Chapter 92: I Have A Plan
“Ah? So busy?”
Jiang Ce said somewhat embarrassedly: “It seems we came at a bad time.”
Zhang Ze Zhi waved his hand: “Eh, Virtuous Nephew, what are you saying? Busy as it is, time can always be spared.
Moreover, you came at just the right time. In another day or two, the major Daoist Sects will arrive one after another for the gathering. Though most are not comparable to our Celestial Master’s Mansion, they are still notable figures from various places no matter what.
You might as well stay to observe the ceremony. If you can make friends with some heroes and heroes, it will be greatly beneficial for your future travels in the Jianghu.”
Seeing Zhang Ze Zhi speak with sincerity, not like empty words, Jiang Ce looked at the others and saw no objections, so he agreed.
“In that case, since you’re idle anyway, I’ll take you to the Back Mountain to have a look.”
Zhang Ze Zhi said with a smile as he arranged things.
Guests follow the host, so the group followed Zhang Ze Zhi out of the Celestial Master’s Hall and headed to the Back Mountain.
Upon arriving at the Back Mountain, the group then understood.
How could the Celestial Master’s Mansion be deserted and quiet? Clearly, all the disciples and followers were gathered at the Back Mountain, bustling about with various preparations.
Everyone was methodically doing their assigned tasks: setting up the venue, engraving Magic Arrays, transporting Materials, and so on. Everything was so orderly.
This naturally showed that although Zhang Ze Zhi’s Strength was average, his Ability to handle affairs and organize allocations was indeed excellent.
A rough glance showed hundreds of Daoist Priests bustling about without the slightest chaos, revealing they were usually well-trained elites.
Just as Xuan Qing was marveling that the Celestial Master’s Mansion indeed had the air of a great sect, Jiang Ce was drawn to one black Daoist Priest among them.
His Cultivation was not low, at Sixth Rank, so he could carry massive stones several meters square and run back and forth alone.
“Good, good, good! Perfect!” Jiang Ce said delightedly: “This fits my image of black people perfectly.”
“Oh? Black person? You mean John.” Zhang Ze Zhi looked at the black man and spoke of his background: “He came here as a child for tourism. His parents were both killed by the Gluttonous Ghost, and he himself was captured by the Gluttonous Ghost and made a slave.
Originally, he was to be refined into a ghost slave after growing up. My brother happened to rescue him by chance. Seeing his deep hatred for the Gluttonous Ghost yet still harboring kind thoughts, and being upright and strong-willed, he kept him and taught him to do good deeds and accumulate virtue, as well as the Cultivation Method.
More than ten years have passed, and he has now Cultivated to Sixth Rank. Though not of our kin, he is deeply favored by my brother.”
Jiang Ce was even more delighted: “Named John, parents both dead, was a slave, awakened a desire for resistance after being rescued—perfect, too right, it all matches! If he were a bisexual environmentalist transgender vegetarian, it would be an instant kill!”
“Matches what?” Zhang Ze Zhi asked puzzled, his face full of confusion.
“Uh,” Jiang Ce thought quickly and immediately explained: “It just fits my understanding of the phrase ‘Heaven, when about to confer a great mission on a person, first tests his mind with suffering, labors his sinews and bones, starves his body, empties his pursuits, and disrupts his actions.’ I feel he is heaven’s chosen, born Materials for Cultivation.”
“I see, that makes sense.” Zhang Ze Zhi nodded. Though he felt there was deeper meaning, he didn’t pry further.
Clearing his throat, Zhang Ze Zhi continued: “What you see now is just the prototype. On the day the Daoist Grand Ceremony begins, you’ll see the grandest venue in recent decades.”
“Then I’m truly looking forward to it.” Jiang Ce nodded with a smile.
“Daoist Priest Zhang.” Qin Shen Bo suddenly cupped his hands in salute and asked seriously: “May I ask if the Daoist Grand Ceremony builds such a large venue because there is a martial arts competition segment?”
Zhang Ze Zhi did not conceal it or tease, answering straightforwardly: “Yes.”
Pausing, he explained: “The Daoist Grand Ceremony is held every thirty years and has been passed down from over a thousand years ago. It has always been the ritual to select the next Leader of the Daoist Sects.
By the old rules, one from Sixth Rank, one from Third Rank, one from Unity of Heaven and Man, representing the young generation, middle-aged generation, and elder generation respectively, to assess comprehensive Strength and prevent sects with profound experts but no successors from seizing the Leader position.
But that’s all in the past. Now Cultivation is difficult, and the threshold for Heaven-Reaching Dharma Master is like a chasm. Strictly speaking, many sects don’t even qualify to participate in the Daoist Grand Ceremony. Since my grandfather’s generation, for over a hundred or two hundred years, our Celestial Master’s Mansion has always held the Leader position.
Thus, today’s Daoist Grand Ceremony is just a formality, no longer with strict rules and thresholds. The competition segment is more like a performance and won’t go to the death anymore.”
Seeing Qin Shen Bo eager to try, he smiled and said: “Gatekeeper, if you want to participate, you can. But win or lose, the Gatekeeper cannot become the Leader of the Daoist Sects.”
“No matter. As long as I can compete on stage with Cultivators of the same level, that’s enough.” Qin Shen Bo was already fully satisfied.
Jiang Ce shook his head inwardly: Battle maniac!
Just then, a young Daoist Priest ran over to consult Zhang Ze Zhi, who frowned: “No Rules. Can’t you see we have guests?”
“But it’s a major matter. Ancestor, you’d better go take a look.” The young Daoist Priest looked troubled.
Zhang Ze Zhi could only smile wryly: “Poor discipline, you’ve seen the joke.”
“No matter.” Xuan Qing shook his head: “Go handle your business. I’ve been to the Celestial Master’s Mansion many times and know it well. I’ll show them around.”
“Then I’ll take my leave first.” Zhang Ze Zhi said apologetically: “Virtuous Nephew, just look around as if at your own home. I’ll find you after I’m done.”
“Uncle Zhang is too polite.” Jiang Ce replied politely and refinedly.
Getting the reply, Zhang Ze Zhi went over with the young Daoist Priest.
Xuan Qing beckoned: “Let’s go. I’ll take you around. It’s watermelon season now. I’ll take you to Zhang Ze Zhi’s backyard to pick watermelons to eat.”
Lou Leshan grinned mischievously and shouted: “Freeloading, freeloading!”
Xuan Qing’s face changed: “Can’t even speak properly! When we get there, you pick for us!”
Half a quarter-hour later, taking the half-piece of watermelon handed over by the sullen-faced Lou Leshan, Jiang Ce pondered thoughtfully and suddenly said:
“Everyone quiet down. I have a Plan!”
The previously excited group all became serious, gathering around Jiang Ce. Xuan Qing asked curiously: “What Plan?”
Jiang Ce was dead serious: “Right now the Old Celestial Master and Celestial Master are away. Zhang Ze Zhi is only at Five Energies Returning to Origin. Why not notify Master Ku Zhen? Tonight we strike from inside and outside, taking the Celestial Master’s Mansion in one fell swoop!”
Everyone gasped. Xuan Qing, looking like he’d seen a ghost, couldn’t help shouting: “Are you crazy?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve planned it all. We’ll do a chain stratagem: Have Ku Zhen and Ling Xun wear Masks, first Disguise as Gluttonous Ghosts, then before Zhang Ze Zhi acts, Martial Uncle Xuan Qing, you first exchange palms with Master Ku Zhen, pretend to be defeated, and Zhang Ze Zhi will surely act!
At that point, I’ll arrange for Master Ku Zhen to pretend to struggle, then suddenly use Buddhist Sect Cultivation Method to catch him off guard.
This way, the Daoist Sects will inevitably suspect the Buddhist Sect Disguised as Gluttonous Ghosts to target them deliberately. Plus with the Lu Shan Sect as precedent, let them connect the dots themselves. Even if there are leaks, doesn’t the Buddhist Sect have conflicts with the Daoist Sects? Under preconceived notions, they’ll fill in the details themselves and conclude the Buddhist Sect is the culprit.
By then, we not only get out clean but reap the benefits as the mantis stalks the cicada unaware of the oriole behind. When both sides’ Power is nearly exhausted, we take them all down. From then on, the land will be filled with the Gatekeeper’s banners everywhere. What do you think?”
