Starting Cultivation During a Trip

The Imprisoned Immortal Temple is hidden within this mountain. But even if he uses his Primordial Spirit Observation now, he might not find that path. Only on the full moon when the sun and moon alternate, and the world’s energies fluctuate, will that path appear.

”Hmm!?”

As he reached halfway up the mountain, the dense forest ahead rustled with sounds. Zhang Fan stopped in his tracks, showing a strange expression.

Could there be wild boars on this mountain?

As he was thinking, a small head popped out from the sea of flowers and herbs, resembling a rabbit. A ponytail adorned with withered leaves and a pair of round eyes stared at Zhang Fan.

”Lin Jianyue!?”

”Rich brother!?”

Lin Jianyue stood up. Unlike the previous encounter in Luoxia Town, this time she was wearing a loose Daoist Robe, carrying a bamboo basket, holding a hoe, her fair jade-like hands stained with dirt.

”What are you doing here?” Zhang Fan couldn’t help but ask. He had spent one hundred and thirty yuan on this woman, so she naturally left an impression.

”Gathering herbs.”

Lin Jianyue shook the harvest in her bamboo basket, inside were herbs that Zhang Fan couldn’t identify.

”You really are here to sell herbs.” Zhang Fan pouted.

Just yesterday, he had heard Lin Jianyue talking about the trick here, where locals would pretend to be Daoists and fake coincidental meetings with tourists in the mountains to sell high-priced herbs, making a fortune.

”You’re really up early.” Zhang Fan couldn’t help but comment, and he had to admit, Lin Jianyue indeed had a talent for making money.

”Being diligent is the way to get rich, brother, do you want to buy some? I’ll give you a 20% discount.” Lin Jianyue softly suggested.

Zhang Fan’s eye twitched, ”No, thank you.”

As they talked, Zhang Fan continued up the mountain. Lin Jianyue put away her hoe and followed him.

”What are you doing? I can’t afford to hire you as a guide.” Zhang Fan looked warily at Lin Jianyue walking beside him.

”How could you think of me that way, brother? Can’t we just be going the same way?” Lin Jianyue seemed aggrieved.

Zhang Fan had nothing to say and quickened his pace.

A moment later, a tomb appeared beside the mountain path, with incense burning vigorously, and coins scattered all around.

”Tomb of the Three? Whose grave is this?”

Zhang Fan paused and looked at the words on the tombstone, asking without thinking.

”This is one of the most famous attractions of Luoxia Mountain, hasn’t brother heard of it?” Lin Jianyue whispered, carrying her basket.

It is said that long ago, a general’s residence was under this Luoxia Mountain. One day, snow filled the sky. The general returned home at night, hoping to surprise his beloved wife. But upon returning home, he saw the moonlight at the window, two pairs of shoes on the ground, and a pair of adulterers undressing.

In a fit of rage, the general killed the adulterer and his wife, and set the residence on fire, even perishing himself in the flames. After the fire was extinguished, three charred bodies were found in the ruins, nearly fused together, unrecognizable. They were simply buried together.

Thus, the Tomb of the Three came to be.

”Isn’t this a fabrication!?” Zhang Fan looked oddly at the tombstone and saw a verse inscribed on it:

Snow flies extensively outside the window, the lone-horse general returns at night. Upon returning home, he sees, his wife is with another man under the same sky.

”Good poem!” Zhang Fan couldn’t help but praise.

”Whether it’s fabricated or not, I don’t know, but during peak seasons, this place is quite popular, especially with couples. The line for incense and wishes can stretch down the mountain...”

Speaking of this, Lin Jianyue showed a crafty smile, ”Next time, if you bring your girlfriend and want to queue, you can find me. I’ve got VIP tickets.”

”Hmm? Why do couples pray at this tomb?” Zhang Fan asked confused.

”It’s said that if a couple prays at the Tomb of the Three, whoever is unfaithful and cheats on the other will meet a bad end. It’s very effective.”

”...”

”Also, if they’re not destined partners, they’ll break up within half a year after praying at the Tomb of the Three,” Lin Jianyue explained.

”This... is hard not to call superstitious.”

Though Zhang Fan is a cultivator, he couldn’t help but make a remark upon hearing such a tale.

This is similar to Fengming Temple in Yujing City, Fengming Temple is the first ancient temple in Yujing, also known as the ancient royal temple, titled the first temple of the Southern Dynasty, near Black Tortoise Lake.

There are also online rumors that couples who pray at Fengming Temple, if not destined partners, are sure to break up.

There’s even a saying, ”Pray once around Fengming Temple, break up instantly and remain single for three years.”

However, such rumors attract more couples to visit and worship. Perhaps in their eyes, their love is steadfast, surely destined.

As a result, more and more posts about breakups at Fengming Temple appear in the Little Yellow Book.

”Isn’t this plagiarism?” Zhang Fan asked, his expression quirky.

”After all, there’s no copyright,” Lin Jianyue said casually.

She walked past Zhang Fan, heading up the mountain, as the mountain wind blew her Daoist Robe, revealing her fair legs.

”Ahem...”

Zhang Fan awkwardly shifted his gaze elsewhere, following Lin Jianyue’s steps.

Soon, the two reached the mountain top, empty during the off-season, with only a solitary pavilion standing beneath the cliff.

Zhang Fan looked around, seeing Luoxia Town clearly in the distance.

”It’s indeed a good place.”

Zhang Fan took a deep breath, and the morning mountain air was extremely fresh, seemingly opening his chest wide.

”Of course it’s a good place, otherwise, why would the Immortal fall here?” Lin Jianyue whispered.

”You really believe that?” Zhang Fan casually asked.

”Of course, it’s recorded in the county annals, the Golden Glow descends into the deep mountains... refers to this place,” Lin Jianyue said faintly.

The county annals have numerous records of Golden Glow descending into this mountain, not just once.

The last time should be about eighty or ninety years ago.

”Eighty or ninety years ago... that should be the era of the Three Corpses Daoist, the timing matches,” Zhang Fan mused.

The Three Corpses Daoist, although claimed to be the best in the world, everything about him is a mystery, his background, his lineage, his teachings... all remain unknown.

However, it is speculated that the Three Corpses Daoist was a figure of the last century. Eighty years ago, he should have been around forty, achieved Great Success in the Three Corpses Illuminating Fate, and finally claimed the title of the best in the world.

At that time, coinciding with a major tribulation for the Daoist Sect, Chu Chaoran, the only survivor on Dragon Tiger Mountain, was just in his early twenties, young and elegant.

Another twenty years passed, a cycle ago when Chu Chaoran was in his forties, he finally challenged the world’s best.

”The Immortal embracing the glow falls on this mountain... regardless of legend’s authenticity, based on the timeline, the Three Corpses Daoist likely came to Luoxia Mountain then and built the Imprisoned Immortal Temple...” Zhang Fan pondered.

For a cultivator, immortals are still an illusory legend, especially in this era when the End of Dharma has arrived. Immortals seem even more mythical, even for those with High Skill and mysterious techniques, immortals remain high and unattainable.

Yet, it seems only upon reaching the Pure Yang Wuji Realm can one glimpse the true nature of these Immortal Gods.

Regardless, with the Three Corpses Daoist having cultivated here, this place must be extraordinary, but one wonders what secrets it holds.

”Hmm!?”

As Zhang Fan thought, he raised his head and saw the pavilion’s pillars densely etched with small characters, many saying ”So-and-so traveled here,” ”So-and-so loves so-and-so,” and similar phrases.

But one line caught Zhang Fan by surprise.

”Desolate land of the Ba Mountains and Chu Waters, Primordial Spirit without additives.” Zhang Fan muttered absentmindedly.

This tone, these words...

”Wuwei Sect Members!?”

Zhang Fan’s expression was strange as his gaze scanned and landed on another message.

”A little more care, a little more love, I eat Primordial Spirit to supplement calcium.”

”Is it really that blatant!?” Zhang Fan was speechless.

It seems Luoxia Mountain indeed isn’t a peaceful place, even the Wuwei Sect isn’t hiding.

”Withered vines, old trees, crows at dusk, the best taste for Primordial Spirit.”

”Youth has no price, Primordial Spirit melts in the mouth.”

...

Zhang Fan moved his steps, reading the Wuwei Sect Members’ messages, and had to admit, there sure were talents in the Wuwei Sect, these little ditties were creative.

At this moment, Zhang Fan suddenly stopped, his eyes narrowing as he looked at a line of large, bright characters above on the pillar:

”Thirteen Zodiacs, Rabbit, traveled here!!”

”Brother...”

Just then, Lin Jianyue was shaking her hoe, her soft voice coming from behind Zhang Fan.