Chapter 268: You Might Dare to Offend Him, But I Certainly Don’t!
This meeting at the Tianyong Sect on Kunlun Mountain could be considered a complete success.
Including the seven association presidents, over thirty elderly people and three men were present, and more than twenty of them had smiles on their faces.
After all, they had passed this resolution with an absolute majority.
These old-timers of the cultivation world felt that a mere new Heavenly Master didn’t amount to much.
At a high-level Dragon Kingdom meeting like this, Zhang Yangqing wasn’t even qualified to attend.
What kind of influence did he have in the Dragon Kingdom?
So what if he’s somewhat popular in the secular world? What good is that?
There’s still a huge gap between the cultivation world and the secular world.
For example, those who become presidents of major associations are all veterans in the cultivation world.
Especially those who can attend meetings at this level—their status and position go without saying.
Everyone present had been navigating the Dragon Kingdom’s cultivation world for decades.
Even those middle-aged men had been in the cultivation world since childhood just to earn the right to listen in.
Disciples from various sects, even the personal disciples of the association presidents, weren’t qualified to enter such a place.
These old-timers looked down on Zhang Yangqing, thinking he was just a rookie who only amounted to something because of his strong talent and being fed plenty of resources. So what?
Of course, none of them would dare say this to Zhang Yangqing’s face alone, but when a bunch of old geezers get together, their sense of superiority kicks in.
Each one says a little, and they start to think that when Zhang Yangqing arrives, he’ll need to pour tea for each of them, cup by cup.
They were even discussing how to give Zhang Yangqing a proper “welcome” tomorrow.
Let him know the meaning of seniority and respect.
Those small sects might cling to your leg, but for us big sects, face and prestige matter.
Hearing this, Daoist Qing Xu didn’t dare to chime in. “Do as you please, leave me out of it.”
Anyway, my stance is already clear. You all play your game when the time comes.
After the meeting ended, everyone went back to rest. Tomorrow marked the beginning of the Heaven Worship Ceremony.
There are many sects in the Kunlun Mountain range. This place is an extremely large spiritual vein.
It produces no small amount of resources, like spiritual herbs and spiritual springs.
In the past, it was easy for conflicts to erupt between sects over discovered resources, leading to rivers of blood.
So the Kunlun Mountain Association was established to allocate newly appeared resources.
The Tianyong Sect, as a millennium-old sect passed down on Kunlun Mountain, holds some sway here.
The current sect head, Yao Ci, has been renowned since his youth. Few in the Dragon Kingdom’s cultivation world dare to disrespect him.
He even occasionally attends grand gatherings of major powers abroad and has a certain reputation.
That’s why he can serve as the president of the Kunlun Mountain Association.
In the Kunlun Mountain region, dozens of sects fight tooth and nail over tiny resources.
Yet Dragon Tiger Mountain obtained so much in a short time. How could that not make people envious?
Telling Dragon Tiger Mountain to share its resources would be unreasonable. The Taoist Association would also object.
That would be outright robbery, wouldn’t it?
Besides, Zhang Yangqing’s temper was already unpredictable. He wasn’t as easygoing as his master.
So these old-timers could only resort to this plan: go in and farm the resources themselves.
Each association takes a turn. If you can’t farm anything, you only have your own incompetence to blame.
After all, the Dragon Kingdom is vast, with many sects.
After the meeting adjourned, Tang Zhong of the Tang Sect Association saw Yao Ci looking worried and went over to comfort him.
“Old Yao, just leave it to me tomorrow. Dragon Tiger Mountain is all juniors now. I don’t believe Zhang Yangqing can invite back those who have already left the mountain.”
Tang Zhong thought Yao Ci was worried that Zhang Yangqing, lacking seniority, would invite those who once studied at Dragon Tiger Mountain to bolster his presence.
Even if he did invite them, so what? Unless he brings back the Old Heavenly Master, Tang Zhong really wouldn’t show them any face.
Yao Ci nodded, sighed, and didn’t say anything.
He thought to himself: If Zhang Yangqing actually invites those people, then things would be easy.
But if he doesn’t invite them, that’s when it gets difficult.
Within a temple with decent incense offerings near the Kunlun Mountain range.
Several hours had passed since the morning meeting ended.
Luo Hao had just gotten off the plane and rushed back to the Xiaoyao Sect.
Don’t let the somewhat silly act he put on at Dragon Tiger Mountain fool you.
But ever since he reappeared near the Kunlun Mountains, his gaze was filled with authority.
Disciples nearby, even those from other sects, would come up to greet him.
Young as he was, he was already the chief of this Kunlun Mountain region and an important member of the Kunlun Mountain Association.
Many speculated that Luo Hao would be the future president of the Kunlun Mountain Association.
In this region, the president holds considerable power.
So others treated him with great respect.
When Luo Hao returned to the sect’s back courtyard, he saw an old man with white hair sitting upright on a stone stool, holding a cup of hot tea.
His face bore the marks of time, and a hint of calm indifference shone in his eyes.
His white hair was like snow, gently swaying in the breeze like wisps of smoke in the river of time.
He wore traditional dark robes, and the veins bulged on the back of his hands, strong and powerful.
The old man sat there as if merging with his surroundings. Weeping willows hung low beside him, their green leaves gently swaying as if telling a story from history.
This is what a true master looks like, resembling a reclusive powerhouse.
The Xiaoyao Sect was all about being carefree and unrestrained.
But now they couldn’t avoid the conventional path. After all, if you don’t join the Kunlun Mountain Association, you can’t get any resources in this region.
“Master, how did your discussions go?”
Luo Hao was asking about the resolution made by the association presidents after he had delivered the news that morning.
He plopped down onto another stool, poured some tea, and started drinking.
His master only scolded him twice for being “ill-mannered” before telling him what happened at the meeting.
As the head of the Xiaoyao Sect and a veteran of the cultivation world, he was qualified to attend this level of meeting, albeit only as an observer.
“Uh, Master, I just remembered I have something else to do. I won’t attend the Heaven Worship Ceremony tomorrow, right?”
Hearing about their plan to teach Zhang Yangqing a lesson, Luo Hao didn’t even want to drink his tea.
He just wanted to run off and take cover—visibly cowardly.
The Xiaoyao Sect master glared at him and said, “What are you afraid of, boy? All the old-timers will be there tomorrow. So what if Zhang Yangqing has some skills? Would he dare resort to violence?”
Luo Hao chose to remain silent. How would I know if Zhang Yangqing dares to resort to violence?
But I do know that if he does, wouldn’t I just get beaten up?
Are you counting on me to fight him?
If I could beat him, would he still call himself the second-best of his generation?
The title of second-best of his generation is enough to terrify countless geniuses.
Don’t forget, there’s still one person ahead of him!
As an important member of the Kunlun Mountain Association, he certainly couldn’t escape. He just hoped Zhang Yangqing would keep his cool tomorrow.
Luo Hao was baffled. He had known Zhang Yangqing for a while and wasn’t even sure if his temperament was stable. You old-timers have never even met him, so how can you be sure Zhang Yangqing will show you face?
Luo Hao had already decided to stay as far away as possible tomorrow.
His task was simply to invite Zhang Yangqing out of the mountain. What happened afterwards was none of his business.
The next day, at the Kunlun Mountain Heaven Worship Platform.
This platform was located in the heart of the Kunlun range, perched above a sea of clouds and surrounded by vast, boundless spiritual mountains, exuding an unparalleled majesty and grandeur.
Walking onto the platform, you could see some tall, unique buildings around, topped with gold, their glazed tiles shimmering brightly under the sun.
Beside the platform stood eight towering pillars, each decorated with dragon and phoenix patterns, symbolizing the power and sacredness of Kunlun Mountain.
The entire platform was shrouded in auspicious clouds. Whenever sunlight pierced through the clouds, it would refract into myriad golden rays on the main hall’s gold roof, inspiring awe.
And here, it was packed with people from early morning.
The Heaven Worship Ceremony was a grand event for the Kunlun Mountain Association, and many sects had come specifically to witness it.
Those who could come to observe at this ancient and sacred place were all figures of considerable status.
These people were prominent figures in the secular world and held certain positions in the Dragon Kingdom’s cultivation world.
As many young people ascended, they noticed about a hundred old men with white hair and beards standing nearby, their expressions calm and imposing.
This immediately caused the young people who had been slapping each other on the backs to separate, and the grinning, joking ones also became serious.
They walked upright as if being inspected by these old-timers.
You see, those coming here were the top disciples from various sects, representing the level of the younger generation of each major school.
If these old-timers started criticizing them, word would get out, and not only would they lose face, but their sect would too.
No young person wanted that.
So they walked stiffly and upright, eyes forward.
Trying their best to show their bearing and skill.
If they received praise from some of the elders, a smile would appear on their lips.
This was the so-called “recognition from the elders”—capital they could later brag about.
And these old-timers, well-versed in the cultivation world, would praise the disciples who performed well.
Essentially, it was mutual admiration. They’d praise a friend’s disciple, and later, when their own disciple appeared, the friend would return the favor with a few kind words.
Those who were genuinely praised without any powerful backing were as rare as phoenix feathers or unicorn horns.
The path to the Heaven Worship Platform was long, like ascending to a realm of immortals.
Here, clouds and mist swirled, giving a strong sense of fairyland.
You could only go up step by step on foot.
Basically, everyone who could come here was an elite disciple of some sect.
Even thousands of steps were no problem for them.
Even if it was tough, they couldn’t show it.
Not to mention the cultivation world’s old-timers on the platform, there were also peers of similar strength nearby.
If you complained of tiredness, wouldn’t people laugh at you?
Some who weren’t on good terms would even secretly compete over who could reach the top first.
So on the steps, you’d see a certain type of person.
Two or three together, calling each other “Elder Senior Brother” or “Junior Brother” with smiles on their faces.
Acting like they were the best of friends.
But while talking, their footsteps never slowed.
They’d try their best to leave the others behind.
Then say, “Senior Brother, are you feeling unwell? Maybe you should head down the mountain for today.”
Wasn’t that just mocking someone for being weak?
Others were more low-key, walking alone along the edge of the steps, leaving the main path clear.
Many first-time disciples were accompanied by their sect’s elders.
They followed behind their elders, listening to them tell the stories and origins of this place.
These were tales passed down through generations, inspiring many young people.
They hoped that one day they too would be qualified to stand up there, inspecting the younger generation.
Even if they were insignificant now, one day they would reach the summit!
That’s how cultivators are. They climb mountains, one after another, and pierce through layers of clouds.
Only to discover there’s always a higher mountain, a sky beyond the sky.
Besides these, there were also people who walked intermittently.
“Oh my god, I’m so tired. There are way too many steps. Wait for me!”
A sweet female voice echoed across the steps.
Hearing her voice brought a sense of joy.
But right now, her voice sounded weak, giving one a desire to protect her.
This was Chu Yiyi, a disciple of the Yuqiong Sect. She was sweet and pretty, a big internet celebrity in the secular world.
In a place like this, none of that mattered; it wasn’t worth mentioning.
No one would think more highly of her because of it. The Yuqiong Sect was just a small sect that had become briefly popular because of her.
At important occasions like the Taoist Conference, the Yuqiong Sect wasn’t even qualified to observe.
None of that mattered to Chu Yiyi. Her purpose in coming here wasn’t the Heaven Worship Ceremony. She was purely here to see her idol.
Chu Yiyi was a die-hard fan of Zhang Yangqing. Not getting a photo with him at Wudang Mountain last time had been her biggest regret.
This time, she had started climbing before dawn, hoping to get up early and find a good spot.
Then, when Zhang Yangqing appeared, she could ask for a photo and be satisfied.
But who knew this place was the heart of Kunlun?
After walking over several mountains, there were still thousands of steps to climb.
Chu Yiyi felt dizzy and lightheaded. Her cultivation wasn’t high enough, and to keep her figure nice, she’d been eating very little lately, skipping breakfast today too.
She hadn’t expected the distance to be so long. Now she was tired, hungry, and thirsty.
Wanting a photo with Zhang Yangqing, she had worn a nice Taoist robe and didn’t want to sit down and get it dirty.
That’s why she called out for Zhao Kai ahead to wait for her.
“Hurry up! If I weren’t waiting for you, I’d already be up there!”
Zhao Kai was also anxious. He was already more than ten steps ahead of Chu Yiyi and wasn’t stopping.
Normally, Zhao Kai was Chu Yiyi’s devoted follower, her “simp.”
He would try his best to fulfill any request she made.
Wherever Chu Yiyi went, he followed like a shadow.
Afraid that Chu Yiyi might find a better guy, or that a better guy might notice her.
If Chu Yiyi ran off with someone else, then wouldn’t his ten-plus years of being a simp make him look like a total fool?
But today was different. Today, he was going to see his idol, Zhang Yangqing.
He wasn’t worried at all that his idol would steal Chu Yiyi away. His idol was a male god, way out of Chu Yiyi’s league.
Besides, his admiration for Zhang Yangqing was even stronger than Chu Yiyi’s.
Because a long time ago, a senior brother from his sect had been beaten up by Zhang Yangqing.
That senior brother happened to hold a grudge against him and was strong, leaving Zhao Kai helpless.
Zhang Yangqing had avenged him.
Add to that Zhao Kai’s admiration for the strong and his personal faith in Zhang Yangqing.
Now, whenever there’s news of Zhang Yangqing, he rushes over immediately.
Actually, many young disciples, like Zhao Kai and Chu Yiyi, deeply admired Zhang Yangqing.
They wanted to visit him at Dragon Tiger Mountain, but Zhang Yangqing was either in the strange tales world or resting.
They couldn’t see him, so they had to settle for opportunities like this to “accidentally” run into him.
Last time, Zhao Kai managed to get a photo with Zhang Yangqing, even though Zhang Yangqing didn’t know who he was.
But after getting that photo, his status and position within his sect rose.
At an important event like the Taoist Conference, anyone who could meet Zhang Yangqing must have some skill.
How do you prove you’ve met Zhang Yangqing? A photo is the best proof.
With evidence, Zhao Kai could brag however he wanted when he got back.
Making his sect’s fellow disciples green with envy. Even his parents were thrilled.
Zhao Kai had printed out a bunch of copies of his photo with Zhang Yangqing and handed one to everyone he met.
Eager to tell the whole world that he had met Zhang Yangqing.
Yesterday, he heard “whispers” that Zhang Yangqing was going to Kunlun Mountain for the Heaven Worship Ceremony.
So, he rushed over today.
Normally, Chu Yiyi was a goddess in his eyes. Today, she meant nothing.
He can see the goddess every day. But Heavenly Master Zhang isn’t someone he can meet easily.
Zhao Kai was now frantically running upwards. It was already late; for all he knew, his idol, Heavenly Master Zhang, was already up there.
If he wasted time and the ceremony ended, wouldn’t his trip be for nothing?
If he got another chance for a photo this time, he could boost his standing again when he got back.
Thinking this, no matter how much Chu Yiyi called for him, he didn’t look back and just ran up.
Zhao Kai was trained, not very strong, but he pushed forward regardless.
Watching Zhao Kai’s figure disappear into the clouds, Chu Yiyi cursed under her breath.
This guy is so unreliable. Would he really just leave me here alone?
It’s all misty and cloudy around here, no one around for miles. What am I supposed to do?
But to see Zhang Yangqing sooner, she gritted her teeth and kept climbing.
After another hundred steps, Chu Yiyi felt like her legs were about to fall off.
The pain in her feet was numbing her legs. She even suspected the soles of her feet were blistered and bleeding.
Her vision of the steps was blurry, and her lips were starting to crack.
She checked the time. It was too late. The ceremony was probably almost over by now.
But having come this far, she didn’t want to give up.
Just as she continued climbing, she felt unsteady, like she was about to fall backward.
The next second, she suddenly stabilized. She felt a warm current pass through her shoulder, spreading through her body.
Magically, her exhausted body seemed to recover a bit of strength.
The scene before her eyes also cleared up.
Seems someone had steadied her by the shoulder.
Just as she turned around to thank them, her eyes suddenly went wide.
If it weren’t for the pain in her legs, Chu Yiyi might have thought she was still dreaming.
She covered her mouth with her small hand and took a deep breath, as if seeing something incredible.
The extraordinary, ethereal, peerlessly beautiful face before her intoxicated her at first glance, making her see things.
She never imagined her idol, Heavenly Master Zhang, would appear here.
This was too good to be true. If she told Zhao Kai this, he’d probably want to cut off his own legs for running up ahead.
Taking a few deep breaths, Chu Yiyi finally calmed down.
“Heavenly Master Zhang! Wh-what are you doing here!?”
