Chapter 483: Chapter 342: Can You Believe It? I Accidentally Destroyed the Ancestral Master’s Portrait!
Inside the vast Wanshou Palace, all present involuntarily rose to their feet.
All eyes were focused on the sky.
There, an immortal light radiated.
A celestial crane flapped its wings, descending from above.
With Lord Cui taking the lead, the old Immortal on the back of the crane laughed, “Supreme Sage Xu takes the grand position of Heavenly Master, how could I not come?”
The crane landed.
The elderly Immortal jumped down from the back of the crane, and the crane itself transformed into a child following behind him.
Lord Cui, the Black and White Impermanence, and the messengers and disciples sent by the Ten Halls of Yama, all came forward to pay their respects.
Venus Taibai brushed off the dust in his hands and returned the greetings with a hearty laugh, “Everyone, there’s no need for such formalities … Today is the grand day for Supreme Sage Xu to inherit the position of Heavenly Master, let’s not steal the limelight.”
Xu Yang, at this moment, had also come forward to perform his ceremonial duties. However, Venus Taibai, with a change in his expression, hurriedly went forward to stop Xu Yang, saying, “Supreme Sage Xu, there’s no need for such formalities … You are the protagonist today, I’m just a servant of the Heavenly Emperor, how can I receive your grand salute?”
“Ah, this …”
Xu Yang said, “Star Lord, you are too polite, I’m the younger one here, it’s only proper that I pay my respects.”
However, Venus Taibai insisted on not letting Xu Yang perform the ceremonial greeting, so Xu Yang had to give up.
Everyone was quite familiar with Venus Taibai.
Although he, like ‘Sirius’, was a Star Lord, his status in the Heavenly Court was poles apart.
The former was a high-ranking official of the Heavenly Court, a special envoy of the Heavenly Emperor, specifically responsible for delivering various decrees of the Heavenly Emperor.
Because of this, everyone assumed that Venus Taibai was weak in combat, like a “civil servant”, but, in reality … Venus Taibai was a true military general. The Yin-Yang School even worshipped Venus Taibai as their “Martial Deity”, who was in charge of warfare and carried out decisions to fight.
Whenever Venus appeared at a special time in a particular area, it symbolized “change in the heavens”, indicating a significant event was about to happen.
The “Records of the Historian: Annals of the Celestial Offices” records: Venus and Taibai, having different names but being the essence of the same star. It is also known as ‘Quming’ and ‘Changgeng’.
Another book says, “Venus Taibai is the essence of the western metal, the son of the White Emperor, the noble, and it presents the emblem of the great general.”
In ancient poetry, the two characters of Taibai are often synonymous with war.
At this moment, the guests who came to the ceremony finally reacted.
Zhang Jiyu from Dragon Tiger Mountain, Master Yimei of the Maoshan Sect, Grandmaster Chengming of Zongsheng Palace, and Wang Hou, the powerful figures from the martial world, the elders of the six major families, all came forward to salute Venus Taibai, Lord Cui and the messengers and disciples of the Ten Halls of Yama.
Ordinary martial artists and common spectators dared not come forward and could only watch from afar.
Various media outlets were snapping photos at such an alarming rate that their cameras were almost smoking.
“Elder Brother Cui, Lord Star, everyone … Please, please sit!”
Xu Yang escorted everyone to their seats, then called Li Yuanchang, saying, “Li Yuanchang, quickly, tell the kitchen to prepare food … Prepare good food … Go and bring the wine, bring the best wine!”
Venus Taibai laughed, “Supreme Sage Xu, don’t bother yourself with us … Your promotion ceremony to Heavenly Master position is more important. Once you have completed the ceremony, there will be plenty of time for catch up.”
Xu Yang was about to continue with the ceremony.
At this moment, Lord Cui stood up.
He said, “Xu Yang, wait a moment …”
With that said.
He raised his palm and slapped it airily.
Bang!
Old Patriarch Li Song of the Li family of Longxi didn’t even get a chance to react before he was patted directly into a pile of flesh.
The force of the slap dissipated in a direction chosen on purpose, just enough to land on the older ancestral masters of the other five major world families and the eldest patriarchs of the major martial sects … These people were Land Immortals. Although they had just come out of seclusion and their combat power might not have been restored to its peak, their power was among the very top in the world!
However, under the “palm wind” casually released by Lord Cui, they all spit up blood.
“Old Patriarch!”
Li Yihong cried out loudly, scrambling onto the “mashed meat” that was his old patriarch, and began to cry.
Lord Cui flicked his fingers, his face as serene as ever, as if he had done something trivial. He looked at those injured by his palm wind and said, “I’m sorry, I couldn’t control my power and accidentally injured you … You won’t hold a grudge against me, will you?”
“Dare not, dare not!”
These masters were almost scared witless!
An accident?
Who the hell would believe that?!
Especially one of them, a Land Immortal, was four tables away from Li Song and even behind Lord Cui … how could that be accidental?
They all understood in their hearts that this was Lord Cui helping Xu Yang to vent his anger and warning them. For a moment, they were terrified and grateful… grateful to themselves for not being fast like Li Song, jumping out to pick a fight immediately!
Otherwise, it would have been them that would have been smashed into a pancake!
Lord Cui continued, “You don’t dare to hold a grudge against me, surely you won’t hold a grudge against my little brother Xu Yang, right?”
“Dare not, dare not!”
A group of Land Immortals shook their heads like rattle drums.
Hold a grudge against Xu Yang?
Damn it!
Are they insane?
He is inheriting the position of Heavenly Master, officials of the Underworld Palace have all sent people … even before the heavenly passage has yet opened, Lord Taibai has forcibly descended into the mortal world. With this kind of backing, who in hell would dare to hold a grudge?
This moment was captured by various media outlets.
Wang Hou brought out his cell phone, dying to take a picture, but considering that he was in public, he finally managed to resist. He thought to himself: “There’s so many media outlets here, I can borrow some photos later.”
His gaze swept across the Land Immortals, and suddenly narrowed.
These people …
Were all internally injured.
It’s not fatal, but it greatly affects their fighting power!
Licking his lips, Wang Hou raised his wine glass and took a sip.
After giving these scared-to-death Land Immortals a few more punches, Lord Cui then turned to Venus Taibai, laughing, “Lord Star, I apologize … This man disturbed Xu Yang’s Heavenly Master ceremony, I couldn’t help myself and acted against the Heavenly Law … I hope you can forgive me.”
Venus Taibai stroked his beard and laughed, “Where does this come from, Lord Cui?”
“The Daoist Heavenly Master is ordained by Heaven.”
“This man interfered with the Heavenly Master’s ceremony of Supreme Sage Xu, violating the Heavenly Laws first. Even if Lord Cui didn’t make a move, I would have.”
Lord Cui looked at Wang Hou, and said, “Minister Wang … My arbitrary killing of mortal experts isn’t violating any earthly laws, is it?”
Minister Wang said, “Lord Cui and Xu Yang are close as brothers. It’s reasonable for Lord Cui to intervene when someone disrupts Xu Yang’s promotion ceremony to the rank of Heavenly Master. This is a martial world dispute; our Spirits Management Bureau has no right to interfere.”
He rose to his feet, his face a mask of grief. He addressed Li Yihong, “But Patriarch Li, who emerged from seclusion only yesterday and has already perished today, before he even had a chance to see the new world…this deeply saddens me. Patriarch Li…my condolences.”
Watching this, Xu Yang couldn’t help but sigh inwardly…
What a pity!
Today, he was prepared to personally slay a Land Immortal himself!
After such a ruckus, would he even get the chance now?
But for now, the most important thing is to complete the Heavenly Master ceremony.
He lit up three sticks of incense, hung up Heavenly Master Xu’s portrait, and knelt down in worship.
Swoosh!
However, at the very moment Xu Yang knelt down, the portrait of Heavenly Master Xu abruptly caught on fire.
Xu Yang: “…..”
“Oh no…”
Xu Zhiyuan also panicked and hurried forward, trying to put out the fire, but the flame exploded, blasting the portrait to pieces, leaving Xu Zhiyuan at a loss!
So many media and martial world figures were present.
If the news gets out, what would it lead to?
The successor of the Jingming Sect, on his ascension to the Heavenly Master’s position, had the portrait of the Ancestral Master of the Jingming Sect catch fire?
What would others think?
Could it be…
That the Ancestral Master did not want to pass on the position of Heavenly Master to Xu Yang?
A thought flashed through Xu Zhiyuan’s mind. He quickly called over a flustered Li Yuanchang and scolded, “Nonsense…nonsense! Didn’t I say it before? When the portrait is exposed to sunlight, the phosphorus powder on top that prevents insects and moisture must be thoroughly removed…Go quickly, bring another portrait of Heavenly Master Xu!”
Li Yuanchang came to his senses, said a quick “I deserve to die,” and hurried to bring another portrait of Heavenly Master Xu.
Xu Yang lit the incense again and knelt down to worship.
Swoosh!
The portrait of Heavenly Master Xu, again, caught on fire.
Xu Yang: “…..”
Xu Zhiyuan: “…..”
“…..”
Li Yuanchang reacted quickly, exclaiming, “Ah… Ancestral Master, forgive me. Leader, forgive me. I forgot to clear the phosphorus powder from the scroll… I’ll bring a new portrait of Heavenly Master Xu immediately.”
The third portrait of Heavenly Master Xu was hung.
As Xu Yang lit the incense and stepped forward, before he even got a chance to kneel, the portrait exploded with a “bang”.
“!!!!”
Xu Yang was numbed.
Xu Zhiyuan glanced at Li Yuanchang, who helplessly said, “Master…there are no more portraits of our Ancestor.”
The entire Wanshou Palace fell silent.
Minister Wang, his eyes wide and his mouth agape, turned to Grandmaster Chengming of the Zongsheng Palace and asked in a low voice, “Senior…what’s going on? All the great ones from the Underworld Palace have come to congratulate, Venus Taibai has descended to express congratulations…Does the Heavenly Master have such a temper? Doesn’t he want to pass on the position of Heavenly Master to Xu Yang?”
Grandmaster Chengming was puzzled, “That’s not right…Given Xu Yang’s background, there’s no reason for the Heavenly Master not to pass on the position…”
Meanwhile.
Lord Cui watched this scene, his gaze slightly shifting, “Star Lord… what is going on here?”
Venus Taibai mused, “Those in the Heavenly Master’s Mansion are usually well-informed. If they got wind of something and learned about Xu Yang’s identity, it would be normal.”
Lord Cui was even more surprised, “Even if Xu Jingyang knew about Xu Yang’s identity, he shouldn’t behave like this!”
“…..”
Venus Taibai gave a mysterious glance at Lord Cui, “Given Xu Jingyang’s identity, how could he dare to accept a kowtow from Xu Yang?”
“!!!!”
“Wait…”
Lord Cui suddenly caught on…Could there be some misunderstanding in this?
Even though Xu Yang is the son of the great Emperor…
But being marooned in the mortal world, he doesn’t hold any “divine position” yet, and moreover, he’s a disciple of the Jingming Sect…Why wouldn’t Xu Jingyang, as the founder of the Jingming Sect, accept it?
…….
As for Xu Yang.
He stood there, somewhat at a loss!
Would you believe it if I told you?
The portrait of my Ancestral Master… was destroyed by my worship!
But as things stand, there’s no way to back out mid-way. Xu Yang’s spiritual power surged, and with his strong primordial spirit, he conjured a portrait of Heavenly Master Xu out of thin air, kneeled down for the last step of the Heavenly Master ceremony!
This time, the portrait of Heavenly Master Xu didn’t explode.
Xu Yang couldn’t help but give himself a thumbs up in his mind…I’m simply too smart!
At the same time.
In another dimension in the sky above, within the Heavenly Court, outside the Mansion of the Heavenly Master.
A Daoist in robe resembling the portrait of Heavenly Master Xu was pacing anxiously like a cat on a hot tin roof.
Beneath his feet, celestial mist hovered.
Standing at his side was a tall man with super-sized eyes, who was intently looking into the “lower world”.
“Heavenly Master Xu.”
“He did it…that clever lad. To think he would use his spiritual power as ink and his mind as brush to draw your portrait in mid-air…Amazing! If he used this skill in the application of talismans, he surely would excel!”
The big-eyed man marvelled and praised, “Heavenly Master Xu, your Jingming Sect finally has a successor!”
Xu Jingyang: “…..”
He collapsed to the ground, wailing, “What successor…Qianli Yan, you don’t know his true identity. With what virtue or capability do I dare to accept his worship? If he regains his memories in future and wants to pick a bone with me… I’m afraid my position as the founder of the Jingming Sect will be lost!”