Chapter 3 The Fall of Yunzhong's Immortal Gate

White clouds roam the edge of the sky, and in a blink, I've entered into a thousand layers of mountains.

Li Ping'an closed his eyes, and upon reopening them after sleeping for half a day, he found himself directly within the immortal gates.

In his eyes, this was somewhat regrettable.

Because there was no sense of ceremony.

At this moment, Li Ping'an was looking northward, gazing in the direction the middle-aged female Daoist had pointed to before leaving. There, shrouded in dense fog, were the multilayered mountains where occasionally a beam of golden light shone through, probably the immortals of the sect investigating his father's destiny.

Faintly, Li Ping'an could also hear deep and resounding calls:

"Quickly, call the ancestral master! This common merchant appears to have the stature of a Golden Immortal! Supreme fortune indeed!"

'Common merchant' must refer to his own father.

Soon another call came:

"Quick, summon the great forebear! Supreme fortune! An immortal of East Continent has such supreme destiny!"

Beams of flowing light converged towards the main hall.

"Hurry and invite the founding forebear! What are you dawdling for?"

It seems... his father had caused quite a stir...

No, that's not it!

Things are a bit chaotic; let's sort this out.

The current situation was completely beyond his control.

At this moment, Li Ping'an actually felt like crying but had no tears.

He thought back to the past two years, how diligently he had strived to join the outer sect of Wanyun Sect, the efforts, and treasures he had spent, only for things to turn out like this...

His own father possessed supreme fortune and outstanding cultivation talent, a rare prodigy in the cultivation world that comes around once in ten thousand years!

If he had known this would happen, why would he have exerted any effort at all?

According to the female Daoist who brought him to Wanyun Sect, this area is the front mountain of Wanyun Sect, where newly joined disciples must pass through Liuyun Pavilion at mid-mountain.

The female Daoist who had brought him back also said, with his father's great fortune, he would certainly be vied for by various Heavenly and Golden Immortals of the Wanyun Sect. He need not worry, for if his father could cultivate the Golden Immortal Great Way, he too would enjoy the blessings and protection.

Li Ping'an gave a wry smile, with his hands behind his back, he gazed at the main peak of the sect's core where his father resided, his eyes deep and sighing softly.

He had come to understand something—the cultivation opportunity of his father was not his own;

This was not a vast family wealth that one could simply sit back and watch dwindle away.

His father's top-notch qualifications and destiny, as far as Li Ping'an was concerned, the greatest benefit was that he need not be apart from his father in the future. They could walk the path of cultivation together and look after each other within the Wanyun Sect.

The problem now was his own slightly challenging cultivation path.

Li Ping'an quickly adjusted his state of mind, looked up, and saw the stone path beneath his feet winding into the clouds and leading straight to the mountain top.

Cultivation!

Li Ping'an rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward to ascend.

After less than a hundred steps, he could see the flying eaves of the mountain daoist temple. Li Ping'an's spirits were high, and without feeling tired, he wanted to reach the top in one go.

Halfway up, a deep and profound middle-aged voice suddenly echoed in Li Ping'an's ear:

"Li Ping'an?"

Li Ping'an turned his head to look around, but could not see the speaker.

The middle-aged man's voice spoke at a slower pace:

"This is a voice transmission; no need to search further.

"I am an inner sect elder of Wanyun Sect, relaying a message from your father.

"He is well; you needn't worry. Just reside in the pavilion on the front mountain for now. After he has acknowledged a distinguished master, he will come to visit you."

An inner sect elder?

Li Ping'an waited for a while, but when there was no further response, he let out a breath and continued to climb the steps.

As he walked, Li Ping'an's forehead creased with a few lines of worry.

He suddenly realized a problem—was his above-average fortune merely the result of being influenced by his father's top-notch fortune?

Oh no!

Could his original fortune have possibly been negative?

Forget it, having some is better than none.

Li Ping'an raised an eyebrow and smiled. The thought of finally realizing his long-held wish to cultivate, and his father gaining a great opportunity, and the two stepping into a whole new realm together made his mood all the more buoyant.

No matter what, he had successfully completed his initial planning.

Walking on and on, entering the mist amidst the clouds.

Arriving at the main gate of the daoist temple, Li Ping'an caught his breath, straightened his attire, and carefully recalled the many admonitions from Master Chen, before climbing the steps in front of the pavilion.

-- Master Chen was his 'nobleman' in the mundane world, the support for him and his father to make a fortune among the common folk.

Before the recruitment in Wancheng, Master Chen had introduced Li Ping'an to the rules of Wanyun Sect's Liuyun Pavilion: a three-year term and the selection of disciples by masters.

Disciples with good talents and high fortune were quickly chosen in Liuyun Pavilion.

Those who stayed for a long time in Liuyun Pavilion were mostly unable to truly enter the inner ranks of Wanyun Sect.

If a disciple spent a full three years in Liuyun Pavilion without securing a distinguished master, they would still have one chance to participate in a trial. By passing the trial, they could then join the outer sect of Wanyun Sect for cultivation.

The end of this road was Master Chen, representing the immortal sect stationed in the mundane world, safeguarding the cities under the protection of the Immortal Dynasty.

Beyond that, Master Chen had also warned that within Liuyun Pavilion, there was an outer sect steward who liked to challenge new disciples. One must pay extra attention to their own manners and not provoke this 'pavilion master'.

Li Ping'an stood outside the gate and looked inside.

The front courtyard of the daoist temple was rather empty, with the old residences on both sides having their doors and windows shut. In front of the houses were a few long tables laid out, with stacks of clothing and porcelain bottles for Elixir Pills on them.

Straight ahead, the main hall was a simple structure with stone columns and flying eaves, with curtains hanging all around and a statue of a veiled goddess enshrined within, which must be the icon of the Human Race's Holy Mother.

On both sides in front of the hall, there were two corridors leading to the back courtyard of the daoist temple.

Li Ping'an waited at the gate for a while but saw no one coming out, so he called out loudly:

"Disciple Ping'an, seeks the Way here."

The front courtyard was silent, with the pine needles of the welcoming pines gently fluttering.

No one?

Li Ping'an glanced at the threshold of the daoist temple, and just as he was about to go in and look around, he suddenly remembered something.

He chuckled lightly, stepped back two steps proactively, and sat down on the steps in front of the door.

Gazing at the pine and bamboo forests, listening to the sounds of immortal birds and spiritual beasts.

Occasionally, he could see young men and women riding clouds and controlling objects passing by in the sky above the front mountain. Li Ping'an's eyes held a trace of envy.

Having waited for approximately one or two hours, the sky gradually grew overcast.

Creak—

Sounds came from behind, and Li Ping'an immediately got up and looked toward the front courtyard.

A middle-aged looking daoist stretched and walked out from the adjacent residence.

Judging by his appearance, the daoist had a fairly handsome face, with a tall and slender figure. His high cheekbones made his face seem gaunter, and his small eyes were quite spirited.

Around the daoist's waist hung a gourd, a black cloth hat contained his disheveled long hair, and the straw sandals on his feet were fraying in several places.

Seeing Li Ping'an, the man showed a slight smile and assumed an air of an esteemed elder:

"Come in, you have good temperament,"

"Thank you, senior,"

Li Ping'an walked into the gates of the Taoist temple.

The daoist placed his hands behind his back and circled Li Ping'an twice, clicking his tongue in wonder:

"I am not any senior, just the gatekeeper of Liuyun Hall, holding the post of an outer sect minister.

"I have been in this Liuyun Hall for several centuries. Every so often young disciples enter, they always come as children. It is rare to see a grown man like you. It seems that you must have exceptional talent, it is just a shame that a pearl has been covered in dust.

"Earlier, I heard you introducing yourself, your name is Li Ping'an?"

Li Ping'an fumbled in his sleeve and took out a jade pendant, upon which ripples flowed, containing a slight amount of spiritual energy, clearly a valuable and not inexpensive item.

Li Ping'an smiled as he presented the jade pendant, whispering:

"Master Chen entrusted his disciple to bring this plaything for you. There are no treasures worth mentioning in the mundane world, so please do not ridicule it,"

"Master Chen? Could it be that Chen Gongmin? That fellow actually remembers poor me, which is indeed no small feat,"

The daoist took the jade pendant and carefully felt the patterns with his fingers.

After he shook his head and put the jade pendant in his sleeve, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepened, and he continued in an affected tone:

"He's also considered half a disciple of mine. Although his aptitude was poor and his luck not good, failing to be taken as a disciple by an immortal, he still managed to enter the outer sect, and in the end, secured a decent job stationed in the mortal world,"

Hearing this, Li Ping'an felt poignant in his heart:

'Although the immortal sect stands apart from the mundane world, it has not truly detached itself from it.'

The daoist beckoned, "Come over here."

Li Ping'an asked, "Senior, how should I address you?"

"I am Minister Weiyen,"

The daoist overseeing the hall replied with a smile, beginning to guide the newcomer.

"Come here, do you see these elixir pills?

"These here are the Five Grains Pills; others may take one bottle every seven days, but you are an adult and surely get hungry quicker, so you are allowed to take one every three days.

"Do not underestimate these elixir pills; though they are merely refined from the essence of plants, taken regularly, they can help you expel impurities and improve your physique."

"This is the Liuyun Hall's Daoist robe, slightly different from the clothing of outer sect disciples. There might not be any here big enough for you. I will inform the inner gates tomorrow and get you a few sets of formal outer disciple's clothes."

"Follow me this way, I'll take you on a tour of the back courtyard. This is the main hall, where if an elder immortal comes to give lessons, it will take place here. At that time, the bell and drum will summon you. If you do not wish to come out during your cultivation, it is also no trouble…"

As night deepened, Minister Weiyen took Li Ping'an around Liuyun Hall.

Perhaps the effect of waiting for two hours, or maybe the jade pendant played a role. Although the daoist spoke in a tone that always carried a bit of nonchalance, overall, he took good care of Li Ping'an.

The Liuyun Hall's back courtyard was quite spacious, with many small houses and courtyards, housing over thirty young boys and girls.

Li Ping'an chatted with Minister Weiyen and learned that most of the little disciples here were between seven and twelve years old, so he gave up the idea of making a few friends.

Minister Weiyen selected a relatively clean small courtyard for Li Ping'an.

Minister Weiyen laughed, "The kid who used to live here got lucky and was chosen by an inner elder to tend the pill furnaces. You can stay here; maybe you'll catch some of that luck!"

"Thank you, daoist,"

"Hmm, take this,"

Minister Weiyen pulled out a bundle of bamboo slips from his sleeve.

"This is the foundational litany of Wanyun Sect's cultivation methods, the basics for starting Qi cultivation. Every disciple who enters Liuyun Hall gets one,"

A heritage of immortal teachings!

Cultivation methods!

Li Ping'an heart grew fervent, as he held the bamboo slips in both hands.

"Don't tell Chen Gongmin poor me didn't look after you. Giving you this is also like forming a good connection,"

Minister Weiyen then took out a scroll from his sleeve:

"This is the visualization chart of the basic incantations of our sect. If you can't read, then ponder this chart on your own, and if you don't understand something, try to comprehend it on your own, and if you still can't get it, ask me after three months,"

"Thank you, daoist!"

"Don't mention it; you've been thanking me all the way, no need for so much formality,"

Minister Weiyen stretched and turned to leave, his figure becoming indistinct a few yards away, raising his hand to give a wave.

"Freedom is what's most abundant in the mountains.

"Why should we Qi cultivators restrain ourselves so much!"

Li Ping'an bowed respectfully and watched the direction in which Minister Weiyen disappeared, exhaling softly.

The night breeze was cool.

He turned, pushed open the door to his room, looked over the simple and clean layout inside, closed the door, hurried to the side of the bamboo bed, and under the bright light of a magic artifact lantern on the wall, he carefully opened the bamboo slips and the visualization chart, examining them closely.

The bamboo slip contained several hundred words of the litany. Li Ping'an read it through once and felt as if he had gleaned something, but it was like looking at flowers through the fog, elusive and unclear.

At the center of the visualization chart was a flowing cloud, with the meditative posture drawn thoughtfully below, as well as instructions on how to guide the first strand of 'primordial energy' once it manifests inside the body.

With this visualization chart, progress would indeed be twice as fast with half the effort.

Li Ping'an felt even more grateful to Minister Weiyen, but pityingly, this gratitude lasted only until the next morning.

——He got up and walked around the back courtyard of the temple and found that all Liuyun Hall disciples had the same visualization chart hanging inside their rooms.

...

And so, Li Ping'an settled down at Liuyun Hall for the time being, beginning his initial befuddlement in cultivation.

He was out of touch with news and had no idea of the storm his father had caused in Wanyun Sect.

At the moment when Li Ping'an officially began his cultivation;

Wanyun's main peak;

Within Yunxian Hall.