Among the past generations of the Daoist sect, there were many true immortals who could move mountains and fill seas, but there was always only one Heavenly Master.
Throughout history, the Heavenly Master was invariably the one with the highest realm, the deepest and strongest magical power within all Daoist sects.
Even to this day, many Daoist temples have reached an overall strength comparable to that of Heavenly Master Mountain, and there have even emerged super-forces like the Baiyun Daoist Temple.
In comparison, a Heavenly Master who had not yet reached the sixth realm did not appear as powerful. However, neither the sect leaders of various Daoist temples nor the Human King of Baiyun Daoist Temple ever underestimated the Heavenly Master.
This was because they held the insights into the Daoist techniques learned by the various Heavenly Masters from ancient times. The Five Arts of the Daoist sect—mountains, medicine, destiny, physiognomy, and divination—were all at their peak, making them invincible within the same realm.
Moreover, and crucially, the Heavenly Master held dominion over the mountain-protecting grand array, which was constructed by the Dao Ancestor. When fully activated, it could slay gods and demons. For generations, Heavenly Masters had repaired and maintained it, adding to its strength. The array was named Tongtian.
And Tongtian was a realm above the Human King.
Even to this day, this grand array named Tongtian still stood firm. Even powerful cultivators at the Human King realm dared not attempt to confront it.
As long as the Tongtian grand array remained, even if Heavenly Master Mountain were to decline and fall into ruin, it could never be replaced by other forces.
From now on, the Daoist insights of the past Heavenly Masters and the control of the Tongtian grand array would change hands. The old Heavenly Master would, through the Heavenly Master's Decree, pass it on to Zuo Mingqiu.
Zuo Mingqiu would become the new generation's Heavenly Master.
The rain and snow in the ethereal realm ceased, and the biting wind subsided. The battle stage, forged from the Great Dao, slowly reshaped itself. Transparent laws of the Great Dao, like flower pistils, twisted and writhed, pushing Zuo Mingqiu and the old Heavenly Master higher, forming a slender tower that reached towards the heavens.
Zuo Mingqiu and the old Heavenly Master stood atop the tower. The old Heavenly Master was tall, his Daoist robe noble, his head adorned with a three-flower hair circlet. Zuo Mingqiu's Daoist robe was torn, his entire body stained with blood, holding only a Daoist sword.
"Take this first, it will be yours from now on," the old Heavenly Master said, removing the three-flower hair circlet from his head. His white hair cascaded down like a white waterfall, scattering in the sky.
Zuo Mingqiu solemnly received the three-flower circlet and placed it on his head. Instantly, an ancient and sacred aura emanated from him.
Zuo Mingqiu was bathed in a wondrous radiance. His complexion became rosy at a visible rate, the wounds beneath his bandages scabbed over and healed rapidly, and his depleted Dao source and spiritual energy were replenished.
"Besides symbolizing your identity, this three-flower circlet is also a level six life artifact. Its spirit is like your elder; you must treat it well."
The old Heavenly Master said with a chuckle, then removed his own noble Daoist robe and, with his hands encircling Zuo Mingqiu, draped it over his shoulders.
At this moment, the wind in the ethereal realm picked up again, causing the Daoist robe to flutter.
Zuo Mingqiu instinctively tightened his grip on the robe. He then saw the old Heavenly Master, clad in simple white cloth, shivering slightly in the cold wind, and he quickly moved to remove his own robe to give to the Heavenly Master, but was waved away.
"A Heavenly Master cannot easily remove his Daoist robe," the old Heavenly Master said, stepping back two paces. He looked at Zuo Mingqiu with paternal affection and exclaimed, "You've grown so much."
"When I first met you, you barely reached my chest. Back then, my face had fewer wrinkles, and I could still find a few black hairs among my white ones. Heavenly Master Mountain was united as one. Thinking back, what beautiful times they were, but alas, they are no more."
Zuo Mingqiu looked at the increasingly aged old Heavenly Master, a pang of sorrow suddenly striking him. He opened his mouth and said:
"Actually, your face doesn't have that many wrinkles now. If you dyed your white hair, black hairs would still show."
"Also, Heavenly Master Mountain will surely be united again. No matter how many oppose me, I will not let this mountain, which has accompanied you for three hundred years, fall apart."
"With those words from you, I am at ease."
The old Heavenly Master smiled and nodded.
Then, his deep brown eyes suddenly brightened, the sacred radiance hidden within them blooming once more, transforming the entire Sheng Yang Peak into broad daylight, truly outshining the sun.
"Ah, my eyes!"
"What happened!!!"
Countless people in the vicinity cried out in alarm, shielding their eyes with their hands. Yet, even so, they could not completely block the invasion of the white light. Turning their backs offered no protection.
This was true for disciples, elders, and even those honored and powerful Daoist true immortals.
They could not see what lay beyond the white light.
But Zuo Mingqiu could.
He saw mountains toppling, dry ground transforming into vast oceans, blades of grass growing into towering trees, stars shifting in their courses, stars extinguishing, the sun rising and setting, and that bright crescent moon vigilantly guarding the Great Beginning Realm year after year.
He saw frost reddening maple leaves, forests ablaze with color, clear streams reflecting the sky, fish swimming in shallow waters, eagles soaring in the vast expanse, all creatures in the world vying for freedom.
These, in the heavens, on earth, and in the mortal realm, were the memories and insights of the successive Heavenly Masters. All of them, at this moment, surged into the three-flower circlet on his head.
"Do not rush to cultivate these things; instead, feel them with your heart. Inheritance means passing from one generation to the next. Our knowledge may not be the best; finding what suits you best is the most important."
The old Heavenly Master walked through the white light to Zuo Mingqiu, extended a finger, and gently tapped Zuo Mingqiu's forehead.
Then, the white light suddenly dissipated.
A group of immensely heavy golden mist poured into Zuo Mingqiu's body.
"My lifelong cultivation is all within this."
"I have a premonition that you are in danger today. No matter what happens, your survival is the most important thing. Do not cling to external possessions."
Upon hearing this, Zuo Mingqiu felt a sense of bewilderment.
"Old Heavenly Master, I..."
"Don't speak," the old Heavenly Master smiled, slowly closed his eyes, and sat cross-legged on the ground, murmuring, "Mingqiu, the wind has stopped again."
"Yes, it has stopped," Zuo Mingqiu nodded, his eyes slightly reddened. He stood in front of the old Heavenly Master, shielding him from the last gust of cold wind.
"The wind has stopped, the waves are calm."
The old Heavenly Master's voice grew fainter and fainter, until it could no longer be heard. Zuo Mingqiu suppressed the urge to cry and was about to bow down to straighten the old Heavenly Master's robes when he saw him suddenly open his eyes again.
"Fooled you."
The old Heavenly Master looked at Zuo Mingqiu with a smile. Zuo Mingqiu, stunned, stammered, "This... you..."
"I wanted to see your reaction."
The old man smiled again, closed his eyes once more, and said with relief, "A life of peace, an era of tranquility."
"This time I'm truly leaving."
He spoke, and then there was no more breath.
Zuo Mingqiu gazed at the old man before him and hesitantly called out, "Old Heavenly Master?"
There was no reply.
He had departed, without taking one last look at the mortal world.
Three breaths later, Zuo Mingqiu silently took out a dark red blanket and covered the old Heavenly Master. Then, he picked up the eye of the Tongtian grand array that the old Heavenly Master had placed on the ground. With determined eyes, he walked to the edge of the tower's spire, looked down at the ground and the crowd ten thousand meters below, and declared:
"All Daoist disciples of the realm, bid farewell to the departed Heavenly Master!"
"All Daoist disciples of the realm, bid farewell to the departed Heavenly Master!"
"All Daoist disciples of the realm, bid farewell to the departed Heavenly Master!"
Three consecutive shouts. Below, ten thousand Daoists knelt like a tide. After a moment of silence, they spontaneously cried out again:
"Welcome the new Heavenly Master to the throne."
"Long live the Heavenly Master!"
...