Catching Monsters

Chapter 140: Securing the Third Place, Striving for the Second Place, and Hoping for the First Place
Wu Chi glanced at Jiang Yun, then said, "Old Immortal, it seems you are here to look for Young Master Jiang."

Tao Yuelan looked at Jiang Yun in surprise.

Jiang Yun smiled and said, "Aunt, in addition to writing poems and reading books, I also have a hobby of studying Taoism, so I have had some contact with the old immortal in Tianqing Temple."

Tao Yuelan was a little surprised. Of course, she knew that Jiang Yun knew some Taoist skills. After all, Jiang Yun had sent a lot of information to her.

But Jiang Yun's study of Taoism actually has some connection with that old immortal?

Soon, Xuan Daozi walked into the hall under the guidance of the servants.

Xuan Daozi had an extraordinary bearing, holding a Buddhist whisk in his hand, and walking silently, looking like a hermit from otherworldly sage.

Tao Yuelan smiled and quickly stood up to greet him: "I didn't expect the old immortal from Tianqing Temple to visit our Duke's Mansion."

Xuan Daozi had a long white beard and very well-maintained skin. He raised his hand slightly, bowed politely to Tao Yuelan, and said calmly: "I cannot bear the title of old immortal. If it gets out, I'm afraid I'll be laughed at by the world."

"I am making the trouble to visit you because I have something to discuss with Jiang Yun."

Do you want to talk to Jiang Yun about something? Tao Yuelan's face showed a hint of confusion.

Then Xuan Daozi looked at Jiang Yun and asked, "Jiang Yun, didn't you say you had something to ask me about cultivation and asked me to help you solve it? Find a quiet place and I will give you some pointers."

Listening to Xuan Daozi's words, Jiang Yun understood that he had something he wanted to tell him in private.

He stood up and said, "Senior, follow me to the side yard to talk."

"The Infinite Daoist Master." Xuan Daozi nodded with a smile to show his agreement, and then walked out of the hall with Jiang Yun.

Wu Chi, who was standing beside him, laughed softly and said, "Madam, it seems that this Mr. Jiang is no ordinary person."

"I heard that many dignitaries in our capital city have a hard time meeting this old immortal."

"I didn't expect that Young Master Jiang could actually get the old immortal to come in person and answer his questions."

Tao Yuelan was very happy to hear this. The more outstanding Jiang Yun was, the more it proved that her vision was better.

Then Tao Yuelan whispered, "Since the old immortal of Tianqing Temple appreciates Jiang Yun so much, please make arrangements later. I will go to Tianqing Temple and donate some silver to offer to the Taoist Master."

"Yes." Wu Chi smiled and nodded repeatedly.

At the same time, Jiang Yun came to the side yard and found a quiet place with no one around. He then made a Wuxiang Jue gesture to Xuan Daozi and said, "Senior, are you here?"

"It's over, it's over." Seeing that there was no one around, Xuan Daozi was too lazy to pretend to be a master.

He anxiously grabbed Jiang Yun's hand and said, "The Dao Conference will be held in a few days. Qingfeng Temple is still okay, but Yun Zhongzi from Baiyun Temple is back..."

"Yun Zhongzi?" Jiang Yun asked puzzledly.

"This Yun Zhongzi is about your age. He is a rare Taoist genius. He was discovered by our three Taoist temples at the same time about fifteen years ago."

"Then our three families used various means, but in the end, it was snatched away by Baiyun Temple."

When he said this, Xuan Daozi couldn't help but slump his feet and chest, and said with regret: "Later, I learned that Yun Zhongzi was actually the sixth prince of your majesty."

"Sixth Prince? Taoist priest?" Jiang Yun was a little surprised when he heard this, and asked in a low voice: "Senior, didn't I hear that His Majesty hates Taoist priests?"

Xuan Daozi said helplessly: "The Sixth Prince has been obsessed with Taoism since he was a child. It is precisely because the current emperor does not like Taoism that he has always disapproved of him learning Taoism."

"Later, the Sixth Prince simply changed his identity and came to participate in the disciple-recruiting ceremony of our three Taoist temples."

"I didn't expect that he is indeed a genius in practicing Taoism."

"He is about the same age as you, but he has already reached the sixth level of the Taoist inner elixir realm."

"Later, he realized that he couldn't easily break through, so he simply went out to travel alone, and declared that he would not return to the capital unless he could reach the fifth level of guarding oneness."

"Now that he's back, I'm afraid he has made a breakthrough."

Thinking of this, Xuan Daozi's eyes showed helplessness. He had wanted to show off his talents at this year's Taoism Conference with the help of Jiang Yun.

But the Sixth Prince is back, and it's all over.

Seeing the despair on Xuan Daozi's face, Jiang Yun smiled and said, "Don't worry, senior. I will do my best. How long will it take for the Dao Conference to start?"

Xuan Daozi: "It's the seventh day of the first lunar month, there are still five days left."

Jiang Yun asked: "What is this Dao Conference about? The understanding of the Dao, or?"

Xuan Daozi took a deep breath and slowly explained, "The Dao Conference will last for two days."

"The first day's competition is about the comprehension of the Tao, that is, the discussion of the Tao."

"The competition on the second day will be a Taoist battle of wits."

"In the next two days, any disciple under the age of thirty from any of the three gyms can participate."

"It is a platform for exchanging Taoist experiences and techniques. Over the years, there have been winners and losers."

Jiang Yun looked at Xuan Daozi with some suspicion and asked, "Did they each win or lose?"

Xuan Daozi's old face turned slightly red, and he coughed and said, "Baiyun Temple and Qingfeng Temple have won and lost against each other, competing for the first and second place."

"Our Tianqing Temple performed very stably."

"Every year I try to maintain third place, fight for second place, and hope for first place."

Jiang Yun was stunned. There were only three Taoist temples in the whole country...

Afterwards, Xuan Daozi secretly handed Jiang Yun a piece of paper and said, "This is some of my insights into Taoism over the years. Take some time to memorize it."

"I have seen your strength. If we were to compete in Taoism, you should be quite good." "But you are a self-taught person after all. Your understanding of Taoism may be a little lacking."

Looking at the note, Jiang Yun pondered for a moment and accepted it without thinking too much.

Jiang Yun then asked a question that interested him: "Old Senior, if I want to open a Taoist temple, is there any way?"

Hearing this, Xuan Daozi was stunned for a moment, staring at Jiang Yun for a long time, and then shook his head: "Impossible, or it's very difficult."

"The first step is to get the approval of His Majesty."

"But the current emperor is extremely sensitive about Taoism..."

"I'm sure they won't agree to build a new Taoist temple. You don't even need to think about it."

In fact, it is not just a problem for the current emperor.

Xuan Daozi knew very well that when Jiang Yun built a Taoist temple, he was definitely not going to worship the Taoist Master, but rather the Three Pure Ones as he called them.

How can such unconventional methods be worshipped in a temple?
The three orthodox Taoist temples would oppose it immediately and demolish this guy's secret temple.

Of course, Xuan Daozi did not say all this out loud, after all, he was still counting on Jiang Yun's help.

In addition, he also did not think that Jiang Yun could convince the current emperor to approve his construction of a Taoist temple.

Jiang Yun frowned slightly. Did he still have to ask the Emperor for help?

Xuan Daozi was standing nearby, and said with a smile, "You are building a Taoist temple just to make money."

"I'll tell you the truth. Our Tianqing Temple is hundreds of years old, but now it's doing very poorly and no one is interested in it."

"Just tinker with the Buddhist temples, and build more temples like Changxin Temple."

Jiang Yun shook his head seriously and said in a deep voice: "Old senior, you misunderstood. I built the Taoist temple not to make money, but to promote the Three Pure Ones Taoism."

Xuan Daozi sighed slightly. This young man is really a stubborn donkey. He won't turn back until he hits the wall.

He did not persuade her again, but said, "Okay, don't forget to memorize the cheat sheet I gave you."

"I'll leave first."

After saying this, he waved his whisk and left the Duke Zhenguo's Mansion.

Looking at Xuan Daozi's back, Jiang Yun picked up the cheat sheet Xuan Daozi gave him and looked at it carefully.

I couldn't help but shook my head and put it away.

Discussing the Dao is Jiang Yun's strong point. In his previous life, he had debates with many people, and several of his fellow disciples were not necessarily able to defeat him in an argument.

To put it simply, discussing the Dao is more like quarreling.

Because there is no standard for the Tao, and everyone's path may be different, all you need to do is use your mouth to convince the other person so that he or she may not be convinced in their heart but at least accepts it.

After returning to the hall and informing Tao Yuelan that Xuan Daozi had left, he returned to the courtyard where he was temporarily staying.

At this time, the inside had been almost tidied up. The yard was not very big and there was a separate room inside.

Xu Suwen and Jiang Qiaoqiao temporarily stayed in the room next door.

Jiang Yun did not go back to her room to rest directly. Instead, she came to Xu Suwen's yard and looked inside. Xu Suwen was sitting alone, embroidering.

Jiang Yun walked in with a smile and asked, "Where's Qiaoqiao?"

"At this time, she should be in the study, learning calligraphy from the teacher." Xu Suwen put away the embroidery first and pointed to the chair next to her: "Sit down."

Jiang Yun nodded and sat next to Xu Suwen.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The breeze blew through the courtyard, and birds chirped on the branches in the courtyard.

Jiang Yun couldn't help but sigh in his heart. On weekdays, except for meditating, he rarely could be so quiet.

Xu Suwen was busy embroidering quietly. From time to time, the breeze would mess up her hair, and she would raise her hands to tidy it up.

Jiang Yun couldn't help but feel a palpitation in his heart.

No, my Tao heart is not stable!
Jiang Yun took a deep breath and quickly recited the meditation technique silently.

Xu Suwen turned around and saw Jiang Yun sitting seriously. She couldn't help laughing, then picked up the embroidery and asked, "Isn't it beautiful?"

Jiang Yun's attention was not on the embroidery, his eyes were fixed on Xu Suwen's eyes: "It is indeed beautiful."

Xu Suwen said thoughtfully: "I used to hate embroidery. I always felt like I couldn't calm down."

"It would drive me crazy if I were to sit quietly in the yard and do something like this for an entire afternoon."

"After I met Qiaoqiao, my thoughts changed a lot."

Xu Suwen said seriously: "Qiaoqiao is too optimistic and happy."

"To be honest, if I had the same fate as her, I wouldn't be able to do it to the extent that she did."

"My parents died young, and then I had to rely on a little girl to earn money to support the family, running around and working hard."

"But she is still happy and full of hope and joy for life every day."

"She always told me that a happy day is a day, and a sad day is also a day."

"Then why not spend the day happily."

(End of this chapter)