novelraw Chapter 503 - 251: Dark Clouds Overhead, A Fateful Encounter with an Old Acquaintance! A Sudden Powerful Enemy and the Divine Demon Holy Embryo
Chapter 503 - 251: Dark Clouds Overhead, A Fateful Encounter with an Old Acquaintance! A Sudden Powerful Enemy and the Divine Demon Holy Embryo
Qi Yun Mountain, Yuan Ling Crown.
Zhang Fan stared wide-eyed at the man who walked in, a peculiar tune echoing unconsciously in his mind.
"My name is Yuan Ling Crown. Got a problem? You call Brother Yuan, and it’ll get sorted in no time. Our friendship—worth more than gold."
Wasn’t this guy the same Jianghu bigshot from the bathhouse the other day, the one selling information?
And he even took off someone’s arm right in front of them that day.
"This humble Daoist, Yuan Ling Crown."
The man strode in; this time, unlike the last bare-chested encounter, he wore a Daoist robe, bowed with clasped hands, looking rather dignified, almost like someone from a reputable sect.
"Is that the one?" Fang Changle leaned close to Zhang Fan’s ear and whispered.
"No one else talks like that—it’s gotta be him." Zhang Fan whispered back, but inside, his heart was pounding.
He hadn’t expected such a wayward fellow to be someone of this status—a master from Qi Yun Mountain.
After all, the info on Qin Shi was bought from him. Now the guy’s dead, and Yuan Ling Crown happened to be there; if Yuan Ling Crown spilled the beans, Zhang Fan would be suspect number one.
"Taoist Brother Yuan, it’s been a long time."
Qin Capital stepped forward to return the greeting—by seniority, even as the Qin Family’s Patriarch, he had to call him Taoist Brother.
"No need for formalities."
"Uncle-Master, these two are members of the Divine Power Association: Song Yunqi and Ji Haisan." Qin Ming introduced one by one.
"Greetings, Senior."
Song Yunqi and Ji Haisan hastily bowed. They knew the one before them was a master at the Sect Leader Realm; though they were now at the Mahayana Realm, just one realm apart was a world of difference.
Faced with such a master, even their usual pride had to be tucked away; they acted with utmost caution.
"Mm." Yuan Ling Crown nodded slightly, his gaze shifting to Zhang Fan and Fang Changle.
"And these two youngsters are...?"
"This one is Fang Changle, Maoshan Inheritor."
"And this one is a disciple from Zhenwu Mountain..."
"Zhang Fan," Qin Ming introduced.
"Greetings, Senior." Zhang Fan and Fang Changle exchanged glances and bowed in respect.
"First time meeting, but judging by your bones, I can tell you’re destined for greatness—earth-shaking deeds, no doubt."
Yuan Ling Crown grinned broadly: "A man ought to make a splash, raise hell for his convictions, to hell with weighing gains and losses! If your blood burns hot enough, you’ll crack the sky itself."
"... ..."
"... ..."
"... ..."
"Senior, what fine words!"
The crowd fell silent, caught staring at Yuan Ling Crown’s increasingly peculiar expression. Only Zhang Fan managed a strained smile, giving a forced compliment.
"I hear you’ve had misfortune at home lately, fellow Daoist?"
Just then, Yuan Ling Crown turned the topic, looking at Qin Capital.
As the words landed, Zhang Fan and Fang Changle both felt their throats tighten.
Qin Capital’s face grew somber as he sighed, "My unfilial son ran into evil men the other day and lost his life."
"Poor lad’s bones are still cold, and yet the culprit hasn’t surfaced."
"Such heartless madness! If I find him, I’ll wipe out his whole clan," Qin Ming spat coldly.
Zhang Fan kept a straight face but couldn’t help giving him a sidelong glance.
Right now, all his attention was on Yuan Ling Crown, dreading he might blurt out everything in the least favorable way.
"Fate decides life and death. Please, accept my condolences," Yuan Ling Crown said warmly.
Qin Capital waved his hand, suppressing his grief: "No need for Taoist Brother to worry. This is family business; of course, it won’t get in the way of the greater good. Let’s get down to business."
"I hear Qin Ming already told you—are the Qin Family ready?"
"Come with me, Taoist Brother." Qin Capital gestured invitingly.
Yuan Ling Crown strode forward, following, but as he passed Zhang Fan, he shot him a sidelong glance out of the corner of his eye.
"Everyone, please wait a moment," Qin Ming said before following after.
"Probably going to see Prince Qin," Zhang Fan mused.
Last night, he’d already met Prince Qin; getting messed up like that surely had something to do with searching for Ren Xiao’s Secluded Place.
After all, more than twenty years ago, in the Qin Family, only this man was deeply linked to the former Human Xiao.
"Why didn’t he expose us?"
Fang Changle dragged Zhang Fan aside, muttering under his breath.
"Expose what? We walk straight and act upright—what’s there to expose?" Zhang Fan insisted, chin up.
"... ..."
"It’s just the two of us here; do you have to keep pretending?" Fang Changle retorted, rolling his eyes.
"I find it fishy too." Zhang Fan said seriously, "When things get weird, there’s bound to be trouble. We better keep our guard up."
"I get the feeling this Yuan Ling Crown isn’t on the level."
"I don’t think he’s a good guy either," Zhang Fan mused.
This Yuan Ling Crown had no ties to them; as a master of Qi Yun Mountain, he should have no reason to cover for them at all.
"So what now?" Fang Changle pondered.
"Obviously one step at a time," Zhang Fan said quietly and firmly.
Right now, they were riding the tiger—deep in the wolves’ den, surrounded by powerful enemies. There’s no escape, so they could only respond as things came.
Besides, Zhang Fan was curious about that so-called Ren Xiao’s Secluded Place and wanted a taste himself.
"I’ve already reached out in secret to our Maoshan specialists over in Huizhou Province..." Fang Changle whispered.
"Maybe Senior Brother Yu Hua will come too."
Zhang Fan brightened at that; he’d crossed paths with Senior Brother Yu Hua once at the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance. That guy was at Sect Leader Realm—just like Yuan Ling Crown.
No doubt about it, Maoshan really is one of the Ten Great Daoist Mountains. Normally, its grandeur is hidden away, but in reality, it’s filthy rich and packed with big shots like these.
"Alright then. Danger or not, it’s all training—it’s the way of cultivation," Zhang Fan murmured.
Tribulation brings fortune. In catastrophe, there’s always opportunity; after disaster, luck will come.