Searching for the best path, starting from Renjia Town

Chapter 37 Reward
"How did it get like this?"

When they returned to Maoshan, they saw that the group was covered in dust and dirt, and Uncle Jiu and the others looked at each other in bewilderment.

They were going to catch ghosts, not to rob tombs. They were just a group of wandering ghosts. How could they be in such a mess with Zheng Zibu with them?

Fortunately, everyone returned safely.

Everyone went to wash and change clothes, and Zheng Zibu recounted what happened last night to Master Xuanyi, as well as his uncles and brothers.

There is such a thing.

Apart from the so-called Ghost King, what everyone is more concerned about is which bastard set the fire and almost burned everyone to death, and who was the god who brought down the thunder from the sky.

Everyone was puzzled, except Uncle Jiu, who lowered his head and kicked the pebbles on the ground with his toes.

"The results of this test are out."

After breakfast the next day, at Beiji Pavilion, Zheng Zibu announced the results based on the performance of the three rounds of tests.

Li Kunshan, Qiu Sheng, Lu Ming, Shi Shaojian, Wang Yi, Zhao Liang.

In this examination, among the thirty-six generations of disciples, these six performed the best and are qualified to go to Longhu Mountain to seek ordination!
"Fight for it?"

The six people who were so excited just now were stunned when they heard these two words.

Can't you be ordained if you win? Why do you still have to fight for it? Why do you have to go to Longhu Mountain?

"The Sanyuan Festival is the time for the ancestral temple to bestow the ordination."

Zheng Zibu had a cold expression and gave a general explanation to everyone.

In the eighth year of Emperor Chengzong's reign, the imperial court appointed the Heavenly Master of Mount Longhu as the "Leader of the Zhengyi Sect," commanding the Three Mountains' talismans. From that point on, the custom of bestowing talismans at the ancestral temple was established, requiring all such conferrals to take place at Mount Longhu.

The first ordination is scheduled for the Ghost Festival next year. In addition to disciples from Maoshan, there will also be disciples from Longhushan and Gezhaoshan.

Maoshan selected six people, and the other two families probably had no fewer. However, there were only a limited number of vacancies in the heavens, so not all of them could be ordained, and they needed to "struggle" for it.

As for how to fight specifically, Zheng Zibu did not say.

"That's actually the case."

Everyone blinked, their eyes filled with disappointment that was hard to conceal.

"It's all kung fu and Taoism, and at the end they even went out to catch ghosts. After all this fuss, it's still just a preliminary selection."

Qiu Sheng muttered a few words, his face full of reluctance.

"The Dharma cannot be passed on lightly, and the talisman cannot be given lightly! It's not as easy as you think!"

Uncle Jiu shouted softly and glared at Qiu Sheng.

Qiu Sheng curled his lips and didn't dare to say anything more.

I couldn't help but think, no wonder Uncle Jiu was promoted during the Ghost Festival this year and came back not long after.

It turned out that we went to Longhu Mountain, not Maoshan. Longhu Mountain is in Jiangxi, which is adjacent to Fujian.

"Whether you can be or not is not up to Grandmaster to decide. It depends on whether you can defeat those brats from Longhu Mountain and Gezhao Mountain. But Grandmaster will not let you win in vain in this test."

Master Xuanyi smiled and ordered Zheng Zibu to take out the reward.

It had been agreed before that those who performed well in this test would be rewarded.

The few people who had been complaining just now suddenly became happy.

"This is the magic sword I used in my early years. It's made of brass and has slain over three hundred demons and monsters. I'm giving it to you now. I hope you'll take good care of it."

He took a long wooden box from Zheng Zibu and opened it, revealing a three-foot brass sword. Xuanyi Zhenren gently stroked the blade and handed it to Shi Shaojian.

"Thank you, Master!"

For Taoists, no matter they are performing rituals or subduing demons, they cannot do without the magic sword. As an important magic weapon, the magic sword is almost a symbol of strength!
Shi Shaojian's face was full of excitement. Now that Master Xuanyi was passing on the magic sword to him, didn't this imply that he would inherit Maoshan?

He kowtowed hard and quickly took it with both hands.

Then he stood up and walked back, holding the magic sword in his arms, and looked at Li Kunshan provocatively.

"Tsk, what's there to be proud of?"

Li Kunshan's expression remained unchanged, and Qiu Sheng beside him snorted coldly.

Although he said so, he also knew the significance of the magic sword. In his heart, he was depressed. Even if the master didn't pass the magic sword to Li Kunshan, why did he choose Shi Shaojian?

Just as he was muttering, Master Xuanyi smiled and beckoned him.

Qiu Sheng hurried forward and knelt in front of Master Xuanyi.

Zheng Zibu handed over a tray with a pair of golden cymbals inside. Master Xuanyi picked them up and handed them to Qiu Sheng.

"This is also a magical weapon I used in my early years. I've nurtured it for many years. It has some magical power. Ordinary ghosts can be subdued instantly with just a touch of the golden cymbal."

"Thank you, Master!"

Qiu Sheng was so happy to receive such a great treasure that he kowtowed and took it.

After standing up, he came back holding the golden cymbals and looked at Shi Shaojian provocatively.

What I mean is, what’s so great about that? I also got the magical weapon that my master had when he was young.

Shi Shaojian snorted coldly, his face showing contempt.

Although it is also a magic weapon, how can it be compared with his magic sword.

Among the Taoist magic tools, the magic sword and magic seal are the most important. For example, the treasures inherited by the Heavenly Master of Longhu Mountain are the Heavenly Master Sword and Heavenly Master Seal.

Next, Master Xuanyi called the remaining disciples forward one after another and gave them rewards, all of which were magical instruments he had used when he was young.

Although they were all extremely powerful, they were ultimately inferior to the magic swords, and in the end only Li Kunshan was left.

"come on."

Master Xuanyi smiled and waved to Li Kunshan.

For a moment, everyone became nervous.

In this test, if there is anyone who can stand shoulder to shoulder with Shi Shaojian, it is only Li Kunshan.

Shi Shaojian was granted the Dharma Sword. Would Xuanyi Master give the Dharma Seal, which he had not yet granted, to Li Kunshan? If so, Li Kunshan and Shi Shaojian would be the twins recognized by the Grandmaster as the successors.

"You are extremely talented, but you have a somewhat erratic personality. If you want to achieve great things, you need to calm down."

As Master Xuanyi was speaking, he took the item from Zheng Zibu's hand. Everyone stretched their necks to take a look and were stunned.

It was not a Dharma seal, nor even a Dharma instrument, but two yellowed thread-bound booklets.

"This is the Huangting Sutra that I copied in my early years. If you recite it every day, you will naturally be able to cultivate your character."

Cultivate your character?
Hearing this, everyone was stunned again, and then they all sneered.

Not only did he not give Li Kunshan a magical weapon, but he gave him a Buddhist scripture and asked him to cultivate his body and mind. It was obvious that the master was blaming him for not having a peaceful mind and was giving him a warning!
At the same time, Shi Shaojian couldn't help but let out a long sigh, holding the magic sword in his hand, feeling even more proud.

Shi Jian sat on the side, took a look at the two Huangting Sutras, and snorted in his heart.

When he went down the mountain, his master Xuanyi Zhenren gave him two books, saying that they would help him cultivate his character. However, he only read them a few times and threw them aside out of boredom.

Cultivating one's body and mind is not as good as practicing magic. As long as one has advanced magic skills, any demon can be easily captured. Why bother cultivating one's body and mind?
"Thank you, Master."

Facing the cold eyes and ridicule of the crowd, Li Kunshan remained calm and took it with both hands very solemnly.

Seeing this, Master Xuanyi nodded slightly and gave a few more instructions.

"Remember, there is a difference between the inner and outer. Read the Outer Scenery Sutra first, and then study the Inner Scenery Sutra when you have achieved success."

"Yes, disciple, I have remembered it."

Li Kunshan responded and stood up and came back holding two copies of the Huangting Sutra.

After giving out the rewards, Master Xuanyi waved his hand and said something to everyone.

"You have already come to see us old guys, so go down the mountain today."

"Master!"

Hearing this, the thirty-fifth generation of disciples came forward one after another and knelt before Master Xuanyi, crying.

The thirty-sixth generation disciples were in a panic and knelt down.

(End of this chapter)