The spiritual energy was restored, and he became a mortal immortal in two days.

Pfft!

Taiqingzi stumbled and almost knelt down! He wondered if there was something wrong with his ears!

Ancestor... Ancestor Master?!

How can you expect a teenage girl who has just reached the Foundation Establishment stage to be the patriarch of their Taiqing Temple, a lineage that has been passed down for thousands of years and whose founder was an ascended immortal?!

What kind of joke is this, claiming to be unparalleled in the heavens and earth?!

Taiqingzi's face turned green, his lips trembled, and he was speechless for a moment.

These conditions are not just outrageous, they are utterly absurd!

This is the greatest insult to the patriarchs of Taiqing Temple, to himself, and to the entire Taoist tradition!

Even Lu Yao was terrified, waving her hands repeatedly: "Senior brother! This...this is impossible! I...how could I..."

Chen Xuan waved his hand, signaling Lu Yao to calm down.

He looked at Taiqingzi, who had a "Are you kidding me?" expression on her face, and his smile faded, his eyes becoming calm and deep, as if they could see through people's hearts.

"You think it's impossible? You think it's humiliating?"

Chen Xuan asked calmly.

Taiqingzi opened his mouth, but ultimately forced himself to speak, his voice trembling, "Fellow Daoist... this joke has gone too far... My Taiqing Temple has a well-ordered lineage and a clear distinction between superiors and inferiors, how could we..."

"Is the lineage being passed down in an orderly manner?"

Chen Xuan interrupted him, his tone still calm, yet carrying an inexplicable weight.

"Do you know that the general outline of your Taiqing Temple's original Taiqing Daojing, after the opening line 'The Dao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Dao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name,' immediately follows with the line 'The mystery within mystery, the gateway to all wonders.'"

"Was there originally half a sentence? What was it?"

Taiqingzi was suddenly jolted, and his pupils contracted sharply!

The general outline of the Taiqing Daojing is the most core and confidential transmission in the temple. Only the temple master and core elders can see its full contents!

He could recite those opening lines fluently; they were indeed: "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. Profound and mysterious beyond profound, the gateway to all wonders."

But there's another half-sentence?

How come he's never heard of this before? All the scriptures in the temple, including the handwritten notes left by the first patriarch, only record up to this point!

"How...how did you know...?"

Taiqingzi's voice was dry.

Chen Xuan did not answer, but instead began to recite slowly in an ancient and desolate tone:

"Profound and mysterious, the gateway to all wonders... The further one goes, the less one knows about it."

"Therefore, the sage knows without going, understands without seeing, and accomplishes without doing."

The moment the second half of the scripture was uttered, Taiqingzi was struck as if by lightning! His whole body trembled violently!

In his sea of ​​consciousness, the general outline runes of the Taiqing Dao Scripture, which were deeply imprinted, seemed to be summoned by some primordial source, and lit up automatically, creating a strong resonance with the second half of the sentence that Chen Xuan recited!

A more complete, more profound meaning, pointing directly to the origin of the Great Dao, flowed into his parched heart like a clear spring!

It's true! The second half of that sentence is true!

Moreover, it fits perfectly with the first half of the sentence!

After the completion, the Taoist charm and artistic conception of the entire passage were instantly elevated to a level he could not have imagined!

How is this possible?!

How could this young man know this half-sentence of the general principles that had long been lost and was not even recorded in the first patriarch's notes?!

Moreover, the recitation possesses a natural, effortless quality, as if the Daoist patriarch himself were present...

An absurd guess, yet one that sent shivers down his spine, uncontrollably surfaced in his mind.

Seeing Taiqingzi's utterly shocked and disbelieving expression, Chen Xuan knew the time was right. He stopped chanting and resumed his calm tone:

"Now, do you still think it's a joke to make her the 'founder' of your Taiqing Temple?"

He paused, glanced at the still somewhat bewildered Lu Yao, a barely perceptible hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes, and then said to Taiqingzi:

"Lu Yao is my junior sister."

"You old man, yet you want to be her master..."

A mocking smile appeared on Chen Xuan's face. "Then wouldn't my seniority be lower than yours? I'm not going to do a losing deal like that."

Taiqingzi stood there blankly, his hands holding the Yin-Yang Jade Pendant trembling slightly.

He looked at Chen Xuan, then at Lu Yao, his mind filled with a shocking conjecture that clashed with Chen Xuan's seemingly joking words, which might actually contain a startling truth.

Could it be... could this person really be...?

Could it be that young friend Lu Yao... is truly someone who is on par with the First Ancestor?

If that's the case, then making her the "patriarch" of Taiqing Temple seems...likely...maybe...probably...

At this moment, Taiqingzi's worldview was completely thrown into chaos.

He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, as if trying to clear away all the shock and distracting thoughts from his chest.

In the end, the struggle and hesitation in his eyes completely disappeared, replaced by an almost pious understanding and decisiveness.

Taiqingzi slowly raised his head and looked at Chen Xuan. His eyes no longer held any doubt or presumption, but only heartfelt respect, even... awe.

He straightened his Taoist robe, carefully put down the Yin-Yang jade pendant in his hand, and then solemnly bowed deeply to Chen Xuan.

"Junior Taiqingzi...pays respects to...senior!"

His voice was hoarse, yet incredibly clear, each word carrying a heavy weight.

This bow was not to acknowledge Chen Xuan's displayed cultivation level.

Instead, we worship the source of that heritage, the true knowledge that points directly to the Great Way, and the ancient existence that may have spanned three thousand years!

Chen Xuan accepted the bow without hesitation, his expression remaining calm, and simply nodded slightly.

Taiqingzi straightened up, not looking at Lu Yao who was completely stunned beside him, but took out something from his bosom again.

This time it was no longer a jade pendant, but a token that was neither gold nor jade, was entirely bluish-gray, and had an ancient design.

The front of the token is engraved with the two ancient seal characters "Taiqing", while the back features a simple yin-yang symbol.

Unlike the Yin-Yang pendant, this pattern is directly imprinted on the token, as if it were naturally formed, exuding a more restrained yet authoritative aura.

"This is the 'Ancestral Master's Decree' of our Taiqing Temple."

Taiqingzi held the token with both hands, his voice solemn, "He who holds this token is as if the Patriarch himself is present!"

"Throughout Taiqing Temple, regardless of seniority or cultivation level, all who see this decree must perform the highest salute and obey orders without question!"

He turned to face Lu Yao, who was still somewhat at a loss, and bowed deeply once more: "Lu Yao... Ancestor, please accept this junior Taiqingzi's bow!"

After saying that, he actually started to bow down!

"Senior! You mustn't!"

Lu Yao was so frightened that her face turned pale. She quickly stepped aside and waved her hands repeatedly.

How could a senior elder, a late-stage Golden Core cultivator with an air of otherworldly wisdom, bow deeply to him and even call him "Grandmaster"?

This is absolutely outrageous!

She felt like her heart was about to jump out of her chest.

Chen Xuan said calmly, "Yao'er, just accept it. You can also take this token."

His tone carried an unquestionable air.

Lu Yao glanced at her senior brother, then at Taiqingzi, who remained bowing.

She bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and then reached out her slightly trembling hand to accept the heavy "Ancestor's Token".

The token felt cool to the touch, with a strange texture, as if it were alive.

Lu Yao could sense the aura of an ancient contract and authority contained within, which faintly resonated with her newly established foundational true essence.

When Taiqingzi saw Lu Yao accept the token, he straightened up, his face showing a complex expression of relief mixed with excitement.

He looked at the token in Lu Yao's hand and solemnly said, "Grandmaster Lu Yao, from this day forward, you are the sixth Grandmaster of my Taiqing Temple!"

"With this decree in hand, the three thousand disciples of Taiqing Temple, the seven grotto-heavens, and the accumulated strength of a hundred years will all obey your command!"

"If you have any instructions, simply show this order or send a message to us. The entire Taiqing Temple will go through fire and water for you!"

Lu Yao held the token as if it were a red-hot iron, burning hot to the touch.

She looked at Chen Xuan for help.

Chen Xuan smiled at her: "Keep it. Go visit occasionally, give some pointers to those good-for-nothing disciples and grand-disciples. It'll also help your senior brother settle an old matter."

He spoke casually, but to Taiqingzi, it was like a raging storm! "Settling old scores"?

What old story? Could it be...?

Taiqingzi could no longer suppress the turmoil of doubt and curiosity churning within her.

He mustered his courage, bowed to Chen Xuan again, and tentatively asked in an extremely cautious tone:

"This junior dares to ask... senior... what is your connection with Qingxuzi, the first patriarch of my Taiqing Temple?"