Said that to invite a few Taoist friends to witness the apprentice ceremony, but both sides invited very few people.
The Wang family sent their son, the qilin child of the clan, to study the art of assistance outside. Naturally, they did not wish to make a big fuss, as things are usually achieved through secrecy.
Therefore, Rong Yuancun invited only Tang Nianguo, the master of Zhifang who will be caring for the two young boys in Qingxiang Alley.
On the other hand, the red-browed monk invited the only close friend he had in Qingxi Hall, who was the clan chief of the Wu family in the Refining-Qi sect, Wu Jinyan.
As a scattered cultivator who makes a living through refining Dao, Red-browed Monk's Huaxing residence needs a reliable supplier of gemstone materials.
The Wu family of the Refining-Qi sect just happens to have a nine-grade Turbid Stone Well, which supplies all the gemstone elixirs produced to Huafeng Ju year-round.
Both parties have a close mutual interest, so they developed a good friendship.
By the way, Red-browed Monk also has a daughter named Zhong Ningyao, who attended the event today as well.
........
The simple altar was placed in the central of Huafeng Ju's main hall. Chong Tianshuo, the rotund Red-browed Monk, was still wearing that beautiful red robe and sitting there with an air of self-assurance.
The light of dawn was not too bright, in the dim room, several roots of secret Yanliang candles were lit, which made the people inside look drowsy.
As Tang Nianguo noticed that the idle man had set things up more or less, he whispered to Wang Rongyuan, who then looked towards the Red-browed Monk.
"Are you ready? I will call them in?"
"Too formal, old Wang, you have made me a bit nervous......"
The Red-browed Monk said in a solemn tone.
"These old things have been cultivating for half their lives, why should they be nervous?"
Chong Tianshuo suddenly realized that he had been tricked by Wang Rongyuan!
He finally understood; it was simply a business deal where the Wang family paid for the art he would teach.
However, yesterday, Wang Rongyuan this old thief took advantage of the situation and urged him to organize a formal apprentice ceremony to create a commotion.
He didn't think it through at the time and agreed naively.
The apprentice ceremony sounds quite good; for a cultivator from a family of Foundation-Laying sects to apprentice under me, a solitary Refining cultivator, it would be quite impressive.
Only when he saw Tang Nianguo's people setting up the place today did Chong Tianshuo realize that he had stepped into trouble.
Set up the altar and please come over to bear witness to our Daoist friends. Next we will perform three kowtows and three bows...
If these two young men were to apprentice in this manner and become his disciples...
I've been defrauded!
I still have to reach the foundation cultivation level. The Wang family is trying to tie me down!
Chong Tianshuo's current mood is like a young girl being deceived onto the wedding sedan, feeling dazed.
Of course, he's just a three-hundred-pound fat guy, not a young lady.
"Come on, Yulou, Yuan'an, stand in the center of the altar."
Tang Nianguo is the host of the apprentice ceremony, after instructing the two young boys to stand in the center of the altar, he sings loudly.
"Ms. Wang Yulou, aged thirteen, possesses ancestral virtue from Xuanyin and shows outstanding talent and clarity of mind."
Wang Yulan...
"Bowing respectfully, let's drink tea!"
With Tang Nianguo's words falling, a helper hurriedly brought a tea tray to the sides of the two young men.
After Yulou passed the tea, Yuanan stunned for a moment before turning back to his original task and quickly picking up the tray.
The two young men knelt in front of Red-browed Monk, raised their tea cups, and called out together.
"Master, please have some tea!"
This is the first kowtow, indicating that they have recognized Red-browed Monk as their teacher.
After looking at the person sitting next to him and also seated in an upper position, Wang Rongyuan, Red-browed Monk smiled and nodded, taking the tea.
What can one do about it?
As long as one hasn't ascended to immortality, there is no freedom to speak of. Red-browed Monk wants to advance in foundation cultivation, he must consider pulling in enough resources and support, and also consider his future position within the Red Lantern Lighthouse.
In the Wunan cultivation world, it is a rule that after reaching the foundation stage, solitary cultivators and members of sect families must join one of the ten sects to contribute their strength to the stable development of the Immortal Alliance.
Although Chong Tianshuo and the cultivators of the Red Lights in Qingxi Alley have a good relationship.
But that's not an ordinary guy; he even willing to call Chong Tianshuo his little brother - this is not just a simple address, it's a matter of demeanor!
The guardian cultivator belongs to the kind of person who swallows people without spitting out bones, and can even lick the soup clean!
His mountain, Red-browed Monk dares not to go!
On the contrary, Wang family's Foundational Elder, who bowed to the Grand Cultivator of the Purple Palace and was positioned in the lineage of true transmission in Red Lights.
Reflecting on the future, Chong Tianshuo drank two sips of tea with a complicated heart, placing it on the side table next to him and looking at the two young boys, speaking warmly.
"Get up, get up."
Tang Nianguo saw that the first kowtow was almost over, so he sang.
"Good Dao is lightly given, not something that should be obtained through merits. One should offer a gift to show respect as a token of appreciation!"
We want to securely tie you down, but we don't want to waste our money on the kids mixing around with you.
Yulou and Yuan'an each took out the tribute gifts prepared by their uncle from their bosoms and knelt in front of Chong Tianshuo again, bowing respectfully.
"Master, I hope you won't mind the humble gift!"
This is the second kowtow. The first one is to recognize the master, and the second one is to give a tribute gift to the master.
Seeing Yulou's eight-grade spiritual donkey shoulder bone and Yuan'an's two pieces of nine-grade cold bing iron, Wu Jinyan thought to himself:
"This humble gift, how dare you mention it!"
The eight-grade donkey shoulder bone is a top-quality material, worth at least 250 spirit stones.
The nine-grade cold bing iron is a type of spirit iron, which is even more valuable than spirit bone. Although it looks no bigger than a fist, a single piece is worth over a hundred spirit stones.
Although there is only a one-level difference between nine-grade and eight-grade, cold bing iron is as expensive as eight-grade donkey bone!
The hand of the Foundation Building sect is indeed generous, making Wu Jinyan a bit envious.
A little surprised, Chong Tianshuo took the tribute gifts prepared for him by his two disciples, and his grudge against the cunning Wang family was completely gone.
Good children!
The eight-grade donkey bone can be used to test the refinement of bone-made artifacts.
"Good, good, all good children, get up."
Yulou and Yuan'an stood up, while Chong Tianshuo took the initiative to begin the third step of the apprentice ceremony. He looked at his friend Wu Jinyan and asked.
"Jinyan, do you think I should take these two as my disciples?"
This is the prelude to the third kowtow. The master pretends to ask the opinions of the witnesses, and everyone unites to praise the apprentices sincerely, showing their blessing as elders.
"Chong brother, your attainments in the way of Dao need to be passed down. These two are the best inheritors!" Wu Jinyan replied.
Wu Jinyan nodded lightly and agreed.
"Tang Dao Friend, you know your family's children the best. Do they have any shortcomings?" Red-browed Monk asked.
Red-browed Monk asked Tang Nianguo, calling Wu Jinyan "Jinyan" and Tang Nianguo "Dao Friend." The difference in formality was subtle, but it was also hidden. In reality, it didn't matter much.
After all, Tang Nianguo naturally wouldn't say anything negative about them.
Although he had his own opinion about Wang family giving such huge amount of resources to their legitimate children, he didn't have the courage to say it directly.
Loosening the tension on his face, whether from the strain of presiding over the ceremony or from dissatisfaction, Tang Nianguo spoke solemnly.
"The young men's hearts are not yet settled, even some absurd things are not surprising. But with the guidance and shaping of a virtuous teacher like Red-browed Monk, they will definitely become true gemstones in the future."
Wang Rongyuan nodded in approval in his heart.
Nianguo is good, this is to make it up for that useless guy, Yuan'an!
From the moment he entered Hua Feng Jiu, Yuan'an had been looking at Red-browed Monk's daughter, Zhong Ningyao, more than once.
But in this main hall, even the idle cultivators have higher cultivation levels than him. It could be said that anyone with a bit of intent had noticed Yuan'an's problem.
The young man, his character has not yet settled.
Uncle Rongyuan observed Yulou again and found her lowering her eyebrows and eyes, displaying a submissive look awaiting the elders' inquiry.
Thankfully, Yulou is indeed a true qilin!
