I discovered a world bug.

Xu Wan looked at the pine tree that had been struck by lightning with lingering fear, and asked Lin Shu in a trembling voice:

"How...how did you know lightning would strike?"

"......intuition."

Lin Shu dared not reveal the truth—in front of so many people, if she said that she had calculated it through rituals, it would bring her a lot of trouble, regardless of whether there were any people in the crowd with ulterior motives!

After a brief pause, he continued to explain:

"I saw your hair stand up—it was raining, and a few strands of hair were floating upwards; that's a sign of an impending lightning strike."

This reason is very reasonable.

But whether others believe it or not...

Lin Shu looked around and saw that almost everyone's eyes seemed to say, "You're just making this up."

Especially Master Liu sitting on the coffin, his expression seemed to say, "I know how you know, and I know you know I know, but let's not say it out loud. This is the tacit understanding between us."

Before Lin Shu could continue explaining, he spoke first.

"Master Xu is gone. It won't be that simple for you to take over his mantle."

"This lightning bolt was probably sent down by Zhang Wulang."

"Whether it's a test or a warning, we don't know."

"Anyway, you did well. Just be careful next time!"

These words clearly indicate that Lin Shu has been accepted as Xu Changshun's successor.

This attitude is completely different from his attitude this morning...

Xu Feng, on the other hand, although there was worry on his face, he had more of an "I knew it would turn out this way" expression.

He patted Lin Shu on the shoulder and said:

Thank you.

"You're welcome, I..."

Before Lin Shu could finish speaking, Xu Feng waved his hand and said:

"After the worst comes the best; things should go smoothly from now on."

"Are you still going up the mountain? Or should you turn back first?"

Lin Shu gritted her teeth.

"......superior!"

We've come this far, how can we not get off?

Moreover, the death prophecy seen in yarrow stalk divination should have already passed.

I should be relatively safe for the next period of time.

"Okay, let's go!"

Xu Feng straightened the memorial tablet again, while Xu Wan walked towards Lin Shu.

She was holding a towel that she had just taken out of her bag.

Lin Shu's clothes were already soaked, and now they were covered in mud, making them even stickier and more greasy. Lin Shu took the towel to wipe her face and thanked him.

Xu Wan simply nodded silently, wanting to say something, but unsure how to begin.

In the end, she simply said thank you, just like Xu Feng did.

Compared to Xu Feng, she was much more emotional about her father's death.

Adding to her unease was this unexpected turn of events.

Seeing that she was unwilling to talk much, Lin Shu naturally didn't say anything, but after setting off again, many chaotic thoughts flooded his mind.

To be honest, even after seeing the legacy left by Xu Changshun, I still had some doubts about the authenticity of the so-called "rituals".

After all, if we insist on explaining it, the unusual phenomena produced by yarrow stalk divination can still be explained by modern science.

For example, the smoke from burning tortoise shells may contain hallucinogenic components, or one may have first seen the cracks on the tortoise shell and then brought the pattern into their consciousness, thus creating their own hallucination.

However, the primary condition for such an explanation to hold true is that "the illusion does not become real".

And now, the illusion has become reality!

The ritual once again proved its validity, only the way it proved it...

Somewhat extreme.

So, I really should have died here.

But is such a death an "accident," or is it the work of some more mysterious, powerful, and elusive force?

Zhang Wulang...

Master Liu said that the thunder might have been cast by Zhang Wulang.

Zhang Wulang is the highest deity of the Meishan Sect, and he represents "Heaven".

"Heavenly Reaper".

Lin Shu's mind flashed back to what Xu Changshun had said.

Violating the taboos of the ritual will bring divine retribution.

If that's the case, then perhaps that day's incident... wouldn't have only happened once?

The crisis may not be completely over yet?!

Lin Shu felt a chill run down her spine.

Death, like a poisonous vine, has already entwined itself tightly...

Lin Shu's thoughts were in complete disarray. As he walked, he suddenly realized...

The sky cleared up.

It was as if, in the blink of an eye, the clouds dispersed and the rain stopped.

The dark clouds overhead had vanished, and sunlight streamed down, illuminating the mountain scenery vividly after the rain.

"The sun is shining."

Xu Feng leaned closer and whispered:

"If what Master Liu said is true, then you've passed the test, right?"

His tone was somewhat sarcastic, and his expression also carried a hint of schadenfreude.

Lin Shu really admired his ability to withstand pressure—his father died in an accident, and even something went wrong during the funeral procession, yet he was still able to adjust his emotions in such a short time.

Calm and serene – this phrase perfectly describes him.

"I don't know if this is a test or not; it might just be an accident."

Lin Shu answered cautiously, while Xu Feng continued:

"Whether it's a test or not, after this, it'll be hard for you not to want to be a master."

"With so many eyes watching, plus what Master Liu said..."

"Tsk tsk, your role as a grandmaster is truly legendary."

Following Xu Feng's gaze, Lin Shu noticed the expressions on the faces of the people in the funeral procession.

Those eyes held amazement, curiosity, and even... awe.

No, actually I never intended to become a grandmaster...

I simply wanted to follow Liu Changshun's path and continue studying the "rituals".

You want me to do things like exorcising evil spirits, surveying lands, or bringing peace and relief to homes? I really can't do that!

"...Is it still possible to back out now?"

Lin Shu looked helplessly at Xu Feng, who shrugged.

"That's definitely not going to work—but being a master doesn't necessarily mean you have to do anything. Don't worry, at least you have my dad's reputation, no one will make things difficult for you..."

"I know."

Lin Shu nodded.

"I was just kidding. Fate is unpredictable. Since I'm destined to be the grandmaster, then I'll be the grandmaster..."

The two continued up the mountain side by side, and soon arrived at the cemetery.

The grave pit had been dug long ago, and there were traces of excavator tracks on the muddy ground next to it.

Traditionally, it should have been dug by hand, but Xu Feng was rather lazy. He figured this wasn't a taboo subject of the Meishan Sect, so why bother with all that effort? Instead, he hired an excavator, which reportedly dug it neatly in just 10 minutes…

Lowering the coffin, lowering the girder, and entering the tomb.

According to custom, after the coffin is brought up the mountain, it cannot be sealed with soil immediately. The body must remain at the cemetery overnight, and the soil will be filled in and sealed on the auspicious day of the next day. This is called "sealing the mountain".

The crowd burned paper money and placed wreaths all around the grave. The purpose was not for decoration, but to cover the exposed grave pit and coffin so as not to disturb the villagers who were farming on the mountain.

With everything prepared, Master Liu, who was carrying the coffin up the mountain, began to sing "A Visit to Meishan".

"...The inscription on Pine and Cypress Mountain appears, and the laws and regulations of all prefectures are fully implemented; tonight, we send our deceased teacher home, and the filial sons and daughters weep bitterly..."

The master's voice was low and obscure, and together with the ringing of the bell in his hand and the unhurried tapping of the gong, a mysterious and enigmatic atmosphere suddenly unfolded.

Lin Shu truly listened; the rough, unrestrained, and wild lyrics and tone gave him an extremely strong sense of resonance.

This is not a mature and correct set of procedures.

But it must have been!

Its "form" is lost, causing it to become disordered and unable to perform its intended function.

But its bones are still there!

Hearing these lyrics inevitably evokes memories of those mythical times.

This seems to be a kind of...

Instinct etched into our genes.

Did humanity really coexist with "rituals" for a very long period of time?

Lin Shu became more and more convinced of this view.

In a short while, the incense burning ceremony was completed.

Finally, everyone knelt down and kowtowed or bowed to Master Xu.

Led by Master Liu, they temporarily parted ways with Master Xu and began their descent down the mountain.

The lyrics of You Meishan's poem were sung again.

"...Looking out over Meishan, a road leads to the three souls; tonight, the filial son sends his master home, escorting my deceased master to Meishan; twenty-four caves are shrouded in darkness, and nine rivers flow through them..."

Lin Shu walked down the mountain.

He glanced at the time on his phone; 70 hours had passed since he last initiated the "Yarrow Stalks Divination" ritual.

In two hours, I will be able to perform my next effective divination.

I just don't know what the result of this divination will be.

I don't have many requirements.

I just hope...

The next "death omen" we see will definitely be 80 years from now!!