Chapter 268: Behind the Scenes Mastermind

After seeing Gu Mo and Gu Chutong off to the Ascension Platform, Zhang Daoyi descended Tian Du Peak and arrived at a small courtyard on the main peak of the Celestial Master's Mansion. Shen Yao resided in this courtyard.

Upon entering, Zhang Daoyi saw Shen Yao busily writing and drawing in the main hall, muttering to himself constantly, appearing quite eccentric.

Zhang Daoyi walked over, picked up a piece of paper from the floor, and asked, "Are you recreating the scene you saw in your divination?"

Shen Yao's face was still very pale. He mumbled, "Someone has obscured the heavenly secrets. After I returned, I began to forget; many details I saw then are now beyond recall!"

Zhang Daoyi asked, puzzled, "Obscuring heavenly secrets? How is that done?"

Shen Yao explained, "It sounds profound, but the principle is simple. Most diviners know this technique: they hide their own fortune and destiny. When other diviners attempt to deduce anything related to them, they will see a jumbled mess of results, or even just complete chaos."

Zhang Daoyi said, "Is it possible that your cultivation isn't sufficient?"

Shen Yao replied, "I initially thought so. After arriving at Dragon-Tiger Mountain, I performed three consecutive divinations and saw nothing. I then assumed my cultivation was insufficient, which is why I thought of leveraging Great Hero Gu's influence. As the foremost figure in the world today, Great Hero Gu embodies the destiny of the era. By borrowing his influence, even a diviner with mediocre skills can instantly become a master. Indeed, that's what happened; I genuinely broke through the chaos and deduced a result. However, under normal circumstances, in the result I deduced, your death, Old Celestial Master, should have been a major destiny, something I couldn't utter. Forcibly speaking it would surely lead to a backlash. Yet, I spoke it, and nothing happened!"

Zhang Daoyi exclaimed in surprise, "So, you were gambling with your life just now!"

Shen Yao smiled and said, "I wouldn't say gambling with my life. If it were a true heavenly secret, I'd certainly lose half my life, perhaps living ten or twenty years less. But I gambled correctly: the heavenly secret was artificially obscured. Their cultivation is higher than mine, but it doesn't reach the level of true heavenly secrets. That's why I revealed the major destiny without suffering a backlash."

Zhang Daoyi chuckled, "No wonder Ji Wusuan remained alone his entire life yet was willing to take you on as a disciple in his old age. Your personality suits his preferences; that old fellow is also a gambler, betting on money, life, everything!"

Shen Yao nodded and said, "My master is quite a gambler. Last year, he even brazenly bet on the outcome of the duel between Master Liansheng and Sword God Su Qianqiu!"

"And what happened?" Zhang Daoyi asked, curious.

Shen Yao replied, "He bet on Master Liansheng winning, combining the national fortune of Chu, celestial trajectories, and all sorts of preparations. Then he set up an altar for divination, and what he saw, needless to say, everyone knows: he cried out, 'Gu Mo misled me!' and was severely wounded, remaining bedridden until now without recovery. Otherwise, this time, I wouldn't be the only one to come to Dragon-Tiger Mountain. My master would certainly join in such a grand event as the Luotian Grand Ceremony. If he were here, today's matters wouldn't be so difficult!"

Zhang Daoyi said, "Your master's gambling addiction is truly immense. Not only does he bet on unfavorable odds, but he also fell into a 'bottomless pit' scenario. Regarding the battle between Master Liansheng and Su Qianqiu, gambling houses across the world went crazy with profits; everyone who bet on either Su Qianqiu or Master Liansheng lost. The house took it all!"

Shen Yao chuckled lightly and said, "Let's get back to the current business, Old Celestial Master. There's a diviner with higher cultivation than me currently obscuring heavenly secrets. I'm forgetting more and more of the deduction results; this is all I can reconstruct!"

Zhang Daoyi picked up the rice paper, which, when pieced together, formed several drawings depicting the scenes Shen Yao had seen in his deduction.

"This is the result," Shen Yao said. "Deducing the process from the result is the main reason I've been able to solve cases repeatedly over the years."

Zhang Daoyi asked, "Can you see the culprit directly?"

"No, I can't," Shen Yao replied. "If I could see the culprit directly, I'd truly be an immortal. I can only deduce certain scenes based on events or clues."

Zhang Daoyi nodded slightly, quickly pieced all the rice paper together, and after a long look, said, "I can discern only four things. First, I am killed. Second, before my death, I am debating with a young Taoist priest. Third, the scene is desolate with few people, which is illogical. Fourth, Gu Mo is absent, but Gu Chutong is there, yet your drawing isn't clear enough to determine Gu Mo's condition from Gu Chutong's presence."

"Wait, let me think, let me think... I did see something, I saw something before..."

Shen Yao clutched his head and swayed, muttering wildly, "I can't quite remember... I recall now, at that time, Miss Gu seemed to have red eyes, as if she had been crying, and she was holding a zither, looking very angry..."

Zhang Daoyi frowned and said, "That girl Gu Chutong is carefree; not much can make her cry. My old bones dying in front of her certainly wouldn't bring her to tears... It can't be that... Gu Mo... something happened to him!"

Shen Yao said gravely, "Unlikely. Great Hero Gu's martial arts are unparalleled; he is the foremost in the world. In the current age, besides the rumored Jiang Ruoxu who is still alive, who else could possibly harm Great Hero Gu? Gongsun Jue? Honestly, I'm not disparaging Gongsun Jue, his Taotie Divine Skill is powerful, but has anyone ever become the world's foremost expert by cultivating it? After all, Taotie Divine Skill isn't one of the Thirteen Taboos like the Great Sun Demonic Art. Moreover, Gongsun Jue hasn't even fully mastered the Taotie Divine Skill, so he couldn't possibly harm Great Hero Gu. After much thought, on Dragon-Tiger Mountain, there are only two possibilities for Great Hero Gu to be harmed: either the rumored still-alive Jiang Ruoxu appears, or you, Old Celestial Master, use Dragon-Tiger Mountain's millennium-old heritage to secretly harm Great Hero Gu. Besides these two possibilities, I can't think of any other!"

Zhang Daoyi frowned and said, "There's another possibility."

"What?" Shen Yao asked, puzzled.

Zhang Daoyi said gravely, "Ling Xiao!"

Shen Yao asked, bewildered, "Who is Ling Xiao?"

Zhang Daoyi slowly replied, "The world's foremost expert before Jiang Ruoxu..."

Then, Zhang Daoyi recounted to Shen Yao the events of Ling Xiao's bloody massacre of Dragon-Tiger Mountain thirty-three years ago.

Finally, Zhang Daoyi said, "You previously mentioned that when you glimpsed heavenly secrets, you saw a young Taoist priest debating with me. It's highly probable that this is Ling Xiao's reincarnation. You said you heard him ask if I would be afraid? I can answer now: if it truly is Ling Xiao, I will certainly be afraid, very afraid!"

After listening, Shen Yao's expression became very solemn. He said gravely, "This is truly troublesome. Gongsun Jue is already enough trouble, and now there's an alleged reincarnation of Ling Xiao? Is this still the world I'm familiar with?"

As he spoke, he slowly looked down at the drawings and said, "However, following this line of thought, I should be able to discern some clues. Assuming this person is Ling Xiao, then Gongsun Jue's convenient timing for revenge must be connected. In that case, it's definitely not purely about revenge. If it were just revenge, why cause such a stir beforehand..."

Zhang Daoyi saw that Shen Yao had fallen into deep thought and likely wouldn't say anything more for a while.

He had been in frequent contact with Shen Yao these past few days and knew that once Shen Yao immersed himself in analyzing clues, he would disregard his surroundings and remain engrossed for an unknown period.

Therefore, Zhang Daoyi left directly and once again headed towards Tian Du Peak.

Although Gu Mo had previously said he wouldn't shy away from Ling Xiao's prowess, after hearing Shen Yao's deduction, Zhang Daoyi still felt he should go and persuade Gu Mo. Sometimes, it's good for young people to avoid confrontation. There's still plenty of time, and a temporary retreat isn't a permanent surrender.

Soon, Zhang Daoyi arrived at Tian Du Peak once again.

Just outside the Ascension Platform canyon, he sensed someone inside. Upon entering, he saw his senior brother, Zhang Xisu, the True Person and Head of the Celestial Master's Mansion on Dragon-Tiger Mountain.

At this moment, Zhang Xisu was standing on a stone platform on the mountainside, gazing from afar at Gu Mo on the Ascension Platform.

"Senior brother, what are you doing here?"

Although Zhang Daoyi was corpulent, his Qinggong (lightness skill) was exceptionally refined, allowing him to appear silently beside Zhang Xisu.

Zhang Xisu turned his head to look at Zhang Daoyi, then turned back to gaze at Gu Mo, saying, "The last time, a world's foremost expert came to the Ascension Platform to comprehend the Dao, and ultimately came to the realization that all suffering in the world stems from martial arts. Our Dragon-Tiger Mountain almost had its entire lineage martyred because of that idea. Now, another world's foremost expert is here comprehending the Dao, and I feel a faint unease in my heart."

Zhang Daoyi, naturally aware that Zhang Xisu was referring to Ling Xiao's bloody massacre of Dragon-Tiger Mountain thirty-three years ago, slowly said, "Senior brother, your unease likely doesn't stem from Gu Mo, but from Ling Xiao thirty-three years ago!"

Zhang Xisu asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Zhang Daoyi said gravely, "Shen Yao performed a divination and deduced that I might die during the Luotian Grand Ceremony, and the person who kills me is suspected to be Ling Xiao's reincarnation."

Zhang Xisu said, "Is there truly such a thing as reincarnation in this world?"

"I don't know," Zhang Daoyi replied. "However, when I used the Immortal Slaying Array to kill Ling Xiao here back then, he said before his death that I would have the Celestial Master's destiny for thirty-three years, and after thirty-three years, his reincarnation would come to claim his life from me."

Zhang Xisu frowned deeply and said, "Why don't I know about this?"

Zhang Daoyi explained, "At that time, the pressure Ling Xiao exerted on our Dragon-Tiger Mountain was simply too overwhelming. Everyone was shrouded in that bloody shadow. I didn't want to put any more pressure on our fellow disciples, so I never spoke of this to anyone. And when Ling Xiao said those words, all of you present had already been knocked unconscious by the Immortal Slaying Array, so you didn't hear it."

Zhang Xisu said gravely, "Junior brother, how about we go down the mountain and hide for a while?"

Zhang Daoyi said, "I cannot leave. Firstly, Gongsun Jue is currently lurking, eyeing us like a tiger; if I leave, he might act without restraint. Secondly, if Ling Xiao truly reincarnates, he will seek revenge on Dragon-Tiger Mountain. If I just leave, what will become of Dragon-Tiger Mountain? If I stay on the mountain, I still have the strength to fight. Besides, it's only a possibility that Ling Xiao has reincarnated; it's not yet confirmed, is it?"

Zhang Xisu remained silent for a while, then said, "I will prepare all the sect's grand formations over the next few days, just in case."

"Good," Zhang Daoyi said again. "Actually, Ling Xiao's reincarnation is still just an unconfirmed conjecture, but Gongsun Jue is a concrete threat, and his danger is immediate. Senior brother, please cooperate more with Shen Yao and Wang Zhen'ge."

Zhang Xisu sighed, "How am I not cooperating? It's just that neither Shen Yao nor Wang Zhen'ge has made any progress. Their deductions are the same: they say Gongsun Jue is definitely hidden somewhere on Dragon-Tiger Mountain, but they have no clues whatsoever. I'm also anxious about this, fearing that Gongsun Jue is secretly plotting something nefarious!"

Zhang Daoyi said, "Shen Yao might have clues now. He has confirmed that a Qi practitioner is secretly obscuring heavenly secrets, and he also knows about Ling Xiao. Combining these two points with his divination results, he should soon have a breakthrough."

Zhang Xisu said, "If only Ji Wusuan were here. Shen Yao's cultivation isn't sufficient, and I fear his divination results might be wrong, misleading us. After all, the opponent's cultivation is clearly higher than his. Could it be that the results he deduced were intentionally manipulated by the opponent to lead us in the wrong direction?"

"This..." Zhang Daoyi was at a loss for words.

"Junior brother, your mind is troubled!"

Zhang Xisu patted Zhang Daoyi's shoulder, then turned and left.

Zhang Daoyi stood rooted to the spot, lost in thought.

After a long time, Zhang Daoyi snapped back to reality. He looked towards Gu Mo beneath the Enlightenment Tree on the Ascension Platform, smiled slightly, and flew towards him with his hands clasped behind his back. However, just as he approached the Ascension Platform where Gu Mo was, a flying sword swept over, carrying immense killing intent, startling Zhang Daoyi into a hasty retreat of over twenty zhang, landing on a tree branch.

He carefully observed the sword's trajectory and realized it was merely hovering around the Ascension Platform where Gu Mo and Gu Chutong were. As long as one didn't approach it, they wouldn't be attacked.

At this moment, Gu Mo was deeply engrossed, clearly having entered a state of enlightenment.

Gu Chutong, however, seemed to sense something and slowly opened her eyes, asking, "Old Celestial Master, is something amiss?"

Zhang Daoyi said, "I just wanted to tell your brother that Dragon-Tiger Mountain might undergo significant changes, and he should try not to get involved when the time comes. Girl Chutong, when your brother wakes up, please tell him that it's alright for young people to avoid confrontation sometimes."

"Alright," Gu Chutong replied. "However, my brother probably won't wake up anytime soon. His cultivation is profound, having long reached the state of 'Bigu' (abstinence from grains). It's uncertain how long he will remain in seclusion for enlightenment."

"A longer seclusion is quite good," Zhang Daoyi nodded. "Alright, girl Chutong, you may continue. I'm leaving."

With that, Zhang Daoyi turned and departed.

Gu Chutong quickly called out, "Old Celestial Master, don't forget to bring me food!"

"Don't worry, I won't forget!"

Zhang Daoyi smiled slightly, pushed off with his feet, and flew out of the Ascension Platform canyon. Just then, he suddenly felt streams of martial true intent appearing within the canyon, surging towards Gu Mo like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea.

Immediately, Zhang Daoyi's pupils contracted. He stopped on a mountaintop and looked towards the Ascension Platform.

By now, the canyon was enveloped in a dense fog, making it impossible to see anything inside. Only the churning clouds within the vast mist were visible, as if masters were locked in a duel.

"Is Gu Mo going to discuss the Dao with masters from all ages?"

Meanwhile, Gu Mo remained quietly seated beneath the Enlightenment Tree. Yet, his consciousness seemed to have entered a hazy space. He continued to move forward, and at one moment, his vision suddenly cleared. He found himself in a place teeming with people, hundreds, even thousands, all seated below, while he sat alone on a high platform.

Faintly, he heard voices saying things like "discussing the Dao," "he goes first," "what Dao to discuss..."

In a trance, Gu Mo understood that what he was witnessing were the martial true intents left behind by masters who had once achieved enlightenment here. At this moment, so many of them had been triggered by him.

"From ancient times to the present, all heroes under heaven, come and discuss the Dao with me!"

As Gu Mo pondered, a white-clad swordsman appeared on the high platform and said gravely, "A sword is unyielding, never bending. A swordsman seeks only exhilaration..."

Immediately, he thrust a sword towards Gu Mo.

Gu Mo met it, using his finger as a sword.

***

Main peak of Dragon-Tiger Mountain.

After Headmaster Zhang Xisu returned from Tian Du Peak, he entered the main hall to chant scriptures as usual. Much later, he returned to his own courtyard and entered his study, where someone was seated. If Zhang Daoyi had been there, he would surely have recognized this person as Gongsun Jue, the Ghost Emissary, whom everyone on Dragon-Tiger Mountain was currently searching for.

Gongsun Jue's appearance truly befitted the name Ghost Emissary: his form was withered, and the skin exposed beneath his dark black robes resembled peeling decaying wood. Bluish-purple veins twisted like living snakes beneath his translucent flesh. His grayish-white hair was matted with withered grass, half his face was covered by charred bone armor, and his eyes were two pulsating balls of blood-red fire, with pupils that had transformed into bottomless black holes.

Seeing Gongsun Jue, Zhang Xisu's expression darkened. He said, "I told you before, if there's nothing wrong, just hide in the Heaven-Deceiving Formation and don't come out. Gu Mo came to Dragon-Tiger Mountain, and that young Shen Yao, by leveraging Gu Mo's influence, almost exposed us. Do you realize that?"

Gongsun Jue's voice was eerie. He said, "Senior brother, you've secretly cultivated Qi-refining divine abilities for decades, yet you can't even contend with a youngster? You're somewhat unworthy of the Holy Master's promotion of you back then!"

Zhang Xisu said, "Enough of this nonsense. I know you've always resented that the Holy Master taught me Qi-refining divine abilities while teaching you demonic arts, but now is not the time to argue about such things. It's been thirty-three years. Whether we can fulfill the Holy Master's grand aspiration to eliminate suffering in the world depends on this one time. Don't take it lightly!"

Gongsun Jue said coldly, "There are no issues on my side. I'm just waiting for your order. Taking advantage of this Luotian Grand Ceremony, if my Taotie Divine Skill still cannot reach full mastery, then I truly might as well die to atone for my failure."

"The plan officially begins tomorrow," Zhang Xisu said gravely. "The Holy Master's substitute you found, there are no problems with him, are there?"

Gongsun Jue said, "Rest assured, I've cultivated him for so many years that he genuinely believes from the bottom of his heart that he is the true reincarnation of the Holy Master. If you were to tell him now that he isn't, he wouldn't believe you."

"That's good then," Zhang Xisu said. "He must genuinely believe in his heart that he is the Holy Master's reincarnation. Only then can he deceive Zhang Daoyi and cause Zhang Daoyi to lose his composure, giving us a chance to kill him!"

"My concern is Gu Mo," Gongsun Jue said.

"No matter," Zhang Xisu said. "No one knows that I secretly repaired the Immortal Slaying Array long ago!"