Chapter 27: Origins
Chapter 27: Origins
“This…”
Daoist Yu stared blankly at Lin Yuan.
Although the Jade Immortal Art had no real difficulty—it solely depended on innate talent and comprehension—merely glancing at it once and instantly mastering it all the way to the sixth layer was just too… Daoist Yu’s heart felt utterly numb!
Such aptitude had to exceed the category of excellent; there must be an Immortal Root or Dao Bone within his body!
Thump! Thump! Thump!!
His heart raced fiercely. Daoist Yu practically gazed at Lin Yuan with glowing eyes, spitting out a single word with intensity.
“Good!”
The young Daoist was ecstatic. Recording a disciple with such extraordinary aptitude, possessing both an Immortal Root and Dao Bone, not only meant rich rewards but also immense benefit for the Daoist Academy.
“Junior Brother Lin, while we can’t precisely determine your aptitude yet, you certainly qualify for the Wenchang Daoist Academy! We’ll perform a detailed assessment after you arrive!”
Daoist Yu spoke rapidly, quickly settling the matter, his attitude towards Lin Yuan shifting visibly.
Lin Yuan wasn’t concerned about that, however. He brought up what truly mattered to him.
“So, Senior Brother Yu, when can we truly begin cultivation?”
Joining the academy, Lin Yuan was solely curious about its Orthodox Profound Gate Methods.
Daoist Yu chuckled. “Testing innate talent is the first step. Following the academy’s rules, you must then be formally recorded in the register, cultivate foundational Dao merits, and temper your Dao Heart. Only then will you be granted the Wenchang Daoist Academy’s inherited orthodox method: the Treatise of Subtle Origins!”
Seeing Lin Yuan seemed deeply concerned with immediate cultivation, Daoist Yu didn’t mind. Many disciples exhibited such eagerness upon entering the academy. Accessing Orthodox Profound Gate Methods was a dream for most cultivators. He’d felt the same way once.
“So complicated?”
Lin Yuan frowned.
Daoist Yu wanted to earn this junior brother’s gratitude. A strange glint flashed at the corner of his eye as he continued. “Of course, exceptions exist. Major academies and shrines often accept princely descendants or the children of wandering immortals from afar. They receive the Orthodox Profound Gate Method first and cultivate merits concurrently, so long as they pass the monthly examinations.”
“With Junior Brother Lin’s aptitude, This poor Daoist can speak to the Headmaster on your behalf!”
“If so, I thank you, Senior Brother!”
Lin Yuan inwardly nodded. Examinations made sense. Building a strong foundation by cultivating Dao merits and the Dao Heart first would undoubtedly make future cultivation smoother, yielding twice the results with half the effort.
But his foundation was exceptionally solid, rendering these steps unnecessary!
Seeing Lin Yuan’s expression, Daoist Yu secretly smiled. Many disciples initially felt the same way upon entering the academy, viewing the laborious process of building foundational merits and cultivating the Dao Heart as a waste. Only after receiving the Orthodox Profound Gate Method would they realize how impossible cultivation became without resilient merits and an unshakable Dao Heart. Even those with Postnatal True Seeds or possessing Immortal Roots and Dao Bones needed to dutifully complete the trials of merits and heart before truly beginning.
“There should be word in two days!”
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Daoist Yu hurriedly left, eager to report back.
“Young Master…”
After Daoist Yu departed, Rurong emerged from behind the screen, worry etched on her face.
Lin Yuan understood his maidservant’s concern at a glance. He simply patted her slightly cold hand gently and smiled slightly.
Rurong felt somewhat reassured.
…
The news of Lin Yuan accepting the invitation to join the Wenchang Daoist Academy spread rapidly.
Gaining entry into a Daoist Academy, in the eyes of many scholars, was comparable to passing the highest imperial examinations.
The entire Lin family, including all its branch lines, was plunged into jubilation.
The three legitimate sons of this generation of the Lin family were truly outstanding talents.
The eldest son had excelled in the imperial examinations, becoming an immensely respected official in the capital with limitless prospects.
The second son, Lin Cheng, was a genius in business; the family’s profits doubled each year.
Now, the youngest legitimate son, Lin Yuan, had also entered a Daoist Academy. Prosperity had truly reached its zenith!
“That disobedient son! I sent him to Haitang Manor to concentrate on his studies and prepare for next year’s autumn provincial exams! Instead, he kept silent and made his own decision to enter the Wenchang Daoist Academy!”
“Does he respect his father at all?!”
Within the Lin Manor’s inner courtyards, Lin Chengzong fumed upon hearing the news.
Several other Lin clan elders arrived as Lin Chengzong paced, his face long and furious.
“Enough, Chengzong. Since Yuan’er is determined to join the academy, in our view, this may not be a bad thing at all.”
“Lin Min has entered the court, but affairs of state are ever-changing. You know the saying: never put all your eggs in one basket!”
The voices of several elderly men, well into their eighties, carried from outside the main hall as they entered.
Hearing this, Lin Chengzong’s anger subsided slightly.
He greeted the elderly men with a measure of respect. Although he was the current head of the Lin Family, these were Senior Clan Elders who had rendered great service to the Family Estate. Their words carried weight; deference had to be paid.
The elders took their seats. Observing Lin Chengzong’s demeanor, they understood. It wasn’t Lin Yuan joining the academy that truly vexed the family head—it was his son acting independently.
One elder’s gaze held a shadow of concern as he addressed Lin Chengzong slowly.
“Moreover, given recent events… we may specifically need a cultivator’s skills to solve the current predicament.”
At these words, several clan elders frowned deeply, brows knitted with worry.
…
Meanwhile, within the Yang Manor at the end of Xinyi Ward.
A portly Squire Yang hurriedly entered a screened-off boudoir.
Seeing a young woman dressed in light white silk robes, meditating cross-legged, he couldn’t contain his urgency.
“Zhen’er! Did you hear?! That Lin youth has been accepted into the Wenchang Daoist Academy!”
“I know, Father.”
The young woman, Yang Miaozhen, slowly opened her clear, autumn-water-like eyes, her expression utterly calm.
“But what do we do?! We recently broke off the engagement with the Lin family… We…” Plump Squire Yang’s face was etched with dismay. “Zhen’er, you said this generation had reached its peak and would inevitably decline, becoming a vortex of misfortune! You insisted we extricate ourselves! That poor scholar was supposed to be dependable! Now this Lin Yuan enters the academy, while Liu Ling… he’s vanished, utterly disappeared!”
Yang Miaozhen did feel a ripple of unease.
Lin Yuan entering the Wenchang Daoist Academy was indeed unexpected. According to the Heavenly Secrets, fate weavers, her divination foretold Lin Yuan inevitably plunging the Lin Family into calamity. Ultimately, everything the Lin Family possessed would fall into Liu Ling’s hands.
Her interaction with Liu Ling hadn’t been born from affection. She merely intended to harness his significant fortune temporarily, severing her own Causality, clearing the final thread hindering her Great Dao cultivation.
Now, Liu Ling had been forcibly annihilated, his soul scattered. A clean break.
The debt of Causality binding her was finally severed!
Once enrolled in the academy, recovering her Scattered Immortal magic power and advancing further would be swift.
As for Lin Yuan, even if he joined a Daoist academy… by the time he gained a foothold, she would already be far ahead, leagues beyond him. Their paths would naturally diverge forever.
…
Back at Haitang Manor.
Daoist Yu returned faster than Lin Yuan anticipated. By the afternoon of the very next day, he was back at the manor.
What he brought Lin Yuan, besides the identification certificate signifying his status, was what Lin Yuan had sought all along: the first volume of the Orthodox Profound Gate Method.