Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Chapter 239: Chapter 145: Zhang Fan’s Reward! A Package from Zhenwu Mountain_2

”I know, she messaged me.” Zhang Fan said blandly.

Yesterday, Xu Zhixia left Yujing and returned to Shangjing, saying goodbye to Zhang Fan, and told him that if he had time to go to Shangjing, he must look for her.

”Man, you’re heartless. You two were together for a while and you didn’t even see her off.” Li Yishan chuckled.

”You got anything to say or not? If not, stop forcing the convo.”

”Okay, something serious now.” Li Yishan suddenly switched gears and said.

”What’s up?”

”The dog meat hot pot got a new batch in, let’s go eat tonight.” Li Yishan said, dead serious.

”...”

”You’re scared it’ll be too much for you.” Zhang Fan rolled his eyes at him.

”Better to over-supplement than to die weak like you!”

”Turn around and look behind you.” Zhang Fan suddenly said.

”Huh? Ow... damn...”

On the other end of the phone, Li Yishan let out a cry of pain, like his neck had just been twisted off.

Zhang Fan roared with laughter, hung up, finished washing up and got ready to head out.

Di di di...

Just then, Zhang Fan’s phone rang again. He checked SuperMessage—it was Sui Chunsheng messaging him.

”Got time? Come over to the Daoist Alliance, your bonus has arrived.”

Zhang Fan couldn’t help but brighten up at the message.

Sui Chunsheng had told him before that after the trip to the Observatory of Profound Mystery, he’d pulled his weight, and the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance had specially approved a bonus for him. Zhang Fan hadn’t expected it to show up so quickly.

”Just transfer it, why make me come over?” Zhang Fan muttered to himself, but since there was money, he didn’t fuss much, headed out, grabbed a cab, and went straight to the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance.

Just as he went in, Sui Chunsheng greeted him in the courtyard.

”You guys are too polite. Contributing to the Daoist Sect is what we’re supposed to do, and you even pay me... For real... How much?”

Zhang Fan leaned in and whispered in Sui Chunsheng’s ear.

”Come with me.”

Sui Chunsheng led Zhang Fan into a side room, where Zhan Xinyue was sitting, holding her camera, apparently waiting for them.

”Here, your bonus.”

Zhang Fan took the envelope and couldn’t wait to open it...

One thousand cash, plus two hundred in shopping coupons!?

Zhang Fan froze, then squinted at Sui Chunsheng.

Could the Daoist Alliance be any more stingy!?

In the past, Zhang Fan would’ve been delighted to pocket it. Now, he was someone who’d seen ”real money.” The Si Snake left him the Gusu City villa, just the monthly rent brings in over thirty grand.

One thousand bucks, and shopping coupons to pad it out—this counts as a bonus!?

”The bonus is secondary.” Sui Chunsheng shook his head.

”Gonna tell me there’s some other prize?” Zhang Fan’s extinguished hopes flared back up.

”There’s honor!”

”...”

As he spoke, with Zhang Fan watching in disbelief, Sui Chunsheng pulled out a shiny commendation banner from behind—a big one, reading:

Outstanding Daoist Worker, Jade Capital City Daoist Sect!!!

From: Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance Headquarters.

Date: September 27, 2024.

”Here you go, this is your honor, recognition from the Daoist Alliance. Don’t go thinking you don’t deserve it.”

Seeing Zhang Fan rooted to the spot, practically petrified and not taking the banner, Sui Chunsheng hurried to reassure him.

With those words, he shoved the banner into Zhang Fan’s hands.

”Look here.”

Just then, Zhan Xinyue raised the camera, getting the two ready for a pose.

”Look at the lens, and shout with me, ’Boundless blessings!’”

As soon as she finished, they heard a ”click”—shutter snapped, freezing the moment. Zhang Fan received the first commendation banner of his life.

”So, what’s it feel like?” Sui Chunsheng asked, unable to resist since Zhang Fan hadn’t said a word.

When he’d first got recognition on joining the Daoist Alliance, he’d been super excited too.

”Hard to say!” Zhang Fan squeezed out a smile, looking both moved and helpless.

”If that’s all, I’ll head out.”

Zhang Fan hugged the banner, grabbed the bonus, and headed for the door. If he’d known, he wouldn’t have come out of his way.

”Zhang Fan!”

Just as he stepped outside, a familiar voice called from the side.

Zhang Fan stopped and turned—then stared in surprise.

”Ma Buting!?”

Zhang Fan hadn’t expected to run into this guy again.

This dude had caught Zhang Fan’s Fire Dragon Pill Sword move at the Zhang Family’s Old Mansion courtyard—heard he was badly injured, nearly died. Now, so soon after, he looked totally fine, skin even more luminous and fair, with barely a pore in sight.

”We Three Emperors Sect have some cards up our sleeve.”

Ma Buting seemed to notice Zhang Fan’s surprise, speaking quietly and seriously.

All Daoist Family lineages have their secret spirit pills and miracle elixirs, and there’s no shortage of ways to shed your old skin for a new one.

Ma Buting born and bred in Three Emperors Sect, got the Star Inheritance of the Three Yin Demon Slaying Blade, and mastered the Three Emperors Summoning Spirit—such talent, the Sect certainly wouldn’t cut corners on his recovery.

”I owe you for this round.” Ma Buting came closer and said calmly.

”Yin and Yang me!?” Zhang Fan eyed him sidelong.

”No, for real...”

Ma Buting shook his head solemnly: ”If I hadn’t gone through tribulation at your hands, I don’t think I could’ve broken through...”

As he spoke, a spark seemed to flash in Ma Buting’s eyes, bright as fire and water blending.

”I’m about to step into High Skill realm.”

At these words, Zhang Fan’s face changed slightly, and Sui Chunsheng and Zhan Xinyue didn’t look natural at all.

Ma Buting had been training the Three Yin Demon Slaying Blade, which is extreme Yin. That day, he took Zhang Fan’s Fire Dragon Pill Sword, True Flame entered his body—almost died. Who’d have thought, at this great tribulation, rescued by his sect, he’d break through the Life and Death Mysterious Passage, comprehend Yin and Yang, and take that crucial step.

”Only by crossing a thousand tribulations can you realize Immortality.” Ma Buting murmured softly.

This brush with death seemed to transform him quite a bit.

No wonder they say tribulations are both the blade that kills the cultivator, and the Elixir of Immortality for the cultivator.

”Thanks again.”

Ma Buting bowed deeply to Zhang Fan.

Zhang Fan could see this gratitude was genuinely heartfelt.

”If I achieve High Skill, maybe I’ll be consulting you again.”

A fierce light flashed in Ma Buting’s eyes—he seemed to recover his former confidence.

With that, Ma Buting bowed again and took his leave.

”What’s he playing at? Really thankful, or trying to intimidate you?” Sui Chunsheng came over, unable to help himself.

”The gratitude is real, but he’s definitely got something stuck in his craw too.” Zhang Fan said calmly.

He’d never had a life-or-death grudge with Ma Buting. Because of him, Ma Buting broke through the Life and Death Mysterious Passage and saw hope for High Skill achievement. So, Zhang Fan was his tribulation-giver as well as his fated companion.

Life and death flip, fortune and misfortune support each other—the true meaning of Daoist Family.

So Ma Buting’s gratitude for Zhang Fan is from the heart; their past grudges will vanish with his rise to a higher realm.

But, with his kind of talent and temperament, losing to someone like Zhang Fan has got to rankle, and breaking through means he’ll definitely want a rematch and get his pride back!!!

”High Skill huh!?”

Zhang Fan’s eyes glittered with longing—that’s the realm he’d been dreaming about.

Right now, the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance was already busy, erecting magic altars, putting up incense tables... someone was even carrying in a fancy jade box with talismans and the Three Emperors Sect seal stuck on it.

Zhang Fan knew, that was Agarwood; only after reaching this realm could a skilled Daoist use such incense to summon all the True Ones.

Only by burning this incense, honoring the Ancestral Master, inviting the Descent of Truth, could the Primordial Spirit be cleansed and elevated—and thus break through to High Skill.

”I’m jealous!”

Zhang Fan curled his lip and left resentfully.

Though the odds of failing the High Skill breakthrough are super high, Zhang Fan knew Ma Buting’s talent and resources, plus the help of Agarwood—making High Skill was pretty much a done deal.

Zhang Fan wrapped up his banner, stuffed his bonus in his pocket, and returned to Night is not bright. Just as he walked in, Wen He called out.

”Boss wants you in his office.”

”Work already in the early morning!?”

Zhang Fan’s forehead was full of dark lines; mornings on weekdays are for slacking, real work starts in the afternoon.

But who’s he kidding? He’s just a beast of burden anyway.

He put down the banner, turned and headed to Bai Buran’s office.

”Knock... knock... knock...”

”Come in!”

Bai Buran’s voice came from inside, lazy as ever, sounding half-asleep.

”Boss, you wanted me?”

Zhang Fan entered and asked.

”Zhenwu Mountain sent over your Agarwood...”

As she spoke, Bai Buran nodded toward the package on the desk.