Chapter 188 The Founder of the Taoist School

"May I ask, are you Jiang Chen, Ancestral Master Jiang?"

As these words fell, everyone, whether they knew the context or not, was stunned.

What did the Sect Head just say? Who is Jiang Chen? Who is the Ancestral Master?

Did I mishear, did the Sect Head misspeak, or has the world gone wrong?

For a moment, Ye Shouzhen and Wu Guangrong could not grasp the meaning behind those words.

After a long while, they finally digested the content of his statement.

Yet, the implications left them stunned for a long time, their hearts rising and falling with turmoil.

"Sect Head, you aren't joking, are you? Wasn't it said that Jiang Chen was a Disciple of one of our Maoshan seniors?" Wu Guangrong asked dryly.

Jiang Chen stood calmly in place. His eyes, as he looked at Ye Yunyang, held a trace of curiosity and inquiry; he did not understand how Ye Yunyang had guessed his identity.

At this moment, Ye Yunyang suddenly felt a sense of aloof pride, as if he were the only one awake while everyone else was drunk.

"Senior Brother, you must not address the Ancestral Master by his name directly! The Ancestral Master is approachable, but that is no reason for us to be reckless!"

This voice contained a rare sternness and reprimand, which took Wu Guangrong aback.

Usually, although Ye Yunyang was the Sect Head of the Maoshan Sect, he always treated them, his Senior Brothers, with the courtesy of a Junior Brother, never daring to overstep.

Of course, they never relied on Ye Yunyang's attitude or their own status to presume upon their seniority.

But today, this was the first time in a long while that Ye Yunyang had scolded them so angrily.

This also made Wu Guangrong realize that Ye Yunyang truly believed that Jiang Chen was the Maoshan Ancestral Master!

Yet he was extremely curious about how the Sect Head could be so certain.

More importantly, if Jiang Chen truly were the so-called Maoshan Ancestral Master, which historical Ancestral Master could he be?

Wu Guangrong racked his brain, but could not match Jiang Chen with any Ancestral Master in history.

Of course, he had not experienced many things in history, and there were likely many situations he was unaware of.

But just thinking that Jiang Chen might be an ancient person gave Wu Guangrong a tingling sensation on his scalp.

First there was the Mountain Lord, and now an ancient practitioner; it felt like a legend from a book coming into reality.

Although he knew that many long-lived practitioners existed in the past, knowing was one thing, but seeing it with his own eyes was another.

As for Ye Shouzhen, he was still completely stunned and had not yet recovered.

Who is Jiang Chen? Jiang Chen is a shameless little thief who impersonated a Disciple of the Maoshan Sect.

Who is Jiang Chen? Jiang Chen is a Disciple taken in by some Maoshan senior while traveling down the mountain.

Who is Jiang Chen? Jiang Chen is my Ancestral Master???

Ye Shouzhen only felt his head buzzing; he did not know what to think anymore.

Ye Yunyang looked cautiously at Jiang Chen and said, "I do not know how to explain this matter; it seems the Ancestral Master's past and origins have been obscured by an indescribable force."

Hearing this, Jiang Chen's gaze tightened slightly. He had previously wondered why there were no records of him in later generations.

At this moment, it seemed he could find some answers here.

Ye Yunyang looked cautiously at Jiang Chen, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Since the Ancestral Master's name does not appear in later generations, I have a question: why has the Ancestral Master not returned to Maoshan for such a long time?"

Jiang Chen looked at Ye Yunyang indifferently. Unlike Ye Yunyang's nervous appearance, he looked calm and composed.

"It seems you have already concluded that I am the Ancestral Master you speak of?" Jiang Chen said with an ambiguous expression.

Ye Yunyang replied firmly, "I would not misremember the names of the many Ancestral Masters. Combined with the Ancestral Master's past, I am even more certain. Most importantly, there is that in the Sanqing Dharma Hall..."

These words from Ye Yunyang left Ye Shouzhen and Wu Guangrong completely confused.

What Ancestral Master name? They knew the names of all the past Ancestral Masters by heart; how could they not remember one named Jiang Chen?

Hearing Ye Yunyang's words, Jiang Chen sighed inwardly. He had not intended to deliberately reveal his identity when he came here today, nor had he intended to deliberately conceal it.

Everything should follow its natural course. Since it had been deduced, there was no need for him to deliberately hide his identity.

Therefore, Jiang Chen nodded and said calmly, "That is indeed the case. I studied under the sixth-generation Sect Head of Maoshan, Grand Master Sima Chengzhen, and my Daoist name is Great True Lord Xuanyi."

Dead silence, still dead silence.

Once these words were spoken, everyone present held their breath, fearing they might miss a single piece of information.

The sixth-generation Sect Head of Maoshan? Grand Master Sima Chengzhen? Great True Lord Xuanyi?

They were no strangers to Grand Master Sima Chengzhen; he was the ancestor who revitalized the Maoshan Sect, a legendary figure who achieved Ascension and stood shoulder to shoulder with the founder of Maoshan.

Jiang Chen was actually his Disciple? Then why did they have absolutely no impression of him?

This was simply too fantastical.

But the Sect Head's judgment must have its reasons.

If this were true, Wu Guangrong dared not even imagine the implications.

Back when the revitalization ancestor Grand Master Sima Chengzhen was present, Maoshan was revered by all Daoist sects in the world, and he was honored as the supreme Sect Head—what a glorious event that was.

Unfortunately, the descendants were incompetent and lost the great foundation established by the Ancestral Master.

When Ye Yunyang heard the Daoist name Great True Lord Xuanyi, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck his mind, and his previously somewhat blurry memories suddenly became clear.

He finally knew what he had forgotten earlier.

The Disciple of the Maoshan Immortal Master Grand Master Sima Chengzhen, Jiang Chen, with the Dharma name Great True Lord Xuanyi! He was bestowed the title of Great True Lord Xuanzhao Dongmiao by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang!

Ye Yunyang's heart pounded violently. At this moment, he had no more doubts; Jiang Chen was indeed the Maoshan Ancestral Master!

But Ye Shouzhen and Wu Guangrong still dared not easily draw conclusions. This was mainly because, based on what Ye Yunyang had said earlier, there did not seem to be solid proof that Jiang Chen was the Maoshan Ancestral Master. And to be a Disciple of Grand Master Sima Chengzhen—what kind of concept was that?

Surviving for a thousand years! Achieving eternal life! Watching the changes of history, the clouds rolling and unrolling.

That would at least be an existence on the same level as the Mountain Lord of Baijun Mountain!

Jiang Chen's cultivation was powerful, but whether it reached that level was still unknown.

Because he looked too young, and such an appearance often made people feel uneasy.

However, they dared not test Jiang Chen's depth. Not to mention whether they could win, if he really were the Ancestral Master, that would be the grave sin of disrespecting one's master and destroying one's ancestors.

However, the matter of the Maoshan Sect's Ancestral Master could not be treated lightly.

So, after some deliberation, Wu Guangrong said, "Sect Head, this matter is of great importance and requires careful verification of the identity of Jiang... Immortal Master. In my opinion, why not go to the Ancestral Master Hall, pay respects to all the Ancestral Masters, and verify the identity?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Yunyang turned his head abruptly, his gaze unkind, making Wu Guangrong's heart turn cold.

"Senior Brother, the Ancestral Master's identity is absolutely certain. Such words from you already constitute the sin of disrespecting the Ancestral Master!"