Chapter Twenty-One: A Lineage Unbroken

“Password.”

Suddenly, the masked figure spoke, the voice hoarse and strange, deliberately disguised, making it impossible to discern whether it belonged to a man or woman.

Xu Zhe was utterly confused.

Password?

What password?

Could it be “The Tiger Overturns Heaven”?

“Odd changes, even remains unchanged,” the masked figure hinted.

“Symbols depend on quadrants?” Xu Zhe responded instinctively, feeling a sense of peculiarity.

So this was the password—rather unique.

Xu Zhe’s mind worked quickly; which old classmate used to love mathematics?

Li Chungang and Wang Jianguo, those two academic slackers, could be ruled out immediately.

No, the one who topped advanced mathematics back then was myself; I was first in the grade every year.

As for loving mathematics, I seemed to enjoy all subjects.

It had been too long; he couldn’t recall anyone else.

“The password matches. I really did not guess wrong.” The masked figure’s body trembled, murmuring softly, hands hidden beneath wide sleeves quivering slightly, as if in excitement.

Bang!

Suddenly, a muffled sound echoed.

The masked figure suddenly dropped to one knee, cupped both hands above the head, and shouted loudly, “Respectful greetings, Grand Hall Master!”

What?

Xu Zhe was startled, then somewhat bewildered.

Grand Hall Master? What was this about?

Was he supposed to respond with “Rise” or something similar?

Before Xu Zhe could reply, the masked figure finished the bow and stood up.

Then those small, beady eyes fixed intently on Xu Zhe once more.

Xu Zhe finally couldn’t bear it and said helplessly, “Excuse me… Could you introduce yourself?”

His intuition told him this masked figure was probably not an old classmate after all; he had guessed wrong.

“Grand Hall Master, I am Hou Shanyue, subordinate of the Monkey Hall of the Twelve Divine Halls, a branch member,” the masked figure replied energetically, the voice now clear and elderly.

Xu Zhe was still somewhat dazed.

Twelve Divine Halls, Monkey Hall?

A faction named according to the twelve branches and twelve zodiac animals?

Which old classmate founded this? Quite interesting, but why did this person directly call him Grand Hall Master?

A name for a faction, arranged by the twelve earthly branches and zodiac animals?

Which old classmate had founded this? Quite intriguing, but why did this person address him as Grand Hall Master right away?

“Grand Hall Master, could you activate the technique and release a trace of spiritual energy? I require a final confirmation of your identity,” Hou Shanyue said at that moment.

Xu Zhe frowned, faintly sensing something.

The other party seemed to be after his technique.

“Friend, you must have mistaken me; I am not the Grand Hall Master, and the technique I practice has nothing to do with such an identity.” Xu Zhe shook his head, refusing the request.

Hou Shanyue was not surprised and responded immediately, “Grand Hall Master is unaware. The Twelve Divine Halls were founded by the Dragon Hall Master, and have been passed down for more than one hundred thousand years. We have always been searching and waiting for the appearance of the Grand Hall Master.”

One hundred thousand years?

Xu Zhe caught this detail, somewhat amazed.

The Awakened prodigies woke every hundred years, totaling only ten thousand years, but the Twelve Divine Halls had a history of over a hundred thousand.

Which meant, the Twelve Divine Halls were not founded by any of his old classmates.

Then the password Hou Shanyue had just exchanged with him gained a new dimension.

“The Grand Hall Master belongs to the human bloodline, possesses a five-element spiritual root, and has inherited that technique. You matched my password. According to the ancestral decree of the Twelve Divine Halls, anyone meeting these requirements is the Grand Hall Master, and the halls must obey unconditionally.” Hou Shanyue explained.

Xu Zhe heard this and a meaningful smile flickered across his face.

“Which technique have I inherited?” he asked, half smiling at Hou Shanyue.

“Grand Hall Master, I do not know the name of the technique, only that its aura matches the legacy of the Twelve Divine Halls—one and the same.”

“And how did you know I practiced this technique? How can you judge that its aura is the same as yours?” Xu Zhe pressed.

“Last night, all your actions during the Night of Soul Suppression were recorded by the people of Destiny Path and some content was displayed at Changyun Inn, specifically the scene where you vanquished those four evil spirits. I happened to witness it,” Hou Shanyue replied calmly.

Last night’s events had been recorded?

He had not noticed at all.

Xu Zhe stroked his chin and glanced at Hou Shanyue.

Deep down, Xu Zhe now considered him a fraud, and not a particularly clever one.

That so-called password had revealed everything.

The Awakened prodigies arrived in this world only ten thousand years ago.

And their Twelve Divine Halls had been passing down “Odd changes, even remains unchanged; symbols depend on quadrants” for a hundred thousand years?

Fraud! Utter fraud!

“Grand Hall Master, although I saw you perform the technique, its aura still requires verification. If it matches the Monkey Technique I cultivate, I must notify the Monkey Hall Master and the other Hall Masters to escort you from the Valley of the Awakened,” Hou Shanyue spoke again, faintly urging.

Xu Zhe considered for a moment and smiled faintly, “I still believe you have mistaken me, friend. How about this: you perform your Monkey Technique, and if its aura truly matches mine, I should be able to sense it, don’t you think?”

Hou Shanyue hesitated, but soon nodded, “I obey your command, Grand Hall Master.”

With that, he raised an arm, slowly opening his palm.

A surge of masculine energy suddenly welled up, pale gold in color, gathering slowly in his palm, then forming a slender sword shape. Though not a blade of metal or stone, it radiated murderous sharpness, as if able to cut through all.

“Hm?”

Xu Zhe was skeptical at first, but as Hou Shanyue performed the technique, he really felt a sense of familiarity.

When that surge of masculine energy gathered in Hou Shanyue’s palm and formed a sword, Xu Zhe could no longer remain indifferent.

“Sword Sweeps the Eight Wilds?”

Xu Zhe was shaken.

This was no Monkey Technique at all!

It was clearly one of the missing offensive techniques from the Righteous Energy Demon-Sealing Canon—Sword Sweeps the Eight Wilds!

The aura was identical, inherited from the same lineage.

The refined sword shape matched the summary in the canon exactly.

There was no mistake; this was certainly the missing part of the Righteous Energy Demon-Sealing Canon.

Xu Zhe’s gaze grew intense. While offensive techniques could be substituted, having one from the same lineage was far superior.

He had never expected the Righteous Energy Demon-Sealing Canon to have such an extraordinary origin.

The main part appeared in the Celestial Domain, but the offensive techniques were passed down in the Azure Domain by a faction called the Twelve Divine Halls.

Wait, does this mean Hou Shanyue was not deceiving him?

Xu Zhe looked up, meeting Hou Shanyue’s gaze.

“Grand Hall Master, do you feel a resonance?” Hou Shanyue asked nervously, with a trace of anticipation.

Xu Zhe pondered for a moment, then nodded.

At the same time, he activated the energy in his dantian, circulating the Righteous Energy Demon-Sealing Canon, and a surge of majestic righteous energy erupted.

“One and the same.”

Hou Shanyue was stunned for a moment.

Then a wild joy filled his eyes.

“For one hundred thousand years, the Twelve Halls have searched for one hundred and five generations. Now I, Hou Shanyue, branch descendant of the Monkey Hall, the one hundred and sixth generation, have finally found the Grand Hall Master!”

Hou Shanyue was overcome with excitement, his voice trembling, an uncontrollable manic grin spreading across his face.

“Hahaha, the hour of the Monkey has arrived! Grand Hall Master, prepare to die!”

The pale golden sword in Hou Shanyue’s hand suddenly grew larger and slashed straight down at Xu Zhe.

…