The Daoist in charge of guiding them was named Yao Song.
Xu Mu and the man were led by him along a rather secluded path. They passed a disciples' academy where they could see more senior Daoists patiently teaching the students how to control fireballs and lightning.
"Why doesn't the academy have a roof?" Xu Mu asked curiously. He noticed that the ceiling of the disciples' academy was open.
"It's quite normal," Zou Jing said calmly after a moment of silence. "Not just at Tianshi Mountain, but any Daoist temple with some experience wouldn't build a roof for their academy."
"Most of the cultivation techniques we practice are related to lightning and fire, so it's best to do so in an open outdoor space. The roof... perhaps it existed before, but it would definitely have been destroyed."
Xu Mu nodded in realization.
The Daoist named Yao Song walked at the front. He lifted his eyelids and said impatiently,
"Don't talk so much!"
"When you meet the True Person later, you must be cautious with your words and actions."
Xu Mu paused and asked,
"Meet whom?"
Yao Song glared at Xu Mu but did not answer.
Zou Jing's expression became slightly solemn as he said,
"True Person Taiwu."
"He is the Disciplinary Elder of Tianshi Mountain, in charge of the Hall of Enforcement. He is second only to the Mountain Master and the four Grand Elders of the Elder Peaks in terms of authority. Every disciple entering Tianshi Mountain must undergo his scrutiny."
Hearing this, Yao Song also said indifferently,
"Not everyone, though."
"Someone like him, who struggles to even ascend the mountain and ends up disheveled, pale, and out of his wits, will not be personally met by the True Person."
"However, kid, you're not very lucky." Yao Song said, looking at Xu Mu with a hint of mockery.
"Just now, the True Person specifically gave an order that he would personally meet all disciples who present themselves at the mountain within three days to decide their acceptance."
Xu Mu heard this, ignored the mocking expression, and asked with some confusion,
"Is this True Person Taiwu very strict?"
A curve appeared at the corner of Yao Song's mouth as he smiled mockingly, "You'll know when you get there."
...
After circling around a forest filled with dead leaves, beneath which lay hidden formations, Xu Mu and the others suddenly found themselves in front of a wooden building with a pointed roof.
"Come in with me."
After announcing their arrival, Yao Song flicked his Daoist robe sleeves and carefully pushed open the wooden door, which was over three meters high. The world beyond the door was a spacious hall, dark and gloomy, with only a sliver of light penetrating from the corners of the eaves high above.
It seemed as if something unspeakable resided within this room.
Xu Mu made no attempt to see through the shadows.
Zou Jing remained silent, while Yao Song, the guide, slowly closed the door, plunging the space into deeper darkness.
After a long while, a cough echoed through the hall, and then the candlelight inserted into the bronze mirrors around the hall flickered to life, casting wavering light.
High on the dais, between the wide seats, a shadowy figure whose face could not be discerned sat casually, emitting no aura.
Xu Mu felt an inexplicable pressure.
Upon seeing the figure, Zou Jing's face turned pale. Then, he abruptly knelt on one knee, covering his ears as if he had heard something terrifying.
"—Ah!!!"
As time passed, Zou Jing could no longer contain himself and let out a howl. Black mist began to evaporate from his body.
Xu Mu stood to the side, having long since adapted to the oppressive aura. Apart from finding the hall somewhat stern, he had no other reaction.
"You are not suited for cultivation."
From the high seat, True Person Taiwu spoke coldly, looking at Xu Mu.
"You, however, are acceptable. You are not unworthy of being a disciple valued by Jiuyao. It's just a pity you've come too late."
True Person Taiwu spoke with a hint of regret in his cold voice. The True Person who had once valued Zou Jing was named Jiuyao. He was a relatively young True Person of the Fifth Realm, with room for further advancement, and it was not impossible for him to chase after a Half-Step Human King.
Zou Jing originally had the potential to become Jiuyao's direct disciple and inherit his legacy, but unfortunately, he had come too late. In this era of flourishing talents in the cultivation world, a genius like Zou Jing could no longer catch his eye.
The powerful heavenly sounds in his ears vanished. Zou Jing's face was deathly pale. He shook his head and, forcing himself to stand up, cupped his hands in a bow.
"Thank you, True Person, for helping me cleanse my evil thoughts."
True Person Taiwu looked at Zou Jing, not replying, but instead scrutinized him intently, as if trying to discern something from him.
"It's not you."
True Person Taiwu shook his head. The person who had stirred the sea of clouds was not Zou Jing.
"According to the rules, I must ask you some questions." True Person Taiwu paused for a moment and then asked, "Zou Jing, what do you believe is the biggest difference between the Daoist and Buddhist schools? Why did you abandon Daoism to cultivate Buddhism in the first place, and why are you now abandoning Buddhism to cultivate Daoism?"
Upon hearing this question, Zou Jing's expression hardened, and he said in a cold voice,
"Daoism cultivates this life, Buddhism cultivates the next."
"Daoism imparts true words, Buddhism tells stories. Daoism laughs wildly at the world, Daoism revels in it. Buddhism speaks of the sea of suffering, Daoism is..."
"I want to hear your understanding, not someone else's," True Person Taiwu interrupted Zou Jing, his eyes cold.
Buddhism and Daoism were the two largest religions in the world. Although the former had declined comparatively, there were still many devout believers who believed that Buddhism was the ultimate destination for humanity, and Daoism was utter nonsense.
Of course, the opposite was also true.
He had heard the words Zou Jing had spoken.
Therefore, he wanted to hear something different.
"Buddhism is utter nonsense," Zou Jing said after a long silence, his words startling Xu Mu.
True Person Taiwu's dry fingers moved slightly, and he lowered his gaze, saying, "Continue."
Zou Jing cupped his hands, his expression grim, and said,
"I cultivated Buddhism for four years, praying and chanting scriptures day and night. I willingly gave up my Buddhist cultivation to accumulate merit for my son, but in the end, he died beneath a rockslide."
"Buddhist merit does not exist."
"Buddhism is merely a tool used by those so-called virtuous saints to amass wealth and deceive and enslave the populace."
"In times of chaos, no Buddha is seen; in times of prosperity, no Dao is seen. One is hypocritical, the other is righteous. This is my understanding of Dao and Buddha."
After speaking, Zou Jing still bowed.
On the dais, True Person Taiwu was silent for a moment, then said, "Although there are hypocrites in Buddhism, not all of them are such unscrupulous monks."
"In Taihe Temple, there is a shrine called the Tang Shrine. The Buddhist monk enshrined in the Tang Shrine was named Hai, known as Master Hai Tang."
"The number of people he saved, the good deeds he performed, and the merit he accumulated are countless and inexhaustible. Therefore, even after his death, the incense offering to Hai Tang Shrine has not ceased for six hundred years, and several monks in Taihe Temple have attained Golden Bodies."
Zou Jing asked in confusion,
"What does this have to do with our Daoist sect?"
True Person Taiwu:
"It is relevant."
"My ancestor, specifically my great-grandfather, was saved by Monk Hai Tang when he passed through this area during the great flood of Jiangdao."
"Otherwise, he would have died, and I would not be here asking you."
Zou Jing frowned and asked,
"Do you mean that to be accepted into Tianshi Mountain, I must flatter Buddhism or praise that Master Hai Tang?"
True Person Taiwu shook his head, his expression cold.
"I am merely teaching you that Buddhism is not entirely without merit, nor is Daoism a pristine pool."
"In this world, not everything is black and white. Most things are gray, but you only see black and white. Therefore, I cannot accept you into the mountain. Do you understand what I mean?"
Zou Jing was silent for a long time, then said in a hoarse voice, "You mean that even if there is only a one-in-ten-thousand chance of me going berserk, I might cause harm to Tianshi Mountain, so you are unwilling to accept me?"
True Person Taiwu's expression was calm, and he nodded. "Your Dao heart is unstable and has significant issues. It is already remarkable that you have reached this point in your cultivation."
"If you wish to live well, remember not to stir up any more trouble. You don't need to worry about the matters of Daqian Qingquan Sect; Tianshi Mountain will help you resolve them."
Zou Jing fell into silence.
The Daoist Taiwu was unwilling to accept him, yet he was willing to help resolve the troubles he had caused?
"Let alone the fact that you haven't gone berserk, but merely have an unstable Dao heart. Even if you truly went berserk, so what?"
The hall was silent. Xu Mu suddenly turned to Zou Jing and said seriously,
"If you don't even have the will to overcome your inner demons, then what are you cultivating Dao for?"
"Similarly, if Tianshi Mountain doesn't have this kind of spirit, then why would it open its gates to accept disciples?"
Zou Jing's expression was slightly stunned.
True Person Taiwu stared at Xu Mu, his expression turning cold. "How Tianshi Mountain operates is not for an outsider like you, a junior, to comment on."
Xu Mu looked at True Person Taiwu and said earnestly,
"Senior, you are mistaken."
"Firstly, I may not necessarily be your junior."
"According to my understanding, Tianshi Mountain ranks disciples by inheritance, not by age."
"In other words, if my inheritance is older than yours, then you might have to address me as Senior Brother."
"As for the second point, I am not an outsider either, because I will definitely enter Tianshi Mountain. At that time, I will be a person of Tianshi Mountain, and its affairs will naturally be related to me."
"—*Plop*!"
Outside the hall, on the stone steps, the guiding Daoist heard Xu Mu's words and trembled, kneeling on the steps. He forcefully kowtowed to the ground, his face filled with fear.
What was he saying? What was he saying!
Yao Song's pupils shrank to their limit. He swallowed hard, his five fingers digging fiercely into the ground.
He stood at the doorway, and Xu Mu's voice was loud. The hall was not equipped with a barrier, so he could hear everything.
And so, he knelt down.
Because he was afraid.
Afraid that True Person Taiwu would kill him along with Xu Mu.
...
...
"You brat, you're courting death!!!"
At this moment, a hundred horses were stampeding through Yao Song's mind. He deeply regretted bringing Xu Mu up the mountain. He should have just kicked him off the cliff on the grounds of his poor talent, saving himself from being implicated!
The Disciplinary Elder, that was the Disciplinary Elder of Tianshi Mountain! He killed people that even the Sect Master couldn't kill, and punished people the Sect Master dared not punish. In short, the most terrifying person in Tianshi Mountain was not the Sect Master or the Grand Elders, but this Disciplinary Elder.
Because he truly would kill!
Inside the wooden door, True Person Taiwu did not show anger. Instead, he said indifferently, "Firstly, I will not allow you to enter Tianshi Mountain."
"Therefore, you cannot become my Senior Brother."
Xu Mu looked at True Person Taiwu, a slight curve appearing at the corner of his mouth as he asked with a faint smile, "What, are you afraid?"
"But that's true. If I enter Tianshi Mountain and truly become your Senior Brother, you would have no face."
Upon hearing this, a hint of red appeared on True Person Taiwu's icy face, though it was not from happiness but from anger.
"Do you know that in this world, no one has ever dared to use a taunt on me?"
"Therefore, you won't kill me, it wouldn't make sense," Xu Mu said, looking at True Person Taiwu from afar, his expression gradually becoming serious. "Perhaps you should give us both a chance, at least give us an opportunity to prove that I am right."
True Person Taiwu was silent for a moment, then asked in a cold voice, "What if you are wrong?"
Xu Mu did not answer. He simply pointed to the characters "Discipline" within the hall, his meaning very clear.
If I fail, I will accept any punishment.
True Person Taiwu fell silent again.
After a long while, he suddenly let out a laugh.
"The incantation you just heard is called the Great Dao Brahma Sound Mantra. It is hidden within the incense and candles and can expel the yin and murky energy from the body, purifying the sea of consciousness and the body."
"You have too much resentment in your body, which can easily lead to going berserk on the path of cultivation. Take these incense sticks. In the future, if you encounter any difficulties or setbacks in your cultivation, burn them and inhale their scent. Do not force yourself."
True Person Taiwu said this and casually flicked three black and yellow long incense sticks from his sleeve.
Zou Jing dazedly accepted them, then knelt down somewhat excitedly and said,
"Thank you, True Person!"
"No need." True Person Taiwu waved his hand, then looked at Xu Mu with interest and said, "From today onwards, you are an inner disciple of Tianshi Mountain."
Xu Mu was stunned and pointed to himself, asking, "Why not an outer disciple?"
True Person Taiwu looked at Xu Mu and said with a faint smile, "Before you have even entered, you are already about to become my Senior Brother. How could I possibly place you in the outer sect? Of course, you must be placed in the inner sect."
Xu Mu felt somewhat embarrassed upon hearing this.
His words were merely a simple taunt. Without them, True Person Taiwu would not have accepted him, as he had taken too long to ascend the mountain.
As for becoming Senior Brother... that was something he absolutely dared not think of.
"Of course, I believe even the inner sect will not be able to keep you. On the Xuanhuang two lists next month, you will surely have a place. Then you will be taken as a direct disciple by an Elder... that's impossible."
The more True Person Taiwu spoke, the colder his expression became, until finally, he returned to his expressionless state.
"Kid, I won't kill you."
"But don't blame me for not warning you. The competition in the inner sect is far more intense than you can imagine. If your strength is insufficient, it is highly probable that you will die without anyone knowing why."
Xu Mu raised an eyebrow and asked,
"Is this a threat?"
True Person Taiwu shook his head and smiled,
"Just a warning."
Xu Mu nodded and cupped his hands, asking,
"Please rest assured, True Person, I will not die."
"If there is nothing else, we two will... take our leave?"
...
With a creak, the wooden door was pushed open.
Xu Mu and Zou Jing walked out.
Yao Song was still kneeling on the steps, prostrate on the ground. Blood from his forehead was flowing down the steps, and his body was trembling. Several disciples were watching from a distance.
"What happened?"
Xu Mu asked in surprise.
"Your Excellency, don't kill me! It wasn't intentional... it's all my fault for bringing this brat up the mountain. If you want to kill him, you can tear him into a thousand pieces, but this has nothing to do with me..."
At this moment, Yao Song's mind was filled with the iron-fisted methods of the Hall of Enforcement. Hearing the sound of the door opening, he was immediately terrified and began to beg for mercy.
But then, as time passed, Yao Song heard the wooden door close.
His head was not severed.
No familiar screams were heard from inside. Instead, he heard a familiar young voice.
He then mustered his courage and lifted his head.
Their eyes met.
"Hi, what a coincidence."
"I didn't expect you to be here too."
Xu Mu smiled brightly.
...