A few days later.
The Chongshan mountains, which had been peaceful for a long time, suddenly became bustling. The Teachings Hall of the Enyang Cave.
Even people in the West Gou City, which is more than fifty li away, can see the cloud gathering in the sky, and the auspicious light falling towards the end of the mountains.
"Hmm, what's going on in the Southern Saint Mountain?"
"Don't you know? It's said that Zhong Guanxiang has a new disciple!"
"Hey, who's so lucky to have been able to become a disciple of Master Zhong?"
"I don't know about that, but it's said that Mr. Wu has received an invitation and will be attending the banquet."
People in the West Gou City are discussing heatedly, with their words full of curiosity and envy.
......
The Enyang Cave, Teachings Hall.
Chen Yun, known as the "lucky one," was following Wang Laozhi to welcome guests.
"Honoring the Pure Yang Immortal."
"Honoring the Herbal King Li Immortal."
"Honoring the Grand Sage Guangzong……"
With a series of respectful greetings, several immortals descended from the clouds and entered the Teachings Hall.
Chen Yun finally knows how wide Zhongli Quan's immortal lineage is today.
Within a short period of time, more than two dozen immortals arrived.
Among them were several immortals whose names were well-known.
For instance, the towering and magnificent Pure Yang Immortal Lu Dongbin, adorned with a sword; the disheveled hair, wild beard, giant eyes, exposed belly strutting his steps, appearance fierce, iron ring wrapped in hair, iron cane moving his steps while carrying a drug gourd on his back. The Iron Legged Li; the Zhang Guo Lao who carries a Love Tube on his back and rides on a white donkey while reversely holding it.
There were also some immortals who had not yet shattered the void but had already refined elixir pills.
For example, the Song country's Imperial Consort Cao Yi, who wore a turban and a red robe, holding yin-yang boards; Han Xiangzi, who held a long bamboo flute and had elegant demeanor; Blue Chaohe Xu Jian, who dressed as a woman and carried a flower basket, wearing ragged blue clothes, one foot in boots and the other foot barefoot.
All these immortals had a deep relationship with Zhongli Quan, either as disciples or as close friends.
Of course, these are not the immortals with the most impressive backgrounds.
The immortals with the most impressive backgrounds are Dong Wang Gong Wang Xuanfu.
As the teacher of Zhongli Quan, the original owner of the Enyang Cave, and now that his disciple is receiving a direct disciple, it's natural for him to be personally present.
Furthermore, because Zhongli Quan instructed Chen Yun to find someone to act as a "introducer for the master" and a "guarantor for the master."
Therefore, Chen Yun proposed to invite Zhao Gongming, Guan Yuxiang, and Wu Guosheng, who had a relatively familiar relationship.
Although Mr. Wu is a mortal, he is known for his kindness and generosity, and he enjoys a great reputation in West Gou City.
After considering for a long time, Zhongli Quan decided to make him the introducer for Chen Yun's master.
Zhao Gongming and Guan Yunchang, two immortals, were chosen to be Chen Yun's "guarantor for the master."
The role of the introducer for the master is easy to understand.
What is the role of a "guarantor for the master"?
In simple terms, it is the role of a guarantor, ensuring that this disciple will practice diligently and not engage in activities such as murder and arson.
Generally, the role of a guarantor is taken on by the relatives or elders of the person seeking to be a master's disciple.
However, Chen Yun was already sold and had severed ties with his original family, so he could only invite "external help".
Fortunately, Zhao Gongming and Guan Yunchang had developed a fondness for Chen Yun due to their interest in chess, and they arrived promptly after receiving the invitation.
Chen Yun was in the midst of reminiscing.
Old Master Wang glanced up at the sky and said, "Little Brother Chen, it's nearly the end of the Chou hour. It's almost time for the master-apprentice ceremony. Please go with me to wait in the main hall."
Chen Yun responded, "Yes."
The two walked towards the mountain gate inside.
Along the way, they saw the long-term workers such as Zhang Qian, Li Si, and Wang Siyan all busy at work. Some were serving tea and water while others were preparing various immortal fruits.
These people seemed no different from before.
However, as Chen Yun walked, he noticed that regardless of Zhou Qian, Li Si, and others who had previously had a good relationship, or Tang brother who had a more general relationship with him, their gazes toward him had become somewhat respectful.
They arrived at the grand hall.
The first thing that catches the eye is Dong Wang Gong Wang Xuanfu, who sits on the left side of the long table.
He is an elderly man with a smile on his face and white hair and beard. His left hand still holds a branch of the Mulberry tree.
To the right of Dong Wang Gong, Master Zhongli Quan is seated.
To the left of the front row, in a line, sits Tie Guai Li, Lu Dongbin, Zhang Guo Lao, and He Immortal etc., who have shattered the void.
Zhao Gongming and Guan Yunchang are also in attendance.
Moreover, Mr. Wu, as Chen Yun's introducer for the master, was honored to sit at the very end of this row of immortals.
On the right side of the front row, sits Master Zhong Ying from Quanzhen sect, Cao Yi, Xu Jian, Zhao Mu and other immortal who has refined elixir pills.
On both rows of tables, there are different types of immortal fruits such as red dates, peaches, plums, almonds, and lychees.
Zheng Wensun, Cai Ruojin, and Wang Zaji are standing as the three direct disciples.
Chen Yun, guided by Old Master Wang, greeted everyone one by one again.
Finally, he stood to the right of the position where Zhongli Quan was seated.
Zhongli Quan smiled and chatted with the other immortals for a moment.
Then, he glanced outside and whispered to Zheng Wensun: "Wensun, the time has come. Let's start."
"Yes, Master."
Zheng Wensun responded.
He exchanged a look with Cai Ruojin and Wang Zaji.
Cai Ruojin and Wang Zaji immediately arranged the incense table neatly and hung up the portrait of Laozi.
Then, Cai Ruojin picked up a small bell and struck it ten times, "Ding! Dong! Dong!"
Wang Zaji then struck the drum three times.
Upon hearing the simultaneous sound of the bell and drum, all the guests fell silent.
Only then did Zheng Wensun come forward to deliver a speech, "Master, thank you for allowing us, your disciples, to take a moment from our busy schedules to attend this ceremony of your apprentice. I, on behalf of my master, express our sincere gratitude."
The people below, including Tie Guai Li and Zhang Guo Lao, smiled.
Zheng Wensun continued, "The ancestor of the Taoism, Li Er, also known as Dan... With his virtues embracing the universe, he raised his arms and shouted with passion, the Tao is the crown of all times and ages..."
Then he read a section from the Taoist scripture.
After finishing the reading, Zheng Wensun loudly declared, "Please allow Master Pure Yang to make an offering and pray to the forefather, and then perform three deep bows. Master should show respect with a bow at each turn."
Zhongli Quan stood up and slowly walked towards the incense table.
The other immortals turned their gaze towards Zhongli Quan.
Zhongli Quan first bowed to his master, Dong Wang Gong, and then took the three incense sticks from him. He approached the portrait of Laozi and spoke with full force: "Disciple Zhongli Quan humbly asks for his master's and ancestor's approval. Today, I wish to take Chen Yun as my apprentice. The most important thing when entering the door is to have good character, handle affairs with sincerity, and adhere to the teachings of the master."
After the three bows, Zhongli Quan was invited to sit in the traditional grand chair.
Zheng Wensun called for Chen Yun and had him first bow three times to both Wang Xuanfu and the portrait of Laozi, then had him kneel in front of Zhongli Quan, before starting to introduce Chen Yun's situation.
Chen Yun respectfully knelt on the mat, lowering his head and listening intently.
After completing these procedures, Zheng Wensun continued to preside over the ceremony: "Please have the senior apprentice present the master's gift to Master Pure Yang, read out the invitation letter, and then the apprentice Chen Yun will perform a kowtow and kneel in respect."
Mr. Wu rushed forward and did as Zheng Wensun said.
After completing all these steps, Chen Yun raised the invitation letter above his head and asked Mr. Wu to present it.
Mr. Wu read aloud: "The way of the master is great indeed, passed down from generation to generation. Now, the foolish man Chen Yun is willing to become a disciple under Master Pure Yang Zhongli Quan, receive instruction and cultivate his body, attain the right path. From now on, though separated as master and disciple, our friendship is akin to that of father and son. To the school of the master, one should know respect; to receive teachings, one should never forget; this comes from the bottom of my heart and there is no regret; words alone are not sufficient, I solemnly rely on these words to show seriousness."
After saying this, Chen Yun signed the document.
As a guarantor, Zhao Gongming and Guan Yunchang also went forward to sign their names.
The document clearly indicated the year, month, and date.
Zheng Wensun continued, "The apprentice shall now bow three times to heaven, earth, ruler, family, and teacher."
Chen Yun followed suit.
Zhongli Quan replied with a handclasp gesture, indicating his willingness to impart teachings, accept as a disciple, and solve doubts.
After that, it was the ceremony of receiving vows as a disciple.
Chen Yun loudly declared: "Disciple Chen Yun today receives the respect and instruction of his master, maintaining a solemn and respectful demeanor, body in a humble posture, with deep reverence for the great virtue of Yan and Huang. Disciple Chen Yun humbly kneels, paying homage to the master."
As he bowed, he loudly shouted, "First bow to the Emperor of the Heaven and Earth, eternal and ever-existent, carrying the virtue of benefiting all living beings."
For his second bow, he shouted, "Second bow to the ancestors, the teachings of the sages, and we are fortunate to receive protection."
For his third bow, he shouted, "Third bow, to the masters who embody virtue and wisdom. Their teachings are passed on to me. I will learn and practice."
After that, Zheng Wensun explained some rules for after entering the door.
It was a very long and detailed passage.
The gist was about how to honor and serve the master after becoming his disciple.
For example, showing respect and reverence for the master.
And for example, treating the ancestral master and the current teacher as parents.
As well as showing filial piety and a cheerful demeanor in the morning and evening when staying together.
There were also specific rules such as daily greetings, three refusals when inviting the master to sit, three knocks when going to visit the master, and many other etiquettes.
To be honest, many of the rules were things Chen Yun had never heard before.
For example, after becoming a disciple, not only can't you eat your teacher's food or use your teacher's things, but you should also actively show filial piety and take care of your teacher's livelihood.
Of course, it's said in theory, but in reality, it's just a formality.
Nonetheless, Chen Yun still memorized them all in his heart.
After a while, Zheng Wensun finished explaining the rules.
At this moment, Old Master Wang brought over a cup of tea and handed it to Chen Yun.
Chen Yun took the tea cup and kneeled to offer it.
Zhongli Quan followed the rules and gave a bow, then picked up the teacup and took a sip.
Chen Yun immediately said: "Thank you, master, for taking me in."
The next part was the exchange of tokens between the master and the apprentice.
Chen Yun presented a red happiness bag as a symbol of good fortune.
This is the apprentice's sincerity, and usually won't be given much.
He wrapped six ounces of silver according to Old Master Wang's prior instructions.
Zhongli Quan took the red happiness bag.
Zheng Wensun loudly declared, "Please allow the master to present a gift."
Zhongli Quan thought for a moment, then pulled out a wooden sword from his sleeve and handed it to Chen Yun, saying, "Chen Yun, this is a magical artifact I made with hundred-year-old thunder-struck jujube wood. It can command the elements above and slay demons below. I hope you will wield it to do good and punish evil, and uphold the moral principles of our teachings."
The hundred-year-old thunder-struck jujube wood is known as the "King of Magical Artifacts."
Chen Yun hadn't expected Zhongli Quan to present such a precious artifact during the apprentice ceremony.
He quickly took the jujube wood sword and said, "Thank you, master, for your generous gift."
Next, the announcement of the teacher's training rules, giving names, and the "Ruler Strikes the Body" ceremony.
Zhongli Quan opened his mouth to explain the rules of the school, saying: "There are not too many complicated rules when entering my door. First, respect your master and uphold morality. Second, do not reveal our school's secret techniques of immortality. Third, never be lax in your practice. Fourth, always do good deeds and accumulate virtue. Chen Yun, have you understood?"
Chen Yun replied, "Disciple has received the training."
Zhongli Quan continued, "In addition, there is one more thing I want to say to you, which I hope you will remember."
Chen Yun listened respectfully and said, "Please enlighten me."
Zhongli Quan spoke slowly, "A few days ago, I tested you with various situations to see your abilities. You discovered the clues and countered them. If I were to follow traditional rules, I would not have accepted you as a disciple. However, you made clear your resolve in the face of life-and-death terror, and I think you are still a talented individual. After careful consideration, I decided to take you as a disciple. Hope you won't use small wisdom as great wisdom in the future. Do you understand?"
Zhongli Quan had one more thing he wanted to say but hadn't yet spoken.
He felt that Chen Yun was too smart, smart to the point of being somewhat unsettling.
If he did not take him as a disciple and instead try to cultivate him with the Taoist arts every day, he truly feared that Chen Yun might one day turn into a "Great Demon" that would bring harm to a region.
This can be said to be one of the real reasons why he was willing to take Chen Yun as his disciple.
Another point is that Chen Yun didn't notice any abnormalities when he was tested with "charity" yesterday.
From this, Zhongli Quan could deduce that Chen Yun's heart still conformed to the benevolence of Taoism, and that his approach to doing good was quite different from that of the world.
He wanted to see whether he could shape Chen Yun into a "Great Demon" through his tireless training, or into a "Person of Great Virtue" who would bring rainfall and prosperity to the world.
Chen Yun was unaware of Zhongli Quan's thoughts but understood the lesson was to "follow the teachings of the master."
Zhongli Quan nodded and said, "Since you have entered my door, I shall give you a Taoist name..."
As he said this, his gaze became serious and sharp, "Your name is Chen Yun. Like your name suggests, you appear to be humble and gentle on the surface, but like the clouds in the sky, you have a great deal of pride and freedom in your heart."
Chen Yun listened respectfully as his master pointed out the flaws in his character.
"The Taoist school emphasizes non-action and yet accomplishing everything, the cultivation of the mind and nature," Zhongli Quan continued with his earnest teaching. "Therefore, I hope you will one day have a peaceful and simple temperament. I will give you the Taoist name Chen Pu, with the character Chong as your style name. How does that sound?"
In addition to Guan Er Ya and Mr. Wu, all present were Taoist sages, naturally understanding that the character "Chong" in Chen Pu's style name came from the Dao De Jing, "The Dao is empty and yet endless in its use."
It means modesty and neutrality.
That is, Zhongli Quan hopes that Chen Yun will not be a person who overestimates himself and considers himself extraordinary, but to maintain moderation.
Chen Yun naturally understood the meaning.
But when he heard Zhongli Quan's words, he stood there frozen as if turned to stone.
Me?
Chen Pu?
I'm actually Chen Pu?
Chen Yun was momentarily in disbelief.
Before, he had some knowledge of Taoist culture and knew that Zhongli Quan had a disciple named Chen Pu.
However, he had been at the Daoist Academy for a long time without ever seeing or hearing about Chen Pu. He thought there was no one named Chen Pu in this world.
Little did he know that Chen Pu was himself!
Chen Yun was in a daze for a moment, and for the first time, he suspected that his arrival in this world from modern society was not an accident.
"Chen Younger Brother? Chen Younger Brother?"
Zheng Wenshu's reminder echoed in his ears.
Chen Yun finally realized that he was in the midst of the discipleship ceremony.
He hurriedly bowed and said, "Thank you, master, for giving me my name."
Zhongli Quan did not scold him for his momentary distraction or loss of composure; he simply completed the ritual of adding the ruler to his body.
Finally, Zhongli Quan signed his name on the discipleship certificate.
After bowing in gratitude and respect, Chen Yun was then led by Zhongli Quan to jointly perform a deep bow with three kowtows to the Ancestor Master Wang Xuanfu.
Wang Xuanfu looked at Chen Yun and smiled, "You are my disciple. As a teacher, I should give you a gift. However, I came in a hurry and have nothing to offer. How about I give you a branch?"
Chen Yun was initially confused about what his teacher's gift meant.
However, he bowed and thanked, "Thank you, teacher, for your gift."
Wang Xuanfu nodded slightly and reached out with his right hand to break off a small piece of the Fuyuzang tree from his left hand. "This is the branch of the Fuyuzang tree. Today, I shall give it to you as a gift."
Oh my God!
Sakura branch?
Chen Yun was truly shocked.
He never imagined that he would receive such a treasure like the Sakura branch from his master Zhongli Quan's teacher, Master Wang Xuanfu, when he became his disciple!
After all, the Great Lao Spiritual Soup consists of more than a hundred medicinal herbs, and the Sakura branch is exactly one of them!
