Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Chu Chaoran, this name appearing here is both unexpected and reasonable for Zhang Fan.

"Transcendent Zhenren..."

Qi Wu Meng pouted, trying hard to think of the right words.

"Transcendent Zhenren, in his youth, traveled the world, and was quite an amusing and free spirit."

What Qi Wu Meng implied was that when Chu Chaoran left this line of words, he was still young and was just joking with Zhongnan Mountain, a tale with no deeper meaning.

"Do you not believe it? It's true, it's not like we're deliberately tarnishing someone's name..." Qi Wu Meng hurriedly explained, afraid that Zhang Fan might get the wrong idea.

Indeed, Chu Chaoran, the Pure Yang Zhenren, a living Immortal of the present age, standing at the pinnacle of the Daoist Sect, a person of such high prestige, seems completely unrelated to the scribbles left on the stone pillar.

This isn't just absurd, it's a complete tarnishing.

Tarnishing the Daoist Sect's Optimus Prime!

Tarnishing the current living Zhenren!

Facing such a misunderstanding, Qi Wu Meng naturally had to explain, fearing that Zhang Fan might not believe him.

After all, it indeed doesn't seem like something the Pure Yang Zhenren would have done.

"I believe it, I believe it!"

Zhang Fan nodded heavily, his eyes filled with determination.

"You just... believed it?" Qi Wu Meng was stunned for a moment.

"Yes."

Zhang Fan softly hummed, of course, he believed it. In the Three Corpses Primordial Pill, he had even seen Chu Chaoran when he was a child, who was sly and ruthless, caught alive by the Three Corpses Daoist and used as a hostage, pretending to be a little mute, a little weakling, a little pushover all the way, until the Three Corpses Daoist initiated a tribulation, he suddenly attacked, punched King Yan, intimidated the Three Corpses, a living ancestor indeed.

Moreover, Zhang Fan had vaguely heard that when Chu Chaoran was young, his reputation in the Daoist Sect was not good, even worse than now!

"Let's go!"

Qi Wu Meng called out as they passed through the Seeking Immortal Valley and officially entered the borders of Zhongnan Mountain, where human traces became sparse.

If Seeking Immortal Valley is the 'esophagus' of the place, then passing through it would be the tangled 'intestines', with numerous paths leading to different peaks, hence, the true Zhongnan Mountain, with its terrain quite complex and hidden.

This is also why many people like to come here for hermitage.

After walking for half a day, apart from experiencing Zhongnan Mountain's serene and strange majesticness, Zhang Fan found nothing.

"The Living Dead Tomb is not so easy to find, even the Wang Family can't just enter and exit easily," Qi Wu Meng noticed Zhang Fan's concern.

The Living Dead Tomb, the mystical cultivation land of Chongyang Zhenren, even the descendants of the Wang Family may not be able to enter without the right fate, let alone outsiders like them!?

"Ahead is the Taiyi Temple, let's take a break there," Qi Wu Meng suggested.

Zhongnan Mountain has established temples on many peaks, firstly to enshrine divine statues and offer incense, and secondly to attend to ordinary people entering the valleys, preventing them from getting lost.

Moments later, a small temple appeared ahead, not very large. Inside the temple gate, there was a divine statue enshrined, with immortal features, robe adorned with stars, surrounded by continuous incense.

"Taiyi True Man!?" Zhang Fan looked at the name on the divine seat.

Taiyi True Man, strangers to few, especially made famous by 'The Investiture of the Gods', known as the mentor of the sensational Three Altars Sea Assembly Great God, Nezha, one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Exposition, even among the Twelve Golden Immortals, his power was top tier.

In fact, this deity was not entirely made up; ancient Tang Dynasty records mentioned Taiyi True Man, stating:

Taiyi True Man, Elder Uncle Immortal, controlling the Life Determination Pill Record, overseeing birth and death in Die North Feng; meaning, here stands a deity in charge of mortal life's blessings and misfortunes.

However, generally believed, Taiyi True Man is based on the ancient Taiyi God, or possibly the Taiyi Celestial Venerable of Salvation.

Because of this, His status among Daoist deities is extremely high.

Zhongnan Mountain's main peak is Taiyi Peak.

"Greetings, Master Uncle Ancestor..."

Just at the temple gate, Qi Wu Meng called softly, while Zhang Fan was startled, such a seniority rank?

Before he could think more, an old man in a gray Daoist robe leisurely appeared from behind, with graying hair, wearing thick reading glasses, a thermos cup in his right hand, and a newspaper in his left.

"Little Qiuwu, what brings you to my place today?"

"Greetings, Master Uncle Ancestor," Qi Wu Meng bowed in a salute.

Zhang Fan showed an unusual expression and followed suit in the ceremony.

Qi Wu Meng's Master Uncle Ancestor, how distinguished could his rank be? Even the current Zhongnan Mountain Sect Leader might have to call him Master Uncle. With such a high seniority, how powerful must his strength be?

Zhongnan Mountain is indeed worthy, with elders still around and deep foundations.

"Who is this little lad? Not one of our Zhongnan Mountain's disciples, is he?"

At this moment, the gray-robed elder looked sideways at Zhang Fan.

"Junior, I am..."

Just as Zhang Fan started to speak, the gray-robed elder squinted his eyes, laughingly said, "You're surely thinking, how high might this old one's rank be, how profound could his cultivation be."

"Uh..."

Zhang Fan's thoughts were seen through by the old elder, rendering him momentarily speechless, not knowing how to respond, while silently pondering, experts indeed, possessing Divine Intent and Order, even capturing his thoughts.

"You must also be thinking, this old one is so formidable, seeing through what I'm thinking, how profound must his cultivation be."

At this point, the gray-robed elder laughed even more brightly: "I'm not high in cultivation, but I understand human nature."

"Actually, I don't even hold a High Skill rank."