ENG
To seek the Dao, he journeys far,
With steadfast heart, he finds the gate.
In the depths of sword skills,
He glimpses roots of ascension's innate.
Every ten years, the Temple of Yellow Flowers opens its doors to recruit disciples.
One day, a newly admitted young Daoist discovered that the disciples focused on innate practice were divided into three different groups based on their skills. One group used staffs, another used fly-whisks, and the third used swords.
The young Daoist observed them closely and noticed that the disciples who used staffs and fly-whisks were also responsible for various chores around the temple and had less favorable living conditions. In contrast, the disciples who used swords only needed to focus on their training and they were even privileged to receive daily guidance from the master. The young Daoist secretly consulted the senior disciples and found out that the sword disciples were also the quickest to achieve enlightenment and ascension.
However, becoming a disciple of the sword group was no easy task. It required passing a rigorous examination by the master, and only those deemed to have the highest potential were given the opportunity. The young Daoist visited each senior disciple, noting down the questions the master had asked them in the past, and made thorough preparations. Eventually, he succeeded in his endeavor, winning first place. The master personally tied his hair into a topknot and bestowed upon him a sword.
From the moment he joined the sword group, he woke up early every day to train under the supervision of Beetle Commander. In the afternoons, he strengthened his Qi under the master's guidance. Though the life was monotonous and arduous, he was very content.
After more than a decade of rigorous cultivation, the disciples of sword group finally earned the master's approval.
The master informed them that their skills were now proficient enough for them to enter the mountains for secluded meditation. If they were fortunate enough, they could achieve their ascension.
A seeker arrives at the Temple of Yellow Flowers, which only accepts new disciples once every ten years. The temple divides its innate-practice students into three groups based on weapon and skill: staff users, fly-whisk users, and sword users. The story emphasizes that sword practice is closely connected to the root of ascension, so the sword group has a special status.
The young Daoist in the story is newly admitted and watches the groups carefully. He notices that staff and fly-whisk disciples do most of the chores and live in worse conditions. Sword disciples do few chores, focus almost entirely on training, and get daily instruction from the master. He also learns from senior disciples that sword students reach enlightenment and ascension faster than the others.
Getting into the sword group is difficult. The master gives a strict examination and only accepts those he judges to have the highest potential. The young Daoist visits senior students, records the questions the master had asked them before, studies them thoroughly, and uses that preparation to take the exam. He succeeds and wins first place.
As part of his acceptance, the master personally ties his hair into a topknot and gives him a sword—ritual actions that mark his new status. He then follows a strict daily routine: waking early to train under the supervision of Beetle Commander, and practicing Qi in the afternoons under the master’s guidance. The training is monotonous and hard, but he is satisfied with his life.
After more than ten years of steady cultivation, the sword disciples receive the master's approval. The master tells them their skills are now good enough for secluded meditation in the mountains. If they are fortunate during that seclusion, they may achieve ascension—so the next step is solitary retreat with the possibility, but not the guarantee, of becoming transcendent.