Chapter 20: Striving for Pearly White Teeth

"Good morning, Brother Sun. Have you had breakfast yet?"

Sun Yigao nodded, "Good morning, Sect Master. Yes, I've eaten."

Lin Xiao waved his hand grandly, "Alright! Let's head up the mountain! We can talk as we walk."

As they made their way up the mountain, Lin Xiao explained the current state of the sect to Sun Yigao. He then mentioned that they would spend two hours today digging up some soil.

Sun Yigao immediately expressed his desire to join in and help with the digging.

Lin Xiao rubbed his nose and said, "To be honest, Brother Sun, there's actually something more important that the sect needs from you than digging."

"Please, Sect Master, feel free to tell me."

Lin Xiao got straight to the point, "The truth is, aside from me, none of the other disciples in the sect can read—except for you, of course."

Hearing this, Sun Yigao smiled gently, "I see. Don't worry, Sect Master. I may not be qualified to be a teacher, but I can certainly help everyone learn to read and understand the basics."

Lin Xiao knew that Sun Yigao's modesty was just a polite way of speaking. After all, he was a scholar who had studied for ten years—certainly much more qualified than Lin Xiao himself.

Sun Yigao added with a smile, "Of course, I'll still participate in the digging work too."

Lin Xiao didn't refuse. After all, participating in group activities like this would help strengthen the bond among the disciples and increase the sect's cohesion, right?

When they reached the halfway point up the mountain, Sun Yigao looked around at the simple yet sturdy grass hut, the fragrant Ten-Mile Peach Blossom Tree swaying in the breeze, and the budding spiritual field. He found the place to be quite serene.

Then he noticed the crooked stone tablet next to the grass hut, with the words "Lingxian Sect" etched into it. Sun Yigao hesitated and asked, "Sect Master... should I perhaps inscribe a new nameplate for our sect?"

Lin Xiao thought to himself that scholars like Sun Yigao really had different priorities from people like Ironhead and the others.

"No need. Actually, this inscription... well, it might change when our sect's main hall is built."

"Change?" Sun Yigao was puzzled, not quite understanding.

Lin Xiao explained, "Yes, as our sect's main hall becomes grander, the inscription on this stone tablet will gradually become more elegant and refined."

Sun Yigao couldn't help but look on with admiration, a sense of awe and reverence welling up in his heart. He exclaimed, "Truly the work of an immortal!"

The two then entered the grass hut.

Lin Xiao thought for a moment and took out two books from his storage. They were the original Tao Yuan Wan Kong Jue and its simplified version.

He handed both books to Sun Yigao and said, "This is our sect's core cultivation method, Tao Yuan Wan Kong Jue. There's an original version and a simplified version. The simplified one was created for those who can't read, like Fuzi and the others, to make it easier for them to understand the method. You can choose to use either the original or the simplified version."

Sun Yigao flipped through both books and then kept the original, returning the simplified version to Lin Xiao, "I'll use the original."

Lin Xiao put away the simplified version, "Alright, take your time to study it and see if you can begin cultivating. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. I'll go check on the spiritual field."

"Understood." Having joined Lingxian Sect, Sun Yigao no longer felt the need to be overly polite with Lin Xiao. After all, he was now a part of this small sect too.

Seeing Sun Yigao seriously studying the Tao Yuan Wan Kong Jue, Lin Xiao turned and left the grass hut. Just then, he saw Lin Yun, who had been left behind earlier, finally making his way up the mountain.