Chapter 144: Descending Truth and Returning Life! Zhang Fan

After the explosion in the old residential area, public opinion on the internet gradually subsided.

Zhang Fan's life returned to normal. As for the old Zhang residence, he had probed a few times through Sui Chunsheng, but it seemed the Jiangnan Province Dao Alliance had no leads or clues.

This made him feel slightly at ease. Now, he was focused on practicing the Inner Dan Method and refining his Primordial Spirit, hoping to impact the 【High Merit】 rank as soon as possible.

It must be said that joining 【Night Without Light】 that day was indeed a wise choice.

This could be considered Zhang Fan's blessed land. Don't look at the low salary or the fact that he hadn't worked many proper days, but his cultivation had been advancing by leaps and bounds.

From coming down from Zhenwu Mountain to joining 【Night Without Light】 until now, it had only been a little over three months, and he had already crossed from the 【Qi Gong】 rank, through 【Art Apprentice】, 【Mysterious Master】, and straight into the 【Spirit Official】 rank—three consecutive leaps. The speed was so fast that probably no one in the world could surpass him.

If this were to spread, it would probably cause quite a stir in the Daoist sects.

"High Merit, ah. I don't know when I will be able to reach this rank," Zhang Fan muttered softly.

One who has high Dao merit is a High Merit; they can perform rituals with the altar, preside over fasts and offerings, and conduct major and minor Dharma rituals.

Whether in terms of cultivation realm or status, they hold pivotal importance within the Daoist sects.

Without exaggeration, a High Merit is the backbone of a mountain or sect, carrying on the past and opening up the future; they have both the ability to pass on teachings and the power to expand the sect.

However, this realm is like being separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, like being blocked by the passes of heaven and earth.

Many 【Spirit Officials】 of famous mountain sects never attain it in their entire lives.

"Practice slowly."

Zhang Fan also knew that cultivation matters cannot be rushed. If the obsession is too strong, it becomes like an inner demon; a tiny difference leads to a thousand-mile error, and one might even see their cultivation regress. Falling into the tribulation of the Great Night Without Light is not rare.

Cultivation is difficult; it is difficult to ascend to the blue clouds. If one does not hope for longevity, how can one cultivate? If one hopes for longevity, it becomes an obsession, and one will never attain it.

Difficult! Difficult! Difficult! Just arriving at the company, Zhang Fan smelled a rich aroma of coffee.

A cup of black coffee was already placed on his desk. No need to ask; he knew this was Wen He's thoughtful preparation.

Ever since Wen He learned that Zhang Fan had insomnia, she would brew a cup of black coffee every morning before he arrived to help him refresh his mind.

In reality, it didn't matter if Zhang Fan drank it or not; he couldn't sleep at all.

"Fanfan, good morning."

"Sister Wen, good morning." Zhang Fan greeted her and sat at his desk. Subconsciously looking up, Jiang Lai's seat was still empty. Counting it up, she had been out for more than a week.

"You finally arrived. The boss wants you to go to his office once you get here."

Jiang Hu sat in a swivel chair and rolled over.

"The boss!?"

Zhang Fan subconsciously looked up at Bai Buran's office. Busy with the old residence these days, he had almost forgotten the company had a boss.

"What's the matter?"

"I don't know. Maybe it's because you've been taking too many leaves lately," Jiang Hu muttered in a low voice.

Others go to work and punch the clock looking forward to holidays; Zhang Fan is looking forward to punching the clock during holidays.

"What must come will come."

Zhang Fan stood up, came to Bai Buran's office, and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Bai Buran's voice came from inside the office. Zhang Fan opened the door and walked in.

"Boss, you looking for me?"

"Sit." Bai Buran picked up his thermos, blew on the floating tea leaves, and took a small sip.

"You've been very busy lately."

As soon as Bai Buran opened his mouth, Zhang Fan's face twitched, revealing an awkward smile.

"You've almost become an external staff member of the Jiangnan Province Dao Alliance," Bai Buran raised his eyelids slightly and looked deeply at Zhang Fan.

Obviously, Bai Buran already knew about what happened in the old residential area. After all, Ma Buting had been beaten by him to the point of being neither dead nor alive; such a big matter naturally had to be reported to the leadership.

"Is... is Brother Ma okay?" Zhang Fan asked with concern.

"Your strikes are getting more and more ruthless," Bai Buran said with deep meaning. "His little life was saved."

Hearing this, Zhang Fan breathed a sigh of relief. As long as no lives were lost, it was fine. How was he to know the 【Fire Dragon Dan Sword】 was so terrifyingly powerful? If he had to blame someone, he could only blame Ma Buting for being unlucky and becoming the first test subject for his mastered technique.

"What realm are you in now?"

Just then, Bai Buran changed the subject and asked.

"Spirit Official!"

Zhang Fan didn't hide it. Originally, his main purpose for joining 【Night Without Light】 was for cultivation.

Now that he had ascended to the 【Spirit Official】 rank, he would next contemplate 【High Merit】, so naturally, there were many places he needed to consult Bai Buran.

"As expected!"

Even though he had already anticipated it, when Bai Buran heard it personally from Zhang Fan's mouth, this expert from Zhenwu Mountain still felt a sense of trance.

He remembered clearly that when Zhang Fan joined the company, he was only at 【Qi Gong】.

On the rooftop, Wen He tested his skills, and the latter had only barely managed to block one move of 【Heavenly Net】.

It had only been three or four months, and he had already ranked among the 【Spirit Officials】.

Such speed could be called terrifying.

"This kid is truly not normal," Bai Buran sighed inwardly.

"It seems you are about to start contemplating High Merit."

"I was just wanting to ask for your guidance, Boss," Zhang Fan said humbly.

According to the 【Dao Dao Mi Lu】 given to him by Pojie, the Daoist realms start from 【Initial Movement】 where the Primordial Spirit awakens, plus the subsequent nine realms: 【Qi Gong】, 【Art Apprentice】, 【Mysterious Master】, 【Spirit Official】, 【High Merit】, 【Great Being】, 【Fast Head】, 【View Master】, and 【Three Tian Shi】, totaling ten ranks.

Among them, 【High Merit】 is a clear watershed.

But the 【Dao Dao Mi Lu】 spoke of it extremely obscurely, with only one sentence: "The Yellow Court Classic on the desk, Descending Truth incense in the furnace. Look up to guide the immortal crane, ascend and the body is already light. Looking back at the Dao path, high merit can be the peak."

"High Merit is a monument. Only those who can reach this realm can be considered to have wisdom roots and immortal fate," Bai Buran said in a deep voice.

If the Daoist realms are divided into ten ranks, there are three major passes.

"Three major passes!?" Zhang Fan was puzzled.

"Correct," Bai Buran nodded and said.

"Restore the Primordial Spirit, descend the true life, cross the disaster tribulation..."

"These are the three major passes among the ten realms."

"I ask for your guidance, Boss," Zhang Fan asked humbly.

"Restoring the Primordial Spirit is the pass encountered at the first realm, 【Initial Movement】. Suppress the consciousness spirit, return and awaken the Primordial Spirit; only then can one truly begin cultivation."

"Some people have chaotic thoughts and restless consciousness spirits. Even if you teach them the method of holding onto the One and keeping stillness, it is difficult for them to perceive the Primordial Spirit, let alone return and restore it," Bai Buran sighed.

Back then, Xia Weisheng only spent three days to break the first pass, enter stillness and peek into the void, and see the Primordial Spirit. He spent another forty-nine days to be able to have the Primordial Spirit leave the body, which was considered a top-tier genius.

Modern people have more intense emotions and more chaotic minds. Just this first pass alone can eliminate 99% of people.

"Cultivation is indeed not for everyone," Zhang Fan nodded.

He had long passed the first pass, so there was no need to say more.

"The second pass, 【Descending True Life】, corresponds to the 【High Merit】 realm..." Bai Buran said in a deep voice.

"To step into 【High Merit】, one must descend truth and return life."

"What is descending truth and returning life?" Zhang Fan couldn't help but ask.

"The Primordial Spirit is innately possessed. Born into this red dust, eating grains, and stained with worldly turbid Qi, it enters the acquired state," Bai Buran said in a deep voice.

"The secret of cultivation lies in the word 【Reverse】."

If one can cultivate to the 【Spirit Official】 rank, the Primordial Spirit is strong, True Yang is sufficient, and the physical body is strong, one can reverse the vitality and turn from acquired back to innate.

"Primordial Spirit baptism!?" Zhang Fan was thoughtful and said in a deep voice. Hearing this, Bai Buran's eyes lit up, and he nodded immediately.

"That's about what it means."

"Primordial Spirit baptism is like a baby being nurtured in the womb, being born all over again," Bai Buran said in a deep voice.

No wonder 【High Merit】 is different and is called the watershed of Daoist cultivation.

Being able to rank among such a realm, the Primordial Spirit undergoes baptism, washes away acquired turbid Qi, transforms and sublimates, and is never the same again. Although it is only one realm away from 【Spirit Official】, there is a world of difference.

"How can this be achieved?" Zhang Fan pressed.

This was the key method, the secret of cultivation.

"Descending Truth incense!" Bai Buran's lips parted slightly, spitting out three words.

"The number one incense of the Daoist sects!?"

Zhang Fan had seen records in the 【Dao Dao Mi Lu】. Descending Truth incense was the head incense for ancient Daoist sacrifices. The head incense is respected, and only then can one sacrifice to heaven.

It is said that Descending Truth incense comes from the Daoist sects; the smoke rises straight to the nine heavens. By day, it guides cranes to sing in the mysterious void, descending all truths to cultivate immortals.

It is said that burning this incense can reach the heavens directly and guide the descent of immortals from heaven.

"One stick of true incense reaches the heavens, demons and monsters all hide. Those with high Dao merit participate in the mysterious, descending true life to report to the Jade Emperor," Bai Buran muttered softly.

Burn Descending Truth incense, guide the descent of all truths, baptize the Primordial Spirit; if one can transform and sublimate, one enters the 【High Merit】 realm.

The second pass, 【Descending Truth and Returning Life】, also known as 【Descending True Life】, gets its name from this.

"The risk is huge," Bai Buran said in a deep voice.

The Primordial Spirit is subtle; the slightest addition or subtraction carries the risk of life and death, not to mention the baptism of descending truth.

Since ancient times, I don't know how many brilliant talents have failed to endure this pass and perished in the 【Descending Truth incense】. Even those who survived had major problems with their Primordial Spirits—either going crazy or becoming useless.

Of course, if one can endure it, the Primordial Spirit transforms, and one has the wonder of returning to the innate.

Cranes can descend in the incense; only High Merit produces this phenomenon.

"Cranes?" Zhang Fan was stunned.

"Not real cranes, but an external scene," Bai Buran said in a deep voice.

In ancient China, the crane was not only an immortal bird representing longevity but also a messenger between the immortal realm and the human world. Human cultivators ride cranes to ascend, and immortals from the upper realm ride cranes to descend. The crane is ethereal and mysterious, connecting the "immortal" and the "mortal."

Legend has it that the founder of the Bai He View ascended in broad daylight, riding a crane to heaven, and the name 【Bai He View】 came from this.

It is said that those who can undergo Primordial Spirit baptism in 【Descending Truth incense】, return to the true life, and rank among 【High Merit】 will have the phenomenon of 【Crane Descent】. The more cranes that descend, the higher the cultivation and the greater the achievement.

"Boss, this 【Descending Truth incense】..." Zhang Fan hesitated.

Although one can buy so-called Descending Truth incense online, that certainly isn't real.

Real 【Descending Truth incense】 is a secret transmission of the Daoist sects, extremely precious. The 【Descending Truth incense】 between different sects is also different, and it even needs to be specially refined according to the 【Inner Dan Method】 practiced by the individual.

"The Inner Dan Method you practice is 【North-South Sect Source】, right? I can greet Zhenwu Mountain," Bai Buran said in a deep voice.

"Although Descending Truth incense is precious, if you speak up, Zhenwu Mountain should prepare it for you."

"Mm." Zhang Fan nodded.

He was indeed practicing 【North-South Sect Source】, but before entering the Great Night Without Light, what he practiced should have been 【Divine Demon Holy Fetus】. He didn't know if the 【Descending Truth incense】 tailored for him by Zhenwu Mountain would be of any use.

"Don't rush this kind of thing. Even if you have the Descending Truth incense, don't be too hasty," Bai Buran warned.

Descending truth and returning life is no small matter. A slight carelessness, and all Dao practice is lost. Many people hesitate, perhaps preparing for ten, twenty, or even thirty years, unable to make up their minds to cross that hurdle.

"Cultivation is really too difficult," Zhang Fan couldn't help but say.

"You saying this is purely losing your conscience."

Bai Buran rolled his eyes at Zhang Fan. Who the hell could break through from 【Qi Gong】 to 【Spirit Official】 in three or four months? If this is considered difficult, should others even bother living!? Zhang Fan smiled awkwardly. He knew his situation was different from others, so he immediately changed the subject: "Boss, what does the third pass, 【Crossing Disaster Tribulation】, mean?"

"That is a problem you only need to consider when impacting 【Three Tian Shi】. It has nothing to do with you."

As he spoke, the boss took a file bag from the drawer and threw it in front of Zhang Fan.

"Run an errand with this stack of receipts and send them to them."

"Urn for ashes!? Our company has this business too?"

Zhang Fan glanced at it. These were receipts for ordering urns, a full five hundred boxes. The client was...

"Xiao Xiaole Funeral Home!?"

Zhang Fan looked at this name, his expression becoming strange.

He had lived in Yujing City for so many years and had never heard of a funeral home called 【Xiao Xiaole】.

"Send it over now," Bai Buran greeted.

"Okay!"

Zhang Fan picked up the file bag and went out. This funeral home named 【Xiao Xiaole】 was in the suburbs. Going back and forth, he estimated he could make it back before lunch.

Watching Zhang Fan leave the company, Old Yu stood up and walked into Bai Buran's office.

"Boss, did you chat out anything?" Yu Fu sat down and couldn't help but ask.

"He is not normal," Bai Buran leaned on the chair, looking at the ceiling, and muttered softly.

No one can have such cultivation speed in such a short time.

"The Jiangnan Province Dao Alliance has already set their sights on him..." Bai Buran said in a deep voice.

Now, Lou Hechuan only thinks Zhang Fan is a disciple secretly cultivated by Zhenwu Mountain, but if he knew Zhang Fan only started cultivation during summer vacation travel, heaven knows what his reaction would be.

"They should be checking his background, right?" Yu Fu couldn't help but ask.

"If Old Man Chu could let him down the mountain, do you think he would be afraid of being checked?" Bai Buran said indifferently.

"Could it be..."

"I have also checked... his background is very clean. Father Zhang San, junior high graduate, worked on construction sites all year round. Mother Li Sigu, died in a car accident..."

Bai Buran looked at the stack of files hidden in the drawer. This was all the information he could find, including Zhang Fan's mother's death certificate and the accident appraisal data from that time.

His background was squeaky clean.

"I now somewhat know why Old Man Chu wanted to accept him. Sightseeing, coincidental opportunity..." Bai Buran's gaze narrowed slightly.

"Maybe they knew each other originally."

"Knew each other originally?" Yu Fu was stunned.

"As long as there is enough time, with the energy of Zhenwu Mountain, one can wash a person's past squeaky clean," Bai Buran's gaze narrowed into a line.

A person's past having no problems at all is the biggest problem.

But he couldn't understand why Chu Chaoran, a living True Person of the current age, would spend such effort on an unknown young man. What did he want to do? "A divine figure like True Person Chu, logically speaking, shouldn't play such schemes. Could it be..."

Just then, Yu Fu's eyes lit up, thinking of a possibility.

"What?"

"That kid is the True Person's illegitimate son!?"

Rumble...

As soon as the words fell, a deafening rumble of thunder came from outside the window, as if the Heaven God was furious, and the weather changed in the blink of an eye.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Old Man Chu is over a hundred years old. A figure like him..."

Bai Buran's words paused, rubbing his chin, his eyes flashing with the light of wisdom: "Old tree blooming... it's not impossible."

Rumble...

Before the words fell, the thunder outside became even louder, deafening, as if a storm was about to arrive!!!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 145 =====