Starting Cultivation During a Trip

We shall be together in the end!

These seven words seemed like a prophecy, as if a pair of unseen eyes, hidden in the red dust of the mortal realm, saw through the boundless void of the future and proclaimed that inevitable fate for all to witness. Only Zhang Fan understood the profound meaning veiled within these seven words.

That is the unification of Alchemy Technique!

That is the coming of the Great Tribulation!!

That is the Three Corpses Illuminating Fate!!!

The hotel lobby was plunged into dead silence. The corners of everyone’s eyes caught the tiny script on the note, and their expressions grew more and more vibrant and complicated.

As all know, among the ten great Daoist Sects of the world, it is rare indeed for a woman to attain the status of a sect’s heir.

Yu Xuanji is the disciple of Sanqing Mountain; from childhood she entered the mountain to cultivate, devoting herself to Dao, living reclusively and seldom setting foot in the red dust, hardly interacting with outsiders.

The handful of times she did appear were mostly visits to the Shangjing White Crane Temple for study and exchange.

Therefore, Yu Xuanji’s connection with White Crane Temple runs deep, and her friendship with Li Changgeng is well-known—a matter hardly a secret.

Yet apart from that, none had ever heard she had dealings with any other man, much less leaving behind such an unabashed message, so plainly revealing her feelings.

"Yu Xuanji has a thing with this guy?" Wang Qingshan’s expression was odd as he sized up Zhang Fan from head to toe.

No wonder, before leaving, Yu Xuanji had repeatedly cautioned Wang Qingyi not to clash head-on with Zhang Fan—it turns out she’s fallen hard for him, with perhaps something blooming in secret!?

"Yu Xuanji actually entrusts her affections to this man!?" Wang Qingyi’s gaze condensed into a thin line, reassessing Zhang Fan intently.

Within the Daoist Sects, other than Quanzhen, there were no explicit rules forbidding romantic liaisons between men and women, but a woman like Yu Xuanji, profound in the mysteries of the Dao and having attained the Dharma Intent of Sanqing Mountain, how could she bear her heart so openly, so bluntly pour out her soul to a man!?

"Impressive."

Ge Shuangxiu glanced at Zhang Fan, awe secretly rising in his heart.

He could not have imagined that, after years apart, Zhang Fan was not only far advanced in cultivation, but his art of stealing hearts and ensnaring affections had reached such heights—soundlessly enticing away a disciple of a great mountain sect.

"Mm!?"

At this moment, Meng Qiwu’s expression was the most colorful. She stared at Zhang Fan, her feelings a tangled mess, thinking: hadn’t she rushed here to stand up for herself? Why did she suddenly find herself force-fed a mouthful of dog food!?

What the fuck, was this on purpose!?

Buzzzz...

Suddenly, a wisp of True Flame danced up from Zhang Fan’s fingertip, and in the blink of an eye, reduced the note left by Yu Xuanji to drifting ash.

His gaze was icy to the extreme, watching until not a mote of ash remained.

Wang Qingyi noticed all this, her expression growing even stranger.

Meng Qiwu and Ge Shuangxiu exchanged glances, and the same thought suddenly blossomed in their minds.

"Yu Xuanji is throwing herself at him!"

As a woman, and moreover a disciple of Sanqing Mountain, to reveal her heart so blatantly—yet Zhang Fan remained unmoved, and even burned the message to nothing before everyone’s eyes.

"A disciple of Sanqing Mountain expresses herself so, and he doesn’t even care?"

"Is this man’s heart on the Dao so fearsome!?"

Wang Qingshan furrowed his brow, casting Zhang Fan a deep look, his heart flooded with many thoughts.

No wonder he had such cultivation, that he could cripple Wang Qinghe right in front of his eyes. With such a Dao Heart, how could he not achieve great success?

He thought to himself, even as a scion of the Wang Family, facing such an overt advance from the disciple of Sanqing Mountain, he could never stay unmoved, without a ripple in his heart.

At this moment, Zhang Fan’s image in Wang Qingshan’s heart became even more terrifying.

"Let’s go." Zhang Fan said softly.

Since they had missed intercepting Yu Xuanji, there was no reason to linger further.

"Wait."

Just then, Wang Qingyi stepped forward, halting Zhang Fan and his group.

"Zhang Fan!?"

"Is there more advice?" Zhang Fan asked, turning his head.

It was then that he truly sized up the Pure Yang Wang Family’s prodigy before him.

The man’s aura was deeply concealed, without a hint leaking out, his body sealed and closed, as if a true furnace forging his Essence Qi. Whether in cultivation or in realm, he far surpassed Wang Qingshan.

Without asking, Zhang Fan knew: this Wang Qingyi’s status in the Wang Family was surely near the top. Among the younger generation, few could stand as her equal.

"Advice, I dare not." Wang Qingyi said calmly, "I heard from my clan-brother that you are a disciple of Zhongnan Mountain?"

Earlier, Yu Xuanji had already exposed the truth and falsehood of Zhang Fan’s Great Burial Sword; now Wang Qingyi questioned deliberately, wanting to probe Zhang Fan’s origins.

"No, I’m a disciple of Zhenwu Mountain." Zhang Fan replied blandly.

"Zhenwu Mountain!?" Wang Qingyi was stunned; even Wang Qingshan at her side looked taken aback.

Yu Xuanji had said that the move which took down Wang Qinghe was on the surface Zhongnan Mountain’s Great Burial Sword, but hidden within was Dragon Tiger Zhang Family’s Dragon and Snake Slayer.

Wang Qingyi had guessed Zhang Fan was related to the Dragon Tiger Mountain North Zhang Lineage.

But never did she expect to hear "disciple of Zhenwu Mountain" from Zhang Fan’s own mouth.

"I know all the top figures of Zhenwu Mountain, yet it seems I’ve never heard your name, brother."

Wang Qingyi’s words were tactful, but the meaning was to question Zhang Fan’s origins.

Zhang Fan wasted no words; he fished a small booklet from his pocket. On the cover, it boldly read: [Daoist Sect Teaching Staff Qualification Certificate]. This thing was acquired when he left Zhenwu Mountain, costing him 120 yuan in handling fees.

Upon opening it, there was the steel seal of the Daoist Alliance Headquarters, the sect column inscribed with Zhenwu Mountain, as for the issuer...

"Xi Dongyang!?"

Wang Qingyi’s gaze sharpened to a needle. The name, naturally, was no stranger—it was one of Zhenwu Mountain’s three Celestial Masters, as renowned as Liu Nanxu.