Chapter 5: The Astonishing Encounter with the Ancestor (Part 2)

  Hailong nodded and said, "Senior, since you are not from our Liyun Sect, why have you been staying here all along? Aren't the 72 peaks here sealed off by Liyun Sect's formation? Which of the seven major sects do you belong to? My master seems to hold you in high esteem."

  The strange man said faintly, "Those seals have no effect on me. Moreover, when I came here, the seals were not as powerful as they are now. I don't belong to any sect, if I really had to say it, I can only be considered a Daoist. Your Master's ancestor, Dao Ming, was someone I met when he first came here to cultivate, unfortunately, by that time, he already had 200 years of cultivation. Although he was kind and good to me, he couldn't inherit...". The strange man stopped talking at this point. Hai Long's heart moved, and Fu Ling thought to herself, "My Master's ancestor wanted to learn from you? Then you must be very powerful! Can you teach me too? I only know one technique of divination so far."

  "The strange man said: 'Remember, one of your masters once told you that cultivating the Tian Xin Fa is the most fundamental thing. He was right, magical power is the root of all Taoist techniques, and spells are just methods of application. If your magical power reaches the realm of boundlessness, any spell in your hands can exert unimaginable power. Don't be surprised that I know this, not to mention this small Mo Yun Peak, even if it's the entire Lian Yun mountain range with its 72 peaks, none can escape my golden eyes. Alright, you can go back now. Tomorrow seems to be the day of your Lian Yun Sect's once-in-a-decade gathering of all peaks, so you don't need to come.'"

  "Hai Long wondered: 'The time when all peaks gather? What is it?'"

  "The strange man said: 'After you go back, your masters will naturally tell you. Go now. Come again the day after tomorrow. After going back, don't tell others about meeting your master's ancestor here. If in the future you commit some mistake and your master wants to punish you, just say the four words "Golden eyes and fiery eyes" and he won't make things difficult for you.'"

  Hai Long nodded, bid farewell to the strange man and Xiao Jing Ling, then floated up and flew towards Moyunping. Today's strange events were really not few, even with his intelligence, he couldn't understand what the conversation between Dao Ming True Person and the strange man meant.

  "Hai Long, why are you back so early today? Didn't that little monkey want to play with you anymore?" Ling Yu Zi's voice came clearly. The footsteps stopped outside Hai Long's door.

  Hailong opened the door and let Ling Yuzi enter, saying: "I'll be back after playing for a while today. Eleventh Master, you seem to be in high spirits today?"

  Ling Yu Zi burst out laughing and said, "Of course I'm delighted! After ten years of bitter cultivation and ten years of boredom, tomorrow will finally be exciting. Your master's ancestor will also go."

  Hai Long's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help but think of the strange man's words. Gu Xun asked, "Isn't it said that our Master is trapped in a dead end? How can she easily come out? What excitement is making you so happy?"

  Ling Yu Zi said, "Tomorrow is the day when our Lianyun Sect's disciples gather together. For three days, the disciples of various sects can exchange their cultivation experiences with each other, and the nine Second-Generation Ancestors will also publicly evaluate the cultivations of the disciples. If we can get the guidance of the masters, it will be very beneficial to our cultivation. This gathering of the peaks is extremely important in our Lianyun Sect. No matter what position your master holds, tomorrow they will definitely come out of seclusion. You little brat love to play, don't you? Tomorrow you'll have plenty to play with."

  The next morning, all eleven disciples of Dao Ming Tian, including Dao Xiu Zi who had already advanced to the third generation and Ling Yuan Zi who was in seclusion, gathered at Mo Yun Ping.

  "Master Uncle, oh no, Dao Xiu Shu Shu, this time the gathering of all peaks, our Moyun Peak is going to make a big splash! You are a young master who has risen from the fourth generation to the third generation in a hundred years!" The speaker was Ling Yuanzi, who ranked third. He looked stupid and silly, but his words were very quick-witted. When Hai Long first saw him, he almost burst out laughing because Ling Yuanzi looked like Zhang Hua's pet goose that he used to raise. Later, Ling Yuzi quietly told him that although Ling Yuanzi appeared foolish on the surface, he was actually very cunning and none of his fellow disciples were willing to deal with him. His cultivation had indeed reached a high level, already attaining the initial stage of enlightenment.

  "Third Brother, you'd better keep addressing me as Big Brother. Otherwise, I'll feel awkward."

  Ling Zhizi smiled slightly and said, "It's getting late, let's set off. We can't keep Master waiting." Everyone nodded in agreement. Dao Xiu Zhenren was the most skilled among them because Mo Yun Peak was far from Jie Tian Zhuang, requiring a long-distance flight. Since he had just reached the realm where he could fly without relying on his flying sword and his cultivation was still unstable, he temporarily borrowed back the Qiuxian Sword that he was supposed to give to Hailong. Using his magical powers to propel the flying sword, he flew at the front with Hailong by his side. This was already the countless time Hailong had ridden on a flying sword, and now he not only didn't feel scared but also felt extremely thrilled.

  From the mountain waist to the summit, it was just a flash. The Dao Ming Zhen Ren that Hailong had seen yesterday was standing at the top of the peak, wearing a gray long gown, waiting for everyone. Looking at his eleven disciples arriving one by one, he didn't say much and said calmly: "We will ascend to the Heavenly Peak." After finishing speaking, without seeing him make any gestures, a green light flashed behind him, and he had already floated up and landed on his flying sword. In the midst of flashing lights, they quickly flew towards the depths of the mountain range. The surrounding mountains were surrounded by peaks that could only be seen occasionally when there was no cloud or fog, with some grayish-green peaks visible. Under their feet was a vast sea of clouds that changed unpredictably, and when they broke through the clouds and mist, they would often bring up a trail of smoke colored by the green light, as if immortals were descending.

  As time passed, the cultivation of everyone's magical powers undoubtedly appeared. After flying at extreme speed for ten minutes, Dao Ming True Person didn't need to be said, and was just like at the beginning, without any change. Dao Xiu True Person, Ling Zhi Zi, and Ling Yuan Zi were also very relaxed. However, Ling Yu Zi and several other low-ranking disciples appeared somewhat exhausted.

  Ling Zhi Zi and Dao Xiu exchanged a glance, and the two simultaneously released their magical powers, covering up the few junior brothers who were weaker in cultivation behind them. With their help, Ling Yu Zi and the others were able to stabilize their bodies.

  "Don't help them. Can you help them for their entire lives?" Dao Ming's icy voice clearly entered everyone's ears, "Only when facing a desperate situation can one easily make a breakthrough. In daily life, who makes more effort and who has higher comprehension will only be revealed when truly applied. The current difficulties are the cause, and future efforts are the effect. Without experiencing the pain of tribulation, how can they comprehend the true meaning of cultivation?"

  Listening to Dao Ming Zhen Ren's words, all the disciples produced a kind of enlightenment in their hearts. Dao Xiu Zhen Ren and Ling Zhi Zi withdrew their own magical powers respectively, while only those who had reached the Teng Yun realm also raised their cultivation to the extreme limit. In just a few simple sentences, Dao Ming Zhen Ren had educated all his disciples.

  Although Dao Xiuzhen and Ling Zhizi were not helping several junior brothers, they deliberately fell behind, and as soon as several junior brothers encountered danger, they could also provide timely assistance.

  Finally, a thick layer of cloud and mist was broken through, and a peak that seemed to be floating in the sky appeared before everyone's eyes. Compared with this peak, other peaks of the Yunshan mountain range were almost invisible black dots.

  Daoshi's voice transmitted to Hailong, "This is Jietian Peak, also the foundation of our Lianyun Sect. Look, disciples from various peaks are rushing here." The mountain peak in front was still not quite real, Hailong looked around and indeed as Daoshi said, strands of green light were constantly moving towards the top of Jietian Peak.

  Under the guidance of Dao Ming Zhen Ren, Dao Xiu Zhen Ren and Ling Zhi Zi activated their magical powers to lift up the five people who had lost their flying swords and were now dull and without light. They were placed on top of the peak. Their destination for this trip had finally arrived.

  At the top of Jie Tian Peak, the scene that Hai Long had imagined finally appeared. In front of him was a vast square, with a surface made of bluestone. This was no ordinary bluestone, as a faint glow flowed beneath its surface. The azure sky seemed to be within arm's reach, and when he lifted his head, all he could see was the blue dome above, like a transparent sapphire. The boundless feeling made one's heart feel expansive. There were no clouds or mist here, and the temperature was much lower than that of Mo Yun Peak. The edges of the square were lined with railings made of the same bluestone material, simple and ancient in style, with only some simple flower patterns. From this vantage point, one could see for miles around, as if they had already entered a realm of immortals, where everything seemed unreal, like a dream.

  Dao Xiu smiled slightly and explained: "This is the Tiān Jiē Guǎng Chǎng of our Lián Yún Zōng, which was built by the ancestors of our sect after spending countless efforts."

  More than 200 people have gathered in Tiantan Square, clustering together in threes and fives to discuss something.

  He pointed to the far side of the square and said, "Look over there." The dragon followed his pointing direction and was immediately stunned. At the far end of the square, a seven-colored rainbow stretched across the sky, its light quietly settling in like a surprise, falling from the sky, colorful and beautiful, condensed into a ball, like a huge light sphere.

  "How beautiful! Master, what place is this? Why are there seven-colored glows?"

  Daoyou didn't directly respond to Hailong's words, and instead said calmly: "This place at the top of Jietian Peak is called Jietian Square, where the Sect Master gathers the disciples. The elevation of Jietian Square exceeds 10,000 meters, and the spiritual energy here is even more abundant than the 72 peaks of Lianyun Mountain Range. It's one of the four great sacred realms on the continent of Shenzhou, known as the Jietian Sacred Realm. And that place surrounded by seven-colored light is our sect's Jietian Palace, which only the Sect Master can enter. Inside are displayed the ancestral masters' statues and some precious scriptures."

  "Hai Long asked in puzzlement: 'Master, since only the sect master can enter, how do you know so much about what's inside? Have you been inside before?'"

  Dao Xiu almost choked on his saliva, coughing several times in a row before covering up the awkwardness inside, scolding: "This is my sect's most important place, how could I have gone in? Don't talk nonsense, do you want to get me killed? I heard it from Master."

  The dragon stomped his foot on the bluestone floor and laughed, "Alright, alright, can't I just keep quiet? Isn't that Ling Fei Zi's master uncle over there?"

  The beautiful Ling Feizi was so eye-catching among the many people of Lianyun Sect, and Hailong caught sight of her slender figure at a glance. Beside her were Ling Yazi, Ling Yingzi, and Ling Muzi. At the forefront was an ordinary-looking female cultivator. Her attire was the same as Dao Ming True Person's, and she was indeed the master of Ling Feizi and the others, Dao Yun True Person.

  Hailong saw Lingfeizi, and Lingfeizi also saw him. In Lingfeizi's heart, Hailong was just a mischievous kid, so he gave him a glance and didn't make any extra moves.

  Ling Fei's white eyes were so captivating in the sea dragon's eyes that he felt a warmth in his heart and wanted to walk over and strike up a conversation. But who knew that as soon as he took a step, he found that his body couldn't move anymore. Dao Ming Zhen's voice sounded in his ear, "Tang Yu, how do you know Ling Fei?"

  Hailong suddenly said, "Last time, Lingfeizi and his master came to Moyunping to exchange for condensed dew, of course I know them." His whole body felt light, and he had recovered his ability to move. Turning his head, he saw that Daoming Zhenren's face had turned gloomy, while the Lingyunzi and others all looked like children who had done something wrong, each one lowering their heads. Hailong stuck out his tongue, knowing he had misspoken.

  Without needing to be asked, Lingyunzi clearly recounted everything that had happened over a year ago. When he got to the part where he accepted the purple bamboo, he changed it from Hailong taking it from Lingmuzi's hand to him accepting it himself, thus subtly resolving Hailong's unreasonable behavior at the time.