Chapter 7: Apprenticing to Learn Skills

At the peak of Tianmen Fengding, inside Xiantian Dian, Lu Yang sat upright, respectfully waiting for his Shifu to arrive.

Xiantian Dian was serene and quiet, immaculately clean, with curling incense smoke rising, bringing peace to the mind.

Lu Yang noticed three memorial tablets enshrined in the hall: Xiantian Daojun, Guiyuan Tianzun, and Hanhai Daojun.

Lu Yang knew all three of them; they held extremely special significance for Wendao Zong.

One hundred and twenty thousand years ago, Xiantian Daojun, who emerged from a Dao Guan, established his own sect, creating Wendao Zong. At that time, Xiantian Daojun was merely an ordinary Xiulian practitioner. In Zhongyang Dalu, there were at least seven or eight thousand practitioners with his level of cultivation, if not more. Therefore, when Wendao Zong was first established, it was just a small sect.

One hundred thousand years ago, the world plunged into chaos. Wendao Zong produced an extraordinary genius. In terms of Xiulian talent, he didn't rank among the top fifty at the time, but he possessed intelligence, was good at making friends, valued loyalty, and had the blessing of a mysterious destiny. He rose during the tumultuous times, followed the current of the era, stood at the forefront of the age, enjoyed unparalleled glory, and his cultivation had few peers. His revered title was Guiyuan Tianzun.

Wendao Zong flourished under Guiyuan Tianzun’s leadership, soaring to become one of the top sects of its time. At Wendao Zong’s twenty-thousand-year celebration, many close friends came to congratulate. He seized this opportunity to establish the term Wuda Xianmen with four other peerless Xiulian experts of the time, gaining recognition from the world.

Nothing in the world is eternal, no glory lasts forever. Another fifty thousand years passed, and Wendao Zong’s influence waned. Many senior members either neared their end or died unexpectedly, with only a handful capable of holding the fort. None of the disciples were particularly promising, leading to an awkward situation where talent was scarce, and rumors even spread that the sect might fall out of the Wuda Xianmen.

Perhaps Wendao Zong truly had the blessing of destiny. One day, a senior member of Wendao Zong went out to slay demons and rescued a child from a ruin, bringing him back to the sect. They were then astonished to discover that this child was an extremely rare cultivation genius. The child lived up to expectations, his cultivation advancing by leaps and bounds, becoming the strongest Dujie Qi practitioner of his time within a few years.

That child was titled Hanhai Daojun, referred to by later generations as the Ancestor of Wendao Zong’s revival, who extended Wendao Zong’s glory for another fifty thousand years, lasting until today.

“Da Shijie, where is our Shifu?” Lu Yang withdrew his gaze. He had waited in the hall for a long time, but no one else had appeared besides his Da Shijie.

“Shifu is currently in secluded cultivation, reaching a critical stage, so he cannot leave. I am accepting you as a disciple on his behalf and will guide your Xiuxing.”

“Before formal Xiuxing begins, let me give you a brief introduction to our lineage. Our old Shifu has very few rules. As long as you don't go too far, violate ethical principles, or incite widespread anger and resentment, he won't intervene.”

“However, my baseline is a bit higher than his. What he wouldn’t manage, I will.”

“Shifu has a total of four disciples. Besides you and me, you have one Shixiong and one Shijie above you. One is in Foguo in the west, and the other is in Yaoyu in the south. They rarely return to the sect throughout the year, so it’s difficult to meet them.”

“When your Xiuxing is accomplished and you have the chance to travel around, you might meet them. As for now…” Yun Zhi paused, then produced three ink-wash portraits, arranging them neatly. They were portraits of Lu Yang’s Shifu, Er Shixiong, and San Shijie, whom he had never met.

The three people in the portraits were smiling very happily.

Shifu had white hair, his eyes unlike those of typical elders, not cloudy at all. He looked like an otherworldly expert who enjoyed playing and wandering in the mortal world.

Er Shixiong had a gentle smile, sharp brows, bright eyes, and was as warm as jade.

San Shijie possessed myriad charms, a beauty capable of bringing ruin to a nation.

“Shifu specifically instructed that including you, our lineage has five people. Since only you and I would be present for your discipleship ceremony, which would seem too lonely, Shifu specially prepared these three portraits to represent their presence.”

Lu Yang looked at his Da Shijie, then at the lifelike black-and-white portraits arranged around, which seemed to be staring at him. He inexplicably felt a chill down his spine.

It was as if his entire sect had perished, leaving only him and his Da Shijie.

Three Lingxiang appeared before Lu Yang, handed over by Yun Zhi. “These are communication incense. They can transmit your thoughts. Offer three sticks of incense to Shifu to convey your gratitude and respect.”

The three Lingxiang were lit and placed into the small incense burner in front of Shifu’s portrait. “Shizu bears witness, Shifu is above, please accept your disciple’s bow.”

Now it resembled it even more.

After the discipleship ceremony concluded, Lu Yang hesitantly asked, “Da Shijie, although asking this might be disrespectful, our old Shifu is indeed still alive, isn’t he?”

Lu Yang was afraid Yun Zhi would reveal a cold smile and say, “You’ve also learned the secret that Shizun has fallen, and the higher-ups have kept it hidden. You cannot be allowed to live.”

Yun Zhi was bewildered, not understanding why Lu Yang would ask such a question.

“Of course, he’s alive.”

“I’ve seen your exam results from Yanchuan Feng. You remember human acupuncture points and meridian locations very accurately, and you can also recite and write Xinfa from memory. This is very good; your learning spirit is commendable.”

“Next, we will begin formal Xiuxing.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Yang’s face lit up with an excited smile, and he listened even more attentively.

He could finally begin Xiulian.

As formal Xiuxing began, Da Shijie stated at the outset, “This is my first time teaching a disciple, and it’s your first time being a disciple. We’ll just have to make do with each other.”

“But you don’t need to worry too much. I’ve made ample preparations for today.”

Yun Zhi lined up various small medicinal jars, labeled with the names of elixirs Lu Yang had heard of:

Baigu Dan, which could bring the dead back to life and regrow flesh on bones.

Qiji Futu Dan, one of the series of merit-accumulating creations invented by Foguo, where saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. For anyone who took a Qiji Futu Dan, Foguo would gain a portion of merit.

Jiuzhuan Lunhui Dan, in the Xiulian world, there is a saying that one rebirth can be exchanged for one life through nine deaths.

With these elixirs, it would be difficult for Lu Yang to die.

“Lianqi Xian Lianti, since you haven’t had any Lianti training, we’ll start from scratch.”

Yun Zhi casually tore through space and retrieved two large water vats from her storage space. Hearing the dull thud of the vats hitting the ground, Lu Yang’s heart sank with a bad premonition.

“Jianxiu emphasize Jianyi and Bili. Therefore, in Lianti, the primary focus should be on strengthening Bili. I will only demonstrate once; watch carefully.”

Yun Zhi stepped onto the edge of a water vat, as if walking on flat ground. Then, she grasped the edge of the other water vat with one hand, gently lifted it, and then released it. Before the vat could fall to the ground, she switched to her other hand to grasp the edge again, repeating the motion smoothly and fluidly, a sight that was pleasing to the eye.

If one didn’t consider the arms, this method could indeed train Bili.

“Achieving this level is sufficient.”

Yun Zhi set down the water vat, speaking lightly.

Lu Yang swallowed nervously. He didn’t need to lift it to see that this water vat was half his height, more than enough to stuff him inside and bury him in sand and dirt.

To spin such a large vat around was a death-defying pace.

Lu Yang stepped forward quickly, held his breath, and tried to lift the water vat with one hand, his entire motion in one fluid attempt.

He couldn't lift it.

He then exerted force with both hands, using all his might. The water vat reluctantly shifted a little, indicating that Lu Yang had indeed tried very hard.