Starting Cultivation During a Trip

”Divine Split is easy; Divine Fusion is hard,” Zhang Fan sighed inwardly.

He knew that his sole hope probably lay with the Golden Radiance Treasure Box. Back in the day, Three Corpses Daoist comprehended the golden glow within the box and only then achieved the legendary Three Corpses Illuminating Fate.

Yet, the golden glow in the box was extremely dangerous. Even someone with Zhang Beijiang’s formidable body, unafraid of True Flame, nearly ruined both arms—showing signs of carbonization—just from opening the box once.

Jiang Lai had also opened the box once. Though his body showed no outward harm, ever since leaving Luoxia Mountain, he had been listless and extremely drowsy.

Thinking of this, Zhang Fan turned his head and looked at Jiang Lai, who was sitting beside him.

At this moment, Jiang Lai was fast asleep, slightly leaning against Zhang Fan’s shoulder.

Zhang Fan could even hear Jiang Lai’s faint breathing. In his gaze, those long eyelashes trembled lightly under the sunlight.

”The Golden Radiance Treasure Box is truly dangerous,” Zhang Fan slowly withdrew his gaze, not daring to move much for fear of disturbing Jiang Lai’s peaceful dreams.

”I’ll have to study it first when I get back.”

Zhang Fan made up his mind; most of his hope was pinned on the Golden Radiance Treasure Box. This thing couldn’t be exposed to light; he could only study it behind closed doors.

If he made no headway, maybe he could seek out one of the supposed top five experts in the world, ask for guidance, and see if he could unravel the secrets of the Divine Splitting Technique.

Originally, Zhang Fan wanted to go back to Zhenwu Mountain and consult Chu Chaoran in person.

After all, when it comes to cultivation and insight, who could compare to this living Zhenren of the present age!?

However, though Zhang Fan carried the title of a Zhenwu Mountain disciple, he had always been left to his own devices. Liu Nanxu had subtly expressed that the old Zhenren was in seclusion and not receiving guests.

”It’s ridiculous. Having a sect is as good as not having one; having parents is as good as being an orphan.”

At this thought, Zhang Fan couldn’t help grumbling. He found that his Life Chart was truly odd—on the surface he had all these backgrounds, but when things actually happened, he had no one to rely on.

If only Zhang Lingzong were here, he wouldn’t need to beg from pillar to post, trying to find some connections everywhere.

”Dad, where the hell did you disappear to?” Zhang Fan’s lips twisted bitterly.

”Dad’s dad is a demon, dad’s mom is a demon...”

Just then, a pleasant ringtone sounded. Zhang Fan covered his pocket, glanced sideways to see Jiang Lai still asleep, hurriedly pulled out his phone, and hit mute. The caller ID said:

Li Yishan!

”Hey, where the hell have you been?”

Zhang Fan answered, offering a heartfelt greeting. Recently, he’d all but lost contact with Li Yishan. If he hadn’t had something on his hands, he would’ve called the police already.

”Don’t mention it, I went to East Mountain Province.”

On the other end, Li Yishan’s long-missed voice came through.

”You’re in East Mountain Province? What are you doing there?” Zhang Fan froze, then asked.

”Visiting an elder,” Li Yishan said evenly.

”Your family has relatives in East Mountain Province?” asked Zhang Fan.

”Not really relatives, just an elder who likes collecting things. He’s always traveling around; happened to be in East Mountain, so I came to visit,” Li Yishan replied offhandedly.

”Collecting what?”

”Weird mystical stuff. Where are you?” Li Yishan shifted the topic.

”I’m in East Mountain too, but heading back today.”

”What a coincidence! Let’s have hot pot tonight.”

Li Yishan’s voice grew exuberant: ”I’ve reserved a black dog—big tonic!”

”Supplements will kill you! See you tonight!”

Zhang Fan grinned, hung up the call. After such a long stretch of tension outside, it was finally time to relax.

Outside the window, mountain ranges receded into the distance. The high-speed train surged forward like a silver dragon, leaving East Mountain behind, speeding toward Jiangnan Province, toward Yujing City.

...

Lao Mountain, Three Pure Ones Hall.

”Senior Brother Sect Leader, Celestial Master Liu is settled in.”

Daoist Insulation walked over from afar, bowing to the unruffled Li Chengge.

”Taoist Brother Liu will stay on the mountain for some time. You’re in charge of his living arrangements—do not neglect him.”

Li Chengge gazed at the sea of clouds and mist, not even turning his head.

”Of course.” Daoist Insulation nodded.

Celestial Master Liu of Zhenwu Mountain coming to Lao Mountain was a major event for the sect—no one would dare to slack off.

”Senior Brother, Celestial Master Liu came all the way from Zhenwu Mountain—is it really for that... young man?” Daoist Insulation couldn’t help asking.

”Can’t you tell? Liu Nanxu came on behalf of the old man. That’s no ordinary youngster.”

The ’old man’ in Li Chengge’s mouth referred, of course, to Chu Chaoran.

”A few days ago, the one who dueled with Li Changgeng of White Crane Temple—was it really that young man?” Daoist Insulation hesitated to speak.

That night, there were signs of Samadhi True Flame as well as Vertical Earth Golden Light.

Now it seemed, the opponent of Li Changgeng in that duel was the young Zhang Fan.

Still, he found it odd—he’d never heard of Zhenwu Mountain having such a disciple: a once-in-a-generation genius, skilled in Divine Techniques, yet able to face off with Li Changgeng of White Crane Temple. The duel’s outcome, though, remained unknown.

”Don’t ask too much. In this matter, we at Lao Mountain know nothing.” Li Chengge shook his head.

If Zhang Fan weren’t backed by Zhenwu Mountain, he wouldn’t care. But now Liu Nanxu had come, representing Chu Chaoran, which made things much more delicate.

”But... the White Crane Temple has called several times, inquiring whether there’s been any unusual activity lately in East Mountain Province,” Daoist Insulation said in a deep voice.

Li Changgeng hadn’t returned to White Crane Temple. Clearly, they’d tracked his whereabouts in East Mountain Province. Whether they’d sensed the Samadhi True Flame’s manifestation, no one knew.

Now that Li Changgeng was missing, as the guardian of East Mountain Province, Lao Mountain was naturally questioned.

”Just say we don’t know.” Li Chengge shook his head.

”Isn’t that risky? They’ll probably trace some clues,” Daoist Insulation hesitated.

If White Crane Temple detected the traces of Vertical Earth Golden Light and sensed the anomaly of Samadhi True Flame, connecting the two, they could deduce that Li Changgeng had a magical duel in East Mountain Province.

Lao Mountain, as the local power, claiming total ignorance would hardly be believed.

”The old man is still around,” said Li Chengge, saying no more.

Daoist Insulation was silent for a moment, then nodded.

”Oh, tell the White Crane Temple—the Lord of the Red Palace has appeared in East Mountain.” Li Chengge added.

”Understood.”

Daoist Insulation bowed with folded hands and withdrew.

”Wuwei Sect... It’s nearly twenty years since I left Wuwei Sect.”

Li Chengge looked at the sea of clouds before him and murmured softly, barely audible, as though only he could hear it.

...

Shangjing City, White Crane Temple.

In an ancient, austere palace and temple, incense smoke coiled and drifted, like hazy silk veils, wreathed around an old man and making his silhouette seem even more illusory.

”Master...”

Just then, a middle-aged Daoist strode in—dressed in a splendid purple robe, with a commanding presence and stern brows.

”A reply from Lao Mountain.”

The purple-robed Daoist looked at the elder before him, showing respect, and uttered four words:

”Utterly uninformed.”

The incense mist dispersed, filling every corner of the palace and temple. The old man, seemingly deep in meditation, remained motionless, unmoved.

Seeing this, the purple-robed Daoist continued, ”But there are signs of Divine Techniques manifesting in East Mountain Province. Someone fought Li Changgeng.”

”No way Lao Mountain knows nothing.”

”That rascal Li—still as slippery as ever.”

At this, the old man finally spoke. In this White Crane Temple, only one person could so casually refer to the dignified Lao Mountain Sect Leader as ”Li”—it was that man hailed as half the foundation of the Daoist Sect: Long Live the Mountains and Rivers...

Jiang Wansui!!!

”Master, about Li Changgeng...” The purple-robed Daoist hesitated.

”Don’t fret—his flame still burns. He’s alive...” Jiang Wansui murmured softly.

”Tribulation itself is an Elixir of Immortality; too smooth a path is not always a blessing...”

”As long as he lives, he cannot die.”

Upon these words, the purple-robed Daoist bowed deeply.

”I will remember your teachings, Master.”

”Beizhang’s people have arrived...”

At this, Jiang Wansui changed the subject, making the purple-robed Daoist’s expression suddenly tense.

”They’re after Zhang Lingzong!?”

”He’s been found—still hiding in Ailao Mountain—there’s nowhere else he could hide,” Jiang Wansui said indifferently.

”Master, his Divine Demon Holy Embryo is nearly complete. He’s survived the fifth Great Night Tribulation—so hard to kill,” sighed the purple-robed Daoist.

”He thinks cultivating the Divine Demon Holy Embryo makes him invincible?” Jiang Wansui’s voice turned cold as frost.

”All things born under Heaven—however strong, there’s always one to restrain them.”

”The Nine Great Inner Elixir Methods were passed down to the mortal world; there are also nine magical artifacts hidden in the world. Those Nine Treasures are the nemeses of the Nine Techniques.”

Even the secrets Jiang Wansui revealed were things the purple-robed Daoist had never heard of.

The world thought the Nine Great Inner Elixir Methods were unmatched, not knowing the worldly secret—that nine magical artifacts, shrouded in ordinary life, conceal themselves in the red dust, each to restrain one of the Nine Inner Elixir Methods!

”Find him. Zhang Lingzong has lived too long,” Jiang Wansui said coldly.

”After all, only this one branch of South Zhang remains.”

”Yes, Master!” replied the purple-robed Daoist respectfully.