"Pure Qi, go for the test!"
The white-haired Taoist wrote down the results of the test on a jade archive, then left expressionlessly without saying anything to Zhang Yan.
Every three months, the Upper House would send a master to check on the progress of the true disciples. If there was any stagnation or slow progress, they would be judged to have failed the test. Three times in a row, half of their rewards would be taken away. Six times in a row, they would be stripped of all their rewards. Nine times in a row, they would be removed from the position of true disciple.
Naturally, Zhang Yan would not spit out the Pure Qi of Heavenly Spirits. He only let out a puff of Pure Cloud Qi for the other party to check. The purity of this puff of Pure Cloud Qi could only be considered average. However, the first step was the most difficult. He had only been in the Upper House for three months, but he could already condense Pure Cloud Qi. His progress was obvious, so it was reasonable for him to pass the test.
After watching the Taoist leave, he was about to turn around and return to the cave when he looked up and saw someone standing in front of him. He quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, Senior Brother Ning."
"Your Spiritual Qi is pure and pure, condensed without dissipating. Obviously, you put in a lot of effort." Ning Chongxuan's white robe was the same as before, but his voice sounded a little disappointed.
He knew that the Qi cultivation method of the Secret Book of Billowing Clouds was not brilliant. Moreover, to cultivate in this Blessed Land of Evil Spirits, he had to hurry and act during the few hours of the night. Zhang Yan's talent was not high, and he had no one to help him. Yet, he could achieve this in three months. It was clear that his Taoist heart was perfect and his will was strong, far beyond his original expectations.
However, it was a pity that he could not pull such a good disciple into his faction.
He looked at Zhang Yan and said in a low voice, "I am here to tell you something. Your master has been decided. He will be the Head of the Danding School, Zhou Chongju. This person's identity is unique. This time, he personally came to my master to ask for you as a disciple. My master has already agreed, and I cannot stop him. However, this person is not from an aristocratic family, so you can rest assured."
At this point, he sighed and said, "The world is unpredictable. It seems that you and Senior Brother Qi are not destined to be master and disciple."
A bright light flashed in Zhang Yan's eyes, and he said, "From what Senior Brother said, there seems to be a reason behind this. May I know why Senior Zhou wants to take me as a disciple?"
Ning Chongxuan shook his head and said, "It's useless for you to know more about this now." He stretched out his hand and said, "Hand over the Ruyi Spirit Shuttle."
Zhang Yan's expression did not change, and he took out the Spirit Shuttle without hesitation. Ning Chongxuan reached out, and the Spirit Shuttle flew back into his sleeve. He looked at Zhang Yan and said, "I will send you to meet this person. Remember, no matter how good an external object is, it is only an aid, not a reliance. As long as you are dedicated to the Dao, it is not impossible to achieve the Dao. Remember, remember!"
He stepped forward and put his hand on Zhang Yan's shoulder. The latter suddenly felt his vision blurred, as if the world was suddenly spinning. When he regained his balance and looked up, he was already in front of a beam structure hall. On the horizontal board were the words "Danding Yard", but Ning Chongxuan was nowhere to be found.
Just as he was about to take a step forward, his expression couldn't help but change. He stretched out his hand to take a look, and the Divine Ruyi Shuttle was perfectly fine in his palm!
Zhang Yan put away the Ruyi Spirit Shuttle and thought for a moment. He could not help but understand Ning Chongxuan's intention.
"Today, Senior Brother Ning took the Ruyi Spirit Shuttle first and then gave it to me. I'm afraid he wants to make me lose something. Looking at his last words, he wants to tell me that no matter how good an external object is, it is still someone else's. If I can be given, I can also be given. By doing this before coming to Danding Yard, I'm afraid he is implying that alchemy is also an external object, and only practicing Mysterious Skill is the right way. He wants me to not forget my roots."
Thinking of this, he solemnly cupped his hands in salute to the place where Ning Chongxuan had left. No matter what Ning Chongxuan's purpose was, at least he had helped him a few times. Moreover, he even left the shuttle before leaving, which could be regarded as extremely benevolent. He would definitely repay this favor in the future.
However …
Zhang Yan smiled. "Whether it's Ning Chongxuan or the one who is playing tricks behind the scenes, you are both wrong, and very wrong!" He shook his robe sleeves and strode into the main hall.
This main hall was supported by gold and wood that could take two people to wrap their arms around. It was covered with a lotus flower pedestal, and the arch structure was grand. In the hall, there was a double-necked copper furnace that was as tall as a person. The gauze curtain above it fluttered, and there was a faint medicinal fragrance coming from afar. A Daoist servant immediately came forward and bowed. "Senior Brother, what are you doing here? Are you here to ask for alchemy? "
Zhang Yan stood still and said in a deep voice, "My name is Zhang Yan. I've been ordered to come here to see Chancellor Zhou."
"You're Senior Uncle Zhang?"
The Daoist servant was stunned, but he quickly smiled and said, "Senior Uncle Zhang, this way please. I'll go report to the Ancestral Master." He then turned around and hurried to the back of the hall.
The other Daoist servants didn't pay much attention at first. They were usually arrogant, so why would they care about a disciple coming to ask for alchemy? Even the true disciples of the grotto-heavens were polite when they came here, but when they heard Zhang Yan introduce himself, they quivered. They immediately knew that this was the Chancellor's disciple, so they didn't dare to slight him. They all came to greet him, and some of the smarter ones even offered tea. They regretted not standing up earlier and missing this opportunity.
About an hour later, the Daoist servant hurried out and bowed. "Senior Uncle Zhang, the Ancestral Master is calling for you."
Zhang Yan: "Lead the way."
The Daoist servant turned and said, "Senior Uncle, please follow me."
They followed the Daoist boy through the halls and rooms, passing through three great halls before arriving at the foot of a mountain. In front of them was a lake with a beautiful water color, and a covered bridge extended from the shore to the center of the lake. There was a three-story ship floating there, and a Daoist was standing by the railing of the ship, occasionally throwing some fragmented white pills into the water.
Zhang Yan took a closer look and found that there was a huge strange fish with two wings at the bottom of the ship. It was greedily swallowing the pills and making humming sounds.
The Daoist servant pointed in front and said, "The Ancestral Master is in the Fish Tower. Senior Uncle, please go ahead."
Zhang Yan nodded and walked over the covered bridge, stepping onto the Fish Tower. Once he arrived, he didn't feel any of the shaking that he had seen from the outside. He tidied up his clothes and climbed up the stairs to the third floor. At a glance, he found that the Daoist servant was already sitting in the main hall.
He had black hair and a black beard, and his facial features were well-defined. In his right hand was a scroll of alchemy, and there was half a pot of wine on the side of the table. He read and drank. When he noticed Zhang Yan coming in, he didn't even look at him. He just waved his sleeves and said expressionlessly, "Who allowed you to come up here? Go down."
Zhang Yan ignored him. He saw that the bookshelves on both sides were filled with Daoist books, so he walked up and took one to read.
The Daoist servant snorted and moved the scroll in his hand away. He said coldly, "Don't think that I won't take you as my disciple because of your actions. I'm only taking you in to return a favor to an old friend. Whether you're willing or not, I, Zhou Chongju, will take you as my disciple."
Zhang Yan smiled and put down the book in his hand. He turned around and said, "Second Uncle, won't you suffer if I become your disciple?"
"What did you call me? You … Could you be the Zhou family's … "
Zhou Chongju's expression changed, and his expression became extremely interesting. First, it was anger, then confusion, then surprise, and finally excitement. He suddenly stood up and said in a low voice, "Come with me." He pulled open a bookshelf beside him and entered a secret room.
Zhang Yan smiled and didn't hesitate to follow Zhou Chongju in.
When the door to the secret room was closed, Zhou Chongju looked at Zhang Yan with a burning gaze. He said, "Who are you?"
Zhang Yan first bowed respectfully, then told him about his background. Finally, he said, "The senior who guided me up the mountain said that an elder of the Zhou family broke out of the house two hundred years ago and swore to destroy the Zhou family. He asked me to come and seek refuge with him. He said that if I couldn't enter the Upper House, then there would be no need to mention it. If I could enter the Upper House, then I would naturally have the opportunity to meet you."
Zhou Chongju then asked, "What else did the senior say?"
Zhang Yan said, "The senior said that after meeting you, he only asked if you remember Daoren who patted your back three times with a horsetail whisk that day."
Zhou Chongju heard this and didn't say a word. Just when Zhang Yan was puzzled, Zhou Chongju looked up to the sky and laughed loudly. He pounded his chest and said, "Not bad, not bad. The senior didn't lie to me, didn't lie to me."
"Back then, I was plotted against by the old man of the Zhou family and was chased out of the door. Originally, I wanted to take revenge, but the senior said that my foundation was already broken. Even if he taught me the supernatural power, I would not have any hope of achieving the Great Dao in this life. At most, I could live a free and unfettered life for a thousand years. So I asked what should I do. The senior told me that he would travel the world to find someone with great luck and power. This person would definitely be able to fulfill my wish. He told me to wait patiently.
It's been more than two hundred years, more than two hundred years. This old man has finally found me! "He sighed. After he was done, he smiled gently at Zhang Yan and said," Young friend Zhang, you don't have to worry about me. No matter who wants to harm you, as long as you don't break the rules of the sect, I will definitely protect you. "
Zhang Yan bowed and said, "Thank you, Second Great Uncle."
Zhou Chongju shook his head and waved his hand. "I am no longer a member of the Zhou family. You and I were both freed by the senior's help. In front of outsiders, you can call me master. When there is no one around, you can call me brother." He glanced at Zhang Yan again, thought about it, and said, "From what you said earlier, you are the only one in your clan now?"
"That's right."
Zhou Chongju paced a few steps in the room. In the end, he sat down and said in a low voice, "The way the Zhou family does things is not that simple. In my opinion, they probably had a plan before you were born. After that, your parents and your clansmen all died, but you were the only one alive. You even married into the Zhou family. There must be something fishy about this. Do you really not have a trace of doubt in your heart?"
Zhang Yan frowned. It was not that he had not thought about this, but he did not really care about what happened to his predecessor. Moreover, at that time, he did not have any cultivation at all. Even if he knew, so what? Now that Zhou Chongju brought up this matter, he simply went along with the other's words and said, "Yes, there are many suspicious things, but the Zhou family is powerful. What can we do?"
Zhou Chongju slammed the table and said, "The revenge of my parents is absolutely irreconcilable. Don't worry, from now on, I will do my best to help you. One day, I will definitely overturn the Zhou family!"
Zhang Yan immediately said, "I will follow senior brother's decision."
Zhou Chongju nodded in satisfaction. Then, as if he had thought of something, he stood up and pointed at Zhang Yan. He said, "There is one thing you must guard against."
Zhang Yan clasped his hands together and said, "Please tell me, senior brother."
"You coming here was originally the idea of an old friend of mine. In order to return a favor to him, I had no choice but to agree. However, this person is good at scheming, and the traps he sets are all interconnected. This matter will not be so simple. But as for what exactly he is planning, I can't tell for now. But it should be about alchemy."
Zhou Chongju walked to the side and took down a few scrolls from the shelf. He handed them to Zhang Yan and said, "These scrolls are the alchemy techniques that I have revised over the past hundred years. Not to mention that they are hard to find in this world, even in the Donghua Continent, there are not many who can compare to them. Take them back and take a look. I don't need you to master them to a high level, but it is good to know a thing or two. It is also good to be prepared."
…
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