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

Upon hearing this, a hint of approval flashed in Zhang Jingqing's eyes. Knowing when to advance and when to retreat, understanding gains and losses, and being neither greedy nor reckless—this is true wisdom!
The Wang family head sighed, "The Little Celestial Master's methods are so demanding that even a master like Master Li cannot learn them. No wonder those two met such an end."

Then, he was somewhat incredulous, "If even Master Li can't do it... then doesn't that mean that among all these people present, not a single one can learn this technique?"

“Not necessarily!” The red-faced old Taoist turned his gaze to Zuo Ruotong. “If Master Zuo is willing to go up on stage and give it a try, perhaps it can be successful.”

He didn't mention Zhang Jingqing, after all, she was Zhang Zhiwei's teacher. It would be inappropriate for a teacher to go on stage and ask his disciple to teach him.

Master Zuo waved his hand slightly: "I have never been involved in divination, so I won't join in this fun."

The red-faced old Taoist said, "If you haven't learned it, you can go and learn it. In my opinion, with Master Zuo's aptitude and mindset, it won't be difficult for him to learn this skill."

Master Zuo shook his head, his tone calm yet firm: "Don't bite off more than you can chew. On the path of cultivation, it's best to walk your own path. No matter how good someone else's path is, it's still theirs."

He paused, then used the old red-faced Taoist's evaluation of Zhou Sheng as an analogy: "Just as Master Li said, young Taoist Zhou Sheng is learning this technique as a 'crutch' for practicing the Tao..."

"But Mr. Zuo already has his own cane. One cane is enough to carry in your hand. If you carry too many, it will be inconvenient to walk and only convenient to hit people."

He cleverly used the metaphor of a "crutch" to represent the fundamental principles of their respective spiritual practice.

The red-faced old Taoist priest exclaimed sincerely, "Master Zuo's level of cultivation is truly admirable!"

The Wang family head was puzzled: "According to Master Zuo's statement, if the Little Celestial Master knows so many techniques, wouldn't he be full of sticks for beating people? Won't his path of cultivation be fraught with difficulties in the future?"

Master Zuo smiled calmly: "The matter of cultivation is like drinking water; only the person drinking knows whether it is hot or cold. For Master Li and me, this Tian Tong Qi Men may be a 'stick' that gets in the way, an obstacle to our path."

“For Master Zhou Sheng, it is a ‘crutch’ to help him walk.”

"But for my young friend Zhiwei..." He looked at Zhang Zhiwei in the arena, "it may be neither a stick nor a crutch. His path is wider and his goal is more ambitious. If he only uses a crutch to move forward, he may not be able to reach the end."

"So he used a lot of 'sticks' to build a 'vehicle' to get around."

"And this is something that ordinary people like us cannot learn. If we try to learn it, we will only create an outward appearance without a matching core. This is not suitable for either fighting or practicing justice."

These words left everyone at the head table speechless. You, who are nicknamed "Immortal," what are you pretending to be, an ordinary mortal? If you are an ordinary mortal, then what are they?
"Hahaha!" The red-faced old Taoist laughed loudly. "Master Zuo is absolutely right! This is exactly what the ancient saying 'Those who learn from me live, those who imitate me die' means. Young friend Zhiwei's path is only suitable for him. Even his methods, if we want to learn them, we have to carefully consider whether they are a stick to beat people with, a walking stick to use, or... a useless burden?"

A useless burden… Zhang Jingqing looked at Zhang Zhiwei on the stage and wholeheartedly agreed. That’s why he didn’t care about the methods Zhang Zhiwei came up with.

True practitioners understand the art of making choices.

In the story, Zhuge Qing was defeated by Wang Ye and developed a mental demon, so he began to pursue the Eight Extraordinary Techniques. However, after he went to great lengths to obtain the Divine Hundred Refinements, he chose to give it up.

There are two traditional techniques passed down in Zhuge Village: the Wuhou Qimen and the Wuhou Shenji.

The allure of Feng Hou Qi Men to the Shu Zi Men is as great as the allure of Shen Ji Bai Lian to Zhuge Village.

But he was willing to give up the secret manual he had obtained.

Zhuge Qing could reach such a level, so the Left Sect Master and the Wudang Sect Master would naturally be far superior, and wouldn't be so easily swayed by a good thing.

As for the Wang family head, the Lü family head, and others whose cultivation levels are insufficient, even if they wanted it, their cultivation levels are not high enough to grasp it.

On stage, Zhang Zhiwei asked again, "Does anyone else want to come up and try?"

No one responded from the sidelines. They were tempted, but when they thought of the terrible state of Li Linfeng and the other two who had gone mad with their qi and the deep-seated fear that followed, who would dare to try it so easily?
Everyone could see that the young celestial master's treatment was not without cost; the side effects would likely severely impact his future cultivation.

Zhang Zhiwei nodded in satisfaction. This was exactly the effect he wanted, leaving behind a sense of awe.

Even if the news spreads in the future, those who covet this technique will have to think twice before acting, which will save them a lot of trouble.

No one went up on stage, so Zhang Zhiwei stepped off the stage. But he didn't go back to the table where the elders had been. Most of the food there was just cold dishes left. He went to a new table where the dishes had just been served and were still hot.

On the field, after the earth-shattering battle between Zhang Huaiyi and Zhou Sheng and the commotion just now, everyone's interest in sparring had long since faded, and the scene became quiet.

Fortunately, Wudang had made arrangements in advance.

Soon, a group of highly skilled entertainers were invited onto the stage.

The gathering of extraordinary individuals naturally invites experts in extraordinary skills, who are proficient in singing, recitation, acting, and martial arts.

At the climax of the song, he even put on a divine mask, transformed into a character in the play, and used magic to fill the entire venue with seven-colored divine light.

Visually, it was even more dazzling than the previous competition among the younger generation, winning thunderous applause.

After the entertainers performed several shows, the next program was a magic trick by the Jiyun Society.

It's worth mentioning that among the performers on stage was Liao Tianlin, one of the Thirty-Six Thieves.

He performed on stage last time for Grandpa Lu's 80th birthday, and he's here again this time.

Compared to his naivety that time, he has matured a lot this time, and his skills have improved significantly.

He came with his master, but not as a guest; he was a performer hired by Wudang at great expense.

In fact, Liao Tianlin had also wanted to participate in the previous competitions between the younger generation.

As a leading figure in the Jiyun Society, his strength is among the best of his generation, even in the entire martial arts world.

But his master wouldn't allow it, since he was going to perform on stage later. If he overexerted himself in the competition or got injured, what would happen to the performance?
According to the president of Jiyun Society, both arena competitions and stage performances are ways to gain exposure. Rather than risking life and death on stage, it's better to perform honestly and conscientiously.

Unfortunately, Liao Tianlin did not go on stage to spar. Finally, after the sparring session ended, it was time for him to go on stage to perform.

As one of the best of the new generation of Jiyun Society, Liao Tianlin did not perform with his master; he had a solo scene.

His skills mostly involved his hands, and the tricks he performed were somewhat similar to the close-up magic that often appeared on the Spring Festival Gala in later generations, only much more sophisticated.

This time, Liao Tianlin performed the art of concealment, which involves hiding things, such as a fairy picking beans or conjuring objects out of thin air.
Liao Tianlin demonstrated several techniques, including reversing the direction of the eight directions, which won him a round of applause.

But Li Muxuan, sitting in the audience, curled his lip in disdain. Compared to Liao Tianlin's "Reversing Eight Directions," Liao Tianlin's was worlds apart.

No wonder Old Man Wang always said that turning things upside down was just a juggling trick... Li Muxuan sighed inwardly.

He had always thought that Old Man Wang meant that his skills were mediocre, just like many martial arts practitioners would say that their skills were just like a farmer's.

But this doesn't mean it was actually used for growing crops. Unexpectedly, turning it upside down in eight directions was actually used for juggling.

Looking at Liao Tianlin on the stage, he couldn't help but wonder, if he were to go up on stage now and demonstrate Old Man Wang's skills in front of all the heroes of the world, would it make him famous throughout the land?

If it were in the past, he might have actually gone up and done it once the thought crossed his mind.

But now, he is much more mature and composed, and he would never do such a rash thing again.

He has not forgotten his identity.

He is now a member of the Sanyi Sect. Even though the Left Sect Leader has not publicly accepted him, he cannot consider himself an outsider.

He stared at Liao Tianlin's figure on the stage, thinking to himself: Senior Brother Zhang said that Master might be testing me. If I pass on the knowledge of Reversing the Eight Directions and fulfill Old Man Wang's last wish, will I be able to truly become a disciple of the Three Ones?
That Liao Tianlin has mastered a juggling trick quite well; he seems to have good potential. How about passing on the "Reversed Eight Directions" technique to him?

After careful consideration, Li Muxuan abandoned the idea.

Although Liao Tianlin seemed alright, he was a member of the Jiyun Society. Once these methods were passed on to him, they became the methods of the Jiyun Society.

Old Wang said he hoped that he could establish a school of thought for the "Reversing the Eight Directions" technique, meaning that it would be best to find someone without a school to teach him.

Let's wait a bit longer. Things involving inheritance can't be rushed. I'm still young, I can take my time to find it.

If it really doesn't work...

Li Muxuan looked at Lu Jin. He remembered chatting with Senior Brother Zhang before, when Senior Brother Zhang jokingly said that if he really couldn't find a successor, he could introduce Lu Mang to a woman and let Lu Mang have a child for him.

He hadn't paid much attention to it before, but now, it suddenly welled up in his mind.

It is said that the Lu family has integrity and its disciples are all exceptionally talented, making them highly sought after by various sects and factions.

If we really can't find one, having Lu Mang give birth to a disciple might not be a bad idea!
Moreover, the Lu family precepts state that methods learned outside the family should not be passed on to other members of the clan; it is best to pass them on to members of the same school.

Since there are no other people in his sect, he can only take on disciples to pass on his skills. With his own help and the help of the Lu family, how can he not gain a foothold in the martial arts world?
In this way, wouldn't a sect that can turn the tide in all directions be born?!
The more Li Muxuan thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.

As expected of Senior Brother Zhang, even his casual suggestion is so insightful... Li Muxuan sighed inwardly.

Meanwhile, on stage, after Liao Tianlin finished his magic trick, his master, the magic master of Jiyun Society, took the stage next.

Jiyun Society sounds like a new sect, but in fact they are very old, founded in the Southern Song Dynasty, which is older than many sects in the world of supernatural beings.

With so many years of tradition, it's impossible not to have a few secret, top-secret skills.

This time, the master will be performing one of the Jiyun Society's most treasured skills: the Immortal Rope!

The crowd couldn't help but cheer. The Immortal Tree was a legendary magic trick, and very few people were lucky enough to see it. They never expected to see it in Wudang this time.

Soon, Liao Tianlin's master came on stage. He was thin, wearing a brightly colored costume, with heavy makeup on his face, and his steps had a strange rhythm.

He walked to the front of the stage, faced the audience, and began to mutter incantations in a low, hoarse voice with a certain ancient rhythm.

Then, he slowly pulled out a coil of seemingly ordinary coarse hemp rope from his pocket.

"Rise!" he shouted in a low voice, forming a hand seal and suddenly throwing the hemp rope upwards!
In an instant, the hemp rope, like a living snake, shot straight into the night sky, defying gravity, rising higher and higher until it disappeared into the clouds, as if it could truly reach the heavens!

The master looked up at the rope that stretched straight to the sky and patted the end of the rope.

The rope trembled slightly, as if it were alive.

He took a deep breath, grabbed the rope, and began to climb. His movements were fluid, even strangely light, like a gecko climbing a wall or a nimble ape scaling a cliff.

The crowd's gaze followed the magician's figure upwards. The rope was taut, bearing the weight of his ascent, yet it remained motionless, as if nailed to the void.

The magician climbed to a high place and disappeared into the clouds. Then, the rope fell from the clouds, but the magician was nowhere to be seen.

The audience held their breath, deeply shocked by the sight. With only ropes remaining, where was the magician? Had he really climbed up to the sky?

Golden flames gleamed in Zhang Zhiwei's eyes. He had discovered the truth: the ropes had indeed been raised high into the clouds.

However, after disappearing into the clouds, it did not continue to rise. One end of the rope interacted with the water vapor in the clouds, forming a passage.

The magician climbed in and disappeared into the passageway.

This operation is somewhat similar to the Fire Escape Technique of the Fire Virtue Sect, and also somewhat similar to the Water Technique used by Lan Gu. As for where the passage leads...

Zhang Zhiwei looked at the shadowy corner on the stage, where he saw water vapor rising from the ground, forming a misty white vapor.

The magician suddenly burst out of the white mist, and from who knows where he had produced two gleaming short knives, their blades long and narrow with sharp edges.

He let out a low shout, and clashed his twin blades together in front of him! "Clang!" A metallic clang rang out, sparks flew, and the twin blades instantly ignited!

The two short swords instantly transformed into two roaring fiery dragons, and he began to wield them.

The body moves with the blade, and the blade moves with the man!
The two burning blades in his hands transformed into a dazzling storm of fire!

Chop, slash, flick, slice, stab... His twin blades were fierce and ruthless, flames roared and surged, heat waves rolled, and the air seemed to be burning!
His figure appeared and disappeared in the firelight, the flashes of swords and the flickering flames creating a magnificent scene.

After executing a full set of sword techniques, the flames gradually died down. The master sheathed his sword, crossing it in front of his chest, as wisps of blue smoke curled upwards.

"Ahem... Ladies and gentlemen, today's performance is over."

After saying that, he put away his twin swords, picked up the rope on the ground, and turned to leave the stage.

The audience erupted in thunderous applause. As expected of the magic master from Jiyun Society, this performance was undoubtedly the most exciting of all the shows, second only to the battle between Zhou Sheng and Zhang Huaiyi.

The audience's expectations were raised by the magic tricks of the Master of Jiyun Society, and the rest of the program seemed somewhat uninspiring.

At the main table, the older generation chatted.

The red-faced old Taoist priest glanced at Zhang Zhiwei, who was drinking peanuts in the distance, then looked at Zhang Jingqing and said:
"Young friend Zhiwei seems to really enjoy peanuts. By the way, Celestial Master, I remember that after young friend Zhiwei, you took in another disciple surnamed Mao. What were your thoughts on that? Was he perhaps more suitable for the position of Celestial Master than young friend Zhiwei?" (End of Chapter)