Vol 2 Chapter 11 (1/2)
Volume 2, Chapter 11 – Keeping Chongxuan’s Divine Shuttle, Zhou Chongju Bestows Dao Manuals
“The pureness of the Pure Qi is superior, checked!!”
This old and white-haired Daoist wrote the inspection results on the Jade Slip. He neither said anything to Zhang Yan nor had any expression on his complexion and directly departed.
Every 3 months, the Upper Court would dispatch a Master to check on the true disciples’ cultivation progress. If their cultivation was stagnant or had slow progress, under the threshold of being inspected for 3 consecutive times, the resources bestowed to them would be reduced by half. Should their results be under the pa.s.sing grade for six times, all bestowments would be stripped. Lastly, if they failed nine times, their true disciple’s status would be revoked.
Zhang Yan naturally didn’t emit out his Pure Yang spiritual qi, but emitted out the Billows Cloud pure qi for the inspector to check. Although the purity of his Pure Qi could only be called as ordinary, however, this step was the most difficult to begin. H only began to practice in a short 3 months of time and has already been able to condensate Pure Qi. That meant that his progress was very significant, so he should be able to pa.s.s the test.
Having watched the Taoist deacon leaving by riding on the light, he then turned around and returned to his Immortal Cave. He looked up and was surprised to see a person in front of himself as he quickly saluted him, “This one has seen Senior Brother Ning Chongxuan.”
“Your spiritual qi is very pure, its condensation state also leaves no point of dispersing. You obviously have comprehended it by heart.” Ning Chongxuan, as always, was clad in his white robe. However, there was a slight bit of disappointment and frustration in his voice.
He was aware that the qi refinements method in the “Billows Cloud Secret Manual” was not excellent. Also, this Blessed Land’s Evil Qi was truly fierce and powerful, which rendered one only able to seize a short time to practice at night. Zhang Yan’s apt.i.tude was not high, and he had n.o.body to protect and support him. But looking at his achievement to this degree, in a mere 3 months he stayed true to his Dao heart. Judging from this only, it could be seen that his will was firm and tenacious, and far surpa.s.sed his previous expectations.
But such a good character and good seedling of a disciple could not actually be pulled to his apprentices.h.i.+p branch, was truly regretful.
He gazed at Zhang Yan before speaking in a deep tone, “I came here to inform you that you have been set up for the Alchemy Pavilion’s Master—Zhou Chongju—as your master. This person’s status is unique, he even took the initiative to visit my Master and said that he wanted to accept you as his apprentice. Master has given his words, and I’m also unable to stop it. However, you can rest a.s.sured that this person is not from any ancient family branch.”
Having spoken these words, he slightly sighed and said, “A human’s affairs truly are unpredictable, it seems like you and Senior Brother Qi don’t have the fate to be master and disciple.”
A trace of light flashed in Zhang Yan’s eyes before he spoke, “Listening to Senior Brother’s words, it seems that there are some hidden secrets behind this matter. I do not know why this Senior Zhou wants to accept me as his disciple?”
Ning Chongxuan only shook his head and replied, “Even if you knew more about this, it’s als
o useless.” He extended his hand and said, “Give me back the Divine Shuttle.”
Zhang Yan’s complexion didn’t change and took out the Divine Shuttle without hesitation. Ning Chongxuan took it and put the Divine Shuttle into his sleeve as he then looked at Zhang Yan and said, “I will personally send you to see this person. Do bear in mind that no matter how wonderful the treasures are, those are only objects that must not be relied on. So long as you firmly and wholeheartedly tread on your path, you’re not necessarily unable to reach enlightenment. Do remember this at all costs!”
He walked forward and grabbed Zhang Yan’s shoulder, causing him to suddenly feel a burst of fuzziness in front him, making him dizzy. As he tried hard to stand firm. He then looked up and found that he was already in front of a certain building’s hall with a plaque written with “The Alchemy Pavilion”, Ning Chongxuan had vanished without a trace.
When he was about to move forward, his complexion changed as he stretched out and opened his palm. It turned out that the Divine Shuttle was grasped in his palm!
Zhang Yan put away this Divine Shuttle and thought deeply for a moment as he couldn’t help but want to understand Ning Chongxuan’s intention clearly.
“Today, Senior Brother Ning took back his Divine Shuttle and gave it back to me for fear that my heart would be swayed because of success and failures. And judging from his last reminder, he wanted to tell me that all foreign objects, regardless how wonderful those objects could be, were just things which could be bestowed by others. He did this before sending me to this Alchemy Pavilion to remind me that alchemy was also a foreign matter. Staying firm in cultivating the profound cultivation law is the only correct path. His conducts were to remind me to never forget the most fundamental truth.”
Thinking about this, he solemnly cupped his hands over toward the direction where Ning Chongxuan had left. No matter what Ning Chongxuan’s intention may be, he at least had helped him several times and received his graciousness one after another. He even gave him back the Divine Shuttle. This was an extreme benevolence he had received, and a favor that he must remember in the future.
However…
The corner of Zhang Yan’s mouth curled up as he let out a smile. ‘Whether it was Ning Chongxuan or someone behind this scheme, you were all wrong, you’re gravely mistaken for this judgment!’ He then shook his sleeves and strode into the hall.
The entrance’s main hall was supported by two Golden Woods, as big as two peoples hugging, with Lotus Flowers carved on its pedestal as it arched from the grand building to the roof. The hall had one big bronze furnace as high as a person’s height, with a light gauze m.u.f.fled on top of it as a faint medicine fragrance floated from somewhere distant. Upon seeing him here, a deacon’s child immediately approached as he bowed and asked, “What does Senior Brother need in visiting this place? Do you need any concocted pills?”
Zhang Yan stood firm and spoke in the deep tone, “My name is Zhang Yan, I was ordered to come see Master Zhou.”
“You are Martial Uncle Zhang?”
The child servant was stunned for a moment and then busily exposed his smile and flattered, “Martial Uncle Zhang, please come here, please this way. This one will go inside and report to Master Ancestor.” Having said that, he hastily ran and went to the hall’s rear.
The other child servants previously did not care too much about him. They usually saw people with high statuses here, so how could they mind a disciple that visited to seek concocted pills? Even true disciples from various Immortal Caves were also polite to them. But the instant Zhang Yan revealed his ident.i.ty, they were first only startled, but then were immediately aware that he was their Master Ancestor’s new apprentice. Causing them not dare to neglect him as they hurriedly approached to send respect. Some even offered fragrant tea, while others were regretting how they didn’t greet him early and missed the opportunity.
After half an hour, the previous child servant ran in a hurry, bowing and speaking respectfully, “Martial Uncle Zhang, Master Ancestor has summoned you.”
Zhang Yan replied, “Lead the way.”
The child servant stepped aside and said, “Martial Uncle, please follow me.”