My Master’s Daoist Heart is Unstable - Chapter 1

Shen Guanfu knew he had failed again. He felt his physical body and Primordial Spirit being torn apart and crushed, piece by piece.

The first few times, the soul-searing pain of the Heavenly Thunder might have made him scream in agony. But after this, he had lost count of how many—failed ascension, the pain had grown numb and hazy.

It was a pity, though, that he had never seen the scene of his own soul scattering and spirit dispersing.

He vaguely recalled someone mentioning that when the soul and spirit scatter, the Primordial Spirit resembles a shower of starlight, ethereal and dreamlike, the most beautiful sight of all.

Shen Guanfu figured he must be losing his mind to even have the leisure to think about such things.

As the last shred of consciousness finally dissolved, his Primordial Spirit instantly shattered. Specks of starlight drifted apart, and with a single brush of the mist, nothing remained.

The next moment, he opened his eyes. Unsurprisingly, he had been reborn.

His brow furrowed slightly. His pale face was like the first snow of winter. He lowered his head and murmured, “Is this the Child of Destiny chosen by the Heavenly Dao…?”

After his first rebirth, he had flattered himself that he was perhaps the chosen one of fate—that even in failure, the Heavenly Dao had graced him with another chance to ascend.

But after one, two… countless failures, even a fool could tell something was wrong.

He had naturally tried to find the reason for his own countless rebirths, but had always been clueless. Finally, during his most recent ascension attempt, he had managed to glimpse a sliver of the Heavenly Dao’s secrets: this world actually harbored some damn Child of Destiny, and only after that person ascended could anyone else do so.

Shen Guanfu had always been exceptionally gifted, his Dao heart unwavering. From the moment he joined the sect, his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, unimpeded. Everyone said he was the most promising candidate for ascension in a millennium, and he himself had taken this as a given. Now, however, it seemed utterly ironic.

So be it, he thought. At least I’ve found the reason.

The laws of the Heavenly Dao were strict and insurmountable. He had already endured this cycle of rebirth numerous times; what was one more? He would simply follow the Heavenly Dao’s decree and let the Child of Destiny ascend first. It would only cost him some time, and time was the one thing he had in abundance.

With that decision made, he instantly transformed into a speck of light and shot toward the sect’s outer gates.

“There’s no need to go, Chu Cheng. Your Ancestor has already sent me a jade slip.”

Inside the sect’s main hall, Sect Master Jin Youdao raised a hand to stop his eldest disciple, who was about to set off to prepare for the Disciple Acceptance Ceremony.

Between his fingers, Jin Youdao held the jade slip that had just arrived, still carrying a faint, piercing chill. He quickly scanned its contents with his divine sense.

The hint of excitement that “the Ancestor is finally taking the initiative to send a message” had just begun to surface on his face, only to be replaced by a sigh of mingled surprise and regret as he read the last few lines of the jade slip.

He had hoped to take advantage of the Ancestor’s impending ascension to try one last time, during this Disciple Acceptance Ceremony, to persuade him to take on a disciple to inherit his lineage. He was, of course, overjoyed that the Ancestor, who had always been devoted solely to cultivation, was finally willing to accept a disciple. However, he hadn’t expected the Ancestor to already have a chosen candidate. The hopes of the carefully selected disciples would be dashed once again.

Oh well, it’s good that he’s willing to take a disciple at all.

Following the calculated coordinates, Shen Guanfu descended upon a location in a mortal realm. Without an object belonging to the target, he couldn’t use his tracking techniques, which made things rather tricky. He also didn’t know the person’s exact age, which was even more troublesome.

With a flick of his sleeve, a jade tablet instantly transformed into a streak of white light and vanished into the sky.

At that moment, a Daoist priest of Qianqing Temple was meditating. Upon seeing the jade tablet, he was so startled that he nearly rolled off his prayer mat. This tablet had been passed down through generations of Daoist priests, and it had never glowed in the hands of dozens of predecessors. Daoist Priest Changchun never expected that the Immortal Master would actually manifest his divine presence during his lifetime.

Suppressing his inner excitement, he carefully read the instructions left on the jade tablet and immediately began issuing orders.

This is a grand opportunity! The Immortal Master is going to accept disciples in our capital!

Inside the Marquis’s Mansion, a maidservant with her hair in twin buns leaned close to a woman’s ear and whispered, “Madam, I’ve made all the arrangements.”

“Good. And have you also arranged what the Marquis should say when he returns?” After receiving the maid’s affirmative reply, the woman smiled with satisfaction. She then looked down at the three- or four-year-old child before her and said, “My son, you must perform well in front of the Immortal Master. My dear child is so full of noble aura; the Immortal Master will surely take notice of you!”

“Mother, won’t Brother come with me?” the child asked, his expression puzzled but his voice tinged with a hint of anticipation. The woman’s smile faded slightly as she replied coolly, “He is ill. The journey to the Daoist temple is bumpy; he should stay home and recover.”

As the appointed time drew near, the woman immediately pulled her son into the carriage and set off for the temple.

Shen Guanfu sat in the seat of honor, looking down at the tea the Temple Master had poured for him. Wisps of spiritual energy drifted from the steaming brew. He was inwardly surprised that such spirit-infused tea could actually be found in the mortal realm.

“This tea is not bad.”

He raised his clear eyes slightly and spoke to the Temple Elder with a faint smile.

Daoist Master Changqing immediately replied respectfully, “Immortal Master, you flatter me. This Qingyun Tea was specially prepared for a distinguished guest like yourself. I am glad it meets your approval.”

Shen Guanfu nodded with a faint smile and said no more.

Seeing this, the Daoist Master tactfully withdrew to the side.

“Immortal Master, the time has come. We have gathered everyone according to the ages you specified. Shall I invite them in for you to see if any catch your eye?” Daoist Master Changqing still kept his head bowed respectfully.

He stole a glance at the Immortal Master in a brief moment, but the Immortal Master seemed to be enveloped in a swirling celestial aura, his face even veiled by silver threads of immortal mist, making his features impossible to discern clearly. From then on, he no longer dared to raise his head again.

Shen Guanfu’s expression remained unchanged upon hearing this. He simply said with a faint smile, “Not everyone has arrived.”

Ever since this group of young men entered this area, he had swept over them with his divine sense, but the Child of Destiny was not among them.

Daoist Master Changqing was startled. We did everything according to the Immortal Master’s instructions. All the children of officials and even the princes have arrived.

As a Daoist priest, he naturally knew how to read the situation. After a moment’s thought, he understood immediately. He hastily bowed and excused himself to handle the matter personally.

As the imperial relatives and nobles saw Daoist Master Changqing appear, they all bowed respectfully. Yet, without exception, their faces betrayed their growing impatience.

Daoist Master Changqing flicked his fly-whisk and declared sternly, “Lords, Madams, I presume you still have children at home who have not yet arrived? The imperial edict has already been issued, decreeing that the Immortal Master’s selection of disciples shall not distinguish between legitimate and concubinary heirs. If you are prepared to face the extermination of your entire clan, then by all means, continue to conceal them.”

His words had barely fallen when a dozen young servants slipped out of the back gate and hurried toward the city.

Daoist Master Changqing watched them go, a “just as I thought” expression on his face. These people, in their desperate bid to increase their children’s chances of being chosen, had dared to hide them. But how could these worldly mortals ever have known that the Immortal Master had already seen through their schemes?

What ignorant, foolish mortals, he thought. They’ve only hindered the Daoist temple’s efforts. Fortunately, the Immortal is merciful and will not pursue the matter.

But then again, was he not a worldly mortal himself? Daoist Master Changqing sighed inwardly, casting an envious glance at the children below. If only I had been chosen by the Immortal Master, I could have truly escaped this mortal realm!

As they watched Daoist Master Changqing’s retreating figure, the crowd of nobles trembled with lingering fear.

The woman’s expression faltered, but she had no choice but to quickly issue her orders. Yet, who among the officials wasn’t a shrewd fox? By simply noting which family’s servant was sent out, it would be clear whose mistress was so selfish as to bring only her own biological children. But compared to having nine generations of one’s clan executed, enduring public gossip was a far better fate. Even if her pride was wounded, the imperial edict had already been issued.

“Young Master, if you are chosen by the Immortal, you must never come back…”

Li Shangyuan sat quietly in the carriage, recalling his grandmother’s repeated words before his departure. He subconsciously tugged at his wide sleeves, ensuring the scars on his body were completely hidden.

He felt a flicker of hope. Perhaps his stepmother, who had always been fickle and cruel, had suddenly changed her mind and was willing to accept him.

As they drew closer to the Daoist temple, a sliver of anticipation colored Li Shangyuan’s timid eyes.

Could there really be an Immortal?

But even if there is, why would an Immortal choose me?

Shen Guanfu sat in quiet meditation. Two hours was but a blink of an eye to an Immortal.

“Immortal Master, everyone has arrived,” Daoist Master Changqing announced respectfully once more.

Shen Guanfu finally sensed the boy’s presence. His brow relaxed slightly, and he nodded with a faint smile.

Li Shangyuan was in the very last group to enter. Those with him were mostly concubines’ sons deliberately left behind by their fathers’ primary wives, or legitimate sons like himself, now spurned after their fathers had taken new wives.

Their frail figures alone told a story of poor treatment within their respective households.

Li Shangyuan followed cautiously at the rear, recalling his younger brother’s image and trying his best to appear clever and obedient.

Just as he was about to cross the threshold, his stepmother, who held his brother’s hand, shot him a cold, familiar glare of warning. He silently lowered his head, his posture once again becoming stiff and cowering.

Though Shen Guanfu’s expression remained gentle, he was actually losing patience. As the last few children entered the hall, he finally locked his gaze on the final child a six or seven-year-old boy with a hunched back.

He was glad he had narrowed the age range, just in case.

It’s better this way, he thought. Starting their training from a young age will save a lot of trouble.

The hall was so silent one could hear a pin drop. Li Shangyuan stood rooted to the spot, head perpetually bowed, blankly counting the sound of his own breathing. After only a few breaths, a clear, elegant voice suddenly rang out from above him.

“Look up.”

He raised his head instinctively, only to be caught off guard by the Immortal’s face. It was as if he had suddenly stumbled into a field of pristine first snow under a bright moon, gently enveloping him.

He looked just like the snow fox his father had once hunted for his mother, or the white lotus in her courtyard. But upon closer inspection, he was the pristine snow of a mountain peak, lustrous and flawless.

Shen Guanfu met the gaze of the child, who barely reached his waist. His expression remained gentle, but his divine sense swept over the boy, scrutinizing him inch by inch.

He couldn’t understand why the Heavenly Dao would choose this boy, with his abysmal talent, as the Child of Destiny.

Countless rebirths, countless attempts at ascension—all had ended in failure. And all because of the person before him.

Enough, enough.

Besides, the boy didn’t even know he was the Child of Destiny chosen by the Heavenly Dao. Even if Shen Guanfu resented him, he had no right to.

But… I still can’t help feeling a little unwilling!

As the thought surfaced, he immediately suppressed the flicker of indignation. Cold, spiritual energy surged from his heart to his mind, instantly clearing his thoughts.

A cultivator must never let the Seven Emotions cloud their judgment, lest they give rise to inner demons over time.

Li Shangyuan stared blankly at the Immortal with the face of carved jade, his long eyelashes fluttering incessantly. His mind was a complete void.

In an instant, he seemed to snap back to his senses. He lowered his gaze in shame, no longer daring to meet the Immortal’s eyes.

“Are you willing to become my personal disciple?”

Li Shangyuan’s eyes widened. The stagnant pool of his mind instantly rippled with turmoil.

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