Dongshan Province, Lao Mountain.
In front of the Incense Burning Hall, a great iron pot was set atop an Eight Immortals table, boiling more than thirty jin of Lao Mountain spring water. Within, a fish of fourteen or fifteen jin was stewed until the broth turned milky white, exuding a rich, fragrant aroma.
Lao Mountain’s iron pot fish stew was renowned as a specialty dish of Dongshan Province.
The intense scent drifted before the Incense Burning Hall. To sate gluttony in front of the Ancestral Hall—such was truly a transgression, a transgression indeed.
Yet none of the disciples standing to either side dared utter half a word more.
Because seated at the table was none other than the present Lao Mountain Sect Leader, Li Chengge.
At this mont, he gazed at the churning fish in the iron pot, yet held in his hand a piece of white paper—cut into a perfect circle, bright as the full moon, falling into the eyes of all as if shedding the radiance of lunar glory.
Hoo—
Ten paces away, a young man concentrated his spirit and stilled his breath, staring intently at that perfectly round slip of white paper. He drew in a deep breath, and, as if a strand of moonlight pure and cold entered his body, in an instant, traces of golden light shimred in his eyes.
"Sect Leader, your Daoist Skill grows ever more divine—cutting paper to make the moon, Taiyin’s flowing radiance... You have truly grasped the very essence of our Lao Mountain Daoist Skill."
At the side, Hua Yixun could not help but speak.
By seniority, he was Li Chengge’s elder brother. Yet his talent for cultivation was but ordinary; at his age, he had barely reached the threshold of the High-level Realm.
Thus, he had led his young disciple, Gu Jingqiu, down the mountain to seek fortunes that might aid his cultivation.
It was during that journey that he encountered Zhang Fan by chance at Gusu Xuanmiao Temple.
At the ti, Zhang Fan’s cultivation was unford—he had not even mastered the Fire Dragon Pill Sword. Gu Jingqiu had boldly sought instruction in the techniques of Zhenwu Mountain.
Now, after but half a year, their advancents in cultivation stood worlds apart.
"Jingqiu, aren’t you going to thank the Sect Leader? This transmission of Skill spares you three years of bitter toil." Hua Yixun spoke sternly.
At his words, Gu Jingqiu hastened forward and bowed deeply in respect.
"Many thanks, Master Sect Leader."
"Senior Brother, your young disciple’s Golden Toad Moon Gazing Technique has already mastered a third of the required Fire Ti."
Li Chengge did not lift his head; with a flick of his finger, that round slip of white paper drifted to the ground, radiance vanished, as if it had returned to being nothing more than ordinary paper.
Clinging to the residue, guarding the remains, refining Profound Skill—when the moon is full, its light gathers in the palace of the toad.
The Golden Toad Moon Gazing Technique is one of Lao Mountain’s top Inner Core Techniques. In renown it may not surpass Zhenwu Mountain’s South and North Sects Origin thod, but in subtle depth, each possesses its own wonders.
"The fish is nearly done. Carry it over as an offering to the Ancestral Master. Master was fondest of this taste in life."
With a wave of Li Chengge’s hand, two Little Daoist Children approached and bore the iron pot with its stewed fish away.
"Sect Leader, if I may say—give Jingqiu a few more days, and this child will comprehend the High Rank. To reach such a realm at this age—it is surely the Ancestral Master’s blessing."
Hua Yixun looked at Gu Jingqiu, unable to restrain his admiration.
He had practiced bitterly for half his life, yet could not achieve such feats. Cultivation indeed lies in fated opportunity—never can it be forced.
"If only our Lao Mountain had a few more such disciples, with your plans, Sect Leader, what worry would there be in making Lao Mountain flourish?" Hua Yixun could not help but say.
"Passing fla to new wood—unceasing through generations. The inheritance of a Sect’s Dharma Lineage rests on eminent disciples, and yet..."
Li Chengge gazed into the blue surge of the night, murmuring, "To flourish, one must have peerless talent, wondrous as heaven itself—such figures are one in ten thousand. Only those can seize the world’s fortune and raise the prestige of our gates."
Just as with Chu Chaoran of Zhenwu Mountain—Pure Yang Infinite, of the Immortal kind—with that person alone, Zhenwu Mountain won a century of fortune. Among his generation, none could compare.
Yet, through ancient tis to now, how many are like Chu Chaoran?
"Sect Leader, Pure Yang Zhenren was Heaven’s embodint of spiritual essence. Now that the End of Dharma has co, there will be none such hereafter." Hua Yixun could not help voicing his feelings.
He well understood that a mountain’s Sect Leader cared above all for incense inheritance and the disciples’ guidance.
"Did you not hear? Co the second day of the second month next year, Zhenwu Mountain will hold a disciple recruitnt ceremony—Transcendent Zhenren is to take on new disciples."
At this, Li Chengge’s tone shifted abruptly.
"Taking on disciples again? That can’t be—years ago, did not Transcendent Zhenren already accept a closed-door disciple?" Hua Yixun asked in confusion. With his shallow cultivation, such news had yet to reach him.
"For Transcendent Zhenren to consider accepting another disciple—the child must be no ordinary one. Is Zhenwu truly rising with Heaven’s help, as when Ancestor Chunyang once claid six hundred years of fortune for their sect?"
Li Chengge murmured, a trace of sorrow flickering in his eyes.
His life’s wish was to expand Lao Mountain’s Dharma Lineage—to make it peerless beneath the heavens.
"Sect Leader, who is the one Transcendent Zhenren wishes to take as disciple?" Hua Yixun could not resist asking.
At these words, even Gu Jingqiu at the side pricked up his ears.
To all cultivators, Chu Chaoran was as an Immortal—being admitted to his tutelage, to beco a disciple, was a celestial fate beyond compare.
"I do not know," Li Chengge shook his head, though in his mind the image of Zhang Fan floated forth.
He had t this young man but once, yet the impression lingered vivid and deep.
Though unknown by na, he had awakened Celestial Gifted Divine Techniques, prompting even Celestial Master Liu Nanxu to travel from afar, to East Mountain, in order to resolve his crisis.
Indeed, Liu Nanxu had declared in person—that young man was her teacher’s disciple.
"Could it be that Transcendent Zhenren’s new disciple is him?" Li Chengge mused.
Even among disciples, there are vast differences.
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