Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Early morning, 00:19.

No. 1 Villa.

The priciest villa district in Anning District, Yujing City—back when housing prices peaked two years ago, it was 160,000 yuan per square meter. Truly a place where every inch cost a fortune.

But now, even Zhang Lingzong can’t make it on his construction site anymore, and naturally, property prices here have plunged a lot.

Still, no matter how much they drop, in the eyes of ordinary people, this place is already sky-high.

Bzzzt...

Blinding headlights cut through the night as the Five Spirits Rainbow Light rolled to a stop at the entrance to the neighborhood.

A young security guard poked his head out, just about to shoo them away, but the barrier arm lifted all on its own.

”What the hell, am I seeing things?” The young guard rubbed his eyes, staring at the Five Spirits Rainbow Light driving into the complex, completely incredulous.

Was that Five Spirits Rainbow Light the car of a resident?

”You’re making a fuss over nothing. You just started here, so you don’t know. That’s one of the folks in Building 23’s ride.”

Next to him, an older security guard glanced up from his phone, not even pausing to look properly.

”Wait... someone living here... drives a Five Spirits Rainbow Light?”

The young guard’s expression grew weirder by the second.

He’d seen plenty of luxury cars in this neighborhood—gotten almost numb to it, really—but this was the first time he’d laid eyes on a Five Spirits Rainbow Light. For the young guy, it was like seeing something straight out of a dream.

”Kid, you’re still too green... You have no idea how outrageous rich folks can get...” The old guard spoke like he’d seen through all the workings of the world.

”Boss, is this your place?”

Zhang Fan sized up the neighborhood, feeling like he’d walked into a botanical garden. He couldn’t help but speak up.

”To be precise, this is just one of my homes.” Bai Buran replied coolly.

”...”

Bai Buran’s house was a standalone villa—three stories up, two down, a front garden, a swimming pool out back, and four parking spaces that came standard.

Just the renovation costs alone could easily buy a decent apartment somewhere else in Yujing City.

”Sit wherever you like.”

The moment they walked inside, the first thing they saw was a whole bearskin rug. The living room in Bai Buran’s place was way bigger than Zhang Fan’s.

Proof enough that the boss lives large while the employees keep sinking further into the muck.

”Boss, can we maybe get rich together?” Zhang Fan muttered, twisting his lips.

”Let me get rich first, then I’ll think about dragging you along.” Bai Buran chuckled.

”...”

Woo...

Just then, the unconscious Black Nightmare let out a grimace of pain, his eyelids fluttered, and—astonishingly—he came to.

Bang...

But before he could even open his eyes, Zhang Fan activated the Celestial Mother Heart Curse, raised his hand, and delivered a thunderous slap right across Black Nightmare’s face—sending him flying.

He crashed hard onto the floor, coughed up a mouthful of old blood, and passed out again.

”You’re really out to kill him, huh?” Bai Buran swept him a glance.

”I almost died today.”

Zhang Fan collapsed onto the couch, still utterly wrecked.

”He didn’t have that kind of skill...” Bai Buran replied, indifferently.

”But something this big breaking out today—stop and think, who else in Yujing City could pull off a trick like this...”

”Who?”

”The Observatory Master of the Perfect View.” Bai Buran spat out a name.

”Mr. Nian!?”

”You know him?” Bai Buran looked over at Zhang Fan, though he didn’t seem especially surprised.

Anyone who survived that chaos just now—any idiot could see Zhang Fan wasn’t a nobody. Whether it was Zhenwu Mountain or something else, honestly, Bai Buran didn’t care much.

Back then, when Zhenwu Mountain asked him to look after Zhang Fan, he knew right away—they were neck-deep in messes here.

”If it weren’t for this damn rat, would Observatory Master of the Perfect View even be after me?” Zhang Fan said, voice low.

”You give him way too much credit...” Bai Buran shook his head, speaking softly.

”To the Observatory Master of the Perfect View, he’s just another rat. Day-to-day pointers—just something to fend off boredom.”

”Hmm!?”

Zhang Fan lifted an eyebrow, catching the implication.

”Boss, I get the feeling you actually know this rat?”

”You could say we have some history.” Bai Buran replied blandly. ”Didn’t expect to find out he’d managed to spark a grudge with you.”

”That can’t be right, I’m pretty sure you know more than just the rat...”

Zhang Fan’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

”You guessed it. I know Observatory Master of the Perfect View too. Back in the day, when he hid his identity and joined Zhenwu Mountain, that’s when I met him...”

”Later, he got stranded out at Deserted Mountain, and I ended up coming to Yujing City...”

Bai Buran strolled over to the bar, poured himself a drink.

”Honestly, there’s no real difference between me and him—we’re both stuck here...”

”Hmm?” Zhang Fan’s eyes sharpened, clearly puzzled.

”What I mean is... all I do is help Zhenwu Mountain keep tabs on that guy...” Bai Buran sighed.

Whether it’s the Zhenwu Mountain, or Mr. Nian... For both him and Black Rat, they’re nothing but disposable chess pieces.

”Can you do me a favor?”

Just then, Bai Buran changed the subject, suddenly asking.

”Boss, don’t tell me you want me to let this rat go.”

”Getting you to drop it entirely—is a bit much. But truth is, you’ll get more out of him alive than dead...” Bai Buran swirled his glass and laughed lightly.

”Business is business—everything’s negotiable. We’ll talk until you’re satisfied.”

”If that’s how you want to play it...”

Zhang Fan cooled down, mind racing.

He’d lost a lot tonight—Zhang Beijiang was done for, cut in half, his True Yang drained, and all that remained were two torn-up skins. Who knew if they could even be fixed? Fixing them would definitely come at a steep cost.

On that front, he needed to check in with the Yin Mountain Xiong Family—after all, when it came to Exorcism and Corpse Refining, they were the best in the game.

On top of that, his own body needed serious recovery. And the mental toll? He’d have to tally that up too.

A moment later, Black Nightmare woke up again, clutching his face and shrinking back warily into a defensive posture.

That move managed to startle Shi Shougong and Su Shiyu.