fairy family

Chapter 208 Gong Dongxue, the Old Taoist Priest Paves the Way
After seeing Yuan Wen off, Yu Que stayed on his own Millstone Peak and went into seclusion to carefully study the two techniques he had obtained in the Refining Heart Hall.

Previously on Bright Peak, he had roughly figured out the incantation and had also consulted Duan Wen and others about some cultivation-related matters.

However, he still needs to study these fundamental techniques more carefully in order to master them properly and minimize mistakes during cultivation.

Another half month later, when he emerged from his seclusion, he learned from the strongman that the Yuan family had sent a large number of gifts, and that they were sent by his cheap master, Yuan Wu.

Yu Que was slightly surprised, but not entirely astonished.

The behavior of Yuan Jia and Yuan Wu was actually within his expectations, but their sensible manner was truly beyond his impression of the cheap master Yuan Wu.

In the side hall where the treasure was hidden, Yu Que looked at the stacks of incense pills, the dazzling array of cultivation herbs, the full granaries and barrels of spiritual grains, and the group of dancers and musicians waiting outside the hall, and thought to himself:

"I thought that Yuan Wu would continue to hold a grudge against me because of the 'rudeness' of the three of us last time."

Now it seems this person wasn't entirely unable to distinguish right from wrong.

He took a deep breath.

Having made this good relationship with the Yuan family, regardless of whether Yuan Wu is a true gentleman or a hypocrite, the possibility of him deliberately targeting him in the Taoist temple in the future is extremely small.

At the very least, among the three true disciples of Taoism this year, he should not be the first in order of being hated by Yuan Wu.

After considering the matter thoroughly, Yu Que clapped his hands and gave instructions to those around him:
"Since Master Yuan Wu has sent these gifts, you must take good care of them and use them properly, and do not waste them."

He glanced at the musicians and dancers waiting outside the hall, his eyes filled with curiosity.

According to Yu Que's understanding, whether in his past life or this life, only wealthy families could afford to keep private dancers and musicians.

Unexpectedly, now that he has been promoted to a true disciple, others have sent him a whole set of gifts. Moreover, these dancers and musicians are not ordinary people; they all possess cultivation, but they are not orthodox immortals; they are all Dao soldiers.

In particular, Yu Que noticed that the group of graceful dancers all still possessed primordial yin energy, which would be excellent for cultivating techniques.

Not only the dancers, but some of the musicians were also fair-skinned, clean-shaven, handsome, and youthful, with appearances that were in no way inferior to women. They must have been selected from among the male prostitutes who were skilled in music.

Clearly, the people sent by the Yuan family were genuine high-class playthings.

In terms of individual beauty and skill, they might not be as good as that fairy in colorful clothes. However, the resources required to raise such a plaything are far beyond what a single red brothel can match, and even all the red brothels in the city combined might not be able to match it.

"How could a wealthy family like this, where everyone is so extravagant and indulges in fine food and drink, produce a son like Yuan Wen?"

Yu Que thought to himself, "Could it be that he was used to being served and found that the arrogant woman was quite different, which is why he was bewitched by that fairy in colorful clothes?"

He was speechless for a long time.

Yu Que came to his senses and casually gave an order to the palace guards:

"Although I am not fond of dance and music, the mountain should not be too bland, lest it appear shabby when guests come."

Since these people were sent by Master Yuan Wu, we should continue to support them in preparation for any eventuality.

Pan Yili immediately responded to the order: "Yes, I will go and tell Mo Yi to settle these people in peace."

After dealing with the gifts, Yu Que personally wrote a reply and dispatched a strongman to deliver his own reply to the Yuan family.

He spent half a day dealing with each matter one by one, and after finishing all the miscellaneous tasks, he retreated to his quiet room on the mountain.

This time, he entered the meditation room intending to use the gifts in his possession to see if he could refine a household deity that suited his taste, thus stepping into the middle stage of the eighth rank and completely mastering the Six Internal Organs Ghost and God Diagram.

However, not long after he went into seclusion, before he had even entered a meditative state, the mountain hermit made a rare call to him, saying that someone had summoned him, and that it was a nobleman from the palace, an elder, or a master.

Yu Que was startled and quickly composed himself before stepping out of the pass.

Immediately, he saw a female disciple dressed in a Taoist robe, who was waiting patiently on the cloud platform with her back to him.

When Yu Que appeared, the man happened to turn around and look at him.

This female disciple had bright, sparkling eyes and a refined, elegant demeanor. Several large arrows hung on her back, clustered together, giving her an air of competence and efficiency.

She held a throwing knife in her hand, playing with it. Her slender hand was white, as if she were holding a fresh flower branch, exuding an indescribable charm.

Yu Que's eyes lit up when he saw the female immortal.

This woman is even more ethereal than the legendary fairy in colorful clothes from the Red Chamber of the Immortal City; she seems like a celestial being.

However, Yu Que remained completely composed. He strolled forward at a leisurely pace and nodded in greeting.
"May I ask, fellow disciple, which master in the palace are you a disciple of?"

The female immortal, holding a throwing knife, bowed to Yu Que:

"Having met the true disciple Yu Que, I am Gong Dongxue, a disciple of the Xuan Tu Temple within the palace."

This time, I have come on my master's orders to summon Yu Zhen to transmit the Dharma of Contemplation.

Upon hearing this, Yu Que showed a look of surprise.

He has been a disciple of the Dao Palace for over a month now. Although he has only left Mopan Peak once, he has gained a general understanding of the various Dao lineages within the palace.

As he had previously understood, the Huangshan Taoist temple was roughly divided into the master-disciple lineage and the aristocratic family lineage.

However, apart from these two major factions, there are three other peak masters and some scattered immortals who do not openly participate in the two major factions.

Especially the master of Tiandu Peak, one of the three main peaks.

This person was in charge of the palace's sacrifices and dealings with the imperial court. It was rumored that he was not a native of Huangshan, but rather from a foreign land, and that his attitude was biased towards the imperial court.

However, aside from attending to palace affairs when offering sacrifices at the Dao Palace, the Heavenly Capital Peak Master, like the other two peak masters, usually keeps to himself and does not receive guests. He does not support any pro-court forces within the Dao Palace.

Therefore, within the Huangshan Taoist Palace, the various internal disputes and entanglements still mainly revolved around the master-disciple lineage and the aristocratic family lineage.

The Xuan Tu Temple is one of the five temples currently in the palace, and the one who received the teachings of this temple is an old immortal who refines qi—Master Xuan Tu!
"Three peaks, five temples, and nine families—these are the largest forces within the Dao Palace, each with a master of Qi Refining in charge! Now, finally, someone has come to recruit me..."

Yu Que pondered to himself, his thoughts churning.

Especially the "Master Xuan Tu" mentioned by Gong Dongxue, who was also an acquaintance of the old leader!

Now that he has received an invitation from the other party, it is clear that Yu Que is about to welcome his first powerful backer in the Huangshan Taoist Palace.

So he immediately bowed to Gong Dongxue:

"Yes! I am still lacking in the true teachings, and I respectfully accept the decree of the Venerable Xuan Tu."

Gong Dongxue sized Yu Que up and down, and upon hearing his words, she couldn't help but smile.

“Master Yu, there’s no need to be so nervous. Your master just wants to have a talk with you. He won’t eat you. Relax, relax.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the female immortal floated up and slowly stepped into the air. She gestured for Yu Que to follow, and told him not to bring the warriors and others.

"Condensing Evil Immortal Clan!"

Upon seeing Gong Dongxue walking on air, Yu Que immediately determined her cultivation level.

He immediately did as he was told, briefly instructed the guards on his left and right, then quickly took out a paper crane talisman from his sleeve, mounted it, and followed Gong Dongxue, leaving Mopan Peak.

Gong Dongxue spotted the slowly moving paper crane that Yu Que was riding and called out loudly from ahead:
"Riding a paper crane is too slow. It seems that Master Yu is missing a way to fly through the clouds. When you see Master later, you can mention this matter directly."

"If you are destined to be together, your master will surely bestow upon you a gift for becoming his disciple." Upon hearing the words "gift for becoming his disciple," Yu Que's eyes flickered slightly.

He did not refute Gong Dongxue's teasing, but nodded and transmitted his voice: "Then I will take Senior Sister Gong's good words and hope that Master Xuantu will think highly of me!"

A burst of laughter came from ahead.

“There’s no need for auspicious words. You are a true disciple. If you are willing to join the Xuantu Temple, it would be a blessing for our temple.”

As she was speaking, Gong Dongxue suddenly turned back.

As she spoke, she suddenly appeared beneath Yu Que.

Without uttering any further words, the woman gave a soft shout, picked up the paper crane, and carried Yu Que, crane and all, quickly moving them towards their destination.

Gong Dongxue said, "Master Yu, your paper crane is too slow. I apologize for being so abrupt. I'll just carry you around."

Whoosh, the clouds churned and rolled around Yuque at an even faster speed.

It gave him a feeling of speed and exhilaration, just like when he first rode freely on horseback in the military camp.

However, he was not being carried by a horse, but rather being lifted up by a disciple of the palace, which was somewhat embarrassing.

The speed at which the Fiend God Immortals can escape is far beyond what a strongman could achieve by carrying a frame.

Before half an hour had passed, Yu Que arrived at the foot of a pitch-black mountain.

A faint wisp of black smoke was rising from the mountain peak, but it did not look frightening at all. Instead, it gave people a unique and exquisite feeling.

This mountain peak is Xuantu Peak, one of the five strongholds of the master-disciple lineage in the palace and the location of Xuantu Temple.

The old immortal who resides on the mountain is none other than the Xuan Tu Shangren, who has been famous for decades.

Accompanied by Gong Dongxue, Yu Que arrived at the mountain peak and quickly climbed and jumped up, successfully reaching the top of Xuan Tu Peak.

A black and yellow building came into his view, with yellow bricks and black tiles, a grand and imposing structure.

The mountaintop has few grasses and trees, but many bamboo groves, and each bamboo stalk is only about the thickness of a thumb, with a purplish-black color. They are planted heavily on the mountaintop, creating a mysterious and artistic atmosphere.

Gong Dongxue introduced with a smile: "This is the black bamboo from the mountain. It is like gold and stone, and extremely heavy."

It is also the most commonly used material for ritual implements by ordinary disciples after entering the temple.

If Master Yu finds it agreeable, he can obtain a few hundred-year-old bamboo stalks later. I imagine his master won't be too stingy.

Yu Que bowed respectfully and restrained himself, saying, "How dare I be so presumptuous?"

The other party smiled and immediately sent a message to the disciples on the mountain. Then, the gates of the Xuan Tu Temple were opened wide, welcoming the two inside.

As soon as they entered the temple, an aged voice rang in their ears:

"Come right in."

Gong Dongxue replied respectfully, "Yes."

Yu Que couldn't discern any emotion in the woman's tone, so he followed her inside.

After entering a large hall of the Xuan Tu Temple, the old voice said a few words and then dismissed Gong Dongxue, leaving only Yu Que standing in the hall.

After a long silence, the Xuan Tu Shangren still did not emerge.

Yu Que frowned inwardly, vaguely sensing that the acquaintance the old leader had mentioned was not someone easy to talk to.

"Yu Que, right? You've become quite famous in the palace lately. Even Wu Zhexian from the Yuan family is willing to befriend you."

Finally, a soft laugh rang out:

"I have summoned you here today to ask you if you would like to become my disciple."

I have a past relationship with your old leader. If you are willing to join me, I will naturally protect you and prevent you from having to curry favor with the Yuan family and others again.

how is it? "

Yu Que was extremely surprised. He had not expected that Xuan Tu Shangren would be so direct, and his words seemed to imply that he did not particularly like his friendship with the Yuan family.

Amidst a whirlwind of thoughts, in a flash, Yu Que immediately chose to bow and snor.
"I am in a position of need, and I cannot ask for more."

I am willing to pay homage to the Venerable Master Xuantu with the utmost respect, as if he were my teacher!

Regardless of the other party's true intentions, given the old leader's instructions, this person shouldn't try to harm him the moment he shows his face.

One could even think of it this way: the other party's clear stance is a way of hoping that Yu Que can understand the situation and avoid doing anything that would displease them.

This person was not like a smiling tiger, outwardly friendly but secretly plotting against him.

"good!"

When Xuan Tu Shangren saw that Yu Que had stated his position without hesitation, his tone immediately softened:
"You are a child with a hard life. Going up the mountain is not easy, and climbing the mountain is even more difficult. Every step is fraught with danger, as if walking on thin ice. It is truly remarkable."

The old man and the young boy exchanged pleasantries for quite a while in the hall.

Master Xuantu also inquired about the affairs of Yu Que's uncle, Huang Guishan, and others.

Finally, the other party got to the point, saying:

“True disciples who enter the palace are different from ordinary disciples. They are all quite free. You can freely visit famous teachers and learn various methods without being bound by various mundane affairs.”

However, regarding your future path of cultivation and study in the palace, I have two suggestions.

Yu Que quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "Master, please speak!"

Master Xuan Tu spoke:
"Firstly, you closed your mountain gates and buried yourself in the mountains to cultivate yourself, ignoring external affairs and thus avoiding karmic entanglements."

The special treatment you receive in the palace is enough to support you wholeheartedly until you reach the upper seventh rank. It's not too late to venture out and seek opportunities when you're close to the sixth rank.

This way, although you'll be out of the spotlight for a few years, you'll be quite safe.

Yu nodded, indicating that the other party should say the second option.

Master Xuan Tu then said:
"As for the second type, it is the cultivation of the Great Dao, which requires struggle to achieve the Dao."

In terms of daily affairs, you not only cannot refuse, but you must also go down the mountain more often to slay demons, drive away evil spirits, and establish your prestige.

With me here, as long as you dare to act and take risks, and are not afraid of hardship or fatigue, your resources, reputation, and achievements in the palace will be no less than those of the Wang and Xie families.

However, this means you have to work hard and suffer for several years before the hardship finally pays off. This is also a kind of spiritual journey.

And more importantly, having chosen this path, you must obey my orders without hesitation; you must not disobey your master's commands. Only then can I pave the way properly for you.”

The other party remained calm and composed, paused for a moment, and asked, "Which one do you want to choose?"

In an instant, Yu Que stood in the hall, his brows furrowed, his expression troubled.

(End of this chapter)