Chapter 31: First Martial Arts Performance and Discussion on Dao Heart If the sixty-four new disciples were to perform martial arts one by one, it would naturally take a long time. If they were to meet opponents of equal strength, it is unknown how long it would take to finish. Therefore, Zhenren Qianyuan proposed that the headmaster should be in charge of the Wangxiantai, and the outer disciples should be divided into eight groups, with the other elders making their own decisions and proceeding separately, including Lingxiang. This method can save a lot of trouble. When Shangqing Zhenren heard this, he praised it. When Lingxiang heard the messenger boy say this, she was so angry that she almost ascended to heaven - this Second Senior Brother really knew how to find trouble for himself. Now she was no longer an elder, but only the Peak Master. What kind of a judge was she to be in martial arts performances? Her good plans were disrupted, and she couldn't tell any of the other senior brothers about it. It was really like a mute suffering, with no one to vent her suffering. In this case, we can only rely on Maidong. The martial arts performance started simultaneously in eight arenas, with two disciples competing against each other. Before the competition began, they had to ask questions. The elders would ask questions, and the disciples would answer them on the stage. Only after the elders had judged the questions could they fight. Each elder is accompanied by two disciples, one who takes notes at the desk and the other who stays by his side. Taoist Shangqing knew that Lingxiang was very clever and eccentric, so in order to prevent her from teasing the outer disciples, he specifically targeted Hanyang and her. Although Han Yang is of a lower generation than Lingxiang, he is older than her and his cultivation is even higher than hers. He is calm and experienced, and is also Yuanqing's eldest disciple, and has learned the true teachings of Shangqing Zhenren.
He also experienced the disaster that befell his sect many years ago. Although he was young at the time, he still could not forget the tragedy of that time. During that disaster, the former headmaster entrusted Lingxiang to him. If he hadn't risked his life to protect her, Lingxiang wouldn't be as lively as she is now. Over the years, despite the difference in generation between them, he still treated her like an elder brother and granted her whatever she asked for unless it was too absurd. "Since Senior Brother has already sent your favorite disciple here, why do you have to ask me to get involved? Why not do something else and waste this precious time?" Lingxiang interrupted Han Yang's thoughts with a complaint. "In an occasion like this, it is still necessary for the uncles and uncles to be present to show seriousness," Han Yang said expressionlessly. "High position? What kind of high position do I have? Your master, that old stubborn man, has been holding the position of Zhang Zhen for all these years and is unwilling to give it to me. He also inexplicably made me the master of the stove. What kind of stove should I be in charge of! I should make fire and cook! I don't even know where he hid the stove!" Lingxiang got angry when she mentioned it. Seeing that she was upset about this matter again, and her expression was just like when she was a child, Han Yang chuckled and said nothing. At four o'clock in the morning, the martial arts performance began. All the disciples knew Han Yang, and after he came on stage, they all bowed deeply to him. However, they did not recognize the girl standing in front of him, and they were all very surprised - this girl looked younger than themselves, so why did she have the eldest senior brother standing beside her? Lingxiang was used to seeing everyone like this and was not surprised. She looked listless and didn't bother to pay attention. "The one presiding over the competition today is the leader of Qingwei Peak, Lingxiang. You will go up to the martial arts stage in pairs. The leader will ask questions first. After you get the answers, the leader will give instructions and then the sword competition will begin. This time, you should stop at a certain point and don't be too aggressive and hurt your fellow disciples." Seeing Lingxiang nod to him, Han Yang spoke loudly about the relevant matters. These words made all the disciples both shocked and suspicious: they were shocked at how capable this woman was, as she was already the leader of a peak in the Yuanqing Sect at such a young age; they were suspicious because they had only heard that there were only seven elders in the sect besides the head teacher, so when did they get a new peak leader? Moreover, when they entered the sect, Master Fuyin clearly ordered everyone not to set foot on Qingwei Peak. But now, a new peak master has appeared, which makes people have to speculate what is going on. Just as all the disciples were looking at each other in confusion, Lingxiang spoke. "Okay! After all, you are a Taoist and have practiced for a long time. Don't you have any determination at all? How can you whisper to me?" Han Yang looked so serious that he almost couldn't hold himself together. …… Until today, Long Qi has not been able to use this sword technique smoothly, but fortunately he was competing with Xin Yi. If all the disciples had not drawn lots together in the Hufeng Hall to decide their opponents beforehand, he would have thought that Lingxiang might have done something secretly. Xinyi also breathed a sigh of relief. This sword technique was very different from what he had learned in the past and he really couldn't adapt to it. If a person makes a way of doing things a habit, he cannot change it no matter what. Habit becomes nature. When it was their turn, they were asked why they learned Taoism. Xinyi gave a very conventional answer, saying that she practiced the law to prove the Tao, to understand her mind and nature, and to inspire spiritual perception.
Long Qi was silent - he had no intention of practicing Taoism at first. Although he had a family feud, he was just pursuing his enemy aimlessly. If he had not encountered Lingxiang that time in the Supreme Sect, he would never have entered the Taoism. "Just repair it, there is no reason." Yes, if it weren’t for the spiritual fragrance. …… "Cultivate your mind in the world, practice the Dharma in a quiet place, transcend the cycle of reincarnation, escape from life and death, and realize the great way..." The person on the stage said this, but Lingxiang found it boring - all the explanations she had asked that day were very conventional and rote. Although there was nothing wrong with them, they were extremely boring. “…This is the reason why I seek the truth.” The man on the stage bowed, performed a salute, and then stepped aside. Lingxiang looked up at him and saw that he was short and thin, with a pale face. He seemed to be about the same age as Zhao Wuyang, but not as soft and honest as Zhao Wuyang. He had a stubborn look on his face. Looking at the other disciple, he was tall and strong, with broad arms and a thick waist. There was a huge difference between him and the other one on the stage. That person was none other than Cheng Qi. "It's your turn to tell me why you practice Taoism?" Lingxiang yawned and asked casually. "I……" Unable to hear what was next, Lingxiang looked up and saw Cheng Yu’s face flushed with embarrassment, but he couldn’t utter a single word. After waiting for a while, Han Yang was about to speak, but he heard him say, "Just practice it, there is no reason, just like it rains and people eat, it's natural." Oh? That's new. He's an interesting person. Upon hearing this, Lingxiang looked at Chengqi. The big man was standing in the middle with a red face, looking extremely embarrassed. "That's a good way of putting it. It's easy to understand and very much to my liking." Cheng Yu didn't expect to hear such words. He looked at Lingxiang with a calm face, stunned for a moment, then bowed and stood aside. Unexpectedly, Cheng Yu is somewhat obsessed, Han Yang thought in his heart. Anyone who chooses to practice Taoism has some purpose, as mentioned in the book, it may be to seek the Dharma, to escape from the cycle of reincarnation, or to learn skills to defeat demons and defend Taoism. But Cheng Yu did it for a woman. Although he had only seen her briefly when he was a child, he was struck by her beauty and still could not forget her. But that woman is from the immortal sect, otherworldly and out of reach. Only if I achieve true enlightenment, perhaps I will be able to see her again. He never mentioned this to anyone and just kept it deep in his heart. If you want to seek the truth, you must have persistence, so that you can go to the next level. "Then, my two junior brothers, let's start the competition." Han Yang said after receiving Ling Xiang's instruction. (End of this chapter)
