Daoist Competition

These past years, Jiang Zheng has been mingling in the worldly realm. Upon hearing this, he instantly understood the meaning—his teacher was using him to do a personal favor, an act of kindness towards himself. He replied, "Yes, Master."

Zhang Yan gently waved his sleeve, saying, "You may go."

Jiang Zheng knelt and bowed before departing from the main hall.

As he stepped out the door, he realized that this place had many layered halls and numerous paths. Being his first time here, he was unsure where he was supposed to stay.

Nonetheless, he was not in a hurry. He walked forward with steady, unhurried steps, observing the surroundings, and could not help but exclaim in admiration at the splendid scenery.

Before he knew it, he reached a corner of the palace complex. At this moment, he saw a sweet-looking girl with bright, lively eyes approaching.

He had no idea who the girl was, but from her appearance, she did not seem like an ordinary maid, causing him to politely step aside.

Wang Caiting had come here today to consult Zhang Yan about difficult cultivation questions but unexpectedly noticed a young Daoist she had never seen before standing at the side. She widened her beautiful eyes and asked, "Eh, who are you? I’ve never seen you before."

Jiang Zheng hurriedly bowed and replied, "I am Jiang Zheng, recently accepted as a disciple by Master Zhang."

Wang Caiting’s face showed realization and curiosity as she looked at him and said, "Ah, so you are Master’s newly accepted junior disciple."

Jiang Zheng, whose age was nearly fifty, felt odd being called "junior disciple" by such a lively young girl.

He quickly adjusted his thoughts, realizing that cultivators cannot judge age by appearance. Perhaps this girl was older than he was. He respectfully said, "Indeed, this junior is new to the sect and doesn’t understand the rules or recognize fellow students. Could I ask how to address this senior sister?"

Wang Caiting giggled and said, "Listen up, my surname is Wang, and I used to be the youngest in the sect. Now that you’re here, you should call me Fourth Senior Sister."

Jiang Zheng mused, "So Master has four disciples."

Although he noticed that Senior Sister Wang’s cultivation level seemed lower than his, having experienced much in the mundane world, he was humble and smooth-talking, showing no sign of disrespect. He bowed and said, "Ah, Fourth Senior Sister, this junior greets you."

Wang Caiting happily responded.

She had heard the maids mentioning that Master had brought back another disciple and was curious. She intended to find time to see what kind of person he was and if he was fun, unexpectedly meeting him here. Although he was not as she imagined, conversing with him allowed her to feel the sense of being a senior sister. She gestured joyfully and said, "Junior Brother, you’re too polite. If there’s anything you’re unsure of in cultivation, come and ask me."

Jiang Zheng saw she was straightforward and smiled, responding, "Yes, if I have any doubts, I’ll surely consult with you. I hope you won’t mind."

Wang Caiting was even happier. She had found it boring in the sect, as Wang Caiwei and Tian Kun were solely focused on cultivation and barely talked to her. Now, seeing Jiang Zheng, she didn’t let him go but dragged him along and said, "Come, Junior Brother, share some worldly stories with your sister. Choose the fun ones."

She had never ventured beyond the Mingcang Sect and only heard some things from her elders, naturally feeling curious.

Jiang Zheng couldn’t refuse, so he selected some interesting stories to tell. Fortunately, he was well-traveled and knowledgeable, having visited places feared by many due to his cultivation, including mountains and forests rarely visited by humans. Wang Caiting listened with rapt attention and temporarily forgot her original intention for coming here.

In recent days, she had formed her Xuan Seed and was just one step away from entering the Xuan Guang Realm, yet unable to cross that threshold, she was increasingly impatient. The more anxious she became, the harder it was to progress. In her frustration, she sought Zhang Yan for advice.

Unexpectedly, from hearing Jiang Zheng’s fascinating tales, she felt joyful and lively, clearing away the gloom that had tied her heart for days, returning to her natural disposition. Suddenly, her Qi Veins flowed smoothly, as if breaking through some shackles.

Instantly, a Spirit Light broke through layers of barriers, appearing above her crown, a reddish cloud as bright as burning coals, hovering above her head.

Jiang Zheng was naturally surprised, paused for a moment, then congratulated sincerely, "Congratulations, Fourth Senior Sister."

He had broken through the Xuan Guang Realm a few years back without his teacher’s guidance, enduring much hardship. Yet his senior sister seemed to have progressed merely from chatting with him, making it hard not to feel envious. The initial joy of entering the sect faded somewhat, resolving internally, "Under Master’s tutelage, they are all exceptional. It will be difficult to make my mark—starting today, I must strive to catch up."

Wang Caiting had spent over three years to break through the Xuan Guang Realm, owing to her exceptional talent, solid foundation built over ten years on the Yuan Condensation path. Her cultivation technique, chosen by Zhang Yan from a hundred Daoist books, was particularly suitable for fast progress, supplemented by the Zhao You Heavenly Pond’s spiritual energy, far superior to any external cave mansion, leading to her achievements today.

Having resolved her days-long predicament, Wang Caiting enjoyed her success for a while, later realizing she had left Jiang Zheng aside and felt a little embarrassed. Her eyes twinkled, drawing something from her sachet to press into Jiang Zheng’s hand, saying, "Junior Brother, this is the meeting gift from your senior sister."

Jiang Zheng, after momentarily declining, accepted it without seeing what it was. Wang Caiting pulled him by the sleeve, saying, "Come, follow me."

Jiang Zheng asked bewilderedly, "Where are we going?"

Wang Caiting’s eyes sparkled as she laughed, "Junior Brother, you have another senior sister and a senior brother. How can you only receive a gift from me? They should also contribute!"

...

... (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)