Xuanwei

In the three realms of heaven and earth, there is purity and order, as well as places where demons and monsters exist.

Above the firmament, in the Xuan Du Purple Mansion, a place of marvelous Dao, stood a main hall. Flanking it were two Daoist boys, both clad in Daoist robes, appearing to be around fourteen or fifteen years old, with their hair in double buns. They were as delicate and exquisite as carved jade. They were originally watching over the place, intending to light candles, but when they looked up, they froze, and their expressions immediately changed drastically.

On the Jade Tablet, numerous characters were inscribed. Originally, there were only a few names.

Now, another name had faintly appeared.

They rushed out in a panic, shouting, and the entire Purple Mansion was alerted.

Before long, a Daoist priest strode out. Upon seeing the shadow of an extra name on the Jade Tablet, faint and ephemeral, the two Daoist boys became incredibly nervous, their hands clenched together. Even the Daoist priest, who appeared exceptionally dashing, stared intently at the Jade Tablet. First, he saw the character [Wei] appear, and he nodded, saying, "Wei, very good, very good."

"'Bo' without a name is called 'Wei'."

"'Bo' is flying upwards and outwards, 'bo' is charging left and right; seeking up and down, all are signs of the Xun trigram, it seems this child's cultivation is not high."

"Perhaps they can't even achieve Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown?"

"Yet, they possess a Dao heart that seeks up and down, hence the bestowed title of Wei, very good."

"A good practitioner of the Dao is subtle, mysterious, and profound, unknowable. This character 'Wei' carries such expectations."

Immediately, the Jade Tablet flowed, and the first character was about to faintly emerge.

The incomparably dashing Daoist priest stared intently.

The two thousand-year-old Daoist boys were so nervous they almost hugged each other.

Finally, this character appeared—

[Profound].

The dashing Daoist priest suddenly burst into laughter: "Hahahaha, Xuan, it's Xuan!"

"It's Xuan, hahahaha!"

"It seems the disciple our Teacher has taken is highly regarded!"

"It's just a pity I don't know when they will truly arrive here."

He raised his hand to divine, but could only obtain this Daoist title. He knew this was merely a disciple who had been registered, yet to bestow such a title indicated the Teacher's high expectations. With a hint of anticipation, he murmured, "Xuanwei, Xuanwei..."

The Daoist priest shook his head, lost in thought. The Daoist temple was simple and unadorned, but outside, it seemed chaotic.

It sounded like someone was arguing.

Then, as they argued, it finally seemed to escalate into a fight.

Then someone wanted to smash the door, some were holding him back, some were trying to mediate, some were watching the show, like a lively general store.

But the Daoist priest continued to shake his head, savoring the Daoist title with great intoxication.

Finally, there were loud banging sounds, as if the outside world was turning upside down, creating an urgent desire to break down the doors of the Xuan Du Purple Mansion. The two young Daoist boys seemed about to open the door.

The Daoist priest waved his hand and said, "No need to mind."

The two Daoist boys exchanged glances and said in unison:

"You may not mind, but we are just little Daoist boys with only a thousand years of cultivation, not yet at the realm of Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown."

"If something truly happens, we won't be able to handle it."

The Daoist priest laughed heartily and swept his sleeve. A golden rope flew out, directly binding the two Daoist boys together and hanging them from the main hall's beams, swaying back and forth. He lazily said, "Is this not acceptable?"

"Xuanwei..."

The Daoist priest lowered his eyes and sighed to himself:

"In accordance with Teacher's style, acting without acting, what happened that would lead you to enter?"

"But from now on, it will be your own path."

"One day, when you achieve Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown and Five Qi Facing the Origin, you may enter this door and write your name below your Daoist title."

The dashing Daoist priest was contemplating something, but eventually, the incessant banging from outside became unbearable. He finally stood up and opened the door, his eyes sweeping across the crowd. "Who is making such a racket again?!"

Everyone fell silent.

The Daoist priest asked, "Who no longer wants their elixirs?!"

Everyone took a step back in unison.

The Daoist priest impatiently added, "Or perhaps who is nearing the end of their lifespan and intends to refine themselves in my elixir furnace?"

"Let's see if they turn into elixir ash or a primordial body?"

Everyone took another step back, their faces changed.

"We only heard that the esteemed one has taken another disciple, and the All the Emperors witnessed the Daoist title [Xuanwei], hence we were ordered to come and offer congratulations."

"Yes, yes."

The Daoist priest smiled and said, "Congratulations? That's fine, but where are the gifts?"

"You all came, surely not empty-handed?"

The crowd exchanged glances: "Ah, this..."

Having no choice, they took out various magic treasures they had on them. Those with Ruyi scepters placed down their jade Ruyi scepters, and those with magic swords put down their magic swords.

The passing Dragon God disciples had two scales plucked, and the Kirin on one side left five drops of fresh blood.

Even the passing Luan birds had three tail feathers plucked.

About two sticks of incense later, the Daoist returned leisurely. He placed his spoils on the ground: weapons, armor, and numerous elixirs, all rising with auspicious clouds before he slowly began to take inventory. If he fancied something, he'd casually tuck it into his robes without hesitation. Two young Daoist boys were suspended in the air, swaying back and forth, too afraid to make a sound.

The great gate was shut.

The crowd outside exchanged bewildered glances.

Eventually, they could only disperse.

"Forget it, forget it. It seems he's just a registered disciple."

"Registered disciples aren't few, and there have been many over such a long time, but no one has truly reached this place in all these years."

"Indeed, indeed."

"It's just that they were shaken by that 'Xuan' character. Twelve disciples in that lineage is already a lot, and that lineage treats its disciples even more strictly. Their recruitment is strict, their cultivation is strict. They must cultivate themselves, overcome their own tribulations, and sever their own karma. Ordinary cultivators only need to complete a thousand merits, and even if they have transgressions, they can ascend to immortality. But this lineage requires eight hundred cultivation and three thousand merits to be perfected before one can enter the inner sanctum and receive the true teachings."

"Over such a long period, there have been registered disciples, but almost only one has reached this point."

"If you can't reach this Purple Mansion on your own, it will all be for naught…"

"Then, should we still prepare our gifts?"

When this question was asked, everyone fell silent. One person sighed, "Although it is said to be extremely, extremely difficult."

"But once they truly succeed, their status will be extraordinary, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them a Saint of the Mystic Gate."

"Their seniority will be higher than yours and mine."

"If they can't get here, then so be it. But if that person truly manages to reach this place, and bears the 'Xuan' generation name, they will truly be the second peerless individual in all history. How can we not prepare gifts?"

"We must be prepared. I'll go prepare something first, find some peaches with sufficient years."

"I need to go prepare something too."

"It would be one thing if it were all for naught, but if they truly manage to reach this place, we cannot be disrespectful."

"Let's go together!"

The carefree Daoist within the Xuan Du Purple Mansion sat on the ground, propping his chin with one hand, idly playing with an elixir furnace. He said lightly, "All for naught, how laughable. Isn't meeting each other a karmic affinity? Isn't knowing each other worth cherishing? To only focus on the final benefits and neglect the slow progress of the Great Dao, meeting each other once… no wonder your cultivation hasn't progressed further after a thousand years."

"But speaking of which, how many have there been in the last few thousand years? Let me think, I can't quite remember. Ah, I wonder if I can give away this furnace this time…" He played with the elixir furnace, a three-legged artifact with a dark luster like brass, inlaid with the Seven Treasures of the Daoist Sect, shining brilliantly.

After playing with it for a while, he casually placed it in his sleeve, propped his chin with one hand, and looked at the words 'Jade Tablet Xuanwei' on the Jade Tablet. He suddenly smiled and said:

"Only those who cultivate themselves to Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown and Five Qi Facing the Origin, with three thousand merits perfected, may enter this place. At that time, you can add the two words 'Supreme' before your Daoist title."

"That's how you'll be addressed then."

His voice paused, then he gently recited: "[Yuyu Miluo, Miao Miao Fan Qi, Kaiming Sanjing, Xuanli Wuchang]."

"[Supreme Xuanwei True Person, You Sheng Miaofa True Lord]."

"Sounds quite nice."

"This honorific title, senior disciple brother will keep it for you. Let's see if you can claim it within a thousand years."

"Don't be like your previous junior disciples, who only had a portion of karmic affinity."

The Daoist sighed profoundly, stood up, his cloud-like sleeves falling, his gaze clear, cold, and peaceful.

Like the rotation of the Great Dao.

On the path to eternal life.

All are but corpses.

"We haven't even met, yet they have withered."

"Truly lamentable."