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Page 47
“Yunyuan, I am very pleased that you have this question.”
"This shows that you are not blinded by those so-called 'rules' and 'reputation'; you are using your heart to see the world."
He looked at his youngest disciple, his tone becoming earnest and earnest.
"Do you know why, although Longhu Mountain is a legitimate sect of the Xuanmen, it never easily claims to be the 'leader of the righteous path,' nor does it easily judge the right and wrong of other sects?"
Zhang Yunyuan shook his head.
"Because most things in this world are not simply black and white."
The old celestial master's gaze became somewhat distant, as if piercing through time and seeing countless filth and depravity.
"The so-called prestigious sects may not be much cleaner than the Quanxing sect in their secret dealings."
“Some of them, for the sake of profit, can betray their comrades; for the sake of fame, can frame loyal and good people; and to satisfy their own selfish desires, they will stop at nothing.”
"They are just better at using a fig leaf of 'benevolence and morality' to cover their dirty and rotten hearts than the Quanxing people."
"True good and evil do not lie in sects, stances, or the techniques you use."
The old master stretched out his finger and gently tapped his chest.
"Here it is."
"It lies in people's hearts."
These words struck Zhang Yunyuan like a thunderbolt.
He stared blankly at his master, at this usually stern and seemingly old-fashioned man.
He never imagined that his master's understanding of good and evil was so thorough and profound.
At this moment, Zhang Yunyuan's respect for his master deepened to an unprecedented level.
He suddenly felt that being able to become a disciple of such a master might be the greatest opportunity of his life.
He stood up and respectfully bowed deeply to the old Celestial Master.
"Disciple, I have learned a great deal."
In the blink of an eye, another year has passed.
Life on Longhu Mountain remained peaceful as always.
But the world below the mountain was already ravaged by war and devastated.
On this day, a shocking piece of news, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirred up a monstrous wave throughout the entire world of supernatural beings.
Some extraordinary individuals from Japan, seeking to elevate the status of ninjas in their homeland and accumulate military merits, followed the invading army and set foot on Chinese soil.
This group, calling themselves "Bihe Ren," acted eccentrically and used extremely cruel methods.
They provoke others everywhere, specifically targeting weak and vulnerable small factions.
They would either publicly humiliate or exterminate entire families, leaving rivers of blood and soaring resentment wherever they went.
In just a few months, no fewer than seven or eight small sects with centuries of history have been brutally murdered and their lineages severed.
When the news spread, the entire Chinese community of supernatural beings was outraged and filled with boundless anger.
National and personal grievances surged into my heart.
This is a blatant invasion, and even more so, a contempt and provocation against the entire Chinese community of supernatural beings!
That evening, the Sanqing Hall of the Celestial Master's Mansion on Longhu Mountain was brightly lit.
The atmosphere was horribly depressing.
All the core disciples on the mountain were present.
The old Celestial Master Zhang Jingqing sat upright in the main seat, his face so gloomy it seemed to drip water.
"I'm sure everyone has heard about it."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a sense of impending doom, clearly reaching the ears of every disciple.
"These Japanese pirates from the East, they think we Chinese have no one to rely on!"
"Now, they've even extended their evil claws to us, their fellow practitioners!"
"If this grudge is not avenged, what will become of the thousand-year-old reputation of Longhu Mountain? What will become of the dignity of the extraordinary people of China?!"
A disciple suddenly stepped forward, his eyes bloodshot, his voice trembling with rage.
"Please give the order! This disciple is willing to descend the mountain immediately to slay these evil people and avenge our fallen comrades!"
"That's right! Please give the order, Celestial Master!"
"Kill all these beasts from Japan!"
For a moment, the crowd inside the hall was filled with excitement and high morale.
Zhang Zhiwei remained as languid as ever, leaning against a pillar with his eyelids half-drooping, but the occasional flash of cold light in his eyes sent chills down one's spine.
Tian Jinzhong clenched his fists, his face filled with grief and indignation.
Zhang Huaiyi remained silent, but the knuckles of his hand resting on his knees had already turned white from the force he exerted.
Zhang Yunyuan stood in the crowd, listening quietly. Even the stagnant water in his heart, which had been calm and still, began to ripple.
He remembered what his master had said last night.
Good and evil reside in people's hearts.
Now, this crucial question of right and wrong is right before our eyes.
Zhang Jingqing raised her hand and pressed it down.
The hall suddenly became quiet.
"Revenge is inevitable."
The old Taoist master's voice was cold and resolute.
"But not to go and die."
"According to reliable sources, this group of Japanese ninjas are quite powerful, and the leaders are particularly unpredictable and difficult to deal with."
“I have contacted Shangqing, Putuo, and four other institutions.”
He glanced at all the disciples in the hall and spoke slowly.
"We have decided that the three temples and four families will join forces to ambush and wipe out these Japanese pirates who dare to set foot on our Chinese land in one battle!"
"This battle concerns the life, death, honor, and disgrace of the Chinese supernatural world. Only victory is allowed; defeat is not permitted!"
"Tomorrow, I will personally lead the elite of our sect to the designated meeting place."
"This journey is fraught with peril, and I know not whether I will live or die. Is there anyone willing to accompany me?"
The old master had barely finished speaking.
"Disciple is willing to go!"
Zhang Zhiwei was the first to step forward. His usually sleepy eyes were now burning with an unprecedented flame called "fighting spirit".
"Disciple is willing to go!"
Tian Jinzhong and Zhang Huaiyi also stepped forward without hesitation.
Immediately afterwards, all the qualified disciples in the hall stepped forward in unison, their voices booming like thunder.
"Disciple is willing to go!"
"Disciple is willing to go!"
On the young faces, there was no fear whatsoever, only a resolute determination to defend their homeland and fight against the common enemy.
Seeing this scene, Zhang Yunyuan felt a surge of heat rush to his head.
He stepped forward and said loudly.
"Master, your disciple is also willing to go!"
As soon as he said this, everyone's eyes fell on him.
Zhang Jingqing looked at his youthful yet unusually determined face and frowned deeply.
"Nonsense! You stay here and guard the house!"
Zhang Yunyuan grew anxious.
"Right and evil reside in people's hearts, and righteousness rests on our shoulders! Faced with such a great cause, how can we, as disciples, cower within the mountain gate and live a life of ignominy!"
He returned to him exactly what his master had taught him.
"If you can't even protect your country, what's the use of cultivating such extraordinary abilities?!"
Zhang Jingqing was stunned by his words and didn't know how to refute them for a moment.
Looking into Zhang Yunyuan's unwavering determination, he felt as if he were seeing his younger self.
Young eagles must eventually leave the nest, and fine swords must eventually be sharpened.
He remained silent for a long time, and finally, he slowly nodded.
"Tomorrow, you three brothers will all come down the mountain with me!"
Chapter 55 Golden Light Breaks the Formation, Unwavering Loyalty
The night was as dark as ink. Outside a county town in Jiangxi, the Japanese army camp stretched for miles, like a lurking giant beast.
Inside the central command tent, several Japanese generals were gathered around a sand table, discussing their next sweeping operation by the dim light of an oil lamp.
Unbeknownst to them, death had already quietly bared its fangs outside the camp.
The masters from the three temples and four families concealed themselves in the forest a hundred meters away, their auras suppressed to the extreme, as if they had blended into the night.
The intelligence was conclusive; the group of Japanese eccentrics known as "Higanbana" were stationed in the core area of the Japanese army camp, heavily guarded.
"Gentlemen," an elder of the Shangqing School said in a low voice, his expression grave, "the Japanese army's firearms are sharp, and it is difficult to get close by ordinary means. In this battle, we need a sharp blade to tear open their camp."
Before the words were even finished, everyone's eyes turned to the group from Longhu Mountain.
The Golden Light Mantra, a secret technique of Longhu Mountain, is unparalleled in its protective power.