Chapter 33: Daoist Sects: The Northern Emperor Masters Killing

The next day, morning.

Sunlight filtered through the window, spilling onto Zhang Fan’s face, a warm sensation rising from below.

The Dan Shu says: a cultivator whose yang energy is abundant and whose root is vigorous can sustain a stick of incense burning without extinguishing, and only then may he practice arts.

In ancient times, one stick of incense lasted about half an hour.

Without any external stimulation, an ordinary person cannot achieve root vigor lasting half an hour.

“After a night’s sleep, I’m suddenly full of vigor—my true yang so rich?”

Zhang Fan sensed his own transformation and couldn’t help but rejoice.

He knew this was the result of his diligent practice these past days; his accumulation in the [Qi Gong] stage was now sufficient—he could finally attempt to comprehend and cultivate an art.

If he could master even a minor art, he would enter the [Art Apprentice] stage and cease to be a novice in cultivation.

“Heaven rewards diligence—the ancients truly did not deceive me.”

Zhang Fan leapt up, hurried out the door, and squeezed onto the subway to Yebuliang.

As soon as he entered, he pulled Wen He aside and whispered: “Sister Wen, what about the He family…?”

At this, Zhang Fan glanced nervously at Wen He’s expression.

This was his first time engaging in a magical duel—he had shattered another’s Nascent Soul. He knew the danger well, and the He family was powerful, deeply entrenched in Yujing City. If they traced it back to him, his future would be bleak—not just lawsuits, but likely death.

“Relax, Fan Fan… they haven’t traced it to you yet.”

Wen He remained the thoughtful neighborly older sister, soothing Zhang Fan’s nerves.

“Does the boss know?” Zhang Fan exhaled slightly and asked again.

“He knows.”

“What did the boss say?” Zhang Fan tensed again.

“The boss says you’re part of the company—if trouble arises, the company won’t stand idly by—we must keep you on…”

“Good person.”

“But at the first sign of danger, he’ll shove you out.”

“...”

“Evil capitalists!!”

Zhang Fan rolled his eyes, glanced instinctively at Bai Buran’s office, then sat at his desk and turned on his computer.

Every new office worker knows: going to work means “withered vines, old trees, drowsy crows—clock in, slack off, wait to go home.”

After scanning his surroundings and confirming safety, Zhang Fan opened the “Little Yellow Book” page and pulled up his follow list.

His followed accounts included borderline streamers and beautiful internet celebrities…

Though the old saying goes: wine, lust, wealth, and anger are four walls; everyone hides inside them; if you leap beyond the walls, you won’t become a god but your life will still be long…

But Zhang Fan was a cultivator—he knew well the danger of female allure. The internet was more perilous than the mortal world; viewing these things stirred desire, scattered thoughts, and agitated the conscious spirit…

If one could still hold firm, embrace unity, and return to stillness despite this, then one’s cultivation was deep indeed.

“I need you to aid my cultivation!”

Zhang Fan grinned, scrolled aimlessly for two hours, and when his mind was restless, finally dragged the list to the bottom—a familiar ID appeared:

Thousand-Year Demon!!

On Zhenwu Mountain, this guy had scammed Zhang Fan 888 yuan; later, Zhang Fan privately messaged for a refund, but the guy read it and didn’t reply…

I fucking…

Read but no reply was like killing one’s parents—stacked humiliation buffs. Still, Zhang Fan had secretly followed him, because every one of his posts was brilliant, especially for insiders—truly enlightening.

Zhang Fan was 100% certain this Thousand-Year Demon was a real cultivator in person.

“Fuck, don’t let me meet you in real life—or I’ll make you pay back every penny.”

Zhang Fan cursed under his breath but didn’t hesitate—he opened the [Thousand-Year Demon]’s homepage…

“Daoist Sects and Art Cultivation…”

“Good, good, good—I’ll fleece you bare.” Zhang Fan stared at the post, utterly focused.

In many novels and films, Daoists are depicted as cloud-riding, storm-summoning, demon-subduing figures—all these abilities stem from art cultivation.

Daoism has been passed down for millennia; during the Song and Yuan dynasties, the imperial court forcibly consolidated all Daoist sects into two: [Quanzhen] and [Zhengyi].

To this day, these two remain the most famous and powerful Daoist sects.

Yet tracing back to origins, Daoism once had over a hundred sects, each with its own lineage, core arts, and teachings.

In today’s age, many ancient secrets once kept hidden are now online; sects have blended, and the rigid barriers of old no longer exist.

But the most essential teachings are still passed mouth to ear.

Like Zhenwu Mountain—its deepest secrets aren’t even in the [Dao Mi Lu] he stole from the broken precept monk. No matter which sect you study, to learn the real thing, you must take a master and receive secret transmission.

“From the perspective of arts alone, regardless of sect, the first thing to confirm is the Law Lord…” Zhang Fan continued reading.

The Law Lord is the revered deity upon whom the art depends.

All Daoist arts require invoking the relevant revered deity to dispatch divine generals.

For example, the [Heavenly Mother Heart Mantra] taught to Zhang Fan by Xia Weisheng has [Doumu Yuanjun] as its Law Lord; her own [Five Thunder Correct Method] has [Jiutian Yiyuan Leisheng Puhua Tianzun] as its Law Lord.

Some sects, however, take their ancestral master as the Law Lord.

“What a vast system…” Zhang Fan couldn’t help but sigh.

“Though Daoist sects are many, not all arts suit cultivation…”

The Thousand-Year Demon’s post was clear: “Regarding art potency, there’s a current online saying…”

Lushan governs punishment, Shenxiao governs thunder, Beidi governs killing—all are ruthless.

The Lushan sect mostly consists of itinerant Daoists living hidden in cities, rarely cultivating in mountain monasteries; their arts are known for brutality and aggression, embodying the principle: “Either you die, or I live…”

Their incantations and seals are highly aggressive—even their gangbu reflect this ferocity.

The term gangbu refers to fundamental exercises like hand seals.

Other sects’ gangbu are things like “Treading the Seven Stars,” “Ascending the Six Extremes,” etc.

But Lushan’s gangbu are named things like “Climbing the Blade Mountain,” “Descending into the Fire Sea,” “Ascending the Cloud Tower”—clearly showing their fierce, brutal nature.

Thus in Daoist duels, Lushan is infamous for its ferocity: “Better to meet the Yanjun of Fengdu than a Lushan elite…”

These Daoists truly fight until they kill—or keep fighting if they don’t.

The Shenxiao sect needs no explanation—most famous, renowned for thunder arts, yet actually a branch of Zhengyi, venerating [Jiutian Yiyuan Leisheng Puhua Tianzun] as its Law Lord.

“Let me emphasize the Beidi sect…”

At this, Zhang Fan perked up—those words made his eyes gleam.

Daoist arts have been passed for millennia—Beidi, the Northern Emperor, is the First Killer!!

(End of Chapter)