dmims Page 149
Page 149
"why?"
He asked casually.
Wang Ye smiled freely, a smile that carried a knowing understanding of the ways of the world.
You should know why I came to Longhu Mountain.
I originally came because of the so-called 'source of the Jia Shen Rebellion,' fearing that Zhang Chulan would become the powder keg that ignites the world.
He paused, his gaze falling on the waning moon outside the window, his voice becoming somewhat distant.
"But now I know that the source is not in him."
He turned his head, looking at Zhang Yunyuan's face, which appeared even more profound in the moonlight, and continued:
"It has no meaning for me to stay in this grand ceremony any longer."
Zhang Yunyuan put down his teacup, his deep eyes gazing quietly at Wang Ye. After a long while, he slowly spoke.
"Little Wang, what do you mean by that?"
His voice was very soft, yet it seemed to possess some strange magic, causing the surrounding air to pause slightly.
Upon hearing this, Wang Ye's smile widened, revealing both the appreciation of a worthy opponent and the confidence of a thorough understanding of the overall situation.
"Young Master, you should understand what I mean."
Instead of answering directly, he beat around the bush.
"Is the Celestial Master's Mansion's resumption of the Luotian Grand Ritual with such a grand scale really just for selecting a successor to the Celestial Master?"
“Zhang Chulan is indeed a child with good aptitude and comprehension, but I don’t believe that he could have the strength to overpower all others in just a few months. Yet he just casually made it into the top four.”
"Do you believe there wasn't a mastermind behind this?"
Wang Ye's gaze returned to Zhang Yunyuan, whose eyes, which were always half-open, gleamed with wisdom.
"I guess the old Celestial Master never intended for an outsider to inherit the position of Celestial Master."
His true purpose was probably to use this "Celestial Master's Degree" to legitimately "trapped" Zhang Chulan, who possessed the "Qi Body Source Flow," on Mount Longhu.
"The Celestial Master's ordination is both an honor and a shackle."
Once inherited, one will never be able to leave Longhu Mountain again in this lifetime.
In this way, Zhang Chulan's life can be saved, and the hot potato of the 'Qi Body Source Flow' can be permanently locked under the control of the Celestial Master's Mansion.
"This game of chess was played with unparalleled skill. It both satisfied the feelings of old friends and stabilized the overall situation of the world."
At this point, Wang Ye bowed to Zhang Yunyuan once more.
"Although I, Wang Ye, am incompetent, I do not wish to become a pawn that hinders the Old Master's plan. Since that is the case, I might as well do a favor and help others achieve their goals."
Deathly silence.
Zhang Yunyuan didn't speak. He just quietly looked at the young man in front of him, and for the first time, his deep eyes revealed an undisguised appreciation.
He knew that Wang had seen through it all.
He not only saw through the surface of the old master's game, but also vaguely touched upon the deeper, more complex strategy behind it, the strategy concerning himself.
This young man was smarter and more insightful than he had imagined.
"Little Wang Ye."
After a long silence, Zhang Yunyuan finally spoke.
Do you know what you will lose by making this decision today?
"To lose an opportunity to become famous throughout the world? Or to lose one of the legendary Eight Extraordinary Skills, the Heavenly Talisman?"
Wang Ye waved his hand casually, and his sleepy, languid look reappeared on his face.
"Fame is like fleeting clouds to me, and extraordinary skills are like shackles to me."
I know my own path.
What doesn't belong to me, I cannot force.
He looked at Zhang Yunyuan, a sly glint in his eyes.
"Besides, compared to those things, I think it's more worthwhile to get a 'not bad' from you, Junior Master."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunyuan finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.
He stood up, walked up to Wang Ye, reached out, and patted him heavily on the shoulder.
A single word carries more weight than any praise.
"You're fine."
"Since you've made up your mind, then go ahead and do it."
Zhang Yunyuan looked at him and said one last thing.
"Your future achievements are limitless."
At this moment, the smile on Wang Ye's face became incredibly radiant.
He knew that he made the right bet.
He bowed deeply to Zhang Yunyuan once again, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.
"Thank you for your kindness, young master!"
Under the moonlight, two generations, two equally insightful hearts, reached a tacit understanding that needed no words.
An impending catastrophe was thus averted.
But an even bigger showdown, with a predetermined outcome, is quietly unfolding.
Chapter 175 Victory Without a Fight: The Rise of the Four Strongest
The following day, the Longhu Mountain martial arts training ground was bustling with activity, and banners fluttered in the wind.
The semi-finals of the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony officially kicked off amidst great anticipation.
The first match was the highly anticipated, pivotal battle—
Wudang Wang Ye faces off against Zhang Chulan of the Celestial Master's Mansion.
When the two walked onto the huge main arena one after the other, the entire arena erupted in cheers.
The cheers and discussions were so loud they nearly lifted the roof off the Celestial Master's Mansion.
"Here it comes! They're finally getting serious!"
"Even I, the Gambling King, can finish this battle in three moves!"
That Wuhou Qimen is no match for Feng Hou Qimen!
"Bullshit! I think Zhang Chulan is a really weird kid, who knows what kind of trouble he'll cause this time!"
"Whatever tricks they have up their sleeve, today's battle will put them to the test!"
On the viewing platform, Lu Jin, the Old Celestial Master, and other big shots all turned their attention to the arena.
Standing on the arena, Zhang Chulan felt the deafening roar of the surrounding crowd, but his heart was filled with bitterness.
Damn it, how did I end up drawing this monster?
He had personally witnessed how Wang Ye had completely manipulated that pretentious Zhuge Qing.
With my half-baked Golden Light Mantra and Thunder Magic, wouldn't I just be offering myself up as food?
He was already considering whether it would be more sincere to kneel down and beg for mercy, or more dignified to pretend to have a stomachache and withdraw from the competition.
Just as he was lost in thought, Wang Ye opposite him did something that no one expected.
He casually cupped his hands in greeting to Daoist Rongshan, who was acting as the referee, still looking as lazy as if he hadn't woken up yet. His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly carried throughout the entire martial arts arena.
"Referee, I surrender."
In an instant, the entire training ground seemed to be muted.
The thunderous roar came to an abrupt halt.
Everyone seemed frozen in place, their mouths agape, their eyes wide, staring blankly at the nonchalant Wudang Taoist priest on the stage, their minds completely blank.
Even the Taoist priest Rongshan, who was in charge of the ceremony, was stunned and stood there, holding the gong in mid-air, forgetting to strike it.
"Wha...what?"
He instinctively asked a question, thinking he had misheard.
Wang Ye yawned and repeated it again.
"I said, I abstain."
After a brief silence, the entire training ground erupted like a lake that had been hit by a depth charge!
"Holy crap! Not again?!"
"What the hell?! This is a rigged match!"
"Give me my money back! Give me my money back! I bet my underwear on Daoist Wang Ye winning!"
"It's a conspiracy! It's absolutely a conspiracy! Just who is this Zhang Chulan? Why is it that everyone who runs into him is doomed?"
Everyone went crazy.
They had imagined countless endings, but they never expected it to end in such an absurd and utterly ridiculous way.
Zhang Chulan, the person involved, was completely dumbfounded at this moment.
He stared blankly at Wang Ye, who had already turned around and was about to step off the stage, his face filled with confusion and disbelief.
So... they won again?
He didn't even activate the Golden Light Mantra, yet he "won without a fight" and advanced to the finals.
A huge, unreal sense of absurdity enveloped him.
He felt like he wasn't there for the grand Luo Tian ceremony, but rather for some kind of large-scale prank show.
And he was the clown who was pranked by everyone.