Daqin Zhentiansi

As Zhang Yuan left, the disciples' gazes were complex, a mixture of admiration, doubt, and a hint of fear.

Some people whispered among themselves, their faces filled with sincere admiration: "Although this Junior Brother Zhang has only been at Xuanyu Temple for a short time, his character and cultivation are truly first-rate."

The person next to him nodded vigorously, his eyes shining with eagerness: "What's rare is that he has profound cultivation and is willing to share his insights. I, Prince Teng, must go to Xuanyu Cliff in two days."

Some people frowned, looked around worriedly, and then lowered their voices to say, "Now that the abbot is not here, Senior Brother Zhao Kun's intention to suppress Junior Brother Zhang Yuan is obvious. Going to listen to the sermon is probably not a good idea..."

The disciple who said this subconsciously shrank his neck, as if afraid of being overheard.

Not far away, behind a pillar, the acting abbot Zhao Kun's face was ashen. He gave a cold "humph," and his fingers clenched slightly under his sleeves.

Li Xuan, standing beside him, narrowed his eyes to slits, a calculating glint in them. A cold smile played on his lips as he leaned closer and whispered, "Don't worry, Senior Brother. I'll go find Uncle Zhou, the lecturer at the temple, and make sure he's humiliated in public and loses all face!"

……

Zhang Yuan walked steadily back to his cave.

The stone gate was closed, isolating it from the noise of the outside world.

He stood still for a moment, feeling a strange power quietly surging within his body.

That was a wisp of pure Daoist essence that fed back from the Primordial Heavenly Dao when I was preaching and helping people break through.

A slight smile played on his lips; this was exactly what he wanted.

The instant he received this wisp of primordial power of the Heavenly Dao, he subtly and imperceptibly incorporated a more refined and resilient wisp of the Heavenly Dao's original power, representing the will of the Great Qin Dynasty, into it like a seed.

"So this is how one can condense the Great Dao and quietly take root..."

Zhang Yuan understood immediately.

This is more subtle and concealed than simply relying on combat to spread martial arts imprints, and it is also more in line with the acceptance criteria of this Heavenly Dao.

He looked up, his gaze seemingly piercing through the stone wall, looking towards the direction of the scripture pavilion, his deep eyes revealing a sharper and more calculating look.

"Just the Xuanyu Temple alone, those ancient texts have already allowed me to deduce so many subsequent cultivation methods and glimpse the secrets of the Heavenly Palace's cultivation methods."

"The primordial world is vast, and the treasures held by various sects and even the Heavenly Palace must be even more astonishing..."

He was thinking about it.

"However, to access the library and read the higher-level texts, one needs extraordinary merit."

The ways to earn Heavenly Merit are either to slay powerful, rebellious beasts or demons, or to resolve major border conflicts, such as quelling the war between the Iron Feather Eagle Clan and the Black Armor Crocodile Clan.

Or it could be finding and handing over precious natural treasures, such as the Earth Vein Blood Bodhi, or completing specific dangerous missions assigned by the Heavenly Palace... Each of these is extremely dangerous and highly sought after.

The three Heavenly Skills Zhang Yuan had previously received were extremely disproportionate to the gains of the Guardian Temple, and the Temple Master felt bad about it, so he bestowed them upon him.

"To gain the opportunity to freely browse all the classics through divine merit would take too long and attract too much attention."

Zhang Yuan shook his head slightly, rejecting this methodical approach.

A more direct and effective goal clearly emerged in his mind: "Becoming the abbot, I can rightfully and directly access all the scriptures in the temple by virtue of my status as the abbot of the temple!"

"Let's take it one step at a time, starting with the Xuanyu Temple."

……

Two days later, dawn broke.

Xuanyu Cliff.

The cliffs rise thousands of feet high and are shrouded in clouds and mist all year round.

The platform at the top of the cliff is spacious, as if it had been cleaved open by a giant axe.

On one side is a bottomless valley, with churning clouds and flowing spiritual energy like mist.

On the other side, one can see a vast, undulating mountain range, which is magnificent.

The morning breeze was crisp and cool, carrying the fresh scent of grass, trees, and rocks, rustling the sparse ancient pines along the cliff edge.

The pine needles trembled slightly, making a soft rustling sound, which made the place seem even more ethereal and quiet, like a natural sanctuary.

It was still early, and several figures had already quietly appeared at the edge of the cliff top or behind nearby boulders.

They were standing or sitting, their auras restrained; they were all guardians of the Xuanyu Temple.

These figures did not immediately approach the central preaching area.

Instead, they maintained their distance, exchanging glances that were complex and difficult to understand.

Awe, curiosity, expectation, worry, and a hint of fear of Zhao Kun's attitude were clearly written on their faces.

Some people unconsciously stroked the weapons at their waists, while others closed their eyes to regulate their breathing, yet could not hide the turmoil in their hearts.

A moment later, Li Xuan appeared at the entrance to the cliff top, accompanied by an old man in a dark blue Taoist robe, with a gaunt face and sharp, eagle-like eyes.

This was the highly respected lecturer in the temple, who was specifically responsible for analyzing the difficulties of the practice for his disciples, and who required a considerable fee to be invited to give each lecture.

Zhou Xian.

"It's Uncle-Master Zhou!"

Someone gasped softly, their face showing barely concealed surprise.

"Senior Brother Li has invited Dr. Zhou, now..."

"Oh no, Junior Brother Zhang is going to be embarrassed..." Someone panicked and instinctively tried to back away.

Li Xuan took in the surprised and doubtful expressions on everyone's faces, and a hint of smugness crept onto his lips.

He cleared his throat and said loudly, "Since we're all here, let's hear what brilliant insights this Junior Brother Zhang has to offer!"

"What are you doing hiding in the back? You've wasted so many years of cultivation, and you still have to look around when you're trying to hear the Dao?"

Upon hearing his words, the faces of the garrison commanders who had been hiding in the shadows turned red and white in turns.

Some walked out awkwardly.

Some stood tall and proud, a hint of resentment on their faces, but ultimately no one dared to refute Li Xuan.

Many more people remained silent as they emerged from their hiding places and quietly found spots on the cliff edge to sit cross-legged, their gazes all focused on the smooth boulder in the center of the platform.

For a moment, the top of Xuanyu Cliff fell silent.

More than ten garrison commanders sat quietly in meditation, their breathing long and deep, their robes fluttering slightly in the morning breeze, and a faint aura of spiritual energy swirling around them.

Like pine trees rooted in rocks, they possess the unique detachment and refinement of Qi cultivators, awaiting the arrival of the preacher.

Only the sounds of the wind, the rustling of the pines, and the silent surging of the sea of ​​clouds below the cliff create a tranquil and solemn scene.

A moment later, a figure in cyan robes slowly emerged from the clouds at the foot of the mountain. His steps were unhurried, as if he were walking on invisible steps. With each step, faint ripples of spiritual energy spread out beneath his feet, making him walk on air as if on flat ground.

It was Zhang Yuan.

He landed lightly on the boulder in the center of the platform, his posture as upright as a pine tree.

Qing Xuanzi, who had been waiting there, quietly approached and whispered, "Junior Brother Zhang, the one next to Li Xuan is Dr. Zhou Xian, who lectures on scriptures. He has an extremely profound understanding of cultivation techniques, and his words are sharp and he always finds faults."

"You must be careful when you preach today, and you must not let him find fault with your words or reasoning."

Zhang Yuan glanced at Zhou Xian beside Li Xuan, his expression calm and composed, and nodded slightly to Qing Xuanzi: "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother Qing Xuan."

Seeing that Zhang Yuan ignored him, Li Xuan was furious, but he forced a smile and raised his voice again: "Junior Brother Zhang, you certainly have quite the entourage. Look, everyone is waiting for you. We are all eager to hear how Junior Brother Zhang will explain the Great Dao."

His words were clearly sarcastic and condescending.

Zhang Yuan still didn't look at him, as if Li Xuan was just air.

He slowly sat down cross-legged on the boulder, his posture natural and composed.

The moment he sat down, his aura suddenly changed.

The previous composure and restraint instantly transformed into an indescribable etherealness and vastness.

It was as if he himself had merged into this world, becoming a part of the spiritual energy flowing through Xuan Yu Cliff.

The wind at the cliff top seemed gentler, and the clouds and mist seemed to freeze for a moment.

An invisible Daoist aura emanated from him, slowly spreading out and enveloping the entire cliff top.

He didn't waste time with pleasantries and went straight to the point. His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present, like a clear spring flowing straight to their hearts.

He wasn't talking about specific techniques or formulas, but rather he was addressing the fundamental principles of the "Mysterious Jade Returning to Truth Technique."

The true meaning of the word "returning to the truth" lies in tracing back to the source and conforming to the natural flow of the primordial energy of heaven and earth, rather than rigidly following the fixed practice routes passed down from the Heavenly Palace.

He combined his own higher-level understanding to simplify complex and profound principles, analyzing them in a clear and accessible way.

With a slight thought, Zhang Yuan caused the "Golden Pearl of the Great Dao" in his sea of ​​consciousness to rotate slightly. Combined with the deductive power of the "Thirteen Arts of Destiny," he transformed his understanding of the essence of the primordial energy of the world and his insight into the original mysteries of the "Mysterious Jade Returning to Truth Technique" into a Dao sound that best suited the listener's current state of mind.

His seemingly calm narration actually stirred the spiritual energy of heaven and earth around Xuan Yu Cliff with every word and sentence, making it more active and pure, surrounding the listeners and helping them to comprehend the Dao.

From the perspective of the listener, the feeling is incredibly wonderful.

At first, some people were either scrutinizing or just watching the spectacle, but when Zhang Yuan's voice entered their ears, it was as if sweet rain had fallen on their parched hearts.

Those long-standing obstacles in their cultivation and the blockages in their practice were suddenly cleared up like ice and snow melting away under Zhang Yuan's simple explanation of the Great Dao!
The spiritual energy involuntarily began to circulate along the new path of comprehension, and the barriers to cultivation even showed signs of loosening.

The expressions on everyone's faces quickly shifted from initial confusion and doubt to focus, surprise, and even fascination.

They were completely absorbed in the profound sounds of the Great Dao, losing themselves in the moment.

Li Xuan initially approached the matter with a critical eye, a cold smile playing on his lips.

But when Zhang Yuan spoke of the profound insights in the "Tian Gang Refining Method" regarding "drawing the earth's energy to temper the body, transforming external force into internal strength, rather than simply resisting it head-on," Li Xuan's eyes widened suddenly, as if struck by lightning!
This is precisely the key reason why he has been practicing this technique diligently for many years but has never been able to grasp the basics!
A huge surge of joy welled up inside him, almost making him want to shout with delight.

But this surprise lasted only a moment, immediately replaced by stronger embarrassment and anger.

This profound realization actually came from the very person he intended to suppress!

This is an absolute and blatant insult!

He suppressed his turbulent emotions and hurriedly turned to Zhou Xian, the lecturer beside him, his voice filled with urgency and a hint of accusation: "Uncle Zhou, please listen to this! His statement is clearly unfounded speculation and contrary to the orthodox teachings transmitted by the Heavenly Palace..."

However, before he could finish speaking, Zhou Xian stopped him with a raised hand.

Zhou Xian's face was incredibly focused at this moment, even showing a hint of shock and admiration.

His gaze was fixed intently on Zhang Yuan, who was lecturing, ignoring Li Xuan's urging. He only managed to squeeze out a low, solemn sentence from his throat: "Silence! Keep listening!"

Li Xuan's face instantly turned extremely ugly, a mixture of red and white, as if a dye shop had been opened.

Looking at Zhou Xian's delighted and engrossed expression, he felt both ashamed and angry, wishing he could disappear into the ground.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Yuan stopped speaking.

An eerie silence fell over the cliff top, with only the lingering echoes of Taoist chants seemingly still reverberating in the air.

The disciples seemed to awaken from a dream, their faces filled with lingering amazement and deep shock. After a brief silence, they erupted into a flurry of questions:

"Uncle Zhang! What do you mean by 'Qi flows through hidden meridians, like a stream hidden in a deep pool'?"

"Senior Brother Zhang! Regarding the bottleneck in the third stage of the 'Qi-Inducing Profound Understanding Chapter'..."

"Uncle Zhang, I am too dull to explain the '罡煞化劲' technique in more detail."

Faced with a barrage of questions, Zhang Yuan remained calm and patiently answered them one by one.

His answers were concise and to the point, each one like a windowpane being pierced, leaving the questioner enlightened and their face filled with joy and gratitude.

Finally, after answering the last question, Zhang Yuan calmly raised his gaze, looking past the crowd, and landed on Zhou Xian, the lecturer who had been listening silently the whole time.

Zhou Xian slowly stood up.

He didn't look at Li Xuan, who was standing beside him with a livid face and was almost petrified. Instead, he gave Zhang Yuan a deep look with a complex expression, which contained inquiry, admiration, and an indescribable respect.

He nodded slightly in Zhang Yuan's direction, then left everyone, especially Li Xuan, speechless with his words: "Nephew Zhang's Taoist skills are profound and his insights are unique, far surpassing mine. If you give another lecture next time, remember to invite me."

Having said that, he didn't linger any longer, turned around and drifted away, his steps surprisingly light.

Li Xuan was struck dumb, frozen in place, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets, his face drained of color, leaving only an incredulous pallor and immense embarrassment.

Uncle Zhou actually left just like that?
They even asked to come again next time!
Zhang Yuan stood there, watching the departing figure of Dr. Zhou Xian, his expression remaining calm and composed, showing neither pride nor sarcasm.

He simply spoke a sentence to that retreating figure, softly yet clearly. His voice wasn't loud, but it resonated like a great bell, echoing throughout Xuan Yu Cliff and imprinting itself on everyone's heart:
"The Great Way has no favorites, and education is for all without discrimination."

"Those who enter my school will all receive the true teachings."

As soon as he finished speaking, it seemed as if he had touched some kind of unseen rule.

"Crack-!"

Suddenly, the water in the deep pool below the cliff surged!
A golden-red shadow burst out of the water!

It was a huge carp, three feet long, with a golden-red body and shimmering scales!
It drew a graceful arc in mid-air, enveloped by the rich Taoist aura and spiritual light left by Zhang Yuan's sermon.

A strange light flashed!
Under the horrified gazes of the crowd, the golden-red carp's body rapidly changed and lengthened in the air...

As the golden light faded, a delicately carved, jade-like child, about three or four years old, wearing a gold and red bib, landed steadily in front of Zhang Yuan, barefoot!
After the boy landed, without the slightest hesitation, he immediately knelt down before Zhang Yuan and kowtowed in a childish yet incredibly clear voice, filled with boundless piety:

"Disciple Jin Lin kowtows to express gratitude to Master for imparting the Dao and enlightening me!" (End of this chapter)