Zombie World: Starting as an apprentice of the Thunder King

As the two were talking, another commotion broke out in the square.

Lin Bei turned his head and saw an old man in a blue Taoist robe striding towards him, followed by several disciples.

The old man's aura was restrained, and every step he took carried a calm and steady Daoist charm.

"This is an old master from the Wudang Sect... Yin Xuanji, also a powerful Celestial Master," Zhang Zhiling said in a low voice.

Following Wudang, powerful figures from various sects, including the Ma Yi Sect, the Lie Huo Sect, the Jingang Temple, and the Lingbao Sect of Gezao Mountain, also arrived one after another.

Each family sent a Celestial Master-level expert to lead the team, and the grandeur of the scene left many Maoshan disciples dumbfounded.

"My goodness... all the Taoist masters from various sects have arrived?"

Shi Shaojian stood beside Lin Bei, watching the figures entering the square with a look of awe.

"Our Maoshan has really made us proud this time."

"Even people from Gezao Mountain have come; now, all three major schools of talismanic arts are present!"

Lin Bei also felt a sense of awe, for the appearance of a Celestial Master-level expert itself represented the importance that the major sects placed on Maoshan.

Shi Jian's use of thunder magic to prove his Dao already attracted a lot of attention.

Coupled with the reputation of Maoshan as a major sect in the cultivation world, this ceremony was destined to be extraordinary.

Lin Bei was also assigned the task of greeting guests, standing at the entrance of the main hall and bowing to the visitors.

This was the first time he had faced so many powerful figures at the Celestial Master level, and every gaze from them made him feel an invisible pressure.

"take it easy..."

Uncle Nine walked up to him at some point and said in a low voice, "You now represent the Maoshan disciples, so just stand up straight."

Lin Bei took a deep breath and straightened his back.

Master Zhang Jingxu led the people from the Celestial Master's Mansion over and deliberately stopped to glance at Lin Bei.

"You're Lin Bei, Shi Jian's apprentice?"

"I often hear the spirit mention you; your pure Yang Dao body is indeed well-deserved."

"You flatter me, sir." Lin Bei bowed respectfully.

Master Zhang Jingxu nodded and led Zhang Zhiling into the main hall.

However, Shi Shaojian looked indignant!

When Bai Chen saw several young and beautiful female disciples, he immediately leaped into their arms and rubbed against them vigorously.

But these female disciples, overflowing with affection, teased it relentlessly, making Shi Shaojian's face contort in disbelief.

"You beast, I'll castrate you sooner or later!"

Just then, a familiar loud voice rang out from afar: "You old bald monk, hurry up! Stop dawdling!"

Lin Bei looked up and saw Simu and Master Yixiu walking towards the mountain gate.

Si Mu walked ahead, wearing his signature yellow Taoist robe.

Master Ikkyu followed behind, his hands holding prayer beads, his face bearing his usual smile.

"Master Four Eyes! Master Ikkyu!" Lin Bei quickly went to greet him.

When Si Mu saw Lin Bei, he looked him up and down and said, "Oh! You've reached the peak of the mage realm? What kind of magic pill did you take, kid?"

"Heh, I didn't eat the elixir!"

"I only stayed in the Thunder Secret Realm of the Divine Firmament Sect for half a year," Lin Bei said with a smile.

Si Mu clicked his tongue: "Your luck... how should I put it, even the Divine Firmament Sect is willing to give you special treatment!"

"Where is Shao Jian?"

"Look...it's over there."

Si Mu turned his head and saw Shi Shaojian standing upright and blankly next to several female disciples. He couldn't help but shake his head: "This kid, he can't stay still no matter where he goes."

Master Ikkyu smiled and said from the side, "Amitabha, it is a good thing that young friend Shaojian has a karmic connection with others."

"What a load of rubbish!"

Four Eyes snorted. "That kid's only thinking about going to brothels..."

On the day of the grand ceremony, guests from various factions were seated in neat rows at the Jiuxiao Wanfu Palace on Maoshan Mountain.

In the center of the main hall, Master Qingwei sat in the main seat, with Master Zixu and Master Xuanji, along with several other Maoshan elders, beside him.

Nine chimes rang...

Shi Jian walked out from the back hall, wearing a brand-new Yin-Yang Taoist robe, with a jade belt around his waist, and his hair was neatly combed.

He then took a step forward, and his entire body rose into the air, hovering above the square.

"This is Shi Jian..."

"I am grateful for the nurturing I received from my master at Maoshan, and for the kindness of all my fellow practitioners who have come from afar."

"From this day forward, as long as Maoshan exists, I will guard it."

As soon as he finished speaking, a bolt of purple lightning shot up from his body and exploded in the sky, turning into a sky full of lightning, like a miniature thunderstorm hovering above Maoshan.

Zhang Jingxu stood at the front of the crowd, looking at the bolt of lightning shooting straight into the sky, and nodded slightly: "Well done, Shi Jian..."

Master Huoyun of the Blazing Fire Sect squinted at the figure in the sky and murmured, "This kid is indeed quite capable."

Lin Bei stood in the main hall, looking up at Shi Jian who was suspended in the air, and a feeling he couldn't quite put his finger on was welling up inside him.

He recalled that early morning when the Taoist priest in the gray robe emerged from the morning mist and shattered the world before him with a single thunderbolt.

In the blink of an eye, he has gone from a clueless boy who knew nothing to where he is today.

Shi Jian, having crossed the threshold that had troubled him for over a decade from the peak of the Earth Master realm, officially entered the realm of the Celestial Master.

"Thank you all for coming to offer your congratulations," Shi Jian said, landing in the main hall and bowing.

"Today, I hereby receive the Celestial Master's Seal and formally become a Celestial Master."

Master Qingwei stood up from his seat, picked up a pure white jade seal from the tray beside him, and walked to Shi Jian.

The jade seal was only the size of a palm, with the four seal characters "Maoshan Celestial Master" engraved on it, radiating a warm and spiritual light.

"Shi Jian..."

Master Qingwei's voice was solemn and dignified: "You have been a member of my Maoshan sect for decades, making great progress in your cultivation, slaying demons and monsters, and accumulating profound merits."

"Today, the Celestial Master who has attained enlightenment shall receive this seal."

Shi Jian knelt on one knee and accepted the jade seal with both hands: "Disciple accepts the seal!"

He stood up and held the jade seal high.

All the Maoshan disciples in the square bowed in greeting, and the guests from various sects also clasped their hands in salute.

Congratulations, Master Shi!

"Congratulations!"

After the ceremony, a banquet was set up in the square, where cultivators from various sects gathered in twos and threes to chat and drink.

Lin Bei was about to find a quiet place to sit when Uncle Nine suddenly walked over and patted him on the shoulder: "Come with me, your master wants to see you."

Lin Bei followed Uncle Jiu through the bustling crowd and into the rear hall of Jiuxiao Wanfu Palace.

Shi Jian was sitting on a futon, with two steaming cups of tea on the tea table in front of him.

"Master."

Shi Jian looked up at him and said, "Sit down."

Lin Bei sat down cross-legged opposite him.

"The mage has reached their peak."

Shi Jian said calmly, "You've made considerable progress during this period."

"Thanks to the care of my grandmaster and Uncle Four Eyes, and also to the Jade Thunder True Man of the Divine Firmament Sect who gave me the opportunity to enter the Thunder Secret Realm."

"Luck is also a skill."

Shi Jian picked up his teacup and took a sip. "The fact that you've survived one stroke of good fortune after another shows that you're incredibly resilient."

"This means you've gained a slight advantage in this era!"

He put down his teacup. "The nine Dao patterns in your dantian have all solidified, haven't they?"

Lin Bei nodded, "We're only one opportunity away from reaching the True Person realm."

"Opportunities aren't waited for, they're fought for."

"After the ceremony, you will return to Qingzhu Mountain for seclusion."

"Once the fake pill is polished to perfection, breaking through to the True Person realm will be a natural outcome."

"Disciple understands."

Shi Jian's gaze shifted to Bai Ling, who was lying at Lin Bei's feet: "Little thing, have you started cultivating the Spirit Contract Returning to Origin Technique yet?"

"This disciple is preparing to begin in the next few days."

Shi Jian nodded: "It's not easy for spirit beasts to cultivate. Now that we've taken it in, we have to be responsible for it to the end."

He stood up: "Go ahead, there are still many people waiting for you outside."

Lin Bei walked out of the back hall, where cultivators from various sects were still drinking and chatting.

Zhang Zhiling was drinking with several young disciples, his face flushed, when he saw Lin Bei come out and loudly called him over.

Lin Bei smiled and walked over, took the wine glass handed to him by Zhang Zhiling, and drank it all in one gulp.