However, the significance of true disciples was such that the orthodoxy of Qing Xuan had continuity.
For one to enter into Huandan with one's own ability, it would mean that said person had his own unique understanding of the way of heaven and earth. One could then innovate based on the current martial exercises of one's celestial school, bringing more experience to their juniors.
Those with talent and great potential could even come up a different Dao path and could create a new Dao rhyme formula based on the existing foundation.
After all, there was no one best Dao rhyme formula, but a Dao rhyme formula that was compatible with the person. As everyone was different, the teaching materials would need to be different in order to cater to their different needs.
Chen Jianmei had attained Huandan, and the celestial school rang the bell seven times. Nine rings for the immortal Zhenren, and forty-nine rings to honor the senior who had transcended beyond the mortal world.
Nine rings of the bell had not been heard in the past years. Even the seven rings of the bell were the first in many years.
In fact, it was the first in a hundred years.
A lot of disciples did not understand the meaning behind it. They only understood its implication after the more senior Apprentice-Brothers or doyens had explained it to them.
The seven rings of the bell also served to summon everyone to gather at the Taiyi Peak. Unless one was cultivating in retreat, was at an important stage of forging alchemy, or standing guard at an important location, otherwise one must be present at the Taiyi Peak.
All these while, Shen Lian was at Qing Xuan Hall. The earliest to arrive was the elder in gray, Ge Yuan. There was a handsome young person who followed behind, and that would be the mysterious young person who joined at the same time as Shen Lian, Xiao Hei.
Shen Lian was still intrigued by him. Despite that Shen Lian had seen him, he still could not feel his presence. He swept over with his spiritual sense, and it was as though there was nothing. For that, Ge Yuan glared at him, which sent chills up his spine.
After all, Ge Yuan's mana was deep beyond imagination. The difference between him and a doyen who could walk into Huandan himself was huge.
Shen Lian could not help but think, how troublesome would it be if Xiao Hei was well-versed in the way of assassination. Any cultivator below the attainment of Huandan would be in deep trouble if they ran into him.
At their level of attainment, their reliance on the spiritual sense was stronger than their reliance on the five sensory organs.
If Shen Lian could not detect the young person with his sharp sense, other cultivators below the attainment of Huandan would not be able to detect him.
Qing Xuan Hall seemed to have the ability to re-adjust its size. Despite that the hall getting crowded, but it was not cramped at all. There was still a lot of space, futons appeared on both sides.
Only the doyens with deep cultivation experience could sit on the futons. There were a total of twelve of them. These cultivators had attained at least the state of Huandan, and were the backbone of Qing Xuan.
The two doyens who were seated at the front had an unpredictable presence, and they were followed by Ge Yuan and Hong Qianya. Hong Qianya smiled at Shen Lian, it would seem that Shen Lian had left a great impression on him.
Qing Xuan had one hundred and eight techniques, but there were only twelve doyens who were seated. Even if a few of them were absent, it still meant that some of the Dao techniques were not cultivated by anyone.
Even though amongst the one hundred and eight techniques, some powerful individuals could multitask and cultivate a few at one go, but most chose to specialize, as there was only so much one can do.
Not all of these one hundred and eight techniques were taught by Grandmaster Yuan Qing when he founded Qing Xuan, some were created by different seniors over the years.
Dao techniques were not ranked. It was a matter of whether a particular technique suited a person.
However, the more technique one cultivated, the likelier that one was going to be able to comprehend by analogy. Though, this would require a lot of innate comprehension abilities.
Moreover, the more technique one cultivated, the harder it was for the opponent to defend himself during a battle.
After all, the pursuance of Dao was a precarious path, and one would need to be able to protect oneself in order to persevere up till the attainment of longevity.
Moreover, a cultivator who enjoyed longevity was far from being indestructible.
Every doyen was followed by a few disciples. Besides Shen Lian and Lu Shouyi, everyone from the lower house was following the doyens, and they were mingling around with the disciples from the upper house.
Yan Bugui was with one of the two unpredictable doyens whom Shen Lian was looking at. The man in white who argued with Lu Shouyi back then was standing next to him. It would seem that both of them were under the same master.
The doyen had a giant red gourd 1 slung on his back. He seemed to be intoxicated, or not. Anyhow, it was obvious that he was only here because he had no choice.
Looking at his gourd-full of alcohol, it seemed right that he was Yan Bugui's master.
There was an empty futon at the end, and it was greenish purple. It looked different, and yet no one sat on it. Though, a lady stood next to it.
She looked gentle. Even though her face was not exceptionally beautiful, her aura added some points.
Shen Lian thought she must be the Apprentice-Sister from the lower house whom he had never met before.
As he was not formally acknowledged as the disciple of anyone, Hong Qianya asked him to go over. Zhang Ruoxu did not say anything about it too.
Shen Lian was not about to stand next to Zhang Ruoxu, as that would invite too much attention. Naturally, he walked over to Hong Qianya.
There were three disciples standing next to Hong Qianya, and their cultivation experience was all around Qiaodong. They were secretly sizing Shen Lian up, as Hong Qianya spoke of him frequently.
However, as Shen Lian stayed in most of the time, or was busy out running errands, the three of them had never actually met him before.
Lastly, Lu Shouyi and Jing Qing stood on either side of Zhang Ruoxu. Everyone in the hall was a cultivator, which was why unlike the common folks in the mortal realm they were not busy making noise the moment they were gathered together.
At last, a sword gleam appeared in the hall. It flickered and disappeared. A Daoist stood at the door to the hall, but he did not wear his hair in the Daoist manner.
His brows gave the vibe of a sword, and his eyes gave the vibe of a star. With a long sword in his hand, he walked into the hall in a confident and charming manner. Everyone in the hall could not help but to be impressed with his mannerism of a master celestial of sword.
That man would be Chen Jianmei. His expression was cold, and he walked slowly towards Zhang Ruoxu.
If anyone in the hall were to close their eyes, they would feel a sharp sword will come from him. Even though not emanated on purpose, it was hard to ignore.
It was as though he had been sharpening a sword for a good half of his life. When the world finally got to see the sword, it could only marvel in its brilliance.
Chen Jianmei bowed deeply. All these years, whenever he tried to leave the mountain to gain experience and to seek for the opportunity for a breakthrough, Zhang Ruoxu would stop him from doing so.
That was because Zhang Ruoxu thought that he was not ready to show the brilliance of his sword tip yet.
All these nights that he spent in isolation, he was accompanied by loneliness and solitude.
The Shapeless Sword Formula was one of the one hundred and eight techniques of Qing Xuan. Since its creation, besides the senior who created it, he was the first to cultivate it up till the eighth layer.
Besides the obvious fact that most below the state of Huandan would not be able to hold their own against him, the normal cultivators who attained any lesser than the Five Transformation of Huandan would be a prey under his blade.
However, no one knew about all these. He did not take the normal disciples seriously, and if he were to get serious, they probably would not be able to block even one of his moves.
As for the doyens, it would not be possible for him to challenge them.
For those who practiced swordcraft, they would face indescribable loneliness in the absence of a worthy opponent.
Having sharpened his sword for over half of his life, he had finally attained success. Besides Chen Jianmei himself, no one would understand what he was feeling, not even Zhang Ruoxu.
Zhang Ruoxu extended his palm and caressed Chen Jianmei's head. Zhang Ruoxu collected his hair into a Daoist bun, signifying the knotting of hair and the passing on of doctrine.
What had been passed on was the orthodoxy, the Dao purpose of Qing Xuan.
Finally, Zhang Ruoxu drew a mysterious rune on Chen Jianmei's forehead. The shape of a sword could be seen faintly before it disappeared.
After the completion of this act, even Grandmaster Yuan Qing who had transcended beyond the mortal world and the immortal Zhenrens who were still alive could feel the addition of a true disciple to the Qing Xuan sect.
Grandmaster Yuan Qing could send a strand of path and meaning of Dao to Chen Jianmei from beyond the mortal realm. That would belong to him alone, and if he chose not to share, no one would be able to find out about it.
[1] 葫芦－"Hu Lu" is a gourd. But in ancient Chinese context it means a gourd-shaped liquid container.