Previously, Wan Yunting only knew that if one entered the Demonic Pool of the Demonic Sect and became demonic, the demonic energy would erode one's mind, turning them into a frenzied killer.
This was why he had abandoned the idea of finding the Demonic Pool to enhance his cultivation!
But now, upon hearing the Old Heavenly Master say that the Demonic Pool would not erode one's mind, as long as one’s will was firm enough, they could obtain the mystical power within the Demonic Pool!
Furthermore, the Old Heavenly Master handing him this Demonic Sword indicated he was guiding Wan Yunting to seek the Demonic Pool, believing he might obtain the mysterious power within it!
"Hey, do you really know the whereabouts of the Demonic Pool?"
Zhang Xian’er, while eating grilled fish, asked Wan Yunting curiously.
During this time, she had been staying at the Heavenly Master's Mansion and had heard her junior disciples talk about the Demonic Pool.
"Yes, I only know the general vicinity of the Demonic Pool. The exact location will likely require searching!" Wan Yunting said with a smile.
He did not hide the whereabouts of the Demonic Pool from Zhang Xian’er and the Old Heavenly Master, mainly because Wan Yunting trusted the Old Heavenly Master!
"After I pass on, you can take Xian’er to find it," the Old Heavenly Master said with a smile.
As soon as these words were spoken, Zhang Xian’er’s pretty face froze. She turned to look at the Old Heavenly Master and asked, "Old man, what nonsense are you talking about?"
At this point, the Old Heavenly Master did not hide anything from Zhang Xian’er, smiling, "Girl, my master’s time is coming soon, likely within these two days. From now on, you will follow this kid."
Zhang Xian’er’s pretty face went blank, and the grilled fish in her hand instantly lost its appeal.
She thrust it directly at Wan Yunting, then crouched down and pulled on the Old Heavenly Master’s old arm, her expression showing panic. "Old man, you're joking with me, right? Didn't you say you were going to live for another two hundred years? Why are you dying now?"
"Heh heh…"
Seeing Zhang Xian’er’s anxious and flustered appearance, the Old Heavenly Master looked kind and benevolent, like a grandfather, and said, "Xian’er, no one can escape fate. Whether one lives for a hundred years or two hundred years, when their time comes, they must leave this mortal world."
"Unless, one can truly reach the legendary realm of 'seeing the divine and being indestructible,' perhaps then one can live a little longer."
"Then continue your cultivation."
Zhang Xian’er tugged at his old arm, her anxious face filled with turmoil. She did not want the Old Heavenly Master to leave…
"I don't want to either, but my talent is insufficient, and I cannot reach that realm."
The Old Heavenly Master patted Zhang Xian’er’s hand, then pointed at Wan Yunting, who was standing silently to the side, and said with a smile, "But this kid, perhaps he can reach that realm in the future!"
"No, I don't want to bother with him. I only want you to reach that realm and live forever…"
Zhang Xian’er shook her head, her peach blossom eyes already reddening and welling up with tears. She shook her head, biting her lip, and said fearfully, "Old man, please don't die, okay? Didn't you say you still wanted to see me get married…"
The Old Heavenly Master chuckled, pointing at Wan Yunting and teasing, "Alright, if you marry this kid, then I'll get to see it."
…Wan Yunting, standing by, feeling heavy-hearted, was rendered speechless by the Old Heavenly Master’s words.
"Alright, Xian’er."
The Old Heavenly Master pulled Zhang Xian’er, saying with a kind smile, "I have already asked this kid to take care of you. When I am no longer here, you will obediently listen to him. Occasionally, you should come back to Longhu Mountain for a visit. This will always be your home!"
"Remember, during the Qingming Festival every year, burn more paper money for me. I'm afraid I won't have enough to spend down there, you know?"
"Wuwuwu…"
These words completely broke Zhang Xian’er. She threw herself into the Old Heavenly Master’s arms and cried, "Master, I don't want you to die…"
"Hahaha…"
Instantly, the Old Heavenly Master laughed heartily. His old hand stroked Zhang Xian’er’s head, and he said with a smile, "You girl, you're finally willing to call me Master. Haha, now I have no regrets in death."
Wan Yunting on the side looked gloomy, his heart heavy, unsure of what to say to comfort Zhang Xian’er…
That night, Wan Yunting and Zhang Xian’er accompanied the Old Heavenly Master for the entire night of fishing. It wasn't until the next morning when the sun slowly rose that Wan Yunting suddenly noticed the Old Heavenly Master’s pale face and his increasingly weak aura.
He was like a wilting tree facing imminent death, gradually withering…
"Old Heavenly Master…"
Seeing this, Wan Yunting was greatly anxious…
"Master…"
Leaning beside him, Zhang Xian’er also burst into tears upon seeing this…
"Ah, old man, I haven't left yet…"
The Old Heavenly Master smiled weakly and said to Wan Yunting, "Kid, please go and call Zhang Xuanliang here…"
Wan Yunting was anxious but knew that the Old Heavenly Master’s time was near. He immediately got up and nodded, "Alright, Old Heavenly Master, I'll go now…"
With that, he turned and ran quickly…
"What, the Old Heavenly Master is about to pass on?"
At the entrance of the Sect Leader’s residence, the disciple Huang Jingyan’s eyes widened upon hearing Wan Yunting’s words.
"Quick, go notify Sect Leader Zhang," Wan Yunting urged.
"Okay…"
Huang Jingyan immediately turned and rushed in, shouting, "Master, something big has happened, the Old Heavenly Master is about to pass on…"
A moment later, Sect Leader Zhang Xuanliang came out, his face full of anxiety, and questioned Wan Yunting, "Chairman Wan, wasn't our Old Heavenly Master fine just now? Why is he suddenly passing on?"
Wan Yunting said, "Sect Leader Zhang, let’s talk as we walk…"
"Good…"
Zhang Xuanliang immediately followed Wan Yunting, walking quickly towards the Old Heavenly Master’s residence by the back mountain. He then turned back and shouted to his disciple Huang Jingyan, "Quickly go notify Uncle-Master Zhao and the others, quickly…"
"Yes…"
Huang Jingyan responded and quickly went to notify the other Heavenly Masters of the Heavenly Master’s Mansion…
On the way, Zhang Xuanliang heard Wan Yunting explain the reason for the Old Heavenly Master’s sudden passing. This caused his brow to furrow deeply, and he sighed, "Old Heavenly Master, why didn’t you tell us earlier? Alas…"
Wan Yunting felt self-reproach and said, "If my grandfather hadn’t come to ask the Old Heavenly Master for help back then, he wouldn’t have been injured by the Main God, and then…"
"Chairman Wan, there’s no need to say more. This matter is not your fault."
Zhang Xuanliang waved his hand and sighed, "The Main Gods of the Eye of Heaven Main God Cult will eventually return to Hua Xia and settle accounts with our various sects, so this is inevitable…"
The two returned to the bamboo house where the Old Heavenly Master resided by the reservoir at their fastest speed.
Meanwhile, throughout the Heavenly Master’s Mansion, Zhao Yiwu, Zhang Wanfu, Lu Xiu, and other Heavenly Masters were shocked to hear that the Old Heavenly Master was about to pass on and hurried towards the back mountain.
"Old Heavenly Master…"
Zhang Xuanliang entered and looked at the Old Heavenly Master lying on the bamboo bed. He looked relatively normal last night, but now he was skin and bones, completely exhausted.
"Xuanliang, you’re here…"
The Old Heavenly Master had one last breath. He raised his withered old hand…
"I'm here, Old Heavenly Master…"
Zhang Xuanliang quickly knelt by the bed, held the Old Heavenly Master’s withered hand, and his old eyes couldn't help but well up with tears. He said with great sadness, "Old Heavenly Master, please rest assured. With me, Zhang Xuanliang, here, I will protect our Longhu Mountain Heavenly Master’s Mansion."
"Mmm…"
The Old Heavenly Master’s cloudy old eyes and sunken old face revealed a look of relief and a smile. He weakly said, "Although your aptitude is mediocre, you have a good mind. I can rest assured leaving the Heavenly Master’s Mansion to you."
Zhang Xuanliang's heart was filled with grief, but he couldn't help but nod, tears falling.
"Also, I have already asked Xian’er to follow that kid. If that kid is in trouble, help him if you can; if you can’t, then let him be. After all, he is a person with great fortune," the Old Heavenly Master said, looking at Wan Yunting standing behind him with a smile.
Zhang Xuanliang looked back and was surprised to see the visibly sad Zhang Xian’er and the gloomy Wan Yunting beside him. He hadn't expected the Old Heavenly Master to let Senior Aunt Xian’er follow him!
"Xuanliang, I will pass on my last trace of internal energy to you, so that you can live a few more days and properly lead our Longhu Mountain Heavenly Master’s Mansion forward. Remember to admonish future generations not to let our Heavenly Master’s Mansion break the lineage…"
As soon as the Old Heavenly Master finished speaking, his withered old hand clasped Zhang Xuanliang’s wrist and transferred all the remaining powerful internal energy in his dantian to Zhang Xuanliang. Immediately, he was enveloped by a white aura…
"Old Heavenly Master…"
Zhang Xuanliang’s eyes widened. He felt the powerful internal energy from the Old Heavenly Master’s hand surging into his meridians and then into his dantian…
"Alas, I am going now…"
Finally, the Old Heavenly Master sighed towards the sky, slowly closed his eyelids, and his large hand fell powerlessly…
"Master…!"
"Old Heavenly Master…"
Seeing this, Zhang Xian’er threw herself forward and knelt by the bed. Even Wan Yunting knelt down.
Zhang Xuanliang, having received the Old Heavenly Master’s inheritance, knelt by the bed and cried inconsolably…
Although the Old Heavenly Master was not his master, he was the last Old Heavenly Master of their Longhu Mountain Heavenly Master’s Mansion.
Now that even he had passed on, the Heavenly Master’s Mansion had lost a true Grandmaster!
This was also why the Old Heavenly Master had passed on his final internal energy to Zhang Xuanliang, because without his protection, the Longhu Mountain Heavenly Master’s Mansion would naturally be suppressed by other sects…