Chapter 61: The Guest of Luojia Mountain

  On the last day of the year, a gentle little snow fell from the sky, and the snowflakes landed without melting, adding a layer of plain and clean outerwear to the late spring scenery of Yangshen Peak.

  The 37th generation of the Taoist lineage ended in the year 628, and this snow was the only way to celebrate on Yangshen Peak. It lasted until midnight and stopped. In the new year, the plain food would not change, and the daily tasks would not change. However, the disciples were still full of expectations: The disciples from various Taoist lineages were about to arrive, and the first batch was the highly anticipated female disciple from Luanzhu Mountain.

  As the disciples of the hostel said, the memorial day for the ancestors at the end of the month was postponed, which means that everyone can pay their respects to the ancestors together with the guests. The male disciples were all abuzz, exaggerating the beauty of the guests to an unparalleled degree. Even we female disciples were all abuzz, feeling that this year's atmosphere was too exciting, and ultimately attributing it to Mu Xingqiu.

  "He has disturbed people's hearts, but also stirred them up." Lin Xiao explained to several disciples who were staying behind why they didn't stop Mu Xiangqiu, "Following the law of nature is not about forcing oneself to follow nature, it's about being willing and content. Suppressing or hiding one's emotions can only have a temporary effect. Occasionally letting loose has its benefits, when you calm down again, you'll find yourself more determined than before."

  "What if it can't be retrieved?" Zhou Ping touched the back of his head, a habit he had developed since his martial arts match with Mu Xingqiu.

  "That just proves he's not cut out for cultivation. Rather than wasting his years on Nurturing Peak, it would be better for him to go to the 'Institute of Mundane Affairs' and learn a worldly trade."

  "Zhi Yong Suo" is the place where "waste people" go, only one step away from being expelled from Pong Mountain. Its name made the disciples restrain themselves for two days, but soon, Lin's words "Following the law of heaven is not forcing oneself to follow heaven" took effect again, and almost all the disciples were indulging in "beneficial indulgence".

  Xiao Qiu was one of the few disciples who didn't indulge in "extravagance". He still climbed mountains every evening, even on snowy days, and returned to his quarters exhausted, just so he could sleep a little more soundly - despite firmly believing that disciples should be free to choose their own legacy, he didn't want to dream of the mysterious woman's image again.

  On the fourth day of the beginning month, the female disciples from Luanjiao Mountain arrived on time and would stay for three days.

  The dining hall was a bit messy that morning, everyone quickly swallowed the rice and rushed to the Sizu Hall. Xia Qiu still had half a bowl of rice left, but his companions from Yelin Town had already stood up and were ready to leave.

  "Xiao Qiuge, hurry up." Da Liang urged.

  "There's no need to rush, it's just a few female disciples, and Pangshan is not without them." Xia Qiu said, still speeding up her eating.

  "Hmm, not that one." Da Liang pulled up Xiao Qiu who was still chewing on his rice, "Today you'll be able to find out about your cultivation, this time the Flowing Light Treasure Mirror should recognize you."

  The male disciples almost all arrived early at the Si Zu Hall, still remembering some rules, quietly and neatly lined up, but constantly turning their heads to look back at another entrance.

  The female disciples of the Pangshan sect arrived one after another, holding their heads high and walking to their positions with expressionless faces. They didn't cast a single glance at their fellow male disciples who were standing tens of steps away. Only Xiaocui and Fangfang flashed a playful smile at Xiaoqiu as they passed by.

  As the time approached, the ancestral hall gradually returned to its usual quietness. The male disciples stood upright, no longer looking around, but their expressions were a bit too serious.

  Today, the leader of the sect is Yang Baozhen. Her expression and demeanor are no different from usual, but since hearing rumors that she and her husband have been steadfast in their determination to cut off worldly desires, the usually cold face of the leader seems less frigid to the disciples.

  "You all know the procedure for ancestor worship day." Yang Baozhen walked to the middle of the giant tripod and the flood bell, "But today we have a guest joining you in ancestor worship, so I need to say a few more things: First, do not disturb the guest. If something of hers accidentally falls on the ground, just let it stay there, no need for you to remind her or pick it up; Second, ancestor worship is beneficial for cultivation. The nine major paths are united and only the disciples of Mount Pang can experience this once a month, so please cherish it and do not get distracted by useless things; Third, especially do not talk too much. If a guest asks you a question, answer truthfully but try to be brief. If your response exceeds ten words, reflect on whether you are getting distracted."

  After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, the guest arrived.

  After discussing for so many days and getting reminders from all the teachers, it's really hard not to take a look. Even the female disciple couldn't pretend to be indifferent anymore, turning her head around to scrutinize the guest with a critical gaze.

  The disciples of Luojia Mountain were not many, about sixty or so. At first glance, the disciples of Pangshan were all greatly disappointed: there was no beauty as rumored, just a group of extremely ordinary girls!

  They wore purple shirts and blue robes, no different from the female disciples of Mount Pong, but on their heads they didn't wear high buns, instead they curled their long hair into a delicate circle, paired with jade hairpins of various colors.

  The new disciples felt they had been deceived and looked at the senior disciples who spread the rumors with discontent, but what they got was a meaningful gaze...

  Yang Baozhen pretended not to notice the little tricks that were happening right under her nose, and with Luanzhu Mountain's Du Jiao, who was a middle-aged woman dressed exactly like the disciples, only with slightly larger hairpins, she looked unremarkable and far less impressive than Yang Dujiao.

  The stone gate on the wall opens, and the guests of Luojia Mountain enter first. This is their first and possibly only time to pay respects to their ancestors, so they can't help but feel a little nervous. Their footsteps are slightly quick, their eyes cast down, and they dare not look around. When passing by Yang Baozhen, they all have to pay homage with the ritual of Taoism.

  Next is Pangshan's female disciple, followed by the male disciple. The first one to step out was a fostered disciple who couldn't wait any longer.

  Yang Baozhen stepped forward, standing at the door and sternly staring at more than 200 male disciples. With a rarely seen clear attitude, she silently warned everyone to remember her previous three reminders, which although not an order, had corresponding binding force.

  The young monk immediately slowed down his pace, making an effort to be calm and focused on his own breathing.

  Yang Baozhen stepped aside from the cave entrance.

  Xiao Qiu was still the last one as usual, he had a premonition that Yang Baozhen would stop him and say something, just like what Lin Duojiao did on Sizu's day, only with completely different purposes.

  His premonition was wrong, Yang Baozhen proved himself to be a Taoist of the Starfall Boundary, facing his disciple who had a serious conflict with his own son, without revealing any special emotions, coldly as if he didn't notice that this was the last person entering the Ancestor Tower.

  Xiao Qiu couldn't help but feel a sense of vigilance, quickening her pace. It was only then that Yang Baozhen cast her an admonishing glance, treating her no differently than any ordinary disciple.

  Xiao Qiu recalled Xin Yu Tao's words about the gap in status, feeling that he had lost a move in this silent and invisible confrontation. He gathered his thoughts and eliminated distractions, which was relatively easy for him because he wasn't curious about today's guests, and even felt a bit of disgust towards them, as they reminded him of the unnamed department with only twenty-nine female students.

  She walked into the small hall, bowed her head to gaze at the huge shallow basin, and secretly told herself that she would never choose an unknown subject. Then, she plunged headlong into the whirlpool.

  A blankness in his mind, like an empty hall echoing with a strange sound: "Ears open, thunderbolt has passed, finished."

  It wasn't until he stood firmly on the ground that Xia Qiu realized that was his own voice, sounding unexpectedly childish and completely different from what he usually heard.

  This time there was no companion waiting for him. The disciples of Ye Lin Town had all dispersed and gone to the area where they last remembered their ancestors.

  The Flowing Light Mirror finally made a judgment on him, and Xiao Qiu let out a sigh of relief, but also felt a wave of disappointment. Surviving the Thunder Tribulation was real, not just a dream, but the other five orifices had not opened up, let alone breaking through the Three Fields. The memories in the Cave of Reflection were ultimately empty. He had boasted to his companions, and even climbing the Nurturing Spirit Peak had lost more than half its meaning.

  With a lot on her mind, Xia Qiu walked out a few steps before realizing that the interior of the ancestral tower was different today, seemingly brighter and with a faintly discernible fragrance. She looked around in a circle and saw that the disciples of Pang Shan who had arrived earlier were standing scattered, but none of them had entered a meditative state, all staring blankly at the guests, including those female disciples who had previously shown disdain.

  The Flowing Light Treasure Mirror washed away all the magical disguises, and the female disciples of Luán Jiāng Mountain revealed their true forms. The increased light and fragrance came from them.

  This is indeed a group of stunningly beautiful girls, although they are similar in age, they seem to be from different worlds, with different skin, hair and clothing. The same Taoist robe, when worn by the disciples of Luanzhu Mountain, seems like it was woven from silk.

  Most of the disciples of Luojia Mountain were already in a state of reverence for their ancestors, while a few still remained clear-headed, but were stared at by many eyes and didn't know what to do, so they cast pleading glances at Douchu.

  The middle-aged woman was a tall and slender lady, with a face that had both the serenity of a maiden and the haughtiness of a noblewoman. Everyone wanted to take a glance at her, but no one dared to look again. She paid no attention to the requests for help from the disciples of this school or the gaze of the disciples of Mount Pong, strolling around with ease. She cherished this opportunity to re-enter the Ancestral Tower, but was not eager to enter a state of contemplation.

  Yang Baozhen arrived, compared to the disorderly thorny mountain's teachings, her appearance was slightly inferior, but her gaze had more power, the disciples withdrew their gaze and began to ponder.

  Soon, only a few people were left awake in the ancestral temple, and Xia Qiu was one of them. He actually wanted to find another inheritance as soon as possible, but he couldn't enter the state, and could only slowly circle around, turning back every time he was about to enter the nameless region.

  Although he couldn't think of his ancestors, he did discover some interesting things: the disciples of Luojia Mountain were mostly stuck in the lamp department, and the mirror department also attracted a lot of people. There was not a single person in the five-element department, which was in stark contrast to the disciples of Pangshan.

  The female disciple is not suitable for beheading demons and exorcising evil spirits. Xia Qiu thought so, and her doubts about Feng Popo decreased a lot. She must have been unable to cope with the demon species and escaped.

  He also saw things that he hadn't noticed before, Xī Jiè Guó Wángzǐ Xīn Yòutáo was standing alone in the Fú Lù Kē area, Xiǎo Qiū was speechless with laughter. He remembered that Lín Dōu Jiào had introduced him before, although the Daoist sect has a Fú Lù Kē department, it has been declining for thousands of years and can't compare to the Longbin Association of the Shèng Fú Huáng Cháo dynasty. Xīn Yòutáo gave up on being a member of the royal family or joining the army or becoming a Fú Lù Kē master, traveled thousands of miles to Páng Shān to learn the Dao, and was actually favored by the Fú Lù Kē department.

  Xiao Qiu walked very slowly, trying to avoid the disciples who were mourning their ancestor. However, she still bumped into someone and turned around to see that it was the female leader of the Luanzhu Mountain sect. Her heart skipped a beat as she hastily retreated several steps, paid her respects with the traditional Daoist greeting, and said in a low voice: "Please forgive this disciple's clumsiness."

  The girl's face slowly revealed a smile, like a blooming flower.

  Xiao Qiu was stunned, and the woman didn't say a word as she walked past him.

  Xiao Qiu felt her heart beating a little faster, and she couldn't help but turn her head to look back. As a result, what she saw was Yang Baozhen's stern gaze. She quickly turned her head back and continued to circle around.

  This time he stopped in the nameless department, with a challenging mentality, hoping to clearly express his attitude to those twenty-nine sorrowful female successors - he just wanted to join the Five Elements Department.

  On the wall of the tower, pictures and texts immediately appeared. Twenty-nine women emerged one by one, but their faces no longer had a sorrowful expression, instead they seemed to be in high spirits, and even started dancing with joy.

  Xiao Qiu stared blankly for a while before realizing they were demonstrating his daily exercise of practicing the Bone Tempering Fist at least once.

  (Collection needed, recommendation needed)