Wanfa Daojun, starting from the Little Cloud and Rain Technique

Chapter 490 Reencounter with Zhang Daoyan

The night wind was cold, but the campfire inside the cave was burning brightly.

In the northern regions, strong winds are a daily occurrence, and temperatures in the wild are extremely low, especially at night.

Gu Hongming shivered and wrapped the bearskin blanket around himself tighter.

He was wearing a white fox fur coat, and his slightly pale face flickered in and out of focus with the firelight.

The cave entrance was very large, and the sealing array that Ji An carried could not cover it. If a sealing array were placed at the entrance, the wind speed coming in from the opening would be even more intense.

He glanced at the boy, who was only thirteen years old and had a cultivation level of the fourth level of Qi Refining.

The advantages of a cultivator with good aptitude in the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages are too obvious. If they have the support of elders, cultivation will be even easier.

Back then, he didn't open his meridians until he was seventeen, which was due to his poor aptitude and the double 'poverty buff' of not having the support of spirit stones.

If he didn't possess the stone tortoise, his achievements would be far less, and he might still be struggling to buy the Qi-Nourishing Pill.

Ji An expressed his concern and said:
"Hongming, you're leaving your family and hometown at such a young age. Won't you have trouble adjusting?"

Teenagers don't have much experience, so they are easily sentimental. Few people are mature beyond their years; most are made by experiencing too much hardship.

"Fortunately, my grandfather told me that there would be better opportunities in the Western Continent, and that as long as I put in enough effort, I could become a Golden Core cultivator!"

Gu Hongming's cheeks flushed with excitement. Away from his strict family, he felt that he was in a pretty good state now.

Young people naturally love to play, and cultivation shouldn't be the entirety of life. However, since he opened his meridians, he has had even less time to play than before.

Learning weapon crafting and cultivating techniques occupied most of his time. If it weren't for his insufficient spiritual sense causing a lack of concentration, he felt that all twelve hours of the day would be arranged by his family.

He knew that cultivators only gained respect when their cultivation level was high, but he didn't want to spend all his time on that.

Ji An sends his sincere blessings:
"Great, I think you can do it."

The human heart has energy. If you are confident, it's like being injected with adrenaline and full of passion. If this energy turns negative, it becomes depression and internal stagnation.

In his past life, he suffered from depression for a period of time due to excessive pressure. He couldn't sleep at night and longed for the day to come. During the day, he was mentally exhausted and longed for the night to come so that he could sleep.

I can easily fall asleep but wake up again, feeling like the blood flowing through my entire back and arms is burning hot.

At that moment, he realized that spiritual power was not something ethereal, but something that truly existed.

"really?"

Gu Hongming's eyes lit up with surprise. He didn't have much contact with people outside his family and rarely heard affirmation from outsiders, let alone from a powerful cultivator respected by his grandfather.

"Of course, you can have it if you want to."

Ji An, without any hesitation, lied, saying that in his previous life, medicine had placebos, which had no therapeutic effect whatsoever.

However, it can relieve pain, tremors, or alleviate symptoms due to the patient's trust in the doctor, the patient's self-suggestion, and the expectation of the efficacy of a certain drug.

This is the power of wishful thinking; it's amazing. The body's self-regulation sometimes sounds incredibly magical.

"Thank you for your encouragement, Grandpa Ji. I'm really looking forward to life after I arrive at the sect."

Gu Hongming's eyes were filled with anticipation. His family was small, and he longed to connect with more people.

He paused, then asked softly:
"After joining the sect, will I immediately become an apprentice?"

"Theoretically, you need to reach the late stage of Qi Refining to do this, but if you want, I can ask my senior brothers for their opinions."

Of all the people Ji An knew, only one was truly reliable: Zhu Xiangrong, the most skilled weapon refiner and the most accomplished weapon refiner.

However, whether or not to accept someone as a disciple depends on the other party's opinion; he cannot ask the other party to repay a favor for him.

To be honest, Gu Tai's decision to give away the faceplate for free was an incredibly valuable gift.

Before long, the boy's eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and he fell asleep leaning against the rock wall.

Ji An summoned Big Yellow and Golden Fur to guard the cave entrance, and also sent out the Golden-Winged Bird to patrol. This puppet was really good; it could faithfully perform its duties even in the gale.

Two months later, Ji An looked out from the sky and saw Silvermoon City just ahead.

Traveling during the day and resting at night, thanks to the progress in his cultivation, his flying speed is now several times faster than when he first entered the Northern Lands.

As they drew closer, Gu Hongming came into view of the colossal city that shone with a silvery glow in the sunlight.

"This is the first time I've ever seen a celestial city built on a plain. Shall we go in and rest?"

He had been traveling non-stop these past few days, and the scenery in the north was so monotonous that he was tired of it. Only by returning to the crowds could he feel the flow of life again.

"No, we'll go around it, and we'll reach the Western Continent in just a few days."

Ji An showed no intention of lingering; he instinctively tried to avoid the area.

He began flying westward, making a small detour around the immortal city.

Gu Hongming was initially a little disappointed, but his spirits lifted considerably after hearing that they would soon arrive in Xizhou.

"I've heard that the Western Continent isn't cold?"

"Yes, by then your fur coat will be useless."

The towering mountain ranges that stretch across the western continent and the northern lands block the cold winds of the far north, making the two places seem like different worlds.

After flying for another three hours, the setting sun, like a blood-red disc, slowly sank into the distant mountains. The sky resembled forged brass and burning crimson clouds, swaying with charm at all times.

Ji An landed on the ground and said:

"According to my memory, the area for hundreds of miles around is flat land, and it is more difficult to get through the night."

While there's still time before the sun completely sets, you can dig a trench or build four snow walls.

In the open environment, the wind was unstoppable and extremely fast, which didn't bother him, but it was a bit difficult for a child in the Qi Refining stage.

There are only sparse pine forests nearby, so you have to rely on yourself to find shelter from the wind.

“I choose to build snow walls,” Gu Hongming immediately stated. Digging permafrost in the freezing north is a tough job, at least for him right now.

Ji An summoned Big Yellow, the Flame Dragon Eagle, and the Golden Armored Puppet, ordering them to guard the vicinity and protect the child's safety.

"No matter what, don't leave my sight while I tame the beasts. I'm going to cut down some cedar trees to keep warm."

He doesn't need warmth, but the other person does.

"No problem, I promise I'll stay here and not go anywhere."

A moment later, Ji An returned, dragging two pine trees as thick as his thighs. He quickly dug a hole two feet deep and as thick as a water bucket in the middle of the snow wall and used a fire spell to bake it several times.

While they were busy, Big Yellow let out a low growl.

The sound wasn't urgent; it was a warning signal, meaning other creatures were approaching. Ji An looked up and gazed around for a moment, then saw a cultivator flying from the west, riding a large snow-white eagle. The eagle was flying at a considerable speed, suggesting it was a cultivator in the Chaoyuan stage.

He wasn't surprised. The northern lands were vast and open, and the chances of encountering cultivators in the wild were not many, but not impossible.

He communicated with Big Yellow using his mental powers, 'Stay alert. If it continues to fly straight towards you when it gets close, roar.'

Soon, Big Yellow let out a roar, and its voice became much more rapid.

Ji An looked up and saw that the snow eagle the cultivator was riding was only three or four miles away, flying straight over without slowing down.

He could already vaguely make out the cultivator's face, and a sense of vigilance rose in his heart.

On this pristine white ice field, both Big Yellow and the two puppets are easily identifiable by their colors.

The other party knew there were other cultivators here, so there's a very high chance they had ill intentions.

"Hongming, be smarter later."

As Ji An spoke, he unleashed the Mixed Gold Armor Spell in succession, one for the child and the other for himself.

At the same time, he put Dahuang into his spirit beast bag, because if they were really facing an enemy at the Chaoyuan stage, the Rock Armor Bear wouldn't be of any help.

If he could also add Gu Hongming to his spirit beast pouch, he would probably do so without hesitation.

Fortunately, the beast's demonic energy became increasingly refined, and after returning to the sect, he planned to help it break through to the Chaoyuan stage.

If successful, he will have a powerful beast in his possession.

Gu Hongming knew he had encountered an enemy, and his face paled even more. An enemy of the Chaoyuan stage cultivator could be eliminated with a mere wave of his hand.

He leaned against the snow wall with some fear, placed his hand on his chest, and prayed silently.

Ji An nodded almost imperceptibly, directing the two puppets to move forward, while he himself walked forward more than ten feet.

At the same time, the Wuji Apricot Yellow Flag flew out of his dantian, surrounded by yellow spiritual light, and golden flowers bloomed in the void.

The enemy's malice was quite obvious, and he was already prepared for battle.

Unless he is a Golden Core cultivator, he wouldn't back down even if he encountered several Yuan Stage cultivators joining forces.

The snow eagle quickly approached and stopped at a distance of about fifty feet. A boastful voice rang out:

"Haha, look who this is! Fellow Daoist Ji, why aren't you enjoying your life in Red Rock Immortal City? Why have you come to such a desolate place?"

Ji An stared at the other person's face, lost in thought. He felt that the other person looked familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen him before.

The other party recognized him and even pointed out that it was Red Rock Immortal City, but he didn't have many connections in the city. At present, it can only be confirmed that he and the other party had met.

The cultivator wore an ochre-colored yin-yang fish robe, a relatively common type of robe. Cultivators who had not joined a faction all liked to wear one, and it could almost be considered the 'professional attire' of independent cultivators.

Ji An could clearly sense the malice in the other person's words and detect the faint murderous intent in their eyes. A mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips.
"Although it's hurtful to say, I still have to ask, who are you?"

Since they were clearly enemies, he certainly wouldn't be polite.

The other party was stunned, a cold smile appearing on their face:
"Boy, you've successfully angered me once again. You'll be lying on the snow, howling in agony, as the best proof of my wild power. I'll help you remember it then."

"Your arrogance reminds me of something. You are a monk at the Wei family auction, and your surname is Zhang."

What, you're not happy that I won the spot?

Let me tell you, you should thank me very much. A strange event occurred in the Nine Netherworld, the waters of the River Styx swelled, and only four cultivators survived.

If I hadn't bought that spot, then three people would have left alive.

Ji An thought to himself, the auction rules were based on whoever had the highest bidder wins. At the time, he felt that although the other party had a bad temper, it wouldn't lead to a violent conflict.

However, it's also possible that if the other party sees one's actions as an obstacle to their path, then it's a path to death.

Among those who cultivate the Tao, there are many who act impulsively. If the other party has such thoughts, he will have no choice but to make another windfall.

Possessing a sharp weapon, his killing intent naturally arose. He even hoped that the other party would take the initiative to attack, so that he could kill the other party without any psychological burden.

As for the possibility of being unable to win, that was not even in his consideration.

Having encountered few battles over the years, he has cultivated an invincible confidence, at least among cultivators of the same level. His only concern is that his opponent possesses a third-tier talisman like himself.

There was something else he couldn't understand: if the other party really harbored strong hostility towards him, they should have chosen to make their move in the Red Rock Immortal City area, rather than waiting for him to fly to the vicinity of Silver Moon City.

'Could they have been following us all this way?'

Ji An shook his head almost imperceptibly; he was unaware that a cultivator was following him.

However, it's also possible that the other party might possess secret techniques he's unaware of; the fact that those refined corpses could be used as search dogs broadened his horizons.

"Has something changed in the Nine Netherworld?"

Zhang Daoyan was taken aback. He had left Hongyan Immortal City after failing to secure a spot back then and was unaware of this turn of events.

However, his expression immediately turned cold. "No matter what you say, today is your death day."

As his words fell, flying puppets appeared in the air, and many strong puppets landed on the ground with a "thud" as heavy objects fell to the ground; the snow did not lessen the sound.

Ji An's eyes narrowed, and he instantly gave his puppet the command, 'Defend, do not attack first.'

The purpose of the defense is to protect Gu Hongming's safety.

He was unaware that the cultivator surnamed Zhang was a puppeteer, and after winning the bid, he did not consider him a potential enemy.

The Flaming Banner flew out from his dantian, and Ji An rode on a fiery cloud to attack the enemy.

Seeing so many puppets, he chose to take the initiative. He was confident in himself, but it would be difficult if these puppets bypassed him and attacked Gu Hongming.

Seeing the enemy launch a preemptive attack, Zhang Daoyan smirked and immediately ordered his puppets to swarm forward.

Thanks to his failure to purchase a spot in the Nine Netherworld, the puppet he had mortgaged was redeemed.

He currently possesses six second-tier puppets, including one top-grade and one high-grade second-tier puppet, four mid-grade second-tier puppets, and twelve top-grade first-tier puppets.

He doesn't have to do anything; he can kill the enemy simply by controlling these puppets.

At the same time, he made a hand seal, and a second-grade high-quality Sky Soaring Armor covered his body; it was a breastplate.

As a puppeteer, he was very clear about his strengths and weaknesses. Remotely controlling puppets to fight was the best option, and he only needed to protect himself from being attacked by the earth's "face-pushing" attack.

Therefore, in the face of Ji An's obvious intention to attack, all the flying puppets launched a crossfire net, and in an instant, fire clouds, wind blades, and ice spikes surged together.

Zhang Daoyan controlled his beast to retreat, thinking disdainfully to himself:
"Kid, come at me if you dare!"

The next moment, he saw Ji An rush into the 'rain of magic' woven by the puppets, and his mouth dropped open in astonishment.

(End of this chapter)