As the blocking wooden planks were pulled aside, a black void appeared before them. A peculiar, subtle aura permeated the space within, bringing a sense of peace to Zhang Tian's heart.
"This is the aura of a Maoshan sacred artifact!"
"This must be Master guiding me. It seems the revival of Maoshan falls upon me alone."
Immortal Master Yi Mei murmured, sensing the surrounding energy. His eyes seemed to gleam with excitement and nobility.
Zhang Tian touched his cheek. Immortal Master Yi Mei's reaction made it seem as if Zhang Tian were trying to claim credit for the revival. However, Zhang Tian was content to let Immortal Master Yi Mei take the lead. This way, Immortal Master Yi Mei could handle the public aspects of Maoshan's revival while he continued his own training.
With a wave of his hand, Zhang Tian conjured a ball of fire. The surrounding space gradually brightened, illuminating the entire black void. The contents within were now visible: a sword made of copper coins, a peach wood sword, several talismans, and a golden brocade pouch. It seemed quite a few items had been left behind.
"This is a Heavenly Master's brocade pouch! It's said that opening it in times of danger can save one's life." Immortal Master Yi Mei muttered involuntarily, his eyes shining with an unusual light as he gazed at the pouch.
Looking inside, Zhang Tian found nothing else. "What? Is this all that Maoshan left behind?" he wondered. "Not a single cultivation technique?"
His gaze fell upon the peach wood sword. As his eyes focused, a description appeared before him:
"Ancestor's Demonic Sword"
"Item Level: High-grade magic artifact."
"Item Description: The sword once worn by the Great Ancestor, crafted from ten-thousand-year-old thunderwood, containing ten-thousand-year-old thunder jade, and imbued with the sword's cultivation technique."
A description materialized in his mind. Zhang Tian's eyes lit up. He had wondered why there were only weapons and no cultivation techniques. It turned out the techniques were contained within the wooden sword. Maoshan's method of passing down knowledge was indeed different. He was surprised that this was a high-grade magic artifact. He recalled that Queen Jingjue's illusory space was only slightly above high-grade, and now this peach wood sword had reached that level. Zhang Tian was perplexed. However, ten-thousand-year-old thunderwood was indeed rare.
"Perhaps the peach wood sword itself isn't that powerful. What makes it special are the people who wielded it, elevating its potential," Zhang Tian mused, quickly dismissing the matter of the peach wood sword.
"Holy cow, the Ancestor's Demonic Sword!" Immortal Master Yi Mei exclaimed, his face filled with surprise.
"Master, is this sword very powerful?" Zhang Tian asked, feigning composure.
"Amazing, I have only two words for it: Amazing!" Immortal Master Yi Mei trembled, his face shaking. He seemed to have obtained something incredibly precious.
"These were left by Master for the one who would revive the sect. Master, you may take them," Zhang Tian said softly. Immortal Master Yi Mei's eyes lit up.
"Your disciple obeys Master's teachings and will surely revive Maoshan, becoming its greatest legend!" Immortal Master Yi Mei shouted excitedly, waving his hand to take the items within. He showed no hesitation at all. Zhang Tian twitched his lips at Immortal Master Yi Mei's swift movements. The man was certainly quick when it came to acquiring things.
After the items were taken, Zhang Tian rose, intending to leave. After all, Maoshan was now just a name, and there was nothing else worth exploring here.
"Good disciple, since you've come, follow your master to pay respects to the mountain," Immortal Master Yi Mei murmured, his gaze drifting into the distance. "After we've paid our respects, we'll make a few plaques. Master also needs to rest in peace."
Zhang Tian nodded. Since Immortal Master Yi Mei had spoken, Zhang Tian felt it would be impolite to refuse. Moreover, they were still within Maoshan territory, so refusal was not an option.
Soon, Immortal Master Yi Mei led Zhang Tian to the foot of the mountain. The act of "paying respects to the mountain" involved starting from the first step at the mountain's base and kneeling every two steps. Zhang Tian walked over four hundred steps, performing two hundred and one kowtows. By the time they reached the Maoshan gate again, Zhang Tian's legs were trembling. Immortal Master Yi Mei had insisted on sincere kneeling, forbidding the use of Taoist arts, so Zhang Tian had essentially used his physical body to perform the prostrations, just like an ordinary person.
"Great Ancestors above, I, Chang Sheng, as the sect's three hundred and eighth inner disciple, and as its most talented disciple, salute all the Great Ancestors again. I also seek your permission to accept my disciple, Zhang Tian, as a Maoshan disciple." Immortal Master Yi Mei produced several sticks of incense from somewhere. After lighting them, he bowed several times before the gate. Zhang Tian also knelt and bowed.
"Whoosh." After three prostrations, the leaves on the entire mountainside rustled as if in a strong wind, though there was none. A gust of wind swept through the wooden house area. Simultaneously, crisp sounds emanated from the center of the wooden houses—the ringing of wind chimes.
As the sound carried, Immortal Master Yi Mei's eyes brightened. "Thank you, Great Ancestors!" he shouted, producing a wooden tablet.
"Good disciple, you are now officially a Maoshan disciple," Immortal Master Yi Mei said, handing over a wooden tablet inscribed with the number "404."
"404?" Zhang Tian's lips twitched as he looked at the tablet. His disciple number was truly inauspicious.
"Alright, Xiao Tian, you are now the first step in your master's great mission to revive the sect," Immortal Master Yi Mei said sternly. "From now on, you must do more good deeds for Maoshan." He then waved his hand several times towards the surrounding trees. With a surge of force, many trees were uprooted. They were then split, and gradually, countless wooden plaques were crafted by Immortal Master Yi Mei. These plaques were then inscribed with characters. Zhang Tian looked closely and saw that they were all the names of previous Maoshan disciples. Zhang Tian was astonished that Immortal Master Yi Mei knew the names of every disciple.
After the plaques were carved, Immortal Master Yi Mei lit several more sticks of incense, spoke to each fallen disciple, and then prepared to leave. Looking at the sky, Zhang Tian estimated it was nearing afternoon. This Immortal Master Yi Mei was truly a busybody.
"Alright, good disciple, we can go now. I never expected that upon returning, things would be so changed," he murmured. "The wind, the falling leaves, the valley, they are still as romantic as ever, but my memories may only remain in that beautiful era." Immortal Master Yi Mei had actually become sentimental. Zhang Tian felt a bit exasperated, wondering when this man had developed such poetic talent.
As they walked down the mountain, Immortal Master Yi Mei led the way, muttering to himself as if recalling past events. From Immortal Master Yi Mei's words, Zhang Tian deduced when he had ascended the mountain. Immortal Master Yi Mei had been abandoned by his parents as a child due to food shortages and the inability to support too many children. The abandoned Immortal Master Yi Mei was found and taken in by a Maoshan elder, who later became his master. Immortal Master Yi Mei had essentially grown up in Maoshan and held deep affection for the place.
As Zhang Tian walked aimlessly, Immortal Master Yi Mei suddenly stopped. "Good disciple, your master has an item to give you." Immortal Master Yi Mei's expression turned serious. Zhang Tian quickly stopped as well, surprised by the man's rare earnestness.