From Celestial Official to Great Celestial Venerable

Chapter 26 Chanting
"it is good."

He Xingchen nodded, then turned to Qin Chuan beside him and introduced him:

"Our scripture recitation group mainly recites the scriptures of the Taoist patriarch and comprehends the latest teachings of the Heavenly Court. The aim is to make friends with like-minded people and help each other."

Upon hearing this, Qin Chuan immediately understood.

Just as he expected, this was indeed a small circle of young immortal officials from Jiuchuan County.

"This is clearly forming a clique, as for whether it's for personal gain..."

The thought flashed through his mind, but he quickly suppressed it and didn't dwell on it.

Given his background and circumstances, having the opportunity to enter such a circle is already a rare chance to change his current situation. Regardless of the original intention of this meeting, even if there are genuine problems, should he be arrogant and keep his distance?
His past life's workplace experience taught him that the worst thing for an immortal is to be aloof and isolated; one must know how to blend in with the world. The more unconventional one is, the harder it is to integrate, and the more likely one is to be seen as unsociable.

Moreover, this kind of circle is so popular that many people want to get in but can't even find a way in.

In a flash, Qin Chuan's smile grew even more amiable. After He Xingchen finished explaining the purpose of the chanting ceremony, he immediately nodded in agreement.

Seeing Qin Chuan's expression, Chu Yun Ce smiled and nodded, flicking his sleeve:
"This is the content of the sermon given by the Taoist Master Nanhua at the Jade Capital Dharma Assembly in the Forbidden City three days ago, and it is also the focus of this study session. You may read it carefully and then share your thoughts."

With a flick of his wrist, nine booklets landed perfectly in front of each person.

Qin Chuan's heart stirred slightly. He picked up the document, which resembled a court gazette, and the instant he touched it—

The Heavenly Furnace trembled slightly.

[Item: Zhuangzi Scroll]

The teachings of the Nanhua Dao Patriarch are important Daoist scriptures studied internally by high-ranking celestial officials in the Heavenly Court. Printed by the Langyin Palace of the Forbidden City, it contains a chapter of the 'Nanhua Heart Method,' which can be extracted or recycled into '10 points of Dharma Essence.'

Qin Chuan was secretly shocked: This scripture also contains Dharma essence!

The Ancestor of Nanhua Dao—the highest esteemed figure in Daoism today, residing in the Xiaoyao Palace of the Thirty-Sixth Heaven. Adhering to the ancient precept of "Dao follows nature, and humanity and nature are one," he is the spiritual symbol of Daoism, revered even by the supreme rulers of Heaven for his profound Daoist wisdom.

Since the beginning of the Eastern Victory World, the Great Heavenly Venerable has been in charge of the order of the universe, and the Dao Ancestor has expounded the profound principles of heaven and earth, each performing their respective duties.

The contemporary Celestial Venerable is honored as Haotian, and the Dao Ancestor is honored as Nanhua. Their secular surname is Zhuang, and they both inherit the Mandate of Heaven.

"I have heard that the Daoist Master of Nanhua has been frequently expounding profound and mysterious teachings in recent years in order to respond to the changing times of Heaven. Perhaps we can glimpse the mysteries of this scripture," Lin Xiaoheng said, bowing respectfully.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Please calm your minds and reflect upon this, and we will discuss it further later," Chu Yunce said gently.

After a moment, everyone began to silently recite the Zhuangzi.

Qin Chuan secretly observed the reactions of those around him, hoping to see if they could glean any insights from the "Nanhua Heart Sutra" that the Heavenly Essence Furnace had sensed. However, after observing for a long time, he did not see anyone exhibit any unusual behavior.

"It seems that others are just reading scriptures, but I can use the Heavenly Essence Furnace to extract the true meaning from them."

He was immediately excited—this was the sermon of the Dao Ancestor of the Thirty-Sixth Heaven. Although he had not heard it in person, but only read the internal printed version, every word was precious!
He immediately grasped the scripture scroll and, taking advantage of a moment when no one was looking, silently activated the Heavenly Essence Furnace to refine it.

The chanting session lasted for more than half an hour.

finally--

[The Nan Hua Heart Sutra has been successfully refined; the furnace master has obtained the first level of the Nan Hua Heart Sutra.]

A silk scroll unfolded in his mind. In an instant, he understood the wondrous uses of this Daoist ancestor's mental cultivation method.

"It's actually a method for tempering the Dao heart! Although it's only the first level, after mastering it, I feel my will is as strong as iron and my Dao heart is unwavering, unmoved by external things." Qin Chuan pondered carefully. In a mystical sense, this method is to solidify the Dao heart and make it indestructible; in a practical sense, it can prevent the invasion of inner demons and prevent one from going astray in cultivation.

A mental cultivation method that can protect one's Dao heart and keep one's mind clear may seem ordinary, but it is extremely precious to those who are cultivating—especially for those who are at the critical moment of breaking through realms, it is worth a thousand pieces of gold! How many cultivators have lost all their previous efforts because they lost their Dao heart?
In other words, this method can even increase the probability of breaking through to a higher realm! Its value is self-evident.

"What are your thoughts on this?"

Chu Yunze's words jolted everyone awake, including Qin Chuan.

He subconsciously opened his eyes and looked around. As he turned his head, Chu Yunze was surveying the entire scene when he was suddenly drawn to a gaze—a gaze as clear as water and as pure as a baby's.

Lin Xiaoheng and the others all shook their heads, sighing that the Dao Ancestor's Daoist methods were unfathomable and that it would be difficult to gain anything in such a short time.

But then Chu Yunze asked, "Fellow Daoist Qin Chuan, do you seem to have gained some insight?"

Everyone looked at the eighteen-year-old youth in disbelief, seeing his clear and pure eyes, as if they had been baptized, as bright as the moon in the sky, and they were all moved.

"What has Fellow Daoist Qin realized?" Even Ji Yuqi couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.

Qin Chuan was secretly surprised—the manifestation of the Nan Hua Heart Sutra was so obvious? But he couldn't possibly reveal everything, so he only said half-truthfully, also intending to test him:
"When reading the scriptures of the Daoist patriarch, I seemed to sense that there was a mental cultivation method contained within them. After immersing myself in it, I felt a firm Daoist state of mind that was 'my heart is not a stone and cannot be turned,' and I was unable to extricate myself from it for a while."

"What?" Everyone was shocked.

After reciting it for only half an hour, he actually grasped its core essence?
"Fellow Daoist Qin, what kind of cultivation method is that?" the young Daoist in black asked urgently.

Qin Chuan would not tell the truth, but only pretended to think: "I can't explain it either... I don't know how I got into that situation."

Everyone was shocked once again and turned to look at Chu Yunce.

Chu Yunze, however, looked on with amazement and said to everyone:
"What Xiao Qin said is true. This scripture does indeed contain a mental cultivation method transformed from the residual essence of the Great Dao Ancestor of Nanhua. I specially entrusted someone to bring these scriptures back from the Forbidden City, hoping that you fellow Daoists could gain something from them, but I did not expect..."

He looked at Qin Chuan in disbelief:
"Xiao Qin's comprehension is astonishing. He has made progress in just half an hour. This talent is truly amazing."

At this moment, He Xingchen finally spoke:
"There is something I must confess to you all: Brother Qin is actually a newly appointed Taoist priest who was only ordained in May of this year."

Everyone's expression changed again.

The certificate was only issued in May? That means he's only been cultivating for two months?

Lin Xiaoheng looked at Qin Chuan in disbelief—he could master Elder Huo's Yi Wood Azure Sky Technique and refine Yi Wood True Qi in just two months?!

What kind of innate sacred body is this?
When He Xingchen revealed the fact that Qin Chuan had only cultivated for two months, everyone looked at him differently.

He was able to master a magical plant cultivation technique in just two months. No wonder he could comprehend the core principles of the sutra in half an hour!
"Xiao He, you've brought an extraordinary young man to our chanting group," Chu Yunce exclaimed.

Their chanting group was originally intended to gather outstanding peers and help each other on the path of spiritual practice.

Qin Chuan's original display of spiritual plant skills was enough to qualify him for membership, but now it seems... he's more than just qualified.

For a moment, everyone looked at Qin Chuan with more respect in their eyes.

"Little Qin, take this scripture." Chu Yunce said gently, "If you gain any further insights after you return, or if you can figure out the key to condensing the mental cultivation method, you will certainly not be shortchanged if you wish to share it with all of you."

He paused slightly, then added with a smile, "This is also an old rule of our chanting group."

Oh? You can exchange benefits like this?
Qin Chuan's heart stirred slightly, but he still needed to go back and think carefully before deciding how to handle the matter.

(End of this chapter)