Chapter 145. Qingcheng Disciple

     On Monday, Ling Jianguo and Zhang Lan took a leave from their work and accompanied Ling Xiao to Peking University in Haidian District. Although they have lived in the capital for a lifetime, they have been to Peking University only a few times.

     As soon as they entered the school gate, the three of them got a lot of attention.

     It was not because of Ling Jianguo and his wife, but because their son Ling Xiao was a “celebrity” in school.

     He has a cheerful personality, a handsome and rugged appearance, and a good physique. His academic performance is in the top three of his grade, he has participated in many national science and technology competitions, and has generally won awards. He is also good at sports, the vice president of the school’s basketball club, and has received invitations from several major martial arts sects.

     Even in a university full of talents, he was quite popular.

      Of course, there were many girls who confessed to him, but after breaking up with his high school classmates, Ling Xiao had no idea of falling in love again on campus. During college, he devoted his whole heart to studying and having fun.

     There were also many classmates who greeted Ling Xiao. Zhang Lan was naturally happy to see that her son was so popular.

     Ling Xiao first called the counselor, who told them to go directly to the Administrative and Academic Affairs Office.

     The family of three came to the administrative building and saw Ling Xiao’s three roommates coming out of the building. There were also two uniformed policemen and a psychologist from their school.

     Ling Xiao: “?”

     Only one of the three roommates gave Ling Xiao a few looks and lip-synced “nothing”.

     Outside the administrative building, the young counselor was waiting outside to greet them, and enthusiastically led them to a spacious meeting room with more than a dozen people.

     There were school leaders in suits and leather shoes, and a very outstanding vice dean and professor of Ling Xiao’s college’s related major; there were also police and public officials; admissions officers from multiple sects, some of them wearing Taoist uniforms, and some were wearing ordinary clothes from the 21st century.

     Ling Xiao was just one of their destinations for coming to the school. Another main purpose was to discuss the integration of military training and martial arts classes. Yes, the second step of the Supernatural Investigation Bureau’s plan was to integrate martial arts into learning and life, and even select outstanding specialized disciples from students.

     Ling Jianguo and Zhang Lan were still a little confused.

     They didn’t quite understand why teachers, counselors, school leaders, and police would help the martial arts sects to persuade. As a local police officer, it was difficult for Ling Jianguo to resist this official “sugar-coated bullet”, the so-called national key support project, the place of hope for the future.

     The final result was of course a happy ending. Ling Xiao’s place in the postgraduate entrance examination was negotiated very smoothly, and his tutor was an academician and a top teacher in astronomy.

     This is really not perfunctory. The country attaches great importance to spiritual studies, but it does not mean that science will be abandoned. When the disciples of various sects can already practice on their own, they can of course go down the mountain to develop secondary jobs and hobbies.

     If Ling Xiao chooses a certain sect, he can temporarily study in all universities that start astronomy near this sect after class. Although it is not as good as Peking University, it can also be taught online.

     The rest is to choose a sect.

     Emei Sect Leader: “The Emei Sect, a martial arts sect from the Warring States period, is the oldest existing martial arts sect. Its location is on Mount Emei, known as the most beautiful mountain under heaven, and it ranks seventh among the thirty-six minor grotto-heavens of Taoism…”

     Huashan Sect: “Mount Emei has been occupied by Buddhism, so it’s nothing special. ‘Attain the Supreme Oneness, promote teaching and practice the complete truth, cultivate harmony and virtue as the foundation, and uphold benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness.’ The Huashan Sect’s kung fu originates from the ‘Book of Changes’ and stems from the Taiji Diagram, with Wuji as the diagram…”

     Wudang Sect Leader: “Although our Wudang Sect was established relatively late, we excel in fist techniques. The current Tai Chi Chuan, Bagua Zhang, and Xing Yi Quan all evolved from Wudang Sect’s fist techniques. Moreover, Mount Wudang had already been a sacred site for Taoist activities before the Ming Dynasty, and it is said that many hermits lived and practiced here before the Han and Wei dynasties…”

     …and so on.

     Ling Jianguo & Zhang Lan: “…”

     Seeing that the couple didn’t understand, they started competing for benefits, such as a 5,000 yuan/month allowance for trainee disciples and benefits for formal disciples, and Wudang disciples also took the lead in demonstrating bone setting on the spot.

     So Ling Xiao’s fracture, which was broken by his sister’s “gentle hand” this morning, was almost 80% healed under the skillful hands of Wudang disciples, and only some acupuncture was left.

     Ling Jianguo and Zhang Lan couldn’t make a decision, so Ling Xiao chose the Qingcheng Sect from among the various sects.

     Ye Mo had only reminded him of one thing: the entire Taoist religion is mainly divided into the Zhengyi School and the Quanzhen School.

     The Quanzhen School was founded by Wang Chongyang, advocating the refinement of essence, qi, and spirit to form an elixir and become an immortal. It emphasizes internal cultivation, nourishing life, and abstaining from worldly food. Therefore, formal Quanzhen Taoists must eventually become monks and cultivate, are not allowed to have wives, and are not allowed to eat meat. The Huashan Sect and the Wudang Sect are deeply influenced by the Quanzhen School, especially the Huashan Sect.

     Although Ling Xiao had decided to cultivate Taoism, he didn’t intend to become a Taoist who abstained from worldly food. Therefore, he first ruled out the above two sects, as their specialties didn’t align with his ideals.

     The Zhengyi School, founded by Zhang Daoling during the Eastern Han Dynasty, has a relatively diverse range of branches, including the Longhu Sect, Maoshan Sect, Gezao Sect, Taiyi Sect, and Jingming Dao. They are relatively skilled in magic and talismans, and have the most swindlers among the common people, but they don’t prohibit marriage or eating meat, which better suits his plans.

     In addition, there are Kunlun Sect, Penglai Sect, and others that sound very grand. In reality, they are very young and small sects, equivalent to “wild chicken universities” or vocational colleges in the martial arts world, so they are directly excluded.

     The Qingcheng Sect was still influenced by the Quanzhen School in the Ming Dynasty, but ultimately, it is still based on the Zhengyi School. It is rumored that the Taoist ancestor Zhang Daoling ascended to immortality in Mount Qingcheng, making its Taoist style purer than the Emei Sect, which has been invaded by Buddhism, and its history is not short either.

     Moreover, Mount Qingcheng is the birthplace of Chinese Taoism, a famous historical and cultural city in China, a national 5A scenic spot, the fifth of the ten great grotto-heavens of Taoism, and a world cultural heritage site.

     This is one of the prestigious universities with a very rich historical background.

     Amidst everyone’s anticipation, Ling Xiao gave the Qingcheng Sect senior sister an awkward and unconventional cupped fist salute, and the matter was thus settled.

     Ye Mo, who witnessed everything with Eagle Eye: “Qingcheng Mountain? 1927.8 kilometers, at least three space nodes.”

     Wang Xue: 【’Since I am a guest of Qingcheng, I do not spit on Qingcheng’s ground. Because I love Mount Zhangren, its red steps lead to secluded thoughts.^[1]These lines are from a poem by Du Fu. The poem expresses Du Fu’s admiration for the scenery of Qingcheng Mountain. ‘】

     Watson: 【Congratulations! 】

     …

     Besides choosing a martial arts sect, after Ling Jianguo and Zhang Lan left the school, Ling Xiao and the police also discussed the issue of zombies. One of his roommates finally couldn’t hold back and spoke about it last weekend.

     The Supernatural Investigation Bureau. is also aware of the four criminal survivors suspects. They are still in the Supernatural Investigation – Human Affairs Bureau’s prison. The ‘big shot’ really did a thorough job of erasing the surveillance footage in the surrounding area.

     Otherwise, they wouldn’t have just found these classmates now

     The Supernatural Investigation Bureau naturally sent people to investigate this matter, appease those with knowledge, and sign confidentiality agreements, etc.

     As for the matter of the students applying to join sects, there’s no rush, there are plenty of opportunities, but not now. The current students are in the ‘early batch’, they are all relatively talented students. Training talents of varying levels together can easily lead to errors.

     Therefore, Ling Xiao’s situation was different, and the dispatched police officers explained a few more things to him.

     Regarding the spiritual energy revival, he knew far more than this police officer, thanks to the benefits from the survivor, Sister Mo. He wondered if his performance was adequate, hoping not to cause any trouble.

     …

     The last day in the dormitory.

     Ling Xiao still treated his other three classmates to a meal. Of course, they didn’t go out to eat; they had some lingering trauma. Peking University has many good dining options, such as No. 1 Student Dining Hall, No. 2 Student Dining Hall, No. 3 Student Dining Hall, No. 4 Student Dining Hall, No. 5 Student Dining Hall, Combos, Nongyuan, Yiyuan, Shaoyuan, and Jiayuan.

     No matter what the conflicts were in the past few days, they were still classmates for four years; of course, they also knew that the conflicts in the past few days would definitely leave traces in each other’s hearts.

     The next day, Ling Xiao left Peking University with his suitcase. The senior sister from yesterday met him outside the school gate. The senior sister was a formal inner disciple of Qingcheng Sect, and her Taoist name was Yaoguang.

     In addition to Senior Sister Yaoguang, there is another senior brother with the Taoist name Han Guang, who is Senior Sister Yaoguang’s Taoist partner. One of the important skills in Qingcheng Sect is the Yin-Yang dual cultivation method of ‘spiritual communication across thousands of miles, and mental communication across tens of thousands of miles.’

     Yaoguang smiled and said, “There are also junior sisters in the early batch, junior brother Ling, you must seize the opportunity.”

     Ling Xiao: “…Is it too late to change the sect now?”

     “Haha, Yaoguang, stop teasing our little junior brother.” Han Guang, who was driving, said, “The Essentials of Daoist Health Cultivation mentions that the dual cultivation of yin and yang is not about sexual intercourse to absorb yin and replenish yang. Rather, it’s about absorbing the qi of heaven and earth to replenish our own qi, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth to replenish our own essence, and absorbing the spirit of heaven and earth to replenish our own spirit… Besides, our sect has far more than just dual cultivation techniques.”

     However, the pure Yang constitution of the junior brother is really likely to become the object of the crazy pursuit of the senior sisters and junior sisters in the sect. Apart from other things, the Yin-Yang constitution can indeed help the practice of the five elements.

     As a science student, Ling Xiao didn’t understand it very well. Anyway, his sister had prepared the internal cultivation method for him.

     The senior brothers and sisters did not take Lingxiao to any airport to fly to Mount Qingcheng in Dujiangyan, Sichuan. Their first destination was a temporary martial arts training ground in the western suburbs of Beijing, at the foot of the Taihang Mountains.

     “Before going to their respective sects, all the early batch of interns need to undergo a training session. This is your first test.” Senior Sister Yaoguang explained.

     The martial arts sect disciples in the training camp numbered less than a hundred, after all, the Martial Arts Alliance Leader’s first competition involved a limited number of people. However, there were also the nth batch of people transferred from within the national system from all over the country, at least 5,000 people

     Due to the influence of wuxia novels, the Qingcheng Sect currently has only four trainee disciples, including Lingxiao. The Wudang Sect has the most, followed by Shaolin and Emei, with Kunlun, Penglai, and Huashan also having a considerable number. 

     Yaoguang thinks they are quite short-sighted.

     Han Guang & Yaoguang: “Little Junior Brother, come on, work hard to win glory for Qingcheng Sect!”

     Ling Xiao, who just joined: “…”

     The senior brothers and sisters are really funny.

     ……

     Although the martial arts arena is temporary, the inspection is quite strict, but it is just a general inspection. No cigarettes, alcohol, certain snacks, etc. are allowed, but it is not difficult to pass the inspection of the space storage ring.

     In addition, mobile phones must be handed in and can only be used once a week.

     Lingxiao finally arrived at his temporary room. Apart from dual cultivation partners (and there are no dual cultivation partners now), they basically all live in the same room to facilitate the completion of their meditation exercises.