My Martial Arts Level Never Drops

Chapter 379: Chapter 183: Linyuan

”The sages and worthies of generations past diligently pursued this Dao, allowing the Guiyuan Lineage’s flame to be passed from one generation to the next, its traditions unbroken.”

”A sect’s legacy is built upon talent. Today’s grand ceremony is to continue our traditions, select gifted individuals, and guide them onto the path to comprehend the Great Dao together.”

At this point, Fan Zhengchu’s gaze fell upon Qin Fang, who was standing silently below the platform. His voice suddenly carried a new weight of solemnity and expectation.

”We have the disciple Qin Fang, whose background is spotless, temperament is calm, and Talent is extraordinary. In the month since he joined the Sect, he has cultivated diligently without pause, already showing remarkable promise on the path of True Essence. Furthermore, he is a natural fit for our Guiyuan’s Dao of ’Guarding the Original’ and the nature of Profound Water Flexibility. After being personally tested by Senior Brother Yue, who acknowledged his innate gifts and temperament, he has decided to take him as a personal disciple and teach him the Daoist Skill directly, to carry on our lineage’s mantle.”

He turned slightly, facing the empty main seat at the center of the high platform, and announced in a clear, loud voice, ”The auspicious hour has arrived! We respectfully invite Hall Master Guiyuan—to take his seat!”

The moment his voice fell, the sound of bells and drums erupted once more, their magnificent and far-reaching tones cleansing the minds and spirits of all present.

In the plaza, every disciple of the Guiyuan Lineage, regardless of their position, rose solemnly and bowed in respect.

The other guests attending the ceremony also adopted solemn expressions to show their respect.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, a lean, sharp-featured figure, who seemed both ordinary yet perfectly fused with the world around him, quietly appeared before the main seat on the high platform...

It was none other than Hall Master Guiyuan, Yue Guiyuan!

Today, he too was dressed in a set of extremely simple, dark gray Daoist robes.

Yet simply by standing there, he was as still as an abyss and as imposing as a mountain. A formless aura, as vast as the deep sea and as heavy as the great earth, silently pervaded the air, instantly shrouding the entire plaza in an ineffable sense of peace and solemnity.

Yue Guiyuan’s gaze was placid. As it swept across the crowd, everyone it touched, regardless of their level of Cultivation, felt their minds calm and their distracting thoughts vanish.

”Fellow Daoists and sect members, your presence brings great honor to Guiyuan. For that, I thank you.”

He spoke gently, without intentionally raising his voice, yet every word carried clearly to the ears of everyone present, like the flowing of a clear spring—gentle and profound.

His gaze then lowered, settling upon Qin Fang, who stood still at the end of the red carpet. A faint ripple seemed to stir within his placid eyes.

”Qin Fang.”

He spoke softly. His voice was not loud, yet it seemed to resound directly in Qin Fang’s mind.

”Come forward.”

Upon hearing the words, Qin Fang took a deep breath and, under the watch of countless eyes, strode forward.

His steps were steady, neither hurried nor slow. He stopped at the foot of the high platform, bowed with clasped hands, and prepared to receive his teachings.

Yue Guiyuan looked at him and spoke slowly, his voice echoing across the silent plaza. ”Qin Fang, upon entering my tutelage, you must abide by the rules of our lineage. First is Guarding the Original: do not covet vanity or fight over fleeting gains; seek only to build a firm foundation. Second is Guiyuan: hold fast to your true self, clarifying your heart to perceive your true Nature. Third is Virtue: cultivate your character and uphold righteousness, maintain a heart full of reverence, do not betray the grace of the Sect that nurtured you, and do not forget the suffering of the common people... These three tenets, can you uphold them?”

Qin Fang looked up, his gaze clear and resolute. Taking a deep breath, he said, ”This disciple will respectfully follow Master’s teachings. I shall strictly abide by the tenets of ’Guarding the Original,’ ’Guiyuan,’ and ’Virtue.’ I will diligently cultivate the Great Dao, forge ever onward, and never fail the high hopes of my Master and the Sect.”

”Good.”

A faint smile touched Yue Guiyuan’s lips as he nodded slightly.

”Since you have become my disciple, you should be given a name that aligns with your Dao-heart—one that will clarify your will, stabilize your spirit, and illuminate the path ahead.”

”Your temperament is serene and your comprehension is sharp. Your Profound Water Aspect is limpid, yet holds the depths of an abyss within. Today, as your master, I shall bestow upon you a name—”

”Linyuan.”

The moment those two words were spoken, they were like a stone cast into still water, sending ripples through the hearts of the crowd.

Many of the more knowledgeable Elders and True Inheritance disciples showed a flicker of contemplation in their eyes.

Yue Guiyuan’s gaze was placid, his voice calm and unhurried. ”’Lin’ means to face, to observe. The path of cultivation is like standing on the edge of a bottomless abyss; one must always maintain reverence, facing it with a clear mind, without evasion or delusion.”

”’Yuan’ means Abyss, deep water, vastness. It is also the Origin of your Profound Water Nature, and where the mysteries of the Great Dao lie. The name ’Linyuan’ is taken from the phrase ’gaze into the abyss of water to reflect upon one’s true self.’”

”The Daoist scriptures say, ’Know the white, but keep to the black, and be a model for the world. Being a model for the world, eternal virtue will not falter, and you will return to the infinite.’”

”This ’keeping to the black’ means to face the Abyss directly. It is in the utmost darkness and depth that one can see the beginning of the cosmos, the mother of all things.”

He looked at Qin Fang. ”As your master, I hope that in your future cultivation, you will always hold the meaning of ’Linyuan’ in your heart. When you face the perils of the Dao, may you be like one on the edge of an abyss, as cautious at the end as you are at the beginning. Amidst the chaos of the world, may you be like water that reflects, perceiving the truth. And within your own spiritual altar, may you face the mysterious and subtle, and hold fast to your true self.”

Hearing this, Qin Fang was profoundly shaken.

’...He could almost see the jade-green pool where he meditated. Its waters were deep and dark, calm and waveless, yet they could reflect the light of the sky and the shadows of clouds, seeing through all illusion.’

’Isn’t this the very essence of cultivation?’

’One must both delve deep into the ”Abyss” and maintain the detached observation of ”facing” it, without getting lost within.’

Qin Fang composed himself, took a step back, and faced Yue Guiyuan once more. He lifted the front hem of his dark cyan, cloud-patterned robes, his expression one of utmost solemnity and piety.

He knelt, bent forward, and touched his forehead to the red carpet.

His first kowtow: in gratitude for his Master passing on the Dao, resolving his doubts, and bestowing an enlightening name.

His second kowtow: to affirm the will of ’Linyuan,’ an oath to face the Great Dao directly and perceive his true heart.

His third kowtow: to solidify his vow to cultivate diligently without pause, to forge ever onward, and to live up to the hopes of his master’s school.

After the third kowtow, Qin Fang spoke in a deep, respectful voice.

”Disciple Qin Fang—Qin Linyuan—profoundly thanks Master for the great honor of this name. This disciple will engrave the lesson of ’Linyuan’ upon my heart. I will always maintain reverence, quietly reflect upon my true self, and walk before the abyss of the Great Dao without losing my way, so as not to fail Master’s teachings today.”

Yue Guiyuan calmly accepted the obeisance. Only after Qin Fang had finished did he offer a gentle smile and say, ”Rise.”

Qin Fang rose. His gaze was clearer than before, and the very aura around him seemed to grow more harmonious and inwardly focused, all because of the name ’Linyuan.’

”The ceremony is complete—”