Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Yunshen Hall.

In the Vast Sea Hall, the fragrance of tea wafted through the air, intermingled with a thread of incense smoke. At the head of the hall hung a portrait of a Daoist; the Daoist stood upon Zhongnan Mountain, the sun suspended above his head, an ancient sword carried on his back—none other than the illustrious Chongyang Zhenren.

"Chairman Wu, the reason I invited you here today is to inquire about someone."

Sitting at the seat of honor, a middle-aged man spoke. He dressed in plain robes, exuding an ancient austerity. His hands were fair and delicate, a faint flush coloring his face—the mark of one whose cultivation of inner alchemy had reached its zenith.

"Whom does Daoist Brother wish to inquire about?" Wu Qingnang looked toward Wang Qian'an, his expression betraying nothing.

Originally, he had come to Chang'an to participate in the 23rd Daoist Youth Forum on Debate and Cultivation. The event had concluded two days prior, but because of the incident involving Wang Qingyi, he had remained and been delayed three days.

Now that Wang Qingyi's condition had stabilized, the Wang Family had at last come knocking.

The man before him, named Wang Qian'an, was a master of the Qian generation, his cultivation already at the Sect Leader realm—an influential figure among the Wang Family elders.

"I've watched Qingyi grow up since he was a child. Among our Wang Family's younger generation, he counts among the most outstanding. The Life and Death Ming Chapter left by our Ancestral Master—he'd already cultivated it to a fair degree..."

As he spoke, a chill emerged on Wang Qian'an's face.

"Now, he has been crippled. There must be an explanation for this matter."

"I'm not sure I follow your meaning, Daoist Brother," Wu Qingnang replied, his voice tense.

"Qingshan just spoke as well..." Wang Qian'an gestured to Wang Qingshan, who stood nearby.

In a gathering such as this, naturally there was no seat for him.

"The sequence of events is known to all. Inviting both Chairman Wu and Taoist Friend Lin here today is to clarify the matter."

Having spoken, Wang Qian'an looked to Wu Qingnang, then to the Daoist seated at his left.

This Daoist was of an age with Wang Qian'an, and his presence was in no way inferior.

He was the Withered Pine Daoist, Lin Kusong—a master from Zhongnan Mountain, likewise at the Sect Leader realm, and the one presiding over this forum.

"The Purple Electric Toad is an innate treasure. That young man, Qin Ergou, is a disciple of Zhongnan Mountain. That he gained such fortune is a matter of fate—I have no intention to press further..."

Wang Qian'an's tone sank. "But as for that Zhang Fan..."

At this, Wang Qian'an paused, then turned his gaze to Wu Qingnang. "I've never heard of this youth, yet his methods are not like those of our Daoist Sect..."

He had crippled Wang Qinghe's cultivation, gravely injured Wang Qingshan, and if not for Zhang Fan's intervention, Wang Qingyi would not have rushed to Nanwang Mountain, thus suffering this calamity out of the blue.

Each and every incident—one would be hard pressed not to notice him.

"Chairman Wu, I hear this youth is from your Jiangnan Province?" Wang Qian'an asked.

Wu Qingnang remained silent; the Wang Family's inquiry appeared as a question, yet was in truth a reckoning.

Wang Qinghe, crippled; Wang Qingshan, gravely injured; Wang Qingyi, nearly losing his life—in all this, Zhang Fan played a part.

Most crucially, during the attack on Wang Qingyi's Life and Death True Seed, the mysterious master's intervention happened while Zhang Fan was present, making it hard to disregard any connection.

What are the chances of such coincidence?

"Zhang Fan is indeed from Jiangnan Province, but he is not under the Daoist Alliance's jurisdiction. Rather, he is a disciple of Zhenwu Mountain," Wu Qingnang replied.

"A disciple of Zhenwu Mountain..." Wang Qian'an's gaze darkened slightly.

He'd already heard as much from Wang Qingshan, and even some word of ambiguous ties between Zhang Fan and Yu Xuanji, the successor of Sanqing Mountain.

It was precisely these complex entanglements that made Wang Qian'an refrain from acting rashly; instead, he'd sought out Wu Qingnang and Lin Kusong to probe Zhang Fan's background.

Otherwise, were it any other, they'd long since be a prisoner of the Wang Family.

"Our Wang Family has also made inquiries with Zhenwu Mountain before. Two years ago, on Emperor Zhenwu's birthday, I myself visited Zhenwu Mountain and paid respects to Pure Yang Zhenren. Among this generation's outstanding disciples, I met them all..."

"There seemed to be no such person."

At these words, suspicion flared in Wang Qian'an's eyes. Such a youth, to have no reputation prior—truly strange.

"That much I am not entirely clear about. But that Zhang Fan is indeed in Zhenwu Mountain's register is unquestionably true," Wu Qingnang paused for a moment, then continued.

"Here, I can reveal a message."

"What is it?"

"Last year, in Yujing City, there was a major case—I believe both of you may have heard of it. The Shen Family colluded with Wuwei Sect to create a demon talisman, but their deeds came to light..." Wu Qingnang said gravely.

"The Shen Family... If I recall, their ancestors once sought instruction at Dragon Tiger Mountain," Lin Kusong said, his voice low.

The Shen Family had dealt in the talisman business for generations; even Maoshan ordered talisman paper and talisman ink for magical artifacts from them annually.

Lin Kusong, naturally, had heard of them.

"Obtaining a method for refining the demon talisman, they grew reckless and arrogant," Wang Qian'an sneered coldly.

Originating from the Pure Yang Family, he had little regard for such minor clans.

"At the time, Zhang Fan and two disciples from Maoshan were also implicated and brought in for questioning. That very night, Zhenwu Mountain called on their behalf to guarantee them."

At this, Wu Qingnang paused, glancing at the other two. "Do you know who from Zhenwu Mountain vouched for him?"

"Who?" Wang Qian'an asked impatiently.

"Celestial Master Liu!" Wu Qingnang's lips curled slightly as he uttered the name.

"Liu Nanxu!?"

Wang Qian'an's brow twitched, his gaze sharpening. That Celestial Master Liu personally vouched for this young man spoke volumes.

At the very least, it proved that this youth was not merely a disciple of Zhenwu Mountain, but held an exceptional status. Otherwise, an ordinary disciple could scarcely hope to meet Celestial Master Liu, let alone have him speak on their behalf.