bookcurios Chapter 196 New and old grudges begin!
Chapter 196 New and old grudges begin!
In the dim underground palace, Jiuying—the nine-headed giant beast—snarled softly, its eyes gleaming with bloodthirsty ferocity, as if ready to erupt at any moment and rip the surrounding creatures to shreds. However, at this moment, a mysterious figure quietly appeared on the first floor, his presence seeming to freeze even time.
This mysterious man wore a black robe embroidered with intricate golden patterns, which shimmered mysteriously in the dim light. He wore a towering black crown, inlaid with several dazzling gems, emitting a faint blue light. His face was hidden in the shadow of his robe, and only a strange smile could be seen at the corner of his mouth.
"Don't worry, my little Jiuying," the mysterious man whispered softly. His voice was deep and magnetic, as if it could soothe Jiuying's frantic heart. He slowly reached out and gently stroked Jiuying's head. Jiuying's previously violent roar gradually subsided, and a bit of calmness returned to his eyes.
"Wait a minute, they'll be your food," the mysterious man whispered in Jiuying's ear, as if making an alluring promise. Jiuying seemed to understand the mysterious man's words, a flicker of excitement and anticipation flashing in his eyes. Then, he slowly retreated into the darkness, leaving only a pair of eyes gleaming red as he watched everything in the darkness, waiting for his prey to arrive.
On the second floor, Li Qiankun stood quietly before a massive stone tablet. The tablet towered to the top, its surface engraved with ancient runes and patterns, emitting a faint fluorescent light. Li Qiankun stared intently at the tablet, as if he could see something within.
Suddenly, a powerful force surged out from the stone tablet and instantly enveloped Li Qiankun.
He felt a warm current flowing through his body, as if awakening some power deep in his heart. At the same time, vast pictures emerged in his mind, and those pictures seemed to be magnificent scenes he had never seen before.
"Is this... Mount Longhu?" Li Qiankun was surprised to find that the scene before him was so similar to the scene on Mount Longhu. He saw the towering peaks of Mount Longhu, the winding streams, and the well-arranged palaces and pavilions. More importantly, he saw the figure of the first generation of Heavenly Master—the legendary figure who had forged the glorious history of Mount Longhu.
The images continued to flow, and Li Qiankun felt as if he were transported to Longhu Mountain's past. He saw how the first generation of Heavenly Masters overcame difficulties to establish Longhu Mountain; he saw how Longhu Mountain gradually rose to glory and became a sacred place for the spiritual world; he saw those glorious years and moments of honor. He was immersed in this picture, feeling the history and culture of Longhu Mountain, as if he had become a part of Longhu Mountain himself.
However, at this moment, a voice suddenly rang in Li Qiankun's ears, waking him from the picture. "You're finally here." The voice was low and majestic, as if it contained endless power.
Li Qiankun snapped back to reality and found himself standing before an old man in Taoist robes. His hair and beard were all white, his face was kind, and his eyes gleamed with wisdom. He was none other than the first generation Heavenly Master of Longhu Mountain!
"Junior Li Qiankun pays homage to the Heavenly Master!" Li Qiankun quickly bowed, his tone filled with awe and excitement. He could sense the powerful aura and unfathomable strength emanating from the old man; this was exactly what he had longed for and pursued.
"You're quite good. Being able to come here shows that you have considerable strength and wisdom." The First Generation Heavenly Master smiled and nodded, his tone filled with admiration and expectation. His eyes swept over Li Qiankun, as if he could see through his heart and soul.
Li Qiankun was excited when he heard the praise from the Taoist priest.
He raised his head and looked at the Heavenly Master with a determined gaze: "I will definitely live up to your expectations and inherit the glory of Longhu Mountain!"
The Taoist priest looked at Li Qiankun's determined eyes and confident expression, and nodded with satisfaction.
He slowly said, "The future of Longhu Mountain depends on you. You, the younger generation, are the hope and future of Longhu Mountain. Only with your continuous efforts and progress can Longhu Mountain continue to prosper."
At this moment, a familiar voice suddenly sounded in the palace: "Ancestor, disciple Zhang Lingyu requests to see you." There was a hint of trembling and awe in the voice.
A moment later, a gentle yet majestic voice came from the clouds: "Lingyu, you are here." As the voice fell, a white-haired old man walked out of the clouds.
He was dressed in a white Taoist robe, holding a dragon-headed cane, his eyes gleaming with a deep light. This was Zhang Lingyu's ancestor—another legendary figure from Longhu Mountain.
Zhang Lingyu was filled with excitement and awe when he saw the Grandmaster. He quickly stepped forward and knelt on the ground. "Grandmaster, I, your disciple Zhang Lingyu, pay my respects." His tone was filled with piety and respect.
The ancestor smiled and helped Zhang Lingyu up: "No need to be so polite, get up." His eyes swept over Zhang Lingyu, as if he could see through his heart and cultivation.
Zhang Lingyu stood up and stood respectfully before the Grandmaster. He took a deep breath to steady himself, then said, "Grandmaster, do you know why the Ascension Diagram appeared here?" His tone was tinged with doubt and worry.
Upon hearing this, the Grandmaster sighed and shook his head. "This is the result of someone's plot. We, the elders who have ascended, can sense some of what's going on, but we can't intervene. The appearance of the Ascension Diagram must have a special meaning and purpose."
Zhang Lingyu was shocked when he heard this: "Grandmaster, are we just going to watch the world being turned upside down?" There was a hint of unwillingness and helplessness in his tone.
The Grandmaster looked at Zhang Lingyu's worried eyes and said slowly, "Lingyu, you are wrong. Although we have ascended, we no longer belong to this mortal world. The affairs of the mortal world are maintained by the laws and order of the mortal world. All we can do is protect those things that truly need protection."
"But Grandmaster..." Zhang Lingyu wanted to say something but was interrupted by the Grandmaster.
"Alright, Lingyu." The Grandmaster patted Zhang Lingyu on the shoulder and said, "You don't need to worry too much. The world has its own destiny, which we cannot easily change. You just need to do what you should do.
"Grandmaster, what I am worried about is that the intentions of those who set up this plan are not simple. What should we do if they disrupt the order of the human world?" Zhang Lingyu's voice was low and powerful, revealing his deep concern for the peace of the human world.
The Grandmaster smiled faintly, his gaze penetrating, as if he could see through everything in the world. "Lingyu, do you know that this human world is just a speck of dust in the universe? The universe is so vast, and nothing is impossible. The changes in this human world are just a game between heaven and earth." The Grandmaster's words were like a gentle spring breeze, yet they carried a subtle, yet profound meaning.
Zhang Lingyu was completely bewildered. He frowned, trying to grasp the Grandmaster's meaning. However, the Grandmaster said nothing more, simply turning and gazing into the distance, seemingly lost in thought. His figure, in the night, seemed particularly lonely and mysterious, leaving no room for comprehension.
Although Zhang Lingyu harbored doubts, he dared not disturb the Grandmaster. He stood silently by, his gaze following the Grandmaster's back, his heart surging with emotion. He knew the Grandmaster's wisdom and insights, but at this moment, he felt as if shrouded in a fog, unable to see the road ahead.
After a long time, the ancestor slowly spoke: "Lingyu, remember, no matter how the world changes, we must stick to our beliefs and our Tao. Only in this way can we gain a foothold in heaven and earth." The ancestor's words were firm and powerful, like a warm current flowing into Zhang Lingyu's heart.
Zhang Lingyu's heart suddenly became clear after hearing this. He took a deep breath, as if to commit the Grandmaster's teachings to memory. He nodded, bowed deeply to the Grandmaster, and said gratefully, "I understand. Thank you for your teachings, Grandmaster."
As night fell, Zhang Lingyu returned to his room, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes, concentrating. Gradually, he fell into a deep sleep. In his dream, he seemed to be back by the side of his ancestor. The ancestor's figure loomed in the void, his eyes filled with wisdom and kindness.
"Lingyu, today I will teach you a set of supreme Taoist methods." The voice of the ancestor echoed in the void, as if it came from the distant other side.
Zhang Lingyu's heart trembled, and he quickly knelt respectfully, awaiting the Grandmaster's instruction. The Grandmaster waved his hands lightly, and a brilliant light shot out from his palms, piercing directly into Zhang Lingyu's brow. Zhang Lingyu felt a warm current surge into his body, and instantly merged with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
"Remember, Tao follows nature, and governs by inaction. You must use your heart to feel the spiritual energy between heaven and earth, integrate it into your body, and turn it into your own use." The words of the ancestor echoed in his ears, and Zhang Lingyu felt a sense of emptiness in his heart, as if he had merged with heaven and earth.
Suddenly, the dream shattered, and Zhang Lingyu awoke from his deep sleep. He slowly opened his eyes, a strange light glimmering in them. He took a deep breath, feeling a surge of unprecedented strength within him. He knew this was the result of the Daoist teachings of his ancestor.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Taoist temple, Li Qiankun quietly observed an ancient stone tablet. The tablet was engraved with mysterious runes, seemingly containing endless secrets. Li Qiankun's expression was as calm as water, his gaze slowly moving across the tablet, as if searching for something.
"The stone tablet really does hold a secret. Perhaps this is the good fortune our ancestors left for those destined to receive it," Li Qiankun pondered. He knew full well that the stone tablet had a remarkable origin, and he knew even more that the power it held was enough to change a person's fate.
He stood up, dusted himself off, and gazed determinedly into the distance. "We must find the Queen and the others as soon as possible. We can't stay here for long." Li Qiankun's words were filled with determination and courage.
However, just as they were about to leave, the sound of hurried footsteps broke the tranquility of the night. Xiaohong and Quyin hurried over, their faces full of anxiety and anger.
"Li Qiankun, let's settle all the new and old grudges today!" Xiaohong's eyes flashed with anger. She rushed straight towards Li Qiankun, as if she wanted to pour out all her resentment on him.
Li Qiankun frowned. He hadn't expected Xiaohong to suddenly attack him. But he didn't retreat. Instead, he formed seals with his hands, and a golden light spell instantly enveloped his entire body. The golden light shone, as if an invisible shield was firmly protecting him.
Xiaohong's attack landed on the Golden Light Curse with a thud, but failed to injure Li Qiankun in the slightest. Her face paled; she hadn't expected Li Qiankun to be so powerful. She gritted her teeth and launched another attack, attempting to break through Li Qiankun's defenses.
However, at this moment, Qu Yin suddenly stopped them. "Enough!" She stepped forward, placing herself between the two men, gazing at them with a determined gaze. "We should unite now to fight the controller behind this, not just kill each other here."
Qu Yin's words were like a stream of pure water, instantly quenching Xiao Hong's rage. She paused her attack and looked at Li Qiankun with a complicated expression. She knew the hatred between Xiao Hong and Zhang Xiyue was difficult to resolve, but she also understood that now was not the time to settle personal grudges.
Li Qiankun looked at Qu Yin, a hint of doubt in his eyes. "Are you saying that someone on the ship is secretly controlling everything?" he asked tentatively.
Qu Yin nodded, her eyes filled with determination and wisdom. "Yes, they're watching us every move. Only by finding them can we escape this passive situation."
Li Qiankun was silent for a moment. He knew Qu Yin was right, and he understood their predicament. He took a deep breath and nodded. "You have a point."