Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Hoo...

At that moment, the chubby Daoist burst out from the gray woods, his clothes torn apart, drenched in blood, and his face as pale as a piece of paper. Between his brows, that crimson line lingered, neither dispersing nor fading.

"Cui Hanyi, you actually used the Invincible Immortal Hand on me!?" the chubby Daoist snarled viciously.

Just that single strike had knocked him down an entire realm.

This is the terrifying and mysterious aspect of the technique.

"Chang Tie Liu, when Master was alive, I'd never considered you worth a damn. Now Master's been dead for years, you think I'd keep putting up with you?"

Cui Hanyi said coolly, "Spout one more word of nonsense, and you can go accompany Master."

"You..."

Chang Tie Liu's pudgy face twitched violently; his eyes flickered, and he ducked behind Thousand Machines, not daring to utter another word.

Because he knew, this lunatic would always do exactly what he said.

The most frightening people in the world aren't necessarily those with the deepest cultivation, but those with nothing tying them down.

People like that, when they snap, there's nothing they won't do.

"Senior Brother, if there's nothing else, then you should leave." Cui Hanyi issued his dismissal; his gaze unfaltering as he swept past the lake, clear as a mirror, to the endless mountain forests beyond.

"Qinglai and Tingzhu, those two kids, got crushed in Yujing City," Thousand Machines abruptly changed the topic.

He looked up, but Cui Hanyi didn't react at all, as if he hadn't heard.

"They lost to a young man."

Thousand Machines continued, but Cui Hanyi still showed no response.

"That young man's name is Zhang Fan."

"Zhang, you say!?" In Cui Hanyi's ancient, unruffled eyes, a ripple appeared.

"Among the various juniors in the Daoist Sect's branches and mountains, there's no such person, but Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance says..."

"He's a disciple of Zhenwu Mountain. So young, already promoted to High Skill, limitless future," Thousand Machines said meaningfully.

"Those two kids didn't even achieve High Skill, yet went down the mountain just to embarrass themselves." Cui Hanyi finally spoke.

"Senior Brother, why do you care about such petty things now? The incense at Qingcheng Mountain might be about to run out."

"You..." Chang Tie Liu's eyes bulged; just as he was about to speak, he shut his mouth at once.

"Of course I won't meddle in fights between juniors. But they've lost the Black Sword Umbrella—it's Qingcheng Mountain's magical artifact, can't be left outside," Thousand Machines said gravely.

"Every generation seems weaker than the last." Cui Hanyi said lightly.

"Back in the day, you also refined the Black Umbrella Sword. You played wonders with it in your hands; maybe you could recall it," Thousand Machines revealed his intent for coming.

"Senior Brother, just go."

"Hmm!?"

"Whoever lost face, let them go find it themselves." Cui Hanyi said coolly, "I'm not getting involved in this mess."

"Aren't you..." Chang Tie Liu couldn't help but interject.

"Leave."

Thousand Machines raised his hand to cut him off, giving Cui Hanyi a deep, lingering look.

He knew that once his junior brother made up his mind, nothing in the world could sway him.

The world is vast, the mountains lonely; by the emerald-lake's edge, only Cui Hanyi remained. In his hand, a gentle light shimmered—that was a Jade Pendant, engraved with the characters "Linglong".

He clenched the Jade Pendant in his hand, as if holding onto the most precious treasure in his life.

...

Yujing City, Taoyuan Square.

Seventeenth floor, Night is not bright.

22:17.

At this moment, Zhang Fan had already gotten word from Sui Chunsheng: the identities of Xu Qinglai and Lanting Bamboo were confirmed, and they've been released.

After all, they're disciples of Qingcheng Mountain.

Qingcheng Mountain is one of the Ten Great Taoist Sects, founder elder of the Daoist Alliance, and wields enormous influence.

"Be careful. Disciples of Qingcheng Mountain are no pushover. You took their magical artifact—this vendetta is settled, sooner or later they'll come knocking."

Sui Chunsheng warned over the phone.

"Don't worry, I know," Zhang Fan replied.

"Daddy's dad is a demon, daddy's mom is a demon..."

He'd just hung up with Sui Chunsheng when another call came in.

Looking at the caller ID, Zhang Fan saw it was Fang Changle.

"Hello..."

"Heard you're in trouble in Yujing City?" Fang Changle's voice came from the other end.

"You're well-informed." Zhang Fan was mildly surprised.

He'd only just fought with the Qingcheng Mountain disciples in Yujing City, not even three hours ago, and Fang Changle already got wind.

"Qingcheng Mountain folks released them?" Fang Changle asked.

"Mm!" Zhang Fan hummed.

"Their reach is long..." Fang Changle's voice carried a trace of coldness.

"Don't worry, I'll be back in a couple of days. This is Jiangnan, not Chuanshu..."

"No matter how far their reach, they can't stir up any trouble here."

"Tsk tsk, that's pretty domineering." Zhang Fan laughed.

Maoshan and Qingcheng Mountain are both renowned among the Ten Great Taoist Sects, but their home turf is separate—one in Jiangnan, the other in Chuanshu.

That's why Fang Changle has that confidence.

Just as Zhang Fan had joked, no matter how mighty the dragon, the local snake rules the ground. Qingcheng Mountain's disciples might act wild elsewhere, but in Jiangnan, they'd better learn to keep a low profile.

"This is our own territory. Don't be afraid; if something happens, I'll have your back." Fang Changle declared with no reservations.

Compared to the older generation, the young one's energy was at its peak, and their wildness not yet tamed.

Because of that, each change in era is not only competition among the young, but also a clash between the young blood and the old guard.

"Don't worry, nothing's going to happen. I'm not one to stir up trouble," Zhang Fan chuckled.

"..."

"Just look after yourself. But be careful anyway—Qingcheng Mountain has a long legacy, if they really have some tricks, you'd never see it coming." Fang Changle cautioned.

"I got it."

Zhang Fan nodded, exchanged a few words, then hung up.

Now, Fang Changle was bound to him for good.

Just as Zhao Jie Xuan had planned: recruit and unite the heirs of the Ten Great Taoist Sects as much as possible.

Maoshan's Fang Changle, Laojun Mountain's Qi Delong, Qi Dongqiang brothers, Zhenwu Mountain's Xia Weisheng...

The forces gathered around Zhang Fan were growing stronger step by step.

Buzz...

At that moment, the sound of a door being opened caught Zhang Fan's attention.

In the dim light, Yu Fu walked into the office.

"You're still at the company?" Yu Fu was surprised to see Zhang Fan.

"I'm waiting for you."

Zhang Fan looked at Yu Fu meaningfully.

"Old Yu, shouldn't you explain something to me as well?"

Yu Fu hesitated briefly, then said, "I know, getting you mixed up with Qingcheng Mountain so suddenly is trouble."

"Since I joined Night is not bright, I've had everyone look out for me. It's too formal to say things like that."

"Besides, those two little kiddos aren't real trouble." Zhang Fan shook his head.

"You don't understand... the real trouble's yet to come."

Yu Fu's expression grew grave as he walked to the company's feng shui goldfish tank. He placed his hand slowly on the glass wall.

At that instant, Zhang Fan saw Old Yu's arm grow a dense layer of fine scales, and the goldfish all surged over, circling Old Yu's hand.

"I'm a demon..."

Just those few words—not so shocking in themselves, but from Old Yu's mouth, Zhang Fan for a moment was lost for words.

"I was originally just a River Carp from Chuanshu's Linqu River," said Yu Fu, face emotionless but eyes flickering with recollection.

"The world is vast, billions of living things; those who become spirit monsters are all fated by destiny." Yu Fu sighed, "Let alone those who become true demons..."

"I wasn't meant to have such luck—maybe I'd end up cooked and served on some human's table, like other River Carp."

As he spoke, a self-mocking smile appeared on Yu Fu's face, tinged with coldness.

"That year, I'd just developed a hint of intelligence, and was caught by a fisherman eking out a living on the river..."

Just at dawn, buyers from nearby fisheries came to the riverside to pick their catch.

"I was dumped into a wooden basin, waiting for the traders to choose."

"It seemed my fate was sealed, but just then... a man passed by, paid fifteen yuan, and bought me."

At this point, Yu Fu paused, gratitude flickering on his face.

"To this day, I still remember what he looked like—a spirited young man in a black jacket and black sunglasses..."

"No braising, no steaming... he set me free."

Zhang Fan remained silent, just listening quietly.

"He said I had three streaks of noble aura—not for now, but for the future..."

"A Daoist? Three streaks of noble aura? What does that mean?" Zhang Fan couldn't help but ask.

"It means, in the distant future, I'd meet three destiny-changing benefactors, and my fate would shift forever." Yu Fu murmured.

"Who is this man? He can glimpse the Celestial Secret, see futures so far away?" Zhang Fan was stunned.

Such cultivation would leave even the ghost gods wary.

Expressionless, Yu Fu looked at Zhang Fan, and spoke softly.

"He said... his name is King Yan!"