had wrapped; except for the crayfish zongzi, the others were all well-received, especially the pineapple zongzi, which weren't sold anywhere outside.

Chen Shu was bored, so he chatted a bit, and then Teacher Shi Qian called him to go eat.

The meal was also in this courtyard, and it was a la carte, only there was no need to pay.

The taste was unexpectedly good.

In the afternoon, he walked around everywhere and took some photos.

Deacon He came by again to explain the detailed procedure for tomorrow to him.

A day passed just like that.

The sixth day of the fifth lunar month.

Early in the morning, someone came to deliver clothes to Chen Shu; it was a set of simple yet quite form-fitting traditional attire, and after putting it on, they led him toward Yuding Mountain, arriving at the Yuling Hall above.

Yuling Hall was ridiculously large, with statues of past Spirit Saints all around; light shone down onto the divine statues, solemn and majestic, making one afraid to breathe too loudly.

Standing in front of the statues was a middle-aged-looking man wearing traditional clothing, who was the current Sect Master of the Spirit Sect, already over three hundred years old.

Beside him were his only two disciples, who were also big-shot figures.

Below, more than two hundred people were standing densely, arranged by seniority; the sheer number of people made Chen Shu's scalp tingle.

Deacon He had told him that there were a total of eight hundred and forty-six people in the Spirit Sect's inner sect, and the two hundred-plus people standing here today had an average age of over one hundred. Furthermore, many had specifically rushed back in the last few days just to witness Chen Shu's joining.

Then came a set of complex procedures.

Fortunately, the procedure was only complex, and Chen Shu didn't need to memorize it himself; there was a deacon similar to a master of ceremonies beside him teaching him, and he just had to do as the deacon said.

Reading the information;

A round of questions and answers;

Taking an oath before the current Spirit Saint;

Paying respects to the Sect Master;

It took about an hour.

Immediately after, the etiquette deacon took him to meet the two hundred-plus people in this great hall one by one—

The deacon told him what the other party was called, their full name, whose disciple they were, and whether they held any position within the sect, and he had to bow and greet them. After both sides had met, they would move on in order to the next big shot.

It was a huge hassle.

It was clear that not only did he find it troublesome, but the big shots in the sect also found it boring; it was just that standing in this place, under the eyes of the ancestors of past generations, they didn't dare to be presumptuous.

After all, it wasn't the Sword Sect.

This whole set of procedures took several hours.

Chen Shu remembered the information of quite a few people, because those standing here really were all big shots—some he had seen on the news, some he had seen in textbooks, some he had seen when searching for knowledge online, and the most awesome few, he had seen in history books.

Chen Shu was absolutely terrified.

But he only remembered the information, and basically didn't remember their faces.

By this time, it was already noon.

The business at Yuling Hall was finished.

The big shots dispersed one after another, leaving only the Sect Master and the two Vice Sect Masters, and the three of them led Chen Shu toward a Divine Hall behind Yuling Hall.

This Divine Hall was very special—

What was enshrined inside were not the Spirit Saints or Sect Masters of the Spirit Sect through the ages, but seventeen distinct divine statues.

After Chen Shu stepped inside, he quietly took a look.

Chen Shu recognized the divine statue in the middle; Chen Shu had just sworn before him to protect the Spirit Sect.

The current Spirit Saint.

Chen Shu also recognized the two divine statues on the left and right.

They were the sage who first led a portion of Cultivators to kick off the prelude to the new era, the Grand Ancestor of Yiguo printed on the one-hundred-yuan banknote, the Emperor of the Martial Sect on the fifty-yuan banknote, and the Emperor of the Ming Sect on the twenty-yuan banknote. It is worth noting that the Emperor of the Ming Sect had no relation to the Ming Sect of the Martial Cultivators; it was just a coincidence of names, and this world had no custom of avoiding them.

Following that were two Daoist priests wearing Daoist robes.

A sturdy monk wearing a monk's robe.

Chen Shu had seen them all too.

They were the two Heavenly Venerables of the Daoist Sect and the Zheng-Guang Tathagata of the Buddhist Sect.

Afterward, there was also one carrying a Sword.

It should be the current Sword God.

He could guess some of the remaining divine statues, while others he couldn't guess at all.

More than half of the divine statues looked similar to Yiguo people, but there were also a few divine statues that possessed obvious characteristics of foreigners or even other races, and there were even three who could be seen at a glance not to be human.

Chen Shu didn't look too much, quickly withdrew his gaze, and thought silently.

So these are the various gods……

So there are seventeen of them.

It was about what he had guessed.

But why would the Spirit Sect enshrine so many gods?

Or is it that other sects like the Buddhist Sect and Daoist Sect also actually enshrine these gods, only they don't usually show them to the public?

Chen Shu followed behind the Sect Master and his two disciples who served as Vice Sect Masters with his head lowered, walking to the front of the various divine statues.

The Sect Master's eldest disciple stepped forward and began to recite a prayer.

The gist was to inform the gods that my Spirit Sect has recruited a new disciple with extraordinary talent, so gods, please come over quickly, everyone come and take a look……

To be honest, Chen Shu did not know why joining a sect had to involve this step either—

Was it not enough for the elder Spirit Saint to see it?

Did he have to show it off in front of the god next door? It was just like having a big, chubby baby boy...

Yet, as the prayers continued to ring in his ears, Chen Shu already realized that his trip to the Spirit Sect would likely yield more than just an ancient and powerful sect as his background; perhaps some of his past doubts would also be answered.