Chapter 18 18. Become a Disciple
"Xu Qing, which elder are you going to become your disciple?"

Below the altar.

Fatty Li's face was solemn, but his mouth was busy.

During the interval of the ritual, he took small steps to get closer to Xu Qing.

When Xu Qing heard Fatty Li's question, he pondered and did not answer immediately.

According to convention, some disciples who were brought up the mountain by a wandering Taoist priest, such as Chen Ziming and Jiang Xianyue, whom Xu Qing was more familiar with, would, as expected, worship that Taoist priest as their master.

In addition, those who have connections at home will also contact the corresponding elders early on.

Fatty Li is this kind of person.

People like Xu Qing, who were neither brought to the mountain by the Taoist priest nor had any family connections with certain important figures in the Taoist temple, will choose a master and become his disciple at the ordination ceremony.

Xu Qing had inquired about some of the temple's elders in advance.

In addition, when the elders choose disciples later, the corresponding introductions will naturally be given.

In Xu Qing's opinion, this process is similar to the "Voice of China" in his memory of his previous life.

The disciples who are able to receive ordination at the first ordination ceremony all have very good qualifications, and there will definitely be many elders competing for disciples with good qualifications.

At that time, the master will choose his disciples, and the disciples will choose their masters.

"Let's see first. If I find someone suitable, I will take him as my master. If not, I prefer Brother Chen's master."

He had a very good impression of Senior Brother Chen.

I think a master who can teach Brother Chen to have a personality like that can't be that bad.

"That's right." Fatty Li raised his eyebrows, "With your qualifications, you are indeed qualified to choose."

"Originally, I wanted you to join me as my cheap master's disciple, but now that you have made up your mind, I won't say anything."

Just saying.

On the altar, all the high-ranking elders came on stage together.

One of them was a Taoist priest with a full beard, a strong and tall physique, who looked more like a rough warrior. He glared at Fatty Li fiercely.

Fatty Li's expression froze and he quickly retreated to his original position.

"Next, the master will grant the disciple the crown, clothing and official documents." A high-ranking elder with white hair and beard spoke in a loud voice, presiding over the ceremony.

"All new disciples can choose their own master."

The words fell.

Fatty Li and six other disciples stood in front of their respective masters.

Only Xu Qing and Zhao Yinxi, a man and a woman, were left standing there.

Xu Qing didn't expect that most people had already chosen their own masters.

But it’s right to think about it.

Those who can be brought up the mountain by the wandering Taoist priest must have had their character and aptitude tested in advance. In terms of talent, there must be more outstanding ones.

And people like Fatty Li have a good family background.

If one has a good foundation and may have received private guidance and instruction from some elders, it will be easier for him to succeed than others.

The disciples who take part in the first ordination ceremony of the year are usually mostly these two types of disciples.

In the second and third ordination ceremonies, the protagonists were the new disciples who had stepped up step by step from the disciple-recruiting conference.

"Which elder would you two like to become his disciple?" Elder Jing Yan, who was presiding over the ceremony, looked at the two of them.

Xu Qing and Zhao Yinxi looked at each other and laughed:
"It's all up to the elders."

Elder Jingyan stroked his long beard and laughed, "If I were to make the decision, some elders would not agree."

"Okay, Senior Brother Jingyan, stop talking nonsense."

The bearded Taoist priest that Fatty Li had chosen said in a careless manner, "You two kids, I will get straight to the point and tell you about my situation."

"I, the old Taoist, cultivate the Way of the Military Master. I command the army and punish rebels, and it is my duty to slay demons and monsters, and to kill enemies on the battlefield and protect the country."

"If you join my sect, you should hate evil as much as you hate enemies, punish evildoers, and kill those who are unjust when you see them."

Under the altar.

The disciples had different thoughts.

Fatty Li didn't know whether Xu Qing and Zhao Yinxi were attracted to each other, but when he heard what his master said, he broke out in a cold sweat and felt a chill in his heart.

That’s not right, this is completely different from what we say at home!

Aren’t you going with the Baosheng group?
How come he suddenly became a soldier and had to go to the battlefield to kill the enemy? !

"How is it? Do you like these two kids?" The Taoist with a beard smiled generously.

"You big rough guy," Elder Jing Yan was helpless, but he had no choice but to sigh and say, "What do you two think?"

"Junior Brother Yuyuan's military doctrine is mainly about killing and commanding troops. Apart from that, he can also help you in refining weapons."

Xu Qing was thoughtful.

The Way of the Lord of Soldiers, is this the great way that this elder practices?

It sounds more like the path followed by warriors on the battlefield or untamed fighters.

Yuanfu Temple belongs to the Talisman School, and its main practice should be the way to preserve the spirit and communicate with the heavens, and to preserve life and achieve longevity. Why would it practice this kind of path?
Zhao Yinxi, who was standing by, didn't think so much. She shook her head and said bluntly, "This path is not suitable for me."

"Where's the other baby?" Elder Jing Yan asked. Xu Qing turned his eyes and looked at an old Taoist with a serious face.

Although the saying "appearance reflects the heart" is inevitably biased, the old Taoist in front of him did give Xu Qing a sense of fairness and strictness.

That was Chen Jingxin's master, Elder Qingzheng, who was from the same "Qing" generation as Sect Leader Qingxu and Taoist Master Qingning.

Elder Qingzheng met Xu Qing's gaze.

"I am the elder of the Discipline Hall. I have heard from Jingxin that you are indeed a good candidate, but my path may not be suitable for you."

Elder Qingzheng looked at Zhao Yinxi:

"It is you, a girl, with a pure mind and a personality that is most suitable to be my disciple."

"Hey, hey, hey, old man, what do you mean by the most suitable person to be your disciple?" A female high-ranking elder nearby became unhappy when she heard this.

She curled her lips, looking unhappy, and then forced a sincere smile at Zhao Yinxi:

"Girl, my name is Qiu Muxue. Like this old man, I am also a senior elder in the temple."

"That old man follows the precepts and is very old-fashioned. Be careful not to do something wrong or you will be scolded."

"Besides, those who discipline others must first discipline themselves. The various rules in the discipline are very complicated. If you make a mistake by mistake, your art will inevitably be ruined."

"So there's no point in practicing those damn precepts!"

Elder Qingzheng puffed his beard and glared: "Qiu Muxue, this is the ordination ceremony, how can you be so rude."

Qiu Muxue rolled her eyes: "I know, I know."

He turned around and said to Zhao Yinxi as if nothing had happened:

"Look, how boring it is, repairing a bird's egg!"

"I am different."

"I follow the path of destroying evil. If anything goes wrong, I will destroy it with my own method."

"You have a pure mind, so you must be troubled by the ways of the world. Come to me and I will teach you how to deal with these annoying things."

The other elders smiled helplessly and angrily. In such a solemn occasion as the ordination ceremony, Qiu Muxue was still as careless as ever.

However, as the words fell.

Xu Qing clearly saw that when Elder Qiu Muxue said the last sentence, Zhao Yinxi's eyes lit up.

The result was not surprising.

In the end, Zhao Yinxi chose the female elder, Qiu Muxue, without hesitation.

Elder Qingzheng and the bearded Taoist didn't care. It was the new disciples' freedom to choose who to take as their master.

Moreover, fate and Dharma cannot be forced.

Right now, Xu Qing is the only one left at the altar who has not chosen a teacher.

Everyone's eyes turned to Xu Qing.

Xu Qing felt the attention coming from all sides and was under a lot of pressure, but he didn't dare to make a decision easily.

The path of the master of soldiers, the path of precepts, and the path of destroying evil, it seems that each of these elders is walking a different path.

If you choose to be his disciple, then the path you will most likely take in the future will be the corresponding path.

Think of this.

Xu Qing glanced at the elders on the altar and mustered up the courage to say, "Disciple dares to listen to what the other elders have to say."

Hear the words.

The elders smiled at each other.

The elders were obviously very tolerant of disciples with outstanding talents.

After all, this is a top-notch character, one in ten thousand, and only one example appears in dozens or even hundreds of years.

A young-looking elder laughed out loud, his voice gentle:

"I follow the path of controlling spirits. Mountain spirits, water spirits, wood monsters, fire demons, ghosts and monsters all obey my orders and are at my disposal."

After that, another elder with white hair and youthful face continued:
"I follow the path of preserving life. I am not very good at fighting and refining weapons, but I am good at refining medicine and medicine, and my life span is long, far better than that of the cultivators at the same level."

"If you become my disciple, I will provide you with all kinds of elixirs needed for cultivation, regardless of other things."

Fatty Li was in tears.

This is the path he wants to choose!

What’s the point of fighting and killing? The most important thing is to preserve your life and live longer!
And there are enough pills!
Fatty Li secretly glanced at the bearded Taoist priest on the altar, thinking that he would not be discovered if he secretly moved to the elder who practiced the Baosheng Dao at this time.

But, will he be beaten to death afterwards?
My cheap master looks tall and strong, and he practices the Way of the Lord of Soldiers, a path that speaks of great killing power. He should be very powerful in martial arts.

After thinking about it, Fatty Li dared not move for the sake of his own life.

Listening to the elders' introductions of themselves, Xu Qing became conflicted. Each path had its own advantages, and it was difficult to choose.

Just when Xu Qing was struggling over who to choose as his master and which path to take.

No one thought of it.

The current abbot, Taoist Qingxu, who usually acts as a mascot at the ordination ceremony, lowered his eyes to look at Xu Qing and suddenly said:

"Would you like to sit under me?"

(End of this chapter)