"The Heavenly King said: Those who follow the Dao enter through sincerity, guard it through silence, and wield it through gentleness. To employ sincerity is to seem foolish; to employ silence is to seem inarticulate..."
The middle-aged Daoist in yellow sat at the head, reciting the scripture. His voice was not loud, yet it was exceptionally bright and clear, and every word seemed to sink deep into the hearts of his listeners with the sound.
Below him, a group of black-robed Daoists recited along with him. Their voices rose and fell, some fast and some slow; they were not especially orderly, but their voices were clear and brimming with youthful vigor.
After half an hour of recitation, the day's lesson was complete.
The middle-aged Daoist in yellow said, "The Divine Firmament Heavenly King Scripture is the foundation of our sect's cultivation. Though it contains no specific cultivation formulas, it points directly to the Great Dao. You must silently recite it at least a hundred times each day..."
After the many young black-robed Daoists answered in unison, they filed out of the hall in an orderly fashion.
The middle-aged Daoist in yellow said, "Gao Xian, remain behind."
Gao Xian, dressed in black, stepped out from the line. He came before the middle-aged Daoist and clasped his hands in salute. "Teacher."
"You harbor the Great Dao in your heart, observe discipline with utmost rigor, and cultivate with profound diligence. You also possess a gift for the sword—none among your peers can compare."
Smiling, the yellow-robed Daoist said, "Now that you have formed a Nascent Soul, today I will pass the Divine Firmament Sword Scripture on to you. Go back and cultivate it well. You must not transmit it in private."
"Yes, Teacher." Gao Xian bowed and answered solemnly.
With a sweep of