Mortal: Starting with the Seven Mysterious Sects, I proved my Dao through sacrifice.

The setting sun cast a long shadow of Murong Fan, half bathed in warm light and half hidden in the shadows cast by the pillars. He tilted his head slightly, gazing at the magnificent sunset, lost in thought.

Murong Fan knew that the game he had just experienced was merely the first step in establishing himself within the Thunder Sound Sect. Yuan Xiang, seemingly trusting him implicitly, was actually testing him at every turn and remaining constantly on guard. The so-called position of outer sect elder, though seemingly glamorous on the surface, was in reality a magnificent cage, trapping him firmly under Yuan Xiang's watchful eye.

"A victory celebration banquet?" Murong Fan found it amusing. "That old fox, Prime Minister Yuan, is quite the player. The more he acts like this, the more it shows he doesn't trust me. But since he wants to play along, I'll play along with him."

Murong Fan took a deep breath, suppressing his thoughts. He straightened his robes and strode towards the Listening Thunder Courtyard. The monks along the way bowed respectfully upon seeing him, their eyes filled with awe and curiosity.

The Ting Lei Courtyard was a serene and beautiful place. The courtyard was filled with exotic flowers and rare herbs, and a faint fragrance permeated the air. As soon as Murong Fan arrived at the courtyard gate, he saw two young monks dressed in grey robes standing respectfully at the entrance.

"Elder Murong, the abbot has been waiting inside for quite some time." The two young monks bowed respectfully upon seeing Murong Fan. One of them stepped forward and gestured for him to enter.

Murong Fan nodded slightly and stepped into the courtyard. In the center of the courtyard stood a stone table, laden with various delicacies, their aroma filling the air. Yuan Xiang sat beside the stone table, holding a string of Buddhist prayer beads, his eyes closed in meditation, emanating a peaceful aura.

"Master, I apologize for keeping you waiting!" Murong Fan walked up to Yuan Xiang and bowed.

"Elder Murong has arrived, please have a seat." Yuan Xiang opened his eyes, a kind smile on his face, and pointed to the chair beside the stone table. His eyes were deep, as if he could see through people's hearts.

Upon hearing this, Murong Fan sat down, his gaze sweeping over the dishes on the stone table. The table was laden with all sorts of rare delicacies. Murong Fan inwardly sneered; Prime Minister Yuan was certainly willing to spend money, but to him, these things were nothing more than mundane fare.

"Elder Murong, you have rendered a great service today, and our Thunder Sound Sect will certainly not treat you unfairly. These dishes were specially prepared for you by the sect, please try them." Yuan Xiang picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of braised bear paw, and handed it to Murong Fan. His movements seemed casual, but they carried an undeniable air of authority.

[Author's Note: The Buddhist precept of vegetarianism did not exist from its inception; it actually began with the vigorous promotion by Emperor Wu of Liang (Xiao Yan) in the Southern Dynasties. Emperor Wu was a devout Buddhist, and to demonstrate his piety, he ordered all monks and nuns in the country to abstain from meat. Thereafter, vegetarianism gradually became an important tradition of Han Chinese Buddhism. However, in the historical context of this book, the Leiyin Sect, as a spiritual practice school, places greater emphasis on using special ingredients to aid in cultivation, thus its diet differs from traditional Buddhism. Readers, especially those who are Buddhist, are encouraged not to overthink this! Please forgive any inaccuracies.]

Murong Fan took the chopsticks, picked up a piece of bear paw, and placed it in the bowl. He took a small bite; the bear paw melted in his mouth, fatty but not greasy—the taste was indeed quite good. However, Murong Fan had no interest in savoring these delicacies. He knew that Prime Minister Yuan's invitation to him this time was definitely not simply for a victory celebration.

"These meats are all top-quality ingredients for nourishing blood and qi, and some of the demon beast meats can even help condense Buddhist power. Elder Murong, please try them!" Yuan Xiang said with concern.

"Host, besides celebrating our victory, what else could you possibly want to do for me today?" Murong Fan put down his chopsticks, looked at Yuan Xiang, and asked directly. His eyes were clear, and his face was sincere.

Yuan Xiang smiled slightly, put down his chopsticks, looked at Murong Fan, and slowly said, "Elder Murong is indeed a smart man. Actually, there is something else I want to discuss with you today." Seeing that Murong Fan was so direct, Yuan Xiang was no longer embarrassed to hide anything.

"Please speak, Master," Murong Fan said calmly, knowing that Yuan Xiang was finally about to reveal his true purpose. He leaned forward slightly, appearing to be attentive and eager to listen.

"Elder Murong, you possess extraordinary talent and a profound affinity for Buddhism, making you a rare and exceptional Buddhist prodigy. My Leiyin Sect is one of the four great Buddhist sects of the Great Jin Dynasty, boasting formidable strength and a deep foundation. If you can convert to Buddhism and become a formal disciple of my Leiyin Sect, I guarantee your future within the sect will be limitless." Yuan Xiang looked at Murong Fan, a glint of expectation flashing in his eyes. His voice was gentle, yet carried a powerful persuasive force.

Murong Fan sneered inwardly; he knew Yuan Xiang had this in mind. Convert to Buddhism? (Popular Xianxia novel rankings updated weekly; click to see ranking changes.) Wouldn't that mean abandoning one's Dao heart, one's faith and pursuits? Absolutely impossible. But his face remained impassive, only slightly furrowing his brow, feigning difficulty.

"I am deeply grateful for the Abbot's kindness. However, I have practiced Taoist arts since childhood, and my Taoist heart is already deeply rooted. Moreover, I have spent half my life wandering and have become accustomed to a carefree life. My worldly ties have not been severed. If I were to enter the Buddhist order, it would only cause trouble for the Leiyin Sect. Therefore, it is truly difficult for me to formally convert." Murong Fan pondered for a moment before slowly speaking. His tone was sincere, leaving no room for doubt about his sincerity.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Yuan Xiang's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He looked at Murong Fan and said slowly, "Since Elder Murong has made up his mind, I will not force him. However, I have another suggestion, and I wonder if you would be willing to consider it." His fingers gently fiddled with the prayer beads, his eyes carrying a profound meaning.

"Please speak, host." Murong Fan's heart skipped a beat, wondering what trick Yuan Xiang had come up with this time. His body tensed slightly, ready to deal with anything.

"Since it's inconvenient for you to become a formal disciple of Buddhism, how about becoming a lay disciple of my Leiyin Sect? That way, you can practice the Buddhist teachings of my Leiyin Sect without being bound by the strict rules and regulations of Buddhism. What do you think?" Yuan Xiang looked at Murong Fan, a glint of expectation in his eyes. His voice was gentle, yet it carried an undeniable power.

Murong Fan pondered to himself, "Becoming a lay disciple? That's a good option. This way, he can use the resources of the Thunder Sound Sect to improve his strength without having to give up his Dao heart and faith. Moreover, becoming a lay disciple will also make Yuan Xiang lower his guard, making it easier for him to act within the Thunder Sound Sect and to travel and improve his cultivation." Murong Fan pretended to show a hint of hesitation on his face, as if he was seriously considering Yuan Xiang's suggestion.

"I am deeply grateful for the host's kindness. Since the host values ​​me so highly, I will respectfully accept!" Murong Fan pondered for a moment before speaking slowly. His tone was sincere, leaving no room for doubt about his sincerity.

"Very well! Since you are willing to become a lay disciple of my Leiyin Sect, I will bestow upon you the Dharma name 'Chenxin'. From now on, you are a member of my Leiyin Sect, and my Leiyin Sect will naturally not mistreat you." A hint of satisfaction flashed in Yuan Xiang's eyes as he looked at Murong Fan and spoke slowly. His voice was gentle, yet it exuded authority.

"Thank you for bestowing this Dharma name upon me, Abbot!" Murong Fan bowed respectfully, but inwardly he sneered. "Chenxin"? What a fine name! Yuan Xiang was reminding him that he was merely a mortal with lingering worldly ties, forever unable to truly integrate into Buddhism. However, his face remained impassive, merely feigning a tearful expression of gratitude.

"We are now master and disciple. Your spiritual root talent is one in a million, and you will surely surpass me in the future. Today, I will pass on to you a fragment of the Thunder Sound Treasure Record. This is one of the most treasured techniques of my Thunder Sound Sect, and it will greatly benefit your cultivation." As Yuan Xiang spoke, he took out a yellowed scripture from his bosom and handed it to Murong Fan.

The moment the scripture left his hand, it emanated a faint Buddhist aura, clearly indicating it was no ordinary object. Murong Fan understood; this was both a reward and a constraint. With this cultivation technique, he was now more deeply bound to the Thunder Sound Sect.

Murong Fan quickly accepted the scripture with both hands, put it into his storage bag, and bowed again to express his gratitude: "Thank you for your generous gift, Master. I will certainly live up to your expectations."

Yuan Xiang smiled and waved his hand, then took out a jade bottle and a small vajra, and slowly said, "Here are three 'Nascent Soul Breakthrough Pills' that can help you break through the bottleneck of the early Nascent Soul stage as soon as possible; this vajra is a Buddhist-style ritual implement that can amplify your Buddhist power; in addition, there is this Thunder Sound Heart Protection Talisman, which contains Buddhist thunder power and can help you resist the invasion of inner demons. Now that you have joined my Thunder Sound Sect, you can cultivate peacefully in the Thunder Listening Courtyard. If you want to look up cultivation techniques, you can go to the Scripture Pavilion. If you encounter any difficulties, you can come to me at any time. If I am in seclusion, you can also consult Elder Yuan Zhi."

Murong Fan has now become a lay disciple of the Thunder Sound Sect, receiving cultivation techniques, pills, magic weapons, and talismans as gifts. He has also gained access to the tenth floor of the Scripture Pavilion, which was indeed beyond his expectations.

As night gradually descended, the exotic flowers and plants in the courtyard swayed gently in the evening breeze. Murong Fan stood with his hands behind his back in the courtyard, gazing at the starry sky. He felt that the road ahead had suddenly opened up, and the prelude to his great opportunity in the Jin Dynasty was slowly being drawn back.

"Alright, it's getting late. You should go and rest. Tomorrow morning, I will personally teach you the Dharma." Yuan Xiang waved his hand, looked at Murong Fan, and said slowly.

"This junior obeys!" Murong Fan bowed again, then turned and left the courtyard. His steps were steady, yet carried an indescribable heaviness.

Stepping out of the courtyard, Murong Fan looked up at the sky. Night had fallen, the sky was dotted with stars, and a bright moon hung high in the heavens. A determined glint flashed in Murong Fan's eyes. He knew that his days at the Thunder Sound Sect had begun anew, and more challenges and opportunities awaited him in the future.