Chapter 2: Welcoming the Master Ancestor
“Bang!” A thunderous explosion echoed through the vast, empty sky.
Zhuang Yun landed steadily, her posture upright and unyielding like a pine tree. Her Taoist robe fluttered gently in the wind, as if she were one with heaven and earth, exuding an ethereal and otherworldly aura.
She lightly clapped her hands, calm and composed.
Suddenly, Zhuang Yun produced a talisman and pressed it onto the celestial beast. “Urgent command as decreed!”
In an instant, the beast’s corpse transformed into a roasted whole lamb. “Fellow Daoists, enjoy it while it’s hot!”
Meanwhile, Zhuang Qitong was still livestreaming. “Brothers! Powdered tailbones of the celestial beast for virility—three, two, one! Link in the description!”
Noticing everyone’s gazes, he steadied himself and discreetly adjusted the camera. “Friends! Witness this historic moment! Follow the streamer so you won’t get lost!”
Yesterday, he had consulted the ancestors through divination, guiding him to come before the You hour to observe the tomb and pay respects. Could it be that this young girl was truly the destined one of their ancestors?
The junior apprentice watched Zhuang Yun’s nonchalant demeanor, his heart surging with overwhelming shock like a tidal wave.
Just moments ago, he had inserted his neural implant scanner and sparks flew instantly. The data read:
[Physical Combat Level: ???]
[Recommended Rating: Humanoid Star Destroyer]
Zhuang Qitong awkwardly stepped out from behind the tombstone, folding his hands respectfully. “Thank you, fellow Daoist, for your assistance. May I inquire your honorable name? Would you care to visit my humble abode for a chat?”
Zhuang Yun waved him off with a smile tinged with ease and freedom. “Ah, I’m Zhuang Yun. No need for formalities. My master is still waiting for me to return.”
However, her tone shifted, her gaze flickering with curiosity. “But I do have a question. These weapons—Limitless Sword, Earth Piercing Spear, and Heavenly Mechanism Blade—are treasures of the Yunyin Sect’s secret chamber. How did they come into your hands?”
The eldest senior brother helped the second sister up, his figure pausing slightly as he stared at Zhuang Yun with profound eyes, silently lamenting: This young girl, still naive, actually knows about the secret chamber and even the names of the weapons.
Zhuang Qitong replied respectfully, “I am the 101st-generation successor of the Yunyin Sect, naturally wielding the sect’s weapons.”
“101st generation?” Zhuang Yun’s brows furrowed slightly, her tone laced with skepticism.
“Are you joking? My master is the 21st-generation successor, Zhuang Fenglu—Daoist Qi Yun Zhenren. When did you have disciples like this?”
Hearing this, everyone was stunned, their faces showing disbelief.
Zhuang Qitong was moved internally and suggested, “Perhaps we should return to the sect first. I’ll show you the sect’s genealogy.”
Zhuang Yun nodded slightly. “Alright! It’s on the way back anyway.”
The two exchanged a glance; though their faces remained composed, their eyes blazed with caution and alertness.
“Eastern Tree,” Zhuang Yun whispered.
“Western Cloud Tower,” Zhuang Qitong replied swiftly.
“Southern Mountain Stone,” Zhuang Yun continued.
“Northern Sea Tide,” Zhuang Qitong responded without hesitation.
In this question-and-answer exchange, both were surprised. This was the secret passage code from the tomb to the sect gate, known only to the most trusted inner disciples.
“Please,” Zhuang Yun nodded slightly.
“Please,” Zhuang Qitong echoed with a nod.
“Ah, fellow Daoist, wait! Do you want the beast core of this celestial beast?” Zhuang Qitong rubbed his hands, smiling obsequiously.
“Feel free,” Zhuang Yun waved her hand.
Only then did the junior apprentice snap back to reality and swiftly retrieve the celestial beast’s core embedded in its forehead.
Suddenly, he noticed a feather had fallen to the side. “Huh? This white feather looks like the Kunpeng recorded in ancient texts…”
As the feather fluttered, the jade pendant in Zhuang Yun’s arms trembled faintly.
Upon arriving at the sect, Zhuang Qitong took out a remote control to open the door. “It’s voice-activated!”
Zhuang Yun tried an incantation: “Lin Bing Dou Zhe Jie Zhen Lie Qian Xing,” but the door didn’t open. Then she shouted, “Open Sesame!”
The gate instantly collapsed, revealing a plaque inside made from welded mech parts: [Yunyin Sect Flagship Store].
Upon entering, Zhuang Yun triggered an alarm: “Intruder alert!”
She immediately formed a seal. “Mysterious sect of heaven and earth, root of all qi… Why does this demon not fear the golden light spell?”
Zhuang Yun poked the donation box in amazement. “Such an exquisite glazed donation box!”
As a copper coin clinked into the box, a QR code suddenly broadcasted a voice message: “Ding! Prosperity treasure credited with three thousand star coins!”
Zhuang Yun held the scanner up like a demon-revealing mirror. “Bold fiend! Reveal yourself at once!”
She kicked aside a half-broken door panel. “How did the ‘Construction Method’ manual become a scrap mech parts depot?!”
“Am I dreaming?” Zhuang Yun muttered softly.
“No, fellow Daoist, please look,” Zhuang Qitong opened the neural system screen in front of the sect hall. Blue light instantly illuminated the entire room.
Zhuang Yun instantly formed a seal. “What demon is this!” She grabbed an incense burner and smashed it at the projector.
“Don’t be afraid, it’s a projection,” Zhuang Qitong said, pointing at the records on the screen. “From right to left, your master truly is the 21st-generation successor, Zhuang Fenglu—Daoist name: Qi Yun Zhenren.”
“There once was a Daoist, clad in mist-hued robes, wielding a dusty sword, with compassion for all beings; he roamed chivalrously, eliminating evil, aiding the weak and helpless, with outstanding achievements…”
Zhuang Qitong’s voice echoed in the room, recounting that glorious past.
Zhuang Yun suddenly interrupted, “A Daoist name is bestowed only upon achieving full merit. My master back then…”
In her heart, she mused, “Indeed, my master wielded the Dust Sword and was granted the Daoist name after slaying the great demon of that time.”
“The far left is me, the 101st generation, Zhuang Qitong. Currently, I have no Daoist name…” His voice tinged with melancholy.
“Master, look,” the second sister suddenly pointed at the 22nd generation on the screen, “Zhuang Yun—Wu Gu Zhenren.”
The neural system projected the [Yunyin Sect’s List of Legendary Masters] animation: a chibi Zhuang Yun punched a mech apart, congratulating the unlocking of the achievement [Ancient Martial King]!
Then a [Time-Space Administration Notice] popped up: The 22nd-generation disciple Zhuang Yun failed to return from an SSS-class mission in Stellar Year 322, related incident: Loss of Mecha Taiji Manual.
Following this was an ancient battle scene featuring Zhuang Yun, suddenly pixelated: [Involves time-space secrets, insufficient clearance].
As Zhuang Yun touched the sect genealogy, the jade pendant in her arms projected holographic text: [Initial God of War DNA detected, activating time-space protection protocol].
She felt the pendant heating up. A white-haired man’s ghostly image materialized midair, whispering before dissipating: “Little Yun Yun, may the Nether Evil protect you… Three lifetimes…”
The voice faded into a bird’s call.
“Welcome, ancestral master!” The four spoke in unison, bowing.
Suddenly, the junior apprentice slid forward on his knees. “Ancestral master! Could you bless my mech stickers?”
Zhuang Yun recalled the strange device in her master’s secret chamber. Facing all this, she understood—it was unexpected that her master had finally passed the sect leadership to her! How exhilarating!
She tossed three copper coins. “Great luck! It’s time to accept disciples and grandchildren!”
The coins landed, forming a Taiji pattern, then suddenly absorbed a strand of Zhuang Qitong’s hair. “The divination indicates you should consider hair transplantation.”
“Ancestral master, we’ve waited for you so long!” Zhuang Qitong dropped his previous formality, trying to cling to her leg and lament.
Zhuang Yun calculated silently. “Three thousand years? That’s enough time to max out the ‘Muscle Tendon Changing Classic’ and then discard and relearn it!”
In the dining hall.
In this drafty dining room, five people squeezed around a table laden with dishes, yet the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.
The second sister served the “Nine-Turn Large Intestine,” glowing with a strange green light. “Restored according to page 108 of the Yunyin Medicinal Cuisine Manual. Absolutely non-toxic! Probably…”
Using a mech part engraved with a blurred ‘Zhou’ character as a serving plate, heat revealed its true form: an ancient bridge spanning a moat.
“Try it!” the second sister urged enthusiastically.
Zhuang Yun took a bite and was surprised—it actually smelled delicious.
“Hmm! That’s a familiar flavor!”
“Of course! Our second sister studies the Yunyin Sect’s ancestral recipes every day, making every ingredient in new and creative ways!” the junior apprentice proudly declared.
The second sister blushed at the praise. “But it’s no match for nutrient fluid…”
“It is!” The usually taciturn eldest brother finally spoke up.
“Nutrient fluid? What’s that?” Zhuang Yun asked curiously.
The third brother suddenly pulled out a syringe. “Ancestral master, try this!”
She suddenly pulled out a silver needle to test for poison. “The ‘Record of Justice’ says arsenic blackens when heated… Huh? Why isn’t it turning black?”
“Ancestral master, here.” Zhuang Qitong opened the star brain device. The screen flashed surveillance from the mech repair shop: a youth wearing work pants was adjusting a mech core engraved with a Taiji pattern, a wristband glowing blue with the Lin family crest.
Zhuang Yun suddenly tossed a coin. “Qian three continuous, Kun six broken—break!”
The coin jammed in the cooling vent, causing a system crash…
After silently repairing it, Zhuang Qitong gestured for Zhuang Yun to place her hand on the device.
She immediately noticed the screensaver: the mech repair shop’s logo designed like a duster, and a note: [Assistant Xiao Lin’s Repair Diary: Mech Meridian System Improvement Plan].
In an instant, the star brain device automatically uploaded the world’s information into her mind. Zhuang Yun clutched her head. “Ah! A demon is forcing ‘Five Years of Fortune-Telling, Three Years of Divination’ into my brain!”
“Now, a news flash: Ten years ago, the heir of the Lin Corporation disappeared, suspected to have appeared on G33 star…”
The news screen flashed a figure with his back turned—Lin Yiwen holding a mech core glowing with a Taiji pattern. Zhuang Yun’s jade pendant suddenly heated fiercely.
The second sister muttered while watching the neural system: “Those features… He does resemble our assistant at the shop down the mountain somewhat…”
That night, Zhuang Yun dreamed of a giant Kunpeng bound in chains, its wings dripping blood that seeped into the earth…