Chapter Thirty-Three: The Celestial Divine Strategy

All the cultivators in the great hall suddenly felt a tremor in their spiritual seats, an indescribable sensation rippling through their hearts. Unconsciously, everyone turned to Chen Jianmei, who seemed both present and yet transcendent beyond heaven and earth.

This feeling was fleeting, disappearing in an instant.

Everyone understood clearly that it was the Primordial Clear Ancestor bestowing the Dharma intent upon Chen Jianmei.

This also proved that the founding patriarch of the sect still existed, guiding the way from the endless beyond, silently protecting the Dao lineage of Qingxuan.

Chen Jianmei showed no delight, as if the one receiving the Dharma intent was not truly himself. Only after enduring such cold solitude could one understand him; any glory was merely an annotation to the arduous cultivation of the past.

Returning the elixir was the ultimate challenge in seeking the Dao. Even those who had succeeded once found it hard to explain how they passed through, and even if given another chance, success was not guaranteed.

Therefore, very few in the world could persist in returning the elixir solely by their own strength. Even those who did were likely to face death as the end approached, like the Daoist Sanwen.

Using external or immortal elixirs to complete the return was also difficult but had established methods. Hence, even a sect like Qingxuan, which emphasized the cultivation of the Dao heart, could not avoid employing these means to enter the return elixir stage.

After witnessing Chen Jianmei’s achievement, some disciples in the hall who had been in deep meditation or transformation suddenly became lively again, eager to emulate him. After all, only above the sixth level of returning the elixir was there a chance to become an Everlasting Realman. Since Qingxuan’s founding and among other sects, no one below the sixth level was ever heard to have become such a being.

Zhao Siming, the man in white who had a grudge with Lu Shouyi, felt even more that "a true man should be like this," and longed to retreat immediately for secluded cultivation.

The Dharma ceremony proceeded according to the texts, with myriad beings displaying all manners of conduct. Yet cultivators’ emotions rarely showed on their faces; outwardly, all appeared calm.

*****

Three days had passed since Chen Jianmei’s Dharma ceremony, and the uproar it caused gradually subsided. Unexpectedly, after returning the elixir, he did not choose to open a cave dwelling at Tianyuan or Zifu Peaks but instead left Qingxuan.

Of course, Zhang Ruoxu had said the world was vast, and Chen Jianmei was free to go wherever he wished. But Shen Lian felt the matter was not so simple. Perhaps Zhang Ruoxu understood, but Shen Lian knew that even if he asked, the apex of the matter would not be revealed.

For now, Shen Lian had no leisure to care about Chen Jianmei’s whereabouts, though he was particularly curious about the return elixir.

Because Zhang Ruoxu had made final arrangements for him, Shen Lian found himself here.

*****

It was not Shen Lian’s first visit to Zifu Peak, as the Taiwei Pavilion, housing Qingxuan’s Dao arts and the Dharma images of successive Everlasting Realmen, was located there. The elder Taoist guarding Taiwei Pavilion was unfathomable.

Shen Lian’s dwelling was but one among sparse Daoist academies on Zifu Peak, situated within a mountain cliff. It was more a Dao hall than an academy.

Inside was a painting depicting a clear pool of water with drifting white clouds. Gazing closely, the water was serene and still, yet the clouds shifted endlessly, embodying the Daoist subtlety of movement and stillness—evoking enlightenment that vanished upon reflection.

Shen Lian had come with a woman—Gu Caiwei, the gentle lady he had seen at Chen Jianmei’s Dharma ceremony.

According to Zhang Ruoxu’s instructions, Gu Caiwei would take on the role of master on Shen Lian’s behalf to accept disciples.

Gu Caiwei’s master had also perished over a century ago and was once the disciple of the violet-clad maiden Shen Lian had encountered.

That maiden, called Zi Ling, was an Everlasting Realman of the previous generation. Having suffered calamity, she was reborn and cultivated anew, thus Zhang Ruoxu respectfully referred to her as his senior uncle.

Within Qingxuan, unless in the same lineage as master and disciple, ranks were addressed according to cultivation levels.

Those below the return elixir stage were called “below return elixir.” Elders or true successors above that stage were called senior uncle or senior elder, while Everlasting Realmen were called grandmaster. This was the general convention.

Of course, one could also address someone by their Dao title or as a Realman.

After all, immortals cared little for rigid hierarchy.

Given Shen Lian’s current situation, the most suitable cultivation method was the Tai Xu Divine Strategy lineage of Zi Ling, one of Qingxuan’s fundamental great arts. Only two had attained Everlasting status in ten thousand years by relying solely on it, including the fairy Zi Ling herself.

Aside from Zi Ling and the lineage’s founder, only Gu Caiwei’s master had succeeded in returning the elixir solely by the Tai Xu Divine Strategy.

Therefore, before accepting disciples into this lineage, these facts were always made clear.

Shen Lian knew these details beforehand but still chose to cultivate the Tai Xu Divine Strategy.

Because rather than doubt himself, he preferred to trust Zhang Ruoxu, whose cultivation was profound. Moreover, if left to choose by himself, he would not know which sect’s methods to cultivate.

*****

He was decisive, and Gu Caiwei agreed readily. Shen Lian observed how she held genuine respect for Zhang Ruoxu.

In fact, whether it was Sanwen or Chen Jianmei, these senior brothers of the lower courtyard all revered Zhang Ruoxu immensely. Shen Lian himself was deeply impressed by the leader’s demeanor and insight. Without Zhang Ruoxu, he feared he would still be troubled by hidden dangers from his past cultivation.

As Shen Lian gazed at the image before the altar, his thoughts drifted over various matters since his entry into the Dao.

Then Gu Caiwei brought out an item—a feathered robe, dusty and evidently long stored.

With a faint smile, she said, “Our branch hasn’t had a male disciple in a long time. This is a magical robe once used by a certain master. Try it on.”

Though it was a proxy disciple acceptance, some ceremony was still necessary.

Gu Caiwei handed over the robe and turned away, but Shen Lian still heard her soft laughter—probably amused.

For someone of her cultivation, turning around or not made no difference; if she wished to see Shen Lian change clothes, she could do so even from outside.

Shen Lian was unperturbed—after all, in his former life, undressing publicly was hardly news.

After donning the robe, Shen Lian activated his power and examined it. It was indeed a magical artifact; under the flow of his power, it felt as light as a leaf. The wide sleeves fluttered like wings, almost lifting him off the ground.

He did not try to fly, though, as Gu Caiwei watched him with a smile.

Once he shook off the dust and was clean, Gu Caiwei spoke solemnly: “The Tai Xu Divine Strategy was founded by our twentieth Everlasting Realman, Patriarch Li Qingshui. It is among the top thirty-six of Qingxuan’s 108 methods. The difficulty of cultivation I’ve told you before. Now, on behalf of my master, the Realman ‘Biyun,’ I accept you as my disciple. Do you agree?”

[End of text]