Lu Zheng felt rather envious.
The Pure Yang Sword Token and the bodhi prayer beads were no ordinary magical treasures. Their quality was roughly on par with the White Cloud Flag he carried, already quite exceptional.
Most importantly, both artefacts contained powerful spiritual energy and incantation seals. They could automatically gather energy in normal times, ready for instant activation.
Truly fine treasures.
“Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!” Li Lingyu accepted the two items with a beaming smile, slipped one into his sleeve, wore the other on his wrist, and bowed in thanks.
Today was his ninth birthday, and he was still a child, so naturally everyone else brought meeting gifts as well.
Xingfeng Zen Master gave a bodhi leaf. Liu Zong gave three Heavenly Thunder Seeds. Ao Qi gave a conch shell. Yan Hongxia gave three sword talismans. Shen Ying gave a peach wood plaque. As for Lu Zheng.
With so many fine gifts already, anything Lu Zheng offered would seem insignificant, so he simply presented a third-order Rubik’s Cube that did not exist in this world, testing the waters.
Hmm. The light of destiny showed no change. The reason was unclear.
Next, everyone took their seats, and the main event began.
First came the examination of Li Lingyu’s cultivation in the Shaoyang Gathering Spirit Induction Scripture and the Tathagata Universal Wisdom Scripture.
These two texts were the introductory methods of the two sects. Li Lingyu had mastered reading them at age three, begun cultivation at six, and now, three years later, he surprisingly possessed dozens of great merits.
This was still limited by his young age and shallow foundation. If he were a few years older, his progress would be rapid, advancing a thousand li in a single day.
Normally, cultivating both Buddhist and Daoist paths together made perfect balance difficult. The slightest imbalance would allow Jinye Zen Master and Lin Yi to discern it, settling the question of which sect he should join.
Yet miraculously, the Buddhist power and Pure Yang true qi within Li Lingyu maintained perfect equilibrium, neither exceeding the other by even a trace.
Thus, the choice of sect now rested on Li Lingyu’s own decision, or rather, on the outcome between Lin Yi and Jinye Zen Master.
…
True Person Lin Yi moved first.
He smiled warmly and said, “Lingyu, you have lived by the sea for several years now. Do you not wish to see the northwest? The northwest has towering mountains, vast deserts with wild sands, rushing rivers, and people from foreign lands with their unique customs. It is most interesting.”
Jinye Zen Master raised his white eyebrows sharply and replied at once, “Pure Yang Palace is too far away. Rizhao Temple is right here in Yan Province. Patron Li and his wife can visit Lingyu whenever they wish. Moreover, Haitian Dao has its own mountains and rivers, and the eastern sea is boundless. When Lingyu is older, he can sail out upon it and broaden his horizons.”
The two exchanged a glance, sparks nearly flying from their eyes, then both turned to Li Lingyu.
Li Lingyu blinked his large eyes, shifted his gaze, scratched his head, and said, “Must I choose only one? Can it not stay as it was before? I think it is fine this way.”
He looked left, then right, his face full of hope and reluctance. “I cannot bear to part with either Master!”
Lu Zheng could not help drawing a sharp breath. This child would surely achieve greatness in future.
Though Li Lingyu’s expression was slightly exaggerated, his sincerity was genuine, and everyone could sense it.
“It is alright,” Jinye Zen Master said. “You simply choose one to formally enter. For example, if you join Rizhao Temple, your Master Lin Yi will still come to teach you every year.”
“Moreover…”
Before Lin Yi could speak, Jinye Zen Master raised his eyebrows again and continued, “If you join Rizhao Temple, I will permit you to cultivate at home. Then everything will be exactly as before.”
Lin Yi glared, speechless. This Jinye Zen Master fought dirty. Wei Province and Yan Province bordered each other. Allowing home cultivation meant Li Lingyu could still visit the temple freely.
But Lin Yi could only match the offer. “Pure Yang Palace can do the same, of course. You need only visit Pure Yang Palace to pay respects to the patriarch when you reach sixteen.”
“Ah? Is that possible?”
Though he had known for some time that today he must choose a sect, Li Lingyu had been avoiding the matter. Now he scratched his head again, troubled. “Must I still choose one? I think both Rizhao Temple and Pure Yang Palace are wonderful. Could I not join both?”
Of course, that was not allowed.
“Therefore, we need not trouble Lingyu with this decision,” Lin Yi said to Jinye Zen Master.
“Amitabha,” Jinye Zen Master intoned. “Indeed.”
Lin Yi nodded. “I have long heard that Rizhao Temple’s Great Sun Tathagata Universal Illumination Scripture is grand and majestic. Today is the perfect chance to witness it.”
Jinye Zen Master lowered his white eyebrows. “Pure Yang Palace’s Pure Yang Sword Jue and Shaoyang Divine Thunder enjoy great renown. This old monk has long admired them.”
Li Lingyu was no fool and asked at once, “Are the two Masters going to contest with magic?”
“Precisely.”
“Please do not fight!”
Li Lingyu grew anxious immediately, his eyes turning watery and pitiable. “I do not want you to fight. If you do, I will join neither sect!”
“Uh…”
Lin Yi and Jinye Zen Master were stunned. They had not expected Li Lingyu to say such a thing.
Relief flickered in their eyes. Jinye Zen Master smiled. “Silly child, we would merely spar a little, to see who is stronger. The stronger one can teach you better.”
Li Lingyu shook his head repeatedly. “As the saying goes, talents differ, and teaching should suit the student. Who says the stronger one teaches disciples better? I think both of you are excellent!”
“This…”
Neither Lin Yi nor Jinye Zen Master had anticipated such words from Li Lingyu.
“This child is promising. Why not have him join Tiandun Sect instead?” Liu Zong suddenly interjected.
Lin Yi and Jinye Zen Master turned together, speechless.
“Amitabha.”
Xingfeng Zen Master intoned a salutation. “The child Lingyu has a kind heart. This is a good thing. A contest between my senior brother and True Person Lin Yi would indeed harm harmony.
In my view, we could replace the magical contest with another competition, one that preserves goodwill. It would become a fine tale when told.”
Liu Zong frowned. “Compete in what?”
“I hear True Person Lin Yi’s chess skill is profound. Why not let my senior brother and the True Person play a game?” Xingfeng Zen Master suggested with a smile, palms pressed together.
Years ago, Lin Yi had played three games against the leader of Jinhua Sect, winning one and losing two, yet he was still regarded as a chess master.
“Hmm?” Lin Yi raised an eyebrow and looked at Jinye Zen Master. This old monk had been renowned for two or three centuries, yet no one had ever heard of him playing chess. Had he concealed his skill all this time?
“Amitabha.”
Jinye Zen Master remained calm and nodded. “This works as well. What say you, Daoist brother?”
With Jinye Zen Master issuing the challenge, Lin Yi could hardly refuse. “After you, Zen Master.”
“We have a chess set at home. I will fetch it at once!”
Li Keming spoke up, then hurried to the inner courtyard.
Lin Yi smiled at Li Lingyu. “Child, is this acceptable?”
“Hee hee! The two Masters are the best! Whichever sect I join, I will still be disciple to both of you!” Li Lingyu replied with a beaming smile.
Lin Yi patted Li Lingyu’s head with a smile. “Little clever one.”
…
Soon the chessboard arrived. Lin Yi and Jinye Zen Master sat opposite each other. After guessing for the first move, Jinye Zen Master took white and played first.
They exchanged several moves quickly. Then, on Jinye Zen Master’s turn, he paused briefly, shifted smoothly, and placed his stone.
In that instant, Lin Yi’s expression changed.
Just moments earlier, Xingfeng Zen Master had transmitted advice to Jinye Zen Master, making no effort to conceal it.
“Amitabha.” Xingfeng Zen Master gave a faint smile and pressed his palms in salute.
They had agreed that Jinye Zen Master and Lin Yi would play, but no one had forbidden outside help.
Xingfeng Zen Master’s chess skill naturally surpassed Jinye’s. Against Lin Yi, he clearly held strong odds of victory.
Worthy indeed of a renowned genius monk of Rizhao Temple across generations.
Lin Yi’s eyes flickered. Liu Zong tugged at his tangled beard. “This is troublesome now.”
