According to the hierarchy of the Zixiao Temple, the top of the pyramid is the Celestial Master. There are currently three Celestial Masters in the Zixiao Celestial Palace. They are the Celestial Masters conferred by the Emperor Li Longji. They are called Celestial Master Ge Yun, Celestial Master Zhang Xuanbao and Celestial Master Li Xuande. They are
They are the previous one, the previous one and the current Tiangong Palace Master.
When they reach the level of Heavenly Master, they no longer care about the secular affairs of the Taoist palace. What they consider is how to practice Taoism and ascend to heaven.
So now the abbot who is responsible for the daily affairs of Zixiao Temple is called Zhenren Baiyun. He actually holds the highest real power of Zixiao Temple. The three heavenly masters are just spiritual leaders.
Master Baiyun is already over sixty years old, but he has taken good care of himself and looks like he is only in his early forties with delicate features. He is currently the oldest master in Zixiao Palace, and even Master Wu Miao, the abbot of Xuanhu Palace, is his disciple.
Master Baiyun wore a wide-sleeved Taoist robe made of purple phoenix and Shu brocade, and a golden crown on his head. He sat cross-legged on a red sandalwood couch inlaid with white jade. He looked very aura, surrounded by more than a dozen Masters of the Zixiao family.
A circle behind him.
At this time, Master Mu walked into the hall with his two disciples. Master Wu Miao, who was standing next to Master Baiyun, whispered: "Master, the three of them are the wild Taoists of Qingxu Temple, and the young Taoist priest walking at the back is the Taoist priest."
Guo Song, who died as a disciple of Xuanhu Palace."
A coldness flashed in the eyes of Master Baiyun. The news of Zhang Qinghu's suicide in shame and anger spread throughout the Zixiao family, not willing to be humiliated. It aroused the public indignation of thousands of Taoist priests in the Zixiao family. Even Master Baiyun was alarmed. He wanted to see it.
Look, how arrogant is this young wild man?
Master Baiyun's palace is very deep, he said calmly: "Don't make any small tricks, compete according to the rules, and let the Taoist outside the palace be convinced of the defeat."
Master Wu Miao felt a sense of disappointment in his heart. Guo Song was very skilled in martial arts and there was nothing he could do against him in the preliminaries and semi-finals. He cleverly used the death of Zhang Qinghu to arouse the general anger of the Zixiao Taoist priests, hoping to defeat him in the finals.
Master Zixiao taught Guo Song a hard lesson, even if he couldn't kill him, he would still be disabled for life.
But Master Baiyun Zhenren's statement made him feel like a bucket of cold water was poured on his face. He said with a frustrated face: "Disciple understands!"
Master Baiyun glanced at Master Wu Miao and saw the unconcealed frustration on his face. He couldn't help but shook his head secretly. This disciple's palace is still too shallow and he can't calm down at all. How can he inherit his mantle in the future?
He coughed and said slowly: "Everyone is here, let's start!"
A clear cloud sound sounded, and after all the Taoist priests bowed to Laojun, the lottery ceremony began.
Eighty Taoist priests stood in line in the lobby. Among them were young men in their twenties and seventies, as well as young men of fourteen or fifteen years old. They were of various heights and ages.
However, the adult and youth groups will not be considered in the finals, and everyone will be mixed together.
The lottery was drawn by Master Baiyun himself. He casually pulled out two lists from the paper box and handed them to Master Wenmiao behind him, who announced them on the spot.
"The first pair, He Lingzhen from Chiyuan Palace versus Qingyang Guanma Dongzi."
Gan Lei lowered his voice and said to Guo Song, "Although Ma Dongzi is younger, He Lingzhen may not be his opponent."
Guo Song nodded. Taoist names can contain the word "子" and their martial arts are very strong. He can completely understand Gan Lei's explanation.
At this time, he found Master Wu Miao staring at him fiercely, and knew that this person was extremely narrow-minded and would retaliate, so he had to be careful about this person.
"Senior brother, these dozen real people are all wearing purple robes. What is the difference between them and Master's real people?"
Mu Zhenren turned his head and said with a faint smile: "Their master was canonized by the imperial court and enjoys the treatment of a fourth-rank official. There are thirteen people in total. The three heavenly masters also enjoy the treatment of a third-rank official, but the wild master is self-proclaimed.
Just common people."
"I see. Where are the three heavenly masters?"
Mu Zhenren pointed to the Heavenly Palace, "Everyone is thinking about how to ascend to immortality up there!"
At this time, Master Baiyun pulled out two more pieces of paper, and Master Baiyun announced loudly: "Sun Lingzi of Xuanwu Palace versus Guo Song of Qingxu Temple."
"Senior brother, how are Sun Lingzi's martial arts skills?" Guo Song asked Gan Lei in a low voice.
"He ranks among the top ten in the Zixiao family. He has a rather arrogant personality. He always thinks that I am the best in the world, but his martial arts is indeed very powerful."
Guo Song frowned slightly, "I seem to have heard of this name somewhere?"
There was a trace of embarrassment on Gan Lei's face, and he hesitated for a while: "I fought with him six years ago in Kongtong Town. We fought for dozens of rounds without deciding the outcome. The sword I used at that time was not smooth, and I was struck by this bastard.
It pierced the left shoulder, did you forget, junior brother?"
Guo Song suddenly remembered, but it seemed like there had been dozens of rounds of fierce fighting! The senior brother's tenth sword was pierced through the shoulder by the opponent's sword.
However, Gan Lei's face was gloomy, so Guo Song decided to save some face for him. After all, Zhang Mingchun was standing next to him!
………..
The results of the first round of drawing showed that the four wild masters were all extremely dangerous. Guo Song drew Sun Lingzi, who ranked fifth in the Lingzi generation, while Zhang Mingchun from Jingle Palace met Yang Xuanqing from Bullfighting Palace in the first round. I wonder if it was intentional by Zixiao Tiangong.
The arrangement was really unlucky, allowing the two wild men to kill each other.
Gan Lei's luck was slightly better, and he drew Li Dongxiao from the Red Ape Palace. Although this person had a nice Taoist name, his martial arts skills were only second-rate.
But the problem is that Gan Lei himself is also a second-rate character, so whether he can reach the common level depends on each other's on-the-spot performance.
"Dong -" the bronze bell in the bell tower rang.
On the balcony dedicated to competitions, two pairs of Taoist priests stood facing each other, holding long swords in their hands, waiting for the announcement to begin.
Sitting neatly on the north side of the balcony are 1,500 Taoist priests from the Zixiao family, including more than 100 female Taoist priests sent by Huangheguan. They do not participate in the competition. They only choose pairs of monks.
Only Taoist priests from Zixiao Tiangong are eligible to be selected for dual cultivation. However, Taoist priests who enter Zixiao Tiangong are basically over 30 or 40 years old. Every year on the first day of May and the first day of October, five Taoist priests from Zixiao Tiangong are awarded.
Eligibility for dual majors with combined citizenship.
Then the female Taoist priests from Huangheguan will choose the couple. In this regard, women are given priority, but the range of choices is too small, and the female Taoist priests can only choose the taller one from the shorter one.
But this year is a bit special. This year's martial arts meeting has been waiting for eight years. In order to encourage the Taoist priests of the Zixiao family, Baiyun Zhenren made a decision. The top three Zixiao Taoist priests can choose a Taoist nun in Huanghe Temple as a dual cultivation partner.
.
This time it was a man choosing a woman. Several young masters were so excited that they could not sleep all night. They already had their favorite Taoist nun.
The Taoist nuns were also secretly happy. After all, they were all young Taoist priests under the age of thirty, and they were no longer the sluggish middle-aged Taoist priests.
But this kind of good thing has nothing to do with Taoism. If young Taoists want to marry, they can only return to secular life, or become the master of a Taoist temple. If they have some financial foundation, they can also marry an ordinary woman to become a Taoist priest.
At this time, three hundred wild Taoist priests who had been invited to observe were sitting in the south, and Master Mu was also sitting under the stage, sitting together with Master Huolie of Jingle Palace.
"The Budokai finals begin!"
Taoist Master Baiyun announced the start of the competition, and there was a clear sound of the cloud board knocking.
The two pairs of Taoist priests waved their swords at the same time, rubbed their bodies, and started a fierce fight.
Before that, Guo and Song had more or less looked down upon the Taoist priests of Kongtong Mountain, always feeling that they were bullying others with power, and they only had the support of the imperial court to dominate in Kongtong Mountain.
But today he saw the finals of the Martial Arts Association, and he found that he had really underestimated the Taoist priests of the Zixiao family. They were skilled in moves and ruthless in swordsmanship. Even those who were in the same sect were merciless and would fight for their lives with every move.
Gan Lei whispered to Guo Song: "The martial arts meeting is not only related to the honor of the Taoist temple, but also whether they can be favored by Zixiao Tiangong."
"Aren't only alchemists qualified to enter the Zixiao Palace?"
"It's not necessarily that the top three in the Martial Arts Association will be able to enter the Zixiao Heavenly Palace and be directly promoted to alchemists."
Guo Song nodded and said with a smile: "Even if you can't enter the Zixiao Palace, there are still benefits to performing well in front of the abbot of the Dao Palace."
"That's the truth!"
Gan Lei's eyes finally fell on the first person on the left in the second row of Zixia Taoist priests. That person was also looking at him coldly. Their eyes were like swords, and they wanted to kill each other on the spot.
Guo Song followed his senior brother's gaze and saw the young Taoist priest who was as tall and thin as a bamboo pole. This man's unusual figure made Guo Song recognize him at a glance. He was none other than his senior brother's love rival Lei Lingzi, known as Kong.
The top master of the new generation in Dongshan.
Gan Lei gritted his teeth with hatred and said: "This idiot announced publicly in the Red Ape Palace yesterday that if he ranks among the top three, he will marry Li Wenyu!"
Guo Song said calmly: "The premise is that he must be in the top three."
Gan Lei was a little frustrated, "There is really no one in Zixiao's family who can rival him now."
Guo Song patted his senior brother on his thick shoulder and comforted him: "Senior brother, if you believe my words, lovers will eventually get married."