The Great Way to Truth, Starting from Jiazi Laodao

Chapter 188 Future First Disciple, My Family Is Not Short of Money
Although the truth-seeking concept is different now, with stricter assessment standards and higher requirements, the focus has never shifted, and the following three points remain unchanged:

It’s still not just about one’s background.

Qualifications are still not the main factor.

The three-level assessment is still the basis.

[Perseverance level, climb the ladder to heaven]

Those who wish to enter the Qiuzhen Temple must start from the foot of the mountain and climb up the steps one step at a time to reach the Welcoming Pavilion 2,500 feet above the ground within two hours. The steps are steep and the mountain road is tortuous and undulating. Even for a strong man it is not easy to climb the mountain within the specified time.

What's more, the ladder to heaven has its own mysteries. The older you are, the more pressure you can withstand, which brings a fifteen-year-old boy to the same level as a six-year-old child. In addition, young people suffer less. For these reasons, those who can reach the welcoming pavilion have good perseverance.

[Mind state barrier, trapped mind array]

Those who practice cultivation should be pure in mind and have few desires.

All living beings have desires, even Xuanming has desires. The Heart-Trapping Array does not require those who enter the array to be free of desires. If that were the case, it is very likely that no one would be picked. It all depends on the self-control of those who enter the array.

Since my heart is content, my body will be at peace.

If you can see the desire in your heart and control it, know how to be moderate and not be greedy, you will naturally be able to succeed in breaking through the formation.

Young people have weak self-control, and those who successfully break through the formation must have good qualities and have the opportunity to become disciples of Qiuzhen Temple.

In addition, the Heart-Trapping Array will also set up various scenarios to test the good and evil nature of those who enter the array. For example, facing a life or death decision, the decline and rise of a friend, the glory or decline of one's own family, encountering a beggar asking for help, encountering a wealthy businessman who carries valuables but is in danger of his life, etc. The reaction of the person who enters the array will determine whether he has succeeded.

Those who cannot distinguish right from wrong will not be accepted.

Those with cruel and ruthless hearts will not be accepted.

Those who have weak wills will not be accepted.

Those who are excessively kind will not be accepted.

[Enlightenment Gate, the Stone of the Way]

There are various images in the stone: sword dancing, practicing martial arts, drawing talismans, refining equipment, arranging formations, making medicine, spiritual farming, cooking, etc. It all depends on how much the challenger can understand within an hour.

This level has nothing to do with the depth of knowledge, it only depends on the level of comprehension. As long as you have outstanding talent in some aspect, you can become a disciple of the Qiuzhen Temple.

---

Looking at the three arranged levels, Xuanming felt satisfied. He tapped his toes and instantly appeared on the top of the Endless Wood tree.

The spiritual root was so tall that it blocked out the sun and the whole tree was fiery red. Xuanming lay on it on his side with a leisurely posture. He drank while looking down at everyone, especially Li Zizai who was breaking through the barrier.

"Only those who endure the most hardships can become the best. Li Zizai, you can do it!"

"I'm not afraid of a long road, I'm afraid of a short ambition. I'm the little bully of East City. What can a mere mountain climbing do to me?"

“Although the old man is a bit nagging, ugly but unaware of it, and a grown man who often monopolizes my mother, but considering that he is good to me and has easy money to earn, I will be a filial son and make him happy. I can’t let him go disappointed after waiting for six years.

If I cry again, my mother will yell at me and say I am bullying her husband. It's so hard to be a good son."

"This damn mountain is so hard to climb! When I get back, I'm going to eat 17 or 18 big white steamed buns and six pickled cabbage dumplings."

"Li Daniu, I've been punished badly this time. No matter what, you have to compensate me this time. Otherwise, I will let the whole Fuyun County know that when you were a child, you were called Niu Duzi. You look much older, but you shamelessly call my mother sister."

……

Although Li Zizai was fat, he did not cry or complain about being tired like other pampered rich young masters of the same body shape, and gave up halfway, and was sent back to the foot of the mountain by the ladder.

He struggled with his short legs, muttering to himself and panting as he climbed the mountain.

Xuanming found what he heard interesting and thought that this gossip was more interesting than any appetizer. Looking at Li Daniu as a simple and honest man, he did not expect that he was so serious in front of others but so...contrasting behind their backs.

---

Except for Xuan Yang who was still looking at the Bagua Furnace, all the other Taoists of the Third Generation came to the Endless Wood. They also heard Li Zizai's chattering, because he was the most interesting among the thousands of climbers.

It is quite interesting to listen to the gossips of the people living in the mountains from time to time. Besides, they were not intentionally prying into privacy. It was just that the fat boy was too talkative and kept chattering along the way, so they paid attention to him when they overheard him.

Xuan Kong said with relish, "This kid is interesting. I like him. He suits my taste. And looking at his size, he should be my disciple."

Xuan Kong and other three generations of masters had originally not planned to accept any more disciples this time, but Xuan Kong really liked this little fat boy and couldn't help but have some ideas about him.

Xuanxu nodded: "This boy is indeed unique."

Unfortunately, he preferred those children who were mature beyond their years. Although he found them interesting, he had no intention of taking them as his disciples.

After coughing a few times, Xuanming said frankly: "I'm afraid I will disappoint Junior Brother Xuankong. This boy and I have a master-disciple relationship. If he can pass the three levels smoothly, he will be my first disciple."

When these words were spoken, all the Taoists were shocked. Xuan Yang no longer cared about the Bagua Furnace and flew to the top of the Endless Wood tree.

Over the years, they have repeatedly urged Brother Xuanming to accept disciples. It would be a shame if his extraordinary abilities did not have a successor, but Brother Xuanming always said that the fate had not yet arrived.

After so many times and as time went by, they stopped trying to persuade him and assumed that Brother Xuanming didn't want to accept a disciple and was just looking for a universal excuse to prevaricate. They never imagined that the day would come when he would really accept a disciple.

After the shock, the Taoists were overjoyed.

Senior Brother Xuanming is the mountain rock and pillar of Qiuzhen Temple. The disciple he likes must have extraordinary qualities. Maybe he can become another True Lord of Training Gods in Qiuzhen Temple in the future. Qiuzhen Temple will be more prosperous and glorious, bringing honor to the four counties. If so, even if it is difficult for them to build a tunnel in the future and their life span is exhausted, they will die without regrets and smile in the grave.

"It seems that there is hope for the inheritance of Senior Brother."

"If he really becomes my fellow apprentice, as his uncle, I will definitely take good care of him and raise him to be fatter and whiter."

"My senior brother likes quietness, but this kid is a chatterbox. If they really become senior brothers, then the Daoist Academy will be lively."

The Taoists were talking about it, and while they were happy to hear the news, they were more concerned about the little fat man.

After taking a sip of wine, Xuanming felt it was quite strange that his future disciple was such a chatterbox.

---

Li Zizai had no idea that he was being watched and had become the focus of the truth-seeking audience.

He concentrated on climbing the mountain. Although he was young, he was full of energy and enthusiasm. He was like a calf, and his short legs moved very quickly.

While climbing the mountain, he kept muttering to himself, and soon changed his strategy. He stopped complaining about his father and started counting directly. He decided to ask his father for one or two taels of silver for every person he passed.

Brothers fighting tigers, father and son go into battle.

I do the work and my dad pays, it's fair.

So Li Zizai climbed the mountain even harder, feeling that he had endless energy. In his eyes, the climbers became pieces of silver. Every time he passed someone, he would mutter something.

"Hehe, one or two taels of silver."

"Tsk tsk, another tael of silver."

"Oh my, twenty taels."

"Wow, hahaha, that's one hundred taels."

At first, those who were surpassed by him were amazed at the amazing physical strength of the little fat man, but were confused by what Li Zizai said. After they thought about it for a while and turned around, they gritted their teeth.

"This kid is not a human being."

“It’s so infuriating.”

"Whose chain is not fastened properly?"

……

On the Endless Tree, the three generations of Immortals had different reactions.

Xuan Yin felt nothing, Xuan Xu was helpless, Xuan Tong was speechless, Xuan Yu frowned, Xuan Su was calm, Xuan Yang scratched the back of his head, and Xuan Kong grinned and sighed that this boy was talented.

Two hours later, Li Zizai stood in the reception pavilion with a bulging belly and a proud look on his face. Only three hundred people succeeded in passing the test, and he was one of them, a rare talent.

After finding a place to sit down, Li Zizai took out a few cakes from his brocade bag, and shamelessly asked the disciple on duty for a cup of tea. He took a bite of cake and a sip of tea to fill his stomach.

He had to gather up some strength as he had the next level to pass. At the same time, he was calculating in his mind how much silver he could ask his father for passing this level.

---

After one stick of incense, the second level began, and Li Zizai stepped into the Heart-Trapping Array with great vigor and confidence.

Seeing this scene, the Third Generation Immortal was moved. Xuan Kong smiled and said, "It's not easy to become a fellow apprentice. You have to be more outstanding than others. Brother, are you willing to let me add some ingredients to this fat man?"

After taking a sip of wine, Xuanming said cheerfully, "Of course."

The others also became interested after hearing this and started to attack Li Zizai. Xuanming was full of curiosity, wanting to know if this guy could handle it.

Inside the Heart-Trapping Array, Li Zizai had a mountain of steamed buns in his left hand and a pile of pickled cabbage in his right hand, and was eating madly, enjoying himself. Although the Li family was not short of money and he had eaten a lot of delicacies from land and sea, cakes and fruits, he always felt that steamed buns and pickled cabbage were the most delicious and could fill him up.

After eating more than a dozen steamed buns and seven or eight lumps of pickled cabbage, Li Zizai touched his stomach and looked at the remaining steamed buns and lumps of pickled cabbage in front of him. Unfortunately, he was at a loss as to what to do.

At this time, a voice sounded, telling him that he could pack it up and take it away. It was the reward from Qiuzhen Temple for those who passed the first level. Li Zizai was tempted, but did not agree immediately. Instead, he asked:
"If I don't take it away, how are you going to deal with the food?"

"It will be distributed to the poor people living at the foot of the mountain."

Patting his belly, he said contentedly, "My mother once said that people should be contented, and only when they are contented can they be happy. Since I am full, I will not bring it anymore."

At this time, the sound came again.

"You are such a kind-hearted child. To reward you, I will give you 100 taels of gold."

Seeing the gold suddenly appearing in front of him, Li Zizai was very happy. He picked up a piece, bit it hard, and pinched himself hard. After finding out that it was real, he danced with joy. Just when the voice said that it would help him put the gold away, Li Zizai said, "Wait a minute, I only need fifty taels of gold. Can you please change the remaining fifty taels into copper coins and distribute them to the poor people?"

"why?"

"Because my mother said that people's blessings are limited, and if they are not satisfied, they will soon be used up. You should leave a way out for everything, only take half of it for profit, and use the other half to do good deeds, so that the blessings will continue to flow."

You can’t say that my family doesn’t lack money!

I'm not stupid!
(End of this chapter)