I really don’t know how to cultivate immortality!

Chapter 8: Prayer Ritual
"You traitor, what are you still standing there for? Come here and prepare to perform rituals with me." The old Taoist scolded in a fake way, attracting the pilgrims to watch. Even though Li Daoxuan was thick-skinned, he couldn't stand the gazes of so many people.

She jumped off the fence and ran to the Taoist priest. She waved to the little girl and followed the Taoist priest to the backyard.

The little girl opened her mouth to say something, but she saw Li Daoxuan walking away without hesitation. She stamped her feet angrily and pouted. The woman came over and rubbed the little girl's head, asking softly, "What's wrong, Huan'er? What are you angry about?"

"I haven't asked the Taoist brother's name yet, and he doesn't know my name. I am just, I am very angry." The little girl spoke pitifully, which made the woman feel pity for her.

Thinking about her own situation and what had happened, she felt quite guilty. She held the little girl in her arms and comforted her softly, "Don't worry, Huan'er, there will be a chance to meet again in the future. When you go back, mother will find you many friends, okay?"

"Really?" The little girl couldn't help but raise her head when she heard this. Her emotions came and went quickly, and she raised her face happily to look at her mother.

"I want a shuttlecock."

"Mom asked someone to do it for you."

"I also want those Western toys..."

"Mom will buy it for you too."

"Mom, Huan'er is very happy."

……

The mother and daughter were talking about their relationship, while Li Daoxuan followed the old Taoist into the house.

He looked at the various colored Taoist robes in the room and wanted to take a few down to wear. But he just wanted to think about it and he couldn't go beyond that. After all, according to the Taoist school, he was still a disciple who had not yet been ordained.

After making progress in the Dao, if one can seek to enter the right path and take the vows of the three masters, one can call oneself a disciple of the Ten Precepts of Wisdom. Wear a two-yi crown, seven yellow ribbon robes, and seven plain skirts.

Once you are given the eighty-one initial precepts, you can call yourself a Taichu Zhen disciple and call yourself a Jianbai Taoist priest, which is also considered a formal Taoist priest in the Taoist sect.

Maoshan is lenient in granting the ordination certificate, unlike Longhushan, where one must be granted the Zhengyi Ordination Certificate to be called a Taoist priest. As long as one can make progress in the Taoist method and have good conduct, one can be granted the ordination certificate by the Master of the Palace.

Although the old Taoist didn't care much about the Laozi Xuanlu rank, it was a rule of the Xuanmen sect after all. If you easily cross it, you will definitely be criticized behind your back, so even if Li Daoxuan wanted to wear the robes in the house, the old Taoist would not let him spread it out.

After the old Taoist priests were dressed in their robes, the disciples in the temple were also preparing for the rituals. The older Taoist priests were naturally familiar with the process, but they also wanted to teach the younger generation. It was common for older Taoist priests to lead younger ones, and it was not uncommon to see older Taoist priests and younger ones going in and out together.

Li Daoxuan helped the old Taoist pack up his instruments, and was curious to see him preparing to hold the ritual in such a hurry.

"Master, why is it held so hastily? Did that lady just say something to you?"

"This female lay Buddhist has run into some troubles," the old Taoist waved his hand and said, "but she is willing to spend a lot of money to help me repair the temple, so why not perform this Qingjiao ritual?"

"..." Li Daoxuan felt that what the old Taoist said made sense. After these days of getting close to him, he understood what kind of person the old Taoist was. If he were to describe the old Taoist, he could only use the same word, which was "real person".

The old Taoist is very real, his emotions are all shown on his face. When he is happy, he can read all night, and when he is lazy, he can sleep soundly at any time. If someone gives him money, the old Taoist is naturally willing to take the trouble to hold a Qingjiao ceremony to help the other party exorcise evil spirits and bless him.

"Master, you are too greedy for money, aren't you? Aren't you afraid of being blamed by Daozu?" Li Daoxuan said with a smile.

"When people are in this world, it is hard to leave the world. It is hard to resist the seven emotions and six desires. It is the same for me to accept you as my disciple. If Baiyun Temple wants to continue, how can it be above the world? Taoism exists in the secular world. It has experienced ups and downs in the world. What is refined is the true self. When you are old enough, I will let you go down the mountain to gain experience." The old Taoist's insights made Li Daoxuan agree deeply. Without saying anything more, he packed up the ritual utensils and prepared to go to the Lingguan Temple to hold the Qingjiao ceremony.

Seeing the old Taoist wearing a purple robe with the sun, moon and stars engraved on it, Li Daoxuan asked curiously, "Master, what rank of talisman do you hold now?" The old Taoist smiled without saying anything, raised his hand and threw a talisman into Li Daoxuan's hand. He took the magic weapon and strode away, leaving Li Daoxuan looking at the talisman in his hand and exclaimed, "Three Caves Treasure Scroll, twenty-fourth level. I didn't expect that Master is also a Three Caves Master."

With a sigh, he put the talisman into his arms. Li Daoxuan also followed the figure of the old Taoist priest.

When it was getting dark, today was a sunny day. On the winter solstice, the sunset glowed in the sky, like a raging fire burning half the sky.

There were rituals in front of the Lingguan Temple, and the old Taoist stepped on the Tiangang Step, with a whisk on his wrist. He walked around the prayer altar, chanting the "Three Officials Sutra".

The disciples on both sides played musical instruments and followed suit in chanting scriptures.

“I respectfully invite the Star God of Eliminating Disasters and Misfortunes, and the Star God of Longevity and Blessings, to descend to the throne and display their magical powers…”

Li Daoxuan also followed the old Taoist priest, scattering flowers with an expressionless face. He had read this scripture many times and could recite it fluently. As for whether it was effective or not, we would have to wait until later. After all, there is a saying that goes, sincerity is the key to success.

When the ritual was halfway through, the mother and daughter were called to kneel before the altar. Then the old Taoist shook the instruments and chanted the incantation, blessing the mother and daughter. When the ritual was completed, the Taoist drew a talisman and gave it to the mother and daughter to protect their safety.

The woman was naturally grateful and asked someone to donate a foot of red silk. Li Daoxuan took a sneak peek and thought the red silk must be worth a lot of money. The old Taoist looked happy and became more motivated. He accepted the red silk and called Li Daoxuan to come and pray for the little girl.

Li Daoxuan could only obey and sit in front of the little girl to chant scriptures. The little girl looked at him with bright eyes and showed a row of white teeth happily.

The little girl’s family must be considered a wealthy family to be able to maintain such good teeth in this era.

"Big brother."

"Shhh."

Li Daoxuan interrupted the little girl and whispered to her, "You can't interrupt someone while they are praying. Calm down first."

"Oh..." the little girl responded, closing her mouth and staring at Li Daoxuan.

Li Daoxuan enjoyed the quietness, reciting prayer scriptures while listening to the conversation between the old Taoist and the woman.

"Master, if such strange things happen again in my family, what should I do?" the woman asked worriedly. "My master is now living in the capital. The foreigners have been making a lot of noise these days, and he can't come back. I dare not fall asleep every night when I hear that voice, and I dare not answer or go out to see, for fear that something has happened."

"Madam, don't panic. Stick this talisman in the house and it will keep the house safe. If you hear someone calling your name in the middle of the night, don't answer it without permission. Madam, you must have sent servants to check the situation, but they found nothing." The old Taoist spoke slowly, with a bit of comfort in his voice. The woman's emotions gradually calmed down, and her voice was much more relaxed.

She responded to the old Taoist's words, looked at Da Dian and said, "The servants in the house have checked, but they didn't find anyone. There were only poultry and livestock in that place, and there was no footsteps. I heard someone say that maybe the immortal called my name, and if I answered, I would be kidnapped. This incident made me unable to sleep for many days, and I could always hear the sound when I was about to fall asleep."

"I also found a few wandering monks and Taoists, and knocked on the door for a long time, but it was no use. At night, I shouted again. I heard that the immortal on Mount Mao has profound magical powers, so I came here to ask him to solve this disaster."

After hearing what the lady said, the old Taoist stroked his beard and sighed, waved his dust and looked up at the sky. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Madam, please don't be anxious. As long as you don't respond to that question easily, you will be able to avoid any worries. The old Taoist will go down the mountain in a few days and go to Madam to settle this matter. What do you think?"

"Of course it's good." The woman said happily, bowing to the old Taoist priest repeatedly. "If you can save me from suffering, I will definitely give you a golden body in the future."

When the old Taoist heard that the ancestors were going to be gilded, his attitude naturally changed again. He immediately said that he would help the woman solve this problem and go down the mountain after the Spring Festival.

Li Daoxuan listened with great interest, and the blessing scripture was finished. When he looked outside, the sky had already darkened.

(End of this chapter)