Gan Ruoxu’s heart pounded with excitement, but he quickly shook his head, saying, “This doesn’t seem right. I’ve just received the favor of the Heavenly Venerable and attained supernatural abilities. To immediately seek further blessings would be greedy and might displease the Heavenly Venerable.”
No one likes someone who doesn’t know when to advance or retreat!
Wu Ju hesitated for a moment, then gave a thumbs-up, saying, “Brother Gan, I truly admire you for overcoming greed. Anyway, I’ll teach you the formation first, so you won’t need to seek help from others when you need it in the future.”
“Thank you in advance,” Gan Ruoxu said gratefully.
Wu Ju took out paper and a brush, drawing the formation, writing the seal script, and explaining annotations, doing his utmost to teach Gan Ruoxu.
As he listened, Gan Ruoxu suddenly froze, because these seal scripts were very similar to the forbidden talismans of the Primordial Unity Sage in his mind!
Could it be that the Heavenly Venerable intends to bestow a treasure upon me? His heart surged with excitement.
As Wu Ju continued explaining, Gan Ruoxu became increasingly certain and resolved to immediately proceed with this matter once he arrived at the Huguo Temple in the capital.
As his thoughts drifted, Sun Qian walked in and solemnly said, “Beloved Disciple Gan, the assassin is an inspector from the Yellow Turban Sect of the Taiping Kingdom, our Huguo Temple’s sworn enemy. That day, he happened to witness the extraordinary scene of you receiving the Heavenly Venerable’s favor. After investigating thoroughly, he specially came here to lie in wait and assassinate you.”
The Yellow Turban Sect? Gan Ruoxu nodded slightly, not unfamiliar with them.
After years of propaganda by the Divine-Favored Nation, the Yellow Turban Sect had already become synonymous with evil cults among the people, capable of scaring children into silence at night. Both they and the Huguo Temple belonged to branches of the ancient Taiping Sect. The Yellow Heaven had replaced the Azure Heaven, but the latter revered the Yellow Heaven of Yellow Earth and Yellow Heaven, also known as the Imperial Heaven, while the Yellow Turban Sect’s Yellow Heaven was the “Central Yellow Supreme,” namely the Donghuang Taiyi, thus becoming mortal enemies.
“The old Daoist believes we can’t delay any further. We should immediately abandon the main group and cross the river, with me protecting the beloved disciple rushing to the capital day and night,” Sun Qian proposed his suggestion.
Gan Ruoxu dared not play with his own life. He looked at Wu Ju and nodded in agreement.
…
Traveling day and night without incident, after three days, Sun Qian finally delivered Gan Ruoxu to the Huguo Temple on the east side of the capital.
Here, pine and cypress trees were evergreen, clouds and cranes flying, as if it were a place beyond the mundane world. At this moment, a middle-aged Daoist wearing a wooden hairpin was standing at the entrance waiting.
His features were clear, his demeanor refined and otherworldly. He was Xu Jingxu, the abbot of the Huguo Temple, who had attuned to the fourth rank of the Immortal Position Chart, the Star Lord of the Southern Dipper.
Behind Xu Jingxu stood a girl with lively eyes and brows. She was his secular niece and direct disciple, Xu Feiling, who had attuned to the Lady Chang’e last year.
“The Three Pure Patriarchs have manifested, and the Primordial Heaven Venerable has bestowed favor. This is truly an honor for our dynasty and temple,” Xu Jingxu said with a smile upon seeing Gan Ruoxu. “The young generation is formidable, truly formidable.”
Facing such a senior figure with years of cultivation, Gan Ruoxu dared not show any negligence and bowed, saying, “Greetings, Master Xu.”
Xu Jingxu nodded slightly, then turned to Sun Qian: “Master Sun, you’ve worked hard. Please rest first; there will certainly be rewards from the temple.”
“Master Xu, your words are too heavy. It was merely my duty; no reward is needed,” Sun Qian politely replied and entered the Huguo Temple first.
The surroundings were now free of outsiders. Xu Jingxu smiled lightly and said, “Beloved Disciple Gan, please follow this humble Daoist to the Hall of the Three Pure Ones first. After paying respects to the Three Dao Patriarchs and the ancestors of past generations, you will officially be part of the Huguo Temple.”
Along the way, Xu Feiling chatted happily about the temple matters and various anecdotes, easing Gan Ruoxu’s slightly tense mood and making him feel a sense of belonging.
Just stepping into the Hall of the Three Pure Ones, Gan Ruoxu’s gaze suddenly froze. The Primordial Heaven Venerable, placed centrally between the Spiritual Treasure Heaven Venerable and the Moral Heaven Venerable, had already changed from the previous statue. His handsome features, slightly graying temples, and deep, aged eyes were exactly the same as what he had sensed before. The only difference was that the blue robe was too plain, unsuitable for ceremonial occasions. The Venerable still wore the ancient and dignified attire.
As Gan Ruoxu’s eyes met the statue of the Primordial Heaven Venerable, he suddenly felt as if he had been transported from the hall to the vast starry sky. The curling incense smoke made everything seem hazy and profound, like the boundary between the mortal and the divine.
Unconsciously, Gan Ruoxu’s expression became solemn. Under Xu Jingxu’s guidance, he completed the initiation ceremony before the elders of the Huguo Temple. Then, following Xu Jingxu’s instructions, he secluded himself in the Hall of the Three Pure Ones to attune to the Primordial Heaven Venerable, refine his supernatural abilities, and quickly improve his strength.
In a daze, unaware of the passage of time, Gan Ruoxu felt the Primordial Daoist in his mind becoming increasingly similar to his earlier sensation, occasionally transforming into the image of a blue-robed Daoist.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Suddenly, a knocking sound came through, entering Gan Ruoxu’s ears. He thought for a moment and asked loudly, “Who is it?”
“Brother Gan, have you finished your retreat?” Wu Ju’s surprised voice drifted in from the door crack.
Gan Ruoxu smiled and said, “Just finished. When did you arrive?”
He stretched out his hand, the palm dark, and the door opened by itself without wind.
“It’s almost half a month now. I come every few days to knock and see if Brother Gan has finished his retreat. No, I should call you Senior Brother now,” Wu Ju said lazily with a grin.
“Senior Brother?” Gan Ruoxu asked in astonishment.
Behind Wu Ju followed Xu Feiling, who smiled and said, “According to the rules of the Huguo Temple, the order of seniority among brothers is determined by the time of joining, except for the ‘Senior Brother,’ which is the title for the disciple destined to take over the Huguo Temple in the future.”
“Congratulations, Senior Brother,” Wu Ju added.
At that moment, Gan Ruoxu shifted his gaze to the door and heard a clear, proud voice: “We have also come to pay respects to Senior Brother.”
Wu Ju and Xu Feiling stepped aside, revealing a group of Huguo Temple disciples. The leader wore a dark Daoist robe, his hair tied in a high crown, his features still carrying traces of youthfulness and exuding pride.
“Senior Brother Lin…” Wu Ju whispered, quickly turning to give Gan Ruoxu a meaningful look. Xu Feiling transmitted to him telepathically, “It’s Senior Brother Lin Fengxiao, who has attuned to the Black Emperor Xuanwu.”
A favored disciple of the Black Emperor? The previous senior brother? Gan Ruoxu suddenly understood. He was about to rise to greet them, but upon seeing the other’s expression, his youthful pride flared, and he remained seated, his back facing the majestic statue of the Primordial Heaven Venerable.
Lin Fengxiao did not enter either, standing at the door, coldly saying, “Senior Brother, being favored by the Three Pure Patriarchs is truly admirable. As for me, I am quite curious about the power of the Heavenly Venerable’s divine ability and hope Senior Brother can give me some guidance.”
Wu Ju exclaimed, “Ah!” and immediately said, “Senior Brother’s divine ability is deadly when used; let’s not harm the harmony among brothers.”
He had always been timid and conflict-averse.
“No problem. If one hears the Dao in the morning, dying in the evening would be sufficient,” Lin Fengxiao’s gaze burned as he stared at Gan Ruoxu.
Gan Ruoxu was only sixteen years old. Upon hearing this, he smiled and said, “Senior Brother Lin, please proceed.”
The group of Huguo Temple disciples who had come with Lin Fengxiao immediately dispersed, watching the scene with anticipation. They were well aware of the power of the Black Water Great Art and Lin Senior Brother’s cultivation talent, feeling confident. However, facing a favored disciple of the Primordial Heaven Venerable, their confidence was mixed with some anxiety.
Lin Fengxiao took a step forward, and suddenly a phantom appeared behind him. It was an ancient and sacred image of a snake and a turtle. The snake coiled around the turtle, surrounded by black water, upon which stood a vague and majestic Emperor.
Suddenly, the dark water in the Hall of the Three Pure Ones surged up out of nowhere, droplet by droplet, like an ocean. The soft, yin-like water vapor permeated the area, preventing Gan Ruoxu from manipulating yin and yang or reversing life and death.
So powerful!
The thought flashed through Gan Ruoxu’s mind as he desperately visualized and attuned to the Primordial Heaven Venerable.
Lin Fengxiao raised his hand. The snake spat black liquid like arrows aimed at Gan Ruoxu. Yet Gan Ruoxu remained seated, making no move, as if completely stunned.
“Senior Brother Gan!” Wu Ju cried out in alarm.
At that moment, he saw a phantom also appear behind Gan Ruoxu. It was the image of the “Primordial Heaven Venerable” in a green robe, with handsome features, slightly graying temples, and aged eyes. It was almost identical to the majestic statue of the Primordial Heaven Venerable behind him!
The Primordial Heaven Venerable!
The Primordial Emperor Daojun!
One by one, the disciples of the Huguo Temple couldn’t help but lower their heads.
Gan Ruoxu closed his eyes, raised his right hand, and the “Primordial Heaven Venerable” in the green robe behind him also raised its right hand. The statue of the Primordial Heaven Venerable at the bottom seemed to tremble as well. The Hall of the Three Pure Ones suddenly became dark and deep, as if it were before the creation of heaven and earth. The vast dark water vanished without a trace. The black liquid, like arrows, drilled into Gan Ruoxu’s palm and became inactive.
Everything returned to normal. Lin Fengxiao stood at the door, his expression changing. After a long while, he gritted his teeth and said, “Thank you, Senior Brother, for the guidance.”
With that, he turned and left.
“Senior Brother, you’re getting stronger and stronger!” Wu Ju said, giving a thumbs-up.
Gan Ruoxu stood up, smiling, and said, “It’s all thanks to the favor of the Heavenly Venerable. Now we can try that formation.”
“What formation?” Xu Feiling asked curiously beside him.
“The formation to open the channel and receive the blessing,” Gan Ruoxu explained.
Wu Ju hurriedly said, “Great! Great!”
He was quite curious about what the Primordial Heaven Venerable would bestow.
…
Taking advantage of the deep night, Xu Feiling and Wu Ju, both from prestigious families, set up the formation.
Gan Ruoxu first completed the incense and fire sacrifice ritual, then stood at the edge of the formation, visualizing the image of the Primordial Heaven Venerable, and began to chant softly, “Y Qing Zi Xu Gao Miao Tai Shang Yuan Huang Da Dao Jun…”
A series of pure white lights illuminated, transforming the formation into a starry expanse. Then, a streak of starlight traced across the dark sky, descending into its very center.
Gan Ruoxu looked closely and found it was a stone tablet, ancient and weathered, inscribed with seven large characters of killing. Besides that, there seemed to be nothing extraordinary.
“What kind of treasure is this?” Wu Ju came over curiously.
Gan Ruoxu shook his head in confusion, picked up the stone tablet, but as soon as it touched his hand, it whooshed into his body, entering his forehead’s ancestral cavity.
“I’ll have to slowly figure it out,” Gan Ruoxu mused thoughtfully.
Whatever bestowed by the Heavenly Venerable must be extraordinary!
At this moment, seeing that Gan Ruoxu had indeed summoned a treasure, Xu Feiling, with the liveliness of a young girl, chimed in, “How about I try too?”
Although there was a similar formation in the temple, her master always said her cultivation was not enough, refusing to let her use it.
“Sure!” Both Wu Ju and Gan Ruoxu became curious.
Xu Feiling stood in front of the formation, beginning to visualize “Lady Chang’e.” Gradually, within the starry-like scene of the formation, a bright moon rose, casting its clear glow around.
The light and shadow changed, and the silver moon descended, a white-robed figure emerging, serene and refined, holding an ancient qin.
Xu Feiling, Wu Ju, and Gan Ruoxu slowly opened their mouths, their minds filled with a single thought:
Lady Chang’e did not bestow a treasure; she descended directly to the mortal world!
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