The light of the Grand Heaven Formation slowly dissipated.
Sunlight once again shone on the ravaged Tian Guang Peak. True Master Chong Ming stood tall, his entire face bathed in sunlight, making his features indistinct.
Yet, Xu Mu recognized him. They had met once in the back mountains of the White Cloud Daoist Temple and had spoken at length.
For instance, Chong Ming had spoken of heavenly secrets, revealing things Xu Mu had never told anyone in the Elf Kingdom. He had also shown him the passage to the Western Continent and tasked him with annexing Tianshi Mountain, a mission Xu Mu had not accepted due to the Nangong clan's affairs.
"I never expected to see True Master Chong Ming here," Xu Mu said after a long silence, turning to look at the Wine Immortal. The Wine Immortal, swallowing nervously, scratched his head and chuckled, "Would you believe me if I said it was a coincidence?"
Xu Mu gazed at the Wine Immortal, falling silent again. Many fragments flashed through his mind. He wondered why True Master Chong Ming was here, and why the Daoist priests of the White Cloud Daoist Temple had suddenly charged into the Grand Heaven Formation.
Then, he understood.
"So that's how it is," Xu Mu frowned, a look of realization dawning on his face. He looked at the Wine Immortal with a complex expression and said, "You never intended to rely on me to complete the mission. This was all calculated by you. I was just a piece in your plan."
"Alas," the Wine Immortal sighed. Seeing that the truth could no longer be concealed, he looked at Xu Mu with a bitter smile and said, "Don't blame me. Unifying the Daoist Ancestral Court is the second most important thing my senior brother has ever wished to do, aside from taking disciples. The Sect Leader senior brother also agreed. I had no choice but to support it."
Xu Mu shook his head and looked earnestly at the Wine Immortal. "That's no reason for you to deceive me."
"If you had such a plan, why didn't you tell me?"
The Wine Immortal was momentarily speechless. Just as he was about to answer, Yuan Tian Jie Lü looked at Xu Mu and said, "Because you play a crucial role in the entire plan, you cannot have any personal emotions."
"But clearly, you couldn't do that."
Xu Mu blinked in surprise.
"Cannot have any personal emotions?" Xu Mu turned his head, looking at Zuo Mingqiu, who was being shielded by a group of elders in the corner. He instantly understood the meaning of that sentence.
"If you had known that my senior brother planned to unify the Daoist sects in this manner, I doubt you would have helped," Daoist Jiu Xian stepped forward and patted Xu Mu's shoulder, his face full of apology. "I'm sorry. Actually, I only learned of my senior brother's plan yesterday, but I had to carry it out."
Xu Mu stood frozen, saying nothing.
The Sect Leader of Tianshi Mountain, True Master Bi Xu, had heard their conversation. After a brief moment of stunned silence, he looked up at True Master Chong Ming with a cold voice and asked, "May I ask, True Master, what do you mean by unifying the Daoist Ancestral Court in this manner? What exactly does your White Cloud Daoist Temple intend to do!?"
True Master Chong Ming replied calmly, "It's very simple."
"From today onwards, Tianshi Mountain, the Daoist Ancestral Court, will be under the jurisdiction of the White Cloud Daoist Temple. The appointment of the Sect Leader and the elders of each peak must be approved by the White Cloud Daoist Temple."
True Master Bi Xu's expression visibly faltered again, then he roared in anger, "This is impossible!"
"As the Daoist Ancestral Court, how can Tianshi Mountain be incorporated into another Daoist sect? I made it clear many years ago that this is impossible!"
True Master Bi Xu vehemently refused, and the others from Tianshi Mountain silently gathered their spiritual energy, preparing to resist.
The forces from other Daoist sects were also stunned. None of them had expected so many things to happen during the Heaven Sacrificing Assembly. First, the internal strife within Tianshi Mountain, and now the White Cloud Daoist Temple's interference, with the Human King himself appearing to seize the Grand Heaven Formation and announce Tianshi Mountain's submission!
"This is not something you can decide with or without your consent. The decision-making power lies with me."
True Master Chong Ming held the core of the Grand Heaven Formation. Under the infusion of the Dao Source, the Grand Heaven Formation once again "came alive." Myriad Dao rules manifested, filling everything in space, even pressing down directly on True Master Bi Xu.
True Master Bi Xu's face turned pale, and his legs trembled uncontrollably under the pressure of the Great Dao. Yet, he remained unyielding, gritting his teeth and asking True Master Chong Ming, "Does the White Cloud Daoist Temple intend to forcibly seize the governing authority of my Tianshi Mountain?"
"Even if you have obtained the Grand Formation, even if no one in the entire Tianshi Mountain can resist, True Master, ask yourself, who among the Daoist sects in the world will recognize today's events!"
"This is the Daoist Ancestral Court!"
"If the world does not recognize it, what does it matter even if your White Cloud Daoist Temple claims it? It would be illegitimate and improper. Do you truly believe that by taking away the Grand Formation, you can take away all of Tianshi Mountain!"
True Master Bi Xu's words, deep and powerful, spread to the ears of all the Daoist cultivators who had come to observe the ceremony.
As expected, almost all the factions, including disciples and elders of Daoist sects who were usually friendly with the White Cloud Daoist Temple and had received many favors, began to shake their heads in secret.
"The White Cloud Daoist Temple has gone too far." A withered Daoist priest from Longhu Mountain broke the silence and spoke.
"Taking advantage of someone's misfortune and forcing their hand is not the conduct befitting a member of the Daoist sect," a fifth-realm Daoist priest from Quanzhen Sect also frowned and said.
"As the foremost power in the Daoist world today, the White Cloud Daoist Temple is its face. True Master Chong Ming, being a highly respected sixth-realm Human King, should set an example," the Immortal Talisman Master in purple and yellow robes from the Maoshan sect also shook his head and said. Other sects also had people speaking out, their words implicitly accusing the White Cloud Daoist Temple of impropriety.
Yuan Tian Jie Lü, Jiu Xian, and other elders and disciples of the White Cloud Daoist Temple felt ashamed. As the strongest force in the Daoist world, their White Cloud Daoist Temple had always acted righteously and benefited the world, serving as a role model for their peers. When had they ever been pointed at like this by the world?
Moreover, truth be told, were what they had done today truly right?
"Look at the expressions on your faces," True Master Bi Xu said to Chong Ming, a hint of mockery on his lips. "If you cannot convince yourselves, how can you convince the world?"
True Master Chong Ming did not remain silent. He spoke calmly, "Tianshi Mountain, as the Daoist Ancestral Court, has been plagued by internal strife and fragmentation. The position of Celestial Master has changed hands repeatedly, and now it is to be given to a useless person who has been stuck in the fifth realm for many years."
Upon hearing this, True Master Duan Duan's face turned pale. He was the True Master with the highest talent and cultivation among the middle generation of Tianshi Mountain, yet in True Master Chong Ming's words, he was considered useless.
True Master Chong Ming continued, " If the White Cloud Daoist Temple does not intervene, not only will your Tianshi Mountain, but the entire Daoist world's destiny will be affected. Therefore, Tianshi Mountain should be merged into the White Cloud Daoist Temple."
True Master Bi Xu scoffed, "High-sounding words!"
"Even before the internal strife within my Tianshi Mountain, you proposed more than once to merge Tianshi Mountain into the White Cloud Daoist Temple. How do you explain that!"
True Master Chong Ming's expression was calm. "So what?"
True Master Bi Xu was rendered speechless.
"The merging of Tianshi Mountain into the White Cloud Daoist Temple will lead to flourishing Daoist incense and prosperous destiny, benefiting everyone in the world. The heroic spirits and legacies that have lingered in the ancestral land for so long can find many worthy inheritors. What is so bad about that?"
As True Master Chong Ming spoke, his tone suddenly became serious. He stopped looking at True Master Bi Xu and addressed the world, "Whether you understand or acknowledge it, from today onwards, Tianshi Mountain will be merged into the White Cloud Daoist Temple. The matter is settled, and it cannot be changed."
"You may not understand my good intentions now, but you will in the future."
Upon hearing True Master Chong Ming's declaration, the previously dissenting Daoist priests fell silent and said no more.
Indeed, the current situation of Tianshi Mountain was precarious and unstable, and it could indeed affect the destiny of the entire Daoist world. The White Cloud Daoist Temple taking over Tianshi Mountain was indeed the best option, but the method was questionable.
However, since True Master Chong Ming had already stated it so plainly, what else could they say? And what use would it be to say it? After all, True Master Chong Ming was a Human King, and he now held the Grand Heaven Formation.
Under such circumstances, even if the Fisherman from the Demon Extermination Division were to appear, it would be of no avail.
True Master Bi Xu remained silent for a long time, then seemed to finally recognize the reality of the situation. He clutched his chest, his face ashen, and asked, "You previously said that Duan Duan was not qualified to be the Celestial Master. So, according to your intentions, are you going to return the position of Celestial Master to Zuo Mingqiu?"
This question was also of concern to Xu Mu.
The world's gaze was fixed on the tall old man, including Zuo Mingqiu himself.
A flicker of light flashed in True Master Chong Ming's eyes, and then he shook his head. "No."
"In my opinion, although Zuo Mingqiu has extraordinary talent and was personally chosen by the previous Celestial Master as his successor, I still believe he is not qualified."
The elders who supported Zuo Mingqiu suddenly turned pale, while Zuo Mingqiu himself remained calm. He had long expected that Chong Ming would not choose him.
So he turned to look at Xu Mu.
"Is it you?" he asked himself.
Xu Mu and Zuo Mingqiu met eyes. Xu Mu opened his mouth to say something but could not utter a word. He could only lower his head with immense apology.
"I'm sorry, this is all my fault."
"My mission here did indeed involve merging Tianshi Mountain, but I never intended to do it this way. I apologize for causing you to lose the position of Celestial Master."
Zuo Mingqiu looked at Xu Mu with a complex expression, then sighed and said, "I believe you were unaware, and as for the position of Celestial Master, even without you, it wouldn't have been mine. The ones who truly stole my position were Tai Wu and Bao Yun, not the White Cloud Daoist Temple."
"But now I want to know, who is the person True Master Chong Ming has chosen to be the next Celestial Master? Is it you?"
Zuo Mingqiu looked at Xu Mu, finally asking the question. Chong Ming said he was not worthy, so he almost subconsciously assumed that Xu Mu would be the next Celestial Master. He felt that in the entire Daoist world, perhaps even in the entire world, only Xu Mu was qualified to be ranked ahead of him.
But soon, True Master Chong Ming provided the answer.
"My disciple is fully qualified to assume the position of Celestial Master," True Master Chong Ming said calmly. As he spoke, the crowd parted, and Yan Yu, with white hair, wearing a Daoist robe and possessing deep blue eyes, slowly walked out.
Seeing the newcomer, Xu Mu and Zuo Mingqiu were simultaneously stunned, as were others.
No one had expected that the genius designated by True Master Chong Ming to be the next Celestial Master of Tianshi Mountain would not be Zuo Mingqiu, nor Zhao Qingdong, nor Xu Mu, but his disciple, Yan Yu.
Seeing Yan Yu walk forward, an elder from a Daoist sect said with a serious expression, "Yan Yu's strength is formidable."
"At the Ten Thousand Races Alliance, he crushed Dongfang Yu Chu and eliminated Chen Changkong in a one-for-one exchange. His swordsmanship is incredibly fast, his strength is completely on par with Zuo Mingqiu, and he is a direct disciple of True Master Chong Ming... Regardless of talent or status, he is indeed qualified to be the Celestial Master."
Many people in the crowd recognized Yan Yu, or rather, since he had been taken as a direct disciple by True Master Chong Ming, the eyes of the major Daoist sects had never left him.
A direct disciple of a Human King, what a dazzling and noble status!
True Master Bi Xu's face turned grim, and he shouted, "I object!"
"Although Yan Yu is an unparalleled cultivation prodigy, Zuo Mingqiu is also the Dao Son of my Tianshi Mountain, and moreover, he is the successor designated by the old Celestial Master!"
"Even if Yan Yu is qualified, Zuo Mingqiu should be even more qualified. If one of them must be chosen as Celestial Master, then they should fight for it!"
True Master Chong Ming listened, remained silent for a moment, and then shook his head. "There is no need."
"Zuo Mingqiu is currently not in good condition and cannot be a match for my disciple. The Heaven Sacrificing Assembly has concluded, and the position of Celestial Master must be decided quickly, without further delay. Therefore, there is no time for him to recover."
"The position of Celestial Master belongs to Yan Yu."
"Zuo Mingqiu, hand over the Three Flowers Lotus Crown!"