"Really? That's fantastic!"
Situ Kong'er was overjoyed to hear this, speaking excitedly.
As soon as he finished speaking, he took out a Flying Boat.
"Brother Su, come on, take my ship. Let's depart immediately." Situ Kong'er urged, unable to wait any longer.
"Alright." Ye Yunfei nodded, then led Hu Miao into the flying vessel.
"To Zhonggu City." Ye Yunfei said.
"Good!" Situ Kong'er felt a surge of spirit, his anticipation growing.
Because the headquarters of the ancient Miaoshou Gate was located in Zhonggu City!
Two days later, the Flying Boat arrived at Zhonggu City.
Zhonggu City was one of the most ancient cities in the Central Divine Land. It was said to have been one of the largest cities in ancient times. However, as the years passed, the once-powerful Zhonggu City had completely declined, becoming a dilapidated frontier town with a sparse population.
Ye Yunfei, Situ Kong'er, and Hu Miao walked into the city.
"The sea has changed into mulberry fields, all things changed; Zhonggu City has indeed fallen into decline." Situ Kong'er looked at the ruined streets and the sparse pedestrians, sighing with emotion.
This place had once been the headquarters of the Miaoshou Gate, and the Miaoshou Gate had once been a famously renowned major sect. But now, like Zhonggu City itself, it had utterly declined, even forgotten by the world.
"Extreme prosperity leads to decline; extreme decline leads to prosperity—just like flowers blooming and withering. This is a natural law of the Grand Dao, a perfectly normal thing. There's no need for such sighs.
A city is like this. A sect or faction is like this. All things between heaven and earth are like this." Ye Yunfei said with a light smile, appearing completely at ease.
Ye Yunfei had cultivated for a thousand years, ultimately reaching the pinnacle of the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds. He had delved deeply into all manner of worldly laws and principles long ago, seeing through the vicissitudes, the rise and fall of glory and loss. How could Situ Kong'er's current state of mind compare?
"Extreme prosperity leads to decline; extreme decline leads to prosperity—just like flowers blooming and withering…
Brother Su, you are right. Zhonggu City can decline, but it can also rise again!" Situ Kong'er, upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, was stunned for a moment. He chewed over the meaning carefully, then nodded, his outlook brightening considerably.
Not long after, under Ye Yunfei's lead, the trio arrived at the foot of a very ordinary mountain ridge on the western side of Zhonggu City.
This ridge was located inside the city, surrounded by dilapidated streets and buildings on all sides.
"Let's go up." Ye Yunfei took the lead, walking up the mountain ridge, with Situ Kong'er and Hu Miao following behind.
Only after walking up the ridge did they realize it was a small hill rarely visited by anyone, utterly deserted.
Ye Yunfei, leading the way, eventually arrived before a small temple.
It was a small, broken-down temple. It was unknown how many years had passed since anyone had last visited. It was covered in thick dust, old and dilapidated. The walls and carved beams had completely lost their original color. Weeds grew all around the temple, with snakes, insects, mice, and ants scurrying about—a scene of utter desolation.
"Brother Su, why have you brought me to this broken temple? Is there some secret here?" Situ Kong'er's gaze shifted to Ye Yunfei, unable to understand why Ye Yunfei had brought him to this dilapidated little shrine.
In fact, Situ Kong'er had come to Zhonggu City countless times. He and his master had practically searched every corner of the city—of course, this small, broken temple had been examined too, but they had found nothing.
The temple was simply too old and dilapidated, looking like an abandoned mountain-god shrine. Moreover, its area was so small that one could see everything at a single glance; it was impossible for anything to be hidden here. Situ Kong'er was completely baffled as to why Ye would come to such a place.
"You, as a descendant of the Miaoshou Gate, should act with more respect here. Otherwise, it would be disrespectful to your ancestors." Ye Yunfei glanced at Situ Kong'er and said.
"What?" Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, Situ Kong'er couldn't help but be greatly shocked.
"Brother Su, are you saying this little temple is related to our Miaoshou Gate?" Situ Kong'er's heart began to beat faster as he asked.
"Let's go inside." Ye Yunfei led the way into the small temple, Hu Miao following closely behind him.
Situ Kong'er hurriedly entered as well.
Inside the little temple, thick dust was everywhere. The only thing discernible while standing inside was a statue covered in a thick layer of dust.
Upon entering the temple, the first thing Ye Yunfei did was perform a respectful bow towards that statue.
"Brother Su…" Seeing Ye Yunfei's action, Situ Kong'er was somewhat puzzled and opened his mouth to ask.
He and his master had long ago come to see this statue. They had even carefully probed it with their Soul Power, finally concluding that this was just an ordinary, abandoned mountain-god shrine. After that, they hadn't paid it any more attention.
"Go forward and pay your respects. Remember, be respectful and pious. This statue is the founding ancestor of your Miaoshou Gate." Ye Yunfei said calmly.
"What? Brother Su, you're saying this statue is the founding ancestor of our Miaoshou Gate? Impossible, that's absolutely impossible!" Situ Kong'er's reaction to Ye Yunfei's words was intense. He jumped up on the spot to refute.
"Brother Su, it seems you simply don't understand the history of our Miaoshou Gate. The founding ancestor of our Miaoshou Gate is known as the Six-Handed Half-Emperor. The ancient texts left behind by our sect contain portraits of our founding ancestor—with three heads and six arms, divine brilliance flooding the heavens!
This statue before us only has two arms. How could it possibly be the founding ancestor of our Miaoshou Gate!" Situ Kong'er continued.
"Brother Situ, don't worry. Since I've brought you here, I know what I'm doing. Just trust me." Ye Yunfei glanced at Situ Kong'er and said coolly, appearing extremely confident.
"But…" Situ Kong'er still wanted to say something.
"I asked you to step forward and pay your respects respectfully and piously. Didn't you hear me?" Ye Yunfei frowned.
"Alright." Seeing that Ye Yunfei's expression was starting to turn displeased, Situ Kong'er had no choice but to nod. He stepped forward and performed a deep, respectful bow towards the statue, then looked at Ye Yunfei, waiting for what would come next.
"I said to pay your respects respectfully and piously! Three kneelings and nine kowtows!" Ye Yunfei's face darkened.
"No way… Alright." Situ Kong'er wore a pained expression, but one look at Ye Yunfei's stern face made him swallow his words. Gritting his teeth, he dropped to his knees with a *thump*, preparing for the three kneelings and nine kowtows.
"Remember, do your utmost to be as respectful and pious as possible. Sincerity is what invokes a spiritual response. Otherwise, you will regret it, and I won't be able to help you then." Ye Yunfei reminded him again.
Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, Situ Kong'er couldn't help but pause. He could tell that Ye Yunfei's words clearly held deeper meaning.
Situ Kong'er wasn't stupid. He carefully pondered Ye Yunfei's words, and his expression grew solemn.
"Founding Ancestor, your unfilial disciple Situ Kong'er has come to kowtow to you, venerable one!" Situ Kong'er began kneeling and kowtowing, speaking loudly while knocking his head against the ground so hard it resounded with *thumps*. This was indeed genuine piety.
*Rumble…*
Right at this moment, the statue emitted a tremendous sound and, all of a sudden, erupted with a brilliant, boundless radiance!