116: Chapter 116 Wang Ming, Sect Master of the Zetian Sect!

However, in the very next instant, everything seemed to be under a spell, suddenly freezing in place.

The air in the small courtyard seemed to solidify at this moment, becoming exceptionally heavy and causing an indescribable sense of oppression.

Gu Qibai's face turned pale instantly, and his body trembled involuntarily.

Meanwhile, Chen Zhiwen's eyes became as sharp as an eagle's, his gaze like two bolts of lightning shooting straight toward the entrance of the small courtyard.

There, a hunched old man with a white beard stood quietly.

His body was slightly bent, as if he were carrying a heavy burden.

He tightly gripped a rotten wooden cane in his hand; the cane looked as if it had endured the baptism of countless years, appearing dilapidated.

However, in stark contrast to this cane, there was not the slightest aura emanating from the old man's body; he seemed just like an ordinary old man.

The old man was exceptionally thin, his skin clinging tightly to his bones, making one worry that a gust of wind could blow him over.

When Gu Qibai saw this old man, his reaction was exceptionally intense, as if he had seen the most terrifying thing in the world.

Like a startled mouse, he jumped up from his seat, a rare look of panic appearing on his face.

Chen Zhiwen's gaze was also locked tightly on the old man. His body was taut, and the surging Spiritual Qi in his spirit sea was like an enraged beast, churning crazily, as if it might erupt at any moment to unleash his strongest strike.

This was because the frail-looking old man before him was the strongest person he had ever encountered.

Even Great Grandmaster Chen Heng of the Great Xuan Dynasty was by no means a match for this old man!

Just as the atmosphere in the small courtyard was about to freeze to the freezing point, the old man at the entrance slightly raised his head. His eyes, which had originally been cloudy, seemed to suddenly become clear, like deep pools, containing a wisdom that could see through everything.

These eyes looked straight at Chen Zhiwen, as if able to discern every thought and emotion in his heart.

Chen Zhiwen felt that under the gaze of these eyes, all his disguises were laid bare.

However, what surprised Chen Zhiwen even more was that after the old man's gaze lingered on him for a moment, he actually caught a trace of shock, difficult for ordinary people to perceive, deep in the old man's cloudy eyes.

Although this trace of shock was fleeting, it was still keenly captured by Chen Zhiwen.

The old man leaned on his cane and stepped slowly into the small courtyard.

As the old man moved, the air in the small courtyard seemed to be stirred by him; the previously stagnant atmosphere was like being brushed by a breeze, and it began to flow slowly.

Petals and bamboo leaves drifted down lightly under the breeze.

"Young Friend Chen, there is no need to be nervous. I have no ill intentions." The old man walked to the stone table, sat down slowly in the seat Gu Qibai had just vacated, then looked up and gave Chen Zhiwen a friendly smile, speaking softly.

Chen Zhiwen looked at the old man. Although he still had some guard in his heart, he politely nodded, acknowledging the old man's words.

Immediately after, his gaze involuntarily glanced at the reserved Gu Qibai to the side.

From Gu Qibai's expression and attitude, Chen Zhiwen had already roughly guessed the identity of this old man.

"Junior Chen Zhiwen pays respects to Senior Wang!" Chen Zhiwen bowed to the old man.

"Senior Brother..." Gu Qibai looked at the old man, stammering.

The old man glanced lightly at Gu Qibai, "I have some matters to discuss with Young Friend Chen; you may withdraw first."

"Senior Brother, I..." Gu Qibai's expression changed, as if he still wanted to say something.

But when Gu Qibai saw the old man's eyes, he immediately swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue, nodded somewhat reluctantly, and turned to leave.

Watching Gu Qibai's departing figure, a hint of a smile appeared in Chen Zhiwen's eyes.

He had thought that in this Desolate State, no one could handle Gu Qibai's volatile temper; seeing this today, it turned out that Gu Qibai also had someone he feared.

"My Junior Brother is a bit reckless in his actions; I hope you can be more understanding, Young Friend." The old man said to Chen Zhiwen with a smile.

Chen Zhiwen shook his head, "Senior Gu and I are old acquaintances; I actually find his temper quite to my liking."

The old man smiled faintly, not wasting more words on this matter, and introduced himself: "My name is Wang Ming, and I am the current Sect Master of the Zetian Sect."

Upon hearing these words, Chen Zhiwen's face showed no change in expression, but in reality, his heart was like a raging storm.

He pondered to himself that his previous guess was actually correct; this seemingly ordinary old man was indeed the legendary Great Grandmaster Wang Ming of the Zetian Sect!

Legends about Wang Ming were widely spread throughout the entire Desolate State, and these legends were mixed with both praise and criticism.

The most controversial point among them was that this Great Grandmaster of the Zetian Sect was not of the Human Race, but came from the North Sea Demon Clan!

The Zetian Sect's tenet had always been to teach without discrimination, and there were quite a few members of the Yao Race among every generation of Zetian Sect Disciples.

Although this made some powers of the Human Race in the Desolate State quite dissatisfied, due to the Zetian Sect's powerful strength, they could only be angry but dare not speak.

However, when the previous Sect Master of the Zetian Sect announced that he would pass the position of Sect Master to Wang Ming, all the powers of the Human Race in the Desolate State could no longer sit still. They sent envoys one after another, attempting to stop the previous Sect Master's decision.

If it were just accepting members of the Yao Race as Disciples, they might have pretended not to see it, but to let a member of the Yao Race become the Sect Master of the Human Race's number one power...

Wouldn't that be letting the entire North Sea Demon Clan laugh at them?

Being laughed at was a small matter; the key was that those who are not of our race must have a different heart!

If Wang Ming really colluded with the North Sea Demon Clan and engaged in secret activities after succeeding as Sect Master, this would undoubtedly bring extremely serious consequences to the entire Human Race, and might even place the Human Race in a dangerous situation of eternal damnation.

Despite facing immense public pressure at the time, as well as strong condemnation and attacks from other powers.

The previous Zetian Sect Master resolutely disregarded any opposition and firmly passed the position of Sect Master to Wang Ming.

Although everyone in the outside world felt confused and puzzled by this decision, only the previous Zetian Sect Master knew best in his heart what kind of person his Disciple Wang Ming really was.