Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Yujing City, Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance.

In the office, Zhang Fan listened as Sui Chunsheng and Zhan Xinyue spoke, his expression growing increasingly strange.

”We don’t know much... We only heard the higher-ups say that this man called the Great Spirit Sect King was rampant over twenty years ago. In all the Daoist sects under heaven, countless experts lost to him...”

Given Sui Chunsheng’s level, the information he could access was extremely limited.

He only knew that the visitors from White Crane Temple this time had come for this great demon king.

”Great demon king!?” Zhang Fan muttered under his breath.

”Of course he’s a great demon... I heard that twenty years ago, he swept through the Seven Eastern and Southern Provinces, unmatched and undefeated. Back then, some experts from White Crane Temple went after him, and all of them fell to that demon king; the grudge started then.” Zhan Xinyue recounted a rumor she’d heard somewhere.

Magical combat between Daoists was even more dangerous than usual—pride and the reputation of one’s sect were at stake. Once tempers rose, it would be a battle to the death; no one would stop until one sect was wiped out.

”Any leads?” Zhang Fan asked with concern.

”There are some leads...”

Sui Chunsheng glanced at Zhang Fan, as if he could see the righteous desire to eradicate evil in his concerned eyes.

”Dragon Qi has been leaking in Yujing City for over twenty years. The authorities suspect someone is using a celestial secret-stealing technique to forcefully draw out the city’s Dragon Qi...” Sui Chunsheng said gravely.

”To have such means, this is no ordinary person. If that demon king once stayed in Yujing City, maybe it’s related to him.”

”There’s already some clue now, right in an old residential area in the Sanqin District. We’re just waiting to confirm the exact location, then we’ll act.”

”Sanqin District... don’t tell me...” Zhang Fan’s heart skipped a beat.

Fortunately, he hadn’t recklessly snuck in that day—the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance had already placed it under control.

”When will you act? Can you take me with you?” Zhang Fan couldn’t help but ask.

”I knew you had a righteous heart for eliminating demons.” Sui Chunsheng nodded. ”Even if you hadn’t asked, I was planning to look for you.”

”Why?”

”My senior brother fought someone recently and was injured; he probably won’t be able to take action, so I wanted to ask you to help.”

In Zhan Xinyue’s mind appeared the figure of Ma Buting—a latecomer who had recently made a name for himself in the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance, especially with that signature move, the Three Yin Demon Slaying Blade, which was truly extraordinary.

”No problem. Whenever you need me—blades or boiling seas, I’d risk my life!” Zhang Fan replied firmly, afraid that Sui Chunsheng would forget him, grabbing his hand and repeating over and over.

”You must bring me.”

Such sincerity deeply moved Sui Chunsheng, who quietly made note of this friendship!!!

...

Meanwhile, in an old, quaint building, Zhuang Xiaomeng leaned by the railing, faintly able to make out the distant, dragon-like grandeur of the Ming City Wall.

”Xu Dog Han Diyan... along with the earlier Wu Ma, Hai Pig, and Rooster...”

”Four of the Thirteen Zodiacs have appeared in Yujing City—this can’t be a coincidence, can it?”

Zhuang Xiaomeng seemed to be speaking casually, yet her beautiful eyes shone with a peculiar light as she unintentionally glanced at Bai Buran beside her.

The Thirteen Zodiacs were the Wuwei Sect’s strongest combat force, each one unique and as elusive as a dragon—hard to ever find.

Since the Dragon Tiger Red Moon incident a decade ago, the Thirteen Zodiacs had utterly vanished; to even glimpse one was impossible.

And now, in just a few short months, four Zodiacs had appeared in Yujing City. Clearly, this is far from normal.

”What’s funny is... your company’s been entangled in all these incidents, hasn’t it?” Zhuang Xiaomeng said softly, her tone turning serious.

Hai Pig King Tao, performing a ritual with the Great Evil Dragon Fang in Taoyuan Square, refining the Dragon Saliva Treasure Liquid—only for Night is not bright to intervene and ruin everything at the last moment.

Wuma Wuqilu, using the Shen Family to harvest human Primordial Spirits, to refine the Profound Talisman Treasure Mirror—both Jiang Hu and Zhang Fan were present, but Bai Buran stepped in and saved them in the end.

As for Rooster Day of the Metal Mao, there’s no need to elaborate; he was from the same lineage as Night is not bright’s Wen He—one master, two disciples.

Now, Xuquan Han Land Disgust appears in Yujing City, and once again, an employee of Night is not bright spots him.

If this is all just coincidence, you might as well buy a six-color lottery ticket.

”Xiaobai, did your company dig up a Zodiac nest?” Zhuang Xiaomeng looked meaningfully at Bai Buran.

”You should know, if I could choose, I’d rather not have anything to do with the Wuwei Sect.”

Bai Buran pulled out a pack of cigarettes, took one, gripped it in his mouth, then with his index finger, a spark of flame flickered as he lit up.

Zhuang Xiaomeng paused for a moment but didn’t continue with the previous topic.

”That Zhang Fan... What’s his background? He seems...”

Zhuang Xiaomeng abruptly changed topics and said, ”Off in some way.”

”Off? How so?” Bai Buran said indifferently, not agreeing nor disagreeing.

”I can’t say, but it feels like something’s not right. He’s holding something back, or not telling the whole truth,” Zhuang Xiaomeng spoke quietly and seriously.

”A feeling?” Bai Buran’s lips curved into a playful smile.

”Women’s intuition is as good as fortune-telling.”

”Then your intuition is wrong. That kid is as upright as they come, from a reputable sect,” Bai Buran took a deep drag and slowly exhaled a smoke ring.

”A reputable sect!?” Zhuang Xiaomeng looked at Bai Buran, questioning with her eyes.

”He’s a disciple of Zhenwu Mountain.”

”Same sect as you,” Zhuang Xiaomeng couldn’t help but say.

”Not exactly. I’ve been expelled; he’s a disciple of Transcendent Zhenren.”

”What?”

Zhuang Xiaomeng’s eyes flickered, looking at Bai Buran in disbelief, as if she’d just misheard.

”Transcendent Zhenren’s disciple... that kid just now?”

Zhuang Xiaomeng’s elegant brows knitted, a look of doubt appearing.

Chu Chaoran, a Living Zhenren of this era—since the Jiazi Demon-Vanquishing, his position among today’s Daoist sects had become unshakable.