Chapter 25: Dao Bone

After staying in Shilang Village for a few days, Lin Yuan led the Lin Family members back to Haitang Manor on Yupping Mountain.

Externally, they had gained nothing.

This outcome was exactly what Uncle Lian and the others hoped for.

This Fifth Young Master of the Lin Family was no easy person to handle. If something happened to him, they would have no way of explaining it to the old county prince.

…

At Haitang Manor, begonias swayed in the cold spring wind.

In the warm study, Lin Yuan took out the Heavenly Mansion Jade Book from his chest.

Nearby, the head maidservant Rurong attended to him, while several younger maidservants stood tightly outside the curtained partition, occasionally casting glances with their large, expressive eyes towards the young man in the study.

This Fifth Young Master was handsome. He had status and position. Even more rare was that he did not act unruly like the young masters from other wealthy families in Xinyi Ward!

He could be considered a coveted son-in-law in the eyes of many prominent families. If they had a chance to climb into this young master’s bed, they would enjoy a life of good fortune for the rest of their days.

The eyes of the younger maidservants darted around, but when they looked at the full-figured head maidservant Rurong beside them, their expressions immediately deflated.

The Lin Family was strict by nature, and the personal maidservants in this Fifth Young Master’s quarters were watched very closely. They simply had no opportunity.

In the warm, spring-like room, Lin Yuan looked at this jade book, his gaze filled with awe.

This Primordial Yang Dao Scripture was indeed a text of profound virtue. Even as a reproduction, it was incredibly mystical.

Sinking his heart and mind into contemplation, Lin Yuan gained new insights from time to time.

The refinement and progress of the Taixiao Dao Ming Scripture was very clear.

“Perhaps it won’t be long before I can touch the threshold of the Primordial Divine Demon Dao Body?”

Lin Yuan closed his eyes. In his Mud Pill Palace, the Innate Twenty-Four Dao Diagrams shone like twenty-four moons, illuminating his spiritual platform. The Primordial Origin Embryo bathed in a faint, cool, precious light, solidifying inch by inch.

Lin Yuan could clearly sense it. As he contemplated that wisp of Dao essence from the Primordial Yang Dao Scripture, the Primordial Origin Embryo clearly gained a trace of majestic presence.

It was like cleaving open heaven and earth.

The Primordial Yang Dao Scripture was also known in ancient times as the Primordial Yang Heaven-Opening Scripture. The Primordial Yang Dao Ancestor manifested the Primordial Yang Heaven-Opening Axe, practicing the path of creation and enlightenment.

This change was so extraordinary!

Lin Yuan could be certain that if he could truly absorb all of this wisp of Dao essence and let the Primordial Thunder God Embryo digest it, perhaps he wouldn’t be far from truly cultivating the body of an Innate Divine Demon.

Noticing that Lin Yuan was immersed in this peculiar jade book, the head maidservant beside him pursed her lips lightly. With light, graceful steps, she quietly approached and began tidying the messy collection of scriptures on the table. While tidying, she intentionally or unintentionally placed a few doctrinal texts on top of the other ancient books.

Lin Yuan’s spiritual awareness was extremely keen.

He saw such small movements in his peripheral vision and could only inwardly sigh with a wry smile.

The Imperial Examinations were a great path to success, that was true.

Bringing honor to the ancestors!

There was a saying that serving in the officialdom was good for cultivation. Accumulating countless deeds of Virtue Merit naturally led to a day of attaining the Dao.

But he now had another shortcut.

Just then, Lin Yuan’s brow moved slightly, and a flash of surprise passed through his expression.

At the foot of Yupping Mountain, a fast horse had arrived at the mountain’s base on the official road through a light drizzle!

On the fast horse was a somewhat refined-looking young Daoist. He looked at the beautiful Yupping Mountain before him and the red gates and green tiles halfway up the slope.

The young Daoist inwardly pondered.

“This is the place. This is the quiet residence of that Lin Family Fifth Young Master. I only hope that Demon-Suppressing Uncle didn’t lie to me, and that this Lin Family Fifth Young Master truly has some fortunate affinity!”

The young Daoist didn’t hold too much hope in his heart.

The one from the Demon-Suppressing General Temple was always unreliable. If it weren’t so, he wouldn’t be in such a pathetic state.

Having become part of the Divine Path was one thing, but he didn’t even know how to manage Incense Offerings. Poor enough to eat dirt!

The current situation at Wenchang Daoist Academy wasn’t looking great. Many surrounding Daoist academies could recruit quite a few fine talents and jade-like disciples every year.

Like the three famous Daoist academies in the Jiangnan Circuit: Longze Dao Academy, Liangjie Dao Academy, and Bailu Dao Academy. They never lacked cultivation seeds. They even accepted Postnatal True Seeds as promising as young dragons or dragon maidens into their gates every year.

By comparison!

Wenchang Daoist Academy was getting weaker with each passing year. Several Dragon Gate Grand Ceremonies had yielded no harvest at all. Seeing that there were no more results to report, it was about to be shut down.

The young Daoist felt heavy-hearted.

In the study, after a moment of quiet thought, Lin Yuan gave a light laugh. He had only been reading for a short while when a servant came to report.

“Young Master, there’s a Daoist outside the manor who says he has important business and requests an audience?”

“A Daoist?” Rurong beside him frowned slightly.

Great Zhou revered the Mystic Gate as the state religion and respected the Mystic Gate. But she hadn’t heard that their young master knew any Daoists?

“We have a distinguished guest. Rurong, you all may leave for now.”

Lin Yuan gave a light laugh, then looked at the servant and said.

“Invite that Daoist master to the main hall!”

In the main hall.

Following the sound of footsteps, Daoist Yu saw a remarkably handsome young master with a peculiar bearing emerge from a side room.

Two faint flashes of light passed through his eyes, and the young Daoist felt inwardly surprised.

“Strange. This person clearly had the appearance of an early demise. Why is his aura now suffused with noble, dignified purple and the air of pure blessedness?”

Daoist Yu had once practiced physiognomy. He was confident he wouldn’t misread it. He was just about to focus his mind and use his fingers for divination when his heart suddenly trembled slightly.

An extremely obscure power prevented him from deducing the changes of heaven’s will. His five fingers went numb. If he forcibly tried to divine, there might be unforeseen danger.

This secretly startled Daoist Yu.

Then he heard Lin Yuan’s footsteps stop. Lin Yuan’s gaze swept over him, looking him up and down, and spoke.

“May I ask what to call you, Daoist master, and what important business brings you to my Haitang Manor?”

The Daoist was slightly thoughtful. He bowed deeply towards Lin Yuan with a Daoist salute. “This poor Daoist is Daoist Yu from Wenchang Daoist Academy. You may directly address me as Daoist Yu.”

“As for my purpose, this poor Daoist will be direct. Young Master, you are a person of deep fortunate affinity and already possess the root vessel. Are you willing to join the gates of my Wenchang Daoist Academy?”

Upon hearing this, Rurong, who was listening on the side, slightly trembled.

Lin Yuan looked at this young Daoist, his expression subtle.

Compared to entering officialdom through the Imperial Examinations, Lin Yuan undoubtedly preferred to join the Mystic Gate.

Lin Yuan had also heard of Wenchang Daoist Academy. It was a famous Daoist academy in the Jiangnan Circuit. But the rumors said that to enter a Daoist academy, they always emphasized fortunate affinity, Dao Bone, and comprehension.

It was extremely strict. Gaining admission to the academy was already one in a hundred.

Very few people actively received invitations from a Daoist academy.

Lin Yuan heard that Yang Miaozhen had previously received an invitation from a Daoist academy.

That was the so-called Immortal Affinity, which caused quite a stir back then.

He just didn’t know which Daoist academy in the Jiangnan Circuit it was.

Lin Yuan smiled slightly. “Being able to enter a Daoist academy is something many who seek the Dao dream of. Lin Yuan naturally will not refuse.”

Daoist Yu wasn’t surprised. Being able to enter a Daoist academy was something many people sought but couldn’t obtain.

Daoist Yu looked at Lin Yuan, nodded, and said, “Young Master Lin, although you have deep fortunate affinity, the cultivation of our Dharma Lineage also emphasizes wise roots and Dao Bone. Please allow this poor Daoist to test your Dao Bone?”