Starting Cultivation During a Trip

In the past hundred years, when it comes to illustrious figures of the Daoist sects, the name of Three Corpses Daoist stands unrivaled as the number one beneath the heavens; even as ages pass, his awe-inspiring and ferocious glory remains undiminished.

Before Chu Chaoran soared onto the world stage, he was the uncontested champion of the world, standing atop the Daoist pinnacle, gazing into the myriad wonders’ gate, resonating with the myriad ancestral masters of old, and glimpsing the realm of the Earthly Immortal.

Sixty years ago, during the Jiazi Demon-Vanquishing, Three Corpses Daoist and Chu Chaoran dueled in magical combat atop the East Peak of Mount Tai. Ever since, the title of number one under heaven faded to a legend.

Yet even so, as time ebbs and flows, his name still circulates among many elders’ lips, and his influence hovers ghostlike, as if never diminished.

However, what Zhang Fan could not grasp was that, by such telling, Three Corpses Daoist and Chu Chaoran must be mortal enemies.

Since the Match-3 Puzzle Funeral Home operates under the auspices of Zhenwu Mountain, how could they enshrine an image of Three Corpses Daoist here, and do so openly without the slightest avoidance?

As Zhang Fan put forth this question, even Sui Chunsheng and Zhan Xinyue simultaneously glanced toward Liu Xingyu.

To them, the identity of Three Corpses Daoist was even more peculiar—not only was he Chu Chaoran’s lifelong nemesis, he was also the strongest being of the past Wuwei Sect.

Wuwei Sect—was it not heresy?

”Since our Curator has cultivated the Daoist Skill of Three Corpses Daoist, enshrining his image is only right and proper.” Liu Xingyu replied coolly.

To cultivate a Daoist Skill, one must enshrine the corresponding magic.

For instance, to cultivate the Five Thunders Righteous Method, the Nine Heavens Responding Origin Thunder Sound Universal Transformation Celestial Venerable must be enshrined.

There are also those who enshrine the ancestral masters of their Dharma Lineage, and so forth.

”What? Your Curator has cultivated Three Corpses Daoist’s Daoist Skill?”

Upon hearing this, not only Sui Chunsheng and Zhan Xinyue, even Zhang Fan couldn’t help but reveal a look of surprise.

He couldn’t help but glance a few more times at this Liu Xingyu, never expecting the other party to admit it so frankly, without the slightest concealment.

”What are those faces for?”

Seeing their expressions of surprise and bewilderment, Liu Xingyu remained unfazed.

”There is no good or evil in the Dao, no high or low in techniques... These methods were passed down by Transcendent Zhenren.” Liu Xingyu said solemnly.

”As a disciple of Zhenwu Mountain, why should one not cultivate them?”

”Transcendent Zhenren!?”

Sui Chunsheng and Zhan Xinyue looked at each other, both falling silent.

They had indeed heard elders mention that during the Jiazi Demon-Vanquishing, atop Dongyue, none were seen, and in the end, only Transcendent Zhenren walked away alone. After that battle, Chu Chaoran seemed to have pried into many secrets of Three Corpses Daoist, and on returning to Zhenwu Mountain, recorded many Daoist Skills, compiling them into secret books.

At first, the two of them as juniors merely took it as rumor. But now, it appeared eight or nine times out of ten to be truth; not only was it true, Transcendent Zhenren actually permitted those under him to cultivate them.

”There is no good or evil in the Dao, no high or low in techniques... The breadth of Transcendent Zhenren’s mind truly surpasses ours.” Sui Chunsheng said quietly.

”I have heard... when Transcendent Zhenren was but a youth wandering the world, he took great interest in the Daoist Skills of each sect—he even went so far as to conceal his name and acknowledge...” Zhan Xinyue suddenly began.

”Xinyue...”

Yet before she finished, she was interrupted by Sui Chunsheng, who looked somewhat awkwardly at Liu Xingyu, then apologized: ”Dao-brother, please don’t take offense. My junior sister sometimes speaks too freely.”

”No offense, it’s hardly a secret.” Liu Xingyu shook his head, subconsciously glancing at Zhang Fan.

If it were earlier, he might well have blasted over a True Flame without hesitation. But having now seen Zhang Fan’s methods, his attitude had been much improved.

”What does that mean?” Zhang Fan, confused, edged over to Zhan Xinyue, and asked in a low voice.

”Actually, it’s nothing much...” Liu Xingyu, seeing this, offered up a rather generous explanation.

Who among the young has not been reckless? Who among the young has not been wild?

Even Chu Chaoran, now hailed as a Living Immortal, was no exception in his youth.

It’s said that, in his youth, for the sake of researching the Daoist Skills of all schools, he once traveled incognito throughout the land, paying visits to famed mountains and being initiated into numerous sects.

To know, joining multiple sects at once is a grave taboo among Daoists.

Therefore, according to many elders, young Chu Chaoran’s reputation was rather poor—he was once regarded as a public enemy of Daoist circles, like a rat crossing the street, cursed by everyone.

However, in later years, as calamities befell the Daoist world and masters perished one after another, no one had leisure to mind him. Besides, Chu Chaoran rose to prominence and became the sole survivor of the great Daoist tribulation. The follies of his youth gradually faded from memory. By now, these affairs are but the youthful anecdotes of a great man, and in fact add a trace of humanity to his towering divinity.

”Never thought that old man had such a past.”

Zhang Fan muttered, recalling the look of Chu Chaoran promoting the Meditation Class courses in his mind.

”Transcendent Zhenren is known as the Living Dictionary of the Daoist sect, dabbling in the Daoist Skills of all schools; it’s said that he even delved deeply into the Nine Great Legendary Inner Elixir Techniques.” Zhan Xinyue, having opened the floodgates, now spoke freely.

In truth, this topic had begun to graze some of the deeper secrets of Zhenwu Mountain.

”That is indeed the case.” Liu Xingyu showed no concern, and replied blandly.

Among the elder generation of the Daoist sects, all know that when Chu Chaoran was young, his obsession with all the world’s Daoist Skills verged on madness. Today, quite a number of Zhenwu Mountain’s secret Profound Skills were collected and edited by Chu Chaoran himself.

The most precious among them relate to the Nine Great Legendary Inner Elixir Techniques.

”The Dao is passed down for ages, and the Nine Extremes is revered...” Liu Xingyu intoned solemnly.

The Nine Great Inner Core Techniques are supremely divine and hidden; their lines of transmission cannot be fathomed—even Zhenwu Mountain does not possess all nine Inner Core Techniques.

However, before Chu Chaoran entered the Pure Yang Realm, he had indeed gathered many Daoist Skills connected with the Nine Great Inner Core Techniques.