Chapter 575: Meeting the Old Celestial Master

If Wang Ye knew Zhang Jie’s thoughts, he would surely give him a thumbs-up and a big round of applause.

He had just noticed something odd about Zhang Jie and made him stay in bed for a month.

If he really pressed hard to investigate or told anyone else, would he even live to see tomorrow?

For the sake of his own life, he had revealed not a single word even to his master, Yunlong Daoist.

He merely excused himself by claiming his cultivation had progressed too hastily and damaged his meridians.

Now, his contact with Zhang Jie was purely due to his uncontrollable curiosity—he wanted to see if he could spot anything unusual.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard he probed, he found not the slightest anomaly.

Zhang Jie remained the same ordinary, unremarkable, plain ordinary cultivator.

“I’m going to pay my respects to the Old Celestial Master. Will you come with me?”

Seeing he could discern nothing, Wang Ye had no choice but to give up.

“Of course, of course.”

Zhang Chulan nodded vigorously.

His first goal in coming to Longhu Mountain was to learn the truth of that past event from the Old Celestial Master.

Even though he hadn’t yet participated in the Luotian Grand Rite, becoming familiar with the Old Celestial Master would surely do him no harm.

“Then let’s go together.”

Zhang Jie naturally made no objection.

What about Bao’er Jie?

She usually didn’t offer any opinions.

Of course, when she did speak, it was usually thunderous.

Like that famous line: “You all say I’m dumb, but I’m not dumb at all—sometimes I’m brilliantly smart!”

………

“Old Celestial Master, change your pose.”

“Old Celestial Master, give a peace sign.”

“Old Celestial Master, keep smiling.”

Arriving at Longhu Mountain’s square, they saw several tourists enthusiastically taking photos with a Daoist dressed in simple robes,

towering over them at nearly two meters tall, his hair and beard as white as snow, yet brimming with vitality.

A Daoist with hair and beard turned white as snow, yet full of vigor, stood for a photo.

The old Daoist smiled warmly and cooperated, showing not the slightest air of superiority.

“Jie Ge, is this the Old Celestial Master?”

Watching the Old Celestial Master mingling effortlessly with the tourists, Zhang Chulan was stunned.

Wasn’t the Old Celestial Master the supreme pillar of the cultivator world, dominating for over half a century?

Yet now he felt no different from the kind, gentle neighborly old man Zhang Chulan had seen as a child.

“What, should the Celestial Master be aloof, looking down upon all beings?

The great leader taught us: come from the masses, return to the masses. To detach from the masses and stand above them is unacceptable.

Chulan, you’ve gone through nine years of compulsory education—surely you understand this principle?”

Zhang Jie cast a sidelong glance at Zhang Chulan and said.

“Jie Ge, please stop with the sermon.”

Zhang Chulan claimed he was trembling with fear.

Such a heavy, dark, crushing burden—he, with his small arms and legs, couldn’t possibly carry it.

“Zhang Shidi is right. Cultivators are still human beings—they must come from the masses and return to the masses.”

Wang Ye, standing nearby, fully agreed with Zhang Jie’s remarks.

Some cultivators believe that because they possess extraordinary arts, they are superior, looking down on others,

even regarding ordinary people as ants—yet they fail to realize that ordinary people are the very foundation of the cultivator world.

Without new cultivators emerging from the ordinary population, with only this small number of cultivators left,

the cultivator world would inevitably decline and eventually vanish.

A cultivator is merely an ordinary person who has gained a certain ability—no different from a programmer who codes,

a carpenter who builds furniture, or a driver who operates a vehicle.

“Hmph, preaching about coming from the masses and returning to the masses? I think the most arrogant one here is you.”

Hearing Wang Ye’s speech, Zhang Jie raised an eyebrow.

Why did Wang Ye leave Wudang Mountain?

Was it to win the Luotian Grand Rite and prove Wudang’s strength to the cultivator world?

No.

Was it to show off before ordinary cultivators and make a name for himself?

No.

He came to take the disaster for the Old Celestial Master.

At least, that’s what he believed.

As a cultivator who mastered the supreme art of the Fenghou Qimen, Wang Ye’s understanding of fate was extraordinary.

From the moment the Luotian Grand Rite began, he foresaw that something major would happen,

something that could very well strike at the Old Celestial Master—the pillar of the cultivator world.

As a man who took the peace of the world as his duty,

Wang Ye felt it necessary to shield the Old Celestial Master from disaster and prevent the cultivator world from falling into chaos.

To believe one man alone can save the world—including a powerhouse like the Old Celestial Master—isn’t that arrogance?

The Western savior has been nailed to the cross for thousands of years.

Moreover, Zhang Jie had a question he really wanted to ask Wang Ye: to shield the Old Celestial Master,

What level are you? Do you even have the qualification or the ability?

Why is “One Below Heaven” called “One Below Heaven”? Others may not know, but Zhang Jie understood perfectly.

When the Old Celestial Master is in a good mood, he’s “One Below Heaven.” When he’s not? He’s “One Below”—with a slap!

Everyone who’s taken that slap remembers it fondly—it’s been decades, even centuries, and they still can’t forget.

This is the Tian Tong Daoist, who stands just one step away from immortality!

What is Tian Tong?

Simply put: using human Dao to reach Heaven!

Even Zhang Jie, who now believed himself equal to anyone, had no guarantee he could defeat the Old Celestial Master.

Who knows if the Tian Tong Daoist, who has never fully unleashed his power, might suddenly pull out something devastating?

Some people cannot be contained even by the world itself.

As they spoke, the group arrived at the square.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I have some matters to attend to. Let’s talk another day.”

The Old Celestial Master had noticed Zhang Jie and the others, and warmly bid farewell to the tourists gathered around him.

“Then, Old Celestial Master, we’ll see you another day.”

The tourists, though reluctant, did not press further.

The Old Celestial Master’s status was different; his willingness to pose for photos was already down-to-earth—they couldn’t push their luck.

At the Old Celestial Master’s gesture, Zhang Jie and the others followed him to a secluded courtyard,

where no tourists were present, allowing them to speak freely without exposing sensitive matters to ordinary people.

Wang Ye stepped forward first, approaching the Old Celestial Master.

‘Here it comes, here it comes—the iconic moment!’

Zhang Jie didn’t mind Wang Ye going first—he happily settled in as an eager spectator.

“Wudang Wang Ye, pays his respects to the Old Celestial Master.”

Wang Ye formed the Daoist Zi-Wu seal, stepped forward, bowed deeply, and knelt respectfully.

‘Wu Dao Wang, also, pays his respects to the Old Celestial Master.’

Zhang Jie silently dubbed the scene in his mind.

How dare you, you brash kid, call yourself “Wudang Wang”?

“Oh, it’s Wang Ye. How is your master’s health?”

The Old Celestial Master responded warmly and familiarly.

Wang Ye still replied with deep respect: “Thanks to your grace, Master is in perfect health.”

“I’m already half-buried in soil—what grace do I have? It’s all thanks to your master’s cultivation.”

The Old Celestial Master laughed heartily at Wang Ye’s flattery.

Wang Ye replied earnestly: “Old Celestial Master, your accomplishments rival creation itself—you may even attain Dao and ascend in another sixty years.”

The Old Celestial Master stroked his beard and chuckled: “If I live another sixty years, won’t I become a true old monster?”

Facing Wang Ye’s flattery, the Old Celestial Master laughed heartily.

Wang Ye said with great seriousness: “Master, your merit rivals the workings of heaven and earth; it is not impossible you will attain the Dao and ascend after another sixty years.”

The Old Celestial Master stroked his beard and smiled: “If I were to live another sixty years, wouldn’t I become a true old monster?”

I am an old man now, and all I hope is that the Great Luo Tian Altar Rite will select an heir to inherit my position.