C13 True Dao Disciple

Upon hearing Yan Fei and Ge Bin's advice, Wu Shanbao changed course and headed in the direction of the True Dao.

Watching Wu Shanbao depart, Ge Bin whispered, "Big brother, why send him to the True Dao? Does the Great Dao not respect you?"

"You're unaware, but our third brother's family calamity has far-reaching implications. It might even involve the higher heavens..."

"Do you mean..."

"Our third brother is no ordinary man! The Great Dao fears the repercussions of getting involved..."

"So that's why no one has dared to shelter him throughout his journey!" Ge Bin finally grasped the truth, nodding as he watched Wu Shanbao walk away, his heart filled with complex emotions.

"Come on! It's time we headed back to Spirit Refining Mountain!"

...

Wu Shanbao serendipitously formed a close bond with Yan Fei, which delighted him immensely.

Yan Fei's magnanimity aside, his skill in manipulating the Heavenly Fortune Formation had earned Wu Shanbao's deep respect. Now that Yan Fei had invited him to join the True Dao, he was all too willing to comply.

Along the way, Wu Shanbao repeatedly opened his fan, hoping to uncover the secret behind the Demonic Beast's retreat, but the Fan Spirit remained elusive.

"I saved Big Brother and Second Brother's lives. Isn't that a good enough deed to awaken you?" Wu Shanbao gazed at the fan for a long while before reluctantly stowing it away with a hint of grievance.

He felt the doll his mother had given him. Taking out the doll, Wu Shanbao admired the wooden figure dressed in an embroidered Yin Yang brocade robe, still exuding an air of grace. Yet, the sword it held seemed to be enveloped in a mysterious energy.

Unfamiliar with the concept of Qi, Wu Shanbao simply thought there was something unusual about the sword blade, perhaps due to his own lack of care. He meticulously cleaned the puppet's surface before putting it away once more.

His mother's voice, instructing him to take good care of the doll, echoed in his mind, stirring a sense of sorrow. The wooden puppet had become Wu Shanbao's final memento of his mother. Unbeknownst to him, his mother was a prodigy of the Sixth Level Heaven who had sealed some of her magical power within the doll, ensuring Wu Shanbao's safety in the Level One Heaven.

As Wu Shanbao faced the onslaught of the Demonic Beast, the sealed magic within the puppet detected the imminent threat, prompting it to unsheathe its sword and drive the creature away. Those present at the time were still reeling from the encounter, unable to discern the truth of the situation. Wu Shanbao himself was under the impression that Fan Spirit had come to his aid, and he silently expressed his gratitude to the spirit.

Having traversed mountains and valleys, Wu Shanbao eventually emerged from the Great Way and approached the fringes of the True Dao. He endeavored to recall any information he had previously heard about the True Dao.

The True Dao places a strong emphasis on physical cultivation, holding the belief that a robust body, free from illness and calamity, is the key to immortality.

Among the True Dao disciples, many were at the Body Refinement Realm. Progression slowed significantly at higher levels, which contributed to the True Dao's waning influence in recent years.

Wu Shanbao's knowledge of the True Dao was somewhat limited.

Upon entering the True Dao territory, Wu Shanbao inquired about the location of the True Dao Sect and proceeded with trepidation toward his destination.

Over the years, the True Dao had been in decline, with once illustrious Daoist temples now deserted, save for two or three Taoist priests who continued to venerate the temple's Sage.

The remaining Taoists had withdrawn to the True Dao Sect—True Dao Mountain—to delve into the Taoist techniques, aspiring to achieve a breakthrough and once again lead the Level One Heaven Taoists.

The True Dao once had a resplendent history. The eldest of the True Dao's Seven Sons was only eighteen, while the youngest was a mere fifteen. All seven had achieved full mastery of the Spirit Refining Stage and ascended to the heavens together, casting a brilliant light in the Level One Heaven that dimmed the splendor of both the Great Dao and the Heavenly Dao.

The ebb and flow of the Heavenly Dao may explain the current slump of the True Dao, but the extent of its decline has been a source of deep sorrow and sighs among the True Dao practitioners.

After entering the True Dao, Wu Shanbao learned of their active recruitment of disciples, welcoming any child over the age of six. Yet, he observed many children defying this path, instead choosing to journey toward the Great Dao's Spirit Refining Mountain.

Wu Shanbao couldn't help but shake his head and sigh. The likelihood of these children advancing to the Spirit Refining Mountain was uncertain, and the costs for merit contributions and apprenticeship fees alone could impoverish their families. Not to mention that only Taoist children with exceptional talents could be accepted into the Inner Sect of the Spirit Refining Mountain.

Such is the heartache of parents everywhere!

On his journey to True Dao Mountain, Wu Shanbao occasionally encountered kind strangers who urged him to join a different sect, suggesting that any other would be preferable to True Dao. Yet, Wu Shanbao always politely declined their advice.

By the seventh day, Wu Shanbao had reached the base of Heavenly Dao Mountain. The grand entrance loomed in the distance, and there he saw other children his age, clad in simple linen, making their way toward the gate.

"It looks like they come from humble backgrounds, unable to afford the steep costs of pursuing the Great Dao," Wu Shanbao mused quietly, watching the children ascend the mountain with a sense of shared experience.

Past the mountain gate lay an expansive square, where several children were practicing their Fist Technique. Wu Shanbao observed that their technique seemed slightly more sophisticated than the Taoist Fist Technique, yet their execution was uneven and clumsy, eliciting headshakes from the Taoist priest teaching them.

In a prominent spot on the square, Wu Shanbao noticed a sign that read "Daoist Child Registration Office." A Taoist priest was seated at a table, busy registering a few children who had come to sign up.

Wu Shanbao joined the queue at the end, bringing the total number of registrants to eight. The children ahead of him were quickly registered and led into the Taoist temple.

When it was finally Wu Shanbao's turn, he felt a surge of nervousness, worried that he might not be accepted by the True Dao Sect.

"What is your name?" the Taoist priest inquired, not looking up.

"Wu Shanbao!"

The priest suddenly looked up, giving Wu Shanbao a quick once-over, which made his heart race even more.

"Where do you live?"

"Near the Mist Clear Monastery in the Southern Mountain Range!" Wu Shanbao replied.

The Taoist priest lifted his gaze once more, this time with a trace of astonishment in his eyes. Wu Shanbao's anxiety deepened.

"Is there anyone else in your family?"

"Both my parents have passed away; I'm all that's left."

The priest rose to his feet, scrutinizing Wu Shanbao for a long moment before speaking, "Please wait here for a bit. I need to use the restroom."

Wu Shanbao watched the young acolytes practicing their Fist Technique helplessly, his heart stirring with emotion. He hadn't expected that signing up for the True Dao would be such an ordeal...

The tragic fate of the Wu Mansion within the Mist Clear Monastery of Level One Heaven, having been plundered by powerful foes, was already common knowledge throughout the realm. The peculiarities of the incident had left many puzzled.

Now, the Taoist priest realized that the orphan of the Wu family was seeking refuge with the True Dao. He dared not make any hasty decisions and excused himself to report to the higher-ups.

Ye Tian, the Sect Master of the True Dao, upon learning of Wu Shanbao's arrival, had already surmised the intentions of the Great Dao in turning him away.

"Wu Shanbao seems to be a problem that the Great Dao is unwilling to touch, but we in the True Dao do not shy away from such challenges. He may possess exceptional talent and could prove to be an asset to our sect," Ye Tian contemplated the situation.

"Proceed, accept Wu Shanbao as a disciple. He will be an Outer Sect disciple for now, and put him in charge of the medicinal herb garden on the back mountain. We will observe his progress," Ye Tian commanded.

"Yes!" The Taoist priest who had been handling the registrations acknowledged the order and turned to head back to the registration area.