I Can Fix My Talent in Hundred Lives-Chapter 366 - 296: Zhang Clan

Time flows like sand through the fingers. Ever since the miracle at Renwang Temple in the Yan Region, Chen Sheng’s figure has drifted like a carefree cloud, slowly advancing along the traces of his cultivation across several lifetimes.

He meanders along the paths of memory, witnessing the changes in the mountains and rivers, and savoring the mundane world.

The first stop is the Thousand Machines Market, where nearly all the memories of his second life reside.

The main street of cobblestones stretches for ten miles, lined with shops on both sides, with signs like "Thousand Machines Pavilion" and "Danxiang Tower" attracting bustling crowds, the sound of haggling rising and falling.

Chen Sheng, dressed in blue, mingles with the crowd, his Divine Sense flowing softly like water over the entirety of the Market, instantly grasping its intricacies.

He smiles gently:

"This place has become a market of the Tang Clan!"

This area, along with Cloud Dragon Market nearby, has practically become the territory of the Thousand Machines Tang Clan.

"With the badge of an old Nascent Soul connection, the Tang Clan has not only fully integrated into Qinghua, but now even has a Master Fake Pill."

Chen Sheng’s Divine Sense sweeps over a shop labeled "Tang Clan Pill Shop" at the corner of the street.

Inside, a Tang Clan Elder at the Foundation Establishment Realm is explaining the Alchemy Dao to disciples, with the Qinghua Pill Hall Token hanging prominently on his chest.

Leaving the Thousand Machines Market, traveling tens of thousands of miles west brings him to Linglong Immortal City, the place of his demise in his second life.

...

Afterward, he passes through the mundane world of Da Jing and White Dragon River, the starting point of his third life.

"If it weren’t for Old Bai back then, my third life might have ended quietly."

Moved, Chen Sheng leaves a legacy in the Bai Clan’s territory, hoping that one day, a fated person from the Bai Clan might use it to embark on the immortal path again.

Following this are old places like Fenghua Immortal City and Qinghua Sect.

Outside the mountain gate of Qinghua Sect, Chen Sheng suddenly senses something familiar:

"This aura is somewhat familiar!"

His Divine Sense penetrates the layers of the Mountain Protection Array, reaching straight into the Sect’s Treasure Vault.

In the depths of the Treasure Vault, a palm-sized crimson scale quietly lies in a Jade Box, its clear patterns emitting a faint dragon’s might—it is the scale of the Red Flood Dragon Emperor.

"I didn’t expect Yuquan to have a connection with Qinghua!"

Reflecting on it carefully, it makes sense. Chen Yuquan didn’t mind his Human Race identity, which wasn’t much of a secret among the higher-ups of the Demon Court.

His Divine Sense scans through Qinghua’s core Jade Scrolls and quickly learns more information.

The connection between the two was established early on. Before Chen Yuquan became a Demon Emperor, he had entrusted a Demon Emperor of the Myriad Beasts Royal Court to pay attention to Qinghua.

Due to Chen Yuquan’s influence, the Myriad Beasts Royal Court had restrained the surrounding Demon Kings near Chu Country, preventing any large-scale demon disasters for many years.

This stable situation is much better than during his past lifetimes of cultivation.

With the teachings from his past life, Qinghua Sect is now producing Golden Cores abundantly, and with Chen Yuquan’s covert care, more cultivators are crossing the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.

They thrive even more compared to before!

...

Leaving Qinghua Sect, Chen Sheng heads south and finally reaches the Thousand Peaks Mountain Range.

The undulating mountains resemble sleeping dragons, looming in and out of the clouds, and among them, the most unremarkable Peach Wood Peak is the starting point of his fourth life’s cultivation.

In that life, he was reborn as a member of the Zhang Clan, starting his fourth life’s cultivation on this peak.

Chen Sheng’s figure slowly emerges from the void, landing on the summit of Peach Wood Peak.

The soil under his feet carries a hint of desolation. The peach forests that once covered the mountain slopes have long since disappeared.

His Divine Sense sweeps over the entire mountain, discovering the underground Spirit Vein has dissipated completely. No signs of human life remain among the mountains, only a few mountain sparrows nesting on bare branches, their chirping accentuating the desolation.

"I wonder if the Zhang Clan still exists?"

Chen Sheng mutters softly, his gaze sweeping over the old site on the mountain slopes—where the Zhang Clan’s ancestral hall once stood, now only a half-collapsed mud wall remains.

His feelings toward the Zhang Clan are not deep. In his fourth life’s memory, it was mostly about "the whole clan supporting one person," "that stubborn old man Zhang Chengjiao," and "Zhang’s Peach Blossom Brew."

Though not deeply attached, Peach Wood Peak was ultimately the source of his fourth life. Moved, Chen Sheng’s figure blurs and heads towards Tingyu Market outside the Thousand Peaks Mountain Range.

Tingyu Market still lies beneath Celestial Capital Peak, though it’s much less prosperous than a millennium ago.

In those days, the bustling main street now has only half the shops still in business. The cobblestones on the road show more cracks, yet the willows by the street remain lush, their hanging branches brushing past the shoulders of passersby.

Chen Sheng walks slowly along the street, soon finding the location from his memories.

The shop where the Zhang Clan once sold Peach Blossom Brew has now become a red house named "Hundred Charms Pavilion," its vermilion door open, the sound of silk and bamboo music drifting out.

Chen Sheng does not enter the red house; instead, he beckons at the street corner.

A middle-aged man in a gray long robe, carrying a bag, quickly walks over, his face full of a flattering smile:

"Young master, are you looking for information? I’ve been mingling in Tingyu Market for thirty years, from the secrets of the Master to street gossip, there’s nothing I don’t know!"

This is the market’s well-informed broker, making a living by selling information, well-versed in obscure matters.

A tinge of pale golden Seven Emotions Divine Light flashes in Chen Sheng’s eyes as he lightly sweeps over Li Yaren.

The Divine Light enters, and Li Yaren’s eyes instantly turn vacant, his mouth involuntarily speaking: "What would the young master like to ask? Feel free to ask."

Chen Sheng asks indifferently: "I want to know about Zhang’s Peach Blossom Brew, the Zhang Clan."

"The Zhang Clan, ah!"

"That’s remarkable! Many years ago, they were the most prominent family in Tingyu Market!"

Chen Sheng is slightly stunned, having thought the Zhang Clan would fade quietly into obscurity, and assumed the broker was unlikely to know of them, not expecting such a glorious history.

Li Yaren continues:

"It is said that several generations of the market’s masters all fancied Zhang’s Peach Blossom Brew. With this connection, the Zhang Clan established a foothold in the market.

"They even got involved with Master Fake Pill. Later on, an extraordinarily talented figure emerged from the Zhang Clan!"

"Named Zhang Yuanli, reportedly just a Middle Grade Spiritual Root, deemed capable of reaching only the Foundation Establishment Early-stage at best, yet he boldly ascended to Foundation Establishment Perfection, becoming a prominent general under Master Ruoxu!"

"Of the Yuan generation, Zhang Yuanli..."

Chen Sheng is moved. A memory flashes of a young child with a bun hairstyle.

Years ago, at Zhang’s wine shop, a young child named "Li’Er" served tea and water, calculatingly figuring it must be this person.

"With Zhang Yuanli as a major figure, the Zhang Clan flourished, eventually producing nine consecutive generations of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, hailed as the ’Nine Generations Great Clan!’"

"At their peak, Li Yuan Street in Tingyu Market—just ahead—half of the shops belonged to the Zhang’s. People in the market said they should rename Tingyu Market to ’Zhang Family Market!’"

"But alas..."

Li Yaren’s tone changes, filled with regret:

"Two hundred years ago, the Zhang Clan’s Foundation Establishment Cultivator that generation unexpectedly perished during an expedition."

"Afterward, the Zhang Clan had no successors, gradually collapsing, with shops closing, lands sold off, and finally deteriorating completely."

"Now, a few Zhang descendants remain in the market, reduced to ordinary merchants, no longer enjoying past glory."

Chen Sheng listens quietly, nodding slightly, understanding the circumstances.

When he left Tingyu Market back then, he had entrusted it to Wu Ruoxu—later known as Master Ruoxu—and specifically mentioned Zhang’s Peach Blossom Brew’s richness, asking for his care.

Presumably, Wu Ruoxu remembered these words, supporting the Zhang Clan, which led to their rise and eventual flourishing as a prominent family.

"Fate truly is wondrous."

Chen Sheng reflects with emotion; his casual endorsement had indirectly established a clan’s millennium of glory.

Following the broker’s indications, his Divine Sense sweeps over, discovering indeed several Zhang-named Qi Cultivation merchants in a tavern.

"There’s Peach Blossom Brew here too!"

Chen Sheng orders a bowl, finding the flavor slightly altered from before, but not much.

However, he wasn’t particularly fond of drinking, thus could not articulate its subtleties, as his initial endorsement was merely to ensure the Zhang Clan received hidden protection.

...

At dusk.

In the tavern’s backyard, a black-faced youth is sitting cross-legged cultivating, when suddenly, a golden light enters his forehead.

Upon the youth’s awakening, he finds a profound inheritance, "Seven Volumes of Spirit Wine," emerging in his sea of consciousness.

The youth, filled with joy, hastily kneels and bows, murmuring words of gratitude.

Chen Sheng smiles gently: "He does have a bit of wit!"