Early the next morning, an auspicious hour was chosen. After bathing and burning incense, Bai Xianxian completed the initiation ceremony and offered three sticks of incense before the statue of the Ancestral Master, officially becoming a disciple.
The initiation ceremony of folk sects is somewhat simpler than the official process established by the Taoist Association, but in general, it involves taking refuge in the Three Treasures of the Taoist path. The Three Treasures refer to the Treasure of the Tao, the Treasure of the Scriptures, and the Treasure of the Master, encompassing the body, the spirit, and the soul.
However, after initiation, one is not yet a Taoist priest but only a lay disciple of the Taoist path. To become a true Taoist priest, one must undergo the ordination ceremony.
The Taoist Association currently stipulates that after initiation, one must cultivate for at least three years before receiving ordination. However, folk sects do not adhere to these rules. As long as one's ancestors have produced figures at the level of a grandmaster—simply put, if one's ancestors have attained immortal status—then descendants can bypass the official system and directly undergo ordination and cultivation.
Given the status of the six ancestral masters of the Bai family, Bai Xianxian could easily take the shortcut.
Third Elder, holding the tea offered by Bai Xianxian, asked Second Elder, "Should we just ordain her right now?"
Bai Xianxian, unfamiliar with these matters, knelt before the statues of the ancestral masters with a big question mark appearing on her forehead.
Can it really be that convenient?
Second Elder said gently, "Although it's feasible, Xianxian has just entered the path. We must not rush things. Let her have some time to adapt first." He looked at the statues of the six ancestral masters and sighed, "Our Bai family inherits the lineage of the Ancestral Celestial Master, yet we have faded from the Taoist world for a hundred years, unknown to the world. If Xianxian can receive ordination through the orthodox Dragon Tiger tradition and be granted a Three Mountains Blood-Dripping dharma name, it would be a blessing for our Bai family."
As a complete novice in the Taoist path, Bai Xianxian raised her bewildered little head and asked, "Second Elder, what is Three Mountains Blood-Dripping? Is it dripping blood in front of three mountains while reciting one's dharma name?"
Second Elder: "…?"
Third Elder: "…?"
Third Elder raised his hand to knock on her head, but remembering that the six ancestral masters were watching, he angrily withdrew his hand. "I told you before to read more scriptures and learn some common sense, but you wouldn't! Listen to the question you're asking! You're shaming the ancestral masters!"
Bai Xianxian: "QAQ"
Isn't it okay to ask when you don't understand…
Third Elder was speechless for a moment before explaining, "Three Mountains Blood-Dripping refers to the generation naming system. After ordination, a dharma name is given according to the Three Mountains Blood-Dripping generation sequence. All disciples of the Orthodox One sect regard Three Mountains Blood-Dripping as the basis of succession. However, our Bai family also has its own generation sequence. If you're willing, you can also receive a dharma name from the Bai family's sequence."
Bai Xianxian finally understood.
Three Mountains Blood-Dripping is the official generation sequence, while the Bai family has its own private one. Although both public and private universities are universities, if you can attend a public one, you wouldn't choose a private one.
She asked curiously, "So Second Elder and Third Elder's dharma names come from the Bai family sequence, right? What are they?"
Second Elder said, "My dharma name is Chongmingzi."
Third Elder said, "My dharma name is Xuanyangzi."
Bai Xianxian: "Then my dharma name would be…" She thought for a moment, "Xianxianzi?"
?
??
???
Those who know would understand these are dharma names, but those who don't might think she's participating in a talent show.
Third Elder was irritated by her ignorance. "We'll discuss these matters when you undergo ordination! Raise your hands!"
Bai Xianxian obediently held her hands up in front of her.
Second Elder and Third Elder held the Six-Spirit Sword and solemnly placed it in her hands. "From now on, the burden of revitalizing the family's heritage is entrusted to you!"
Bai Xianxian gripped the Six-Spirit Sword and nodded heavily.
Whether it was her imagination or not, the Six-Spirit Sword in her hands seemed much brighter than before.
Bai Xianxian inexplicably felt a surge of excitement. As soon as she stepped out of the ancestral temple, she couldn't help but ask, "Second Elder, what should I do now? Read scriptures and memorize them?"
Third Elder waved his hand nearby, moving three small stools under the cypress tree by the courtyard. "No rush. Let's bask in the sun for a while. I'll tell you about our Bai family's background. That way, when you go out and others ask about your family's heritage, you won't be completely clueless!"
Bai Xianxian said "Oh" and obediently sat over with the Six-Spirit Sword in her arms.
Second Elder went inside to brew a pot of tea and brought it out, setting out four teacups.
Bai Xianxian glanced at it, feeling a pang of sadness in her heart. She rubbed her eyes and listened as Third Elder said, "Actually, when you were little, we told you these things as bedtime stories, but you probably don't remember them now. So let's go over them once more."
Bai Xianxian nodded seriously and listened as Second Elder said, "Our Bai family's ancestral land is actually in Dongzhou. The six ancestral masters were from Dongzhou. According to family records, extraordinary celestial phenomena appeared when the six ancestral masters were born." He said in a deep tone, "Just like the day you were born."
Bai Xianxian choked on the tea in her mouth.
What?!
Extraordinary celestial phenomena appeared when she was born?!
In ancient times, that would mean she was destined to be an emperor, right?
But precisely because of this, Bai Xianxian was singled out by the three elders as soon as she was born. When she was just one month old, Bai Xiangwang and Mother Bai were asked to bring the swaddled Bai Xianxian back.
Second Elder squinted as if recalling distant memories. "Indeed, the moment you entered the ancestral temple, the Six-Spirit Sword responded."
Looking at the little milk baby chewing on her hand in the swaddling clothes, and then at the Six-Spirit Sword that had been dormant for years now resonating with her, the elders were so excited they nearly had a spike in blood pressure.
Now, back to the six ancestral masters.
"The six ancestral masters were born with divine strength, extraordinary compared to ordinary people, but because of their youthful arrogance, ahem—" Third Elder coughed once, then said nonchalantly, "they did some not-so-good things."
Bai Xianxian: "…?"
Third Elder waved his hand grandly: "But that's not important! Fortunately, the six of them encountered the Ancestral Celestial Master, turned from their wrong paths, and took refuge in the faith on the spot, becoming six of the Ancestral Celestial Master's three thousand disciples. They devoted themselves to studying the Dao under him, wholeheartedly pursuing the Way!"
Bai Xianxian: "…"
Got it. They were just beaten into submission by the Ancestral Celestial Master.
Third Elder glossed over the six ancestral masters' youthful indiscretions and focused on their deeds after joining the Daoist faith: "The ancestral masters captured ghosts and subdued demons, protecting the common people. Wherever they passed, no evil spirits could survive. They spread the Ancestral Celestial Master's teachings across the land, gaining great fame and becoming living immortals in the hearts of many commoners at the time."
Later, the six of them traveled to this place, admired the mountains and waters, and were greatly pleased. They built a thatched hut in the mountains to cultivate the Dao and attained immortality. The Six-Spirit Temple was built at the foot of the mountain, where they were worshipped for generations. The Bai family descendants used this as their ancestral seat, carrying on the family legacy.
However, times changed, and each dynasty had different plans. What was once a transportation hub gradually became a small town no one cared about. Residents moved away, and the incense offerings at the Six-Spirit Temple gradually dwindled.
Not only that, because the Bai family's secret scriptures and incantations were passed down orally and could not be recorded in writing, the number of talented descendants grew fewer with each generation. Without sufficient Daoist cultivation, they simply couldn't memorize them.
So generation after generation, those incantations that had once made the Bai family unbeatable against ghosts throughout the land were lost.
By the time they were passed down to the three elders, only three or four phrases remained, one of which was the Celestial Master Divine Incantation that First Elder used against Old Mrs. Zhang.
The Bai family's reputation was no more. Very few people in the world still knew of the Bai family. The six ancestral masters, who once enjoyed flourishing incense offerings, were now worshipped by no one except the Bai family.
A few years ago, the Daoist Association organized an event inviting folk Daoist sects to gather and exchange techniques. When the three elders heard the news, they even made a special trip down the mountain to get haircuts and facials, washed their Daoist robes, dried them, and ironed them neatly, just waiting for the invitation to arrive.
But they waited until the gathering ended, and no one ever came to invite them.
The Daoist world had long forgotten the Bai family. Even if they remembered, they would only sigh and say what a pity, not knowing that three descendants of the Bai family were still struggling to hold on in this world.
Speaking of all this, Third Elder was overcome with melancholy, his eyes even turning a bit red. He quickly picked up his teacup and took a sip to cover up his loss of composure.
Bai Xianxian pretended not to notice, but held the Six-Spirit Sword and made a silent resolution: Since she had taken up the family legacy, she would definitely cultivate diligently and bring glory to the family name! Let the Bai family's reputation resound across the land once more! She would also rebuild the Six-Spirit Temple at the foot of the mountain, letting the six ancestral masters enjoy the world's incense offerings again! And she would have golden statues made for them! Pure gold!
She listened until noon before Bai Xianxian finally had a complete and clear understanding of her family's history.
After lunch, the history lesson came to an end, and Second Elder led Bai Xianxian toward the ancestral hall.
The Bai family had lived here for generations, and half the mountain belonged to them. There were many houses hidden among the cliffs and forests on the mountain, looking mysterious and terrifying. Bai Xianxian would go out of her way to avoid them whenever she encountered them in the past.
Third Elder first took her to the ancestral hall to pay respects to several great figures from the family's past, offered incense, and then took her to the library building.
As soon as she entered, Bai Xianxian was hit by the damp, rich smell of old books and sneezed several times.
The three-story small building felt somewhat cold and gloomy. A few rays of sunlight streamed down through the skylight above. Third Elder said, "All the scriptures and Daoist texts accumulated and passed down through generations of the Bai family are here. Arranged according to the Three Caverns, Four Supplements, and Twelve Categories method, from outside to inside, from bottom to top."
Bai Xianxian walked in and looked around. She recognized some familiar ones like the Dao De Jing, the Nanhua Jing, and the Baopuzi she had learned about in history class, but most of the others were ones she had never even heard of.
She swallowed hard: "Second Elder, these… I don't have to read and memorize all of them, do I?"
She was definitely not some top student!
Plain and ordinary Bai Xianxian, a run-of-the-mill science student!
Save me!
Second Elder laughed: "Not necessarily. For some books, you only need a basic understanding. But the Daoist texts of the Celestial Master lineage, you must memorize thoroughly. Also, common scriptures in the Daoist tradition like the Dao De Jing and the Qingjing Jing are the basics of daily cultivation."
Bai Xianxian breathed a sigh of relief: "Then how many are there?"
Second Elder: "Not many, just one floor's worth of books."
Bai Xianxian: "…?"
???
Second Elder patted her shoulder kindly: "Xianxian, you have extraordinary talent. You must believe in yourself."
Bai Xianxian: "…"
Second Elder continued: "Earlier, you were able to recite the Heavenly Eye Opening Incantation and the Heaven and Earth Purifying Divine Incantation word for word just from hearing us chant them. Clearly, you have a gift for this. Why not give it a try now?"
Bai Xianxian thought to herself, at this point, retreating was impossible. Once the family's burden was shouldered, it could never be set down again! What had to be carried would be carried sooner or later! Bring it on! She'd carry the damn thing!
With lofty ambition, Bai Xianxian picked up the nearest Daoist scripture from the bookshelf beside her.
It was titled The Supreme Lord Lao's Daily Liturgy of Morning and Evening Lessons.
Second Elder explained, "This is the scripture that Orthodox Unity disciples chant during their morning and evening devotions. It is also essential to daily cultivation."
Bai Xianxian nodded and opened the scripture to read on.
In the ordination ceremony, there was a step called "bestowing the scripture." This bestowal did not mean simply giving you a copy of the scripture or text, but rather that after becoming a true Daoist priest, a master would explain the scripture to you, resolving difficulties and answering questions.
It was the same principle as receiving textbooks at school—you could flip through them yourself, but you still needed a teacher to lecture and explain.
Bai Xianxian had originally assumed that since she had never been exposed to such material before, it would be obscure and difficult to understand. She had already steeled herself with the determination of preparing for the college entrance examination.
Unexpectedly, as she turned page after page, she grasped the meaning quickly. After just two readings, she had memorized it thoroughly, and by the time she closed the book, she could recite it from memory.
Bai Xianxian herself was almost baffled by this.
She had this kind of ability?!
So she opened another volume and continued reading.
Second Elder had left at some point, and the only sound left in the scripture library was the rustling of Bai Xianxian earnestly flipping through pages.
In the days that followed, Bai Xianxian spent all her time in the scripture library. The two elders took turns coming over to resolve her doubts and answer her questions, pouring out everything they had learned in their lifetimes to teach her.
Bai Xianxian felt that she had never been this fond of reading before. If only she had known she had a photographic memory, she would have chosen the liberal arts track back then! But Second Elder said she had a knack for this, so perhaps her photographic memory only worked on Daoist scriptures and texts, not on politics, history, and geography.
In the evening, Third Elder arrived carrying a travel backpack.
Bai Xianxian glanced at him a couple of times and thought he looked quite like one of those backpackers trekking across Lop Nur, when Third Elder spoke up: "The theory lessons are done for now. Tonight, we move on to practical training!"
A sense of foreboding rose in Bai Xianxian's heart. "Where are we doing the practical training?"
Third Elder tossed the travel pack containing the tent and sleeping bag into her arms. "The back mountain—the mass grave!"