One person: Lu Jin, do I look like your master?

Wang Xuan had already decided to refocus his mind and ignore Zhang Chulan's impending "friendly negotiation" under the tree.

However, just as his eyelids were about to close, he sensed an extremely subtle yet vast aura that was almost perfectly integrated with the entire mountain forest.

It quietly appeared in the shadows of the woods not far away.

This aura was not malicious; on the contrary, it possessed a gentle, inclusive, and profound quality, much like nature itself. However, the sheer magnitude of its presence made it impossible for Wang Xuan to ignore.

The next moment, Wang Xuan, who was sitting cross-legged on the tree branch, swayed slightly and disappeared silently from the spot, like an ink painting blending into the night, without stirring up a wisp of wind or disturbing a single leaf.

Under the tree, Zhang Chulan was rubbing his hands together, putting on a "kind" smile, ready to "reason" with Shan Shitong.

And Shan Shitong, the "pupa-man" on the ground, who was terrified and angry, was completely unaware of Wang Xuan's departure.

Only Feng Baobao, whose perception was extraordinary, seemed to have caught a very subtle fluctuation.

She suddenly raised her head, her empty eyes looking precisely at the spot where Wang Xuan had just been, only to find it completely empty.

She tilted her head, a fleeting look of confusion on her face, before her attention was drawn back to the commotion between Zhang Chulan and Shan Shitong.

Almost at the same moment Wang Xuan's figure disappeared, in a darker forest clearing about several dozen meters away from the ancient tree, Wang Xuan's white figure appeared silently like a ghost.

His gaze was calmly fixed ahead.

There stood a tall, upright old man with snow-white hair and beard, a kind and gentle face, and wearing a simple old Taoist robe. He stood there quietly with his hands behind his back.

It seemed as if it had already blended into the night-covered mountains and forests.

He is none other than Zhang Zhiwei, the 65th Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain and the pinnacle of the supernatural world today.

Wang Xuan looked at the unfathomable old man, showing little surprise. He simply spoke, his voice as clear as a spring dripping onto jade, exceptionally clear in the quiet night:

"You, an old man, stayed up all night and came to this desolate mountain wilderness. You couldn't have come just to watch some juniors fooling around, could you?"

Upon hearing this, the old Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei's warm smile deepened, as if he were a kind elder seeing a mischievous junior.

He answered with a smile, his voice loud yet perfectly natural, blending seamlessly into his surroundings.

"Hehehe... As people get older, they need less sleep. I took the opportunity to come out for a walk and stretch my muscles."

Besides, the younger generation is young and impetuous, and they don't know their own strength. I feel more at ease having an old man like me watching over them, right?

He spoke casually, but Wang Xuan knew in his heart that this peerless expert's personal appearance could not be simply to prevent Zhang Chulan from going too far.

As he spoke, the old celestial master's seemingly cloudy eyes, which actually contained endless wisdom and vicissitudes, were carefully and subtly observing Wang Xuan.

The more he looked at him, the more intense the barely perceptible look of amazement and nostalgia became in the depths of his eyes.

So alike! They look so alike!

It's not just the handsome face that's seven or eight parts similar to his, and the image of him dressed in white with long hair flowing down, but also the unique "charm" that emanates from within!

The almost inhuman ethereal and pure feeling that comes from the leap in life level after cultivating the Reverse Life Triple to an extremely high level.

He was almost a carbon copy of Zuo Ruotong, the brilliant and talented leader of the Sanyi Sect in his memory! If it weren't for the discrepancy in age and aura, he would almost have thought that his old friend had come back to life!

The old master's smile faded somewhat, and his tone became tinged with inquiry and感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing both admiration and reflection).

"He looks very similar to a senior I know."

He didn't beat around the bush and pointed it out directly, wanting to see Wang Xuan's reaction.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xuan's expression remained unchanged, as if he had expected this. He met the old Celestial Master's gaze and calmly replied:

“I know. The old friend you mentioned should be Senior Zuo Ruotong, the former head of the Sanyi Sect, who was known as the ‘Great Ying Immortal’.”

He paused, then added, "Old Xia Liuqing had mentioned this to me before."

The old master's snow-white eyebrows twitched slightly, and a knowing glint flashed in his eyes.

"Xia Liuqing, the 'fierce clown' from Quanxing? So... you're a member of Quanxing?"

When he asked the question, his tone remained calm, and he even had a smile on his face, showing no change in hostility or vigilance because of the words "Quanxing".

Having reached his level of understanding and age, he has long since transcended the simple distinction between good and evil, and now values ​​people more.

Wang Xuan shook his head and then nodded. His gaze was clear and calm, like two bottomless pools of deep springs, meeting the old celestial master's gaze without flinching.

He slowly opened his mouth and clearly repeated what he had once said to Xia Liuqing:

"Old Celestial Master, this is a long story."

The younger generation's name is Wang Xuan.

My origins can be summarized as follows: I was nurtured by Quanxing, and taught by Trinity.

These ten short words contain an enormous amount of information, and are also incredibly contradictory!

A person raised by members of the Quanxing Sect has learned the core secrets of the Sanyi Sect, which has a blood feud with the Quanxing Sect.

And he has cultivated this unique skill to such an astonishing level.

If an ordinary person heard such a statement, they would surely find it absurd and unbelievable.

However, standing opposite him was Zhang Zhiwei, who had lived for over a hundred years, witnessed countless storms, and had a keen understanding of human nature and the ways of the world.

The old celestial master did not speak immediately; he simply gazed intently at Wang Xuan with his deep, star-like eyes.

He wasn't looking at Wang Xuan's outward appearance, but rather trying to see through those calm eyes to discern the soul and essence hidden within that young body.

When you reach a certain level, you no longer judge people based on appearances.

He saw no cunning, hypocrisy, violence, or the chaos and madness commonly found in the eyes of the Quanxing people in Wang Xuan's eyes.

What he saw was a rare openness, a heartfelt peace, a steadfast commitment to one's own path, and a... transcendent purity.

This kind of temperament is something that only wicked people could possess.

In the silent forest, only the rustling of leaves in the breeze could be heard. An old man and a young man, with completely different temperaments, gazed at each other quietly.

A moment later, without warning, the old Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei suddenly burst into a loud and hearty laugh:

"Hahaha! Good! Excellent! What a wonderful saying, 'He who nurtured me is whole, and who imparted his knowledge to the Trinity!'"

His laughter echoed through the night forest, filled with heartfelt admiration and a touch of indescribable emotion.

He stopped laughing, looked at Wang Xuan, and his eyes held a hint of regret:

"Good lad! You are insightful and clear-headed! You are not attached to material things, not bound by form, and not enslaved by the past! This kind of mindset is rare, truly rare!"

He paused, as if remembering something, and his tone carried a hint of disappointment and frustration towards his apprentice:

"If my good-for-nothing apprentice Lingyu had even half your temperament and open-mindedness, he wouldn't have lived such a... conflicted life! He's always worrying about all sorts of things, it's exhausting just watching him!"

Clearly, the Old Celestial Master greatly admired Wang Xuan's attitude of readily accepting his complex background and clearly defining its relationship to his own path.

This stands in stark contrast to his apprentice Zhang Lingyu, who was preoccupied with minor "flaws" and self-restrained.

Chapter 40 Let's try it?

The laughter of the old Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei gradually subsided, and the forest returned to silence. Only his insightful eyes, still filled with undisguised appreciation, remained fixed on Wang Xuan.

In his view, the young man in front of him was exceptionally clear-headed and open-minded, a rarity among the younger generation of the supernatural world, and even far superior to his conflicted and eccentric disciple Zhang Lingyu.

The old master asked in a casual tone, as if he were an elder having a casual chat.

"Tell me, what brings you to my Longhu Mountain this time? Judging from your appearance, you don't seem to be here just to join in the fun of the Luotian Grand Ceremony."

He had already noticed that Wang Xuan had not registered for the competition; otherwise, with his strength, he would probably have already caused a huge uproar on the stage.

A young man with such profound cultivation who is content with solitude and indifferent to fame has come to this place where powerful figures gather; he must have his own purpose.

Faced with this extraordinary question, Wang Xuan did not hide anything and answered frankly:

"Reporting to the Celestial Master, this junior has not come here for the grand event. Rather, I have an appointment with Senior Xia Liuqing of the Quanxing Sect to meet here, and there are some matters that need to be taken care of."

"Xia Liuqing?"

Upon hearing this, the old celestial master's snow-white eyebrows twitched slightly, and a knowing glint flashed in his eyes.

He stroked his long silver beard and pondered for a moment. Although Xia Liuqing, that old fellow, came from the Quanxing sect and acted eccentrically, he was indeed a fierce person in his younger days.

But he calmed down a bit as he got older. He nodded, his tone still gentle:

"I see. Since it is a private matter, I will not ask any further. Longhu Mountain welcomes guests. As long as they follow the rules and do not cause trouble, I will certainly welcome them."

His words were magnanimous and conveyed an attitude: as long as Wang Xuan didn't act recklessly here, he didn't care about the other party's background or who the person he was meeting was.

After speaking, the old master seemed to sense something, and slightly turned his head, his perception spreading out like mercury.

In an instant, they caught sight of Zhang Chulan's situation in the distance—the kid was gesticulating wildly and spitting as he "reasoned" with Shan Shitong, who was tied up like a dumpling, seemingly intending to "win him over with virtue."

Sensing there was no real danger, the old master smiled slightly and prepared to turn and leave, returning the space to the young man.

However, just as he was about to take a step, Wang Xuan spoke again.

"Old Celestial Master, please wait a moment."

Zhang Zhiwei stopped and turned around with interest to look at Wang Xuan.

"Kid, is there anything else you want?"

He thought Wang Xuan might still have some old stories about the Sanyi Sect or Zuo Ruotong that he wanted to find out.

Wang Xuan met the old Celestial Master's gaze, his eyes clear and sincere, and stated his request directly:

"Old Celestial Master, I, Wang Xuan, have always cultivated alone in seclusion. Although I have achieved some success, I do not know my current position in this world of supernatural beings."

Their true strength remains unclear, like trying to see flowers through fog or the moon's reflection in water.

He paused, his tone carrying a pure yearning for and a desire to verify his own path, and continued:

"I have long heard that you, Celestial Master, are the most outstanding in this world, with cultivation that is all-encompassing and profound."

"This junior dares to ask you, sir... for a helping hand, for some guidance. So that I may truly measure the gap between myself and the real peak."

These words were spoken respectfully, but the meaning couldn't be clearer—he wanted to test his skills against the Celestial Master!

Wang Xuan knew that although he had pushed the Reverse Life Triple Realm to the third level through the system and hard work, and believed that he was invincible, this was ultimately just his own assessment.

Only by truly fighting against this universally acknowledged top figure who has stood at the pinnacle of the supernatural world for nearly a century can one most directly and accurately test one's own cultivation and combat strength.

Understanding one's own limits is crucial for his future path of cultivation.

The old master Zhang Zhiwei's smile widened, and a subtle glint of shrewdness flashed in his seemingly gentle eyes.

"Want to give this old man a try? Hehehe, interesting. It's been many years since anyone dared to make such a request to me."

He carefully examined Wang Xuan, and saw no trace of arrogance or provocation in the other's eyes.

There is only one pure pursuit: the exploration of one's own path and the yearning for a higher realm.

He was very familiar with that look; it was the gaze of a true seeker of the Way.

The old master nodded readily without much hesitation, his voice booming.

"For the sake of your honesty and your desire for enlightenment, I will make an exception and give it a try!"

"Let me see how much of the former glory of the Left Sect Master has been restored in your hands with the Triple Rebirth Technique of the San Yi Sect!"

Seeing the old Celestial Master agree so readily, Wang Xuan was slightly pleased. He immediately cupped his hands, bowed solemnly, and said:

"Thank you for your help, Celestial Master!"

After the ceremony, he straightened up, looked at the old Celestial Master, and said earnestly:

"Since the old master is willing to condescend to give guidance, I cannot let you work for nothing."

Regardless of the outcome of this exchange, I promise you that I will definitely heal Elder Tian Jinzhong's body afterwards and help him recover his health, as a way of expressing my gratitude to you.

Wang Xuan knew that he needed to repay the favor he had asked this exceptional expert to lend a helping hand.

He never wanted to owe others anything, so since the other party was generous, he naturally wanted to reciprocate.

Treating Tian Jinzhong was not difficult for him, but it would repay the favor and leave a good connection for him to ask for help in the future.

Moreover, he also held in high esteem Old Tian, ​​who had kept the secret all his life and suffered greatly.

Upon hearing Wang Xuan's promise, the old master Zhang Zhiwei's previously cheerful expression underwent a noticeable change for the first time!

His gaze suddenly sharpened, and the gentle, spring-like aura around him instantly became more intense. His gaze fell on Wang Xuan as if it were a tangible thing, as if he wanted to see right through him!

Curing Tian Jinzhong?!

No one knew his junior brother's situation better than him!

Tortured decades ago, limbs were severed and meridians were damaged!