Chapter 604: Chapter 295: Hundred Thousand Mountains! Heroes Overflowing Like Fish in the River (Part 2)

"We’ll go with you."

Qi Delong hesitated for a moment, but finally made his stance clear.

"Brother..."

"You’d better think this through—going with me means becoming enemies with White Crane Temple. You are the inheritor of Laojun Mountain; your identity is too unique." Zhang Fan shook his head and did not hastily accept Qi Delong’s allegiance.

"The Ten Great Daoist Mountains of this world all maintain independent traditions and wills, never affiliated with any single sect..." Qi Delong replied calmly.

"Our Laojun Mountain is not White Crane Temple’s subordinate either. We have enough say in the Daoist Alliance Headquarters."

"Besides, this is my personal decision. Even if something goes wrong, it has nothing to do with Laojun Mountain."

"Alright."

Zhang Fan nodded. At this moment, he didn’t bother to act pretentious: "You should go back to Laojun Mountain first, notify the elders in the sect, so you won’t be caught off guard later."

Zhang Fan knew very well that this trip would definitely be a matter of life and death, earth-shattering; who knows what kind of catastrophe would erupt.

"I do need to return to Laojun Mountain—to borrow a magical treasure." Qi Delong said grimly.

The journey to the Hundred Thousand Mountains was bound to be a dragon’s lair and tiger’s den. Besides Li Changgeng, there were people from the Northern Zhang Lineage. In addition, perhaps other experts from White Crane Temple would show up.

They were few and weak. Only by returning to the mountain and borrowing a magical treasure for protection could they be safe.

"Alright. You head back first and come find me after you’ve settled everything."

After discussing briefly with the Qi Brothers, Zhang Fan stood up to leave, and turned to seek out Fang Changle.

"This trip is way too dangerous for you."

After hearing Zhang Fan’s plan, Fang Changle’s expression grew heavy as well.

As an inheritor of Maoshan, he naturally knew what kind of place the Hundred Thousand Mountains was, and what Zhang Fan would face.

"You should know, once I decide something, I won’t change my mind."

"I’ll leave Yujing City to you." Zhang Fan said in a low voice, "Liu Brothers, and Shi Shougong, Su Shiyu—I’ll have to trouble you to watch over them."

"What are you saying that for?" Fang Changle raised his eyebrows, showing some displeasure.

"We owe our lives to each other. You’re heading into the dragon’s lair and tiger’s den, and I should just stand by?"

"Old Fang, you’re a Maoshan inheritor..."

"Enough, don’t say any more. If we’re weighing gains and losses, don’t talk about brotherhood. I know better than you the pros and cons here."

Fang Changle raised his hand, directly cutting off Zhang Fan’s words. He knew exactly what the latter wanted to say.

"White Crane Temple hasn’t unified the Daoist Sect yet, and Li Changgeng is not invincible in this world." Fang Changle said indifferently.

He had just broken through to the Mahayana Realm, full of vigor and pride. As a rising talent of the young generation, how could he not be in the fray?

"I’ll go with you."

"Alright." Zhang Fan hesitated slightly before nodding. "But you’ve just broken through; you should consolidate for a few more days. It’s best if you return to Maoshan and inform the elders as well."

"That works... Maybe I’ll need to borrow a magical treasure too." Fang Changle replied solemnly.

For a disciple of his level, borrowing a Cyan Feather Treasure was no problem, just like when Meng Qiwu had the Thunder Essence Pearl before.

"When do you plan to leave?" Fang Changle asked.

"Tomorrow."

"So soon?" Fang Changle said, a bit worried.

"Time waits for no one. Besides, I’m going ahead just to scout the situation." Zhang Fan said solemnly.

Lin Jianyue’s physical body was still in Guixi Province—he needed to help her Primordial Spirit return to the acupoint. Also, the Hundred Thousand Mountains were endless; finding Zhao Jie Xuan wouldn’t be easy.

"Then I’ll hurry back to Maoshan too."

That very day, Fang Changle left Yujing City and returned to his sect.

Qi Delong also took advantage of the night, boarding a plane to Luoyang.

The same night, Zhang Fan called Zhenwu Mountain and reported to Senior Brother Po Jie. Although he kept the Evil Gods situation vague, his meaning was clear—he now had a feud with White Crane Temple; Li Changgeng saw him as a top threat and wanted to eliminate him.

Zhang Fan, after all, bore the title of Zhenwu Mountain’s disciple. Both emotionally and logically, he had to explain himself. Otherwise, if all hell broke loose, not only would he be unlucky, but Zhenwu Mountain would also be in a passive position.

...

Late night, Zhenwu Mountain.

Qingwei Palace.

The blazing moonlight spread through the ancient Demon-locking Well; heavy chains were already covered in mottled rust.

In the distance, upon a bluestone, a lone figure sat cross-legged. His frame was thin, the wide Daoist Robe fluttering in the wind. Between his brows, his Primordial Spirit rose up—vast and immeasurable.

"Junior Sister, your talent is monstrous indeed. You’ve gone even further above the Mahayana Realm."

Po Jie looked at Xia Weisheng and couldn’t help but sigh.

Such talent was rare, even in all of Zhenwu Mountain.

"Senior Brother, did you just say that Zhang Fan is going to the Hundred Thousand Mountains to confront someone from White Crane Temple?" Xia Weisheng slowly opened her eyes and spoke softly.

"I also have no idea how he formed a grudge with Li Changgeng." Po Jie said gravely.

Li Changgeng wasn’t widely known among the public, but any prominent figure in the Daoist Sect knew his name.

Such a reclusive figure rarely left Shangjing; Po Jie racked his brains but couldn’t figure out how Zhang Fan had become his enemy.

Moreover, what kind of power would prompt someone like Li Changgeng to go to such lengths to eliminate it?

"Zhang Fan... he really is an anomaly. He’s improving too fast." Xia Weisheng replied solemnly.

"Too fast?"

"Senior Brother, how long has it been since you last saw him?" Xia Weisheng countered.

"A while, I guess." Po Jie answered, dazed.

When Zhang Fan first climbed the mountain, he was just an ordinary person who had only awakened his Primordial Spirit.

"Perhaps he’s already quite strong—maybe even stronger than you, Senior Brother." Xia Weisheng said lightly.

"He’s only been cultivating for how long? Just a year..." Po Jie raised his brows, his voice deepening.

"Extraordinary people can’t be judged by ordinary standards." Xia Weisheng shook her head and instinctively looked toward Pure Yang Hall in the distance.

"I always feel as if Master knew him from long ago."

"No matter what, he’s being reckless." Taoist Po Jie shook his head.

At last year’s Daoist annual meeting, the guiding principle for the next ten years was unity and stability.

Now, Zhang Fan and Li Changgeng had ended up at daggers drawn. What’s worse, he’d pulled in Qi Delong and Qi Dongqiang, as well as Fang Changle.

"The inheritor of Laojun Mountain?"

"The inheritor of Maoshan?"

Hearing this, Xia Weisheng was briefly taken aback. Then the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, her eyes glinting with an unusual light.

"Zhang Fan!"

"Li Changgeng!"

"Junior Sister, what are you laughing at?" Po Jie asked, stunned.

"Senior Brother..."

"There really are as many heroes as there are fish crossing the river in this world!"

As her words fell, Xia Weisheng slowly stood up. Her gaze was calm as she looked beyond Zhenwu Mountain, far into the cloud-strewn sky.

"Junior Sister, what are you planning?" Po Jie’s heart skipped a beat, unable to help but ask.

"To descend the mountain!"

...

The next day, at dusk.

Zhang Fan, after arranging everything in Yujing City, packed up simply and boarded a flight to Guixi Province.

This time, he traveled light—other than carrying Zhang Beijiang and Lin Jianyue’s Primordial Spirit, he brought nothing else. This was the first time he set out alone on such a long journey.

But now, Zhang Fan was no longer a greenhorn. With the cultivation of Great Master Fifth Realm, Daoist True Flame forged, Celestial Gifted Divine Techniques awakened, the Divine Demon Holy Embryo within, and with an Innate Treasure like the White Bone Relic upon him, he could roam the world with ease.

"Hope I can achieve Divine Fusion this time." Zhang Fan whispered in his heart.

This trip, he not only wanted to find Zhao Jie Xuan, but also to achieve Divine Fusion, to break free from the Great Night of Darkness, and recall all his past memories.

After all, there was too much, way too much, that he had forgotten.

"Sorry, would you mind moving aside? That’s my seat inside."

At this moment, a clear, melodious voice sounded beside him.

"Sure..."

Zhang Fan nodded instinctively. As he stood, seeing the graceful figure at his side, he was completely stunned.

Right now, the other party was smiling at him playfully, a teasing, cunning light in her eyes.

"Mr. Zhang, we meet again. What a coincidence—you’re on this flight too?"

"Li Miaoyin!?" Zhang Fan exclaimed in astonishment.