Chapter 31: First Martial Arts Demonstration 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 encounter opponents of equal strength, it would be hard to say how long it would take to finish.
Therefore, Zhenren Qianyuan proposed that the headmaster should sit in 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 furious - this second senior brother really knew how to find trouble for himself. Now she was no longer an elder, but just 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 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 dojos, 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 start the sword fight.
Each elder is accompanied by two disciples, one who records the process 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 Han Yang 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 received the true teachings of Shangqing Zhenren.
He had 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.
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 and energetic as she is today.
Over the years, despite the huge generation gap between them, he treated her like an older brother and granted her whatever she asked for unless it was something too absurd.
"Since Senior Brother has already sent your favorite disciple here, why do you have to ask me to get involved? Why don't I just do something else and waste such precious time?" Lingxiang's complaints interrupted Han Yang's thoughts.
"In such an occasion, it is still necessary for the uncles and uncles to be in charge, so as to show the solemnity," Han Yang said expressionlessly.
"High position? What kind of high position do I have? Your master, that old stubborn man, has been holding the throne for so many years and is unwilling to give me the position. He even inexplicably made me the head 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.
Han Yang saw that she was upset about this matter again, looking just like when she was a child, and he chuckled without saying anything.
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 surprised - this girl looked younger than themselves, so why did the eldest senior brother stand beside her?
Seeing everyone like this, Lingxiang was not surprised and was used to it. She looked listless and didn't bother to pay attention.
"The one presiding over the competition today is the Peak Master Lingxiang of Qingwei Peak. You will go up to the martial arts stage in pairs. The Peak Master will ask questions first. After you get the answers, the Peak Master will give instructions and then the sword competition will begin. This time, the sword competition should be limited. 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 shocked and puzzled all the disciples: they were shocked at how capable this woman was, as she was already the leader of a peak in Yuanqing Sect at such a young age; they were puzzled because they had only heard that there were only seven elders in the sect besides the head teacher, so when did they get a peak leader?
Moreover, when entering the sect, Master Fuyin clearly ordered everyone not to set foot on Qingwei Peak. But now another peak master has appeared, which makes people have to speculate about the reason.
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? It's not proper to whisper to each other!" Han Yang looked so serious that he almost couldn't control himself.
…
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 had 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 to perform, they were asked why they studied Taoism. Xinyi gave a very conventional answer, saying that it was nothing more than practicing the Dharma to attain enlightenment, to understand one's 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 actually just aimlessly pursuing his enemy. If he had not encountered Lingxiang that time in the Supreme Sect, he would probably not have been able to enter the Tao.
"Just repair it, there's no reason why."
Yes, if it weren’t for the spiritual fragrance.
…
"Cultivate your mind in the mortal world, practice the Dharma in a quiet place, transcend the cycle of reincarnation, escape 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 ordinarily correct, reading from the book. Although there were no major mistakes to find, they were extremely boring.
"...This is the reason why I seek the truth." The person on the stage bowed and saluted, then stepped aside and stood still.
Lingxiang looked up at him and saw that he was short and thin, with a pale face. He seemed to be the same age as Zhao Wuyang, but he was 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 shoulders and a big waist. Compared with the other disciple on the stage, there was a huge difference between them.
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 going on, Lingxiang looked up and saw Cheng Qi's face flushed red, but he couldn't utter a word.
After waiting for a moment, Han Yang was about to speak when he heard him say, "Just practice it. There's no reason why. It's just like the sky needs to rain or people need to eat. It's natural."
Oh wow? That's new, he's an interesting guy.
Upon hearing this, Lingxiang looked at Cheng Yu. 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 simple and intuitive, and it suits my taste."
Cheng Yu didn't expect to hear such words. Looking at Lingxiang's calm expression, he was stunned for a moment, then bowed and stood aside.
Unexpectedly, Cheng Yu was quite obsessed, Han Yang thought to himself.
Anyone who joins a sect to cultivate Taoism will have some purpose, as the book says, 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 only saw her briefly when he was a child, he was shocked by her beauty and still couldn't forget her.
But that woman is from the immortal sect, otherworldly and out of reach. Only if I achieve true enlightenment will I be able to see her again.
He never mentioned this to anyone, but kept it deep in his heart.
If you want to seek the truth, you must have persistence, so that you can move to the next level.
"Then, my two junior brothers, let's start the competition." Han Yang said after receiving Lingxiang's instruction.
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