Chapter 18 Transmission

Reunited after a long separation, returning once again to the Maoshan Sect, Jiang Chen was surprised to feel a sense of peace.

Upon arriving in the Tang Dynasty, he had been brought directly to Maoshan by his Senior Brother, Li Hanguang. Maoshan could be considered Jiang Chen's anchor in the Tang Dynasty; it was the place he was most familiar with and felt closest to.

"Senior Brother." "Junior Martial Uncle." "Junior Martial Uncle." Along the way, people kept bowing and saluting the two of them.

At this moment, a figure standing with the presence of a deep pool and a towering mountain stood before them.

Xue Xichang, who had been full of vigor just a moment ago, instantly wilted like an eggplant hit by frost: "Senior Brother."

Seeing that Li Hanguang's expression was off, Jiang Chen also followed suit and called out: "Senior Brother."

Li Hanguang looked at Xue Xichang with an unkind expression: "Simply outrageous!"

Xue Xichang shrank his neck again.

Seeing this situation, Jiang Chen realized it wasn't directed at him and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh, Third Senior Brother, better you than me, you'll have to fend for yourself!"

"The day for Junior Brother's altar opening and Talisman bestowal is imminent, yet you dared to take Junior Brother down the mountain! If anything untoward were to happen, could you take responsibility for it!"

Xue Xichang knew he was in the wrong and stammered: "I have my own judgment, Senior Brother. Besides, it was Second Senior Brother who told me to take Junior Brother down the mountain!"

Ye Fashan, who was low-key and completely unnoticeable as he passed by, was stunned.

Li Hanguang's anger remained unabated: "We are currently in an era of great contention, with all kinds of demons and monsters emerging one after another. Even the Four Evils are showing signs of reappearing in the world. You all must redouble your efforts to Cultivate and not be negligent."

Jiang Chen, Xue Xichang, and the passing Ye Fashan all said in unison: "Yes!"

Only then did Li Hanguang look at Jiang Chen, his previously ferocious expression suddenly becoming kind.

"Junior Brother, come with me. Revered Master wants to see you."

Upon hearing that Revered Master wanted to see him, Jiang Chen immediately became a bit nervous.

The reason why the Maoshan Sect Leader, Grand Master Sima Chengzhen, could become the unspoken State Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty...

...was naturally because his strength was the greatest in the Mysterious Sect! He had already reached the pinnacle of the 7th stage of Cultivation, the Primordial Spirit Realm!

This Realm was already capable of perceiving the truth of the world and understanding the principles of Karma.

Of course, this was what the books said; whether it was true or not, Jiang Chen was not sure.

However, Jiang Chen was still very afraid that his background and Karma would be seen through at a glance by this convenient Revered Master.

He walked behind Li Hanguang, arriving at the side hall of the palace he had visited last time.

At this moment, a person was already sitting upright on a meditation cushion, facing the statue of the Three Pure Ones Ancestral Master.

This person was dressed in a cloud-patterned Daoist robe, and the lotus crown on his head shimmered brilliantly under the candlelight.

Seeing that Grand Master Sima Chengzhen had come out of seclusion, Li Hanguang was very pleasantly surprised and saluted: "Congratulations, Revered Master, the Tao of Forgetting Form and Spirit has reached a higher level!"

The Daoist, with his back to Jiang Chen, sighed softly, and an ethereal voice drifted out.

"The Primordial Spirit Great Dao is unfathomably profound. Even I find it difficult to fully grasp its true meaning. I could only blaze a new trail, stealing the opportunity of Yin and Yang, reversing the gate of life and death. After more than thirty years, I have finally succeeded in cultivating the second layer of the Tao of Forgetting Form and Spirit."

Jiang Chen did not understand what they were talking about and could only stand blankly to the side.

"Jiang Chen."

When he heard Grand Master Sima Chengzhen call his name, Jiang Chen felt tense and bowed: "Disciple is here."

"I accepted you as a Disciple, and you must have many questions in your heart. Actually, there is no need for that; I was just suddenly struck by a whim."

Grand Master Sima Chengzhen suddenly explained this to Jiang Chen, which left Jiang Chen both confused and a bit surprised.

"I have calculated that three days from now is an auspicious day. At that time, I will open the altar to perform the transmission and Talisman bestowal for you."

Jiang Chen's spirits lifted; he had finally waited for this day.

Although even without the transmission and Talisman bestowal, it would not affect Jiang Chen's Cultivation, but without it, there were many Talismans and incantations that Jiang Chen would be unable to use.

For his strength, this was a significant shackle.

However, immediately after, Grand Master Sima Chengzhen added a reminder: "You have two choices for your Talisman bestowal. The first is for me to bestow the Talisman upon you, and the second is for you to personally perceive the spiritual essence left behind by the Ancestral Masters to receive the Talisman."

"If I bestow the Talisman upon you, it will certainly be the initial 'Taishang Sanwu Dugong Scripture Register'. This is generally the Talisman bestowed upon Disciples who have just entered the Daoist gate."

"But if you choose to perceive the Ancestral Master's Dao charm to receive the Talisman, it is unknown what grade of Talisman you will be able to perceive. What is your choice?"

Li Hanguang was shocked upon hearing this: "Revered Master?"

If one were to perceive the Ancestral Master's Dao charm to receive the Talisman, there was a very high probability of receiving nothing, and it might even incur the displeasure of the Ancestral Masters, forever barring one from the Daoist gate thereafter.

Back then, Li Hanguang had also started receiving Talismans from the 'Taishang Sanwu Dugong Scripture Register' and had ascended step by step.

Now that Revered Master was letting Junior Brother make a choice, he must very much hope that Junior Brother would choose the second method of Talisman bestowal.

Li Hanguang did not understand how, after Revered Master had been in seclusion for decades, he had become senile upon coming out.

Before Grand Master Sima Chengzhen could speak, Jiang Chen interrupted Li Hanguang.

"Senior Brother, say no more. Since Revered Master is letting me choose, there must be a deeper meaning behind it."

Although Jiang Chen did not know the consequences of failing the Talisman bestowal, seeing Li Hanguang's expression, he knew that the second method was definitely risky.

However, at the same time, the second method sounded like, although the lower limit was low, the upper limit was extremely high.

Perceiving the Ancestral Master's Dao charm to receive the Talisman.

If one were to perceive the Dao charm of the Three Pure Ones, wouldn't that be incredible?

However, Jiang Chen was just thinking about it. Since Grand Master Sima Chengzhen proposed two methods, he must be hoping that he would choose the second one.

Jiang Chen did not want to disappoint Revered Master upon their first meeting, so he said firmly: "Revered Master, I choose the second method of Talisman bestowal. I want to personally perceive the Ancestral Master's Dao charm."

Li Hanguang looked devastated: "Junior Brother, Revered Master is confused, why are you following suit!"

Grand Master Sima Chengzhen ignored Li Hanguang and just looked at Jiang Chen with satisfaction, saying: "Good!"

Three days later, at the Shangqing Sect Altar Hall. This hall was generally not opened unless it was for the transmission and Talisman bestowal of direct Disciples.

However, today, the hall doors were wide open. Inside the hall, at the highest position, was the golden statue of the Three Pure Ones Ancestral Master, and below them were the Four Sovereigns.

At the very bottom were the spirit tablets of the successive Ancestral Masters of the Shangqing Sect, densely arranged.

Additionally, there were densely packed Talismans arranged all around, but Jiang Chen did not know almost any of them.

This Talisman bestowal ceremony was not as grand as usual, nor were members of other Daoist Schools invited to observe the ceremony, and no news leaked out.

This instead attracted the attention of the Imperial family and the major Schools.

Because such an unusual move by the Shangqing Sect only indicated something extraordinary.

Outside the Shangqing Sect Altar Hall today, there were not many people.

Only some of the older generation of the Shangqing Sect and some Disciples.

Because this Talisman bestowal was for Jiang Chen to personally perceive the Ancestral Master's Dao charm to receive the Talisman, Grand Master Sima Chengzhen served as the Transmission Dharma Revered Master and the Altar Protector Dharma Revered Master.

The preliminary rituals were not simple, but the Maoshan Sect kept everything simple this time, so it ended in just half a day.

Soon, it would be time for Jiang Chen's transmission and Talisman bestowal.

Grand Master Sima Chengzhen, in a purple Daoist robe, stood in the center of the hall, with a Cauldron burning with incense before him.

He shook the Imperial Bell, lit incense and candles, presented the memorial Talisman, and began to chant a scripture.

As Grand Master Sima Chengzhen chanted, individual Yunji characters began to appear in the Void Realm, eventually forming a memorial to be presented to the Ancestral Masters.

"With the Shangqing Sect Altar as witness, and the successive Ancestral Masters of Maoshan above, today, there is Jiang Chen, a person from Jurong County, who today burns incense to make offerings to the Three Pure Ones Supreme Saints, the Ten Extremes High Truths, the Jade Emperor Great Heavenly Emperor..."

Grand Master Sima Chengzhen listed the Daoist True Saints one by one, without omitting a single one.

"I exhaust my burning of incense and cultivation to report to the True Saints."

"Disciple Sima Chengzhen, having received the 'Shangqing Dadong Scripture Register', holding the Nine Heavens Golden Palace Command to judge the Taixuan Capital Province and concurrent affairs of the internal and external ministries..."

"...perform the transmission and vow for Jiang Chen from Jurong County. All the various Talismans and Dharma incantations of the Shangqing Sect are hereby opened for Jiang Chen!"