Chapter 398: Just Call Him Master

“Even the Heavens wanted to take it away!?”

Taoist Qingsong stared wide-eyed at the scroll in his hand, remaining frozen in place for a long time.

“It’s time to clean up this mess.”

The Old Dragon spoke raising his hand and pointing at the table. Instantly, a thin stream of water appeared out of nowhere and gradually expanded, covering the entire table.

“Splash… splash…”

Leftovers, fish bones, and other debris rose into the sky with the whirlpool.

Taoist Qingsong and Taoist Qingyuan instinctively leaned back, fearing they would be swept into the swirling stream, but naturally, with the Old Dragon’s control, they were not harmed in the slightest.

After the whirlpool passed, not only did the scraps disappear, but the tableware and large iron pot on the table were also cleaned. Not a single pair of chopsticks was missing.

“Alright, since Mr. Ying helped with the washing and cleaning today, let’s move our things inside first so we can make room for tea!”

Ji Yuan said, then stood up to move the tableware. Seeing that he didn’t use any supernatural techniques, the others also lent a hand and carried the things back to the kitchen.

Half an hour later, a teapot and teacups were placed on the large table. Ji Yuan had finished the goji berries during the day, but this time there was something a little better: a rice bowl on the table, half filled with steaming rice crust.

1

The stoves at Cloud Mountain Temple were double stoves connected in parallel, which was perfect for cooking dishes on one stove, and cooking rice and steaming food on the other. Today there were quite a few people to cook for, so they had made a lot of rice, resulting in a lot of crispy rice crust.

With a few crisp crunches, Ji Yuan crushed a small piece of rice crust in his mouth.

“Tsk tsk, crispy rice crust should be eaten like this, with a slightly browned color and a crunchy texture!”

Ji Yuan felt that tonight was the most comfortable and pleasant meal he had had recently.

“Haha, this is the first time in my life that I have drank tea with rice crust!”

Qin Zizhou smiled and picked up a piece of rice crust to chew on. When he saw the Old Dragon and Ji Yuan looking at him, he suddenly realized that he technically had only been alive now for a couple years, so he immediately corrected himself.

“This is the first time I’ve ever experienced this, even if I count my past life!”

“Hey, this way of drinking tea is quite unique. No one has ever invited me to do this before.”

As soon as the Old Dragon spoke, Ji Yuan couldn’t help but interrupt.

“Mr. Ying must be joking. Who would dare to invite you like this? You’d probably slap them across the face and they’d be dead.”

The Old Dragon pointed to himself.

“Am I really that bad-tempered?”

“Not at all. At least, you’re quite good-tempered in front of me.”

While the big shots were bickering on the side, Taoist Qingsong and his disciple simply sipped their tea quietly, occasionally offering a forced smile. They only spoke when it was their turn to speak, and didn’t dare to interrupt.

Of course, the main reason for their hesitance was that Taoist Qingsong had an important task tonight, and the more time passed, the more nervous he became.

After a long time had passed, Qin Zizhou looked at the sky and spoke to Ji Yuan.

“Mr. Ji, it’s time.”

The Old Dragon and Ji Yuan stopped their joking banter. The latter nodded to Taoist Qingsong. Taoist Qingsong and Taoist Qingyuan immediately stood up and ran towards the main hall of the Taoist temple.

Then the two Taoist priests bowed together to the star map in the main hall before strolling inside.

Qi Wen stood beneath the star chart with his legs planted firmly, and his hands clasped together in front of his abdomen. Qi Xuan took two running steps forward and leapt, landing squarely on Qi Wen’s hands. At that moment, Qi Wen suddenly raised his hands and pushed.

Using the force of this lift, combined with Qi Xuan’s own strength, the latter leaped onto the beam from which the star map hung. He swept his arm across the top of the banner and lifted it, causing the entire large star chart to fall down alongside him.

A moment later, the two Taoist priests solemnly carried the star map to the courtyard and stood before the able. Ji Yuan and the others had already left their positions and were standing there in front of them.

Ji Yuan stepped forward, bowed respectfully to the star map in the hands of the two Taoists, and then pointed at it.

Instantly, the star chart left the hands of the two Taoist priests and slowly rose, hovering horizontally three zhang above the ground. At the same time, Taoist Qingsong took out the scroll “The Transformation of Heaven and Earth” and slowly unfurled it.

Almost simultaneously as it unfurled, it removed itself from Taoist Qingsong’s grasp and floated to a position about two zhang above the ground, just below the star chart.

“We cordially invite Master Taoist Qingsong, Master of Cloud Mountain Temple’s sect, to stand beneath the Star Banner and the scroll of methods!”

Ji Yuan announced loudly. His unique Taoist aura created a mysterious and unpredictably sense of ritual, as if a vast yet elusive rhythm were echoing throughout Yanxia peak, and even the entire Yun Mountain.

Taoist Qingsong took a deep breath and, slightly stiff with excitement, strode until he was right underneath “The Creation of Heaven and Earth.” Looking up, he discovered that the scroll had faintly glowing patterns that were identical to the star chart, while the star chart above was already shining brightly.

At this moment, Ji Yuan activated his spiritual power and unleashed the true power of the “Transformation of Heaven and Earth” for the first time.

In an instant, before the eyes of the Old Dragon, Qin Zizhou, and the two Taoists, endless brilliant light shone around them, as if countless stars had suddenly appeared, as if the sun, moon and stars were falling from the sky.

The starlight in the sky fell like rain, constantly gathering at the Yun Mountain and Yanxia Peak, landing on the Star Banner, and then, through the “Transformation of Heaven and Earth,” it separated into strands that flowed to Taoist Qingsong.

In that miraculous moment, Taoist Qingsong suddenly deeply understood “The Transformation of Heaven and Earth.” He even felt the connection between the mountains and rivers and the endless starry sky in the heavens.

In a daze, Taoist Qingsong felt as if he were walking among the stars. They seemed within reach. Some were solitary, others were interconnected, each displaying layers of different powers that echoed the earth and the mountains.

On this land, mountains and rivers gave life and transformed. All things were born and all things died. Animals reproduced, mortals lived and breathed, immortals, demons, and spirits cultivated and comprehended the Tao…

Experiencing this wondrous phenomenon, Taoist Qingsong’s mind did not become unsettled; instead, it gave rise to a strong sense of awe for heaven and earth.

It was at this moment, which seemed both illusory and real, that Taoist Qingsong vaguely saw a cluster of starlight gathering around him. He subconsciously reached out and caught the falling scroll. A faint burning sensation came, but Ji Yuan had instructed him not to let go no matter what happened.

The burning sensation gradually intensified, accompanied by a tingling sensation, which then transformed into a stinging pain.

“Boom…”

A massive thundercloud suddenly materialized amidst the starlight overhead, with raging purple-gold lightning converging at its center, its power seemingly capable of annihilating everything.

For some reason, Taoist Qingsong knew that the lightning was targeting him — or rather, it was targeting the scroll in his hand. A surge of fear gripped him, and he nearly dropped the scroll to flee for his life.

Qi Xuan recalled what the Old Dragon had said earlier, and suddenly realized that he was fighting against Heaven and Earth for this supernatural scroll.

But Ji Yuan’s words kept echoing in his mind:

“Taoist Qingsong, no matter what happens, you must not let go. Once you do, the Wondrous Method of Heaven and Earth will no longer be yours to control!”

Qi Xuan clenched his fists tightly, beads of sweat seeping from his body. He gritted his teeth and remained motionless, not daring to close his eyes.

‘Don’t let go, don’t run away, it’s all an illusion, all an illusion!’

“Crack… Rumble…”

The overwhelming power of the heavens descended, and all the light in the sky was obscured by the lightning. The Taoist Qingsong was so frightened that his heart stopped, and he fainted where he stood.

Outside, the downward force of the celestial energy gradually slowed, and the surrounding strange phenomena also gradually weakened, before slowly dissipating.

Qi Wen was so frightened that he fell to the ground, panting heavily as he looked at his master, his legs weak, unable to stand. Ji Yuan and the others stood solemnly in place.

The star banner in the sky shone brightly. Although the light was slowly being drawn back into the banner, the process was extremely slow. With a flick of Ji Yuan’s finger, the star banner circled Cloud Mountain Temple and Yanxia Peak three times in the air before flying back to the main hall of the Taoist temple, hanging itself back on the beam.

Qin Zizhou approached Qi Xuan, who was staring at the sky with his eyes wide open, stiff and motionless. He noticed that Qi Xuan’s right hand tightly gripped the “Wondrous Methods of Heaven and Earth.”

“No pulse, his heartbeat has stopped, his breathing stopped!”

“Master! Master is dead? Master!”

Qi Wen, who had just been feeling weak and powerless, struggled to his feet almost immediately, wanting to rush to Qi Xuan’s side, but was immediately pulled back by the Old Dragon, who had taken a step to his side.

“Don’t go over there! Your master isn’t dead yet. Hmph, with the three of us here, whether it’s someone who wants your master dead or your master himself who wants to die, it won’t be that easy!”

Ji Yuan also took two steps closer to Taoist Qingsong, standing slightly in front of Qin Zizhou, and extended a finger. A wisp of fresh vital energy gathered at its tip.

“A withered tree returns in spring, heaven and earth bring forth new life!”

2

Ji Yuan touched Taoist Qingsong’s forehead with one finger, and the pure vital energy rippled through his body in waves.

Then, Qi Xuan’s open eyes regained their light.

“Badump… badump… badump…”

A strong heartbeat could be faintly heard, and his pulse returned.

After a long while, Taoist Qingsong regained consciousness. The first thing he did was look down at his right hand. Seeing that he was still holding the scroll, he breathed a long sigh of relief, fearing that he had chosen to run away at the last moment.

The next moment, a profound understanding of the wonders of heaven and earth arose in his heart. He realized that a connection had been established between himself, the scroll, and the star banner. Qi Xuan tentatively tossed the scroll up in the air, and the scroll immediately turned into a beam of light that shot toward the main hall of the Taoist temple. Then it automatically unfurled and “merged” into the star banner.

Taoist Qingsong composed himself, turned around, and bowed towards the main hall. Qi Wen followed suit, and together they bowed to Ji Yuan and the others.

“Thank you all for your help, thank you!”

“Alright, the Transformation of Heaven and Earth is a treasure. You have finally gained its approval and used it to comprehend the mysteries of heaven and earth. Although you still need to cultivate, there will be far fewer problems with your understanding. You can now truly be called the head of the Cloud Mountain Temple Taoist sect.”

Ji Yuan spoke. He then felt a little thirsty, and took the lead in sitting back at the table to pour himself some tea. With him taking the lead, the group quickly sat back down at the table, and the atmosphere became more relaxed than before.

The Old Dragon insisted that Cloud Mountain Temple should also have its own barriers, but Ji Yuan said that it was unnecessary, at least for now. Qin Zizhou chuckled to the side, while the two Taoists were secretly excited.

Somehow the conversation veered back to the matter of divining the “Sword Intent Inscription” they had performed at the last visit. When Ji Yuan took out the “Sword Intent Inscription” to show everyone, a bunch of chattering little characters jumped out.

They kept calling him “Master” over and over, which amazed everyone watching.

Two days later, at dawn, only two Taoist priests and two martens remained at Cloud Mountain Temple. As for Qin Zizhou, he had departed with Ji Yuan and the Old Dragon, and it was unclear how long he would be gone.

Qi Xuan and Qi Wen sat cross-legged in the main hall of the Taoist temple, cultivating. The two little martens also sat on two separate futons, seemingly imitating their cultivation.

After morning meditation, Qi Wen suddenly asked a question.

“Master, you are the sect master, so what about Grandpa Qin and Mr. Ji? Should we hang up the portraits you painted?”

Qi Xuan frowned and thought for a moment.

“It’s best not to hang Mr. Ji and Lord Qin’s portraits outside casually for now. We can find a place to hang them later if we have some kind of protective barrier or a holy land or something.”

“As for titles, Lord Qin should be the Wandering God of our Cloud Mountain Temple’s Taoist sect. As for Mr. Ji…”

Qi Xuan pondered for a while, and realized that even if Cloud Mountain Temple grew stronger in the future, given Mr. Ji’s personality, he would definitely not appreciate everyone calling him “the Founding Master Transmitting the Tao.”

Suddenly, the name those small characters use a few days ago flashed into his mind. Back then, those calligraphy spirits used that name haphazardly, but Mr. Ji did not seem to mind it at all.

“Clap!”

Qi Xuan clapped his hands.

“I’ve got it! In the future, if any disciples are accepted into Cloud Mountain Temple’s inner circle, tell them that the one with the character ‘Ji’ on his portrait is the ‘Master’!”

The crispy part of the rice that is left at the bottom of the pot

Couplet of 4/4 characters