Starting Cultivation During a Trip-Chapter 89 - 84: Five Elements Mistaken King, True Face of the Evil Gods (5,000-Word - )
Yujing City, East Suburban Cemetery.
Zhang Fan was comprehending the cultivation method of the Taiyi Life-saving Skill, only awakening near noon.
At this moment, the look in Xiong Ba’s eyes towards him had already changed. The earlier vigilance had largely dissipated, replaced by a hint of respect.
It was truly because the Taiyi Life-saving Skill that Zhang Fan exhibited seemed much more genuine than his.
One must know, he had secretly been practicing for many years to achieve today’s results.
Obviously, Zhang Fan had invested far more effort and dedication into this Daoist skill than he did.
"I’m really useless," Xiong Ba lowered his head.
He lacked the talent for the family’s Yin Mountain Daoist Skill, and even the Taiyi Life-saving Skill, which he had acquired by chance, was not as well cultivated as others.
"Don’t be discouraged," Zhang Fan shook his head and hurriedly comforted him.
He could see that the young man in front of him held immense potential, otherwise he wouldn’t have even been able to step into the realm of the Taiyi Life-saving Skill.
Perhaps it was precisely because of this that he had made no progress with the Yin Mountain Daoist Skill of their sect over the years.
Originally, the Taiyin Technique was the nemesis of this lineage.
"In the future, every morning at six, and at eight in the evening... just come here, I’ll instruct you," Zhang Fan said kindly.
"Let’s exchange contact info first."
The technique he learned from Xiong Ba today had already benefited him greatly; he needed to digest it slowly afterward, and as for the subsequent cultivation method, it could only be gradually approached.
"Really?" Xiong Ba’s eyes suddenly lit up, and he took out his phone: "How much money?"
As soon as he said this, Xiong Ba suddenly slapped himself.
"I was presumptuous... A master like you wouldn’t lack money. Mentioning money insults you... I’m sorry..."
"No, it’s not..." Zhang Fan’s mouth moved, wanting to say something.
"Brother, I’m leaving first." Xiong Ba bowed deeply to Zhang Fan with an apologetic face and turned to leave, filled with shame.
"No... wait..."
Zhang Fan watched as Xiong Ba walked away, almost wishing to slap himself. This Xiong Ba didn’t look like someone short on money; being from the Xiong Family, even if marginalized, should be wealthier than him.
"Are you pretending?!" Zhang Fan cursed himself inwardly.
From that day on, Zhang Fan practically met with Xiong Ba every morning and evening at the East Suburban Cemetery. Once or twice was fine, but with more frequency, even the old man on duty there became puzzled, wondering why these two young men were so filial to their ancestors.
Why sweep the graves every day!?
After many days of exchanging and practicing, Zhang Fan’s mastery of the Taiyi Life-saving Skill became increasingly proficient. Of course, Xiong Ba also gained a lot, receiving much of Zhang Fan’s experience.
"Did someone hit you?"
On this day, before dawn, as soon as they met, Zhang Fan noticed the signs.
Xiong Ba’s face bore obvious bruises, with patches of blue and purple on both sides and a bloodstain on his cheek.
"Who hit you? So ruthlessly?" Zhang Fan couldn’t help but ask.
Nowadays, Xiong Ba could be considered his friend, or even half a little brother.
"Fighting among fellow disciples, it’s normal," Xiong Ba forced a smile, clearly unwilling to dwell on the topic.
In fact, to stimulate the competitive consciousness among clan members and improve their Daoist skills, the Xiong Family organized combat competitions among disciples three to five times a month as a form of sparring.
"Sparring with such heavy hands?" Zhang Fan rolled his eyes.
It’s one thing to not hit people on the head, but here they were aiming straight for the face.
"Whatever, I’m used to it anyway," Xiong Ba shook his head.
He wasn’t a direct disciple, so one could imagine his position among his peers. In sparring, some were naturally willing to pick soft targets to assert their authority.
For fellow sect members, they might have no personal vendetta against Xiong Ba; he was merely a tool for them to showcase their strength and intimidate others.
"Where there are people, there is Jianghu," Zhang Fan couldn’t help but sigh, immediately waving a hand.
"Come, let me impart a Yin Evil charm to you... With this as protection, you’ll be able to defend yourself."
As he spoke, Zhang Fan focused on his primordial spirit, mobilized True Yang, gathered the surrounding Yin Qi, and used the Northern Emperor Technique to refine a Yin Evil.
Gathering Yin to form Evil, a portentous sign, and this was several times stronger than ordinary Yin Qi, equivalent to steel forged from iron.
Originally, the Xiong Family’s path also involved gathering Yin to refine Qi, so revealing this Yin Evil wouldn’t expose anything unusual.
"This..." Xiong Ba hesitated.
"Don’t worry... It won’t be noticeable, it’s just a Yin Evil, not involving Daoist skills... Your Yin Mountain Sect originally had a method for gathering Yin to form Evil," Zhang Fan saw through Xiong Ba’s thoughts and reassured him immediately.
"Thank you, Brother Fan," Xiong Ba nodded.
I have to admit, ever since his master Gu Yuming became a vegetable, Zhang Fan has been the nicest person to him, not only guiding him in Taiyi Life-saving Skill but also passing on a Yin Evil.
"Great kindness cannot be expressed with words," Zhang Fan said casually.
"Alright, then I won’t say it," Xiong Ba nodded heavily, his eyes brimming with gratitude.
"..."
After chatting a bit, Zhang Fan didn’t rush into practicing the Taiyi Life-saving Skill today but instead left with Xiong Ba.
When he got to the company, it was just nine o’clock, not missing the clock-in.
"You really are punctual, nine o’clock every day, not a second early,"
Jiang Hu looked at the time, unable to help but admire Zhang Fan.
"Why haven’t you seen Old Yu in the past few days?" Zhang Fan asked casually, glancing into his workspace.
"Old Yu’s chronic pain acts up during thunderstorms... Says his rheumatism kicks in..."
Jiang Hu answered without turning his head, "Isn’t it the rainy season recently?"
"Cultivators have such ailments?" Zhang Fan mumbled, instinctively turning his head, looking towards Bai Buran’s office, saw its door was closed, then he relaxed and opened the "Little Yellow Book," opening the homepage of Thousand-Year-Old Demon.
