One person: After starting with the academic atmosphere, I'll take down Xia He!

Longhu Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion!

A sinister figure drifted by and arrived in front of a pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, an old man was savoring his fragrant tea. He seemed to have sensed the arrival of the newcomer long ago, and the old master put down his teacup.

"Hey, Lao Gu, what brings you, such a busy man, to my Longhu Mountain again?"

The old master chuckled and teased the figure in front of him.

"Hehe, Master Zhang, you're so old, yet you're still as unserious as that kid Ma Long!"

This kid is driving me crazy.

"Annoying? I don't think so!"

If you hate Malone so much, why did you pass on your best tricks to him?

I saw him a couple of days ago; that kid has a really strong soul.

When Lao Gu complained about Ma Long, the old master immediately exposed his true intentions.

"Hmph, it makes me angry just thinking about it. I only gave him a similar method of circulating qi, but this kid accidentally tricked Er Zhuang into revealing the correct formula."

This kid usually seems glib and smooth-talking, but he's really serious about his training, never slacking off morning or night. Plus, he's got top-notch talent and ability, so his progress is incredibly fast.

What could I do?

"Hmph, what a twist of fate!"

If you're not giving it to him willingly, then even if Malone has immense abilities, it won't help!

The old master still saw things clearly, and his words immediately revealed what was on Lao Gu's mind.

"Oh dear, Master Zhang, please stop teasing me."

You're quite happy that a savior has finally arrived!

What's with the righteous indignation?

Didn't you also pass on the Golden Light Mantra to them? And you even sent your precious disciple down the mountain to help him.

Seeing that he couldn't continue the conversation, Lao Gu simply laid his cards on the table and sat down on the stone bench in front of him.

"Oh dear, Xiao Gu, I think you've been itching for a beating all these years."

Malone doesn't know the tricks of the trade, so he can't hit you.

Would you like to try my slap?

The old master looked at the looming Gu in front of him with a half-smile, which frightened him so much that he hurriedly begged for mercy.

"Okay, okay, okay!"

Never mind what I said!

My frail soul cannot withstand your slap that transcends the five elements!

It's still the same these days. Whoever is more capable has the final say, and I'll listen to you!

But then again, don't you really want to break through this Heavenly Gate and go up there to take a look?

Are you willing to transform into a gentle breeze and your flesh into mud?

"You were there when the immortals descended to earth in the year of Jia Shen (1644), and I truly don't think you're inferior to that so-called immortal in any way!"

Old Gu finally stopped joking, his expression turned serious, and he got down to business.

"Hmph!

"Now that things have come to this, do you still intend to test my restrictions?"

The old master sneered, picked up his teacup, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Hahaha!

I was right. With your strength, even the so-called Millennium Secret Heavenly Master's Degree can't stop you!

Why don't you...

When Lao Gu realized he had guessed correctly, he burst into laughter and was about to continue speaking when he was interrupted by the Old Master.

"All right!

The restrictions have always been in place, and I'm not one to be easily intimidated!

I know what I should and shouldn't do; how can so-called rules restrict me?

Old Gu picked up the teapot, slowly poured a cup of water for the old master, and then asked cautiously.

"When do you plan to make your move?"

I, though unworthy, am willing to serve you to the utmost!

Seeing the sincerity on Lao Gu's face, the old master shook his head.

"You? You can't get involved!"

This day will eventually come; everything depends on Malone!

"What do you mean by this, Celestial Master?"

Could it be that they're waiting for Ma Long to gather all eight extraordinary skills, find the truth, and find a way to break the curse?

Old Gu looked puzzled.

"That's right, although I can forcefully open the Heavenly Gate with my own strength."

Rules and restrictions are all trivial in the face of absolute power. I wish to become an immortal with a single thought!

But that would damage the Heavenly Dao of this realm, and I cannot do that, so I must stay and help Malone!

Only by collecting all eight extraordinary techniques can he completely open the Heavenly Gate, thus giving cultivators in this realm the possibility of continuous ascension!

"Haha, as expected of a great celestial master who cares for the world, we can also benefit from your good fortune."

I was completely bound by restrictions and had to run around every day. Since you were able to remove those restrictions...

Why not just tell Malone the truth, or even go and retrieve the Eight Extraordinary Techniques and the core? Who could stop you then?

Although Lao Gu was pleased with the old Celestial Master's righteousness, he did not forget the key issue.

"Hehe, do you really think that the Celestial Master's Code, which has been passed down for thousands of years, is so easy to break?"

I've done my best; now it's up to Malone himself!

Fortunately, this kid is quite hardworking!

The old master slowly drank the tea in front of him, his expression showing a lot of bitterness.

"Sigh! Time is running out, things are about to fall into chaos!"

Old Gu knew the old master's predicament and sighed helplessly. They really wanted to help Ma Long, but they were powerless to do so.

"Oh! Have you discovered something? What is the current state of the situation on all sides?"

Sensing the hidden meaning in Lao Gu's words, the old master put down his teacup, a glint of shrewdness appearing in his eyes.

"It's all in chaos, complete chaos!"

I was able to barely keep going, but since Malone's emergence, the powers of various countries have become restless.

Those scoundrels from another world have never given up their desire to destroy us! They've already infiltrated us long ago.

I'm afraid the wall will collapse soon.

I just hope Ma Long can step up his game!

This time, it was all thanks to him that we got off to a great start!

Whether everyone can ascend to immortality depends on him alone.

Old Gu shared his observations: the seemingly peaceful world had long been slowly being infiltrated.

"Don't worry, on that day, I will break open the Heavenly Gate to release the flood."

We must never allow those arrogant immortals and otherworldly scoundrels to set foot in our realm again!

The old master's eyes were like lightning, and his calm face revealed unwavering determination.

"If it weren't for some damn immortal causing trouble in the year Jia Shen, Brother Feng Yao would have succeeded long ago!"

That immortal's strength shouldn't have been too great, right? So why didn't any of the older generation of experts dare to step forward and try?

We were bullied so badly and felt so humiliated!

Last time I lost my body, but if that damn immortal dares to come again, I'll risk my soul to fight him for a piece of his flesh!

Old Gu became emotional, deeply regretting what happened back then.

"They also have powerful inherited restrictions on them, so we can't ask them to take action. Besides, many of our predecessors don't even know what Wugensheng is doing!"

"We've only been able to roughly piece together the whole story in recent years!"

The old Taoist priest explained.

"Hmph, those experts of the previous generation were cowards until their deaths!"

The truly powerful all perished when the otherworldly thugs attacked!

Even Brother Huaiyi was better; before he died, he wiped out a group of experts who had been corrupted by the scoundrels. That could be considered a contribution!

Old Gu opened up completely; he could only speak his mind in front of people who were also under the same restrictions.

He himself was very close to the Old Celestial Master, but couldn't get along with the leaders of other sects, so he often came to Longhu Mountain.