Starting Cultivation During a Trip

”The new Human Xiao seems to be cultivating the Inner Core Technique known as ’Jia Sheng Gui Si,’ but...” Lin Jianyue said uncertainly.

”But what?”

”It’s just my guess. ’Jia Sheng Gui Si’ is no ordinary technique. Anyone who cultivates it is doomed to face a great tribulation—alive yet as if dead, dead yet as if alive, living in this world as if it’s a past life, and in a past life as if it were the next. True and false, life and death, twisted together... It’s extremely mysterious...”

Lin Jianyue had spent a long time with the Thirteen Zodiacs, but even so, she had only heard fragments about ’Jia Sheng Gui Si.’

This new Human Xiao was even more mysterious than Chen Dragon.

If he’s truly cultivating this technique, he’s probably even more frightening than the previous Human Xiao.

”The new Human Xiao...” Zhang Fan mused to himself.

The Human Xiao is the leader of the Thirteen Zodiacs. It’s said that such a position requires the power to suppress the other twelve zodiacs.

”Three Corpses Illuminating Fate, Divine Demon Holy Embryo, Jia Sheng Gui Si, Five Elements Mistaken King, Vacuum Refining Form, Heaven and Earth Stealing Fortune...”

Zhang Fan tallied silently. If the Inner Core Technique isn’t among those six, then, of the Nine Great Inner Elixir Methods, only three remain...

”Actually... all those rumors about Mr. Nian are just that—rumors. There’s no guarantee he’s really cultivating one of the Nine Great Inner Elixir Methods. Three Corpses Daoist once said: There is no invincible Alchemy Technique in this world, only hearts that are hard to rival...”

”Those who walk the lonely path have many skills, but when one truly comprehends the supreme realm, all acts with purpose must be abandoned.”

Lin Jianyue spoke with ease, her beautiful eyes flickering with a thoughtful light.

Though her strength was formidable, she hadn’t reached that level yet. All she could do was repeat the wisdom of those who came before and grope her way forward.

”I heard that Chu Chaoran from Zhenwu Mountain never cultivated any of the Nine Great Inner Elixir Methods, yet he comprehended the Realm of the Infinite Pure Yang and achieved fame as the greatest expert under the heavens.”

”Chu Zhenren... How many like him are there in the world?” Zhang Fan couldn’t help but sigh.

There were always rumors that, eighty years ago, during the Daoist Sect’s tribulation, the secret to becoming an immortal was hidden. Chu Chaoran was the only survivor. Having glimpsed a fragment of that, he burst onto the scene, slew Three Corpses Daoist, and witnessed that Immortal Path.

”Pure Yang Wuji... that’s far too distant for us. True and false, illusion and reality...” Lin Jianyue sighed softly.

How many seekers of immortality have there been since ancient times, and how many truly attained Pure Yang!?

”We should focus on the present.”

”You’re right.” Zhang Fan nodded, his expression growing thoughtful.

For now, the most unsettling figure is that Observatory Master, Mr. Nian.

If he really breaks free, stepping out of Jue Miaoguan and Deserted Mountain, Yujing City would descend into chaos instantly. Even if the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance gathered all its strength, it wouldn’t be able to stop him.

Even Maoshan, the so-called head of the Ten Great Daoist Mountains, would likely have no one capable of holding someone like him down.

Just like that day, the Lord of the Red Palace alone could suppress the Lao Mountain Sect Leader Li Chengge. Facing two Celestial Masters wasn’t daunting—let alone this Vice Sect Leader of the Wuwei Sect.

”When I was a kid, my dad actually brought me to see him? For what?”

Zhang Fan recalled the words Black Rat had said and began to wonder.

”Are you nervous?”

At that moment, Lin Jianyue smiled brightly, pulling Zhang Fan back from his thoughts.

”Why would I be nervous? If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up.”

Zhang Fan was telling the truth. A giant like Mr. Nian was nothing for him to worry about, even if the man managed to break his bonds—it wouldn’t be Zhang Fan’s misfortune to bear.

Besides, breaking through Chu Chaoran’s spiritual barrier wasn’t something that could be done just by wishing, was it!?

”Betting with thoughts? What exactly is a thought?” Zhang Fan couldn’t help but ask.

Even though he’d already reached the High Rank, that concept—thought—was still nebulous and intangible to him.

He truly couldn’t imagine what such a level of wager would look like.

”That’s why I need to stay in Yujing City for a while,” Lin Jianyue concluded.

Before heading over, Zhao Jie Xuan had reminded her—once in Yujing City, check in with Zhang Fan, exchange greetings, since this was his territory, after all.

”I heard you’re something of a bigshot in Yujing City now,” Lin Jianyue said with a faint smile.

”Huh? My reputation got out already?” The corners of Zhang Fan’s mouth curled into a subtle arc.

”I heard the He Family, who tames horses, and the Shen Family, who refines Talismans—both in Yujing City—were finished because of you,” Lin Jianyue whispered solemnly.

”...”

”Where are you staying in Yujing City?” Zhang Fan switched the topic.

After all, Lin Jianyue was the Rabbit among the Thirteen Zodiacs—he had to keep tabs on her at all times, or he’d be the first implicated if anything went wrong.

”I’m staying at the Jinghai Grand Hotel. Want me to give you a room card?”

Lin Jianyue looked at Zhang Fan with a half-smiling, half-serious expression.

”Jinghai Grand Hotel? That’s like two or three thousand a night, isn’t it?” Zhang Fan’s eyes widened.

Back in college, when he was with Xu Zhixia, he’d sometimes dream of a romantic night out at Jinghai Grand Hotel. But when he saw the prices, it was just...

”Are you really that broke?” Lin Jianyue eyed Zhang Fan with curiosity.

”Two or three thousand a night is too extravagant,” Zhang Fan shook his head.

Lin Jianyue wasn’t just staying in Yujing City for two or three days—at the least, it would be a month. Even at the lowest rate, that’s sixty thousand yuan just for accommodation in a month.

”If you need money, ask Zhao Jie Xuan. He’s in the Wuwei Sect and has made plenty, you know,” Lin Jianyue said in a soft voice.

Zhao Jie Xuan was different from Zhang Fan; he’d spend serious money on his cultivation. Every month, just the exotic treasures from Mountains and Seas he’d use up would easily cost into the six figures.

That’s also how, relying on an Evil God, his strength wasn’t weaker than Zhang Fan’s current level.

”What’s his is yours, right?” Lin Jianyue teased.

”We’ll see.”

”Those two pieces of tiger bone of yours aren’t bad,”