Bestowing a Daoist Name

Her sudden bow caught all Three Masters, freshly minted as they were, off guard.

Tongtian found it amusing, stroking his chin.

He watched Little One's solemn expression with great interest.

Laozi, meanwhile, thought that although the child was young, she unexpectedly knew proper etiquette. A trace of barely perceptible approval flickered in his eyes.

But then he instantly realized that though the jade floor was smooth, it was also hard and cold!

How could her delicate, fragile knees be allowed to kneel so casually!

An inexplicable impulse nearly made him reach out at once and support her with invisible force.

However, Su Miao's bow only made it halfway before getting stuck.

Her little body swayed. Seemingly finding the posture uncomfortable, her little eyes darted, and she immediately changed her mind.

She smoothly switched to an even clumsier but exceptionally sincere clasped-hands salute.

Her chubby little hands hugged the Banner as she properly clasped them together.

Then she raised her plump little face, still carrying a bit of baby fat.

Wearing what she thought was her sweetest, most obedient smile, she called out in a milky voice, somewhat tentatively, "Disciple Su Miao greets Master! Uh... Three Masters?"

Her big eyes moved back and forth among the Three Pure Ones, slightly bewildered, as if she was unsure how to divide up the forms of address.

Buy one, get two free!

Definitely buy one, get two free!

What a massive profit!

Whatever, she would call all three of them Master!

If she was going to cling to powerful thighs, she had to cling to all of them! Not one could be left out!

"Three Masters?"

Tongtian was amused by the address. He crouched down until he was level with Su Miao and asked with a grin, "Little One, do you know that in the Prehistoric World, people ordinarily use 'Revered Master' to show respect?

"What is this 'Master' of yours supposed to mean?"

He felt that this little girl always came up with strange new terms.

Upon hearing that, Su Miao immediately puffed out her little chest, feeling that her chance to display her cultural refinement had arrived.

She had received higher education on Blue Star!

Trying to make her little milky voice sound more scholarly, she shook her head as she explained, "A Master for one day, a father for life!

"A Master is both a teacher who imparts skills and an elder as close to and respected as a father!

"So calling you Master feels more intimate!

"It sounds much nicer than the cold, stiff 'Revered Master'!"

She spoke with complete conviction and nodded her little head vigorously, utterly pleased with her own explanation.

Perfect!

It showed respect for one's Master and the Dao, while also hinting that she wanted familial care. I really am such a clever little girl!

Yet to the Three Pure Ones, her words struck like thunder!

A Master for one day, a father for life!

Master—Master, a Master was like a father!

So that was the root of it!

In that instant.

All their confusion was answered!

Why had the Heavenly Dao shown them both "co-disciples" and "father-daughter ordained by Heaven"!

It was not that the Heavenly Dao had randomly bound them together.

Rather, this child's understanding of the master-disciple relationship already contained such deep, Heart of a Newborn Child affection—regarding her Master as a father!

This pure and solemn belief had inadvertently aligned with some deepest karmic and ethical order.

That was why it had been acknowledged by the Heavenly Dao and directly manifested as the final form of their Karma!

Tongtian suddenly understood. He slapped his thigh and burst into laughter.

"So that's it! 'A Master is like a father'!

"Wonderful! Simply wonderful!

"Little One, I love that explanation!

"From now on, call me Master Tongtian!"

He felt that this relationship suited him perfectly—both impressive and intimate.

The understanding in Laozi's eyes deepened.

So that was the nature of this child's heart. No wonder the Heavenly Dao had made such an arrangement.

Such an understanding carried its own pure reasoning.

"Good."

He spoke lightly, thereby acknowledging both the form of address and the meaning it contained.

Yuanshi, however, was completely frozen where he stood.

Extremely complicated emotions surged within his profound eyes.

Shock, realization, being moved, and a trace of indescribable... trembling.

He looked at the Little One with an expression begging for praise and listened to her childish yet incomparably earnest words.

"An elder as close to and respected as a father."

So in her tiny, unusual understanding.

The two words "Master" carried such weight and such warm expectation.

What she wanted was not merely a teacher to impart the Dao.

She also wanted an elder she could rely on, draw close to... a father figure?

Just now, he had still been tangled up over seniority and ritual propriety.

Yet he had never considered that what this child desired.

Was a deeper emotional bond, one that surpassed the mere designation of Master and Disciple.

The "father-daughter bond" shown by the Heavenly Dao was not some cold Rule.

It was the most direct response to her Heart of a Newborn Child!

A warm current, mixed with intense responsibility and a softness he had never felt before.

Instantly swept away the last of Yuanshi's hesitation and barriers.

As he looked at Su Miao, his gaze unconsciously softened. It even carried a faint, faint tenderness that he himself had not noticed.

He nodded slightly. His voice remained clear and cool, yet for some reason slowed considerably, carrying a solemn promise.

"If that is so, then as you wish. Master will do."

Su Miao immediately beamed, her big eyes curving into crescents!

Done! The Masters looked very satisfied!

Without warning, another profound ripple descended from above the Nine Heavens!

This time, it was not some cold intention, but tangible, warm, majestic Golden Light of Merit!

Like a small waterfall, a pillar of golden light pierced through the Innate Grand Formation.

It divided into four. Three thicker streams fell respectively onto the heads of the Three Pure Ones.

The thinner yet incomparably pure stream landed precisely atop Su Miao's crown.

Heavenly Merit!

Accepting disciples actually brought down Merit from Heaven?!

The Three Pure Ones were all stunned.

Then they instantly understood.

This was the Heavenly Dao's first acknowledgment and reward for their establishment of this dual "Master-Disciple/father-daughter" relationship!

What they did not know was that it was also a subtle binding method of the Heavenly Dao.

Having accepted this benefit, they had accepted this karma. From now on, they had to properly look after this Little Ancestor and could not easily abandon her.

Wow! A signing bonus?

Or had the five insurances and housing fund come through?

The Prehistoric World's benefits were way too good!

"Since you have entered beneath us Three Pure Ones, you should have a Daoist Name."

They really were the Three Pure Ones!

Wonderful! The Heavenly Dao big shot treated her so well. Once she grew up, she would definitely work hard for the big shot.

Laozi's gentle voice rang out, shifting the subject to a more formal matter.

He looked at Su Miao.

"You said just now that your name is Su Miao?"

Su Miao hurriedly nodded like a pecking chicken.

They were going to give her a Daoist Name!

Hopefully, it would be something classy, lofty, and impressive!

Yuanshi had somewhat calmed his emotions by then. Hearing this, he too began to ponder carefully.

Naming a Disciple was an important matter. It needed to suit their origins and temperament while carrying expectations for them.

After pondering briefly, he said, "The name Su Miao already contains the Su of vegetation and the Miao of vast waters, implying Vitality and immensity. Yet its meaning is somewhat too delicate and scattered."

Tongtian interjected, "I think this little fellow is clever and eccentric, always managing to stir up unexpected things. How about Miao Xuan? Mysterious wonders upon mysterious wonders!"

He felt it matched his first impression of Su Miao perfectly.

Laozi shook his head slightly.

"The character Miao is suitable. It embodies her innocence and naturally accords with the wonders of the Dao.

"But Xuan is somewhat too weighty. Her young form may find its meaning difficult to bear."

Yuanshi's gaze fell upon Su Miao's pure, flawless aura of origin.

Then he recalled the pure Heart of a Newborn Child in her eyes when she had explained "Master."

Something stirred in his heart, and he slowly said, "Her origin is the Pure World White Lotus. Her nature is utterly pure, a symbol of auspiciousness and purity.

"Though she took form while young, her Spiritual Light is innate. Though her actions appear mischievous, they contain natural delight and are unstained by worldly filth.

"Why not take the character 'Miao,' to represent her innocent Dao-like charm;

"And then take the character 'Heng.' Heng is the foremost jade ornament, pure and warm in quality. It signifies that she is our first Disciple, while also expressing the hope that she will keep a heart like jade—gentle, kind, and pure."

"Miao Heng."

Laozi softly repeated the name, a trace of approval flashing through his eyes.

"Miao accords with innocence, Heng with the clear chime of jade ornaments. It is an excellent Daoist Name. It suits her nature and carries our hopes."

Yuanshi's proposal had indeed considered everything thoroughly.

Tongtian also thought the name sounded pleasant and interesting. It seemed far more cultured than his Miao Xuan, so he nodded in agreement as well.

"Miao Heng? Not bad, not bad! Little Miao Heng, this will be your Daoist Name from now on!"

Miao Heng?

It sounded incredibly impressive!

Satisfied, satisfied!

She immediately went along with it, once more awkwardly clasping her little hands and solemnly saying in her milky voice, "Disciple Miao Heng thanks Masters for bestowing this name!"

With the master-disciple relationship settled, Su Miao immediately entered her role as a Little Disciple.

She knew full well how important it was to make a good first impression.

Especially before her new Masters, she had to fully display her worth and possessions!

She immediately spread her two short little legs and scampered toward the Three Pure Ones.

First, she raised her head and gave her three newly acquired backers an incomparably brilliant smile.

Then, enthusiastically waving her little arms, she eagerly began serving as their guide.

"Three Masters! Welcome to my home! I'll show you around!"

She pointed at the pool filled with Sun-Moon-Star Divine Radiance, its Spiritual Qi nearly liquefied, her little face brimming with pride.

"Master, look! This is the Three Lights Divine Water pool!

"You can drink as much as you want! There's enough for baths too! The effects are super amazing!

"Whenever Masters are thirsty or tired later, just use it however you like!"

Then she crouched down, grabbed a handful of dark soil glittering with specks of Spiritual Light in her chubby little hand, and held it up before the Three Pure Ones as if presenting a treasure.

"Master, look!

"This soil is super fertile! Anything you plant grows!

"I planted lots and lots of fun things!

"There are flowers that make you burp rainbows when you eat them, and fruits spicy enough to kill people..."

Her little mouth chattered nonstop as she tried her utmost to promote her family fortune.

From sparkling stones to glowing grass, she wished she could stuff every good thing on Mount Fangzhang into her three Masters' eyes.

Her adorable attempt to please them, mixed with a touch of childish showing off.

Only made Tongtian feel more and more that this little girl was a source of joy.

Laozi's gaze swept over the Spirit Plantings he had never seen before, and the smile in his eyes deepened.

He had to admit that this island's foundations were indeed far beyond imagination.

Yuanshi watched her bustling about like a busy little creature.

Was she so eager to show herself because she lacked a sense of security?

Was she afraid they would dislike her?

Unconsciously, he slowed his breathing, afraid of disturbing her enthusiasm.

Just as Su Miao talked herself dry, she suddenly remembered something important!

Right!

To take a master, she had to offer an Apprenticeship Ceremony gift!

That was how it always happened in TV dramas!

She couldn't just get something for nothing!

She had to show some sincerity!

But what should she give them...

Her little eyes swiftly swept across her treasures.

In the end, she made a momentous decision!

She abruptly raised her head.

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the Three Pure Ones, then declared with utmost seriousness and boundless grandeur:

"Masters! I've decided! I'm giving you this island as my Apprenticeship Ceremony gift!"