Before long, the two of them arrived at the entrance of a magnificent hall. Lucas Warren sighed and said, “This is the Hall of Health. It was originally an apothecary for alchemy and medicine, but later, an elder of Lingshan became obsessed with medicinal cuisine, so the Hall of Health was gradually converted into a dining hall. Unfortunately, the doors are tightly shut now, and I can’t open them, so I can’t take you inside to taste Lingshan’s specialty dishes.”

Emily Stone nodded, wanting to say something but stopping herself.

The two walked and talked along the way. When the evening glow faded in the west and night had fully fallen, Lucas Warren finally led Emily Stone to see the Hall of Awakening at Lingshan. “This is the Hall of Awakening. Although it looks a bit dilapidated now, it’s still the core of Lingshan. And I…”

As Lucas Warren spoke, he walked to the very center of the empty hall.

In an instant, he merged with the Hall of Awakening, and then with Lingshan itself.

Although the hundred halls of Lingshan still kept their doors tightly closed to him, although the mountain was shrouded in clouds and mist, hiding endless secrets, although he had failed at condensing his core and was now only at the Foundation Establishment stage, nevertheless…

“I am the only cultivator in this era qualified to stand here, the 84th master of Lingshan, Lucas Warren.”

On the other side, Emily Stone slowly bowed, dropping to one knee on the ground.

“Outer sect disciple Emily Stone, greets the Mountain Master!”

——

If, at first, Lucas Warren’s casual lifting of restrictions and ability to step into forbidden zones was not quite convincing enough, unable to compete with Emily Stone’s broad-minded Moklin agent hypothesis,

Then, as he led Emily Stone around Lingshan, explaining the history behind the clouds and mist, and especially when he showed her the legendary Hall of Awakening and merged with Lingshan before her eyes… some things, no matter how unbelievable, had to be accepted as true.

However, after rationally accepting reality, Emily Stone’s doubts only multiplied a hundredfold.

“So, you really are the master of Lingshan!? But according to legend, the master of Lingshan has the power of life and death over outer sect disciples, and the might to command souls and spirits…”

Lucas Warren nodded, picking up the Ascension Record in his hands. “Oh, you mean the Mountain Master’s tyranny? That does exist. Outer sect disciple Emily Stone! Down!”

Before he finished speaking, Emily Stone felt her other knee go weak, as if crushed by an invisible force. She dropped to both knees without resistance, and then her back and waist went limp, making her collapse to the ground!

For a moment, Emily Stone was shocked and angry.

Earlier, when she knelt on one knee, it was because the sights and sounds of Lingshan had left her deeply shaken, and she had rationally accepted Lucas Warren’s identity, making a conscious decision.

But even so, kneeling on one knee was her limit. In this new era, people value equality of character, regardless of status or rank. Even if an ancient immortal ancestor were resurrected, there would be no reason to make people bow and kowtow.

So this time, as Emily Stone prostrated herself, it was truly against her will. Instinctively, she felt a surge of shock and anger, wanting to get up, but her limbs and bones seemed to have lost all control and refused to move. Neither the Evil-Binding Lock in her hand nor the Stonefire in her dantian responded at all to their master’s plight!

Fortunately, this weakness lasted only a moment. The next instant, Emily Stone felt her strength return, so she immediately sprang up, retreating several steps, and looked at Lucas Warren in shock and uncertainty.

“You just…”

Lucas Warren said, “That’s the power of life and death you wanted to see. Although I’m not in the best shape right now, as long as my identity as Mountain Master is intact, for outer sect cultivators, my word is law—life and death at my command.”

Emily Stone found it hard to accept and asked, “Then why didn’t you do this from the start…”

“Because this method is rather despicable,” Lucas Warren said. “My senior sister often says that another word for using power to oppress people is tyranny. Although she usually says this to shut our master up after she’s caused trouble, I still think it makes sense.”

Emily Stone said blankly, “But books often say that cultivators in the old immortal era loved rigid class systems, and those with higher cultivation never saw those below them as people. Mortal beings were like ants to them.”

Lucas Warren replied, “That’s not wrong. As for me and my senior sister, we don’t like oppressive power or care much for rules and rituals, but in essence, we live at the pinnacle of the Nine Provinces and naturally enjoy all the privileges that Lingshan’s exalted status brings. In my senior sister’s words, ‘the rich second generation shouldn’t preach inspirational stories about self-made success to the poor.’”

“Uh… your senior sister’s choice of words is really not very old-immortal-era.”

Lucas Warren didn’t mind. “She’s a transmigrator, after all. Besides, the cultivation environment at Lingshan is uniquely blessed, and everyone here is exceptionally talented, cultivating without relying on external resources. So, except for a few who are restless and dislike tranquility, most people rarely interact with other sects, let alone the mortal world. With such an attitude, no matter how we see ourselves, being judged as treating mortals like ants is not wrong. But a terrestrial immortal in the Great Ascension stage can move mountains and fill seas, reshape the land, and with a single thought affect the lives of millions… To say such a person is the same as a mortal is rather laughable.”

Then, Lucas Warren changed the subject: “From what you’re saying, things aren’t like that now?”

Emily Stone was caught off guard by the question and didn’t know where to start. She just nodded and made a sound of agreement, while her gaze toward Lucas Warren grew even more curious.