Chapter 20

The so-called Daoist sect is the gateway to enlightenment. By practicing these Daoist methods, one can pass through the gateway into the room, achieving the Great Dao.

Since it is a gate, there are main gates and side gates.

Sects like Emei, Kunlun, and Wudang start from cultivating energy and building a foundation, condensing a golden elixir, becoming a wandering immortal, then nurturing a life-bound spirit from the elixir to achieve the status of an earth immortal. Finally, using the spirit to transform the yin and refine a yang deity, they ascend to the celestial realm, achieving the status of a celestial immortal. This is the main gate.

However, some people cannot obtain systematic cultivation methods and can only find scattered phrases by chance, pondering and solving them with great effort. Or they may have inherent defects, such as being plant or animal spirits, or beings of the ghostly realm, who cannot follow the main path and must find alternative routes, each using different methods. This is the side gate.

Cultivation through the main gate is gradual and smooth, with few calamities, and most eventually achieve the status of a yang deity and ascend as a celestial immortal. A few with exceptional insight and talent can even ascend in their physical form at the level of a golden immortal, like the Pure Yang True Person and the founding ancestor of Wudang, Zhang Sanfeng, and the Long Eyebrow True Person of Emei. However, most people do not have such insight and opportunities, and can only ascend as a yang deity at the level of a celestial immortal.

Besides these two paths, there is another, the worst, which is the spirit ascending. At the stage of an earth immortal, one cannot completely transform the yin spirit into yang, and must leave the physical body to ascend, reaching the celestial realm. This is called a deity. Since it includes the word "god," it is destined to be constrained, lacking freedom. In the heavens, they must abide by the celestial laws and perform their duties, like wind gods, rain gods, land gods, and mountain gods. Many cultivators, even if they undergo a calamity and start over, do not wish to ascend in this way.

However, for wanderers like Mingyi and Liu Quan, even this last method is not available. They can only cultivate to the stage of a spirit and become an earth immortal. Beyond that, they have no way to continue their cultivation until they face the heavenly calamity. They must either face the calamity, which, if they fail, will result in their complete destruction, or, if they survive, immediately prepare for the next, more severe calamity. If they do not want to face the calamity, they must leave their physical body and reincarnate before the calamity arrives to avoid it.

Therefore, for them, a method to cultivate to the level of a golden immortal is incredibly important! Although they may not have the insight and talent of Lü Zu to achieve the status of a golden immortal, even achieving the status of a celestial immortal or a deity is something they cannot attain.

Both of them were eager to agree immediately but were hesitant, not daring to believe that Yue Qing would offer them such a great opportunity, fearing some hidden plot. Yue Qing smiled and said, "If the two of you don't say anything, I'll choose for you." He pushed the alchemical scripture in front of Mingyi, "Please, Daoist friend, inherit the tradition of Lü Zu and establish the Pure Yang Sect here!"

Mingyi was both surprised and worried, holding the soft alchemical scripture, wanting to modestly push it back but unable to let go, just caressing the pages.

Liu Quan, hearing this, felt both dejected and justified. After all, he had just met Yue Qing, and such a precious thing would not be given to him casually. He didn't expect that Mingyi and Yue Qing had such a close relationship, to the point of casually giving away a scripture that could lead to the status of a golden immortal. He also secretly admired Yue Qing's magnanimity.

Yue Qing then said to Liu Quan, "I feel a deep connection with you, Liu Daoist, and have some plans, but I'm not sure if I should speak about them."

Liu Quan quickly replied, "Yue Daoist, please speak, Liu Quan is all ears."

Yue Qing sighed before speaking, "Since the passing of my master, the rules of our Wutai Sect have collapsed, and the tradition has been broken. I have the heart to revive the legacy of my master, but my strength is limited, and I cannot do as I wish. Although I have just met you, Liu Daoist, I have long heard of your story. You originally studied under the old Buddha Chali, but after his passing, you transferred to the Elder Kuti. Elder Kuti, who converted from a different sect to Buddhism, taught you both magical and orthodox methods, making it unsuitable for you to cultivate the Pure Yang Daoist methods of Lü Zu. Our Wutai Sect's tradition comes from the lineage of Chen Tuan, the old ancestor, and is as orthodox as the Pure Yang Sect. If you are willing, I will take you as a disciple on behalf of my master, introduce you to Wutai, and together we will establish new rules, reorganize the sect, and make Wutai great again. What do you think?"

This not only stunned Liu Quan but also Mingyi. Neither of them expected Yue Qing to invite Liu Quan to join the Wutai Sect.

This was an even greater opportunity than the Pure Yang Alchemical Scripture. The Wutai Sect, having been the leading Daoist sect in Central China for hundreds of years, was said to have a scripture that could lead to the status of a golden immortal—although no one had ever achieved it, and even the status of a deity had not been reached. However, everyone was convinced that the Grand Ancestor Taiyi Hunyuan was the most likely to achieve the status of a golden immortal, following the Long Eyebrow True Person as another great ancestor of the Daoist sect, but he fell short, leaving everyone in sorrow.

Besides the ultimate tradition, there were various resources, hundreds of years of accumulated experience, and connections. Speaking of the person with the most friends, it was the Long Eyebrow True Person, but speaking of the sect with the most friends, it was undoubtedly the Wutai Sect.

Liu Quan knew that Yue Qing had been cultivating for over three hundred years, with far greater power and insight than himself. Joining the Wutai Sect and becoming his disciple would be a rare opportunity, and being his junior brother would be even rarer. His concern was that the Wutai Sect had recently produced several evil disciples who had committed many atrocities, hinting at a shift towards the evil or even demonic path. If that were the case, joining them would be like boarding a pirate ship, and if the Wutai Sect fell, he would likely be destroyed as well.

Yue Qing saw his concern and repeatedly emphasized his plan to reorganize the rules, "I plan to gather enough materials and return to Wutai Mountain to activate the Heavenly Forge left by my master, to refine two Taiyi Yin-Yang Swords. Then I will entrust the swords to you to enforce the rules. Any disciple who violates the rules and persists in evil should be punished by you with the swords!" He then took out a black jade gourd, "This is the work of a traitor, Zhu Hong, whom I pursued and killed in the Four Gates Mountain."

Mingyi asked, "Is this the Zhu Hong who stole books and treasures before the Huangshan Sword Duel?"

Yue Qing nodded, "Yes! I have recovered the stolen books and treasures and am ready to return to the mountain to take action. I hope the two of you will assist me. If the Wutai Sect is reorganized, the Daoist world will also be purified!"

Mingyi stroked his beard and sighed, "Daoist friend, you are so generous and magnanimous, giving me the alchemical scripture. If I were to stand by and do nothing, I would be no better than a beast!" He stood up and bowed deeply, "If you truly can reestablish the tradition and reorganize the rules as you said, the Pure Yang Sect will follow the lead of Wutai!"

Liu Quan also stood up and bowed even deeper, "What merit do I have to receive such favor from Daoist friend! From now on, if my senior brother treats me with sincerity, I will treat him with sincerity, helping him to restore Wutai, even if it means my death!"

"Good! Good!" Yue Qing was very pleased. In Mingyi's presence, Liu Quan bowed and offered tea to Yue Qing, who accepted him as a disciple on behalf of the Grand Ancestor Taiyi Hunyuan. He then explained the lineage and 108 precepts of the Wutai Sect, gave him the Wind and Fire Swords, and a Hunyuan Golden Pill.

Liu Quan called Wei Kan to meet his new uncle, and Yue Qing had Situ Ping bow to his new uncle. Liu Quan then took out a stack of fine silk and handed it over, "This is the Fire Silk Robe, woven from the silk of fire worms by my teacher, Elder Kuti, before he entered Buddhism. It can be folded into a small stack of fine silk, and when worn, it covers the body like a silver-white mist, appearing invisible. When attacked, it automatically emits flames to counteract the evil magic of other sects. Since this is your first meeting with your uncle, I will give it to you as a gift!"

Yue Qing recognized it as a valuable treasure and had Situ Ping thank him again.

Over the next few days, Yue Qing and Liu Quan helped Mingyi move from the Zhongnan Mountains to the Taihang Mountains. Since Liu Quan had joined the Wutai Sect, he no longer needed his original cave, and all his belongings were moved to the Xianfu Immortal Mansion. At first, they were cautious, fearing an attack from the Emei Sect, but after three days of no incidents, they felt safe.

Mingyi studied the Pure Yang Alchemical Scripture, Yue Qing taught Liu Quan the Taiyi True Explanation, and passed the Five Elements chapters to Wei Kan. Sometimes, they would study the Heavenly Sword Technique left by the Pure Yang True Person together, discussing and improving their skills.

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