The Old Daoist

Even after arriving at this place, there was still no sign of Fang Ting. With an impassive expression, the incarnation trailed behind the crowd, ascending step-by-step toward the summit of the peak. Before long, they emerged from the dense forest and arrived before a magnificent grand hall. The middle-aged cultivator took a step forward and announced in a clear, resonant voice, "Reporting to Master: this disciple was ordered to conduct the recruitment ceremony and select new disciples. The candidates have now been chosen and brought up the mountain. Please inspect them, Master." "Come inside..." The hall's heavy doors swung open on their own, yet the voice that drifted out sounded strikingly familiar. "Martial Uncle Chen?" The middle-aged cultivator hurried inside, only to find two people standing within: Martial Uncle Chen and the young girl he had brought along earlier, Fang Ting. He asked in surprise, "Where is Master...?" The cultivator surnamed Chen replied flatly, "On a sudden whim, Pavilion Master Senior Brother had an insight into his cultivation method and entered secluded cultivation. He left the remaining arrangements in my hands. Do you have any objections?" "This disciple would not dare!" The middle-aged cultivator's expression shifted slightly. He hurriedly stepped forward to present a jade slip. "Martial Uncle Chen, all the information on these new disciples is recorded within." Chen gave an indifferent grunt, took the jade slip, and swept his gaze over the assembly. Fixed beneath the gaze of a Core Formation cultivator, everyone looked uncomfortable, secret anxiety churning in their hearts. When they entered, Fang Ting caught sight of the incarnation and greeted him with a cheerful wave. The incarnation sighed inwardly, keeping his eyes lowered and his breath still. He had not expected this man to be the one deciding their fates in the end. He could only hope the elder would act with impartiality. "The Landou Sect just finished recruiting a batch of disciples, so being able to gather this many candidates is fairly impressive. You four have fulfilled your duties well," Chen said, nodding to the four evaluators with a word of praise. Delight showed on all four faces. Next, Chen shifted his gaze and raised a finger toward the youth with three spiritual roots. "You! Step forward!" The youth jumped in fright. His face drained of color, his knees shook, and his whole body began to tremble. "Am I really so terrifying?" Displeased by the display, Chen frowned deeply. "No wonder your character was judged inferior. Just as recommended, you shall be sent to the Cauldron Casting Hall to be tempered for three years to see how you fare!" With that, Chen tossed the boy a red medallion and ordered him to wait off to the side. Then, Chen called out several more people in succession. To some he posed a few questions; to others he asked nothing at all, merely tossing them a medallion. His questions were erratic and unpredictable—sometimes asking about their origins or past experiences, sometimes about their insights into cultivation—leaving no way to prepare. The medallions came in various colors, each representing a different hall within Yanmiao Pavilion. As Chen called on the new disciples one by one, the incarnation's heart sank deeper and deeper. In the end, only two remained: himself and the oldest elder. *Don't tell me this old man is actually going to target me?* the incarnation mused inwardly. If his grand plan of infiltration fell apart over such a petty coincidence, it would truly be laughable. "Your name is Zhao Songqiao? Come forward." Chen pointed to the elder, leaving the incarnation standing alone. Sensing that something was amiss, Fang Ting fell as quiet as a cicada in winter, not daring to utter a sound. The others were no fools either; having caught on to the underlying tension, they began to watch with eager curiosity. "With your level of cultivation, tempering such a steadfast character was certainly no easy feat. Achieving Foundation Establishment is not entirely out of reach for you." Chen spoke warmly to Zhao Songqiao. "Go to Xueying Hall for now. The Hall Master is my disciple; he will guide you in switching to one of our sect's cultivation methods so you can see if an opportunity arises." "This disciple obeys!" Receiving the snow-white medallion, Zhao Songqiao trembled with excitement. At last, it was the incarnation's turn. Chen pointed at him, about to speak, when his expression suddenly changed. He snapped his head up to gaze outside the grand hall. Puzzled, the others looked outside as well, but saw only the vast rippling waters. "Why has that old fellow come?" Chen frowned in surprise. After muttering under his breath, he gave a quiet scoff, waved his sleeve, and shot a blue arrow of light outward. The blue bolt darted from the mountain peak, exploding after flying a short distance. Ripples formed out of thin air, and two figures slowly materialized. Both wore black-and-white Daoist robes patterned with a yin-yang motif. One was an emaciated elder holding a horsetail whisk, possessing an ethereal, otherworldly grace and an extraordinary presence. The other was short in stature, standing slightly behind the elder like a Daoist page. After emerging, the two paused for a fleeting moment before flying straight toward the grand hall. "Brother Chen, forgive this old Daoist for intruding uninvited." The old Daoist offered a formal Daoist salute, looked around, and asked in surprise, "Why is Fellow Daoist Qi nowhere to be seen?" "If Fellow Daoist Huayang has come seeking Pavilion Master Senior Brother, I'm afraid you will be disappointed. Senior Brother has other business and is not in the pavilion," Chen returned the greeting with cupped hands, a cold detachment veiled in his tone. "Whatever matter you have, I shall pass word along after Senior Brother returns." "I heard that your esteemed pavilion was holding a recruitment ceremony today. These must be the newly admitted disciples, yes? What matter could possibly be more important than continuing the sect's heritage? Could it be that Fellow Daoist Qi sensed an opportunity for a breakthrough and is preparing for Nascent Soul formation?" As though deaf to the dismissal implicit in Chen's words, the old Daoist strode inside. His eyes swept across each of the new disciples with an unsettling gleam. Under his scrutiny, everyone felt thoroughly uncomfortable, yet seeing that even the Core Formation elder of Yanmiao Pavilion treated the man with great respect, none dared utter a word. The incarnation was quietly startled. Though he had never laid eyes on this old Daoist before, he recognized his background immediately from those distinctive robes. The man was a cultivator of the Landou Sect, hailing from the lineage that practiced one of its core legacies, the *Yin-Yang Heavenly Dipper Secret Art*. Yanmiao Pavilion and the Landou Sect were indeed deeply intertwined. He had only just crossed the sect's threshold, yet here was a true disciple of the Landou Sect already. Still, it was unclear why Chen treated the old Daoist with such aloofness. Having only just arrived, the incarnation could not guess the underlying history. What neither realized was that at this very moment, Qin Sang's true body stood on a hill by the lakeshore, gazing toward mist-shrouded Yanmiao Pavilion with a thoughtful look. Lurking in hiding, he had planned to depart once he confirmed his incarnation's safety. He intended to travel through Mount Landou for a time to see if he could build some connections, coordinating with the incarnation from outside while the latter worked within. Just moments ago, he had suddenly sensed a wave of fluctuation and spotted a streak of escape light flying in from the distance, plunging straight into the mist. Qin Sang had not been able to see the old Daoist's face, but such black-and-white escape light was unique on Landou Island. He suspected it was very likely a true disciple from the Landou Sect arriving in person. The direction from which the light had flown was precisely where the Landou Sect was situated. "What is a Landou Sect disciple doing here at a time like this? I should wait and see; perhaps I can find a way to make contact with him..." Qin Sang muttered to himself. After a brief calculation, he slipped back into hiding. *** Inside the grand hall of Yanmiao Pavilion. Hearing the old Daoist's words, Chen suppressed his irritation and said coolly, "Fellow Daoist Huayang, please do not jest at Senior Brother's expense. His cultivation has not yet reached the pinnacle, and he remains some distance from Nascent Soul formation. Besides, forming a Nascent Soul is hardly that simple. How much difference could one or two sudden insights truly make? How could the Nascent Soul Dao fruit be attained on a mere whim?"