This is what an immortal should be like

Chapter 238 A Cultivation World Far Beyond Expectations

Xiong Xuguang's emotions were a mixture of excitement and complexity, even feeling as if he were in another world. Long-dormant dream images seemed to flash through his consciousness again. In the distant past, he seemed to have performed the tea ceremony of apprenticeship, only that was far more solemn than this moment.
At this moment, the others at the table were in a very complicated state. On the one hand, as colleagues of the Bureau of Extraordinary Investigations, they knew that this was definitely a landmark moment and were naturally overjoyed. On the other hand, they were also somewhat disappointed.

Of course, the others also looked at Master Qingping with expectant eyes. Perhaps he would not only take Xiong Xuguang as his disciple, but also other people?

However, it was clear that expectations were quickly dashed. After finishing her tea, Master Qingping handed the teacup to Xiong Xuguang, who was still kneeling, and then carried her bag to her tiled house, sending back a message.

"Jingwen, go find your grandmaster and tell him that I have already taken on a disciple. As for the other young friends, it is not convenient for them to stay today. Please return home after lunch!"
-
That afternoon, in the Kyoto headquarters of the Bureau of Extraordinary Investigations, in the second-floor office of the former Imperial Observatory building, the telephone rang urgently.

"Dili li li li di li li li li".

"Hey, what's up? Oh? Really? Don't hang up!"

The Bureau of Extraordinary Investigations now has multiple office buildings, and the Ancient Building, as the location of the Mysterious Celestial Instrument, is also the place where the Imperial Observatory of Astronomy is inherited, making it a special place within the Bureau of Extraordinary Investigations.

After repeatedly confirming the call, the person who answered quickly got up and rushed into a meeting room next door.

When the door was opened, the discussion of the planning scheme inside came to an abrupt halt. Many people, including Duan Kang, looked at the man at the door, whose breathing was slightly rapid.

Before anyone could ask, the man loudly proclaimed the news.

"News from Jingzhou confirms that Xiong Xuguang has been accepted as a disciple by Daoist Qingping—"

Everyone in the room felt a jolt, and Duan Kang quickly asked a question.

When was this news received?

"Just now, someone from Jingzhou called!"

Is the phone still connected?

"Online!"

Without a word, Duan Kang rushed out of the conference room, followed closely by several others.
At the same time, the sun gradually set in the west. Inside the Taiji Temple on Liuyun Mountain, there were no more idlers. The four Taoist priests had all arrived, along with Xiong Xuguang, who had stayed behind with great excitement.

Meanwhile, Xiong Xuguang had already bathed and changed clothes at Taiji Temple. He was wearing an old Taoist robe from the temple, but he didn't mind at all.

Tai Chi Temple doesn't have many rules. After offering tea to the master beforehand, and then paying respects to the Three Pure Ones in the main hall and offering tea to the elders, that's considered a simple apprenticeship.

After that, two prayer mats were laid out beside the peach tree. Xiong Xuguang sat down with Qingping Daoist. This was a place that outsiders could not access in the past. The other three Daoists did not appear nearby, as if they were doing something.

Xiong Xuguang didn't know what the other Taoists were doing, but he felt that the Taiji Temple had become very quiet, as if the chirping of insects and birds in the mountains in summer had disappeared.

At this moment, the master and disciple sat facing each other. Xiong Xuguang's eyes were full of anticipation, while Qingping Daoist remained silent, as if waiting for something.

Then, Master Xu Ming walked over, holding a slender clean bottle in his hand. Under Xiong Xuguang's puzzled gaze, the old master tilted the bottle slightly by the peach tree, and a wisp of liquid with a faint purple fluorescence overflowed from it.

Xiong Xuguang's eyes widened immediately. Was the water glowing?
When the water droplets fell to the ground, it seemed as if the ground itself glowed with light, and then the entire peach tree seemed to sway gently, with many flower buds blooming one after another.

Sitting under the peach tree, Xiong Xuguang felt that the fragrance of the peach blossoms had become even stronger.

After Master Xu Ming finished doing all this, he nodded slightly to the master and disciple under the tree, then turned and left, leaving only Xiong Xuguang and Qingping Daoist behind.

At this point, Qingping Daoist slowly spoke.

"I will call you Xuguang. Your opportunity to join the sect is rare. As my first disciple, I naturally want you to seize that opportunity!"

opportunity?

Am I stuck at some crucial point in my learning process?
Xiong Xuguang looked puzzled but didn't ask any questions. He knew his master would tell him. Seeing his patience, Master Qingping smiled and nodded.

"You work in the government and need to go to work every day, so it's not good to stay in the temple all the time. Therefore, you need to make the most of every moment. Tomorrow is Monday, so today I will tell you about the secrets of my Tai Chi Temple!"

After waiting for so long and doing so much work, Xiong Xuguang was finally able to hear the information he wanted to know, and his heart was pounding faster and faster.

"Although we usually say that we cultivators are no different from ordinary people, living in the mortal world, there are still some differences. Taiji Temple is also different from ordinary Taoist temples. Perhaps you have already noticed this, otherwise you wouldn't have come so eagerly. But I suppose not many people know about it. That's alright, I'll explain it clearly today!"

Master Qingping said this with a smile, while Xiong Xuguang thought to himself, "Master, we probably know more than you do."

Master Qingping seemed unaware of this, and continued speaking to herself, her words carrying a touch of amusing banter.

"In the popular parlance of the past, our Taiji Temple does indeed have some superstitious elements in the eyes of ordinary people. We believe in the advancement of cultivation and the attainment of immortality. We really believe in those immortals who can fly high and fly, summon wind and rain, and subdue dragons and tigers. Do you find that interesting, or absurd?" Qingping Daoist seemed to be observing Xiong Xuguang's expression as she spoke, but the latter remained serious, which made the former nod slightly.

"To achieve immortal cultivation, one actually needs something very precious in this era."

Reiki!

The word popped into Xiong Xuguang's mind, and his master's words followed at the same time.

"That is spiritual energy!"

"This is the end of the Dharma era, when the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is nearly exhausted, and all living beings are in desolation. This is the meaning of the present moment. However, the Great Dao has fifty heavens and forty-nine heavens, so there is always a glimmer of hope for all things. Ancient immortals had already foreseen this calamity."

These words reminded Xiong Xuguang of when he first looked at the tortoise shell painting, and he still tried his best to remain calm and composed.

"You've all been amazed by this peach tree in my Taiji Temple many times. It's not that it's a special variety or that the climate is different; it's simply that it's neither a flower nor a tree!"

"As expected!" Xiong Xuguang looked enlightened, while his master, looking at the peach tree, smiled and gave the answer.

"A celestial being used his great power to set up an array to isolate the mountain gate, refined spiritual liquid with Purple Cloud Dew, and used the power of creation to connect the peach seed with the earth's veins, creating a miracle in this era of Dharma decline. This tree is the wood spirit root of my Taiji Temple!"

"The wood spirit takes root, sprouts branches and blossoms, and the fragrance of its blossoms is pure spiritual energy!"

At this moment, Qingping Daoist's expression was no longer that of the ever-peaceful Daoist, but rather carried a hint of obvious pride as she looked at the peach tree beside her and then around.

"Although my Taiji Temple is dilapidated, this area of ​​two miles is a true sacred place for cultivation, a rare blessed land in this degenerate age!"

"Here, one can awaken the spirit; here, one can cultivate; here, one can embark on the path from mortal to immortality, and touch the unfathomable wonders of heaven and earth."

After saying all that, Master Qingping looked at Xiong Xuguang again.

Do you think I'm talking nonsense?

Xiong Xuguang quickly shook his head. This was something the Bureau of Extraordinary Investigations had already deduced. His face showed only excitement, not doubt.

The Taoist priest Qingping opposite him made a slightly surprised expression, but this time it was more of an act.

"Hmm? You're quite receptive to new things. I thought you'd think I was talking nonsense!"

Master Qingping looked puzzled, while Xiong Xuguang looked nervous. Oh no, he was too excited and overreacted. Even ordinary people who are enthusiasts of metaphysics would not doubt such an exaggerated thing.

However, Xiong Xuguang was relieved to find that his master's concern did not seem to lie with him.

"Sigh, why do people I meet on the street treat me like a plague even when I mention the word 'cultivation'? Do I really look too much like a beggar trying to scam money? Surely not."

Xiong Xuguang wanted to laugh but didn't dare, and quickly regained his seriousness when he saw his master looking at him.

"Alright, let's continue. Since you believe, I'll assume you do and won't waste my breath. But if you're just pretending to believe out of pride, it will be very detrimental to your cultivation!"

"Master, I believe you!"

Xiong Xuguang spoke solemnly, and Qingping Daoist said nothing more.

"That's good! My Taiji Temple is a blessed place for cultivation. Such places are naturally not unique in the world. In the present Great Yan Dynasty, we know of nine mountains and twelve lands, all of which have spiritual veins rooted in them!"

Actually, there aren't that many right now, but it doesn't matter if we say that, since some places have already set their sights on them.

When Xiong Xuguang heard this, his heart skipped a beat. There were still so many!
"Above these nine mountains and twelve lands lies the Hidden Immortal Valley Grotto-Heaven, the last place in the world where a Confucian immortal resides in seclusion! Your senior brother will soon have the opportunity to go there, and I hope you can make it too!"

"A Confucian immortal who has remained in this world?"

Xiong Xuguang's heart felt like it was about to burst out of his chest, pounding violently, and he couldn't help but ask the question.

Master Qingping stroked his beard and nodded, recalling Zhuang Lin's appearance.

"Indeed, the 'Immortal' who remains in this world—the word 'immortal' alone is enough to reveal his identity. He is a true immortal in this world! He is also someone who foresaw the end of the universe. You could have ascended to heaven long ago, but you chose to remain in this world, enduring loneliness and waiting for a thousand years!"

A jolt of electricity ran through Xiong Xuguang from head to toe, goosebumps rose all over his body, and his body hair stood on end.

He waited patiently for a thousand years in this world, becoming the last immortal in humankind!
This news was far beyond our expectations!
(End of this chapter)