117: Please, sir, be sure to join our sect!
When Li Yan saw the hundred-foot-tall humanoid statue carved in his image standing in the center of Cloud City, he was speechless.
On the stone tablet beneath the statue, several large characters were inscribed.
“First Generation Holy Master of Cloud City — Li Yan.”
Just…
Just…
Li Yan’s feelings were a mix of emotions at this moment; he didn't know whether to laugh or laugh.
He also didn't know if it was OHazy moon or Zenmatsu, which Disciple had erected his statue in the central area of Cloud City, to receive worship from all directions.
As Li Yan was caught between laughter and tears, Zhang Jiu patted his shoulder.
“Fellow Daoist Li, you just arrived in Cloud City yesterday, so you probably don’t know the story behind this, do you?”
“Legend has it that over thirty thousand years ago, Saint Li Yan suppressed the ancient god, Bloodline Emperor Lord.”
“He alone rescued the Sect Master of Yuehua Sword Sect, Moonlit Sword Immortal.”
“The Hall Master of Tianshu Hall, Ember Immortal.”
“And Dragon Tiger Immortal of Dragon Tiger Mountain!”
“It is precisely because of Saint Li Yan’s intervention that Cloud City came into being, the only haven in this chaotic world, and the only remaining Spiritual Qi blessed land for Cultivators.”
It sounded like history had changed a lot.
But when he heard later generations comment on what he had done back then, the feeling was very strange.
How should he put it?
When he heard later generations refer to him as a Saint and sing his praises, even with Li Yan’s thick skin, he couldn't help but blush.
Especially since Zhang Jiu still didn’t know that he was Li Yan from thirty thousand years ago, the Saint they spoke of, the First Generation Holy Master of Cloud City.
After Zhang Jiu spoke for a long time, he looked at Li Yan: “Fellow Daoist Li, you already look exactly like the First Generation Holy Master, and you share the same name.
“Isn’t this too much of a coincidence?”
Hearing Zhang Jiu say this, Li Yan let out a dry laugh.
“Brother Zhang, you also know that I am a foreigner, not from this place.”
“I also don’t know how there could be such a coincidence in this world.”
As Li Yan gave a forced smile, Zhang Jiu stroked his chin thoughtfully: “Yes, how could there be such a coincidence?”
The more he looked, the more he felt that Li Yan was indeed the First Generation Holy Master of Cloud City.
He was simply carved from the same mold.
“Fellow Daoist Li, you couldn’t possibly be…”
Zhang Jiu pointed at Li Yan, held back that sentence for a long time, and then suddenly burst into laughter.
“But how could that be? That First Generation Holy Master Li Yan was a Saint from over thirty thousand years ago.”
“It is said that he was an Immortal who descended from White Jade Capital, with endless Lifespan, coexisting with heaven and earth.”
“How could you, a Golden Core Stage Loose Cultivator, be the Reincarnation of that Immortal?”
“I was overthinking it, hahahaha.”
Zhang Jiu shook his head repeatedly, feeling that his own idea was too fantastical.
The Li Yan in front of him could not possibly be that Saint from thirty thousand years ago; it was absolutely impossible.
Li Yan also gave a dry laugh: “If I were that Saint, would I still be standing here chatting with Brother Li?”
Zhang Jiu slapped his thigh and said with a laugh.
“Exactly! If you were the First Generation Holy Master, then I, Zhang Jiu, would be the Reincarnation of Dragon Tiger Immortal!”
Hmm…
No problem there.
Zhang Jiu was indeed the Reincarnation of Dragon Tiger Immortal.
Just as the two were chatting on the street, several Cultivators wearing black robes and carrying Tianshu Hall jade tokens at their waists approached them.
Those black-robed individuals respectfully clasped their hands and said.
“Your Excellency, you are Li Yan, correct?”
Seeing the other party’s respectful attitude, and knowing the saying “one doesn’t hit a smiling face,” Li Yan nodded.
“I am.”
The black-robed Cultivators’ tone became even more respectful: “Your Excellency Li Yan, the Hall Master of Tianshu Hall requests your presence; please come to the West City.”
Hall Master of Tianshu Hall?
That was Ember Immortal’s Disciples and grand-Disciples, and also his, Li Yan’s, Disciples and grand-Disciples.
As the black-robed Cultivators lowered their heads, they secretly peeked at Li Yan.
Similar, too similar!
This young man in front of them was too similar to the First Generation Holy Master of Cloud City.
Facing the invitation, Li Yan couldn't refuse easily, especially since he had already woken up in the city.
If he refused now, it might cause unnecessary trouble.
Since the Hall Master of Tianshu Hall had come to invite him, Li Yan agreed.
“Sirs, lead the way.”
“Your Excellency, please!”
“We have already prepared an Immortal carriage for you.”
As Zhang Jiu watched in astonishment, Li Yan was invited onto the Immortal carriage by the Cultivators of Tianshu Hall.
“Wait!”
On the other side, a group of female Cultivators in white robes descended on Flying Swords, blocking the Immortal carriage.
The other party immediately revealed their identity: “I am the Grand Elder of Yuehua Sword Sect.”
“This Fellow Daoist is a guest of our Sect, and our Sect Master requests his presence!”
Watching the Cultivators from the two major Sects, one black and one white, appear, both wanting to invite Li Yan over.
Li Yan didn’t know how to speak; he had already returned to reality, and this place was no longer a dream.
He didn't want to make a big deal out of it, but the situation was already beyond Li Yan’s control.
The people on both sides had already begun to draw swords.
The black-robed Cultivator from Tianshu Hall drew his waist saber: “What are you doing? He is someone our Tianshu Hall has set our eyes on; do you people from the Sword Sect also want to snatch him?”
“Heh, this person shares the same name as the First Generation Holy Master and looks exactly like him.”
“Our Sword Sect’s Ancestral Master, Moonlit Sword Immortal, is the First Generation Holy Master’s chief Disciple!”
“This Fellow Daoist Li should come to our Sword Sect.”
Hearing this, the black-robed Cultivator sneered.
“I think Grand Elder, you are purely spreading rumors.”
“The First Generation Holy Master Li Yan’s chief Disciple was clearly our Ancestral Master, Ember Immortal.”
“This Fellow Daoist Li should come to our Tianshu Hall.”
At this moment, Li Yan didn't know how to explain.
When he accepted Disciples back then, he didn’t specify who was the Senior Sister or who was the Junior Sister.
He just wanted to let OHazy moon and Zenmatsu compete, and whoever won would be the Senior Sister.
How could it be that after over thirty thousand years, they still hadn’t decided a winner?
So much so that thirty thousand years later, these Disciples and grand-Disciples were still fighting over who was Li Yan’s chief Disciple.
This…
Li Yan in the Immortal carriage watched as the situation was about to spiral out of control.
He couldn't help but say, “Sisters, what are you planning to fight over?”
As soon as Li Yan spoke, both factions turned around, clasped their hands, and respectfully replied.
“This Fellow Daoist, you have already seen the statue in the city.”
“You look exactly like Li Yan, the First Generation Holy Master of Cloud City.”
“And you also share the same name as him.”
The two leading Elders even said in unison.
“No matter what, our Sect Master (Hall Master) wants to take you as a Disciple, and we earnestly request you to join our Sword Sect (Tianshu Hall).”
Now he understood; they thought Li Yan looked like ‘Li Yan’ and wanted to invite him to join their Sect.
In other words.
His identity had not been exposed; everyone just thought he simply looked similar.
After all, no one would suspect that he, Li Yan, was truly Li Yan.
Hmm…
Unless Li Yan had to prove that he was himself, otherwise they all treated Li Yan as someone similar to the Holy Master.
For no other reason than that the Sword Sect and Tianshu Hall had to determine superiority.
Someone like Li Yan, who resembled their Ancestral Master, had to be eagerly brought back to their Sect.
Just as both sides were at a stalemate, two voices came from left and right.
“Yuehua Sword Sect, Sect Master has arrived!”
“Tianshu Hall, Hall Master has arrived!”