1157: Chapter 344 Zhenyou_2 1157: Chapter 344 Zhenyou_2 Thai Zu had him strike nine times on the drum, all for this hairpin?
“Old Ancestor, what do you need the hairpin for?” Su He asked curiously.
Thai Zu’s voice came through, “Don’t worry, I only need to borrow it for a while, and I will return it afterward.
This has been discussed with the Tao Master, you can take it with ease.”
Su He did not say more, and bowed deeply to the residual image of the Tao Ancestor, “I apologize, Master, for forcefully taking your personal belonging upon our first meeting.
When you return, you may punish your disciple.”
As Su He spoke, he stepped forward and with a gentle touch, he removed the Tao Ancestor’s hairpin.
Upon taking the hairpin, no dice descended.
Instead, it seemed as though he had triggered a mechanism.
Suddenly, the island and the lake disappeared, the surrounding environment shattered, and he still hovered in the air outside Guiwang Mountain.
He spread his wings, closed his eyes, and stood.
The energy nearly depleted from striking the drum replenished to its peak mysteriously.
Moreover, it was like Dual Cultivation; his bodily countdown ceased.
The ordinary hairpin in his hand vibrated, slipped out of his grasp, and flew away, breaking through the air to an unknown destination.
Startled, Su He opened his eyes and hastily called out, “Thai Zu, lend me a hand, please!”
This was somewhat playing with fire.
Initially, he had intended to strike the drum seven times, to enter Guiwang Mountain as an official disciple and then immediately go to fetch the Tao Ancestor’s finger bone.
Now that he struck it nine times, every move he made was likely to be observed by everyone, and fetching the finger bone might invite unknown troubles.
Having Thai Zu as a guarantor would make things a bit safer.
Su He spoke softly, yet heard no response from Thai Zu.
His current status…
it seemed as though his voice could not carry out.
After striking it nine times, the area he was in became peculiar; not only was there no countdown on his body, but he also couldn’t hear external sounds nor see external figures clearly.
It was as if he was isolated from the world.
As Su He was at a loss, the Ascending Immortal Drum reappeared slowly in midair and landed beneath his feet, lifting him like a flying magic artifact.
Dongxu emerged dressed completely different than before, more humble yet appearing more natural.
The nine strikes on the drum, the Tao Rhythm emanating from the drum seemed to have enriched him greatly.
Even his appearance seemed younger.
He was a step lower than Su He and bowed deeply, “Ascending Immortal Drum pays respect to the Fourth Master.”
Although the Tao Ancestor was not present, nine strikes were still nine strikes.
The rules set by the Tao Ancestor remained unchanged through the ages.
The identity conferred directly by the Tao Ancestor wouldn’t change because of his absence, and who could say when such a being might suddenly appear?
In terms of status, Su He was now comparable to the Tao Master.
If it wasn’t for his relatively low Tao Cultivation, surpassing the Tao Master would not be difficult.
Inside Guiwang Mountain, all the disciples had come out at the sound of the ninth strike of Ascending Immortal Drum.
Seeing Su He awaken, they simultaneously bowed deeply, “We pay respects to the Fourth Ancestor!”
There were not many people; Guiwang Mountain had always been sparsely populated.
Being able to strike the Ascending Immortal Drum was already extremely rare, and even fewer passed through the Moon-Questioning Gate.
Historically, their numbers had been pitifully small.
It was much like the situation with the Four Spirits Divine God Beast.
Su He remained silent.
As an Old Ancestor, should he give these people a welcoming gift?
As he looked down, he saw Ji Feixue tangibly ready to take out her purse, and even the figurative toad in her pocket was searching through it.
The disciples of Guiwang Mountain were genuinely worldly, and the gifts for them couldn’t appear shabby.
Su He smiled slightly, pointing forward, splitting seventeen rays of blue light that landed on the foreheads of seventeen people.
“There’s no need for so many courtesies.”
In terms of age, everyone present was older than him.
If judged by mortal standards, most could be his ancestors many generations removed.
The crowd was shocked, feeling the blue light on their foreheads, and immediately burst into joy.
Even those inclined to austere cultivation could hardly contain themselves, each bowing deeply, “Thank you, Old Ancestor, for the Tao!”
No wonder the Old Ancestor could strike nine times; the Old Ancestor was indeed the Old Ancestor!
What Su He emitted was a bit of Tao Rhythm from the Tao Te Ching, devoid of scriptures, devoid of contents, just an evolving Tao Rhythm.
Compared to when Baiyin refined her hair into a seed of Tao foundation and implanted it into the True Spirits of the Witch Lady and others, it was slightly lesser.
But this Tao Rhythm, encompassing everything, pointed directly to the core.
Sword cultivators saw it as a sword, magic artifact cultivators saw it as a magic artifact, and if thoroughly understood, it could grant ascension to heaven!
For the cultivators of Guiwang Mountain, this was more precious than any Heavenly Material Earthly Treasure.
After the joy, each felt immense sympathy for those fellow disciples who had not returned from the outside world.
The blessing from the Fourth Ancestor wouldn’t always be available.
It was like the legacy left by an elder emerging from seclusion, a treasure of the aftermath available only to those greeting the emergence.
An elderly man bowed deeply, “Please, Fourth Ancestor, return to the mountain.
The Jixia Academy Master has already gone to replace the Sect Leader in suppressing the Seal Emperor.
The Sect Leader True Person will return soon to pay respects to the Fourth Ancestor.
The shrine has also burnt incense and prayed, informing the Tao Master, who is also likely to return soon.”
Being directly taught by the Tao Ancestor, this would surely be the most significant event within a million years for Guiwang Mountain and perhaps even for Mystery Huang and All Heavens and Myriad Realms.
Su He suddenly felt apprehensive.
He did not belong to this era, but in this era, he seemed…
too conspicuous.
Compared to being directly taught by the Tao Ancestor, suppressing the Avatar of the Free Bodhisattva didn’t count as much.
Perhaps suppressing the real body of the Free Bodhisattva might stir up a comparable storm?
Thai Zu couldn’t possibly be unaware of this, yet he had him strike the drum nine times, and later generations had no deep records of this event.
Later generations hadn’t guessed his existence.
What means had Thai Zu used to erase history?
Just like the erased Four Great Sacred Beasts and Hexagrams?
Su He didn’t understand, surrounded by people as he headed towards Guiwang Mountain.
He turned back looking for Ji Feixue, but couldn’t find Yiren.
He searched all around only to see Ji Feixue distancing herself, not willing to stand in the center of the crowd.
She had already entered Guiwang Mountain ahead of others, standing on a peak, silently watching him from across the world.