A master of comedy!

"Relax your body, keep your breath steady, and sing the lyrics following the thirteen rhyme schemes, don't sing them dryly..."

"Wrong, start over!"

"As the saying goes, 'A thousand pounds of dialogue is only as good as four ounces of singing,' your recitation skills are still lacking."

"Listen carefully, when you reach the final high note, you should sing it like this..."

Under the blazing sun, the sound of scolding echoed throughout the courtyard all morning.

Zhou Sheng had been hit by sticks many times on his body and hands, and a bitter smile appeared on his face.

Master's strictness today has reached an almost abnormal level. Even the slightest deviation in one's aura will be met with a beating from his stick.

They were not allowed to use their internal energy to resist.

"Tour leader, the head of the troupe, how can you command respect without exceptional skills? Don't be fooled by everyone's current high regard for you; if your opera skills decline, you'll be driven off the stage sooner or later!"

"Also, don't think you can relax now that you've graduated. Soon you'll be receiving invitations from all sorts of ghosts and spirits, and they won't be polite to you then..."

"The sooner you break through the fifth level and open your body's acupoints, the sooner you can cultivate the zombie technique in that book. At that time, your physical body will be as solid as a rock, and ordinary ghost kings will not be able to possess you!"

"You want to learn 'Exploring the Underworld Mountain'? Then get up and keep practicing. What's a little pain? To learn 'Exploring the Underworld Mountain,' you need to break through to at least the sixth level. You brat, you're all talk and no action, why are you so slow?"

In the courtyard, Yu Zhensheng had even given up his long-standing habit of taking a midday nap. His expression was serious, his voice was cold and sharp, and he was spouting all sorts of sarcastic remarks. He had already broken three sticks in his hand.

The muffled thuds made Little Red Thread tremble, and she looked at her boss with eyes full of sympathy.

She didn't understand why her master had become so fierce and scary when she woke up.

What's even more terrifying is that the leader was clearly beaten, yet he was still laughing so happily.
Does the boss like being beaten?

Thinking this, she excitedly picked up a rock bigger than herself and tiptoed behind Zhou Sheng.

What are you doing?

Zhou Sheng sensed a hint of danger. He turned around abruptly while practicing his stance training and saw Hong Xian squatting down and then standing up again while holding a stone.

"Boss, I'm practicing standing up!"

"Oh."

Zhou Sheng turned his head, then spun around again in a flash, and saw Hong Xian jump up, holding a stone and about to smash it on his head.

boom!
Hongxian smashed a rock on his own head, covered in stone dust, and grinned, "Boss, I'm practicing my head technique!"

A trickle of blood slid down her forehead.

"Boss, how come there are two of you...?"

The little guy was dizzy and then fell headfirst to the ground.

With a dark expression, Yu Zhensheng dragged her into the room and continued to train Zhou Sheng, not letting go of any minor detail.

Zhou Sheng's eye twitched; he sensed that his master had truly changed.

She didn't even care about the red thread anymore, but focused all her attention on guiding him in his practice. Her eagerness and the expression in her eyes were completely different from before.

Zhou Sheng understood that his master's spirits had been reignited by his words last night, which was why he was full of energy and fighting spirit.

I never expected that I would suffer in the end.

Would you say I dug a hole for myself?

Zhou Sheng thought to himself that he was complaining, but he didn't utter a word of complaint while practicing. He listened very attentively and cooperated completely with his master.

And just like that, the day passed quickly.

The sun is setting in the west, and dusk is falling.

Even with over eighty years of Taoist cultivation protecting him, Zhou Sheng was practically exhausted after a day of "devilish training." Yu Zhensheng took out a carefully prepared medicinal oil and massaged his injured areas to relax his muscles, improve blood circulation, and strengthen his internal energy.

"Master, didn't you say that after I started my apprenticeship I would soon receive invitations from all sorts of ghosts and gods? Why is there still no news?"

Zhou Sheng also took the opportunity to ask his master for advice on the future path of Yin Opera.

"Logically speaking, it should be soon. After all, your reputation has already been established through this Ghost Festival play, not to mention you also have the title of successor of the Ghost Festival play master."

"The messengers are probably already on their way."

"Master, but I've even eliminated Judge Lu, shouldn't that be considered a bad reputation? Would other ghosts and gods still dare to invite me to perform?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Zhensheng let out a cold laugh, a merciless mockery.

"Do you think no one can see how you won? Lu Zhidao's fall is a bombshell, which will inevitably attract attention and investigation from all sides. Your family history for three generations has probably been thoroughly investigated."

"You were able to defeat Lu Pan mainly due to two things. First, the Suanni dragon vein in the Nine Dragon Seal allowed you to sing the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, which briefly demonstrated the strength you had used to overcome a heavenly tribulation."

"Secondly, it was the cooperation of that descendant of the Bao family that destroyed Lu Pan's natal statue in the mortal realm, greatly limiting His power; otherwise, you might not have been able to win."

Zhou Sheng nodded, and Bao Ying's face involuntarily appeared in his mind. Strangely, Bao Ying had not come to find him since he returned after completing his apprenticeship.

In this Ghost Festival play, Bao Ying's strong support, the tacit understanding between the two, and their unwavering insistence on not compromising until Lu Pan is killed all earned Zhou Sheng's great admiration.

He had come to regard Bao Ying as a true friend, a comrade-in-arms worthy of his trust and reliance.

Therefore, he couldn't help but feel a little worried because Bao Ying hadn't shown up yet.

"Don't worry about that kid. The Bao family has accumulated wealth over generations, with hundreds of years of foundation. They have influence in both the Yin and Yang realms. Even the one on the dragon throne wouldn't dare to touch him easily."

Yu Zhensheng saw through his disciple's thoughts and couldn't help but sneer, "As for you, you're probably in a predicament now, like a clay Bodhisattva crossing the river, barely able to save yourself."

"Master, what do you mean by that?"

"Although you have completed your apprenticeship, you have also shown your talent too early. Whether in the underworld or the mortal world, a considerable number of demons and monsters do not want to see a new Zhao family troupe emerge."

Zhou Sheng was taken aback, and then his gaze became serious.

He knew that his master was not exaggerating; Wei Pan had also warned him of this. He was now in the vortex and had officially stepped onto the stage, being watched secretly by many people.

Some of the gazes were well-intentioned, while others were malicious.

"After finding out your background, some people are unwilling to let you grow. Therefore, those invitations to act may be a trap."

Zhou Sheng asked doubtfully, "Master, if that's the case, then I should just refuse them all. Wouldn't it eliminate the danger if I didn't attend the banquet?"

Yu Zhensheng shook his head and said, "This is the helplessness of us Yin Opera Masters. After you graduate, your name will be recorded in the Yin Register. According to the contract signed by our ancestor, you must choose at least one opera invitation every year and perform a Yin Opera for ghosts and gods. Otherwise, you will be punished by the Yin Court."

"Of course, there is a reward for every punishment. According to the contract, as long as you accept the invitation to the play and finish performing the ghost play, the spirit that invited you must offer up its treasured items as a gift."

Zhou Sheng understood perfectly well that this performance of the shady opera was both dangerous and opportunistic, with great risks but also great rewards.

No wonder many ghost opera performers don't live past thirty. They are invited by ghosts and gods to perform ghost opera once a year. This is like a tight headband on the head of the Monkey King, keeping people on edge and unable to sleep.

If I make a mistake any time, I could very well lose my life.

"Master, why haven't you performed any ghost plays all these years?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Zhensheng's face revealed a hint of arrogance.

"Because no ghost or deity dares to send me an invitation to a play."

"Although I am crippled, they still fear me. Even if they have schemes against me, they are afraid of being buried with me."

"As for those benevolent spirits, knowing that I am crippled, they naturally would not ask me to perform, lest I embarrass myself."

...(End of this chapter)