This Is Called Cultivation Success

"Good morning!"

"Good morning!"

When they met again the next day, Jiang Shishi looked bright and cheerful, while Xiao Ya offered a shy smile. Both girls were dressed in sun hats, fitted T-shirts, sun-protective outerwear, and casual pants. Apart from the colors, they both exuded youthful vitality.

"Thank you for your trouble," Xiao Ya said first.

"You're welcome, I'm just here to freeload," Gu Zhao chuckled.

Even though he had a cheat system and possessed mana, Gu Zhao was still a spirited young man. He naturally wouldn't refuse the chance to hike with two lovely young ladies.

"Then let's go!" Jiang Shishi linked arms with Xiao Ya. "You're praying for your grandpa's safety, and I'm praying for my love life. There are so many Taoist temples on Qingcheng Mountain, one of them is bound to be effective!"

The three took a tourist bus to the foot of Qingcheng Mountain and then a sightseeing car to the scenic area's entrance. Gu Zhao, who hadn't paid a cent, had already slipped into tour guide mode.

"That cluster of buildings we just passed is the Qingcheng Mountain Taoist Academy. It's a school specifically for training Taoists. They only accept a very limited number of students each year. Getting in is no easier than getting into graduate school or a civil service position," Gu Zhao explained. "And the curriculum isn't easy at all."

"What do they study?" Jiang Shishi asked.

"Of course, there are Taoist scriptures, Taoist music, ritual ceremonies, calligraphy and painting, as well as martial arts and laws and regulations," Gu Zhao said. "Different academies might have specialized courses, but these are generally the subjects."

Jiang Shishi sighed, "You really learn a lot. But how do you know all this so clearly?"

Gu Zhao said slowly, "Because I once wanted to apply to the Yue Province Taoist Academy and specifically looked into these things."

Xiao Ya asked, "And you didn't end up applying?"

Gu Zhao shook his head, his expression darkening slightly. "No, I didn't get in. They said I was tone-deaf and had no musical talent. Not a single note was in tune during the entrance test. If we were to perform a group ritual, I'd just mess things up, so they rejected me."

The two girls were speechless.

How can I not want to laugh?

Jiang Shishi snorted, "Don't they do rituals with many people? You wouldn't stand out in the crowd..."

Gu Zhao spread his hands. "I wanted to, but they wouldn't let me!"

This time, they couldn't hold back. Xiao Ya burst out laughing. For these two music academy graduates, being tone-deaf was an incomprehensible phenomenon.

The sightseeing car stopped, and they got off. Gu Zhao pointed to a cluster of buildings on the right. "That's Jianfu Palace, just outside the main entrance of Qingcheng Mountain. In the Tang Dynasty, it was originally called Zhangren Temple and worshipped Ning Fengzi, the 'Old Man of the Five Sacred Mountains.' Later, it was renamed Jianfu Palace and had many more immortals added, with Taishang Laojun being the most important, of course."

Since the three were visiting Qingcheng Mountain for blessings, they entered the temple they saw. Before even ascending the mountain, they paid their respects to the deities at Jianfu Palace. Afterward, they bought some incense at the shop by the entrance before entering the mountain.

Gu Zhao spent the journey explaining the sights to the two girls, weaving in various legends of gods and immortals from Biographies of Immortals, Biographies of Various Immortals, and In Search of the Supernatural, painting Qingcheng Mountain as a land of immortals and blessings.

"The Vast Records of the Taiping Era mentions Queen Mother of the West gifting Emperor Wu of Han the True Form Diagrams of the Five Sacred Mountains, stating that these were sought after by the immortals of Qingcheng. In the Preface to the True Form Diagrams of the Five Sacred Mountains, it's also said that the 'Old Man of Qingcheng' was appointed by the Yellow Emperor to oversee the Five Sacred Mountains. This shows that Qingcheng's status at the time was even higher than the Five Sacred Mountains, reaching the level of Queen Mother of the West."

"People nowadays say, 'After seeing the Five Sacred Mountains, you won't want to see other mountains; after seeing Huangshan, you won't want to see other peaks.' But compared to Qingcheng, they're all insignificant."

Gu Zhao paused, then added, "Of course, this is from Qingcheng Mountain's perspective. If you were to worship the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak or Chen Tuan, the Old Ancestor of the Western Peak, that would be a different story."

The three didn't take the cable car. Instead, they passed through Yile Wo to Shanyin Pavilion, then paid respects at a Quanzhen Daoist temple, followed by the Ancient Celestial Master Cave.

"The Quanzhen Daoist temple enshrines the Northern Five Patriarchs of the Golden Core and the seven disciples of True Person Chongyang," Gu Zhao commented. "Even though the inner alchemy schools of the North and South have merged, the Southern Five Patriarchs are still often overlooked. It's quite sad."

"Zhengyi and Quanzhen Dao are so close, and they seem quite harmonious nowadays. I wonder if they debated scriptures or fought when they met in ancient times," Gu Zhao mused, looking back at the Quanzhen Daoist temple from the entrance of the Ancient Celestial Master Cave.

Jiang Shishi giggled, "Didn't you say Quanzhen Dao is better at fighting?"

Gu Zhao nodded. "That's why the Quanzhen Temple is in front, to intercept the incense smoke first."

Xiao Ya glanced at a Taoist passing by not far away. "You'd better not say that inside the Ancient Celestial Master Cave, or you might get beaten."

Gu Zhao laughed heartily and stopped his commentary, only to ask, "We've passed so many Taoist temples. Aren't you going to draw any fortune sticks?"

Xiao Ya shook her head. "We'll draw one at Taishang Laojun Pavilion on the summit."

Gu Zhao nodded. Xiao Ya was a filial girl; going all the way to the summit to draw a stick showed true sincerity.

So, the three continued their ascent. The two girls gradually became breathless, their faces flushed with sweat. When they looked at Gu Zhao, they saw that his breathing was steady, his forehead unfurrowed by sweat, and he showed no sign of fatigue.

"You have great stamina!" Jiang Shishi exclaimed, this time with no hint of ambiguity. "Does cultivation really work that well?"

Gu Zhao replied, "It works well when you achieve cultivation success."

"What do you mean by cultivation suc—" Xiao Ya's words were cut off as a child, about ten years old, darted past them and ran uphill, not slowing down at all. The adult's calls from behind also interrupted Xiao Ya's question.

"Slow down!"

"It's not safe up ahead!"

"Be careful not to trip or fall!"

Xiao Ya sighed, "Children really have so much energy!"

Just then, the child reached a corner ahead of them. He ran while looking back and waving, "I know! I'll be careful! I'll wait for you at that pavilion ahead..."

As soon as he finished speaking, he missed his footing and tumbled towards the adjacent slope.

Strictly speaking, the place wasn't too dangerous. The stone steps were wide enough, and the slope beside them, though steep, was partially blocked by grass and trees. As long as one was careful, there was no risk of falling. Therefore, there were no guardrails on the outer edge.

However, the child had precisely stepped to the outer edge to avoid other pedestrians on the steps, and then, while looking back, he lost his footing. If he were to roll down the slope for dozens or even a hundred meters, the situation would be unpredictable.

Many people saw the moment the child lost his footing, as if they could already see him rolling down the slope.

"Ah!" A piercing shriek rang out.

"Swish!" The sound of rustling clothes cut through the air.

The child had already left the stone steps, rolling down the slope.

Gu Zhao lunged forward, stepping off the stone steps and onto the slope, rushing towards the rolling child from the side.

The distance between them wasn't far. Gu Zhao used a tree for leverage, reaching below the boy. In the instant they crossed paths, he grabbed the child's collar.

Then, holding the terrified child with one hand, he moved sideways along the trees, quickly returning to the stone steps.

Setting the child down, Gu Zhao snapped his fingers and said to Xiao Ya, "This is what Cultivation Success looks like."