Starting Cultivation During a Trip

That tribulation concealed the secret of immortality; so long as one was a cultivator, none could help but be moved at heart.

Thus, that man became the target of all arrows.

”As the successor of Renxiao, her predicament is beyond your imagining. In the world, the Daoist sects regard her as the chief culprit, and even within the Wuwei Sect, there are voices of discontent.” Bai Yujing intoned gravely.

Back then, the Three Corpses Daoist once said, if the Wuwei Sect wished to flourish, they must fathom the secret of the great calamity among the Daoist sects.

Being the successor of Renxiao yet standing alongside the Great Spirit Sect King, discord arose within the Thirteen Zodiacs, with some harboring murderous intent.

”Ten years ago, at the foot of Dragon Tiger Mountain, among those masters encircling for the kill, there were both members of the Daoist sects and the Thirteen Zodiacs…” Bai Yujing revealed the truth.

”A pity, what they slew was merely one of my body avatars.” Bai Yujing spoke with a languid smile.

After that night, her primordial spirit was sealed within the Daoist Alliance of Jiangnan Province, lying in dormant silence, as if feigning death.

For this reason, experts like Lou Hechuan could not perceive its mysteries, nor dare act rashly.

”The moment Lou Hechuan delivered the earthen jar to the Observatory of Profound Mystery, I knew my opportunity had come.” Bai Yujing murmured in a resolute tone.

”So, you guided me step by step through Yun Jianyue.” Zhang Fan spoke in a deep voice.

”You are her son, is it not right for you to help me escape?” Bai Yujing replied coolly, ”Do not forget, I also gifted you two little demons…”

”They have been exceedingly useful.”

In Zhang Fan’s mind surfaced the figures of Shi Shougong and Su Shiyu.

”Ten years of dreams, each step so calculated... Si Snake Bai Yujing, you truly are formidable.”

Thinking back, Zhang Fan felt every move had been plotted to the utmost, a depth that pressed upon the heart. Most terrifying of all—ten years ago, in that single night, she had truly managed to deceive so many masters!?

”Life is but a grand dream—illusion within reality, reality in illusion; who can truly make the distinction?”

Bai Yujing seemed to pierce through Zhang Fan’s unease and inner deadness, her expression an ambiguous smile: ”How can you be certain you aren’t dreaming even now?”

”Perhaps, when you awake, you will find yourself still touring Zhenwu Mountain.”

”Even that you know?” Zhang Fan’s face changed in an instant.

Si Snake’s primordial spirit had been sealed in this jar for ten years, yet she seemed to comprehend the outside world with utmost clarity.

”I told you… Yun Jianyue is in my dream, and I am in hers…”

”For these ten years, she has been Si Snake.” Bai Yujing spoke softly.

Though she slept for a decade, she knew of the world outside as if seeing it with her own eyes.

”Let me tell you: the Thirteen Zodiacs already know you and your father feigned your deaths in those days…” Bai Yujing announced solemnly.

”Moreover, a new successor of Renxiao has already been born.”

”A new successor of Renxiao? Who?” Zhang Fan could not help but ask.

”I do not know.” Bai Yujing shook her head.

Since ancient times, the identity of the successor of Renxiao has been an immense secret—so much so, that even among the other twelve zodiacs, none would know.

Back then, had Li Linglong not married Zhang Lingzong and given birth to the anomaly Zhang Fan, provoking the Dragon Tiger Red Moon, Rooster and others could never have glimpsed a single clue.

”You should count your blessings—at present, only the Thirteen Zodiacs know your true identity. If the various Daoist sects learned your origins, who knows what kind of upheaval would erupt?”

Bai Yujing’s gaze grew remote, as if beholding once more that night of Dragon Tiger Red Moon.

For truly, the identities of Zhang Fan and his father were too perilous.

Zhang Lingzong became the only soul to survive the great calamity of the Daoist sects, and as for Zhang Fan, he had fused the Zhenwu Jade Scroll, brought back by Chu Chaoran from that same tribulation.

If that tribulation hid the secret of immortality—

Then this great secret was entirely entwined with father and son; once ignited, the world would be shaken to its core.

”The target of all arrows…” Zhang Fan’s expression was grave.

If ever their identities were exposed, all manner of troubles would descend upon them.

At this moment, what mattered most was to find Evil Gods, achieve Unity of the Three, break free from Great Night is Not Bright, awaken the Divine Demon Holy Embryo, attain the rank of High Skill as soon as possible, and best of all, strip out the Zhenwu Jade Scroll and return it to Zhenwu Mountain.

”There is no time to lose.” Zhang Fan thought to himself.

Rumble rumble rumble...

Just then, a violent tremor arose, as though tearing open this chaotic space.

”Ten years asleep—time to awaken.”

Bai Yujing looked up, gazing at the unseen heights above.

”One more question.”

At that moment, Zhang Fan spoke, calling her to a halt.

”If you wish to ask your mother, I have nothing to say.”

Bai Yujing spread both hands, her smile gentle.

”Zhang Fan, one day, we shall meet again.”

Bai Yujing let slip a light laugh; her primordial spirit surged upward, a ribbon of white piercing the sky, illuminating the stretch of chaotic space, shattering the meager confinement.

Bam bam bam...

At the same time, a web of cracks appeared through the sealed space.

Zhang Fan’s primordial spirit trembled, and in the next instant, he broke free from the earthen jar, returning to his body’s acupoints.

Within the Scripture Treasure Hall, bodies lay sprawled across the floor, save for Zhong Changming, Gu Jingqiu, Sui Chunsheng and a scant few others who remained conscious.

Even so, their faces were deathly pale, their bodies drained to the limit.

After all, the power manifested by the Mighty Spirit Demon-Suppressing Gold Seal pressed down on their primordial spirits with unimaginable force and influence.

Rumble rumble rumble...

Within the great hall, a fierce wind arose abruptly, as if rivers and seas surged backward, snuffing out every candle and incense offering.

Upon the Magic Altar, the earthen jar shattered with a bang, a beam of white light shot skyward and fell straight beyond the temple doors.

”No!”

Seeing this, Zhong Changming’s face changed radically; as he straightened up, a trickle of blood spilled from his lips.

The Dharma Jar suppressing the Great Demon had shattered—what could come of this?