Longzang

Chapter 27 Intensive Instruction
Wei Yuan turned around and saw a burly cultivator standing not far away. He was nine feet tall, two heads taller than ordinary people, with a thick, short beard and a dignified appearance. The man was leading a boy and had just disembarked from the immortal boat.

The cultivator's eyes were like lightning. The moment 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 hint of surprise flashed in the cultivator's eyes, then he concealed the light in them and said, "You have asked an age-old question that few have been able to answer since ancient times, and those who can answer it do not wish to. If you are interested, then remember this question and slowly seek the answer in your cultivation in the future! This is my grandson Xiaoyu. If you do not mind, the two of you can support each other on the path of immortality, and perhaps you can both go further."

The cultivator scooped up the boy and placed him in front of Wei Yuan. Both Wei Yuan and the boy instinctively turned their heads away, avoiding looking at each other.

The boy was exquisitely handsome; he was none other than Xiao Yu, who had relentlessly attacked Wei Yuan with hundreds of sword strikes before being stabbed in the waist with a single spear thrust. Wei Yuan, recalling how he had killed Xiao Yu with a single spear thrust, leaving him utterly humiliated, felt somewhat guilty upon seeing his former victim.

The burly cultivator slapped Xiaoyu on the head and said, "Why aren't you paying respects to your senior brother!"

The boy looked to the side and said stubbornly, "He might not be as old as me!"

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

The boy said, "What if I can beat him someday?"

The cultivator was taken aback, then said, "Then it is up to you."

The boy then turned around, staring straight at Wei Yuan's chest, avoiding eye contact, and said stiffly, "Xiao Yu greets Senior Brother."

Wei Yuan quickly returned the greeting: "Wei Yuan, I dare not accept such a form of address from Senior Brother Xiao Yu."

The burly cultivator said impatiently, "Alright, alright, stop with all this nonsense. Just remember the questions you asked today and don't end up like your masters and grandmasters."

Zhang Sheng was displeased: "If my master and I have done anything wrong, please point it out, senior!"

The burly cultivator laughed and said, "Don't you know what kind of reputation your Azure Palace lineage has? You're all arrogant and self-important, thinking you're above the law and uninvolved in factional disputes, but in the end, you're all just looking out for yourselves. You've been out of touch with the world for six years, so I'm too lazy to talk to you."

The burly cultivator grabbed Xiaoyu and headed towards the distant main hall. With a single step, he vanished from the spot.

At this moment, another girl walked over and first bowed to Zhang Shengting, saying, "Hello, Mr. Zhang!"

The girl was truly beautiful, with a pleasant voice, and she knew how to respect her teachers. Zhang Sheng took a great liking to her and said with a gentle smile, "The Bao family has produced many talented people generation after generation. It seems that this generation will surpass its predecessors."

The girl bowed again: "To receive your praise, sir, I feel at ease. It seems that entering Taichu Palace was the right decision."

Seeing a faint golden light flickering between the girl's eyebrows, Zhang Sheng suddenly remembered something and asked in surprise, "By the way, I heard that someone in the Bao family has obtained the Great Treasure Flower Pure Land Dharma Image Inheritance. Could it be you?"

The girl said, "The Pure Land Dharma Image is nothing but an external thing. Now that I have entered the Taichu Palace, I have no shortage of wise teachers and I will not hesitate to work hard. Within a hundred years, I will be able to cultivate a Dharma Image that is no less than the Pure Land lineage. The path to immortality is long, and the Dharma Image is just a stop along the way. It is not worth worrying about."

Buddhist images are passed down through generations, and their power is universally acknowledged to be unparalleled. The girl's willingness to give up so readily, and the ability to utter such words, impressed Zhang Sheng with her remarkable courage.

The girl looked at Wei Yuan and said, "Since we're from the same sect and in the same year, I'll definitely need Senior Brother Wei's help in the future." "Of course!" Zhang Sheng immediately picked up Wei Yuan and placed him in front of the girl, saying, "Wei Yuan, come and greet Senior Sister Bao Yun!"

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

Wei Yuan could only force himself to bow and say, "Wei Yuan greets Junior Sister."

Zhang Sheng slapped her again: "How rude! Call her 'Senior Sister'!"

Wei Yuan could only say, "Wei Yuan greets Senior Sister."

Bao Yun stared at Wei Yuan with her bright eyes, making him feel uncomfortable. Then she covered her mouth and laughed, "I will have to ask my junior brother for guidance in the future."

The old man behind Bao Yun, with a blank expression, said, "It's almost time; we should go in."

Zhang Sheng checked the time and then, together with Wei Yuan, stepped into the main hall.

Dozens of Taoist priests and cultivators were busy in the main hall. When Wei Yuan entered the hall, he suddenly felt something strange behind him. He turned around and saw another immortal boat landing on the square. Then people came down one after another. It seemed that another group of new disciples had arrived.

A Taoist priest quickly approached Zhang Sheng and said with a smile, "Junior Brother Zhang, it's been many years! I heard you've taken on a fine disciple, who has your former glory. Congratulations!"

Zhang Sheng returned the greeting with a smile. The Taoist priest carefully examined Wei Yuan and said, "This must be Wei Yuan. I've heard he brings great honor to the True Lord! Junior Brother Zhang, you should be familiar with the entry process, so I won't go into details. In three days, when all the disciples from various states have arrived, we will hold the Ancestral Master Worship Ceremony. However, this year there are several procedures. After the Ancestral Master Worship Ceremony, you will have to choose your learning method. I wonder if you would like to choose self-study or group instruction?"

Zhang Sheng was somewhat puzzled and asked, "What is meant by concentrated instruction?"

The Taoist then said, “In the past, new disciples were taught by their respective halls after entering the palace. However, this year, True Lord Yanshi proposed that general courses such as cultivation knowledge, human history, and basic Taoist principles be taken out and taught by virtuous and talented individuals selected from within the palace. Unique techniques will then be taught by each hall and its own people. This is called centralized instruction. This is the first year, so new disciples can decide for themselves whether to participate in centralized instruction.”

"The reformists are moving so fast?" Zhang Sheng frowned slightly.

The Taoist priest did not answer, but said, "You can make a decision after you have finished paying respects to the ancestral master. I will first record the names, and then I will take you to your residence."

The Taoist priest held the jade book in his hand and pointed it at Wei Yuan. On a single page, information about Wei Yuan's appearance, origin, and lineage appeared on its own. After recording the information, the Taoist priest led Zhang Sheng and Wei Yuan out of the main hall. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, a cloud of mist enveloped the two of them.

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

After about a quarter of an hour, the Taoist priest stopped his magic, and a secluded valley appeared before Wei Yuan. 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 tall and strange trees, each over ten feet high, laden with fruit.

Wei Yuan followed the Taoist into the small courtyard on the left. The Taoist said, "This is your residence, and you will stay here until you have established your Dao foundation. All the supplies issued to new disciples are already inside; you can take them as you wish. Your master knows the rules of the palace, so I won't go into detail. The map of the mountain gate is on the table inside, marking the areas you can go to. Junior Brother Zhang, now let me briefly explain the centralized instruction."

(End of this chapter)