Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Pearl Lake stretched endlessly, fading into the distance. Through the rearview mirror, faintly, gulls could be seen soaring, piercing the vast sky, gliding over the shimmering waves.

Zhang Fan and his companions had finally left Qin Ancient Town, departing from the ancestral land of the South Zhang lineage.

He gazed at the land behind him, and an indescribable feeling rose in his heart...

Someday, he would return!

"Zhang Fan, why didn’t Zhang Wang leave with us?" Fang Changle was driving and couldn’t help but ask.

"He said he wants to travel around, see the world. When he has time, he’ll come visit us in Yujing City."

Zhang Fan replied casually, but in his mind, images of Zhang Wang appeared.

Reuniting once more, Zhang Wang felt very different to him; he could hardly recall his first impression upon meeting him.

This time felt more like a first encounter—familiar yet strange.

What felt most peculiar to Zhang Fan was Zhang Wang’s unusual curiosity about his older brother, though Zhang Fan himself had no idea where Zhang Sheng was.

"That friend of yours is unfathomable," Li Miaoyin, seated beside Zhang Fan, whispered softly.

"He really is a bit..."

Zhang Fan curled his lips, not quite sure how to describe it.

"By the way, Xia Weisheng has returned to Zhenwu Mountain. Before leaving, she asked me to give you this."

As she spoke, Fang Changle pulled out an invitation and handed it to Zhang Fan. Opening it, he saw it was a formal invite.

"The second of next month, a ceremony at Zhenwu Mountain?" Zhang Fan glanced at it.

Only then did he remember: next month would be the disciple acceptance ceremony of Transcendent Zhenren. At that time, Daoist sects from all over the land would gather at Zhenwu Mountain. It was sure to be the most anticipated event of the moment.

"The Qi Brothers have also returned to Laojun Mountain. They wanted me to greet you—see you at Zhenwu Mountain next month," Fang Changle said.

Qi Delong and Qi Dongqiang, brothers and heirs of Laojun Mountain, would surely attend along with their elders for such a grand occasion.

In the blink of an eye, the companions once immortalized in the victory photo at the Hundred Thousand Mountains war now dispersed, leaving only Zhang Fan, Li Miaoyin, and Fang Changle.

"Such is the impermanence of life’s meetings and partings," Zhang Fan lamented inwardly.

Those around come and go, gathering then scattering, much like the road to longevity. In the end, how many remain?

Born alone, and in the end, alone again.

"These days, let’s just stay in Yujing City; don’t go anywhere else," Fang Changle said, watching the road, reminding them.

Undoubtedly, Jiangnan Province would become lively, with the storm brewing—it would not be quiet.

"Especially you, Zhang Fan," Fang Changle added.

"You really didn’t need to say that," Zhang Fan retorted with a wry smile.

"You heard her—don’t go anywhere," Li Miaoyin leaned in, whispering with a little laugh at Zhang Fan’s ear.

"Got it!"

...

Dusk.

Zhang Fan returned to Hongfu Garden. Night had already fallen; the lights of the security booth at the entrance glowed, yet it was not Liu Fusheng on duty tonight.

Entering his home, Zhang Fan finally set down his weariness.

From his breast, he took out the Mighty Spirit Demon-Suppressing Gold Seal and the Black Iron Plate, and placed them on the southeast altar.

This altar was set up especially for the Mighty Spirit Demon-Suppressing Gold Seal. All magical treasures require incense offerings and alchemy refinement; only with a devoted heart, over time, can they become truly spiritual and gradually ascend.

According to Li Miaoyin, magical treasures are a form of alternate life.

Now, though the Mighty Spirit Demon-Suppressing Gold Seal was a Yellow Feather Treasure, its potential was immense. Fang Changle said that with enough sacrifice, he could search for a high-grade treasure to serve as its foundation—or find an innate treasure, refining it and fusing it with the Dharma Seal, thus shortening its advancement time.

However, innate treasures are exceedingly rare, just like Zhang Fan’s White Bone Relic, which he keeps concealed in his body and rarely reveals.

As for high-grade magical treasures, unless they are damaged or broken, only then might they be used as repair materials; otherwise, supplementing high with low is simply not worth it.

Moreover, if he truly wished to do so, the four million in Zhang Fan’s pocket wouldn’t be enough, not even for the material costs.

So, all he could do was offer incense and spend more time and effort.

Before, Zhang Fan had only worshiped the Mighty Spirit Demon-Suppressing Gold Seal. After this journey, he realized the Black Iron Plate was extraordinary too, and placed it on the altar as well.

Zhang Fan lit a stick of incense and silently recited scriptures.

So it was with the sacrificial refinement of magical treasures; the incense was specially ordered from Maoshan as Daoist incense, costing upwards of twenty to thirty thousand a month, with the need to recite the Sacrificial Treasure Scripture Chapter, communicate with the Primordial Spirit, refine and nurture with True Yang—it all consumed tremendous effort.

"Once I have money, I’ll surely buy a Cyan Feather Treasure remnant to feed you," Zhang Fan vowed inwardly.

After finishing the offerings, Zhang Fan returned to his room and collapsed into sleep.

This journey had drained him profoundly. Even with the Refined Divine Demon Holy Embryo, he quickly drifted into deep slumber.

Buzz...

Just then, atop the southeast altar, the Black Iron Plate vibrated gently, emitting a strange ripple. The Mighty Spirit Demon-Suppressing Gold Seal beside it, as if terrified, subconsciously shifted aside, curling into the corner and yielding space.

...

For the next two days, Zhang Fan did not leave the house, nor did he contact anyone.

He knew that even while he sat at home, things outside were far from peaceful; who knew what chaos Jiangnan Province had become.

After all, the death of three Celestial Masters was no small matter.

Despite his agitated thoughts, Zhang Fan found rare peace in his cultivation. Each day, aside from cultivating the Divine Demon Holy Embryo, he focused on the Three Corpses Illuminating Fate, refining the Mighty Spirit Demon-Suppressing Gold Seal, and studying the Black Iron Plate.

In a flash, three days had passed.