In legend, Ghost Nuo Opera was a form of shamanistic activity created by ancient humans to eliminate disasters and calamities, prevalent in the Meishan region of western Hunan.
In reality, Ghost Nuo Opera was not performed by a troupe, but by only one person.
The audience for Ghost Nuo Opera were not the living, but the dead.
Ghost Nuo Opera was not performed in bustling places, but only in the depths of mountains and forests. A simple grass stage was erected, and the Ghost Actor would go up and perform. This performance would last from dusk till dawn. Lone spirits and wandering ghosts within a hundred-mile radius would all be drawn by his singing, obediently sitting beneath the stage to listen.
After a performance, the Ghost Actor would demand offerings from the lone spirits and wandering ghosts. They could offer their earthly possessions, secret knowledge, or even the fortune and longevity of their descendants as rewards.
If pleased, the Ghost Actor would sing another song before sending these spirits to the Pure Land.
If he did not receive satisfactory offerings, the Ghost Actor would become angry and sing "Carrying Meishan." The spirits would tremble in fear, and after the song, they could even be scattered into oblivion!
Therefore, Ghost Actors were both ferrymen of the underworld and bandits blocking its path, their reputations a mix of praise and infamy.
Due to the unique nature of Ghost Nuo Opera, the fate of each Ghost Actor was incredibly tragic, even more so than Luban successors like Yan Shouyi.
They were born with congenital disabilities and suffered severe illnesses in childhood, facing near-death experiences multiple times. Once they were slightly older, a Ghost Actor master would seek them out, paying a small sum or simply snatching the chosen "disciple."
In most cases, the parents of the lost children did not search for them; they simply felt relieved, even willing to give up money to have this ill-omened child taken away.
Children taken by Ghost Actor masters first had their faces mutilated, to facilitate the wearing of masks for the opera. Then, their vocal cords were damaged, making their voices extremely unpleasant and sharp. Afterward, the disciples were made to practice the eerie singing style of Ghost Nuo Opera daily facing a dry well.
Ordinary people hearing it would only find it unpleasant and disgusting, and prolonged listening could induce unease and nausea.
However, ghosts inexplicably enjoyed this singing.
When the snakes, insects, rats, and ants hiding at the bottom of the dry well could no longer bear it and fled their holes, this was considered the first step of mastery.
Next, the Ghost Actor master would take their disciples to desolate graves or mass burial sites to "give them special coaching," using the lone spirits and wandering ghosts there to build courage and practice their voices.
Sometimes, if the wandering ghosts were displeased and bared their fangs, intending to devour the disciples, the Ghost Actor masters would not intervene.
This was because Ghost Nuo Opera greatly valued talent. If one lacked talent, they were destined to be eaten by ghosts.
Through this process, the inheritance of Ghost Nuo Opera became extremely difficult. This sect even disappeared from history earlier than the Luban sect.
With such stringent inheritance conditions, even without wars and technological advancements, it would be eliminated by history.
Yan Shouyi had only heard his grandfather briefly mention Ghost Nuo Opera once in his childhood. Even though he had traveled with his grandfather for many years, he had never actually witnessed Ghost Nuo Opera.
He never expected that the leader of the Xin Xuan Mountain Sect would be a successor of Ghost Nuo Opera.
Li Genmiao…
The name sounded like a lowly one, fitting his tragic early life.
"Li Genmiao… why did he kill you?" Yan Shouyi asked.
The Old Celestial Master closed his eyes and said faintly, "Perhaps because I didn't help him before."
"So you don't know why either?" Yan Shouyi said urgently. "If that secret letter wasn't lying, the Xin Xuan Mountain Sect might have already infiltrated Longhu Mountain. You should prepare yourself quickly to deal with these lunatics."
"I know," the Old Celestial Master nodded.
Seeing the Old Celestial Master's calm reaction, Yan Shouyi thought it was due to his lofty perspective, looking down on Li Genmiao's rabble.
But Yan Shouyi had said all he could. If the Old Celestial Master didn't take it to heart, there was nothing he could do.
Thus, Yan Shouyi frowned, hesitated for a moment, and finally clasped his fists, saying, "Old Celestial Master, I have done all I can. If there are really people from the Xin Xuan Mountain Sect who break in, my friends and I will do our best to stay until the end on Longhu Mountain. Please also take care of yourself."
After all, Yan Shouyi and the Old Celestial Master were not related. In fact, the Old Celestial Master had even created the Anti-Yan Enemy Alliance chat group. For Yan Shouyi to do all this was truly the utmost of his sincerity.
The Old Celestial Master opened his eyes and smiled, "You focus on competing for the position of Celestial Master. What does it matter even if I die?"
"I…" Yan Shouyi asked, confused, "Why do you value me so much?"
"It's not about valuing you, it's about valuing Longhu Mountain," the Old Celestial Master said, glancing inadvertently at Yu Luming.
Yu Luming finally showed a hint of expression, his brow furrowed deeply.
Yan Shouyi sighed, clasped his fists in farewell, and walked out of the Celestial Master Hall.
Yu Luming hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward to close the door and said to the Old Celestial Master, "You should take precautions."
"There are so many people on Longhu Mountain, nothing will happen," the Old Celestial Master said dismissively.
...
Yan Shouyi walked out of the Celestial Master Hall, his heart filled with worry. He saw Zhang Sishui guarding outside.
Zhang Sishui was curious about what Yan Shouyi had discussed with the Old Celestial Master, but he couldn't bring himself to ask. He simply stood on the path Yan Shouyi would take, waiting for Yan Shouyi to greet him first.
To his surprise, the preoccupied Yan Shouyi had no interest in speaking to Zhang Sishui and completely ignored his presence, choosing to take a detour rather than walk in Zhang Sishui's direction…
Zhang Sishui immediately lost his composure: "Yan Shouyi! Do you have no manners?"
"A village bumpkin, ignorant of manners."
Yan Shouyi replied without looking back, leaving Zhang Sishui speechless.
*You're the one who constantly calls me a savage. Isn't it normal for a savage to not know manners?*
Zhang Sishui, having suffered a loss he couldn't retort, could not further trouble Yan Shouyi and could only watch him leave.
Finally, he muttered helplessly, "This brat, what makes my precious disciple like him?! A fated disaster, truly a fated disaster!!!"
...
Nothing happened overnight.
At Chenshi the next day, everyone gathered again at the Wanfa Sect Altar.
The Grand Dao Ceremony was scheduled for three days. The first day was for the preliminary rounds. On the second day, the pace would accelerate, selecting the top two from the thirty-two contenders, allowing them a night's rest to recuperate and prepare for the final contest on the third day.
Therefore, there were many fights to be had today.
From the round of thirty-two to sixteen, then sixteen to eight, eight to four, and four to two, a total of four rounds and thirty matches were to be fought!
To prepare for these high-intensity competitions, various sects had prepared all sorts of elixirs for their disciples, ensuring they could advance without being hindered by injuries.
For this purpose, Old Jin had also made preparations. He had filled Yan Shouyi's Eastern King Gourd with elixirs, ready to be distributed at any time.
Only Yan Shouyi did not need these, as he was a Heavenly Corpse Puppet.
"Has Lin Zitong not arrived yet?"
As soon as everyone took their positions, Luo Ning asked Yan Shouyi.
Yan Shouyi sighed, "I called her yesterday. It's the rainy season, and there was a landslide on the road to Longhu Mountain, burying many people. She stayed to rescue them, which caused a slight delay… However, she should arrive by afternoon at the latest."
Luo Ning smiled, "Finally, I don't have to monitor you."
"Do I still need monitoring?!" Yan Shouyi exclaimed angrily, "I talk to you more than I talk to Zhao Yiyao."
Just as Yan Shouyi was about to vindicate his reputation, the familiar gong sound rang out again, drawing everyone's attention.
The Second Elder of Longhu Mountain stepped forward again and announced to everyone:
"Today, we will hold four rounds of competition, selecting the final two from the thirty-two participants. Please be prepared and come to draw lots!"
It was the same familiar drawing method. Yan Shouyi drew Tiger Bing.
He looked around. At first glance, he didn't see the other Tiger Bing.
Just then, Long Feicheng wailed.
"It's over, Barbie Qed, what's the point of even competing!!"
Everyone crowded closer and saw that Long Feicheng was holding the Rat Jia number plate, proving he would be the first to compete.
Being the first to compete was not the problem. The problem was that the other Rat Jia number plate was in the hands of Zhao Chengxiang, the senior disciple of Wudang Mountain.