The annual New Spring Dharma Assembly was almost identical to the one two years ago.
However, Lu Zheng’s position was different. He had been moved from his previous spot slacking off among the Yuan-generation disciples to the second row up front.
It was a pity he had not yet become a formal Taoist, or he would surely have been in the first row.
…
On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Mingzhang Daochang and Yuanjing prepared to return to Tonglin County, but Lu Zheng planned to stay a while longer.
Everyone had been busy the previous days, and he had been exchanging ideas with fellow disciples all over the mountain. Now that the New Spring Dharma Assembly was over, Lu Zheng intended to stay a bit longer, to properly explore Baiyun Temple’s scripture pavilion and fill in his previous gaps.
…
In the days that followed, Lu Zheng lived in his previous courtyard. His daily routine was basically back and forth between the small courtyard and the scripture pavilion, only occasionally going to the dining hall for meals.
This kind of life let him fully immerse in this ancient, serene existence. He even quite enjoyed it, finding delight in it.
Of course, no matter how much he liked it here, that did not mean he dropped his guard.
The scripture pavilion was Baiyun Temple’s core heritage site. Lu Zheng dared not cross between worlds there, nor show his phone to take photos. Plus, he could come back anytime, so this time he did not try any tricks. He just honestly memorised and rote-learned.
Fortunately, with his current high cultivation, even rapidly memorising large amounts of content was something he could handle in a short time.
And on Baiyun Mountain, Lu Zheng did not dare stay in the modern world for long stretches either. He mostly set up an isolation array at night before crossing over to check messages quickly, then hurried back. He had not even met Lin Wan.
In this way, over a full month, Lu Zheng’s gains were enormous. Though no qi transport light entered his account, he gained a framework understanding of his overall cultivation system. His knowledge of this world also rose to a new level.
Of course, this was on the macro side. On details, it was some handy minor spells that Lu Zheng swept up almost completely.
Lu Zheng had cultivated too quickly. In less than four years, he reached this level of attainment. He usually did not stay long at the Baiyun sub-temple either, so he advanced fiercely in cultivation methods and combat techniques, but in other areas, he was almost a complete novice.
For example, feng shui and geomancy arts, rituals for blessing gods and praying for fortune, procedures forๆ้ฎ ceremonies, methods for averting disasters and crossing calamities.
But after all, time was short, and Lu Zheng had no time to recite and learn them one by one. He just selected some content that interested him and some minor spells. After practising the basics, he used qi transport light to elevate them.
For instance, the qi observation technique. Well, Baiyun Temple people really lacked flair in naming. This feng shui viewing spell was also called qi observation technique, but unlike the one for finding people, this version mainly viewed feng shui. It could see how a home’s layout affected its residents, one of the Daoist sect’s signature money-making skills.
For example, the Supreme Three Blessings Incantation, a simple blessing spell that could be applied long-term to ordinary people, keeping the target clear-minded, rational, thoughtful, and less impulsive.
For example, the mind-calming method, similar in effect to the Qing Song Jing Xin Curse he had learned, but unlike the Qing Song Jing Xin Curse which could only be used on oneself, this mind-calming method, though slightly weaker, was an aura skill. It was often used in conjunction during high-platform sermons or public displays of holiness.
There were also some minor spells convenient for daily life.
For example, dust-removal technique, the essential minor spell from all sorts of xianxia novels. Before, Lu Zheng could only force it with true qi wrapping. Now, with just a single hand seal, he could gather all dust in a radius of several zhang, easily and happily.
For example, the fire-control incantation. The name sounded impressive, but it was really just a simple void-fire generation spell. Almost every Taoist knew it, but Lu Zheng had not before.
For example, paper crane guidance. Infuse enough spiritual energy and a route onto a paper crane, and it would fly automatically to the destination. Mainly for sending messages. Lu Zheng learned this to show off.
Of course, there were also beauty-preservation techniques and beauty-preservation pills. Besides preserving youth, if configured with spiritual herbs, they could even restore appearance. Lu Zheng wondered if he should refine a few and give them to Lady Bai and Nie Xiaoqian, to reminisce about his own youth.
Besides that, there were some other amusing minor spells, not worth listing one by one. There were also some things Lu Zheng was interested in but had not had time to learn yet. He was in no rush; there would be time later.
…
From the first day of the first lunar month until the third day of the second, Lu Zheng finally emerged from seclusion.
He had wanted to bid farewell to Yuanlin Daochang, but learned he had already gone down the mountain. So he went to inform Zhenren Mingyu of his departure, chatted with a few closer fellow disciples, then set off down the mountain lightly equipped.
There was not much sense of parting really. This was not ancient China after all. If something came up, he could fly back and forth between Jizhou and Yizhou in a day. There was no such thing as parting today and never meeting again.
So Lu Zheng just said his goodbyes, and after descending the mountain, he formed a hand seal, lightly summoned a cloud, and flew straight southwest.
…
After flying out of Jizhou’s range, Lu Zheng lowered his cloud and slipped into a roadside forest by the official path, then crossed back to the modern world.
“Hello! Mum?”
While changing clothes, Lu Zheng turned on speakerphone. “Yes, yes, yes, sorry. I shouldn’t go a whole day without picking up calls. My fault!”
Lu Zheng admitted fault decisively. “I really wasn’t kidnapped by pyramid schemers. Think about what my wife does for a living. Your son wouldn’t fall for that.”
“Alright, alright. I’ll definitely pay attention from now on. Just rest easy.”
After hanging up, Lu Zheng let out a long breath, then sighed. “It’s tough. Once I stay too long in ancient times, modern side always has issues. If only crossing over paused time on the other side.”
After a pause, Lu Zheng blinked and asked, “Jade seal, can you do it? Give me a word.”
Jade seal, “…”
“The standard kit for golden fingers in novels, and you can’t even manage that. Not good enough!” Lu Zheng jabbed. “You need to step up. Even if you can’t reach innate supreme treasure level, aim for innate spiritual treasure standard, right?
Look at me. So much qi transport light, elevated to this realm, and I don’t see you changed from the start, huh?”
Jade seal, “…”
After a deep soul-level exchange with the jade seal, he went to the market to buy groceries, prepared four meat and four vegetable dishes, eight big ones in total, then picked up Lin Wan from work.
A month apart felt like three years.
The two went home together. After Lu Zheng’s dazzling culinary display, with one table of dishes and himself, he easily satisfied Lin Wan’s appetite.
One night passed wordlessly, sleepless.
Early next morning, Lu Zheng drove Lin Wan to work and left the car with her, then went home alone and crossed to ancient times.
…
“Huh?”
In the you hour, just after crossing back, Lu Zheng noticed wisps of cooking smoke rising not far off.
“That’s odd. When I came down, I specifically glanced around. No sign of people nearby, right?”
