Starting Cultivation During a Trip

"You mean Li Cunsi is not really dead?" Zhang Fan’s mind quickly turned.

"I don’t know!" Lou Hechuan shook his head.

Jia Sheng Gui Si, ranked among the Nine Great Inner Elixir Methods, delves into the forbidden territories of life and death, its intricacies are beyond outsiders’ understanding.

"I can only say, if Li Cunsi hasn’t truly passed, then there are three people in the world who have cultivated Jia Sheng Gui Si, and they are closely connected to each other," Lou Hechuan speculated.

"Three people..."

Zhang Fan pondered deeply.

Li Cunsi is needless to say, Zhang Sheng’s Jia Sheng Gui Si also passed down from him, and as for Li Yishan’s Jia Sheng Gui Si, it most likely came from his own father.

"So you see, their family has intricate ties with your Zhang Family. If someone’s truly targeting them, then the possibilities are endless."

Lou Hechuan identified Zhang Fan’s purpose for this visit.

"It could be the Daoist Sect, the Wuwei Sect, or possibly even Beizhang..."

"Why would the Wuwei Sect want to target them?" Zhang Fan asked.

"Zhang Fan, you’ve experienced tribulations yourself, how can you ask such a question?" Lou Hechuan cast a sideways glance.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fan nodded, but remained silent.

Even within the same faction, there can be divergences, paths that lead to different reasoning.

The hardest thing to unify in this world is the human heart.

Just like Zhang Kongming betraying Dragon Tiger Mountain, he too was hunted and rejected by the Wuwei Sect before becoming the true Three Corpses Daoist.

Just like the South Zhang and Beizhang, both are incense inheritance from the Daoist Sect’s great tribulation, but ultimately went on paths that deviated from one another.

"Ultimately, the difference lies in ideology. Do you think the current Daoist Sect would be as peaceful as it is without a Pure Yang Zhenren?" Lou Hechuan lamented.

"That’s why the Wuwei Sect desperately hopes for a Sect Leader to emerge who, after the Three Corpses Daoist, can unify the Wuwei Sect."

"In fact, the top ranks of the Wuwei Sect are working towards this."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fan’s brow twitched, recalling the mysterious figure he encountered at the ancient temple in Tai Sui Village who was cultivating the Divine Splitting Technique.

"But given Jiang Yunxian’s strength, the two of them should be safe for now," Lou Hechuan speculated.

"Should?" Zhang Fan’s gaze darkened: "Chairman Lou, where can they be found?"

"How would I know?" Lou Hechuan laughed.

"Do you really think I’m a Living Immortal?"

"Chairman Lou has presided over Jiangnan Province for so many years, knowing more secrets than anyone else, I underestimated you before," Zhang Fan spoke solemnly.

"Calling you a Living Immortal wouldn’t be an overstatement."

"Even at the last moment you’re flattering me." Lou Hechuan laughed, watching Zhang Fan with a complex expression in his eyes.

"The grandson of Zhang Tian Sheng... heh heh... interesting..."

Speaking, Lou Hechuan leaned back on the sofa, looking at the ceiling, suddenly said, "You could try your luck in Qinxi Province."

"Qinxi?" Zhang Fan puzzled.

How could Li Yishan and his group head there even if they escaped danger?

"Under Zhongnan Mountain, in the Living Dead Tomb, where Chongyang Zhenren truly mastered Jia Sheng Gui Si, life and death unite, invincible in the world..."

"Since then, many who cultivate this Technique almost always head there."

"That place has almost become a sacred land for cultivating Jia Sheng Gui Si."

"Zhongnan Mountain..."

Zhang Fan murmured contemplatively.

"I’ve privately tracked Jiang Yunxian and Li Yishan’s movements, they almost visit Chang’an every two years," Lou Hechuan added.

"Vice President Wu..."

At this moment, an urgent call from Sui Chunsheng was heard from outside, Zhang Fan turned his head, and the door opened.

A sickly man walked in, although it was early summer, he wore a cotton jacket, with his eye sockets almost sunken, as if he had just recovered from a severe illness.

"Elder Lou, why didn’t you inform me about a guest?" the sickly man spoke lightly.

His words were respectful, but the indifferent glance swept over Zhang Fan.

"Oh Wu, I know the rules, under normal circumstances, I shouldn’t meet anyone now, but when young people come to see me, I can’t just shut them out." Lou Hechuan stood up.

"How about I write a statement for you to report along with my materials later."

"Elder Lou, you don’t need to say such things, I just asked casually, to avoid unnecessary trouble when reaching Shangjing," the sickly man spoke weakly.

"You all can leave, I have things to discuss with Chairman Wu," Lou Hechuan issued a dismissal, emphasized when mentioning "Chairman Wu."

"Elder Lou, I’m only acting as Vice President now," the sickly man smiled lightly.

"I’m afraid I won’t return this time from Shangjing, the ’acting’ title will soon be removed, and the burdens of Jiangnan Province will soon fall on your shoulders," Lou Hechuan lamented.

"Elder Lou, then we will take our leave."

Zhang Fan understood, followed Sui Chunsheng out, and only spoke after descending the stairs.

"Was that the Vice President just now?"

"His name is Wu Qingnang, he’s been the Vice President for over a decade, his health has always been poor, so he frequently takes sick leave, thought he’d retire early..." Sui Chunsheng whispered.

"Who would have thought he’d seize the opportunity this time." Sui Chunsheng sighed.

Generally, vice positions are for taking the blame, but their Vice President managed to achieve this despite being absent for so long.

"There won’t be someone parachuted in?" Zhang Fan asked.

"Jiangnan Province needs someone familiar, outsiders wouldn’t manage well." Sui Chunsheng spoke quietly.

"When luck comes, nothing can stop it..."

"Wu Qingnang!" Zhang Fan silently noted the name, knowing he’d have dealings with the new leader of the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance.

"How did the talk go?" Sui Chunsheng asked.

"Alright, I’m going on a trip in the next few days, if there’s any news from Yujing City let me know," Zhang Fan casually said.

"A trip? Where are you going?" Sui Chunsheng inquired.

"Zhongnan Mountain!"

Zhang Fan walked out of the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance’s gates, looked at the vast night sky, murmuring softly.

...

Late night, Bright Grand Hotel.

Li Miaoyin got out of the car, just about to head inside when her phone chimed with an incoming message. Opening it, Zhang Fan’s conversation bubble popped up.

"Hungry? Want to grab some supper?"

Li Miaoyin couldn’t help but smile upon seeing it. Since returning from Qin Ancient Town, Zhang Fan had been staying home, not seen for days, being proactive was a first.

"Asking me out in the middle of the night, you..."

Li Miaoyin stood in place, typing, suddenly her fingertips paused, she looked up abruptly, feeling the wind and clouds halt, even the bright moonlight seemed fragmented at that moment.

The world at this instant seemed to become vague, unlike its former reality.

Through the hotel entrance, everyone in the lobby seemed frozen, their thoughts stagnant, transitioning from life to death, like a dream.

"Celestial Master!?"

Li Miaoyin’s expression changed, signs and feelings of a Celestial Master-level presence, someone very close, very close...

"You’ve been out for too long."

At that moment, a light voice emerged in the quiet night, like ripples on a calm lake, autumn water with a gentle sway, even Li Miaoyin’s Primordial Spirit began trembling.

She looked up, seeing a man approaching, wearing a trench coat, a hat, thick black sunglasses, seemingly melding with the night.

"Why have you come?" Li Miaoyin seemed to recognize the person, spoke in a low voice.

"Next month is the disciple ceremony, it’s not proper for you to wander outside like this, the teacher asked me to bring you back," the man with sunglasses said flatly.