Chapter 269: The Life-Bound Palace in Taisui Village! A Yellowed Old Photograph

Early morning, the sky was just beginning to brighten.

The rooftop terrace of Hongfu Hongfu Huayuan.

Zhang Zhang Beijiang stood guard at the stairwell, as motionless as a guardian deity. As a Spirit Corpse, he naturally feared no sunlight.

Not far away, Zhang Fan sat cross-legged on the ground. A wisp of morning light spilled onto him, making even the fine hairs on his arms visible; in a trance, he seemed draped in a layer of pale gold.

His breathing was almost imperceptible, his brow slightly undulating, with a wisp of light moving in and out.

This wisp of light was more dazzling than the light of the great sun itself, yet unless one observed with the Nascent Soul, an ordinary person would never see it.

This wisp of light was what Master Lu Zu called 【Heavenly Light】, also known to the masses as 【Qi】, the Great Medicine for cultivation.

Master Qiu Zu once said, "Those who study the Dao, if they can return the light, they resolve life and death." This light transcends the sun, moon, and stars, and permeates the Three Realms; without this light, heaven and earth would be dark and unresponsive, and all things would have nowhere to arise.

Precisely because of this, Heavenly Light is everywhere—in the sun, moon, and stars, in mountains, rivers, and marshes, and even within our own hair and skin; it is only a matter of strength and weakness.

When cultivation reaches the Great Being realm, the Heavenly Light tempers the Nascent Soul to a certain level, eventually giving rise to its own radiance, which is the so-called Nascent Soul Nature Light.

Hum...

At this moment, behind Zhang Fan's forehead, three layers of radiance faintly ascended, mysterious and profound, beyond words. As he continuously inhaled and exhaled the Heavenly Light to temper his Nascent Soul, the three layers of radiance behind his forehead transmitted a strange frequency, like grass and trees sprouting, like all things growing and flourishing.

Whoosh...

Suddenly, the three layers of Nascent Light behind Zhang Fan's forehead vibrated violently. A smear of darkness seemed to surge around his body, vast and boundless, like the darkest of nights. Even the wisp of morning light that had been spilling onto him was swallowed up completely, leaving no trace.

Such a strange scene caused even Zhang Zhang Beijiang, who was guarding the stairs, to glance over.

"Which bastard blocked the terrace entrance? Damn it!"

Just then, a cursing voice drifted over.

Zhang Fan slowly opened his eyes, and all the strange phenomena dissipated. He beckoned with his hand, and a mouthful of True Yang dispersed from Zhang Zhang Beijiang's body, returning to his own.

Immediately after, Zhang Zhang Beijiang collapsed like a deflated balloon, turning into a piece of skin.

Zhang Fan walked over, folded the skin to the size of a palm, and stuffed it directly into his pocket.

Bang...

At that moment, the terrace door opened, and a middle-aged woman with graying hair, carrying a broom and a dustpan, walked in swaying.

"Auntie Wang..." Zhang Fan greeted her.

This was the residential complex's cleaning lady, a colleague of Liu Liu Fusheng, whom he often bumped into in the complex.

"Little Zhang... what are you doing blocking the terrace so early in the morning? You aren't thinking of jumping, are you?" Auntie Wang scrutinized Zhang Fan.

"..."

"Auntie Wang, you really know how to joke," Zhang Fan said with an awkward laugh.

"In this day and age, there are too many young people committing suicide. Just yesterday, I saw on the news that a young man was in an online relationship, spent over two hundred thousand in three months, and when he rushed over, he found out the other person was a man. He jumped off a building the next day."

"Little Zhang, don't do anything foolish," Auntie Wang advised earnestly.

"..."

"Auntie, I'm not in a relationship," Zhang Fan said with a dry laugh.

"A big guy like you isn't in a relationship? That makes it even easier to think of doing something foolish."

"..."

"By the way, Little Zhang, has your father returned from working away?" Auntie Wang seemed to have gotten addicted to chatting, leaning on her broom and asking casually.

"Not yet."

"You've graduated, you should be sensible. Your father is getting old, and it wasn't easy for him to put you through university. If he breaks a leg at the construction site, you'll have to take care of him. Once you earn some money, tell him to come back. Don't work so hard. Once you're married, playing cards and taking care of your grandchildren every day—wouldn't that be nice?" Auntie Wang suggested thoughtfully.

"Uh... alright, Auntie Wang... well, I have something to do, I'm leaving," Zhang Fan said awkwardly.

"I just saw your Liu Shu carrying meat buns and knocking on your door," Auntie Wang called back. "By the way, is your Liu Shu still single?"

"..."

Zhang Fan fled the terrace as if running for his life and returned home.

It had to be said, even though his cultivation was deepening and he had entered the Great Being realm, there were too many people in this world who could restrain him. Just a cleaning lady had almost broken his defenses. The world was vast, and there truly were people beyond people.

Zhang Fan tidied up briefly, left the house, and arrived at the complex entrance. He specifically glanced into the security office but didn't see Liu Liu Fusheng. He immediately hailed a taxi and sped away.

No. 316 Guangming Road.

Bu Jian Shan Coffee Shop.

Originally, Zhang Fan had planned to meet Jiang Lai and some old friends like Wen He, Jiang Hu, and Sui Brother Chunsheng after returning. He even wanted to find time to visit the vicinity of Mount Mao to see Old Yu.

However, Bai Bai Yujing's visit had completely disrupted his plans.

"What's the matter, calling me out so early in the morning?" Fang Fang Changle arrived late.

The two had only returned to Bai Yujing City last night and hadn't even had a chance to sleep in before being called out by Zhang Fan.

"I want to ask you about something," Zhang Fan said, getting straight to the point.

"What is it?" Fang Fang Changle ordered a coffee and yawned.

"Have you ever heard of Taisui Village?"

"Taisui Village!?"

Fang Fang Changle's brows twitched, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, and he instantly sobered up.

"Why are you asking about that?"

"Your Mount Mao has a long heritage, and you once infiltrated the Wu Wei Sect, so you should know," Zhang Fan said solemnly.

Bai Bai Yujing had told him that the ancestral temple of the Wu Wei Sect was extremely mysterious, and even the Thirteen Zodiacs found it difficult to locate.

The true training ground of the Thirteen Zodiacs was in a place called 【Taisui Village】.

The 【Taisui】 that Bai Bai Yujing spoke of was also hidden there.

It was said that the Life-Bound Palaces of the Twelve Zodiacs were there, a place where the zodiac spirit tablets were enshrined.

Anyone who inherited a zodiac position had to go there to transform into the zodiac and continue the incense.

The life and death of every zodiac could be manifested in the palace, and if one encountered misfortune, returning to the Life-Bound Palace could allow one to avoid calamity.

Bai Bai Yujing said that to find the Rabbit Zodiac, one had to return to Taisui Village and enter the Rabbit Palace. Perhaps Lin Jian had encountered a calamity and had already returned there to recuperate.

Precisely because of this, Zhang Fan had called Fang Fang Changle out early in the morning to ask about this place.

After all, that was the gathering place of the Thirteen Zodiacs; for Zhang Fan, it was a dragon's den and a tiger's lair.

"I have seen records of 【Taisui Village】 in the notes of the past masters of Mount Mao. This place is very mysterious and has existed since the founding of the Wu Wei Sect," Fang Fang Changle said solemnly.

The zodiacs rotate through the years, and the Taisui dominates the fortune of the year.

Among the Thirteen Zodiacs, the Human Zodiac is the leader, but before the Human Zodiac's momentum is formed, the other twelve zodiacs are all influenced by the Taisui.

"The Human Zodiac has not risen, and the Taisui is king... that is just a legend..." Fang Fang Changle said solemnly.

The relationship between Ren Xiao and Tai Sui is very subtle. From a legalistic perspective, they are both Great Protectors of the Wu Wei Sect and both possess the qualifications to command the other twelve zodiac signs. However, Tai Sui never steps out of that dilapidated building, and there are few records of Tai Sui among the various sects of the Daoist world.

Tai Sui seems to shoulder an extremely special mission within the Wu Wei Sect.

"Do you know where this place is?" Zhang Fan asked.

"I don't know." Fang Fang Changle shook his head.

"Since this place is so important, how could it be easily known by others? The Daoist world has been searching for so many years, but Tai Sui Village and the ancestral temple of the Wu Wei Sect are equally mysterious and have never been found," Fang Fang Changle said in a deep voice.

"Some say that it is the place where the first sect leader of the Wu Wei Sect attained the Dao. He rose from there, with the thirteen zodiac protectors under his command, Tai Sui clearing the path, the three palaces moving in parallel, gathering the demons and ghosts of the mountains and seas, encompassing the incense of the four seas, and finally achieving the momentum to sweep across the world..."

"Back then, the Daoist Ancestor Zhang Zhang Daoling sacrificed the Old Lord's Dharma Seal on Long Hu Shan, calling upon the Daoist world to break mountains and destroy temples, sweeping away ghosts and gods, which finally opened a two-thousand-year-long struggle that would never be extinguished, with nine campaigns, a life-and-death struggle..." Fang Fang Changle sighed.

For any practitioner, this period of history can be called long-standing and magnificent, with no telling how many predecessors were stained with blood or how many sages went mad.

The struggle between the Daoist world and Wu Wei has never ceased.

"The first sect leader of the Wu Wei Sect... is it the Three-Corpse Daoist?" Zhang Fan was thoughtful.

He learned from the memories of the Three-Corpse Daoist that every sect leader of the Wu Wei Sect, upon ascending to such a high position, could inherit the title of 【Three-Corpse Daoist】.

Read every word carefully, without missing a single one!

Of course, the Three-Corpse Daoist most familiar to people today is that number one expert in the world from a hundred years ago, from the Zhang family, who was once called Zhang San and Zhang Zhang Kongming.

However, the first sect leader of the Wu Wei Sect was also called the Three-Corpse Daoist.

It is rumored that he refined the 【Three-Corpse Illumination of Fate】 back then, splitting his soul-aspect into three and becoming the master of the first three palaces.

"Why are you asking about this place?" Fang Fang Changle said vigilantly: "Don't do anything rash. That is a dragon's den and a tiger's lair. The Daoist world has searched for so many years and hasn't been able to find that place."

"Not only are there thirteen zodiac signs there, but there is also the legendary Tai Sui."

"I know, I was just asking casually," Zhang Fan said, feigning ease.

Originally, he wanted to glean some useful information from Fang Fang Changle, but now it seems he can only pin his hopes entirely on Bai Bai Yujing.

Zhang Fan still harbored a trace of wariness toward Si She in his heart.

Although this woman had followed Li Li Linglong, people change when tea goes cold. His mother has been dead for so many years, so how much sentiment could still remain? Not to mention that the other party is one of the thirteen zodiac signs.

"By the way, do you want to go back to Maoshan with me in the next two days? Our sect elders want to see you," Fang Fang Changle suddenly changed the subject.

"See me?" Zhang Fan was stunned: "Why do they want to see me?"

"Of course, it's because they heard about your great achievements in Huizhou Province..." Fang Fang Changle teased: "Don't look at me, it wasn't me who told Brother Yu Hua to spread your name."

"I don't have time in the next two days," Zhang Fan shook his head: "I might have to go on a long trip."

"A long trip? Where are you going?" Upon hearing this, Fang Fang Changle's nerves immediately tightened. He was already afraid of Zhang Fan running around; wherever he went, trouble was sure to follow.

"Ancestor, you just came back, can you settle down for a while? Let the world be at peace for a moment."

"What kind of talk is that?" Zhang Fan rolled his eyes: "I'm just going out to see a friend and will be back in a couple of days."

"Really?" Fang Fang Changle asked suspiciously.

"Why would I lie to you? Alright, I have things to do, let's leave it at that." Zhang Fan greeted him and left as he stood up.

Now there is only one path before him: follow Bai Bai Yujing to Tai Sui Village; perhaps only then can he find Lin Jianyue and Zhao Zhao Jiexuan.

This trip is one he must take.

Zhang Fan, lost in thought, wandered around Bai Yujing City. By noon, when he looked up, he saw 【Yongjia Hongfu Huayuan】; Jiang Lai's home was here.

Zhang Fan stopped his steps and looked at the building where Jiang Lai lived, lost in thought.

Initially, it was because he met Jiang Lai on Zhenwu Mountain that he embarked on the path of cultivation again. Later events also made him understand that the karma between the two was extremely deep, and could even be traced back to a much more distant time.

Ten years ago, it was Jiang Lai whom Zhang Lingzong brought out of Long Hu Shan, and it was also the latter who helped him refine the Soul-Splitting Great Art back then, burying the hope of escaping the tribulation.

Zhang Fan didn't know how he had ended up here.

"Better not see her."

Zhang Fan shook his head, turned around, and left.

When he returned to Hongfu Hongfu Huayuan, it was already evening, and the lights in the residential area were gradually turning on.

"Little Fan."

Walking to the entrance, Liu Liu Fusheng poked his head out from the security room.

"Liu Shu..." Zhang Fan greeted him and walked over.

"Have you had dinner?" Liu Liu Fusheng asked with concern.

"I ate outside."

"I haven't seen you for a few days, where did you go?" Liu Liu Fusheng asked.

"I went out with a friend."

"Don't just run off again now that you're back. Come to Uncle's place tomorrow, I'll make you some soup," Liu Liu Fusheng said with a smile: "It's a unique secret method, very nourishing. Your dad loved the soup I made when he was young."

"Liu Shu, I'm afraid I have to go out again in the next two days," Zhang Fan hesitated slightly but told the truth.

"Going out again? What for?" Liu Liu Fusheng's brows furrowed.

"I have some business."

"Where to?" Liu Liu Fusheng pressed.

"Qinxi Province!"

Bai Bai Yujing said that the location of Tai Sui Village was in Qinxi Province.

"Qinxi Province... that's where Mount Zhongnan is..." Liu Liu Fusheng was stunned for a moment, then sighed softly, a look of reminiscence rising in his eyes.

"Little Fan, I won't ask what you're going there for, but when you get to that place, keep a low profile."

"Why?" Zhang Fan asked, not understanding.

"Your dad and mom had many old acquaintances there. It's possible some are still alive, and they might recognize you," Liu Liu Fusheng warned.

"Old acquaintances?" Zhang Fan raised an eyebrow and remained silent.

If Liu Liu Fusheng could give such a reminder, I'm afraid these old acquaintances are not exactly kind-hearted.

"I understand."

"Uncle won't keep you, go back and prepare well. Take everything you should," Liu Liu Fusheng advised like an elder.

"Okay." Zhang Fan nodded heavily and turned to leave.

Liu Liu Fusheng watched Zhang Fan's retreating back, the light in his eyes becoming increasingly complex.

"Mount Zhongnan... how many years has it been since I went back..."

Liu Liu Fusheng swayed back to his seat, opened the drawer, and took out an old photo album. Opening it, it was full of yellowed old photos.

"Flowers fill the city, the moon invades the clothes, youthful affairs bring sorrow in old age... this is all the passage of time..." Liu Liu Fusheng looked at the old photos, revealing a look of reminiscence.

Where his fingertips rested was a yellowed photo of two young men, about seventeen or eighteen years old, with their arms around each other's shoulders, all wearing big shorts, white undershirts, and green military shoes, smiling innocently.

One of them was Zhang Lingzong in his youth, while the other had delicate features and a cinnabar mole between his eyebrows!

(End of chapter)