Starting Cultivation During a Trip

In the dilapidated old courtyard, beneath the lush greenery.

The Zhou Sisters stared at Zhang Fan without blinking; the defeat of the magical combat that night seemed still fresh in their minds. It was this man who had shattered Zhou Miaoyu’s Three Yin Demon Slaying Blade with the commonplace Famo Fanggu health care method.

They never expected to meet Zhang Fan here again.

”It’s only been a few days, and both of you look better.” Zhang Fan greeted warmly.

However, such compliments sounded like mockery to the Zhou Sisters, feeling extremely harsh.

”Don’t be arrogant…” Zhou Miaoyu gritted her teeth, but before she could finish speaking, her elder sister held her back.

”Mr. Zhang sure knows how to talk.” Zhou Miaochan replied coolly.

During the dinner party that night, she still addressed him as a fellow practitioner; now her tone had changed, revealing a sense of alienation and dissatisfaction.

”You know each other?”

Just then, Xu Zhixia spoke, looking at Zhang Fan with some curiosity, while Li Gaoyang beside her nudged his gold-framed glasses, showing a peculiar expression.

To ordinary people, Daoist Sect cultivators were like Immortals, high above, hidden away, impossible to see. In his eyes, someone as mundane as Zhang Fan, living in such a poor neighborhood, ought not to have access to their level.

”Last time, I went out to eat with Li Yishan, and coincidentally met them.” Zhang Fan replied casually.

He was telling the truth.

”He likes to take you wherever he goes.” Xu Zhixia said indifferently.

Back then, in college, Zhang Fan often hung out with Li Yishan, sometimes even leaving her behind, not knowing where he had been taken by Li Yishan.

She remembered, Li Yishan’s family was well-off, also mingling in the business world in Yujing City, so meeting Daoist Sect people made sense, and thus Zhang Fan being acquainted with the Zhou Sisters also became understandable.

”Since you know each other, sister, please give some convenience.” Xu Zhixia said softly.

Zhou Miaochan’s eyes slightly narrowed, staring at Zhang Fan without blinking, yet in her heart, she was filled with curiosity.

”So he’s a member of the Xu Family, inheriting the incense from Xu Ancestral Lineage, no wonder he has such skills.”

That night, Zhang Fan was able to break Zhou Miaoyu’s Three Yin Demon Slaying Blade with the commonplace Famo Fanggu health care method, she saw that he must have a prestigious background, and now it turns out, indeed he does.

Although the Xu Family cultivates in the secular world and doesn’t occupy famous mountains and temples, they indeed inherit the incense from Xu Ancestral Lineage, known as an Immortal Family, with many secret Daoist Canon teachings within the sect, fostering numerous experts in every generation.

Because of this, Xu Group in Yujing City, even in Jiangnan Province, has business dealings and close connections with the Daoist Alliance.

”Alright.”

Zhou Miaochan did not make it difficult, since he was a member of the Xu Family, this face had to be given, moreover, she was quite wary of Zhang Fan’s strength; if she really lost face, she might lose her dignity, too.

”Don’t wander around aimlessly.” Zhou Miaochan left a sentence and turned back to her busy work.

”Sister, wait a moment…”

Xu Zhixia followed behind Zhou Miaochan.

”Don’t run around.”

Just then, Li Gaoyang’s cold voice sounded, his proud gaze fell upon Zhang Fan.

”You can stay here because of the Xu Family’s connection, don’t inconvenience us.”

Li Gaoyang’s words were a reminder, as well as a warning.

With those words, Li Gaoyang also walked away, leaving Zhang Fan standing alone in the courtyard.

”Haven’t been back for many years.”

Zhang Fan looked at the uneven ground in the courtyard, the dilapidated walls still had the markings left from measuring his height as a child, the large wutong tree in the courtyard was almost a treasure for cooling off in the family during the summer heat, the noisy cicada sound seemed still around.

”This little tree is still here.”

Zhang Fan walked to the southwest corner of the courtyard, a tree planted in the overturned soil, over a man’s height.

This tree was planted by Zhang Fan and his mother when he was six, and in over ten years, the seed had already grown into a tree.

Zhang Fan vaguely remembered, that summer of six years old was an unusual drought, lasting two months without rain, occasionally hearing thunder but not a drop of rain, causing the moat beside the old residential area to dry up.

It was then that someone dug something out from the dried-up mud at the bottom of the river.

It was a stone box, who knows how many years it had been at the bottom of the river, covered with moss and rust, only faintly seen with irregular patterns and symbols on the surface.

Zhang Fan vaguely remembered, when the stone box was excavated, his mother even held him by the river to watch the commotion.

The crowd was large, but no one squeezed past the duo.

His mother holding young Zhang Fan paved a way ahead, fearing the little fellow would be crushed to death, everyone made way.

Later, a blind man took the stone box away.

In Zhang Fan’s memory, the blind man also lived in this old residential area, making a living by reading fortunes through feeling bones.

Excavating a stone box from the moat might be a relic, given Yujing City is the Ancient Capital of the Six Dynasties, but it ended up taken by a blind man.

That night, the alley entrance was crowded with people, police were blocking the blind man’s house, causing quite a stir.

But the blind man threatened with death, eventually scaring the people away.

After that day, some rumors gradually spread among the neighbors.

Some said, the stone box contained the Dragon King’s artifact, its loss leading to the drought.

Two days later, the blind man died, many police came, searched his house but couldn’t find that stone box.