Taking a Master

In the east of Anping County's seat lay a residential quarter, a pocket of tranquility amid the bustle. It lacked the imposing wealth of the southern district, but possessed a refined serenity of its own. Most of its residents were scholars of cultured tastes or officials who held modest but respected posts at the county offices.

Daoist Zhang's residence stood here.

Following Wu Shang's directions, Chu Bai arrived before a black-lacquered gate bearing a plaque inscribed with "Zhang Residence." Its door knockers had little ornamentation, only an air of antique simplicity.

He tapped the knocker lightly. A moment later, a side door creaked open, and a young Daoist attendant with twin hair tufts poked out his head and looked Chu Bai up and down.

"Are you Senior Brother Chu Bai?"

"I am."

"The master has been waiting in the quiet chamber for some time. Please follow me."

Chu Bai followed the attendant across the threshold, and his eyes lit up.

The courtyard's layout was exquisitely planned, its rockeries and running water arranged with artful precision—not merely for beauty, but in subtle accordance with some pattern of feng shui.

The moment he entered, Chu Bai felt that the air here was much fresher than outside. The faint ease that accompanied each breath even stirred the dormant spiritual qi within him.

So this is a true cultivator's home? There really are traces of a Spirit-Gathering Formation...

Chu Bai marveled inwardly. Wealth, companions, methods, and a place to cultivate—that last requirement truly was no small matter. If even a pig could live and cultivate here long enough, it would become a spirit.

They passed through several covered walkways and arrived before a quiet chamber in the rear courtyard.

"Come in." Daoist Zhang's calm voice drifted from within.

Chu Bai straightened his clothes and headwear, then pushed the door open and entered.

The quiet chamber was simply furnished, with only a couch, a low table, and an incense burner. Daoist Zhang sat cross-legged on the couch, a large calligraphic scroll bearing the character for "Dao" hanging behind him. He regarded Chu Bai with a smile.

"This disciple greets you, Teacher Zhang." Chu Bai bowed respectfully.

"No need for ceremony. Sit." Daoist Zhang pointed to the meditation cushion before him.

Once Chu Bai had settled down, Daoist Zhang did not speak immediately. Instead, he studied him with an appraising gaze, as though examining a piece of uncarved jade.

"Wu Shang has told me all about your time at the Zhao Residence this past month."

Daoist Zhang spoke slowly. "He said you were steadfast, calm in the face of trouble, and exceptionally perceptive, able to infer three things from one in actual combat. Praise like that is rare indeed from Instructor Wu, whose eyes usually sit atop his head."

"It was entirely thanks to your recommendation that I had this chance to gain experience, Teacher Zhang," Chu Bai replied modestly.

"I gave you the opportunity, but whether you could seize it depended on your own ability." Daoist Zhang waved a hand. "I summoned you today not only to hear how you have been, but also to see just how far your cultivation has progressed."

"Run through the Lesser Qi-Gathering Art for me. Hold nothing back."

"Yes."

Chu Bai drew a deep breath, cast aside stray thoughts, and immediately entered a meditative state.

At a thought, the panel appeared.

[Minor Qi Gathering Technique: proficient (67/200)]

As he circulated the art, the aura around Chu Bai abruptly changed.

A month ago, his pull on spiritual qi had been like a gentle breeze brushing the face. Now it resembled a trickling stream. Though still far from mighty, it was continuous and remarkably steady.

Exhale—in­hale—

Answering his call, the spiritual qi in the quiet chamber surged cheerfully toward him.

A sharp light flashed in Daoist Zhang's eyes, and his half-lowered eyelids suddenly flew wide.

This aura... has he already accumulated no fewer than ten strands of spiritual qi?

And at this rate of intake... he can gather a strand every two or three days?

Daoist Zhang was secretly astonished.

For a disciple of ordinary aptitude, one strand every three days was the standard. Yet because of distracting thoughts, resources, and other issues, most could not achieve even that theoretical rate.

And Chu Bai, a poor youth with no family wealth who could earn cultivation resources only by working as a sparring partner, had raised his cultivation speed to such a level in just one short month!

How could diligence alone explain this? It was clearly extraordinary natural talent!

An incense stick's worth of time later, Chu Bai slowly concluded his practice, opened his eyes, and looked toward Daoist Zhang with some apprehension.

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!"

Daoist Zhang repeated the word three times, no longer able to conceal the smile on his face.

"Chu Bai, these old eyes did not misjudge you." Daoist Zhang stroked his beard with a sigh of admiration. "At your current pace, you will not merely take the champion's place among this batch of Inner Gate students. Even across all of Anping County, your like is as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns."

"I dare say you are the only one among them with a real chance of breaking through to the first layer of Qi Refining before the Dao Academy Selection in six months!"

Such affirmation eased Chu Bai's heart, and a trace of delight appeared on his face.

As Daoist Zhang watched the youth before him, neither arrogant nor impatient, his expression suddenly grew solemn.

"Chu Bai, though you call me Teacher Zhang at the school, ours is ultimately only a nominal relationship between lecturer and pupil. It does not count as a true bond of master and disciple."

"I summoned you today to ask you something."

"Would you enter my lineage and become my personal disciple?"

A personal disciple!

Chu Bai's heart jolted.

In this world, master and disciple were not simply a schoolteacher and a student. Their bond was as close as that of father and son.

Once that bond was formed, they would share in each other's glory and suffer each other's losses.

A master would hold nothing back in his teaching, providing not only resources and cultivation arts, but also paving his disciple's way through the cultivation world and even officialdom.

Daoist Zhang had come from the Dao Academy and possessed deep roots and extensive connections in Anping County. For Chu Bai, who had no backing whatsoever, becoming his disciple would be nothing short of latching onto a golden thigh!

On top of that, Chu Bai had long since engraved Daoist Zhang's repeated help and care in his heart.

"This disciple is willing!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Chu Bai dropped to his knees like a golden mountain toppling and a jade pillar falling, then respectfully knocked his forehead against the floor three times.

"Master, please accept your disciple's bow!"

"Good, my good disciple. Get up."

Daoist Zhang accepted his obeisance and reached out to help Chu Bai rise. The appraisal in his eyes had given way to the affection of an elder looking upon his own child.

"Now that you have entered my lineage, there are some things you ought to know."

Daoist Zhang led Chu Bai to the tea table at the side and personally poured him a cup of spiritual tea.

"Over my lifetime, I have taught countless students at the school and the Dao Academy, and I could hardly count my nominal disciples. But before you, only five had truly kowtowed, offered tea, and entered this lineage as personal disciples."

"Five?" Chu Bai was somewhat surprised.

Given Daoist Zhang's reputation, the queue of people wishing to become his disciples could probably stretch from the east of the city to the west. He had never expected the threshold to be so high.

Presumably, Daoist Zhang had spent years at the school picking and choosing before selecting even this handful.

"With soldiers, quality matters more than numbers." Daoist Zhang smiled faintly. "Those five senior brothers and sisters of yours have all passed the Dao Academy Selection, and each has a future ahead of them."

At this, pride entered Daoist Zhang's voice. "Your eldest senior brother, in particular, not only passed the Dao Academy Examination but also had his name inscribed on the golden list in last year's Heavenly Examination. He now holds a post in the Qingzhou Water Bureau—a true immortal official of the Principal Ninth Rank!"

The Qingzhou Water Bureau! An immortal official of the Principal Ninth Rank!