Gu Zhao stared at the old taoist priest in shock.
He had never dreamed that he would encounter, in the modern age, a human who could make the Five Thunder Token react. Though spiritual energy still existed in modern air, it was like a water pipe running dry, dripping one drop, then another.
Gu Zhao had once tried cultivating in the modern age. The speed at which he absorbed spiritual energy had been utterly despairing. "There really are people who can successfully cultivate in the modern age?"
The old taoist priest studied Gu Zhao carefully.
Naturally, his perception differed from Gu Zhao's. All he sensed from the young man across from him was that same ethereal clarity he could only feel between Heaven and Earth when he was most deeply immersed in his dawn cultivation.
The old taoist priest knew very well that this was the sign of having cultivated Internal Breath True Qi. Drawing the elusive Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth into one's body was no feat an ordinary person could achieve. "Does this youngster cultivate the Dao, Buddhism, or neither?"
Meanwhile, Jiang Shishi and Xiao Ya were still chatting quietly beside them.
"That old taoist priest who watched dramas and struck the chime a while back seemed to be from Taishang Laojun Pavilion. Could that be him?"
"I heard someone online said he played it a little too loudly."
"Didn't he put on headphones?"
"Hehehe..."
Other than the person filming the video, the many netizens—including Jiang Shishi and Xiao Ya—had no objections. They simply found the old taoist priest inexplicably adorable. Going with the flow, following one's heart—this was the spirit of Daoism.
"You burn incense to worship gods, not Taoist priests. What right do you have to stop him from watching dramas?"
"They use the Buddhist palms-together salute. It's already merciful that the old taoist priest didn't strike the chime at them!"
"You worship gods, and he helped call the gods down for you. Instead of paying attention to the gods, you're watching him?"
Forget the netizens—even the Qingcheng Mountain Scenic Area Administration and the Daoist Association had not taken it seriously. Daoists were easygoing by nature, but if someone came looking for trouble, Daoists would not indulge them either.
This feeling of cultivating for oneself, following one's heart, letting Daoism follow nature, was precisely why so many people admired Daoism. But Gu Zhao doubted they could ever guess that someone in the modern age could truly cultivate!
Gu Zhao suppressed the stirring of the Thunder Seed in his mind, while receiving a message from the Five Thunder Token.
This was the first time he had received a message from the Five Thunder Token. It was as though its previous functions had been things he was simply meant to know, with no feedback whatsoever. Only the reaction of the Thunder Seed was supposed to alert him.
The message was neither words nor sound, yet it told him through some unseen force that before him stood an ordinary man with a pure soul, righteous energy filling his body, and talent for cultivation—someone who could receive a Thunder Seed condensed by the Five Thunder Token from absorbed Killing Intent.
As long as he bestowed the Thunder Seed upon him, he could take him in as a subordinate, awaken his Innate Qi, and let him soar to the heavens in a single step, cultivating rapidly with even the hope of immortality in the future.
Not only that, but he himself could also receive a share of the merit and gains the other man earned from doing good, accumulating virtue, slaying demons, and vanquishing evil.
Gu Zhao was dumbfounded. He had never expected the Five Thunder Token to have the ability to condense Thunder Seeds and bestow them upon others. This... was he playing Romance of the Three Kingdoms? Had this really become a game?
So he instinctively sensed more carefully, and sure enough, he detected the old taoist priest's difference. Though it was faint and slight, Mana truly existed within him.
And once Gu Zhao began sensing him so closely, the old taoist priest's impression deepened further. He could even sense Gu Zhao probing him.
The next moment, just as the queue reached Gu Zhao and his companions and the three knelt side by side to worship Taishang Laojun, the old taoist priest abruptly rose to his feet, startling Jiang Shishi and Xiao Ya badly.
"We didn't mean to!" Jiang Shishi raised both hands.
"We didn't mean anything by it!" Xiao Ya instinctively pressed her palms together and begged softly.
Following their gazes, the old taoist priest looked at the short drama playing before him, The Overbearing CEO Falls in Love with Me, and could not help grinning. In a thick Sichuan accent, he said, "Actually, this short drama is pretty good. It's relaxing to watch—takes the pressure and weariness right off."
"Exactly, exactly!"
"That's right, that's right!"
Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi nodded repeatedly, while kind laughter rose from the crowd nearby. Everyone had come to pray for blessings, seeking nothing more than peace of heart and happiness, a touch of good fortune. If they came only to get angry, would that not be putting the cart before the horse?
The old Daoist smiled as well. Though his face was full of wrinkles, his smile was especially festive. "You girls worship Laojun first. This old Daoist will strike the chime for you."
It was only a small interruption and affected nothing.
When Xiao Ya bowed again, her expression became incomparably devout. She murmured a prayer for her grandfather, wishing for his health to improve.
The old Daoist smiled with narrowed eyes, his service far more attentive than before. Each time the three kowtowed, he struck the chime once. At the same time, he softly chanted, wisps of murmuring voices echoing through the main hall.
Seeing the three rise, the old taoist priest did not sit back down. He merely beckoned to the side, calling over a middle-aged Taoist priest. After handing him the chime mallet, he took his phone and stepped out from behind the table.
The old taoist priest came cheerfully to the three of them and looked Gu Zhao up and down. "I see that this young brother is dignified in appearance, lofty in bearing, as elegant as jade and as handsome as the wind. Truly, you are a rare talent."
Jiang Shishi, "..."
Xiao Ya, "..."
"Master, did you just see that short video of Gu Zhao saving someone?" Jiang Shishi asked as she took out her phone. "I don't think I saw anyone recording it in time. Did it get onto the trending searches that quickly?"
Of course, Gu Zhao knew why the old taoist priest was praising him. Smiling, he cupped his hands in salute. "I see that you are glowing with health, vigorous in spirit, with Qi filling your splendid court. Though advanced in years, your virtue shines bright. You must be a great master of a generation who has achieved cultivation success."
The old taoist priest burst into laughter, then grabbed Gu Zhao and headed upstairs. "Come, come, let's go upstairs for tea. You two young ladies should come too. This old taoist priest will tell your fortunes in love."
Jiang Shishi and Xiao Ya exchanged a glance, both utterly bewildered. They could only instinctively follow the old taoist priest and Gu Zhao around the main hall toward the staircase at the back leading to the second floor.
The tourists behind them, however, erupted into an uproar at the sight.
"What's going on? Doesn't Taishang Laojun Pavilion forbid tourists from going up to the second floor?"
"Didn't you see that the old taoist priest invited them up himself?"
"Trade a few compliments, make the old taoist priest happy, and you get to go upstairs for tea—and even have him personally read your fortune?"
"Hiss—"
"Daoist, I see that you have a dignified face, thick brows and large eyes, broad shoulders and a sturdy back, with an aura that swallows mountains and rivers. You must surely be a great Daoist master of your generation!"
"Drawing fortune sticks is free. Interpreting them costs twenty."
"Martial Uncle!"
"Martial Grandmaster!"
Upon reaching the second floor, every Taoist priest they passed greeted the old taoist priest with a respectful salute. The two women were left staring in astonishment, only then realizing that not only did the old taoist priest hold an extraordinarily high seniority here, he was also deeply respected. Even a tall old taoist priest who looked quite high-ranking cupped his hands in greeting before curiously looking at the three of them.
"Good, good, good!" The old taoist priest merely waved casually, then instructed a middle-aged Taoist priest to brew tea before leading the three of them into a quiet room on the third floor.
Incense was lit, tea was poured, and they sat down peacefully.
After exchanging greetings, Gu Zhao learned that the old taoist priest's Daoist name was Yansong. Daoist Yansong also learned that Gu Zhao had studied the Dao under his grandfather since childhood, and heard Jiang Shishi speak of how Gu Zhao had saved someone earlier.
"May heaven bless you boundlessly!" When Daoist Yansong looked at Gu Zhao again, it was as though he were looking at a treasure trove. This was simply a once-in-a-lifetime genius for cultivating the Dao!
Before long, they spoke of Xiao Ya as well and learned that she had been worshipping and drawing fortune sticks everywhere, praying for her grandfather.
"No wonder. I was wondering why this young lady was so devout when she prayed for blessings." Daoist Yansong stroked his beard.
Xiao Ya said softly, "So I also wanted to draw a fortune stick at Taishang Laojun Pavilion, then ask for a Peace Talisman for my grandfather."
Daoist Yansong could not help freezing. "I can understand asking for a fortune stick, but asking for a talisman..."
"What's wrong with asking for a talisman?" Jiang Shishi asked.
Daoist Yansong winked at Gu Zhao and joked with a smile, "The real immortal is right beside you, so why are you running all over the place asking for Peace Talismans? Hurry up and agree to be his girlfriend. Have him draw you a Peace Talisman, properly consecrate it, and count it as the betrothal gift."
Gu Zhao: ()
Xiao Ya: (_||)
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