The Ferocious God in the Celestial Master's Mansion

The drumbeats of the Luotian Grand Ceremony, carried by the mountain breeze of Longhu Mountain, faintly reached Jingxin Cliff.

Zhang Yulei sat on a bamboo chair on the edge of the cliff, holding a yellowed Taoist scripture in his hands. His fingertips traced the ancient characters on the pages, his eyes calm and undisturbed. The hustle and bustle below the mountain and the tranquility on this cliff seemed like two completely different worlds. For decades, he had long been accustomed to this kind of life, listening to the mountain wind, watching the clouds and mist, keeping the Taoist scripture as his companion, burying those long-forgotten memories deep in his heart.

But today, the mountain breeze seemed to carry some different sounds.

It wasn't the clamor of drums and music, nor the shouts of disciples, but rather a series of hurried footsteps, and... a slightly immature female voice, carrying an undeniable ruthlessness.

"Master Wang, you can't escape now!"

"Stop right there, let me bury you. It'll be better for both of us!"

Zhang Yulei looked up and headed in the direction from which the footsteps were coming.

On the misty mountain path, a young girl in faded overalls and a high ponytail was striding after a young Taoist priest in a blue robe. Her eyes were bright, like icy knives, and she carried an iron shovel covered in dirt, clearly indicating that she had just dug a hole.

The young Taoist priest being chased was handsome, holding a folding fan in his hand. His face showed a mixture of helplessness and amusement, but he dared not stop for a moment, leaping and bounding across the mountain path with astonishing speed using Taoist footwork. However, the girl was no slower, relentlessly pursuing him while constantly muttering to herself.

"Master Wang, why are you running away? I won't harm you, I'll just bury you, it'll be quick!"

"After you're buried, you won't be a problem for Zhang Chulan anymore, isn't that great!"

Zhang Yulei's eyes flickered slightly as he watched this scene.

Master Wang?

Zhang Chulan?

And then there's this girl carrying a shovel, who keeps talking about burying people...

The vague plot fragments in his mind suddenly became clearer.

Master Wang should be Wang Ye from Wudang Mountain, the successor of the Feng Hou Qi Men school. He's lazy by nature but exceptionally talented. And the girl is naturally Feng Baobao, the immortal girl with unfathomable strength, who speaks and acts with a simple and honest air, yet is also fiercely protective of her own.

As for why Feng Baobao wanted to bury Wang Ye, Zhang Yulei could guess. It was simply because Wang Ye had displayed overwhelming strength at the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony, posing a threat to Zhang Chulan. Feng Baobao, protective of her own, decided to bury Wang Ye first to prevent him from getting in her way.

This girl is as straightforward and blunt as ever.

Zhang Yulei couldn't help but shake his head, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Just then, Wang Ye, who was being chased and looked disheveled, suddenly spotted Zhang Yulei at the edge of the cliff, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes. As if he had seen a lifeline, he suddenly accelerated and rushed towards Jingxin Cliff.

"Master Taoist! Help me!"

As Wang Ye ran, he shouted urgently at Zhang Yulei. He could feel the girl's presence getting closer and closer behind him. That pure, unadulterated killing intent sent chills down his spine. He was confident in his strength, but facing Feng Baobao, he always felt helpless. This girl's methods were too unpredictable; she never played by the rules.

Seeing Wang Ye run towards the old Taoist priest at the edge of the cliff, Feng Baobao frowned slightly and quickened her pace. Holding a shovel, her eyes sharp as an eagle's, she stared intently at Wang Ye's retreating figure, muttering, "Run? Where do you think you're going? I'll bury you today, no matter what!"

Wang Ye rushed to Zhang Yulei's side in one breath, stopped panting, turned around, and assumed a defensive stance towards Feng Baobao, who was catching up. The folding fan in his hand was open, with a Tai Chi pattern painted on its surface, and his Qi flowed slowly around him, ready to strike at any moment.

But Feng Baobao didn't rush to make a move.

Her gaze fell on Zhang Yulei.

The old Taoist priest, dressed in a coarse cloth robe, had gray hair and a deeply lined face, looking like an ordinary mountain hermit. Yet, for some reason, Feng Baobao sensed a very comfortable aura emanating from him. That aura was peaceful and warm, like the winter sun, making one want to draw closer.

Feng Baobao tilted her head, looking at Zhang Yulei with a hint of doubt in her eyes. She could sense that this old Taoist priest was no ordinary person.

Zhang Yulei put down the Taoist scripture in his hand, looked up at Feng Baobao, and smiled gently: "Little girl, what are you trying to do by chasing after this Taoist Master Wang?"

Feng Baobao blinked and answered honestly, "Bury him."

"Bury him?" Zhang Yulei raised an eyebrow, looking at Wang Ye beside him. "Master Wang, do you know where you offended this young lady?"

Wang Ye shook his head with a wry smile and shrugged, "Daoist Master, I don't know either! But I do know she's an employee of NaDuTong, and she came with that shameless Zhang Chulan."

After Wang finished speaking, a look of sudden realization flashed across his face.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yulei couldn't help but laugh out loud.

It was indeed because of Zhang Chulan.

Feng Baobao really protects Zhang Chulan very well.

He turned to look at Feng Baobao, his tone still gentle: "Little girl, the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony is supposed to be a competition based on individual skill. Chasing after him like this, trying to bury him, isn't that a bit too domineering?"

Feng Baobao frowned, looked at Zhang Yulei, and said seriously, "Domineering? I don't understand. I only know that whoever gets in Zhang Chulan's way, I'll bury them. Shan Shitong is like that, and so is he."

Shan Shitong?

Zhang Yulei's eyes narrowed slightly.

He remembered the Shangqing Sect disciple in the story, who was later quietly buried by Feng Baobao.

This girl really does what she says.

Wang, who was listening nearby, felt a chill run down his spine and couldn't help but interject, "Girl! It's a school competition, a bet is a bet! I didn't use any dirty tricks, you can't bury me just because of Zhang Chulan! Is there no law anymore?"

Feng Baobao glanced at him and said coldly, "The law? I am the law."

Wang Ye: "..."

Well, trying to reason with this girl is like casting pearls before swine.

Zhang Yulei shook his head as he looked at the two of them. He stood up, walked to Feng Baobao, and looked at her gently: "Young lady, I don't know why you buried Master Wang. But burying people is ultimately a bad thing. How about this, I'll plead for Master Wang's life, and you can forgive him this time, okay?"

Feng Baobao looked into Zhang Yulei's eyes. Those eyes were bright and gentle, like a deep pool of water, unfathomable yet irresistibly inviting trust. She remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "Okay. But he can't get in Zhang Chulan's way anymore."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ye nodded vigorously, "It's alright! Absolutely alright! I promise, I will absolutely not fight with that brat Zhang Chulan!" He was joking, of course. Fighting? If he did, he'd probably get buried alive by that girl ten or eight times! He didn't want to experience being chased and buried alive again.

Feng Baobao nodded in satisfaction, put away the shovel in her hand, and turned to leave.

After taking two steps, she stopped, turned to look at Zhang Yulei, and asked with a hint of curiosity in her eyes, "Who are you?"

Zhang Yulei smiled and said, "Me? Just an old Taoist priest guarding Tranquil Cliff."

Feng Baobao tilted her head and didn't ask any further questions. She stopped thinking about it, turned around, and strode down the mountain. Soon, her figure disappeared into the clouds.

Only after Feng Baobao's figure completely disappeared did Wang Ye breathe a sigh of relief, plop down on the ground, and wipe the cold sweat from his forehead. "Thank you so much, Daoist Master, for saving my life! Daoist Master, you are truly my savior!"

Seeing his disheveled appearance, Zhang Yulei couldn't help but laugh and said, "Master Wang, you're too kind. It was nothing at all."

Wang Ye stood up, cupped his hands in a respectful bow to Zhang Yulei, and said with admiration, "Daoist Master, you are truly a master of unparalleled skill! Just now, when you stood there, I sensed that your aura was peaceful and upright, yet unfathomable. You must be a reclusive master, right?"

Zhang Yulei waved his hand and laughed, "I wouldn't call myself a reclusive master. I've just been guarding this Tranquil Cliff for a few decades."

"Decades?" Wang Ye stared wide-eyed at Zhang Yulei in shock. "Daoist Master, you've been guarding this cliff for decades?"

Zhang Yulei nodded, a hint of emotion in his eyes: "Yes, decades have passed. Time flies by in the blink of an eye; time waits for no one."

Wang Ye looked at Zhang Yulei, his admiration growing stronger. To be able to guard this desolate Jingxin Cliff for decades—such composure was not something an ordinary person possessed. He couldn't help but ask, "Daoist Master, since you are from Longhu Mountain, why have you been guarding this Jingxin Cliff for decades? Such a grand event as the Luotian Grand Ceremony, don't you even go down to see it?"

Zhang Yulei's eyes dimmed slightly. He shook his head and said softly, "The hustle and bustle down the mountain is not for me. This Tranquil Cliff is my true home."

Seeing the desolation in his eyes, Wang Ye realized he had asked something he shouldn't have, and quickly changed the subject: "By the way, Daoist Master, may I ask your esteemed name?"

Zhang Yulei looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "My surname is Zhang, and my given name is Yulei."

"Zhang Yulei?" Wang Ye murmured the name, feeling a sense of familiarity. He suddenly slapped his forehead, realizing something, and stared wide-eyed at Zhang Yulei, exclaiming in shock, "You...you're the legendary Zhang Yulei, the Daoist priest who, decades ago, single-handedly slew the leader of the Japanese Onmyoji, Oni-Mask, in Blood Moon Valley, Jiangxi, but then lost control and accidentally killed his comrades, and subsequently went into seclusion on Tranquil Cliff?!"

Although Wang Ye was from Wudang Mountain, he had long heard of this legendary figure from Longhu Mountain. Decades ago, during the battle of Blood Moon Valley, Zhang Yulei's name resounded throughout the entire world of supernatural beings. Alone with his sword, he slew the Ghost Face and broke the insidious Yin Soldier Soul-Devouring Array. However, later, due to a loss of control, he mistakenly killed his own people and went into seclusion on Jingxin Cliff, never to descend the mountain again.

I never imagined that I would encounter this legendary figure here today!

Thinking of this, Wang Ye quickly bowed and said, "Wang Dang Wang Ye greets Master Zhang!"

Zhang Yulei looked at Wang Ye's respectful demeanor, his eyes calm and unwavering. He nodded and said indifferently, "Alright, get up. These are all old stories, not worth mentioning."

Wang Ye looked at Zhang Yulei, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He could imagine how difficult these past few decades had been for this Taoist priest. Guilt and self-reproach weighed heavily on his heart like two mountains.

"Master Zhang, you..." Wang Ye opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say.

Zhang Yulei waved his hand and laughed, "No need for further words. I know what you want to say. It's all in the past." He paused, then added, "The grand Luo Tian Grand Ceremony is still ongoing. You should go down the mountain soon, lest that young lady keep targeting you."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ye's face paled, and he quickly nodded, "Master Zhang is right! I'll leave right now! I'll leave right now!" He didn't want to experience being chased and buried by Feng Baobao again.

Wang Ye bowed to Zhang Yulei again and said, "Master Zhang, I will never forget your kindness today! If you ever need my help in the future, please don't hesitate to ask!"

Zhang Yulei smiled and said, "No problem."

Without further delay, Wang turned around and, using Taoist footwork, hurriedly ran down the mountain. Soon, his figure disappeared into the clouds.

The cliff edge has returned to its former tranquility.

Zhang Yulei picked up the Taoist scripture from the ground and sat back down in the bamboo chair. But he didn't read the book anymore. He looked up, gazing down the mountain, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

Feng Baobao.

Wang Ye.

The Grand Ritual of Luotian.

This event is indeed getting more and more interesting.

He could sense an undercurrent quietly surging within him.

And it seems that this pebble, which has been dormant for thirty years, should finally stir up some ripples in this calm lake.

Zhang Yulei's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the bamboo chair, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.