Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Chapter 593: Chapter 290: Nine Treasures—Innate Seal! The Fall of the Number One Master

In Zhongnan Mountain, refining longevity, from this moment Immortals are made.

To live, one must seek life in death, becoming a living dead day after day.

Beneath the sheer cliffs of Cang Mountain, the living dead awakened, skin like withered wood meeting spring, vitality like winter’s end turning to spring.

In an instant, the long wind in the mountain gently blew, as if it carried a hint of warmth.

Ye Jinciao, Ye Beichen’s master, known as the top expert in Zhongnan Mountain in the Celestial Master’s words, cast a gaze that seemed to pierce through the vicissitudes of time, sweeping across the vast heavens and brushing over the vast earth, landing on Zhang Fan.

Yet at this moment, Zhang Fan’s attention was completely drawn to the ancient painting behind Ye Jinciao.

A faint moon suspended in the sky, the Eight Kings Carrying the Coffin unseen.

Eight eerie figures holding an object, each carrying a coffin, traversing the vast darkness.

This strange ancient painting, Zhang Fan had seen at the elder Xu Xuan Guan’s place at Maoshan, and also at the Tai Sui Temple.

Now, it appeared again behind this great expert at Zhongnan Mountain.

”Zhang Fan...”

Ye Beichen’s voice suddenly echoed, pulling Zhang Fan’s thoughts back.

Such a summons by Ye Jinciao, Zhang Fan’s momentary distraction appeared greatly disrespectful.

”Beichen, you go first.”

Ye Jinciao waved his hand, his weathered voice resonating before the sheer cliff of the deep mountain.

Ye Beichen hesitated slightly, giving Zhang Fan a deep glance.

These years, his master had secluded here, entering the realm of the living dead, thoughts ceasing as if separated by emptiness. Even he rarely sets foot here, let alone outsiders.

Now, Ye Jinciao was asking him to step aside, clearly intending to speak with Zhang Fan alone, something important to discuss.

This unusual exception made even Ye Beichen feel curious.

However, he didn’t hesitate, saluted, and leapt down the towering cliff.

Right after, a sharp gust of wind arose, and Ye Beichen’s figure was no longer visible.

Only at such a level, with Unity of Heaven and Man, can one ride the wind and travel freely.

”Come over...”

At this moment, that old and hoarse voice sounded again, and Zhang Fan did not hesitate, stepping forward.

Ten steps ahead, he stopped, seeing more clearly at this distance.

Ye Jinciao’s skin was like withered tree bark, yet with each breath, that withered skin seemed to regenerate, becoming crystal clear, and this process repeated like flowers blooming and falling, like spring fading to autumn.

Within that aged body seemed to contain nature, life and death, and the cycle of rebirth...

”Living dead... living dead... to keep a person from dying, unless a person dies...”

”This technique comes from Jia Sheng Gui Si!”

Ye Jinciao spoke emotionlessly, suddenly murmuring.

”Jia Sheng Gui Si!?” Zhang Fan’s heart moved slightly, revealing a peculiar expression.

”These Nine Techniques are not mortal techniques, let alone a natural prodigy, even those destined by fortune, at the time of success, a tribulation comes...”

”So, back then... we studied a lot... a lot...”

Ye Jinciao murmured, his gaze scattered, as if speaking to himself.

”We!?” Zhang Fan instinctively caught this term, subconsciously looking at the Eight Kings Carrying the Coffin on the rock wall.

”Tomorrow lies beyond the mountains, worldly affairs obscure and distant...”

”It’s been many years now...”

Ye Jinciao sighed softly, staring at Zhang Fan’s face, and said slowly, ”Have you seen this painting?”

”Mm!”

Zhang Fan nodded, not concealing anything: ”Junior had visited Elder Xu Xuan Guan in Huizhou Province and saw it once.”

Zhang Fan naturally wouldn’t mention the time at Tai Sui Village.

”Xu the Sixth was hiding in Huizhou Province...” Ye Jinciao’s eyes were deep, reflecting a unique light.

”That’s Mo the Fifth’s territory.”

”I also saw Sect Leader Mo,” Zhang Fan said softly.

”You met Mo the Fifth?” Ye Jinciao lifted his eyelids slightly, seemingly suggestive.

”Yes, when I was in Huizhou Province, there was a misunderstanding with disciples from Qi Yun Mountain, and that chance led to meeting Sect Leader Mo.”

Zhang Fan spoke reservedly, Mo Rancun naturally did not know his identity and background.

”After all these years, Mo the Fifth is still so domineering, so petty... children playing house, at most fighting life and death, dare he show up.” Ye Jinciao sneered.

”No wonder back then Elder Li the Third looked down on him.”

Hearing this, Zhang Fan’s heart was stirred, he couldn’t help but ask, ”Senior, are you familiar with these two seniors?”

”Young and reckless, once allied in collusion...” Ye Jinciao said faintly.

”Among them, I’m ranked the fourth!”

”They all call me Ye the Fourth!”

”Coffin Lifting Association!?”

Zhang Fan was slightly moved. That day he learned from the conversation between Mo Rancun and Xu Xuan Guan that there was a group of old comrades who had sworn allegiance, an organization called the Coffin Lifting Association, suspected to be related to the Eight Kings Carrying the Coffin.

Among these people, his grandfather Zhang Tian Sheng was ranked second.

Mo Rancun from Laojun Mountain was ranked fifth, Xu Xuan Guan from Maoshan was ranked sixth.

Who would have thought this top expert of Zhongnan Mountain was also a member of the Coffin Lifting Association, Ye Jinciao, ranked fourth.

”Did Xu the Sixth let you see this picture?” Ye Jinciao suddenly asked.

”Mm.” Zhang Fan responded softly, ”Elder Xu asked me to burn an incense stick.”

At this, Ye Jinciao’s eyes dimmed slightly, falling into silence. After a moment, he slowly turned around, looking at the ancient map behind him.

”Do you know what’s depicted in this painting?”

”What?”

Zhang Fan wasn’t seeing the Eight Kings Carrying the Coffin for the first time, yet he still didn’t know the meaning of this painting.

”Since ancient times, there are Nine Techniques, refining them reveals the Immortal Gods...” Ye Jinciao said solemnly.

The origins of the Nine Great Inner Elixir Methods have long been untraceable, some say that when Zhang Daoling attained enlightenment at He Ming Mountain, Taishang Laojun descended to pass down the nine-page Celestial Book.