A sage master under the pine tree imparted the Dao and taught longevity.

"Master! Is this our new junior brother?"

Inside Songjian Temple, Shu'er circled Shen Mo twice, looking him up and down as if he were examining some rare object.

Chen Chuan nodded with a smile: "His name is Shen Mo, and his Daoist name is Qingxuan. From now on, he will be your third junior brother."

"Shen Mo, this is your senior sister."

Shu'er reached out and pinched Shen Mo's cheek, giggling, "He's much fairer than when Junior Brother Xiao first arrived!"

Shen Mo was startled by her pinch, but he didn't cry or make a fuss. He simply took a step back respectfully and bowed to Shu'er, saying, "Greetings, Senior Sister."

Shu'er was amused even more by his serious expression: "So good!"

At this moment, Xiao Jin also walked out of the temple, his gaze falling on this new junior brother.

Chen Chuan raised his hand: "This is your second senior brother, Xiao Jin, whose Daoist name is Jingchen."

Shen Mo looked up and saw him, then called out softly, "Greetings, Senior Brother Jingchen."

Xiao Jin nodded slightly, which was considered an agreement.

Shu'er looked at Chen Chuan expectantly: "Master, can Junior Brother also cultivate?"

Chen Chuan nodded: "Shen Mo has dual spiritual roots of water and wood, so he will cultivate together with Xiao'er from now on."

Shen Mo suddenly turned to look at Shu'er, hesitated for a moment, and asked in a low voice, "What kind of spiritual root does Senior Sister have?"

Upon hearing this, Shu'er's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly raised her face and said generously, "I don't have spiritual roots, so I can't cultivate immortal techniques... but that's alright!"

Her eyes crinkled into a smile as she said, "Great! Finally, someone to play with... no, no, someone to cultivate with Junior Brother Xiao!"

Chen Chuan looked at Shu'er and sighed inwardly.

He led the crowd into the hall and walked to an empty room next to the main hall, where he pushed open the door.

This room was originally used as a study. It was simply furnished with a table, a couch, and a few old books piled on the shelf, which was quite elegant.

"Qingxuan, you can stay here for now."

Chen Chuan said gently.

"The temple is simple and unfurnished; we will gradually add to it in the future."

Shen Mo nodded obediently, stepped over the threshold, and looked around curiously.

Chen Chuan stood with his hands behind his back in the courtyard, looking around the small Taoist temple.

The main house, the east wing, the west wing, and this study converted into a bedroom are now crammed full of the four members of the master and his disciples.

He secretly planned to go to the market another day to exchange some money for worldly silver, and have Wang Huai'an lead the villagers to expand the building. He couldn't let his apprentices live in cramped conditions.

……

The next morning, as dawn broke.

Chen Chuan bathed and changed his clothes, then burned incense and cleaned the altar in the main hall.

Shu'er got up early and swept the hall spotless. She also picked a few wildflowers, put them in a vase, and placed them in front of the statue of the patriarch.

Xiao Jin and Shen Mo stood side by side outside the hall, waiting for the summons.

"Come in," Chen Chuan's voice came from inside the hall.

Xiao Jin took Shen Mo's small hand and slowly walked in.

Although Shen Mo was young, he was composed. He walked to the prayer mat and, following Xiao Jin's guidance, knelt on it and respectfully kowtowed three times to Chen Chuan.

"Disciple Shen Mo greets Master."

Chen Chuan sat upright in the superior position, accepted the three bows from him, nodded slightly, and said gently, "Now that you have entered my sect, you should uphold my principles. From now on, you will officially become the third disciple of my Songjian Temple, with the Daoist name Qingxuan."

After speaking, he recited the key points of the "Qingyuan Yanglun Scripture," then took out a handwritten copy of the scripture from his sleeve and handed it to Shen Mo.

"This is the foundational cultivation method of our sect. It draws upon the vital energy of spring to nourish the dantian and practice embryonic breathing. Keep this safe and study it carefully when you return. If you have any questions, feel free to ask."

Shen Mo accepted it with both hands and solemnly said, "This disciple will remember it."

Chen Chuan then turned to Xiao Jin: "Xiao'er, take your junior brother to the pine tree and teach him the method of exhaling and inhaling in detail."

Xiao Jin accepted the order and took Shen Mo out of the hospital.

Beneath the ancient pine tree, Xiao Jin arranged the prayer mat and had Shen Mo sit cross-legged, while he stood to the side, explaining the breathing techniques of the "Qingyuan Yanglun Jing" sentence by sentence.

"Tongue against the upper palate, breath gently through the nose, focus your mind on the dantian (lower abdomen), and do not be distracted..."

Shen Mo did as instructed, his small body standing straight, his hands clasped in the Qingyuan Seal, his eyes slightly lowered.

It is autumn, and the vital energy between heaven and earth is thin.

After the time it takes for five incense sticks to burn, Shen Mo finally felt a cool breath through his nose, which slowly descended down his throat and warmly flowed into the area three inches below his navel.

He was overjoyed, and his breathing became erratic.

"Don't get distracted." Xiao Jin's voice rang out at the right time: "When spiritual energy enters the body, just let it happen naturally. Don't force it, and don't be overjoyed."

Shen Mo composed himself and entered a meditative state once more.

Several incense sticks' worth of time passed before that wisp of azure energy was re-examined.

This time, Shen Mo dared not move rashly. He calmed his mind and focused his spirit before carefully channeling the azure energy into his dantian.

When he finished his practice and opened his eyes, the sun was already high in the sky. Shu'er was perched on the courtyard wall, tilting her head to look at him. Seeing that he had opened his eyes, she grinned and said, "Junior brother, it's time for lunch. If we don't go soon, Master will eat us all!"

Shen Mo, the tips of his ears turning slightly red, said, "I...I'll go right now!"

Beside him, Xiao Jin also finished his practice and stood up, saying calmly, "In autumn and winter, the azure energy in the world is thin, and it is impossible to cultivate after sunset. Therefore, we should cherish the daytime and cultivate again after lunch."

Shen Mo nodded and jogged into the courtyard.

Lunchtime.

Shen Mo picked up the small bowl, took a bite of the spiritual vegetables, and his eyes immediately lit up.

The spiritual vegetables were sweet, crisp, and tender, melting in the mouth. A faint spiritual energy slid down the throat into the stomach, making the whole body feel warm.

He shoveled another mouthful of spirit rice; its aroma was far superior to that of ordinary rice.

"Is it good?" Shu'er tilted her head to look at him.

Shen Mo nodded vigorously, his cheeks puffed out, unable to speak.

The bowl of rice was quickly emptied.

He held the empty bowl, his gaze shifting between the rice bowl and the vegetable plate, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

Shu'er saw through his thoughts, snatched his bowl, filled it to the brim, and slammed it down in front of him: "Eat! There's plenty of spirit rice in the temple!"

Shen Mo's ears turned red, and she whispered, "Thank you, Senior Sister..." Before she could finish speaking, she buried her head in her rice.

Watching him wolf down his food, Chen Chuan chuckled to himself, "This kid looks so gentle and refined, but I never expected him to be such a little glutton."

After eating five bowls in a row, Shen Mo finally put down his chopsticks and couldn't help but let out a burp. He immediately covered his mouth, looking embarrassed.

Xiao Jin picked up a piece of spiritual vegetable with his chopsticks without expression and said indifferently, "Don't be embarrassed, your senior sister not only burped after the meal, but also farted."

Shu'er's smile froze, and she grabbed her chopsticks, ready to hit him: "Xiao Jin! You're asking for it!"

Chen Chuan smiled and coughed lightly, silencing the noise at the table, and stood up, saying, "Alright, clear the dishes. We still have to cultivate this afternoon."

Shen Mo quickly got up, eager to help tidy up, but Shu'er pressed him back into his chair: "You're new here, you don't need to do any work today, just rest!"

Little Shen Mo sat there, looking at his bickering senior sisters and brothers and his kind master, recalling the disdain and alienation he received from others in the academy.

He suddenly felt that this small Taoist temple was much warmer than that grand academy.

He secretly vowed in his heart: he would cultivate diligently and live up to his master's kindness in taking him in. He would also do his best for the temple and for his master, just like his senior brother Xiao and senior sister Shu'er!