The Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace has a long heritage, reportedly spanning five to six thousand years of history.
In terms of combat and killing skills, they're not considered the best, but they excel at teaching their disciples, emphasizing the cultivation of the heart and mind, with historically seven ancestors having ascended.
Moreover, among them was one who specialized in refining the heart and mind, achieving enlightenment as a mortal and reaching unprecedented heights, a rarity in the history of the entire Xianxia world.
Thus, cultivators outside often speak of the Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace with some admiration, considering them pure cultivators rather than those who kill for mere petty benefits.
Given their reputation, many naturally wish to join the Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace, but this sect remains quite low-key; typical cultivators don't even know where their mountain gate is, and often give up in frustration after searching in vain.
The conditions for choosing disciples are also stringent, often depending on their members traveling the world, choosing disciples based on personal preference without any centralized or batch recruitment, relying entirely on fate.
Chu Xuan, when in Langhuan Grotto Heaven, had imagined that if he were not taken as a disciple by Primordial Monarch Taixu, joining the Cyan Lotus Palace would have been a good alternative.
Of course, he hadn't thought about this over the past few days, as it was too elusive, nearly impossible to find.
At this moment in the Immortal Viewing Pavilion, upon suddenly seeing a middle-aged Taoist with a red face wearing the Cyan Lotus Dao robe, Chu Xuan was quite taken aback.
Seeing Chu Xuan reveal his origin, the middle-aged Taoist did not seem surprised, merely nodding to him with a smile.
Chu Xuan immediately stepped forward, slightly bowed, and saluted, "Greetings, senior."
Before he could say more, the Taoist remarked, "I have already heard about your situation from Mu Sheng."
"Now that you have come to pay respects, I can roughly guess your thoughts; very well, stretch out your hand first."
With heart pounding, Chu Xuan obeyed and extended his right hand.
The Taoist gently grasped his pulse, closing his eyes to sense the condition within his body.
Quickly, the Taoist's brows furrowed tightly, causing Chu Xuan's heart to sink slowly.
Soon the middle-aged Taoist released his hand, shook his head, "The one who acted had exceedingly high cultivation; you were naturally talented, but he not only destroyed your Dao foundation but also ruined your Dantian and all your meridians."
"Frankly, I don't know how you survived in such a condition; perhaps the person's realm is beyond my imagination, achieving this effect of injury without death."
"I am powerless to heal your injuries."
Chu Xuan opened his lips slightly, wanting to say more, but the Taoist continued, "The Daoist Palace won't accept you."
"In our sect, potential is not the primary consideration when selecting disciples; even if you were physically intact, you might not be accepted."
Chu Xuan hesitated, finally said with difficulty, "I have heard that your sect has a lineage specializing in refining the heart, where even a mortal body has a chance to achieve enlightenment."
The middle-aged Taoist did not mock Chu Xuan's "wishful thinking" but seriously replied:
"There is such a lineage, but even within our sect, those who tread this path are few and far between, with only one successful case, which happened over three thousand years ago."
"No matter the circumstances, even if you wish to pursue this path, someone must be willing to take you as a disciple."
His words made it clear that the middle-aged Taoist had no intention of accepting Chu Xuan as a disciple.
He was rather patient, as he could have easily left without explaining so much to a cripple.
Chu Xuan stood stunned, despair evident in his eyes.
The Taoist said no more, just bowed to He Musheng and instructed him on a few matters before riding the clouds eastward with the young girl beside him.
Perhaps noticing Chu Xuan's pitiful state, the young girl still turned back to glance at him while on the cloud.
He Yao, seeing Brother Chu in such a manner, was also unwilling to leave, and wanted to console him a bit, suddenly!
With a sudden burst, Chu Xuan ran out the door, actually chasing in the southeast direction.
"Hey, Brother Chu, where are you going!" He Yao also couldn't help wanting to chase after him.
But after running a few steps, he was caught by his teacher.
"Teacher! Why are you doing this, his injuries haven't healed yet!"
Seeing his disciple's eagerness, He Musheng sighed, shook his head slightly, "Let him go, this man is deeply obsessed, won't give up until reaching the Yellow River, won't turn back until hitting a wall."
"Even if you chased him, it wouldn't stop him."
He Yao froze in place; after several days of interaction, he knew clearly that his teacher was right.
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Chu Xuan certainly wasn't trying to force the middle-aged Taoist to accept him.
His idea was simple; if the Taoist won't take him, maybe someone else will? With so many people in the Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace, surely there must be someone willing.
As long as he could find the mountain gate of the Dao Palace, there was still hope!
Though the chances were very slim, Chu Xuan refused to give up.
His path forward was already blocked; this was his final straw of hope, and if he missed today, the future seemed utterly bleak...
"Teacher, are we not going to care about him?" The red-clad girl couldn't help but glance back once more, clearly noticing the pale young man chasing after them.
"No, he will give up," the middle-aged Taoist replied calmly.
Soon, Chu Xuan lost them entirely; his speed was much too slow to compete with their flight on clouds.
However, Chu Xuan did not give up, as if reverting to how he was when pursuing the Immortal Viewing Pavilion previously.
In his eyes, only the cloud that had already vanished mattered, Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace, Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace, I must reach it.
...
Thus, Chu Xuan trekked day and night, through day and night.
He nearly did not eat or drink, nor sleep nor rest.
Yet for some reason, he could not die; despite his body being severely weakened, lips cracked, he remained alive.
Since he survived, he had to reach the Dao Palace.
And so he walked for an indeterminate time; on the road, he accidentally tripped on something, falling hard and breaking his head and bleeding.
This fall slightly awoke him from his muddled state.
Chu Xuan looked around blankly; the wilderness stretched around, with a small river winding not far away, and in the distance were layers of blue mountain silhouettes.
Lying on the ground, after slightly regaining some strength, he struggled to stand again.
But just then, a figure walked past him.
Chu Xuan raised his head in surprise; it was a man dressed in a blue aquamarine outfit, his long hair tied with a silk thread, his handsome features tinged with a touch of world-weariness.
He seemed to come from afar, yet was spotless, even his boots were clean and tidy.
This man had a unique aura; upon them meeting, it was as if he were the center of the universe, with the world revolving around him, not merely a part of the world's cycle.