Sanjiang Dao, Jizhou, Baiyun Temple.
Three days before the New Spring, Lu Zheng finally returned to Baiyun Mountain with Ming Zhang Daozhang and Yuan Jing.
This time, Ming Zhang Daozhang did not send Lu Zheng and Yuan Jing off to wander. Instead, he brought them straight to the main hall of Baiyun Temple to meet the temple master, Ming Yu Zhenren.
Do not let Ming Yu Zhenren’s same generation name fool you. His cultivation had long surpassed all peers, standing shoulder to shoulder with the seniors in the back mountain. Otherwise, he could not hold the position of temple master.
Even so, a disciple with over five hundred years of cultivation deserved Ming Yu Zhenren’s personal reception.
Beyond the more attentive welcome, Lu Zheng now qualified to access more secret techniques in the temple.
Like alchemy, for instance. Or methods to refine storage artifacts. And some minor spells, such as invisibility.
These minor spells often had little to do with cultivation or combat. At most, they served auxiliary roles. Most passed down between master and disciple, or as personal quirks, lineage traits, or shared among fellow disciples.
Of course, some minor spells, or ones of middling importance, or those that had become common knowledge, ended up in the scripture pavilion for anyone to practise.
But like alchemy or artefact refining, these required a certain level of cultivation. To prevent disciples from wasting time and effort beyond their means, or from losing sect secrets due to shallow skills and foul play, all texts in the scripture pavilion had cultivation thresholds.
Lu Zheng had qualified to enter last time too. But as a newcomer then with no needs, he skipped it.
This visit differed. As an outer lay disciple who could ride clouds and even dwell in the back mountain, he could browse most areas of the pavilion freely.
Well… not entirely freely. The top floor remained off limits. That held Baiyun Temple’s core secrets.
Plus… the texts are open to read. No need for sect contributions or the like?
Lu Zheng asked aloud while holding a book on a pill formula created by a temple senior. He sighed. And vital texts cannot leave the pavilion at all. No copying allowed?
Haha, what contributions? The sect wants you to learn as much as possible. Just do not neglect your core cultivation.
Vital texts cannot leave, true. But you can ride clouds now. Fly back anytime you wish.
The speaker was a Daoist who looked just a few years older than Yuan Jing. He hosted Lu Zheng. When idle, you could stay on the mountain a while. Seniors often hold lectures, expounding scripture truths.
Lu Zheng nodded. Many thanks, Senior Brother Yuan Lin. I understand.
Do not judge Yuan Lin Daozhang by his youthful look. He entered before Ming Zhang Daozhang and held high cultivation. One of Baiyun Temple’s pillar figures in the Yuan generation. He came down specially to host this new Yuan generation talent.
Then, Lu Zheng shelved the book, picked another. He glanced down and stirred.
Longchang Zhenren’s Treatise on Beauty Retention Technique.
He flipped through casually. This Beauty Retention Technique did more than retain youth. It adjusted and altered one’s features too.
He set it down, grabbed another at random.
Ning Lian Zhenren’s Beauty Retention Method.
Lu Zheng: ⚆_⚆?
A quick scan showed seven versions of Beauty Retention Techniques on the shelf.
Several Beauty Retention Techniques vary. Some use inner breath for maintenance and health. Others employ spirit methods for facial care and refinement. Some refine beauty pills to change appearance. All sorts.
Yuan Lin Daozhang explained gently.
Lu Zheng praised at once. Professional!
First visit for Lu Zheng. With Yuan Lin Daozhang along, he just toured, no rush to delve deep.
Even so, Lu Zheng marvelled at Baiyun Temple’s scripture pavilion.
The collection lacked a modern library’s vast sprawl, endless to the eye. But each floor held over a dozen shelves, packed tight with books.
Beyond cultivation, qi refining, incantations and secret arts, there were seniors’ annotations, insights and notes on various texts. Plus studies on heaven, earth, nature and cultivation itself.
Outside sect works, it covered the world’s astronomy, geography, demons, ghosts, factions, herbs, beasts and more.
Lu Zheng pulled out White Cloud Beauty Retention Pill Refining Method. He opened it and saw this went beyond one pill.
It started with effects of various beauty techniques on retention. Then analysed the pill’s properties and principles. Next, material selection. It graded beauty pills into five levels, from spirit drug to common tonic. Finally, refining processes and techniques. It even noted alternatives for the optimal ingredients.
This a pill formula? This a whole pill scripture!
…
After a short loop in the pavilion, Lu Zheng resolved to return often when free. He left the pavilion, then went to the back hall with Yuan Lin Daozhang.
Greetings, Uncle Master Ming Guang! I am back!
Nephew Yuan Zheng!
Ming Guang Daozhang’s eyes lit up. He smiled and nodded. Heard your cultivation soared, progress divine. Congratulations!
Uncle Master flatters me.
Lu Zheng stepped forward, hands clasped in salute. Last year, this nephew achieved little, too ashamed to return. This year, I bring gifts for the fellows. Please store them, Uncle Master.
Yuan Lin Daozhang, …
Ming Guang Daozhang, …
Both twitched their mouths involuntarily. Nearby young Daoists helping looked at Lu Zheng with resentment.
You humble! You polite! Did you think of our feelings?
Last year no achievements, too ashamed to return. This year, straight to centuries of cultivation flying back?
If this counts achievement, few in Baiyun Temple qualify!
True to his hosting role, Ming Guang Daozhang composed himself quick, face serene.
Then the temple owes you. Did you brew new wine, nephew? Ming Guang Daozhang laughed.
Last year’s Wuliangye and huadiao proved hits. Even after Lu Zheng swapped plenty privately with boozy uncles and granduncles, the stores lasted barely a year.
Without Ming Zhang Daozhang hauling more last year on request, some might have yielded to cravings, cast aside elder dignity and gone to Tonglin County.
Lu Zheng nodded, patted his gourd.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
A hundred cloud pattern swords, hundreds of large wine jars piled the back hall full.
Hum!
Luck light entered account in sync.
