Encounter V

"And what about you? Why did you join them?"

"I... I forgot," Tong Zhang was suddenly stunned by the question.

"So, that's not your Great Wish, it's someone else's," Zhang Rongfang replied.

He stood up.

"The Eastern Sect is now a thing of the past, and you've already repaid what you owed them. From now on, Tathagata my place?" He extended his hand to the other person.

"Come here?" Tong Zhang was slightly taken aback.

"Yes. I want to build a place without conflict or malice, where everyone can live happily and peacefully. So, it requires many things, many people, and a lot of strength." Zhang Rongfang nodded.

"You seem to be a very kind person." Tong Zhang smiled.

"I really want to say yes, but... there's something else I want to do."

She also stood up.

"And they are very powerful, which will harm you."

"By the way. Since they and you both say that I was once your master and that I once guided you."

"So how's your martial arts now? I should have taught you the Golden Roc Secret Record, right? How's it going? How's your training progressing?" She changed the subject, her interest piqued.

"Huh? The Golden Roc Secret Record? What is that? "Zhang Rongfang's heart skipped a beat.

How was he supposed to answer that?

***Outside Qingchuan Prefecture, on the edge of Bright Phoenix Garden.

The night was hazy.

A black metal sedan chair carried by two men suddenly appeared on the road near the city, like a phantom.

The two men carrying the sedan chair were dressed in black, with blank expressions, heads down and silent as they hurried on their way.

The sedan chair stopped some distance from the city's bright lights.

The sedan door opened.

A round, chubby figure slowly walked down.

"We've finally arrived. Ming Yuan, do you know the place?"

Behind the sedan chair, a tall, slender figure in a dark blue Daoist robe quickly emerged from the shadows and bowed respectfully.

"Daozi is usually stationed at the Prefectural Office, so we can go there first. Even if he's not there, we can ask someone for directions."

"Very good. Let's go then." The round, chubby figure stepped forward and entered the area illuminated by the lights, revealing Yue Dewen's large face full of friendly smiles.

"Grand Master, what are your plans?" Ming Yuan couldn't help but ask.

"Before I came here, I heard rumors about this kid. It seems he's stopped practicing his Civilian Skill and started focusing on martial arts. And he still doesn't know how to repent." Yue Dewen's eyes darted around, a strange glint in them.

"That's why I came to see for myself. Don't worry, after all, he's the heir on whom I have placed my high hopes. There's no way I would do anything to him."

"At most, at most we'll cripple his martial arts and make him obediently come back with me to practice his Civilian Skill."

Ming Yuan was speechless. This wasn't even that bad.

"Furthermore, I've heard that he's still entangled with the rebels, even though it's because of old ties. But if this continues, things aren't looking good."

Yue Dewen clearly knew about Zhang Rongfang's situation and Zhang Xuan's affair.

"There are many things that I know, but I just don't have the time right now. Now that I've finally managed to squeeze out some time, I'll take care of everything for him before I leave."

"I initially thought he was focusing all his energy on cultivating his Civilian Skill, but I never expected that his martial arts would improve even faster. He should have reached the Internal Method cultivation level by now, right? That brat, no wonder he doesn't carry Token. If he had put all his effort into his Civilian Skill, he probably would have already reached the Refining Spirit by now!"

It's only been a few years? You really dare to imagine.

Ming Yuan stood silently to the side, but dared not respond.

"Let's go, let's take a look." Yue Dewen didn't even glance at the sedan chair behind him, and strode towards Qingchuan Prefecture.

Ming Yuan followed behind, saying nothing more.

Following the light, the two stepped onto the empty Official Road.

There are very few people traveling on the streets at night.

The two figures moved like ghosts, vanishing in the blink of an eye at the end of the Official Road. They entered the city.

***Leaving Star Perch Tower.

Zhang Rongfang sighed inwardly.

The Heavenly Maiden still refused his invitation and remained with the Rebel Alliance Against Reverse Time Society.

'In this world, no power is truly simple. The Rebel Alliance, having survived for so many years in the harsh environment of the Great Ling, is indeed not as weak as it appears.'

For some reason, as he walked out of the small building, he inexplicably turned back and looked towards the Sixth Floor.

There, the Heavenly Maiden stood by the window, looking down at him as well.

"Take care." She parted her cherry lips slightly and uttered two words silently.

Take care of yourself?

Why? A question arose in Zhang Rongfang's mind.

This meeting was actually quite ordinary from beginning to end, simple and gentle.

But why, in the end, for some reason, did he suddenly recall what Zhang Qingzhi had said before, that Master Yue had inexplicably started drawing portraits of his mysterious master's wife in Great Capital?

And the Heavenly Maiden he had not seen for so long suddenly reappeared.

Is it possible that Master Yue at the time, like him, also saw, "Where is your Token?"

Suddenly, a chubby hand landed on his shoulder from behind.

"!!???" Zhang Rongfang was startled and almost jumped up.

He was so close, how could he not have noticed at all!?

He felt a chill run down his spine and suddenly turned around to look.

They meet head-on.

It was Yue Dewen's chubby, round face.

Laugh.

Yue Dewen was smiling.

Under the lamplight, the smile on his face had a certain coldness and unfamiliarity about it.

"I sent you Token. Why didn't you bring it?"

"..." Zhang Rongfang's skin crawled with goosebumps.

How long has it been?

It's been so long since I've felt this way.

Since he broke through to the Grandmaster level, he has never encountered anyone who could get so close to him silently.

"Master, why did you come so suddenly?" Zhang Rongfang remained calm and composed, and asked in a deep voice.

"Why didn't you inform your disciple in advance so that I could arrange for people to prepare a banquet to welcome you?"

"If I hadn't come here myself, wouldn't I have seen you and that girl whispering sweet nothings to each other? What? Do you want me to help you capture her, strip her naked, and send her to your room?" Yue Dewen said with a forced smile.

"This disciple dares not."

"What are you afraid of? Come on, go get the Token back, I want to watch you put it on properly."

Yue Dewen took the lead and went to the front.

Zhang Rongfang followed behind, his thoughts racing.

The two walked quickly through the crowds on the night street, rapidly approaching the Aloeswood Manor.

However, when they were almost at the Aloeswood Manor, they were less than a hundred meters away.

Suddenly, Yue Dewen stopped in his tracks.

He looked up at the Mansion.

"Now, all sorts of demons and monsters dare to act recklessly in your Mansion."

He seemed to sense something.

"Master, what do you mean by this?"

"Literal meaning. Let's go, first get the Token, then I need to thoroughly examine your current Civilian Skill Cultivation. As for martial arts..." Yue Dewen didn't finish his sentence.

Zhang Rongfang paused slightly, but did not continue. He simply followed them into the Mansion.

Instead of entering through the main gate, the two of them flashed over the wall and jumped in, arriving directly at the study where the Token were kept.

Bang.

Yue Dewen seemed to know where the Token was. He went into the study and dug into the wall with his bare hands.

His hand, like a sharp weapon, precisely broke through the stone wall, pulled out a hidden compartment, and retrieved the Token inside.

"Here you go." He handed the Token to Zhang Rongfang behind him.

Zhang Rongfang paused, looking at the extended Token. He made no move.

"Take it!?" Yue Dewen raised his voice. He turned his head and looked at Zhang Rongfang with a hint of danger in his eyes.

Zhang Rongfang took a deep breath, meeting his increasingly dangerous gaze.

Extend your hand.

He caught the Token steadily.

At the same moment of catching it, the rapidly circulating Toad Seal Art finally suppressed the body's Civilian Skill Cultivation, pretending to be at the Nascent Soul Late Stage.

"Speak. Why didn't you bring it? Why are you running around everywhere?" After doing all this, Yue Dewen turned around and stared at him coldly.

"Disciple has been diligently cultivating these past few years without any slackening. As for traveling around, it is also for the sake of cultivation. Many times when I go to different places, I also need to visit relatives and friends and collect medicinal herbs."

Zhang Rongfang's mind raced as he considered how to phrase his words.

"I think these are all excuses!" Yue Dewen narrowed his eyes. "Fine, since you're also restless and can't settle down now, here's what we'll do."

He paced back and forth a few steps.

"Come back to Great Capital with me. Now begin to devote yourself to worshiping the Celestial Venerable every day and focus on cultivating your Civilian Skill. In twenty or thirty years, with your talent, you will probably be able to successfully reach the Refining Spirit Perfection."

Zhang Rongfang was startled. If he were to stay by Yue Dewen's side at all times, his Civilian Skill would be impossible to conceal, and he would probably be dragged into Worship God in the blink of an eye.

Even No God Worshipping, he is already attractive enough to Gods and Buddhas. Now that he has come to the Great Capital, he worships the Great Dao Sect Celestial Venerable every day. Isn't he likely to be targeted by the top Gods and Buddhas of the Great Dao Sect soon?

Even Remnant God like the Blood God Wish Woman so troublesome; if he were to encounter a fully-fledged top-tier Gods and Buddhas, Zhang Rongfang felt a chill run down his spine. He quickly racked his brains, trying to come up with a reason to refuse and a countermeasure.

'If...' he suddenly thought of a solution.

"What? You don't want to go?" Yue Dewen seemed to have noticed something, and his tone gradually turned cold.

"It seems that your martial arts skills have indeed limited your perspective and hindered your progress."

His eyes gradually turned dangerous.

Having already ruined one of his Daozi, he absolutely could not allow this greatest hope to suffer even the slightest mishap.

"Don't worry, you'll understand my good intentions later," he said, rolling up his sleeves and lowering his voice.

He has decided to completely eradicate his disciple's desire for martial arts.

In this way, he should be able to focus on his Civilian Skill, and with his talent, he will surely achieve great things in the future! He will inherit the glorious foundation of the Great Dao Sect! Only by becoming Spirit General can one achieve immortality! When his disciple successfully Worship God, he will understand his painstaking efforts as his master.

Thinking of this, a faint silver tinge appeared at Yue Dewen's fingertips, and a subtle vortex of energy swirled around his palm.

Laugh!!

In an instant, he raised his hand and pointed forward.

A soft "poof!" was heard just then.

A large amount of heat suddenly emanated from Zhang Rongfang's body, and an inexplicable aura naturally spread from his body.

With a swift movement, Yue Dewen's finger hovered in the center of Zhang Rongfang's chest, just a hair's breadth away from striking his torso.

But even at that slight distance, he stopped on his own initiative.

"This... this is impossible!?"

At this moment, Yue Dewen's expression changed drastically, his gaze became stiff, and he stared blankly at Zhang Rongfang.

Refining Spirit!!?

Just now, he actually sensed the special Essence, Qi, and Spirit qualities that only those Refining Spirit could possess from his disciple.

Thank you to Young Master Feiyang Jian Shan Gen for the generous donation.

The number of monthly votes has surged in the last few days, everyone has really been amazing! ^_^ It's a pleasant surprise that this book has managed to climb to second place on the bestseller list.

Of course, this is partly due to the fact that the monthly ticket ranking is heavily recommended, so this result is only temporary. Old Gun knows this, but even temporary results can be screenshotted~(). Finally, thank you again for your votes and subscriptions. With the recent outbreak, friends in affected areas must remember to wear masks and disinfect with alcohol spray when entering and leaving. Wishing everyone all the best and that you get through this difficult time!