Today happens to be the day of the Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace's gathering, where the headmaster and real Daoists of various sects converge in the main hall.
Sitting at the top of the hall is an elder in a Daoist robe; his face is gaunt, and his expression kind, but apart from that, there's nothing special about him. He wears no magical ornaments, appearing no different from an ordinary wandering Daoist.
On each side below him are seated three real Daoists, who are quite distinct. Their attire ranges from Daoist to secular, with skin subtly revealing a jewel-like sheen; some carry swords, others bear jade, or wear crowns; their demeanor ranges from solemn, lofty, to clear and gentle, evidently true cultivators of the immortal family.
"Headmaster, is everything still the same with the Master Ancestor?"
An elderly Daoist holding a cane asked worriedly towards the top of the hall.
The headmaster smiled helplessly, "Still the same, I heard from the boy that there was another disturbance just now, I'll go later... huh?"
He suddenly turned his head, looking in the direction of the mountain gate.
The other real Daoists quickly or slowly sensed what was happening outside the gate without needing a disciple's report.
"Wait!" A red-faced middle-aged Daoist seated at the end suddenly stood up in suspicion, "Has he really found his way here??"
Everyone looked at him, and a female Daoist in blue questioned, "Do you know him?"
The Daoist's expression was complex, nodding slightly, "Headmaster, he's the one I reported to you before."
He briefly recounted the situation, coincidentally, the young disciple also rushed in to report.
The headmaster flicked his right hand, conjuring a water mirror in the hall, reflecting the scene outside the mountain gate.
They saw a pale-faced, destitute man with a determined gaze; he slightly tidied his appearance and then knelt facing the mountain gate, sincerely bowing his head, "Please Immortal, accept me as your disciple!"
The people in the hall remained silent for a moment before the headmaster asked, "What do you all think?"
The elderly Daoist hesitated, "Just ignore him, when he loses hope, he'll leave on his own."
The female Daoist in blue slightly shook her head, "According to Nephew Xu, this person's determination is extreme, chasing for a month, and he's really caught up. He might kneel until his death, refusing to leave."
Everyone then looked at the middle-aged Daoist, who hesitated and eventually only clasped his hands in salute, "It's up to the headmaster to decide."
The headmaster stroked his beard, smiling faintly, "Our palace has always valued fate, and since he's a mere mortal who traveled thousands of miles to find our sect's mountain gate, it's fate."
"In that case, it doesn't hurt to meet him, anyone interested can come with me."
...
Chu Xuan had already prepared to kneel here for three days and nights because he believed that the people of Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace wouldn't meet him easily.
But unexpectedly, the scene before him suddenly rippled like water; an ancient stone archway emerged, with two simple seal characters [Cyan Lotus] on it, the strokes robust, with strands of Daoist charm flowing within.
Looking further up, there was a bluestone staircase built along the mountain, at the pinnacle loomed an ancient, profound Daoist palace nestled among the clouds and mist, giving a sense of age-old endurance.
Chuan Xuan's eyes blurred, and he saw six or seven people walking down the stairs, led by an elder in a Daoist robe with a pure, childlike gaze, seeming like a kindly old man.
Although Chu Xuan didn't recognize this person, the group of cultivators seemed formidable, likely influential within the Daoist palace.
Thus, he bowed once more, but before his head could touch the ground, the old Daoist lightly gestured, causing Chu Xuan to involuntarily stand upright.
When Chu Xuan looked up, he saw the elder standing before him, kindly asking, "What is your name?"
"Chu Xuan." His expression was desolate, his voice low and hoarse.
The elder nodded, "I am the headmaster of Cyan Lotus Palace; I have somewhat understood your situation."
"But I'm curious, how did you find your way here?"
Chu Xuan recounted honestly, now even more certain that the mysterious man must be from this Daoist palace.
Unexpectedly, after he spoke, most of the cultivators before him showed expressions of surprise.
"Is it him?"
"It should be him."
While the others exchanged glances and whispered, the headmaster stroked his beard, looking at Chu Xuan, "Given that, you do have some fortune, but that person isn't one of us."
"His origins are mysterious, existing in the world for at least a thousand years, and for these thousand years, he's been walking without rest..."
Listening to the headmaster's explanation, Chu Xuan finally understood that this person is considered a mysterious figure in the cultivation world.
The exact timeline of his appearance is uncertain, only that in the last thousand years, both mortals and cultivators occasionally witness records of his travels.
He's like a shadow, untouchable by anyone, observable only with the naked eye, not detectable by Divine Sense.
Whenever he appears, not everyone can notice his presence, especially in chaotic environments with more people, he's harder to spot.
No one knows his destination, only that he keeps walking.
Over time, some rumors claim he's an Immortal from the Upper Realm, banished and punished on earth, forced to walk endlessly for three thousand years before the penalty ends.
But no one can verify the truth of this claim.
Chu Xuan isn't the first to follow him, and likely won't be the last.
All who track him eventually lose him, just like Chu Xuan, realizing the man vanished as they walked.
This time was unique only because Chu Xuan followed him to his long-awaited Daoist palace, leading the headmaster to say he has some fortune.
Thinking of this, Chu Xuan displayed a pleading expression, "Disciple is devoted to the Dao, may I ask the headmaster to accept me into the sect?"
The headmaster didn't respond immediately, only laying his hand on Chu Xuan's wrist, his expression still gentle, "What sect or school were you originally from?"
Chu Xuan's lips stammered, "No sect no school."
The headmaster wasn't angry, merely asking again, "Really?"
Chu Xuan shook his head, "False, but I've been expelled from the sect, my master forbids me to mention her name anymore."
The headmaster nodded with a smile, "Why were you expelled?"
Chu Xuan shook his head, "I don't know; she refuses to explain clearly, I only have some unreliable guesses."
As he spoke, he displayed a painful expression, seemingly able to recall Ji Mingyu's heartless face when he closed his eyes.
The headmaster didn't pry further, simply asking, "Have you committed any unpardonable crimes?"
Chu Xuan resolutely replied, "No, I can swear by the heavens, I, Chu Xuan, have never committed a single evil act in my life!"
"Very well, I permit you to join our sect."
The headmaster's easy answer not only left Chu Xuan with a look of disbelief, but also surprised many others.