Zuo Mingqiu stood on the high platform, his slender figure appearing tall and awe-inspiring under the radiance of the Three-Flower Lotus Crown.
Below, countless fervent followers stretched out their hands, embracing the light that rained down from mid-air. Blood flowed from their foreheads onto the ground, their frenzied collisions cracking the very stones of the peak.
But Zuo Mingqiu knew clearly.
The one they revered and believed in was not himself, but the Celestial Master.
If Zhao Qingdong, or anyone else, had stood in his place, they would have reacted the same.
Zuo Mingqiu closed his eyes, the surging emotions within him slowly calming, and the light from the lotus crown above gradually receded.
The fervor vanished.
The entire peak of Heavenly Light Peak fell into a desolate silence.
The people sobered, and all eyes turned to Zuo Mingqiu.
They wanted to know what commands their newly appointed Celestial Master would issue with his first words.
Would he kill?
Lan Qi's face was pale, and the elders who supported Zhao Qingdong wavered.
Though they didn't believe Zuo Mingqiu possessed the audacity or means to slaughter his way through the entire Daoist world in front of everyone, with the formation plates and core of the grand formation in Zuo Mingqiu's hands, their lives were effectively held by him.
Throughout history, Celestial Masters had emerged from the ranks of countless disciples. While disputes were inevitable, there had never been an instance of a Celestial Master slaughtering the sect upon their ascension. However, Zuo Mingqiu's journey had been exceptionally fraught, leaving no one certain of his decision, not even Xu Mu.
After some time,
Zuo Mingqiu, his face calm, asked,
"Sect Leader Bi Xu, according to the order of the Heavenly Sacrifice Assembly, what should we do next?"
True Person Bi Xu replied expressionlessly,
"After the succession of the Celestial Master, the Heavenly Sacrifice Assembly officially concludes. I will then lead the Five True Persons to personally escort your path and assist you in smoothly receiving the Celestial Master's Blessing."
Upon hearing this, Zuo Mingqiu fell silent and said,
"Then let us begin."
True Person Bi Xu nodded.
The others were somewhat surprised.
After ascending to his position, Zuo Mingqiu was choosing to spend a significant amount of time receiving the Celestial Master's Blessing, rather than reforming the Celestial Master Mountain internally?
"This is not good," Xu Mu murmured, shaking his head. If it were him, he would have used the formation to ruthlessly seize and investigate any suspected dangerous individuals.
Even if it incited widespread discontent and led the world to believe their new Celestial Master was rash and undeserving, it would still be better than leaving hidden enemies to fester and become a threat.
"Good," True Person Bi Xu nodded, then turned and solemnly called out, "Holy Sun Peak, Grand Elder Du'e Zhenren."
"Immortal Roaming Peak Master Liangduan Zhenren, Azure Cloud Peak Master Randeng Zhenren, Rakshasa Peak Master Taiwu Zhenren, and Heavenly Light Peak Master Shenyou Zhenren, please proceed to the Tower of Heaven and escort the Celestial Master with me!"
True Person Bi Xu's voice, solemn and serious, echoed through the entire space.
The names he called were the five individuals, besides the Celestial Master and Sect Leader, who held the highest authority within Celestial Master Mountain.
While Zuo Mingqiu received the Celestial Master's Blessing, they would stand guard before the Tower of Heaven, forming the second layer of defense within the formation to prevent any mishaps.
Taiwu Zhenren and the other four Great True Persons, with solemn expressions, flew to the side of the Tower of Heaven.
Then, Zuo Mingqiu, holding the core of the formation, activated the Tower of Heaven Grand Formation. The invisible power of Daoist principles isolated everything from the outside, creating a boundary that no one could breach. Anyone attempting to enter, be they a Domain Lord or a Half-step Human King, would be annihilated by the Tower of Heaven Grand Formation.
"Begin,"
Zuo Mingqiu said, leaning against the still-warm body of the old Celestial Master, placing the formation's axis and plates beside him. He communicated with the Three-Flower Lotus Crown with his soul, beginning to receive the memories left by the past True Persons.
The six figures sat cross-legged in the void around the ancient Tower of Heaven, no more than a thousand meters apart, and within a hundred meters of Zuo Mingqiu.
At such a distance, guarded by six individuals of such immense power, no assassin, however fortunate to breach the formation, could possibly break through their defense and harm Zuo Mingqiu.
Unless, of course, the assassin was one of these six.
...
The clouds on Heavenly Light Peak gathered, forming a cloud ladder leading down the mountain. Many Daoist cultivators began to depart.
But more chose to remain on the summit of Heavenly Light Peak.
Their faces were solemn, their emotions a mixture of concern and anticipation for what was to come.
The area fell silent.
Moments later, a transparent flicker of light flashed momentarily in the air at the very tip of the ancient Tower of Heaven.
Then, a handsome middle-aged man with a face like an exiled immortal and a tall physique suddenly appeared before Zuo Mingqiu, his hand crackling with terrifying power of the Great Dao as he struck downwards.
"Not good!" Taiwu Zhenren exclaimed, rushing to defend, but with his speed, he was certain to be too late.
However, True Person Bi Xu had already moved, intercepting Zuo Mingqiu and meeting the middle-aged man's palm strike with a blank expression.
"Boom!"
After the clash, the handsome middle-aged man was blasted back thousands of meters, his face pale as he retreated to the edge of the formation.
True Person Bi Xu stared at the man, his black pupils trembling with rage. He could not accept that the one who had been lurking in the shadows, attempting to fracture Celestial Master Mountain, was actually him!
"That's the Peak Master of Immortal Roaming Peak, Liangduan Zhenren!" someone on the summit of Heavenly Light Peak cried out in shock, identifying the middle-aged man who had launched a surprise attack on Zuo Mingqiu.
Liangduan Zhenren, Peak Master of Immortal Roaming Peak.
No one had expected it to be him.
He possessed exceptional talent, was refined like jade, and was young and vigorous, making him the most likely candidate to succeed True Person Bi Xu as the Sect Leader of Celestial Master Mountain.
Why would someone with such a boundless future engage in such actions?
"I never imagined that someone from Immortal Roaming Peak would also be involved in this struggle."
True Person Bi Xu gazed at the handsome man, his face as cold as frost. He had deliberately left a vulnerability, primarily to test the Peak Master of Azure Cloud Peak and the Peak Master of Heavenly Light Peak, and to observe the reaction of the Grand Elder of Holy Sun Peak.
As for Taiwu Zhenren and Liangduan Zhenren, he had never suspected them. Taiwu had grown up with him and was a trusted confidant of the old Celestial Master, so his decisions would never harm Celestial Master Mountain.
And Liangduan Zhenren, as the Peak Master of Immortal Roaming Peak, was known throughout Celestial Master Mountain for their indifference to such power struggles. Even if some elders were swayed to join a faction, it was usually minor squabbles.
Therefore, no one had anticipated that Liangduan Zhenren, the current Peak Master of Immortal Roaming Peak, would attack the new Celestial Master, Zuo Mingqiu.
What was the reason behind all this?
...