Yu Luming had some impression of Zhu Feifeng. This young Taoist, about the same age as him and from Longhu Mountain, had always been obscure, friendless, and had a very low sense of presence.
It was not for Yan Shouyi that Yu Luming would have noticed this unremarkable young Taoist.
But he never would have imagined that the culprit behind the great chaos in Longhu Mountain tonight was this young Taoist, and that he had been lurking in Longhu Mountain for a long time!
"It's actually you..."
A hint of anger flashed in Yu Luming's eyes. He felt deceived.
Zhu Feifeng pulled out the hairpin from his head, letting his wet hair fall naturally.
He straightened his chest, lifted his head, his dragon-whisker bangs, damp from the rain, stuck to his face. His originally delicate face turned demonic.
"Long time no see, Old Heavenly Master."
Zhu Feifeng... No, he should be called Li Genmiao now.
Zhu Feifeng was just a fake identity. His true identity was Li Genmiao, the leader of the Xin Xuan Mountain Sect and a descendant of Nuo Ghost opera!
The Old Heavenly Master stared at Li Genmiao, his expression unchanged. "Li Genmiao, you truly exceeded my expectations. Not only have you changed your appearance, but you've also infiltrated my Longhu Mountain. I presume there must be someone within Longhu Mountain helping you in secret."
Yu Luming stared fixedly at Li Genmiao, but his attention was actually on Zhang Wuma, who stood beside the Old Heavenly Master.
He and the Old Heavenly Master already knew that Zhang Wuma was a spy. Perhaps the Old Heavenly Master mentioning this now was a hint to Zhang Wuma, urging him to pull back from the brink.
However, Zhang Wuma just stood there silently, making no move.
Li Genmiao stepped over the threshold and entered the Heavenly Master Hall, leaving a trail of wet footprints along the way.
He stopped in the center of the Heavenly Master Hall and suddenly burst into laughter:
"Hahahahahahaha!"
"Old Heavenly Master, you didn't expect this, did you? I'm still alive!"
The Old Heavenly Master narrowed his eyes and said, "Congratulations."
Then, the Old Heavenly Master waved his horsetail whisk, pointing to the seats below the hall, and said, "Li Genmiao, please sit. Luming, pour him a cup of tea."
Yu Luming felt reluctant. He thought to himself, how could he pour tea for a demon? But since his master had spoken, he had no choice but to comply.
Li Genmiao, however, was arrogant. He moved a table and chairs to the very center of the Heavenly Master Hall, directly facing the Old Heavenly Master's Heavenly Master chair. At the same time, he refused to sit, instead standing on the chair and squatting in front of the table.
He intended to be on equal footing with the Old Heavenly Master.
Yu Luming brought the hot tea and walked up to Li Genmiao, looking at him coldly.
Li Genmiao sized up Yu Luming. "This is the Heavenly Master candidate in your heart? Too young, too ignorant—and too weak."
A hint of anger flashed in Yu Luming's eyes, and he directly splashed the hot tea towards Li Genmiao!
But Li Genmiao opened his mouth and sucked all the splashed tea into his mouth.
"Good tea!" Li Genmiao slammed the table and laughed heartily.
This scene truly startled Yu Luming.
Li Genmiao's reaction speed... was it too fast?
"Luming, come back!" the Old Heavenly Master called out.
Yu Luming's heart trembled. He dared not linger in front of Li Genmiao and returned to the Old Heavenly Master's side somewhat awkwardly.
The Old Heavenly Master smiled and said, "Li Genmiao, you've gathered so many people to attack my Longhu Mountain today, is it just to kill the one in the dungeon?"
"There are many objectives, and killing Zhang Qingsu is just one of them," Li Genmiao said, licking his lips. "But you, Old Heavenly Master, must surely know my true purpose—today, someone is destined to die in this Heavenly Master Hall!"
"Presumptuous!"
Zhang Wuma shouted, "How can you be a match for the Old Heavenly Master?!"
Li Genmiao didn't even glance at Zhang Wuma. As he rolled up his sleeves, he said, "How old is the Old Heavenly Master this year? I guess he must be over a hundred and thirty, right? As the saying goes, 'When a person reaches old age, they become cunning.' That saying is indeed true. The Old Heavenly Master can probably no longer be called human, can he?"
Zhang Wuma added, "The Old Heavenly Master, as the head of the Taoist lineage, draws upon the fortune of heaven and earth and protects the world, so naturally, he will live a hundred years!"
Unexpectedly, Li Genmiao chuckled disdainfully.
"When a person can live to a hundred years, that's enough. Living too long is not good for oneself, and even worse for others! To live long without dying is to be a thief. Fortunately, you have already found your successor, and I presume you have made preparations to die?"
The Old Heavenly Master gazed at Li Genmiao.
He said in a deep voice, "It is true that I have used some methods to reach this age, simply because there was no successor for the position of Heavenly Master in the past."
Yu Luming suddenly turned around, looking at the Old Heavenly Master with disbelief.
He hadn't understood before.
Now, he seemed to perceive something.
Master... should not have lived until now.
And Master used methods to forcefully survive until now, only because there was no successor for the position of Heavenly Master.
Now that the position of Heavenly Master was about to be passed to him, Yu Luming, did it mean... the Old Heavenly Master's mission was complete, and he was about to depart?
Thinking of his master's kind words before, stroking his head and saying, "I truly hope to see the day you succeed as Heavenly Master," the meaning was entirely different.
"Master..."
Yu Luming's face turned grim, and he couldn't help but move closer to the Old Heavenly Master.
But the Old Heavenly Master flicked his horsetail whisk, pushing Yu Luming away!
At the same time, Zhang Wuma suddenly revealed a dagger from his sleeve and stabbed towards the Old Heavenly Master from behind!
"Master!" Yu Luming's face changed drastically.
The Old Heavenly Master suddenly raised his hand and grabbed Zhang Wuma's arm. Zhang Wuma's face darkened. Just as he was about to struggle, Li Genmiao below threw the teacup in his hand, smashing it hard into Zhang Wuma's face!
Zhang Wuma's head was bleeding, and he looked at Li Genmiao in disbelief.
Then he heard Li Genmiao sneer, "You just do your job. Who told you to disrespect the Heavenly Master?!"
In an instant, Zhang Wuma's face turned ashen, and the hatred in his eyes was indescribable!
He was originally a genius of Longhu Mountain, highly talented and diligent, but that Heavenly Master position, so close at hand, was snatched away by Yu Luming!
Later, he colluded with outside forces, inviting wolves into the house, intending to assassinate the Old Heavenly Master to show his loyalty. He never expected that even Li Genmiao would look down on him and not let him interfere in all this!
"Scoundrel!!!"
Zhang Wuma, filled with resentment, raised his hand to unleash a lightning spell.
But the Old Heavenly Master was faster. The horsetail whisk in his hand whipped fiercely at Zhang Wuma's chest, and Zhang Wuma immediately spat blood and flew backward!
"Zhang Wuma!"
The Old Heavenly Master stood up. His aged body, however, stood like a wall on the Heavenly Master Hall!
Boom!
Thunder roared, and the Old Heavenly Master's shadow completely enveloped Zhang Wuma, who lay on the ground!
At this moment, the Old Heavenly Master's aura was like that of a celestial being!
Seeing the Old Heavenly Master stand up, Li Genmiao also grinned and stood on the chair, "Has it begun?"
The Old Heavenly Master's voice boomed:
"You were once a favored son of heaven, the most talented disciple of the younger generation in Longhu Mountain. Do you know why you could not obtain the Longhu Secret Scripture?"
"It is precisely because you are blinded by greed and disdain all living beings. If someone like you were to become the Heavenly Master, you would surely become an even more terrifying scourge than Li Genmiao!"
"I gave you a chance before, and you did not seize it. Now, there is no turning back!!"
Lightning flashed all over the Old Heavenly Master. Zhang Wuma's back was already drenched in cold sweat!
But Zhang Wuma still shouted hoarsely, "Then do you have the qualification to be the Heavenly Master? To live longer, you absorbed the lifespan of death row inmates in the dungeon. When have you ever valued human life? What right do you have to lecture me?!"
Boom—
Yu Luming looked at the Old Heavenly Master in disbelief.
Is this the reason Master could live so long?
Sacrificing those heinous death row inmates in the dungeon?
Li Genmiao watched all this with amusement. He seemed to enjoy this kind of drama.
"You are right..."
The Old Heavenly Master said in a deep voice, "I do not have the qualification to be the Heavenly Master! Therefore, I have been waiting, waiting for someone more qualified than myself!"
Then, the Old Heavenly Master turned around, pointed at Yu Luming with his horsetail whisk, and roared:
"The new Heavenly Master has been chosen, and I can finally rest easy. Now that my time is drawing near, I must use my last bit of strength to exterminate a few demons who wreak havoc upon the human world, to atone for the sins I have committed, and to restore peace and tranquility to heaven and earth!!"
The Old Heavenly Master's voice drowned out the wind and rain on Longhu Mountain, the rumbling thunder, and resonated throughout heaven and earth!