Bai Jin turned around and left, stepping on an auspicious cloud, flying towards Shangqing Peak.
Bai He, holding the Immortal Sword, joyfully walked towards the palace, and the gate of Yuqing Palace creaked shut.
In Yuqing Palace, Primordial slowly opened his eyes, murmuring, "Red flowers, white lotus roots, green lotus leaves, The Three Pure Ones originally come from the same family." He turned his head towards the nearby Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, "This is the red flower."
In Taiching Palace, Taishang looked at the beside hanging pole, a smile in his eyes, said, "Red flowers, white lotus roots, green lotus leaves, The Three Pure Ones originally come from the same family, does this young fellow still want two more masters?!"
Inside the Shangqing Palace, Tongtian grasped the Qingping Sword, his hand smoothing over the sword scabbard, a smile in his gaze, he turned his head towards the direction of Taiching Peak and Yuqing Peak, "How is my disciple, my two esteemed brothers!"
Amidst casual conversation, Bai Jin refined their favorability towards The Three Pure Ones again, flawlessly without any trace.
Bai Jin flew to Shangqing Peak, landed on the mountain paths, and walked upwards.
Along the way, he met various Shangqing Peak disciples who all greeted him warmly with smiles: "Greetings, Senior Brother!"
"Greetings, Senior Brother!"
...
Bai Jin returned each greeting, and along the way he carefully observed, on the mountain, disciples playing and laughing, sparring, and roasting meat, turning the usually tranquil Shangqing Peak lively and bustling.
Bai Jin walked all the way back into his own palace, and never came out again, soon after, the world plunged into darkness, the night of Primordial World extremely prolonged, lasting precisely two thousand one hundred ninety hours.
The next day before dawn, the palace doors creaked open, Bai Jin walked out from inside, the outside still enshrouded with a grey haze, scattered stars twinkling.
"Senior Brother~" A crisp voice called out.
Bai Jin turned his head and saw a woman dressed in a black Immortal Dress standing under a nearby tree, smiling pleasantly at him.
Bai Jin smilingly said, "Junior Sister Shi Ji, good morning!"
Shi Ji also hurriedly said, "Good morning to you too, Senior Brother!"
Bai Jin said, "Please gather all the outer disciples by the Mirror Lake below."
Shi Ji paused, a sudden chill in her heart, is Senior Brother establishing his authority? She quickly bowed and replied, "Understood!"
Bai Jin drifted down the mountain.
Since Master has not withdrawn my title of Outer Disciple Leader, I must devise my own plans. A tall tree catches the wind and it's no mere saying, once the ten thousand immortals come to visit in the future, I will definitely be thrust into a precarious position, easily calculated against by various powers, it might not even survive until the Divine Enthronement Battle before this delicate flower is battered by wind and rain, no! Absolutely not! It is truly too dangerous.
Halfway up Shangqing Peak there's a pond, within it lotuses bloom all year round without withering, Tongtian named it Mirror Lake, also the lake where Bai Jin was once flung into by a wave of Tongtian's hand.
Bai Jin stood by the lake's edge, wisps of mist rising within the lake, appearing especially serene.
Moments later, figures flew down from the fog-covered mountain, assembling by the pond's edge, bowing respectfully they called, "Greetings, Senior Brother!"
Bai Jin turned around looking at them, smilingly said, "Good morning, respected junior brothers and sisters!"
All the outer disciples of Shangqing Peak were startled then hurriedly echoed, "Senior Brother, good morning!"
Bai Jin solemnly said, "Master has named me the Leader of Outer Disciples, and I must take up the responsibilities of the first disciple, not letting Master's expectations down."
Everyone looked at Bai Jin, pondering in their hearts, what is Senior Brother intending to do? Establishing authority?
Bai Jin said, "Today, I will establish the first rule for the Outer Door."
The people felt solemn, Outer Door rules, Senior Brother Bai Jin seems to be tough to deal with, quite domineering, indeed, without such dominance, how could he dare to publicly slap the face of Western disciples in front of his masters and elders?!
Everyone respectfully said, "We listen to Senior Brother's teachings."
"""
"As the common saying goes, the plan for a year starts in spring and the plan for a day starts in the morning. The early morning at the rise of the great sun, with purple qi coming from the east, is the best time for cultivation.
Therefore, I, as a humble Taoist, have established the sect rules. From today, except for the closed disciples, every Outer Disciple must come here for morning scripture recitation."
Just reciting scriptures? That's a relief! All the disciples relaxed in their hearts and respectfully answered: "Yes!"
Bai Jin turned around and sat down facing Mirror Lake.
The other Outer Disciples also sat down behind Bai Jin.
"In the place we meet, whether immortal or cultivator, we sit quietly and talk about the Huangting Scripture. Today's morning class is the Huangting Scripture."
"Above is the Yellow Court, below is the Guan Yuan, in front is the You Que, and behind is the Life Gate. Exhale and inhale outside the residence, entering and exiting the Dantian.
Examine if one can practice it long-term, those in the Yellow Court wear crimson robes, Guan Yuan magnificent with two gates, You Que is tall and stupendous, in the Dantian Essence Qi is subtle, Jade Pool's clear water nourishes above, Spirit Root is firm and will does not weaken, in the pool there are men wearing red, underneath three rains, gods reside, both inside and outside hold firmly..." The clear sound of scripture recitation resonated across the entire Shangqing Mountain Range, ethereal as if among immortals.
Inside the Shangqing Palace, Tongtian smiled and nodded.
Inside the Yuqing Palace, Primordial opened his eyes, grunted and said, "Now that resembles a bit of true cultivation."
Inside the Taiqing Palace, Taishang smiled and nodded, saying, "Well done~"
...
Three figures appeared on a cliff, looking down at the group of people sitting by the pond.
Golden Spirit Saint Mother said cheerfully, "Senior Brother has gathered them together to recite scriptures—how lively! Shall we go too?"
Duobao Taoist said emotionlessly, "It's just pandering to the crowd, useless for enlightenment."
Wudang Saint Mother smiled and said, "Reading scriptures can calm the mind and enlighten one's nature, it can stabilize the restless hearts of Outer Disciples and prevent trouble."
Duobao looked at Wudang Saint Mother, frowning and said, "Junior Sister, you are perhaps too favorable towards that Bai Jin."
"We are all fellow disciples!"
"He is from the Outer Door!"
"Their status is equivalent to direct transmission, Master said so."
Duobao Taoist took a deep breath, feeling suppressed inside, he lowered his head looking down at the silhouette below, that damn flattering, now even Junior Sister has been won over by him.
Duobao turned around and left, his figure disappearing in a flash.
Golden Spirit Saint Mother whispered, "Senior Sister, is there a conflict between Senior Brother Duobao and Senior Brother Bai Jin?"
Wudang Saint Mother smiled and said, "Not at all, their relationship is very friendly."
Golden Spirit Saint Mother looked at Wudang Saint Mother speechlessly, Friendly? Senior Sister, you can't think I'm foolish? They are rather clever.
The sun rose in the east, the recitation stopped, and all disciples faced the sun, inhaling and swallowing the eastern purple qi.
Moments later, the disciples opened their eyes, feeling refreshed and invigorated.
Bai Jin stood up, smiling, and said, "From now on, every morning, come here to recite scriptures and practice breathing, to calmly cultivate."
All the disciples stood up, bowed respectfully, and said, "Yes!"
Bai Jin looked around at everyone and continued, "I do not know your origins and have no interest in asking, now that you've entered under Master's gate, we're all fellow disciple brothers; remember, do not harm one another and never defy your elders." His eyes locked onto Long-eared Light-fixing Immortal.
Everyone hurriedly said in unison: "We dare not!"
"""