The successor of the Shenxiao Sect was stunned, not expecting the old sect master to respond this way.
"Master, didn't you just say last month that you're in good health and can still hold down the fort for another twenty years? Why are you now saying you want to step down? And how can I possibly take on this responsibility? I'm not even thirty yet."
However, rather than being surprised by the old sect master's change in attitude, the successor's attention was more focused on the latter half of his words. "Master, are we really going to meet the ancestor?"
Besides the excitement of meeting the ancestor, he also felt a bit apprehensive.
"Yes, every generation of sect masters must meet the ancestor. This is our sect's tradition." The old sect master of the Shenxiao Sect spoke calmly.
"You are the successor. Sooner or later, you will have to meet him. We're just bringing the meeting forward."
"Master, then what should I say later? And which ancestor are we meeting? I've asked before, but you always refused to tell me, saying my seniority wasn't high enough and that only the sect master could know."
Mentioning the ancestor, the successor's eyes lit up with excitement. "But now I'm the successor, and we're about to meet the ancestor. Master, you wouldn't still refuse to tell me, right?"
As soon as he finished speaking, his talkative nature kicked in again. Without waiting for the old sect master to respond, he continued rambling.
"Master, is the ancestor we're meeting the same one from that event two years ago? The one during the battle between our Daxia and Japan's Kukiku faction in Zhengzhou in 2022?"
As he said this, excitement shone so intensely in the successor's eyes that it seemed they would glow.
"The Kukiku faction held the Summer Festival in seven locations across Daxia. On the surface, it seemed normal, but in reality, they were setting up an Inverted Big Dipper Seven-Star Formation at these seven sites to conduct the Taishan Governor's Ritual, attempting to steal Daxia's national destiny."
"They say that a concerned citizen accidentally noticed that the Summer Festival locations, when connected on a map, formed the shape of Japan's territory. That's how the scheme was discovered."
"Later, Bureau 749, along with Zhang Lao from the Maoshan Sect and our Shenxiao Sect's ancestor, summoned thousands of disciples and rushed to Zhengzhou for a battle of Daoist magic. Since our sect specializes in Thunder Techniques, the ancestor took the initiative to become the formation's core."
"During the battle, many Daoist disciples were injured or killed, and even the ancestor was severely wounded. But in the end, we won. After the battle, Bureau 749 led ten of the greatest Daoist masters, including Mr. Guan Xinghe, and captured a hundred members of the Kukiku faction alive."
"I heard that in the final stage, even Bureau 749's strongest among the 'Ten Daoist Titans,' the one known as 'True Martial's Incarnation,' personally took action. Upon learning about the scheme, he directly stormed the headquarters of the Kukiku faction in Japan, slaying their core members with a single sword strike. All of them were exterminated, and their leader had to kneel and surrender."
He finished all of this in one breath without even pausing, his eyes burning with enthusiasm.
"Master, is the ancestor you're talking about the same one?"
Seeing the old sect master nod in confirmation, the successor's eyes burned even brighter, and he couldn't stop talking. "Master, it's really that ancestor? But wasn't it said that he was gravely injured in the battle at Zhengzhou, and then..."
He hesitated, not daring to continue. But the old sect master picked up where he left off. "And then the ancestor died, right?"
"Ahem."
Feeling caught, the successor coughed awkwardly but still nodded. "Yes, Master, I heard that because the situation was urgent at the time, the Kukiku faction, knowing they had been exposed, activated the Taishan Governor's Ritual Formation ahead of schedule. Our Daoist disciples barely had any time to rest before engaging in battle."
"The formation leaked immense Yin energy, and since the ancestor was the formation's core, he bore the greatest karmic burden. His physical body endured direct lightning strikes, and his hands were completely burned. Even though our Shenxiao Sect is famous for Thunder Techniques, there came a day when we could not withstand the wrath of the heavens."
"Although he ultimately endured it, his soul was damaged, and he didn't have many days left to live."
Hearing this, the old sect master smiled and shook his head. "Silly boy, rumors are just rumors. Many things get twisted along the way. This was just Bureau 749's way of glorifying the Daoist disciples who died in that battle, making it sound more tragic."
"But somehow, over time, the story spread beyond just the internet and ordinary people. It even became widely believed that the ancestor heroically perished in battle." The old sect master ruffled the successor's hair.
"So the ancestor didn't die, Master?"
"Of course not. He was indeed injured. After all, the Kukiku faction had been plotting for decades, and the Taishan Governor's Ritual Formation was an ancient grand array originating from our own Daxia. But it wasn't enough to kill the ancestor."
"I see, so that's the truth."
Just as the successor was processing this revelation, the old sect master continued. "But that's not the whole truth."
Without keeping him in suspense, the old sect master spoke directly before the successor could ask further. "You mentioned earlier that a concerned citizen accidentally discovered the connection between the Summer Festival locations. That 'concerned citizen' was none other than the ancestor himself."
"What?! The ancestor?!" The successor was shocked, but quickly realized something.
"So the rumors were completely off! How did Bureau 749 spread such misinformation, making the ancestor out to be just a random concerned citizen?"
"Silly boy, you're wrong. This wasn't a misunderstanding. The ancestor specifically instructed that the information be released under the identity of a concerned citizen."
"Huh? The ancestor didn't want recognition?"
This time, the old sect master did not immediately respond. His expression became complicated, and he even paused in his steps before finally speaking in a deep tone.
"I once asked the ancestor the same question. Why did he insist on being identified as a concerned citizen instead of revealing his true identity? After all, he personally intervened—there was no need to hide it."
"Master, I was thinking the same thing."
The old sect master glanced at the successor before slowly continuing. "The ancestor's answer to me was… The Kukiku faction's little tricks, their arrangement of the Summer Festival across seven sites, it's true that he was the one who warned us about it. But he actually heard about it from someone else."
Before the successor could speak, the old sect master suddenly added, "At the time, out of curiosity, I asked the ancestor who had informed him. The ancestor only gave me three words—'King of the Night.'"
The successor stopped in his tracks. At this moment, his face was filled with shock. "The 'King of the Night' that Bureau 749 once called about?! Damn, Master, why did you tell Bureau 749 that you didn't know him?!"
The old sect master seemed not to have heard him, lost in deep thought.
In his memory…
At that time, when he asked the question, and the ancestor replied with "King of the Night," the ancestor's eyes held a trace of nostalgia as he reminisced.
"The King of the Night told me a thousand years ago that in the seventh month, a thousand years later, seven locations in Daxia would be used by Japan's Kukiku faction to set up the Taishan Governor's Ritual Formation."
"I was shocked, but his response was… 'Don't ask. Just say that a concerned citizen provided the tip-off.'"
After saying this, the ancestor turned to the old sect master.
"I thought he was joking. But a thousand years later, when I checked Daxia's seven locations, it was exactly as he said. You asked me why I used the identity of a concerned citizen?"
"Because those were his exact words. The one who told me this called himself a concerned citizen. But do not speak of this day to anyone—only Heaven and Earth shall know, just you and me. He does not like being disturbed."
He still remembered…
At that time, after saying this, the ancestor looked up at the starry sky and murmured, "A thousand years have passed… You said this era would have League of Legends and video games, so it wouldn't be boring. But when will you awaken?"
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