Chapter 920

After a night's rest, Pan Yun had recovered much of her strength, and Master Xuanmiao's injuries had also improved significantly—her lips now bore a faint hint of color.

Pan Yun couldn't help but marvel at Third Senior Brother's medical skill; yesterday, Fourth Senior Sister had been so severely wounded, yet in just one night she had recovered to this extent.

"Since you've all finished eating, get ready to begin." Master Xuanmiao knew that Zhang Liuzhen and Pan Yun both took this cultivation art seriously, and she herself did as well.

The test wasn't difficult: walk to the open courtyard, sit down, and Pan Yun took Zhang Liuzhen's hand.

Both felt tense and froze in place.

Seeing he didn't move, Pan Yun frowned: "What are you waiting for? Try first—can you draw in my Yuan force?"

Zhang Liuzhen immediately closed his eyes, activating the new cultivation art, attempting to draw power from the surroundings.

But he could absorb the ambient spiritual energy—he couldn't draw in Pan Yun's Yuan force.

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow, satisfied; once his cultivation completed a small heavenly cycle, she told him: "Don't move—I'll try!"

Zhang Liuzhen halted his cultivation, and Pan Yun sent her Yuan force toward him; he received it, initially steady, but soon her Yuan force slipped from her control, cascading down like a stream, gushing wildly into him.

Both immediately tried to pull their hands apart—but found they couldn't.

Pan Yun's face turned pale; she could only recall the sensation from before and looked at Zhang Liuzhen.

Zhang Liuzhen must have found the key—he shifted his intent slightly, and their clasped hands loosened; Pan Yun instantly yanked her hand free.

Both sat motionless, hearts still pounding.

Pan Yun, pale-faced, said: "It won't work—the disconnection point lies with you. This cultivation art must be revised, or the cultivation world will descend into chaos."

Master Xuanmiao: "You've practiced the art too—why can't you reverse-absorb Liuzhen's Yuan force? In the past two years, many students have secretly studied this art, yet no one has claimed they can forcibly drain another's Yuan force or internal energy."

Zhang Liuzhen: "When the art was first taught on the square, only the first four lines were transmitted, because this art has flaws. I secretly selected only a few to practice it; among them, even the most gifted only reached the third level."

Pan Yun asked curiously: "What about you?"

Zhang Liuzhen's lips curled slightly: "Though my Upper Dantian is shattered and I cannot store Yuan force, this art was created by me—I naturally mastered it completely, having learned all twelve levels."

Pan Yun: "Your Upper Dantian is shattered, your meridians are damaged—how did you even create this art?"

"The advantage of this art is accelerating the speed of spiritual energy absorption and cultivation efficiency. My original idea was that it could absorb spiritual energy so rapidly it bypasses the Upper Dantian entirely, instantly converting it into Yuan force and releasing it."

Pan Yun instantly understood: "This art wasn't just created for disciples with mediocre talent who struggle to progress—it was created for yourself."

Zhang Liuzhen: "I conceived this art before I was crippled, but back then I was still cautious. Only after my Upper Dantian shattered and my meridians were damaged did I shift its direction."

He said: "Wasn't my talent worse than those disciples'? If I can use this art, they'll use it even better."

And such an efficient cultivation art inherently possesses the trait of plunder.

Once activated, it plunders all energy within reach.

When he first absorbed Pan Yun's Yuan force, he hadn't realized this—but just now, he felt that if he continued, he wouldn't just drain her Yuan force—he'd drain her flesh, her blood, all her energy.

That sensation was exquisite—in an instant, his Upper Dantian swelled full, filling him with the feeling of having ascended to immortality.

Fortunately, Zhang Liuzhen was rational enough, and his moral sense strong enough—otherwise, at that moment, he would have kept draining, and then…

Zhang Liuzhen glanced at Master Xuanmiao—then, either he'd drain her into a dried husk, or she'd run him through with a sword.

So this art must be revised.

Zhang Liuzhen reflected, then murmured: "The problem must lie in the sixth level's technique—it must be changed there."

Master Xuanmiao: "How many levels did you teach outwardly?"

"I gave them the incantations for the fourth level, but I haven't had time to personally instruct them yet."

Master Xuanmiao nodded slightly: "Find two disciples with good talent. Have them start from the beginning; once they reach the fifth and sixth levels, test it."

Zhang Liuzhen opened his mouth but hesitated.

Master Xuanmiao, expressionless, said: "If they can't control themselves, kill them."

Zhang Liuzhen looked helplessly at her: "If you say that, no disciple will dare to volunteer."

Master Xuanmiao: "Then pay them. Heavy rewards attract the desperate."

Pan Yun nodded vigorously beside them: "We're not forcing them—it's a voluntary exchange. If they agree, they must deliver. If they fail, they deserve to die."

Zhang Liuzhen paused thoughtfully: "Alright. I'll also think about whether I can seal this channel—even for those who've practiced, it can be shut off."

Pan Yun gave him a thumbs-up: "Senior Brother, you're truly wise and formidable."

Yet as she turned away, she returned to her room and immersed herself in searching through the cultivation texts.

Pan Xiaohei, seeing her rummage through the Spirit Realm space in disarray, mercifully returned to her body—a box leapt from a pile of junk and slammed directly onto Pan Yun.

Pan Yun caught the box and opened it.

Inside was a cultivation manual, along with a thick stack of draft papers—all notes Pan Yun had previously prepared to assist Zhang Liuzhen.

She had mainly studied the first four levels, glanced at the later ones, memorized them, but never practiced them.

Now she pulled out the manual and began reading from the fifth level.

Pan Yun read with great interest, when suddenly she heard a faint sound outside; she immediately tucked away the manual and opened the door.

She saw three people walking out.

Pan Yun hurried after them: "Senior Brother, Senior Sister, where are you going?"

Tao Ji turned back: "We're going down the mountain. You just lost a lot of Yuan force—stay in the Academy and rest."

"Are you going down to enjoy the fruits of victory?" Pan Yun ran forward, extending her hand toward Zhang Liuzhen: "I just reached the seventh level—I've mastered the first six. Let's test it—give my Yuan force back?"

Zhang Liuzhen: …

Master Xuanmiao struck her on the head, scowling: "You're truly reckless—dare to learn any cultivation art?"

Zhang Liuzhen slapped her hand away: "I don't want to die, and I don't want you to die. We both absorb each other's Yuan force now—we don't know what the interaction will do. Don't risk it."

He studied her from head to toe, then said: "I know you want to go down the mountain—come along."

Pan Yun immediately smiled and fell in behind them: "Senior Brother Zhang, you've got to protect us."

Zhang Liuzhen: "As long as you don't provoke trouble, I can protect you." He glanced at Master Xuanmiao: "Besides, your Senior Sister is out front—what are you afraid of?"

Indeed, the Heavenly Master's Mansion's attention was fixed entirely on Master Xuanmiao.

Whether their own people or their opponents, all who saw Xuanmiao standing at the gate in her sky-blue dao robe, like a frosty, unyielding pine, felt both fear and hatred, and when Xuanmiao looked their way, they averted their gazes as if fleeing.

Zhang Liuzhen smiled and asked Zhang Ziwang, who ran up to him: "Have the injured disciples been properly arranged?"

"Yes, all arranged."

Zhang Liuzhen nodded slightly and asked: "Where are the two Laozu?"

"They are on the training platform."

The Tian Shi Fu training platform—the same raised dais they had seen yesterday—was painted with a yin-yang symbol on top and the Eight Trigrams below.

When the group arrived, the two Laozu were speaking quietly with someone; upon seeing Zhang Liuzhen, they rose and bowed slightly to him.

The Zhang family's hierarchy was rigid; Zhang Liuzhen was already the patriarch, and they were bound to respect him.

Of course, they could choose not to respect him—but then, the Zhang family would surely descend into internal chaos.

Yet they still hoped the Zhang family would grow stronger, and that succession disputes would never occur again.

Still, they acknowledged Zhang Liuzhen, but not Xuanmiao, and certainly not Tao Ji and Pan Yun behind her.

After exchanging formal bows, Zhang Xuefang frowned and said: "Liuzhen, we're discussing family matters—why not have Ziwang escort the guests to the main hall?"

Zhang Liuzhen sat in the main seat, straightened his robe, and smiled: "Laozu, they are my right hand and left hand—not outsiders."

Zhang Xuefang's face darkened: "There are plenty of non-clan disciples in Tian Shi Fu—for example, your senior brother Li Wenying once held office here, but he knew his place, never interfering in Zhang family affairs, only discussing Tian Shi Fu matters."

Pan Yun thought the Zhang Laozu's words made sense, and was about to step back, when Xuanmiao suddenly asked: "Are you speaking of my senior brother and junior sister—or of me?"

Zhang Xuefang snorted, turned his head away, refusing to look at her, and said haughtily: "I speak not only of your senior brother and junior sister, but of you too! A person must know their place. Women of the Zhang family must not interfere in front-court affairs—just as women in the imperial court must not meddle in state affairs. This is an iron law."

Pan Yun rooted herself in place, no longer moving.

She smiled sweetly at Zhang Xuefang: "Master Zhang, the imperial court's rules have already been broken. I, Pan Yun, am currently the Great Ming State Preceptor. Though I have no wish to interfere in politics, my position compels me to occasionally participate in matters of state."

Zhang Xuefang's face darkened.

Zhang Liuzhen immediately replied: "Then our Zhang family's rules must change too."

Zhang Xuefang: "You!"

Zhang Shangde, the eldest and most restrained among them, remained expressionless as he looked up at Zhang Liuzhen and asked: "How do you propose to change them?"

"The clan's cultivation methods—men learn them, and women must learn them too. From now on, any Zhang woman who wishes may enter the clan school to study Dao arts."

Zhang Shangde: "Do you know the consequences? When they marry, they will carry family techniques and secrets out of the clan."

Zhang Liuzhen said: "Laozu, the heavens are changing. In the future, more and more people will cultivate Dao. In-laws are kin too—giving them more resources to stand firm in the world won't it also help our Zhang daughters live better lives?"

Zhang Xuefang snapped: "Whether they live well depends on their husbands—what does it have to do with us?"

Zhang Liuzhen: "You yourself have a daughter…"

??????? ￠O

"The moment she married, she ceased to be my daughter," Zhang Xuefang cut him off. "A married daughter is like water spilled out—why are you so sentimental over a basin of water?"

Zhang Liuzhen had an actual aunt; thinking of that gentle, quiet woman with eyes full of sorrow, his blood boiled, and he laughed bitterly: "If she's no longer your daughter, then why, years ago, did you send your own sister to plead with the Chen family of Liyang to beg for Uncle Jiu's life—and cause Cousin Ying to die young?"

Zhang Xuefang flew into a rage: "She is my daughter! I bore her, I raised her—what's wrong with asking her to do something for her brother? Even if I told her to die, she must die! I am her father!"

Zhang Shangde frowned and rebuked him: "What nonsense are you speaking?"

He ordered Zhang Ziwang to help Zhang Xuefang retire.

Zhang Ziwang, drenched in sweat, hurried forward to support Zhang Xuefang.

But Pan Yun stared at them thoughtfully; as they neared the edge of the platform, she suddenly asked: "Are you two elder masters older and of higher generation than the Zhang elder in the palace?"

They said nothing. Zhang Liuzhen grunted: "These are the Laozu. The one in the palace is my uncle's elder brother."

Pan Yun smiled and asked: "Is the Zhang elder in the palace's cultivation level higher than yours?"

Again, Zhang Liuzhen nodded.

It seems Old Zhu has good judgment—and the Zhang family is sincere enough to place Zhang Zijin in the palace.

Could he be the Zhang family's highest cultivator?

Surely there isn't some hidden ancient monster lurking in the inner quarters—or elsewhere?

If there is, it would be interesting.

Pan Yun's smile widened as she looked at Zhang Xuefang: "No wonder your cultivation level surpasses these two elder masters."

Pan Yun fell silent after speaking.

Zhang Shangde waited, and seeing her speak only half a sentence, frowned: "Why?"

Zhang Xuefang felt insulted and roared: "Master Shu, why ask her? What could she possibly know? She's barely a child!"

Pan Yun had previously thought Zhang Xuefang's cultivation was unfathomable, since she could not sense his depth.

But today, his emotions surged wildly, letting her glimpse a sliver of truth—she had a feeling his energy was less than her senior brother's.

Even…

A spark of battle lit in her eyes; she felt eager. Under desperate circumstances, she might just defeat him.

Xuanmiao stepped forward, blocking her gaze, and said calmly: "Is the reason so hard to guess? Laozu, we are Dao cultivators. Since we cultivate Dao, strength comes from Dao understanding. Our uncle has far surpassed you two in his comprehension of Dao."

Pan Yun's view was blocked by Xuanmiao, as if doused with cold water—she instantly regained clarity, glanced at Zhang Shangde, chuckled, and peeked out from behind Xuanmiao: "Indeed. Master Zhang has cultivated Dao his whole life, yet remains bound by worldly attachments. Alas, you focus solely on refining Qi and strengthening the body, forgetting to break through the mind—what use is that?"

She asked: "Isn't the ultimate goal of cultivation to cultivate the heart?"

Zhang Xuefang and Zhang Shangde stared blankly at Pan Yun.

Of course they knew cultivation ultimately required heart cultivation—they had been pursuing it for nearly a century, chasing Dao, striving to forge a Dao heart.

But they had never considered that matters of children and family might be chains binding their souls.

Pan Yun shook her head and said to them: "Before I left the palace, the Zhang elder asked me to deliver a message to you all."

What message?