Teaching Disciples

Jin Shilun had not visited his master's door for some time, because he was now feeling somewhat overwhelmed by his duties as the garrison commander of Jia-Chou Military Stronghold.

There was nothing that could be done. If it weren't for Elder Yuan Jin, who was stationed at Wild Fox Mountain with the Crimson Zhang Guard, Jin Shilun, a mere early-stage True Cultivator, would have had a hard time suppressing the more than four hundred households under the jurisdiction of the Jia-Chou Military Stronghold.

After all, there are indeed many Foundation Establishment families among them. After weathering the initial storms, the head of the Rainbow Mountain Yang Household Yang Household, Yang Xun, can be considered a figure of importance. They have even begun to plan to achieve the goal of obtaining False Core.

Fortunately, besides his identity as a True Cultivator, Jin Shilun also carried the title of a sect leader's disciple. None of the sects that moved to Cold Crow Mountain were particularly wicked or wealthy, which allowed him to diligently maintain his position as the garrison commander.

He came all the way from Cold Crow Mountain, so he was considered late.

When he entered the sect, Kang Dabao's courtyard was already quite lively. He talked to a few of his fellow disciples, then quietly glanced into the kitchen. Seeing that the pot and steamer were still in their original places, he couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic.

After he had finished looking around, Duan Anle, who had just finished dealing with clan affairs, finally arrived late.

After a period of training, this eldest disciple of eight generations, who was already honest and pragmatic, had long since shed his former naiveté.

Duan Anle, sitting in the position of acting in charge of clan affairs, even seemed quite adept at it. Ye Zhengwen was also quite at ease, and in recent years he had devoted most of his energy to teaching Liu Ya, who had just Foundation Establishment.

After Duan Anle entered, the disciples stopped their conversations and greetings. Duan Anle, who was not a talkative person to begin with, did not utter a word upon entering, but simply bowed repeatedly, and thus took the lead in the group.

Shortly after the disciples lined up, the door to the sect leader's room opened by itself without any wind. Duan Anle entered upon hearing the sound, and the protective seal behind him was activated, preventing any further sound from escaping.

When Fei Shuhe was not around, the furnishings in the sect leader's room remained as simple as ever.

The bluestone floor was still mostly occupied by a large pear wood carved bed, its paint more mottled than before, but there was no indication that Sect Leader Kang Da had any intention of changing it.

On a small table in the corner of the room were several Jade Slip. The whisk, bottle, and bowl that used to be there were no longer any use, so they were replaced by some spiritual silk, pens, and knives.

Duan Anle glanced at it briefly as he took a step, without looking at it further or bowing. He simply said softly, "Master, your disciple has arrived."

"Hmm, not bad. You haven't neglected your cultivation while managing worldly affairs," Sect Leader Kang Da said with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. Although Duan Anle's disciple was not particularly talented, like the first batch of disciples, he was indeed a worry-free person.

With his Four Spirit Roots, he was able to advance to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage before he was even a hundred years old, and also possess the identity of Second-Tier Middle-Grade Beast Master. Who knows how much hard work he must have done in private to be able to rival the True Disciple of a major sect.

Kang Dabao had always been a self-sufficient person, so he naturally had no complaints about Duan Anle.

"Drinking tea,"

As Sect Leader Kang Da had raised his disciple like a son since childhood, Duan Anle neither asked questions nor thanked him after hearing the voice. Instead, he sat down cross-legged at the table in front of Sect Leader Kang Da, picked up his cup, and drank it down.

"Gurgle,"

"Drinking it like that, how can you taste anything?" Kang Dabao laughed first, then said, "Your master's wife praised this 'Mirror-like Cold Waves' for its 'chilling throat sound and cleansing spirit like a mirror,' what do you think?"

After pondering for a moment, Duan Anle said again, "Good tea."

"Ha, you're not wrong." Sect Leader Kang Da nodded with a smile, the affection in his eyes almost impossible to conceal.

Kang Dabao didn't mention to Duan Anle the preciousness or mystery of the Third-Tier Lower-Grade spiritual tea that he had spent a lot of money to obtain from Myriad Treasures Trading Company.

He picked up his Spring and Autumn Brush Edge again and asked softly, "Anle, have you made no progress whatsoever on the 'Profound Clear Withering and Flourishing Secret Manual'?"

Upon hearing this, Duan Anle's face immediately showed a hint of guilt. He frowned, and after a few moments of contemplation, he sighed softly, "Your disciple is foolish."

Kang Dabao didn't say anything, but just sighed.

After all, human strength has its limits. Even with a master like Sect Leader Kang Da, who is extremely generous and has no secrets, it would still be difficult for Duan Anle to master a Zhou Grade Upper-Grade technique like the "Profound Clear Withering and Flourishing Secret Manual and Decline".

Even setting aside his Spirit Root aptitude, the latter is already one of the most outstanding figures among the eighth-generation disciples in terms of comprehension.

Even if Kang Dabao himself didn't have the help of the three nameless jade pendants, his mastery of this wondrous technique might not have been much stronger than Duan Anle's.

Although Duan Anle is making good progress now, if this continues, his disadvantage in Spirit Root will become more and more obvious. It would be perfectly normal for him to be overtaken in cultivation by outstanding junior disciples like Kang Changyi or even Tang Jiu.

In the end, even if Duan Anle achieves the status of a pseudo-elixir master, he may not be able to remain completely secure.

"Um,"

However, facing a disciple like Duan Anle, Sect Leader Kang Da couldn't bring himself to say anything reproachful. He nodded for a moment, then spoke again, "Anle, explain to me the meaning of the seven lectures in the general preface of the * Green Goat Pine Scripture Treatise *."

Upon hearing this, Duan Anle immediately straightened his back and said slowly, "In the past, the Qin pine split rocks to support the Dharma lineage, its branches spread like winnowing baskets to gather the essence of the seven celestial bodies; its trunk soared like a dragon to receive the true Qi of the ten directions."

Pine needles dripping with dew are truly the nourishment of heavenly wine for the sprouting of the Dao; the resinous patterns on the branches are like hidden scriptures of earth's veins. The way the wind whistles through them is like striking a chime, for the branches subtly harmonize with the musical scales of the Yellow Bell.

Kang Dabao listened attentively with his eyes closed, and as Duan Anle spoke, he lightly made a hand seal. The tip of the Spring and Autumn Brush Edge lit up, and without any prompting, it jumped out from between the Sect Leader Kang Da and wrote words on the silk.

The rustling sound was exquisitely pleasant to the ear. Even without examining it with his Divine Sense, Sect Leader Kang Da was still somewhat amazed by this educational treasure, which had just been nurtured to a point of perfection and could be described as "dispelling confusion and enlightening the mind, painting a prison and suppressing evil."

He could easily point out some shortcomings in Duan Anle's words. But without this Law Treasure by his side, it would have been impossible to be so comprehensive and insightful.

This scene couldn't help but make Kang Dabao sigh:

"That Daoist Peng is truly a good man; my disciple is fortunate indeed. It's a pity that if my Delusion-Breaking Golden Eyes had been just a fraction more focused, I might have spared his life. I wonder if such a top-tier cultivator might possess some other treasures."

Only after half a cup of tea had been consumed and Duan Anle had spoken over a thousand words did the cloud-filled room return to tranquility.

At this moment, Sect Leader Kang Da also put aside those insatiable thoughts in his mind. When he slowly opened his eyes, Duan Anle felt that the former's eyes were even clearer, guessing that this might be because he had made some progress in the art of pupil techniques.

If that's the case, then it would be difficult to find anyone with a more refined eye technique than Kang Dabao in the Mountain South, Mountain North, and Huangpi Three Southwest Circuits.

At that moment, a soft cough from the cloud room pulled Duan Anle back to reality.

He was naturally clever and intelligent, and without saying a word, his gaze followed Sect Leader Kang Da to the silk, where he examined it carefully for a long time without speaking.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Duan Anle finally withdrew his gaze, calming the complex expression of sudden realization and regret on his face, and said wistfully:

"I used to think I had fully grasped the true meaning of the Green Goat Pine Scripture Treatise, but due to the limitations of my Spirit Root aptitude, I could not make much progress. I never expected that my master would point out so many mistakes today. I am truly ashamed."

Seeing the dejected look on his apprentice's face Kang Dabao didn't comfort him. Instead, he laughed and scolded, "Ashamed? Ashamed my foot! If you apprentices knew everything, what would be the point of having me as your master?"

It seemed like it had been quite a few years since he had been scolded. Duan Anle felt a sense of familiarity upon hearing this and chuckled along. However, his thoughts were already deeply immersed in the profound meaning he had just heard, and he found it difficult to pull himself out of it.

Sect Leader Kang Da was naturally pleased, but after pondering for a while, he said again:

"When I Foundation Establishment, I went to Hong County to seek instruction from Senior Lang Yi on woodworking techniques. It took me several years and reading over a hundred classic texts before I finally understood many of the true meanings."

Kang Dabao paused here, then pointed a finger, summoning a cloud of energy, and placed the talisman inscribed with his own Merit Points into Duan Anle's palm. He then recited:

"Anle, you are still young, and the sect is not lacking in scriptures. Why not try my method of 'the early bird catches the worm' and see if you can make any progress?"

After pondering for a while, the latter said, "Master, do you mean that I should switch to another cultivation path later?"

Kang Dabao sighed deeply, "I know this decision is hard to make, and it may take another ten or twenty years of your hard work. But even disregarding the advantages of combat, the Clear Mind and awakening effects of higher-level Cultivation Method are indeed far superior. Even if it is extremely difficult, it will greatly benefit your future cultivation."

Duan Anle did not refute, but pondered for a long time before asking, "Master still prefers that I cultivate the 'Profound Clear Withering and Flourishing Secret Manual'?"

"No, that's not it," Sect Leader Kang Da shook his head again. "Over the years, I've received many Cultivation Method as rewards, and many Dao of Alchemy cultivators have generously assisted me. I've also obtained quite a few Cultivation Method from their Storage Bag. I've selected one for you; perhaps you could give it a try."

But then a ring on Kang Dabao's thick finger lit up, and a wisp of spiritual light fell into Duan Anle's hand. The latter collected several bottles of precious pills that True Cultivator cultivators outside could not obtain, two offensive and defensive Spirit Artifact, and a bottle of Phoenix Spirit Liquid before finally picking up the Jade Slip to examine it:

"The Crimson Heart Cult's Treasury, Cosmos Rank, Lower Grade 'Crimson Pearl Thoroughly Illuminating True Chapter' from the Celestial Rank."

"His family has few survivors, so there's no need to worry about getting involved in any karma." Kang Dabao spoke without any remorse, but then added:

"Cultivation is ultimately your own affair. The words of outsiders can only be consulted, not blindly believed. In your future cultivation, follow your own heart and do not carry any burdens."

Duan Anle composed himself, bowed deeply, and said, "Thank you, Master."

Sitting cross-legged on the futon, Sect Leader Kang Da waved his hand and laughed, "Go, go. Go and call Shilun, and see if he has brought me any braised pork knuckle."

As each disciple entered the sect to receive instruction, Sect Leader Kang Da had already spent several months on this. Not all disciples possessed Duan Anle's comprehension and were able to switch to higher-level Cultivation Method.

However, the effectiveness of this Spring and Autumn Brush Edge in dispelling confusion, enlightening the mind, and guiding the way forward is also remarkable. As for the disciples who have received its teachings, they all benefit greatly and wish they could immediately go into seclusion to cultivate themselves.

This led to a minor period of chaos within the Chongming Sect. After all, regardless of their cultivation level, the disciples summoned by Sect Leader Kang Da were all trusted disciples with important duties, and they all began to devote themselves to cultivation, making it difficult for the sect to operate smoothly in normal times.

Fortunately, Duan Anle was capable and quickly reorganized the entire organization. This allowed his junior brothers, Jiang Qing, Yuan Jin, and Ye Zhengwen, to receive instruction from Sect Leader Kang Da with peace of mind, and they also benefited greatly from the guidance of Spring and Autumn Brush Edge.

Over the years, Sect Leader Kang Da had seen quite a bit of the world and had collected many Law Treasure here and there, but only this educational treasure truly suited his taste, leaving him deeply moved:

"If we had obtained this treasure earlier, my disciples' future might have been even brighter. Later, when either of my Second or Third has made further progress and is able to use the Law Treasure, we could establish teaching them as a regular practice."

Unbeknownst to Kang Dabao, the very person he was so grateful to, Daoist Peng, was somewhere within the Cold Crow Mountain Range, closing his eyes to heal his injuries.

(Lao Bai has to go to the production line tomorrow morning, that's all for today, I'll try to finish early tomorrow!)