My Lady Always Lacks Ambition
Chapter 325 - 323: Do You Think I Still Have a Chance?

Chapter 325: Chapter 323: Do You Think I Still Have a Chance?

Teng Tianhan was busy with official matters and could not stay in Li City for long. Seeing how much he wanted to witness his son’s apprenticeship ceremony, Qin Liuxi did not delay and held the ceremony the next day.

The apprenticeship ceremony, while solemn, was not the grandest of affairs, yet it was not to be taken lightly either; it took place in the main hall, in front of the Grandmaster’s golden statue.

Although Qin Liuxi was physically disabled, she donned her ceremonial vestment robe, a purple robe and magical crown, worn only for significant events. With every move, there seemed to be golden light flowing around her.

Teng Tianhan and Wang Zheng, among others, watched intently, unaccustomed to her dressing so formally in contrast to her usual simple green robe.

Yet, in her ceremonial attire, she carried herself with an untouchable aura of a superior, commanding respect and courting no sacrilege.

Not only Teng Tianhan and the rest, but also the temple brothers like Wuwei and others, felt a particular sense of pride and reverence when they saw Qin Liuxi dressed so solemnly. It was as if their wayward little ancestor had suddenly become exceptionally noble and proud.

She was their Qingping Temple’s Junior Temple Master, the future heir.

The Taoists present couldn’t help but feel joy.

In front of the Grandmaster’s altar, incense was lit and the altar was established, with Wuwei by the side assisting with the ritual, chanting the hymns, performing the ceremony.

"The disciple kneels and recites the letter of sincere apprenticeship."

Teng Zhao knelt on the cushion, wearing a small green robe, his hair cascading behind him, hands holding the letter of apprenticeship he penned himself, reciting aloud, "Today, disciple Teng Zhao sincerely requests to be taken into the master’s fold..."

Teng Tianhan’s eyes brimmed with tears, having never heard his son read more than twenty words at once, his speech even to his own father always brief, as if any more words would burden him.

Now, the first time he heard him recite at length, it was the apprenticeship letter.

Mr. Qi, who came alongside him, also had tears in his eyes, yet was filled with relief.

The child was not slow-witted; he just had not met the right person.

As Teng Zhao finished reading the apprenticeship letter and lifted it above his head, Qin Liuxi took it from him.

Wang Chuan, kneeling beside Teng Zhao, did the same. She was young, had not learned much about characters before, and the apprenticeship letter was written for her by Teng Zhao. All she could do was to sincerely express her desire to enter the master’s fold, to follow Qin Liuxi as her master, to serve her till the end of days, and to never betray the master’s teachings.

Qin Liuxi also took her apprenticeship letter.

She pinched three sticks of incense, held them horizontally, offered the incense to invite the divine, and then cast divination with three ancient-looking Copper Coins. f|re(e)web.n\ovel. (c)o.m

The divination revealed great fortune; afterward, the petition was presented, and with Wuwei leading two Daoist boys, incense was burned, and prayers were chanted, as holy water was used for purification.

The Magic Bell rang, producing a sound clear and crisp, yet solemn and grave, shaking the listener’s soul, dispersing all negativity within.

With her eyes slightly closed, Qin Liuxi stepped the Gang Step, silently reciting the petition, reporting to the heavens above.

She, Qin Liuxi, was taking disciples.

Wang Zheng held his breath as he watched Qin Liuxi’s feet perform the Gang Step; despite the disarray and lag due to her limp, it was even more beautiful and sacred than many dances, captivating and moving to the soul.

After reporting to the heavens, the ritual continued, the petition was presented in front of the Grandmaster’s statue, followed by head-kneeling vows, and the sharing of a bowl of water between the teacher and the two disciples, signifying the transmission and the intertwining of destinies.

Once the bowl of water was finished, Qing Yuan was about to step forward, only to see Qin Liuxi squatting in front of the two young disciples, placing her hands upon their foreheads, her eyes tightly closed, calm and serene.

Qing Yuan’s expression changed, and he turned to Master Chi Yuan, "Master, elder brother... she..."

Master Chi Yuan was also surprised, but then he relaxed, smiled, and said, "Let her be."

Teng Tianhan, looking at the shocked expressions of the two, felt a stir in his heart and asked Qing Yuan in a low voice, "Daoist, what does this mean?"

Qing Yuan looked over, his gaze filled with a good deal of envy and admiration, and said, "The young master nephew is truly blessed."

Teng Tianhan’s brows twitched slightly as he quietly waited for him to continue speaking.

Qing Yuan whispered, "The master is bestowing upon them a wisp of the Power of Faith, which is also Merit Power. This is just like the Buddhist consecration. Those who are consecrated are blessed by the great master, purified of karmic retribution, and shown compassion and protection by all Buddhas. It is the same with the gifting of Merit Power by the master. By blessing them, those who receive the Power of Faith will find their cultivation twice as effective and gain a deeper understanding of the Dao. And having Merit Power is akin to having an Amulet; evil dares not approach, and it is beneficial for one’s life expectancy."

Teng Tianhan didn’t expect Qin Liuxi to be so generous and asked, "Would the master suffer any loss?"

Qing Yuan smiled and said, "Merit and cultivation are accumulated bit by bit by performing good deeds, and they are extremely important to us on the Buddhist Path. However, it is not endless; giving some here and there will deplete it. Only for matters or people we deeply care about, would we willingly sacrifice this merit."

He looked at Qin Liuxi and said, "You ask if there is a loss; just look at the master’s complexion to know."

Teng Tianhan hurriedly looked over and saw that Qin Liuxi’s face had indeed turned slightly pale, and he couldn’t help but be deeply moved.

He thought that Qin Liuxi taking disciples was a spontaneous decision, yet he hadn’t expected it to be taken so seriously, even to the point of transmitting Merit Power, while he, as a father, what had he given his child?

Teng Tianhan felt somewhat embarrassed. free.web(n)ove(l)(.)c(o)m

Wang Zheng, on the other hand, was both envious and jealous, squeezing up to Master Chi Yuan and revealing an unprecedented level of flattery, "Temple Master, regarding taking disciples and such, do you think there’s still a chance for me?"

Qing Yuan: "..."

Teng Tianhan: "!"

Master Chi Yuan was also stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "I no longer take disciples, and you, young master, have a broader path to follow, not staying within the Mystic Sect."

Wang Zheng couldn’t help feeling disappointed upon hearing this.

"Of course."

Wang Zheng then looked up at him with surprise and delight.

Master Chi Yuan stroked his beard and said, "Our Qingping Temple has never ceased welcoming believers. As long as the young master is sincere, he can also become a believer of Qingping Temple, serving as a believer of the Taoist Sect in secular society, and practice cultivation at home whilst also enjoying the protection of the Grandmaster."

"I am willing," said Wang Zheng immediately.

He had already decided to invite a statue of the Grandmaster from Qingping Temple to enshrine and further cultivate both his moral character and his spirit.

Master Chi Yuan’s face was full of smiles, "Blessings to the Infinite Heavenly Venerate, the Grandmaster will bless you."

Meanwhile, on Qin Liuxi’s side, the transmission of the Power of Faith was already complete. Her face was slightly pale, but her spirit did not seem downhearted. She simply smiled and tidied Teng Zhao’s hair, wrapping it with a crown, and said, "From today onwards, you are the fifth generation Directly Inheriting Disciple of Qingping Temple. Your master bestows upon you the Daoist name Xuan Yi."

Teng Zhao knelt down, "Xuan Yi pays respect to master."

Qin Liuxi then tidied Wang Chuan’s hair, finalizing her identity, and bestowed upon her the Daoist name Xuanxin.

"Upon joining my sect, you must respect your teacher and honor the Dao; love your fellow disciples; abide by our sect’s rules; if rules are broken, light offenses will be punished while serious ones will entail the stripping of your cultivation and expulsion from the sect. When walking in the secular world, you must guard the Dao and your heart, slaying evil and upholding the Righteous Path, and not commit evil even if it seems minor, nor neglect good deeds for being too small," Qin Liuxi sternly instructed the two while gazing at them, "Those who betray my sect, no matter the distance, will be executed."

Teng Zhao and Wang Chuan prostrated themselves on the ground, "Your disciples will heed master’s teachings."

"Go pay your respects to your Grandmasters and fellow seniors," said Qin Liuxi, letting the two of them go forward to offer their salutations.

She stood up from the ground, her body swaying slightly, yet quickly steadied herself and looked up at the Grandmaster, exhaling a long breath.