Starting Cultivation During a Trip

The clouds spread like ink, revealing a Great Moon as white as snow.

In Hongfu Garden, all was still, the dim streetlights crackled ominously.

Zhang Fan’s expression was complex as he answered the long-awaited call.

”Hello...”

A familiar yet long-lost voice came from the other end of the phone.

”Dad...” Zhang Fan took a deep breath.

He had waited for so long, hoped for so long, filled with questions he wanted to ask Zhang Lingzong in person, yet suddenly receiving Zhang Lingzong’s call, he found himself at a loss for words.

”Hmm!”

Zhang Lingzong hummed lightly, as silent and reticent as ever, not wasting a single word.

Crackle... crackle...

At that moment, the phone emitted a burst of electromagnetic interference, crackling intermittently like a kite string trembling in the wind.

”Dad, where are you?”

”Ailao Mountain.” Zhang Lingzong said in a deep voice.

”Ailao Mountain!?” Zhang Fan raised an eyebrow, his face growing serious.

That place is one of the world’s most perilous landscapes, hiding true Great Demons, even some Old Demons over three hundred years old.

”Dad...”

”I know you have many questions, but don’t ask them now, there’s no signal here. I can’t call you often, so let me be brief...” Zhang Lingzong interrupted Zhang Fan’s words.

”How did you call if there’s no signal?” Zhang Fan glanced at his phone, confirming it was indeed a call.

”Satellite phone.”

”...”

”You’ve been targeted by the Wuwei Sect, haven’t you?” Zhang Lingzong’s voice resonated.

”I almost didn’t survive.” Zhang Fan said solemnly.

”He’s trapped at Deserted Mountain and won’t really make a move against you, it’s merely a test.”

The ”he” Zhang Lingzong mentioned naturally referred to Observatory Master of the Perfect View, Mr. Nian, Vice Sect Leader of the Wuwei Sect.

”Dad, is such a test bearable for just anyone?” Zhang Fan sneered.

”If it weren’t for my great luck, I really could have perished.”

”Haven’t you returned home yet?” Zhang Lingzong suddenly changed the topic.

”No, why?”

”It’s not your great luck, I left you a Life-saving Talisman.” Zhang Lingzong replied calmly.

”Was it you last night...” Zhang Fan’s eyes suddenly sparkled, recalling the Red Light Jade Talisman that descended from the sky last night.

”Your life isn’t that great.” Zhang Lingzong whispered.

”...”

”Have you found your Evil God?” Zhang Lingzong suddenly asked.

”I found it, but unfortunately, I couldn’t achieve Divine Fusion, it’s too difficult... Dad, do you have any methods?” Zhang Fan asked.

Crackle... crackle...

A burst of static interference came from the phone.

”Dad...”

After a brief silence, Zhang Lingzong’s voice came through once more.

”If Divine Fusion cannot be successfully achieved, there’s no need to force it, but the key is that Evil God, it must not fall into others’ hands...”

Zhang Lingzong’s tone was exceedingly serious.

”If possible, detain that Evil God.”

”This...”

Zhang Fan sneered, the image of Zhao Jie Xuan swirling in his mind.

”Dad, you called him an Evil God, yet now he’s seized a human body, gained an identity, and is quite the formidable character.” Zhang Fan gave Zhao Jie Xuan high praise, complimenting him was practically complimenting himself.

That day in Imprisoned Immortal Temple, it was thanks to Zhao Jie Xuan’s meticulous strategy with the Golden Radiance Treasure Box and the Group of Demons Birthday Celebration Painting sequentially weakening Li Changgeng, and finally temporarily merging with him using the Qi Brothers’ Primordial Spirit Unification Technique, was he able to drive the opponent back.

Such calculations, such cultivation, was the crème de la crème within his peers.

”You fought with that little brat from White Crane Temple?” Zhang Lingzong changed the topic, suddenly mentioning Li Changgeng.

”I did, his Heaven and Earth Stealing Life is indeed formidable, and he has awakened two Divine Techniques.” Zhang Fan said solemnly.

”It’s a pity he wasn’t killed that day.”

Zhang Fan gritted his teeth, his expression cold; he knew a figure like Li Changgeng was a potential threat if left alive.

”He hasn’t awakened two Divine Techniques, but three...”

”What?”

Zhang Lingzong’s words caused Zhang Fan’s expression to change slightly.

”You need to be careful with that brat. When I saw him, I knew White Crane Temple had such a successor; it was undoubtedly due to great fortune, moreover, his surname’s Li...”

”Hmm!?” Zhang Fan was taken aback.

What’s with the surname Li?

Crackle... crackle...

A burst of static interference came through the phone again, Zhang Lingzong’s voice becoming increasingly fuzzy.

”Let’s get to the main topic...”

”This doesn’t count as main topic?” Zhang Fan muttered.

”Two things...”

”First, if one day, you can’t stay in Yujing City any longer, heading north beyond the river is dangerous... Our family has a great enemy in the North...”

”Great enemy?” Zhang Fan was momentarily puzzled, his eyes harboring a cold glint.

”Dad, you mean the Wuwei Sect!?”

”The Wuwei Sect is nothing but a minor rash; the northern great enemy is indeed a threat to our family. If you can’t stay in Yujing City, the further north you go, the more perilous it becomes...”

”Dad, am I about to flee now?” Zhang Fan couldn’t help but ask.

This morning, he still yearned for a peaceful and beautiful life; how did the scenario change all of a sudden?

”If I don’t tell you this now, it’ll be too late when you really have to flee.”

After a brief silence, Zhang Lingzong continued.

”When you return home, go to my room, there’s a box under the bed, retrieve it.”

”Box?” Zhang Fan’s eyes lit up, and he hurriedly asked, ”Dad, what’s the treasure inside?”

”I’ve... left you... a fallback...”

Zhang Lingzong’s voice came intermittently from the other end of the phone.

”Fallback? What fallback?” Zhang Fan asked.

”Inside that box... there’s a phone… stored with a number... call it when you’re absolutely desperate...”

”Remember, you... only have one chance...”

”Phone? Dad, when did you put it there? Can it still be used?” Zhang Fan couldn’t help but ask.