Chapter 6

At the end of the hour of the Rooster, the sixty-four Daoist principles that Zhang Yan had deciphered were neatly laid out before Bian Qiao.

Cold sweat trickled down Bian Qiao's forehead. To be honest, he could not understand even a fraction of these techniques, but Hu Shengyu had personally said that there were sixty-four principles in total. Now, what Zhang Yan had written matched Hu Shengyu's words, which was enough to prove that he truly understood the true meaning.

His hands trembled slightly in his sleeves, clearly knowing that he had suffered a great defeat. However, he still tried to put up a front and said, "This 'Manqu Jingshi' is profound and complex. Junior Brother's interpretation is indeed quick, but I cannot be sure if there are any errors. I will take it to Senior Brother Hu to verify the authenticity."

Seeing that Bian Qiao had clearly lost but was still trying to cheat, the onlookers looked at him with disdain, and some even made sarcastic remarks.

Despite the boiling anger in his heart, Bian Qiao could only pretend not to hear. He secretly hated it and thought, "Let you have your moment of glory for a few days. I'll deal with you later!"

Zhang Yan sneered and said, "In that case, I will keep these Daoist principles. When Manager Bian verifies their authenticity, come back to me. I'll take my leave now." He suddenly put the thin paper with the eroded text and the Zhihe Pill into his sleeve, got up, and left without another word.

Bian Qiao never expected Zhang Yan to leave so abruptly. He got up and took a few steps, looking at Zhang Yan's back several times, wanting to speak but swallowing his words each time. He thought about how Hu Shengyu would ask him for the Daoist principles, and he couldn't produce them...

His face turned pale, and he didn't notice the steps of the pavilion. He stumbled and almost fell to the ground. Although he was supported by his servants and didn't make a fool of himself, he lost a lot of face and hurriedly left in a狼狈 manner.

Although Zhang Yan had made Bian Qiao eat humble pie, he didn't feel much satisfaction. Bian Qiao was just a servant, and although he had followed Hu Shengyu for a long time, his eyes were dull, and his breath was heavy, indicating that he had no cultivation. Although he looked healthy, Zhang Yan could tell that it was due to the long-term consumption of high-quality pills.

Life is short, and to spend it chasing after wealth and fame, only to end up as a handful of dust? Clearly, he was in a treasure mountain but didn't realize it, just a short-sighted person who pursued small gains.

However, he heard that Hu Shengyu was very protective of his subordinates. What would be his reaction to offending his manager?

Zhang Yan smiled. He had already considered this consequence and had a plan in place.

Shaking his head, he put the matter aside and focused on organizing his gains from the day. After all, the Daoist principles and techniques that Bian Qiao had brought were not something ordinary people could see, and it benefited him. His primary goal was to improve his cultivation.

However, he didn't expect that the consequences of this matter would be much greater than he imagined. In just a few days, his reputation had spread throughout the entire Cangwu Mountain, and many disciples came to visit. But among them, few were truly influential.

At first, Zhang Yan patiently received them, but later, he found it increasingly annoying. He simply claimed to be in seclusion, refusing to interpret any more Daoist books, which reduced the number of visitors.

One day, Zhang Yan was playing with a piece of broken jade in his hand. He vaguely felt that there were still many secrets in the jade that he hadn't uncovered. Previously, his low cultivation level prevented him from verifying many of his conjectures. Just as he was about to try out his ideas, someone gently knocked on the door.

Zhang Yan was surprised. Since he claimed to be in seclusion, few people had come to visit him.

"Who is it outside the door?"

The person outside softly called, "Young Master, it's Zhang Xi."

Zhang Yan was delighted and said, "Oh, it's Uncle Xi? Come in quickly."

He got up and opened the door, seeing a middle-aged man in his early forties standing at the door, looking honest and simple.

This Zhang Xi was the only servant he brought with him when he came to Cangwu Mountain. He had grown up in his household since childhood, was honest and sincere, and was originally his father's book boy. In his memory, his predecessor never treated him as a servant but as an elder.

After Zhang Yan went up the mountain, Zhang Xi lived at the foot of the mountain. A few days ago, after receiving a lot of grain, he sent some down.

However, Zhang Xi now looked worried, as if he had something on his mind.

Zhang Yan looked at his expression and asked with concern, "Uncle Xi, it's cold in the mountains at night. Why did you come up at this time?"

Zhang Xi lowered his head and said, "I haven't seen Young Master for three months. Now it's still cold, and Young Master has always been frail. I am worried, so I came to see you."

Zhang Yan smiled and said, "We cultivators can withstand wind and dew, and are not affected by cold or heat. Uncle Xi, there's no need to worry."

Zhang Xi looked at Zhang Yan, his expression hesitant.

"Uncle Xi, you came at the right time. Stay overnight and tell me some interesting stories from the foot of the mountain. Cangwu Mountain has many beautiful scenes. I'll bring some grain down with the buyers another day." Zhang Yan could see that Zhang Xi had another reason for coming up the mountain, but he didn't rush to ask, just kept inviting him in.

Seeing Zhang Yan about to go inside, Zhang Xi suddenly grabbed his sleeve, "Ah, Young Master, there's something I must say."

Zhang Yan turned around and said warmly, "Uncle Xi, you raised me since I was a child. You can speak freely."

Zhang Xi sighed repeatedly and said, "Young Master has been on Cangwu Mountain for three years. How many people have become immortals? The old master was once the governor of Yunzhou, and your father had high hopes for you before he passed away, hoping you would bring glory to the family. You should study and take the exams, not waste your time here!"

Zhang Yan laughed and walked a few steps, stopping and pointing to a poem on the cave wall, "Uncle Xi, look. This poem has been with me for three years, but I never understood it. Today, I see it, and it deeply resonates with me."

Zhang Xi was surprised by Zhang Yan's sudden mention of poetry, but since Young Master was interested in poetry, he was happy to see it. He had read poetry before and looked up to read the poem, which was dated from the beginning of the Yongping era, 133 years ago. The characters were deeply etched into the stone, as if freshly carved.

He read slowly, "The bones of the golden hall lie in a yellow mud tomb, a cup of turbid wine to sacrifice to the nobles. A dream of yellow rice today, asking only the immortals, not the worries..."

Zhang Yan sighed, "A dream of yellow rice today, asking only the immortals, not the worries. Well said, well said! Uncle Xi, this is exactly what I, Zhang Yan, believe."

Heaven does not abandon people. Reborn, the path of the Dao is clearly before him. How could he waste the opportunity given by heaven and return to the pursuit of human wealth?

Zhang Xi shook his head in despair. Young Master had read too many stories of immortals and was deeply influenced by them. How could he believe in the illusory and intangible matters of immortals? He sighed, "Young Master, your talent is not high, and you have no hope of becoming an immortal. Why suffer..."

"Low talent?"

Zhang Yan, who had been calm, showed a slight change in expression, his brows furrowed, "Uncle Xi, where did you hear this?"

Zhang Xi was startled, feeling he had said something wrong, and immediately dared not speak.

Zhang Yan's eyes flashed, and he sighed, "When you came, what did the Zhou family say to you?"

Zhang Xi, without hesitation, said, "The Zhou family said..."

He hadn't finished when his face turned pale, realizing he had slipped, his lips trembling, and he knelt down, pulling Zhang Yan's robe, crying, "Young Master, the Zhou family found me and said they knew you were cultivating here, and they asked me to persuade you to come down the mountain. Otherwise, they would show you their power. Young Master, the Zhou family is powerful, and we can't afford to offend them."

So, the Zhou family had indeed come to him?

A flash of insight crossed Zhang Yan's eyes. He shook his head and said, "Uncle Xi, you've been tricked. If the Zhou family knew where I was, why would they need to find you? That would be unnecessary."

"What?" Zhang Xi was stunned, "Young Master, you mean the Zhou family doesn't know you're here?"

Zhang Yan sneered, "They probably knew I was on Cangwu Mountain, but this isn't their backyard. It would take some effort to find me. But with you here, they can easily find me."

"Ah?"

"Ha, my brother-in-law has improved a lot in these few years on the mountain."

With a long laugh, a young man in a white robe walked in. He had narrow eyes, a straight nose, and a thin mouth, with a proud look in his eyes.

He scrutinized Zhang Yan a few times and suddenly smiled, "Brother-in-law, the path to immortality is fraught with difficulties and obstacles. With your talent, your achievements will be limited. With my sister, you can live a life of peace and prosperity. Why stay in this mountain with the cold and weeds? Go back home, take care of your parents, and live a simple life. Isn't that a better choice?"

Before Zhang Yan could respond, he smiled again, "Although you came up the mountain without permission, your parents and family know you were influenced by others and won't blame you. Come back with me quickly."

Zhang Yan smiled faintly, "Parents and family? Whose parents, whose family?"

Speaking of his predecessor's experience, it was quite unusual. Three years ago, at the age of sixteen, he married Zhou Yuchu, the daughter of the Zhou family from Dingyang. After the wedding, the bride suddenly glowed, claiming to be a reincarnated goddess, about to ascend to the heavens, and asked him to take care of her human parents, promising to take him to the heavens after a hundred years to enjoy eternal bliss.

Zhang Yan's predecessor believed this and, despite the arrogance of his wife's family, who often treated servants like common laborers, he served the goddess's parents without complaint, hoping to enjoy the bliss of the heavens one day.

But one day, an old Taoist stood at the door and laughed, pointing out the truth. He realized that the so-called goddess was actually a cultivator. Although there was little difference in the eyes of ordinary people, the old Taoist explained that cultivators were just practicing to reach the Dao, and calling themselves immortals was laughable.

Zhou Yuchu was originally a disciple of the Lingya Master of the Yuxiao Sect. To cultivate the supreme Dao, she reincarnated to transcend the tribulation. However, if her parents were not taken care of, it would affect her moral cultivation and hinder her progress. Therefore, she found Zhang Yan, who had no parents and a large estate, to take care of her parents and make up for the Dao.

If the old Taoist hadn't revealed the truth, Zhang Yan would have not only married a nominal wife but also had to work hard to support his wife's family, only to end up with nothing.

At the age of sixteen, Zhang Yan, upon learning the truth, followed the old Taoist's advice and came to Cangwu Mountain to cultivate and seek justice.

Zhou Yuchu's parents, although descendants of the Lingya Master, were still mortals and didn't know the intricacies. They were glad Zhang Yan was gone, as it allowed them to seize the Zhang family's estate. So, for three years, Zhou Yuchu didn't know Zhang Yan had left.

Until a few days ago, she suddenly felt the "soul-binding spell" she had cast on Zhang Yan disappear, realizing something was wrong. She asked the Zhou family, who told her Zhang Yan had been gone for three years.

Strangely, Zhou Yuchu couldn't determine Zhang Yan's whereabouts, as if a high-level cultivator had concealed the truth. The Lingya Master was in seclusion and couldn't help. In desperation, she ordered her younger brother, Zhou Zishang, who was also cultivating on the mountain, to investigate.

Zhou Zishang, knowing the importance of Zhang Yan to his sister's cultivation, took the matter seriously. Although he couldn't find Zhang Yan, he knew Zhang Yan had left with Zhang Xi. After some calculations, he found Zhang Xi at the foot of Cangwu Mountain.

To prevent Zhang Xi from revealing Zhang Yan's location, he sent a servant to test Zhang Xi. Indeed, Zhang Xi, out of fear, came up the mountain that night, and Zhou Zishang easily found Zhang Yan's residence.

Upon learning that Zhang Yan was indeed cultivating on the mountain, Zhou Zishang was surprised. If Zhang Yan succeeded in cultivation, the loss of the Dao would fall back on his sister, Zhou Yuchu, rendering her previous efforts futile.

Zhou Zishang originally planned to forcibly take Zhang Yan down the mountain, but he saw that Zhang Yan had a continuous breath and a smooth complexion, indicating he had reached the Foundation Establishment stage. Although he dismissed it, he was secretly surprised. Could Zhang Yan have been favored by a high-level cultivator on Cangwu Mountain?

If so, it would be difficult to handle.

Zhou Zishang, now a disciple of the Mingcang Sect, couldn't easily abduct Zhang Yan without causing conflict between the sects. Moreover, Zhang Yan's presence on the mountain was suspicious, and the person behind it was unknown.

After much consideration, Zhou Zishang decided to use a gentle approach to force Zhang Yan to leave the mountain.

However, when he heard Zhang Yan say, "Whose parents, whose family?" with a cold and mocking tone, without any hint of fear, he became even more suspicious. Was someone backing Zhang Yan? Otherwise, how could he have such courage?

He suspected it might be an enemy of the Lingya Master, someone he couldn't afford to offend. However, he couldn't give up on this matter, and this was a good opportunity to show his skills to his master.

Zhou Zishang frowned slightly, didn't get angry, and without further persuasion, turned and left.

From the moment Zhou Zishang entered to the moment he left, Zhang Yan's expression remained unchanged, while Zhang Xi looked anxious.

Zhang Yan was deep in thought. Zhou Zishang didn't waste words forcing him to leave the mountain and just left?

He didn't believe the Zhou family would give up so easily. It seemed his brother-in-law wasn't a simple person and had more tricks up his sleeve.

He knew that Zhou Yuchu wouldn't allow him to become an immortal, and neither side would compromise.

Zhang Yan looked at the dark sky outside, thinking that after today, the Zhou family's pressure would come like a storm. Fortunately, his plan had already started. If Zhou Zishang had come a few days earlier, he would have been in trouble.

Thinking about this, he smiled confidently. Zhou Zishang was right; the path to immortality is fraught with difficulties and obstacles. This not only refers to the obstacles in cultivation but also the conflicts and struggles between people.

If he couldn't overcome this, how could he talk about the Dao?

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