Chapter 320

Chasing heaven and earth, crossing rivers and seas, circling for years to ascend the tower.

Meeting when the moon opens, seeing the moon come, how many people are left at the head of the Cangjiang River?

"Each generation of the world produces its own talents, each leading the fashion for hundreds of years." The beauty with the cinnabar mole whispered, her calm gaze sweeping over Zhang Fan and the figures behind him.

Xia Xia Weisheng, Qi Qi Delong, Qi Dongqiang, Fang Fang Changle... these outstanding figures among the younger generation were all within her sight.

Full of vigor, like the rising sun, that strand of brilliance, though weak, still attracted Given Chen Long's gaze.

"Great waves are about to rise, and there must be flowing ripples following... Back then, your father was the same, a hidden dragon emerging from the abyss, with powerful figures gathering around him, sweeping across the southeast invincible..." The beauty with the cinnabar mole whispered to herself, a trace of reminiscence welling up in her eyes.

"Another new era..."

"Time is like water, toying with people's hearts; there is affection, yet it is a time of no affection."

The beauty with the cinnabar mole sighed softly, her thoughts drifting far away, her gaze seeming to fly toward the horizon, toward an unknown destination.

At this moment, everyone was silent, but their minds were on high alert to the extreme.

Even Zhang Fan felt it; from the moment this woman appeared, heaven and earth seemed sealed and closed, everything around was chaotic, all things returned to the five elements, flowing and changing, difficult to escape the cage.

Their paths of survival and retreat were all severed, leaving none behind.

In other words, the moment Given Chen Long appeared, the life and death of these people were no longer in their own hands.

Before this, who could have imagined that the graceful beauty before them was actually one of the world-famous Thirteen Zodiacs, Given Chen Long.

"Did you think that by escaping the Great Night That Does Not Brighten, you could challenge me?" The beauty with the cinnabar mole's lips curled up slightly, looking at Zhang Fan with interest.

"How could that be? Senior is a long-renowned expert; how could a junior have such thoughts?" Zhang Fan chuckled.

"From the moment I appeared, you have harbored murderous intent toward me at least seven times." The beauty with the cinnabar mole looked at Zhang Fan with deep meaning.

"In this, you are like your mother: honey-mouthed and sword-hearted, ruthless and vicious."

Mentioning Li Li Linglong, the beauty with the cinnabar mole's tone cooled by three degrees.

"But it is understandable; if it weren't for me, how would your family have been destroyed, leaving you like an orphan with no one to care for you?"

"Even falling into the Great Night That Does Not Brighten, living a life like an ant for ten years in a daze."

Zhang Fan's smile remained, but his gaze turned cold by three degrees.

"Unhappy after just two sentences? You are still too green." The beauty with the cinnabar mole's lips curled up slightly, saying indifferently.

"Your father crossed the Great Night That Does Not Brighten five times before achieving his current cultivation; you haven't even crossed the tribulation once, not to mention having to divert your mind to suppress the Three Corpses Illuminating Fate."

At this moment, the beauty with the cinnabar mole seemed to see through everything about Zhang Fan, her words filled with unbridled mockery.

"So weak, yet you can't hide the look in your eyes?"

"Tired of living?"

Rumble...

As soon as the words fell, a terrifying pressure crushed down from the beauty with the cinnabar mole.

Zhang Fan's complexion changed abruptly, feeling as if the heaven and earth before him had changed drastically; all tangible things returned to their most fundamental attributes, the five elements flowed in reverse, and heaven and earth were tangled in chaos.

In the vast momentum, only that figure seemed to stand at the pinnacle, looking down at them from a superior position.

At this time, not only Zhang Fan, but Xia Xia Weisheng, Li Li Miaoyin... everyone's bodies showed abnormalities; they only felt a strange energy flowing through their internal organs, disrupting yin and yang, reversing vitality, and controlling the foundation of their physical bodies.

"Is Senior here to scare people today?"

At this moment, only Zhang Fan, having refined the God-Demon Sacred Embryo, could maintain a trace of clarity; he gritted his teeth and shouted in a deep voice.

"Truly escaped the Great Night That Does Not Brighten, to still be able to speak." The beauty with the cinnabar mole chuckled.

"Senior..."

"What?"

"If you don't kill me today, one day, I will kill you." Zhang Fan said coldly.

"Making threats?" The beauty with the cinnabar mole smiled amusedly: "Such a child, are you not afraid of death?"

"If I were afraid, would you not kill me?" Zhang Fan said indifferently.

He knew that the woman before him was no ordinary expert; her realm was extremely high, already at the level of a Celestial Master, not to mention she had also cultivated the Five Elements Misaligned King.

With such cultivation, even if he escaped the Great Night That Does Not Brighten again, he feared he would still be no match.

At this time, any hidden schemes were useless; it was better to be open and honest for the sake of a clean break.

"In this, you are like your father." The beauty with the cinnabar mole chuckled.

"You still have a glimmer of hope."

As she spoke, the beauty with the cinnabar mole turned around and looked toward the deep, dark valley.

Clang... clang... clang...

Just at this moment, a crisp sound of bells rang out; under the bright moonlight, an old man driving an ox cart appeared slowly in everyone's sight.

"Bald Grandpa!?"

Zhang Fan was stunned, never having expected that this old man who specialized in part-time jobs would appear here.

"Grandpa Jiangzhen Xiang, long time no see." The beauty with the cinnabar mole looked at the newcomer and said loudly.

"You recognize me." The bald old man drove the ox cart, his voice coming from afar.

"The Demon Chief of the One Hundred Thousand Mountains, how could I not recognize you?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's expressions changed slightly.

Zhang Fan and Li Li Miaoyin looked at each other, both seeing the shock in the other's eyes.

How could they have imagined that the bald old man they met on the road was the master of White Elephant Mountain, the contemporary Demon Chief of the One Hundred Thousand Mountains.

The outside world called him Grandpa Jiangzhen Xiang.

"I remember you; many years ago, you came with Zhang Zhang Laoer, and Zhang Zhang Laoer's kid was also there."

Grandpa Jiangzhen Xiang drove the ox cart closer, his peripheral vision glancing over Zhang Fan, finally looking at the beauty with the cinnabar mole, sizing her up, his narrowed eyes filled with a trace of shock and doubt.

"At that time, you seemed to still be a young man."

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhang Fan's brows lifted, and he looked at Given Chen Long, unable to help but reveal a strange expression.

He knew that cultivating the 【Five Elements Misaligned King】 would lead to a body-change tribulation; big to small, small to big, man to woman, woman to man—none of it could be controlled.

"Junior Zhang Zhang Nanfeng, greets Grandpa Jiangzhen Xiang." The beauty with the cinnabar mole identified herself.

"Zhang Zhang Nanfeng!?"

Zhang Fan's face twitched violently; Given Chen Long was also surnamed Zhang!?

"Zhang Zhang Nanfeng..." The bald old man whispered to himself, looking at Given Chen Long with a complex expression, then looking at Zhang Fan.

"You forced me to appear because of that item left behind by Zhang Zhang Laoer?"

"Correct." Zhang Zhang Nanfeng nodded.

"If Grandpa Jiangzhen Xiang can hand over the item, I don't mind letting this little brat go, letting him keep his life to come and seek revenge on me another day." Zhang Zhang Nanfeng looked at Zhang Fan with a chuckle, her expression relaxed and casual.

"Zhang Zhang Laoer's item was left for the Zhang family." Grandpa Jiangzhen Xiang said in a deep voice.

"Uncle Jiangzhen Xiang..."

Zhang Zhang Nanfeng's gaze sank, interrupting his words.

"Don't forget, I am also a member of the Zhang family; since the Second Uncle's item was left for the Zhang family, it naturally includes me."

As soon as these words were spoken, the bald old man fell silent.

But Zhang Fan's heart was stirred with tumultuous waves.

How could he have imagined that Given Chen Long was also a member of the Zhang family, and from the Southern Zhang lineage, and that she actually called Zhang Fan's grandfather "Second Uncle"?

This relationship was far too close.

"Grandpa Jiangzhen Xiang, do you want to leave that item to this brat, or his father?" Zhang Zhang Nanfeng's voice cooled by three degrees.

She lifted her gaze slightly, looking at the bald old man with deep meaning.

"Or are you trying to use this item to test my strength?"

At this point, a meaningful smile appeared on Zhang Zhang Nanfeng's beautiful face.

"The True Dragon Horn, ranked as one of the Nine Vessels, is not something anyone can drive; if you don't believe it, Uncle Jiangzhen Xiang can try."

"See if I fall first, or if this brat dies first."

"The True Dragon Horn!?"

Zhang Fan's complexion changed slightly; he finally knew that the True Dragon Horn that had been lost in the One Hundred Thousand Mountains back then had fallen into the hands of his grandfather, Zhang Tiansheng, and had been hidden by Grandpa Jiangzhen Xiang for many years, kept in his care.

"No." Zhang Fan shouted, losing his voice.

The True Dragon Horn was the nemesis of the Five Elements Misaligned King; if it fell into Zhang Zhang Nanfeng's hands, she would truly have no weaknesses, and heaven and earth would be difficult to suppress.

"When adults are talking, children shouldn't interrupt."

Zhang Zhang Nanfeng said coldly, a terrifying pressure like a purgatory of water and fire making Zhang Fan sink into scorching heat and cold, his physical body feeling like it was in ice and fire, rising with endless pain and pleasure.

"The Zhang family brat has also become a force to be reckoned with." Grandpa Jiangzhen Xiang pondered, indecisive.

People of the Zhang family were indeed trouble wherever they went.

He truly had no certainty of suppressing the other party, not to mention that this was the One Hundred Thousand Mountains, and there were descendants of old friends nearby; he was afraid of hurting the innocent, and if they really started fighting, he feared he could only exert sixty or seventy percent of his full strength.

Facing an expert like Given Chen Long, a single moment of distraction was the difference between life and death.

"My father's father is a monster, my father's mother is a monster..."

Just at this moment, a pleasant and melodious ringtone rang out, breaking the tense and awkward atmosphere.

"There's signal in a place like this? What kind of phone is that?"

In the distance, Fang Fang Changle stared at Zhang Fan, muttering in his heart.

Zhang Fan was stunned for a moment, subconsciously taking out his phone, looking down at the caller ID, and it was actually Zhang Lingzong.

"Dad!?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhang Zhang Nanfeng's gaze trembled, and she looked toward him.

Zhang Fan hesitated slightly and answered the phone.

"Hello..."

Zhang Lingzong's long-lost voice came from the other end of the phone; Zhang Fan couldn't hold it in, gritting his teeth and giving a soft grunt.

"Escaped the tribulation?" Zhang Lingzong was silent for a moment, but his opening question was direct and simple.

"Yeah, escaped the tribulation." Zhang Fan nodded, his answer equally simple.

It was as if the two were discussing trivial matters like "Did you eat tonight?"

Their conversation seemed to be a microcosm and reflection of all fathers and sons in the world.

Even with a thousand words in their hearts, only a few words came out of their mouths.

"Yeah!? He is..."

At this time, on the other end of the phone, Zhang Lingzong asked something, and Zhang Fan was stunned, then nodded, giving an affirmative answer.

The next moment, Zhang Fan's expression became even stranger; he pulled the phone away, staring at it blankly, then looked up and walked toward Zhang Zhang Nanfeng.

"My dad wants you to answer the phone."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned.

"What's the situation?"

"This... what is this doing?"

"Why are you answering the phone?"

Everyone looked at each other, their eyes filled with indescribable shock and doubt.

Zhang Zhang Nanfeng hesitated slightly but still took the phone; her expression was calm as she brought it to her ear.

"Fifth Brother, long time no see."

Zhang Zhang Nanfeng whispered, hiding the grievances of the two for decades.

"Although my internal alchemy is complete, you have also escaped the fifth Great Night That Does Not Brighten; speaking of which, I would like to learn a thing or two..."

"Of course, provided you can walk out of Mount Mount Ailao alive; otherwise, that is wishful thinking."

"Rest assured, I will definitely live well, waiting for you to come out, so your whole family can be reunited."

The two's conversation was barely audible, and by the end, not a single word could be heard.

"Grandpa Jiangzhen Xiang..."

Just at this moment, Zhang Zhang Nanfeng turned around and threw the phone directly to the bald old man; he was slightly puzzled and picked up the phone.

Instantly, the bald old man's complexion changed slightly, then he nodded and hung up the phone.

"You can take the item."

"How can..." Zhang Fan shouted, losing his voice.

"No need to say more."

The bald old man raised his hand and took out an item from the ox cart, wrapped on the outside with a strange skin, the patterns on it resembling scales, and the outermost layer was an old talisman.

"Take the item and leave." Grandpa Jiangzhen Xiang said in a deep voice.

"Naturally."

Zhang Zhang Nanfeng's eyes were filled with longing; standing at her height, she clearly did not put Zhang Fan in her eyes.

Whoosh...

Grandpa Jiangzhen Xiang raised his hand and tossed the object over.

Zhang Zhang Nanfeng caught it, and in an instant, she felt a flash of inspiration; she knew this was the item she had been desperately searching for.

"Grandpa Jiangzhen Xiang, I will take my leave now."

As she spoke, Zhang Zhang Nanfeng turned to leave, but after taking two steps, she turned to look at Zhang Fan.

"Little brat, did you think that cultivating the Three Corpses Illuminating Fate was some kind of great blessing? Cultivating to this step, your tribulation is bigger than the sky."

A trace of mockery lingered in Zhang Zhang Nanfeng's eyes; as her words fell, she took a step and vanished into the vast night.

"Given Chen Long!" Zhang Fan watched the direction she left in, his gaze cold, flashing with icy light.

He knew that even though he had escaped the Great Night That Does Not Brighten, he still had a very long road ahead of him.

"Come with me." Grandpa Jiangzhen Xiang looked at Zhang Fan and whispered.

"Wait a moment."

Zhang Fan stopped, sensing the surrounding environment, confirming there was no residue of Li Li Changgeng's soul-aspect left; he raised a hand, and true fire like a dragon directly burned Li Li Changgeng's physical body to ashes.

This time, he would cut the weeds and dig up the roots, to see how he could still regrow his hands and find a way to live.

"Ruthless enough." Fang Fang Changle praised.

"Let's go."

Everyone leaped onto the ox cart, the sound of bells rang out, and they gradually disappeared into the vast night.

The bright moon set in the west, and the long night seemed to have reached its end.

In the deep, dark valley, a glimmer of light flickered, like the candlelight in an old Daoist temple.

"People living in this world will all die, but life and death have their fixed numbers; only by breaking this fixed number can one look toward immortality, pure yang, and limitlessness."

Just at this moment, a faint, low chant echoed through the night, like the babbling of a dream.

"To break this fixed number, one must be within life and death, between death and life."

"Hehe..."

The faintly echoing babble produced a strange laugh, filled with madness and excitement.

"When great fortune reaches its end, one sees the great tribulation; when the great tribulation is reversed, great fortune is born."

"You are close... you are close..."

"After the rotation of heaven and earth, you will finally see that evil tribulation."

The eerie babble faded away, dispersing into the night that was about to end, and that glimmer of fire suddenly shone, flying toward the north.

(End of chapter)