Upon hearing this, Shi Long's face turned as red as a kaleidoscope, alternating between red and green.
Seeing this, Shi A instinctively placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, while Cai Yan also slipped her small hand into her sleeve. If Shi Long were to turn hostile, he would be subdued by the two of them immediately.
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Chapter Seven: I Will Choose an Emperor on Behalf of Heaven
After a long while, Shi Long pondered carefully, his face displaying a range of emotions, from murderous intent to deep disappointment.
Then, Shi Long raised his head and carefully looked at Lin Yang and the other two.
Meanwhile, Shi Long had already made a decision in secret. If the three men's martial arts skills weren't up to par, he would kill them first. This concerned the Longevity Scripture, the key to his breakthrough to the Grandmaster realm, so he had to be careful no matter what.
If I can't see through these three people, meaning that the Guangcheng Immortal Sect behind them is real, then I should fight them first and weigh their strength.
At this moment, Lin Yang looked frail and weak. A closer look revealed that he had never practiced any martial arts. Judging from his breathing, he had never cultivated any internal energy techniques and was completely not a threat.
For some reason, among the three, this person seemed to be the leader. He decided not to dwell on things he couldn't understand. Then, Shi Long began to observe the remaining two.
Even though Cai Yan was wearing a veil over her face, anyone who wasn't a fool would instinctively think she was a beauty. And a top-tier one at that.
In Shi Long's opinion, even Shang Xiufang, the legendary most talented woman in the martial arts world, was nothing special. Moreover, Shi Long noticed that this woman's breathing was extremely long and deep. This was very illogical.
It's important to understand that the highest levels of martial arts in the martial world are all based on breathing. With each breath, one gathers various spiritual energies to replenish oneself. Therefore, seasoned martial artists can often roughly judge a person's cultivation level just by observing their breathing.
However, in his spiritual perception, this woman was merely a post-natal cultivator, a level of cultivation he completely disregarded. Yet, her breathing was long and deep.
This only proves that the cultivation technique this woman practices is extremely advanced. It's estimated that even the martial arts of the so-called three grandmasters are only this advanced. Shi Long was already somewhat beginning to believe this Guangcheng Immortal Sect that Lin Yang had hastily fabricated.
If Cai Yan knew Shi Long's thoughts, she would surely laugh out loud. What are the three Grandmasters? Compared to the main world, they are nothing but frogs in a well.
It's important to know that she doesn't just practice Confucian techniques. She also dabbles in martial arts, cultivating a technique that directly leads to the fourth level, the "Su Nu Jing" (Scripture of the Plain Girl). If you had to make a comparison, it's roughly equivalent to a complete version of the Longevity Mantra.
This is why, when Lin Yang examined Cai Yan's and Shi A's fortunes, Cai Yan appeared stronger. Because she was inherently stronger!
Then, Shi Long also took a quick look at Shi A. Similarly, he was only at the acquired level, yet his breathing was just as long and deep as his own.
Suddenly, Shi Long was uncertain. Was the so-called Guangcheng Immortal Sect real or fake? If it was real, why would it send three disciples with such low cultivation levels? If it was fake, where did it get such a high-level cultivation technique?
Seeing Shi Long looking troubled, Lin Yang smiled and said, "I have some news here that concerns Master Shi's life and fortune."
Upon hearing this, Shi Long couldn't help but smile, and then confidently said, "Oh? What news is it? Let me boast a little, in the entire city of Yangzhou, I, Shi Long, have never been afraid of anyone."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yang was not annoyed. Instead, he smiled and said, "Emperor Yang Guang of Sui has recently become obsessed with immortality. Inadvertently, he discovered the secret of immortality. Currently, his chief bodyguard, Yuwen Huaji, is on his way to Yangzhou City. It should be within the next two or three days. I wonder, what are your chances of defeating him, Daoist?"
"What? Is this true?" Shi Long's expression suddenly changed. Yuwen Huaji's reputation was incredibly widespread. In this era where grandmasters rarely made a move and remained hidden, a master of the Innate Realm was already enough to make a name for themselves in the martial arts world.
Yuwen Huaji, having fought countless battles over the years, is incredibly experienced. His martial arts skills are undeniable. Furthermore, he has already mastered his family's Ice Profound Force. If a real fight broke out, Shi Long estimated he would likely be no match for him.
"Guards! Investigate this immediately..."
After speaking, Shi Long's gaze towards Lin Yang and the others changed. If the news of Yuwen Huaji's attack was true, then the Guangcheng Immortal Sect behind Lin Yang and the others was very likely real.
"I wonder what exactly your Guangcheng Immortal Sect does, young brother?" Shi Long asked with a friendly smile.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yang not only looked at Cai Yan and Shi A, but also smiled lightly: "Our Guangcheng Immortal Sect has a tradition ever since our ancestor Guangchengzi supported the Yellow Emperor Ji Xuanyuan. That is, whenever there is chaos, we will directly appear and choose an emperor on behalf of Heaven."
"Hiss, choosing an emperor on behalf of Heaven? What a boastful tone!" Even though Shi Long was mentally prepared, he was still speechless with surprise at these four words.
Even Cai Yan and Shi A widened their eyes, looking at the scholar with curiosity as he spoke nonsense with a straight face.
"Ahem, don't be surprised, junior brothers and sisters. You see, this is why I am the one who walks the path in this chaotic world, while you two are just supporting him."
"In terms of martial arts, Junior Brother Shi, you are stronger than me. In terms of talent, Junior Sister Cai is a hundred times stronger than me. But why do you still listen to me? It's because I'm smarter than you." Lin Yang boasted without batting an eye.
"Then, what is meant by 'choosing an emperor on behalf of Heaven'?" Shi Long asked curiously. Although he already had a guess in his mind, he still asked the question.
"There's nothing to hide. Even if you didn't ask, I would have told you. The so-called selection of an emperor on behalf of Heaven is actually just that whenever there is chaos, our Guangcheng Immortal Sect will send people out to find the true dragon emperor and restore order to the world."
"In ancient times, it was common knowledge that our ancestor Guang Chengzi chose the Yellow Emperor. But what they didn't know was that at the end of the Shang Dynasty, another ancestor of my school, Xiaoyaozi, chose the later King Wu, Ji Fa."
"Later, when the Qin Dynasty fell, our sect's founder chose the Red Emperor Liu Bang. Now, another chaotic era has arrived, and for the sake of all the people, we, the younger generation, have come out of seclusion ahead of schedule."
"Otherwise, under normal circumstances, we would definitely have to cultivate diligently for sixty years and obtain invincible martial arts before we could leave the mountain and carry out the activity of choosing an emperor on behalf of Heaven."
"At that time, with unparalleled martial prowess, we will directly subdue all sides. Then, the chaotic world will end. And we, having accumulated enough external skills, will ascend directly to immortality," Lin Yang said earnestly.
At this moment, he truly seemed to have a sense of serving the people. At least, he had completely taken aback. Even Cai Yan and Shi A looked on with curiosity.
"So what do you plan to do?" Shi Long suddenly asked. No matter how loud your slogans are, without invincible martial arts, what good will it do to leave the mountain early?
"Does Master Shi consider himself to be a ruler, or does Master Shi intend to get involved in this mess of vying for supremacy?" Lin Yang countered.
Upon hearing this, Shi Long replied without hesitation, "Of course I have no such plans." Shi Long was very clear about his own capabilities.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yang nodded. As long as Shi Long had self-awareness, that was fine. The real worry was that he might act impulsively and then become harder to fool.
"So, if there were an opportunity for a hereditary title, a dukedom for generations, would Master Shi be willing to have it?"
Although he didn't know what Lin Yang meant, Shi Long still nodded obediently.
"My plan is simple: first, I'll help you, Daoist Shi, break through to the Grandmaster level. Then..."
However, before he could finish speaking, Shi Long rudely interrupted him.
"What? Breaking through to Grandmaster? It can really help me break through to Grandmaster?"
The title of Grandmaster was practically Shi Long's greatest ambition at that moment. More than ten years ago, when Shi Long was in his thirties, his martial arts skills had already made rapid progress, reaching the peak of the Innate Realm.
Unfortunately, he lacked a renowned teacher at the time, resulting in an unstable foundation. Now, after a full ten years, he remains stuck here, unable to make further progress. This has always been Shilong's greatest regret.