Chapter 1331

Wang Baole murmured softly. Chen Yunluo and his wife couldn't hear what he was saying. Only the child stared at Wang Baole in surprise. He could hear what Wang Baole was saying. Even though he didn't quite understand what he was saying, for some unknown reason, a warmth that was both foreign and familiar at the same time appeared in the depths of his heart.

The warmth was scorching hot. It spread through his heart, his body, and his soul. It was as if, at that moment, the first snow that had fallen from the heavens and earth in the past year had turned warm as well.

It was as if the Daoist priest before him made him feel safe and at ease.

It was as if the person before him made him miss him dearly and wanted to stay by his side.

Amidst the warmth, Chen Yunluo and his wife could feel Wang Baole's kindness and acknowledgment. They were also infected by the warmth that surrounded them. They were overjoyed. They bowed gratefully towards Wang Baole, then left with the child.

Before they left, the child, whose hand was held by his father, turned his head three times.

Finally, on the third time, the child couldn't help but speak loudly towards the figure inside the temple.

"Daoist priest, have we … met before?"

His sudden voice made Chen Yunluo and his wife extremely nervous. However, the reproachful look from his father and the nervous look on his mother's face didn't make the child turn around. He continued to stare at the temple as if waiting for an answer.

"We have …" Wang Baole smiled. He nodded his head heavily and murmured in his heart.

"In your previous life."

"Alright." There was a look of confusion in the child's eyes. However, he was a child after all, and he quickly recovered. His parents apologized to him, and Wang Baole smiled warmly at him as the family of three walked further and further away.

Faintly, the sound of Chen Yunluo reprimanding the child could be heard in the wind.

From afar, the sky was gray, and more snowflakes fell. They landed on the city, and it was as if the city had been dressed in a long white robe. It was a simple yet elegant sight. Outside the temple, Chen Yunluo's family of three slowly blurred into the wind and snow.

Inside the temple, Wang Baole stood by the door with a broom in his hand. He raised his head and stared, and the smile on his face grew wider. When the snowflakes covered the world before him, his body and soul seemed to rise to a higher level in the wind and snow.

The snow lasted for a month. To some of the mortal worlds, a month of continuous snow might be a disaster, but to the Immortal Astral Continent, it was a normal occurrence.

Although the snow continued to fall, it didn't stop the children from enlightening themselves. Every morning, the children in the temple would rush to the temple within a time limit and listen to the Daoist priest's lecture.

Chen Qing was one of them.

He liked the little friends beside him and Erya, who sat at the next table. However, he liked the gentle Daoist priest even more.

Wang Baole's lectures weren't much different from those in other Daoist temples. They were all about his insights into cultivation. It was difficult to use simple words that a child could understand to describe these principles. However, Wang Baole's body constantly exuded a Dao aura.

Under the influence of the Dao aura, even if the children couldn't fully understand it, they were still in a state of confusion. The teachings were left in the depths of their memories, and as they grew up and cultivated, the insights and Dao aura that came from enlightenment would become a beacon of light for their future cultivation.

In Chen Qing's heart, this bright lamp was exceptionally resplendent.

He was curious as to why his other little friends didn't seem to understand. That was because, to him, he seemed to be able to understand every word that the gentle Daoist priest said.

Just like that, the days passed. A year went by in the midst of enlightenment.

Chen Qing was six years old now.

Compared to the other children, from that year onwards, Chen Qing would often raise his own questions in addition to gaining enlightenment. Every question, the gentle Daoist priest would answer him, his eyes shining with encouragement.

That filled Chen Qing with anticipation for cultivation. At the same time, as he gained enlightenment of the Dao, he gained more and more. At the same time... the other children who were his companions also benefited.

"Daoist Priest, why is there spiritual energy in Heaven and Earth?"

"Because plants, animals, you and I, Heaven and Earth, all living things, all have spirits. Therefore, the universe... naturally has a spirit as well. That spirit is its aura."

"Daoist Priest, what is the Dao?"

"The Dao is not important. For example, Chen Qing, there are many paths you can take to get home. Each path can be different, just like the different Daos. Returning home is the most important thing. Therefore, the way I see it, the Dao is the path you choose to walk after you have a direction."

"Daoist Priest, what if the direction you choose doesn't have a path?"

"Then I'll carve my own path home." Wang Baole gave Chen Qing a meaningful look and replied softly.

Chen Qing seemed to be deep in thought. He still had many questions. Time passed, and another year passed. Chen Qing, who was already seven years old, had all his questions answered. On his seventh birthday, he gained spirituality.

The final goal of a child's enlightenment was to gain spirituality. It was like grasping a wisp of the universe's aura and making it a part of oneself. Normally, most children would be initiated to gain spirituality in a Daoist temple when they were seven or eight years old.

The timing of the initiation didn't represent one's aptitude.

Chen Qing's Spirit Connection was slightly different. During the past two years of initiation, Wang Baole had already imprinted the Dark Dao in his heart. What Chen Qing would choose in the future would be up to him.

It was also on this day that Wang Baole gave Chen Qing a birthday present.

It was … an illusory sphere of nine suns, as well as an illusory seal that looked like a moon.

It floated beside Chen Qing. That day … was also winter. It was the same as when he had first arrived. It was snowing for the first time.

Amidst the snowstorm, Chen Qing looked at the nine suns and the moon seal around him. There was confusion in his eyes as he looked at Wang Baole.

"Choose one as your path to the Nascent Dao in this lifetime."

Chen Qing was silent. He looked at his surroundings, then at Wang Baole. He hesitated.

"Can I follow you?"

Wang Baole laughed. He patted Chen Qing's head and spoke softly.

"But I'm going to do something very soon. You can choose one first and wait for my return."

Chen Qing nodded happily. Then, he looked at the nine suns and the moon seal. He casually grabbed the moon seal in his hand.

"Then I'll choose this first."

As he made his choice, a long laugh sounded from the heavens. Situ's silhouette materialized in the sky, walking towards him. Behind him, in the clouds, one could vaguely make out the nine silhouettes. They sighed and nodded at Wang Baole. After Wang Baole returned the greeting with a smile, they left one after another.

Only Situ took a big step forward and landed beside Wang Baole and Chen Qing. He laughed.

"Baole, Chen Qing's foresight far surpasses yours. I haven't accepted a disciple for many years. Back then, I barely accepted half a disciple and managed to groom him into a supreme cultivator." Situ's laughter was loud and clear. Wang Baole laughed as well. Then, his expression turned serious, and he bowed deeply towards Situ.

"Thank you, Senior."

"With me around, you don't have to worry. Chen Qing, let's go." As he spoke, Situ waved his hand, sweeping Chen Qing up into the sky.

"Daoist Priest …" Chen Qing's reluctant voice sounded from the sky. In his eyes, the Daoist temple was shrinking, and so was the city. Only the gentle Daoist priest's silhouette, waving his hand, remained.

"Young fella, don't feel sad. Your Junior Brother has some matters to attend to. I believe he'll be back soon," Situ said with a smile.

"My Junior Brother?" Chen Qing was stunned.

"That's right. I don't dare to be your first Master. I can only be considered half a Master. That's because you're the disciple that Wang Baole accepted on behalf of his Master. He's willing to let you be his Senior Brother. So, young fella, you have to work hard on your cultivation."

"Uh …" Chen Qing's eyes were once again filled with confusion. He wanted to speak again, but the city in his eyes had already become indiscernible and was getting further and further away.

Within the Daoist temple, the wind and snow continued to fall. Wang Baole stood there, staring at his Senior Brother's gradually disappearing silhouette. The snowflakes that landed on the ground from the sky seemed to land on Wang Baole's heart, forming circles of ripples that gradually spread and enveloped his body and soul.

After a long, long time, the smile on Wang Baole's face grew warmer. He turned and walked into the distance, step by step …

In his previous life, you stood before me, shielding me from the wind and the rain when I first began my cultivation journey. You prevented the cold wind from freezing my body, prevented the rain from drenching my soul.

No matter how I walked the path of life, you were always at the top, watching me silently. You reached out in times of danger and melted into nothingness. You allowed me to walk a smooth and happy life.

That's because I'm your Junior Brother.

That's because you're my Senior Brother.

Your tall figure was like a giant tree in my eyes. Most of the time, you didn't seem like a Senior Brother. You seemed more like a Master, and you seemed more like a real elder brother to me.

I can't forget the first time you appeared. You wore a green robe, had a gourd of alcohol, and held a wooden sword. You had long, elegant hair, and you looked like a sword. You looked like an Immortal, transcendent, extraordinary.

I can't forget the way you left me. Your green robe turned black, the wine gourd turned impure, and the wooden sword became speckled. Everything about you seemed bleak and desolate.

I watched you melt into nothingness. I knew that you were searching for your own Dao, and also... that you were testing the Shattered path for your good-for-nothing Junior Brother.

"As I look at you, I can't help but think back to the path of cultivation in my previous life. I remember how you doted on me, how you protected me, how you treated me, how you treated me, how you treated me, how you treated me, and how you smiled at me.

Chen Qing. Chen Qing.

"In this life, I will protect you."

"In this life, I will lead you into the Dao.

"In this life, I will still be your Junior Brother.