Yuanfa Palace.
Gu Zhao collected three free sticks of incense and walked up the steps. Just past the mountain gate was the Spirit Official Hall.
Looking up, he saw an altar dedicated to the Wang Spirit Official suspended high in the air. The Divine Statue on the altar was gilded entirely in gold.
The Wang Spirit Official's left hand formed the Spirit Officer Technique before his chest, while his right hand held a Golden Whip high above his head. His three eyes were wide with fury, poised to strike. He was truly an imposing figure, radiating Divine Power.
Gu Zhao held the incense in his left hand, shielded it with his right, and bowed deeply three times to show his sincerity.
This was the most famous Guardian Mountain God General of the Taoist Sect. Golden Eyes and Red Hair, Phoenix Beak and Silver Teeth, his combat prowess was maxed out. He was extremely famous during the Ming Dynasty; even Wu Chengen didn't dare let the Monkey King defeat him.
As the saying goes: "Whether you climb the mountain or not, first you must pay respects to the Wang Spirit Official."
However...
Gu Zhao glanced at the golden-red silk banners on either side of the Divine Statue, which read "Profound Gate Guardian Thunder Sound Incarnation Celestial Venerable." Then he looked at the wooden couplets, which read "One Qi Divine Monarch, All Heaven Inspector and Great Spirit Official" and "Innate Chief General of the Three Realms, Fearless and Selfless."
Placing the title for the Wang Spirit Official from the fantasy novel Journey to the West alongside the Spirit Official's Treasure Decree from the orthodox Taoist Sect scripture, the True Scripture of King Locomotive Wang Spirit Official, just felt a bit strange.
'Well, they're both books from several hundred years ago,' Gu Zhao thought. 'As one of the Four Great Classical Novels, Journey to the West has far more influence among the common people than the True Scripture of King Locomotive Wang Spirit Official. Given the Taoist Sect's usual way of doing things, it's only natural they'd adapt and use it.'
For instance, the guardian generals flanking the Wang Spirit Official were actually the Heng and Ha Generals from Investiture of the Gods.
Gu Zhao: _(¦3」∠)_
He still had to pay his respects to the Wang Spirit Official, but he'd skip the Heng and Ha Generals. Even if Zheng Lun and Chen Qi themselves jumped out of the book, Gu Zhao would want to test their mettle with a Palm Thunder first.
After paying his respects to the Wang Spirit Official, Gu Zhao passed by the side of the altar and entered the main courtyard of Yuanfa Palace.
Yuanfa Palace wasn't very large. It had only a single courtyard. Past the Spirit Official Hall was an open yard with an Incense Burner. Behind the Incense Burner stood the Primordial Treasure Hall, which enshrined the three Great Emperors—Yao, Shun, and Yu—rather than the Three Pristine Ancestors.
Gu Zhao lit his incense and stood before the Incense Burner. As a half-baked disciple of the Taoist Sect, his grandfather hadn't taught him the detailed rites of Daoism—he probably didn't know them well himself—and Gu Zhao clearly had no use for them anyway.
So, Gu Zhao simply followed the most basic etiquette. He offered the incense with a bow, first paying respects to the three Great Emperors, then to the deities of the four cardinal directions, before finally placing the incense into the Incense Burner.
With that, the most important part of the ritual was complete.
'Now to find a place that sells Cinnabar and Yellow Paper!'
Gu Zhao turned and went to the adjacent shop for Daoist implements. The place wasn't large, but it sold a surprising variety of items.
Peace Talismans, Wealth Talismans, Marriage Talismans, Tai Sui Talismans, Health Talismans, Academic Talismans, House Protection Talismans...
The mass-produced, industrial talismans were cheaper, while the hand-drawn Yellow Paper Talismans were more expensive. Gu Zhao scanned them with his senses; none of them had any energy fluctuations.
Gu Zhao glanced at the volunteer explaining the functions of the talisman paper and the excited tourists picking them out, then walked up. "Excuse me..."
"Are you looking for an Academic Talisman, a Marriage Talisman, or a Wealth Talisman?" the staff member asked, sizing up Gu Zhao's age and expertly continuing the sales pitch. "By the way, what's your zodiac sign? Would you like to get a Tai Sui Talisman?"
"None of those," Gu Zhao said, looking at the Talismans in the display case. "I want to try Drawing Talismans myself. I'd like to buy some Cinnabar and Yellow Paper."
The staff member: ???
The surrounding tourists: ???
"Dude, you're not here to cause trouble, are you?"
Before the staff member could react, a young man frowned and interjected, "These are all Talismans drawn and consecrated through Enlightenment by the Daoists here. If you want to buy Cinnabar and Yellow Paper, can't you just go online?"
The girl next to the young man tugged on his sleeve, signaling for him to mind his own business.
Gu Zhao shot the young man a sideways glance but had no intention of arguing. He simply explained to the staff member, "I've already ordered some online, but it'll take a few days to arrive. I was hoping to get some today, so I came here to ask."
Another young woman came closer and asked curiously, "You know how to draw Talismans yourself? Are you a Daoist?"
Gu Zhao turned his head. His eyes immediately fell on the young woman's bountiful figure, and he subconsciously took a step back to get a more complete view. "I've just learned a little. Ritually speaking, I haven't been formally initiated into the Dao."
"I'm sorry, we don't sell Cinnabar and Yellow Paper here." The staff member finally found a chance to jump in, politely refusing.
Gu Zhao frowned slightly but could only nod helplessly. He wasn't the type to pester someone endlessly. Since they wouldn't sell to him, he wouldn't press the issue. As he'd just said, he had already bought some online; he would just have to wait a few days.
He had only come today because he was excited about finally being able to start his Cultivation and wanted to test things out immediately. Now, as it was almost noon, he had calmed down considerably.
'I've spent more than ten years Cultivating the Dao and Refining the Heart! It wasn't for nothing!'
Gu Zhao: <(.-`ω´-)>
Just then, a Daoist who looked to be in his thirties was passing by. He seemed to notice the crowd that had gathered but didn't appear to be shopping, so he came over to see what was going on, just in time to hear the last exchange.
"What's going on?" the Daoist asked.
The staff member quickly explained, "Senior Brother Hui Bin, this customer wants to buy Cinnabar and Yellow Paper, but we don't sell those things."
Hui Bin looked at Gu Zhao and saw him form the Meridian Technique hand seal, bring his fists together in a salute, and speak in a traditional manner, "Greetings, Senior Brother."
This was the proper etiquette for a greeting between peers within the Taoist Sect. His posture was perfect and his demeanor was natural; it was clear he hadn't just learned it on the spot.
Hui Bin quickly returned the clasped-fist salute. "Hello, Junior Brother."
Although he didn't know the other's specific seniority, they weren't from the same sect, so addressing each other as senior or junior brother based on age was acceptable. "Junior Brother, you're looking for some Cinnabar and Yellow Paper?"
Gu Zhao nodded. "Something came up unexpectedly, and I need to draw a few Talismans, so I came to Yuanfa Palace to see if I could buy some supplies."
Hui Bin's thoughts were a bit jumbled. 'What era is this?' he thought. 'People pray for blessings and draw fortune sticks for peace of mind. You're an insider, and you actually have a real need for Talismans?'
He glanced at the counter, then turned to Gu Zhao. "May I ask what trouble you've run into, Junior Brother? The Talismans here were all drawn by a few of my senior uncles. If you need some, I can give you a few."
As they were both from the Taoist Sect, Hui Bin had the authority to give away a few Talismans.
Gu Zhao shook his head but didn't explain what had happened. He just said, "Thank you, Senior Brother, but the Talismans I need aren't any of these kinds."
Hui Bin asked subconsciously, "Then what kind of Talisman is it?"
Gu Zhao hadn't expected Hui Bin to press for details, but it wasn't something that couldn't be said. So, Gu Zhao answered truthfully, "A Five Thunders Talisman."
Hui Bin was stunned. Yuanfa Palace was of the Quanzhen Dragon Gate lineage; they really didn't have the Five Thunders Talisman.
The onlooking tourists, however, grew excited. Compared to things like Marriage Talismans and Health Talismans, the Five Thunders Talisman sounded far more impressive just by its name alone.
The curious Miss Shuo Guo asked, "What's a Five Thunders Talisman used for? Demon Suppression?"
Gu Zhao smiled and nodded. "Yep."
The crowd went, "Woooow—"
Seeing the shining looks in the crowd's eyes, Hui Bin sized Gu Zhao up for a moment, let out an "Oh," and understood everything.
'So he's just some chuuni kid who acts all mature on the outside but wants to show off on the inside.'