Chapter 31: Joining White Cloud Temple

Lu Zheng handed the Brocade Spring Saber, which was about to be sharpened, to the shop girl, and he took the Cloud Pattern Longquan Sword, examining it from side to side.

"What a great sword!"

"Although the material and sharpness are similar, this sword is far different from that saber. It's not meant for brute force hacking," Du Lin reminded.

Lu Zheng acknowledged, "Don't worry."

Last time when he went to White Cloud Temple to deliver the Corpse Ghost's relic to Daoist Mingzhang, Lu Zheng noticed a sword hanging on the wall inside his room.

Judging from the hilt, it's likely wielded often, so Lu Zheng intended to curry favor.

A Divine Sword, coupled with my own potential of sensing qi within half a month—can I draw something more from him?

Receiving the Cloud Pattern Sword, Lu Zheng happily called a cab and went home.

"Hmm?"

As soon as he entered the door, Lu Zheng lowered his head, about to change into slippers, but his gaze suddenly sharpened, and his brows furrowed.

Someone had just entered the house!

During the time he was out.

Because the slippers that Lu Zheng left at the entrance had been moved slightly!

He remembered clearly; when he went out, he had kicked the slippers out of place, leaving them slanted. Now they were much straighter.

If more time had passed, Lu Zheng might have thought he remembered wrong, but it had only been since the morning. And what's more, right before he left, he specifically glanced at them, too lazy to bend down again. That's why Lu Zheng was certain he hadn't remembered wrong.

A thief came in? In broad daylight?

Such audacity?

Lu Zheng checked all the more valuable items at home with a blank expression but found no signs of theft of any precious belongings.

If it weren't for the clearly moved slippers, Lu Zheng might have thought he was imagining things.

"How could it be? Maybe a thief came in, found nothing valuable, and left?"

Opening the door and looking around, the silent corridor made no sound.

Lu Zheng frowned and could only put down his suspicions.

Nothing was stolen, and reporting to the police just because of repositioned slippers would likely earn him a lesson on wasting public resources.

"Seems like I need to change the lock... Would a password lock be safer?"

Lu Zheng shifted the box containing his ID card and bank card to a new location and carefully inspected his home to ensure no one had secretly installed a pinhole camera.

Luckily, there wasn't any…

In the afternoon, Lu Zheng traveled back to ancient times, first asking Uncle Li to go to the carriage yard to book a vehicle for the next morning, then proceeded to practice the Breathing Technique and cultivate the Eighteen Mountain-Carrying Techniques, consolidating his internal true qi and blood qi.

He also occasionally returned to modern times to handle various messages on his phone, including his mother's check-ins and encouragement, as well as Tong Muxuan's teasing and bragging.

The day passed just like that—dull and tasteless.

...

The next day, at White Cloud Temple.

"What brings Young Master Lu to burn incense at our White Cloud Temple again today?" Daoist Mingzhang chuckled.

Lu Zheng routinely donated one thousand merit coins and then, holding a box, arrived at Daoist Mingzhang's quiet chamber.

"What is this, young master?"

"I must first thank you, Daoist, for the Breathing Technique you bestowed on me." Lu Zheng first expressed his gratitude, "As for the Corpse Ghost's relic, you actually helped relieve my worries. Although I, Lu Mou, am not very skilled, I do understand reason."

"Young Master Lu is too kind. Those two scriptures and skills also brought me some merit. No need to be modest."

Lu Zheng smiled, "Today, I came for two reasons: first, I recently acquired an excellent sword, which I brought to offer to you as a token of my gratitude; second, I have successfully cultivated the 'Meridian Breathing Method' and sensed qi, and I wish to ask if you have any teachable spells for me?"

Upon hearing Lu Zheng mention the first part, Daoist Mingzhang was still smiling while stroking his beard. However, when Lu Zheng finished speaking, his surprise was evident.

"You've already developed qi sensitivity?"

"That's correct."

Daoist Mingzhang reached out and grasped Lu Zheng's wrist, channeling true qi into him.

Lu Zheng followed suit, directing the qi from his dantian, circulating through his body in a Great Circulation.

"You've truly cultivated true qi!" Daoist Mingzhang was amazed, "And in just a few days, why has your blood qi become so rich? Have you also practiced a Martial Cultivation Technique?"

"Uh, yes," Lu Zheng grinned, not daring to elaborate.

"You have a Martial Cultivation teacher?"

"No, I don't. I just inadvertently came across the 'Eighteen Mountain-Carrying Techniques' and practiced on my own."

"Practiced on your own..." Daoist Mingzhang was speechless.

Unable to help, he shook his head and continued, "Previously, I only noted that you had a strong constitution; I didn't expect you were also cultivating a Martial Dao Technique."

Daoist Mingzhang muttered to himself, "Without guidance from a renowned master, you were only strengthening your body, not cultivating a Martial Artist's blood qi. Yet, after acquiring the Breathing Technique, you drew analogies and, only in recent days, achieved this?"

"Cough, cough..."

"While cultivating blood qi, you experienced a moment of intense sensitivity to your insides, leading you to directly cultivate Daoist qi sensitivity?"

"Uh, yes..."

"Regardless, being able to cultivate qi sensitivity within half a month, and with such strong true qi at that, Young Master Lu, you are truly talented."

"Cough, cough, you flatter me..."

Daoist Mingzhang released Lu Zheng's hand, returning to his seat, and stared at Lu Zheng without speaking.

"Daoist?"

"I've known for some time that you wish to cultivate, but seeing you as a wealthy layman within the mundane world, I had no intention of taking you as a disciple."

By wealthy layman, he means someone who doesn't seem capable of enduring hardship, thus simply ignoring me.

"I didn't expect that you were also cultivating a Martial Cultivation Technique, I misjudged you."

"You flatter me, you flatter me."

"Managing to kill a Corpse Ghost with a mortal body already proves your exceptional nature."

"Overpraise, overpraise!"

"I do have external techniques, though they aren't particularly powerful—better than nothing."

"Uh..."

"Are you only content with these external techniques I can provide?"

Lu Zheng was speechless, the issue was I wanted to become a disciple before, but you didn't accept me?

"Would you be willing to join our White Cloud Temple?" Daoist Mingzhang asked seriously.

Eh? This time I can?

Lu Zheng's eyes lit up, "That's what I wish, but, um, are there any requirements?"

"Direct disciples must wear Daoist robes, reside in the Daoist Temple, attend daily morning and evening classes without fail, and be registered in the official Daoist records," Daoist Mingzhang said with a smile that wasn't really a smile.

"Hehe." Lu Zheng forced a laugh, fully understanding why they didn't accept him previously.

"There's another option, as a lay practitioner, which is somewhat like a registered disciple. Although you won't receive the temple's core teachings, you can still gain access to most cultivation techniques."

Daoist Mingzhang explained, "However, as a lay practitioner, you are expected to contribute both financially and physically to the temple when needed, without shirking."

"Even to the extent of killing and burning?" Lu Zheng asked involuntarily.

"Nonsense, White Cloud Temple is a well-known Daoist sect renowned throughout the Great Jing Dynasty, how could we ask you to commit such acts?"

"Just asking, just asking," Lu Zheng replied with successive dry laughs.

"Any other questions?"

"How powerful are the cultivation techniques provided—can they grant immortality?"

"That depends on you. We do have an ancestor who witnessed the divine might of Emperor Jing's founding of the Great Jing."

"Can they subdue demons and exorcise evil?"

"The main temple has a white crane, which is a Great Demon from the Southern Country."

"Is training in other techniques allowed? Of course, only righteous methods."

"If you have the ability and opportunity, the temple would welcome it."

"Then that's what I wish, although, uh, are there any requirements?"

"As a direct disciple, you would need to wear the Daoist robe, reside in the temple, and train without fail," Daoist Mingzhang explained.

"Hehe," Lu Zheng chuckled dryly; he could fully understand why he wasn't accepted last time.

"The lay practitioner position does require supporting the temple when necessary."

Daoist Mingzhang explained, "This status allows you access to most of our cultivation techniques, even if it's not the core ones."

"Any more questions?"

"How advanced are the cultivation techniques offered? Are they capable of longevity?"

"That depends on your own ability and fate. We even have ancestors who witnessed Emperor Jing's divine might in the past."

"Can they subdue demons and exorcise evil?"

"We have methods for subduing demons and exorcising evil within the main temple."

"And is it permissible to learn other righteous methods?"

"The temple would actually appreciate it if you have that talent and opportunity."

"That's great! Um, are there any requirements?"

"I have no reason not to accept you this time. Even though you were a layman of wealth and idleness in the mortal realm, you were trained in Martial Cultivation Techniques I did not initially perceive. It's my fault for misjudging."

"Not at all, not at all."

"So do you wish to become a direct disciple of the Daoist Temple? You would need to stay here regularly."

"Yes, that's my wish, though are there any specific requirements?"

Lu Zheng's eyes lit up.

"No more questions?"

"No, I've nothing else."

"Very well then, let us begin your training." Daoist Mingzhang exclaimed as he gestured to the training ground.

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