From Under One Person: Sincere Journey Through the Heavens

"If you can get a free bowl of tea from someone today, can you expect to get a free meal from them tomorrow? Even if it's limited to tea, taking it for granted that others offer it for free—is that really how one cultivates oneself?"

"Senior brother, it's not that serious, is it?"

Xiao Gongzi was a little timid, but he still dared to talk back to Zhang Zhiwei. After all, Zhang Zhiwei was quite easygoing when he was cultivating on the mountain. He could chat with everyone, from his senior uncles and senior masters who were of the same generation as Zhang Jingqing to the young Taoist disciples who had just entered the sect.

"Hey, it's really that serious."

But Zhang Zhiwei had already undergone a transformation. He was no longer a Taoist priest, but rather resembled his senior brother in some ways. "When you go down the mountain in the future, don't owe anyone even a bowl of tea."

"But senior brother, the land at the foot of the mountain also belongs to our Longhu Mountain." Xiao Gongzi was still puzzled.

"Two different things."

Zhang Zhiwei's gaze was serious, then he said in a low voice, "Moreover, it's not certain whether the fields at the foot of the mountain will belong to the Celestial Master's Mansion in the future!"

“Brother Zhiwei, I think you can imagine something even bolder, such as: Does Longhu Mountain still belong to the Celestial Master’s Mansion?” Jiang Liu couldn’t help but laugh when he thought about how most of the Celestial Master’s Mansion’s mountain was managed by the Tourism Bureau in a future parallel universe, leaving only a small part of the back mountain belonging to the Celestial Master’s Mansion.

"You've gone too far!!"

Although Zhang Zhiwei had seen the elderly version of himself conjured by the Ghost Mother based on information from another future world, he did not know the situation of the future Celestial Master's Mansion, so he was somewhat unimpressed by Jiang Liu's words.

Before Jiang Liu could answer, the confused look on Xiao Gongzi's face disappeared, replaced by an incredulous look of fear.

Then he—

Inhale, exhale, turn around and run up the mountain.

As he ran, he shouted, "It's terrible! It's terrible! Master! The people from the Confucian Association aren't here to spar! They're here to raid our homes!"

It was brought by Senior Brother Zhang Zhiwei himself!

In an instant, all the Taoist priests hidden in the woods jumped out.

"what?"

"My senior brother has betrayed us?"

"Zhang Zhiwei? I've heard of him. He's a top disciple of the Celestial Master. How could he have betrayed the Celestial Master's Mansion?"

"I'm Zhang Zhiwei's junior brother. I saw through him a long time ago! This guy with thick eyebrows and big eyes looks honest, but he's actually a black-hearted bastard!"

“That’s right! I saw it too! He’s actually colluding with outsiders to cause trouble for the Celestial Master’s Mansion. He’s utterly inhuman!”

"No! This is betraying one's master and ancestors!"

"..."

"???"

Zhang Zhiwei was completely puzzled.

It wasn't that they hadn't noticed these people hiding in the woods and bushes on both sides of the steps leading up the mountain, but rather that these guys actually jumped out and "verbally attacked" him because of a single sentence from Xiao Gongzi.

As for?

and also!

It's one thing for fellow disciples from the Celestial Master's Mansion to get involved, but why are guys from other sects getting involved?

"Brother Zhiwei, you seem to be quite 'loved' by your fellow disciples on the mountain, don't you?" Jiang Liu chimed in, stirring things up as if he didn't want to miss out on the fun.

Instantly.

Zhang Zhiwei's face darkened. He took a deep breath and said to his fellow disciples, "Fellow disciples, you've gone too far with that!"

I'm devising a completely new path for the Celestial Master's Mansion in the coming new era.

"Zhang Zhiwei, you're worrying way too much!"

Just then, a Taoist priest dressed in a Taoist robe, with his hair tied in a Tai Chi bun, his eyebrows raised, a beard, and a gloomy face stepped forward and said, "Among the three religions, there is no superior one; since ancient times, only Taoism has been revered!"

I believe that with the world prospering, how can there be no way out?

On the contrary, you ignored the Heavenly Master's words, insisted on going down the mountain, and interfered in the affairs of human life, embarking on the path of vying for fame and fortune. How pathetic!

Bringing outsiders up the mountain today is utterly outrageous! They must leave!

However, when he spoke, none of the other Taoists in the Celestial Master's Mansion echoed him, and the disciples of other Taoist sects also remained silent.

Without him.

The other disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion were just teasing Zhang Zhiwei, and the disciples from other Taoist sects were just joining in the fun. But who would have thought that one of them would actually take it seriously!

Besides this person, there was another person who looked even younger following closely behind. His eyes swept back and forth between Miss Hong, Miss Liu, Gao Huan, Duanmu Ying, and even Bao Jinmei, revealing a hint of lewdness. His gloomy aura was also heavier, but he also echoed the Taoist: "My master is right! Zhang Zhiwei! Either lead the Confucian Society to retreat, or kneel down and come up the mountain!"

The people from the Celestial Master's Mansion were speechless, and the other Taoist disciples were also silent.

"Senior Brother Shi Jian, Junior Nephew Shao Jian, we were just joking, don't take it seriously." Tian Jinzhong stepped onto the stairs, laughing as he acted as peacemaker. "The decision regarding the exchange between Zhengyi and the Confucian Association was made by me and the masters of all the senior and junior brothers present."

"This matter is serious; it cannot be taken lightly."

Shi Jian, however, seemed oblivious to human sentiments. He simply stared intently at Zhang Zhiwei and Jiang Liu, and coldly said, "Only the Dao is supreme, and it cannot be offended!"

Tian Jinzhong: "......"

"May I ask your name, senior brother?"

Zhang Zhiwei stepped forward, bowed, and asked with a smile.

Didn't you hear what Tian Jinzhong said?

Seeing Zhang Zhiwei lower his stance, Shi Jian became even more arrogant and sneered, "My name is Shi Jian, and I am the senior disciple of the Shangqing Maoshan Sect!"

He is also the strongest senior disciple of the Zhengyi lineage today!

"Oh?"

Zhang Zhiwei understood the reason, but he could also clearly feel a wisp of gloomy energy emanating from the other party. However, his smile remained unchanged. He simply raised his hand and asked with a chuckle, "Then, what guidance does 'Senior Brother' have?"

"I don't have any instructions, I just want to test your methods."

Shi Jian chuckled.

How do we test it?

Zhang Zhiwei asked again.

"Since I came to Longhu Mountain, I've always heard my fellow disciples from the Celestial Master's Mansion say that you are the number one person in the Celestial Master's Mansion... But I don't believe it! Fight me!"

Shi Jian's words were very straightforward. He then said to Jiang Liu, "And you, the president of the Confucian Society, it is said that you have become a sage by forging your literary courage. The strange phenomenon that occurred half a year ago was also caused by you. Come and fight me! Only after you win can you go up the mountain!"

Jiang Liu didn't speak, but Zhang Zhiwei rolled up his sleeves, revealing his strong and powerful arms, and said, "Then I'll go first."

"Alright, I..."

Snapped!

A crisp slap echoed through the mountains and forests. Before Shi Jian could even make a move, Zhang Zhiwei had already pressed his palm against his upper dantian.

Then there was another thud, and Shi Jian collapsed onto the steps, unconscious.

The entire room fell silent.

Without him.

Just one palm strike.

The exchange ended abruptly.

"'Senior Brother,' your cultivation level is still not up to par."

Zhang Zhiwei chuckled twice, then looked at the terrified Shi Shaojian, raised his hand, and asked with a smile, "Nephew, would you also like to try out the skills of your uncle?"

"No···"

Shi Shaojian lowered his head and saw that Shi Jian was still unconscious. He quickly knelt down to help him up and tried to wake him up, but Zhang Zhiwei's slap was merciless. He wouldn't wake up for at least half a day.

Seeing the Taoist priests from the Celestial Master's Mansion standing there in a daze, Zhang Zhiwei sighed and said to Tian Jinzhong, "Junior Brother Jinzhong, what are you all standing there for? Quickly help our senior brother to the mountain to rest."

"what?"

Tian Jinzhong snapped out of his daze, quickly said "Oh," and led the disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion to lift Shi Jian up and run quickly up the mountain.

"I didn't realize you could be so ruthless to your own people, Taoist priest," Miss Liu teased Zhang Zhiwei.

“Miss Liu, I am no longer a Taoist priest.”

Zhang Zhiwei shook his head, looked at Shi Jian being carried by his fellow disciples, sighed, and then chuckled, "Besides, this 'senior brother' from Maoshan is indeed a bit domineering. I'm going to use this palm strike to make him understand that there are always people more powerful than him."

"I think he might try to trip you up afterwards."

"Is it all predetermined?"

Hearing Jiang Liu say this, Zhang Zhiwei raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but ask.

“He’s not just domineering, he’s also learned some of the tricks of the Wild Maoshan sect. I don’t believe you didn’t notice.”

Jiang Liu did not answer, but only stated another fact, "And his son's Yin Qi is even heavier, he must have been using the methods of Ye Maoshan to quickly improve his life cultivation."

How could he, as a father, not know?

They'll inevitably turn a blind eye... In this way, even if they don't go astray in the future, they won't achieve much in their spiritual practice.

"Well, then it's just his fate."

Zhang Zhiwei shrugged and didn't ask any further questions.

The fixed number can be changed.

However, Shi Jian was already in his fifties or sixties. Looking at the entire Zhengyi sect, he could be considered the oldest disciple of Zhang Zhiwei's generation. He had considerable cultivation and a proud personality, so it would be difficult to change his temperament.

Therefore.

Fixed numbers are generally difficult to change.

but.

Zhang Zhiwei wasn't familiar with Shi Jian either. If he dared to cause trouble for him, he shouldn't blame him for slapping him again.

If the other party still doesn't give up, or even becomes possessed by demons and starts to rapidly increase their strength by practicing the magic of the Wild Maoshan Sect, then he will clean house for the Shangqing Maoshan Sect. As a fellow member of the Zhengyi sect, even if he is not a Taoist now, as long as the Celestial Master still recognizes him as a disciple, then Zhang Zhiwei has the right to do so!

Furthermore.

As a Taoist, if one does not cultivate one's mind and nature, and is unwilling to suffer any loss or swallow any anger, then it is only right that one should suffer this calamity.

Mind this.