Qingxian Learns the Arts, a Peach Throws His Heart into Chaos

"Do you know what the problem is with this book?" Li Qingxian asked.

Jiang Youfei placed her slender hand on the book, tapping it lightly a few times with her index finger. She glanced at Li Qingxian, her eyes flashing, and asked, "Besides this book, what other formal Daoist texts have you read?"

"Just this one," Li Qingxian said.

"No wonder..." Jiang Youfei fell into deep thought.

"What's wrong?"

Jiang Youfei said calmly, "You were able to absorb the Divine Firmament Thunder Seed because you possessed the Thunder Ancestor Precious Proclamation and the Divine Firmament General Canon. If you want to practice Thunder Arts, you naturally need other things as well. This book is suitable for those with profound knowledge of Daoist arts, but you know nothing about Daoist arts."

"For example?"

"Do you know how to set up an altar?"

Li Qingxian shook his head.

"Could we submit a memorial to the emperor?"

Li Qingxian shook his head.

"Will you choose a god?"

Li Qingxian shook his head.

"Will you offer thanks at the memorial service?"

Li Qingxian said, "I think I've heard of this before. It's a way to thank the gods. It used to be called something like 'Dajiao,' but later it was all changed to 'Ji'."

"These are just the basics. In ancient times, the transmission of authority was extremely strict, requiring the bestowal of Thunder Edict, the acquisition of Divine Might Iron Writ, the creation of a seal, and so on—it was incredibly complicated. Now, with the transmission incomplete, it has been simplified considerably."

"I think I understand why I can't learn it..." Li Qingxian hadn't expected learning Thunder Arts to be so complicated.

Jiang Youfei said, "The rituals of this kind vary from sect to sect. I only know the complete ritual of the Tianxiao Sect. I know the rituals of the others, but I have never used them. I'm afraid that if I use them, they will be distorted and it will be detrimental to your cultivation."

"And then?" Li Qingxian asked.

"If you want to learn Thunder Arts from me, there are two paths. One is to join the Sky Firmament Sect and become a formal disciple, but you will need to undergo rigorous and lengthy assessments, and you will also need to resign from the Night Guard and return to Sky Firmament Mountain with me."

"The next path," Li Qingxian said decisively.

"You have an official position, and the Sky Firmament Sect has a contract with the imperial court, so you can become an official disciple. Apart from the fundamental Dao of the Sky Firmament Sect and the supreme Thunder Arts, everything else can be taught to you."

"I know about the official disciple thing, but I think I'm more suited to this path. All I need is the imperial court's appointment and your Sky Firmament Sect's consent," Li Qingxian said.

Jiang Youfei nodded slightly with her small chin and said, "However, you need to think carefully. If you choose the path of an official disciple, you will never be able to join any major Dao Sect. Once your official disciple status is revoked by the imperial court, the Sky Firmament Sect Jiang Youfei expel you from the list."

Li Qingxian said, "I know that, but if I can get my hands on the secret manuals of the major sects, can I still learn them?"

Jiang Youfei paused for a moment, then said softly, "That's true, but... isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

"I understand now. I don't believe the imperial court doesn't have the Supreme Thunder Arts." Li Qingxian felt relieved.

Jiang Youfei glanced at Li Qingxian helplessly.

Jiang Youfei straightened her small body and said, "With Uncle Zhou as your guarantor, you will be able to obtain the status of an official disciple of the Sky Firmament Sect in a few days. However... you have the Divine Firmament Thunder Seed, so it would be a waste for you to be a third-generation disciple. There are no good second-generation disciples here in the Divine Capital to teach you."

"Aren't you a second-generation disciple personally taught by Sect Leader Jiang?" Li Qingxian asked.

"But I don't accept disciples," Jiang Youfei said.

"It's alright, I don't mind," Li Qingxian said seriously. "Don't worry, if I really want to become your disciple, I will definitely study hard. A teacher for a day is a father for life."

Jiang Youfei stared at Li Qingxian with slightly bright eyes, vaguely sensing that he had ill intentions, and repeated, "I don't accept disciples!"

"Then what should we do?"

"Master and Uncle Zhou have a past relationship. If Uncle Zhou recommends you, Master might be willing to accept you as an official disciple. So, on behalf of Master, I will accept you as an official disciple of the Sky Firmament Sect," said Jiang Youfei.

Li Qingxian felt a little regretful, but he quickly cheered up, stood up, bowed, and said, "Junior Brother Li Qingxian greets You Fei Sister Youfei."

"Do you know the drill ground that Uncle Zhou designated?" Jiang Youfei asked.

"I don't know him, but I'll ask. Let's go."

As soon as Li Qingxian stepped out, he asked a guard for directions. Led by the guard, the two entered the Jia-Eight Training Ground.

The training ground was surrounded by two-zhang-high black walls, with talismans faintly visible at the top of the walls, forming a square area with sides of about ten zhang.

The ground was hard, solid soil, and various mannequins were placed throughout the area—made of straw, wood, cast iron, and even talismans.

Jiang Youfei glanced around and nodded slightly.

"Shall we begin?" Li Qingxian asked.

Jiang Youfei nodded, walked to the small platform used for inspection in the training ground, and with a gesture of her right hand, produced a black wooden plaque with red characters carved on it, which resembled an ancestral tablet placed in a temple.

The sacred tablet is engraved with the name "Supreme Divine Firmament Jade Pure True King Longevity Emperor Unifying Heavenly Primordial Saint Heavenly Venerable".

Consort Jiang said, "Logically, official disciples should worship the 'Nine Heavens Responding to the Origin of Thunder and Universal Transformation Heavenly Venerable,' who is the incarnation of the 'Supreme Divine Firmament Jade Purity True King Longevity Emperor Unifying the Heavenly Primordial Saint Heavenly Venerable.' However, since you possess the Divine Firmament Thunder Seed and hold a very high position, you will worship the 'Supreme Divine Firmament Jade Purity True King Longevity Emperor Unifying the Heavenly Primordial Saint Heavenly Venerable' together with the direct disciples of the Heavenly Firmament Sect. Next, I will pass on the 'Antarctic Precious Proclamation' to you, and you will recite it in the same way as you did the 'Thunder Ancestor Precious Proclamation' last time."

"Yes." Li Qingxian thought to himself, "That's quite a long name."

Jiang Youfei passed on the Southern Pole Precious Proclamation.

"With utmost sincerity, I take refuge in the High Supreme Divine Firmament Palace, the Spirit-Concentrating Radiant Illumination Palace..." Li Qingxian silently recited three times in his heart, only to feel the Thunder Dragon Fire Seal grow even hotter.

Jiang Youfei added, "There is no altar here, but the rites must not be disregarded."

As Jiang Youfei spoke, she waved her right hand, and a three-tiered jade platform made of white jade appeared on the high platform. It was about a foot long and wide and three inches high, and the Holy Tablet of the Great Emperor of Longevity was placed on it.

"I will now begin the ritual. Sit cross-legged facing the sacred tablet of the Great Emperor of Longevity, and ensure your mind is free from all distractions."

"Good."

Li Qingxian found a suitable spot and sat down.

"If I make a mistake during my first time giving a Dharma talk, it's just bad luck."

Under Li Qingxian's helpless gaze, Jiang Youfei first recited purification incantations, including those for Mouth-Purification Mantra, Body-Purification Mantra, Hand-Purification Mantra, Sword-Purification Mantra, and then recited incantations for Earth-Calming Divine Mantra and Heaven-and-Earth Purification and earth.

Then, they took out four yellow flags and planted them in the southeast, northwest, and southwest corners of the small drill ground.

Li Qingxian sensed a change in the surrounding energy, as if an extra power had appeared, which should be the legendary Spiritual Qi.

Next, Jiang Youfei took out two black banners with yellow characters, a bronze incense burner carved with nine cranes, a pair of lotus candlesticks, two celadon vases, a mountain-shaped bronze bell with the Three Pure Ones design, a pair of jade ruyi with cloud patterns, a Thunderlight Fire Seal, and twelve Five-Thunder Command Tokens of the Many Emperors...

A wide variety of ritual objects and artifacts were displayed on the high platform in front of him, some of which Li Qingxian did not recognize at all.

Finally, Jiang Youfei took out a long red wooden stick and handed it over.

Li Qingxian took a look and saw that the wooden strip looked exactly like the tablet used by officials when they went to court. It had yin-yang diagrams, celestial seals, Astrology and other runes that he did not recognize.

Jiang Youfei walked between Li Qingxian and the sacred tablet, aligning the three in a line, and slowly knelt on the ground, chanting incantations.

Looking ahead, Li Qingxian saw the girl's graceful figure, like a lotus flower in the water.

As she prostrated herself in worship, her body was tightly wrapped in a white dress, and her long hair spread out to both sides, like a plump, unripe peach peeking out.

Li Qingxian quickly looked away from the small peach hidden by the white dress.

"Food and sex are human nature; do not look at what is improper. Just don't look..." Li Qingxian kept clearing his mind of distracting thoughts.

Jiang Youfei recited the prayer aloud, while Li Qingxian silently repeated it in his mind.