Inside Celestial Master Temple, Yuan Tianzong followed Xue Ding at a brisk pace.
As they went, Xue Ding deliberately chose quiet, empty paths. Having grown up in Celestial Master Temple, he knew its layout inside out, so neither of them needed to hide. They strolled along as if wandering through a garden.
Before long, Xue Ding stopped outside a secluded courtyard.
"Fellow Daoist Yuan, my Ninth Junior Sister lives inside. She's timid and afraid of pain. A few slaps should be enough to make her comply. Go on in; I'll wait here."
"Mm. Fellow Daoist Yuan, make sure you don't leave me out," Xue Ding reminded him again.
Yuan Tianzong waved a hand as he strode forward. "Don't worry. You have your principles, and so do I."
Xue Ding nodded with a smile. "Good."
After entering the courtyard, Yuan Tianzong looked around.
A beautiful ginkgo tree flourished in the yard. Beneath it, a swing swayed in the breeze, its ropes wrapped in flowers, giving the place an air of being doted on and cherished.
Yuan Tianzong didn't hesitate. He went straight to the house and pushed open the door, sensing that the Ninth Junior Sister was inside. The moment he entered, he was dumbfounded.
On the cushion before him, a little girl with her hair in two buns sat drowsily in a chair, supposedly reading. Her head was practically tilted toward the ceiling. She looked just like a sleepy student struggling to stay awake in class.
The Ninth Junior Sister was a little girl of six or seven?
Xue Ding, you really are a fine senior brother.
"Who are you?" The Ninth Junior Sister woke with a start and stared at the stranger entering through the door with her round, dark eyes.
Yuan Tianzong stepped right up to her. "Little girl, where is the Celestial Master Cave in your temple? Can you take me there?"
At that, the Ninth Junior Sister immediately shook her head. "No. That's a forbidden place. Master said nobody can go near it without permission."
"If you don't tell me, I'll hit you."
"Hit me? You wouldn't dare! My master is really powerful!"
Yuan Tianzong controlled his strength and slapped the little girl. "Can you take me there?"
"Wah, that hurts!"
Yuan Tianzong raised his hand again, pretending he was about to hit her.
"I'll take you! I'll take you! Please don't hit me!" The Ninth Junior Sister promptly gave in, covering her little face as tears streamed down her cheeks. She cried pitifully. Just as Xue Ding had said, she was timid and afraid of pain.
Yuan Tianzong's lips curled into a smile. It really had only taken one slap. "All right, let's go."
"Fine, let's go. Hmph! I'm telling you, my righteous, upright, and justice-loving Senior Disciple Brother will definitely beat you up. Definitely!"
Yuan Tianzong nearly laughed. Little girl, you have no idea how treacherous people can be. You still don't know that your very own senior brother was the one who sent me to slap you.
Outside the courtyard, Xue Ding watched the Ninth Junior Sister emerge and lead Yuan Tianzong toward the Celestial Master Cave. An apologetic look flashed through his eyes.
There was no other way.
In his view, none of the true disciples would yield easily. If they kept refusing this young man, whose cultivation level was impossible to gauge, Celestial Master Temple might really be doomed.
He had already judged that Yuan Tianzong's cultivation was profound, perhaps even stronger than their Patriarch, who was in seclusion.
Besides, even a true disciple who took him to the Celestial Master Cave would surely be punished afterward by the Elder of Discipline.
The Celestial Master Cave was an important site. No matter the reason, the matter could not be brushed aside lightly.
Only the Ninth Junior Sister, a child who was not yet grown and was still innocent and carefree, could take Yuan Tianzong there and avoid punishment afterward on account of her immature mind. She would be easy to forgive.
Of course, he had long since seen that Yuan Tianzong was a man of extraordinary character. Though he wasn't afraid to kill, he was also a man of principle. Otherwise, he wouldn't have quietly waited for Xue Ding to finish cultivating earlier.
A man like him would certainly hold back when dealing with the Ninth Junior Sister.
At that moment, Xue Ding had no idea that a dangerous upheaval was unfolding inside the Celestial Master Cave.
The Celestial Master Cave was inside the temple. Yuan Tianzong hadn't been able to find it because the cave was wondrous. When the world transformed, it underwent a mysterious change, making it one of the earliest spiritual sites on Wangwu Mountain to show signs of transformation.
Inside, it was like a small paradise, cut off from the world.
Though it should have been peaceful, cries of alarm rang out one after another.
"Quick! Hold Senior Disciple Brother down!"
"Senior Disciple Brother! Wake up! Wake up!"
"Master! Master!"
The nine Dragon Opening Realm elders of Celestial Master Temple and their Sect Leader—ten people in all—were gathered there, their faces anxious and their eyes full of worry.
Before them stood a cultivator with disheveled hair and blood-red eyes. His black-and-white hair whipped wildly around him, and countless veins bulged from his flesh, making him look hideous and terrifying!
His aura was in utter disarray. The upright, righteous qi he had once possessed had turned cold and sinister, and the humanity in his eyes was rapidly fading. He was in the demonic state recorded in ancient texts.
If Xue Ding had been there, he would have recognized the man at once. This was the previous Celestial Master and Sect Leader of Celestial Master Temple, a cultivator whose cultivation had long since reached the Dragon Opening Realm and whose talent was exceptional.
Six years earlier, he had announced that he would enter seclusion to break through to the legendary Grandmaster realm, hoping to surpass the limits of his lifespan.
A few days ago, he had sent word that Divine Smoke of Entering the Dao was the only way to break through to the Grandmaster realm.
Everyone knew that his seclusion had ended in failure. Despite his extraordinary talent, he had still been unable to break the sole path recorded in the ancient texts—to break through the forbidden zone through one's own efforts.
Now, just as he was about to leave the Celestial Master Cave, he had suddenly entered the demon path. His mind was muddled, and he had gone mad with fury.
The nine elders and the Sect Leader had rushed over at once, joining forces to restrain him and hoping to bring their revered former Sect Leader back to his senses and help him overcome this tribulation.
All ten poured out their Daoist qi and bound him tightly with specially made chains.
At the end, his disciple—the current Sect Leader—played the Heart-Cleansing Flute to calm his mind and steady his qi.
"It's no use! We can't hold him down!"
"Senior Disciple Brother! Wake up! You must hold on to your mind. Don't fall into the demonic path!"
"Master! Hold on! Keep your mind clear and your heart guarded!"
"Everyone! We must not let Senior Disciple Brother break free like this, or Celestial Master Temple will face a great calamity!"
"Give it everything we've got!"
The nine elders gritted their teeth and attacked with all their might. At this point, the line between subduing him and killing him had blurred. They feared their Senior Disciple Brother might perish, but they had also decided they could not let him break free and charge out of the Celestial Master Cave.
Perhaps their fears were unnecessary.
Clack, clack!
The specially made chains binding him shook violently. The nine exchanged disbelieving looks.
They were all in the Dragon Opening Realm. Yet the nine of them together were struggling to suppress him, and now they could feel the terrifying certainty that he was about to break free.
"Hold on, we—"
A nonhuman roar cut him off. The specially made chains snapped, and all nine were sent flying, coughing up blood.
Roar! Roar!
Black smoke-like qi surged around the frenzied Senior Disciple Brother. He had completely entered the demon path. He thrust both palms into the air, sending black palm strikes hurtling forward. The blows knocked down the elders, who had just struggled to their feet, worsening their injuries!
The next moment, this demonic top expert charged toward the mouth of the cave as the ten watched in despair.
"It's over! Celestial Master Temple is finished!"
"Senior Disciple Brother! Wake up!" someone cried out in anguish, desperately trying to rouse the person he revered.
"Stop him! Stop him!" The elders refused to give up. Coughing blood, they raced after him. Even if they couldn't stop him, they would do everything possible to protect the disciples and safeguard the temple's foundations.
Outside the cave.
"Look, the Celestial Master Cave is right here." The Ninth Junior Sister pointed at the cliff in front of them.
Was this the Celestial Master Cave?
Yuan Tianzong looked at the smooth, jade-like cliff, covered in carved Daoist script.
He had come here not long ago and even stopped to read the inscriptions. He had never imagined the Celestial Master Cave was right before his eyes, yet he had been unable to find it.
"How do we get in?"
As he asked, Yuan Tianzong suddenly raised his brows. Sensing something, he turned toward the cliff.
Ripples like water began to ripple across it, and a nonhuman roar suddenly rang out!
Then a figure wreathed in black qi shot out and lunged straight at the tearful Ninth Junior Sister.
"Xiao Ya!"
"Senior Disciple Brother, no!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Xue Ding rushed out from the shadows, his eyes filled with panic. He pushed his movement technique to its limit, covering a hundred meters in an instant as the air roared behind him.
Time seemed to slow down countless times, allowing him to witness every frame of danger closing in on the Ninth Junior Sister.
"Xiao Ya! Run!"
As Xue Ding raced toward her with all his might, his expression shifted and terror surfaced in his eyes. He realized he would never make it in time—and even if he did, that inhuman thing might be more than he could stop.
Just as everyone thought the Ninth Junior Sister was about to die, a figure stepped forward and stood between them.
The demonic Old Celestial Master was frenzied and violent. He paid no heed to what stood before him, raising a hand and striking with a palm imbued with cold, sinister power. Black qi spread, carrying a wisp of demonic energy.
"Oh, he's entered the demon path." Yuan Tianzong recognized the man's condition at a glance. He gently stepped forward with his right foot and uttered a single word. "Suppress!"
Visible white currents of air and true qi crashed down above the former Sect Leader. The man who had just been knocked aside by the nine Dragon Opening Realm experts was instantly pinned to the ground, leaving an imprint shaped like a human character.
The elders who had been chasing after him, coughing up blood, abruptly stopped. They were utterly shocked; no one understood better than them how terrifying the Old Celestial Master was at that moment!
And this young man had subdued him with ease without even using his hands or feet, relying only on his vast reserves of true qi.
It was unbelievable!
Could he really not be in the Dragon Opening Realm?
Or was the gap between people of the same realm simply this vast?
"Please spare him!"
As the elders reeled in shock, one of them realized Yuan Tianzong wasn't stopping. He formed a claw with one hand and lifted the Old Celestial Master off the ground, gripping him by the neck in midair. With his other hand, he brought two fingers together and pointed them at the man's body.
Yuan Tianzong ignored their cries. His fingers flew across the Old Celestial Master's body, tapping different points as wisps of true qi disappeared into him.
Finally, Yuan Tianzong snapped his fingers beside the Old Celestial Master's ear and shouted, "Wake up already!"
His voice boomed like thunder, shaking the heavens and deafening all who heard it.
In an instant, the Old Celestial Master's entire body shuddered. The redness in his eyes cleared, and the veins bulging beneath his skin subsided. Everything returned to normal.
After regaining consciousness, the Old Celestial Master looked weak and could barely stand. He swayed for a moment before falling backward.
A figure rushed over and caught him. It was the current Celestial Master, the Old Celestial Master's direct disciple.
He looked at Yuan Tianzong, unable to conceal his astonishment and shock. He and the nine elders had been unable to suppress the man, yet this young man had subdued him with ease.
More astonishing still, he had stopped the demonic transformation with a single hand. It was unheard of.
"Young brother... no, fellow Daoist... Senior! Thank you for saving him. Thank you!"
The Celestial Master changed how he addressed Yuan Tianzong several times, uncertain how he ought to refer to this powerful young man.
"Don't mention it. It was nothing."
To the others, Yuan Tianzong's casual tone only emphasized his strength all the more.
"Elder Xu, please take Master away for treatment."
"Yes, Sect Leader Celestial Master."
After the Old Celestial Master was taken away, the Celestial Master and several elders once again offered Yuan Tianzong their heartfelt thanks. Such a great favor could hardly be repaid with a few words of gratitude.
"Senior, may I ask your name?"
The Celestial Master believed that someone so extraordinary deserved to be called Senior, regardless of his youth. One could learn from anyone who was more accomplished.
"My surname is Yuan. I'd like to enter the Celestial Master Cave and consult the Daoist classics for some information." Yuan Tianzong got straight to the point.
At his words, a strange look flashed through the Sect Leader Celestial Master's eyes. After a brief hesitation, he spoke. "Senior, you're straightforward and frank. In that case, please come in."
"You're straightforward too, Celestial Master." Yuan Tianzong smiled. He understood that his small act of help had made things go smoothly, and couldn't help thinking the Old Celestial Master had entered the demon path at just the right time.
The Sect Leader Celestial Master led Yuan Tianzong through the cliff. After a single step, the world changed.
Abundant vitality washed over them, lifting their spirits. Before them lay a landscape of mountains and rivers, as beautiful as a painting.
Yuan Tianzong had seen much of the world and possessed a steady disposition. Though he had encountered something so wondrous, he showed no surprise. The Sect Leader Celestial Master, watching him discreetly from the side, could only imagine more about him.
"Senior, I'm amazed that you could stop someone in the demonic state with a single move."
Yuan Tianzong smiled faintly. "He entered the demon path while trying to break through to the Grandmaster realm, didn't he?"
The Celestial Master looked surprised once again. He hadn't expected Yuan Tianzong to know even that. "That's right. You seem very familiar with this. Have you seen something similar before?"
Seen it before? In the Dharma-ending era, when Yuan Tianzong first attempted to break through to the Grandmaster realm at twenty-seven, something similar had happened to him. He had entered the demon path.
Unlike the Old Celestial Master, he had been alone. Through sheer force of will, he had torn the demonic nature from himself and clawed his way back from the brink of death.
After that, he had known that he needed a way to deal with such a situation.
That was why he had been able to stop the demonic transformation.
Seeing that Yuan Tianzong didn't reply, the Celestial Master understood that he was unwilling to answer the question. He didn't press him, but instead asked, "Senior, what information are you looking for in the Celestial Master Cave?"
Yuan Tianzong thought for a moment before replying, "The Daoist Sect records mention many kinds of strange fire in the world: Southern Bright Leaving Fire, Samadhi True Fire, Six Ding Mysterious Fire, Demon-Slaying Fire, Red Lotus Karma Fire..."
"I have a friend."
The Sect Leader Celestial Master raised his brows. You have a friend?
"He happened to obtain a kind of strange fire but doesn't know its origin."
"I see. The Celestial Master Cave does contain a classic that records the various fires of the Daoist Sect. It's called the Myriad Phenomena Fire Scripture."
As they spoke, the two stopped before a tower standing amid the mountains and rivers.
"Senior, please."
Yuan Tianzong nodded and followed him in.
The tower was filled with hundreds upon hundreds of Daoist books.
The Sect Leader Celestial Master led Yuan Tianzong to a bookshelf and took out a well-preserved, antique Daoist book. He handed it to Yuan Tianzong. "Here. This is the one."
Yuan Tianzong took it, sat down on the floor, and immediately began to read.
The Sect Leader Celestial Master was socially astute and tactfully withdrew.
The book did indeed record many kinds of strange fire, describing in detail both how they came into being and the powers they possessed.
Yuan Tianzong quickly turned the pages, but he never found the pale-white flame he possessed.
Just when he thought he would leave disappointed once again, his fingers suddenly trembled as he turned a page, then stopped.
"Myriad Wonders Divine Fire."
Before you continue