Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Chapter 536 - 265: The Emperor of the Mortal World Governs Fortune and Doom! Human Xiao Has Yet to Rise, Tai Sui Claims the Throne

"The power of the celestial Tai Sui is immense, and the zodiac that oversees the mortal world will be influenced by it unless..."

"Unless what?" Zhang Fan asked.

"Man can conquer heaven!" Li Yishan set down his wine glass and, in a solemn whisper, uttered these four words.

"Man can conquer heaven!?" Zhang Fan pondered.

"It’s getting late, I should be heading back."

Li Yishan slowly stood up, walked over to Zhang Fan, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Zhang Fan, the truth of our family matters is too troubling to share much with you, I have my difficulties, but as long as we’re in this Yujing City..."

"We two brothers can still walk sideways and win while lying down."

Without waiting for Zhang Fan’s response, Li Yishan slowly departed.

Zhang Fan turned to watch him go, feeling that Li Yishan’s silhouette was so lonely tonight, so desolate, as if carrying thousands of pounds, traversing over rivers and seas, and across treacherous mountains.

"Man conquers heaven, controls fate and uses it." Zhang Fan murmured softly, and slowly got up.

"There will be that day."

With those words, he downed the wine in his cup in one go, turned, and left.

"Young man, you haven’t paid yet!"

At this moment, the owner of the stall emerged holding a vegetable knife, stopping Zhang Fan.

"Huh? The person just now didn’t pay?" Zhang Fan was stunned.

"He said you would." The owner wielded the vegetable knife in his hand.

"..."

"How much is it?"

"Two hundred and eighty-seven, I’ll drop the change, just give me two hundred and ninety." The owner said generously.

"Thank you, boss."

...

Night fell deeply.

Zhang Fan returned to Hongfu Garden, already at eleven at night. The light in the security room at the gate was still on, but the person on duty today was not Liu Fusheng.

These days, Zhang Fan was in Huizhou Province and hadn’t returned home for a long time.

He opened the door and turned on the light; the home was as cold and quiet as ever.

Originally, he lived depending on Zhang Lingzong, but now that Zhang Lingzong hadn’t returned home for a long time, the house felt even more lifeless, dust covering the table.

Zhang Fan put down his luggage and headed straight to Zhang Lingzong’s room, dragging out the old wooden box from under the bed.

Inside were some old belongings, especially the items Li Linglong used before her death, all preserved by Zhang Lingzong and stored in the box.

Opening the box, he was greeted first by an ancient Nokia phone.

Last time Zhang Lingzong called, he had told Zhang Fan that if he couldn’t stay in Yujing City, he should call the number on the phone, which was left as an emergency escape.

But until today, Zhang Fan hadn’t needed to use it.

Setting down the phone, Zhang Fan began rummaging through the box again.

"If mom was really the last generation’s Human Xiao, she might have left some useful information, like how to contact the other Twelve Zodiac Guardians?" Zhang Fan mumbled in his heart.

At this moment, he could almost be a hundred percent certain that Lin Jianyue was in trouble, likely alongside Zhao Jie Xuan.

"What are you looking for?"

Just then, a soft voice came from behind him, accompanied by a graceful shadow pressing towards Zhang Fan.

"When did you come in?" Zhang Fan asked indifferently without turning his head.

"Tut-tut, are you calm? Compared to your time at the Gusu Xuanmiao Temple, you’ve grown quite a bit."

Under the light, a charming figure gracefully entered the room, appearing in her thirties, with red lips, white teeth, skin like creamy fat, wearing black glossy high-heeled shoes, her waist slender like a water snake.

"Si Snake Bai Yujing!"

On that day, within the Observatory of Profound Mystery, what was sealed inside the Dharma Jar was the Primordial Spirit of Si Snake Bai Yujing. The Laughing Taoist Alliance people falsely believed it contained the Primordial Spirit Fragment of the previous generation’s Human Xiao, not knowing they were deceived by Bai Yujing.

Zhang Fan knew the person before him was not only Si Snake among the Thirteen Zodiacs but was also one of the Five Great Demons under Li Linglong’s command.

Indeed, it was thanks to Zhang Fan that Si Snake’s Primordial Spirit was truly freed.

"After all, young man, living alone is a mess; I was the one who tidied up your room." Bai Yujing laughed lightly.

"Did you come to repay me? Since last time, I released your Primordial Spirit." Zhang Fan replied indifferently.

"Are the two little demons I gave you handy?" Bai Yujing asked smoothly.

Shi Shougong and Su Shiyu were originally under her command, and after the incident at the Observatory of Profound Mystery, they followed Zhang Fan.

Even the house in Gusu City was left to Zhang Fan by Bai Yujing, now yielding over three thousand rent monthly.

"You’re not here to settle accounts, are you?" Zhang Fan continued searching.

"Pretty calm, and how quickly, you’ve become so confident and composed? Don’t forget, although I followed your mom, I’m one of the Thirteen Zodiacs..." Bai Yujing hinted.

"Why are you telling me this? To threaten?" Zhang Fan replied without turning.

Whew...

As soon as he finished speaking, a cold aura surged from the doorway.

Bai Yujing raised her eyebrows; her gaze swept over to see a strange, fierce figure standing at the door, its scarlet gaze locked onto her. It was none other than Zhang Fan’s long-refined Spirit Corpse, Zhang Beijiang.

"What a Spirit Corpse, you’ve obtained quite a treasure." Bai Yujing, worldly level, naturally recognized Zhang Beijiang’s extraordinariness.

Since the Yin Mountain Xiong Family repaired it, Zhang Fan had tirelessly worked on this Spirit Corpse.

After all, Spirit Corpses can cultivate autonomously.

With the death of the Black Rat, this became his strongest Guardian, surpassing Liu Xingyu, Liu Xingtui, even Shi Shougong and Su Shiyu, possessing great combat power and absolute loyalty.

"Young Zhang Fan, my powers have largely recovered; this Spirit Corpse likely can’t stop me." Bai Yujing displayed her strong confidence.

Her rank among the Thirteen Zodiacs wasn’t the oldest, but certainly not low, unmatched by the likes of Hai Pig, Xu Dog, or Rabbit.

Even during Li Linglong’s era, she was securely in the seat of Si Snake, being one of the Five Great Demons herself.

"Aunt Bai, since you followed my mom, I call you Aunt Bai. As you said, with just a Spirit Corpse, indeed, it can’t hold you back, but you can also try, see if you can leave this room after striking me." Zhang Fan said without turning.

"Bold kid, becoming more like your father, domineer growing, truly worthy of your family’s line." Bai Yujing showed a kind smile, completely easing her posture.

"Aunt Bai, let’s be straightforward; speaking like this is tiring."

Right then, Zhang Fan finally stopped rummaging and slowly turned around.

"The Rabbit is missing." Bai Yujing cut to the chase.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fan’s eyes sharply tightened: "What do you know?"

"The young girl Lin Jianyue is in trouble; five days ago, she last sought help from me, but then lost contact." Bai Yujing spoke solemnly.

"Sought help from you? Why didn’t she come to me?" Zhang Fan showed a puzzled expression.

"How could she find you? Call or video chat?" Bai Yujing shook her head: "At that time, her situation was naturally urgent, and the Zodiacs have unique methods of transmitting messages."

"Why did she find you then?" Zhang Fan continued.

"You’re growing more suspicious." Bai Yujing looked at Zhang Fan with intention.

"When victimized often, it’s best to clarify things." Zhang Fan smiled with a grin.

"Because among the Thirteen Zodiacs, I was the only one she could trust." Bai Yujing casually said.

Su Shiyu and Shi Shougong, originally Si Snake’s followers, now accompanied Zhang Fan, were evidence enough.

"Where is she now!?" Zhang Fan asked.

"I don’t know." Bai Yujing shook her head: "I’ve lost contact with her."

"You didn’t come here just to say this; is there a way to find her?" Zhang Fan pressed.

"Do you know Tai Sui!?" Bai Yujing changed the topic suddenly.

"Tai Sui!?"

"The Zodiac’s annual Tai Sui presides over, the mortal world’s emperor governs fortunes and misfortunes." Bai Yujing spoke gravely.

Tai Sui, whose existence surpasses the Twelve Zodiac Guardians, stands alongside the Human Xiao, established by successive leaders of the Wuwei Sect, precisely to prevent the Thirteen Zodiacs from growing too powerful.

"From a certain perspective, Tai Sui exists to balance the Human Xiao. When the Human Xiao lacks momentum or perishes, Tai Sui leads the Twelve Zodiac Guardians!" Bai Yujing spoke seriously.

The Human Xiao falters, Tai Sui reigns supreme!!!