Pure Yang!

Chapter 499 Heavenly King and Sect Leader! The Master of the Yuan Palace
The Tomb of the Living Dead, inside that mysterious cave.

When the old man approached, the scene before us changed completely. It was as if the moon shone brightly and the Milky Way reflected its image, making everything inside and out clear and serene.

This is the phenomenon created by using one's own small world to influence the larger world.

This is what is meant by "harmony between man and nature".

The will of Heaven is the will of the people.

Ordinary people are easily moved by their surroundings, and are most likely to be touched by the scenery, feel melancholy about spring and autumn, and recall the past. They can always be infected with sorrow, and even the surrounding environment seems to become part of this sorrow.

But when one reaches the Celestial Master level, the environment changes with one's mind; with a single thought, the world is reflected.

Wang Tianwang's state of mind is like the vast sky, his temperament is like the bright moon, and his gaze is like the eternal flow of time. He is clearly within reach, yet untouchable.

This is the number one person in the Chunyang Wang family, and the number one expert in Qinxi Province.

"The Three Corpses Taoist..."

When that title came out of Wang Tianwang's mouth, everyone came to their senses and looked at Zhang Fan with strange eyes.

The title of "Three Corpse Daoist" is one that can only be inherited by those who ascend to the highest position in the Wuwei Sect.

Throughout history, for people today, the most famous man is none other than that man from a hundred years ago, the best in the world, invincible.

Now, this title has actually been associated with Zhang Fan.

"Senior is joking, how could I..." Zhang Fan calmed himself down and quickly forced a smile, but his mind was racing.

He never expected that this old man from the Chunyang royal family would come all the way from the capital to appear in this Tomb of the Living Dead.

"The first rule of the Wuwei Sect is that anyone who cultivates the Three Corpses to illuminate their destiny becomes the sect master."

Wang Tianwang spoke indifferently, interrupting Zhang Fan's "sophistry".

"Although your alchemy is not yet perfect, it has already achieved a minor success and your aura has begun to emerge. Given time, you may become a Three Corpse Daoist."

At this point, Wang Tianwang's gaze sharpened, fixing firmly on Zhang Fan.

A man like him, with a single thought, can turn the world upside down.

Such a gaze from a junior is truly unprecedented.

However, the terrifying reputation of that Supreme Alchemy Technique was enough to earn the attention of this top expert in Qinxi Province.

hum...

It was just that look in his eyes that made Zhang Fan feel like he was facing a formidable enemy, his scalp tingling as if it were about to explode.

Almost at the same moment, Li Yishan subconsciously pulled Zhang Fan back a little.

Such a subtle movement, however, brought a smile to the face of the Grand Master Wang Tianwang.

"Human zodiac animal!?"

"Young man, your surname is Li?" Wang Tianwang suddenly asked, changing the subject.

Li Yishan remained silent, or rather, at this moment, he was unable to speak at all; he simply nodded with difficulty.

In front of the Celestial Master, both he and Zhang Fan were still too inexperienced.

"If you had even a fraction of your grandfather Li Jiugong's abilities, I might let you leave today." Wang Tianwang sighed, his gaze falling on Zhang Fan once more.

"Master Chaoran is getting old. I'm afraid he can no longer protect the Daoist sect for another sixty years of peace."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fan's expression changed drastically.

The implication of Wang Tianwang's words was obvious: back then, at the summit of Mount Dongyue, Chu Chaoran defeated the Three Corpse Taoist, which brought about this sixty-year period of peace.

Now that Chu Chaoran is old, if another Three Corpse Daoist were to emerge, how could the world be at peace? And where could we find another Pure Yang Wuji?
If that's the case, then naturally we must nip the danger that has already begun to emerge in the bud.

Rumble…

Thinking of this, Zhang Fan subconsciously took a step back.

With just one step, it was like falling into an abyss, with nothing but emptiness beneath his feet. The sky was invisible, and the earth could not support him. It seemed as if the world was vast, yet there was no place for him to stand.

"Oh no!" Zhang Fan's heart skipped a beat.

His cultivation was advanced and his alchemy was superb, but he was still lacking in the face of the Celestial Master realm!

"The king caresses the sun and moon, turning heaven and earth upside down, returning to nothingness..."

Suddenly, a soft, gentle sound arose, as harmonious as a spring breeze and as leisurely as flowing water.

Zhang Fan raised an eyebrow and saw a ray of light dissipate before his eyes, restoring clarity to everything in the cave and dissipating the terrifying pressure.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound, and even Wang Tianwang's attention was drawn to it.

In the center, a young man sat cross-legged; it was none other than Zhang Wang.

"When...when did he get here?" Meng Qiwu's beautiful eyes trembled slightly as she instantly recognized him as the man who had taken Li Yishan and Qin Ergou away in the surveillance video.

She just didn't know when the man had appeared in the cave.

In fact, he has always been there.

However, at this moment, he truly appeared in everyone's sight and within everyone's awareness.

"Abandon limbs, discard intelligence, depart from form and become one with the Great Void." King Wang looked at Zhang Wang, his expression solemn, and couldn't help but sigh softly, "What a wondrous state of forgetting oneself!"

“Wang Tianwang, you are a renowned master, how can you make things difficult for a junior like me?” Zhang Wang said with a light laugh.

Although he was young, he spoke with an air of maturity that struck everyone as odd.

"There is no order of precedence in learning; those who have attained mastery are teachers. Throughout history, how many people have been able to cultivate the Three Corpses to such a level?" King Wang shook his head and said.

“He is not some junior student, but a future calamity for the Taoist sect.”

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed, even Zhang Fan's expression became strange. He didn't even know that he had become so powerful without realizing it, actually gaining such recognition from a Celestial Master.

“He’s not acknowledging you, he wants to kill you.” Zhang Wang seemed to have seen through Zhang Fan’s thoughts and couldn’t help but chuckle.

"So you've finally decided to show yourself for this brat?"

Just then, Wang Tianwang's words brought everyone back to their senses.

Zhang Fan's heart skipped a beat. The implication was that this top expert from Qinxi Province wasn't after him; his real target was Zhang Wang!

“Jiang Wansui is too ambitious. He wants to control everything. Did I just show my face in the capital and that's why he's so fixated on me?” Zhang Wang suddenly asked, changing the subject.

“You didn’t just show your face once; you almost dug up the great tomb of the founder of Baihe Temple.” Wang Tianwang shook his head and sighed.

“That is the foundation of Baihe Temple. There are only a handful of people in the world who can find it. So Mr. Jiang is very curious about who you are.”

Upon hearing this, everyone gasped in shock.

This Zhang Wang is indeed no pushover; he even dared to disturb the ancestral graves of Baihe Temple.
"The founder of Baihe Temple... He was also present when the Dao Ancestor and the Three Corpses were discussing the Dao at Crane Cry Mountain..." Zhang Wang suddenly whispered.

Before he finished speaking, Zhang Fan's expression changed slightly.

He had seen it in the memories of the Three Corpse Yuan Dan. After the Three Corpse Daoist achieved great supernatural powers, he went to Longhu Mountain. In the Ancestral Hall, there was an ancient painting that depicted the Dao Ancestor Zhang Daoling cultivating at Heming Mountain. At that time, a Daoist sat with him and discussed the Dao.

That Taoist was the founder of the Wuwei Sect, the first Three Corpse Taoist.

Zhang Wang was referring to this past experience.

Unexpectedly, in those untraceable years, in that long-lost history, there is still a person in Crane Cry Mountain, who is the founder of White Crane Temple.

"White Crane Temple... White Crane Temple..." Zhang Fan murmured to himself, savoring the name.

"I wouldn't be doing this for a mere sleight of hand, Jiang Wansui is being too petty," Zhang Wang chuckled.

"Since you wish to take the exam, why not come back to the capital with me?" Wang Tianwang narrowed his eyes slightly and extended an invitation.

"Hahaha, then we'll see if you have the ability." Zhang Wang laughed loudly.

Suddenly, his entire demeanor changed, and he became completely different from before.

In the realm of emptiness, one forgets form and body, free from self, others, and dust. Inner breath and true qi merge with the sun and moon, outer breath dissipates into heaven and earth, returning to the void and whiteness.

Chaos, unaware of being a guest, vaguely perceives the Dao as its embryo. Only then does it realize the absence of master, and in forgetting all, sits on the spiritual platform for ten thousand years.

He sat there, forgetting the past, forgetting his form, even forgetting the present. Only a hazy, indistinct aura remained, seemingly there yet not there.

"he……"

Everyone's eyes widened in surprise, for Zhang Wang's figure could no longer be seen.

Rumble…

Almost at the same moment, Wang Tianwang took a step forward, his aura even more terrifying, like a monarch of heaven and a ruler of earth, as if he were manipulating the sun and moon in his palm, about to completely obliterate Zhang Wang's aura.

Buzz... The two auras collided, and a terrifying shockwave exploded in the cave.

If this weren't the Tomb of the Living Dead, it would have collapsed and turned into ruins long ago.

Rumble…

Everyone's expression changed drastically. In the boiling turbulence, no figure could be seen anymore, as if two invisible forces of energy were colliding and intertwining... just like the struggle between wind and rain, or the battle between thunder and fire.

The Celestial Master Realm is itself like a small world.

For ordinary people, and even for cultivators like Zhang Fan and Li Yishan, they are mountains, rivers, wind, and the natural world itself.

"The Celestial Master... he really is a Celestial Master-level expert." A voice seemed to roar in Zhang Fan's heart.

He ultimately underestimated Zhang Wang's existence. He was not only a Celestial Master, but also one of the most powerful Celestial Masters.

Such an aura is far more terrifying than that of young celestial masters like Ye Beichen and Liu Nanxu.

Rumble…

The invisible fluctuations, like the raging waves of a vast ocean, swept across the entire "cave." Zhang Fan could no longer see the collision of the two phenomena, and he couldn't even see the surrounding scenery clearly.

The primordial spirit seemed to be annihilated by this fluctuation.

hum...

Just then, a black light and shadow appeared before his eyes. It was like a sword, drifting through the years and floating in the waves. It seemed familiar and connected to him by blood.

"The Corpse-Slaying Sword!?" Zhang Fan's heart skipped a beat.

The Eight Princes carried the coffin here, and the mark of the Corpse-Slaying Sword remains here.

That mark actually emerged from the clash between the two Celestial Masters and resonated with Zhang Fansheng.

hum...

Suddenly, a sound came from his pocket, and the black metal piece trembled violently, resonating with the brand.

A mysterious frequency connected between them.

hum...

The sound echoed in Zhang Fan's ears, as if he were sharpening a sword.

With each tempering process, the black iron sheet draws a massive amount of essence from his body.

Rumble…

At Zhang Fan's dantian, his inner core spun wildly, and the endless radiance gradually fell away and was absorbed by the black iron plate.

The golden patterns gradually faded, but the black iron sheet continued to be honed, as if trying to sharpen its edge anew by drawing on the marks of the past.

"not good!"

Zhang Fan's heart skipped a beat. He never expected that the fragments of the Corpse-Slaying Sword would be so strange. If he continued to suck them in like this, he would be sucked dry.

Not to mention the decline in cultivation, his life would probably be drained away.

Rumble…

Zhang Fan's inner core gradually dimmed, and the golden patterns attached to its surface showed signs of peeling off. He wanted to break it off, but he couldn't find any leverage to do so.

"Why is it that wherever I go, I'm always facing misfortune?" Zhang Fan said through gritted teeth.

Rumble…

Just then, a golden torrent suddenly arrived and poured into his dantian, like rain after a long drought, infusing his inner core with boundless vitality.

Within that golden torrent lay the strange phenomena of life and death, the blooming and withering of flowers, their flourishing and decay fleeting.

"Old Li?" Zhang Fan's eyes lit up as he looked towards the golden torrent, and he was stunned.

"Rosen!?"

At this moment, Rosen was in a terrible state; his physical body had been destroyed, and his primordial spirit was also incomplete.

All of this was Zhang Fan's doing.

“Rosen…” Zhang Fan’s expression was complicated.

He had just used the Three Corpses to illuminate his life, and his mind had changed; he was almost about to kill Rosen.

He never dreamed that at this critical moment, the person who would save him would be his former partner.

"No need for further words..." Rosen's weak voice rang out.

“You are not wrong, and I am not wrong. This is the way things are, and our fate is sealed. Our lives end here.” Rosen slowly closed his eyes.

At that moment, he felt as if he had returned to the Sanqi Orphanage, back to that time, with the cheers of the crowd echoing in his ears.

"All men are brothers, why must they be blood relatives?"

"All men are brothers, why must they be blood relatives!" Rosen murmured softly, his primordial spirit vanishing and transforming into a final golden torrent that flowed into Zhang Fan's dantian.

Zhang Fan gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, feeling an immense pressure in his chest, yet his eyes glistened with tears.

Rumble…

Finally, a mysterious tremor emanated from the black iron plate, and a sharp light suddenly appeared, though faint, it was like a ray of light in the night.

boom……

Almost at the same moment, a terrifying sword light descended from the sky, piercing right through Zhang Wang's aura.

That sword seemed to stretch across the heavens and shake the earth, supreme and noble, unshakeable.

"This is……"

"The sword of Zhongnan Mountain!" An Wuyang exclaimed.

Everyone looked up and saw a middle-aged Taoist priest who looked to be no more than forty or fifty years old, but whose eyes seemed to have been weathered by time. He was standing shoulder to shoulder with Wang Tianwang.

"Master!" An Wuyang called out softly.

Zhou Kongchan, the leader of Zhongnan Mountain.

Zhang Fan turned his head and looked over. He hadn't expected that in order to surround and kill Zhang Wang, they had not only invited a Heavenly King, but also a sect leader.

Rumble…

Zhang Wang's aura was torn apart by the terrifying sword light, and his figure reappeared. At the same time, Wang Tianwang pressed down again, his palm radiating light like the sun and moon, directly reducing Zhang Wang's figure to nothingness, leaving only scattered embers and flying dust.

"died!?"

"The Heavenly King of the Wang Family and the Taoist Kongchan are both top experts of the time. If they join forces, there will be very few people in the world who can survive."

Everyone sighed inwardly, never expecting the battle to change so quickly. The appearance of the Taoist Kongchan determined both victory and defeat, and life and death.

"Infinite Heavenly Lord!"

Zhou Kongchan remained expressionless, bowed, and shouted.

Wang Tianwang let out a long breath, his expression also icy.

Although he was the strongest in Qinxi Province, this battle still took a huge toll on him. If it weren't for Master Kongchan's intervention, the final outcome would have been uncertain.

"Master Kongchan, this time..." Wang Tianwang turned around and whispered.

“Zhou Kongchan, your name is Zhou Kongchan, I remember now…”

Just then, a soft, slow voice rang out in the cave, reaching everyone's ears.

"I remember now, I know who I am."

The voice grew louder and louder, initially sounding like Zhang Wang's, but eventually sounding several years older.

Zhang Fan looked in the direction of the sound and saw a middle-aged man emerging from the firelight and dust. Judging from his features, he looked seven parts like Zhang Wang.

His appearance immediately caused Zhou Kongchan, the head of Zhongnan Mountain, to change his expression.

"It's you!?"

"long time no see."

"This humble Taoist is the master of the Yuan Palace..."

“Sitting in meditation!” The middle-aged man bowed and chuckled. His chuckle was like a bright moon in the vast sky, its radiance overwhelming all the splendor of the world.

(End of this chapter)