Chapter 43 Summoning the Gods

Wang Feiyin glanced at them and nodded in satisfaction, instructing them to place all the offerings on the table. "Go and pick some more of the best apricots and pastries. The Founding Patriarchs of our Sanqing Temple are exceptionally benevolent; as long as we prepare things with sincere devotion, they will be very pleased."

Pan Yun diligently set to work, arranging the finest apricots and pastries on the prettiest plates the Taoist temple had to offer, and then softly asked, "Eldest Senior Brother, who exactly are 'they'?"

Wang Feiyin had already finished applying the talismans, with another stack resting on the table. Hearing this, he glanced at Pan Yun and replied, "Fifth Junior Sister, Lord Pan is our master, but our abilities are all inherited from Ge Xiengong. Therefore, both of them are our Founding Patriarchs."

Pan Yun suddenly understood. No wonder Ge Hong's stone statue and spirit tablet were enshrined with the utmost reverence in the main hall—so Ge Hong was the one who had truly imparted the Dao?

Wang Feiyin signaled for Pan Yun and the others to step aside. Holding a precious sword, he performed the paces of Yu (the step of the Dipper), chanted softly, and beseeched the two Founding Patriarchs to descend...

Pan Yun watched with curiosity. In her previous life, rituals like *zhaijiao* were rarely performed because, following the resurgence of spiritual energy, humans had acquired different powers, and everyone's goal was to cultivate themselves and strive to become deities themselves.

The ancient gods were rarely mentioned anymore; it seemed as though they had automatically vanished from human memory.

Over hundreds of years, no divine manifestations suggested that ancient gods still existed in the world, leading humanity to tacitly assume that immortals were gone.

Yet the Heavenly Dao pitied them, allowing this generation to begin cultivation. Since there were no gods, they could forge their own.

This realization and objective had been instilled in Pan Yun ever since she began to understand the world, so she had never felt anything was amiss.

It was not until this moment, watching the rhythm surrounding Wang Feiyin stir the heaven and earth's spiritual energy—as an invisible, intangible, yet profoundly mystical aura descended—that she began to doubt everything from her past life. If immortals were unseen, did that mean immortals truly did not exist?

Had divine power truly vanished?

Wang Feiyin turned back, sheathing his sword upright in front of his eyes. He opened his eyes wide with a fierce glare directed straight ahead, then sat cross-legged upon the rush mat, slowly closing his eyes.

A gentle breeze swept past. The cultivation technique within Pan Yun's body began to circulate involuntarily, gathering spiritual energy into her eyes. Through her Heavenly Eyes, everything around her appeared as if shrouded in mist. A shadowy figure emerged at the horizon, taking a single step to arrive at the edge of the cliff. The entity cast a knowing, half-smiling glance at her, took another step, and vanished into Wang Feiyin's body, as if merging completely within him...

Pan Yun: ...Oh my heavens, that really was her master!

Eldest Senior Brother could actually summon their master!

Ah, no wait, immortals truly existed in this world!

Pan Yun quietly and fiercely pinched her own thigh, the pain making her shiver. It was real, after all!

She had always adhered to the principle of "better to be superstitious than offend the gods" when facing all the anomalies she encountered, and she never expected her approach to hit the mark entirely.

Pan Yun carefully reviewed her behavior over the past two days, confirming that she had not offended her venerable master, and finally relaxed.

With this relief, she noticed that another figure—or rather, another god—was hurrying toward this place from the horizon.

The shadowy figure drew closer and closer: an elderly Daoist priest clad in wide-sleeved robes with a kind and gentle expression.

He drifted leisurely to the edge of the cliff, stopping at a distance, and watched Eldest Senior Brother and the assembled group with a warm smile.

His gaze swept over the disciples and grand-disciples, pausing when it met Pan Yun's curious stare. He blinked slightly in surprise and looked back with equal curiosity.

Could this child actually see him?

He was just about to drift closer for a better look when Wang Feiyin opened his eyes. The warrior-like figure stepped out from his body, glanced once more at Pan Yun, and then paused to look at the other phantom.

The shadowy figure bowed repeatedly to him, barely managing a slight nod toward Wang Feiyin before scooping up a portion of the food-essence from the table and departing. The remaining food-essence drifted toward the martial spirit.

Pan Yun watched as the two phantoms vanished, and the moment she withdrew her gaze, she locked eyes with a complex expression from Wang Feiyin.

Their eyes met. Not only was his gaze complex, but his facial expression was also intricate, looking at Pan Yun with a look that defied simple description.

It made Pan Yun's heart leap into her throat. What was this supposed to mean?

Wang Feiyin stood up, respectfully lit incense and candles for the two Founding Patriarchs anew, and after paying his respects, turned to Pan Yun and said, "Pack your things. I'll take you down the mountain shortly."

Pan Yun nodded dazedly, her thoughts spinning in a thousand directions, but ultimately decided to obey quietly.

Wang Feiyin returned to his room to change out of his ritual robes into a light Taoist gown, and packed some incense and candles into a basket.

Pan Yun was already waiting outside the main hall holding her black cat.

Miaohe was chattering away, expressing her envy. "I haven't been down the mountain in almost half a year. If you happen to see Wang Xiaojing down there, please thank him for me and tell me his apricots are exceptionally delicious..."

Miaozhen waited until Miaohe finished before saying, "Don't worry."

Hearing this, Pan Yun looked up at her, smiled, and said, "I'm not worried. Why would Junior Niece say such a thing?"

Miaozhen replied, "You are clearly worried right now. Although I don't know what you are worrying about, Eldest Senior Uncle is here for everything, so you shouldn't worry."

Pan Yun stared blankly for a moment before nodding.

Wang Feiyin quickly emerged carrying the basket and beckoned to her, "Let's go."

Pan Yun hurriedly hugged her cat and followed. Wang Feiyin merely glanced at the creature in her arms without stopping her from bringing the little thing along.

Tao Ji and the three younger disciples stood by the doorway, watching the two of them recede into the distance. All four of them let out a simultaneous sigh.

Seeing the three little ones instinctively copy him, Tao Ji tapped each of their heads. "What are you sighing for at such a tender age? Hurry up and go practice your forms."

None of the three feared Tao Ji. Miaohe bluntly asked, "Master, can Junior Grand-Aunt stay?"

Tao Ji remarked, "I thought you were only ever preoccupied with eating and drinking. How did you even think of this?"

Miaohe answered, "Our temple has never consulted the gods when taking in other disciples. Only with Junior Grand-Aunt did Eldest Senior Uncle consult the immortals just a day after she entered the sect."

Although Tao Ji was also concerned, he wasn't overly anxious about this point. "Rest assured, if the Founding Patriarchs didn't wish to accept your Junior Grand-Aunt, your Eldest Senior Uncle wouldn't be leading her down the mountain with incense and candles; he'd be leading her down with her luggage."

Pan Yun walked silently behind Wang Feiyin, remaining mute the entire journey.

Wang Feiyin glanced back at her several times until he finally couldn't hold back anymore. "You certainly have a lot of composure. What, aren't you curious about what divine decree Master issued?"

Hearing his affectionate tone, Pan Yun immediately beamed. "Did his venerable masterly self find me, this disciple, quite satisfactory and instruct Senior Brother to deliver a welcoming gift on his behalf?"

Wang Feiyin fell silent.

Pan Yun's smile froze for a split second before realization hit her like a thunderbolt. "Could he really be sending me a welcoming gift?!"

Wang Feiyin looked her up and down, then spoke after a brief pause, "Indeed. Master does have a welcoming gift for you."

He paused, a hint of worry in his voice as he continued, "Fifth Junior Sister, it is a fortunate thing for you to gain Master's affection and high regard. With the Patriarchs' protection, practicing cultivation and walking in this mortal world will be much easier for you than for others. However, judging by your fate, such good fortune is not something you ought to normally possess. Since you have received it, you must pay a price."

Fearing that she was too young to understand and would simply drown herself in the benefits while losing her original nature, he explained in detail, "We who cultivate the Dao cultivate the present life—we cultivate this lifetime's physical body, this lifetime's virtue and reputation, this lifetime's spirit and soul. Yet, among those in this world who ultimately attain the Dao, not a single one has appeared in thousands of years. Thus, people harbor hopes for the afterlife.

"In this world, why are some people born wealthy only to end up destitute, while others born in humble circumstances enjoy extraordinary luck throughout their lives, sailing smoothly?"

Wang Feiyin continued, "This is fortune, it is feng shui, and it is destiny. These three are tied to the present life, to the shadow of one's ancestors, and even more to one's past lives.

"Those who accumulate virtue always have slightly better luck than others. And you—judging by your physiognomy—your fortune should only be slightly better than an ordinary person's; you ought not to have encounters like today's."

Pan Yun grinned and said, "I know. It's because in my past life I was just a very ordinary person, and I died young, before I had time to accumulate any fame or virtue."

Wang Feiyin: "...You even know about your past life?"

Pan Yun said, half-truthfully, "Eldest Senior Brother, whether you believe it or not, I was born with innate knowledge."

Wang Feiyin replied, "There's nothing to believe or disbelieve. You can see the mountain god without performing rituals, and dream of the Founding Patriarchs two nights in a row—what else is impossible?"

Wang Feiyin's acceptance threshold was quite high now; even if she claimed right then that she was an immortal reincarnated and sent to the mortal realm to undergo tribulation, he would probably believe her to some extent.

Innate knowledge wasn't entirely unheard of in this world. Since his junior sister was already so miraculous, what was one more extraordinary trait?

"Since you know your past life's merits were mediocre, you should all the more understand that such excessive fortune in this lifetime might actually harm you. Therefore, you must hold fast to your inner self," Wang Feiyin sighed. "Never forget your original aspiration."

"Mm-hmm, I won't forget. So, Senior Brother, what kind of welcoming gift did Master give me?"

Wang Feiyin said, "You'll know in a moment."

"Oh, come on, just tell me now. There's still a long way to go from here down the mountain."

Wang Feiyin took her hand. With a single step, the trees on both sides flashed rapidly backward as the two of them traversed a massive stretch of mountain path in an instant. With another step, they arrived at the lower waist of the mountain...

While carrying her across the terrain in leaps, Wang Feiyin said, "It's not that I'm unwilling to tell you, but I don't quite know how to describe it. Once you see it, you will understand without me saying another word."

After a few more steps, they reached the fastest path leading down the mountain. Wang Feiyin let go of her hand. Ahead lay a village, and they could no longer travel at such supernatural speeds.

The two of them walked leisurely out of the mountain forest and instantly spotted Wang Xiaojing's tea shack.

The shack was completely deserted. Wang Feiyin merely glanced at it before leading Pan Yun to turn a corner, following the path along the foot of the mountain until they finally stopped in front of a small temple built entirely of piled stones.