Chapter 001: Chen Xixiang

Some individuals are left far behind at the starting point, making it almost certain that they will not be able to catch up later. In such an environment, some people choose to strive hard, hoping to change their starting point through later efforts and achieve remarkable success. Conversely, others may lose their motivation to work hard after realizing early on that their efforts may ultimately be in vain.

Time travel and the jade disc are his greatest secrets. In this vast land, where he has no kin, he trusts no one and must exercise utmost caution to ensure that his significant secret remains undiscovered

To put it bluntly, does a place as significant as the Sutra Repository really need someone like you, Chen Xixiang, to guard it? Those various formations, talismans, and restrictions are a thousand times more useful than you

In the sea of consciousness, it is as if a jade disc shimmering with water light is reflecting lines of ancient and simple characters, which are precisely the contents of the "Book of Water Burial" that he is holding and reading.

In the sacred repository of the Qingwei Sect

After the absorption, the halo of the disc's core expanded slightly, as if awakening

Zhao Wenjing was so enraged that her beautiful, fair face turned purple. With an angry huff, she turned and shouted sternly to those around her

Chen Xixiang threw away a handful of spiritual rice, which caused the dragon carps in the Yangxin Pool to frenzy in their scramble for it. He stood up to bid farewell to his fellow disciples, saying: "Several senior brothers, please take care on your way. You will definitely come to the Sutra Repository often in the future, so we will not be seeing less of each other."

By taking advantage of this position, he can supplement the profound truths of heaven and earth from the scriptures to the jade disc without attracting anyone's attention, allowing the jade disc to awaken in a very safe manner

Cui Ning, you have seen it, we kindly came to help him seize another opportunity, but he is happily wasting time here, living a lazy life. If he himself truly does not intend to strive for improvement, then he is nothing but a pile of mud, and we cannot lift him up.

The words are very sincere and straightforward

Subsequently, through numerous attempts, he discovered that reading certain Taoist scriptures was more beneficial for the expansion of the halo, which is the awakening of the jade disc, as these scriptures typically record the ultimate principles of heaven and earth and the laws of nature

The path to becoming an immortal is divided into three steps and thirteen realms. Cui Ning's bell chimed nine times, indicating that based solely on his innate talent and potential, he will at least become a great practitioner at the ninth realm of the third step. If he encounters further opportunities and fortuitous events along the way, there is a possibility that he may achieve immortality. He is the most outstanding disciple among this group.

It seems that all the contents of this Taoist scripture have been inscribed onto the jade disc

"Do not go there again tomorrow; you cannot persuade him." Daoist Lu Zhou gazed in the direction of the Scripture Repository. As the foremost master of Qingcheng Mountain in this generation, he had long since opened all the acupoints in his body, earning the title of a mortal immortal. Now, having lived for one hundred and fifty years, he had encountered such individuals and matters, though not frequently, yet not infrequently either.

"Did you not persuade them?" Lu Zhou said calmly, "Should we continue to persuade them tomorrow?"

Everyone belongs to the same group that has entered Qingcheng Mountain, and we are all brothers and sisters of this generation. From now on, we are one family, and there is already a sense of kinship among us, each wanting to support one another.

This is the most brutal thing on the path of cultivation

Thus, the days when Chen Xixiang devoted himself to reading the scriptures have swiftly passed, marking the end of half a year.

Sigh, I will come to see you again in a couple of days

Among so many people at the same time, only Chen Xixiang, after realizing that his innate qualities were not very good, directly approached the "Steward's Office" to request a position guarding the Sutra Repository.

Separated by a single mountain, there exist two different worlds

Look at his behavior; if you want to take care of it, go ahead, but I will not take responsibility any longer

No.

At the entrance of the Sutra Repository, there is a pond where many lotus leaves grow, and several golden lotus flowers are in bloom, swaying in the wind and creating ripples.

So, what can you, Chen Xixiang, gain here? There are neither renowned teachers nor cultivation resources; the only thing you can expect is to pass the time lazily, allowing yourself to fall into a state of decline.

Before Cui Ning could feel joy, thinking that Chen Xixiang had been persuaded, he was taken aback by Chen Xixiang's next words, which caused his face to turn pale and then flush with anger

After he finished reading this Taoist scripture, his heart sank into the sea of consciousness, and he looked at the jade disc in his sea of consciousness, which had accompanied him from Earth.

He felt in his heart that perhaps it was because Chen Xixiang arrived at the same time as me, yet I surpassed you, Chen Xixiang, in talent and potential, which made Chen Xixiang jealous, resulting in a significant disparity. Therefore, he wanted to avoid these people, but these thoughts were hidden deep in Cui Ning's heart, unable to be spoken, as they were too hurtful

Although he lost the opportunity to study under the renowned professors of Qingcheng Mountain, he does not believe that once the jade disc, known for its "three thousand paths, transforming the heavens, the jade disc of the Daoist ancestor, and educating the celestial beings," is opened, it would be inferior to the benefits brought to him by any esteemed teacher from Qingcheng Mountain

Chen Xixiang, relaxed and at ease, said casually

In the end, only Cui Ning, who had an exceptionally good relationship with Chen Xixiang, was still earnestly trying to change his fallen thoughts. After countless words, it ultimately condensed into one sentence:

He looked at Cui Ning, who occasionally turned back to gaze towards the direction of the Sutra Repository from the stone steps in the mountains, and sighed

He had not taken a few steps away from the Sutra Repository when he encountered his master, Daoist Lu Zhou, the Grand Elder of the Qingwei Sect of this generation, who was also the foremost expert among his contemporaries

Upon seeing this, the handsome Taoist Zhao Wenjing said coldly

Such occurrences are often seen among middle-aged individuals in the mundane world, who feel they have seen through life and believe that no amount of effort can change anything. It is rare to find young individuals like Chen Xixiang, who, at a young age, have lost their motivation for pursuit and become complacent

What is reflected in the pond is not only the pear tree, but also Chen Xixiang, who is leisurely reclining on a stone with his arms resting. He is holding a common Daoist scripture that he took from the Sutra Repository.

The disciples of Qingwei all know that guarding the Sutra Repository is a task that dulls one's spirit. Traditionally, it is only those senior uncles and aunts who have aged and see no hope of breakthrough that would seek this idle position, as it serves as a means of retirement. Chen Xixiang, however, is only sixteen years old and has a bright future ahead. Yet, after testing his aptitude, he voluntarily came here to idle away his time.

Isn't there a beauty-preserving pill in the sect? I will accumulate some merits over the next few years and strive to buy one, ensuring that when you come to see me again, I will still look the same.

You all have a bright future ahead, but I truly do not see this as a leisurely task. If you don't believe it, let's wait two or three years and see...

Some of the senior brothers who had a good relationship with Chen Xixiang, after Zhao Wenjing left, tried to persuade him a few more times. However, they found that Chen Xixiang was unyielding, and they eventually gave up. In the end, they took one last look at Chen Xixiang and left some words behind

Chen Xixiang chose to spend the rest of his life in the Sutra Repository

I do not wish for decades to pass, and when we look at you again, we remain unchanged in appearance, while you have already turned gray and become an old person

Like Chen Xixiang, Zhao Chongyang and Ning Jiuge did not give up directly after the fifth bell rang, so they chose to apprentice under Master Zhang, who was the best at teaching disciples. The path of cultivation is filled with uncertainties; who knows if there will be opportunities in the future that could change one's innate qualities

As an important pillar of the Zhengyi Dao Alliance, the Qingwei Sect is highly renowned both in the mountains and valleys of the Dao Song Dynasty. Furthermore, since the Qingwei Sect was incorporated into the Zhengyi Dao Alliance, it has basked in the glory of the ancestral celestial master, whose past reputation for defeating both Daoist and demonic forces has greatly enhanced the prestige of the Qingwei Sect, allowing it to wield immense power across six provinces, effectively dominating the realm.

By the side of the Nurturing Heart Pool, Chen Xixiang held the second volume of the scripture, his gaze slowly lifted, looking towards the group of disciples across from the Sutra Repository, and he quietly thought to himself

The score of five sounds is not considered good, but it is certainly not particularly bad. The five sounds of the Dao Bell signify that the foundational potential can reach the first stage of the Five Realms of Brain and Marrow Transformation. However, if there is an opportunity, one can also enter the second stage of the Innate Great Barrier.

On this day six months later

An afternoon has passed

Cui Ning's tone, however, was filled with sorrow

The Qingwei Sect stands tall on Qingcheng Mountain, with thousands of palaces and temples, and a multitude of disciples

Brother Zhao, do not provoke me; I genuinely find this place quite pleasant. On ordinary days, reading the Daoist scriptures and feeding the fish, this life seems very good to me

The affairs of this world are such that, regardless of whether one is willing to admit it or not, there are always distinctions of high and low, noble and base among people, such as one's background in the mortal realm and the innate qualities on the path of cultivation

The role of overseeing the Sutra Repository sounds appealing; in reality, it involves the responsibilities of registering when fellow disciples and senior uncles borrow the Daoist scriptures, along with the routine tasks of cleaning the repository and returning scattered scriptures to their original places

In a fit of anger, Zhao Wenjing turned and left without a word.

You ... ... "Cui Ning could no longer find the words to say; he did not understand why this brother was so stubborn.

Therefore, after he worshipped at Qingcheng Mountain, he chose to actively come to the Sutra Repository

Xi Xiang, I will discuss with Elder Zhao again and let you choose once more. The elders have all stated that in the path of cultivation, opportunity comes first, and innate talent comes second. Your innate talent does not necessarily determine your future achievements.

Three days ago, a group of young male and female disciples who were just selected as inner disciples stood outside the Scripture Pavilion. Upon careful counting, there were about fifteen or sixteen of them.

It is not that I wish to disappoint you; it is not that I do not want to find a good master. The Sutra Repository is truly the best place for me.

After Zhao Wenjing and the other Taoists returned to the palace, they received similar teachings from their master. This was also a way for their elders to preemptively sever certain connections for them, so as not to leave unnecessary causes and effects in their hearts

In two or three years? Do you believe that in just three months, we will be able to create a significant gap between us and you!

It is no wonder that Brother Zhao is filled with rage, feeling that iron should not be turned into steel.

Hearing that Chen Xixiang still had such a lazy attitude, a handsome young Taoist among them sneered

Chen Xixiang seemed to be touched. Looking at this brother who came from the same county, he smiled gently after a long while

His tone, although indifferent

I will come to persuade you again tomorrow

He kindly advised Chen Xixiang not to give up at this point, as they are all a group of brothers who have come to seek guidance.

Under a pear tree by the Sutra Repository, pear blossoms drift down, landing in the Yangxin Pool

Three days ago, the sect's test of aptitude concluded, with Cui Ning achieving the best results, earning nine chimes of the Dao Bell

But Chen Xixiang understood that this person was doing it for his own good, and smiled

Chen Xixiang simply smiled while feeding the fish, without saying anything

Chen Xixiang scattered a handful of shimmering granules of spiritual rice into the pond, watching as dozens of carp surged to the surface, leaping out of the water and splashing droplets everywhere. Upon closer inspection, it was astonishing to see that the golden carp had whiskers that were even longer than their bodies; those were dragon whiskers

Why are you unable to persuade them

The speaker is a young Taoist priest dressed in an indigo robe, with his hair pinned up with a wooden hairpin, speaking in a tone that is earnest and full of concern

up until ... ...

As he left, several people sighed and glanced at Chen Xixiang, wanting to say something more, but they felt that Chen Xixiang's attitude truly reflected how they were putting their warm faces against his cold backside

Cui Ning has also left

Take care, Xi Xiang

However, Daoist Lu Zhou did not take it to heart, seemingly unfazed and able to understand.

In the end, he merely sighed

However, Chen Xixiang only has five sounds

The jade disc does not know how long it will take or how much knowledge from the scriptures it needs to absorb in order to awaken

That bell can discern a person's innate potential. When an individual stands beneath the bell, each chime signifies the minimum level of cultivation that the person can achieve, reflecting the potential that corresponds to it. Over the years, there have been very few errors in this regard.

Cui Ning took him as his master, possessing good talent himself, and with the highest level of skill in this generation, he taught without reservation. In the future, it is not impossible for him to attain the position of the Clear and Subtle Sect Leader, and he may even have the opportunity to compete for the position of the leader of the Orthodox Alliance against that Zhang Tianshi.

The handsome Daoist priest Zhao Wenjing, who just left in anger, is also not lacking, as it is the seventh ringing of the Dao bell.

Chen Xixiang recalled the lines of text that had flashed across the jade disc during his time travel: "Three thousand great paths, responding to the heavens, the Dao Ancestor's jade disc, enlightening the myriad immortals." However, after he traversed over, it fell silent and motionless. Only once, by chance, did he read a casual book and discovered that the jade disc could absorb the knowledge contained within the book

As for the desire to take advantage of this position to freely view the precious scriptures and techniques in the Sutra Repository, that is merely a daydream. Aside from the ordinary Taoist texts that are commonly found in the secular world, the true techniques and superior Taoist scriptures are located on the third and fourth floors, and can only be accessed with a borrowing token from the sect.

Cui Ning nodded quietly