A Sect from a Spirit Vein

Chapter 133: Chapter 113: Initiation Ceremony (Part 2)

”The Sect Leader is naturally fair and impartial. We have joined the Yunshan Sect, and our future is bright, a hundred times better than when we were with the Zhou Family.” Zheng Duan parted the crowd, holding a pile of Jade Scrolls as he walked in. ”As for the ranking of Inner Sect Disciples, it’s all in here. Take it back and study well.”

At this moment, his face was glowing with joy. The previous experiences with the Zhou Family cultivators had left him disheartened, feeling his future was bleak. Now having joined the Yunshan Sect, he, along with Fanx Shang and Wuh Zilan, didn’t hope for much in terms of treatment. After all, they were joining midway, not expecting much, just hoping for a stable Spirit Vein for cultivation.

Little did they know, two hours earlier, Lu Qian suddenly called the five of them over, praised and encouraged them, and announced their promotion to Inner Sect Disciples. At this, they were all overjoyed, feeling moved, developing a sense of willingness to die for a confidant.

Now, for the tasks assigned by Lu Qian, Zheng Duan was naturally paying extra attention. He gave each disciple three Jade Scrolls, urging them not to waste time and study them carefully.

”These include our Yunshan Sect’s rules, various systems, and thoughts... thought education textbook.” Zheng Duan took a moment, finally remembering the new term, ”Especially that thought education textbook. The Sect Leader said that for Outer Disciples to advance to the Inner Sect, they must pass three exams, one of which is this.”

With these words, everyone was amazed. Zheng Duan then introduced the treatments for Inner and Outer Disciples, and the Merit Points exchange system. Everyone was enthusiastic, wanting to immediately check the Jade Scrolls for more details.

In the end, Zheng Duan solemnly informed them, ”In the coming days, you must thoroughly understand the content in these Jade Scrolls. The day after tomorrow, our Yunshan Sect will hold the entrance ceremony, officially allowing us to worship the Ancestor, entering the Sect.”

Everyone was even more delighted and excited, discussing animatedly.

Previously, they had not thought of this. They assumed the Yunshan Sect would not care about them, considering them as disciples in name only. They didn’t expect there would be an entrance ceremony just for them.

Truly amazing! It seems the Sect Leader really considers us as one of their own!

Meanwhile, Tan Hong was staring at seven little children, helplessly sighing.

Originally, he was also assigned by Lu Qian to come here to give these seven children an introductory lesson. But no one expected that these kids didn’t even fully recognize characters.

Li Da was relatively better. That Wang Shitou... Oh, Wang Ruoyu, he couldn’t even write his own surname ”Wang.” At first, he wrote it as ”San,” later corrected to add a vertical stroke, turning it into ”Feng.”

What was more frustrating was that these children’s questions were strange and persistent. After just half an hour, Tan Hong felt utterly exhausted, more so than fighting a battle with an enemy.

It seemed the only way was to take it slow, first finding a few elementary teachers to teach them to recognize characters fully. For now, they wouldn’t be taught anything else, just ensuring they remember what to do during the entrance ceremony to avoid embarrassment.

At this point, he decided to take a break and called a few mortal tailors over, to measure these children’s sizes, getting the Sect uniforms ready before the entrance ceremony.

In the night sky, Fanx Shang and Wuh Zilan were riding on a Flying Spiritual Artifact toward Lotus Peak. They were carrying out tasks assigned by Lu Qian, with Jade Scrolls and cultivation materials in their Storage Pouches, to be delivered to cultivators under semi-confinement at Lotus Peak.

According to Lu Qian’s requirements, the cultivators at Lotus Peak must first memorize the Yunshan Sect’s rules, systems, and thought education textbook thoroughly before starting the next task test. Only after a period of assessment can they truly leave Lotus Peak and come to Bichao Mountain to join the Sect and become Yunshan Disciples.

The next day, disciples leisurely wandering around Bichao Mountain were nowhere to be seen. Each one held a Jade Scroll, either nodding in understanding or discussing passionately, creating a scene of eager learning.

”This is truly wonderful. Even the monthly resource allocation for Outer Disciples is much higher than that of the Zhou Family, not to mention the exchangeable materials with Merit Points... Tsk, tsk, now there’s hope for the Great Dao, there’s hope for the Great Dao!” declared those diligently studying the Sect’s system.

”Article Thirty-eight: If one steals possessions from fellow disciples, their Dantian Spiritual Root will be abolished, and they will be expelled from the Sect. Good, such harsh laws are necessary! If back then my Storage Pouch hadn’t been stolen, I wouldn’t have...” This was someone seriously reading the Sect’s rules.

”Have you read this section? Oh, ’Three Hundred Years of Yunshan.’ Scroll down, see it? Founding Ancestor Master Yeyang fighting three great Golden Cores single-handedly, his Mirror Flower Water Moon Divine Technique was simply invincible, turning the world upside down, leaving sun and moon without light.” Someone was reading the thought education textbook like a storybook, ”What do you think, when will the current Sect Leader prove their Golden Core? By then, we could all soar to heaven, right?”

Meanwhile, after listening to Tan Hong’s complaints, Lu Qian assigned several mortal assistants to him, apart from teaching these children what to do during the entrance ceremony, focusing on legendary stories of past Yunshan Sect Leaders, filling the children with longing and excitement.

On October 12, the weather was beautiful, with bright sunshine.

Thirty-nine new disciples of the Yunshan Sect lined up in a formation in the square, each mentally prepared and standing tall. Seven Immortal Seeds stood at the forefront of the formation.

Each person wore a brand new, crisp Sect uniform. The attire was primarily moon white, embroidered with dark cyan patterns of Xun Wind and flowing clouds, looking fresh and elegant. The uniform was divided into casual and ceremonial styles, the casual one with narrow sleeves and fitted waist for convenient movement, while the ceremonial one was wide-sleeved and dignified.

The styles for men and women were different, each with its unique features. As it was the entrance ceremony, everyone naturally wore ceremonial attire. As the saying goes, clothes make the man; these new disciples, clad in the same uniform, couldn’t help but develop a sense of collective identity.

Jiang Qingfeng stood at the front of the formation. Seeing the auspicious hour had arrived, he proclaimed in a loud voice, ”The Yunshan Sect Entrance Ceremony begins now!”

Dong, the deep sound of a bell resonated, and everyone straightened their expressions. The Five Elements Grand Array in mid-air roared and began to operate, multicolored glow illuminating the mountaintop, intertwining with the red ribbons wrapped around the branches and boughs of the mountain, creating a festive atmosphere.

”Heaven above, thick earth below...”

Led by Jiang Qingfeng, all the disciples bowed to heaven and earth before the incense altar and sacrificial offerings, then lined up neatly to move to the rear of the main hall. Lu Qian had been waiting there for a long time.

”Kneel to the Ancestor Master.”

Before the plaques of past Ancestor Masters, Lu Qian led the disciples in bowing down, performing three kneelings and nine kowtows amidst the deep sound of the bell.

”Bestow the feathers.”

The new disciples attached a white feather to their left arm, while Zheng Duan and other Inner Sect Ding-Class Disciples wore a silver feather.

”Rite complete. Invite the Sect Leader to speak.”

Lu Qian stood under the plaques of Ancestor Masters, facing the new disciples of Yunshan Sect, looking into their eyes filled with anticipation, feeling equally passionate.

”Everything in the past has passed; from today onward, you have only one identity, that is, a Yunshan Disciple!”

”From now on, the Yunshan Sect will shelter you from storms, guiding you to achieve the Immortal Dao. This is your home! Someday, when you grow into pillars of strength, it will be up to you to support Yunshan and the next generation...”

Many years later, a disciple who had participated in this entrance ceremony was old and near death.

Facing his great-grandson’s inquiries, he recalled, ”I can’t remember what the Sect Leader said back then. I only know that I used to be rootless, like duckweed. But when I had performed the kneeling ritual to the past Ancestor Masters, looked at the plaques, looked at the Sect Leader, I suddenly felt I had found my roots, found a home.”

”Joining the Yunshan Sect was truly wonderful.”

(A book friend group has been established, see the introduction.)