Chapter 257 Nine Sections

Wei Yuan curiously sized up the Daoist who had arrived at the Weiming Sect from a distance.

He already knew from Xuan Yi that they were transporting a treasure of the Taiping Dao, and then using this treasure to lure those evil Daoists, and then taking the opportunity to capture them. Although he was curious, he didn't know what this treasure that would attract evil Daoists in droves was.

But he didn't rush over to ask, just took a stroll around the Weiming Sect's mountain gate.

In his heart, he silently thought and recalled the altar rituals he had seen yesterday.

He also took the time to look at Zhang Xiaoyu, who was doing his morning exercises meticulously. The little guy was wearing a Daoist robe and had his hair tied in a bun, looking quite like a Daoist. After that, he had breakfast with those Daoists. At this time, Xuan Yi took the initiative to find Wei Yuan.

"Museum Director Wei, please come with me. The Daoist friend who is transporting the Taiping Dao item has arrived."

"Alright."

Wei Yuan was not surprised, nodded and got up, following Xuan Yi.

On the way, he was curious and had some doubts about the Weiming Sect's next plan. After pondering for a while, he still asked, "Xuan Yi, how do you plan to attract those evil Daoists? They can't possibly not see that this might be a trap, that there will be danger..."

Xuan Yi was very sure, and replied, "They will come."

"In fact, as long as they are still practicing the *Taiping Yaoshu* (The Essential Book of Great Peace), whether they are following the righteous path or taking a crooked path, they will not be able to resist this temptation."

Wei Yuan was surprised. It seemed that the value of the thing being escorted was even higher than he had originally anticipated. Just as he was thinking, Xuan Yi led Wei Yuan to the guest room.

Wei Yuan saw four Daoists, including Zhao Yi, resting there. A metal box was placed on the table, covered with talisman inscriptions, which looked both heavy and mysterious.

Xuan Yi nodded to the Daoists and introduced them to Wei Yuan, saying:

"These are all Daoist comrades who are acting in the special operations team, and are jointly responsible for this matter with my Weiming Sect. This is Daoist Zhao Jianbai, a disciple of the Jingming Dao, who is skilled in both talisman and inner alchemy techniques."

A Daoist in his thirties or forties, who looked calm and stern, nodded slightly, with curiosity hidden in his eyes.

He was carrying talismans, but his aura was also deep, obviously taking the path of dual cultivation. He was wearing a shirt under his Daoist robe, and had not kept his hair in a Daoist bun, but rather had short hair.

Xuan Yi then pointed to a woman with fair skin and delicate features, saying:

"Daoist Lin Li of the Shangqing Sect, is Little Lin'er's older sister."

She was a female Daoist in her twenties, smiling and nodding, her eyes clear and bright, leaning against the table, her legs slender, her black hair tied into a ponytail. Wei Yuan couldn't help but think, if this Daoist saw Xiaoyu'er, would she also draw out a talisman like Lin Ling'er?

Finally, Xuan Yi pointed to a man with an indifferent expression, saying:

"Daoist He Yangwen of the Shenxiao Sect, received his ordination last winter."

Wei Yuan's expression was slightly solemn. Daoist ordination has a special meaning. In the modern system, it represents the level of Daoist cultivation, and represents which level of altar can be used, and what level of supernatural powers can be used. For example, a Zhengyi ordained Daoist, who has just received his ordination, can already capture demons and ghosts, and perform exorcism rituals.

And a Shenxiao Sect ordained disciple represents that he has initially mastered the Shenxiao lightning techniques.

He Yangwen nodded in greeting. The three young true disciples from various families, either curious or indifferent, watched Wei Yuan next to Xuan Yi. Zhao Jianbai pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Daoist Xuan Yi, who is this?"

Xuan Yi paused slightly, and introduced, "This is Museum Director Wei, who has an old connection with my Weiming Sect."

"He will also participate in this matter."

Lin Li was surprised and smiled:

"I wonder which sect this Daoist friend is from. Museum Director, could it be that you have opened a Daoist temple?"

Wei Yuan patted the somewhat ancient zither case behind him, and smiled gently, "It's not a Daoist temple, just a folk museum. Many of those antiques have hidden secrets, which will attract some gods and ghosts. Over time, I have slowly mastered some methods. It's just that my child is in the Weiming Sect."

Lin Li was a little surprised, and nodded. Although she didn't know why the Weiming Sect would find a museum director to participate in this matter, this was, after all, one of the orthodox Daoist sects, and they believed in the Weiming Sect's vision and judgment. It seemed that this young-looking museum director should have some Daoist skills.

Wei Yuan's gaze fell on the metal box covered with talisman inscriptions, and he asked:

"Is this the Taiping Dao item?"

Lin Li replied:

"That's right."

"Anyone who cultivates the *Taiping Yaoshu* will not let go of this item."

Wei Yuan looked curious.

Lin Li simply smiled slightly and opened the box, revealing the contents inside. It was an ancient staff, and only a small part of it. There were secret inscriptions on it. The faces of the Daoists present were solemn. He Yangwen stroked the object lightly, and said slowly:

"The word '师' (*shi*, master) is rare in the Daoist school."

"The Zhengyi Dao Celestial Master, the Shangqing Sect's Grand Master, the Mysterious Master, the True Master, are passed down from generation to generation."

"This is the nine-section staff used by Zhang Jiao, the Great Virtuous Teacher of the Taiping Dao."

"In the eyes of the Taiping Dao, its status is no less than the Zhengyi Dao's hidden Male and Female Dragon Tiger Sword, or my sect's Shenxiao Jade Book. It can summon gods and subdue ghosts, and can also manage the affairs of the nine people and nine qi. It can govern all things in the world, and can save people to attain the Dao. It is a top-notch Daoist artifact."

"So they will come, even knowing there is danger."

"It's just a pity that, over the long years, the Taiping Dao's nine-section staff has also been broken and lost its supernatural powers."

"And the *Taiping Yaoshu* was originally an orthodox Daoist scripture, but some descendants were unworthy, unable to endure the hardship of cultivating and saving the world, and took shortcuts. It's a pity that, after the Great Virtuous Teacher died, the Yellow Turban Army lost its original spirit and degenerated into bandits. And now his inheritance is also like this..."

He Yangwen spoke of ancient cultivators, his tone full of regret and emotion, and he spoke more.

Wei Yuan suddenly noticed a trace of abnormality, and subconsciously raised his hand to gently touch the nine-section staff. The pupils in his eyes suddenly contracted slightly, and he saw the patterns on the nine-section staff begin to move rapidly. The faces of Xuan Yi, Lin Li, and others in front of him instantly became blurred.

Another voice came from the nine-section staff.

…………

"Child, sob sob sob, Master, please save my child..."

A mother was crying, holding a child of only three or four years old.

Wei Yuan barely raised his head, and saw that he had become that child, saw the crying young woman, saw the dilapidated house, and then another hand reached over and pressed on 'his' head. Wei Yuan turned his head and saw that it was a figure with his back to the light. When he squatted down, he saw that it was a young Daoist.

He was wearing a patched Daoist robe, not very tall, and his face was a little chubby.

He had two dimples when he smiled.

He took out a yellow talisman and dissolved it in water, letting 'Wei Yuan' drink it, and then nagged like an old nanny:

"The child's body is a little weak. After getting through this, you have to pay attention. You also have to pay special attention to your diet..." He paused, looked around, reached out and rummaged in his arms, took out a pocket, poured out half of the grain inside to the mother and child, thought for a while, and poured out a little more.

He smiled and said, "Live well."

The young woman was grateful. The young Daoist with a chubby face scratched his head and earnestly comforted, "My Great Han Dynasty has a long history. There was the Guangwu Restoration. Now the years are a little bad, but things will definitely get better in the future."

He squatted down and looked at the groggy child, smiled, and then rummaged again, took out an egg, rubbed it, and stuffed it into the child's hand, patting the child on the head, "This is the last egg, I'll give it to you, little guy, grow up well."

There were also two young Daoists squatting at the door.

The Daoist who applied the yellow talisman walked out.

Wei Yuan, holding the egg, vaguely saw another thin Daoist bowing his head and saying something to the young Daoist. He wanted to hear clearly, and he really heard clearly—

"Brother, where are we going next?"

The young Daoist thought for a while and replied, "Follow this road."

"The years are bad. We can't waste our Daoist skills. We'll treat the people along the way..."

Another young man said sullenly, "But, Brother, the court is corrupt now. Why don't you use your Daoist skills to rectify the court?"

The young man smiled in surprise:

"I'm just a Daoist from the mountains. What court am I going to enter? I'm not the material at all. Besides, the Great Han dragon energy is strong. You want me to become an official, are you trying to harm my Daoist skills? No, no, the Daoist school has precepts. We must stay away from human disputes. First, we cannot participate in the struggle for supremacy. Second, we cannot touch human fortune."

"Even Marquis Liu only cultivated after his national and family hatred was over and done with."

"If you want to go, go yourself. Don't disturb my ascension."

The young Daoist scolded with a smile. Seeing that his two younger brothers were unconvinced, he said sternly again:

"Besides, my Great Han Dynasty has a long history. I once observed the dragon energy. The Great Han dragon vein is still stable. The affairs of the court are just a minor illness. As long as we get through this suffering, the day of revival will surely come."

Another Daoist scratched his head and sighed, "Okay, then what should we do?"

The young Daoist said earnestly, "Heal the sick, save people."

"When the world is clear, we'll go back to the mountains, save some money to open a small Daoist temple, take in a few little Daoists, pass down the Dharma, and then the little Daoists will heal the sick, save people, when the world is peaceful save some money, then open a Daoist temple, and then take in a little Daoist..."

The second brother next to him couldn't help but hang his head dejectedly: "Petty!"

"Can't you be a little more ambitious, always thinking about going back to the mountains to open a Daoist temple, can't you have some ambition?"

"Ah, no, I can't."

The young Daoist shook his head very simply.

"I think it's fun to open a Daoist temple and raise a few little Daoists."

"I don't have any other thoughts in this life."

The two brothers next to him were stunned. This was such a lack of ambition that they couldn't wait to dig a hole and bury their eldest brother.

The young Daoist looked smug, and picked up the staff leaning against the door.

Noticing something, he turned his head, grinned at the child staring at him, and waved his hand. The young Daoist had a chubby face, with two dimples when he smiled. The nine-section staff in his hand had secret inscriptions, and a hundred-family cloth obtained by begging was tied to the bottom of the nine-section staff.

Among them, a yellow turban fluttered, rising with the wind, as if connected to the sky.

Reflected in Wei Yuan's eyes.

"Museum Director Wei? What's wrong, Museum Director Wei?"

Wei Yuan woke up suddenly.

Opening his eyes, he subconsciously took a step back. Next to him, Xuan Yi placed a hand on his shoulder, looking at him with concern. Seeing Wei Yuan open his eyes, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Museum Director Wei, what were you thinking about... You just stared blankly when you saw this nine-section staff."

Wei Yuan lowered his head and looked at the part of the nine-section staff.

It was exactly the same as the one in the young Daoist's hand in the picture just now, but it was more ancient, as if it had been washed by thousands of years, becoming heavy and vicissitudes, which made his eyes slightly change. Lin Li and others next to him raised their eyebrows slightly. Just now, this young museum director had fallen into a trance when he touched the nine-section staff.

Something seemed wrong.

Then they saw the young museum director lower his head, staring at the nine-section staff. He Yangwen noticed the change in his expression, and was slightly stunned. That kind of look almost made him think of the ancestors in his family wiping the long sword they had used, looking at the traces on the sword and lamenting that the years were gone and the sword was no longer what it used to be.

It was like a moment of emotion.

So 'you' are already so old.

Because of this subtle expression, and the ancient and old nine-section staff, the aura of the young museum director changed, inexplicably reminding people of the scene of old friends reuniting, the two looking at each other, but one was already old and dying, and the other was still young.

This change was fleeting, almost making them think they had seen it wrong.

The nine-section staff was as ancient as ever, and the museum director was as young as before, answering gently:

"I just didn't expect to see the nine-section staff, so I was a little lost..."

"After all, it is such a treasure."

Xuan Yi didn't think much about it.

A moment later, everyone agreed on the departure time. Wei Yuan returned to his residence, his heart heavy. The scene of touching the nine-section staff just now was similar to seeing the memories of the past when exorcising ghosts, but this time it was different. The perspective he saw was not the perspective of the artifact, but of the child who was treated by the yellow talisman.

And that young Daoist holding the nine-section staff was probably Zhang Jiao, who first walked the world.

He founded the Taiping Dao and was known as the Great Virtuous Teacher.

Wei Yuan suddenly thought of a possibility that he had subconsciously ignored. After a little pondering, he briefly ignored Wuzhiqi, who might be in a rage, opened his phone, quickly found Nujiao, and pressed his finger:

"Witch, how many times does the reincarnation effect of the West Kunlun Immortal Flower have?!"

A moment later.

Witch Nujiao:

"Guess?"

ps: Today's first update, three thousand eight hundred words...

It seems that the schedule has been successfully stabilized. I hope it will last at least a week, sigh.

Thanks to Alliance Leader Killer Saint Monk, thank you~