Chapter 24: Senior Brother Zheng, Your Daughter Has Come to See You
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Chapter 24: Senior Brother Zheng, Your Daughter Has Come to See You
The art of wielding scissors with one's aura, the Flying Immortal Blade, and the sword-controlling techniques—all fall under the category of object manipulation. While they are known as object manipulation or sword control, in truth, they belong to the domain of divine thought, or a combination of divine will and energy.
It is said that in ancient Shu, there was a sword immortal who, with a single flying sword, traversed the heavens, soared across mountains and rivers, and crossed the boundaries of earth and sky, severing heads from a thousand miles away—a truly carefree and exhilarating existence. This, indeed, is the realm of mastery in divine thought.
Luofeng’s divine sense, however, had only blossomed to the seventh rank, far inferior to that of the sword immortal of Shu. At most, he could manipulate the grass, trees, stones, and dust around him. Even a single strand of hair lost contact after traversing a mere ten miles.
Luofeng estimated that his level of divine sense was hardly upper-tier; at best, it could be considered average. “A long road lies ahead!”
Even the range of a cannon far exceeded his own, and its power was formidable. With this realization, Luofeng could not help but sigh again at his own lack of strength.
Stepping into the grand hall, he was immediately greeted by the statues of the Three Pure Ones, their majestic and dignified visages filling the hall with extraordinary atmosphere.
Within the Three Pure Ones Hall, the statue of the Primordial Supreme One radiated divine light from his head, his left hand poised as if grasping emptiness, his right hand as if cradling it, symbolizing the “state of infinity” and “the time of chaos,” when heaven and earth had not yet formed, chaos had not yet opened, and all things were yet to be born.
The Supreme Lord of Spiritual Treasures was depicted holding a Ruyi scepter, positioned to the left of the Primordial Supreme One, while the Supreme Lord of Moral Virtue stood to his right, holding a cattail fan.
At one side of the hall sat an old Daoist priest, with two young Daoist acolytes standing beside him. Ritual implements, books, and a pile of incense lay on the table.
“Are you the reception elder?” Luofeng greeted him with a cupped fist.
The old Daoist raised his deep, luminous eyes and studied Luofeng, causing the air to shimmer faintly.
He stood and smiled, “I am temporarily filling the role of reception. May I ask what brings you here, layman?”
Luofeng smiled, “I’ve come to visit a friend. I’m looking for Zheng Zha.”
While the old Daoist observed him, Luofeng was also sizing up the old Daoist. His body was thin and frail, showing little accomplishment in physical cultivation, but his deeply concealed eyes startled Luofeng. This old Daoist, though not as strong as himself, had already attained divine sense, at the third rank.
As for his energy cultivation, without direct contact, Luofeng dared not comment. Even so, he was quietly impressed. The Shangqing Sect truly had experts everywhere—a mere reception elder possessed such cultivation. How much stronger must the sect leader, core elders, and grand elders be?
“You’re looking for Zheng Zha, that kid.”
Zheng Zha was quite well-known in the Shangqing Sect, so the old Daoist immediately recalled him and laughed, “He’s in the rear mountain, in the second courtyard.”
“Please register first, and I’ll have Biqing take you there.”
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Luofeng cupped his fists and said, “Thank you, Daoist priest!”
After registering and exchanging a few words, Luofeng asked the old Daoist for some incense. He approached the sacred and solemn statues of the Three Pure Ones and respectfully offered three sticks, bowing sincerely several times.
These were the ancestors of the Three Pure Ones!
In his mother world, there were legends of the Three Pure Ones and followers of Daoism, and in this world, there were still legends of the Three Pure Ones and followers of Daoism.
The vast power and divine abilities of the Three Pure Ones’ ancestors were evident. Luofeng was almost certain that in other worlds, there would still be legends of the Three Pure Ones’ ancestors and temples dedicated to them. These were truly extraordinary beings—the supreme Daoist saints.
The Three Pure Saints dwell in the ethereal void; the Ten Highest Immortals gather above the Brahmanic aura. With the vast power of the Heavenly Lords spread across the heavens, they surely would not care for the incense offerings of ordinary mortals.
Luofeng could only offer his true heart! If, perhaps, one day a Heavenly Lord was in a good mood and saw him, maybe he would lend him a hand?!
Such matters are better believed than doubted.
Of course, whether the saint manifests or not is irrelevant; Luofeng’s main motivation was reverence, as he was a sincere Daoist believer rooted in tradition. Even if there were no miracles, it was only proper for future generations to pay their respects to the sages.
After offering incense, the old Daoist sent one of the young acolytes to guide the two to the rear mountain.
The little Daoist, perhaps nervous upon meeting outsiders, remained silent—but who was Luoyuan?!
The king of children in Yangjia Village, a force that dominated Xiaohei. With a few words, he piqued the little Daoist’s interest.
At that age, a child should be lively; once his tongue was loosened, he was unstoppable, racking his brain for stories and observations from his time in the Shangqing Sect, not wanting to lose face in front of new friends.
At the junction between the front and rear mountains was a lotus pond.
The petals were translucent, the structure exquisite, unsullied by mundane dust, displaying the green of creation, the purple of sages, and the pure white of sanctity—colorful and gathered together...
The little Daoist pointed excitedly at a jade lotus in the center, “This is the most beautiful and largest in the lotus pond, a full ten ranks!”
“Ten ranks?”
Luofeng’s divine heart stirred and he quietly asked, “Little Daoist, how many ranks are there for lotuses?”
The little Daoist hadn’t expected an adult like Luofeng to ask him, and his face turned red, “Grandmaster said, three ranks is the foundation, nine ranks is the highest, twelve ranks is the ultimate. If a lotus exceeds twelve ranks, it’s actually less beautiful.”
Luofeng stood in place, savoring the words. A gentle breeze passed, and the lotuses in the pond swayed, sending their fragrance wafting.
Suddenly, a blue lotus bloomed, revealing its twelve petals.
He smiled in understanding.
Above nine ranks, twelve is the peak.
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The path of the Dao is long; one has only walked half a hundred steps.
With his thoughts clear, Luofeng felt especially cheerful, and his steps quickened.
After a short while, Zheng Zha’s small courtyard came into view.
Luofeng’s eyes sparkled, and a mischievous idea formed in his mind. He gathered the little Daoist and Luoyuan and whispered his plan.
...
Zheng Zha was watering his garden in the courtyard, humming a little tune, when a little Daoist rushed in, looking anxious.
He recognized him immediately—it was Biqing, the acolyte who served alongside the grandmaster.
Zheng Zha hurriedly asked, “Biqing, what’s wrong? Did the grandmaster send you?”
Biqing replied with panic, “Uncle, something terrible has happened! Your daughter has come looking for you, claiming you abandoned your family!”
Zheng Zha: ???
The watering can in his hand almost fell to the ground.
He didn’t even have a wife—where would a child come from?
As he was lost in thought, a slender figure in yellow ran in, grabbed his leg, and began to cry.
“Father! I’ve searched for you so bitterly!”
...
Zheng Zha’s mouth twitched endlessly. If this continued and their fellow disciples gathered, he was bound to be labeled a scoundrel.
“Biqing, what’s going on!”
Zheng Zha stared hard at the little Daoist, who pretended innocence.
Just then, a suppressed laugh came from outside, “Enough, stop acting. You’re ruining your uncle’s reputation. You’ll get a spanking for this.”
As soon as the words were spoken, Biqing ran to the mastermind, holding out his hand.
The mastermind smiled and handed Biqing a handful of fruit as payment for the performance.
The little Daoist hurriedly fled the scene.
Watching the mastermind approach, Zheng Zha finally managed to say, “Long time no see.”
Then he looked at the girl still clinging to his leg and uncertainly asked, “Are you Luoyuan?”
The girl immediately jumped up, wiped away nonexistent tears, and snorted, “Daoist Zheng, you still remember me.”
Zheng Zha looked at the two before him, half amused, half exasperated—what kind of play was this?
(End of Chapter)
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