On an unnamed peak in the east, a pillar of light shot straight into the sky. Faintly, one could see dragons and tigers coiling within it, its brilliance outshining the setting sun and igniting the clouds.
The roars of dragons and tigers were equally deafening, causing the teacup on the table in He Xiping's courtyard to tremble incessantly, its contents sloshing out.
On Dragon Tiger Mountain, both the Taoists of Dragon Tiger Mountain and the visiting guests couldn't help but step outside, looking east with surprise or confusion.
"What is that?" Luo Ning asked, frowning. "A celestial phenomenon?"
Dragon Tiger Mountain was the center of Taoism in the world. It was understandable that some strange things might happen within its mountains, but everyone was witnessing such an anomaly for the first time. They couldn't help but want to inquire what had caused it and what consequences it might bring.
"Back then, the first Heavenly Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain, Zhang Daoling, refined the Nine Heavens Divine Elixir on Dragon Tiger Mountain. When the elixir was complete, dragons and tigers appeared. I never expected the rumors to be true, that there really are Dragon Gods and Tiger Gods on Dragon Tiger Mountain…" Wang Ji smacked his lips in amazement.
In fact, among those present, a few knew what the anomaly signified.
Long Feicheng wanted to speak but stopped, seeing Yan Shouyi shake his head at him.
The celestial phenomenon today was identical to the one Yan Shouyi had witnessed when climbing Yanqian Mountain in Chenjia Village. Although Long Feicheng had been lying in Chenjia Village at the time, he had still been deeply shaken by the anomaly.
Yan Shouyi understood that it was a Dragon Tiger phenomenon, which likely meant another person had obtained the Dragon Tiger Secret Text.
His mind was filled with thoughts:
"Yan Nanfei and the others said this Luo Tian Grand Ceremony is different from the past because disciples of Dragon Tiger Mountain who possess the Dragon Tiger Secret Text are truly participating, and that person is the personal disciple of the Old Heavenly Master… Now, another one has appeared on Dragon Tiger Mountain. Doesn't this mean the number of people competing with me for the position of Heavenly Master has increased?"
"The Dragon God and Tiger God told me at the time that only three people could possess the Dragon Tiger Secret Text simultaneously in the world. Unexpectedly, in the year I participate, the other two have all appeared. What a twist of fate!"
"That mountain peak should also be within Dragon Tiger Mountain's territory. This means that Dragon Tiger Mountain has now produced two people who possess the Dragon Tiger Secret Text. If they join forces, the difficulty of me obtaining the position of Heavenly Master may increase significantly."
Yan Shouyi's interest in the position of Heavenly Master was not great to begin with, but he had just made bold claims in front of Zhang Sishui, and now he was in a difficult position.
Besides Long Feicheng and Yan Shouyi, two other people present knew what it was. One of them was Zhang Shantong.
He calculated with his fingers and felt that the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony tomorrow would be very exciting, so he revealed a meaningful smile.
The last person was the young Taoist Yushun.
Yushun looked at the pillar of light shooting into the sky and frowned deeply. His entire day had been quite smooth, but at this moment, he was unhappy.
"An anomaly has appeared in the back mountain. The Heavenly Master will probably summon us back, so I won't bother you any further," Yushun said. "Brother Yan, I'll see you at the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony tomorrow."
Yan Shouyi was also a bit absent-minded at the moment. After greeting Yushun, his eyes remained fixed on the back mountain.
Yushun bowed slightly and walked out of the courtyard. Zhu Feifeng looked left and right, then followed him.
"Interesting, very interesting!" Zhang Shantong said playfully to Yan Shouyi as he floated in mid-air. "My boy, tell me, this is truly bizarre. After so many years, not a single Dragon Tiger Secret Text appeared in the world, and then suddenly two appear as soon as you arrive at Dragon Tiger Mountain!"
Yan Shouyi said with a wry smile, "Grandfather, please stop mocking me. Why don't we just go back? We don't need to participate in this Luo Tian Grand Ceremony."
"Not participate? Have you forgotten your boasts to Zhang Sishui today? Giving up like this would be a complete embarrassment!"
Zhang Shantong glared at Yan Shouyi, but then his eyes twinkled, and he gave Yan Shouyi a contemptuous smile:
"You brat, I've noticed you've become mischievous lately. Why are you always digging traps for your grandfather?"
"Cough, cough, Grandfather, what are you talking about? I don't understand."
"You don't understand? I'll explain it to you!" Zhang Shantong patted Yan Shouyi's head and said, "When you met Zhang Sishui before, you deliberately provoked me into speaking up for that young Taoist Yushun. Now you're talking disheartening words. Isn't your goal to get me to temporarily teach you a few more moves so you can deal with our Dragon Tiger Mountain people?"
Yan Shouyi, his intentions exposed by Zhang Shantong, did not feel ashamed and said shamelessly, "Just tell me whether you'll teach me or not."
"Get lost! I'm not the one who wants to be Heavenly Master and enter the Guanshan Terrace!" Zhang Shantong angrily said. "Moreover, I am a person of Dragon Tiger Mountain in life and death. How can I help my adopted grandson deal with his own people?"
Yan Shouyi said softly, "But if I give up, it's a small matter if Elder Zhang Sishui laughs at me, but if he laughs at you…"
"You damn…"
Zhang Shantong pointed at Yan Shouyi, speechless for a long time. Finally, he conceded and said fiercely, "Fine, fine. It's all because Zhang Sishui is too annoying. I'll teach you a few moves tonight."
"Thank you, Grandfather!"
"Save it. You always call me Grandfather when you want something, but you call me Grandpa when there's good news. I've seen through you!"
Everyone found the bickering between the grandfather and grandson quite amusing. This harmonious atmosphere dispelled their discomfort in being in a strange environment.
…
Meanwhile.
The Heavenly Master's Hall.
The Old Heavenly Master sat in the Heavenly Master's chair, looking towards the main entrance. He could see the pillar of light shooting into the sky slowly disappearing.
He smiled faintly and said, "Sishui, congratulations. I didn't expect your newly accepted female disciple to actually obtain the Dragon Tiger Secret Text."
Zhang Sishui, standing below, had a genuine smile, and his eyes held deep arrogance.
However, the Old Heavenly Master quickly added a blow: "Even if she cannot become the Heavenly Master, the Dragon Tiger Secret Text will benefit her immensely."
Zhang Sishui's smile froze, and his expression turned sour. He asked:
"Why can't she become the Heavenly Master?"
The Old Heavenly Master replied calmly, "Yan Shouyi is a descendant of Lu Ban, and Yu Luming has been by my side for many years. As for the female disciple you found, although she is exceptionally talented and has considerable background, her time here is too short. What can she use to compete with them?"
Zhang Sishui coldly retorted, "That's not necessarily true."
"Sishui," the Old Heavenly Master said, "heretical practices are not to be encouraged."
"I haven't stooped to the point of letting my disciples cultivate heretical practices," Zhang Sishui said. "When the first Heavenly Master encountered dragons and tigers, besides obtaining the Dragon Tiger Secret Text, he also obtained two ultimate skills: 'Summoning All Spirits' and 'Commanding the Five Peaks.' As far as I know, your disciple Yu Luming did not obtain any ultimate skills this time."
"So what?"
"Yan Shouyi most likely obtained 'Summoning All Spirits,' while my female disciple will definitely obtain 'Commanding the Five Peaks.' As long as she gets this ultimate skill, winning the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony will be as easy as taking something from a pocket!"
Hearing this, the Old Heavenly Master did not argue further, as if he also believed that obtaining 'Commanding the Five Peaks' would guarantee victory in the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony.
Yu Luming, you ultimately cannot become the Heavenly Master!
…
The anomaly was not only being discussed on the mountain but also fiercely debated below.
In the mountain forest, outside the Dragon Tiger Mountain stone tablet, Ma Hong sat leaning against a large tree, looking at the completely vanished anomaly. He said in a deep voice, "Dragon Tiger Mountain has another possessor of the Dragon Tiger Secret Text? This is getting interesting."
A voice drifted from the tree: "Originally, there was only one possessor of the Dragon Tiger Secret Text, and the position of Heavenly Master would have been his sooner or later. Now, that's no longer certain."
"I wonder which family's disciple is the latest to obtain the Dragon Tiger Secret Text."
"This Luo Tian Grand Ceremony is much more interesting than before. If my identity didn't prohibit it, I would really want to go up the mountain to see."
"Everyone, please save your energy. The Luo Tian Grand Ceremony lasts only about three days. By then, Yan Shouyi will descend the mountain, and we'll still need to muster our spirits to take his life!"
Suddenly, a voice said, "I'm afraid Yan Shouyi won't be able to descend the mountain."
Ma Hong looked up and asked, "Why do you say that?"
"I will kill him on the mountain," the person replied.
Everyone snorted, "Don't joke. This is Dragon Tiger Mountain, with the Heavenly Master watching. Who can kill someone there? I'm afraid as soon as you make a move, the Heavenly Master will be in front of you!"
The person retorted, "Who says no one can kill on Dragon Tiger Mountain? During the competitions of the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony, accidents happen, and casualties are unavoidable."
Ma Hong was surprised, "You want to kill Yan Shouyi at the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony?!"
The others were also extremely surprised, "Isn't the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony only for young disciples? You sound like you're of a certain age, so you shouldn't be able to participate, right?"
"I have my ways."
With those simple seven words, the person's tone shifted from a deep, aged voice to a clear, young one. The image of an old man transforming into a young man involuntarily surfaced in everyone's minds.
After a few seconds of silence, Ma Hong suddenly stood up and said, "If you can kill Yan Shouyi at the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony, then I, Ma Hong, will owe you a favor!"
"No need. After killing Yan Shouyi, I will retire from the martial world and never concern myself with worldly affairs again. Your favor, Ma Hong, will be useless to me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a figure shot out from the treetops. Even Ma Hong couldn't clearly see his appearance before he had already rushed towards Dragon Tiger Mountain.
This person was a master.