Chapter 284 - 273: Entering the Sect
After everyone had finished their meal, a young, honest-looking cultivator of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight walked into the hall.
He cupped his fists in salute to the crowd and said in a deep voice, "My name is Wei Yi. I am a Transmission Disciple of the Spirit Dao Institute. The Dean has sent me to escort you all into the sect."
The youths all rose and stepped forward to greet him. "Greetings, Brother Wei."
Brother Wei’s gaze swept across their faces. He nodded and said, "Forty-five people. Everyone’s here. Follow me to the Spirit Dao Institute."
Han Chi County had seven mountain peaks. Wendao Peak, home to the Spirit Dao Institute, stood at the center, nestled among the others.
Wendao Peak was only a little over three hundred zhang high, but nourished by Spiritual Qi, ancient trees soared into the sky, their canopies forming a lush cover. Everywhere one looked, there were rare flowers and exotic herbs emitting an alluring, fresh fragrance.
The youths followed Brother Wei to the foot of the mountain and began to ascend the stone steps. At first, they were split into two groups, the local youths on one side and those from the mortal realm on the other.
But the mountain path was winding, and after a while, the two groups gradually mingled. They tentatively exchanged a few words, found that they could get along, and quickly warmed up to one another.
The most popular among them was Lin Chaoran. He was the disciple with the highest-grade Spiritual Root. Even before he had arrived on the Xuanyuan Continent, his name had already spread among the local youths. Now that they saw him in person, they all crowded around, asking about his age and background.
Zhao Lin deliberately walked at the back, silently listening to the youths’ conversations to gather useful information.
In less than an hour, they reached a point halfway up the mountain. A complex of halls and pavilions built against the mountainside appeared before them.
Atop the gate of the foremost hall were three large words: Spirit Dao Institute.
Wei Yi smiled. "This is the Spirit Dao Institute. The words up there were personally written by the Dean."
The youths cried out in admiration, "What fine calligraphy!"
"It looks like it was carved right into the wood!"
"It has the power of a dragon and a tiger!"
Zhao Lin wanted to laugh when he heard this. ’Does being a Foundation Establishment cultivator automatically make your calligraphy good?’
Although his own calligraphy skills were limited, after becoming Duke Zhen, he had seen many works by famous masters, so his eye for it was naturally quite discerning.
’As for these three words... The form of dragons and tigers? Not even close. It was more like they’d perfectly captured the essence of a crawling worm.’
The Spirit Dao Institute was very quiet. Occasionally, a few cultivators could be seen moving among the halls.
"This is the Transmission Hall, the place for transmitting techniques and giving lectures..."
"This here is the Demonstration Pavilion. It’s protected by an Array and is used to demonstrate destructive Magic..."
"This gray stone building is an Alchemy Room..."
As they walked, Brother Wei pointed things out, explaining the purpose of each building and matters related to their cultivation after joining the sect.
The Spirit Dao Institute had over two hundred cultivators, more than half of whom were disciples. There were three Foundation Establishment cultivators: the Dean, Zhou Hongfang; the Daoist Elder, Nie Kui; and the Transmission Elder, Wu Chuanqi.
Brother Wei also mentioned that Transmission Elder Wu Chuanqi was the same Junior Martial Uncle Wu who had brought the youths from the small world to the Xuanyuan Continent.
Besides the three Foundation Establishment cultivators, there were also numerous deacons, stewards, attendants, and Transmission Disciples.
’So it’s the same system, after all.’
Zhao Lin understood. In terms of organizational structure, cultivation sects were almost identical to the mortal world’s martial arts sects.
Brother Wei continued his explanation, saying that after entering the sect, disciples would train at the Spirit Dao Institute for three years, which could be extended to five under special circumstances.
During this period, the disciples only needed to focus on practicing the sect’s Cultivation Techniques and Magic, without having to perform any menial chores. After a full year of study, they could also choose one or two Daoist Arts for advanced study.
Hearing this, Zhao Lin nodded to himself. ’This is basically the Cultivation Realm’s version of compulsory education.’
Brother Wei was easygoing. Throughout his explanation, youths constantly raised questions, but he never showed any sign of impatience, answering every single one.
When one of the youths asked which Daoist Art was the most promising to choose, Brother Wei laughed. "There are a hundred arts of cultivation. As long as you master one, any path you choose will have a future."
"My personal advice is, first, see what you like, and second, see what you’re good at. You’ve just joined the sect, so there’s no need to rush a decision. You have a whole year to think it over."
Hearing about the hundred arts of cultivation, Zhao Lin asked, "The Hundred Arts of Cultivation, are there really that many?"
Brother Wei laughed. "Not only that, but if you really counted them all, there are probably more than a hundred."
"Besides the four most commonly studied Daoist Arts—Alchemy, Artifact Refining, Arrays, and Talismans—there’s also Spirit Plant cultivation, Beast Taming, Insect Controlling, Puppetry, Brewing, Spirit Tea brewing, and Dharma Robe tailoring."
"There’s also Ship Piloting, Divination, Medicine, Mineral Vein Prospecting, Tracking, Poison Making, Treasure Appraisal, being a Spiritual Chef..."
Brother Wei rattled off dozens of Daoist Arts in one breath as if reciting a menu. Seeing the astonished looks on everyone’s faces, he finally paused. "Let’s put it this way: most professions that exist in the mortal world also exist in the Cultivation Realm."
"It’s just that some tasks don’t require a cultivator’s intervention, so they’re left to mortals and those with Mortal Spirit Roots."
After a whirlwind tour of the Spirit Dao Institute that lasted more than an hour, Brother Wei led the group to the final great hall to meet the institute’s three Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"We pay our respects to the Dean, the Daoist Elder, and the Transmission Elder."
Following Brother Wei’s lead, the disciples bowed in greeting.
Zhao Lin looked up, and his eye twitched. Dean Zhou Hongfang and Daoist Elder Nie Kui were none other than the two old men who had been playing a game under the pine tree earlier.
Although they had both changed their clothes and slightly altered their appearances, he still recognized them at a glance.
Zhou Hongfang smiled and nodded, his expression kind as he said, "Very good. From this day forward, you are all disciples of the Chenghua Sect."
"Whether you were born on the Xuanyuan Continent or came from a small world, I hope you will all support one another and uphold the bonds of fellowship."
He paused, his gaze turning to a youth standing at the head of the line on the left. "What is your name? How old are you? And where are you from?"
The youth was a little nervous and stammered, "Disciple Liu... Liu Zhizhen, sixteen years old, from the Han Red Realm."
Zhou Hongfang clapped his hands lightly in praise. "Liu Zhizhen, what a fine name! Only Golden Core Cultivators can be called True Persons. Zhizhen... ’Utmost Truth.’ May you cultivate to the Golden Core Realm!"
Hearing this, the other youths laughed, and Liu Zhizhen relaxed. He declared loudly, "Thank you for the praise, Dean! I will definitely work hard and live up to my name."
Zhou Hongfang smiled and nodded, continuing down the line and asking each youth a few questions in a soft, gentle voice. His manner was so pleasant it made them feel as if they were basking in a spring breeze.
When it was Zhao Lin’s turn, he deliberately didn’t ask his age, instead praising him, "What a valiant young man! An Innate martial artist. Truly extraordinary!"
Zhao Lin hurriedly replied with humility, "You praise me too much, Dean. I am unworthy."
Zhou Hongfang waved his hand and said seriously, "There’s no need to be humble. I don’t mind telling you, I was also once from Great Yue. In my youth, I trained for a few years at a martial arts hall, so I know just how arduous the martial path is!"
"Now that you have come to the Xuanyuan Continent, your path of cultivation is just beginning. I hope you will continue to strive and persevere."
Zhao Lin replied, "I understand."
After everyone had been introduced, Zhou Hongfang’s expression turned solemn. He said, "My Chenghua Sect respects laws and reveres etiquette. There is a ceremony for entering the sect. Follow me."
With that, he stepped down from his seat and led the disciples through the main hall into a courtyard.
The courtyard was vast, featuring small bridges over flowing streams, rockeries, and covered corridors. The flowers, grass, and trees had all been meticulously pruned, arranged just like a classical garden.
Deep within the courtyard stood an ancestral hall, with a plaque that read: Red Han Chenghua Sect Hall of Merit.
Everyone walked into the ancestral hall and saw hundreds of spirit tablets arranged on an altar. To the left and right stood two stone steles, completely covered in inscriptions.
The three Foundation Establishment cultivators washed their hands in a purification basin, lit three sticks of sandalwood incense, and bowed three times respectfully toward the spirit tablets.
Zhou Hongfang turned around and said slowly, "Our Chenghua Sect was founded fifty thousand years ago, and we have always stood prominent among the sects of the Xuanyuan Continent. Do you know why?"
"It is precisely because of the Daoist methods pioneered by our ancestral masters and sages, the Daoist Arts they researched, and the glorious victories they achieved in battle."
"The ancestral masters and sages we venerate were all people who rendered great merit to the sect. We, their descendants, must never forget our ancestors."
"It is thanks to their sacrifices that the Chenghua Sect and its nine small worlds exist today!"
In the center of the altar was a single, nameless spirit tablet. Zhou Hongfang’s expression was solemn, his eyes slightly red. "Very few can have their names recorded in the ancestral hall, but there are countless other meritorious seniors whom we must also never forget!"
"Their names may be unknown, but their achievements are eternal!"
"A thousand years ago, our Chenghua Sect’s vitality was grievously wounded. Now, we are gradually recovering. This is the time for our generation to strive. I hope that all of you, like the sages of old..."
Hearing his words, the youths present couldn’t help but feel their hearts stir, their eyes filled with reverence.
A wave of inexplicable emotion suddenly washed over Zhao Lin.
’Why does our civilization have such strong feelings of patriotism and family, such deep reverence for our ancestors?’
’He had never been able to understand this question before.’
’Whether in his past life or in this world he had transmigrated to, people always placed immense importance on ancestral rites.’
’The imperial family builds grand temples, commoners build ancestral halls, they maintain ancestral tombs, and they follow the teachings of their forefathers...’
’Do the ancestors truly have souls? Do they know what their descendants do?’
’At this moment, he suddenly understood. To be human is to need a sense of belonging.’
’Whether the ancestors have souls or not isn’t important. What’s important is that we remember and commemorate them, that we inherit their will and follow in their footsteps.’
’Only in this way do we have roots! Only then does a people have roots!’
’Some civilizations solve this problem through religion, placing their hopes in illusory, so-called omniscient and omnipotent "gods."’
’But our civilization places its faith in its ancestors, which is really to place faith in ourselves! It’s the belief that man can triumph over destiny!’
’A towering tree must have its roots; a river that embraces a mountain must have its source. No matter when or where we are, honoring the memory of our ancestors is our spiritual root!’
’Only in this way can our families, our clans, and our nation be tightly bound together, passed down from generation to generation!’
"Come forward, all of you. Straighten your robes, wash your hands to purify your hearts, and sign your names."
Zhou Hongfang personally brought out a brush, ink, and a roll of silk brocade, instructing the youths to write their names upon it.
Zhao Lin also walked forward. He washed his hands in the purification basin, straightened his robes, and lifted the brush to write two words: Zhao Lin.
And with that, he was formally inducted into the sect.