When Lost in Confusion, One Fails to Understand the Double Meaning; Each Conceals Their Own Schemes
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Grain Rain, in the solar term, signifies rain that nourishes all grains. Ten Thousand Dao Immortal Palace takes its name from the image of ten thousand paths flourishing, and thus holds a Daoist discussion meeting every year during Grain Rain.
It has nothing to do with the anus...
In a place teeming with eccentrics, many people aren't even particularly interested in participating, so the lively discussions lack intensity, and many sessions have devolved into tea parties. Of course, not every session is so peaceful; competition still exists.
Especially when the prize is very useful, competition is inevitable when there is something to be gained.
In truth, Qin Yi felt a bit sorry for this celestial palace master he had never met.
Judging from the nature of the Ten Thousand Dao Immortal Palace, it was certainly not established by a palace master inheriting various paths. Rather, it was a gathering of countless enthusiasts who banded together for mutual support, both as a society and as a means of resisting the "mainstream." From this perspective, the founder of the Ten Thousand Dao Immortal Palace must have been a hero with great ideals and vision.
The result was that the ideal was very rich, but the reality was very harsh.
You say a sect is full of people who either drink, gamble, or just sit on a mountaintop playing Zither and Painting? What good is that sect? Even if you're good at cultivation, you have no real combat experience. If someone attacks and tries to steal your treasures or occupy your sacred mountain, can you really handle it?
Therefore, there is a limit to spiritual practice. For an individual, no matter how detached from worldly affairs you are, or how obsessed you are with your interests, you cannot neglect practical experience. For a sect, there are also issues such as cohesion, unity, and the cultivation of outstanding successors.
Extending this further, cultivating successors also requires resources. Resources aren't something you can simply acquire by relying on the mountains; some resources need to be collected and sought out, while others need to be exchanged with other sects. These are all matters that require someone to be responsible for. Therefore, in addition to the various peak systems, the Ten Thousand Dao Immortal Palace also has Hall of Affairs responsible for matters in various directions. The fact that Qing Cha went to register Qin Yi back then at least proves that there is a personnel department.
They're all idiots who don't care about anything; this sect would have collapsed long ago.
The various stewards of the Celestial Palace are selected from their respective departments. Those who are less obsessed and more willing to work are given certain resources Cultivation Method as rewards. Or they may simply be people with a thirst for power and greed; even if they are not suited for cultivation, they still have value to the sect.
When Qin Yi first joined the sect, in addition to his identity token, he also received a jade slip introducing the sect, which mainly explained the sect's rules and regulations. A lot could be learned from these rules and regulations.
Lower-level disciples, such as the children they had just taken in, would also need to be assigned some training after they grew up a bit, such as being in charge of the sect's Spirit Fields, guarding the sect's Treasure Mine, or even going directly to mine.
Even Ju Yunxiu can't do nothing; at least when the sect needs your abilities, you must contribute. There's also the cave abode of what happens to your belongings after death: some are buried with you, some are passed down, and some go to the public treasury. For example, Qin Yi's cave contained nothing but his unique Pill Furnace Earth Fire; Ju Yunxiu's master's painting also ended up in the public treasury in the same way.
Only then can the Celestial Palace's public treasury have something to use.
It might lead to some embezzlement, but that's what keeps a sect going. Otherwise, there's no point in such an organized group; it would be better to just Rogue Cultivator.
The main reason Qin Yi was able to do nothing was because he had only been a disciple for a short time. The Immortal Palace also gave Ju Yunxiu and Qin Yi, these "genius teenagers," some face, allowing them a period of familiarization and to cultivate a sense of belonging before doing anything else.
Qin Yi went too far. He joined the sect but didn't go anywhere. He spent all his time either cultivating in his cave abode or hanging out with his Senior Sister. Couldn't he at least go out and get to know his fellow disciples? He's been in the sect for two months and doesn't even know the Palace Master!
But there's really nothing to say about this; there are people even more homebodies than Qin Yi everywhere in the Immortal Palace, so it doesn't seem out of place at all.
Putting himself in their shoes, Qin Yi also felt that if he were the palace master, he would be extremely troubled by the situation of this immortal palace. This was determined by the foundational structure of the immortal palace, and it was difficult to change. If it were forced too much, it would lose the unique foundation of the Ten Thousand Dao Immortal Palace.
Therefore, holding some competitive activities to enhance organizational vitality and the cohesion of each sect, as well as to hone combat effectiveness, is imperative. Qin Yi believes that this palace master must attach great importance to this Grain Rain Dao Discussion.
He also attaches great importance to it.
So he went to find the chess fanatic.
He was a Daoist priest with unkempt hair and beard. Qin Yi had seen him before; he had once seen him playing chess in a pavilion on the road, and he didn't know who the other Daoist priest opposite him was.
Fortunately, the chess fanatic was not playing chess at that moment, but was studying the game score.
He'd probably read that chess manual to death; it wouldn't confuse him much. Seeing Qin Yi approach, he put the manual aside, his attitude quite pleasant. "You're my new junior apprentice? I heard your name is Yi? I like your name. Why are you only meeting me now?"
Qin Yi performed a junior's bow. "I'm ashamed to say that I don't know how to play chess."
"It's alright. Yunxiu isn't very interested in chess, and I know nothing about music. Our sect doesn't require everyone to be an expert." The chess fanatic stroked his beard and smiled. "Besides, it's not just about sitting across from each other at a chessboard and idly tapping the pieces that you call it chess."
Qin Yi breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "It seems that people have some misunderstandings about our sect. I, your humble nephew, have also been misled."
The chess fanatic said, "You haven't come to see me at all. Is it because you're afraid of this?"
"That's true, I heard that my martial uncle can get people to play chess." Qin Yi had always avoided such "eccentrics," but now it seems that they are actually quite easy to communicate with.
Ju Yunxiu is similar; as long as it doesn't involve things that fascinate her, she's usually a very normal mature woman.
"That Dead Crane at the gate, right? It took it five hundred years to finally win a round, and it has the nerve to tell me that even immortals don't have many years left."
Qin Yi: "..."
"There's something to be obsessed with when you meet a worthy opponent; there's nothing to be obsessed with with someone who can't play chess." The chess fanatic laughed, "Do you really think I can drag people out to play chess anytime, anywhere? Where would I find so many opponents?"
Qin Yi smiled and said, "Uncle-Master, you can teach me a few moves. If you have time in the future, I can play chess with you."
"I know why you've come: you've come to Grain Rain Dao Discussion, and you want to see what I can teach you?"
"Yes, even though it's a last-minute effort, I'd like to have as many methods as possible."
The chess fanatic chuckled, "Both inside and outside the game, deep in thought, still harbor the human desire for victory. You may not know chess, but haven't you already entered the game?"
Qin Yi pondered for a moment and said, "Does Martial Uncle mean there's a scheme involved this time?"
"Where isn't a game?" The chess fanatic pulled out a pair of black and white pieces and tossed them over. "Here's a little gift for you."
Qin Yi took the black and white pieces and asked in surprise, "This is...?"
"It's too much to ask you to learn the way of chess now," the chess fanatic laughed. "This is called Yin Yang Maze, which can be used for a Shape-Shifting. It can also be considered my participation in the competition of the way of chess. After this game, if you are interested, we can discuss the mysteries again."
Qin Yi left, completely bewildered. A treasure that Shape-Shifting another's location—was it meant to save his life? Not bad, huh?
But is it really necessary to need something to protect one's life in this Daoist competition at the Ten Thousand Dao Immortal Palace? Could this chess fanatic have foreseen something? Or did he see something in the game?
Although completely baffled, I didn't experience much of the awe-inspiring feeling of encountering a "reclusive master." After all, the Immortal Dao immortality is ethereal, and I've seen far too many pretentious people who love to put on airs; I'm used to it.
Just like now that I'm familiar with Ju Yunxiu, she's just a pretty Senior Sister, and quite funny too. If I had left after that first meeting with the "person in the book," wouldn't the memories I left behind also be a high-class mystery...?
Not to mention the Liusu that are professionally designed for showing off.
This chess game, both inside and out, sounds full of mystery, but it's really just that simple.
Maybe once you get to know them better, you'll find out they're actually quite funny.
But then again, the way of chess isn't just about playing chess as I originally imagined... If we look at what the chess fanatic said, what isn't a chess game?
Heaven and earth are the game board, and all living beings are the pieces. So what is the so-called control of one's own destiny if not becoming the one playing the game?
The chess fanatic's words suddenly flashed into my mind. "It's not just about sitting across from each other at the chessboard and idly tapping the pieces that makes a game of chess."
I heard your name is Yi? I like your name.