Under One Person, your rebellious life has reached the heavens?

August 2, evening.

Behind Longhu Mountain, the afterglow of the setting sun filtered through the sparse branches and leaves. Zhang Chulan sat quietly on a rock, immersing himself in cultivation.

For the past ten years, he had never felt so relaxed and free. The golden light on his body changed frequently, sometimes heavy and sometimes light.

Following the Golden Light Mantra technique taught by his grandfather, Zhang Chulan manipulated the golden light to gradually condense into the shape of a weapon, which floated beside him.

With his eyes closed and his mind clear, time passed silently. The weapon forged from golden light became more and more solid. Sweat from six hours of arduous training soaked through his clothes. Zhang Chulan maintained a steady breathing rhythm, and wisps of white true qi exhaled from his mouth and nose.

After entering the state of "righteousness" of golden light, his limbs, bones, flesh and cells were baptized and nourished by the golden light, and slowly underwent transformation.

Transparent.

Smooth.

Unrestrained.

Unlike Ren Wang, who secretly and intermittently cultivated, Zhang Chulan had almost never cultivated with such undivided attention since his grandfather's death and his father's departure.

His innate suspicion was extremely keen, almost identical to Zhang Huaiyi's.

Over the past decade, he has lost count of how many nights he has felt a sudden panic and his hands and feet turned icy cold while lying in bed or walking in the yard—a sign that he was being spied on.

This kind of situation sometimes even occurs in bustling neighborhoods. Even in the sweltering summer, the gazes cast from unknown corners still send chills down his spine, as if he were on a winter's night.

Since the end of the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony, Zhang Chulan has understood the reason for everything. He can't say whether he is relieved or afraid. He just doesn't want to experience that feeling of having his life controlled by others again.

When the truth about the Jia Shen year was exposed, the three Quanzhen sects came to his door. As the new Celestial Master, he was alienated by many disciples and high-ranking officials.

After enduring two days of cold stares, Zhang Chulan was able to calmly accept all these changes. The daily cultivation that began in mid-July had already transformed his mindset and identity from that of an ordinary college student into that of a superhuman who could endure the tedium and devoutly cultivate Qi.

At this moment, the setting sun sank along the horizon, and in the distant woods, two aged figures stood silently, their eyes filled with contentment, and a faint smile seemed to grace their lips.

"Jinzhong, what do you think of this child?"

"Good physique and excellent resilience. There will be no problem for him to uphold the reputation of the Celestial Master's Mansion in the future."

"Sigh... I watched Lingyu grow up. To be honest, in terms of resilience in the face of life's changes, he is not as good as Chu Lan."

Tian Jinzhong couldn't help but feel regret.

"Big ears, huh..."

"In terms of being a good person and cultivating the Tao, I am better than him in every aspect, except for the matter of passing on the torch, in which I am inferior."

Zhang Zhiwei withdrew his gaze from the distance, slowly turned around, and strolled along the forest path with his junior brother, preparing to return to the manor. The two chatted as they walked.

"Do you still remember the struggles and regrets Lingyu experienced after losing her virginity?"

"This kid is too stubborn. He can't let go of it, but he can't accept it either. Instead, he sees Yin Lei as a flaw in himself and avoids it. Alas, all my efforts for him have been in vain. Even ten oxen couldn't pull him back."

What seemed like unintentional ramblings, Tian Jinzhong detected a clear hint of disappointment in them.

"Senior brother, what are you saying? Why not give him more time to grow?"

Tian Jinzhong stroked his beard and smiled, his expression kind and gentle. He spoke his mind with an optimistic attitude:

"I'm not being biased at all. I think both kids are good. They have different strengths, and we'll have a long time together in the future. It would be a good thing if they could complement each other in their learning."

“Jinzhong, you’re right, but Lingyu’s performance these past two days… has really surprised me.”

Zhang Zhiwei grieved when he talked about this, saying with distress:

"I thought he wouldn't be like the other kids, but who knew he would also distance himself from Chu Lan."

"I've taught him for so long, and he still managed to pick up this tendency to go with the flow."

"If he had disliked or even hated Chu Lan like he did at the beginning, I would have accepted it. Young people are proud and arrogant, and a little friction is not a bad thing. But he doesn't have his own thoughts. He gets close to others when they get close and distant when they get distant. Instead, I feel guilty. Is it because I, as his master, didn't teach him something well in the past?"

"Like last time, I didn't know which girl he liked. If he had just brought her home and given me a big, healthy son in three or five years, I would have been overjoyed. Unfortunately... he didn't, and he didn't dare to."

Among the ten disciples of the Celestial Master, Zhang Lingyu was the youngest, almost two generations younger. Rather than a disciple he raised, he was more like a grandson he personally nurtured, so naturally he was extremely fond of him.

Listening to his senior's rambling, Tian Jinzhong chuckled and scolded:

"Senior brother, you shameless old man, don't speak ill of Lingyu behind his back."

"Let's treat this incident as a test of our conscience. Both children have had a tough time, so can you please trust them a little more?"

As they approached the Daoist palace, scattered disciples appeared around them. The Old Celestial Master sighed and smiled slightly: "Good..."

As dusk recedes and night falls.

At nine o'clock, Zhang Chulan, having finished his cultivation, slowly opened his eyes, which were completely calm.

His bones stretched out, his flesh contracted in a rhythm similar to breathing, and a warm current seemed to flow through his body, indicating that his cultivation had improved.

"Wow!"

As the thought arose from the depths of his mind, a cluster of golden light, like a flame, burst forth from his fingertips, instantly condensing into a sharp blade. The entire process was fluid and seamless, without the slightest mistake or obstruction.

"Jingle Bell!!"

"Jingle Bell!!"

Just as he was pinpointing the rock face to the side and preparing to test his work, his cell phone, which was placed to the side, vibrated, emitting a clear, flowing ringtone.

"Ok?"

Looking at the unknown number, Zhang Chulan's eyes showed vigilance. He had two phone cards. Card 1 was known to his classmates, teachers, neighbors and elders in the village, as well as Bao'er, Xu San, and Xu Si from Na Du Tong.

And Card 2, a phone card he'd used for almost ten years, is known to very few people...

Was it a mistaken call?

Or is it Dad?

My dad doesn't have this number...

In just a few seconds, Zhang Chulan made a decision, touched the screen with his finger, and slowly swiped to the right to answer the call.

"Hey? You little rascal, are you alright?"

"You didn't suffer while staying at the Celestial Master's Mansion, did you?"

A rough voice came from the speaker, and Zhang Chulan felt as if he had been electrocuted. His pupils contracted sharply, his heart raced, and in the next instant, he exclaimed:

"Dad?! It really is you?!"

Zhang Chulan was absolutely certain of the voice on the other end of the phone; he was so excited that he was almost incoherent.

"If it wasn't me, then who else could it be?"

Zhang Yude appeared to be walking, with static and the sound of wind coming from his phone from time to time.

“I was abroad for a while and ran into some trouble. I couldn’t use my SIM card anymore. I only heard from my friends in the industry that you were in trouble these past two days, so I rushed back.”

Zhang Chulan was in a great mood, but said something he didn't mean: "Wow! You still remember you have a son like me?"

"Isn't that obvious? Do you think I have other sons? I think you're just asking for trouble. Where are you? I'm almost at the Celestial Master's Mansion. Come out and meet me."

Zhang Yude has a very cheerful personality, and his relationship with his son Zhang Chulan is completely unconventional, more like that of friends who are a few years apart in age.

"Huh? Dad, you're outside the mountain gate?"

Zhang Chulan was extremely surprised and quickly explained:

"I can't get out. The advisor is afraid I'll be sniped if I show my face, so he warned me not to go there on my own."

"Father, what do you think...? Should I go and inform the clerk? Have him tell the senior brother on night watch to let you in?"

Upon hearing that his son was in danger, Zhang Yude frowned, gazing at the surrounding dark mountains with mixed feelings—anger and guilt. He replied in a deep voice:

"Hmm... Alright, you stay put, I'll be there shortly."

"Alright, I'll go right now!"

After the call ended, Zhang Chulan put his phone away, channeled his Qi into his feet, and burst into extreme speed, traversing the forest filled with moonlight and silver frost. A gentle breeze blew on his face, and he felt incredibly refreshed and happy, his previous gloom swept away.

He quickly covered the distance of several hundred meters and jogged to the old master's bedroom. The lights were still on, and the songs of Phoenix Legend and the old man's ramblings were playing.

"Jinzhong, give me a sniper rifle."

"No way, go find it yourself! Hey, senior brother, someone's there!!"

Zhang Chulan, who was outside, was suddenly startled. How could he have been discovered? He reached out and knocked on the door: "Master, it's me, Chulan. I have something urgent to discuss with you."

"Come in!"

"coming."

Zhang Chulan pushed open the door and entered, only to see two centenarians engrossed in playing games on their phones, with gunshots ringing out continuously. The white-haired, blue-eyed Taoist boy, Xiao Yuzi, watched intently from the side.

"Chu Lan, what's wrong?"

"Master Tian, ​​my father is here to see me. He should be here in a little while."

"Your dad..."

"what?!"

The two elderly people, engrossed in the game, were stunned for a few seconds before they realized what was happening. They were momentarily distracted and looked up in confusion when they were eliminated from the game.

"Oh, it's your father. Xiaoyu... help him go and greet him. If anyone from inside asks you curiously, don't mention it. Just say he's my guest. Take him to the training ground in the back mountain."

"Yes, Master, I'll go right away."

The young Taoist priest nodded in agreement, greeted Zhang Chulan, and left.

"Chu Lan, let's go to the back mountain; it's been so many years, and I still haven't seen Big Ears' son, sigh."

Zhang Zhiwei put down his phone and prepared to get up.

"Hey, thank you, Master Tian. I'll go take a shower first, it'll only take three minutes. You and Master Tian go ahead, I'll be there shortly!"

Zhang Chulan disappeared in a flash, as impatient as a monkey, running back to his room, taking off his clothes, taking a shower, and washing his hair all in one go.

.......

A quarter of an hour later, at the arena where the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony was being held, under the bright silver moon, Zhang Zhiwei, Tian Jinzhong, and Zhang Chulan were all waiting.

Soon, light footsteps approached from afar, and the shadow of the gate gradually revealed itself.

The Taoist boy, Xiaoyu, led over a burly man with a thick beard. He was dressed in a black combat uniform similar to that of a special agent, his hair was messy, but his features were bright and his eyes were full of brilliance.

Seeing his son Zhang Chulan ahead, accompanied by two elderly people, Zhang Yude strode over, clasped his hands in a fist salute, bowed deeply, and greeted them in a booming voice:

"Junior Zhang Yude pays respects to the Celestial Master and Senior Uncle Tian!"

Chapter 304 The End of Art VS The End of Numbers

"Oh? It's you, kid. You're tall and very strong. I never thought Big Ears' son would be so energetic."

The two old men looked Zhang Yude up and down as if they were examining a finely carved piece of jade.

As cultivators, observing Qi is a basic introductory method. Moreover, they are old and experienced. With just one glance, they could tell that Zhang Yude was both alive and dead. His cultivation level was far ahead of his peers, even if it was not the best.

“Your bright, piercing eyes are so much like Huaiyi’s. This is the first time we’ve met in all these years. Sigh… You should have come back to visit sooner, child.”

Of the three from Longhu Mountain back then, only Zhang Huaiyi got married. Tian Jinzhong and his senior brother both remained unmarried throughout their lives. Now, seeing his junior brother's child, he couldn't help but sigh.

"You must be Uncle Tian?"

“My father used to mention you to me often. I am ashamed. Over the years, I have been traveling all over the country and have not been able to find the time or dare to bring Chu Lan back to see you two. I am afraid of causing trouble for you and the Old Master. I apologize to you.”

Zhang Yude spoke sincerely, showing great respect for his two elders. From the time he was a toddler to his marriage, his father had reminisced countless times about his former fellow disciples.

In his later years, Zhang Huaiyi had the idea of ​​returning to the Celestial Master's Mansion to visit many times, but he gave up the idea repeatedly. On several occasions, he even went out but then turned back.

Even after sixty or seventy years, no sect pursued the Jia Shen Rebellion any further. Zhang Huaiyi knew that his senior brother, who held the position of Celestial Master, would not make things difficult for him, and he had no face to take his son and grandson back to pay respects to their master.

Upon seeing the two elderly people, Zhang Yude was somewhat dazed; his father's last wish had been fulfilled for him.

"It's no trouble at all; you're being too polite."

Tian Jinzhong smiled with satisfaction, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out slightly.

He felt somewhat relieved. Seeing that Zhang Yude was over 1.8 meters tall, in his prime, and full of vigor, coupled with the skills Zhang Huaiyi had passed on to him, he realized that he had probably not had such a difficult time in recent years. He was much stronger than Zhang Chulan when he first started out, and was practically a piece of steel that had been tempered a thousand times.

"Yu De, how have you been these past years?"

Zhang Zhiwei did not directly ask him where he was going or what he was doing;

After all, given Zhang Yude's cultivation level, as a father, letting his child grow up alone, even in constant danger, must mean he has some unspeakable reasons.

"It's alright..."