Chapter 1615: Old Heavenly Master

“Is that the legendary Dragon Subjugating Zen Master?”

Appearance wise, the monk looked old, short in stature, and perfectly ordinary. However, Ye Qing’s senses told him that an unbelievable amount of energy was contained within that small, frail-looking body. It was as blazing as the proud sun, as lofty as the tallest mountain, and as boundless as the ocean itself.

Even he was sensing tremendous danger from the old man.

Legend had it that the Dragon Subjugating Zen Master’s cultivation art was the ultimate art of the White Horse Temple, the “Dragon Subjugating Great Canopy Buddha Canon”. It was one of the most forceful and yang martial arts in the entire world. In terms of sheer power and dominance alone, it was not inferior to his “Earthly Sovereign Scripture” in the slightest.

Seemingly sensing Ye Qing’s attention and probing, the Dragon Subjugating Zen Master turned around and looked at him.

The next second, Ye Qing saw a Buddha floating in the Great Canopy. One of the Buddha’s hands was pointing one finger toward the sky, and the other hand was pointing toward the earth. It signified that he alone reigned supreme above the heavens and below the earth.

The next moment, the Great Canopy and the Buddha disappeared to reveal the Dragon Subjugating Zen Master standing on the sacrificial altar. The old monk smiled at Ye Qing and gave him a nod.

“Phew... the Dragon Subjugating Zen Master deserves his reputation!” Ye Qing let out a long sigh of relief and praised from the bottom of his heart.

Smiling, Feng Qingyou gave him a look. “The Dragon Subjugating Zen Master is one of the few candidates who can compete against the Chief Libationist for number one under the heavens, you know. Of course he deserves his reputation.”

“Anyway, since the Dragon Subjugating Zen Master has come, I’m thinking that Dragon Tiger Mountain will be sending over a bigshot as well.”

“You mean the Old Heavenly Master?”

The Dragon Tiger Mountain was also situated in Chu. One could call it the national religion of Chu. It had a lot of worshipers here, so it made sense that Dragon Tiger Mountain would send someone over.

“I doubt it!” Feng Qingyou started, but before she could explain her reasoning, the Auspicious Deer announced, “Old Heavenly Master of the Dragon Tiger Mountain has arrived!”

“The Old Heavenly Master actually came?” Ye Qing exclaimed in surprise. Despite his earlier question, he was of the same opinion as Feng Qingyou. He didn’t actually think the Old Heavenly Master would show up.

It was mainly because the Old Heavenly Master was seriously old; so old that he hadn’t left the Dragon Tiger Mountain for over three decades.

However, the Old Heavenly Master had defied their expectations. In fact, he had defied everyone’s expectations.

It was at this moment an old man wearing a purple robe with pictures of dragons and tigers appeared from the clouds.

His hair and beard were completely white. He was riding a black tiger. The black tiger looked strong and healthy, and it was pure black in color from head to toe. Its fur was shiny like flowing water, its eyes were dazzling like the stars and intelligent like a human, and its tail made thunderous noises when it swept through the air.

The black tiger was navigating through the sky like it was flat land. Every time it took a step, a bluish purple auspicious cloud would appear underneath its feet. Illusions of dragons and tigers could be seen from the auspicious clouds. In fact, one could hear roars of dragons and tigers from them. The sound wasn’t grating though. They were melodious and soothing like celestial music or the sound of Dao.

The old man was lying on his back on top of the black tiger. He looked unruly, but he also looked carefree and perfectly in tune with nature, himself, and the Dao.

“Old Heavenly Master...”

“Greetings, Old Heavenly Master...”

“Greetings, old god...”

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

The next moment, a tsunami of cheers engulfed the entire Altar of Heavens. It was even louder than when the Dragon Subjugating Zen Master first showed up. Everyone was standing and bowing to him as well.

There were several reasons. One, it had been over three decades since the Old Heavenly Master set foot on humanity. Naturally, everyone was excited to see him. Two, the Old Heavenly Master was already world famous before the Chief Libationist made a name for himself. He was so old that even the Dragon Subjugating Zen master was his junior. He was also the number one under the heavens at the time.

The Old Heavenly Master was a righteous and honorable soul who loathed evil like his nemesis. He was respected by all under the heavens. That was why they honorably called him the Old Heavenly Master or old god.

Naturally, his appearance made a lot of waves.

“Mercy, mercy. There is no need, no need for such pleasantries...”

“Please be at ease... at ease...”

When some people bowed to the Old Heavenly Master, he hurriedly made a lifting gesture. They were all lifted back to their feet gently yet firmly.

At the same time, he was responding to everyone’s greeting like the kind old man from next door.

“Roar...” However, the black tiger underneath him wasn’t nearly as patient. It let out a roar after a while.

“You’re as short-tempered as ever.”

The Old Heavenly Master gave it a gentle slap on the head before apologizing to the crowd. “Apologies, but I need to oversee the ritual. I shall speak with you all another time...”

“Let’s go.” And so the black tiger slowly carried the Old heavenly Master toward the Pray to Heavens Altar.

When the Old Heavenly Master was passing by Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou, the black tiger suddenly stopped, and the old man looked at them curiously.

“Hmm? What family do you come from, lad, lass? Oh my!”

“Junior Ye Qing greets you, Old Heavenly Master!”

“Junior Feng Qingyou greets you, Old Heavenly Master!”

The duo weren’t expecting the Old Heavenly Master to pay them attention. They immediately saluted him.

“Ye Qing? The Mad Lord?”

The Old Heavenly Master exclaimed in realization, “The saying ‘heroes are young’ is proven once more. You are quite incredible as well, lass.”

Ye Qing was astonished. “You know me, Old Heavenly Master?”

“Of course I do.”

The Old Heavenly Master chuckled. “It’s impossible not to. Yo are so much better than that hopeless boy of mine.”

“You flatter me, Old Heavenly Master. I would not dare to compare myself to the Little Heavenly Master.”

The “hopeless boy” the Old Heavenly Master was talking about was none other than Zhang Lingyang, Little Heavenly Master of the Heavenly Master Mansion of the Dragon Tiger Mountain. They had encountered each other once at the Dark Overlord’s Demonbearer Abode, and he had had a good impression of the guy. “Speaking of which, how is he the Little Heavenly Master doing? Is he well?”

“He is

too

well. He spends all of his days drinking wine and dating girls like a hooligan!”

The Old Heavenly Master grew furious when he spoke of Zhang Lingyang. “You are his peer, and you are already a Sage. But him? He is still a Great Trueman! As if that’s not enough, that shameless dog refuses to settle down in one place, blows his own trumpet all day every day, and thinks that the sky he sees from his well is the entire sky!... No, this cannot continue. I simply must discipline him. When I return home, he will enter secluded practice for a decade whether he likes it or not!”

Ye Qing let out a cough and tried to defend Zhang Lingyang, “Ahem... everyone has their own destiny, and it is ill-advised to force such things to happen. The only reason I managed to ascend to sagehood is because I was fortunate.”

“You are too modest, young friend.”

The Old Heavenly Master smiled. “If fortune is a fruit, then hard work is a pair of hands. If someone does not try to harvest the fruits with their hands, then a canopy of fruits could be hanging right above one’s head, and still they would not enter the person’s possessions.”

“You are fortunate, yes, but without your drive and your hard work, you could never have made it this far.”

Ye Qing saluted the Old Heavenly Master. “You flatter me, Old Heavenly Master. I am ashamed to receive such praise from you.”

“I am not flattering you. Frankly, I am inferior to you when I was your age.” The Old Heavenly Master replied, “My boy’s talent and fortune are not inferior to yours in the slightest. In fact, they exceed yours. However, he does not have your drive or your hard work. He is wasting his heaven-given talent for nothing!”

“No, no, this is unacceptable. It’s decided. I’m going to supervise him myself when I get back. If he does not become a Sage in three years, then I am going to break his legs in half!”

“Er...” What else could Ye Qing say? He could only light a candle[1] for the Little Heavenly Master.

The Old Heavenly Master asked, “Oh right, why are you standing here instead of up there?” Ye Qing replied honestly, “A tree who stands out will suffer the full brunt of the storm. For now, we do not wish to receive too much attention.”

“You are neither arrogant nor impatient, nor are you tempted by fame or fortune. Good. Very good.”

The Old Heavenly Master paid him another compliment. “Well, I should head over now. I would like to speak with you some more, but I’m sure my old friends are going to curse me behind my back if I linger any longer. Let us speak again when we are free, young friends.”

“Of course, Old Heavenly Master.” Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou saluted him.

1. In Chinese culture you light a candle for someone only when they’re dead. This means that he’s mourning for Zhang Lingyang. ☜