Chapter 186

Chapter 186: The Teacher’s Teacher!

Gu Zhe Zong’s fortune has been severed.

　　All the major forces throughout the entire real world were stunned.

　　What was going on?

　　How could Gu Zhe Zong’s fortune just be severed like that, out of nowhere?

　　Inside Gu Zhe Zong, the gathered powerhouses were furious and bewildered at the same time — how could the sect’s fortune just vanish like that?

　　Every powerful member of Gu Zhe Zong mobilized to search for the culprit.

　　But they found nothing.

　　Everyone was running around in a panic like headless flies.

　　At that moment, Yang Jia arrived at Gu Zhe Zong with a group of Guan Xuan Domain powerhouses. After all, he was now the junior sect master of Gu Zhe Zong — though only temporarily, since it wouldn’t be long before he became the true sect master.

　　With something happening at Gu Zhe Zong, its future master naturally couldn’t stand by and do nothing, so he came at the first opportunity. Along with the Guan Xuan Domain powerhouses, Xin Gongzi had also followed.

　　When Gu Mu, the current person in charge of Gu Zhe Zong, learned of Yang Jia’s arrival, he immediately led the sect’s powerhouses out to welcome him.

　　Gu Mu led the group and, while still some distance away, bowed respectfully toward Yang Jia, “Greetings, junior sect master.”

　　Yang Jia glanced at the scene inside Gu Zhe Zong and furrowed his brow, “What happened?”

　　Gu Mu’s expression was somewhat grim, “Unknown. Someone must be working against us in the shadows.”

　　Yang Jia’s brow furrowed further, “Who?”

　　Gu Mu shook his head, “Unknown. Our Gu Zhe Zong has not made enemies with anyone in recent years.”

　　In recent years, Gu Zhe Zong had actually kept a very low profile.

　　At that moment, Xin Gongzi, who stood beside Yang Jia, suddenly said, “Could it be that Ye Tianming?”

　　Ye Tianming!

　　Those words made everyone pause.

　　Xin Gongzi smiled, “Back then, Gu Zhe Zong’s Twelve Sages did not choose him — they chose the junior master instead. I imagine he must have felt somewhat resentful about that.”

　　Gu Mu said in a low voice, “He shouldn’t have the power to sever our Gu Zhe Zong’s fortune at this point.”

　　Xin Gongzi shook his head, “There is clearly a mysterious force backing this person. Otherwise, he couldn’t have developed so rapidly.”

　　Gu Mu said with some doubt, “Just because our Gu Zhe Zong didn’t choose him, he severed our fortune?”

　　Xin Gongzi smiled, “It’s certainly not just that. The martial arts grand competition is about to begin, and Gu Zhe Zong will naturally be supporting the junior master. So if he has the opportunity now, he will definitely try to weaken Gu Zhe Zong’s strength. In fact, the competition has already begun — it’s just that right now it’s our respective shadow forces that are fighting.”

　　Gu Mu’s expression darkened. He wasn’t entirely willing to believe it was Ye Tianming’s doing, yet he couldn’t refute Xin Gongzi either.

　　Yang Jia suddenly turned to look at Xin Gongzi, “Regardless, he cannot die before the martial arts grand competition.”

　　Xin Gongzi nodded, “Junior master, rest assured — we are not as underhanded as he is.”

　　Yang Jia gave a slight nod, then looked over at Gu Mu, whose expression was still troubled, “Don’t worry. After the martial arts grand competition, I will personally restore Gu Zhe Zong’s sect fortune.”

　　Gu Mu quickly bowed deeply, “Many thanks, junior master. Please be assured — at the martial arts grand assembly, our Gu Zhe Zong will send out every powerful member of the entire sect to escort and protect the junior master. Whoever stands against the junior master, Gu Zhe Zong will stand against them as well.”

　　Yang Jia suddenly asked, “Brother Xin, who are the people backing that Ye Tianming?”

　　Xin Gongzi shook his head, “Unknown for now. However, that little pagoda once followed him before — it may know something.”

　　Yang Jia said calmly, “Tower Elder said there is no one behind Ye Tianming anymore.”

　　Xin Gongzi furrowed his brow, “Impossible. Without someone backing him, he couldn’t have developed so quickly.”

　　Yang Jia said nothing. He hadn’t brought the little pagoda with him this time. He didn’t fully trust it, nor did he particularly like it — the other party was simply far too fond of lecturing him in the manner of an elder.

　　Xin Gongzi suddenly said, “Junior master, I heard that Headmaster Gu offended you previously. Should we…”

　　After a moment of silence, Yang Jia shook his head, “He is the teacher my father personally chose for me. We cannot touch him.”

　　Xin Gongzi nodded and said nothing more.

　　Yang Jia said quietly, “It seems I should pay a visit to that so-called Dao Alliance.”

　　Xin Gongzi smiled, “With the junior master’s current strength, even without going there, defeating that Ye Tianming should be effortless.”

　　Yang Jia shook his head, “Brother Xin, don’t underestimate him. The fact that he has come this far means he is no simple figure.”

　　Xin Gongzi smiled faintly and said nothing.

　　Yang Jia also said nothing more. He turned, rode his sword into the air, and vanished at the far end of the star river.

　　In the shadows, countless top-tier powerhouses followed.

　　Yang Jia had not yet fully grown into his potential, and Guan Xuan Domain naturally wouldn’t feel comfortable letting him roam freely on his own. Wherever he went, countless powerhouses were escorting him in the shadows.

　　After Yang Jia left, Gu Mu beside him suddenly sighed, “The junior master is truly a heaven-sent genius — his cultivation has already reached that level… As long as he defeats that Ye Tianming, the era that belongs solely to him will follow. Surpassing his father, and even his grandfather and great-grandfather, is only a matter of time!”

　　Xin Gongzi watched Yang Jia disappear into the horizon and said nothing, only offering a faint smile.

　　Inside the special world.

　　After Ye Tianming established that Great Dao, his cultivation directly reached the realm of ‘Dao Establishment’.

　　Having suddenly stepped into Dao Establishment, Ye Tianming did not feel particularly elated. On the contrary, he felt a sense of responsibility settle over him.

　　Heavy and weighty.

　　The boundary of the Great Dao!

　　It restricted others, but in truth it would also restrict himself.

　　Beyond that, there was also the matter of Gu Zhe Zong’s actions — he truly hadn’t expected that white-robed elder of Gu Zhe Zong to do what he did.

　　He knew that if the other party hadn’t pledged the entire sect’s fortune as a guarantee, he could never have achieved ‘Dao Establishment’.

　　This was an immense debt of gratitude!

　　Beside him, the white-robed elder seemed to sense what Ye Tianming was thinking and smiled, “Fellow Daoist, don’t overthink it. Our Gu Zhe Zong did this not merely to win you over — we genuinely support your Great Dao, because your Dao philosophy can be said to share the same lineage as our Gu Zhe Zong.”

　　Ye Tianming shook his head with a smile, “Senior, this debt of gratitude… alright. Great kindness needs no words of thanks — I have taken note of it.”

　　The white-robed elder laughed.

　　Ye Tianming said, “May I ask how to address you, Senior?”

　　The white-robed elder said, “Ya Shi.”

　　Ye Tianming turned to look at the Daoist elder in the distance, “Senior Ya Shi, who is that senior over there?”

　　Although he had now reached ‘Dao Establishment’, when he looked at that Daoist elder, he still couldn’t perceive anything at all. The feeling the other gave him was that of a completely and utterly ordinary person.

　　And just moments ago, when he had broken through, that Daoist elder hadn’t even glanced in his direction.

　　Ya Shi said with a solemn expression, “A truly extraordinary person. As for his identity, I don’t know either.”

　　Ye Tianming said, “Do you know him, Senior?”

　　Ya Shi nodded, “Would you like to meet him?”

　　Ye Tianming said, “Yes.”

　　Ya Shi said, “I’ll take you.”

　　”Wait!”

　　Ye Tianming said, “Let the senior finish what he’s doing first.”

　　Ya Shi laughed.

　　And so, Ye Tianming and Ya Shi waited nearby for a full day. Only after that Daoist elder had seen the last of his followers did the two of them step forward.

　　But at that moment, a small boy standing beside the Daoist elder blocked their path, “The elder needs to rest first. Please wait, both of you.”

　　The small boy was also dressed in a Daoist robe, clean and neat. Though young, he carried himself with a mature and composed air.

　　”Liu Sha!”

　　At that moment, the Daoist elder not far away suddenly said, “Let them come eat together.”

　　The small boy named Liu Sha gave a slight bow, “Please, both of you.”

　　With that, he walked to the side and supported the Daoist elder as they made their way into the monastery.

　　Ya Shi turned to glance at Ye Tianming and smiled, “Thanks to you, this is the first time I’ve been able to have a meal here.”

　　Ye Tianming was somewhat puzzled.

　　Ya Shi said, “The higher a person’s status, the harder it is to be invited to stay for a meal here. Yet ordinary people are often the ones invited to dine with him.”

　　Ye Tianming said softly, “This person truly is extraordinary.”

　　As they spoke, the two arrived at an extremely simple room. Inside there was only a bed, a dining table, and three wooden stools — nothing else.

　　The food on the table was equally simple: a pot of porridge and three small side dishes.

　　Liu Sha ladled a bowl of porridge for the Daoist elder, then ladled one each for Ye Tianming and Ya Shi. He did not sit down himself, but stood beside the Daoist elder.

　　The Daoist elder patted his small hand, “You eat too.”

　　Liu Sha shook his head, “There are guests.”

　　The Daoist elder glanced at Ye Tianming, “He is not a guest.”

　　Not a guest!

　　Liu Sha was slightly taken aback, then looked toward Ye Tianming with a puzzled expression.

　　Ye Tianming himself was also a little puzzled.

　　But the Daoist elder said nothing more. He picked up his bowl and began eating quietly.

　　Seeing this, Ye Tianming didn’t ask either. He also picked up his bowl and began to eat.

　　Everyone was very quiet, and no one spoke.

　　The small boy called Liu Sha curiously studied Ye Tianming.

　　Before long, the pot of porridge was completely finished by the group.

　　The Daoist elder suddenly looked at Ye Tianming, “That law — may I have a look at it?”

　　Ye Tianming said in surprise, “Senior knows I have the Law of All Beings?”

　　The Daoist elder nodded.

　　Ye Tianming looked at the elder for a moment. He did not refuse, and took out the Law of All Beings, handing it to the Daoist elder. The Daoist elder took it and began to read.

　　Beside him, the small boy Liu Sha was curious and snuck glances at it.

　　After reading for a moment, the Daoist elder looked at Ye Tianming, “May I let this little one beside me have a look as well?”

　　Ye Tianming glanced at Liu Sha and nodded.

　　The Daoist elder handed the Law of All Beings to Liu Sha. Liu Sha quickly took it and, as he read, his eyes immediately lit up, “What a fine law — it’s just a tiny bit better than what I’ve written!”

　　Ye Tianming: “……”

　　The Daoist elder suddenly looked at Ye Tianming. He opened his palm, and in an instant, the two jade pendants on Ye Tianming’s body slowly floated into his hand.

　　He placed the two jade pendants together. On the front was the character: ‘旧’, and on the back was ‘God’.

　　Old God!

　　After the Daoist elder gazed at the jade pendant for a long, long time, a flicker of complex emotion passed through his eyes, “That child Guan Chen has ultimately walked down that path after all…”

　　Ye Tianming seemed to realize something. He shot to his feet, his voice trembling, “You are my teacher’s… teacher?”