Chapter 341: Unification of the world, all sects return to the heart

The lake swayed with the wind, waves rising to hold the blue sky.

Under the bright moonlight, that figure stood, the hem of her clothes fluttering in the wind, as if hiding endless grievances and hatred.

At this very moment, Zhang Fan seemed to see a different Given Chen Long, Given Chen Long, who stood outside the Thirteen Zodiacs and whose surname was Zhang...

"I don't know about the grievances of the previous generation." Zhang Fan lowered his gaze and said in a deep voice.

Regardless, it was because of this woman before him that ten years ago, under Long Hu Mountain, his family was destroyed, he entered the Great Night Without Light, his soul-aspect went silent, and he did not wake up for ten years.

"Don't know? Why don't you know?" Given Chen Long sneered.

"As long as your surname is Zhang, you should know that to forget means to betray."

Once these words were spoken, Qiu Buyi's gaze trembled, and he subconsciously looked at Zhang Fan. This man before him indeed had the surname Zhang; without a doubt, he was a remnant of the South Zhang.

At this moment, he was absolutely certain that Given Chen Long also came from the South Zhang lineage.

"Under a collapsed nest, are there any whole eggs? When your father and I were young, we encountered a great change and have been drifting in the Jiang Hu ever since. At your age, I don't know how many lives I have seen, how many great calamities I have encountered."

Given Chen Long's gaze was cold. She looked at Zhang Fan as if she had seen through his thoughts.

"What do your little calamities count for?"

In the eyes of the previous generation, it seemed that the next generation was always inferior, often saying "in our time" and so on.

"Calamity is a disaster that kills, but it is also a medicine for longevity. Precisely because of this, you have achieved what you have today." Zhang Fan said in a concentrated voice.

He was the same. If it weren't for falling into the Great Night Without Light ten years ago, if it weren't for the thorns along the way, how could he have his current cultivation?

The Thirteen Zodiacs, Li Changgeng, the North Zhang lineage, the Pure Yang family, and even the experts of the major Daoist mountain sects... these people had all become his whetstones. As long as the blade did not break, there would be a day when it would show its sharpness.

Calamity and opportunity are born together; this is the technique for longevity.

"You are worthy of being of our Zhang family's seed. At such a young age, you can understand this principle." Given Chen Long chuckled, but her smile remained cold.

"However..."

"Such a calamity, such an opportunity, if it were exchanged for you..."

"Do you want it?"

Once these words were spoken, Zhang Fan fell silent.

Whether it was Zhang Lingzong or Given Chen Long, the calamities they suffered were indeed far more than his, to the point that ordinary people couldn't even imagine them.

When they were young, there was a great change in the clan, their family was destroyed, they saw relatives and friends die before them, and from then on, they drifted to strange lands, with no roots, living a life of blood and wind.

That kind of life where one couldn't see tomorrow, not knowing whether the enemy or the morning sun would come first.

Besides that, there were all kinds of cultivation calamities. Whether it was the Five-Form Wrong King or the Divine Demon Holy Fetus, they were all the greatest calamities of the current world, hiding terror, and the suffering endured by body and mind was something ordinary people couldn't imagine.

Having experienced all this, the Great Lingzong King of today was born.

And Given Chen Long of today was born.

But if someone else came, who would be willing to endure such a calamity, and who would dare to say they could endure such a calamity?

People always gain after losing, but before gaining, who is willing to lose? Who dares to face loss?

"Immortals are originally made by mortals, only afraid that the mortal's will is not firm."

Given Chen Long sneered and murmured, a trace of mockery in her beautiful eyes, as if mocking herself, mocking fate, mocking this sky, mocking this earth.

"This is the sorrow of a practitioner, drifting in the red dust, unable to control oneself, only able to fight in this birth and transformation of calamity and opportunity..."

Zhang Fan remained silent. He thought of a sentence that the Three-Corpse Origin Pill had once said...

Being in the red dust is the greatest calamity in the world.

From small peddlers to Pure Yang True Persons, everyone is crossing a calamity.

Zhang Fan looked at Given Chen Long, looking at this enemy of the same clan, not knowing why she would say these things to him.

"Eighty years ago, there was a great calamity in the Daoist sect. From then on, the Long Hu Zhang family was passed down separately in the north and south, and the Three Treasures of the Ancestor fell into our South Zhang lineage..." Given Chen Long changed the subject and said suddenly.

"In other words, we South Zhang are the true lineage of Long Hu, the direct descendants of the Ancestor."

The Long Hu Zhang family had an unshakable position among the Daoist sects of the world, a family of immortals, high above, having broken the mountain and attacked the temple nine times, seven of which were led by the Zhang family.

After being passed down separately in the north and south, this lineage became mysterious and unpredictable in the eyes of the Daoist sects of the world. They were like those who had left the world and were dusty, never dealing with outsiders again.

Until one day, the South Zhang was destroyed, and the world was shaken.

"The older generation will eventually step down. They had seen the prosperity of Long Hu Mountain and wanted to reopen the Long Hu mountain gate until their death, to continue the ancestor's incense..." Given Chen Long murmured softly.

The older generation she spoke of were the survivors of the Long Hu Zhang family who had experienced the great calamity of the Daoist sect, the first-generation disciples of the South Zhang lineage.

"So, at that time, the clan set a plan."

"A plan?" Zhang Fan raised an eyebrow.

"The Daoist sect and the Wu Wei Sect have been fighting for thousands of years, not knowing how many corpses have been buried, how many peerless figures have been buried..."

"If someone could end this thousands of years of dispute, then that would be..."

As the words reached this point, Given Chen Long paused slightly, a different kind of brilliance rising in her eyes. Immediately after, her lips parted slightly, spitting out eight words.

"Unification of the world, all sects return to the heart!"

Once these words were spoken, whether it was Zhang Fan, Ge Shuangxiu, or Qiu Buyi, their eyes lit up.

Unification of the world, all sects return to the heart. How heavy and difficult are these eight words!?

The Daoist sect has passed down for endless time, and the Long Hu Mountain Zhang family is already transcendent and supreme, yet they have never achieved these eight words.

Ending the thousands of years of grievances between the Daoist sect and the Wu Wei Sect is a great achievement that opens up the world. If it were really done, from then on, the South Zhang lineage would be the true number one family in the world, and the Daoist sect would pass down for thousands of years, and no one would ever be able to shake its position.

"The older generation's idea was to create an expert who had mastered the Three-Corpse Illumination and become the leader of the Wu Wei Sect, just like the Three-Corpse Daoist back then." Given Chen Long whispered.

"It's a pity that the Three-Corpse Illumination has only been mastered by three people since ancient times. This technique steals the creation of heaven and offends the taboo of heaven. How could it be so easy to master?" Given Chen Long shook her head.

Just like that, the South Zhang lineage's plan was shelved, and the older generation passed away one after another, carrying unwillingness, falling into the human world. Those people never returned to Long Hu Mountain until their death.

"Each generation has its own talents, each leading the way for hundreds of years..." Given Chen Long looked at the endless Pearl Lake, watching the tide rise and fall, sighing faintly.

"I thought such a plan would never be realized again, until a genius appeared among the second-generation disciples of the South Zhang. He appeared out of nowhere, letting everyone see hope."

As the words reached this point, Given Chen Long's gaze sank slightly, looking at Zhang Fan.

Zhang Fan's heart jumped, as if he had guessed something.

"His name is Zhang Tiansheng!"

Divine Divination Zhang Tiansheng!

"Second Granduncle was smart when he was young, acted strangely, did not obey dogma, was often outside, and made many friends..." Given Chen Long said in a deep voice.

"About sixty years ago, during the Jiazi Demon-Slaying, Chu Chaoran dominated the world, beheading the former number one expert in the world at the peak of Mount Tai, achieving the invincible name of the Pure Yang True Person."

"At that time, the world's situation changed suddenly, and Second Granduncle swore an alliance with a group of like-minded people, gathered for righteousness with wine, and established an organization, a mysterious organization independent of the Daoist sect and the Wu Wei Sect..."

Zhang Fan's heart jumped. Hearing this, how could he not hear what this was?

"Coffin-Carrying Society!?"

"The original intention of this organization was to investigate the mysteries of the eight techniques and find the legendary ninth technique that had never appeared in the world." Given Chen Long said in a deep voice.

"The ninth technique!?" Zhang Fan's gaze tightened.

He knew that the legendary ninth technique was mysterious to the extreme and had never appeared in the world.

Some people said that that was the true technique for becoming an immortal, not enough for ordinary people to see.

At first, the Coffin-Carrying Society had only nine people, which were the so-called founding members. As their activities became more frequent, they gradually became a massive force, absorbing many peripheral members.

Among them were both Daoist disciples and Wu Wei Sect members, and even members from the Pure Yang family and the Mountain and Sea Dead End.

This group of people visited famous mountains, went deep into great rivers, and didn't know how many ancient tombs they had dug, how many Daoist relics they had searched for, just to search for clues about the nine techniques.

"How many years, how much effort of how many people, finally let Second Granduncle compile a 【Coffin-Carrying Notes】, which recorded the secrets of the eight techniques, the essentials of the nine vessels, and even clues to the legendary ninth technique."

A different kind of brilliance rose in Given Chen Long's eyes, revealing deep longing.

Seeing this, Zhang Fan's heart stirred, and he blurted out.

"You came back this time for that 【Coffin-Carrying Notes】?"

Given Chen Long glanced sideways, looked at Zhang Fan deeply, but did not commit.

"It is precisely because of Second Granduncle that our South Zhang lineage saw hope and pushed that plan again..."

"If successful, the Three-Corpse Illumination would become the leader of the Wu Wei Sect, the thousands of years of grievances between the Wu Wei Sect and the Daoist sect would immediately dissipate, the world would be unified, and all sects would return to the heart..."

"That would be a new era, an era belonging to our Long Hu Zhang family..."

Given Chen Long's voice was low and calm, but her eyes revealed light, forming a sharp contrast with the vast night.

"It's a pity that the situation was unified, but the hearts of the people in the world were falling apart... No one wanted to see such a result."

This was like when Qin swept the six states back then, everyone spat at Qin in anger. Even if Chu had only three households, Chu would surely destroy Qin.

"The South Zhang suffered a calamity because of this!?" Zhang Fan said in a deep voice.

"The true enemy always comes from within. The North Zhang lineage is the true sin of the Zhang family. They colluded with the White Crane Temple and killed how many blood descendants of our South Zhang lineage?"

Given Chen Long's voice was cold as frost, colder and more piercing than the ten-thousand-foot lake water.

"Back then, your father and I were buried in a pile of dead people, with only one breath left. It was someone who dug us out of the pile of dead people..."

"That person had once received Second Granduncle's favor. Yes, his name is Lou Hechuan." A look of reminiscence rose in Given Chen Long's eyes.

That year, he was only thirteen years old.

"After that day, the South Zhang was finished. We had no roots anymore, drifting in the Jiang Hu ever since, blood and wind, and I have always followed your father..."

"Originally, he had the opportunity to inherit the legacy of the South Zhang and master the Three-Corpse Illumination..."

"Precisely because of such hope, I always regarded him as a brother, as a father, as a..." Given Chen Long's words paused slightly, and some waves finally rose in her calm eyes.

"That was the wish of how many people, that was the road paved by how many lives... He should have stepped on the bones of the South Zhang disciples and walked step by step to that supreme position..."

"But he... because of that bitch Li Linglong, he was willing to give up everything, not even caring about the deep blood feud of the South Zhang lineage..."

Speaking of this, Given Chen Long looked at Zhang Fan, hiding endless hatred in her eyes, a hatred that was engraved in her heart.

"Tell me... did those brothers and sisters of the South Zhang die in vain!? So many lives, who will pay them back?"

Given Chen Long's voice became high and sharp.

"So Li Linglong deserves to die, and your father... also deserves to die."

"To forget means to betray!"

As the words fell, Zhang Fan remained silent. He couldn't judge who was right or wrong. Perhaps it had nothing to do with right or wrong, just that everyone's standpoint and choice were different.

"My father... he couldn't master the Three-Corpse Illumination!" Zhang Fan finally spoke.

"Of course he couldn't master it."

Given Chen Long sneered: "Do you know what he said to me back then when I asked him to inherit the legacy of the South Zhang and practice the Three-Corpse Illumination?"

"What?"

"'Chang'e should regret stealing the spirit medicine, the blue sea and blue sky heart every night.' (A poem about loneliness and regret)." Given Chen Long's voice was cold, hiding a trace of mockery in her cold smile.

"He wasn't like this before. Ever since that woman Li Linglong appeared, ever since you were born, everything changed."

"He regarded the Three-Corpse Illumination as a taboo!"

"'Practicing it is inauspicious... practicing it is inauspicious...'"

Given Chen Long sneered, looking at Zhang Fan: "Do you know why I spared you in the Ten Thousand Mountains?"

"Of course it wasn't because of that old elephant, nor because of your father. If I want to kill someone, there are no taboos, and no one can stop me..."

"Then why?" Zhang Fan said in a deep voice.

"Because you also have the surname Zhang, and even more because you have mastered the Three-Corpse Illumination..."

Once these words were spoken, Qiu Buyi's expression changed drastically. His heart jumped wildly, and he looked at Zhang Fan fiercely, finally knowing that the Three-Corpse descendant that Ge Changfeng and Qiu Wanmian met in Yujing City that day was Zhang Fan!!

"Zhang Fan, you have hope of completing the ancestors' last wish. As long as you are willing, I can help you ascend. What Daoist sect, what Wu Wei, what North Zhang..."

"Those who follow me live, those who oppose me die!" A different kind of brilliance rose in Given Chen Long's eyes.

Zhang Fan was stunned. He didn't expect that the enemy who had destroyed his family would actually throw an olive branch to him at this moment.

"I refuse." Zhang Fan shook his head.

Such a choice didn't even need to be thought about. Putting aside the grievances, first of all, he didn't trust Given Chen Long. Secondly, he believed that with Zhang Lingzong's character and cultivation, he would absolutely not abandon everything because of personal feelings and live a life of so-called seclusion. There must be a deeper reason behind it.

Perhaps Given Chen Long also knew this reason, but she didn't say it clearly.

"Is that so?"

Regarding Zhang Fan's answer, Given Chen Long didn't seem surprised. Her face showed her usual indifference and composure.

"You father and son are really alike, and the choices you make are exactly the same."

As the words reached this point, Given Chen Long's gaze toward Zhang Fan suddenly turned cold, like a divine sword spitting out, as if the sharpness was exposed.

Zhang Fan's expression changed drastically, but his body couldn't help but sway involuntarily.

"Today, I still won't kill you... sooner or later, your father will also take action against you."

Once these words were spoken, Zhang Fan's expression changed slightly, and he frowned: "What do you mean?"

"He is your greatest calamity."

As she spoke, a mocking smile appeared on Given Chen Long's beautiful face. Immediately after, she turned around and looked in one direction.

"Watch."

"Watch what?" Zhang Fan said.

"Just look at the territory today, whose world it actually is!"

As the words fell, Given Chen Long picked up Qiu Buyi, her figure jumped up, like a startled dragon leaving the abyss, like a divine demon descending to the world, stepping on the vast night, and disappeared into the vast heaven and earth.

Zhang Fan's expression changed drastically, and he hurried to follow.

"What is she going to do?" Ge Shuangxiu followed closely behind and couldn't help but ask.

"Kill!" Zhang Fan's expression was solemn, spitting out two words.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 342 =====