Long Dao Mountain, the back mountain.
Ye Ling carried Zhang Muya to an open space and placed her under a giant tree, helping her sit up against the trunk.
Although Ye Ling had pressed Zhang Muya's soul back into her body, Zhang Muya had lost control of her body. Being able to speak was her limit.
"Emperor."
At this moment, Tian Yi appeared behind Ye Ling and respectfully bowed to him.
Xu Shuya, standing behind Tian Yi, was staring intently at Zhang Muya, her body trembling slightly.
"Mother..."
Xu Shuya called out in a trembling voice, her eyes instantly welling up with tears.
Without any hesitation, Xu Shuya rushed into Zhang Muya's arms and burst into tears.
One hundred years!
Ever since she was imprisoned in Tian Luo Ghost City, she had been separated from her mother for a hundred years!
"Shu... Shuya?"
Seeing Xu Shuya alive and standing before her, Zhang Muya was also stunned, unsure how to describe her current excited emotions.
Is this... real?
A thousand words converged in her throat, finally turning into a single sentence.
Zhang Muya trembled and said, "Child... Mother missed you."
"Mom! I missed you too!" Xu Shuya cried, her words becoming incoherent as she was overcome with extreme excitement.
Her greatest wish upon escaping Tian Luo Ghost City was to see her mother!
Now that she had seen her mother after a century, her excitement was beyond words.
Tian Yi, witnessing the reunion of mother and daughter, also smiled with relief.
As long as he could see Xu Shuya happy, it was enough.
Tian Yi bowed deeply to Ye Ling again, expressing his gratitude, "Thank you, Emperor, for fulfilling Shuya's wish."
Ye Ling nodded slightly, not disturbing the reunion of Zhang Muya and her daughter. He turned and walked away, saying, "Follow me."
Tian Yi stepped forward to follow.
Walking further away, Ye Ling asked Tian Yi, "During the time I was in the cave looking for Zhang Zhiyue, were there any disturbances on Long Dao Mountain?"
The period before the Heavenly Master Ordination Ceremony was the most prone to trouble.
Various factions converged, creating a mixed crowd. It was easier for the Red Dust Pavilion to stir up trouble, so Ye Ling had asked Tian Yi to help monitor the situation.
Although Ye Ling had dismantled the Red Dust Pavilion's new branch, judging by the extent of Ye Feng's arrangements on Long Dao Mountain, he wouldn't give up easily and would definitely send more forces.
Ye Feng's servant could casually summon demon avatars. Ye Ling couldn't believe that the Red Dust Pavilion didn't have a Red Dust Immortal.
Tian Yi said, "As the Emperor predicted, the Red Dust Pavilion has made new moves."
"Starting this morning, and before the Heavenly Master Ordination Ceremony, dozens more factions came to observe the True One Sect's ordination ceremony. Additionally, nearly two thousand rogue cultivators arrived, many of whom are unusual individuals from the Red Dust Pavilion."
"Someone is secretly directing them, and they could attack the True One Sect at any moment."
Ye Ling asked again, "Have any cultivators of eighth rank or above arrived?"
Tian Yi nodded and said, "I can only sense one. As for whether there are other eighth-rank cultivators, I apologize, but my abilities are insufficient to confirm."
"Hmm... this information is enough."
Ye Ling nodded, transformed into Zhang Qi's appearance, and said, "You stay here and take care of them. I'm going to the ceremony venue."
"Yes." Tian Yi respectfully bowed to Ye Ling, "Farewell, Emperor."
As Tian Yi bowed, Ye Ling transformed into a gust of wind and disappeared from the spot.
...
The True One Sect's mountain gate, the Dao Heart Martial Arts Arena!
The surrounding spectator stands were already filled with unusual individuals, and in the arena below, two young cultivators were competing.
Although the Heavenly Master Ordination Ceremony was for the True One Sect's sect leader to choose an heir, it was customary to hold a junior cultivator competition beforehand. Young cultivators from all factions could register to participate, and the winner would receive generous prizes.
Moreover, for many young cultivators, the prizes from the True One Sect were secondary. The most important thing was their reputation.
The Heavenly Master Ordination Ceremony was the best way for young cultivators to quickly make a name for themselves. Therefore, at every ordination ceremony, many talented cultivators emerged and were favored by major sects, subsequently receiving countless offers of support.
After all, the path of cultivation not only required talent but also external resources.
With the support of a major sect, a genius's cultivation progress would also be faster!
Zhang Mingyu and Zhang Mingkong sat in the main seats, distractedly watching the young cultivators compete, their minds elsewhere.
After the events of last night, the Heavenly Masters of the True One Sect were no longer focused on this ceremony. They were extremely tense, fearing that someone might strike at any moment.
There was a traitor within the sect, and external enemies were lurking. Although the True One Sect appeared glorious now, with major sects sending people to observe the ceremony, in reality, the True One Sect was riddled with holes and had no retreat.
Any slight misstep could lead to eternal damnation!
"Grand-disciple, why are we standing here?" At the entrance to the spectator stands, Zhang Xiaoxia looked at Zhang Zhiyue, who was standing in a corner, and asked curiously.
"This place is fraught with danger, so we should be cautious."
Zhang Zhiyue, being an experienced cultivator, realized something was amiss as soon as he arrived at the arena and saw Zhang Mingyu and Zhang Mingkong.
Furthermore, he noticed that many cultivators in the spectator stands had killing intent in their eyes, clearly there to cause trouble.
If they were to step out rashly now, they would become targets.
"Oh..."
Zhang Xiaoxia didn't ask further after hearing Zhang Zhiyue's words and continued to watch the young cultivators' martial arts competition below, feeling a bit nervous.
If these events hadn't happened, she would also be among the competitors below, never to come into contact with these secrets.
But now, she had inexplicably mastered the "Great Dao Heart Art," her cultivation had reached the sixth rank, and she had become the sect leader of the True One Sect...
So many things had happened that Zhang Xiaoxia felt everything was incredibly surreal.
...
"Where on earth did that girl Xiaoxia go?"
In the venue, Zhang Daoyuan looked around for Zhang Xiaoxia.
He had gone to find Zhang Xiaoxia early in the morning but hadn't seen her in her dormitory. He then searched the entire True One Sect but still couldn't find her.
The True One Sect was in a precarious situation, and Sect Leader Zhang Mingyu could be ambushed at any moment. He had to stay by Zhang Mingyu's side at all times.
Therefore, if Zhang Xiaoxia were in trouble, he wouldn't be able to split himself to save her.
"Zhang Daoyuan, how are your preparations on your side?"
At this moment, Ye Ling's voice sounded in Zhang Daoyuan's mind, making him tremble.
Zhang Daoyuan quickly replied, "Master Ye, we suspect Zhang Mingkong is the mole. We are currently waiting for him to make a move so we can catch him red-handed."
"The tasks you assigned have been carried out. The mountain gate formation is ready. As soon as any cultivator makes a move, the formation will activate immediately, preventing them from escaping."
"Yes, well done. I have already confirmed that Zhang Mingkong is from the Red Dust Pavilion. Tell your sect leader to be careful and not fall into their trap."
"Also, the Red Dust Pavilion is likely to make a move during the Heavenly Master Ordination Ceremony. Their objective now is probably more than just assassinating Zhang Mingyu. You need to be aware of this as well."
Upon hearing Ye Ling's telepathic message, Zhang Daoyuan quickly thanked him, "Thank you for the reminder, Master Ye!"
"By the way, Master Ye, have you seen that girl Xiaoxia? I'm a bit..."
Ye Ling said, "Don't worry, she's with Zhang Zhiyue, right here in the venue."
"Zhang Zhiyue?"
Zhang Daoyuan was stunned at first, then his body trembled violently, and a storm of shock surged in his heart. "Master has woken up?"
However, after saying that, Ye Ling's voice fell silent. Even though Zhang Daoyuan had a thousand questions and excitement in his heart, he had nowhere to ask.
The competition in the martial arts arena continued intensely.
There were more geniuses emerging this time than in previous years, and the atmosphere in the venue became incredibly heated due to the appearance of those geniuses!
Zhang Mingkong, sitting in the main seat, looked at the bustling scene and finally decided to make his move.
He took a deep breath, then looked at Zhang Mingyu and smiled, "Sect Leader, it's time for us to go down."