Chapter 399: Just Call Me Big Boss

"Even Heaven wants to snatch it!?"

Daoist Qingsong stared at the scroll in his hand, frozen in place for a long moment.

"This mess needs to be cleaned up now."

Old Dragon said this, then raised a hand and pointed at the table. Instantly, a thin waterspout formed out of nowhere, gradually expanding until it enveloped the entire tabletop.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh... whoosh, whoosh..."

Leftovers, crumbs, and fish bones were lifted into the air by the waterspout.

Daoist Qingsong and Daoist Qingyuan instinctively leaned back, fearing they might be drawn in. However, under Old Dragon's control, no one could be harmed in the slightest.

Once the waterspout dissipated, not only had the remnants vanished, but even the tableware and large iron pot on the table were sparkling clean. Not a single pair of chopsticks was missing.

"Alright, Elder Ying helped wash the pots and dishes today! Let's move these things inside to clear the table for tea!"

Ji Yuan said this, then stood up to start moving the dishes himself. Seeing that he wasn't using any magic, the others also pitched in to help, moving the items back to the kitchen.

Half an hour later, the large square table was set with a teapot and teacups. Ji Yuan had finished his goji berries earlier, but this time there was something slightly better: a basin half-filled with hot, crispy rice.

The Yunshan Temple kitchen had a double stove setup, perfect for cooking dishes on one burner and boiling rice or steaming on the other. With so many people today, a lot of rice was cooked, resulting in plenty of crispy rice.

"Crunch, crunch..." A few crisp sounds, as a small piece of crispy rice was crushed in Ji Yuan's mouth.

"Tsk, tsk, crispy rice should be eaten like this—slightly browned and wonderfully crunchy!"

Ji Yuan felt that tonight's meal was the most comfortable and enjoyable he had had recently.

"Haha, tea with crispy rice—this is a first for me in this lifetime!"

Qin Zizhou smiled, picked up a piece of crispy rice, and chewed it. Seeing Old Dragon and Ji Yuan looking at him, he suddenly realized that this life hadn't been very long, so he immediately added, "Even counting my previous lives, this is still a first!"

"Heh, drinking tea this way has a unique flavor. No one has ever invited me to tea like this before."

Old Dragon said this, and Ji Yuan immediately couldn't resist interjecting.

"Elder Ying, you're joking. Who would dare invite you like this? They'd probably lose their life with one slap from you."

Old Dragon pointed to himself. "Am I ill-tempered?"

"Not at all, not at all. At least, your temper is quite good when you're with me."

As the powerful figures bantered, Daoist Qingsong and his disciple quietly drank their tea, occasionally offering a polite smile. They only spoke when necessary, not daring to interject casually.

Of course, Daoist Qingsong also had an important task tonight, and the more time passed, the more nervous he became.

After a considerable amount of time passed, Qin Zizhou looked at the sky and said to Ji Yuan, "Mr. Ji, it's time."

Old Dragon and Ji Yuan also stopped their playful banter. Ji Yuan nodded towards Daoist Qingsong, and the two Daoists, Qingsong and Qingyuan, immediately stood up and hurried towards the main hall of the temple.

The two Daoists then bowed together to the Star Banner in the main hall. After completing their respects, they slowly walked into the hall.

Qi Wen stood beneath the Star Banner, his feet in a horse stance, hands cupped and clasped in front of his abdomen. Qi Xuan took two steps, then leaped, landing perfectly on Qi Wen's hands. At that moment, Qi Wen forcefully lifted and thrust his arms upwards.

Using the momentum from this push, combined with Qi Xuan's own strength, he soared up to the beam where the Star Banner hung. His arm swept across the top of the banner, then grasped it, and the entire large Star Banner descended with him.

A moment later, the two Daoists, with grave solemnity, carried the Star Banner with all four hands into the courtyard, stopping in front of the table. Ji Yuan and the others had also left their seats and were standing.

Ji Yuan stepped forward, bowed respectfully to the Star Banner held by the two Daoists, and then pointed at the banner.

Immediately, the Star Banner floated away from the Daoists' hands, slowly ascending to hover horizontally about three *zhang* (about 10 meters) above the ground. At the same moment, Daoist Qingsong took out the scroll "The Creation of Heaven and Earth" and slowly unrolled it.

Almost as soon as the scroll was unfurled, it left Daoist Qingsong's hands and floated on its own, positioning itself about two *zhang* (about 6.6 meters) below the Star Banner.

"I invite the Abbot of Yunshan Temple, the True Master Qingsong, to stand beneath the Star Banner and the sacred text!" Ji Yuan's clear voice carried a mysterious and profound sense of ritual, as if a grand yet ethereal rhythm echoed through Misty Cloud Peak and the entire Yunshan Mountain.

Daoist Qingsong took a deep breath and, somewhat stiffly from excitement, walked beneath "The Creation of Heaven and Earth." Looking up, he saw that the scroll subtly glowed with the exact same patterns as the Star Banner, which was already dazzling with starlight above.

At this moment, Ji Yuan circulated his magic power, performing the true "Creation of Heaven and Earth" for the first time.

In the next instant, in the eyes of Old Dragon, Qin Zizhou, and the two Daoists, endless brilliant light flared around them, as if countless stars were appearing, or as if the sun, moon, and celestial bodies were falling.

The celestial energy from the sky rained down, continuously converging on Misty Cloud Peak, landing on the Star Banner. Then, it flowed through "The Creation of Heaven and Earth," a trace of it transferring to Daoist Qingsong.

Following this miraculous moment, Daoist Qingsong's understanding of "The Creation of Heaven and Earth" ascended to an extremely high level. He also felt a profound connection with the heavens, earth, mountains, rivers, and the myriad stars.

In a trance, Daoist Qingsong felt as if he was treading among the stars, which seemed within reach. Some stars were unrelated, others interconnected, displaying diverse powers that resonated with the mountains and rivers of the earth.

On earth, mountains and rivers undergo transformation, all things are born and perish, animals reproduce, mortals live and breathe, and immortals, demons, monsters, and spirits cultivate and gain insight...

Experiencing such profound wonder, Daoist Qingsong's mind did not become arrogant; instead, a strong sense of reverence for heaven and earth was born within him.

It was at this moment, which felt both illusory and real, that Daoist Qingsong vaguely saw a cluster of starlight gathering beside him. He instinctively reached out and perfectly caught the descending scroll. Then came a faint burning sensation, but Ji Yuan had previously instructed him not to let go, no matter what happened.

The burning sensation gradually intensified, accompanied by a tingling feeling that then turned into a sharp stinging pain.

"Rumble..."

Within the starlight overhead, a massive thundercloud suddenly materialized, with frantic violet-gold lightning converging at its center. Its might seemed capable of annihilating all things.

For some unknown reason, Daoist Qingsong just knew this lightning was targeting him, or rather, the scroll in his hand. At this moment, fear surged within him, and he almost dropped the scroll and fled for his life.

Daoist Qingsong recalled Old Dragon's previous words and suddenly understood he was competing with Heaven and Earth for the sacred text.

But Ji Yuan's earlier words echoed in his mind: "'Daoist Qingsong, no matter what happens in a moment, you must not let go. If you do, the Wonderful Methods of Heaven and Earth will no longer acknowledge you as their master!'"

Daoist Qingsong gripped the scroll tightly, fine beads of sweat breaking out on his body. He clenched his jaw, not daring to move or even close his eyes.

"Don't let go, don't run away, it's all an illusion, all an illusion!"

"Crack... Rumble..."

Overwhelming heavenly might descended, and the surrounding light was engulfed by the lightning. Daoist Qingsong was so terrified that his heart suddenly stopped, and he fainted standing upright.

Outside, the descent of celestial energy gradually slowed, and the surrounding anomalies weakened, then slowly dissipated.

Qi Wen had fallen to the ground in fright, gasping for breath as he looked at his Master. His legs felt weak, and he couldn't even stand up at that moment. Ji Yuan and the others, however, stood solemnly in place.

The Star Banner in the sky was now glittering with starlight, slowly retracting into itself, but at an extremely slow pace. With a wave of Ji Yuan's finger, the Star Banner circled Yunshan Temple and Misty Cloud Peak three times before flying back into the main hall of the temple, where it re-hung itself.

Qin Zizhou approached Daoist Qingsong, who stood motionless, eyes wide, gazing at the sky, his right hand clutching "The Wonderful Methods of Heaven and Earth."

"No pulse. Heartbeat stopped. Breathing ceased!"

"Master! Is Master dead? Master!"

Qi Wen, whose legs had been weak just moments before, struggled to his feet almost instantly, wanting to rush to Daoist Qingsong's side, but Old Dragon, who had taken a step to his side, held him back.

"Don't go over there. Your Master isn't dead. Hmph, with the three of us here, no one will easily take your Master's life, not even if your Master wished to die!"

Ji Yuan also took two steps closer to Daoist Qingsong, positioning himself slightly in front of Qin Zizhou. He extended a finger, and a cluster of pure spring energy materialized at its tip.

"Withered wood meets spring, heaven and earth create life!"

Ji Yuan touched Daoist Qingsong's forehead with his finger, and the pure energy rippled outwards like waves, spreading throughout his body.

Subsequently, Daoist Qingsong's wide-open eyes regained their vitality.

"Thump... thump... thump..."

The faint sound of a strong heartbeat emerged, and his pulse returned.

After a long while, Daoist Qingsong regained consciousness. The first thing he did was look down at his right hand. Seeing that he was still clutching the scroll, he let out a long sigh of relief, having feared he might have chosen to flee at the last moment.

The next moment, his understanding of the Wonderful Methods of Heaven and Earth welled up in his heart. He then understood that a connection had formed between himself, the scroll, and the Star Banner. Daoist Qingsong tentatively tossed the scroll; it immediately transformed into a beam of light, shot towards the main hall of the temple, then unfurled itself and "merged" with the Star Banner.

Daoist Qingsong composed himself, turned, and bowed towards the main hall. Qi Wen followed suit, performing the same gesture, and then joined Qingsong in bowing to Ji Yuan and the others.

"Thank you all for your help, thank you!"

"Alright," Ji Yuan said, "The Creation of Heaven and Earth can be considered a treasure. You've finally gained its recognition and, through it, comprehended the Wonderful Methods of Heaven and Earth. Although you still need to cultivate, you'll encounter far fewer problems in understanding. You can now truly be called the True Master of the Yunshan Temple's Daoist lineage."

Feeling a bit thirsty, Ji Yuan was the first to sit back at the table and pour himself some tea. With him leading, the group quickly returned to their seats, and the atmosphere became even more relaxed than before.

Old Dragon talked about Yunshan Temple needing its own restrictions, while Ji Yuan said there was no need, at least not yet. Qin Zizhou chuckled along, and the two Daoists were still secretly excited.

Somehow the conversation veered to the previous divination of the "Sword Intent Calligraphy." So when Ji Yuan took out the "Sword Intent Calligraphy" for everyone to see, a swarm of chattering tiny characters jumped out.

They kept calling out "Great Lord" from left and right, leaving everyone amazed.

Two mornings later, only Daoist Qingsong and Qi Wen and two small weasels remained at Yunshan Temple. Qin Zizhou had left with Ji Yuan and Old Dragon, with no definite word on how long they would be gone.

Daoist Qingsong and Qi Wen sat cross-legged in the main hall of the temple, cultivating. The two small weasels also sat individually on two prayer mats, mimicking the practice.

After morning prayers, Qi Wen suddenly asked, "Master, you are the True Master now. What about Grandfather Qin and Mr. Ji? Should we hang up the portraits you drew?"

Daoist Qingsong frowned, pondering.

"Mr. Ji's and Lord Qin's portraits shouldn't be hung outside just yet. Later, if we have our own protective enchantments or perhaps a blessed land or grotto-heaven, then we can find a place to hang them."

"As for titles, Lord Qin should be the Yunshan Temple's Deity of Boundary Travels. And Mr. Ji..."

Daoist Qingsong pondered deeply. Even if Yunshan Temple became grand in the future, given Mr. Ji's personality, he would definitely not like everyone calling him "Patriarch of Transmitted Methods." Suddenly, the way the tiny characters had addressed Ji Yuan a few days earlier flashed into his mind. Back then, they had called out in a chaotic chorus, and Mr. Ji hadn't shown any displeasure.

"Pop!"

Daoist Qingsong clapped his hands.

"I've got it! In the future, if any disciples are accepted into our Yunshan Temple, tell them that the one in the portrait with the character 'Ji' written on it is 'Great Lord'!"