I built the Jade Capital with the Netherworld

Chapter 195 Lecture at the Taoist Academy
At dusk, Baichuan Temple resembles a bronze lamp that has run out of oil, and the wind chimes on the eaves echo with a dry, hoarse sound in the night wind.

Master Baichuan stepped across the almost worn-down threshold, his gaze sweeping over the incense altar in front of the Ancestral Hall, and a surge of anger welled up in his heart.

But the incense that had burned day and night had gone out sometime ago.

The boy who was supposed to guard the temple has disappeared.

Anger surged in his throat, but then turned into a sigh. A rebuke now might only further scatter the people's hearts.

In the past, once someone entered a sect, their life and death were entirely in their own hands. But now, with the Celestial Court above them, the Celestial Rules would likely follow closely as soon as the ruler touched the young disciple.

—There are too many people who want him dead.

He sighed, walked to the display shelf next door, and just as he opened the drawer, he froze, only to find it completely empty.

"Crash..."

A gust of wind blew through the room, carrying a murmur of whispers, like scattered beads, noisily falling into his ears.

"...I've heard that the Immortal Court Academy is as large as a city, and even the disciples' quarters are comparable to our Ancestral Hall?"

"You're just bragging! Such a nice house, and you think we'd live there?"

"You don't understand, do you? That Taoist academy was created with the brush and ink of the Celestial Master. It can be as big as you want, so why would it be stingy?"

"Tsk tsk..."

"Food and lodging are secondary. I've heard that not only does the Netherworld Path have a complete lineage within the academy, but it's also said to have the Orthodox Path lineage!"

"What? The Zhengyi sect?"

"Yes, that's it!"

"Whoo-"

"Senior brother, do you think we can still be admitted to the Dao Academy?"

"..."

Those soft murmurs sounded like mice stealing lamp oil.

As the abbot of Baichuan Temple gazed at the flickering shadows reflected on the wall, his anger vanished instantly, replaced by only sorrow.

The Zhengyi sect has all bowed down and submitted, so what can his little-known Taoist temple do?

He turned and walked to the altar, running his hand over the cracks on the offering table that had accumulated over the years. The cracks, winding along the grain of the peach wood, were like the deserted incense at Baichuan Temple, crumbling inch by inch amidst the endless discussions at the Taoist temples inside the pass.

He suddenly recalled the night his master passed away thirty years ago. In front of this Ancestral Hall, the old man, his life force nearly exhausted, held his hand, pressed the Hundred Rivers Dharma Seal into his palm, and earnestly instructed him:

"A hundred rivers do not vie for the ocean, but fill their own valleys..."

The flickering candle swayed violently in the draft, causing the abbot of Baichuan Temple to stagger.

With a "plop," he knelt down on the prayer mat, head bowed, ashamed to face the statue of the patriarch!

"Dong dong dong..."

A knock on the door echoed in the quiet night. A moment later, a young Taoist priest hurried over: "Master, a Taoist priest who calls himself Su Zhiyuan requests an audience!"

Abbot Baichuan raised his hand: "I understand... Hmm?"

Suddenly, he froze, quickly turning his head to ask, "Who?"

The young attendant was startled, but saw that the abbot seemed to have aged more than ten years, his orange-peel-like face covered with tear stains. He stammered uneasily, "He claimed to be Su Zhiyuan, but said nothing else."

Abbot Baichuan quickly got up, hurriedly wiped away the tears on his face, and rushed out of the temple. When he reached the door, he saw a young Taoist priest standing there.

Compared to his fluttering robes during the day, he was now dressed in plain white, without any external possessions, with only a piece of withered wood hairpin adorning his smile, making it impossible to feel any resentment towards him.

"I am Su Zhiyuan, and I have long admired your reputation for integrity!"

"This humble Taoist priest, Tang Tao, pays his respects to Dean Su!"

Dean?

The young Taoist following behind Abbot Baichuan opened his mouth wide in astonishment, his eyes widening in surprise.

So much so that he only realized what was happening when Abbot Baichuan greeted Dean Su as he entered the Taoist temple. He steeled his heart and followed.

Unfortunately, as soon as I entered the guest room, the abbot instructed me to prepare tea.

After the abbot of Baichuan Temple welcomed Su Zhiyuan into his guest room, he was pondering how to inquire about Su Zhiyuan's purpose when Su Zhiyuan cut to the chase:

"I apologize for the lateness of the night and for disturbing you. I will keep this brief. The reason I have come is to invite you to come down from the mountain and join my Taoist academy as a lecturer. I wonder if you would be interested?"

"Lectures?"

Master Baichuan was stunned. The request was something he had never imagined, and his mind couldn't quite process it for a moment.

Subconsciously, I said, "As the old saying goes: 'The law is not lightly transmitted, and the Way is not cheaply sold.' Although the Way of a Hundred Rivers is small, I dare not disobey the ancestor and sell it cheaply..."

Su Zhiyuan said, "Sir, you are overthinking it. This training is similar to a private school, and for now, we only need to teach the method of cultivating Yuan Qi. Of course, if you wish, you can also teach the Great Dao. There are dozens of Great Daos in the academy. As long as you have any one of them and cultivate it to the second rank, you can become a Great Dao Instructor. At that time, not only will your treatment be raised by one level, but if you cultivate the Netherworld Dao, you will also receive a merit bonus!"

He paused for a moment, then continued:
"The Daoist academy is newly established and currently has nothing of value. Apart from the ninth-rank status of the Celestial Court, the only things available to fellow Daoists are the academy's collection of books and the Great Dao. If you are reluctant to leave Baichuan Temple, you may leave early and return late."

Su Zhiyuan spoke eloquently and gently, his tone as warm and pleasant as a spring breeze.

The more the Abbot of Baichuan Temple listened, the more shaken he became. He asked incredulously, "The Celestial Court doesn't want the Way of Baichuan?"

Su Zhiyuan smiled and shook his head.

Upon seeing this, the abbot of Baichuan Temple suddenly realized that he had been worrying too much.

The Celestial Court possesses the complete lineage of the Netherworld Path, and it is rumored that it has even obtained the lineage of the Righteous Path. So why would it take a liking to the remnant Path of the Hundred Rivers?
However, he was still somewhat flattered by the sudden invitation to serve as a lecturer.

"Is this lecture given by celestial officials?"

"Strictly speaking, he can be considered a half-celestial official."

"Half?"

"The Taoist academy is directly under the Celestial Master's jurisdiction and can be considered an institution of the Celestial Court. Since it is a place for Taoist lectures, it is naturally considered a person of the Celestial Court! However, lectures are not celestial officials who are promoted through examinations, so they cannot be considered celestial officials. However, if one uses this as a stepping stone to take the examination for celestial officials, one will have priority in the selection process."

Su Zhiyuan spoke eloquently.

The abbot of Baichuan Temple nodded, his heart already pounding with excitement. However, he suppressed his excitement and asked, "If I were to teach, could I still serve as the abbot of Baichuan Temple? Can Baichuan Temple still recruit disciples?"

Su Zhiyuan: "Of course! Baichuan Temple is Baichuan Temple, and the Taoist Academy is the Taoist Academy. The two are just like shops and schools. How you run Baichuan Temple on a daily basis has nothing to do with the Taoist Academy. In fact, if you encounter a genius disciple in the Taoist Academy, you may be able to recruit him into the temple."

"This...this is okay?"

Upon hearing this, Su Zhiyuan's eyes revealed a hint of admiration as he said, "The Celestial Master has the world in his heart. He established the Taoist Academy to educate the people and revitalize the Taoist tradition. If it were for the sake of one's own private path, why would he open up other major paths?"

Upon hearing this, the abbot of Baichuan Temple was deeply moved; the Celestial Master's actions were beyond his comprehension.

Isn't he afraid of nurturing a peerless genius who will take his place?
With a heart full of excitement, he stood up, patted his sleeves, and bowed deeply: "I am deeply grateful for Dean Su's kindness. I am willing to take up the lecture seat at the Guannei Taoist Academy!"

(End of this chapter)