"Words?"
Xia Yue was slightly surprised.
... Did Chen Lusi really predict this?
"Yes."
Zhang Xiufeng’s expression was sowhat peculiar as he explained, "Mr. Xia Yue..."
Xia Yue interrupted, "Speak normally."
Zhang Xiufeng, a bit helpless, had to rephrase his question, "Xia Yue Celestial Strategy, are you aware of our Daoist lineage being severed?"
"I know."
Xia Yue nodded, "As one of the most important Authority systems in the country, you all were originally able to form your own sect akin to Buddhism. However, because of the severed Daoist lineage, you can no longer control the Daoist system. The Authority has leaked out, rging into fictional systems, which resulted in many of your own Daoists’ Authority abilities being even less than ordinary Empowerers."
Zhang Xiufeng gave a bitter smile, "That’s right, even my Authority abilities aren’t that great... and the ’Marshal’ that Yu Zhou from your Celestial Strategy Mansion possesses was once a Daoist exclusive Authority ability..."
"I actually think this is a good thing."
Xia Yue glanced at him, "Of course, if you have an opinion, you can try pulling Yu Zhou into your Daoism."
"That’s not what I ant."
Zhang Xiufeng shook his head, "I’ve devoted myself to self-cultivation and worldly avoidance for decades, long since indifferent. Several previous Celestial Masters couldn’t solve this issue, so why should I? Besides, I’m not really dissatisfied with the current situation.
Monks during prosperous tis, Daoists during troubled tis, we’re different from those old baldies, we’re quite willing to aid the world.
This is just a prelude; what I want to say is that before our Daoist lineage was severed, things weren’t like this."
This ti, Xia Yue didn’t interrupt him.
anwhile, on the other side.
Luo Mountain and Mount Tai also approached.
"... Or more accurately,"
Zhang Xiufeng continued, "Before the founding of the Ming Dynasty, it wasn’t like this. Back then, our Dragon Tiger Mountain managed all Daoist affairs under the heavens, and all Daoism related system authority was unified, with Celestial Masters even empowering others with Daoist Authority. At the ti, various Daoist sects thrived, really a magnificent scene, as you said, comparable to Buddhism as a truly self-sufficient entity.
But after that, things changed... I don’t know the specifics, because the records left by the 42nd Celestial Master are vague. The only thing I know is.
The Daoist lineage was severed, or rather, beca everyone’s lineage... The system authority leaked, and we completely lost control, which was bearable—after all, Authority abilities could still be acquired by others and passed down in so way.
But the problem lies in other aspects such as talismans, prayer exorcisms, fasting, and offering rituals. With the severance of the Daoist lineage, even we couldn’t use them... not just us, nobody else could use them either, even through force, they could only set a facade.
This is the most troubleso part, to us, the severance of the Daoist lineage specifically refers to this aspect. Authority abilities are relatively fine, no matter whether it’s a feudal dynasty or now, we aren’t without Empowerers from other systems internally, and we can fully accommodate them.
But if we can’t use talismans, prayer exorcisms, fasting, and offering rituals... how are we different from ordinary Empowerers?"
"..."
Xia Yue looked at Zhang Xiufeng, slightly frowning, "I am aware of such matters; what intrigues is how you know that Jing turned into a cat, and the words of the 42nd Celestial Master."
"I understand..."
Zhang Xiufeng asked back, "But isn’t Xia Yue Celestial Strategy curious? Why did the Daoist lineage beco severed? Why exactly after the founding of the Ming Dynasty?"
"You know? Are you sure it was after the founding of the Ming Dynasty that the Daoist lineage beca severed? I rember the related Source Canons of the Ming Dynasty ntion the flourishing of Daoism, and the use of talismans and the performance of fasting and offering rituals?"
Hearing Zhang Xiufeng’s words.
Luo Mountain showed an expression of interest and imdiately pursued a question.
This is actually also the direction of his research.
However, there were just too few related records.
About Zhang Xiufeng’s claim of the Daoist lineage severing post Ming Dynasty’s founding... he remains skeptical because he has indeed found records of Ming Dynasty Daoists using talismans.
"I don’t know."
Zhang Xiufeng shook his head, "I wasn’t even sure before whether the Daoist lineage severed post Ming Dynasty’s founding... I’ve read those records you ntioned too."
Upon hearing that, Luo Mountain also frowned, "Then you..."
"But just now I confird it."
Zhang Xiufeng sighed, explaining, "It relates to sothing the 42nd Celestial Master once said, he ntioned— the Daoist lineage lies in Jing, in the feline."
After going around in circles.
Zhang Xiufeng finally repeated the words of the 42nd Celestial Master.
"The Daoist lineage lies in Jing, in the feline..."
Xia Yue touched his chin, "Feline... does that an a cat?"
"Yes."
Zhang Xiufeng nodded, "This is why I didn’t find it strange when I heard you just now. Restoring the Daoist lineage has been the ambition of almost every Celestial Master, including myself, along with dozens of previous Celestial Masters.
But this is incredibly difficult, with no results after the efforts of several generations. Not to ntion the feudal dynasties, there was no trace of Jing at all, and coming to modern tis, with the ergence of the last Jing, my father went to the Imperial Capital with the abbot of Jiming Temple, still finding not even a trace, falling into hopelessness directly."
"After the dismantling of the last feudal dynasty, there was no more ’Jing’ in the world, and we couldn’t check every cat dostically, asking them if they knew the Daoist lineage... In such a situation, plus no results from the efforts of the previous dozens of Celestial Masters, we even started suspecting the words of the 42nd Celestial Master."
"To speak blasphemously, at that ti, I even thought he was playing us, that those words were sheer nonsense... Honestly, if it were you all, after such prolonged efforts without results, you would probably doubt too?"
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