Yuanfa Palace

Yuanfa Palace.

Gu Zhao received three free incense sticks and walked up the steps. The moment he entered the mountain gate, he found himself before the Spirit Official Hall.

Looking up, he saw the altar dedicated to King Lingguan hanging high in midair, the statue within gleaming with a full golden body.

King Lingguan formed the Lingguan Hand Seal between his chest and abdomen with his left hand, while his right hand held a golden whip high above his head. His three eyes glared furiously, poised to strike. His divine majesty was truly imposing, his bearing awe-inspiring.

Gu Zhao held the incense in his left hand and shielded it with his right, then bowed deeply in worship, performing three bows to show his sincerity.

This was the Daoist sect's most renowned guardian deity and mountain-protecting divine general: Golden Eyes and Vermilion Hair, Phoenix Beak and Silver Teeth, his combat prowess maxed out. He had been immensely famous during the Ming dynasty—even Wu Cheng'en had not dared let the monkey defeat him.

As the saying went: before climbing the mountain, first worship King Lingguan.

Except...

Gu Zhao looked at the words [Heavenly Worthy Who Responds to Thunder Sounds, Guardian of the Mysterious Gate] written on the gold-and-red curtains flanking the statue, then at the wooden couplets on either side: [Divine Lord of One Qi, Great Spirit Official of Universal Investigation] and [Primordial General, Impartial Fierce Bailiff General of the Three Realms].

Putting together King Lingguan's title from the gods-and-devils novel Journey to the West and the Spirit Official Precious Edict from the orthodox Daoist scripture Fire-Chariot Wang Lingguan True Scripture just felt rather strange.

Well, both books were several hundred years old. As one of the Four Great Classics, Journey to the West had far greater influence among the common people than the Fire-Chariot Wang Lingguan True Scripture. Going by the Daoist sect's usual practices, revising it a little and borrowing it for use was simply the natural order of things.

For instance, the guardian divine generals standing to King Lingguan's left and right were actually the Heng Ha Two Generals from Investiture of the Gods.

Gu Zhao: _(3"∠)_

King Lingguan still deserved worship. As for the Heng Ha Two Generals, forget it. Even if Zheng Lun and Chen Qi climbed straight out of the book, Gu Zhao would first test their mettle with Palm Thunder.

After worshipping King Lingguan, Gu Zhao passed beneath the side of the altar and entered Yuanfa Palace's courtyard.

Yuanfa Palace was not large, with only a single courtyard. Once he left the Spirit Official Hall, a courtyard lay before him. An incense burner stood in its center, and behind it was the Yuanfa Treasure Hall, which enshrined the three great emperors Yao, Shun, and Yu rather than the Three Pure Ones Patriarchs.

Gu Zhao lit his incense and stood before the burner. As a half-baked Daoist disciple, his grandfather had not taught him Taoist Rituals in much detail—probably because he did not understand them all that well himself—and Gu Zhao clearly had no need for them anyway.

So Gu Zhao merely followed the most basic rites. He offered the incense and bowed, first worshipping the three great emperors, then paying respects to the deities of the four directions, before finally placing the incense into the burner.

The most important part of the ritual was thus complete.

Now he could look for somewhere selling cinnabar and yellow paper!

Gu Zhao turned and headed to the nearby religious goods counter. Though it did not occupy much space, it sold quite a lot of things.

Peace Talismans, Wealth Talismans, Love Talismans, Tai Sui Talismans, Health Talismans, Academic Talismans, House Protection Talismans...

Mass-produced printed talismans were relatively cheap, while handwritten Yellow Paper Talismans were comparatively expensive. Gu Zhao sensed them all, but none had any energy fluctuations.

Gu Zhao looked at the volunteer introducing the talismans' functions, as well as the tourists around him eagerly selecting talisman papers, then stepped forward. "Excuse me..."

"Are you looking for an Academic Talisman, a Love Talisman, or a Wealth Talisman?" The staff member took one look at Gu Zhao's age and smoothly picked up the conversation. "Oh, right. What's your zodiac sign? Would you like to take a Tai Sui Talisman home?"

"None of those." Gu Zhao glanced at the talismans behind the counter. "I want to draw talismans myself, so I'd like to buy some cinnabar and yellow paper."

Staff member: ???

Nearby tourists: ???

"Bro, you aren't here to pick a fight, are you?"

Before the staff member could react, a young man frowned and asked, "These are all talismans that the Daoist priests have already written and consecrated. If you want cinnabar and yellow paper, can't you just buy them online?"

The girl beside the young man tugged at his sleeve, signaling for him not to meddle in other people's business.

Gu Zhao gave the young man a sidelong glance. He had no intention of arguing, merely explaining to the staff member, "I already ordered some online, but it'll still take several days to arrive. Since I need them today, I came here to ask."

Another young woman leaned over and asked curiously, "You know how to draw talismans yourself? Are you a Daoist priest?"

Gu Zhao turned around. At first glance, he noticed that this young woman was exceptionally fruitful, and instinctively took a step back, giving himself a more comprehensive view. "I've only studied a little. Strictly speaking, I haven't formally entered the Dao yet."

"I'm sorry, but we don't sell cinnabar or yellow paper here." The staff member finally found an opportunity to speak and politely refused him.

Gu Zhao frowned slightly, but could only nod helplessly. He was not the sort to cling stubbornly. Since they did not sell them, he would not press the matter. As he had said, he had already bought some online; he merely had to wait a few days.

He had come today only because he had just become able to cultivate, and his excitement had made him want to experiment immediately. It was nearly noon now, and he had calmed down considerably.

I've cultivated the Dao and tempered my heart for more than ten years. It wasn't all for nothing!

Gu Zhao: (.-`ω-)

Just then, a young Daoist priest who looked to be in his thirties passed by. Seeing quite a crowd gathered here without anyone seeming to be shopping, he came over to see what was happening and happened to hear that final sentence.

"What's going on?" the young Daoist priest asked.

The staff member hurriedly explained, "Martial Brother Hui Bin, this guest wants to buy cinnabar and yellow paper, but we don't sell those things here."

Hui Bin looked at Gu Zhao and saw him forming the Zi Wu Hand Seal with both hands as he cupped them in greeting. In an archaic tone, Gu Zhao said, "Greetings, Martial Brother."

This was the etiquette used when Daoist peers greeted one another. His posture was standard and his manner natural; one glance showed that he had not learned it on the spot.

Hui Bin hurriedly returned the salute with cupped fists. "Hello, Junior Brother."

Though he did not know Gu Zhao's precise seniority, they were not from the same mountain gate. Addressing one another as Martial Brother and Junior Brother according to age was enough. "Junior Brother, you want some cinnabar and yellow paper?"

Gu Zhao nodded. "I ran into a little trouble and need to draw a few talismans, so I came to Yuanfa Palace to see whether I could buy some."

Hui Bin's thoughts were a little tangled. What era is this? Praying for blessings and drawing lots are just for peace of mind. You're in the field too—do you really have some matter that requires talismans?

He glanced at the counter, then turned back to Gu Zhao. "May I ask what trouble Junior Brother has encountered? These are talismans drawn by several Martial Uncles. If Junior Brother needs them, I can give you a few."

As fellow members of the Daoist lineage, Hui Bin had the authority to give away a few talismans.

Gu Zhao shook his head. He did not say what he had encountered, merely replying, "Thank you, Martial Brother, but what I need isn't one of these kinds of talismans."

Hui Bin asked instinctively, "Then what talisman is it?"

Gu Zhao had not expected Hui Bin to ask so closely, but it was not something he could not say. So Gu Zhao told the truth. "A Five Thunder Talisman."

Hui Bin could not help freezing. Yuanfa Palace belonged to the Quanzhen Longmen lineage, and they truly did not have Five Thunder Talismans.

The watching tourists, however, became excited. Compared to Love Talismans or Health Talismans, the name Five Thunder Talisman alone sounded far more lofty and impressive.

That exceptionally fruitful young woman from earlier asked curiously, "What does a Five Thunder Talisman do? Subdue demons and vanquish devils?"

Gu Zhao smiled and nodded. "That's right."

The crowd of onlookers: "Wow—"

Seeing the gleam in everyone's eyes, Hui Bin sized Gu Zhao up for a moment, then gave an "oh" and understood.

So he was a chuunibyou teenager who acted mature on the outside but wanted to show off inside.