The next morning, Ryan packed up and went to town to buy incense candle offerings. After breakfast, Overton cleaned up the ancestral hall, prepared the small room for the Sam and the patriarch, and then began the apprenticeship ceremony.
After offering incense and kowtowing to Sam and the patriarchs, Ryan kowtowed three times to Overton and offered a cup of tea with both hands. Overton took a sip of the tea, then said, "From today onwards, you will be a registered disciple of my Maoshan Sect."
He then handed over a thick book to Ryan and said, "This is my Maoshan scripture, which contains the supreme spiritual methods and talismans. You can take it and study it on your own. Although Maoshan does not focus on physical cultivation, we do have superficial footwork techniques for avoiding enemies. I see you have some external cultivation experience, so you can practice according to the book without much guidance from me."
Ryan flipped a few pages hastily and asked Overton with some doubt, "Master, is it too early for you to give me such precious mental skills? Before I came to Britain, the elders in my family told me that after joining a sect, one must go through repeated tests before receiving core teachings."
Overton sighed bitterly and said in a low voice, "Those of you who remained overseas may not have visited Britain for hundreds of years. What you said was true long ago. However, now that the decline of spiritual cultivation has arrived, keeping these techniques secret is meaningless. When I accept disciples, I pass down what I can if they are qualified. Plunket and Mulder have received the same teachings."
"Thank you, Master. Since you trust me with these, I sincerely appreciate your generosity."
After speaking, Ryan took out the lantern grass, sunshine sunflower, and sunshine mushroom from his instrument bag—plants that could counteract dark energy—and handed them, along with their breeding manuals, to Overton. He explained their effects carefully.
Overton accepted the items with trembling hands and sighed. "Is this our punishment for standing still, for not knowing that such things exist? If only we had sent people to search elsewhere… We, in Britain, remain ignorant, while others progress…"
Ryan comforted Overton, who took a while to recover. Eventually, Overton decided they should attempt to cultivate these plants. If they succeeded, he would take them to Maoshan to show the sect leader. Perhaps these plants could bring hope to Britain's declining cultivation world.
A few days later, while practicing the Maoshan scriptures, Ryan and Overton opened a plot of land behind the oval to plant these magical plants. During the process, they made an unexpected discovery: wherever these plants grew for a long time, the surrounding evil energy gradually dissipated. This meant that no malevolent beings—such as zombies, skeletons, or ghosts—could form in those areas.
Finally, after three days of practicing the Supreme Heart Purification Technique, Ryan successfully cultivated his sense of qi. Overton was astonished by Ryan's rapid progress, but Ryan knew that his previous system enhancements, which had purified his body and marrow, along with his abundant supply of merit and sunshine crystals, had accelerated his cultivation. If this had been before the spiritual decline, Ryan's qualifications would have been considered only slightly above average.
Overton explained, "Before the decline of cultivation, the entire spiritual world pursued the Supreme Purity Mind Dharma. Only core disciples of Maoshan were allowed to learn this technique. Unfortunately, now that cultivation is fading, methods that require patience and steady progress have become unpopular. These days, people prefer techniques that yield quick results. Even though I practice this mental technique, I've barely broken through to the innate stage after so many years. In the end, I still rely on Maoshan's demon-subduing arts, ghost-hunting skills, and feng shui expertise to make a living."
At that moment, a servant from a wealthy family arrived at the door, carrying an invitation for Overton. The invitation was from the Ren family in town, inviting Overton to a café meeting the next day. Though Ryan had provided Overton with resources to temporarily ease their financial difficulties, the Ren family was the most influential family in town, and their invitation could not be ignored.
When Ryan saw the invitation, he realized that the main plot had begun.
Overton looked at Ryan and said, "Mr. Ren has invited me for western tea tomorrow, but I've never had such tea before. Since you come from there, you should accompany me and explain how to drink it properly. I don't want to make a fool of myself in front of Master Ren."
Ryan nodded in agreement.
That night, Overton's old friend, Cummins, and his clients stayed at the oval. Since Ryan had asked Mulder and Plunket to exchange cultivation techniques that day, the night passed without incident.
Before leaving at dawn the next morning, Cummins, upon learning that Ryan was Overton's new apprentice, gifted Ryan a booklet on corpse removal as an elder's gesture. However, Overton warned Ryan, "These techniques belong to the fringe path. Do not indulge in them, or you may lose yourself."
The next morning, Ryan accompanied Overton to town. The townspeople greeted Overton warmly, a testament to his excellent reputation.
At the café, Mr. Ren had already reserved a table. As expected, he sought Overton's help in relocating a family grave. Overton repeatedly advised against it, urging Mr. Ren to reconsider. However, Mr. Ren insisted, and Overton reluctantly agreed to assist.
Shortly after, Mr. Ren's daughter arrived. She was even more beautiful than in the movie, but as a wealthy lady who had studied abroad, she carried an air of arrogance, especially toward Overton.
Noticing this, Ryan engaged her in conversation using a perfect London accent, impressing her and saving Overton from any embarrassment.
Mr. Ren was also surprised. He couldn't understand why a student who had studied abroad would be learning such esoteric practices from Overton.
Soon, coffee and snacks were served. Thanks to Ryan's presence, Overton was able to navigate the western customs without any issues.
Overton then made one last attempt to dissuade Mr. Ren from moving the grave. However, Mr. Ren recounted what a feng shui master had told him years ago, revealing that he had been persuaded into this decision through coercion.
Seizing the opportunity, Ryan clasped his hands together in a prayer-like gesture, drawing everyone's attention. Then he said, "Mr. Ren, may I examine your coffee cup? Having lived in the West for a long time, I've studied several foreign divination arts, including a few remarkable techniques. If you allow me, I may be able to offer some valuable insights."
Miss Ren interjected excitedly, "When I studied abroad, I heard about a divination technique that uses tea leaves or coffee grounds. They say it's very accurate, but I've never seen it performed."
Overton nodded. "This apprentice of mine is serious and trustworthy. He would not speak carelessly."
Hearing both Overton and his daughter support the idea, Mr. Ren hesitated for a moment before finally pushing his coffee cup toward Ryan. "Very well. Show me what you can see through your Western magic. Perhaps your insight will help me make my decision."
FOR MORE CHAPTERS
patreon.com/STEPHENHART427