For a moment, the atmosphere within the grand hall had become somewhat tense and charged!
The words "Third Junior Brother" brought a wave of emotion to my heart as well.
Sun Zhuo was on the brink of death that day and had said that he was the Third Disciple of the Bright Mirror Sage.
It is indeed a coincidence that the Bright Mirror Sage is also the Third Disciple of the Old True Master?
Analyzing He You Tian's previous words, considering his position as a senior elder...
In reality, it was because he defeated the Bright Mirror Sage that many years ago that he became the senior elder. It was through the attainment of this position that the Bright Mirror Sage achieved his current status.
The elders fell into a deadly silence, and the disciples on the other side became as still as if they were frozen with fear.
"Brother, there is no need for you to be angry," the Bright Mirror Sage showed a sign of yielding.
"Then, Luo Xian Shen shall reside in the Thunder God Cliff."
"I will personally accompany him," the Bright Mirror Sage added.
He You Tian's expression returned to normal, and he nodded and said, "If my master in the underworld knows, he will be satisfied with what Third Junior Brother did today."
The Bright Mirror Sage smiled.
I couldn't quite put it into words, but I felt that his smile wasn't very natural.
After a while, the Bright Mirror Sage looked at Sun Zhuo and indicated for them to disperse.
He You Tian then walked over to my side, lightly patted my shoulder.
"Little junior brother, the Thunder God Cliff is a place that all important disciples of Four Rule Mountain must reside in. His presence can prove your identity and lay the foundation for your status within the sect."
"Do not think that Brother is being strict with you."
"I am grateful for Brother's consideration of my well-being," I whispered in response.
He You Tian's face was suddenly brimming with a smile as he said, "You need to stay at the Thunder God Cliff for at least seven days. After seven days, come to the Elder's Hall and stay by my side."
After saying that, He You Tian slowly walked out of the grand hall, followed by the other elders.
In the grand hall, only I and the Bright Mirror Sage remained.
After a gap of about a few seconds, the Bright Mirror Sage took a step towards the exit.
As I followed him, we left the grand hall and continued climbing up the mountain from the right side along a path.
Throughout this period, I could feel many gazes directed towards us from the left side of the mountain path.
When we reached a stairway along the mountain path on the right side, the sense of being watched from behind diminished.
As we climbed up the stairway, we passed through two more temple halls, but the Bright Mirror Sage did not pause.
The mountain wind grew stronger, blowing on us with an extra intensity of cold.
At about three quarters of the way to the peak, a fork in the path appeared.
If we proceed forward, we can reach the last temple hall at the top of the mountain.
In the opposite direction, the path leads to an unknown destination.
The Bright Mirror Sage took the path in the opposite direction.
The fork in the path was not stone steps, but a planked walkway.
The planked walkway was snug against the mountain wall, with a strong sense of being suspended in the air. However, compared to the planked walkway at Duyue Dao Guan, the danger level was significantly lower.
The planked walkway on a peak is much easier than one on a cliff face, it's child's play.
Of course, this is just a relative comparison. For a normal person to walk on this planked walkway, it would be enough to make their legs quiver and tremble like chaff.
"Your courage is commendable," the Bright Mirror Sage suddenly spoke up.
"You flatter me, True Master," I replied without changing the color of my face, "I have walked on more perilous paths."
"You know, what I meant is not that," he said.
The Bright Mirror Sage paused slightly.
"You are not my junior brother, you are not a disciple of my master."
"You are impersonating the previous patriarch of Four Rule Mountain, do you know the punishment for that?"
"I will cast you down from this mountain, tearing you apart, binding your soul forever to Four Rule Mountain, and you will not be allowed to ascend again!"
Turning back, the mask of the Bright Mirror Sage fluttered with the mountain wind.
"Third Brother, I don't understand what you said." I slightly raised my head without showing any sign of weakness.
"The senior elder has affirmed my identity, the other elders have not shown any doubts, and even you, in front of everyone's gaze, have confirmed my identity."
"Why would you say now that I am not your junior brother, but a fraud?"
"Do I still need to produce any token in front of everyone to prove my identity?"
"It would not be right for you to punish me and then have the senior brothers discover the token on my person afterward, leading to True Master being accused of killing his fellow sect members."
My words came out quickly and resoundingly.
"Furthermore, I'm sure there are many disciples of the Four Regulated Mirror who know that I might be carrying some sort of token from the Four Regulated Mirror. As soon as they see me, they will naturally make connections, and I have been hiding my identity in Jianyang, and the Four Regulated Mirror has been using false hands to do so."
"They are all my witnesses."
The wind grew stronger, howling more fiercely!
The Bright Mirror Sage remained motionless and silent, his mask resembling one stuck to a piece of stone.
"I am a Miao."
Suddenly, he muttered a sentence.
"Hand me the Four Regulated Mirror, and I can confirm your identity. You will be one of the Taoists in the Four Regulated Mountain," the Bright Mirror Sage said, speaking each word carefully.
"The Four Regulated Mirror is a token given to me by my master, and you also have one in your hand, albeit a fake one that you've forged." I spoke again.
Reflecting on it, I suddenly said, "The position of the True Master of the Bright Mirror may not have been acquired in a very dignified manner, perhaps?"
"The senior elder may not be completely satisfied with you, or perhaps I'm overthinking it. After all, the senior elder and the True Master have equal status and can hold sway, isn't that so?"
A killing intent suddenly locked me in place.
The figure of the Bright Mirror Sage appeared in front of me instantly.
My pupil contracted violently, but I did not dodge.
His hand pressed against my chest!
I could feel a powerful force, and if he so wished, he could easily pierce my body through and through.
"Do you think you can find the Four Regulated Mirror on my person?"
"How will you explain my death to the senior elder?"
I still maintained a composed expression as I spoke softly.
"What do you want?" the Bright Mirror Sage's voice became hoarse.
"I simply want to be acknowledged and respected," I replied.
"Lie!" the Bright Mirror Sage's tone grew heavier, his words piercing like needles into my ears.
I let out a low groan, the pain was extremely intense.
"What would you like from the Bright Mirror Sage?"
The Bright Mirror Sage did not say anything.
My face remained normal and calm.
All the verbal strategies were taught to me by Miao San.
He told me that as long as I pinched the points that could affect his identity and status, he would be constrained and wouldn't dare to harm me severely.
At this moment, everything is basically following the plan that Miao San had arranged.
Indeed, the Bright Mirror Sage seemed to have someone grip his throat, making him caught in a dilemma.
The next second, the Bright Mirror Sage took two steps back, turned around, and continued towards the end of the planked walkway.
I followed him step by step.
Ten minutes later, the planked walkway reached its end. A platform that extended about three meters, with stumps at the edge to form a railing. The other side was slightly sunken inward and contained simple wooden beds and a stove, as well as even a rice barrel and water bucket.
This area intended for living was about ten square meters. Ahead was a narrow path, about two to three meters long, leading to another platform.
Although it was called a platform, in reality, it was a cliff edge.
But the cliff was very small and extended outwards quite a bit, accommodating no more than two people standing on it.
Is this the Thunder God Cliff?
I vaguely remembered that Han Zuaizi had mentioned that if Sun Zhuo's identity was revealed, the Bright Mirror Sage would have to jump off the Thunder God Cliff!
My mind suddenly cleared like a bucket of ice water had been poured over me. I now fully understood why the Bright Mirror Sage was so wary of me. Despite my behavior being appalling, he had not shown any signs of true anger!
