"Wudang Mountain's Zhao Chengxiang! Hanshan Temple's Chang Shan! On behalf of my sect, I am here to congratulate Daoist Lin Zitong on succeeding as the Sect Leader of Lushan!"
Outside the courtyard gate, Zhao Chengxiang and Chang Shan walked in side by side.
One exuded an unrestrained aura, while the other clasped his hands in prayer, seemingly two extremes, yet they complemented each other perfectly.
With the prior introductions from everyone, Zhao Chengxiang and Chang Shan hardly needed to state their identities—if they weren't outstanding disciples or heirs of their respective sects, they wouldn't have even qualified to be friends with Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong! This is how the circle worked; only those with similar status and strength could be friends.
Zhao Chengxiang was already renowned. Not only was he an outstanding disciple of Wudang Mountain and a candidate for the next Sect Leader, but he was also a celebrity who had participated in the Luotian Grand Ceremony twice.
Therefore, even many sect leaders from smaller sects within the Lushan lineage had heard of Zhao Chengxiang's name.
This was a genuine direct descendant of Wudang Mountain!
"Brother Zhao, Chang Shan!"
Yan Shouyi greeted them with cupped fists, and the two responded warmly.
Zhao Chengxiang chuckled, "After the battle at Longhu Mountain, I didn't return to Wudang Mountain but traveled instead. Last time, thanks to Brother Yan's guidance, my thoughts have become clear, and my strength has further improved!"
Everyone was once again astonished. From Zhao Chengxiang's words, it seemed Yan Shouyi had even helped him!
Friendship was one thing, but owing a debt was another.
A good friendship might, at most, help you show up and lend support.
Owing a debt, however, could mean willingness to lay down one's life!
Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong had such close ties with Wudang Mountain?!
The few elderly figures seated in the inner hall could no longer remain seated.
Xuan Zhen, a revered monk from Dingchan Temple, and Qian Kangping, an elder from Qingfeng Monastery of Wudang Mountain, rose and bowed to those still seated, "Esteemed sirs, my apologies, but we must take our leave now."
The faces of those remaining grew awkward. They wished to leave but found no reason to do so, and for a moment, their gazes towards the two were tinged with envy.
As they exited the inner hall, just like Yuan Hong before them, they approached Zhao Chengxiang and Chang Shan with a hint of fawning to greet them.
Zhao Chengxiang was the legitimate heir of Wudang Mountain, while Qian Kangping was merely an elder from a small Taoist temple within Wudang Mountain.
Chang Shan was the orthodox representative of Hanshan Temple, and according to seniority, Xuan Zhen should have addressed Chang Shan as Uncle Master!
After the appearance of these two, the atmosphere within the Lushan sect turned incredibly bizarre.
Everyone was stunned to realize that the influential figures invited by Lü Xin were one by one shifting their allegiance to Lin Zitong!
Lin Zitong's faction was continuously growing stronger, while Lü Xin's influence was steadily waning!
In an instant, the leaders of those small sects who had previously firmly supported Lü Xin began to question if they had chosen the wrong side.
Facing this shift in momentum, Lü Xin gritted her teeth.
She sternly declared, "The affairs of the Lushan sect should be handled by the Lushan sect itself. It is not for outsiders to dictate! Laoshan Sect, Wudang Mountain, Hanshan Temple… do you truly believe you can represent the Xuanmen?!"
"You are correct!"
Lin Zitong smiled faintly and said, "They may not be able to represent the Xuanmen, so today, we have invited a guest who can represent the Xuanmen."
As she spoke, two more individuals walked in from outside the courtyard!
This time, the duo consisted of a man and a woman. They were not wearing their sect's robes, so their identities were not immediately apparent.
However, the man looked refined and scholarly, like a scholar, while the woman seemed more outgoing, with neat shoulder-length short hair.
Unlike the others, these two newcomers did not introduce themselves but walked in quietly.
Everyone stared at them, trying to guess their identities.
Who could they be?
Why would they claim to represent the Xuanmen?
Such a claim was too presumptuous!
Just then, Cao Gaochi, the Abbot of Liumiao View from Longhu Mountain, who was seated in the inner hall, suddenly stood up!
His face turned red, his eyes filled with disbelief, and he trembled with excitement!
"Old Cao, what's wrong?!" someone asked in surprise.
Cao Gaochi stammered, "It... it's the Heavenly Master!"
"Heavenly Master?"
"The one outside the gate is the newly appointed Heavenly Master of our Longhu Mountain, Yu Luming! Beside him is the closed-door disciple of Elder Zhang Sishui, and the inheritor of the Longhu Secret Writings, Liu Yiren!"
After speaking, Cao Gaochi completely ignored everyone else and rushed out of the inner hall. He stumbled as he crossed the threshold, but immediately got up and, disregarding his appearance, hurried out!
The "big shots" remaining in the inner hall exchanged glances.
The heirs of various major sects had all appeared, and the Heavenly Master himself had graced the occasion. While they might have been considered influential figures before, they now seemed utterly insignificant.
"If I had known it would come to this, I wouldn't have come to support Lü Xin even if you beat me to death. It's simply asking for humiliation!"
"Alas, it's also our fault for not investigating the situation of the Lushan sect properly!"
"Lin Zitong is the future of the Lushan sect. We have truly stumbled into a ditch this time."
"Do you think we still need to stay here?..."
"Enough, enough. Admitting I misjudged isn't impossible. This old man still values his reputation. Fellow Daoists, I shall take my leave!"
"Wait, hold on, I'll go with you!"
"Master Yin Zhiming, why aren't you leaving yet?"
"I want to stay and watch the show..."
"Hm? That's right, this is indeed a rare and good show!"
...
Cao Gaochi stumbled out of the inner hall and, with a thud, knelt before Yu Luming.
"Abbot of Liumiao View, Cao Gaochi, pays his respects to the Heavenly Master!" Cao Gaochi shouted loudly.
Upon hearing this, those who hadn't yet grasped Yu Luming's identity were utterly shocked, their minds going blank!
This... this person was actually the newly appointed Heavenly Master of the Heavenly Master Mansion of Longhu Mountain, Yu Luming?!
This new Heavenly Master, who had "studied diligently for fifteen years and attained enlightenment overnight, becoming known throughout the land," was someone that even the most ignorant leaders of minor sects would certainly know of!
Lin Zitong had managed to invite Heavenly Master Yu Luming!
If all the previous attendees combined could not represent the Xuanmen, then Yu Luming before them was more than enough.
He was the Heavenly Master!
Longhu Mountain was the foremost Taoist lineage in the world, and the Heavenly Master was its head. If he couldn't represent the Xuanmen, then no one in the world could!
For a moment, the supporters of Lü Xin felt a stinging sensation on their cheeks. They hadn't been slapped, yet it felt as if they had received more than a dozen slaps!
They even wished they could dig a hole and bury themselves!
Recalling their earlier taunts and challenges towards Lin Zitong, it now seemed like ants provoking an elephant.
No wonder Lin Zitong had ignored them from beginning to end; it wasn't due to a lack of confidence, but because she had simply not taken them seriously!
Sun Tangzhi's previously anxious heart finally settled.
He even felt his legs go a little weak, a side effect of extreme tension followed by sudden relaxation.
Lin Zitong's succession as Sect Leader of the Lushan sect was now a done deal!