Although he didn't understand the divine tiger's purpose in asking the question, Yan Shouyi still thought about it seriously for a while.
"Have you thought about it?" the divine tiger urged impatiently.
Seeing Yan Shouyi hesitate, the divine dragon suddenly interjected, "Forget it, you answer my question first! I ask you, do you think you have the potential to encompass everything?"
The divine tiger said angrily, "Who told you to butt in?"
"How can I not butt in?" the divine dragon said to Yan Shouyi, "Kid, don't mind it, answer my question first!"
"No, answer my question first!" the divine tiger refused to back down.
"Damn it, you asked first last time with Zhang Shuantong, it's my turn this time!"
"You call this not playing by the rules, believe it or not, I'll beat you up?"
"You want to fight, come on!"
Yan Shouyi found it both funny and exasperating. The divine dragon and divine tiger were truly a pair of clowns.
Seeing that the two were about to fight, Yan Shouyi quickly intervened, "Please don't argue, seniors. How about this, I'll answer both questions together!"
They both fell silent and said in surprise, "Are you sure?"
They both thought their questions were very difficult to answer, yet Yan Shouyi wanted to answer them together, wasn't he just increasing the difficulty for himself?
This kid really doesn't play by the rules!
The divine tiger looked at Yan Shouyi with rare appreciation, "You know there are tigers in the mountains but you head for the tigers' den. I rarely find something to admire in you, so let's do as you say!"
The divine dragon also said, "Answer slowly, we are not in a hurry."
The last ray of sunset disappeared, and even the peak of Stone Mountain was submerged in darkness.
Yan Shouyi looked back. The lights of Chen Family Village had begun to flicker, especially his own courtyard, where the lights were particularly bright. He seemed to see Lin Zitong and Long Feicheng.
Yan Shouyi turned back, then stood tall and straight, letting the moonlight illuminate his face.
He said loudly, "My surname is Yan, my given name is Shouyi. My mother gave me this name, hoping I would remain faithful to one until the end. I hope you two seniors will remember my name."
"Senior Divine Dragon asks me if I have the potential to encompass everything, and my answer is yes – because I have already achieved it!"
The divine dragon stroked its whiskers with great interest and said, "Oh? What makes you say that? Tell us!"
Yan Shouyi explained unhurriedly:
"I am a descendant of Lu Ban and have been cultivating the 'Lu Ban Book' since childhood. The Lu Ban Book compiles the strengths of all schools of thought. I have learned the essence of all schools, and my mind is as vast as the sea, capable of embracing everything!"
"Senior Divine Tiger asks me if I have ever had the thought of ruling the world and being supreme. My answer is yes – because I have already put those thoughts into action!"
"Lu Ban came from the common people. After I mastered his skills, I never used them for my own profit. On the contrary, I used these abilities to eliminate demons and protect the people, bringing benefit to the common folk. I have never harbored evil thoughts. This is ruling the world and being supreme!!"
The divine dragon was quite satisfied with Yan Shouyi's answer and did not offer its opinion for a moment.
But the divine tiger laughed, mocking Yan Shouyi, "Your answer is completely nonsensical. I asked you if you have ever had the thought of ruling the world and being supreme, and you tell me you've been eliminating demons and benefiting the people. What's the connection between the two?"
Yan Shouyi chuckled and replied confidently:
"The ruling of the world in my heart is not about swallowing mountains and rivers, not about dominating the world, not about bringing war and suffering to the people!"
"The supremacy in my heart is not about being above all, not about looking down on the world, not about using power as a means of control!"
"I believe that emperors love their country, and kings love their people!"
"Even though I have great abilities, I have never left the common people. I came from the people and will return to the people. Everything I do is for the sake of all living beings!"
"Even if I am alone, dressed in plain cloth, I am still a king. Wherever I go, I am ruling the world, supreme!!"
Yan Shouyi's voice was sonorous and powerful, lingering in the ears of the divine dragon and divine tiger.
At the same time, a cry of an eagle echoed from the mountain, with a sense of earth-shattering power!
The divine dragon and divine tiger were stunned for a long time, unable to recover from the immense aura Yan Shouyi exuded when he answered.
After answering, Yan Shouyi closed his mouth and quietly waited for their response.
The expressions of the divine dragon and divine tiger shifted from stiffness to recovery, and then to spiritedness, with light even shining in their eyes!
The divine dragon roared, "The great roc rises with the wind in a single day, soaring ninety thousand li!"
The divine tiger also shouted, "The four seas churn with the clouds and waters, the five continents shake with wind and thunder!"
At this moment, only these two lines of poetry could express their admiration for Yan Shouyi!
"You brat, you've truly exceeded our expectations!" The divine dragon flew happily in the sky. "For thousands of years, we've seen countless young men like you, but only your answer has made us clap with joy!"
The divine tiger also said, "Well said, to rule the world and be supreme. You brat indeed don't play by the rules, your perspective is novel and admirable!!" Da Feng Novel
The divine dragon and divine tiger seemed to have finally received the answer they had been waiting for for many years, and were almost rolling on the ground with joy.
Yan Shouyi, however, treated this with a calm demeanor, because this was truly how he thought. If he were to feel proud and honored because of it, it would seem like he had deliberately fabricated his answer.
Since childhood, his grandfather had taught him to be open-minded and inclusive, and to serve the people with a righteous heart.
He simply said what he thought, did, and said.
It was that simple.
"Kid, take this Zanpakuto!"
The divine tiger directly lifted its paw, and before Yan Shouyi could react, he had already picked up the Zanpakuto.
Looking at the Zanpakuto in his hand, he asked in confusion, "It's that simple?"
The divine tiger smiled, "What else? Do you want us to set off firecrackers to celebrate for you?"
"No... does this Zanpakuto have no restrictions, that it was just placed under your paw by Senior Divine Tiger?" Yan Shouyi was dumbfounded.
The divine dragon flew over, "Guarding the Zanpakuto is not our primary mission. This thing is placed here, whoever is capable can take it. If you don't want to answer our questions, that's fine too. Beat us up and snatch it away!"
Yan Shouyi: "..."
This... was indeed different from what he had imagined.
But no matter what, he had passed the test, and he had obtained the Zanpakuto.
It seemed his goal had been achieved, right?
Yan Shouyi hung the Zanpakuto on his back and quickly clasped his fists at the divine dragon and divine tiger, "Thank you both, seniors. I won't bother you any longer. My family is waiting for me to go back for dinner. We'll meet again if fate allows!"
After speaking, Yan Shouyi directly used the "Soaring with Golden Light" technique and vanished from his spot.
Having taken the Zanpakuto, he needed to slip away quickly, because Yan Shouyi clearly felt that the divine dragon and divine tiger had other intentions for him.
And those were very bad intentions...
But who would have thought that in the next second, where Yan Shouyi had disappeared, the divine dragon and divine tiger would return, with him sandwiched between them.
Yan Shouyi, caught between the two powerful beings, had an embarrassed expression, "Do you two seniors have anything else?"
"Nonsense, you brat, stop playing dumb. We promised to give you a gift, and you can't refuse it!" the divine tiger said with a sly smile.
Yan Shouyi coughed dryly, "My grandfather taught me that one should not accept rewards without merit..."
The divine dragon said, "You answered our questions and passed our test, the gift is your reward."
"Reward-based education is not advisable, as it can foster a utilitarian mentality in children..."
The divine tiger smiled slightly and revealed its tiger claws, "If you want to die, then refuse us."
Yan Shouyi: "..."
As expected, this gift was not something good!
Otherwise, they wouldn't be so insistent on giving it to him!
But Yan Shouyi didn't have the strength to negotiate with them now, so he had to accept his fate. With a bitter expression, he said, "Alright, what is the gift?"
"You brat, is that how you receive gifts? Cheer up for me!" The divine dragon patted Yan Shouyi on the butt.
Yan Shouyi forced a smile that was uglier than crying.
The divine dragon flew around him for a while, then drew a divine talisman and imprinted it on Yan Shouyi's palm.
Yan Shouyi asked curiously, "What is this?"
The divine dragon slowly said, "Many years ago, the founder of Taoism, Zhang Daoling, refined a divine elixir in the Nine Heavens of Longhu Mountain. When the elixir was perfected, a divine dragon and white tiger appeared, and thus the mountain was renamed Longhu Mountain. During that phenomenon, Zhang Daoling received three inheritances and guidance from the Azure Dragon and White Tiger: 'Controlling the Five Peaks,' 'Summoning Myriad Spirits,' and 'Divine Tiger Secret Writings.' Only then did he become a Celestial Master and founded the Celestial Master's Mansion."
"What you hold in your hand is precisely 'Summoning Myriad Spirits,' inherited from the Azure Dragon. It can command all beasts, summon thousands of birds, and order all things!"
"However, this is just an imprint. You can choose to digest it yourself, or pass it on to others. After all, as a king, not only must you be powerful yourself, but you must also learn how to use people. Therefore, who the 'Summoning Myriad Spirits' ultimately belongs to is your decision."
After hearing the divine dragon's explanation, Yan Shouyi was overjoyed.
This gift was not scary at all!
It was actually great!!
He secretly regretted whether his reaction earlier had been too abrupt, and if the divine dragon would therefore reduce his reward?
Was it too late to mend the situation now?
So Yan Shouyi quickly grabbed the divine tiger's paw, forcing out a cute smile, and said:
"Senior Divine Tiger, what about your gift?"
The divine tiger wished it could slap Yan Shouyi across the face.
Just now he was saying no, no, and now he was saying hurry, hurry.
This kid was truly despicable!
The divine dragon and tiger snorted, and directly spat out a divine talisman, which was imprinted on Yan Shouyi's forehead.
Yan Shouyi touched his forehead and asked in surprise, "What is this?"
"Divine Tiger Secret Writings."
"What?"
"Divine Tiger Secret Writings! It's an imprint. Obtaining it means you have received the recognition of the Azure Dragon and White Tiger, and it means you have become a candidate for the next generation Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain! You brat, be happy about it!" the divine tiger said impatiently.
Yan Shouyi was stunned for a moment, then his expression changed drastically, and he almost swore.
As expected, it was not a good thing!!
He didn't want to be a candidate for Celestial Master at all. He hadn't even figured out being a descendant of Lu Ban, so why would he go to Longhu Mountain to join the fun??
If he had known this earlier, after taking the 'Summoning Myriad Spirits,' he should have packed his bags and run down the mountain, not played with these two monsters!
What a disaster!
Seeing Yan Shouyi's expression of regret and feeling betrayed, the divine tiger gritted its teeth in anger:
"The Celestial Master is the heir to the Heavenly Dao. How many cultivators wish they could kill you and take your place? Why are you, this brat, being ungrateful after profiting, crying about misfortune here?"
Hearing the divine tiger say that many people wished to kill him and take his place, Yan Shouyi felt even more dejected.
He had only said a few words and had already become the object of envy, jealousy, and even murderous intent for all cultivators?
And he wasn't even allowed to cry???
What a disaster!!!