Starting Cultivation During a Trip

"Fearless as the heavens and earth, the principles are profound..."

Meng Qiwu murmured softly, as the light and shadows of the past gradually converged with the silhouette of Zhang Fan in front of him.

"Qi Wu..."

At that moment, Zhang Fan paused, turned around, and called out, pulling Meng Qiwu back from his thoughts.

"Why did you stop?"

"I’m finding my way." Meng Qiwu quickened his pace and caught up.

"It’s just ahead, there’s an elder from my sect who met with Qin Ergou two days ago." Meng Qiwu said solemnly.

"Why is your sect elder not staying at Zhongnan Mountain but here?" Zhang Fan asked.

"He suffered a tribulation early on and was unwilling to stay in the sect." Meng Qiwu replied nonchalantly.

As they spoke, the two walked to a pond, where the faint moonlight fell, and under the green trees by the pond sat a hunched figure, elderly and frail, fishing.

"Master Quan."

Meng Qiwu stepped forward, bowed, and paid his respects. Zhang Fan imitated the gesture, pretending to do the same.

The old man before them looked ordinary, but the seniority was evident.

"Little Meng, why did you bring an outsider?"

The old man spoke weakly, looking half asleep, and the fishing rod in his hand was trembling as if catching fish was an unlikely miracle.

However, he continued holding the rod, staring at the pond, not even glancing at Meng Qiwu and Zhang Fan.

"I heard that a few days ago, Master met with a disciple from the sect, so I came specifically to ask." Meng Qiwu said respectfully.

Every half month at Zhongnan Mountain, someone would bring supplies to [Quan Daoist], and that’s how he heard about Qin Ergou.

"You mean that little rascal? He carries Thunder Qi, with the Profound Cang Dragon Roaming Aspect... that’s an Innate Treasure he’s gained." Quan Daoist said softly.

His eyes were sharp; born a toad, yet possessing the Dragon Aspect, with Purple Electric and Thunder, ultimately becoming an Exotic Treasure.

Quan Daoist’s description matched perfectly with the [Purple Electric Toad] Qin Ergou had acquired.

"That’s him."

Meng Qiwu and Zhang Fan exchanged a glance and finally confirmed.

"Having obtained an Innate Treasure, with such a great opportunity comes a significant tribulation." Quan Daoist sighed softly.

"We came precisely to help resolve his tribulation." Meng Qiwu whispered.

"Everyone has their own destiny, if a tribulation could be borne by others, it wouldn’t be a true tribulation." Quan Daoist sighed, "Back then, I..."

At this, his eyes became desolate, and then he pointed southward.

"He went towards Nanwang Mountain, you should go."

"Thank you, Master!" Meng Qiwu bowed and was about to leave.

"Hmm!?"

But just then, Zhang Fan stood frozen, staring intently at the old man before him.

"What’s wrong?" Meng Qiwu sensed something amiss and couldn’t help but ask.

"He... he..."

Zhang Fan pointed at Quan Daoist, his eyes focused as a line, revealing a strange expression.

"Do not be disrespectful." Meng Qiwu said sternly.

"Young man, what keen sight you have!"

At that moment, Quan Daoist turned his head, looked at Zhang Fan, and a different kind of light surfaced in his cloudy old eyes.

"Which sect are you a disciple of? To have such vision at the Mahayana Realm, your Primordial Spirit is truly extraordinary."

Buzz...

As he spoke, an unusual wave spread out.

Meng Qiwu’s eyes suddenly trembled, and only then did he see clearly; there was no pond, only a swamp of stench, faintly littered with animal remains.

Under the withered tree nearby, only a human head hung on a branch, belonging to none other than Quan Daoist himself, his eyes slightly open, retaining a bit of vitality, his Primordial Spirit hidden and undispersed.

"Mas... Master, you..." Meng Qiwu’s face turned pale with fright.

She had met Quan Daoist before and knew he had suffered a tribulation, but never imagined he would end up like this.

Previously, everything she and the disciples of Zhongnan Mountain had seen was merely a Blinding Technique of Quan Daoist’s Primordial Spirit.

"Mas... Master, how did you..."

"Years ago, I encountered a formidable enemy who didn’t take my life but left me in this state."

The head on the withered branch swayed in the wind, its cold voice echoing in the ears of Zhang Fan and Meng Qiwu.

"Who could have injured you so severely?" Meng Qiwu couldn’t help but ask.

This Master had profound Dao Practice and extraordinary Realm, with a high status at Zhongnan Mountain, so it was unimaginable who could have inflicted such a fate upon him, worse than death.

Under the chilling moon, beside the putrid swamp, the head hanging in the wind pondered for a while before finally uttering a name.

"The Lord of the Primordial Palace!!"