Pure Yang!

Chapter 384 Old Cat and Jia Sheng Gui Si! Pure Yang Magic Treasure, Three Great Magic Swords

From the moment Zhang Fan and Li Miaoyin met, their bond deepened.

Putting everything else aside, when Zhang Fan successfully merged with the divine, Li Miaoyin played a crucial role. She risked her life to enter the dead of night and bring out Zhao Jiexuan's primordial spirit.

Not to mention, later, when they returned to Yujing City and met with Ge Shuangxiu, Zhang Fanqiang used the "Dividing Spirit Technique" and almost triggered the Three Corpses Calamity. It was Li Miaoyin who risked her life to merge with his primordial spirit and become one with him.

From then on, the relationship between Zhang Fan and Li Miaoyin became extremely subtle and special.

"Don't talk nonsense," Zhang Fan said guiltily.

"What are you feeling guilty about? What's mine is yours..." Li Yishan said with a smile, his arm around Zhang Fan's shoulder.

Upon hearing this, Meng Qiwu looked at their primordial spirits with even greater strangeness.

"Women will only slow down my grave-digging speed!" Li Yishan shook his head.

Originally, the blind date with Li Miaoyin was not arranged for him.

"When you get married, I'll give you a big gift."

"This is getting more and more outrageous," Zhang Fan said, rolling his eyes.

Have you chosen a name for the baby?

"..."

"Let's go!"

Zhang Fan quickened his pace.

A moment later, the two arrived at a shop led by Meng Qiwu. The storefront was not large, but the signboard prominently displayed the three characters "Zhenbaoge" (Treasure Pavilion).

"Treasure Pavilion..."

Li Yishan looked up at the signboard and felt that the characters on it had an extraordinary momentum, with hidden sharpness, like the trend of the Zhongnan Mountains, and the more he looked at it, the more profound and charming it became.

"This shop is interesting; just the signboard alone is no ordinary shop."

"As expected of a person... good eye." Meng Qiwu hesitated before speaking.

"Who wrote this word?"

Li Yishan had just asked the question when he saw the signature in the corner of the signboard, which clearly read:

Master Kongchan!

"Kongchan Daoist... Zhou Kongchan... the head of Zhongnan Mountain?"

Li Yishan looked surprised.

The signboard, personally inscribed by the headmaster of Zhongnan Mountain, carries a different weight. Just from this signboard, one can tell that the owner of this shop is no ordinary person.

"The owner of this shop is surnamed Zhao. His father also practiced Taoism in Zhongnan Mountain in his early years and was of the same generation as the sect leader. Unfortunately, his affinity with Taoism was shallow, so he returned to secular life and opened this shop," Meng Qiwu said solemnly.

"Shallow affinity with the Dao!?" Zhang Fan pondered.

This statement is quite interesting. In reality, Meng Qiwu was being polite; to put it bluntly, it means he lacked talent.

In fact, most cultivators achieve nothing in their entire lives, and many even struggle to awaken their primordial spirit, thus having no affinity with the Dao.

Despite Zhang Fan's current status as a ninth-level Great Master, he has encountered many experts, including Celestial Masters, more than once.

In fact, what he reached was a height that most cultivators could never hope to see in their entire lives.

There are many predecessors like the one Meng Qiwu mentioned. They know they have no affinity with the Tao, so they simply return to secular life and live a carefree life in the mortal world, making their journey in this world worthwhile.

This also shows that these people's faith in Tao is not firm enough.

If one's resolve to follow the Way is not firm, one will naturally be disconnected from the Way.

Being unconnected to the Tao makes one's resolve to follow it waver.

The two are mutually causal, one cause and the other effect, as if preordained.

Perhaps this is also a trial by the Great Dao, without any distinction of precedence or cause and effect.

"The sect leader mentioned this signboard out of consideration for fellow disciples," Meng Qiwu continued.

Even wealthy and kind families have a few poor relatives.

If the Great Way is wealth, then with the cultivation of the Taoist Kongchan, he must be an extremely wealthy man.

The owner of this [Treasure Pavilion] was Kong Chan Daoren's sworn brother from his impoverished youth, before he became rich. Now that he was rich, he naturally wanted to help his poor brother.

In the early days, when the owner's father was still alive, even the Taoist Kongchan had personally visited the place, making it quite a sight in the black market at the time.

But after the people left, Master Kongchan came less often.

That's why, although the shop doesn't look big, its business is huge, and it's one of the top businesses even in the black market.

"Let's go."

Meng Qiwu pushed open the door and went inside. The shop was small but very messy, with goods piled up on shelves or slung aside. At first glance, it looked more like a warehouse than a shop.

"This is too hasty," Zhang Fan couldn't help but say.

Suddenly, Zhang Fan caught a glimpse of a scroll hanging on a dilapidated shelf to his right. The silk paper had turned yellow, and strange talismans were drawn crookedly on it, resembling a blazing flame.

“This is… Maoshan’s Crimson Dragon Fire Talisman!?” Zhang Fan was stunned for a moment before recognizing it.

The Crimson Dragon Fire Talisman is a supreme treasure of Maoshan.

Legend has it that in ancient times, a strange fire fell from the sky and landed in the Western Mountains and Great Rivers. When the founder of Maoshan passed by, he saw a red light shooting into the sky. He went deep into the mountains and heard the roar of a dragon. He found this object in an ancient cave. It was a dragon-shaped jade object with a mysterious seal and talisman. He brought it back to the mountains and worshipped it with incense for generations.

This treasure had long been inherited by Fang Changle and integrated into his primordial spirit; it was truly extraordinary.

The scroll is inscribed with the talisman for the Crimson Dragon Fire Talisman. If this falls into the hands of a talisman master, with his profound cultivation and the use of top-quality talisman materials, he will surely be able to refine an extremely powerful fire talisman.

Although it cannot compare to the real Crimson Dragon Fire Talisman, it is still enough to be a family heirloom.

"Yes, it really is, but not complete."

Zhang Fan bent over, examining each stroke of the talisman with extreme care.

He had seen Fang Changle's Crimson Dragon Fire Talisman a few times, and there were still some differences between the two.

The talismans on this scroll are probably only about 60% or 70% of the [Crimson Dragon Fire Talisman].

"You recognize him?" Meng Qiwu couldn't help but ask.

Although she could tell that this thing was extraordinary, she was not skilled in the art of talismans and could only watch the spectacle.

"This is the Maoshan Crimson Dragon Fire Talisman, but it's missing quite a few pieces," Zhang Fan said in a low voice.

"Young man, you have a good eye."

Just then, a cheerful voice rang out.

Zhang Fan looked up and saw a middle-aged man with a refined demeanor walk out. His temples were gray, his hair was combed back, and he was twirling two iron balls in his hands, his face glowing.

"Uncle Zhao." Meng Qiwu stepped forward and bowed.

Zhao Menglang, the owner of Zhenbaoge, is a powerful figure in Chang'an City who commands respect from all sides.

"Xiao Meng, this is your friend. You have a truly discerning eye. I wonder which family he is a disciple of?" Zhao Menglang sized up Zhang Fan.

"Maoshan?"

The fact that someone can immediately recognize the origin of the Crimson Dragon Fire Talisman suggests a connection to Maoshan, or perhaps even a Maoshan descendant.

At this moment, Zhao Menglang had already guessed most of the truth: the young man in front of him was very likely Fang Changle, a successor of Maoshan.

“Uncle Zhao, his name is Zhang Fan, and he is a disciple of Zhenwu Mountain,” Meng Qiwu introduced.

“Zhenwu Mountain!?” Zhao Menglang was stunned for a moment.

"I've met senior."

“Disciples of Zhenwu Mountain…no wonder…they have a good eye…” Zhao Menglang couldn’t help but say.

“This incomplete talisman of mine has been here for many years, and no one has ever been able to recognize it.”

It's not that there aren't any masters of talismans in Chang'an, but rather that the Crimson Dragon Fire Talisman is a treasure of Maoshan, rarely shown to outsiders, so it's little known to outsiders.

"Uncle Zhao, the Maoshan Red Dragon Fire Talisman is a closely guarded secret. How do you have a rubbing of it?" Meng Qiwu couldn't help but ask.

“Speaking of which…” Zhao Menglang hesitated, then smiled bitterly, “Many years ago, a master of talismans sold it to me. At the time, I was ignorant and didn’t know it was a broken talisman, so I paid a lot of money for it.”

A fragmented talisman, missing even a tiny bit, is unusable, just like a circuit; if it's missing even the slightest bit, it can't form a path.

"Boss, then you've been scammed," Li Yishan said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Menglang's gaze sharpened slightly as he glanced at Li Yishan.

"It's not exactly fraud. This is indeed a fragment of the Crimson Dragon Fire Talisman. The fact that it can be drawn to a considerable extent is already quite rare in this world."

"Uncle Zhao, that person was able to draw an incomplete [Crimson Dragon Fire Talisman], so his skill in talismanic arts must be quite impressive, right?" Meng Qiwu couldn't help but ask.

Such a person is by no means an unknown individual.

“You’re right. This person’s talent in talismans is terrifying. He was able to draw this incomplete talisman after only seeing the Maoshan Crimson Dragon Fire Talisman once,” Zhao Menglang said solemnly.

"So powerful?" Meng Qiwu's expression changed slightly. At this level of talismanic arts, one is spiritually connected and free, capable of countless transformations. An ordinary person could not even remember the general shape of a talisman after just one glance, let alone its profound patterns.

This person was able to grasp the form and meaning of the talisman with just a glance; the power of the talismanic arts is terrifying.

"Who is he?" Meng Qiwu couldn't help but ask.

“You young people may not have heard of him, but he was a famous figure many years ago…” Zhao Menglang murmured softly, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes.

"His name is Nine-Fingered Talisman Demon!"

"..."

"Cough cough cough..."

Zhang Fan caught his breath and couldn't help coughing.

"what happened to you?"

"it's okay no problem!"

"Young man, have you ever seen the Crimson Dragon Fire Talisman of Maoshan?" Zhao Menglang couldn't help but ask.

"I've met you." Zhang Fan nodded.

"Where have you seen this before? As far as I know, this [Crimson Dragon Fire Talisman] is now..."

Zhao Menglang couldn't help but speak up, clearly he had been eyeing this item for quite some time. If he could complete this incomplete talisman, he could sell it for an astronomical price.

“I have some connections with Fang Changle,” Zhang Fan said directly.

"A descendant of Maoshan!? No wonder..."

Zhao Menglang suddenly realized, and the way he looked at Zhang Fan was different now.

"Little brother……"

At this moment, even Zhao Menglang's form of address changed.

"If you can help me complete this talisman, I'm willing to pay this amount."

As he spoke, Zhao Menglang raised his thumb and forefinger, making a gesture.

"Eight hundred?"

“Eight million!” Zhao Menglang said in a deep voice.

This incomplete talisman is already almost complete, lacking only two or three tenths. Once it's finished, he'll immediately offer eight million, which is indeed a huge sum for Zhang Fan.

“Senior, you’re joking. I’m not proficient in talismans, how could I possibly make up for it?” Zhang Fan politely declined with a smile.

The Crimson Dragon Fire Talisman is a treasure of Maoshan. Putting aside his friendship with Fang Changle, if Zhang Fan wanted to stay in Jiangnan Province, he couldn't possibly reveal Fang Changle's wealth.

Moreover, while Zhao Menglang's offer of eight million might seem like a lot, once this incomplete talisman is completed, it can be sold for ten times its original value.

In comparison, eight million isn't much.

"No rush, no rush. Even if the deal falls through, the friendship remains. You've come here like a younger brother coming home. If you change your mind later, you can come back to me. We can discuss the price and everything. After all, it's all family business."

"Younger brother!?" Zhang Fan's eyes narrowed slightly.

Zhao Menglang looks about the same age as his father.

Zhao Menglang squinted, staring intently at Zhang Fan, and then said, "Come on, see if there's anything here that catches your eye?"

"What kind of leather is this!?"

Just then, Li Yishan's voice rang out in the small shop.

He walked to the wall next to him, where a piece of skin hung, shriveled and blurry, making it impossible to tell what kind of animal it was, except that the patterns on its body looked just like cloud patterns.

"Young man, what's your name?" Zhao Menglang walked over and asked.

"Li Yishan".

“You have a good eye; this is Zhang Laomao’s pelt,” Zhao Menglang said solemnly.

"Old Cat's Skin?" Li Yishan's gaze darkened slightly.

"These were dug up by some tomb raiders in Changsha a few years ago," Zhao Menglang said without any hesitation.

"The tomb they found is abnormal; it's not where a human was buried..."

"The coffin in the main burial chamber contained only this skin."

"Was it an old cat that was buried?" Zhang Fan walked over and asked curiously.

"That old cat was still wearing a Taoist robe, and there were other Taoist items around it. Most of them were sold off years ago, leaving only this pelt," Zhao Menglang said calmly.

"It's strange, but after those tomb raiders did this job with me, they all died within a year or two."

"Are they all dead?" Zhang Fan couldn't help but ask.

“Not one is missing.” Zhao Menglang nodded.

"It really does have a sinister quality," Li Yishan said in a deep voice, staring at the leather.

"Cat demons are extremely special among the monsters and spirits of the mountains and seas, the most famous of which is the lineage from Mount Ailao," Zhao Menglang suddenly said, changing the subject.

"These kinds of spirits hold the power of life and death within them, and ordinary people's lives cannot be suppressed by them."

"Hiding life and death?" Meng Qiwu revealed a strange expression.

"They say cats have nine lives, do you know why?" Zhao Menglang chuckled.

"why?"

"There is a saying that in ancient times, there was an old cat in the deep mountains who guarded an ancient cave for generations. There was a celestial book in the cave. Later, the celestial book fell into the mortal world, and the old cat was tainted by its destiny, so it had nine lives, which were passed down to its descendants."

At this point, Zhao Menglang paused slightly, then said, "That scroll of heavenly book is called..."

"Jia gives birth to Gui, Gui dies!"

"The Nine Great Internal Alchemy Methods!?"

Zhang Fan raised an eyebrow and subconsciously looked at Li Yishan.

"Of course, there is another saying that the first thing in the world to cultivate the [Jia Sheng Gui Si] was a cat, so in later generations, cats had nine lives."

"Boss, how much is this leather? I'll take it," Li Yishan said.

“Since you’re my brother’s friend, I’ll give you this leather.” Zhao Menglang was quite generous.

He had already earned back the cost of this batch of goods by selling burial objects from large tombs in his earlier years. As for this piece of leather, he had studied it and found nothing special about it. Moreover, no one in the shop would even bother with it.

"Boss, you're too kind. But I can't go out and buy things without spending money," Li Yishan said, shaking his head.

"One hundred thousand."

"Okay, I'll listen to you. Young man, you're so generous." Zhao Menglang smiled.

You need a good story to sell things, so this 100,000 yuan is basically free money.

"Little brother, take another look..."

Zhang Fan gave an awkward smile and wandered around the shop. He looked around for a long time, but he no longer had the same feeling as when he traded for the black iron sheet last time.

Such an opportunity is indeed rare and hard to come by.

"Um!?"

Just then, an ancient scroll in a corner caught Zhang Fan's attention.

Deep in the mountains and marshes, a dark aura soared into the sky, seemingly concealing unknown terrors.

Three figures stood around the mountain, each holding a magic sword. One of them appeared to be a Taoist priest, his long robe fluttering in the wind, with what seemed to be a blazing sun behind him, exuding divine might.

"This Taoist priest..."

Zhang Fan looked at it and walked over.

"What is this painting? This Taoist priest has an extraordinary air about him..."

"Young man, you have a keen eye," Zhao Menglang couldn't help but praise. "Of course it's exceptional. Does he even know what he's holding?"

"What!?"

“That is a pure Yang magic weapon, the famous Pure Yang Magic Sword, which is currently hanging on the cliff of the South Xuan Palace of Zhenwu Mountain,” Zhao Menglang said in a deep voice.

"The Pure Yang Sword!?"

Zhang Fan's heart stirred, and he exchanged a glance with Li Yishan, both of them having the same image flash through their minds.

They all saw it when they visited Zhenwu Mountain last time. Isn't that a famous scenic spot in Zhenwu Mountain?

"That's actually a pure Yang magic weapon!?" Zhang Fan murmured softly.

“This painting depicts three pure Yang magic treasures, and they are all top-tier magic swords of this era,” Zhao Menglang said, pointing to the ancient painting.

Zhang Fan's gaze sharpened. He didn't look at the three figures, each wielding a magic sword, but was instead drawn to the soaring, chaotic black energy in the deep mountains and marshes.

(End of this chapter)