The second young master of the Imperial Capital Minister of War, a true disciple of Enlightenment Mountain, is extraordinarily resolute at this moment.
Initially, he came to Shu because his younger brother was killed by a Li family housekeeper, but later, through a series of events, he met the Ninth Mountain’s Colonel under his teacher’s introduction and eventually stayed at Chuanzhong Pass to train on the frontlines.
His teacher, Ling Yunzi across from him, felt gratified and nodded, "Quanzhen, Quanzhen, remove the false and retain the true, face your fears directly, no need to say much, stop when you think you should stop, continue when you think you should continue, I won’t stop you."
"However, there’s one matter, look to see who has come?"
Like a gentle breeze, Ling Yunzi comforted his disciple and then smiled slightly, stepping aside.
With those words, another person walked out of the hall, Zhao Quanzhen didn’t even sense their presence in the slightest.
The person had hair streaked with black and white, simply adorned with a wooden hairpin, wearing a black feather robe with a white lining, a tuft of beard on the chin, a face like a silkworm chrysalis, holding a jade ruyi, with eyes that exuded an aura of authority without anger.
"Master Yangshan!"
Upon seeing this person, Zhao Quanzhen’s face showed a slight surprise, and he performed a junior’s salute with his hands drawing a semi-circle.
He was one of the Eight Great Mountain People of Enlightenment Mountain, also his teacher’s senior brother, a master of Martial Arts Mastery. Unexpectedly, this senior brother had come here.
For what reason?
"No need for formalities, you and your teacher were hard to find, but you’ve come here, now that you’re back, come back to the mountain gate with me!" This Master Yangshan’s tone was somewhat old-fashioned, yet not imposing.
Zhao Quanzhen was a bit confused, "Has something happened for Senior Uncle to suddenly summon this disciple back to the mountain gate?"
Ling Yunzi spoke up then, "The Luotian Grand Sacrifice held once every twenty years is about to be held, the Dragon and Tiger List will reopen, your senior uncle wants you to represent our mountain’s magic veins and compete with other mountain-gate disciples for this list!"
The Luotian Grand Sacrifice is a dietary and sacrificial festival hosted by Tao Court Dragon Tiger Mountain, held once every twenty years, grand in scale. As a Tao Court, Dragon Tiger Mountain stands at the forefront of the Thirty-Six Cave Heavens, and will invite prominent figures from each blessed land to attend.
In the Cave Heaven Blessed Land, everyone is like dragons and tigers, and by then, the younger generation from each Cave Heaven will compete fiercely, leading to the opening of the Dragon and Tiger List. Those on the list will have their names presented to Heaven and Earth at the Luotian Grand Sacrifice, receiving Heavenly Official’s Blessings and enhanced luck.
If one climbs onto this list, their luck will extend for years to come, gaining more opportunities, and in time, may reach the Dragon and Tiger Realm, becoming one of the few Great Divine Power users in Heaven and Earth.
This list has been validated by consecutive generations with countless mighty figures having ascended it, making a name for themselves in the world, its prestige is exceptionally high, thus drawing significant attention from all sides, with grand momentum. Young talents from each major Cave Heaven Blessed Land aspire to make a mark in this battle, to shine and gain fame.
Yet at this time, Zhao Quanzhen looked towards his Master Yangshan and shook his head, "Thank you for the honor, Senior Uncle, but Quanzhen will not go. Let this spot go to another senior brother!"
This Master Yangshan raised his brows slightly at these words and asked, "The Luotian Grand Sacrifice, Dragon and Tiger List open, countless young talents dream to shine on it and earn fame with a single battle. As a young man, shouldn’t you be full of youthful vigor? Why not?"
It was not a challenge but rather a slight curiosity. The invitation to participate in the Luotian Grand Sacrifice is not something everyone can have. Within Enlightenment Mountain, many disciples openly and secretly vie for this spot with all their strength, each magic vein only sends one person.
This particular magic vein is a bit unique; it’s difficult to enter, with few disciples. Zhao Quanzhen is a standout among the younger generation from this magic vein.
He should also understand its importance.
Zhao Quanzhen nodded, "What Senior Uncle says is right, the youthful spirit indeed aims to be the forefront of the human world, and as a disciple, I naturally hope one day my name will be known by all. But I wish to stay here and continue my training, this is more important than going to the Luotian Grand Sacrifice."
His words were powerful and resolute, as if he’d made some sort of decision.
Who wouldn’t want to go to the Luotian Grand Sacrifice, to witness that rare grandeur, to meet martial arts masters from all over the world, but he still wanted to stay here, because he had seen the true intent of Martial Arts here.
Not from one person, but from those Mountain-cutting Army soldiers, and those Jianghu people supporting the frontline, not cold techniques and divine skills, but the vivid emotions of individuals battling demons.
"Senior Brother, let Quanzhen stay here, no need to persuade him anymore!" Ling Yunzi spoke up at this time.
As a teacher, he also knew how important this spot was to his disciple, but he offered no persuasion, instead advising his own senior brother, understanding and trusting his student’s choice.
"Alright, you two master and disciple are both stubborn, I won’t say more!" Master Yangshan listened to the duo, without any hint of anger, simply shaking his head.
Speaking, he turned his head towards Ling Yunzi, eyebrows raised, "Ling Yunzi, it seems your disciple is well-taught by you, not arrogant or impatient, with a firm Tao Heart, I heard the earlier conversation, to have one’s name sung on the Dragon and Tiger List is not as gratifying as easing my mind with demon conquests."
At this moment, this Master Yangshan’s eyes sparkled with divine light, "The world is in chaos, starting with Shu, I’ve long heard that Shu is a tangled mess, so I came personally this time, to see how vicious the demons in the Ten Thousand Mountains are."
"I see that the Chuanzhong Pass forces are weak, and you say there are only two Martial Vaults stationed here, can they hold?"
He maintained skepticism.
Ling Yunzi’s expression turned somewhat bleak, uncertain of what to say, here the defending soldiers had no choice but to hold even if they couldn’t, because once they fell, behind them lay the Central Pass Plain, with hardly any natural barrier to defend.
And at this time Zhao Quanzhen pulled out a scroll from his sleeve, "swish" it unfurled downwards, eyes sharp as lightning, suddenly intense, he spoke:
"Senior Uncle, do not underestimate these soldiers."
"Master, Senior Uncle, please look."
"This is the reward recently posted by the Mountain-cutting Army!"
Ling Yunzi and Yangshan looked at the reward’s content.
"They’ve posted a reward for investigating the devil race’s transmission array, are they planning a counterattack to prevent the demons from arriving?"
Ling Yunzi said this with a peculiar expression.
"The disciple has the same thought." Zhao Quanzhen’s eyes were a bit eager, his silver hair shining brightly.
"Not likely!" Ling Yunzi shook his head in denial again, "With the current strength of the Mountain-cutting Army, just defending is strenuous enough, moreover, these rewards being publicly known clearly haven’t been carefully calculated, unless it’s an urgent matter, the Mountain-cutting Army lacks enough manpower to accomplish this task, hence the heavy reward."
It must be said, this Enlightenment Mountain martial arts candidate could rationalize various possibilities and was getting close to the truth, but of course, he couldn’t actually know what the Mountain-cutting Army at Chuanzhong Pass intended to do.
However, Master Yangshan heard the conversation between the master and disciple, looked at the reward list and then glanced at his nephew Zhao Quanzhen, before speaking, "These can be set aside for now, is the nephew taking up the challenge?"
Zhao Quanzhen nodded upon hearing this, eyes shining brightly, "The disciple wishes to try!"
"Senior Uncle, if you go outside the border, you’ll understand that many people are eagerly waiting for the day to counterattack!"
These words instead caused Ling Yunzi, who had always supported his disciple, to frown slightly, because he had just analyzed in detail,
"You were a bit reckless in your actions this time, the devil race’s transmission passage must be heavily guarded, and this information might alert the devil race, it’s not something that can be achieved without Heaven’s assistance."
"No problem!"
Beside him, Yangshan spoke, eyebrows moving, and a hint of authority, "Isn’t it just the two of us?"
"Just in time, I too wish to see."
"Senior Brother, aren’t you rushing back, the Luotian Grand Sacrifice is also soon." Ling Yunzi thought his brother’s old habits were surfacing.
"No problem!"
Sure enough!
.....
And just as Zhao Quanzhen’s sect trio fell into discussion over a reward, a streak of silver light surged out of Chuanzhong Pass, moving northward into the wind and snow, an Eight Hundred Miles Urgent, speeding towards Jingguan City!

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