◎ Stick to a Routine, and Habits Will Form Automatically ◎
In the open space in front of the Teaching Pavilion, with the Eight Trigrams Array at its center, bamboo mats were neatly arranged.
The four mentor masters stood at the forefront, wearing Eight Trigrams robes and Daoist caps.
Especially the master of runes, Li Dao Wei. Despite his white hair, he had no wrinkles on his face, his spirit was vibrant.
Five years ago, he had entered the Nascent Divinity stage. He could traverse the world with his divine sense, making him the foremost among the outer sect.
Accompanied by Senior Brother Xu Rui, Lin Shuang arrived here. When she saw Master Li Dao Wei standing in the lead, a sense of quiet joy appeared on her face.
In the previous rune lesson, her grades had progressed by exactly one place.
Master Chen had even nodded and smiled at her.
A good impression of the main examiner √
Thinking about this, Lin Shuang chose a bamboo mat on the outermost edge as usual – it was situated near the entrance, making it easier to leave. She sat cross-legged.
In just a short while, Zhao Keran, who had just finished the rune examination, spotted her and turned to come over.
She aimed to sit beside her Senior Sister.
However, Lin Shuang waved her hand directly at Zhao Keran.
“Young Junior Sister, you don’t need to follow me. Sit in your usual spot in the front row.”
If it were a normal day, Zhao Keran would have obediently complied.
As one of the most outstanding outer sect disciples over the past two years, the mentor masters paid special attention to her, often providing extra guidance during class. Following her Senior Sister’s advice, sitting in the first row was indeed more convenient.
But now, she felt aggrieved, “Senior Sister, do you find my ranking in the assessments too high, attracting too much attention? Sitting next to you might lead to crowding and affect your speed when you leave later?”
Zhao Keran had a sudden realization!
“…”
Lin Shuang’s fingertips paused.
As kids grow up, they indeed become more difficult to trick.
“Correct.”
Zhao Keran: “…”
Senior Sister is so straightforward!
Back when she was immature, she didn’t grasp the essence of “Fastest Cultivation,” and she went all out in every assessment, inadvertently ending up in the top three!
Now, she was being despised by Senior Sister, sigh.
Zhao Keran walked away with a sense of grievance, but she still turned back and waved to Zhou Xuanwu, who was also silently moving toward Lin Shuang.
“Senior Brother Zhou, you can come sit with me in the first row too. Don’t slow down Senior Sister’s speed when she leaves later.”
Zhou Xuanwu, who intended to sit on Lin Shuang’s left, froze in his tracks.
Senior Brother Xu Rui, who had planned to say a few words of advice, turned his head away and walked quickly to the mentor masters’ side. He didn’t want to hear the nonsensical conversation between the two sisters anymore.
The twelfth bell from the bell tower rang.
Looking over, the area in front of the Teaching Pavilion was full of disciple figures, quite spectacular.
Li Dao Wei stepped forward, stroking his white beard, and solemnly said, “Those without true Dao hearts are possessed by delusional thoughts. Once encountering impurity, they’ll sink into the sea of bitterness and forever lose the true Dao.”
“Today’s Heart Examination is to measure the hundred-year Dao hearts of all of you.”
Having said that, he made a hand seal, activating the Eight Trigrams Array in front of the Teaching Pavilion.
A golden light shot up into the sky, splitting into one, two, and two into four, multiplying like the creation of all things, falling into the foreheads of every seated disciple.
“Remember, if you can remain serene, the world will return to its original state, and the great Dao will ultimately be achieved.”
“The examination of the heart begins!”
Golden light enveloped them, causing a glimmer of light to appear on the foreheads of all the disciples, who then closed their eyes.
Li Dao Wei nodded, looking at the elders and management on both sides, “Everyone has entered the Heart Array. Let’s also enter to observe.”
As he spoke, he took a step with his spiritual consciousness, touched a few others, and together they flew towards the formation.
When Xu Rui and the elders opened their eyes, they saw the disciples hovering above, and fragments of light resembling shards of glass whirling around them, reflecting the blurry expressions of the disciples.
Within the formation, time swiftly passed.
With their eyes closed disciples experienced decades passing in their hearts.
“For those disciples whose cultivation has rapidly increased, we must pay particular attention. Additionally, we mustn’t overlook those whose rankings are lower; there have been cases in the past of them leaving the sect and falling into evil cultivation.”
Li Dao Wei instructed, and the others nodded in agreement.
Upon hearing this, Senior Brother Xu Rui also worriedly delved into Lin Shuang’s hundred-year Dao heart.
Her strength exceeded what she had demonstrated in their previous battle which led to her successful Qi Refining stage.
How had she broken through her cultivation under the watchful eyes of the masters and senior brothers and sisters of the Teaching Pavilion?
Curious and concerned, Senior Brother Xu Rui scanned the disciples’ hearts, but his attention was drawn to the front row.
He saw within the light of the disciples in the front row, a small figure resembling Zhou Xuanwu. His demeanor remained aloof, and snippets of scenes from his early morning practice quickly flashed by like a carousel.
Senior Brother Xu Rui nodded inwardly.
Junior Brother Zhou’s Dao heart was resolute, and a promising future lay ahead.
“Xiao Lan, I’m finally back. Hoo… so tired. Senior Brother Xu Rui insisted on talking to me; I’ve been exhausted…”
Senior Brother Xu Rui: “?”
“Wait! Did I say something that annoyed Senior Brother Xu Rui again? I can’t speak now. What should I do? What should I do?”
Zhou Xuanwu’s heart, portrayed as a small figure, turned gentle when looking at the orchids in the room.
Blushing, flustered, embarrassed, conflicted.
In the blink of an eye, ten years passed.
“Ah, I finally entered the Inner Sect! Senior Brother Xu Rui, goodbye, I won’t have to be questioned by Senior Brother Xu Rui anymore!”
“But wait, now that I’m in the Inner Sect, will Senior Brother Xu Rui still send me long-distance messages? Oh no, I better start seclusion quickly.”
Xu Rui: “…”
Twenty years passed.
“The taste of seclusion is so nice. I don’t have to talk to anyone, and I feel so relaxed.”
“Huh? A transmission from Senior Brother Xu Rui? Well, back to seclusion for another ten years!”
Thirty years passed.
“Fantastic, I’m all alone again. Even Xu Rui Senior Brother can’t find me, hehe.”
“Well, back to seclusion…”
Xu Rui: “…!”
His gentle gaze shattered.
Junior Brother Zhou!
He tremblingly withdrew his gaze from the self-contained mental state of Zhou Xuanwu, who went into seclusion and came out, went into seclusion, and came out again.
He turned his attention to Zhao Keran’s century-long mental state beside him.
Like a revolving lantern, her mental figure and Lin Shuang were seen cleaning the wooden house together, cultivating together, and chatting while eating together.
Lin Shuang stood in front of her, radiant like the sun, emitting a radiant glow, her face so bright that it was almost indistinguishable.
When they walked into the Transmitting Hall for the early lesson, Lin Shuang’s figure was even taller and broader than that young lad Zhou Xuanwu, towering with broad shoulders.
The corner of Xu Rui’s mouth twitched.
Junior Sister Zhao…
“Indeed, the mental states of this group of disciples over the past forty years are still acceptable,” Master Li stroked his beard and said with a smile.
Xu Rui took a deep breath.
Elder Chen, are you sure?
He looked up and saw many disciples dutifully fulfilling their tasks, cultivating, and his heart eased slightly.
Thank goodness.
There are still normal people in the Outer Sect!
Finally, Xu Rui turned his gaze to Lin Shuang, mentally preparing for something extraordinary.
“Happy Teachers’ Day, Masters.”
Lin Shuang’s heart’s miniature figure went about its routine: cultivating, meditating, reading, eating, playing, resting, and napping throughout the year.
On every festive occasion, she silently greeted the masters outside the Teaching Pavilion.
On every celebratory occasion, she silently greeted them outside the Transmitting Hall.
But what’s Teachers’ Day…?
Unknowingly, the four Transmitting Hall Masters had also approached her.
Li Dao Wei and the others exchanged glances, their gazes flickering in unison.
“Teachers’ Day is a day to express gratitude to the masters for their contributions to the field of education,” Lin Shuang’s heart’s miniature figure seemed to have heard something, and she spontaneously answered.
Xu Rui was stunned.
Li Dao Wei and the other four Masters had a glint in their old eyes.
She had spontaneously established a festive day, expressing gratitude to her Masters for their teachings, celebrating it on the tenth day of the ninth month along with the New Year and Lantern Festival.
“She’s a good child, even though her progress in cultivation isn’t fast…” Master Chen, who taught sword techniques, was moved.
Li Dao Wei shook his head in agreement, “In the past three years, she has moved up one to three places in my symbol class each time. Although not fast, she’s steadily improving, and her future is promising.”
“Huh? How coincidental, she’s the same with me.” The master who taught techniques blurted out in surprise.
Li Dao Wei was taken aback and before he could speak, another voice of surprise emerged.
“Huh? Are you sure? Is she like this with all of you?”
The master who taught heart techniques declared loftily, “I thought it was my excellent teaching. She advances three ranks every month under my guidance.”
“…”
“…………”
The four masters exchanged glances, confirming each other’s experiences, all falling silent.
Senior Brother Xu Rui touched his forehead.
Junior Sister Lin Shuang, what kind of existence are you exactly?
Li Dao Wei’s mouth twitched. He immediately performed a hand gesture, casting a golden light spell that flew into the heart-reading Eight Trigrams array.
Instantly, within the disciples’ hearts, their cultivation skyrocketed. They swiftly advanced from the Qi Refining peak to Foundation Establishment, and then rapidly into Nascent Formation, becoming Inner Sect elites, and eventually becoming Elders—
Within the array, numerous disciples rejoiced and celebrated, inviting friends to join in the festivities.
Lin Shuang continued her routine of cultivating, meditating, reading, and napping, and the cycle repeated day after day.
“Happy New Year, Masters.”
…
“…Happy Teachers’ Day, Masters.”
Li Dao Wei cast another spell, and within the array, a calamity befell the disciples. Their realms dropped, from Nascent Formation to Foundation Establishment, then to Qi Refining—
Several cries of anguish resounded, and many closed themselves off, skipping morning and evening practices.
Lin Shuang wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and continued to cultivate, meditate, read, nap, and the cycle repeated day after day.
“Happy New Year, Masters.”
…
“…Happy Teachers’ Day, Masters.”
Li Dao Wei’s brows twitched. Once again, he cast a spell into the array, causing a multitude of disciples to watch as their newly arrived junior brothers received spirit herbs and treasures, bestowed heavenly-level techniques by the elders—
Numerous disciples’ hearts swayed with envy and jealousy, unable to find tranquility.
But Lin Shuang simply greeted them with a wave, continuing to cultivate, meditate, read, nap, and the cycle repeated day after day.
“…Happy Teachers’ Day, Masters…”
She continued this for her thirtieth year.
And for her forty-fourth year.
And even for her ninety-ninth and one-hundredth year!
The observing Elders before the array were touched, their eyes shining with understanding.
Whether becoming great beings or sinking into the mire, whether standing out alone or being overshadowed by others, she never forgot her Dao heart, wishing them a Happy Teachers’ Day for a hundred years!
The four masters had guarded the Outer Sect Transmitting Hall for decades, guiding countless talented disciples into the Inner Sect.
But never before had they seen a disciple who, after advancing, still remembered the teachings she received in the Outer Sect, lingering in the Outer Sect, and coming back every year.
Only Lin Shuang was like this.
Their hearts were stirred, unable to contain their excitement.
“This girl, even if her talent is low, I shall still teach her with all my might!”
“How to repay? Only by giving our all.”
“Excellent! It should be like this!”
Even Xu Rui, who was burdened with the Eight Trigrams Sword, couldn’t help but be moved.
But as he was contemplating, within the Heart-Checking Eight Trigrams Array, a rolling white mist, brimming with spiritual energy, shot into Lin Shuang’s eyebrows.
Xu Rui was shaken and was about to draw his sword when he heard the elders behind him stopping him.
“It’s the gift of the Heart-Checking!”
A steadfast heart, as resolute as ever, consistent over a hundred years.
A character of the highest order.
The Heart-Checking Array rewards such conviction!
Soon, two smaller clusters of white mist surged into Zhou Xuanwu’s and Zhao Keran’s brows.
The seclusion king, a sister’s controller master.
Regardless of sorrow or joy, their character remained unchanged.
However, with a weakness in their hearts, depending on others—a character of a lower order.
The Heart-Checking Array also rewarded such individuals!
Xu Rui was pleasantly surprised.
The four elders were also filled with joy. They hadn’t expected more than one disciple to receive the array’s blessing.
“These disciples are only a bit inferior to me back in the day. Haha!” Li Dao Wei laughed heartily.
But just as he finished speaking, a painful cry erupted from Lin Shuang’s mouth.
“Ah…”
Her eyelashes quivered, and she suddenly broke free from the hundred-year Heart-Checking Array.
Everything that had transpired felt like a fleeting dream. Her expression was both confused and radiant, but she quickly pressed her brow, wracked with pain.
“Wait, evening isn’t part of my cultivation schedule! Who lacks martial virtue and casually throws spiritual energy at me, forcing me to break through…”
Xu Rui: “…………”
The elders: “???”
Author’s Note:
Lin Shuang: At that time, I wanted to refuse.
【Memoirs of the 134th generation head of Clearwater Sect, Entry 16: Those days, I gradually understood why Sister looked at me with such a complex and pleased expression when my assessment results skyrocketed. Sister, who concealed her strength, must have been thinking: I can’t sit at the same table with my ‘overly conspicuous’ junior sister anymore, right? Regretful.】
– Lin Shuang’s annotation many years later at the very end: Blame it on the brilliance of the academic tyrant, it’s too dazzling.
– Zhao Keran’s annotation later on this sentence: I’m so happy to be praised by Sister. I will continue to work hard~~~
– Zhou Xuanwu’s annotation later on this sentence: You’re wrong, Sister Zhao. Your sister intended to prevent you from being blinded by her brilliance as an academic tyrant. Hope you understand.
– Zhao Keran’s final annotation: ????
