The two walked out of the treasury and headed toward the main peak along the bluestone path.
Along the way, True Lord Linghan unhurriedly explained the Jieqing Sect's rules to the young girl beside him.
The Jieqing Sect had been established for ten thousand years and maintained strict regulations.
It had tens of thousands of Disciples, with clear distinctions between their ranks.
Those who had yet to condense a dao chess piece were all Outer Sect Disciples.
Once they broke through the threshold and stepped into the Chess Master Realm, they would stand out and be promoted to the inner Sect, receiving the Sect's profound techniques.
If their cultivation could advance further, reaching above the level of Chess-Player Four-Piece, and they possessed outstanding talent, they would have the Opportunity to be taken in by the Elders of various peaks as Personal Disciples.
At this stage, they no longer needed to concern themselves with the Sect's mundane affairs and could focus solely on cultivating the Great Dao.
As for the great Cultivators who reached above Eight Chess Pieces of Strategy...
...they were qualified to serve as Sect deacons or even Elders, holding high positions and great power.
While they spoke, the two passed through a purple bamboo forest.
The view ahead suddenly opened up.
A magnificent complex of halls and palaces was built against the mountain.
Blue bricks, green tiles, and upturned eaves.
From time to time, Cultivators in various colored Daoist robes could be seen riding the wind between the buildings.
From deep within the complex, the sounds of intense debate could be heard, accompanied by the clashing of Daoist energies, creating a lively atmosphere.
"Before us is the Jieqing Sect's sacred ground for teaching the law, the Hall of Dao Discussion."
True Lord Linghan stopped and pointed ahead.
"In the Sect's Legacy, the most important thing is the cultivation and teaching of the law. Most Inner Sect Disciples' daily studies take place here."
"Elders and deacons from each peak also regularly hold lectures in the hall to answer the Disciples' questions."
Seeing Jiang Yuechu's gaze linger, appearing somewhat interested...
...True Lord Linghan smiled slightly. "If you are interested, Junior Friend, why not go in and listen for a while?"
Jiang Yuechu withdrew her gaze and looked at him with some doubt.
"Is that really okay?"
Although she had heard him say earlier that her status as a Registered Guest Elder allowed her to access the Jieqing Sect's Cultivation Techniques and texts for free...
...she was, after all, an outsider.
Walking into such a Sect stronghold to listen in so openly—wouldn't that invite more trouble?
Anyway, with her Golden Finger, practicing slowly on her own would yield the same results.
Why look for trouble?
Hearing this, True Lord Linghan stroked his beard and laughed heartily.
"It's nothing... You are now a Registered Guest Elder of our Jieqing Sect. Naturally, you can enter the Hall of Dao Discussion."
"Come, I will take you inside to have a look."
...
They entered one of the large halls.
The hall was extremely spacious, with bluestone flooring and several thick spiritual wooden pillars supporting the vaulted ceiling.
It was silent inside.
Only a grey-robed old man sat on a high platform, slowly reciting Daoist incantations.
On the prayer mats below, hundreds of Jieqing Sect Inner Sect Disciples sat, all listening intently.
The noise of the two crossing the threshold was not loud.
Yet it still drew the attention of the old man on the high platform.
The sound of the lecture came to an abrupt halt.
Seeing the Elder stop...
...the hundreds of Disciples in the hall also turned their gazes in unison, looking toward the door in confusion.
Being stared at by so many eyes...
...True Lord Linghan's expression tightened slightly, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his face.
He gave a dry cough and quickly walked forward.
Arriving at the side of the platform, True Lord Linghan leaned into the old man's ear and whispered a few words.
The old man's slightly furrowed brow gradually relaxed.
He stroked his beard and nodded, his gaze falling once more on Jiang Yuechu at the door, his eyes showing a bit more warmth: "Since it is Guest Elder Jiang, please feel free to take a seat."
As soon as these words were spoken...
...a suppressed commotion immediately broke out in the hall.
A Guest Elder?
How long had it been since the Jieqing Sect had a Guest Elder?
Moreover, this woman looked young; how could she possibly be worthy of the position of Guest Elder?
The Disciples whispered among themselves, discussing in low voices.
However, out of respect for the Elder on the platform, no one dared to make a loud noise.
Jiang Yuechu's expression remained unchanged.
Seeing True Lord Linghan give her a slight nod, she nonchalantly wove through the crowd, went straight to the last row of the hall, found an empty prayer mat, and sat down cross-legged.
True Lord Linghan quickly walked back, intending to sit on the prayer mat beside Jiang Yuechu to accompany her.
Suddenly...
...his movements paused.
A jade talisman hanging from his waist flickered with an urgent light.
True Lord Linghan's expression changed slightly as his Divine Sense probed into the jade talisman.
A moment later...
...he turned his head and approached Jiang Yuechu apologetically, whispering, "Junior Friend Jiang... a message from the Sect has arrived; there are urgent matters requiring my presence for a meeting... I must trouble you to listen to the lecture here for now."
"Once I have handled the Sect's urgent business, I will return to fetch you and arrange your residence and Guest Elder identity jade plaque."
"Mhm."
Receiving the girl's reply, True Lord Linghan stood up again, cupped his hands to the old man on the platform, and turned to hurry out of the hall.
Seeing that the Disciples below were still whispering...
...the grey-robed old man frowned slightly and scanned the area below with a calm gaze.
"Silence."
The Disciples felt a chill in their hearts and quickly shut their mouths, sitting upright.
Curiosity was one thing...
...but Elder Taizhen usually lived in seclusion and rarely gave lectures.
To have his Excellency personally resolve their doubts today was an Opportunity extremely rare even in the entire Jieqing Sect.
If they annoyed the Elder due to a momentary distraction and were kicked out of the Hall of Dao Discussion, that would be a true loss.
Elder Taizhen nodded slightly as he saw the hall return to peace.
He withdrew his gaze and continued from where he had left off in an unhurried tone.
"Just now, we were discussing Spiritual Methods. These so-called Spiritual Methods transcend the cages of standard techniques and are not restricted by the flow of energy."
"Techniques seek form, Divine Abilities seek intent, but Spiritual Methods seek the principles of heaven and earth. With a single thought, ten thousand laws arise; with a single thought, ten thousand laws perish. To draw the momentum of heaven and earth for one's own use and to hide the mechanisms of creation within one's heart—this is the mystery of Spiritual Methods."
The old man spoke in a steady tone, explaining eloquently.
The hundreds of Disciples in the hall all held their breath and focused, afraid of missing a single word.
Jiang Yuechu sat cross-legged at the very back, resting her chin on one hand, listening quietly.
She already had only a partial understanding of the current cultivation system, so she was listening quite seriously now.
Elder Taizhen's gaze swept over the crowd as he continued.
"Spiritual Methods are certainly precious, and only Personal Disciples have the chance to learn them. However, the Great Dao shares the same source, and different paths lead to the same destination. Even if your cultivation is still shallow, if you can comprehend a bit of the many heavenly principles contained within Spiritual Methods, it will be of immeasurable benefit to your current cultivation."
"Within our Jieqing Sect, there is a technique called the 'Six-Cycle Heavenly Flow.' The method of the Six-Cycle Heavenly Flow is formless like water, with surging undercurrents, resembling the flow of the Heavenly River as a hundred rivers enter the sea."
"Although it does not belong to the category of Spiritual Methods, it is already close to that level."
"If you can ponder this technique alongside your study of standard techniques, you will surely be able to glimpse a sliver of the true meaning of Spiritual Methods."
..."
Upon hearing this...
...many Disciples' expressions changed slightly, and they glanced at each other, all seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes.