Chapter 208: Successor of Maoshan! The Daoist in Prison

After the turmoil of that night, Zhang Fan ushered in over half a month of peaceful days.

During these fifteen days, besides going to work, he practiced the 【Fire Dragon Dan Sword】. After absorbing the century-old Ginseng King, the True Yang within his body surged, his Dan-fire blazed intensely, and he also possessed the marvelous insights from comprehending the 【Fire Character Slip】.

Zhang Fan's fire arts had indeed improved significantly. In just half a month, he had progressed from the initial single "Fire Dragon" to five "Fire Dragons." The speed of his advancement was enough to leave most cultivators tongue-tied.

However, there was still a considerable distance to go before he could trigger a qualitative change through quantitative accumulation and elevate the 【Fire Dragon Dan Sword】 from a minor accomplishment art to a major accomplishment art.

This day, at noon.

Lin Jianyue invited Zhang Fan out.

The Bujian Mountain Cafe; this shop was only a street away from the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance Headquarters.

Just as he entered the cafe, Zhang Fan saw Lin Jianyue sitting by the window. The afternoon sunlight spilled onto her, making her appear even more bright and moving.

She was staring at her phone, smiling faintly, revealing a pair of dimples.

"What are you looking at? Smiling so foolishly?"

Zhang Fan walked over and pulled out a chair, creating a commotion that pulled Lin Jianyue's attention back to reality.

"Saw a news story, hilarious... A female university professor who teaches history went on a variety show and said the dynasty she most wants to travel back to is the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties..."

"The host asked her why, and she said it's so she can look at handsome men."

As she spoke, Lin Jianyue put down her phone, but the smile on her face did not fade.

"..."

The Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties—absurd yet "beautiful." Men were steamed, women were stir-fried, and the old and young were skewered and roasted.

I really don't know if this professor's degree was a fake certificate bought with money. With such shallow knowledge, even if she traveled back, she would probably just be a plate of stir-fried bean sprouts.

How could such a person even mix into the ranks of university teachers? I really suspect she relied on connections and took the back door.

Not to mention misleading students, at the very least, it's a disgrace.

"People like this should have their three generations investigated to see if their ancestors produced any traitors."

Zhang Fan curled his lip, ordered a black coffee, and subconsciously looked at the road outside the window.

"Can you change locations next time? This place is only a few steps away from the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance," Zhang Fan said in a low voice.

"This is called 'darkness under the lamp.' The closer you are to home, the less you can see," Lin Jianyue said with a light laugh.

"Besides, the wind has loosened up quite a bit recently."

Zhang Fan remained silent.

Hearing from Sui Chunsheng, the experts near Luohuang Mountain had also withdrawn. Clearly, the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance also knew that such a terrifying existence was hiding in Yujing City. A few days ago, that commotion was nine times out of ten related to them.

"Your Deputy Sect Master couldn't really have escaped, could he?" Zhang Fan couldn't help but ask.

"There seems to be no movement recently," Lin Jianyue shook her head, the smile on her face gradually fading.

Master Nian had been trapped in Luohuang Mountain by a single thought from Chu Chaoran. The latter was a living True Person of the current age; how could his thought be broken so easily?

In fact, for most people, this kind of thing belonged to the realm of fantasy. They couldn't even understand, let alone imagine, how a single thought could trap such a top-tier expert of the current age.

"A single thought from an ordinary person can trigger many karmic causes and affect reality, let alone one from the Pure Yang Limitless Realm?" Lin Jianyue murmured softly.

That kind of realm was not something they could imagine.

Even as the Rabbit of the Thirteen Zodiacs, Lin Jianyue was not a mayfly looking at the blue sky or a frog in a well peeking at the bright moon compared to Chu Chaoran.

"It's good that he can't get out," Zhang Fan whispered.

Master Nian was the Deputy Sect Master of the Wu Wei Sect, a top-five level expert in the world. His actions were completely uninhibited, even more lawless and willful than Ming Shenshou, the Master of the Jianggong, on that day.

If he really escaped, broke through his tribulation, and entered the world, it would absolutely be a disaster.

"Alright, let's talk business. Why did you call me out?" Zhang Fan asked.

Even in Yujing City, he and Lin Jianyue avoided meeting whenever possible. Otherwise, if Lin Jianyue's identity were exposed in the future, these traces of their meetings would all serve as evidence.

"Recently, do you have any news about Zhao Jiexuan?" Lin Jianyue asked.

"Why? You can't contact him?" Zhang Fan raised an eyebrow and asked.

"I have always had a single-line contact with him. He is extremely cautious; it has always been him finding me," Lin Jian said in a heavy voice.

"Coincidentally, it's the same for me."

Zhao Jiexuan would absolutely never take the initiative to contact Zhang Fan. The relationship between the two of them was far too special, so for the former, erasing the connection between them was the safest course of action.

"He couldn't have run into trouble, could he?" Lin Jianyue frowned slightly and couldn't help but say.

"Probably not," Zhang Fan was thoughtful.

Over half a month ago, in a phone call Zhang Lingzong made to him, he had specifically instructed that if he couldn't merge his spirit for the time being, he could give up, but he must never let the Evil God fall into the hands of others. If necessary, he should imprison it.

"He hasn't contacted me for ten days. It's a bit abnormal," Lin Jianyue said in a heavy voice.

"Perhaps he was held up by something," Zhang Fan pondered for a moment before saying.

As his Evil God, Zhao Jiexuan was first-class in terms of strength, temperament, and depth. He could even scheme against an existence like Li Changgeng; even if he encountered danger, he would likely be able to save himself.

Zhang Fan was quite confident in this, unless he really encountered some unimaginable great enemy.

"That's also possible," Lin Jianyue raised her beautiful eyes slightly and gave Zhang Fan a meaningful look.

"You seem a bit nervous. Don't worry, no one knows I'm from the Wu Wei Sect..."

"Shh..."

Zhang Fan made a gesture to be quiet and lowered his voice: "Speak louder if you want."

"Actually, you don't need to worry at all. Once your family's identity and background are exposed, it's more dangerous than mine. I'm even afraid of being associated with you..."

"At that time, whether it's the Daoist sects or the Wu Wei Sect, there will be a whole crowd of people wanting you dead."

"..."

"I thank you for the reminder," Zhang Fan rolled his eyes.

"Actually, your family's greatest adversary is not in the Wu Wei Sect, nor is it in the Daoist Sect, but in the North."

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhang Fan's expression changed drastically, and a terrifying brilliance flashed in his eyes.

He had learned about this matter half a month ago from Zhang Lingzong's phone call.

"How do you know?" Zhang Fan asked.

"Zhao Jiexuan told me," Lin Jianyue whispered in a heavy voice: "Before I came, he told me that if you want to get out of this dangerous situation and plot a good future, there is a good way."

"What way?" Zhang Fan asked.

"Drag others into the water," Lin Jianyue spat out the four words.

"What do you mean?" Zhang Fan asked, puzzled.

"Look, the Daoist sects are powerful now. The Wu Wei Sect seems able to stand on equal footing, but they can only hide in the shadows..."

"Within the Daoist sects, it seems like there are many sects, but they are actually headed by the Ten Great Daoist Famous Mountains. As long as you drag these leaders into the water, whether it's your opponents within the Daoist sects or the enemies of the Wu Wei Sect, they will no longer be a cause for concern."

"You really know how to peel the cocoon," Zhang Fan glanced sideways, knowing that most of these words were taught to her by Zhao Jiexuan. "How do we do it specifically?"

"Of course, by aiming at the successors of the Ten Great Daoist Famous Mountains. Those are their lifelines," Lin Jianyue said in a heavy voice.

Incense inheritance is what every mountain and temple values most at this time. Producing an outstanding successor can continue the incense and seize the century-long great fortune. Just like Zhenwu Mountain, which produced a Chu Chaoran and stood out from the Ten Great Daoist sects, its status became transcendent and peerless.

Therefore, the successors of the Dharma lineage are what the major sects value most.

"Ten years ago, in that battle under Long Hu Mountain, the one who besieged your whole family on the Daoist side was Bai He Guan..." Lin Jianyue continued.

Bai He Guan, although not among the Ten Great Daoist Famous Mountains, had a pivotal status. Even in the National Daoist Alliance Headquarters, they had great speaking power.

"Bai He Guan's status is transcendent, but they also need to strive for the support of the Ten Great Daoist Famous Mountains..." Lin Jianyue sneered.

"As long as you can hold the successors of the Ten Great Daoist Famous Mountains in your hands, hehe, the structure of the Daoist sects will have to change. Even if things explode, those who want to move against your family will have to weigh the consequences..."

Speaking of this, Lin Jianyue laughed softly: "By that time, you will already be the mainstream of the Daoist sects. Are you still afraid of the Wu Wei Sect?"

At that time, Zhang Fan and his family would represent justice, and they would change from being enemies of the world to being invincible in the world.

"Good strategy," Zhang Fan's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Zhang Lingzong didn't look young anymore. After mixing on construction sites for ten years, now there were the Daoist sects headed by Bai He Guan eyeing them covetously, the Wu Wei Sect lurking in the shadows, not to mention the great enemy in the North he spoke of.

Not long ago, Zhang Fan received a call from Zhang Lingzong and felt secretly guilty, hating himself for not having enough strength to go to Ailao Mountain to help his old man.

Now it seemed that the strategy provided by Lin Jianyue was not bad. As long as they got involved with the successors of the Ten Great Daoist Famous Mountains and tied them to the same rope, even if the sects behind them couldn't really help their family, they would have to be cautious and ambiguous in their attitude, which would provide a lot of room for survival.

"Now, among the Ten Great Daoist Famous Mountains, Zhenwu Mountain must be on your side."

Lin Jianyue swept a meaningful look at Zhang Fan.

She also didn't know why Zhenwu Mountain, with its transcendent status, would support Zhang Fan so much. After all, whether it was Zhang Lingzong or Li Linglong, their identities were far too sensitive.

"Should be," Zhang Fan nodded.

Not to mention anything else, the Jade Tablet for inheriting the incense of Zhenwu Mountain was now on him; it would be hard not to be tied together.

"The Qi Delong and Qi Dongqiang brothers of Laojun Mountain are now in Zhao Jiexuan's hands. Subduing them is also within expectations," Lin Jianyue said in a heavy voice.

With Zhao Jiexuan's methods, subduing these two brothers was just a matter of course, a nail in the coffin.

"In that case, my relationship with Maoshan is also not bad," Zhang Fan said.

His relationship with Jiang Hu naturally went without saying, and Xiao Qiji could also be considered to have a decent friendship, not to mention that he had just saved Ji Fengting of Maoshan not long ago.

Such fate could be said to be a deep friendship.

"Maoshan seems to be indifferent to the world, but they have great energy on the ground in the post-paid area. If you can get the support of Maoshan, at least you can walk sideways in the Yangtze River Delta, and Bai He Guan will also have to weigh the consequences," Lin Jianyue said lightly.

"Is it that awesome?" Zhang Fan was stunned.

He had been in Yujing City for so long and didn't seem to have seen any decent experts from Maoshan.

As for Xiao Qiji, Jiang Hu, and Ji Fengting, although they could be considered quite talented, their strength was more than a big gap behind his.

"Don't think that just because you know a few Maoshan disciples, you can get the support of Maoshan," Lin Jianyue shook her head and whispered.

The Ten Great Daoist Famous Mountains of the world would not easily bet or express their stance because of a few excellent disciples. What could influence their will must be the sole successor.

Just like Xia Weisheng of Zhenwu Mountain, An Wuyang of Zhongnan Mountain, and Qi Delong and Qi Dongqiang of Laojun Mountain.

Xiao Qiji, Jiang Hu, and Ji Fengting... for Maoshan, they could only be considered excellent disciples, nothing more.

They couldn't influence the will of Maoshan. At critical moments, they could be abandoned if necessary.

"Who is the successor of Maoshan? Is there such a person? I don't seem to have heard of it," Zhang Fan couldn't help but say.

Maoshan, although located in Jiangnan Province, was so low-key that it almost had no sense of presence, quite like the feeling of the Great Dao being formless.

"Of course there is..." Lin Jianyue was worthy of being the Rabbit; her understanding of the various sects of the Daoist world was much more than Zhang Fan's.

"The successor of Maoshan is named Fang Changle."

"He should be six or seven years older than you. When he was your age, he was already at the High Merit Rank," Lin Jianyue said in a deep voice.

"Fang Changle!?" Zhang Fan chewed on the name.

"I heard this person was born with extraordinary talent. When he entered Maoshan, there were strange signs. At thirteen, he gained the favor of the Ancestor and inherited the Red Dragon Fire Talisman that Maoshan had passed down for generations. His strength is peerless among his peers."

"So outstanding, why haven't I heard of him at all?" Zhang Fan couldn't help but ask.

"Five years ago, he went missing."

"Ah!?" Zhang Fan was stunned for a moment.

"I heard Maoshan is also looking for him," Lin Jianyue whispered.

"If you find this person and drag him into the water, you will be able to get the support of Maoshan."

The two of them chatted in the cafe for an entire afternoon.

Lin Jianyue had extraordinary insight and peeled the cocoon, not only providing Zhang Fan with a brand-new strategy but also giving him a deep understanding of the Ten Great Daoist Famous Mountains of the world.

Zhao Jiexuan called this plan he set for him "stealing the house." Since there were too many opponents, they might as well drag all their successors into the water and steal the house directly. When the time came, they would all be one family; who would fight whom?

A fortress is easiest to break from within. At that time, with the rise of the new Daoist force headed by Zhang Fan, Bai He Guan would probably have to be cautious, and as for the Wu Wei Sect, they would have to weigh things even more.

In this way, the risk of Zhang Fan and his family exploding at any time and being enemies of the world could be solved.

"Good strategy, but how difficult is it to realize?"

Walking out of the cafe, Zhang Fan looked at the descending night and took a deep breath.

The air of early winter was cool and bone-chilling, which made him much clearer.

Just for Maoshan alone, Zhang Fan felt he had no way to start, let alone the Ten Great Daoist Famous Mountains?

"Daddy's daddy is a monster, daddy's mommy is a monster..."

Just at this moment, a pleasant and melodious ringtone sounded. Zhang Fan took out his phone and looked; the caller ID was Sui Chunsheng.

"Hello?"

"Do you have time now? Accompany me to handle something, how about it?" Sui Chunsheng's voice came from the other end of the phone.

"What is it?"

"Come with me to the prison to pick up a prisoner," Sui Chunsheng replied.

"Pick up a prisoner? Does the Daoist Alliance even manage this kind of thing?" Zhang Fan asked curiously.

"He is a serious criminal, and also a Daoist, so only I can make the trip..." Sui Chunsheng's voice sounded a bit lacking in confidence.

"This guy has extraordinary strength, so I want to find you to help me suppress the scene."

"A Daoist in prison? And a serious criminal? What's his background?"

Zhang Fan's heart stirred, and curiosity instantly arose; he became interested.

"Maybe you haven't heard of him..." Sui Chunsheng lowered his voice and paused slightly.

"His name is Fang Changle!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 209 =====