MTS: Marvel and Beyond

Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Zhang Zhiwei

The Taoist priest had long black hair tied up in a casual bun. He wore a clean Taoist robe, his handsome features exuding a natural charm. However, the dark circles under his eyes slightly diminished his aura, making him look a bit listless.

The priest yawned lazily and said,

"Not much to say. The state of Wudang Mountain is even worse than this."

He glanced at the group and introduced himself: "Wang Ye of the Wudang Sect. And you, sir, how should I address you?"

Zhang Chulan replied with an innocent smile, "My name is Zhang Chulan."

Wang Ye scrutinized him carefully, and his intuition as a sorcerer told him Zhang Chulan was far more complicated than he appeared.

He muttered under his breath,

"Hmm... Zhang Chulan..."

Suddenly, his gaze shifted sharply to the side. There stood a young man with white hair and striking blue eyes, casually observing the surrounding scenery.

Though the young man's expression was calm and relaxed, Wang Ye couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine. It was as if an all-powerful beast was sizing up the ants before him, pondering how to create chaos for its amusement.

Wang Ye's brows furrowed. He immediately recognized who this was.

The distinctive appearance left no room for doubt—this was Alex, the recently infamous figure whose name had spread throughout the world of the gifted as the ancestral founder of the Taoist Sect.

Initially, Wang Ye had been skeptical of Alex's identity. But seeing him now, he felt a grudging belief beginning to form.

Instinctively, he prepared to retreat into his inner realm to divine information about Alex. However, just as the thought crossed his mind, the light in front of him dimmed.

Looking up, he saw Alex standing directly before him, chin resting on his hand as he observed Wang Ye thoughtfully.

"Huh," Alex mused, "The Fenghou Qimen technique does have some potential. Were it not for the world's limitations suppressing its power, it could rival abilities at the Skyfather level in the Marvel Universe.

"However," Alex continued, "it's still just a technique. Without proper cultivation of mind and life force, it's no more than a castle built on sand.

"Kid, don't even think about using your inner realm to divine information about me. If you do, the blazing sun will burst it apart."

Wang Ye froze. He didn't fully understand what Alex meant by "bursting apart," assuming instead that Alex meant the inner realm's fireball would burn him to ashes.

Listening to advice is wise.

Wang Ye abandoned his plan and instead asked Alex directly,

"Alex, are you truly the ancestral founder of the Taoist Hall?"

Recalling his own journey through time to meet the elderly Zhang Daoling, Alex nodded slightly.

"Probably... I suppose so."

Wang Ye: "???"

What kind of answer is that? Either you are, or you aren't! What does "I suppose so" even mean?

Just then, Xu Si's anxious voice broke the silence: "Hey, has anyone seen Bao Bao? Where is she?"

Alex extended a hand, pointing in a direction. "There, see? She seems to be having her fortune told."

The group turned to look and saw Feng Bao Bao sitting in front of an elderly fortune teller, holding out her hand for him to examine.

The fortune teller studied her hand briefly before exclaiming in shock,

"This is the mark of a celestial being! Young lady, your palm reveals that you are destined for great wealth, longevity, and prosperity!"

Feng Bao Bao's interest was piqued. She thought to herself, This old man must truly be a master to discern so much about my destiny.

"Celestial being, great wealth, and long life... That sounds just like me," she said with a serious expression. Then, she asked solemnly, "Old monk, you're spot on. I have no special talents, but I do know how to live a long time."

A glint of cunning flashed in the old monk's eyes.

Ah, such a gullible girl is rare these days.

Adopting an air of profound mystery, he sighed and said, "Ah, very well. I hadn't intended for this item to see the light of day, but since we are fated to meet..." n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

The old monk took out a string of prayer beads with distinct Buddhist features, smiling mysteriously as he said: "A heavenly artifact, the Crimson Glaze Beads. This is a sacred treasure crafted by my grandmaster using the scales of a Fire Qilin. Not for 98,000, not for 9,800, but just 988!"

Feng Bao Bao stared intently at the Crimson Glaze Beads. She eagerly pulled ten red bills from her pocket, her face full of anticipation: "I want it! I want it! I want it!"

At that moment, Xu San approached the monk, stopping Feng Bao Bao and explaining to her that she was being deceived.

The con-artist monk sighed upon seeing this. He realized this deal was a bust.

Just then, a figure with white hair and blue eyes walked up to him. The young man handed him a 20-yuan bill and asked: "Will twenty do?"

The con-artist monk immediately handed the so-called Crimson Glaze Beads to Alex, grabbed the 20-yuan bill, and ran off as if terrified Alex might change his mind.

Xu San, seeing Alex had bought it, remarked, "Alex, you must know this is fake, right?"

Alex gave a mysterious smile, letting an invisible energy flow into the Crimson Glaze Beads, altering its essence. He replied casually,

"No, it's real now."

He tossed the Crimson Glaze Beads to Feng Bao Bao, who had been staring at it intently, and then turned to walk away.

As the Crimson Glaze Beads landed in Feng Bao Bao's hands, they emitted a dazzling golden-red glow, radiating such brilliance that they temporarily outshone the sun itself.

Feng Bao Bao quickly placed the beads around her neck, and immediately she felt a mysterious energy flowing through her body, enhancing her constitution and strengthening her from the inside out. At the same time, a divine ability emerged in her mind: when activated, she could transform into a golden Buddha!

Overjoyed, Feng Bao Bao beamed with excitement, a rare expression of delight. She pouted slightly and said to Xu San with mock annoyance,

"See, Xu San? I told you it was real, and you didn't believe me. Now you see how amazing I am!"

Xu San remained silent for a long moment, staring in disbelief at the Crimson Glaze Beads around Feng Bao Bao's neck.

Just moments ago, he had been completely certain they were ordinary prayer beads. Yet now, those same beads had transformed into the genuine Crimson Glaze Beads, radiating an unparalleled sacred aura.

He trusted his initial judgment, but the reality before him was undeniable. That left only one explanation:

The ordinary beads had been transformed into the real Crimson Glaze Beads during the brief moment they were in Alex's hands.

Hearing Xu San's explanation, Zhang Chulan and the others came over, stunned by what they had just learned.

This was the very embodiment of the saying: "When touched by the hands of an immortal, even the mundane becomes extraordinary."

To ordinary people, even the smallest act of goodwill from an immortal was an immense blessing.

Without hesitation, Zhang Chulan and Wang Ye rushed toward Alex, shouting, "Alex! Alex! We want one too! Please give us something!"

But Alex, ever the playful trickster, reveled in creating chaos for his own amusement. He lived by one principle: give freely when no one asks, but withhold it when begged.

So, no matter how hard Zhang Chulan and Wang Ye pleaded, Alex didn't grant their request, leaving them utterly disappointed.

As Alex, Xu San, and Xu Si continued walking ahead, Wang Ye suddenly stopped and looked ahead. Turning to Zhang Chulan, he said, "Weren't you looking for the old taoist Master? He's right over there!"

...

Wang Ye pointed to a tall, elderly man with white hair and eyebrows, standing in front of a camera and striking a casual peace sign.

The old man had a kind face and a youthful energy, exuding a unique sense of approachability.

But Alex knew better.

This old Heavenly Master wasn't always like this.

In his younger days, he wasn't the old Master—he was Zhang Zhiwei, the arrogant Zhang!

After the total amount of Qi between heaven and earth increased tenfold, the old Master, whose cultivation had already reached perfection, experienced another breakthrough. Now, his strength had likely reached an unprecedented realm.

He had already sensed the Qi of Wang Ye and Zhang Chulan and turned to approach them, intending to answer some of Zhang Chulan's lingering doubts.

But suddenly, his movements halted.

In his perception, someone appeared before him without leaving the slightest trace—a man with white hair and blue eyes, exuding an air of arrogance that surpassed even his own youthful vigor. This wasn't just arrogance toward others; it was a disdain for the entire world itself.

The old Master, with his profound cultivation, could keenly perceive this man's overwhelming confidence.

Turning slightly, he glanced at Zhang Lingyu beside him. As expected, Zhang Lingyu's face had gone pale, his eyes filled with fear as he stared at the figure in the distance. However, as he continued to gaze, a strange transformation occurred—his face grew flush with determination.

The old Master nodded subtly. Zhang Lingyu's talent was undeniable, though his temperament needed tempering.

His defeat at the hands of Alex had shattered his spirit. Yet now, from the ruins of his broken confidence, a more resilient will was beginning to emerge. He had overcome his fear, and his future cultivation would progress rapidly, unhindered by any barriers.

When Wang Ye and Zhang Chulan approached to pay their respects, the old Master stopped them.

As the head of the Sect, he adhered to tradition and hierarchy. Until he had formally greeted his elder, he could not accept the salutes of the younger generation.

Thus, he bypassed the two of them and stood before Alex. Bowing deeply, he said: "Zhang Zhiwei, the 65th Longhu Mountain's Taoist Master Hall, pays respects to our ancestral master, Alex."

His bow stunned everyone present.

The ordinary onlookers, unaware of the deeper truths of the world, were simply puzzled. Why was this venerable old man, over a century in age, addressing a man seemingly in his twenties as "ancestral master"?

Even if his status were extraordinary, could it truly justify the title of "ancestral master"?

However, those privy to the secrets of the otherworldly community understood the gravity of this gesture.

This bow symbolized the Sect's full and official recognition of Alex's identity. It acknowledged him as the ancestral founder of their sect, confirming his claims of ascension and immortality.

More significantly, it validated the existence of immortality and celestial beings, raising the ceiling of what was possible in their world. Immortality, invincibility, and eternal life were no longer mere myths.

Observing the old Master's respectful bow, Alex nodded, sensing the crowd's shock and emotional turmoil. He felt a surge of satisfaction.

Yes, this performance was flawless—he'd give himself a perfect score.

Feeling pleased, Alex reached out, placing his hand on the old Master's head. Activating his reverse cursed technique, he began enhancing the old man's abilities.

He said: "Impressive. To cultivate to such a level under the limited spiritual energy of this world is no small feat. Even among countless realms, you would be considered a true genius.

"However, you've wasted too much time and energy over the years. Even with the recent surge in spiritual energy, it would be difficult for you to break through to the realm of true immortality.

"But... you are, after all, a descendant of my sect. I'm not one to neglect my own, so let me help you defy the heavens and rewrite your destiny!"

"Now, I shall strip away the marks left by the river of time upon your body, dispel all postnatal impurities, reverse your constitution to its innate state, and help you step into the realm of eternal life!"

With the activation of RCT, Alex altered the old man's physical state, healing the hidden injuries accumulated over years of training and battles. An invisible force manipulated the flow of time around him, reversing its effects on his body.

Before everyone's eyes, the old Master's transformation was nothing short of miraculous. His wrinkles disappeared, leaving behind smooth, youthful skin. His once white hair and beard darkened, regaining their original vibrance. Even his stature changed; already towering at 190 cm, his height extended further, reaching nearly two meters.

His aura grew profoundly intense, as if radiating a divine brilliance. A golden light enveloped his body, making him resemble a living statue of pure gold.

An indescribable, overwhelming presence emanated from him, spreading across the area.

Weak-willed individuals within a kilometer radius collapsed, their eyes rolling back as they fainted from the sheer pressure.

The old Master's essence had ascended—he had become an immortal, stepping into the legendary realm of eternal youth and life.

If he existed within the Marvel universe, such a state could only be described as that of a Skyfather!

When the transformation concluded, a rejuvenated Master stood before everyone. No longer the venerable elder they knew, he could now be referred to as the young Zhang Zhiwei!

Zhang Lingyu, witnessing the unimaginable, approached his master with trembling steps, his voice shaking as he asked,

"Master, are you still... you?"

Zhang Zhiwei understood his disciple's concerns. Zhang Lingyu feared Alex had altered his mind or essence, making him someone entirely different.

With a smile, Zhang Zhiwei reached out and patted Zhang Lingyu on the head, saying, "Lingyu, I am still me. Only my exterior has changed—my essence remains untouched. You must learn to look beyond appearances and see the truth within."

Hearing this familiar teaching, Zhang Lingyu was finally reassured. The wisdom and spirit of his master were unaltered.

With relief, he asked, "Master, how do you feel now?"

Zhang Zhiwei closed his eyes, concentrating for a moment before responding with astonishment,

"Good. Very good. I've never felt this good in my life!"

Every meridian in his body had expanded a thousandfold, every cell now possessing infinite regenerative properties. Even the energy—Qi—within him had undergone a fundamental transformation, becoming something far greater.

Complex emotions filled Zhang Zhiwei's expression as he reflected. The path to immortality, which he had sought for a lifetime, had been granted so effortlessly.

°°°

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