World's No. 1 Swordsman-Chapter 8: Ordination and Teachings

Before the first light of dawn, Wang Sheng was already up and bustling with activity.

Life on the Wudang Mountains was convenient, but bathing in their run-down Daoist temple was always a hassle. Most days, he would hang a curtain in the corner between the main house and the side room, fill a bucket with cold water, and quickly rinse off.

Today was different. Since becoming a disciple was a momentous occasion, Wang Sheng took extra care with his bath. Even with the rudimentary setup, he meticulously cleaned every spot, paying special attention to areas that men typically prioritized.

As he stepped out into the courtyard after the bath, a gentle breeze swept past along with the crisp scent of the early morning. Wang Sheng felt invigorated. It was as if every pore in his body had opened, yearning to draw something in from the air.

Unfortunately, the qi he sought remained elusive. The resurgence of primal qi was still at least half a year away.

Half a year...

There was no way he could compare to his master, who had cultivated for decades; or his senior sister, who had practiced with unwavering dedication since childhood. Still, if he gritted his teeth and gave it his all, maybe—just maybe—he could catch a fleeting glimpse of her back on the long and arduous road of cultivation.

Today, Wang Sheng would officially become a disciple, and his master could even pass down some teachings to him. He didn’t want to force anything or hope for too much, though. Getting to join Daoist Master Bu Yan's sect already far exceeded his expectations.

If he performed well, his master surely wouldn’t treat him poorly once the world's primal qi returned.

"Wang Sheng, come here and see if this fits you," his master called from the next room.

Wang Sheng quickly set down the bucket of dirty clothes and hurried over, water still dripping from his damp hair.

Qing Yanzi handed him a freshly made Daoist robe. Beneath it was a set of crisp white garments, resembling the training uniforms commonly worn in martial arts schools.

Wang Sheng grinned from ear to ear as he carefully unfolded the robe and slipped it on, turning back and forth to admire himself.

This is it—the official attire of someone walking the path of immortality!

"Thank you, Master!"

"There’s no need for that," Qing Yanzi replied with a light chuckle. "Your father transferred some money a few days ago, insisting it be used as your tuition."

Handing over a folded piece of white paper, he added, "Make sure to memorize the precepts on this before noon."

"Yes, Master," Wang Sheng responded dutifully, adjusting his robe as he accepted the paper. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation—surely it would feature his master’s elegant and refined calligraphy, befitting the wisdom of the Dao.

However, as he unfolded it, his excitement quickly died down. The text was certainly neatly aligned, but every single character was printed in size-four Song typeface!

He skimmed through the paper, which outlined the precepts and commandments for joining the sect. It was nothing out of the ordinary, mostly encouraging disciples to uphold virtue and maintain discipline.

When Wang Sheng looked up again, his master had already left the courtyard with his hands behind his back, seemingly in an unusually good mood. His steps were noticeably lighter than usual as well.

Returning to the main house, Wang Sheng was surprised to find everything already set up.

A slightly yellowed portrait of the Three Pure Ones hung in the main hall. Below it was a lit incense burner, wisps of smoke curling gracefully upward. At first glance, Wang Sheng almost thought the Three Pure Ones themselves had descended into the room.

He blinked, snapping himself out of the moment. The Wudang Mountains were known for worshiping the True Martial Great Emperor, not the Three Pure Ones. He recalled his master once mentioning that he was merely a guest at Wudang, and based on what little information Wang Sheng had, Qing Yanzi’s fame didn’t seem directly tied to the Wudang Mountains' tradition.

Perhaps their lineage followed a different branch of Daoist practice, one that didn’t share the same roots as Wudang.

On the main altar was a freshly made wooden tablet. "Heaven and Earth" was written on it in bold with still-drying ink. Beneath it was an inscription dedicating the place to Lu the Progenitor, confirming that his master honored him as the forefather of this branch of Dao.

Nearby, Mu Wanxuan hummed a lively tune often played at the Purple Cloud Temple as she busied herself with arranging two boxes of snacks that she’d brought back from the foot of the mountains.

After setting the treats neatly on a plate, she paused and stared longingly at the candied delicacies. She was clearly contemplating whether she could pocket them off after Wang Sheng’s disciple ceremony.

"Senior Sister," Wang Sheng called. "Put your dirty clothes in the bucket. I’ve got time this morning, so I’ll do the laundry later."

"Mm!" she replied without turning her head, her lips pressed together as if trying to suppress the urge to take a bite. She was clearly salivating.

Wang Sheng shook his head and chuckled.

She still hasn’t quite grown up.

He dashed back to his room, eager to change into his Daoist robe and training uniform. At the foot of his bed, he noticed a brand-new pair of cloth shoes. Slipping them on, he found they fit perfectly.

Now donning the entire outfit, he looked pretty sharp. However, there was one issue: his hair was still too short.

Without the long, flowing locks that his master sported, he felt that his future image of flying gracefully through the air would lack a certain carefree elegance.

After posing and adjusting his sleeves, Wang Sheng decided not to risk dirtying his robe before the ceremony. With great care, he folded his first-ever Daoist robe and swapped it for his usual shorts and shirt, saving the special outfit for later.

When he came out of his room, he noticed that the laundry bucket now contained a few pieces of his senior sister’s clothing. A simple pair of women’s underwear quietly sat on top of the dirty clothes pile, making Wang Sheng blush with embarrassment.

"Senior Sister, I’m heading out to do the laundry."

His senior sister turned around and gave him a thumbs-up. "Mm! Mm!"

Wang Sheng discreetly rearranged the dirty clothes in the bucket, covering the underwear with other garments. Only then did he feel a bit of relief.

I'm clearly still lacking in mental discipline.

It wasn’t just Wang Sheng who thought becoming a disciple was a significant life event. For Qing Yanzi, accepting a disciple was no small matter.

Wang Sheng had never seen his master interact with other Daoist masters. Still, by noon, Qing Yanzi had invited two white-haired, elderly Daoist masters to witness the ceremony.

Once everything was prepared, the two witnesses sat to the side, smiling kindly. Qing Yanzi also sat formally in the main hall, now donning a brand-new Daoist robe that he only wore about once a month.

Mu Wanxuan clapped her hands in the outer room, signaling the official start of the ceremony.

Wang Sheng took a deep breath, stood tall, and straightened the edges of his robe. Holding a wooden ruler with both hands—its purpose unknown—he lowered his head and stepped out of his room.

The two elderly Daoists eyed Wang Sheng for a moment. Still smiling, they nodded.

Qing Yanzi stood up and smiled as well. "Given the limited conditions, we’ll keep the ceremony simple. Wang Sheng, come forward."

"Yes, Master."

"Kneel."

As instructed, Wang Sheng knelt on the mat before the altar.

Qing Yanzi continued, "Now that you are joining the sect, you must learn your inherited lineage. Our branch descends from Lu the Progenitor, and our founding patriarch was his direct disciple. Their teachings have been passed down through generations, and although no formal sect was established, for twelve hundred years, our Daoist legacy has never been broken. At present, it has been passed down to me."

The two elderly Daoist masters stroked their beards and nodded approvingly from the side.

"Now that you have entered the sect, you must understand that you are a cultivator of the Dao. The Dao teaches reverence for heaven and earth, respect for ancestors, filial piety toward parents, and obedience to teachers. Understanding the Dao begins with cultivating oneself. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master."

Qing Yanzi nodded in satisfaction. He then glanced at the small piece of paper he was holding. "You will take on the ‘Yu’ generation upon joining the sect. Since your senior sister’s Daoist name is Bu Yu[1], your Daoist name will be Fei Yu[2].'"

"Understood, Master. Thank you."

The Unspoken Daoist?

Although it sounded awkward, he was part of the "Yu" generation. It could’ve been worse—at least it wasn’t something like Yu Wen[3] or Mi Yu[4].

Wang Sheng had been worried that his master would give him an outrageous name, like Yu Bu Jing Ren Si Bu Xiu[5]. Thankfully, his master kept it simple and reasonable.

Following their tradition, the disciple ceremony proceeded smoothly. When Qing Yanzi took the wooden ruler, Wang Sheng recited the commandments written on the paper he’d been given. Qing Yanzi lightly tapped his shoulder with the ruler for each line, symbolizing the acceptance of the precepts.

"First, do not kill—always be mindful of all living beings.

"Second, do not commit adultery—do not violate women.

"Third, do not steal—take only what is yours.

"Fourth, do not deceive goodness or cower before evil..."

Wang Shen recited all ten commandments. Now, most of his tasks were complete.

Qing Yanzi solemnly approached the altar and carefully unwrapped a blue cloth bundle. Inside was a rusted copper box beneath an old scripture book that looked about semi-new.

"Today, I will pass on to you a scripture that the Immortal of Pure Yang had left. You will have half a month to copy it. This scripture will be the foundation of your cultivation."

"Thank you, Master, for passing on these teachings."

Wang Sheng didn’t think the scripture would be an actual method for becoming immortal. Nevertheless, when his master placed it on his hands, he found it inexplicably heavy.

So this is what inheriting a lineage feels like.

One of the elder Daoist masters chuckled. "It’s time to kowtow—first to the Dao, then to the scripture, and finally, three times to your master in gratitude. With these three bows, you will officially become a disciple of the Dao. We are here to witness it."

"Understood," Wang Sheng responded. He first placed the scripture to the side and bowed three times to the portrait of the Three Pure Ones. Afterward, he placed the scripture in front of him, bowed three times to it, and then finally bowed thrice to his master.

After the ceremony, Wang Sheng felt as if something had been placed on his shoulders.

Qing Yanzi smiled. "I hereby officially declare you as my second disciple. From now on, you must follow the commandments and seek the Dao earnestly. Though our sect does not forbid worldly affairs or marriage, you must always uphold and prioritize loyalty, benevolence, and filial piety. Do not force me to kick you out one day."

Wang Sheng’s heart tightened.

His master’s words were merely a warning, but the thought of committing some unforgivable act and having Daoist Master Bu Yu hunt him down across the country...

Terrifying.

"I won't let you down, Master."

"Rise." Qing Yanzi stepped forward to help him up. Wang Sheng stood, and the two smiled at each other. From the side, they heard people clapping.

The two elderly Daoist masters were generous with their praise, clapping so enthusiastically that their hands turned red.

"You and your senior sister tidy up here. I’ll treat the senior uncles to a vegetarian meal," Qing Yanzi instructed. The two elderly Daoist masters had certainly earned the meal.

Wang Sheng and his senior sister saw the two senior uncles off at the mountain gate. Qing Yanzi promised to bring them back some food and then floated off with ease.

Once they were gone, Wang Sheng suddenly turned around. "Senior Sister!"

Mu Wanxuan blinked in confusion.

"Let’s go eat the snacks!"

Mu Wanxuan snapped out of her daze. "Mm!"

She darted toward the main hall like a gust of wind. Wang Sheng blinked, unable to catch movements.

That’s what it must be like to be an expert, he thought.

His master had already removed the copper box, but the scripture remained. Copied by Daoist Master Bu Yan, it read, indicating that his master had transcribed it long ago.

Wang Sheng eagerly began reading the ancient book. At first, he thought it was just a regular Daoist scripture, but after reading a single section, he started to feel slightly parched, and his palms became slick with sweat...

"Humans have five deficiencies; the Dao has five elements. Qi surges, spirit concentrates, and restraint brings ascension."

What is this...?

"The valley is profound. Its immortal spirit is the Dao—the root of heaven and earth. The spirit attains clarity. The valley achieves peace. The Daoist preserves unity and thus achieves immortality."

An immortal mantra!

Lu the Progenitor personally handed this down—a complete set of foundational cultivation techniques and their full mantras! It even contained detailed explanations of the realms of cultivation, including Breath Condensation, Spirit Convergence, Seed Formation, Illusory Core, and Golden Core!

Though the teachings were hidden in ancient phrasing, Wang Sheng had studied such texts for over a decade. How could he not grasp the meaning behind these words?

What? How could they give this to me so easily? Even though the primal qi of heaven and earth hasn’t returned yet, this is the core of the Daoist lineage! Just from the opening passages alone, I can already tell that the principles and techniques recorded in here are countless times more profound than the basic cultivation art I used in my previous life!

Wang Sheng couldn’t help but groan aloud, his death in his past life feeling more and more pitifully pointless.

"Ah—"

A small, pale hand stretched out toward him, holding a piece of candied fruit between two fingers. "Mm!"

Wang Sheng opened his mouth and swallowed the treat. He then gave his senior sister a goofy, happy grin before eagerly diving back into the scripture.

Though he hadn't even read three chapters yet, many of the problems that had plagued him for years in his previous life had been resolved. His path forward now seemed completely clear.

In his excitement, Wang Sheng found himself slapping his chest and thighs, making his senior sister giggle nonstop beside him. Soon, however, Mu Wanxuan remembered her master's words.

"If he were a normal kid, would he have been sent up here to suffer?"

The way she looked at her junior brother grew increasingly filled with sympathy.

1. Bu Yu means "Quiet" in Chinese. ☜

2. Fei Yu means "Unspoken" in Chinese. ☜

3. 语文(Yu Wen) means "Language." ☜

4. 语文(Mi Yu) means "Riddle" in Chinese. ☜

5. 语不惊人死不休(Yu Bu Jing Ren Si Bu Xiu) means "I won't rest until my words shock the world." in Chinese. ☜