Great Immortal Hu Li, Great Immortal Lu Li, and Great Immortal Yang Li, watching the line of young people walking in, displayed sincere smiles on their faces. Compared to the empty pleasantries exchanged with others in the great hall, these were the true successors who would inherit their mantle and spread the teachings of the Daoist Sect, as well as the vital assets to gain the favor of The Venerated Way of the Three Pure Ones.

The young people lined up in turn, knelt on the ground, with a Daoist chanting rites and maids sprinkling flowers, then amidst the congratulatory voices of the crowds, the three Great Immortals Hu Li stepped forward in turn, helping each of them up, uttering a few words of encouragement.

Seeing this scene, Lin Fang and the others turned their gaze toward the White Ape, whose stern-faced Swordsman appearance made everyone feel uneasy, even Gu Zhongtong’s gaze was deep and distant.

Indeed, in comparison to the elaborate ceremony of the State Preceptors taking on disciples, the White Ape’s initiation rituals were frighteningly simple – a single kowtow sufficed to become his disciple, nowhere near the magnificence and grandeur of the others.

"Now that you’ve entered our Daoist Sect, you must take it upon yourselves to promote its teachings at all times, chant the scriptures and practice cultivation every day diligently, without slack!" Great Immortal Hu Li said in a deep voice.

The disciples knelt on the ground and all declared, "Your disciples will heed the Master’s instructions with care!"

This spectacle greatly satisfied the vanity of the three State Preceptors, bringing joyful smiles to their faces.

Great Immortal Hu Li led the group outside, looking up at the sky and said, "Today is a wonderful day for our brothers to take on disciples, and there should be Sweet Rain falling from the heavens to relieve the common people!"

Everyone followed them out of the great hall, only to see an altar that had already been built, over three zhang high, with flags of The Twenty-Eight Mansions on both sides, and a mahogany table in the center, upon which stood a huge Incense Burner, with incense smoke curling up from within, and a Token placed next to it.

Lin Fang had excellent vision and could still see the Token clearly from a distance, on which the image of Thunder God was engraved, and underneath the table were five large jars filled with clear water, with Willow branches placed on top, with several Young Daoist priests standing on one side, each holding an Iron Plaque with various deities of the Department of Thunder on them.

Great Immortal Hu Li strode onto the altar, drew out the Treasured Sword, and started chanting an Incantation. Papers atop the table lifted into the air without wind, flying towards the Treasured Sword. Great Immortal Hu Li spat flames from his mouth, burning the papers to ashes.

Pointing the sword towards heaven, he shouted loudly, "Rise, wind!"

In the previously still air, a gust of wind suddenly arose, sweeping through the streets, rolling up clouds of dust, blinding the eyes of passersby.

The wind rustled through lush trees with a whooshing sound. An old farmer in the fields felt the breeze brush over his weathered face and suddenly stood up, looking off into the distance, sensing that a heavy rain was imminent.

Although it wasn’t their first time witnessing the State Preceptor invoking rain, many people still marveled at the sudden gust of wind, exclaiming in admiration at the divine abilities of the Immortals; with this single skill of invoking rain, the position of the State Preceptors was as stable as Mount Tai.

"Clouds, gather!" Great Immortal Hu Li shouted again, and several Young Daoist priests held hammers, striking the jars to produce a dull sound.

At the same time, rolling dark clouds approached from the East, covering the sky, obscuring the sun, plunging the world into darkness.

Countless people in Chechi Kingdom looked upward in anticipation; if it didn’t rain soon, the crops would suffer.

Great Immortal Hu Li looked at the rolling clouds with a smug smile, raised the Token in his hand, and a light appeared, as if the Thunder God depicted on it came to life.

"Thunderclap!"

No sooner had the word left his lips than a peal of thunder split the sky, startling the crowd into covering their ears, with many children crying out in fright.

But this was just the beginning; dense thunder rolled through the sky, the air seemed saturated with moisture, and by now, everyone knew rain was on its way.

Great Immortal Hu Li stood atop the altar performing sorcery, waving the Treasured Sword, reciting spells; he truly seemed like an Immortal descending to earth, majestic and awe-inspiring, capturing the hearts and aspirations of countless onlookers who wished they could take his place.

"Let the rain fall," Great Immortal Hu Li declared in a deep voice, as the Flag of the Twenty-Eight Mansions unfurled in the wind, and large raindrops descended from the sky, hitting people’s heads with a noticeable sting.

Yet the people of Chechi Kingdom didn’t retreat indoors to avoid the rain but stood in the torrential downpour, feeling the rain wash over them.

"What marvelous rain, truly a timely rain," a farmer mused excitedly as he wiped the rain from his face.

"This is the great rain summoned by the State Preceptor, truly our good fortune; with such Immortals and Gods presiding over us, our days will only get better," someone remarked emotionally, praising the State Preceptor’s benevolence.

What everyone gathered there paid even more attention to was Great Immortal Hu Li’s spellcasting. This was no ordinary magic; summoning wind and calling rain was a divine feat in itself, and all the more impressive was the wide expanse of rainfall that could bless the people of an entire nation.

Some admired him, some feared him. However, Lin Fang watched with great interest. Great Immortal Hu Li’s display of sorcery outwardly seemed like summoning wind and calling rain, but in reality, it was nothing more than a farce.

Uncle Feng was the one summoning the wind, Cloud Monarch arranged the clouds, Thunder Duke and Lightning Mother created the thunder, the Dragon King brought the rain—all without even a hint of Great Immortal Hu Li’s involvement. His only action had been to burn some paper, merely sending out a signal.

How could that be considered his own Divine Skills? Should a genuine conflict arise one day, it was hardly likely that these Divine spirits would so readily answer his summons to summon wind and call rain.

This also raised a question: considering that the request for rain in Chechi Kingdom was a case laid out on the Jade Emperor’s table, the conflict between the Three Immortals and the Buddhist Sect was quite intriguing.

Lin Fang seemed to see the turbulent waves hidden beneath the calm surface of the water, sensing the ceaseless tide of the era’s winds pushing against him, igniting within him an urgent desire to grow stronger.

Perceiving the gradually solemn expression on Lin Fang’s face, Little Fox and the others held their breath, believing that Lin Fang must have been intimidated by Great Immortal Hu Li’s Divine Skills.

"Big Brother Lin, is this State Preceptor really that formidable?" Little Fox tugged at Lin Fang’s sleeve and asked.

"It’s okay, it’s not because of him; something else has come to mind," he reassured.

Just as they were talking, Great Immortal Hu Li’s voice echoed from the sky: "Has there been enough rain?"

"Enough, enough, any more would harm the crops!" shouted the peasants from outside.

Great Immortal Hu Li laughed heartily, raised the Token towards the sky, and bellowed, "Rain, cease!"

The pouring rain suddenly stopped, the wild winds stilled, the dark clouds dispersed, and sunlight streamed through to the ground. In the sky after the rain, a vibrant rainbow stretched across the horizon.

Great Immortal Hu Li descended from the altar with ease, prompting even greater awe among the people. Such expansive spellcasting, and yet the State Preceptor looked as if nothing had happened, not even out of breath—as though it were nothing significant. What level of mana must he possess for such a display?

Little did they know, this rain had nothing to do with his magical power, hence he wasn’t the least bit out of breath.

"The State Preceptor has boundless divine powers; we are willing to heed the State Preceptor’s commands!" the crowd said, bowing down with heartfelt respect.