Chapter 99: The Revered Title 'Arbiter of Fate' 1

Chapter 99: Honorary Title "Siming" 1

When Zhang Sanlu readily agreed, he had no idea what kind of path he was about to embark upon.

Although Zhang Jue had stated that in these chaotic times, all procedures should be simplified, Zhang Zhidao still happily explained to him the orthodox lineage and transmission methods emphasized by Daoism after he returned to his room. He expounded on the Daoist principle: "Heaven and Earth disseminate their qi, and the master imparts the truth. True immortals ascend to sagehood, yet without a master, they cannot succeed. One must not take one's own mind as a master; to take the mind as a master will surely lead to ruin."

To those in the Daoist sect, especially in Zhang Zhidao's eyes, taking a master was the most important matter. On the path of cultivating immortality, having no master was like "water without a source, a tree without roots." Strictly speaking, without a lineage or a master, one could not be considered to have entered the sect. Cultivators believed that those not born within the sect were, in common terms, "unorthodox" or "without a Daoist lineage."

Drawing on the movies, television shows, and novels he had read, Zhang Sanlu strongly agreed with this point. Regardless of whether it was orthodox or not, the very name of a sect could serve as a powerful backing. For instance, if one got into a conflict with other cultivators, the best way to resolve it was to first bring up one's lineage, birth, and sect. If the sect was powerful and had many disciples, even a formidable enemy would have reservations, fearing that striking the young would bring out the old.

Looking at the novels, even within the Daoist sects, the differences were vast. For example, the Qingcheng Sect, due to its weak strength, was nearly wiped out by the Huashan Sect. Wudang, with its supreme strength, was a different story. However, Wudang with Zhang Sanfeng and Wudang without him were not the same Wudang at all.

Coming back to the present, in this realm of the Great Han, was there any sect more orthodox or powerful than the Way of Great Peace?

With his extraordinary personal charisma and mysterious religious power, Zhang Jue had attracted countless believers. He was not only the founder of the Way of Great Peace but also the spiritual faith in the hearts of his followers. He sent his disciples to travel far and wide, eliminating evil spirits while also spreading his deeds and the teachings of the Way of Great Peace. The followers of the sect rapidly expanded to hundreds of thousands, spreading across Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Youzhou, Jizhou, Jingzhou, Yangzhou, Yanzhou, Yuzhou, and other provinces. Even local officials and many nobles considered it an honor to join the sect.

Through the spread of the Way of Great Peace, Zhang Jue connected people from different social classes. In this strictly hierarchical society, the poor and suffering, facing the breeding of evil spirits and enduring long-term oppression and exploitation with no one to turn to, found in Zhang Jue's sect an opportunity to seek help. The devout believers relieved the poor, cared for the widowed and elderly, and thus won widespread praise and trust from the common people, further enhancing the sect's influence.

This was very different from the bandits who later rose up in the chaos, falsely claiming the name of the Yellow Turbans.

Since it was a chaotic era, Zhang Jue arranged for everything to be simplified. After three days of bathing and fasting, the discipleship ceremony would be held.

Speaking of bathing and fasting, Zhang Sanlu felt it basically just meant getting clean and going hungry.

The relevant procedures were naturally explained by others. Although the Daoists were all busy with their affairs, they still frequently took the time to come and explain the relevant matters. The cultivation world had always been known for its strict emphasis on the discipleship ceremony, with the lineage and status between master and disciple being extremely rigorous. To become a formal disciple of the sect:

First, one must undergo repeated and comprehensive examinations by the master to cultivate virtue and fortune suitable for entering the Dao.

Second, after entering the sect, there would be targeted practices and lessons to teach according to the individual's aptitude. Only with a strong body and firm will could one's character be upright.

Those who met the conditions must hold a grand discipleship ceremony. At the ceremony, the Petition for Discipleship must be read aloud, stating Zhang Sanlu's willingness to take Zhang Jue as his master, and expressing his determination to study and promote the sect's teachings after entering. Senior martial brothers would read aloud the Sect Rules and Master's Admonitions, and put forward requirements for respecting the master and honoring the Dao, cultivating literary and martial virtues, and practicing diligently after entering the sect.

At the same time, since the Daoist sect emphasized orthodox lineage and transmission, one must absolutely not learn evil arts. Learning evil arts would either make one's mind more arrogant or more greedy. Seeking quick success and instant benefits might ultimately lead one down the evil path of refining human elixirs and nurturing soul specters. An orthodox lineage required the master to set up an altar, pray to the higher realms, and submit a memorial text to enter the Dao. Only with this would one be recognized by the master and the ancestral masters.

The three days passed quickly. On the third day, which was an auspicious day, someone had already prepared incense, offerings, and tributes. They collectively worshipped the Yellow Heaven and the Central Yellow Taiyi. Zhang Jue personally lit the incense, and Zhang Zhidao, as the eldest among the martial brothers present, read the petition.

The witnesses and guests at the scene included those from the Three Caves: the Cave of Perfection, the Cave of Mystery, and the Cave of Spirit. The Three Auxiliaries were the Supreme Mystery, Supreme Clarity, and Orthodox Unity sects. Other sects, such as the Jade Precepts, also sent representatives to attend and offer congratulations.

As the disciple taking a master, Zhang Sanlu performed the great rite of three kneelings and nine prostrations to his master, offered tea, and presented the Petition for Discipleship.

During the ceremony, the master and two or more witnesses, the Introducing Master and the Witnessing Master, inducted him into the sect, making him a formal disciple. As the latest disciple to enter the Way of Great Peace, he was called the Junior Martial Brother. If no more direct disciples were taken into the sect, Zhang Sanlu would be known as the Final Disciple.

After presenting the petition, Zhang Jue personally bestowed empowerment, transmitted the teachings, and granted the Daoist cap and mantle, instructing him on the lineage, sect rules, and precepts:

The Three Refuges and Five Precepts were the most basic precepts of the Way of Great Peace, which all newcomers must first obey.

All who newly entered the gates of the Way of Great Peace, whether direct or lay disciples, must first abide by the golden rules of the sect, strictly observe the precepts and regulations, worship the statue of the Central Yellow Taiyi, and invite the master to witness the oath, writing a memorial text to be burned to resonate with the Universal Heaven.

Next came the bestowing of the honorary title, or Daoist title. Zhang Jue took out the yarrow stalks grown near the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor, which he had prepared long ago, and performed the Great Derivation Divination Method to determine the title: "The number of the Great Derivation is fifty, of which forty-nine are used... Divide them into two to symbolize the Two Powers, hang one to symbolize the Three Realms, sort them by fours to symbolize the Four Seasons... Gather the remainders and place them between the fingers to symbolize the intercalary month; in five years there are two intercalary months, thus place the remainders again before hanging..."

When the divination was completed and he saw the result, Zhang Jue suddenly froze. Zhang Zhidao, who was standing close by and was also skilled in divination, leaned over to look and was also stunned. The Introducing Master, Witnessing Master, and others leaned over to look and were equally dumbfounded.

Because the name divined was actually the two characters "Siming"!

People nearby had already begun to whisper timidly.

"They say it's to test an honorary title, but these two characters are too grand for a Daoist title. Siming is the name of a god!"

"It's a clash, a clash! It's not a good omen!"

"He can't bear such a title; it will be of no benefit to his cultivation!"

This was because legend had it that "Siming" was the god in charge of human life. The Central Siming, also known as the Elder of Destiny, governed the original destiny of one's birth year, recorded the ledger of longevity and heaven's mandate, and acted according to the registers.

The status of Siming was extremely high, divided into the Great Lord of Fate and the Lesser Lord of Fate. The Great Lord of Fate governed life and death, while the Lesser Lord of Fate governed fortune and blessings. In some places, such as the Chu region, their worship was supreme, with no gods above them, and many other deities possessed the authority of Siming.

Just as commoners knew that giving a child a lowly name made them easier to raise, there was actually a profound mystery hidden within it.