Under one person: I, Zhang Zhiwei, the arrogant Zhang.

"Brother!"

Zhang Huaiyi walked over to Zhang Zhiwei, who was sitting quietly, and greeted him in a low voice.

"Why are you here? Weren't you training in the martial world?" Zhang Zhiwei opened his eyes, somewhat surprised.

"Coming to Wudang to participate in the ascension ceremony, isn't that a kind of training?" Zhang Huaiyi explained with a smile, then asked, "Where is Master?"

“Master is overseeing the arrangements for the ceremony; you’ll see him soon,” Zhang Zhiwei replied.

"I see." Zhang Huaiyi sat down next to Zhang Zhiwei, paused, and then asked in a secret telepathic manner, "Senior brother, has the Wudang sect leader truly attained enlightenment and ascended to heaven?"

This was his true purpose in coming here. Although he was a disciple of the Xuanmen sect, he himself held a skeptical attitude towards becoming an immortal.

Seeing Wudang holding such a grand ascension ceremony, it was impossible not to be curious. Since his senior brother and master were going, he came along too.

Zhang Zhiwei did not answer directly, but asked in return, "What do you think?"

Zhang Huaiyi pondered for a moment, then cautiously said, "Since Master is willing to personally preside over this ceremony, it must be... true, right?"

“Although I haven’t seen it with my own eyes, I think it’s real,” Zhang Zhiwei said.

Zhang Huaiyi opened his eyes slightly and nodded thoughtfully. Since his senior brother said it was true, then it must be true.

"By the way, senior brother, I arrived at Wudang Mountain very early today and toured all the palaces. I noticed that Zhanqi Peak and this place both retain a kind of inexplicable but very special Qi aura. Could this be related to the ascension of the Wudang sect leader?"

"Oh? You can sense it?" Zhang Zhiwei asked, somewhat surprised.

Zhang Huaiyi said with slight displeasure, "Senior brother, don't underestimate me."

"You've made great progress in your understanding of the Dharma!" Zhang Zhiwei nodded approvingly. "It's definitely related. This is the Dao Qi left behind by Master Sun. I estimate it won't be long before it dissipates."

Zhang Huaiyi understood, then immediately changed the subject, lowering his voice to ask, "By the way, senior brother, I heard in the martial arts world recently that you have successfully overcome the 'fire disaster' of the three calamities?"

"How did you know?"

"Who doesn't know what's going on with you, you big mouth?" Zhang Huaiyi said through gritted teeth.

He was furious. He had only been down the mountain for a short time when his senior brother was undergoing a heavenly tribulation. Wasn't this deliberately preventing him from observing?
"Has this news spread throughout the martial arts world? ... This wasn't something I spread. I've been meditating on the mountain these past few days and haven't come down at all. At most, I've chatted with my fellow disciples. This must have been done by that big mouth of Xiao Tian!" Zhang Zhiwei said with certainty.

“You two are equally bad, so neither of you should criticize the other!” Zhang Huaiyi said.

"Senior Brother Zhang, Big Ears, what are you two whispering about?"

Lu Ci sat to the side. Although he couldn't hear the contents of Zhang Zhiwei and Zhang Huaiyi's secret conversation, he couldn't help but ask a question as he watched them exchanging glances and whispering.

"We talked about the ascension of the Wudang sect leader!" Zhang Zhiwei was an honest man and didn't hide anything.

Zhang Huaiyi was speechless. Was this something that could be conveniently said during the ascension ceremony?

"How to say?"

Lu Ci instantly perked up.

"What do you mean, how do you say it?" Zhang Zhiwei asked.

"Did it really work out, or did he pass away?"

Lü Ci was a straightforward person who never beat around the bush.

Upon hearing this, Patriarch Lü's face darkened, and his fists clenched tightly. This beast! How could he say such things in this setting? Isn't he deliberately trying to offend Wudang?

The entire venue fell silent, as Zhang Zhiwei's every word and action was closely watched.

His previous telepathic conversation with Zhang Huaiyi went unnoticed, but his current conversation with Lü Ci was completely undisguised and was overheard by many people nearby who were keeping an eye on the "Little Celestial Master's" movements.

In fact, although everyone attended the ascension ceremony, they all harbored some doubts about whether the Wudang sect leader had actually ascended to heaven or passed away.

Hearing the young Taoist priest bring up this topic now, my curiosity was instantly ignited.

Not only them, but also many of the Wudang Taoists present pricked up their ears.

The surrounding environment suddenly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop, which Zhang Zhiwei naturally noticed, but he didn't pay any attention and casually said:

"Of course he succeeded. Master Sun is very fortunate. He received the teachings of an immortal in Wudang when he was young. After his last enlightenment, he laid the foundation for his path to enlightenment. If he doesn't succeed, very few people can."

“That makes sense!” Lu Ci recalled the scene when he last met the Wudang Sect Master and said, “When I met the Wudang Sect Master last time, he was full of energy and his life force was very deep. Normally speaking, such a person could live for several more decades without any problem.”

Hearing Zhang Zhiwei's affirmative answer, those who had initially harbored doubts immediately dispelled them. Given the status and position of the Junior Celestial Master, there was really no need for him to lie for Wudang Mountain.
For a moment, they were filled with awe and even straightened their backs a bit. After all, this was the ascension ceremony of an immortal. There are gods watching over us, and the immortal might be watching them.

Zhang Huaiyi, on the other hand, huddled in his chair, his face grave, deep in thought.

He wasn't doubting the authenticity of the Wudang sect leader's ascension, but rather pondering his senior brother's earlier statement that "Sect Leader Sun received teachings from an immortal at Wudang when he was young."

Speaking of which, my senior brother also received teachings from an immortal, and the one who taught him was the True Martial Emperor.

They all received the magic teachings from the immortals...

I wonder if I'll ever have the chance to receive the immortal's teachings...

Zhang Huaiyi asked himself this question.

But then he shook his head inwardly, realizing that this was wishful thinking.

I am approaching thirty.

At this age, most people are already too late to embark on the path of cultivation, so how could they possibly expect immortals to impart their teachings?
Moreover, for my senior brother, the immortal's transmission of the Dharma was merely icing on the cake, an insignificant matter. Even without the transmission, he would still be the supreme Heavenly Daoist standing at the pinnacle.

What I need... is timely help in times of need.

Speaking of which, the complete Five Thunder Orthodox Method should also be considered a method passed down by immortals, after all, it is a method left by the patriarch.

However, the complete Five Thunder Orthodox Method was only passed down to the Celestial Master.

To become a Celestial Master, one must first pass the test of one's senior brother.

Although my senior brother didn't seem to care much about the position of Celestial Master.

But the decision on this matter rests with the master, and no one knows exactly what the master is thinking.

Moreover, Master is not exactly in his prime, but he doesn't show any signs of fatigue. It's still a long way from the time he steps down as Celestial Master, so there's no need to consider it for now.

Besides the immortals transmitting their teachings at Longhu Mountain, where else can immortals transmit their teachings?
Zhang Huaiyi pondered for a moment, and suddenly the phrase "without shaking the lotus, no root grows" came to mind.

One day, while chatting with Wugensheng, he mentioned Zhang Boduan, the Ziyang Zhenren, who was revered as the ancestor of acquired extraordinary individuals.

Zhang Boduan is called the ancestor of the Acquired Extraordinary People not because he created the cultivation method for Acquired Extraordinary People.

In the past, the methods of cultivation were hard to come by and were regarded as secret treasures by various schools and sects. To receive the teachings, one had to undergo a test that was difficult for ordinary people to endure.

It was Zhang Boduan who improved many methods and widely taught them, enabling many people who had no opportunity to cultivate to embark on the path of cultivation.

Therefore, he is revered as a patriarch by many.

Zhang Huaiyi also held Ziyang Zhenren in high esteem, sparing no praise during their conversation. However, Wugensheng spoke of him with considerable disdain, believing that he was fond of lecturing, only imparting techniques without regard for the character of the recipient, and completely disregarding the potential chaos that these techniques might cause.

At that time, he asked what kind of trouble it was, but Wugensheng avoided the question and instead brought up the Quanxing sect.

The reason why Quanxing is so hated is because it has skills but no principles. Zhang Boduan's methods will undoubtedly create many Quanxing.

Although the transition to this topic was logical, he was a very detail-oriented person, and he noticed something unusual from some of Wugensheng's subtle facial expressions.

At the time, he didn't pay much attention to this unusual thing.

But looking back now, he has figured out something different.

If you haven't met them, you shouldn't react this way to a legendary figure, even if you disagree with their beliefs.

He concluded that Bilian was very likely related to Master Ziyang.

I wonder if it's possible to obtain the immortal's methods through the Jade Lotus?
Thinking about it this way, there was even more to discover about Bilian.

"What are you thinking about?" Zhang Zhiwei asked, noticing Zhang Huaiyi's absent-mindedness. "The ceremony is about to begin."

“I…” Zhang Huaiyi came back to his senses, “I was thinking about the Wudang sect leader’s ascension to immortality.”

Zhang Zhiwei had no doubts; ascension was indeed a matter worth considering for a Taoist.

The ascension ceremony begins.

Generally speaking, the first step in the ascension ceremony is to welcome the immortal transformation.

This applies to Taoist masters who have truly passed away, while the Wudang sect masters ascended to heaven in broad daylight, naturally leaving no trace of their immortal bodies.

However, Wudang thoughtfully made a clay sculpture of Master Sun as a representation of his immortal transformation.

The disciples carefully moved the clay sculpture to the wooden couch in front of the hall. A curtain with a "cloud and crane" painting was hung in front of the couch, which was meant to represent "the crane's cry echoing nine times, and the immortal riding the clouds".

The altar is set up in front of the Zhenwu Hall of the Golden Hall, in the center of the back, where the main god of Wudang, Zhenwu the Great, is enshrined. On both sides are the divine positions of the Big Dipper and the Six Offices of the Southern Dipper.

The statues of gods stood solemnly, their gazes down. Yellow banners and vermilion plaques fluttered gently in the breeze, and the talismans on them shimmered with a mysterious light.

On the table were an incense burner, candlesticks, water, fresh fruit, and a document written in cinnabar. This was a document to be presented to the patriarch of the lineage, which detailed the life of Master Sun and requested the lineage to accept him.

Immediately afterwards, Celestial Master Zhang Jingqing, as the presiding officer of the ceremony, arrived at the scene. He changed into a robe embroidered with Bagua patterns, held a whisk in his hand, and had a solemn expression.

The Wudang Taoist priests in charge of the ceremony also changed into their formal robes.

Then the bronze bell rang seven times, which is an auspicious time in Taoism corresponding to the number of the Big Dipper, symbolizing "drawing in yang energy and connecting with the way of heaven".

Next came the "setting up of the altar and burning of incense." The Celestial Master held three sticks of incense, slowly walked around the altar once, and chanted: "The incense reaches the three realms, the smoke reaches the nine heavens, we respectfully invite the immortals to witness the ascension!"

The Celestial Master inserted incense into the cauldron, and the Wudang Taoist priests behind him chanted the Tao Te Ching in unison.

"Road to Road, very Avenue……"

The sound of the scriptures was clear, echoing throughout the halls. The Dharma bells rang out, and the bells and chimes resounded. The monks responded by chanting, and the sound waves rose in layers, reaching straight to the heavens.

This is a praise of the Tao, and also a guide for those who ascend to immortality.

The spectators below the stage remained completely silent, their faces solemn.

After the recitation of the Tao Te Ching was completed, the black banners fluttered in the wind, and the Celestial Master Zhang Jingqing began his ritual. He stepped on the steps of Yu, touching the Big Dipper constellation carved on the blue bricks under his feet.

Holding the imperial bell, he began to ring it. After every nine rings, twenty-four scripture masters would recite the "Three Officials and Northern Dipper Scripture".

When the scriptures were finished, bells, chimes, and cymbals rang out in unison, and an echo reverberated through the cliffs of Nanyan Palace, a truly mystical sound.

The onlookers were very curious about this scene.

The Wudang Taoist priest in charge of receiving them told everyone that these were the Turtle and Snake Generals under Zhenwu's command responding.

"Is it really that mysterious?" Lü Ci asked in a low voice.

Zhang Zhiwei ignored him.

Zhang Huaiyi responded quietly, "Don't speak in formal settings."

Lu Ci immediately shut his mouth. The reason for this was not because he listened to Zhang Huaiyi, but because of Zhang Zhiwei's attitude.

After the chanting of the sutras is completed, the memorial to the emperor is presented.

Zhang Jingqing took out the prepared document, which was written on yellow hemp paper with neat handwriting. The document included the ascensioner's life story, cultivation achievements, and so on.

He folded the memorial into a specific shape, placed it in the "memorial holder" next to the incense burner, then raised the holder and bowed towards the statue of Zhenwu the Great.
"My disciple, Sun, has now completed his cultivation and ascended to immortality. I hereby respectfully submit this memorial."

As soon as he finished speaking, a young Taoist boy took the watch from Zhang Jingqing's hand and carried it to the watch-burning furnace outside the hall, where he lit it to burn.

Taoism believes that the ashes of paper, rising with the smoke, can transmit messages to the Heavenly Court and complete the notification. The ordination ceremony at Longhu Mountain also uses this method to confer ordination certificates upon disciples.

As the clock face burned, dozens of Taoist priests performed the Tai Chi starting posture, their robes fluttering like a flock of cranes spreading their wings.

Where the wisps of smoke carrying the memorial rose, they met the "Wudang Verdant Clouds" that swirled around the summit of Tianzhu Peak.

The onlookers watched this scene in silence, secretly marveling at how many disciples Wudang had to have; it truly lived up to its reputation as a great sect of Taoism.

Some smaller sects, like Qingzhuyuan, have fewer than ten members in total.

The burnt-out cylinder was completely burned away, the blue smoke disappeared, and the Taoist priests stopped their Tai Chi practice. Next, they would "pay homage to the immortal's transformation".

At Zhang Jingqing's command, the disciples carried the wooden platform on which the statue was placed and slowly circled the altar once. The Taoist priests stepped forward one by one, placed their hands on their hearts, and bowed in respect.

After the Taoist priests finished their greetings, it was the turn of the spectators to step forward and pay their respects. Following the order of their sects, the spectators took turns bowing to the clay statue of Sect Leader Sun.

During this process, the red-faced old Taoist stood aside, watching this scene with reverence and satisfaction in his eyes, and sighed softly: "Finally, it has come to a perfect end, junior brother, congratulations!"

After the ceremony, it was time for the final farewell to the immortals.

Zhang Jingqing held a whisk, waved it three times, and said loudly, "My earthly ties are severed, the path to immortality is opened. May you ride the clouds and return to Penglai soon."

The Taoist priests echoed the call and simultaneously struck the cloud-shaped clappers outside the hall. Three soft strikes symbolized that the "celestial chariot" had set off.

Immediately afterwards, the disciples carried the clay statue of Master Sun and placed it in the Xuanwu niche, which was carved from a single piece of Wudang bluestone.

The stone niche is shaped like a giant egg, with tortoise shell patterns carved on the outside and the Twenty-Eight Mansions painted in cinnabar on the inner wall.

Eight Taoist priests carried the stone niche on their shoulders and, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, walked down Tianzhu Peak and ascended Taizi Rock, placing it directly opposite the natural basalt stone statue of Wulao Peak.

This place was designated as the "Hidden Immortal Cave" by Emperor Yongle when he ordered the construction of the Taoist temple. There are many "immortal remains" here, but unlike the clay sculptures of Master Sun, most of them are physical bodies.

Those must be the true Wudang Taoist priests who have passed away. They are buried here, with heaven and earth as their coffins and the sun and moon as their candles.

This is Taoism's unique way of commemorating "ascension to immortality," a "celebration" belonging to practitioners who walk alongside the Tao. (End of Chapter)