Starting Cultivation During a Trip

North of the River Province, Zhenwu Mountain.

In the early morning, just as dawn began to break, the chanting of sutras echoed atop the Zhenwu Golden Summit.

At this hour, the scenic area had yet to open, no visitors had climbed the mountain, and the daily early morning rites had already begun.

Incense smoke curled gently, the sound of chanting resonated before the mountain gate, clouds rolling and mist rising, birds singing in the Empty Valley—a scene worthy of a famed Immortal Family mountain.

”Pojie Senior Brother, I brought you a good gift on this trip down the mountain.”

Inside Qingwei Palace, Xia Weisheng was hugging a smart foot-washing bucket, presenting it to Taoist Pojie—the third-generation smart chip, temperature control, targeting foot acupoints, complete with nineteen massage modes...

”Senior Brother, I remember you love washing your feet the most.”

Xia Weisheng’s gift couldn’t be said to be anything but thoughtful; such a bucket, equipped with new technology and paired with Zhenwu Mountain’s own herbal concoctions, would surely save Pojie Senior Brother from having to hike all the way down the mountain just to wash his feet again.

”...”

Pojie Senior Brother looked at the gift Xia Weisheng had brought back from Shangjing, an inscrutable smile appearing on his face.

”Weisheng, did you gain anything from your trip to Shangjing?”

Not long ago, Xia Weisheng had gone down the mountain to Shangjing City, representing Zhenwu Mountain at the [National Daoist Sect Young Backbone Symposium], and had just returned yesterday.

”Fat Uncle said that in a couple of days, he’ll organize everyone to study together and asked me to convey the spirit of the conference.” Xia Weisheng sat on the long corridor bench, barefoot.

Even though it was deep into autumn—and the mountain air was particularly cold—she was always barefoot, likely due to the Alchemy Technique she cultivated.

”On this trip, I also visited White Crane Temple.” Xia Weisheng suddenly said, a distinct glimmer flashing in her beautiful eyes.

Taoist Pojie seemed moved, and said blandly, ”Did you meet Li Changgeng?”

This heir of White Crane Temple, though little known and rarely talked about beyond, was a household name among the higher echelons of Daoist Sects.

Especially for someone as gifted as Xia Weisheng—had it not been for Zhang Fan, even the Zhenwu Jade Scroll would have ended up in her hands—she naturally kept close tabs on the heirs of all the various sects.

Of them, she cared most about Li Changgeng.

The outside world claimed he was a peerless talent—said to be the first of such in a century at White Crane Temple—and may have even mastered the legendary [Heaven and Earth Stealing Fortune] technique.

This time, Xia Weisheng entered the capital precisely with hopes of meeting him.

”Didn’t get to… I heard he’s not in Shangjing.” Regret colored Xia Weisheng’s delicate features.

With her casual temperament, the only reason she had agreed to attend the [National Daoist Sect Young Backbone Symposium] was to experience the grace of the White Crane Temple heir and perhaps spar over Daoist Skill.

But who could have guessed—she’d made the trip for nothing.

”That’s strange. I heard this Li Changgeng is a recluse—rarely ever leaves White Crane Temple—yet he’s not in Shangjing?” Taoist Pojie couldn’t help chiming in.

He had heard much about this White Crane Temple legend: a genius, a Star Monarch reborn—one of those mythical figures, seemingly uninterested in the affairs of mortal Red Dust...

As a result, even fellow Temple members rarely glimpsed him, let alone him leaving the temple, let alone the capital.

”Who knows, I heard…” Xia Weisheng replied idly.

She hadn’t finished speaking when she suddenly paused, hopped off the corridor railing, and looked not far ahead.

Taoist Pojie instinctively looked in that direction, and saw a man walking over—his spacious Daoist Robe unable to hide his tall, upright figure, hair at his temples flecked with white marking the passage of years, while his deep set eyes radiated effortless authority.

Facing this man, even Xia Weisheng and Taoist Pojie could not help but bow their heads and salute.

”Greetings, Celestial Master Liu!”

Liu Nanxu, one of the three great Celestial Masters of Zhenwu Mountain, and also the youngest.

”Has Teacher awakened?” Liu Nanxu asked indifferently.

”Already had breakfast.” Taoist Pojie replied with respect.

”Mm.”

Liu Nanxu offered only a faint response, then circled past them and headed straight for Pure Yang Hall.

”Why did Celestial Master Liu come down?” Xia Weisheng watched as the figure receded into the distance, unable to resist asking.

Liu Nanxu was extremely low-key by nature, spending years in closed cultivation at Jinding Back Mountain, only occasionally heading to Nanxuan Palace’s rear grounds to spar Daoist theories with the madman cultivating the [Heart Demon Guide]; otherwise, he seldom came down.

”Must be something important.”

Taoist Pojie mused, a glint of wisdom flashing in his eyes.

...

Inside Pure Yang Hall, a wisp of incense drifted, swirling before Ancestor Master Chunyang’s portrait.

An old man, as simple and rustic as a farmer, sat before the painting, fiddling with his phone and watching short videos.

”Teacher…”

At that moment, Liu Nanxu walked in respectfully, stopping ten paces away to bow deeply.

”Hold on, the morning rites are almost finished.” Chu Chaoran said, his head lowered, voice casual.

”Dear friends, click the link below to order, and enjoy singles’ day flash sale prices…”

As the exuberant shouting finally ended, Chu Chaoran put down his phone and stood up slowly.

”Liu, go ahead.”

”Teacher, the [Divine Power Association] sent a notice this morning.”

Saying this, Liu Nanxu placed the document in his hand onto the desk. The heading read:

”Comments on the Investigation of Anomalous Divine Techniques in East Mountain Province”

”Last night, East Mountain Province saw quite a stir…” Liu Nanxu said quietly.

Divine Techniques—for a technique to reach this level, marvels inevitably followed and naturally drew attention.

The Divine Power Association was the special organization within the Daoist Sect for handling such cases; on one hand, it recruited those who awakened Divine Techniques, while on the other, it supervised and controlled such powers.