socalfunplaces Page 153
Page 153
He came to the conference but gained nothing, especially the disappointment of not getting the "Tongtianlu" (a type of talisman), which left him feeling frustrated.
What bothered him even more was Feng Zhenghao's open rebellion not long ago, and how he was defeated in one move when he used the Spirit Binding Technique on his own juniors.
All of this is inextricably linked to the mysterious Zhang Yunyuan on Longhu Mountain.
The convoy slowly drove away, the atmosphere inside the cars was terrifyingly oppressive.
The Lü family members set off almost simultaneously.
Before leaving, Lü Ci stood at the mountain gate, turned around and looked at the cloud-shrouded mountain palace. His gaze was sharp as an eagle's, mixed with intense resentment and deep fear.
Many of the Lu family members he brought were still injured, including his own Qi meridians.
With a casual strike, Zhang Yunyuan directly shattered the combined full-force attacks of him and Wang Ai.
Such terrifying strength still fills him with lingering fear when he recalls it!
"Grandpa, are we just going to let this go?"
A young man beside him asked in a low voice, his tone full of resentment.
Lu Ci snorted coldly, his voice hoarse.
"Let it go? Hmph, Zhang Chulan... Qi Body Source Flow... and that Zhang Yunyuan! Things won't end so easily. Let's go!"
He turned abruptly, exuding a chilling aura, and strode down the mountain.
The Lü family has lost face this time, and they will not swallow this humiliation easily.
In a corner of the square, Wang Ye yawned widely, stretched, and said lazily to Zhuge Qing beside him, "I've finished watching the show, and I'm ready to leave."
Zhuge Qing still wore his signature fox-like smile and nodded slightly.
"Yes, Master Wang. This trip to Longhu Mountain was truly wonderful and eye-opening."
His gaze inadvertently swept over Wang Ye, a subtle hint of seriousness flashing deep in his eyes.
"Especially your Feng Hou Qi Men, it is truly unfathomable."
Wang Ye rubbed his nose and mumbled a reply:
"It's just a simple Qimen Dunjia technique. Let's go, let's go back and catch up on some sleep."
The two said their goodbyes and went down the mountain with the flow of people. One was lazy and casual, the other was elegant and composed, but their thoughts were equally profound.
Other sects, large and small, also descended the mountain one after another. Some people discussed Zhang Chulan's sudden rise to power, some envied Zhang Lingyu's good fortune, and many more speculated about whether the Heavenly Master's Degree would be passed on smoothly tonight, and how the landscape of the supernatural world would change as a result.
The small town at the foot of the mountain suddenly became lively, with inns and restaurants overflowing with customers.
Many extraordinary individuals who did not immediately depart chose to linger here, gathering friends and making friends with like-minded people.
Unlike those forces that left or stayed to exchange feelings, the people of Tianxiahui and Xiguge appeared exceptionally calm.
Feng Zhenghao pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and said calmly to Ru Hu beside him, "Then, sect leader, it seems we'll be staying here at the foot of Longhu Mountain tonight."
The man, who stood with his arms crossed, his imposing figure as steady as a mountain, said in a deep voice, "Daoist Yunyuan has not left yet, how can we go ahead?"
His words were brief, yet carried an undeniable firmness.
Both Feng Zhenghao and Ru Hu knew in their hearts that their staying was not entirely out of their own will, but more because of Zhang Yunyuan's existence.
Without Zhang Yunyuan's orders, they, as followers, naturally had to wait nearby for instructions.
This is a gesture, but also an invisible form of submission.
Feng Zhenghao's gaze swept across the darkening mountains, and he said in a low voice, "Daoist Yunyuan did not order us to relax, which must have a deeper meaning. You and I must continue to patrol the entire mountain to prevent Quanxing from taking the opportunity to cause trouble."
Meanwhile, in a quiet side hall next to the inner hall, Lu Jin held his breath and concentrated.
He looked at Zhang Lingyu, who stood respectfully with his hands at his sides, and said solemnly, "Lingyu, concentrate and watch carefully."
He held his fingers together like a sword, and the innate Qi at his fingertips flowed smoothly, pure and concentrated.
"The essence of this Tongtian Talisman lies in 'drawing talismans out of thin air, readily available,' without the need for cinnabar or yellow paper, without the need for burning incense or bathing; the talisman is formed by the thought of the mind."
As he spoke, a complex and radiant talisman instantly took shape in the air in front of his fingertips, emitting a powerful and mysterious aura that illuminated the side hall with flickering light.
Zhang Lingyu was completely focused, her clear eyes reflecting the light of the talisman. She dared not slacken in the slightest, utterly immersed in the mystery of this one of the Eight Extraordinary Techniques.
Inside the main hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and candles were lit, dispelling the deepening twilight.
Zhang Zhiwei had dismissed all other people, leaving only Zhang Chulan, Tian Jinzhong, and Zhang Yunyuan.
The ceremony to bestow the Heavenly Master's Decree upon Zhang Chulan is about to take place here.
Tian Jinzhong looked at Zhang Chulan, who was about to inherit the position of Celestial Master, his face full of uncontrollable joy and excitement.
Zhang Zhiwei's expression was calm, but he was already enveloped in a solemn and dignified aura. He glanced at the completely dark night sky outside the hall and slowly said, "The time has come. We can begin."
Zhang Yunyuan stood slightly closer to the palace entrance, and his expression was the most relaxed among the people inside the hall.
His reason for not immediately removing Feng Zhenghao and Na Ruhu was based on a preemptive intuition.
However, in his judgment, the most likely trigger for conflict in the original plot—the secret protected by Tian Jinzhong's third senior brother—no longer exists.
After all, it was him who met Zhang Huaiyi back then, not Tian Jinzhong.
Tian Jinzhong was not crippled, nor were his limbs severed.
Even if something unexpected happens, Tian Jinzhong's exceptional cultivation level is more than enough to handle it.
Furthermore, he had already investigated and found that there was no Taoist boy named "Xiao Qingzi" in the Celestial Master's Mansion, and there was no suspicious person serving Tian Jinzhong for a long time.
The Third Senior Brother Tian before me had no secret that required him to protect with his life.
The earth-shattering attack on the mountain by the Quanxing sect in the original novel, the death of Elder Tian, and the famous scene where Gong Qing shed tears, may have truly been changed because of my appearance.
Tonight, the storm is destined to pass peacefully.
This judgment made him relax a little.
After all, with him and Zhang Zhiwei, two extraordinary individuals who surpassed all others, side by side, there was virtually no force in the world that dared to run wild at Longhu Mountain and pose a real threat.
His attention was now focused on the upcoming initiation ceremony.
The Celestial Master's Decree, a secret restriction passed down for thousands of years, what core truth is hidden within it?
Chapter 180 The Celestial Master's Initiation, Chu Lan Refuses
Inside the Celestial Master's Mansion, the candlelight cast long, solemn shadows on the ancient walls, making everyone's shadow appear even longer.
A faint scent of sandalwood permeated the air, mixed with the aroma of old wood, and an intangible sense of weight called "heritage," making it almost impossible to breathe.
The ceremony is about to begin.
Zhang Zhiwei, dressed in a brand-new, dark blue robe, sat upright on a futon.
His face, which always carried a hint of sleepiness, was now filled with an unprecedented solemnity and reverence. His half-open, half-closed eyes seemed to hold the weight of a thousand years of wind and rain from Longhu Mountain.
Zhang Chulan, dressed in a brand-new but somewhat awkward blue Taoist robe, knelt before him.
His head was lowered, obscuring his facial expression, but his slightly trembling shoulders betrayed the turmoil in his heart.
Zhang Yunyuan and Tian Jinzhong, both of the same generation of Celestial Masters, are also qualified to visit.
They sat on either side, watching the ceremony quietly.
Everything was proceeding in an orderly manner according to the most ancient rituals.
Offering incense, bowing, and reciting the ancestral master's pronouncements.
Finally, the most crucial moment has arrived.
Zhang Zhiwei slowly raised his hand, his wrinkled hand, which contained immense power, about to press down on Zhang Chulan's crown.
Once this palm strike lands, the inheritance of the Celestial Master's Degree will be complete.
From then on, Zhang Chulan became the 66th Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, and would be forever trapped on this mountain by this supreme glory and shackles.
However, just as Zhang Zhiwei's palm was about to touch Zhang Chulan's head...
Zhang Chulan moved.
He jerked his head up.
That face, which always carried a hint of cynicism and calculation, was now filled with an unprecedented calm and seriousness.
He looked at the old Celestial Master before him, at this elder who had gone to such lengths to protect him, and his voice, though not loud, resonated clearly in everyone's ears.
"Before I inherit the Celestial Master's Decree, may I... ask a question?"
Zhang Zhiwei stopped moving.
He looked into Zhang Chulan's clear, unadulterated eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly nodded.
"I want to know," Zhang Chulan took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, "what price must be paid to inherit this Celestial Master's Degree?"
These two words, like two invisible hammers, struck everyone's hearts hard.
The solemnity and reverence on Zhang Zhiwei's face froze instantly. He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.
After a long silence, he let out a long sigh, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Tian Jinzhong frowned. He vaguely guessed what was going on, but when this cruel question was asked so bluntly, he still felt a pang of fear.
The entire inner hall fell into a deathly silence.
Only the soft crackling of the burning candlelight sounded particularly jarring.
In the midst of this suffocating silence, a cold and calm voice rang out without warning.
"The price is death."
It was Zhang Yunyuan who spoke.
He remained as calm and collected as ever, as if he were simply stating a fact.
"After exhausting all his cultivation and life force, he passed on the Heavenly Master's title to the next master, and died of exhaustion."
"This is the ultimate fate of every generation of Celestial Masters."
“Our master, the 64th Celestial Master Zhang Jingqing, died because of this.”
These words struck Zhang Chulan's heart like a bolt of lightning from the heavens, and also completely shattered the last trace of pretense on Zhang Zhiwei's face.
"Zhang Yunyuan!"