Chapter 241: Zhang Lingzong and Li Li Linglong! The Vanished Thousand-Year Demon

No. 316 Guangming Road.

Bu Jian Shan Coffee House.

Jiang Jiang Yunxian gently swirled the coffee in her cup, elegant yet alluring, her luminous eyes fixed on Zhang Fan before her.

At this moment, Zhang Fan seemed somewhat uneasy—he had never expected Li Yi's stepmother to seek him out. He had immediately sent a message to Li Yi, but received no reply.

Although Zhang Fan and Li Yi had been inseparable friends since childhood, he had never met any of Li Yi's family.

It was simply because Li Yi's family circumstances were too unusual.

When he was very young, his biological mother ran off with another man; later, his father married another woman—Li Yi's so-called "Yun Ma," this very woman, Jiang Jiang Yunxian.

Later still, Li Yi's biological mother returned with a lover, which drove his father to his death from rage.

Since then, Li Yi had been raised by this "Yun Ma."

Coincidentally, the lover his mother brought back also bore the surname Zhang.

Thus, there was a family rule in Li Yi's household: no contact with anyone bearing the surname Zhang.

For all these years, Zhang Fan had never set foot in Li Yi's home, and naturally had never met his family.

Now, Jiang Jiang Yunxian's sudden appearance left Zhang Fan utterly unprepared.

"I've heard Yi Shan mention you," Jiang Jiang Yunxian broke the silence first.

"Huh!?"

"Though I'm a stepmother, I raised Yi Shan from childhood; as his mother, I naturally know some things about him," Jiang Jiang Yunxian said with a faint smile, sensing Zhang Fan's confusion.

"Our family's rule… it's merely the grudges of the older generation—it has nothing to do with you younger ones."

"You're right, Auntie," Zhang Fan offered a forced smile, tactically picking up his water cup and draining it in three gulps.

To be honest, Li Yi's family affairs were too scandalous—he, as a junior, had no business commenting.

"Auntie, why did you seek me out today…?" Zhang Fan quickly changed the subject.

"I just happened to pass by and saw you," Jiang Jiang Yunxian said casually.

"By the way, there is something I should mention."

"What?"

"Yi Shan hasn't been feeling well lately. I took him to a sanatorium in Huizhou Province—you might find it difficult to visit him," Jiang Jiang Yunxian suddenly shifted tone.

"Sanatorium?"

Zhang Fan's heart lurched—he instantly recalled the psychiatric medication he'd seen in Li Yi's car that day.

"Auntie, how serious is his condition?" Zhang Fan pressed.

"Nothing major. He just needs quiet rest and recuperation," Jiang Jiang Yunxian soothed.

"During this time, he mustn't be disturbed by outside influences—so he probably shouldn't use electronic devices either."

"Can I go see him?" Zhang Fan asked.

In truth, Li Yi was one of his closest friends—the only two people who truly weighed on his heart were Zhang Lingzong and Li Yi.

"If you have any message, I can deliver it for you," Jiang Jiang Yunxian said delicately.

"I see…" Zhang Fan fell silent.

Clearly, Jiang Jiang Yunxian was refusing his visit.

"Don't worry—he should return soon. There's really nothing serious," Jiang Jiang Yunxian reassured him.

"Then let him rest well," Zhang Fan said helplessly.

The last time they met, Li Yi had shown no obvious signs of trouble—he himself had said that aside from vivid dreams, mental fog, and forgetfulness, there were no other issues.

Perhaps, as Jiang Jiang Yunxian said, it was nothing serious—just rest.

"Little Zhang…"

At that moment, Jiang Jiang Yunxian's voice pulled Zhang Fan back from his thoughts.

"Auntie…"

"I heard from Yi Shan that you grew up with your father…" Jiang Jiang Yunxian hesitated.

"Yes. My mother passed away when I was very young," Zhang Fan nodded.

Today, he no longer said she died in a car accident—she was simply gone.

"Children without mothers grow up drinking bitter water…" Jiang Jiang Yunxian's eyes softened, radiating maternal warmth.

"When I first married into their family, Yi Shan was too young to remember anything—he never suffered the pain of losing his mother."

Zhang Fan listened in silence.

"Do you still remember your mother?"

At that moment, Jiang Jiang Yunxian changed the subject, asking almost casually.

"I still have some memories," Zhang Fan murmured softly.

After his resurrection in the dark night—a miracle in itself—his Yuan Shen remained incomplete, and many past memories were hazy, especially those concerning his mother and father.

He had even forgotten he had a so-called older brother.

"Poor child…" Jiang Jiang Yunxian sighed. "You must remember. Whether through objects or memories—did your mother leave you anything? A locket? A talisman?"

"No," Zhang Fan shook his head.

"I see," Jiang Jiang Yunxian mused, lifting her cup and taking a small sip of coffee.

The two chatted for a few more moments, the conversation mostly centered on Zhang Fan's family.

They exchanged contact information, then Zhang Fan rose to take his leave, stepping out of Bu Jian Shan Coffee House.

"Yun Po Jie…"

At that moment, a middle-aged man in a suit approached, standing respectfully behind Jiang Jiang Yunxian.

"Did you find out anything?"

Jiang Jiang Yunxian's gaze sharpened as she shook her head. "The change came suddenly back then—perhaps Li Li Linglong truly left nothing behind."

"Li Li Linglong wasn't merely a former Ren Xiao. Ten years ago, her death was too suspicious. Logically, she wouldn't have left no final words," the man in the suit said gravely.

"The Long Hu Chi Little Yue conflict was a continuation of the Zhang family's north-south feud. Back then, Li Li Linglong assumed the form of a Ren Xiao, intending to support Zhang Lingzong in claiming the throne of the Wu Wei Sect leader."

At this, Jiang Jiang Yunxian revealed a hidden truth—a secret that caused the man in the suit to look startled.

"Zhang Lingzong is a disciple of the Northern Zhang."

"So what?" Jiang Jiang Yunxian said coolly. "The Three Corpses Daoist himself came from the Long Hu Zhang family…"

"Since ancient times, heroes have risen from all corners—what does lineage matter? What does birth or status matter to such people?"

In the vast tide of destiny, when heroes rise, their origins, their rank, their nobility or lowliness—all are irrelevant.

"Zhang Lingzong, with Li Li Linglong's backing, was like a tiger given wings. Logically, he should have had a real chance at becoming Wu Wei Sect's leader," the man in the suit couldn't help but say.

Historically, the Ren Xiao were guardians of the Wu Wei Sect's heir candidates, leading the Thirteen Zodiacs to protect and guide their chosen one to the throne.

Strictly speaking, the Thirteen Zodiacs were the destined guardian spirits of the chosen one.

The Wu Wei Sect's history held many successful precedents.

But not every attempt succeeded.

After all, the Wu Wei Sect's factions were deeply entangled.

Beyond the Thirteen Zodiacs, there were the Three Palaces' masters and the Sect's Deputy Leader—each often backed different candidates.

Just as the Three Corpses Daoist had climbed to the throne, he had trampled over mountains of corpses and waded through seas of blood, slaying countless prodigies before finally ascending.

"There are many paths to becoming Wu Wei Sect's leader…" Jiang Jiang Yunxian said gravely. Since its founding, the Wu Wei Sect had established clear conditions and methods for succession.

The foremost rule: whoever cultivates the 【Three Corpses Mirroring Fate】 becomes the Wu Wei Sect leader.

"They chose the most difficult path…" Jiang Jiang Yunxian said gravely.

"You mean…" The man in the suit stirred, as if sensing something.

"Zhang Lingzong is a man of extraordinary talent, yet arrogant and proud. In his youth, he achieved glory in the Northern Zhang lands, enshrined as a deity, granted the supreme Dao title: Great Spirit Lord of the Dao…" Jiang Jiang Yunxian said gravely.

"He wanted to cultivate the Three Corpses Mirroring Fate to seize the Sect leader's throne?" the man in the suit asked, voice tense.

"Correct."

Jiang Jiang Yunxian nodded. "That man's pride was absolute—he would never take the ordinary path."

"Men like him are so dull. I can't understand what Li Li Linglong saw in him."

"But wait, Yun Po Jie—if Zhang Lingzong intended to achieve the Three Corpses Mirroring Fate to become Sect leader, then why…?" The man in the suit looked puzzled.

!. read

Zhang Lingzong did indeed cultivate the Nine Internal Elixir Methods—but not the Three Corpses Mirroring Fate. He cultivated the Divine Demon Holy Embryo instead.

"Because he was manipulated. He accidentally cultivated the Divine Demon Holy Embryo," Jiang Jiang Yunxian sneered.

"Accidentally!?"

The man in the suit froze, then wore a strange expression.

That was the legendary Nine Internal Elixir Methods—how could one accidentally achieve it?

Moreover, how could two entirely different internal elixir methods be confused?

"Few know this: the 【Three Corpses Mirroring Fate】 and the 【Divine Demon Holy Embryo】 are extremely similar…" Jiang Jiang Yunxian shifted tone, revealing a secret.

"Similar?" The man in the suit frowned.

"Yes…"

"Of the Nine Internal Elixir Methods, only the 【Three Corpses Mirroring Fate】 and the 【Divine Demon Holy Embryo】 focus on cultivating the Yuan Shen, exploring the transformations of nature and spirit, ultimately transcending mortality—transforming the Yuan Shen into something divine…"

"Yet they rely on different mysteries and face different trials."

"The Divine Demon Holy Embryo draws nourishment from myriad thoughts—that is the initial trial."

"The Three Corpses Mirroring Fate draws nourishment from the Three Corpses Spirits—that is the final trial."

"One beginning, one end—they appear similar, yet are worlds apart, yet this similarity is profoundly mysterious," Jiang Jiang Yunxian murmured softly, her eyes filled with a hint of obsession.

For cultivators, the first trial is thought—this is the greatest barrier to cultivation; trapped by this barrier, ordinary people cannot even awaken their Nascent Soul.

For cultivators, the final trial is the Three Corpses—the last step on the path to immortality, where the Three Corpses wreak havoc, severing life and becoming an insurmountable abyss that blocks all ancient and modern prodigies.

Divine Demon Sacred Embryo!

Three Corpses Mirroring Fate!

Though both are profound elixir arts that exhaust the transformations of the Nascent Soul, their foundations lie at the beginning and end of the Dao—utterly different.

"No wonder there are many voices within the sect wanting Zhang Lingzong dead—he once coveted the throne," said the middle-aged man in a suit, deep in thought.

"Otherwise, why do you think Chen Long dared to strike? She didn't act alone—someone must be backing her," Jiang Jiang Yunxian said coldly.

"Zhang Lingzong truly is an anomaly—he never achieved Three Corpses Mirroring Fate, yet he mastered the Divine Demon Sacred Embryo," the man in the suit couldn't help exclaiming.

Such talent is unparalleled—as if the Nine Inner Elixir Arts were as simple to him as drinking water or eating rice, and he could master them all at will.

"The Nine Inner Elixirs—when perfected, the trial arrives. Fortune and misfortune are hard to predict," Jiang Jiang Yunxian said lightly.

"Sister Yun, if Li Li Linglong truly left nothing behind, then the Young Master..."

The man in the suit looked troubled, hesitating to speak.

"Sigh... of the Thirteen Zodiacs, humanity leads. Since he chose this path, he must cross this trial alone..." Jiang Jiang Yunxian sighed.

The mortal world is a sea of suffering; everyone struggles to cross.

The path to immortality is the path of trials. As long as one remains in the mortal world—even a Pure Yang Supreme True Person must endure trials and sever karmic ties.

Evening.

Hongfu Hongfu Huayuan.

Zhang Fan returned home as night fell; all day he had been weighed down, thinking of Li Yi.

Indeed, as Jiang Jiang Yunxian had said, Li Yi's phone was unreachable.

"A rehabilitation center in Huizhou Province... why go so far?" Zhang Fan mused.

In terms of economic development and medical care, Jiangnan Province ranks among the best in the nation; it makes no sense to seek distant help over nearby options, and furthermore...

"Was it really just a coincidence?"

Zhang Fan's mind conjured Jiang Jiang Yunxian's figure—he couldn't shake the feeling that Li Yi's stepmother had come to see him deliberately today.

Didi didi...

As Zhang Fan pondered, his phone rang.

"Huh!?"

Zhang Fan pulled out his phone, stunned—it was a notification from the "Little Yellow Book" app. Opening it, the avatar of the Thousand-Year Demon flickered.

"Thousand-Year Demon? He actually contacted me?"

Zhang Fan frowned. Until now, this guy had always ignored him—Zhang Fan's messages were read but never replied to. This was the first time he'd reached out Zhudong.

Thinking of this, Zhang Fan eagerly opened the Thousand-Year Demon's chat window.

Two messages popped up on the screen.

"This world isn't worth believing in!"

"Until we meet again!"

"What does this mean?" Zhang Fan stared at the two messages, puzzled, unable to grasp their meaning.

"You there? What's this supposed to mean?"

Zhang Fan's fingers flew as he typed a message and sent it to the Thousand-Year Demon.

"Message failed to send!"

A system alert appeared, with a prominent "!" beside the sent message.

"What's going on? Did he block me again?" Zhang Fan rolled his eyes.

Sometimes he thought the Thousand-Year Demon was erudite, versed in the Three Teachings, like some reclusive ancient monster. Other times, his behavior made him seem like a child—or a girl.

Petty and capricious.

When he dated Xu Xu Zhixia, even during their fiercest fights, she never resorted to deleting or blocking him.

"Absolutely insane."

Zhang Fan gritted his teeth and idly opened the Thousand-Year Demon's profile page.

But the screen displayed "Page Lost," followed by a glaring "404."

This sight made Zhang Fan's eyes widen.

"Thousand-Year Demon..."

"He deleted his account!?"

(End of Chapter)