Chapter 77: The Ancestral Master is Angry!!

This scene was beyond everyone's expectations.

Lu Yuan hadn't expected it. The furious Daoist Master Lingchen hadn't expected it. Even less had the fellow Daoist practitioners lurking in the shadows expected it.

Lu Yuan looked at Aunt Qin, who was running towards him with a breathtakingly seductive sway of her waist, and who still found time to give him a sly wink.

His mind was momentarily dazed.

As mentioned before, Aunt Qiao'er was no pushover.

As the head of the White Deer Chamber of Commerce, her hands were truly stained with quite a bit of blood.

Forget distant examples, just take what Lu Yuan recently learned.

Aunt Qiao'er had been set up with someone by her family, only to discover the man was using her money to keep some trashy mistress on the side.

In the end, Aunt Qiao'er had people deal with him, then chopped him up and fed him to the dogs.

was even less of a pushover!

Because the person Aunt Qiao'er had found back then... was Aunt Qin...

To be honest, Lu Yuan just now hadn't been completely consumed by rage and lost his reason.

The insult to the Founding Master must be avenged.

But he also couldn't let his impulsive actions ruin the old man's chance at the Celestial Master title.

Lu Yuan's initial plan was to kill this Zhao Bing, then have Aunt Qin pull some strings to get him out.

But he never, ever expected...

that in the final, final moment...

it would be Aunt Qin who directly pulled the trigger and finished Zhao Bing for him.

Lu Yuan gazed at the completely cold, charred corpse in the distance, and the towering rage in his heart bizarrely dissipated a little.

He even felt a twinge of pity.

Just over ten minutes ago, this had been a living person.

Now, it was just a lump of charred remains emitting azure smoke.

Although he hadn't killed him with his own hands, he was inextricably linked to it.

A phrase the old man often muttered suddenly echoed in Lu Yuan's mind.

"With a sharp blade in hand, the heart naturally turns wicked."

He couldn't help but wonder: if he weren't a Celestial Master today, if he were still just that ordinary little Daoist priest from before, would he still have been so resolute?

Over the past year, though he couldn't be called a pure gentleman, he could still bear the label of a good man.

Recalling the year before he was promoted to the Celestial Master Realm, Lu Yuan had never harbored such a determined intention to kill someone.

Now, after reaching the Celestial Master Realm, his mindset had quietly undergone these subtle changes.

A single thought can lead to enlightenment, a single thought can lead to demonhood...

Lu Yuan felt an inexplicable sense of melancholy.

It seems he really needs to pay close attention to restraining his temperament from now on.

Otherwise, continuing like this, he'll definitely become an evil practitioner!!

With a sigh, Lu Yuan stopped looking at the thoroughly dead Zhao Bing and turned his face to look at Aunt Qin standing before him.

However, as his gaze swept across the ground, it froze.

Lu Yuan was once again drawn to the mess scattered all over the ground.

After Lu Yuan's earlier barrage of thunder techniques, the surrounding snow had melted into water, mixing with the muddy earth to form a filthy, muddy puddle.

The Founding Master's spirit tablet, which had been kicked over by Zhao Bing and his three companions, lay alone in that muddy, dirty snow.

Half of Zhao Bing's filthy footprint was still on it.

Lu Yuan: "..."

Fuck his mother!!!

I'm still too damn weak!!

If I were just a bit stronger, would I have needed to wait for Aunt Qin to help me kill him?!!

I'd have split him alive right in front of his master's face!!!

This is my Zhenlong Temple's Founding Master's spirit tablet!!!

What a pity!

What a fucking pity!

Putting a bullet in him was really letting that dog-fucking bastard off cheap!!

I should have split him alive myself!!

The next second, Lu Yuan, with a cold face, went to pick up the Founding Master's spirit tablet while saying coldly:

"I did this. I won't hide. Arrest me if you must, do whatever you need to..."

Before he could finish, the muscles on his face twitched violently.

The soft flesh on his waist was being pinched hard from behind by a jade-like hand.

Aunt Qin, looking down at him from her superior height, glared with her beautiful eyes and hissed in a low voice near his ear:

"Arrest what, arrest?!"

"You stay put and be quiet for me!"

The next second, Aunt Qin raised her excessively exquisite chin, raised an eyebrow at the completely stunned Daoist Master Lingchen not far away, and said:

"What are you still standing here for?"

Then, Aunt Qin raised her jade-like hand, painted with a bewitching purple nail polish, and pointed at Song Zonghu standing beside the military vehicle, declaring:

"The person was killed by his gun going off accidentally! He killed him by mistake!"

"If your Biyu Temple wants to make trouble, go find him!"

"Why are you glaring at my good nephew?!"

Song Zonghu: "?????"

Huh?!

No!!

Sis!!

I'm your own brother!!

Daoist Master Lingchen was completely dumbfounded.

He looked at the four charred corpses of his disciples on the ground, then at the surrounding dark muzzles of the guns.

Then at Song Zonghu, who looked utterly bewildered at first, then speechless, but still didn't utter a word and took the blame.

And naturally, at those two tall, outrageously seductive, and stunningly beautiful mature women.

Finally, his gaze locked firmly onto Lu Yuan.

Lingchen was so angry he laughed instead. He gave Lu Yuan a thumbs-up.

"Good!"

"Good! Good! Good!"

"You really have skill, you really have ability!"

"Even Fengtian City's Security Regiment steps forward to settle things for you!"

"In the secular world, you have your ways. I admit defeat!"

"But let's see who in the Daoist world can protect you! Who dares to protect you!!"

With that, Lingchen turned and strode away, flicking his sleeves!

Lu Yuan remained silent.

He walked into that muddy snow puddle and reverently picked up the spirit tablet inscribed with the Founding Master's name.

[The Position of Zhang Jiuting, True Man of Nine Heavens Responding to Primordial Principles and Upholding Laws, Thunder-Wielding Celestial Master, Dispelling Illusions Golden Thunder]

He lowered his head and, using his clean cotton robe, carefully wiped away the filth from the spirit tablet, bit by bit.

Lu Yuan felt not a shred of regret.

If anyone dared to kick his incense burner or step on his Founding Master's spirit tablet again,

He'd still strike them with lightning!

Strike them to death!

...

Within the small courtyard where Tianlong Temple was located, figures moved about.

Everyone was in the center of the courtyard, gazing at the distant sky.

Although the thunderclouds had already dispersed, people were still whispering in the courtyard.

Celestial Master He Xun finished his practice, completed his ritual bathing and incense purification, changed into a brand new, magnificent Daoist robe, and walked out of his room.

"Yawn~"

He stretched lazily, looking utterly bored.

"What's so interesting to see? Disperse, disperse."

"Fengtian City is a mix of dragons and snakes right now, with the Daoist community gathered. Isn't it normal to have some friction?"

"It's time. Everyone go back to your rooms and offer incense to the Founding Master!"

"After offering incense, rest early. There's a pile of things to do tomorrow!"

"Don't lose sleep and end up looking like a droopy chicken tomorrow!"

Celestial Master He Xun waved his hand, turned, and walked back into the main hall.

The disciples of Tianlong Temple acknowledged and also dispersed one by one.

In front of the incense altar in Celestial Master He Xun's room, only He Xun and Song Yan remained now.

Unlike Lu Yuan's setup, which only had the Founding Master's spirit tablet, Celestial Master He Xun's incense altar had two tablets. One was the Founding Master's spirit tablet.

The other was the memorial tablet of Celestial Master He Xun's deceased personal master.

The two first rinsed their mouths with clean water, washed their hands, cleansed their faces, and straightened their attire.

Then they stood quietly before the incense altar for a moment, gathering their focus, eliminating distracting thoughts, and maintaining a heart of reverence.

Next, they each held three incense sticks with both hands before their chests, aligning the ends, left hand outside, right hand inside.

The first stick of incense was inserted into the center of the incense burner, silently reciting, "With utmost sincerity, I offer to the Dao."

This incense ascends to the Jade Purity Sacred Realm, offering to the Primordial Celestial Master and the Founding Masters of all generations who established the Daoist lineage, expressing gratitude for bestowing the great Dao's dharma lineage.

The second stick of incense was inserted to the right of the first stick (left from the Founding Master's perspective), silently reciting, "With utmost sincerity, I offer to the Scriptures."

This incense ascends to the Upper Purity True Realm, offering to the Numinous Treasure Celestial Master and the masters of all generations who transmitted and annotated the scriptures, expressing gratitude for bestowing the cultivation methods.

The third stick of incense: inserted to the left of the first stick (right from the Founding Master's perspective), silently reciting, "With utmost sincerity, I offer to the Master."

This incense ascends to the Great Purity Immortal Realm, offering to the Dao Virtue Celestial Master and the lineage masters of all generations who taught and enlightened oneself, expressing gratitude for bestowing guidance on life and destiny.

Then they bowed three times.

Bending at the waist in a ceremonial bow, visualizing the face of their personal master in their hearts, grateful for the transmission.

Second bow: reflecting in their hearts on the faults of yesterday's words and deeds, praying for the Founding Master's support to correct them.

Third bow: making a vow in their hearts to diligently cultivate and advance today, not disgracing the school's reputation.

After that, Celestial Master He Xun and Song Yan knelt down, their heads touching the ground to show the utmost respect.

After the ritual was complete, they stood solemnly, both forming the "Three Purities Hand Seal" with their hands before their abdomens.

Silently reciting the prayer text in their hearts.

[Disciple He Xun, respectfully burns true incense. Disciple shall diligently cultivate the Great Dao today, strictly observe the precepts, and widely perform virtuous deeds.]

[If encountering difficulties, I humbly beg for the Founding Masters' illuminating wisdom to shine upon me, clearly revealing the key mechanisms.]

[May the Dharma Protecting Divine Kings always be by my side, sweeping away foul vapors, defending the Daoist field.]

[With sincere fear and trepidation, I kowtow and bow my head.]

[Disciple He Xun, respectfully reports with a hundred bows.]

Thus the ritual prayer was complete, but they could not leave immediately.

They needed to quietly observe the incense smoke for a while.

If the incense smoke curls straight upward, gathering without dispersing, with a pure fragrance, it is an auspicious sign, indicating the Founding Masters are pleased and accept it, and the energy field is pure.

While waiting for a moment, Celestial Master He Xun took a deep breath, quietly gazed at the Founding Master's tablet, and suddenly said with utmost seriousness:

"Founding Master, Master..."

"Just wait a little longer. Once this Celestial Master Grand Ceremony is over, and after I receive the Celestial Master title for the fifth time, my prestige will be unmatched!"

"By then, I will definitely transform Tianlong Temple!!"

"I will invite the Founding Master and Master into Tianlong Temple, to receive Tianlong Temple's incense offerings for eternity!"

Celestial Master He Xun's emotions grew increasingly agitated, his voice trembling slightly.

"Master... You really misjudged back then!"

"He, He Yin, had a backbone, but I, He Xun, am no coward either!!"

"Now, it's still I, He Xun, who has the ability!"

"It's I, He Xun, who has won!!"

"Master!"

"You were truly wrong back then!!"

The more Celestial Master He Xun spoke, the more agitated his emotions became, prompting Song Yan beside him to quickly support He Xun and try to soothe him repeatedly.

But just at the peak moment of Celestial Master He Xun's emotional outburst.

The stick of incense burning in front of the Founding Master's tablet, the one in the very center, suddenly caused its rising azure smoke to plunge downward!

Immediately, the smoke didn't rise but instead descended, as if encountering a foul wind, swirling and scattering in all directions!

Celestial Master He Xun: "????"

Huh?!

What?!

The complacency on his face instantly froze, replaced by a look of horror as he stared at that spirit tablet.

The spirit tablet of [The Position of Zhang Jiuting, True Man of Nine Heavens Responding to Primordial Principles and Upholding Laws, Thunder-Wielding Celestial Master, Dispelling Illusions Golden Thunder].

This... what's going on here???!?

The... the Founding Master is angry??!

In these decades, Celestial Master He Xun had rarely seen the Founding Master get angry...

This?

What happened??

Before he could figure it out, a glance from the corner of his eye revealed something even more startling.

The stick of incense burning in front of the memorial tablet of his master beside it suddenly trembled violently!

*Puff!*

The tip of this incense stick directly went out, and a strand of black smoke stabbed straight downward!

Celestial Master He Xun was so frightened he shuddered, nearly collapsing to the ground.

Oh my god!!

Master is angry too!!!

And he's really, really angry!!!