Blind Ghostwriter: Starts with the full level of Nine Yang Magic Skill

Chapter 263 The Number One in the World Before Last (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Listening to Shen Yao's rambling words, Gu Mo suddenly felt that he was somewhat like a Qi cultivator.

Strictly speaking, he can also be considered a Qi cultivator. He is a practitioner of traditional internal and external martial arts, the true meaning of martial arts, and Qi cultivation. He cultivates all three paths simultaneously, so he can naturally be considered a Qi cultivator. His martial arts realm also includes the aspect of harmony between heaven and man.

However, he did not specialize in cultivating destiny, so compared to pure Qi cultivators, he lacked research on things like destiny and fortune, and was unable to truly grasp the mysteries of Qi cultivators.

Upon hearing Shen Yao's words, he became somewhat interested.

“Then I’ll borrow a word from you, and you can cast a divination.” Gu Mo said.

Immediately,

Shen Yao took the copper coins from his waist, shook them gently in his hand, then slowly squatted down and threw them directly on the ground.

This set of movements is very simple, without any fancy moves, just like those fortune tellers on the street.

But, at that moment,

Gu Mo sensed a fleeting connection between heaven and man, as if he were being spied on.

Shen Yao squatted on the ground, his expression gradually becoming serious, and cold sweat even appeared on his forehead. Before long, he was drenched in sweat all over, as if he had taken a bath.

Then he started panting heavily, as if he were drowning.

Gu Chudong leaned closer to Gu Mo and whispered, "Brother, this looks just like the shamanic rituals we used to see in our village when we were kids!"

Gu Mo frowned slightly. He could see a little bit, but not much. He could only sense that Shen Yao had entered a state of celestial being.

At this moment, Zhang Daoyi said, "This kid's cultivation is not enough, yet he insists on observing fate. He's going to suffer a backlash."

As he spoke, he walked up to Shen Yao and gently tapped Shen Yao's forehead with his finger.

Immediately,

Shen Yao was so startled that he fell to the ground with a thud, his face turned deathly pale, he was covered in sweat, and blood was even flowing from the corner of his eye.

"What did you see, kid?" Zhang Daoyi fed Shen Yao a pill.

Shen Yao swallowed the pill and slowly said, "I don't know. I just used Gu Daxia's words to perform divination, thinking I could see if Gu Daxia could capture Gongsun Jue, but..."

Zhang Daoyi asked, "What was the result?"

Shen Yao said, "Then I saw the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony begin, but it was very deserted. Then, I saw a young Taoist priest debating with you, the Old Celestial Master, and then, it seemed you lost... and then... it seemed to be you, the Old Celestial Master..."

"What's wrong with me?" Zhang Daoyi asked.

“It seems you were killed,” Shen Yao said. “However, I don’t have the ability to see who killed you. I wanted to see the murderer, but my cultivation level was not high enough. Instead, I almost suffered a backlash. If you hadn’t intervened in time, I would probably be crippled by now!”

Zhang Daoyi's pupils contracted slightly as he asked, "What did the young Taoist priest you saw look like?"

Shen Yao slowly said, "His face is like jade, untouched by worldly dust, like a banished immortal!"

Zhang Daoyi asked, "Have you seen the debate topic?"

“No,” Shen Yao said, “I only heard one sentence. The young Taoist priest asked you, ‘Does the Old Celestial Master feel fear?’”

Will I be afraid?

Zhang Daoyi murmured to himself and then fell silent.

At this moment, Gu Chudong hurriedly asked, "Where is my brother? Have you seen him? Didn't you divine whether my brother could kill Gongsun Jue?"

Shen Yao shook his head slightly.

"You didn't manage to kill them?" Gu Chudong asked.

“No,” Shen Yao shook his head and said, “I didn’t see you. I saw you, Lady Gu, and I also saw Gongsun Jue at the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony, but I didn’t see Lady Gu.”

Gu Chudong's face paled slightly, and she said awkwardly, "Is your... fortune telling accurate?"

Shen Yao said, "My master, Ji Wusuan, is the number one fortune teller in the world. Although my cultivation is less than one or two tenths of my master's, I have never made a mistake since I started my career."

Gu Chudong looked at Gu Mo.

Gu Mo smiled slightly but did not speak.

Afterwards, Zhang Daoyi called over a young Taoist priest in the courtyard to help Shen Yao leave to rest, and then called Gu Mo into the house.

Zhang Daoyi's room was also very simple, with minimal furnishings. He brought over a pot of tea and slowly poured it for Gu Mo and Gu Chudong, saying, "I'm afraid I can't escape this calamity!"

Gu Mo asked in confusion, "What? Was the old master frightened by the divination performed by that Shen family head just now?"

Zhang Daoyi said, "Thirty-three years ago, Longhu Mountain encountered a crisis. At that time, the Daoist Jingming sent an extremely extreme leader, who was the number one in the world before Jiang Ruoxu. He took the Dharma name Lingxiao and came to Longhu Mountain to debate with the previous generation of Longhu Mountain Celestial Master."

His ideas were extremely radical. He advocated breaking with the old and establishing the new, saying, "In times of chaos, people suffer; in times of peace, people also suffer." Therefore, the world is wrong, not because of peace or war, but because of the inequality of power.

Therefore, he advocated the elimination of martial arts. He believed that all conflicts in the world came from force. If martial arts were eliminated, no one would know martial arts or have extraordinary power. Then everything would be traceable, and the law would truly establish a life for the people.

Therefore, he proposed that all Taoist sects in the world should unite, then rule the martial arts world, unify the world, destroy all martial arts manuals, and abolish the martial arts of all martial artists. As long as martial arts are completely erased, the suffering of the world will disappear.

His ideas naturally failed to gain the support of Longhu Mountain, let alone the support of any other Taoist sect in the land. Therefore, he chose direct, violent unification. He was truly powerful; after all, he was the strongest in the land at the time. In that battle, Longhu Mountain was littered with corpses, and rivers of blood flowed!

Speaking of which,

Zhang Daoyi paused, took a deep breath, and said, "Even now, I still feel terrified when I think about it. Actually, I was already forty-four years old at that time, and I was already a renowned grandmaster in Luzhou. I was already quite knowledgeable, but the ferocity of that battle is still fresh in my memory and fills me with fear. I watched my fellow disciples, elders, and students die one by one in front of me!"

Gu Chudong asked, "And then?"

Zhang Daoyi sighed deeply and said, "Later... it's a bit embarrassing to say, but in that battle, all the experts from our Daoist sect gathered, yet Ling Xiao still managed to overwhelm us. No one could do anything to him. In the end, I devised a plan to lure Ling Xiao into the Zhuxian Formation on Tiandu Peak, and only then did I manage to kill him."

However, the reason I was able to lure Ling Xiao into the formation was because I already knew him and had discussed Dao with him many times. Although I never agreed with his ideas, he inexplicably regarded me as a confidant, and he was determined to bring me into his fold. I took advantage of this idea and proposed a final debate with him. If he could defeat me, I would become his disciple.

He thought he had thoroughly annihilated Longhu Mountain and that nothing could threaten him anymore, so he agreed to discuss the Dao with me. As a result, he fell into my trap and eventually died in the Zhuxian Formation.

Before he died, he said that I would be destined to be a Celestial Master for thirty-three years, but after thirty-three years, his reincarnation would take the title of Celestial Master from me, and the life I owed him would be repaid to him at that time.

Gu Mo suddenly realized, "So, Shen Yao's divination just now corresponds exactly."

Zhang Dao nodded.

"Do many people know about this?" Gu Mo asked.

Zhang Daoyi smiled slightly and said, "You're worried that someone is deliberately setting a trap to deal with me, right? That's basically impossible. Only I know about this; I've never told anyone. When the Immortal Slaughtering Formation was activated, I was the only one on Tiandu Peak on the entire Longhu Mountain. It's impossible for anyone to have overheard my conversation with Ling Xiao. Besides, I myself truly sensed that a calamity is about to befall me." "This…"

Gu Mo thought for a moment and said, "Actually, I don't think it's that serious. Even if Ling Xiao really is reincarnated, he was the number one in the world back then, and I am the number one in the world now. He just has an accomplice, Gongsun Jue. You, Zhang Daoyi, are not the Zhang Daoyi of the past. Moreover, this is your Longhu Mountain's home ground. What makes him think he can kill you?"

Zhang Daoyi chuckled and said, "In Shen Yao's divination, you did not appear at the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony."

Gu Mo said, "There are only two possibilities: either I was killed, or I was lured away. If it's the first one, then there's really no solution. If even I can be killed, then it can only mean that Ling Xiao's reincarnation is truly powerful. If it's the second one, then since we already know about this in advance, it doesn't hold true. I certainly won't be lured away, so naturally you won't be killed."

Zhang Daoyi chuckled and said, "Gu Mo, you've touched me a little. Even if the first possibility is very small, it's not impossible. So, rationally speaking, you should leave this place of trouble as soon as possible. You've actually stayed and risked your life for me!"

Gu Mo waved his hand and said, "Old Celestial Master, you're overthinking it. I just feel that I have no reason to hide. Let alone the fact that he's just an unknown reincarnation, and it's just a rumor, even if Ling Xiao really were here, would I need to avoid his sharp edge?"

Zhang Daoyi laughed and said, "That's right. He was once the number one in the world, and you are now the number one in the world as well. I have to say, that old bastard Su Qianqiu deserves to be number two for a thousand years. He really doesn't have the spirit of being the number one in the world. If he heard that Ling Xiao or Jiang Ruoxu had appeared in the world, he would definitely stay far away!"

Gu Mo said in a deep voice, "Speaking of Jiang Ruoxu, I was just about to ask you something. Jiang Ruoxu is definitely not dead yet. I encountered the sword intent he left behind in the capital of Jiang Kingdom this time."

Zhang Daoyi said, "I have heard about this matter. The news that you killed the Emperor of Jiang has already begun to spread in the martial arts world. It will probably be known throughout the world soon. The fact that Jiang Ruoxu is not dead will definitely be spread as well. I'm afraid it will cause a controversy over who is the real number one in the world, you or Jiang Ruoxu."

"Who is the best in the world is not important," Gu Mo waved his hand and said, "Where might Jiang Ruoxu be now?"

Zhang Daoyi shook his head slightly and said, "I have no way of knowing that. Jiang Ruoxu's physical body is in the capital of Jiang Kingdom, which means that the Jiang Ruoxu who went astray back then was just a legendary ascended immortal soul. If he wants to hide, who can find him? Maybe he really did ascend to the immortal realm?"

"Is there really a celestial realm?" Gu Mo asked.

“No,” Zhang Daoyi said, “I can tell you very clearly that there is no Immortal Realm.”

"Are you so sure?" Gu Mo asked in surprise.

Zhang Daoyi said, "The Taoist tradition has a history of over a thousand years, which is beyond the imagination of ordinary people. Our Longhu Mountain has three patriarchs whose ascension is clearly recorded. One of them returned after ascending and left behind a sentence."

"What did you say?" Gu Mo asked.

Zhang Daoyi slowly said, "Don't ascend, the Immortal Realm is fake!" With just those words, his soul vanished. This is why, later on, there were gradually no more Qi cultivators left on Longhu Mountain.

Many in the martial arts world mock Longhu Mountain, saying that although it's a Taoist sect, it doesn't even have Qi practitioners, the very foundation of its existence. It's not that the Qi cultivation tradition has been lost, but because Qi cultivation is no longer permitted.

Gu Mo said in a deep voice, "So, Jiang Ruoxu back then was actually the one who truly ascended to immortality. He reached the required realm, but he didn't go to that fake immortal realm. Instead, he stayed in the mortal world?"

Zhang Daoyi said, "Perhaps there are other reasons why Jiang Ruoxu went mad. Perhaps he went mad because he discovered the problem with the fake immortal realm. That's also possible. Since he's still alive, he must still be in the mortal world."

However, if you're looking for Jiang Ruoxu, we at Longhu Mountain certainly can't help you, but there's another place where you can.

"Where?" Gu Mo asked.

“Penglai Island!” Zhang Daoyi said, “Penglai Island is a very strange place. No matter where they invite someone, they can always find them. It’s quite amazing. Jiang Ruoxu was among the last group of people to visit Penglai Island, so he’s definitely on the invitation list this time as well. You can ask the people on Penglai Island later if they know Jiang Ruoxu’s whereabouts.”

"Okay." Gu Mo nodded and said, "By the way, there's one more thing. We came to Longhu Mountain to enter the Ascension Platform, but not only my sister is going, I also need to borrow your Ascension Platform. Is that alright?"

“Of course, no problem,” Zhang Daoyi said. “I promised you before, so you can go whenever you want.”

"Go now!"

……

Immediately, Zhang Daoyi led Gu Mo and Gu Chudong to a grand hall to meet Zhang Xisu, the head of Longhu Mountain.

As they walked, Zhang Daoyi explained to Gu Mo and Gu Chudong, "Although I have the authority to allow you two siblings to enter the Ascension Platform, you will still need my senior brother's authorization to enter."

Gu Mo nodded slightly and said, "I understand."

Zhang Daoyi said, "Originally, my senior brother, the headmaster, was supposed to personally greet you today since you have graced our Longhu Mountain with your presence. However, you ran too fast, and before he could even show himself, you had already gone to the back mountain. So he had no choice but to give up. It's not that I'm being disrespectful to you!"

Gu Mo chuckled awkwardly and said, "It was my fault. If I had known that Sect Leader Zhang was there, I certainly wouldn't have run away so quickly."

Soon, they arrived at a grand hall and met Zhang Xisu, the head of Longhu Mountain. Zhang Xisu was Zhang Daoyi's senior brother. He was over eighty years old, but he was proficient in the internal energy of the Daoist sect. Although he was old, he had excellent energy and spirit, with white hair and a youthful face.

Zhang Xisu and Zhang Daoyi had completely opposite personalities. Although Zhang Daoyi was quite old, he was lively and outgoing, while Zhang Xisu was listless and slow in every action and word, making people anxious when he spoke.

Fortunately, Gu Mo wasn't there to discuss Dao with Zhang Xisu. After a brief greeting, Zhang Xisu readily gave him the warrant.

Subsequently,

Led by Zhang Daoyi, the three entered the depths of Tiandu Peak in Longhu Mountain and arrived at a secluded canyon. At the entrance of the canyon, clouds and mist hung down like a light veil, turning into flowing smoke as the wind passed and drifting into the secluded valley, wrapping the rugged rocks and ancient green trees in a misty white veil.

A clear stream meanders through the valley, its pebbles reflecting the sunlight like scattered silver. Water vapor rises and intertwines with the drifting clouds in the sky to form a hazy curtain.

Several Enlightenment Trees grow deep within the clouds, their gnarled branches like coiled jade dragons, their leaves like emerald carvings. Occasionally, dewdrops slip down, condensing into faint rainbows in mid-air. The shadows of the trees flicker with the clouds, and sometimes shimmering white wisps of air hang between the branches, seemingly formed from the essence of the sun and moon. A gentle breeze stirs, and the leaves tremble as if chanting Taoist scriptures. The entire valley, nestled amidst the deep clouds and tranquil trees, exudes an ethereal, otherworldly charm.

“There are five Enlightenment Trees in total,” Zhang Daoyi said. “Under each Enlightenment Tree is a Cloud Platform. Countless masters have attained enlightenment here and left behind the true meaning of martial arts. Over time, the spiritual energy here has become stronger and stronger, and gradually the legend of enlightenment and ascension has emerged, hence the name Ascension Platform.”

Looking at the few Enlightenment Trees that were faintly visible in the clouds above the cliff, Gu Mo could clearly feel that this canyon was like an independent little world, with the Daoist essence permeating the air around those few Enlightenment Trees, and it was very surging.

“Hey, Master,” Gu Chudong pointed to a cliff on the other side and asked, “Why is it so broken over there? And why are there so many swords on that cliff?”

Zhang Daoyi said, "That place is called Zhuxian Cliff. Thirty-three years ago, I activated the Zhuxian Formation there and killed Lingxiao."

"That's it!"

Gu Chudong nodded and asked, "Can I go to the Ascension Platform now?"

"nature."

"Is there any particular custom?" Gu Chudong asked.

“No,” Zhang Daoyi said, “It’s the same as meditating as usual. It’s just that it’s very easy to enter a state of enlightenment there. Moreover, you can also perceive the true meaning of martial arts left behind by masters in the past. It’s like being able to discuss the Dao with others.”

"Then let's go."

Immediately, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong flew towards the Ascension Platform. Gu Mo arrived directly, while Gu Chudong used the Cloud Ladder Leap to fly back and forth among the mountains, taking quite a while to arrive.

Gu Mo looked at the Enlightenment Tree, slowly sat down under it, and immediately began to organize his various martial arts realms.

His main purpose in using the Ascension Platform this time was to integrate his various martial arts realms, break free from the fixed framework, and reach a state of true freedom and mastery over all methods.

During the battle at the Jiang Kingdom's palace, he discovered that while his moves had reached a point of complete freedom, the characteristics of his various martial arts still remained within the established framework. For example, when he used the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Technique to summon a Dharma Image, it was difficult for him to simultaneously unleash his innate Qi and instantly transform it into Harmony with the Dust.

He is now thinking about breaking free from the fixed moves and being able to use various martial arts techniques at will.

(End of this chapter)