Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Zhu Lake Grand Hotel.

Room 3601. It was a suite. When the curtains in the living room were drawn, the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows offered a distant view of Zhu Lake’s scenery. Where the water met the sky, faint flocks of birds flew past, and a few long sails drifted with the wind.

"In the blink of an eye, it’s been over forty years."

Lou Hechuan stood in front of the window, his expression distant. He gazed at the shimmering waves, the light in his eyes scattered, lost in thoughts unknown.

Click—

At this moment, the door opened. A middle-aged man in a suit walked in, followed by the young man who had just helped him pack salted duck eggs in the restaurant, and another man dressed in black. The man was tall and thin, wore dark sunglasses, and exuded a cold, knife-sharp aura.

"Vice Observatory Master Yuan!"

As Lou Hechuan saw this, he quickly stepped forward and saluted. Standing before him was none other than the Vice Observatory Master of White Crane Temple, Yuan Tiandu.

A real Celestial Master-level expert.

"Old Lou, you’ve been in the Daoist Alliance for many years—no need for formalities."

Yuan Tiandu lifted his hand in a gesture, motioned to the sofa at the side, and sat down.

Though he was the Vice Observatory Master of White Crane Temple and a proper Celestial Master, Lou Hechuan was even older in age and seniority. More importantly, this current leader of the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance had once followed Jiang Wansui.

Thus, Yuan Tiandu was actually very respectful.

Seeing this, Lou Hechuan sat across from Yuan Tiandu.

"These two are my assistants—Wang Qi, and Xing Ying," Yuan Tiandu casually introduced.

"I’ve already met Elder Lou just now," Wang Qi said, his face always carrying a warm smile.

Xing Ying wore sunglasses but remained silent, his aura cold to the extreme.

"The younger generation is truly formidable," Lou Hechuan nodded.

He could tell at once that Wang Qi, though young, was already at the Mahayana Realm with considerable cultivation—at least the Fifth Layer or above.

As for Xing Ying beside him, he was even more extraordinary. There was something uniquely strange about him—he didn’t seem human, more like...

"Elder Lou, you have keen eyes!"

Yuan Tiandu seemed to have seen through Lou Hechuan’s thoughts and said mildly, "Xing Ying is a great demon cultivated by our White Crane Temple. His cultivation isn’t weak—he once received guidance from Master He."

At these words, Lou Hechuan couldn’t help but glance at Xing Ying again.

This so-called Master He in Yuan Tiandu’s mouth was the white crane of White Crane Temple—a being who had lived for over three hundred years. Aside from the prime great demon King Yan, it was among the very peak experts of the Demon Race, on equal footing with the old turtle at Zhenwu Mountain and Cang Yuan at Laojun Mountain.

Xing Ying’s true form was that of a black serpent. To be able to receive Master He’s guidance was a testament to his exceptional talent.

Back in the day, Wuwei Sect dominated all incense offerings under heaven, commanding all the world’s demonic ghosts and forging a terrifying force of arms that dealt grievous blows to the Daoist Sects.

Ever since then, the various major Daoist Sects across the land also began to raise demonic ghosts. Especially at Qingcheng Mountain, where demons congregated at what was known as the Land of Demons—Old Yu had once escaped from there.

Lou Hechuan had long heard that since Jiang Wansui took power, many demons had indeed been cultivated.

Without a doubt, this Xing Ying before him was one among the best.

"Qin Ancient Town was the gathering place of the South Zhang heretics back then. I heard Elder Lou once lived here for a time?"

Just then, Xing Ying spoke. Wearing his sunglasses, his eyes could not be seen, but his words carried a chill.

At these words, Lou Hechuan’s gaze lifted slightly, but he did not speak.

"I’ve heard the South Zhang branch once enshrined a great demon of my clan as well—a python that gained cultivation. Elder Lou, have you ever met it?" Xing Ying asked, his tone laced with a trace of arrogance.

"Black Monarch!?"

Lou Hechuan’s brows arched, a look of reminiscence rising in his eyes as a massive figure surfaced in his mind.

Black Monarch—a great demon raised by South Zhang, with unfathomable cultivation. Later, as the South Zhang branch perished, it too died in that great tribulation.

"I have seen it," Lou Hechuan answered in a deep voice.

Yuan Tiandu took a sip of tea but lifted his eyes to cast a gentle glance.

"How does that demon compare to me?" Xing Ying asked offhandedly, his words proud and uncompromising.

"Compared to you?" Lou Hechuan was taken aback, clearly surprised by such a question. After a moment, he shook his head. "No comparison. It’s already dead..."

"Indeed. What a pity it’s dead—otherwise, I’d truly want to test myself against it," Xing Ying said coldly.

"Enough, let’s stop with the idle talk."

At this, Yuan Tiandu raised his hand and interrupted the two, looking at Lou Hechuan with a slight smile. "Old Lou, don’t mind them—these young ones don’t know the rules. I’ve spoiled them."

"Vice Observatory Master, there’s nothing to mind," Lou Hechuan replied with a smile.

"Old Lou, I heard something went wrong last night over at Nanchang Street?" Yuan Tiandu suddenly changed the subject.

"I rushed over as soon as I got the news late last night," Lou Hechuan nodded.

He was the president of the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance Headquarters, and Qin Ancient Town naturally fell under his jurisdiction.

"Someone from Beizhang died—a Sect Leader Realm expert, died on Nanchang Street."

As he spoke, Lou Hechuan placed a file he had brought with him on the table.

Wang Qi walked over, picked up the file, handed it to Yuan Tiandu, and opened it. The dossier of Zhang Evil was inside.

"Beizhang’s people have guarded that place all these years, and in the end, they were the ones to witness it," Yuan Tiandu said blandly.

"Vice Observatory Master means Zhang Evil died at the hands of..." Lou Hechuan trailed off.

"Aside from the remnants of South Zhang, who else would show up at that place? And just happen to kill Beizhang’s undercover agent?" Yuan Tiandu said in a steely voice.

"There are never any true coincidences in this world."