Chapter 43: The Heritage of the Daoist Gate

At the dining table, a few of them exchanged casual remarks.

Mostly it was Lu Jin and Lü Ren doing the talking, while Lü Ci was still sulking, keeping half of his face turned away from everyone. Zheng Zibu was somewhat reticent, and Zhang Zhiwei was observing his surroundings.

Quite a few people had arrived this time, coming from all corners of the country. However, after taking a look around, he spotted neither anyone from the Quanzhen lineage nor anyone from Wudang.

"That's right, didn't Brother Zibu say he encountered some confusion in his cultivation? Why not ask Senior Brother Zhang!"

Lu Jin knew how to liven up the atmosphere. Seeing that Zhang Zhiwei and Zheng Zibu were not talking much, he hurriedly spoke up.

"Ah, right. Well, Senior Brother Zhang, I've been studying Qingci talismans recently, but I've always felt that the ritual procedures for Qingci talismans are a bit too cumbersome. It seems many steps could be pruned away, but my master thinks I am being too ambitious and reaching too high. I wonder if you could offer some guidance!" Zheng Zibu said with a serious expression.

Zhang Zhiwei: "............"

This had really stumped him!

Qingci talismans—the name sounded somewhat familiar.

It seemed to be a kind of talisman used for driving away ghosts. Such talismans were basically useless against living creatures, but had immense lethality against spirits and phantoms.

Naturally, Zhang Zhiwei had never bothered to study such chicken-rib talismans.

He possessed the thunder method, which was the natural nemesis of all ghosts and specters. What more could he possibly need?

"Although I hail from the Talisman Sect, my mind is more inclined toward internal cultivation to forge the elixir and external cultivation to tread the Dao, balancing both nature and life. My research into the path of talismans is not profound. As for drawing this talisman—I don't know how!"

Zhang Zhiwei had no idol baggage to speak of. If he didn't know, he didn't know; there was nothing shameful about it. Every art has its own specialization.

As the leader of the Zhengyi Sect, the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu naturally did not rely solely on a single Golden Light Spell and a single Thunder Method to hold its ground.

After all, the Golden Light Spell was merely an introductory technique learned by everyone. While its upper limit was high, its lower limit was also low; it was fine for ordinary people to use it for self-protection, but achieving true mastery through it was far too difficult.

As for the Thunder Method... that was something only the candidates for the Celestial Master could practice. Its upper limit was exceptionally high, and its lower limit was likewise so high that ordinary people could never even come into contact with it.

Therefore, ordinary disciples of Mount Longhu naturally had other inheritances as their primary means, generally categorized into five major branches.

These were Internal Elixir Technique, Talismans, Altar Rituals, Astrological Divination, and Feng Shui Physiognomy.

Among them, within the Internal Elixir Techniques, the most foundational and solid was the "Golden Light Spell." In the middle tier were a series of techniques such as the "Longhu Internal Elixir Technique," and the highest grade of internal elixir technique was the "Five Thunders Orthodoxy."

Talismans were easy to understand—they were the methods of drawing talismans.

As for Altar Rituals, they referred to setting up altars, performing rites, and conducting Daoist rituals.

It sounded obscure, but it was actually a supreme trump card of the Daoist tradition. This method was reflected in many film and television dramas.

According to the usual tropes in many movies and shows, before the protagonist made an appearance, there were generally a few cannon-fodder extra Daoists sent off to die.

These cannon-fodder extra Daoists would usually set up a stance, offer sacrifices, arrange various ritual implements and instruments, wave peach-wood swords around, pour wine, spit fire, and then fight a battle with the villainous demons, only for their setup to explode and the extra Daoists to kick the bucket, thereby highlighting the immense power of the villain.

And this entire routine performed by the cannon-fodder Daoist was precisely opening an altar and performing rites.

Although it looked somewhat clownish and frequently served as background scenery to set off the villains, the fact that it could repeatedly serve as the backdrop for villains precisely demonstrated the industry's recognition of it.

It meant that any demons and ghosts capable of thoroughly wrecking a Daoist's altar were ferocious beyond measure.

And reality was indeed the case. Opening an altar was indeed an extremely formidable method; it could allow a Daoist to unleash combat prowess far exceeding their own cultivation level.

As for the specific principle... in Zhang Zhiwei's view, it was essentially similar to the Mask of the Gods. Through this set of operations, one borrowed and utilized the power of the ancestors or deities worshipped by the Daoist religion.

Therefore, after setting up the altar, whenever Daoists made a move, they loved to append the phrase "Swiftly as the legal decree."

This decree was a command addressed to the power of the deities, meaning "I am in a rush, hurry up and send the power over."

Generally speaking, Daoists of the Talisman Sect would practice an internal elixir technique, then focus primarily on talismans and study altar rituals. They would touch upon all three inheritances, with the only difference being their primary focus.

Maoshan's Zheng Zibu, who sat opposite Zhang Zhiwei, was this type of Daoist. Judging from the fact that he would later comprehend the Supreme Talisman, his primary focus should be the path of talismans.

As for the other two inheritances—astrological divination and feng shui physiognomy—these were the methods of arts. They tested not only one's destiny and fate grid, but also innate talent. Yet once mastered, one could shift the Qimen and lay out feng shui energy formations.

Among the Thirty-Six Thieves, the Daoist on Mount Wudang—Zhou Sheng—followed this lineage and ultimately comprehended the Fuhou Qimen.

As for Zhang Zhiwei, his current primary focus was internal elixir techniques, practicing two specific arts: the Golden Light Spell and the Five Thunders Orthodoxy.

As for the other inheritances, he had touched upon the path of talismans slightly, learning some functional talismans.

He knew some basic knowledge of altar rituals and could perform a few introductory-level altars.

As for things like astrological divination and feng shui physiognomy, he hadn't really studied them.

It wasn't that he couldn't understand them; he simply didn't like them. Compared to the method of using natural forces to combat enemies, Zhang Zhiwei believed more in himself—the strength of one's true self was the only genuine strength.

"So Senior Brother Zhang's primary focus is internal elixir techniques. It was presumptuous of me!"

Zheng Zibu said hurriedly, though inwardly he was muttering to himself: The Tianshi Mansion is the head of the three talisman sects, and naturally its strongest aspect is talismans. As a disciple of the Celestial Master, he doesn't cultivate talismans, but instead cultivates elixir techniques?

Wait... the elixir techniques of the Tianshi Mansion, aside from the Golden Light Spell and the Five Thunders Orthodoxy, didn't other elixir techniques like the Longhu Internal Elixir Technique exist across all various talisman sects?

The Golden Light Spell is an introductory elixir technique, and the Five Thunders Orthodoxy can only be learned by the candidates for the Celestial Master. And this Senior Brother Zhang also bears the surname Zhang, could it be...

Zheng Zibu was a clever person and instantly figured out many possibilities.

"Brother, look, the fatty is back!"

At this moment, Lü Ci, who had been standing there sulking, thrust out his neck and said.

The few of them turned their heads to look.

They saw the little fatty Wang Ai, cradling a few candied hawthorns, walking into the hall. Glancing around, he spotted the table where Guan Shihua was seated and scampered over with a flattering expression.

"Brother, which family does that chubby girl the fatty likes belong to?"

Lü Ci's gossiping fire was burning fiercely. He wanted to look, but his pride did not allow him to expose his bruised, blackened eye, so he could only tilt his head, stick out his neck, and peer over with great effort.

That posture... looked somewhat comical.

"She's from the Northeast Ma family!" Lü Ren said.

"The Ma of the Southern Mao and Northern Ma?" Lü Ci asked.

This "Southern Mao and Northern Ma" did not refer to Mao Xiaofang and the Exterminating Dragon Clan Ma family, but rather to the Southern Maoshan and the Northern Chuuma Immortals.

"Yes. I heard they just established their spirit hall and are already able to practice spirit possession. Furthermore, they established the hall of the Hu family of immortals. She's a genius and seems to have been favored by a great immortal!" Lü Ren said.

"A genius, eh? No wonder she looks down a bit on the fatty. Still, the fatty is a member of our Four Families after all. With him acting like this, we lose face too!" Lü Ci said.

"Old Man Wang hasn't said anything, so stop meddling in other people's business!" Lü Ren said.

Zhang Zhiwei instinctively glanced at Lü Ci's blackened eye: Does your little brat even have any face left to speak of?