Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Chapter 656: Chapter 317: Chen Dragon and Zhang Lingzong_2

"At that time, you seemed to be just a young man."

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhang Fan raised an eyebrow, looking at Chen Dragon, and couldn’t help but show a strange expression.

He knew that cultivating the [Five Elements Mistaken King] could lead to a Body Transformation Tribulation, with changes such as big becoming small, small becoming big, male becoming female, and female becoming male, all uncontrollable.

"Junior Zhang Nanfeng, pays respects to Master Xiang." The beauty with the vermillion mark introduced herself.

"Zhang Nanfeng!?"

Zhang Fan’s face twitched suddenly, and Chen Dragon was actually also surnamed Zhang!?

"Zhang Nanfeng..." The bald old man mumbled, looking at Chen Dragon with a complex expression, then at Zhang Fan.

"Did you make me reveal myself for the item left by Zhang the Second?"

"Correct." Zhang Nanfeng nodded.

"If Master Xiang can hand over the item, I don’t mind sparing this kid, letting him keep his life, and let him seek revenge on me another day." Zhang Nanfeng laughed lightly at Zhang Fan, looking relaxed and casual.

"Zhang the Second’s item was left for the Zhang Family." The bald old man said in a deep voice.

"Uncle Xiang..."

Zhang Nanfeng’s gaze sank, interrupting him.

"Don’t forget, I am also part of the Zhang Family. Since Second Grandfather’s item was left for the Zhang Family, it naturally includes me as well."

Upon hearing this, the bald old man fell into silence.

However, Zhang Fan’s heart was in turmoil.

How could he have thought that Chen Dragon was also part of the Zhang Family, and from the South Zhang branch, even calling Zhang Fan’s grandfather Second Grandfather?

The relationship was too close.

"Master Xiang, do you want to leave that item to this kid, or to his father?" Zhang Nanfeng’s voice grew three times colder.

He lifted his gaze slightly, looking at the bald old man with a profound meaning.

"Or do you want to use this item to test my capabilities?"

Upon these words, an enigmatic smile appeared on Zhang Nanfeng’s beautiful face.

"True Dragon Horn, one of the Nine Treasures, is not something anyone can wield. If you don’t believe it, Uncle Xiang can give it a try."

"Let’s see if I fall first, or if this kid dies first."

"True Dragon Horn!?"

Zhang Fan’s complexion changed slightly; he finally understood that the True Dragon Horn, which had once drifted into the Hundred Thousand Mountains, ended up in the hands of his grandfather Zhang Tian Sheng, and had been hidden by the bald old man for years under his care.

"No, you can’t." Zhang Fan exclaimed.

The True Dragon Horn is the nemesis of the Five Elements Mistaken King. If it fell into Zhang Nanfeng’s hands, then indeed, she would have no weaknesses, invincible in both heaven and earth.

"Adults are talking, kids shouldn’t interrupt."

Zhang Nanfeng coldly admonished, and a terrifying pressure like a purgatory of water and fire engulfed Zhang Fan, trapping him in anxiety and cold despair, his body feeling like it was experiencing the dual extremes of ice and fire, rising endless pain and delight.

"The Zhang Family’s kid has grown up." The bald old man pondered undecidedly.

The Zhang Family truly is trouble wherever they go.

He indeed didn’t have the assurance to suppress the other party, not to mention this is the Hundred Thousand Mountains, with acquaintances’ descendants by his side; there’s the proverbial ’rat taboo’—if a fight breaks out, his full strength would probably only realize sixty to seventy percent.

Facing a master like Chen Dragon, with a Divine Split, a single thought could mean life or death.

"Daddy’s daddy is a demon, daddy’s mommy is a demon..."

At this moment, a pleasant ringtone resonated, breaking the tense atmosphere.

"There’s signal in such a place? What kind of phone is that?"

In the distance, Fang Changle stared at Zhang Fan, murmuring to himself.

Zhang Fan was taken aback, instinctively taking out his phone, looking down at the caller ID, surprisingly it was Zhang Lingzong.

"Dad!?"

Upon these words, Zhang Nanfeng’s gaze trembled momentarily, looking towards him.

Zhang Fan hesitated slightly, dialing the call.

"Hello..."

On the other end of the phone came the long-missed voice of Zhang Lingzong; Zhang Fan couldn’t hold it, biting his lip, he murmured lightly.

"Have you transcended the tribulation?" Zhang Lingzong paused for a moment before asking directly and simply.

"Yes, I have transcended the tribulation." Zhang Fan nodded in response, equally as simple.

It was as if they were discussing something as trivial as "Have you eaten tonight?"

Their conversation seemed to be a reflection and epitome of the universal relationship between fathers and sons everywhere.

Though there were a thousand words in their hearts, only a few words came out.

"Hmm!? Is he..."

At this time, on the other end of the phone, Zhang Fan’s Lingzong seemed to ask something, Zhang Fan paused, then nodded, giving an affirmative response.

The next moment, Zhang Fan’s expression grew even stranger, pulling the phone away, dumbfounded, then walked towards Zhang Nanfeng.

"My dad wants you to answer the phone."

At these words, everyone was stunned.

"What is going on?"

"What’s this... what’s happening here?"

"How come they’re answering the phone?"

People looked at each other, eyes filled with unexplainable doubt and suspicion.

Zhang Nanfeng hesitated slightly, then took the phone, his expression calm as he held it to his ear.

"Fifth Brother, it’s been years."

Zhang Nanfeng’s soft words carried decades of grievances between the two.

"Though I’ve achieved Great Success in Alchemy Technique, you’ve also transcended the Great Night for the fifth time—thinking of it, I really wish to find out your strength..."

"Of course, the prerequisite is you can come out of Ailao Mountain alive; otherwise, it’s just a fool’s dream."

"Rest assured, I will certainly live well, so that when you come out, your family can reunite."

Their conversation was barely audible, and towards the end, completely inaudible.

"Master Xiang..."

At this time, Zhang Nanfeng turned around, tossed the phone directly to the bald old man, he was slightly puzzled, raising the phone.

Instantly, the bald old man’s expression changed slightly, then he nodded, hung up the phone.

"You can take the item."

"How could..." Zhang Fan exclaimed.

"No need to say more."

The bald old man raised his hand, suppressing Zhang Fan’s words. He turned around, retrieved an item from the ox cart, wrapped in an unusual hide, the pattern resembling scales, with an old Talisman attached at the outermost layer.

"Take it and leave." The bald old man said solemnly.

"Naturally."

Zhang Nanfeng’s eyes revealed desire; standing at such a height, obviously, Zhang Fan wasn’t considered an opponent.

Whoosh...

The bald old man raised his hand, tossing the item over.

Zhang Nanfeng caught it, in that instant, a sense of enlightenment surged within, knowing immediately this was the long-sought item.

"Master Xiang, I shall take my leave."

Having spoken, Zhang Nanfeng turned, about to leave, taking just two steps, she glanced over at Zhang Fan.

"Kid, do you think cultivating the Three Corpses Illuminating Fate is some great fortune? Having reached this stage, your tribulation is greater than the heavens."

Mockery laced Zhang Nanfeng’s eyes, and with her words, she took a step and vanished into the vast black night.

"Chen Dragon!" Zhang Fan gazed towards her departing direction, his eyes cold, glinting with icy light.

He understood that even though he transcended the Great Night, there was still a long road ahead.

"Follow me." The bald old man looked at Zhang Fan and softly said.

"Wait a moment."

Zhang Fan paused, surveying the surroundings, ensuring there was no residual trace of Li Changgeng’s Primordial Spirit. Raising his hand, True Flame like a dragon, directly engulfing Li Changgeng’s body in flames.

This time, he aimed to uproot entirely, to see how he could regrow or find a way to survive.

"That’s ruthless." Fang Changle praised.

"Let’s go."

The group leaped onto the ox cart, the sound of bells ringing, slowly fading into the vast night.

...

The bright moon set in the west, the long night seemed to reach its end.

In the quiet Empty Valley, a strand of flickering light shone like the candles in an ancient Daoist temple.

"Living in the world, all shall perish, but life and death have their fate; breaking this fate is the way to see Longevity, Pure Yang Wuji."

At that moment, an ethereal chant echoed in the night, like whispers from a dream.

"To break this fate, one must exist between life and death."

"Hehehe..."

The ethereal, lingering whispers birthed a sly laugh, brimming with madness and excitement.

"As the great fortune nears its end, the great tribulation begins, reversing the great tribulation gives birth to great fortune."

"You’re close... you’re getting so close..."

"After the cycle of heaven and earth, you’ll finally see that malevolent tribulation."

The eerie whispers gently faded away, scattering in the night about to reach its end, with that singular glimmer suddenly brightening, flying towards the north.