Chapter 25: Taoist Taichong
Li Daoxuan looked at the corpse, feeling somewhat surprised. Could it be that he had... come to the wrong place?
He stepped back to the door and looked at the plaque.
Um, there is no plaque at all...
Li Daoxuan breathed a sigh of relief . I was wondering, why would the unfathomable Taoist Master Zhang Qianyang live here?
Just as he was about to leave, the coffin in the yard suddenly trembled.
Li Daoxuan's whole body was tense. He held the Five Thunder Talisman in one hand and the hilt of the Yuchang sword with the other, staring at the coffin closely.
The coffin lid was pushed open, Zhang Qianyang yawned and sat up, saying with a smile: "Stinky boy, why do you always use the Five Thunder Talisman to strike me every time we meet?"
Li Daoxuan breathed a sigh of relief, put away the Five Thunder Talisman, and said with a wry smile: "Master, why do you lie in a coffin every time we meet?"
Zhang Qianyang laughed, jumped out of the coffin, and said, "Everyone has a special hobby. Besides drinking wine, what I like most is sleeping in a coffin!"
He carried the body on the straw mat into the coffin, closed the coffin, and said, "This guy went to the mountain to chop wood, but he accidentally fell down and was torn into pieces. His relatives sent him to me to save his last dignity."
Li Daoxuan was surprised and asked, "Master, you still do this?"
Zhang Qianyang rolled his eyes at him and said, "Do you think everyone can pick up three gold ingots for free like you? These days, more business means more opportunities."
After that, he chuckled and said, "You must have been embarrassed on the way here. Most people in the county know me and think I'm unlucky. I'm afraid few people would pay attention to you."
Li Daoxuan shook his head and smiled: "Fortunately, I finally found it."
Zhang Qianyang invited Li Daoxuan into the room. The interior was very simple. In the center were two portraits. One was Laozi riding a green bull, and the other was a Taoist in a purple robe holding a magic sword and a jade seal.
Zhang Qianyang made a cup of tea, sat leisurely on the armchair, crossed his legs, and said calmly: "You came to me because the snake demon is difficult to deal with."
Li Daoxuan was stunned and was about to explain when he was interrupted by Zhang Qianyang.
"In fact, I had already expected that you would come to me for help. After all, the snake demon is quite powerful. Even if you can find its weakness, the gap in cultivation is too big, so it will probably be useless."
Li Daoxuan coughed and said, "Um, Taoist Priest Zhang——"
"It's okay. You're still young and you've only been practicing Taoism for a short time. It's normal that you can't win. It's not shameful. But if you can't win but still fight to the death and lose your life in vain, that's shameful!"
Zhang Qianyang said earnestly, "I asked you to kill the snake demon just to see if you can keep your promise and if you have the courage to fight it. I didn't ask you to die. You can adapt and put aside unnecessary pride, which is good!"
As he said this he took a sip of tea, obviously very satisfied with what he said.
This not only tested whether the apprentice could keep his promise, but also taught him the principle of flexibility in everything. Most importantly, he could then take action to subdue the snake demon, leaving an unfathomable image of him in the apprentice's mind.
Back then, he was controlled by the old man using this method.
Li Daoxuan looked strange and said, "That, Taoist priest, I have already killed the snake demon."
"puff!"
Zhang Qianyang spat out a mouthful of tea. He stared with his eyes wide open, ripped off a few strands of his beard, and said, "You, you, you, what did you say?"
"I have already killed the snake demon. This time I came to see you, Taoist priest, to ask for your guidance on cultivation."
Afraid that Zhang Qianyang would not believe it, Li Daoxuan waved his hand, and a huge snake demon corpse appeared on the ground. Even though it had been dead for so long, it still had a lingering demonic aura!
Zhang Qianyang was completely stunned.
When he saw the two horns on the snake demon's head, his eyes fixed and he moved closer to observe it carefully. For a long time, he looked at Li Daoxuan as if he was looking at a monster.
"I miscalculated. This snake demon is not an ordinary snake demon, but a different species of snake demon with the blood of a true dragon!"
His heart was filled with shock and fear. Such a powerful snake demon with profound skills and the blood of a true dragon was actually... killed by this kid alone?
Li Daoxuan nodded. The Demon-Subduing Heavenly Book had long told him that this snake demon possessed the blood of an ancient black dragon. It was probably born from the mating of a real dragon and a rattlesnake, so its origin was extraordinary.
"Master, will I get into big trouble?"
Li Daoxuan was actually a little scared in his heart. What if he killed the younger one and offended the older one? If a dragon really came to seek revenge on him one day, he would not be able to stop it.
Zhang Qianyang sneered and said, "This kind of evil monster, let alone just a trace of true dragon blood, even if it is a real dragon, it should be killed!"
After a pause, he glanced at Li Daoxuan and said, "You are a latecomer and don't understand some secrets. Since the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the response of immortals and Buddhas to the human world has become less and less. Now, even the founder Zhang Daoling no longer responds to us Longhushan disciples."
"In fact, this is already an open secret. Many gods, Buddhas, immortals and demons, including the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas and the Yama Kings of the Ten Courts, no longer respond to human sacrifices. The Taoist art of summoning gods and sending generals has almost failed. Apart from the gods of the land and mountains, it is difficult to find any trace of gods in the human world."
After that, he patted Li Daoxuan on the shoulder and said, "So don't worry. Even if this snake demon has a real dragon father, it would have disappeared by now. Of course, even if it really comes, don't we still have my master?"
Li Daoxuan was stunned for a moment, then a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes, and he said: "Master, you mean..."
Zhang Qianyang stroked his beard and said with a smile, "You little brat, you still call me Taoist priest?"
Li Daoxuan quickly knelt down to pay his respects to his teacher and brewed a cup of tea to offer.
Zhang Qianyang took it and took a sip, with a hint of emotion in his eyes. After many years, he was finally ready to accept a disciple again.
"Go burn three sticks of incense to the ancestor and kowtow."
Li Daoxuan respectfully burned incense and kowtowed towards the two portraits in the center.
"On the left of the portrait is Laozi, the founder of Taoism, and on the right is Zhang Daoling, the founder of my Longhu Mountain lineage. He was taught the magic of the heavenly book by Taishang Laojun in the Eastern Han Dynasty, and founded the Tianshi Dao. He subdued demons and monsters throughout his life, and finally achieved enlightenment and ascended to heaven!"
Zhang Qianyang himself bowed to the portrait, changing his previous arrogance and becoming extremely humble.
"I respectfully present to you, Zhang Qianyang, the eighth-generation disciple of Mount Longhu. Today, I am opening the altar and holding a ceremony to accept a good disciple. He has a great aptitude and a pure heart. I will accept him as my disciple and teach him the secret method of the Heavenly Master of Mount Longhu. He will subdue demons and monsters and benefit all living things!"
…
After completing the ceremony and paying homage to the ancestors.
Zhang Qianyang's eyes immediately became much more friendly when he looked at Li Daoxuan.
"Master, is this ready?"
Zhang Qianyang nodded and said, "Actually, there are still many complicated etiquettes, but when you are out, just keep it simple. When we return to Longhu Mountain, you can just kowtow to the old man."
After thinking for a moment , he said to Li Daoxuan: "From today on, you are the ninth generation disciple of Longhu Mountain. The ninth generation disciples use the word 'Tai' as their name. Hmm... from now on, your name will be Taichong."
"Too Chong?"
Li Daoxuan coughed and said, "Master, can you change to something better?"
Zhang Qianyang glared at him and said, "I gave you this name because I want you to have more Chongxu Qi so that you can achieve the Dao Fruit. If you are not satisfied, then just call yourself Taixu!"
Too empty...
Li Daoxuan smiled bitterly and said, "Okay, let's call him Taichong, that's good."
From now on, he is the ninth generation disciple of Longhu Mountain, Taoist Taichong.
"By the way, Master, what is your Taoist name?"
In an instant, Zhang Qianyang seemed to have been poked in a sore spot, and angrily said: "Go to sleep, and get up at Yinshi tomorrow morning to practice!"
