Wang Baole murmured softly. Chen Yunluo and his wife couldn't hear his voice. Only the child stared at Wang Baole in surprise. He could hear what Wang Baole was saying. Even though he couldn't understand what Wang Baole was saying, he didn't know why, but at that moment, a warmth that was both foreign and familiar surfaced in the depths of his heart.
That heat was very, very hot, and it filled his heart, body, and soul. It was as if at that moment, the first snow of the year that had fallen in the world had become warm.
It was as if this Daoist priest made him feel very safe and at ease.
It was as if he really missed this person, and wanted to stay by his side.
Amidst the warmth, Chen Yunluo and his wife could feel Wang Baole's goodwill and acknowledgment. They were also infected by the warmth that permeated the air. Their spirits were lifted, and they thanked Wang Baole gratefully before leaving with the child.
Before leaving, the little boy whose hand was held by his father turned his head back three times.
Finally, on the third time, he couldn't hold back any longer. He looked at the figure in the Daoist temple and spoke loudly.
"Daoist priest, have we … met before?"
His sudden voice caused Chen Yunluo and his wife to feel very nervous. However, his father's reproachful gaze and his mother's nervous expression didn't cause the boy to turn around. He continued to look at the Daoist temple, as if he were waiting for an answer.
"Yes, I have …" Wang Baole smiled and nodded solemnly, muttering to himself.
"In your previous life," he said softly.
"Alright." The boy's eyes were filled with confusion, but he was still a child, so he quickly recovered. His parents apologized, and Wang Baole smiled warmly at him. Then, the family of three walked off into the distance.
Gradually, the sound of Chen Yunluo lecturing his son could be heard in the wind.
From a distance, the sky was gray, and more and more snowflakes were falling. It was as if the city was wearing a white robe, simple and elegant. Outside the Daoist temple, the figures of Chen Yunluo and his family slowly faded away into the wind and snow.
Inside the Daoist temple, Wang Baole stood by the door with a broom in his hand. He lifted his head and stared. The smile on his face gradually widened. As the snowflakes covered the world before his eyes, his body and soul seemed to have evolved amidst the snowstorm.
This snow had been falling for a month. For some mortals, a month of continuous snow might be a disaster, but for the Immortal Astral Continent, this was very normal.
Although the snow continued to fall, it couldn't stop the children from learning. Every morning, the children in the Daoist temple would come to listen to the daoist priest's dao lectures.
Chen Qing was among them.
He liked his friends and Er Ya at the table next to him, but he liked the gentle daoist priest even more.
Wang Baole's Dao lectures weren't much different from those of other Daoist temples. They were all about the insights he had gained from cultivation. It was difficult to describe these principles in simple words that children could understand. However, Wang Baole was constantly exuding the aura of Dao.
Under the influence of the Dao Rhyme, even if these children couldn't fully comprehend it, they were still in a state of ignorance. It was left in the depths of their memories. In the future, as they grew up and cultivated, the enlightenment and Dao Rhyme from the enlightenment would become the light of their cultivation.
And this lamp was exceptionally bright in Chen Qing's heart.
He was very curious as to why his other companions didn't seem to understand. From what he could tell, this gentle Taoist priest seemed to be able to fully understand every word he said.
Just like this, the days passed one by one. One year went by during this enlightenment.
Chen Qing was now six years old.
Compared to the other children, Chen Qing would often ask questions in addition to gaining enlightenment. Every question would be answered by the gentle daoist priest with an encouraging look in his eyes.
This caused Chen Qing to be filled with anticipation towards cultivation. At the same time, as he comprehended the Rhymes of Dao, he gained more and more. At the same time … as his companions, the other children in this batch also benefited because of this.
"Daoist priest, why is there spiritual energy in Heaven and Earth?"
"Because plants, animals, you and me, Heaven and Earth, and all other living things have spirits. Therefore, this universe … naturally has spirits. This spirit is its aura."
"Daoist priest, what is the Dao?"
"The Dao isn't important. For example, Chen Qing, there are many paths you can take to return home. Each path can be different, and the Dao is different. Returning home is the most important thing. Therefore, the Dao … as I understand it, is the path you choose to take once you have a direction."
"Daoist priest, what if the direction you choose is not a path?"
Wang Baole looked deeply into Chen Qing's eyes and replied softly, "Then you have to open up a path that leads you home."
Chen Qing was lost in thought. He still had many questions. Time passed, and another year went by. Chen Qing was now seven years old. After all the questions in his heart had been answered, on the day of his seventh birthday, he gained spirituality.
The ultimate goal of enlightenment for children was to gain spirituality. It was as if they had grasped a strand of the Qi of the universe and made it a part of themselves. Generally speaking, most children would be enlightened to gain spirituality at the age of seven or eight in a Daoist temple.
Actually, the timing of the process did not determine one's aptitude.
Chen Qing's process of gaining spirituality was somewhat different. During the two years of enlightenment, Wang Baole had long since left the Dao of the Underworld in his heart. What he chose in the future would be up to Chen Qing himself.
On the same day, 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 next to Chen Qing. The day … was also winter. Just like the day he had first arrived, it was snowing for the first time.
Chen Qing looked around at the nine suns and the moon seal. His eyes filled with confusion as he looked at Wang Baole.
"Choose one of these," said Meng Hao softly. "That will be your initial Dao path in this life."
Chen Qing looked around silently, then back at Wang Baole. He hesitated for a moment.
"Can I go with you?"
Wang Baole smiled. He caressed Chen Qing's head and spoke softly.
"But I'm going to do something very soon," he said softly. "So you can choose one first, and then wait for me to come back."
Chen Qing nodded happily. Then he looked around at the nine suns and the moon seal. He reached out and grabbed the moon seal.
"In that case, I'll choose this one first."
As he made his choice, a long laugh sounded from the heavens. Situ's silhouette appeared in the sky and walked over step by step. In the clouds behind him, nine majestic silhouettes could be vaguely seen. They sighed and nodded at Wang Baole. After Wang Baole returned the gesture with a smile, they left one after another.
Situ strode forward, landing next to Wang Baole and Chen Qing. He laughed heartily.
"Baole, Chen Qing's insight far exceeds yours. I haven't accepted any disciples for many years. Back in the day, I barely accepted half of one, and casually raised a Paragon." Situ laughed loudly, and Wang Baole laughed as well. Then, his expression turned serious, and he clasped hands and bowed deeply to Situ.
"Thank you for your trouble, senior."
"With me here, you don't have to worry about anything. Chen Qing, let's go." With that, Situ waved his hand, sweeping Chen Qing up into the Heavens.
"Daoist Priest …." Chen Qing's reluctant voice could be heard up in the Heavens. In his eyes, the Daoist temple was shrinking, and so was the city. The only thing that remained was the warm Daoist Priest, waving his hand.
"Don't be so reluctant, kid," said Situ with a smile. "Your Junior Brother has some business to attend to, and should be back soon."
"My Junior Brother?" Chen Qing stared in shock.
"That's right. I wouldn't dare to be your First Master, at most half. That's because Wang Baole accepted you as a disciple on behalf of his Master. He's willing to let you be his Senior Brother. Therefore, kid, you need to work hard on your cultivation."
"Uh …." A blank look appeared in Chen Qing's eyes. He wanted to speak again, but the city was already so small that it was almost undetectable. It was getting farther and farther away.
Within the Daoist temple, the wind and snow continued to fall. Wang Baole stood there, staring at his Senior Brother's receding figure. The snowflakes that fell from the sky seemed to fall onto Wang Baole's heart, forming ripples that gradually spread out, filling his soul.
After a long, long time, Wang Baole's smile grew warmer and warmer. He turned and walked off into the distance, one step at a time ….
"In my previous life, you stood in front of me, sheltering me from the wind and rain when I first started cultivating. You prevented the cold wind from freezing my body, and the falling rain from drenching my soul.
"No matter how I walked down the path of life, you were always there, watching me silently. You reached out to me in times of danger. You helped me walk down the path of life smoothly, and I was very happy.
"Because I am your Junior Brother.
Because you are my Senior Brother.
"Your tall figure was like a Big Tree in my eyes. Most of the time, you didn't even seem like an Elder Brother, but more like a Master. You were like a real Elder Brother to me.
"I can't forget the first time you appeared. You wore a green robe, and you had a gourd of alcohol and a wooden sword. Your long hair floated in the wind like a sword. You looked like an Immortal, otherworldly, extraordinary.
"And I can't forget the moment you parted. Your green robe was black, your gourd was like turbid alcohol, and your wooden sword was covered with spots. Everything about you was bleak.
"I watched you melt into the void. I knew that you were seeking your own Dao, and also … testing the path of Shattering for your good-for-nothing Junior Brother.
"At this moment, as I look at you, I can't help but recall 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, and how you smiled at me.
Chen Qing. Chen Qing.
"In this life, I will protect you.
"In this life, I will guide you into the Dao.
"In this life, I will still be your Junior Brother.
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