No one would refuse to offer incense to the Three Pure Ones.
Seeing Shen Lang looking at him, Zhang Chengyang stepped forward, picked up the three sticks of incense handed to him by the young Taoist priest, lit them, bowed respectfully, and then inserted them into the incense burner.
Then Shen Lang walked over to the young Taoist priest and accepted the three sticks of incense.
However, something puzzling happened: the three incense sticks in Shen Lang's hand could not be lit on the candle in front of the portrait.
Upon seeing this, Zhang Daoyan's expression changed slightly.
In his hundred years of practice, he had never seen anything like this.
For a moment, Zhang Daoyan was somewhat at a loss.
"Old Celestial Master, the incense offerings at your Longhu Mountain are not doing so well," Shen Lang said with a smile, looking at Zhang Daoyan.
Zhang Daoyan said to the young Taoist priest who was holding the portrait, "Bring three more sticks of incense."
"Yes, Celestial Master." The young Taoist priest replied respectfully, then brought three more sticks of incense and replaced the one in Shen Lang's hand.
However, the incense sticks still wouldn't light. In Shen Lang's hands, the three sticks seemed to have turned into stone.
Just then, a hearty laugh came from outside the door: "Hahaha! Young Master Shen, there's no need to be so persistent."
The group looked up at the sound and saw an old man with white hair and a youthful face, holding a whisk in one hand and stroking his beard with the other, walk into the Sanqing Hall.
Zhang Daoyan hurriedly bowed and said, "Master."
The young Taoist priest holding the portrait bowed respectfully and said, "Master."
The old man walked up to Shen Lang and smiled kindly, saying, "Young Master Shen, it is an honor for this old Taoist priest to grace my Longhu Mountain with his presence. I have been disrespectful and hope you will forgive me."
Upon hearing Zhang Daoyan's address to the old man, Shen Lang understood that the old man in front of him, whose hair, beard, and eyebrows had all turned white, was the previous generation Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain.
"This humble one, Shen Lang, greets the Daoist Master." Shen Lang bowed slightly.
The old man hurriedly waved his hand: "Young Master Shen, there's no need for such formalities."
The old man's sudden panic was like that of an ordinary person seeing a wolf, insect, tiger, or leopard.
Yu Xian'er also bowed: "I was indebted to the Taoist priest many years ago, and I have come up the mountain today to express my gratitude. If it weren't for the Taoist priest's help back then, I'm afraid I would be nothing but a skeleton by now."
The old Taoist priest's expression became much more relaxed when facing Yu Xian'er. He waved his hand and said with a smile, "Miss Xian'er, there's no need for such formality. Back then, I was merely following the trend and obeying the will of Heaven."
The one who once expended his cultivation to prolong Yu Xian'er's life was the former Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, Master Zhang Daozong.
In his spare time, Shen Lang used the system to check the old Taoist priest's information.
Client: Zhang Daozong
Identity: Thirty-second Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain
Inner Desire: Ascension
Synopsis: Zhang Daozong, an orphan, was born during the Chongzhen era of the late Ming Dynasty. He was rescued by the 30th Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain during the chaos of war and taken to Longhu Mountain, where he was raised by his eldest disciple, Zhang Daoqi. He entered the Taoist sect at the age of three and was accepted as Zhang Daoqi's personal disciple. At fifteen, he became a Heavenly Rank Ancient Martial Arts Master, surpassing all his peers within the Longhu Mountain sect, and naturally became the senior disciple of Longhu Mountain.
For the next fifteen years, Zhang Daozong descended the mountain to hone his skills in the mortal world, challenging ancient martial artists from various sects. He advanced with unstoppable momentum, never suffering a defeat. Until he encountered Yu Jinghong, the patriarch of the Yu family, and after a fierce battle lasting seven days, he was defeated by Yu Jinghong.
At the age of forty, Zhang Daozong's ancient martial arts had reached a state of perfection, and he once again chose to challenge Yu Jinghong. In that battle, Zhang Daozong suffered a crushing defeat.
After receiving guidance from his master Zhang Daoqi, Zhang Daozong gave up his obsession and returned to Longhu Mountain to abandon martial arts and cultivate Taoism.
At the age of eighty, Zhang Daoqi passed on the position of Celestial Master to Zhang Daozong.
At the age of two hundred, Zhang Daozong passed on his position to his third disciple, Zhang Daoyan, and taught him the unique skill of the Seven Star Life-Sustaining Lamp.
Now, Zhang Daozong is 442 years old, and his cultivation surpasses that of all the other Taoist masters except for the founding fathers. His only obsession is to ascend to the immortal realm and see if the immortal realm mentioned in the tradition still exists.
After reading Zhang Daozong's biography, Shen Lang was filled with admiration. He hadn't expected that this sprightly old Taoist priest was already 442 years old.
However, he wasn't too surprised, after all, he had already met Ying Zheng and Guiguzi, who had lived for two thousand years. Even if someone stood up and claimed to be the Yellow Emperor, he wouldn't be intimidated.
Seeing that Shen Lang was staring at him, Zhang Daozong smiled and said, "Young Master Shen, what do you think of this old Taoist?"
Shen Lang laughed and said, "This junior dares not presume to judge an elder. Please forgive me, venerable Taoist priest."
Zhang Daozong laughed heartily, "Hahaha! Young Master Shen is truly an interesting person."
"I wonder if Young Master Shen would be interested in visiting this old Taoist's humble abode?"
Shen Lang cupped his hands and said, "Please, elder, I dare not refuse."
Zhang Daozong extended his right hand toward the door and said with a smile, "Please!"
Shen Lang also extended his hand: "Please, Daoist Master."
There is a natural lake on the back of Longhu Mountain, where a layer of mist always floats, making it a very scenic spot.
Zhang Daozong, Shen Lang, and Yu Xian'er sat at a stone table by the lake.
Zhang Daozong poured tea for the two men and said with a smile, "I never thought that this old Taoist priest's place would one day welcome the two of you."
Shen Lang smiled modestly and said, "You flatter me, Daoist Master. I am but a young lad and do not deserve such praise."
Zhang Daozong waved his hand and said, "Young Master Shen, everything in this world has its own destiny. Your abilities are superior to mine, so there's no need to be so modest."
Shen Lang smiled modestly, "Daoist's methods are profound, and I am ashamed to admit my inferiority. If the immortal gate had been opened a thousand years ago, Daoist would probably be among the immortals now, enjoying the fruits of longevity."
"Hahaha!" Zhang Daozong laughed loudly, looking up at the sky. "I knew you were a remarkable person."
"It's a pity that the immortal sect disappeared a thousand years ago, and I'm afraid my lifelong pursuit will be impossible to achieve."
Shen Lang shook his head and said, "Where there's a will, there's a way. I dare to say that you will surely achieve your wish in the future."
"Then I'll accept your kind words," Zhang Daozong replied with a smile.
Then Zhang Daozong's gaze fell on Qin Shiya, who had been standing silently behind Shen Lang.
"If I'm not mistaken, this must be the one who awakened the Heavenly Demon Body in the northwest a few days ago, right?"
Shen Lang nodded without denying it, and said, "What the Daoist said is true. The one who awakened the Heavenly Demon Body is my lover, Qin Shiya."
When Qin Shiya heard Shen Lang refer to her as 'lover' in his words, her previously calm eyes instantly filled with endless tenderness and love.
Zhang Daozong stared at Qin Shiya for a few more moments, then nodded with great satisfaction and said, "This girl is a good prospect."
He then turned to Qin Shiya and asked, "Would you be willing to become my disciple and my last apprentice?"
"ah?"
Not only Qin Shiya, but even Shen Lang and Yu Xian'er who were present were stunned.
"Wh...what's going on..." Qin Shiya asked herself blankly.
Weren't we on a family trip to Longhu Mountain today? Why did this old Taoist priest suddenly appear and want to take me as his disciple?
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