349 The Little Celestial Master Enters Heavenly Revelations
"Vocalising Over a Thousand Miles technique." The young scholar was obviously Li Fansong who had left Qingcheng Mountain to travel. He smiled and said, "The person speaking must be the most eminent Daoist under Heaven, the most famous Beili State Preceptor, Qi Tianchen?"
"Great disrespect." The Daoist child, Fei Xuan, glared coldly at his own little martial uncle, then he bowed respectfully facing the front. "This disciple, Fei Xuan, has come from Qingcheng Mountain to pay his respects to the State Preceptor."
"The most eminent Daoist under Heaven should be your Qingcheng Mountain. You are true masters of Daoism. I’m just a secular old Daoist." The kind voice held a tinge of smile.
Li Fansong was puzzled. "The State Preceptor is using the Vocalising Over a Thousand Miles technique but we’re just talking normally. How can he hear us?"
"The State Preceptor’s heart is opened to all Heaven and Earth, and he can perceive everything. When necessary, he can even form an array over a thousand miles. Listening to a few words from you two is nothing to him." Confucian Sword Immortal Xie Xuan chuckled as he spoke, "State Preceptor, please lead the way."
"Welcome."
"What’s this?" Fei Xuan only felt a flutter, and a white paper butterfly appeared in front of him. It flapped its wings and flew around them, looking like it was really alive. The paper butterfly made a full circle around them then flew onwards ahead of them. Fei Xuan hurried to catch up, pulling the horses along.
"This martial arts is really amazing," Li Fansong exclaimed.
"This is not martial arts." Fei Xuan hurried his steps to follow the paper butterfly. "This is the Great Dragon and Elephant Strength!"
The three of them followed the paper butterfly for only a quarter of an hour, and they saw a huge mansion up ahead. The plaque on the mansion was large and magnificent — Directorate of Astronomy. The paper butterfly sped up and flew ahead before it was caught by a little hand. The paper butterfly retracted its wings and lay quietly in the person’s hand. The person kept the butterfly in his clothes and looked up at the visitors.
"This is... the State Preceptor? Is this reverse aging?" Li Fansong exclaimed in shock as he looked at the child who had very odd violet pupils in his eyes.
"Were you the one using the Great Dragon and Elephant Strength to bring the butterfly here?" Fei Xuan asked.
Zitong nodded. "The State Preceptor has already prepared tea in the main hall and is waiting. He sent me here to receive everyone."
"Although the State Preceptor has a youthful appearance, it’s not so exaggerated that he’s a child. Let’s go in." Xie Xuan dismounted from his horse and walked forward. He lowered his head to meet Zitong’s strange pair of eyes, before he reached out a hand and rubbed Zitong’s head, sighing softly.
Although the sigh was very soft, Zitong heard it, and he pouted. "Why do you adults all react like this when you see me?"
Xie Xuan was taken aback for a moment, then he nodded and smiled. "A worthy one."
Zitong led the way and brought the visitors into the main hall. Xie Xuan looked around openly and observed, "It's certainly a lot more grandiose than before. All these years, the State Preceptor must have expanded the Directorate of Astronomy."
"After so many years, the constellations have shifted and the Sky Observatory had to shift its position too. Therefore, His Majesty approved a new mansion. But, I didn’t expect His Majesty’s esteemed grace to bestow three times the plan I had submitted." The voice came from the main hall. "This old Daoist priest was also helpless, ah."
"You’re not a Buddhist sect, so you don’t have to practice austerity. Rather, you emphasise freedom. Having a large mansion to watch the stars comfortably is nice too." Xie Xuan pointed to a tall tower. "Shall we enjoy a drink there tonight?"
"As Mister Chancellor wishes." Although the two of them were still some distance apart, they exchanged words freely as if there were no obstacles between them.
Very soon, the group stepped into the main hall. Qi Tianchen, dressed in his purple Daoist robes of a celestial master, stood there with a white horsetail whisk in his hand. Although his beard and hair were white, his face was like a jade crown, exuding an aura of an immortal.
"He’s even more like an immortal than shifu," Li Fansong whispered to Fei Xuan.
Fei Xuan nodded. "The gap is huge."
"State Preceptor." Xie Xuan bowed with extreme respect.
"Mister Chancellor." Qi Tianchen flicked his whisk and returned a bow.
"I haven’t been a Mister Chancellor in a long time. Now, I’m just a scholar in the wild." Xie Xuan smiled.
"That’s true, Mister Xie." Qi Tianchen scratched Zitong's head. "Did you pay your respects to Mister Xie?"
Zitong pouted reluctantly. "My respects to Mister."
"These two must be the two disciples of Sectmaster Zhao Yuzhen of Qingcheng Mountain." Qi Tianchen looked behind Xie Xuan. "Li Fansong whom he imparted his Way of the sword, and Fei Xuan whom he imparted his Daoism arts?"
Li Fansong hurriedly cupped his fist and said, "This one is Li Fansong, who trained in sword arts under Sectmaster Zhao Yuzhen. Now I have left Qingcheng Mountain and is training under Confucian Sword Immortal Xie Xuan."
"Two consummate sword immortals to impart you with their sword arts. You have an excellent fate." Qi Tianchen nodded.
"This disciple is Fei Xuan, my shifu has long passed away and I’ve been learning Daoism arts under shizu Zhao Yuzhen since young. On the order of my late master, I have come to pay respects at the Directorate of Astronomy," Fei Xuan replied politely.
"Your shifu asked you to come to the Directorate of Astronomy, but did he say why?" Qi Tianchen asked.
Fei Xuan was taken aback, then he looked at Li Fansong, who was also stunned.
Written on their map was to depart from Qingcheng Mountain and return to Qingcheng Mountain. All wonders under Heaven were theirs to view and learn from. They must visit Heavenly Revelations and pay respect at the Directorate of Astronomy. But, the map did not say what exactly they were supposed to do at the Directorate of Astronomy.
Fei Xuan wiped the sweat that had beaded on his forehead. "Probably to pay a visit… listen to a few words from the State Preceptor, and discuss Daoism?"
"Hahahahaha." Qi Tianchen laughed loudly and said, "You come from the true founder of Daoism, where else should you go to listen to Daoism? It’s alright if you don’t know. This old Daoist knows. Zitong, don’t be reluctant to hand it over. Take it out quickly."
Zitong reluctantly walked into a side hall, took out a package, and handed it to Fei Xuan. "For you?"
"What is this?" Fei Xuan was puzzled.
"It’s something good. Something that all cultivators of Daoism under Heaven wants." Qi Tianchen stepped forward, took it over and waved his hand. The package opened up and the item that fell into Qi Tianchen’s arms was a long robe.
It was a purple robe decorated full of auspicious clouds, and seemed to be shining with a faint light.
The purple Daoist robes could only be worn by celestial masters recognised by the Directorate of Astronomy. And the celestial master position was one that all cultivators of Daoism under Heaven hoped to achieve but could not come close. Even within the Directorate of Astronomy, which was considered esteemed in Daoism, there were only five celestial masters. Also, each of the celestial masters had been cultivating Daoism for decades!
But this purple robe was surprisingly small, only big enough for a child to wear.
Fei Xuan swallowed nervously. "This… this is for me."
"You will come and stay at the Directorate of Astronomy for six years. After that, you will leave Heavenly Revelations and return to Qingcheng Mountain. When the time comes, you will be the next Sectmaster of Qingcheng Mountain, and become the true head of Daoism under Heaven." Qi Tianchen laughed and added, "During this period, please wear this robe, Celestial Master Fei Xuan."
"Celestial master… such a young celestial master. Fei Xuan, you’re amazing." Li Fansong rubbed Fei Xuan's head.
Qi Tianchen flicked his whisk and slapped Li Fansong's hand away. "The crown of an immortal must not be touched."
Fei Xuan knelt on the ground and raised his hands above his head. "Thank you, State Preceptor."
Qi Tianchen put the clothes into Fei Xuan's hands. "You must not let down your shizu's expectations."