69novels Chapter 549 - 271: Jiang Lai’s Dream! Zhang Fan’s Speculation (2)
Chapter 549 - 271: Jiang Lai’s Dream! Zhang Fan’s Speculation (2)
"Before the Divine Gate, thirty-six rounds, the blade mountain and sea of fire spare no life. Today the Northern Emperor opens the path of Dharma, one banner to safeguard the ages."
Zhang Fan chanted, and as the took root in the ground, it seemed to imprint itself into Qin Ergou’s Primordial Spirit Inner Scenery, withstanding eternity, unyielding as the sun and moon.
"Passing the torch, life continues unceasingly. Today, I will pass this technique to you," Zhang Fan murmured softly.
This was the bond he formed, and as for the outcome, only heaven and earth would know, as if gods observed from three feet above him.
Rumble...
His mind roared like thunder, as the view before him gradually clarified. He was still inside the thatched hut, but it was empty save for Qin Ergou.
"Brother Fan..."
Qin Ergou collected himself and suddenly dashed out of the house, calling loudly.
"Brother Fan... Brother Fan..."
"Brother Qi..."
His voice echoed at the foot of Toad Treasure Mountain, endlessly into the vast sky, deep mountains, seemingly alone, and what had just transpired seemed like a dream, leaving him unsure of what was real or not.
"Zhang Fan..."
"Northern Emperor’s Great Banner!"
Qin Ergou sat dazedly on the ground, his mind conjuring the dharma aspect of the . He breathed heavily and instinctively practiced the technique, not knowing how much time passed...
The sun set in the west, the moon rose in the east, and stars filled the sky.
Suddenly, Qin Ergou felt his forehead pulsate, and countless sounds surged around him.
The insects below the earth crawled, the grass and trees grew, mountain streams flowed, and even the wind seemed to carry emotion...
"Daoist secrets, Primordial Spirit Awakening!"
"So this is the world’s true visage..."
Qin Ergou felt disoriented; at this moment, the world before him changed, stars no longer like stars, heavens and earth unlike how he knew them, and mountains were no longer mountains...
Truth and falsehood intertwined, who grasps the mystery, and who attains the Dao?
He became increasingly entranced, feeling for the first time life within him as he awakened to the Primordial Spirit, and all spiritual openings emerged.
"Boy... boy..."
Then, urgent shouts came from behind him.
Qin Ergou snapped back to reality, turning to see a group approaching from outside the mountain, led by a handsome Daoist, beside him an extraordinary beautiful woman.
Two more men followed behind, also wearing Daoist Robes.
"Taoist Ma De?"
Qin Ergou’s eyes lit up, recognizing one of them.
He had applied to Zhongnan Mountain several times, with five times led by this Taoist Ma De.
"Hmm? Ma De, you know him?" Gu Chuan’Yin asked, turning.
"How would I know such a country boy?" Ma De shook his head.
"He seems to know you, could he be a relative?"
Beside them, someone chuckled lightly. During their last brief visit with Gu Chuan’Yin, they glimpsed the grass hut, not expecting anyone lived in such a remote place.
"Ask him if he knows the mountain conditions," Meng Qiwu whispered.
Her main purpose this time was searching for the exotic treasure of Laojun Mountain’s heir, merely helping Gu Chuan’Yin find it.
"Boy, do we know each other?" Ma De approached and asked.
"Taoist Ma De, we met during Zhongnan Mountain entrance exams... two months ago, I took the exam again, but didn’t pass..." Qin Ergou replied with a sincere smile.
"You applied to Zhongnan Mountain?" Ma De surveyed him.
To him, this rural fellow left no impression, nor could he fathom such a person becoming a Daoist, joining their Zhongnan Mountain.
"Taoist Ma De, you don’t recognize me?"
"Somewhat familiar," Ma De answered indifferently. "You’ve lived here all along?"
"Yes, our family has lived here for generations," Qin Ergou nodded.
"So you know the mountain well?" Ma De squinted slightly.
"Yes, I know all the trails." Qin Ergou nodded; he made his living as a mountain guide, aiding many travelers.
"Good, we have some business in the mountain, you’ll guide us," Ma De said lightly.
"If you perform well, I might introduce you to the sect."
"Really?" Qin Ergou’s eyes shone. It was his grandfather’s dying wish, hence his persistence after many failed attempts.
"Certainly," Ma De smiled.
"Taoist, wait a moment while I get some poles."
Qin Ergou beamed, quickly entering the house.
"Why deceive him?" Meng Qiwu remarked, watching the naively hopeful Qin Ergou.
"Just jesting; our Zhongnan Mountain requires examinations for entry, at most I waive his fee," Ma De chuckled.
Such talent couldn’t enter Zhongnan Mountain, but he offered a glimmer of hope.
People thrive even on the faintest hope.
Such is the plight of mortals.
"Stay alert from now on, the Qi brothers might still be in the mountain," Gu Chuan’Yin instructed coldly.
"Gu Chuan’Yin, fear has consumed you, embarrassing Zhongnan Mountain," Meng Qiwu criticized calmly.
"Mere words are easy," Gu Chuan’Yin retorted, frowning.
"I’ll show that Laojun Mountain’s heir isn’t just a myth," Meng Qiwu didn’t argue, her gaze calm as she looked into the deep mountains.
Meanwhile, inside the hut, Qin Ergou gathered poles, while eavesdropping on the conversation outside, his hand stopped, and his gaze turned cold.
...
Deep within Toad Treasure Mountain.
The moonlight guided travelers like Zhang Fan, Qi Delong, and Qi Dongqiang, who, at their cultivation level, could see in the dark without needing flashlights.
"Northern Emperor Technique? You taught him the Northern Emperor Technique?" Qi Delong’s astonished voice pierced the night.
"Why so startled?" Zhang Fan glanced back.
"Eighty years ago, the Daoist Sect catastrophe buried numerous dharma lineages on Dragon Tiger Mountain," Qi Delong said gravely.
The great catastrophe, catastrophic to the Daoist Sect, annihilated many lineages and Dharma aspects, including the infamous first killer Beidi’s Dharma Lineage.
"That lineage perished eighty years ago; how could you know it?" Qi Dongqiang couldn’t help but inquire.
As descendants of Laojun Mountain, they’d heard tales of the tragedy from elders.
The Universal Sacrifice summoned gods, but only the young Chu Chaoran descended the mountain.
"A friend taught me," Zhang Fan replied gravely.
He learned the Northern Emperor Technique from Jiang Hu during his Night is not bright phase.
Jiang Hu recounted his expulsion from Maoshan, meeting an eccentric who taught him the Northern Emperor Technique.
Unfortunately, lacking fate, he couldn’t master it, until meeting Zhang Fan and passing it onto him.
"It’s not that simple," Qi Delong insisted.
"You’re right," Zhang Fan admitted.
Back when he practiced the Northern Emperor Technique, he felt nothing astray, but now retroactively it seemed dubious.
The eccentric Jiang Hu met was suspiciously enigmatic.
"If any survived, why hide?" Qi Delong pondered aloud.
"But throughout history, who else could master and spread this technique so freely?" Zhang Fan’s eyes narrowed, lost in thought.
This evasive manner reminded him of an "old acquaintance" with a similar approach.
"Thousand-Year-Old Demon!"