Under one person: I, Zhang Zhiwei, the arrogant Zhang.

"A sense of unease is brewing; something big is about to happen..."

Zhang Zhiwei mentally considered the recent events.

A few months earlier, the Japanese pirates were not satisfied with occupying Rehe and began to approach North China, thus launching the Great Wall Resistance.

Even though the Great Wall army put up a fierce resistance and fought a bloody battle, the authorities' main force was still engaged in internal encirclement and suppression, so it ultimately ended in failure.

As the Japanese pirates broke through the Great Wall defenses and approached Beiping, the authorities, fearing for their safety, began to compromise.

The matter ultimately ended in peace talks, which tacitly acknowledged the Japanese occupation of Rehe, leaving the gateway to North China wide open and sowing the seeds of major hidden dangers for the future.

General Feng, commander of the Northwest Army, was very dissatisfied with this and formed an allied army of 100,000 to drive out the Japanese pirates.

The Allied forces fought bravely and at one point regained a considerable amount of lost territory.

However, the Japanese pirates quickly reinforced their forces, and the two sides engaged in fierce fighting.

At this critical moment, Nanjing not only failed to provide any assistance to the Allied forces, but also cut off their supplies and mobilized sixteen divisions to besiege them.

Under attack from both inside and outside, the Allied forces suffered heavy casualties and ultimately failed. Commander-in-Chief Feng resigned, and many anti-Japanese heroes bravely sacrificed their lives.

After this incident, the unit that had disobeyed orders not to resist when the Japanese invaders invaded Shanghai and chose to fight them to the death was dissatisfied with Nanjing's actions. They advocated that Chinese people should not fight Chinese people and that the civil war should be stopped to fight the Japanese invaders.

This proposition led to their exclusion from all sides, and in a fit of anger, they launched an uprising.

The Nanjing authorities were furious and dispatched an army of 500,000 to suppress the rebellion. The two sides are currently locked in a stalemate.

"The location of the incident is right where the Sanyi Gate is located. When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken. Could it be that Old Lu and Gate Master Zuo will be affected?"

“That doesn’t make sense. The Trinity Sect has never interfered in these matters, and it wasn’t affected at all.”

Zhang Zhiwei felt there were things he hadn't considered.

"What is it?"

In his eyes, black and white lines intertwined, constantly elongating.

During this process, he clearly felt that his calculations were flawed, and that the trend of the black and white lines was interrupted in one section.

"That's the problem."

He looked in the direction of the broken black and white lines.

The black and white lines have ended, and there is only blank space ahead. He can only trace back along the black and white lines.

Soon, an image appeared in his mind.

The scene is filled with ancient trees reaching for the sky, lush and green, and a stone tablet stands in front of the mountain wall with the three characters "Prince Cave" written on it.

Behind the stele is a cave, and at the entrance of the cave stands an old Taoist priest with white hair, a youthful face, a robust build, and a resolute expression.

The old Taoist priest was holding a book and flipping through it.

Zhang Zhiwei recognized the old Taoist priest as none other than Sun, the Martial Saint of Wudang.

When he looked at Master Sun, Master Sun, who was reading a book, also looked up at him.

Their eyes met, and their gazes seemed to transcend time and space, converging in that instant.

Immediately afterwards, a voice came:

"Farewell, young friend Zhiwei!"

Zhang Zhiwei's heart sank: "Where is the sect leader going?"

“My life is over, my form is established. Today I break free from the shackles of heaven and earth, and this body will forever be the Great Luo Boat.”

After the Wudang sect leader finished speaking, the scene vanished like a dream, and the black and white lines disappeared.

It's not a break, but a complete disappearance. The fate lines of the future, the present, and the past have all vanished.

Zhang Zhiwei sighed, "The immortal of Wudang Sect has passed away."

Immediately afterwards, a strange sense of unease swept over me.

Zhang Zhiwei frowned. Although he was immediately jolted awake from the palpitation, the feeling lingered for a long time.

The feeling was as if something about oneself had disappeared.

"What disappeared?" Zhang Zhiwei closed his eyes and sensed it.

With his keen observation skills, there are few things in this world that can be kept from him.

He quickly found the cause of his heart palpitations.

The causal link between himself and the Wudang sect leader has disappeared.

"The causal line actually disappeared along with the fate line?" Zhang Zhiwei muttered to himself.

The cause-and-effect line and the fate line are different.

When a person dies, the line of fate ends, but the line of cause and effect does not disappear.

Cause and effect are extensions of your past actions. As long as you plant the seed, even if you die, the result will still come.

Therefore, even after a person dies, the causal lines they left behind will continue to extend.

However, the cause-and-effect relationship of the Wudang sect leader disappeared along with his fate.

Cause and effect is the feedback of past actions, and the disappearance of the causal line.

"Has everything that Master Sun did in the past disappeared?"

But Zhang Zhiwei immediately rejected the idea.

"That's impossible. Things done can't just disappear for no reason."

"More likely, Master Sun himself severed those causal links, so the causal lines disappeared."

"But Master Sun never had any direct contact with me, so how was the causal link severed?"

"Just because of that one sentence you just said?!"

Zhang Zhiwei disagreed.

If he hadn't used his abilities to deduce things, he wouldn't have had that brief moment of spiritual communion with the sect leader.

Moreover, that fleeting encounter did not resolve the cause and effect.

It's more like saying goodbye to friends before leaving.

"Without any contact, the cause and effect were completely severed..."

"More likely, the Wudang sect leader unilaterally severed the cause and effect."

Severing cause and effect is a pipe dream for ordinary people.

However, for someone of Zhang Zhiwei's level, it is possible to do so.

Back then, the chief priest of Ise Grand Shrine used a formation to curse him to death along the path of cause and effect, but he severed the causal thread with a single sword strike, interrupting the curse.

However, his method of severing karmic ties is different from that used by the Wudang sect leader.

Because the Wudang sect leader had no reason to sever his karmic ties with him alone.

More likely, the Wudang sect leader severed the causal links between himself and everyone else in one fell swoop, which is why this effect occurred.

Zhang Zhiwei recalled the teachings of Quanxing: not to pluck a single hair, not to take a single penny, and to let go of everything.

"Severing all connections and causal relationships between oneself and the outside world—isn't that exactly what it means?"

"So, the Wudang Sect Master has succeeded?" Zhang Zhiwei didn't think the Wudang Sect Master would suffer the same fate as other extraordinary individuals, like the five signs of decay and approaching death.

A few years ago, when he met the head of the Wudang sect, the head was full of energy and vitality, with innate Qi abundant and showing no signs of weakness.

Judging from that momentum, he could easily live for several more decades.

But he passed away just a few short years later.

This situation...

Either he suffered some irreparable injury.

Either he has misunderstood himself.

I thought of the words the Wudang sect leader said when he bid farewell: "Today I break free from the shackles of heaven and earth, and this body will forever be a great Luo boat."

Zhang Zhiwei believes it should be the latter.

"The passing of the Wudang Sect Master is a major event. We should go and ask our master about it."

Zhang Zhiwei got up, lifted the cultivation barrier set up by the crooked tree, and flew down Tianmen Peak. In the blink of an eye, he arrived at the gate of the Great Shangqing Palace.

In the past, there weren't many people coming and going at the Shangqing Palace, but now it's like a bustling market, with people coming and going in a hurry.

Zhang Zhiwei walked over and saw a senior brother rushing out. He reached out to stop him and asked what had happened.
Seeing that the person who stopped him was Zhang Zhiwei, the senior brother was not angry. He patiently explained to Zhang Zhiwei that he did not know what was going on, but only that the Celestial Master was constantly issuing orders and that it was extremely urgent.

"Excuse me." Zhang Zhiwei let his senior brother leave and strode into the True Person Hall.

Inside the hall, Zhang Jingqing sat upright in a grand chair, her eyes lowered, staring silently at the octagonal red copper judgment table in front of her.

Zhang Zhiwei walked in without knocking, and Zhang Jingqing didn't even glance at him.

Normally, they would have started cursing long ago.

Zhang Zhiwei could sense a deep sense of sorrow emanating from his master.

Based on what had just happened, he felt that his master must know that the Wudang sect leader had passed away.

Although the master and the Wudang sect leader seem to be at odds, calling each other "old scoundrel" all the time, they have actually been friends for a long time and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them close friends.

“Master…” he was about to speak.

Zhang Jingqing spoke first: "You've come at the right time. Just now, I received an urgent report that the Wudang Sect Master has passed away."

"Master's information comes so quickly?"

Zhang Zhiwei was somewhat surprised. He had come here specifically to discuss this matter with his master.

Zhang Jingqing sighed: "The passing of the head of a sect is a major event, and there will be special channels to inquire about it."

"Moreover, Longhu Mountain and Wudang are both Taoist sects and have a very close relationship. As soon as the Wudang sect leader passed away, we received news from Wudang."

"I see," Zhang Zhiwei said. "With Master Sun gone, what are Master's plans?"

Zhang Jingqing said, "Wudang is a major sect in the martial arts world. As a result, it attracts a lot of attention and many people are secretly eyeing it. However, with Master Sun in charge, all sorts of villains dare not act recklessly."

"Even though Master Sun has rarely made a move in recent years, his name still carries weight. As long as he is alive, Wudang will be safe and secure."

"Now that he's gone, there might be some trouble, especially with the transition between the old and new sect leaders. So we need to go and lend a hand to help ensure a smooth handover of the Wudang sect leadership!"

Zhang Zhiwei nodded: "So, the next leader of Wudang has already been decided?"

Zhang Jingqing nodded and said, "Before he left, Master Sun had already made arrangements that the position of Wudang Master would be taken by his senior brother."

“The senior brother of the Wudang sect leader,” Zhang Zhiwei recalled what he had seen and heard during his last trip to Wudang, and said, “Is he the red-faced old Taoist priest whose build is similar to Huaiyi’s?”

“Yes, it’s him,” Zhang Jingqing nodded. “Actually, he should have been the head of Wudang Sect decades ago. However, Head Sun was too outstanding, and the newcomer surpassed him and took the position that should have been his.”

"Would he be resentful?"

Zhang Jingqing shook her head: "Only when the difference is not significant will one feel resentful; if the difference is too great, one will only feel fortunate."

Zhang Zhiwei nodded, agreeing that this was indeed the case. Just like Master Zuo and Si Chong, Si Chong, that little old man, although he had a very bad temper and seemed to defy everyone, respected Master Zuo like a god.

"By the way, what brings you here to see your teacher?" Zhang Jingqing asked.

Zhang Zhiwei said, "I originally wanted to tell my master about the passing of Master Sun, but I didn't expect that my master already knew."

"How did you know about this?" Zhang Jingqing asked in surprise. "I know because Wudang sent me a message immediately, and they used a special communication channel. Did Wudang also send a message to you?"

Zhang Zhiwei said, "I don't have a way to contact Wudang. Only Zhou Sheng occasionally communicates with me."

“But in the past few years, the yin-yang paper he had left has been used up, and we haven’t been in contact for a long time.”

He explained, “I sensed it. I have met the Wudang Sect Master, and we have even discussed the Dao. There is a karmic connection between us.”

"But today, the Wudang sect leader is severing karmic ties, so I sensed it and deduced the past."

“Our consciousnesses met, and we saw each other for the last time. After he said goodbye to me, he passed away.”

"Consciousnesses meet, and then one last time before passing away... Is this even possible?" Zhang Jingqing was somewhat shocked. "Come, tell me in detail?"

Zhang Zhiwei didn't hold back and recounted all the details to Zhang Jingqing in detail.

After listening, Zhang Jingqing sighed, "Just as I thought, that old guy..."

“Master, what do you want to say…” Zhang Zhiwei asked.

Zhang Jingqing said, "When you returned from Wudang, you told me that this old fellow had been meditating in the Prince's Cave for several years."

"At the time, I thought that with this old guy's personality, even if he had some kind of mental block or setback, he shouldn't have been depressed for so long. Maybe he was nurturing a sacred embryo. Now that I see it, I'm afraid that's really the case."

“I also think so,” Zhang Zhiwei said. “With the Wudang sect’s dual cultivation of life and death, and with his cultivation level, it would be impossible for him to suddenly pass away unless he resolved his own death.”

Zhang Jingqing nodded and said, "This old guy's realm is terrifying. Last time I talked with you, with your guidance, he was able to get rid of the obstacles I had set for him. He has clearly transcended the shackles, and it is quite normal for him to achieve enlightenment."

“Trying to trip me up… Master…” Zhang Zhiwei thought to himself, “Master is so wicked.”

Zhang Jingqing spoke first: "You think it's unfair of me to be your teacher, right?"

“Master, I didn’t say that,” Zhang Zhiwei quickly denied.

“It doesn’t matter,” Zhang Jingqing said. “I’m just being unfair, but there’s nothing I can do. This old guy is too strong.”

"His talent is similar to yours, but he has a righteous and competitive nature. He's extremely ambitious and wants to be invincible. I won't hold him back..."

At this point, Zhang Jingqing paused and chuckled to herself.

"Still keeping me in suspense..." Zhang Zhiwei quickly said, "Tripping him up a bit will give him some peace and quiet, making it easier for him to attain enlightenment?"

Zhang Jingqing shook her head and continued, "At that time, he was riding high, full of vigor and ambition. What good would it do to trip him up?"

"The only good thing is that it gives me some peace and quiet. Otherwise, if that old guy comes knocking on my door, I'll never have a peaceful day again."

"Just because I was able to get him down the mountain once doesn't mean I can do it every time."

Zhang Zhiwei: "..."

“Master, you said that I have ruined the atmosphere of Longhu Mountain. Now it seems that the source of the bad atmosphere of Longhu Mountain is still you!”

"Huh?" Zhang Jingqing's eyes widened, and she clenched her Lightning Thunder Fist: "You little brat, you want another beating, don't you!"

Zhang Zhiwei shrank back, no longer daring to speak recklessly. There was nothing he could do; no matter how high his cultivation level was, he still had to fear his master.

Zhang Jingqing put away the Lightning Thunder Fist: "But I didn't expect that the obstacle I set for you back then would actually be untied by you. What a coincidence!"

"Master, when shall we set off for Wudang?" Zhang Zhiwei asked.

"Let's do it tomorrow, give Wudang some time to prepare!" Zhang Jingqing said. (End of Chapter)