Daoist Mingzhang nodded.
"To enter as a direct disciple, I still need to inform the Chief Temple, take you to be recorded in the lineage registry, but a lay practitioner has no such formalities."
A registered disciple really isn't valued much...
"I can directly accept you as an apprentice and record you into the branch temple registry, simply notifying the Chief Temple."
Is this acceptance?
"Greetings, Master!" Lu Zheng's eyes rolled, and he immediately kowtowed.
Don't talk nonsense about modern people not kowtowing, when in Rome, do as the Romans do, got it?
"Don't rush. Even if it's informal, you're still a registered disciple of the White Cloud Temple. In a moment, we'll have your senior brother set up an incense altar at the Three Pure Ones Hall where I'll give you instructions and record you.""
"Yes!"
Lu Zheng stood up with a smile and pushed the wooden box in front of him toward Daoist Mingzhang, "Just in time, this sword will be my apprentice gift to you."
Daoist Mingzhang stroked his beard with a smile; in truth, he didn't take Lu Zheng's gift too seriously. Given Lu Zheng's status as a minor wealthy family in a county, what kind of divine weapon could he possibly have?
However, the gift is light but the sentiment heavy. Lu Zheng's sincerity was still quite satisfying to Daoist Mingzhang.
"Very well, I shall accept it with thanks."
Daoist Mingzhang casually opened the wooden box and, with a glance, couldn't help but be stunned.
A black water buffalo leather scabbard, with cloud patterns flowing on the surface and exquisite and delicate brass decorations, clearly crafted by a master artisan.
Daoist Mingzhang's eyes flashed as he reached out to take the sword from the box, gripping the hilt with his right hand.
"Clang!"
The cloud-patterned hundred-refined steel gleamed, dazzling Daoist Mingzhang's eyes.
"A fine sword!"
"Buzz!"
The Jade Seal gently shook, and strands of the Light of Fortune ceaselessly surged forth. Taking count silently in shock, Lu Zheng counted up to twenty-nine.
"What's happening?"
"Isn't this too much?"
"Daoist Mingzhang, uh, Master, why is your fortune experiencing such a big change?"
"Even as impressive as the Cloud Pattern Sword is, it's still just an external object, isn't it?"
"He only seems quite pleased, doesn't appear to have had any sudden realization, either?"
Daoist Mingzhang reversed his grip and pulled out a strand of his own hair, laid it on the blade, and gently blew.
Silently, the hair was split into two segments by the sword's edge.
"Split a hair on a puff of breath, Lu Zheng, where did you acquire such a fine sword?"
Having confirmed their master-disciple relationship, Daoist Mingzhang directly addressed him by name.
"Hehe, this disciple has his own channels."
Lu Zheng chose not to lie, thus not speaking at all, simultaneously testing Daoist Mingzhang a little.
After all, it's just a sword.
"Alright, I won't ask." Daoist Mingzhang couldn't help but laugh, "However, this gift of yours is indeed quite significant; a weapon such as this, if sent to Zhongjing, would be worth at least three thousand coins."
"As long as Master likes it."
"Good!" Daoist Mingzhang nodded with satisfaction, "You are thoughtful; such a fine weapon is enough for me to use for protection."
Lu Zheng's eyes flashed; a protective treasure...
Could it be that Daoist Mingzhang will later rely on this sword to avoid a deadly catastrophe?
In that case, the significant extraction of the Light of Fortune could be explained.
"Master, I understand this sword is indeed a divine weapon for mortals, but is it also very precious to cultivators?"
Daoist Mingzhang reached out and bent the sword spine a little, finding it both elastic and resilient.
"Very precious," Daoist Mingzhang nodded.
"A common blacksmith might never forge such a steel in his lifetime.
Although cultivators refine artifacts more subtly than blacksmiths, it consumes a great deal of energy and divine thought, and they rarely engage in the trade.
Not every ordinary cultivator can have a divine weapon to protect them."
"Of course."
Daoist Mingzhang's tone shifted, "Yet such divine weapons are still mortal weapons; they cannot be imbued with magical power during their forging, nor do they possess divine techniques after being formed. Their sharpness is useful to ordinary cultivators but holds no value for the truly powerful, so..."
"So we cannot rely on external objects and must strengthen our own cultivation."
"A teachable youth!"
Lu Zheng blinked, aware of the value of the patterned steel swords he brought from modern times.
Even among middle and low-tier cultivators, they were highly valued!
Priced at three thousand coins in Zhongjing!
...
At noon, at the White Cloud Temple, the Three Pure Ones Hall.
Offer incense!
Kneeling!
Serving tea!
Instructions!
Registry!
Teachings!
Finally, because he was of the Yuan generation, Lu Zheng even got his Dao name, Yuan Zheng.
After a comprehensive initiation ceremony, besides receiving important scriptures and spells, Lu Zheng familiarized himself with all the Daoists at Tonglin County's White Cloud Temple.
Besides Daoist Mingzhang, the most important people were his junior, Daoist Ming Jun, and a direct disciple of Daoist Mingzhang's at the White Cloud Temple, Little Daoist Yuan Jing.
These three were all registered with the White Cloud Chief Temple, with relatively high cultivation. Though seven or eight others were also resident Daoists, they held only branch temple registries.
Strictly speaking, their status was almost the same as Lu Zheng's
Though if they improved their cultivation, they could qualify for the Chief Temple registry, whereas Lu Zheng, if he did not wish to reside as a Daoist, had a status ceiling as it was.
The White Cloud Temple's precepts are not much, merely requiring adherence to 21st-century moral standards to be a good disciple of the White Cloud Temple.
The most pleasant surprise for Lu Zheng was the teachings; only kin received such good things, as Daoist Mingzhang gifted him three books.
One was "White Cloud's Common Refining Qi Scripture".
Another was "Five Talisman Technique".
The third was "Cloud Transport Technique".
The first was a Qi Refining Scripture, its quality several levels higher than "Meridian Breathing Method", focusing on circulating internal true qi, absorbing heaven and earth spiritual qi, improving constitution, and refining the divine soul, with the true qi cultivated far exceeding "Meridian Breathing Method".
The second book detailed using true qi to create talismans, recording five kinds of talismans: Peace Talisman, Qi-Seeking Talisman, Exorcism Talisman, Divine Movement Talisman, and Conceal Breath Talisman, integrating warning, tracking, combat, escape, and concealment, comprising a systematic set of talismanic magic.
Upon receiving the talismanic magic, Daoist Mingzhang also presented him with a stack of yellow paper and a box of vermillion.
The third was a small spell capable of transporting over distances, allowing White Cloud Temple disciples to fetch objects by using the mist as a medium.
Afterwards, Daoist Mingzhang explained the difficult points of the three books to Lu Zheng.
"Cultivation, though varied between sects, has Refining Essence, Qi, and Spirit as its foundation. This 'White Cloud's Common Refining Qi Scripture' emphasizes Qi Refining, supplemented by Refining Essence and Spirit. It's of top quality; you must practice diligently. When your true qi cultivation reaches a certain level, the temple will naturally bestow you with more advanced techniques."
"Yes!"
"I see you don't intend to reside in the temple often, so if you have questions, you can come up the mountain anytime. Even if I'm not around, your Uncle Ming Jun and Senior Yuan Jing can provide guidance."
Lu Zheng laughed dryly, expressing gratitude again.
"Alright, you may go." Daoist Mingzhang waved his hand, "By the way, next time you come, you don't need to offer merit coins anymore."
"Yes, Master."
Lu Zheng nodded and complied, but promising is one thing; in the future, when he comes up the mountain, he naturally has to bring other gifts. He can't really show up empty-handed every time.
Mutual benefit and reciprocity will last long.