"It's alright, it's alright."

"Same here."

The parents glared fiercely at the group of little brats on the ground, but still smiled as they led them back home one by one.

Jiang Zhen rubbed his throbbing head and returned to the guest room he shared with Master Feng.

"Fifth Master, you're up early." Jiang Zhen looked at Fifth Master Feng, who was leisurely practicing boxing next to him.

Master Feng chuckled: "It's getting late. Not bad. I heard you and Young Master Lu became sworn brothers last night and had a great time."

"Come on, Fifth Master, stop joking. But last night was really quite enjoyable."

Looking at Jiang Zhen, who reeked of alcohol, Master Feng laughed and said, "The Lu family just came to say that the birthday banquet is about to begin."

"Go wash up and wake yourself up."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhen let out a long sigh of relief, and the wisp of white energy within his body seemed to become more vibrant with the morning air.

"Is it finally about to begin?"

He thought to himself, "Old Zhang, you should be here by now."

Chapter 15 Zhang Zhiwei

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, but the Lu family servants had already cleaned up the mess left by last night's hangover on the open ground behind the Lu family compound.

After taking a bath, Jiang Zhen used his Qi to completely dispel the effects of the alcohol, changed into clean clothes, and went out.

"Let's go, Xiao Zhen." Fifth Master Feng changed into a more respectable black long gown and patted Jiang Zhen on the shoulder. "Today is the big day, don't keep the old master waiting."

When Jiang Zhen followed Master Feng into the Lu family's main venue, he saw that the spacious venue was filled with rosewood chairs, and the leaders and elders of various sects were sitting there exchanging pleasantries, while their disciples and juniors were also greeting each other.

Grandpa Lu Xuan, dressed in a bright red birthday robe, with a silver beard reaching his chest and a ruddy complexion, strolled around the venue, exchanging greetings with his old friends.

"Master Feng, the Fifth Master of the Shanghai Canal Gang, along with his Third Master Jiang Zhen, wish Old Master Lu a long and prosperous life!" Master Feng led Jiang Zhen to Old Master Lu's side.

"Haha, no need for formalities on this joyous occasion, please sit down." Old Master Lu walked over with a smile, patted Jiang Zhen's arm, and said with his eyes full of approval, "You are all young heroes. Seeing you energetic young people is the best sight at this banquet."

Jiang Zhen bowed humbly and then looked around but did not see the figure.

"Not there yet?"

Just then, the previously noisy hall fell eerily silent for a moment. Immediately afterward, two booming congratulatory voices came from outside the door, causing the qi of all the strange people in the hall to pause involuntarily.

"Zhang Jingqing of Longhu Mountain wishes Elder Lu a long and healthy life!"

"Zuo Ruotong of the Sanyi Sect wishes Senior Lu good health!"

Everyone turned to look at the gate.

Two figures approached side by side. The one on the left wore a wide, dark blue Taoist robe, his face dignified and composed. His gait seemed to carry the weight of the entire Longhu Mountain; he was none other than the contemporary Celestial Master, Zhang Jingqing.

The person on the right, however, made all the young juniors in the room hold their breath. That person had snow-white hair, with even his eyelashes and eyebrows having a translucent white hue. His face was so young and handsome that it was almost otherworldly, and he exuded an ethereal and otherworldly aura.

"The Great Ying Immortal... Zuo Ruotong, the Left Sect Master!"

A collective gasp of surprise erupted from the crowd. To the extraordinary individuals of this era, Zuo Ruotong was not only the leader of the Sanyi Sect, but also an idol for many.

"Master!" Lu Jin, who was originally maintaining order, was now like a fanboy who had met his idol, his face full of excitement.

Jiang Zhen stood in the crowd, silently observing these two giants who stood at the pinnacle of the supernatural world. Zuo Ruotong's "Triple Reversal of Life" had reached an unfathomable level, maintaining a state of reversal of life year-round. Jiang Zhen didn't activate his senses to check on them; after all, who were these two people? Putting aside the possibility of being discovered, it would at least be too impolite.

Behind Zhang Jingqing, Jiang Zhen saw a young Taoist priest wearing a loose-fitting robe, with droopy, squinty eyes, and secretly yawning.

It is precisely Zhang Zhiwei who will be the unparalleled master of the future.

Zhang Zhiwei looks unremarkable now, seemingly without any presence, but to Jiang Zhen, who knows him, he is indeed an arrogant lion.

Jiang Zhen clasped his hands in a fist salute towards him from afar. Zhang Zhiwei saw this and asked, "Do I know him?" But he immediately returned the salute.

With the arrival of Zhang Tianshi and the Great Ying Immortal, the banquet officially began.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, each sect began to present gifts. When it came to Jiang Zhen, Master Feng, on behalf of the Canal Gang, presented a pair of "River-Troublesome God Statues" carved from deep-sea coral.

Old Master Lu put down his golden cup, looked around the room, and chuckled, "Today is my 80th birthday celebration, and I am deeply grateful for everyone's hospitality. It's no fun just sitting here drinking. These younger folks have been holding back all night, so why don't we let them go out and practice a bit to entertain us old folks?"

These words instantly ignited the atmosphere in the room.

First up was Wang Ai from the Wang family. The chubby boy, once he picked up his paintbrush, completely changed his timid demeanor from before Guan Shihua. With a few strokes, a lifelike qilin leaped from the canvas.

"The Wang family, the divine path, the unicorn offering longevity."

The opening ceremony has ended.

Immediately afterward, Lü Ci also took the stage, shouting, "Lü Family, Ruyi Force!" That Ruyi Force was unpredictable and ever-changing, its power like a snake, launching a rain of attacks on distant targets through various mediums.

"Jiyun Society, turning everything upside down!"

Another boy leaped into the arena, holding a pebble covered by a peculiar force field. He casually tossed the pebble, not aiming at a target, yet under the control of the force field, they all returned to their target at strange angles. (The Jiyun Society's inversion and object manipulation techniques are not much different; they involve covering the target with a force field and then controlling it, but they lack the power and variety of Wang Yaozu's inversion techniques.)

"Good!" The older generation in the main seats nodded in approval, chatting and laughing.

Then a sudden heat wave swept through the area.

"Fire Virtue Sect, Fengping!"

Feng Ping, carrying a jar of wine, leaped to the center. Instantly, flames erupted around him, swirling and turning in his hands as if they were his own limbs.

Jiang Zhen watched intently from the sidelines without participating. Each of these techniques had its own unique application of Qi.

Several more rounds of demonstrations of various crafts took place, and the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

At this moment, Liu Deshui, the leading disciple of Yanwu Hall, strode into the arena, clasped his hands in a salute to the person in the main seat, and then looked intently at Lu Jin.

"I've heard that Young Master Lu has received the true teachings of Master Zuo and mastered the earth-shattering 'Triple Reversal of Life.' I, Liu Deshui of Yanwu Hall, humbly request Young Master Lu's guidance!"

Lu Jin was in high spirits at this moment. He looked at his master, Zuo Ruotong, and when the other party nodded slightly, he slammed his hand on the table and flew into the arena.

"Brother Liu, please!"

"Young Master Lu, before we begin, may I ask if you still recognize me?"

Lu Jin was taken aback, feeling that it was somewhat familiar, but she couldn't quite place it.

"Brother Liu, I am very sorry. I did not recognize you at first glance. Have I offended you in any way before?"

Liu Deshui smiled and shook his head, saying, "No, if you don't recognize me, that's fine."

Please advise!

The two clashed instantly. Liu Deshui used authentic hard martial arts from the Yanwu Hall, each punch accompanied by a whooshing sound. However, Lu Jin merely smiled faintly, white qi rising around him.

In that instant, parts of Lu Jin's skin and muscles became translucent.

"The third level of reverse rebirth, the first level, turning skin and flesh into energy!"

Liu Deshui's Iron Mountain Lean strike landed on Lu Jin, but it felt like hitting an incredibly tough, highly resilient gelatinous substance. Lu Jin's movements were ethereal; not only was his defense astonishing, but he could also neutralize the opponent's force the instant he made contact using the properties of Qi.

"Bang bang bang!"

After more than a dozen rounds, Lu Jin was in complete control. He struck out with his palm, and the white energy gushing from his palm was so tangible that it directly forced Liu Deshui back several steps.

Subsequently, several other defiant teenagers stepped forward to challenge him, but Lu Jin defeated them all one by one in this almost "inhuman" state.

Lu Jin stood in the center of the arena, his white hair fluttering, full of vigor. Lu Ci was about to jump up when Lu Ren held him back. Lu Ci looked at him in confusion, but Lu Ren just smiled and shook his head.

Watching his beloved disciple's performance, Zuo Ruotong, who was seated at the table, showed a hint of satisfaction on his usually aloof face. He turned to Zhang Jingqing and smiled, "Celestial Master, what do you think of my disciple?"

"A young hero, his potential is limitless."

"Why don't your top students come up and demonstrate their skills?"

Zhang Jingqing laughed heartily, but her gaze drifted intentionally or unintentionally towards the huge locust tree behind the seats.

"To be honest, Sect Leader Zuo, my disciple is good at all his subjects, except for some of the sect's defensive techniques..."

"Somewhat unsatisfactory?"

"No, it's a bit too strong."

Zuo Ruotong smiled and said, "I see. Actually, I have the same concerns as the Celestial Master. I worry that if Jin'er's cultivation path is too smooth after entering the sect, she will become more and more arrogant in the future."

"Why not let them prove themselves to each other? The loser can learn from his mistakes and improve in the future, while the winner can help him make a name for himself."

"This……"

"What? Does the Celestial Master not trust the methods of my Sanyi Sect, or is he considering the character of the people of my Sanyi Sect?"

At this moment, Zhang Jingqing glanced at Zhang Zhiwei, who was looking at the ants on the ground with a bored expression.

Zhang Jingqing's eyelids twitched, and her originally stern face darkened further.

"Zhang Zhiwei!"

The Celestial Master's voice wasn't loud, but it sounded like thunder from a clear sky.

"exist!"

Jiang Zhen's eyes sharpened as he watched the languid-looking Taoist priest slowly stand up.

Chapter 16 There are still experts!

With Zhang Jingqing's thunderous call, all eyes instantly focused on the young Taoist priest under the locust tree, who was patting the dirt off his clothes and looking languid.

Zhang Zhiwei slowly walked to the center of the arena. His loose-fitting Taoist robe made him look completely devoid of the arrogance of a "disciple of the Taoist school".

Looking at his disciple's lazy appearance, Zhang Jingqing felt the veins on his temples throbbing. He took a deep breath, calming his urge to unleash the Five Thunderbolts Technique and kill the guy on the spot.

"Accompanying Junior Nephew Lu to give a demonstration for the seniors."

He then turned his head and smiled slightly at Zuo Ruotong beside him and the people from various sects present. His tone was calm but heavy.

"Gentlemen, my disciple is quite unruly, I'm sorry to have made you all laugh. But since Master Zuo has proposed verification, let him make a fool of himself. Oh, right, I haven't introduced him to you all yet..."

Zhang Jingqing paused, her eyes lowered slightly, and her tone carried an unusual depth: "This child's name is Zhang Zhiwei. This 'Zhang' is a 'mistaken surname'."

Upon hearing this, the previously whispering room fell into a deathly silence.

As Jiang Zhen sat at the table, he clearly felt that Fifth Master Feng's breathing became heavier for a moment.

Everyone present knew the weight of these words. The so-called "adopting the surname" meant that this non-Zhang disciple had already received the highest recognition from the current Celestial Master. It also meant that in Zhang Jingqing's eyes, this seemingly lazy young Taoist priest was very likely the next Celestial Master!

"He's surnamed Zhang..."

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