The Heavenly Master, tall and straight, with meticulously combed hair that showed no sign of disarray, let his silver strands fall casually down his back. His sunken eye sockets held deep brown irises, seemingly recounting the vicissitudes of time.
"Rise, all of you."
From his forehead to his eyes and then to the corners of his mouth, a multitude of mottled wrinkles appeared as the Heavenly Master spoke.
The crowd straightened like a surging tide, thousands of eyes fixed with fervent adoration on the tall, upright old man standing at the highest point.
Yuan Tian, a Daoist of Baiyun Daoist Temple, looked at the Heavenly Master and sighed, "The first time I saw the Heavenly Master, I was just a young Daoist boy just beginning my cultivation journey."
"So many years have passed. Besides having more wrinkles on his face, the Heavenly Master remains unchanged. Especially those deep brown eyes; they seem to hold something sacred, more radiant than the sun, making it difficult for me to look directly at them."
Hearing the Revered Elder's lament, other elders and disciples of Baiyun Daoist Temple nodded in agreement.
The Heavenly Master had witnessed the rise and fall of several dynasties. He was now three hundred years old, outliving even the Old Ancestor of the Wang family.
Longevity, or rather immortality, was the common dream of all cultivators. Thus, the existence of the Heavenly Master had inspired countless aspiring Daoists.
"Gu Ye, counting your previous two lives, how old are you now?" Yuan Tian asked, looking at the youthful but wise young immortal beside him.
This person was the Supreme Elder of their Baiyun Daoist Temple, who practiced reincarnation techniques. His name was Gu Ye, and this was his third life.
"Approximately," the youthful Gu Ye replied, gazing at the Heavenly Master's back before shaking his head.
Although his reincarnation technique allowed him to be reborn with memories for several lives, each subsequent life was shorter than the last, unless a significant breakthrough was achieved.
For instance, in his current life, his physical body was only seven years old, yet his flesh and blood were already withered and aged. Therefore, if he could not break through to the Human King realm in this life, his lifespan would reach its end.
"Even with reincarnation techniques, I am still inferior to the Heavenly Master," Gu Ye said, his gaze towards the old man growing even more respectful.
"I am very happy to see you all."
The Heavenly Master spoke, a hint of nostalgia appearing on his face. He looked directly at the morning sun, and the sacred, dark golden fire reflected in the depths of his brown eyes. In an instant, his aura surged, as if he had returned to his prime.
The Heavenly Master lowered his head, the holy fire in his eyes piercing the array eye staff in his hand. Then, on the peak of Tian Guang Peak, beneath the plaza, the intricate patterns of the grand array seemed to come alive.
They rose from the ground, gathering together haphazardly to form a wide battle stage.
"The Ceremony of Worshipping Heaven may begin."
After completing this, the light in the Heavenly Master's eyes vanished. His voice grew even more aged, another wrinkle appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Bi Xu Zhenren stood beside the Heavenly Master, looking at him with worry but saying nothing more. He simply turned his head and, with a solemn and serious expression, called out:
"The Ceremony of Worshipping Heaven officially begins!"
"Rumble!"
With his booming shout, the more than a thousand banners surrounding the arena all manifested spectral images and ignited in the heavens above. The dense flames burned brighter than the sun, pushing back the morning light.
Daoists from all over the world felt the ancient and primordial summons from the banners. They could not help but unleash the Dao Source within their bodies, fanning the illusory flames even more vigorously. The more intense the fire, the firmer their Dao hearts became, as if their souls were being cleansed. Every breath of air seemed to aid their cultivation, and cultivators who had been stuck at a certain bottleneck for years suddenly achieved enlightenment, erupting with even more intense flames.
Xu Mu's figure was interspersed among the powerful auras. He looked up at everything with a stunned expression. The burning banners and the inferno consuming the sky seemed like the means of "Heaven Slaying" he had witnessed in the Demon God's Underground Palace, akin to a divine miracle.
This great fire burned for a long time, well past noon.
Afterward, the many Daoists in the arena slowly calmed down. Those who had depleted too much energy sat on the ground without regard for their image, their expressions filled with immense excitement. It was evident that they had gained unimaginable benefits from this Ceremony of Worshipping Heaven.
"No wonder you are so blessed, young fellow. You've only just embarked on the path of cultivation and you get to participate in the Ceremony of Worshipping Heaven," said the Wine Immortal Daoist, his complexion ruddy. He sat beside Xu Mu, his upper body swaying as if he were drunk.
But Xu Mu, who knew him well, understood that the Wine Immortal was not truly drunk. It was due to his overwhelming joy and excitement that he appeared so inebriated.
"I... I suppose I am quite lucky."
Xu Mu scratched his head. It seemed that, apart from himself, everyone else, including the Wine Immortal Daoist, had greatly benefited from the grand event that had just concluded.
His greatest improvement was a deeper understanding of the Pre-Heaven Eight Trigrams. This small leap forward might have normally taken him three to five years, or even longer, to achieve.
Yet, he did not feel particularly elated.
Xu Mu smacked his lips. Perhaps it was due to the existence of his gray-white eyes, but he had already endured the obstacles and difficulties in his breakthroughs. Therefore, even though he had made some progress in his techniques, which was cause for happiness, it wasn't enough to make him ecstatic.
"What do you mean 'quite lucky'? The Ceremony of Worshipping Heaven is only held during the Heavenly Master's succession. Many cultivators never experience it in their lifetime."
The Wine Immortal glanced at Xu Mu, then said with drunken haze, "I can guess that you might have some questions about why the Ceremony of Worshipping Heaven is called that."
"In the beginning, the purpose of the Ceremony of Worshipping Heaven was simply to thank the heavens for bestowing upon humanity the ability to cultivate and become immortals. But when our ancestors, using the grand array, fed energy back into the world, they discovered that the Great Dao of this world would actually return the energy tenfold."
"This is perhaps the pride of heaven. During its subsequent reciprocation, the myriad Daos present in space become incredibly easy to comprehend. At that time, countless cultivators would benefit immensely and break through their realms."
"Therefore, this tradition of worshipping heaven has been passed down from generation to generation, remaining one of the most prestigious events for the entire Daoist sect, and indeed the entire continent, to this day."
Xu Mu nodded in surprise upon hearing this.
"I truly did not expect the Daoist sect's Ceremony of Worshipping Heaven to have such an origin."
The Wine Immortal chuckled and said, "You, young man, with your calm expression, truly don't know what's good for you while you're in the midst of it."
Xu Mu did not deny it. Instead, he turned his head with a solemn expression and looked towards the battle stage soaring in mid-air.
A figure was already standing on that stage, clad in a noble and flowing Daoist robe, with a serene demeanor, a slender Dao sword hanging from his waist.
It was none other than Zuo Mingqiu.
Looking at his profile, Xu Mu could vaguely sense that Zuo Mingqiu had become completely different from the person he was ten days ago. Although his cultivation realm remained at the peak of the third stage, the aura emanating from him was entirely different from before.
"Due to my physical condition, the rules for the Daoist Battle during this year's Ceremony of Worshipping Heaven will be simplified."
"The prodigious talents of Tian Shi Mountain who wish to replace Daoist Son Zuo Mingqiu and become the next Heavenly Master, please proceed to the battle stage at your own discretion."
The Heavenly Master's voice was ethereal and ancient as he announced the change in the Daoist Battle rules, eliminating the previous cumbersome stages of various talents battling and demonstrating.
This rule change had already been anticipated by people from all over the Daoist world, as everyone understood that the Heavenly Master's body could not last much longer, and his desire to quickly select the successor of the next Heavenly Master was understandable.
Then, which of the five peaks of Tian Shi Mountain would compete with Zuo Mingqiu for the position of Heavenly Master, or rather, who was qualified to compete with Zuo Mingqiu for this position?
There was only one person.
"You few have no hope. Don't waste your time going up; His Highness the Daoist Son will show no mercy," a majestic-looking Zhenren from Sheng Yang Peak said to a group of talented youths among the crowd.
Challenging Zuo Mingqiu on this highly anticipated peak battle stage, and attempting to seize the one-in-ten-thousand chance, was something many talents wished to do.
If it were any other Ceremony of Worshipping Heaven, they might not have cared. A challenge was a challenge; losing was just losing. But this time was different.
This time, the Heavenly Master's time was extremely limited.
If the succession of the Heavenly Master could be decided in one Daoist Battle, it would be ideal.
Therefore, even though the internal affairs of Tian Shi Mountain were fractured, all the elders showed utmost respect to the Heavenly Master, personally stopping one talented young man after another who dared to step onto that stage.
Only the small red sword was not stopped.
Zhao Qingdong left a faint, blood-red line in the air and flew directly to the battle stage, standing thirty paces away from Zuo Mingqiu.
"They're here!"
The crowd below began to buzz with excitement, as everyone knew that the next Heavenly Master of Tian Shi Mountain would only come from these two individuals.
As for Xu Mu, who had become famous during this period, he had already been excluded from the competition due to his close friendship with Zuo Mingqiu.
Only Zhao Qingdong could fight Zuo Mingqiu.
And only Zhao Qingdong.
On the stage, Zuo Mingqiu smiled slightly and said, "Congratulations on your successful breakthrough."
"There's nothing to congratulate," Zhao Qingdong replied. The aura of the peak third stage surged from her body, hitting Zuo Mingqiu's face from thirty paces away. Her eyes then sharpened as she said, "You can save this 'congratulations' for after I defeat you."
"Then I fear I may not have the chance to say it," Zuo Mingqiu said with a faint smile. He then turned his gaze towards the Heavenly Master and Sect Leader Bi Xu Zhenren and asked loudly:
"Heavenly Master, Sect Leader Zhenren."
"The suppression battle between Zhao Qingdong and me has already been largely completed under the witness of several elders. The first and second stages were both draws. This time, may we proceed directly to an unrestricted battle?"
The Heavenly Master and the Sect Leader exchanged glances, and then Bi Xu Zhenren asked, "Zhao Qingdong, do you agree?"
"I agree," Zhao Qingdong replied without hesitation. Zuo Mingqiu's proposal was exactly what she wanted.
"Very well, then it is as you wish."
Upon hearing this, Zuo Mingqiu turned back.
He looked at Zhao Qingdong, one hand grasping the Dao sword at his waist, the smile on his face slowly vanishing, replaced by a cold killing intent.
Unlike any previous battle, he had to win this one against Zhao Qingdong.
Because he had no reason to lose.
"Are you ready?" Zuo Mingqiu asked.
"I am," Zhao Qingdong replied.
"Then let us begin."
Zuo Mingqiu said calmly, then drew his sword and charged towards Zhao Qingdong.
This time, he would not yield a single move!