Starting Cultivation During a Trip

At such a distance, their feelings were already this intense; one could only imagine what Zhang Fan, who stood just ten steps away, was experiencing.

If not for his High Skill, his Primordial Spirit would likely have shattered in that instant just now.

"I'll give you one last chance," Meng Qinghuan spoke mercifully.

"So this is a Mahasattva?"

Just then, Zhang Fan's voice echoed eerily in the dark alley.

Under such pressure, he could still speak.

With her eyelids slightly raised, Meng Qinghuan revealed a look of surprise as well.

"Indeed, it's enough to make one's heart yearn for the divine," Zhang Fan sighed.

Rumble…

As his words fell, his Primordial Spirit suddenly left his body, tearing through the crushing waves of pressure layer by layer; an immense and mysterious aura instantly spread out.

"This… how is this possible?"

"His Primordial Spirit is actually ignoring Meng Qinghuan's oppression!?"

At this moment, Xu Qinglai and Lanting Bamboo's expressions changed drastically, hardly able to believe the reality before their eyes.

In their dazed gazes, Zhang Fan's Primordial Spirit looked incomparably bizarre. Mist billowed around him, murky and dark as the heavens at midnight, filled with intense ominousness; amidst its ethereal surging, it faintly suppressed Meng Qinghuan's Primordial Divine Light.

At this moment, they could not even see the appearance of Zhang Fan's Primordial Spirit clearly.

Buzz…

Almost at the same instant, Meng Qinghuan swiftly retreated, fear flickering in her eyes. She had not been harmed, but this was a reflexive reaction.

The Primordial Spirit within that cloudy black mist gave her an unprecedented sense of discomfort.

"You're just high skill, yet you can resist my Primordial Divine Light?"

Meng Qinghuan looked at Zhang Fan with disbelief, finally revealing a hint of gravity in her eyes.

By this point, she could no longer ignore Zhang Fan; all those rumors from the outside world now seemed to hold some truth in Meng Qinghuan's eyes.

Rumors seldom come from nothing.

Rumble…

Just then, Zhang Fan took a step forward, pressing in; his chest heaving violently, a breath burst forth, deeply mysterious and ever-changing—he summoned True Flame, illuminating the boundless night.

Next, a blade of fire formed, controlled within his palm.

He performed the Fire Dragon Pill Sword, called forth the Great Flame Blade, blazing firelight brimming with might; with a crisp knife-song, it shattered the darkness of night.

Such a pre-emptive assault made even Meng Qinghuan change color slightly.

Since Zhang Fan elevated Fire Dragon Pill Sword to the Great Success Technique, he had comprehended many moves, each profound and subtle in their own way.

For instance, Five Dragon Body—summoning five fires to coil around himself, specializing in raw strength.

Or the Seven Kills Seal, full of talismanic restraint and mystery.

The Great Flame Blade, on the other hand, excelled in devastation, its murderous might daunting.

That day, Zhang Fan used this very move to break through Xu Qinglai's Black Sword Umbrella's Formless Sword Qi.

"This move again…"

At the mouth of the alley, Xu Qinglai's memories surged like nightmares, making her scalp itch.

She knew well how fierce this move was, and could not help but look at Meng Qinghuan, who had only retreated three steps before suddenly coming to a halt, her elegant face unruffled.

In the next moment, Meng Qinghuan took the gourd from her waist and raised her head for a swig.

Then, forming a sealing gesture with both hands, she spat out a fragrant mouthful of wine.

Rustle…

A mouthful of wine sprayed out, meeting the wind and transforming instantly into a torrential rain, drenching the Great Flame Blade.

In an instant, a white mist rose between firelight and the torrent; the fragrance of wine became even stronger, while the flame of the Great Flame Blade began to dim.

"Qi Yun Mountain's Wine Rain Technique!" Zhang Fan's eyes deepened with thought.

He'd once heard that Qi Yun Mountain had a rain-raising skill called Wine Rain Technique, which, with a gulp of secretly refined pill wine, could transform into sweet rain and smother fire.

He'd only ever read about such legends in the Dao Secret Record, but seeing it today, it was indeed marvelous.

"Only by attaining Pure Yang Intent can one summon the Fire Dragon…"

"A fine Fire Technique; worthy of being trained at Zhenwu Mountain." Meng Qinghuan was calm and poised, yet admiration glimmered in her eyes.

"I, too, have a Fire Technique. Why don't you take a look."

At this moment, Meng Qinghuan changed the subject, her hands weaving Seal Techniques, stepping upon the Celestial Gang, reciting incantations under her breath.

"Innate Main General, One Qi Divine Monarch. Soaring through mist and cloud, commanding thunder. Radiance reaching the four seas, slaying evil and destroying sects. Divine might arrests swiftly, ten thousand ghosts hide in emptiness…"

The profound chant lingered, echoing through the cold, clear night.

Suddenly, a mysterious firelight rose from behind Meng Qinghuan, blazing crimson radiance. Accompanying it were waves of thunder, flashing and surging, roaring with heavenly might.

"This is…"

"Thunderfire Technique! Spirit Official Wang's Thunderfire Technique!?"

At the mouth of the alley, Xu Qinglai and Lanting Bamboo exchanged looks—undisguised awe upon their faces.

Thunderfire Technique was a Daoist Profound Sect secret, enshrining Spirit Official Wang as the Chief Deity, possessing both the majesty of fire and the vastness of thunder.

It's well known that Spirit Official Wang is the Guardian Mountain God General of the Daoist Sect, with incense burning before all Daoist Temples and Mountain Gates in his honor.

Thus, there's a saying: "Whether you ascend the mountain or not, first salute Spirit Official Wang."

Rumble…

As Meng Qinghuan's True Flame took form, scarlet divine light blossomed into a sea of fire; thunder surged with mighty spirit, and even the surrounding air crackled.

The narrow alley could no longer endure such power; cracks began appearing along the walls.

"Worthy indeed of a disciple of Qi Yun Mountain."

Zhang Fan's gaze narrowed to a line, feeling a hint of pressure as well.

The Great Master Primordial Spirit gave birth to Divine Light. Though his own Primordial Spirit was unoppressed, he was still weathering considerable strain; added to that was the vast divine might of Thunderfire Technique, now showing signs of Great Success.

"Any other methods? Don't hold back," Meng Qinghuan's lips curled, revealing a barely discernible smile.

Rumble…

In a flash, she was already within ten steps of Zhang Fan.