This humble Taoist priest, Qianhe, begins his quest for immortality by slaying demons and monsters.

Chapter 93 Succession Hall Arrives, Yin-Yang Water and Fire Robes

Upon hearing the word "cooperation," the Immortal Changsheng's eyes instantly darkened.

He wasn't quite sure what kind of cooperation he could have with Senior Brother Lin from the Talisman Hall.

However, since the other party has taken the initiative to come to us, it proves that this matter is of great importance!
"Senior Brother Lin, there's no need for us to test each other. Just tell me directly, what do you mean by cooperation..."

Lin Junmen smiled brightly and then said, "The thing Junior Brother Changsheng is thinking about now is the same thing that Senior Brother wants to cooperate on."

"What is on your mind, junior brother?"

"That's right. Didn't Junior Brother Changsheng want to push the Corpse Driving Hall and the Law Enforcement Hall to jointly train Junior Nephew Qianhe?"

Senior brother came here for this very reason. To be honest, the patriarchs of the Underworld in my Talisman Hall also have some thoughts about Junior Nephew Qianhe.

Why not change the joint training by two halls to joint training by three halls?

Upon hearing this, the Immortal of Longevity was first stunned, a look of astonishment flashing across his face, which was replaced by complex emotions.

"Senior Brother Lin is being frank, and I won't hide anything from you either. This matter is of no problem for me, but getting Senior Brother Qian Yuan to agree is going to be very difficult..."

Senior Brother Lin also knew Senior Brother Qian Yuan's temper. Originally, Junior Brother Lin had also thought of first building a good relationship with Junior Nephew Qian He.

However, Junior Nephew Qianhe should understand my thoughts, but as long as Senior Brother Qianyuan doesn't budge, Junior Nephew Qianhe will never agree.

Hearing this, Lin Junmen gave a bitter smile.

"Alas, it seems impossible to get Senior Brother Qian Yuan's consent at the moment, but as Junior Nephew Qian He breaks through to the Foundation Establishment realm and gradually approaches the Golden Core realm..."

At that time, I think Senior Brother Qian Yuan would have agreed, since it's still too difficult for the First Hall to cultivate a Golden Core True Monarch.

"Senior Brother Lin, these are just your guesses. We'll have to wait and see what happens."

Besides, wouldn't it be a bit too late for Junior Nephew Qianhe to begin the Three Halls training only after he has achieved Foundation Establishment?

After the Immortal of Longevity finished speaking, the two fell silent.

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The Hall of Elixir.

As the chief elder of the Pill Hall, Master Liuguang was devoted to refining pills.

Therefore, even the fact that Zhong Bai was about to be appointed as the Taoist Master of Maoshan was not important to him.

but……

Looking at Hua Ling, who was slightly dazed beside the alchemy furnace, Master Liuguang sighed and said, "Is my disciple thinking about Qianhe, a disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall, who is about to be appointed as a Maoshan Daoist?"
If I remember correctly, you and that Chizuru seem to have some connection.

Upon hearing this, Hua Ling did not refute it. Instead, she smiled faintly and said, "Reporting to Master, Hua Ling did have some contact with Senior Brother Qianhe a few years ago. However, things have changed. The Hua Ling who entered Maoshan with selfish motives towards Senior Brother Qianhe is a thing of the past."

Just now, I was indeed thinking about Senior Brother Qianhe, but I was worried that he would not have a peaceful time for a while after taking over as the Taoist Master of Maoshan.

Even though old friends have become estranged, Hua Ling still hopes that Senior Brother Qianhe can overcome this tribulation!

Master Liuguang rolled his eyes...

He believed that Hua Ling currently had no romantic feelings for Zhong Bai.

Several years is enough time for Hua Ling to understand what she came to Maoshan to seek.

However, the absence of feelings doesn't mean there's no longer any interest. Master Liuguang joked, "Hua Ling, you've been at Maoshan for three or four years now. Speaking of which, your talent is truly remarkable. You've reached the second level of Qi Refining in just three or four years. I'm not some stubborn old relic. If you want to see your junior nephew Qianhe, just go ahead..."

Hua Ling covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

“Master, please don’t tease your disciple. Senior Brother Qianhe is about to become a Taoist master of Maoshan.”

My disciple is merely a Maoshan disciple at the second level of Qi Refining, and it is only because of Master's mercy that I have been spared.

Now that I've met Senior Brother Qianhe, I'm speechless and only feel nervous.

After thinking for a moment, Hua Ling became serious and said, "Master, actually, there is only one thing I am thinking about right now, and that is to cultivate diligently."

I hope that as soon as possible, my master can use the curse of the Ghost Cave Clan on my body to find the Ghost Cave Clan.

In this way, my two senior brothers won't have to keep running around..."

This is Hua Ling's true feeling; people's thoughts are always changing.

Perhaps Hua Ling once harbored a glimmer of hope for Zhong Bai, but the passage of time is the most ruthless.

Moreover, when Hua Ling truly began her cultivation...

I also realized that romantic love is nothing compared to becoming an immortal or an ancestor.

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Back in Maoshan, life was undoubtedly easy, but Zhong Bai knew that this ease and comfort was only temporary.

Once he is officially appointed as the Daoist Child, he will need to take up his sword and descend from Maoshan to sweep across the world.

Inside the Hall of Law Enforcement.

Zhong Bai sat cross-legged in front of the Kui Niu Drum. The time for him to be named a Maoshan Daoist was getting closer and closer. Zhong Bai always felt that he was missing some opportunities to reach the ninth level of Qi Refining.

Zhong Bai was not anxious about this; if he could get it, it would be fortunate, and if he couldn't, it would just be a delay.

The Kui Niu Drum Mark would eventually be his, and Zhong Bai had already washed away all his youthful arrogance.

With a deep gaze, Zhong Bai rose and greeted the approaching footsteps. "Master, you've returned..."

Master Qian Yuan nodded. "Your investiture ceremony is just around the corner. With only seven days left, it seems you won't be able to obtain the Kui Niu Drum Mark. However, my disciple, I believe you will remain fearless even without the Kui Niu Drum Mark!"

Zhong Bai smiled and said, "Master, you've been so busy these past few days. Thank you for your hard work!"

"Haha, it's alright, Master is happy, you don't know."

When I delivered the invitations from Maoshan to the various sects, those guys were dumbfounded.

"Hehe, the Daoist disciple who has been officially appointed is my own. Let them be envious!"

Speaking of this, Master Qian Yuan became quite excited, as they were old friends he had known for decades.

When no one has much hope of breaking through to the Golden Core True Monarch level, what are we competing on?
It's just a matter of seeing whose students are more successful!
Clearly, Zhong Bai made Qian Yuan Zhenren look good and was happy wherever he went...

What could Zhong Bai say about this? As long as his master is happy, that's all that matters.

Before they knew it, it was time for Zhong Bai's investiture ceremony to succeed him as the Taoist priest of Maoshan.

Maoshan attached great importance to this ceremony of bestowing the title of Daoist disciple. Not only did the elders of each hall attend, but the elders and disciples of Longhu Mountain and Gezao Mountain, two of the Three Mountains of Talismans, also came to observe the ceremony.

As for some smaller Taoist sects and those from the north, they sent congratulatory gifts instead of coming in person.

At this moment, Zhong Bai changed into a new Taoist robe, with black and white as the base color, runes engraved on the front chest, and yin-yang and eight trigrams patterns on the back.

The Taoist robe was called the Yin-Yang Water and Fire Robe. It was sent to the Law Enforcement Hall by the Maoshan Treasure Pavilion. It was said to be the standard attire for Maoshan Taoists hundreds of years ago. Neither Zhong Bai nor Master Qian Yuan refused it.

This Taoist robe is not an ordinary garment, but a spiritual treasure for foundation building.

However, Zhong Bai is not yet at the Foundation Establishment stage, so he can only wear it superficially. Even so, it still has the effect of being impervious to water and fire!
After changing into a new Taoist robe, inserting a white jade hairpin, and wearing a purple-gold crown, Zhong Bai looked at his completely transformed appearance and couldn't help but chuckle.

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Fellow Daoists!
For hundreds of years, the Maoshan Daoist has not bestowed titles, but today the Maoshan Daoist is doing so once again. I, the Venerable One, once again thank all fellow Daoists for coming to witness this ceremony!

Zhong Bai's investiture ceremony was personally presided over by Xuanmingzi, the head of the Maoshan sect.

Those who came to observe the ceremony were none other than the elders from Longhu Mountain and Gezao Mountain, both of whom were Foundation Establishment elders.

They were clearly surprised when they saw Xuan Mingzi. After all, almost everyone in the Taoist community knew that Xuan Mingzi, the leader of Maoshan Sect, had broken through to the Golden Core True Monarch realm in seclusion. So how could they not understand what this meant when they saw Xuan Mingzi looking so much younger?
The process of bestowing the title of Daoist disciple is not very complicated. Zhong Bai simply steps forward to the crowd, offers incense to the patriarch, and then gets to know the Daoist friends who have come to witness the ceremony.

Although the ceremony was simple, its purpose was simply to announce to the world that Maoshan Daozi was Zhong Bai.

In the crowd, on the viewing platform of Longhu Mountain, Zhang Zhiwei looked at Zhong Bai, who had a calm expression on the high platform. The bitterness from the depths of his heart was indescribable.

Several years have passed, and he and Zhong Bai were both at the sixth level of Qi Refining when they first met.

Now, he is close to the ninth level of Qi Refining.

The gap between the two was already widening, even though one of them was only at the late stage of the seventh level of Qi Refining.

"Alas, Fellow Daoist Qianhe, how can you cultivate so quickly?"

I have truly tried my best to catch up, but... never mind, I'm just worrying unnecessarily.

With a bitter smile, Elder Zhang Qingyun of Longhu Mountain, who had come to observe the ceremony, gently tapped Zhang Zhiwei's forehead.

"Is my junior disciple discouraged?"

Master Zhang Qingyun asked with a smile, making it difficult for Zhang Zhiwei to answer. "Uncle-Master Qingyun, this disciple really feels that I can't catch up. Qianhe is simply not an ordinary person. If you said he was a god descended to earth, this disciple would believe it. It's only been a few years..."

Zhang Qingyun nodded, "What my junior nephew said is right. I also think it's a bit of an exaggeration. However, there is one thing I am very clear about: the world is so vast that it cannot be swept away by one or two Golden Core True Monarchs. Qianhe may become a Golden Core True Monarch in the future, but one person's power is limited."

Junior Nephew, your talent and ability are among the strongest in the Daoist sect, second only to Qianhe.

You also have the opportunity to become a Golden Core True Monarch, so don't be discouraged. The world needs Qianhe, and it also needs its junior disciple.

Hearing this, Zhang Zhiwei fell silent. Didn't he understand this principle?

No, it's just that Zhong Bai and he were on the same starting line, which makes it hard for him to accept for a while.

"Uncle-Master, I understand!"

With a deep gaze, Zhang Qingyun saw that Zhang Zhiwei had already said so much, so he simply stopped interfering. After all, Zhang Zhiwei was a disciple of the Celestial Master, so he could just say a few words to him and that was enough. How could he really discipline him?

The investiture ceremony has concluded.

Zhong Bai, however, could not remain idle, even though his Divine Firmament Five Thunder Technique had already been recognized by the Ancestor of the Underworld.

However, Master Qian Yuan felt that it was still somewhat against the rules, so after telling Zhong Bai about it, Zhong Bai was naturally willing to go to the Scripture Pavilion to choose a good supernatural technique.

Whether you practice or not is one thing, whether you have it or not is another.

The day after the investiture ceremony, Zhong Bai went to wait outside the Sutra Repository.

When the appointed time arrived, the doors of the Sutra Repository slowly opened, and Zhong Bai entered with practiced ease.

When Ming Wanqian saw Zhong Bai enter, his gaze clearly held a hint of scrutiny.

“Zhong Bai, tell me, what are you looking for in the Scripture Pavilion this time?”
"Let me make this clear first, kid. Don't think that just because you've become a Daoist disciple you can freely enter and leave the Scripture Pavilion. Don't bite off more than you can chew; you should understand that!"

Zhong Bai smiled, looked up, and met Ming Wanqian's gaze...

Ahhhh! Help! I can't write a single chapter in five chapters! Waaah! I must have been talking too loudly yesterday. Damn, after writing four chapters, my head feels like it's about to explode. I guess I'll just have to wait until the May Day holiday when I have more time to finish... Typing is so tiring...

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(End of this chapter)