Chapter 581: Returning to Familiar Ground
“Where have you come from, sir?”
“Officer, I am a Daoist from Yizhou returning from my travels.”
“Returning from your travels? And where did you cultivate?”
“On Yin-Yang Mountain in Lingquan County.”
“Yin-Yang Mountain in Lingquan County...” The city gate guard furrowed his brow and repeated, “Never encountered a Daoist from there before...”
“It’s just a small temple. There are not many people around.” The Daoist was very polite. As he spoke, he reached into his robe and took out an ordination certificate holding it out with both hands. “I have official documentation to prove it.”
“Oh...” The guard gave a low exclamation of surprise.
The folded-style ordination certificate was an official credential issued by the government, given specifically to those with genuine cultivation ability, real skills, or to the main inheritors of well-known temples and monasteries. It signified their special status, abilities, and entitlements.
In recent years these documents had become a bit more common, as they were sometimes passed down through generations, thus slightly diminishing their prestige. Still, it was still rare to see one.
Moreover, since this Daoist claimed to come from a small temple, even if he himself didn’t possess true cultivation or skills, his sect or ancestors must have produced a genuinely accomplished figure at some point. And judging from this Daoist’s demeanor, he was probably far from ordinary. In times like these, the world was sorely in need of true cultivators with real ability.
The gate guard did not dare treat him lightly. After a brief inspection and confirming the document’s authenticity, he made a gesture inviting him in.
“Master, please enter the city!”