In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

The Grandmasters of Kyushu made a pact to meet in the New World, or they went into seclusion, appearing only as elusive dragons, their whereabouts unknown, all mysteriously disappearing.

For a time, the martial arts world of Kyushu fell into a period of stagnation.

Due to the power struggles among the feudal lords, the various schools of thought suffered heavy losses. The two heroes of Guigu Valley were defeated by the Flying Immortal Sword Technique and retreated from the martial world. The Mohist and Agriculturalist schools supported Western Chu, and after Western Chu's defeat and fall, they naturally became homeless again. The Yin-Yang School fared similarly, and with the assistance of Dongjun, they naturally became a key target of the Zhang family's attacks...

Taoism retreats into seclusion, Confucianism cultivates in seclusion, leaving only the opposition between good and evil.

19 But the righteous forces, the Old Celestial Master is in seclusion and nearing his end; Zhang Sanfeng, Tashi Moro, Zhuge Zhengwo and others, out of curiosity, will be heading to the New World, which will not be a short time.

Therefore, when there are no tigers in the land, monkeys reign supreme.

In just a few years, the World Society rose to prominence, gradually dominating the Northwest and encroaching on the Central Plains; after the Zhang family retired, the Supreme Alliance gradually shifted its focus to the Jiangnan region, forming a north-south rivalry with the Money Gang, using the Longjiang River as a natural barrier; the Azure Dragon Society suddenly rose to power, dominating the Central Plains...

The Nine Provinces have stabilized, but the martial arts world is in chaos.

This led to continuous killings and conflicts between various factions.

···

"Son!"

Within Ghost Street, the black market is exceptionally busy due to the infighting among various martial arts factions.

Weapons, poisons, gunpowder... these sought-after resources are in short supply.

Therefore, in just half a year, the transaction volume of Ghost Street reached tens of millions of taels of gold, not counting the huge profits from stolen goods, assassinations, smuggling and other lucrative businesses.

With the Zhang family backing them up, no one dared to investigate this dark place.

However, with Ghost King Yama in charge, everything was in accordance with the rules set by Zhang Xiaoshan, and no force dared to cross the line.

Leaving aside the fact that Ghost Yama has the strength to suppress the Nine Provinces, most of the three major families and six middle-level sects on Ghost Street are members of the Zhang family.

"Uncle Gui, are you really sure?"

Zhang Xiaoshan looked at Ghost Yama, who was now in his eighties and had requested to retire.

After all, Gui Yanluo did not cultivate any Taoist longevity techniques, but rather the Absorption Technique, which greatly damages the meridians. Although his body had been treated by Zhang Xiaoshan in his early years, it was still impossible for him to compare with a Taoist master like Zhang Sanfeng.

Just like Gu Yang retired 25 years ago, this was because he felt his physical strength was declining and decided to retire while he was still at the peak of his career!

Even though the Ghost Yama, now in his eighties, still possesses unparalleled true qi, his overall strength has begun to decline.

Even Lei Laowu is just average!

However, Lei Laowu is the Heavenly Official of Tomb Raiders, the top dog in the tomb raiding industry, so he is rarely seen, unlike Gui Yanluo who needs to be stationed in Ghost Street all the time, so he is not in a hurry.

"I know my own body."

Although my time is not near, I fear I will not live past a hundred. These next few years, I can retire behind the scenes and nurture the next generation of Ghost Kings, so that Ghost Street will not suddenly descend into chaos after my passing!

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaoshan fell silent.

Ghost Yama is a true confidant of the Zhang family, and his contributions over the years are undeniable.

Thinking of the old man who was the first to follow him, Zhang Xiaoshan felt a pang of emotion.

"Uncle Gui has made great contributions to the Zhang family. Without Uncle Gui guarding Ghost Street, many of the Zhang family's plans would not have been able to be implemented smoothly."

And then there's Lei Laowu. If it weren't for him finding the Heavenly Crippled Divine Skill and the Nine Yin Manual for Zhang back then, and even bringing back the Dragon Pearl from Changbai Mountain, the Zhang family wouldn't have achieved its current glory.

Unexpectedly, time flies, and both Uncle Gui and Old Lei are now in their eighties, nearing one hundred.

Although Zhang Xiaoshan had never mistreated them back then.

However, Gui Yanluo and Lei Laowu were the earliest elders to follow Zhang Xiaoshan, and they made great contributions along the way for the Zhang family.

Thinking that both of them were nearing the end of their lives, Zhang Xiaoshan couldn't help but feel a pang of reluctance.

"Back then, in the White Tiger's Nest in Changbai Mountain, Zhang obtained a rare treasure from all over the world—the Bodhi Ganoderma Fruit."

This fruit can not only increase one's merit by a hundred years, but also add thirty years to one's lifespan. This fruit was kept in the Zhang family, and Jiu'er used ten-thousand-year-old ginseng and nine-leaf golden orchid as the main ingredients to refine it into nine Lingzhi Longevity Pills. Each pill not only has the same effect, but is even more effective.

"Uncle Gui and Old Man Lei have rendered great service to the Zhang family, and I have nothing good to give in return. I will have Piaoxu deliver two of them later."

"Your great kindness, young master, will be forever remembered by the King of Hell."

However, I am an old man, long accustomed to life and death, how could I dare to take such a divine elixir!

An elixir that can extend one's lifespan by thirty years?

If anyone else were to say this, Ghost Yama would definitely scoff at it.

Gui Yanluo had no doubt about Zhang Xiaoshan's words, but having seen so much life and death, he was not afraid of death at all.

Aside from expressing gratitude, Ghost Yama refused Zhang Xiaoshan's life-extending elixir.

"Uncle Gui is joking. You are a Grandmaster and an elder of the Zhang family. How could you not be qualified to take this pill?"

Moreover, apart from my father, Ping An, Zhong'er, and Jun'er in the Zhang family all cultivate the Longevity Technique and have already reached the perfect realm. In addition, with the divine and demonic arts, they do not need to take this pill at all. The future bloodline of the Zhang family will be just average.

This elixir may expire in a hundred years, and its efficacy will inevitably be greatly reduced.

Those who have made great contributions to the Zhang family, and those who followed Zhang the earliest (as of August 827th), including Uncle Gui and Lei Laowu, are not taking it. Who will be qualified to take it in the future?

As for the women of the Zhang family?

The effects of the Nine Yin Manual in preserving youth and prolonging life are in no way inferior to those of the Bodhi Ganoderma Fruit.

Lü Zhi's situation was completely outside of Zhang Xiaoshan's consideration.

Empress Lü was ambitious and capable, but the Zhang family didn't have thirty years of power for her to squander; she might even become the next Emperor Wu.

"Thank you for the pill, young master!"

Who doesn't value their life? Even Yama, the King of Hell, is no exception.

At this point, Zhang Xiaoshan brought up the matter, and Gui Yanluo no longer refused.

The Longevity Formula is called the Longevity Formula because it has the effect of prolonging life and is the highest and most profound knowledge of Taoism.

The Zhang family bloodline all use the Longevity Technique to build their foundation and the Pure Yang Divine Skill as their main cultivation method. Unless they are seriously injured or suffer from qi deviation, they do not need such pills to prolong their lives.

I possess true Qi, and my fate is in my own hands, not in the hands of Heaven!

Even if their lifespan is limited, as long as the Zhang family members do not want to die, they can live for two or three hundred years with their pure and righteous Yang Qi.

It's just a matter of whether you want to live or not!

As for emperors, they are not included in this consideration.

If an emperor lives for two or three hundred years, he might rebel after three generations. How much more so if it's only two or three hundred years, then who knows how many generations have passed?

Therefore, it is impossible for Zhang Xiaoshan to use this elixir to prolong the lives of his descendants and emperors, thus allowing the throne to be passed down four or five generations later.

Chapter 896 The Opportunity for Awakening and Faith to Attain Arhatship

"Bodhi Longevity Pill?"

Looking at the pill in his hand, Zen Master Juexin was surprised that Zhang Yuan would entrust him with such a precious pill.

Many elderly people followed the Zhang family. After seeing that Ghost Yama and Lei Laowu's time was coming to an end, Zhang Xiaoshan also began to distribute Bodhi Ganoderma Fruit.

However, apart from Zhang Yuan, only Zen Master Juexin obtained a Bodhi Longevity Pill.

People like Juezhi, Xingyin, and Jin Buer, although they are also high-ranking members of the Zhang family, or even core members, don't have enough elixirs for Zhang Xiaoshan to distribute. He also needs to reserve a few as part of the Zhang family's reserves.

The Zhang family had done everything they could to help Juezhi and the others.

Even as his time was drawing near, Zhang Xiaoshan was powerless to reverse the situation; at most, he could only attempt a last-ditch effort using the Pure Yang Finger technique.

If one survives the five signs of decay, one's lifespan can be extended by at least a few years.

Furthermore, if too many elixirs are distributed, the truth will inevitably be revealed, which is not what Zhang Xiaoshan wants to see.

The fewer people who know about this, the better.

Especially the imperial family.

If Empress Lü Zhi, and the future emperors who rule the empire, knew that her family possessed a miraculous elixir that could extend lifespan by thirty years, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Zhang Xiaoshan didn't want his descendants to fight amongst themselves.

As for Ghost Yama, Lei Laowu, and Zen Master Juexin, none of them are talkative people.

Moreover, knowing the extraordinary effects of the Bodhi Longevity Pill, they would not publicize it, since not only emperors, but many people were afraid of death.

The gift Zhang Xiaoshan gave to Zen Master Juexin was not merely a reward for protecting Zhang Yuan over the years.

There is also Juexin who is just one step away from attaining the status of an Arhat in Buddhism, directly skipping the Grandmaster level and becoming a powerful being at the highest level of the Celestial Realm. This Bodhi Longevity Pill is the final catalyst.

Otherwise, Juexin might not even take that first step until his death.

After all, Juexin is now in his eighties.

A single Bodhi Longevity Pill could add a Buddhist Arhat to the Zhang family, equivalent to an 'ancient god or demon'—this deal couldn't be more worthwhile.

"Master Shan'erdao has reached the required level, but he lacks an external force to break through the final bottleneck."

If the Zen master had consumed snake gall and dragonfish meat in his early years, he might have broken through the barrier long ago. Unfortunately, the Zen master was too strict with the precepts and was unable to break through the final bottleneck.

This elixir has the effect of prolonging life and can replenish the Zen master's qi and blood.

Moreover, the medicinal power can enhance one's abilities by a hundred years, and the abundant primordial energy helps the master cross that dragon gate and attain the golden body of an Arhat in Buddhism.

Suddenly, the master could directly become a powerful being at the Celestial Realm, or even at the Void Shattering Realm.

Upon hearing this, Zen Master Juexin's breathing became rapid.

The elixir's life-extending effect could restore the body's qi and blood, and its powerful medicinal force could break through the body's bottlenecks. This made Zen Master Juexin realize that this was his only chance.

Arhat is the highest level of enlightenment in Buddhism!

Now the opportunity was right in front of him: a miraculous elixir that would prolong life and enhance one's abilities. How could Juexin possibly miss it?

Even though the Zhang family had already offered him enough compensation, it was still an irresistible temptation for him.

"This humble monk will accept it without shame!"

"Hehe, Master, there's no need to be so polite."

Over the years, the master has become one of our own. Although this elixir is precious, Jiu'er has already refined as many as nine of them last time.

On the contrary, among the direct descendants of the Zhang family, only this old man like me needs this thing to prolong my life. People like Sheng'er and Zhong'er have cultivated longevity techniques and don't need this thing to prolong their lives at all.

If Ghost Yama hadn't resigned this time, Shan'er probably would have forgotten about this thing too.

Upon hearing this, Zen Master Juexin was deeply moved.

Although the younger generation of the Zhang family didn't need it, the importance of the item was self-evident.

Moreover, as the Zhang family grows, it's impossible to be good at everything. If one or two good-for-nothings appear, this thing will be a lifesaver.

"Perhaps the young masters will find it useful in the future."

After all, the Zhang family will multiply and flourish everywhere in the future, and there will always be a day when they will be useful.

"The aspect that the master was worried about, Shan'er had already considered long ago."

Emperor's Longevity?

It is precisely because he was an emperor that he could not live forever.

Otherwise, if an emperor reigns for sixty or seventy years, or even a hundred years, wouldn't the second or third generation have to be seventy or eighty years old to succeed to the throne? It would be better to pass the throne to the emperor after four or five generations. Therefore, this is impossible.

As long as Ying'er's lineage remains in the mortal world of Kyushu, it is virtually impossible for them to enter the core of the Zhang family.

Shan'er even planned to move the Zhang family's main base to the New World, leaving only a core branch in this East China Sea base!

The emperor's family is the most ruthless!

Sheng'er and Ying'er are doing well; they are from three or four generations, and their relationship is at its strongest.

But with each subsequent generation, the estrangement only increases.

Especially in imperial families, after the third generation, there is basically only self-interest. The struggle for the throne among the nine princes, or the killing of fathers and brothers for the sake of the throne, is by no means a rare occurrence.

Rather than wait until bloodshed splatters in the streets, it's better to act decisively now; at least it will expose the ties between our families.

Upon hearing Zhang Yuan's explanation, even Zen Master Juexin couldn't help but gasp.

Juexin couldn't help but sigh. He hadn't expected Zhang Xiaoshan to have considered all of this and even had long-term plans.

This is the essence of empires and aristocratic families.

A flowing dynasty, an iron-clad family.