The Old Daoist
"Um?"
Upon hearing this, the Daoist priest below was taken aback for a moment, and then looked at Fang Zelin above with some doubt in his heart.
He hesitated for a moment, then noticed that Fang Zelin's demeanor was somewhat similar to that of his master.
He nodded immediately and headed up to the restaurant.
Seeing the Daoist priest coming up from downstairs, Fang Zelin immediately called the waiter to bring another set of bowls and chopsticks.
After setting everything out, Fang Zelin gestured for the other person to sit down before they came forward.
Upon seeing this, the Daoist priest performed a Daoist bow before sitting down.
Fang Zelin picked up the wine pot and poured a glass of wine for the other person.
"Good wine, Passing the Spring Shade?"
The middle-aged Daoist looked at the wine in front of him, but did not taste it immediately. Instead, he picked up the wine cup and carefully smelled the aroma before sighing.
Fang Zelin nodded upon hearing this and put down the wine pot in his hand.
"This is my first time visiting Jiangxing Prefecture. The waiter mentioned it was quite famous, so I ordered a pot to try."
I just ordered a pot to try?
Hearing this, the old Daoist priest's face showed a complicated expression. "I have long heard of this wine's reputation, but unfortunately I don't have much money on me. Now, thanks to your kindness, I am able to taste a bit of it."
After saying this, the old Daoist priest sniffed the aroma of the wine and then took a sip.
After a moment, a glint of light appeared in his eyes, and he downed the entire glass of wine in one gulp.
A moment later, just like Fang Zelin had done before, he exclaimed, "Good wine!"
Fang Zelin smiled upon seeing this; the wine was indeed quite good.
Seeing the old Daoist priest's current appearance, Fang Zelin hesitated for a moment, but decided to get straight to the point.
"I invited you up here today because I have something I'd like to ask you."
"Oh?"
The old Daoist priest already knew that Fang Zelin had a purpose in inviting him up, but he didn't know what that purpose was.
Hearing this, he was even more puzzled, but he didn't know what this person wanted to ask him.
"I've drunk a cup of your wine, so I'll try my best to answer any questions you may have."
Upon hearing this, Fang Zelin's expression immediately relaxed slightly. He glanced around and, seeing that no one was paying attention, asked in a low voice.
"Judging from your appearance, you must also be a cultivator, right?"
"Um?"
The old Daoist priest's hand, which was holding up chopsticks, suddenly trembled for a moment, and his expression changed slightly.
He then abruptly raised his head, "What are you saying, sir?"
Seeing the other party's reaction, Fang Zelin was also stunned. Had he guessed wrong?
"I see some Spiritual Power fluctuations in your brocade pouch; you must be a cultivator as well?"
Fang Zelin asked, somewhat puzzled.
He hadn't interacted with other cultivators yet, and to be honest, he really didn't know how to clearly distinguish them.
Upon hearing this, the old Daoist priest's breathing became heavy for a moment, and then he looked Fang Zelin up and down.
"I didn't expect that you, fellow Daoist, are also a cultivator."
"Judging from your appearance, fellow Daoist, you must have traveled here as well, right?"
The old Daoist priest's expression relaxed slightly at that moment, and then he stroked his beard, looking at Fang Zelin with a face full of admiration.
At this moment, even his form of address changed to "fellow Daoist."
Fang Zelin was delighted upon hearing this, "That's right, fellow Daoist has keen insight, you saw it at a glance."
Judging from this, I've truly found a cultivator!
Seeing this, the old Daoist priest felt relieved and began to eat and drink.
Long ago, he had heard his master teach him that most cultivators were of pure and kind nature.
If one is not of pure and virtuous character, one will not be led into the Daoist Sect by other cultivators.
If you encounter other cultivators, don't hesitate to ask for help; if you meet a junior, do your best to help them.
Judging from the current situation, the person in front of me is also a disciple taken in by some senior, and has now come down from the mountain to gain experience.
It was quite a coincidence that we met today.
However, in that case, we can eat and drink without worry.
We're all fellow Daoists, so a little food and drink won't hurt.
"I entered the Daoist path several years before you. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask."
The old Daoist chuckled, picked up the wine pot beside him, poured himself a cup, and then began to drink.
At this moment, he completely regarded Fang Zelin in front of him as a junior, and his heart was filled with a desire to enlighten and resolve his doubts.
Fang Zelin was delighted upon seeing this and immediately asked, "Does this friend know how cultivation realms are divided when we cultivate?"
"Realm levels are divided? Those are naturally based on cultivation level."
The old Daoist priest replied while sipping his wine.
Fellow Daoist, you were sent out for training far too early; you don't even know about this.
Thinking of this, the old Daoist priest couldn't help but shake his head inwardly.
But upon further reflection, I understood.
It seems the other party's aptitude was relatively poor, which is why they were given time to gain experience as soon as possible.
It really is divided according to one's level of cultivation.
Fang Zelin noted this down, and after thinking for a moment, asked, "What mountain was that, the towering mountain we entered during our cultivation? Where is it located?"
This was the most perplexing thing Fang Zelin had encountered since he began his spiritual practice.
I have been cultivating for nearly two years, but I still don't know what kind of mountain this is.
That mountain is called the Seeking Dao Mountain.
The old Daoist priest immediately replied upon hearing this.
How could he not know this mountain? Countless fellow Daoists may never be able to enter this mountain even once in their entire lives.
Only by stepping into this mountain can one be considered a true cultivator of immortality.
Seeking Dao Mountain.
The name is quite fitting!
Cultivation and Seeking the Way
Upon hearing the name, Fang Zelin felt a sudden sense of clarity.
He then proactively asked, "Does entering this mountain mean that one has taken another step forward in cultivation? In the storytelling tradition, 'immortality' means 'transfer,' which refers to moving into the mountains."
Forehead?
Storytelling? Is it that Daoist scripture? I've never heard of it before.
"Immortal, does it mean to move? Or to the mountains?" That's quite a fitting description.
Upon hearing this, the old Daoist priest felt somewhat dizzy, as he remembered that his master had never mentioned this matter to him.
The Seeking Dao Mountain he mentioned was somewhat different from what the other party had said.
But upon closer reflection, isn't what the other person said more accurate?
After thinking it over, I realized that this must have been said by the other party's master.
With his current level of understanding and skill, he couldn't very well deny what the other person's master said, especially since what the other person's master said wasn't wrong.
Upon realizing this, the old Daoist priest immediately nodded, "That understanding is absolutely correct."
The old Daoist priest dared not correct the senior's words and immediately nodded in agreement.
Upon hearing this, Fang Zelin immediately smiled. In that case, he hadn't made any mistakes on his path of cultivation.
With that thought, Fang Zelin breathed a heavy sigh of relief, poured himself a glass of wine, and then drank it down in one gulp.
"Does this fellow cultivator know of any other matters that require attention in cultivation? For example, are there any bottlenecks on the path of cultivation? Or are there any Law Technique you could teach me?"
Fang Zelin was overjoyed to have finally found someone to guide him in his spiritual practice.