Zhang He: I'm Wronged! [Seeking Recommendation Tickets!]

Switching cultivation methods was no different than starting all over again.

But fortunately, the realms had common ground. Only the details of the cultivation method needed careful consideration, the Qi Circulation Diagram needed to be reconstructed, and the Visualization had to be changed.

These were all simple matters.

Meng Nan immersed himself.

Besides cultivation methods, in terms of sorcery, Meng Nan had already mastered the 'Giant Spirit God' secret technique and the 'Blood Arrow Secret Technique'. If he continued to invest energy and refine them, he would eventually be truly invincible below the Qi Refining stage.

Other techniques, such as the Five Thunder Technique, the Gale Thunder Sword Technique, and the Hundred Changes Thousand Illusions Cloud Mist Movement Technique, were merely for early-stage progression, slightly enriching his combat methods.

Once he advanced to Qi Refining, he could switch to true sorcery. All these could be discarded, so there was no need to spend too much effort or energy on them.

There were gains and losses.

There were priorities and secondary matters.

Only this way could time be utilized to its fullest.

Time passed quickly.

More than three months flew by.

Meng Nan was well-off, and with Zhao Xiaoshuang guiding him, even when switching to the Lesser Thousand Sword Scripture from scratch, his cultivation speed was not slow.

In over three months, he had reached the peak of Inner Qi.

The day he would return to the peak of True Qi was not far off.

On this day.

Meng Nan was cultivating as usual.

Suddenly.

There was movement outside.

He got up and walked out of the quiet room, seeing Zhao Xiaoshuang leading three people in.

The first one had hair like a waterfall, agile and cunning, resembling Zhao Xiaoshuang by five parts. This was the third child, Meng Santan.

The middle one had a majestic stride and a slender build, looking even more like Meng Nan. This was Meng Xingzhe.

The last one had a distinguished appearance, radiating majesty, with a black dog at his feet. This was the second son, Meng Jian.

"Dad!"

Meng Santan and the other two bowed upon seeing Meng Nan.

A hundred years had passed.

Even the youngest, Meng Santan, was over ninety years old and had long been an old girl. Although her appearance had not yet aged and she looked like a middle-aged woman, her age was undeniable, giving her a more mature demeanor.

However, old habits die hard, and Meng Santan was still the most impatient.

As soon as she arrived, she had asked her mother, Zhao Xiaoshuang, many questions. Seeing Meng Nan now, she blurted out in surprise, "Dad had a dream, and after waking up, he wanted to kill someone?"

It was no wonder Meng Santan was surprised.

The reason Zhao Xiaoshuang had summoned the three of them this time was too bizarre—it was simply because Meng Nan had a dream where someone stole a great medicine from him and killed him.

Then, after waking up, he wanted to gather people to kill that person?

"Haha!"

"How wronged that person must be!"

Meng Santan imagined the bewildered expression on that person's face when their family of five attacked him. She couldn't help but laugh out loud and then whispered into Zhao Xiaoshuang's ear, "Mom, you really spoil Dad."

Indeed.

Who else would do such a thing?

"You talk too much!"

Zhao Xiaoshuang glared at Meng Santan.

Meng Nan didn't mind.

He looked at the three of them, then at Zhao Xiaoshuang: "There's no time to delay, let's set off. We'll kill Zhang He first, then go to the candlestick. After we collect the great medicine, we'll talk."

There was only one month left until the great medicine appeared.

They had to go to Yanxia Ravine where Zhang He was, and then rush to the candlestick. Traveling from south to north would take considerable time, and one month was very tight.

"My cultivation has regressed, so I won't go. I'd just be a burden."

"You four, be careful."

Meng Nan knew his limits.

His Inner Qi cultivation meant that staying in the cave dwelling and not going out was the greatest help he could offer them.

"Ah?"

"Cultivation regressed?"

Meng Santan had been joking earlier, but upon hearing this, his expression instantly changed. He hurried over to Meng Nan and reached out to probe his wrist—

Just as he thought!

Inner Qi Greater Heavenly Cycle!

"This—"

Meng Santan felt his pulse, his face first turning grim, but then a strange expression appeared.

He looked at Meng Nan, then at Zhao Xiaoshuang.

He hesitated to speak.

"Santan."

Meng Xingzhe looked at his sister.

Meng Santan also reacted, stepping back a few paces to stand before Zhao Xiaoshuang, her expression peculiar. "Is my Dad getting younger?"

His body.

His pulse.

It was as strong and vigorous as a young man in his early twenties.

Nothing like a hundred-and-twenty-year-old decrepit old man!

"There was a slight mishap with his cultivation, but thankfully, it's not serious."

In front of her children, Zhao Xiaoshuang still gave Meng Nan some face and didn't mention that his memories had also regressed to when he was nineteen.

Otherwise—

A nineteen-year-old body.

A nineteen-year-old mind.

Meng Xingzhe and Meng Jian wouldn't dare to say much, but if it were Meng Santan, she would probably make some sarcastic remarks.

So, she decided not to bring it up.

Fearing that Meng Santan would ask too many questions, Zhao Xiaoshuang immediately said, "We're leaving now."

With that said.

She pulled Meng Santan out of the cave dwelling.

"Dad."

Meng Xingzhe and Meng Jian bowed in farewell and followed.

Inside the cave dwelling.

The family, briefly reunited, was once again left alone with Meng Nan.

Yanxia Ravine.

This place was similar to Yaozi Mountain, with a small Spirit Land.

Zhang He occupied this place and cultivated here.

True Essence peak!

A quasi-cultivator!

It sounded ordinary.

But in reality, within the entire Blood Lotus Mountain territory, spanning hundreds of thousands of miles with countless peaks, there were probably only about ten to twenty Immortal Masters and Great Yao openly and secretly.

It was similar to Chashan.

Perhaps not even comparable to Chashan.

In such a vast region, Immortal Masters and Great Yao were hard to encounter.

Therefore, quasi-cultivators below Qi Refining were still the mainstream.

Those at the True Essence peak, like Meng Nan and Zhang He, who were considered strong, held a not insignificant status and were fully qualified to occupy a small Spirit Land.

One day.

Zhang He was cultivating in his cave dwelling.

He was a local rogue cultivator from Blood Lotus Mountain, with a humble background. It was only by chance that he obtained the Profound Yin Soul Slaying Method and a set of 'Mysterious Yin Flying Dagger' that he rose to prominence.

After cultivating to the True Essence peak, he relied on his techniques and magical artifacts to roam the mountains, rarely encountering an opponent.

Sometimes he would enter seclusion for arduous training.

Sometimes he would venture out to seek opportunities.

His 'Mysterious Yin Flying Dagger' was best at ambushing people, attacking when they were unprepared, and killing True Essence peak cultivators was like slaughtering chickens and dogs.

Therefore, most of Zhang He's so-called 'seeking opportunities' involved finding lone rogue cultivators and attacking them from the shadows.

Bloody hands, golden belts!

All the spoils from killing people were exchanged for Spirit Sand and stored. Once enough Spirit Sand was accumulated, Zhang He could go all in and attempt to break through to Qi Condensation.

One day.

Before stillness could lead to thought.

Zhang He was still in secluded cultivation.

At this moment.

BOOM!

The cave mansion suddenly shook, and the 'Four Symbols Array' covering it rapidly activated.

The four symbols manifested.

Guarding the cave mansion.

"Who's there!"

Zhang He's cultivation was disturbed, and his mood was terrible.

He flicked his sleeve, stood up, and went outside the cave mansion. He immediately saw a person standing not far away, holding a banner. Black winds swirled, and ghostly spirits and malevolent Sha swept out, continuously assaulting his Four Symbols Array.

"Yao Mountain Elders!"

"Granny Sword?!"

Zhang He frowned.

He recognized this person as one of the old couple cultivating on Yaozi Mountain, skilled in sword techniques, known as 'Granny Sword.' Her strength was top-tier among those at the peak of True Essence, not much inferior to his own.

And in her hand was likely the signature magical artifact of the other of the Yao Mountain Elders – 'Old Man Five Thunders' – the 'Soul Banner.' It housed many Yin ghosts and malevolent Sha, all with True Essence level strength.

Zhang He had been eyeing this couple for a long time, already contemplating a surprise attack.

Those two old geezers!

Their wealth must be considerable!

But this was merely a thought; he had never actually acted on it, and rarely even encountered them.

How were they attacking his home?

Zhang He was puzzled, on guard, and said loudly, "Granny Sword, we've never interfered with each other. What is the meaning of this?"

Zhang He believed he might not be a match for the Yao Mountain Elders in a head-on fight, so he decisively backed down. While searching for 'Old Man Five Thunders,' he also pondered countermeasures.

However, Zhao Xiaoshuang did not listen.

She held the banner in one hand, controlling ten True Essence level Souls, continuously engulfing the Four Symbols Array with black winds and malevolent Sha.

Zhang He was cautious, not daring to come out rashly.

But if this stalemate continued, he wouldn't last long.

"Old hag!"

"Madwoman!"

Zhang He was speechless!

This unprovoked attack, with no answer to his questions, was truly vexing and stifling.

A wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him!

Seeing this, Zhang He decided to take advantage of the array not being broken yet and quickly packed up his belongings in the cave mansion before slipping away through a secret passage.

The secret passage led outside the mountain.

The exit was on a cliff face.

"Yao Mountain Elders!"

"I will have my revenge!"

Zhang He fled, his heart filled with malice. However, as he looked around, he saw a giant spirit body blocking his path. It raised its hand and threw a golden ring, which grew in the wind and smashed down towards him.

"Giant Spirit Body!"

"Old Man Five Thunders?"

Zhang He thought he had encountered the other of the Yao Mountain Elders.

BOOM!

With a boom, the golden ring struck.

A golden talisman on Zhang He's body shattered. Looking again, it wasn't 'Old Man Five Thunders' at all, but a middle-aged woman holding a spear and a ring.

His heart sank.

At this moment.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

The four directions of heaven and earth rumbled as three more colossal spirits arrived.

"Damn it!"

Zhang He's vision went black, his heart turned to ash!

PS: Preliminary news, the book will be released on Lunar New Year's Day (February 1st).

PS2: Recommending a new book by a big shot, it's being released at noon today, check it out if you're interested, Hongwu Great Ming: Why Isn't My Son Rebelling Yet

PS: Is anyone reading on Lunar New Year's Day? I'm dead.

PS: Please vote with recommendation tickets!