Ten Great Disciples

Dao Shan Ancestor intoned a Buddha's name and invited the Spirit Official to his own dojo, wishing to offer him hospitality.

The Spirit Official delivering the decree merely smiled. "There will be no need for a banquet. Go back and discuss how to select the right people and carry out this assignment properly."

He handed Dao Shan Ancestor a letter and said with a smile, "Besides the Great Celestial Venerable's decree, I have also brought a letter jointly signed and sealed by Zhang True Lord, Patriarch Sa, and Lion Venerable King Bodhisattva."

Just as Dao Shan Ancestor was about to offer his thanks, the Spirit Official drifted back onto the golden bridge. With a crack of thunder, the golden bridge withdrew into nothingness. Clouds veiled the sky layer by layer, and before long, no trace remained.

Tuo Tuo Ancestor could not help stepping forward and asking, "Martial Uncle Dao Shan, what letter have the ancestors sent down?"

With a casual flick, Dao Shan sent the letter in his hand flying. It transformed into radiant mist, and a single line of words illuminated Wutai Mountain.

"Those chosen as Treasure-Seeking Immortal Children shall become the Five-Terrace Sect's Ten Great Disciples, entrusted with the sect's scriptures and charged with transmitting the teachings and instructing disciples."

Beneath the letter were the signatures and seals of Zhang True Lord, Sa Celestial Master, and Lion Venerable King Bodhisattva. There was absolutely no possibility of forgery.

The several thousand disciples throughout Wutai Mountain saw it clearly. A thought arose in every heart: would the authority of these Ten Great Disciples not surpass even that of the sect elders?

In every school and sect, those who safeguarded the scriptures and were responsible for imparting the Dao teachings held the most exalted status.

Even Dao Shan Ancestor was slightly stunned. Only after a long while did he say, "This disciple respectfully obeys the decrees of the three ancestors."

Tuo Tuo Ancestor could only bow as well. "Fourth-generation disciple Tuo Tuo respectfully obeys the decrees of the three ancestors."

More than ten Wutai elders echoed him in unison. The several hundred Wutai disciples soaring in midair naturally raised their voices together, while the several thousand disciples below, whose cultivation was insufficient for flight, also shouted as one.

Wang Chong quietly said to Zhu Ying, "Did the three ancestors see that the Five-Terrace Sect was falling apart and wish to mend the sect, restoring it to unity?"

Zhu Ying replied softly, "That must be it."

"Still, Treasure-Seeking Immortal Children and Demon-Subjugating Vanguard are ranked alongside third-class celestial generals. By the Immortal Family's Twelve Ranks, they should be eleventh-rank posts. Elders with any hope of ascending would not seek such positions. Probably only fifth-generation disciples and below would fight desperately over them."

Wang Chong asked, "What are the Immortal Family's Twelve Ranks? Is a third-class celestial general a very low post?"

Zhu Ying smiled. "Very low. In the Heavenly Court, they would probably be petty officials tending horses or guarding gates. My father is still a fifth-rank Dragon King!"

"The Spirit Official who delivered the decree just now also held a fifth-rank post."

Wang Chong secretly thought, If one could ascend to the Heavenly Realm and become an immortal official, what did rank matter? Wouldn't one still be just as carefree?

Dao Shan Ancestor frowned slightly and said, "This matter is of great importance. Nephew Tuo Tuo, have your disciples send letters to every branch. Those willing to return may participate in this matter as well. Those unwilling need not return, so they will have no cause for resentment in the future."

Tuo Tuo Ancestor said, "None of my disciples are here. I will have to borrow people from the various mountains."

Dao Shan Ancestor said, "Tuo Tuo may borrow people. No mountain is to make excuses or refuse."

More than ten elders answered together.

Before long, the Wutai disciples in the sky all lowered their escaping lights. Everyone had their own thoughts as they weighed the matter.

Tuo Tuo Ancestor went to the various peaks, borrowed capable disciples, and sent them out in different directions. He also used the sect's secret art to send word to his own disciples, ordering them to return with all haste.

Such a major matter could not be arranged in a short time, and Wutai Mountain remained temporarily quiet.

In the blink of an eye, several months passed. Countless offshoots that had split away from the various lineages returned, nearly doubling the population of Wutai Mountain. Though it no longer boasted the glorious height of over ten thousand disciples from its heyday, it now had seven or eight thousand people.

Zhang True Lord had taught three disciples, Patriarch Sa had passed down four disciples, and Lion Venerable King Bodhisattva had taught only Dao Shan. His youngest disciple had roamed the world, and no one knew whether he had passed on any heirs.

Thus, there were five people in the third generation.

By the fourth generation, with Tuo Tuo at the head, Dao Shan's lineage had more than ten disciples, and Patriarch Sa's lineage had more than ten as well, totaling over thirty people. Monks and Daoists mingled together.

With so many inheritors, it was naturally exceedingly difficult to summon them all back. If seventy or eighty percent returned, that would already be remarkably complete.

Southern Zen Temple, Tuo Tuo's temple, also threw open its gates to receive the Wutai disciples returning to the mountain.

Wang Chong and Zhu Ying were both assigned to receive their fellow disciples returning to the mountain.

Wutai Mountain had not been so lively in a very long time.

Wang Chong and Zhu Ying were busy every day and had to steal time even for cultivation. They were sixth-generation disciples, while most of those they received were their seniors in generation. Thus, they endured plenty of daily abuse and found little joy in the work.

That day, Wang Chong received a fellow disciple from the third patriarch's lineage, a disciple under Wang Ancestor, and was immediately cursed out from head to toe.

This man was of the same generation as Tuo Tuo Ancestor and stood two generations above Wang Chong. Wang Chong could not well talk back. Once he had arranged suitable lodging for him, he hurried away and let Tuo Tuo's direct disciples take the blame in his stead.

After making a circuit, Wang Chong saw Zhu Ying sulking by herself. He could not help saying, "So Wutai once had this many people. Every one of them is of such high seniority, and fewer than half have decent tempers. Receiving them is truly hard to endure."

Zhu Ying said indignantly, "Some elders are utterly shameless. Seeing that I am beautiful, they spout nonsense..."

Wang Chong could not help roaring, "Who dared be so disrespectful to Sister Zhu?"

Zhu Ying hurriedly held him back. "It is only for these few days. We will not see them again afterward. Do not cause trouble, especially when our master is absent."

Zhu Ying left one thing unsaid: even if Xiao Nan were here, it would be the same, since his seniority was not high either.

Wang Chong's little face flushed red. After a while, he said in a low voice, "Sister Zhu, do not worry. I have already cultivated the second circulation of the Fire Dragon Sword Technique. Looking at these people, very few are my match."

Zhu Ying was startled. "You really cultivated the second circulation of the Fire Dragon Sword Technique?"

Wang Chong replied, "Several months have passed already. Could I not make progress even once?"

Zhu Ying thought, In cultivating Dao arts, each circulation was harder to cross than the last. Otherwise, I would have long since cultivated the power of the first circulation. Why would I have needed to obtain the Wutai Dao arts before breaking through to the second and third circulations?

Though Zhu Ying had also listened to Tuo Tuo Ancestor expound the scriptures, received Tuo Tuo's personal instruction, and had Wang Chong patiently explain things to her, she was still only at the third circulation of the Yin-Yang Five-Element Seven-Incisions Sword Technique. Her cultivation had advanced greatly over these past months, but she remained quite far from the fourth circulation.

As for cultivating the Fire Dragon Sword Technique, she had no path into it at all.

Wang Chong's Fire Dragon Sword Technique was the Five-Terrace Sect's orthodox direct inheritance. Though he possessed only two circulations, it was enough to rival the Primordial Sword Formula or the Yin-Yang Five-Element Seven-Incisions Sword Technique at great completion. The difficulty of cultivation could not be mentioned in the same breath.

As the two whispered to each other, they heard a somewhat frivolous voice shout, "So it is you two. Hurry and fetch me some hot water. This venerable one wishes to wash his feet."

Wang Chong did not turn around, but Zhu Ying's pretty face had flushed crimson. He thought, This must be the one who spoke nonsense to Sister Zhu.

He wanted to stand up for Zhu Ying. With a flick of his hand, the Crimson Lightning Sword had already flown forth...